Right out of the blue. Opportunity knocked and we let it right in! The piano shall arrive Thursday! Made by the Lonsdale Piano Company in Toronto, it’s dated 1888. I found an article in the Encyclopedia of Music about the history of piano building in Canada.

He found it on Craigslist while surfing in Seattle ;) Via the internet, the three of  us were able to work out all the details.

StephTheGeek has some downloadable MP3’s on her blog that include the lovely piano. Her music is hauntingly beautiful and very emotional. Our purchase includes a signed copy of her CD :) I really love # 5.

Like meeting my husband and knowing that we were meant to be, I knew when I saw this piano that this was meant for us.

Now, I just need to learn how to play :)

I’ve added some new photos of our new family addition. You can view them here.

 The new SpunMag is up! If, like me, you occasionally need a real challenge in your knitting projects, you might want to try the Licorice Bullet Skirt “pattern”. It’s more of a guide to help you design your own. It’s really quite lovely. And I want one! I’ve been itching to make a skirt.

I’ve had a request for mitts so I am happy to see The Mitten Wardrobe. I actually like everything this time around. The socks look fun.

I love that  they also have recipes and other crafty stuff in their issues. Because we don’t just knit, do we? No. One craft is not good enough for us. Enjoy :)

Bear Toes Mama Bear’s Knitting Den. She and I seem to share a love for the stuffables! And perhaps a similar sense of humour. She’s posted some really wonderful FO’s, links to patterns and funny stories to go along with them. Really lovely site.

Stitch Marker Also a lovely site. Some of her own patterns including this yummy baby bonnet.  It’s too cute for words. There are lovely photos of a pinwheel baby blanket on her blog. It’s a free pattern :) Her gallery of photos makes you want to grab some yarn and start one immediately!

Knotty Generation is looking for a publisher for her new book. I hope she gets it published soon. I would add it to my list of “I wants” for sure. I plan to make the rasta tam for a silly someone. I also love the little bracelet purse. Her shrugs are really something. I’m praying for that book!!

How about some No-Sew Friendship Dolls? or a Quick Knit Clown Doll?

Here is a link to a .pdf of Catnip Toys for cats - strawberries and mice. So cute!

Knit Purls is a free online magazine for knitting and crochet enthusiasts and fibre artists.  You will enjoy free patterns here as well as stay in touch with what your favourite print mags are up to.

The Creative Sewing and Needlework Festival Spring 2006 is approaching!

April 28, 29, 30, 2006

Internation Centre, Halls 1 & 2

6900 Airport Rd., Mississauga,  ON. Free Parking!

Directions.

There are so many things to see, do, learn, buy, ogle, covet, etc that I just can’t write it all out.

The mini-workshops and elctures in the spring are free. Yes. Free. Of charge. No fee. No cost. De nada. No deniro. Zippo. Zilcherooney.  Get the picture? Last year, the early birds got to enter the hall early and line up for an hour or two to get tickets to the sessions. First come - first serve. The problem was that many people didn’t stay the whole day or just didn’t bother to show up to the sessions. This wasn’t very nice for the people who would have loved to be in the session, but weren’t able to secure tickets in the wee hours of the morning.  This year, you line up at the classroom door. First 25 get in. Uh… That’s not good. Really not good. There are going to be 150 people trying to get into one session. I envision us lining up for the entire day, and missing out on the show. :( Since our group has been attending the CSNF nearly since it’s  inception, we like to fill out all the Feedback cards! Maybe they just shouldn’t make the sessions free? Or find a bigger location that can  hold 50? I dunno. But I have a feeling that it might get ugly! lol

Bi-annually, my mom, sister and a family friend come out to stay with me for the show. My aunt and her friend meet us there for one of the days. We are all very twitterpated.

DKC does it again! 9th Annual Knitter’s Frolic 

Deets:

Saturday, April 22, 2006. 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
The Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre
6 Garamond Court, Toronto, Ontario

Admission: $4.00 at the door, which will include a draw ticket on our door prize.

Workshops: Many workshops for beginners through experienced knitters will be taught by excellent instructors, including Lily Chin, Fiona Ellis, Maureen Mason-Jamieson and more!

There will also be a Knitters' Cafe offering food and beverages onsite.

Some of the vendors include: Knitwerx, Needle Arts Book Shop, Village Yarns, Red Bird Knits, Knit Cafe, The Yarn Source, The Needle Emporium, and way more.

Some of the teachers for the workshops: Fiona Ellis, Lily Chin, Denise Powell, Joan Kass, Gayle Bunn, and more!

Visit the Knitter’s Frolic page for more detailed information of the workshops, vendors, application forms, maps, etc.

I’d love to take a couple of the classes, except that the CSNF is the weekend after! I have to reserve all $$$ for the show. :(

Here’s a new one by Hollyweird Knits:

KWOOT :Knitting While Out Of Town = KWOOT

A new online Knit/Crochet mag – For The Love of Yarn. Check out their premiere issue for Spring!

Check out the Funky Hooker's crochet pattern for a toddler sundress. I want to make one for niece # 1!

Addison Leigh

born to proud parents Andy and Patricia and big sister Dawn

Monday, April 3 at 2:40pm

Addison and Auntie Amanda are both Monday's children! Monday's child is fair of face....  We're not sure how much she weighed yet or even the correct spelling of her name. I think it's a lovely name and I can't wait to meet the wee one!

If you're a LOTR fan, you might want to make yourself a Hobbit Sock Doll. I think he's so cool!

A knitted crutch?? That’s kind of cute.

Spins & Needles craft and DJ night

What a fabulous, funky idea. Makes me want to live in Ottawa. Do you think He would move to Ottawa?

I found ThreadBared.com by accident. I love it! I never knew all the things you could do with pantyhose.

Really, tell me, do women still wear those horrible things? I must confess that I do not. Can’t stand ‘em. And really, they aren’t attractive either. One of my biggest peeves is saggy-hose-legs. Yech!  Who thought that would be a “sexy” idea? I hate that they cut off your circulation at your midriff. Either the waist is so long it reaches your ribs and hangs out over all of your skirts and shows when you bend over (now that  IS HOT! A new trend to replace the thong-sticking-out-of-your-pants look. <Shudder>) or the waist is too short and your sexy hose hang about  a foot from your crotch and you’re constantly pulling at them all day long. Again, this is sheer sensuality, ladies. The seams at the toe… or the hose that seem to have been made crooked and the little pattern looks all cockeyed on one side of your body - like you dressed in a hurry ;) or you were drunk when you donned them.

Are we getting the impression that I hate pantyhose? Oh, and don’t get me started about the “cotton gusset”. That is the grossest thing I can possibly imagine. Women walking around commando in their pantyhose with their tiny triangle of a “cotton gusset”. I’m envisioning moms and grandmothers and senior executives or the lady at the bank! ACK!

Just say no to pantyhose. Or else cut them up and make something else out of them.