WFA Represents at Dooryard Arts Festival {hem...again}

The Woodstock Fibre Artists are getting ready to bring in the fibre and bring in the FUN at the 3rd annual Dooryard Arts Festival on Saturday Aug 13th. 

We've got a lot planned for the public this year including:

• Demo's -spinning, knitting and more.
• Kids fibre craft sessions
• Items for sale- socks, toys, scarves, accessories, handspun yarn!
• ~Surprises~ - we have to keep something up our sleeve!

The Dooryard website has all the need to know information about the marketplace. While you're there check out the amazing musical line up they have planned.There will also be "open-air art and craft displays, food vendors, children's activities, free music and collaborative community art projects."  www.dooryardarts.net

If you look carefully around town during the days leading up to the festival you might find some hints as to where we will be located-but if sleuthing is not your thing here are the details:

Dooryard Marketplace
9am-3pm
Queen St pedestrian block
Woodstock NB

If you want to contact any of the fiber gals participating in the weekend please leave us a note on the  "Woodstock Fiber Artists" facebook page. 


See you there!

The Other Beautiful Things...

I'll be the first to admit it- I don't like cheap yarn. You know the stuff- feels like plastic, squeaks on your needles, made out of acrylic, nylon, prlypropylene and polyester. If I were forced to make a decision between buying a skein of 'plastic' or walking out of a yarn store empty handed- my chequing account would be safe for another day!

But this post is not about yarn-it's about the other tool necessary for knitting NEEDLES! There are so many needles in so many shapes, sizes and materials out there. I used to think picking out luxiourious yarn was a hard decision- but I hadn't tried to pick out the perfect needles yet. Double pointed, 12' straight, 8' straight, swing needles, circular, steel, bamboo, aluminum, ivory, plastic, wood, round, square, and of course every knitter needs a crochet hook. 

Today I came across this photo. The compilation took the needle, in all it's practicality and turned it into something beautiful- something as lovely even as the yarn it helps us sculpts into garments. 

I cannot take credit for the compilation or photos. LHDUMES (flickr id) created the collage with flickr toys, and the photos were taken by the following knitters...

1. "Distance has the same effect on the mind as on the eye", 2. Untitled, 3. tools, 4. Knit (C365: day 79), 5. SOLD Vintage Metal Knitting Needles, 6. red jasper handcrafted knitting needles, 7. Knit Picks Options Knitting Needle Set - Needle/Tip Join, 8. DollNeedles, 9. www.flickr.com/photos/mayyan/398807309/, 10. Knitting Needles, 11. Vintage Plastic Knitting Needles, 12. 8/365, 13. needled, 14. Pink and Green Rosettes Handcrafted Knitting Needles, 15. Knitting Needles, 16. Hand Cast Resin Knitting Needles, 17. DSC_0037, 18. my grandma's knitting needles, 19. Untitled, 20. Knitting needles and beer steins, 21. Knitting Needles, 22. Knitting needles and beer steins, 23. colorful millefiori knitting needles, 24. weaponry, 25. knitting needles

If it were any other day!

If it were any other day I would not have had a bowl of Kashi GoLean Crunch with organic cherries and 1% Milk.

Going, going...

Gone!

If it were any other day I would not have had time to survey the garden and notice the new growth. I had given up hope of any produce this year after the horrific hail storm of last week and an earwig infestation.

Hope springs eternal. 

If it were any other day Mom would have not come over at 11 a.m for a sit in the sun to read Hello magazine. I also would not have done two loads of laundry, washed a sink full of dishes, fixed Konrad's couch or vacuumed the sun porch.

If it were any other day I would not have had time to read Best Health Magazine or find the perfect recipe for lunch- Burrito with Black Beans and Corn! I also would not have seen Canadian blogger Angela Liddon of  "Oh she Glows" featured in the magazine!

If it were any other day I would not have plans to knit for the rest of the afternoon.!

ENJOY YOUR DAY TODAY!

Making Up

Invisible Seaming

There are several methods of seaming, but we find this one, both the quickest and most successful. It is the method used for generations by the knitters of the Shetland Islands.

To work: Place the first finger of the left hand between the two pieces of knitting to be joined, holding them edge to edge, with the right side of the work facing. Secure the yarn at one edge, bringing the bodkin through to the right side. Take the bodkin (needle) to the first row of the second edge, insert it under the thread that lies between the first and second stitches and draw yarn through. Take the bodkin back to the first row of the first edge and insert it under the thread that lies between the first and second stitches and draw yarn through. Take bodkin back to second edge and insert under the next thread between the first and second stitches, and drawing yarn through. On fine work, insert needle under 2 rows at a time.

Note: always insert the bodkin back into the place, where it had previously exited on that edge. Continue in this way until the seam is complete. Seams worked in this way, should match as the number of rows being joined will be the same on each side.

Pressing

After completing the knitting and before making up, pin out each piece, excepting the ribbing, with the wrong side upwards. Press lightly with a warm iron over a damp cloth. Leave to cool before taking the pins out.

Hand Washing

Handwashing is usually preferable, but always check with the yarn labels. Wash by hand in warm water. Using a spin dryer, spin briefly without any heat to remove excess water. Lay flat on a towel and dry away from direct sunlight. 

 

Words by Patricia Roberts

Artwork by Connie Jude

Could This Be a Perfect Day?

Today was wonderful. I got up, made coffee and walked Konrad. The rest is self explanatory.... 

 

Wordless Wednesday

 

It's spring fever.  That is what the name of it is.  And when you've got it, you want - oh, you don't quite know what it is you do want, but it just fairly makes your heart ache, you want it so!  ~Mark Twain

Out into the World

What do you do with your knitting once it is finished? Do you wear it, give it away, sell it, or just admire your hard work? Usually I don't finish things I knit for myself, they get frogged or forgotten. When this happens I only have 'in progress' photos to share, and honestly they are just not as exciting as Finished Object. 

This spring my UFO (unfinished objects) are piling up. Perhaps showing them off will help speed them up?

a. Scallop Lace Hat

b. Mitered Cross Blanket

c. Featherweight Cardigan 

I'm very anxious to finish and wear the Featherweight cardigan and honestly the hat is now blocking! The blanket will likely be a marathon project ~ slow and steady. 

What are you working on these days, are you in hurry up and finish mode or are you content to plug along while enjoying each stitch?

If they could all be this good.

We've been cooking a variety of unique meals lately. It's fun to combine normal kitchen fare into a "never before had dinner".

It's been our habit to sit down, start eating and then shoot out ideas of how we could have made it better, or how we will alter it in order for us to enjoy it more the next time. For some this might seem discouraging, or even an insult to the cook, but I don't ever feel insulted. I love the feedback and like making little notes by each recipe we've tried. After all if I'm going to spend time and money to make a meal- I want to enjoy it to the best of its potential.

Last night our routine veered far off course- we started eating, and  all that we could manage to say were things like:

• I love that the broccoli is not too soft
• The sauce is just right- not too spicey, not too much ginger
• Good flavour
• Would you like seconds? 
• Is there enough for my lunch tomorrow? 

Yes, a meal with no alterations or tweaks required. Here it is, our FIRST extra delicious meal:

Beef Broccoli Stir Fry from Cooking Light.

One point that I will mention for my Weight Watcher following readers- for a 'light' recipe, it contained a lot of unnecessary oil. (2 Tablespoons). When I make this again, I will omit the oil, as it is completely unnecessary if you're cooking in a teflon wok like I do. The nutty, hearty flavour of Brown Rice would also be a complement to the sauce and beef.

the Killers..how many have you had this week?

Honest Mondays

Welcome 2011