Craft Creations is a UK magazine. They post a whack of free projects from every issue! Lucky for us! I love the stuff in there. From cross stitch to paper crafts and fimo, foil and more. Fun stuff!

..in 34 minutes and 6 seconds. Hubby did it in half the time! He was starting to feel concerned for me after the thirty minute mark. The climb itself was great. Afterwards was a disorganized shamble! What took just a few minutes to climb on foot, took over an hour to take a 2-minute elevator ride down. Thousands of people and not all of the 8 elevators were in service for us. The climbing was fine. The waiting around in a crowd of thousands - not so fine. Will I do it again? Yes. Next year I am going to beat my time!

The pictures are up.

And I really need to learn how to tidy this place up a bit. Or perhaps I need more time! Anyway, check out my lovely wedding gift to Amber and Rob. It's nearly finished and just needs the final blocking! YAY!!

At the CSNF, Amber and I picked up a ton of free patterns. Most of them were Moda Dea.I love, love, love the 'Cache Poncho With Collar'. The yarn used has some sparkly stuff through it. I just love it. It's super-soft.

I also love the Sassy Stripes Knitted Socks. Some day I'll have time to make myself something. Some day...

I forgot my lovely PURL/Pearl: The Knitting Fairy cross stitch pattern! I bought her at the show! Mom bought Thimbelina: The Needlework Fairy and I actually want her too. Maybe I'll order myself one. They are so darned cute!

Other Lynne Nicoletti patterns that I have:

Canada Geese & Hockey Player.

Pattens by Lynne Nicoletti that I want to have:

The Play's the Thing (Shakespeare), CN Tower & Flat Iron Building & Thimbelina: The Needlework Fairy.

Well, I started out at the Creative Memories booth. There I bought:

* Multi-purpose tool & clips

* Journaltopia Writing Guide

* Vintage Round-Tip Pens (perfect for heritage albums)

* Heirloom stickers, Hockey stickers, 70's Decade Stickers and 80's Decade Stickers (and my mom still has my hair crimper from the 80's!)

Creative Memories has so many new tools out! While my impulse was to buy absolutely everything, (sigh) I held back.

2 cross stitch kits

2 knitting books, 1 crochet book

some funky wooden beads

an amber ring for my lovely self

and a bag full of loot from Len's Mills. That is the best booth because things are so dirt cheap! Scrapbook stickers, paper dolls, Christmas presents and a Winnie the Pooh pillow.

We got lots of free stuff at the show too in all of our classes and at the Cropping Party. Mom won the Fiskars Scrapboss Starter Set. I would totally trade mine for that! It was so cute that she won because she wanted it so bad! Amber and I didn't win anything, but it was still fun.

There is a brandy-new Canadian needlework magazine out called Needle Pulling Thread. All needlework is represented. And it's all Canadian! Finally! How fun is that? They gave away free copies of the first edition at the show.

Well, time for bed. Maybe I'll post some pics tomorrow.

I love the surprises! The pumpkins are beautiful. The 'Tit Bits' pattern is for a breast prosthesis. I made one for a co-worker a few months ago using the Crystal Palace pattern. But the pattern that I love the most is 'Yorick'. I wonder who I could possibly make that for?

Always wanted one of those percent bar marker thingy's for your crafty blog to show the progress of your projects? Well I sure have. Yarn Tomato has so graciously shared her percent bars with us!

MenKnit The Inaugural Issue is live! I see something there for the cyclist in my life.....I think it's cool. It's not very often I come across a pattern that DH would wear!

Roxycraft's amigurami animal patterns are free until November 10th! Cute, quick stocking stuffers!

Check out the Yoda baby! The nephew needs one of these!!

Yarnsale.ca is live! At the CSNF I received a $5.00 off coupon!

I wrote a lovely article this morning and of course all was lost when I hit the "Save" button. I should rename it "Delete" or perhaps use the delete button instead. Anywho...

The new edition of CrochetMe is up for all to love and see. It's full of great things to make! I love this edition.

For anyone wanting to try a new technique, check out Tapestry Crochet: Horse Around Purse! There is a link detailing the tapestry crochet technique. I can already think of a lovely recipient for it!

Be sure to also check out the Features. There is a great article Keeping a Crochet Diary by Annette Patevy. I know we've all wanted to combine our two favourite past times, but sometimes we just need some inspiration! Reading this article gave me a spark of ideas.

To really get your creative juices flowing, you'll want to read Refresh Your Wardrobe by Amy O'Neill Houck. I've often wanted to add crochet details to update some of my clothes, but I never get around to it or I just don't have the inspiration - this will help cure your creative block!

Incognito just made me laugh and anything that makes me laugh is ok in my books. I should  make one and wear it on Hallowe'en for shelling out to the kids. I can just hear the young vampires now, "Uh, Lady? What're you supposed to be?"

So go get crocheting already!

What better way to spend a Saturday, than to ride the TTC with a pack of other knitters and visit knitting stores along the way?! I'm so sad that I missed it. If ever they do it again, I'm ON IT!

Marnie MacLean's Wyvern Socks have inspired Annemarie to create these awesome Dragon Scale Gauntlets! Both are divine! I really want both!

Hubby and I are doing the CN Tower Stair Climb for the United Way this month. Get your pledges ready! It's this month! We have lots of training to do!  What? It's only 1,776 steps. What's the problem?

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Last night, I did 408 stairs at work! Tonight I hope to do an additional 136. (That's how many stairs it is from bottom to top at work.)

I love how babies of the 70's and early 80's think. My DH found this last night while power-surfing in front of the TV. Although I'm not a quilter yet (I'd love to be), I'm thinking those can be easily done up in knit or crochet! And guess who wants one? lol

MagKnits is up! I tell you, I'm enjoying the new MagKnits. I love more publications! I like Collar Me and I think these veggies are cute. The celery is so cool!

Last  night, I also bought a copy of Crochet Fantasy Fall 2005. (It's not the one viewed there.) I just love this issue.

There is an interesting article on Sericulture - the science of raising silkworms and making silk. Really, I can't believe that I'm seriously considering ordering some worm eggs! EWWW! But how amazing to have your own hand-made silk! 

Next, the article on Tunisian Crochet. The instructions for learning Tunisian Crochet (or the Afghan stitch) are well detailed with pictures for every step. They even show how to incorporate changes in colour, how to add beads or bobbles. There are patterns for  a backpack purse and a child's jacket using tunisian crochet. (read a past article "the Afghan Stitch".)

Lots of great stuff in this issue. If you love to crochet and are looking for a new project, I recommend this issue. The "Ponchette" has got me hooked. Once I complete all these other projects on the go, I want to make myself one. The "Quick & Easy Baby Cardigan" is divine! I will definitely make that with the hat for our new niece or nephew (coming March 2006). The "Mohair Cape" is kind of cute too. You could make a nice, dressy version or a more relaxed casual version. The "Antique Rose Runner" is a filet table runner that screams out "Grandma!" to me. She would be so impressed if I could whip that up! The "Vashti Cabled Vest" is more like a tank top. It's made up using Berroco Suede. This was the pattern that was the real kicker for me. Sugarplum, the purple elephant will also make a lovely baby gift! This one issue is super-packed full of good stuff. Go buy it!!

My only concern with this issue is some of the yarns. I don't like to use super expensive yarns. I'm not a yarn snob at all. I love the cheaper yarns, the easy-wash stuff. I already have enough handwashables. I don't need to add more to it! Who has time to stand around in the basement rolling out sweaters all morning and night? Give me a break. Spending hours on handwashing delicate fibres is not my idea of a great way to spend an afternoon when I could be out riding my bike or paddling or training at the gym... The moral of my rant.... I WILL substitute!  See? I am Acrylic Yarn! lol

Links:

History of Sericulture

NC State University: Sericulture

Visual Sourcebook for Chinese Civilization: Sericulture

Dept. of Sericulture

Silkworm Rearing

Sericulum