Where have you been?

I've been a bad blogger.  I have been absent for many months.  No, I didn't go into hibernation although with the winter we had it would have been nice. We had many days where we were -40C with the windchill.  In mid-October, I made a career change.  I had been working as a supervisor for a therapy program.  There were still parts of my job that I loved, but there were also many things that were out of my control making the job difficult for me.  It was affecting me in ways that were not healthy and impacting my ability to do the job I needed.  So I made a change.  Between then and now, we also did a major bathroom renovation, I attended a few shows and completed a number of custom orders.  Needless to say, blogging fell off the radar.

Baby Beard hat - custom order

Me modelling the honeycomb scarf - custom orders

Teacher gifts for my daughter's teachers

The course revision project is complete, courses are winding down soon, and for the first time in months I picked up knitting needles the other day (insert big smiling Laura here).

Swatching for a new project

I'm using sock yarn which I don't typically knit with.  This is Scachenmayr Regia Jeans Style Color that I picked up at Len's Mill.  I'm knitting a lacy dress for a one-year-old and liked this as I felt it would be modern yet still cute for an infant.  The pattern is the Lizzy Dress by Taiga Hilliard Designs.  You can find it on Craftsy or Ravlery.  I hope it turns out.  I must admit that I have started the first 6 rows and am already feeling like I have messed up something somewhere.



I don't quite know what the rest of spring and summer will hold yet.  I am hoping for some online courses to teach.  I'm also really looking forward to time to garden, get back to running, and create!  Last year character hats were a big seller.  This summer will be spent planning for the fall and winter show season and figuring out what I want to make for those shows.

Happy Easter weekend to all!
Laura

A Cottaging We Go

Every year, at the end of August, we head to Prince Edward County for a week at the cottage with our neighbours.  It's a great time for relaxing and enjoying the county.  

One of our regular stops is for lunch and cider at the County Cider Company in Waupoos. This year I enjoyed a pear cider and super yummy salad.  You also can't beat the view!  There is nothing like eating lunch overlooking the grape vines and lake.

www.countycider.com

The Devil's Wishbone Winery is another yearly tradition.  We happened upon this winery 3 years ago and have been back every year since.  Not only is the view amazing here as well, but their wines are fantastic.  

http://www.devilswishbone.com/

This year, we also ventured to Sandbanks Provincial park to hit the beach for the first time.  It was super windy but the kids didn't mind.  It meant lots of waves to jump!

Of course, I also spend some time knitting!  I may have over estimated my knitting time however.  I brought a ton of yarn somehow thinking (or hoping) I would knock out a few hats and perhaps even start a blanket.  I managed half a hat. :)

Start on a hat

The rest of the yarn I brought and didn't need

While I didn't get much knitting done, I did manage to eat through a great book (The Rosie Project) in just two days.  I also finished a bunch of course prep for the classes I'm teaching this fall.  Along with some county travels, photography and family time.

One more day of summer then back to the routine of the school year.....

Happy long weekend!

Benjamin bunny hat

The beloved character from the Peter Rabbit series, Benjamin Bunny, is back.  He has been updated but still as loveable as ever.  A friend asked me if I could knit a hat like Benjamin's for her young daughter who loves this fun little guy.  Of course I said!  I've been wanting to move away from strictly following patterns and this was the perfect opportunity.  That and I can't wait to see her fact when she opens the package!

If you're interested in making one for a little someone in your life, I've included the instructions below.  This is my first time posting instructions for use by others so please provide feedback if something doesn't seem to make sense.

Benjamin Bunny Toddler Hat

Aran or worsted weight (4) acrylic yarn used.  I apologize, I didn't do a swatch to give gauge.

Finished size 17 inches around (Stretches easily to 20 inches)

Size 8 double points

Cast On (CO)  80

You may want to add a stitch marker to mark the beginning of the rows

Body of hat

*K2, P2* Repeat to end

Continue with K2, P2 until ribbing measures 2.5 inches.  

K all stitches until hat measures 6.5 inches from beginning of work.

Decrease for top of hat

Row 1: *K7, K2tog* repeat to end (8 times)

Row 2:  K all stitches

Row 3: *K6, K2tog* repeat to end

Row 4:  K all stitches

Row 5: *K5, K2tog* repeat to end

Row 6:  K all stichtes

Row 7: *K4, K2tog" repeat to end

Row 8:  K all stitches

Row 9: *K3, K2tog* repeat to end

Row 10: K all stitches

Row 11: *K2, K2tog* repeat to end

Row 12:  K all stitches

Row 13: *K2tog* repeat to end (8 stitches)

Break yarn and pul through loops.  Bind off.

Earflaps

CO 18 stitches

Rows 1-11: Stockinette stitch (Purl odd rows and knit even rows)

Row 12: K2tog, K 14, K2tog

Row 13: Purl

Row 14: K2tog, K12, K2tog

Row 15: Purl

Row 16: K2tog, K10, K2tog

Row 17: Purl

Row 18: K2tog, K8, K2tog

Row 19: Purl

Row 20: K2tog, K6, K2tog

Row 21: Purl

Row 22: K2tog, K4, K2tog

Row 23: Purl

Row 24: K2tog, K2, K2tog

Row 25: Purl

Row 26: Knit 

Row 27: Bind off

These make longer earflaps than a typical hat.  As you see from the photo, Benjamin's have the same look.  

I hope your enjoy my version of the Benjamin Bunny hat.  I'm sure the little one you're creating it for will too.

Keep being awesome!
Laura

Location, location, location

Yesterday I took part in the first annual car show and vendor sale in Elmira.  Every year the local businesses put on a sidewalk sale.  This year, in an attempt to bring more people to downtown, they also added a car show with entertainment on Friday evening and vendors for the 3 days of the sale.  Given it is the first year, setting up as a vendor was free.  I figured why not?!  Even if I sold very little, or nothing at all, I was out for exposure.

Originally I didn't think I could make the car show on Friday.  I was happily surprised to have my calendar open up.  It seemed to me the car show event would bring the most people.  And it did!  The car show was a success for the first year with 120 cars displayed and quite a crowd.  Unfortunately, that crowd stayed primarily in the middle of the street occasionally leaving to head towards retail stores to check out the deals.  And I wasn't near a retail store.  

Great to see a good turn out!

They had placed me in front of the bank hoping to draw people further down the street.  It was a great thought but perhaps would have been better with more than little ol' me and my 6 foot table which looked tiny compared to the front of the bank.

Pretty quiet down my way :)

In the end, I did get a few people who came by and sold a few items. It isn't an experience I regret in the least but I did choose not to head back on Saturday.  The experience highlighted the importance of location.  

The experience also gave me a chance to look at my set-up and re-evaluate.  Just before the show I purchased some vintage suitcases which I love and intend to reuse again.  I would like to look at adding some additional layers and height to the display.  As well as remember my table cloth next time :)

Hmmm.  Needs some work

Off to Pinterest I go for some craft show booth display ideas!  I see some blog posts on creating craft show displays in the future.

Keep being awesome!
Laura

Just a couple of the cars at the show