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We invite you to schedule a visit to discover an early learning center that Fort Wayne parents and children are raving about. Experience our engaging classrooms, try out our playgrounds and meet our welcoming team.
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We believe that the best surroundings for childhood learning are safe, supportive and engaged. With completely secure entry systems equipped throughout our facility, you will be assured that your kid is in a safe environment to grow and learn. Plus, our webcams make it easy for you to check in on your child's progress every single day.
Quality education is a pivotal ingredient to development and success later in life. Each of us has a role to play in helping our communities thrive, especially when it comes to education, which is why it's important to recognize those who help foster a love of learning… Read More
Wondering what to do with all those leftover pumpkins from Halloween? Turn them into a lesson about harvest of course! Harvest time usually happens in the fall. It is a time to celebrate a year of hard work and signifies a time to rest (winter) before planting again in the spring. In fact, people from various cultures all over the world celebrate the gathering of the harvest… Read More
Literacy is everywhere: reading labels on shelves, reading a story to your child, writing or scribbling in journals, pointing out letters that are visible in the world around you. There are many things that you do every day, probably without even thinking about them, which promote early literacy at home… Read More
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Airline Ground Services
The focus of this issue, appropriately for Summer, is on growth. Airlines, ground handlers and service providers are seizing new markets, new opportunities, new routes and new technology. This is all in the face of decreasing budgets, shrinking turn-around times, and growing passenger numbers.
We take a look at Ireland's flag carrier, Aer Lingus. We also talk to Sky Handling Partner Ltd., an important player in Ireland's ground handling scene.
In light of the 27th IGHC Ground Handling Conference in Kuala Lumpur, we also investigate how ground handlers are exploiting the ever-increasing opportunities to be found in the Asian market.
Publication contents
Handling growth Technology journey starts here Setting standards for safety Hard to handle? More than just cleaning Eyes on the future 35 years of service Bringing background checks to the forefront Growing markets as industry expands Routes to success Best of all worlds Looking back looking forward Ground handlers: what's next? Strategic partners
- Latest Industry News
Lufthansa Technik and Georgian Airways celebrate 15 years of cooperation
Moscow Domodedovo Airport: the Best in Russia
Delta Orders 50 Airbus Widebody Aircraft
Jettainer welcomes first African airline client ECAir
- EVA International Events
The 3rd Aviation IT Conference & Exhibition to be held at The Four Seasons Hotel in Dublin Ireland, from 25th-26th November 2014
Following on from it's successful launch, the 2nd event brought together aviation IT specialists and suppliers from around the world to discuss the latest technology and its importance for the industry.
The second Aviation IT Conference & Expo, held at the Marriot London Heathrow, comprised two stream line sessions running simultaneously on Airports IT and Airline/Handlers.
The event brought together aviation IT specialists and suppliers from around the world to discuss the latest technology and its importance for the industry.


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Seniors Christmas Luncheon
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We are looking for volunteers to help in many different areas (Citizen Corps -- Beautification-- Planning Commission--Etc.) If you would be willing to volunteer your time, please click here to enter some basic information


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Athens, Greece
5 Dorou str., Athens, 10432, Greece – Show map
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Alma's staff speaks: English, Greek
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24-Hour Front Desk
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All children are welcome.
All children under 2 years stay free of charge when using existing beds.
There is no capacity for extra beds in the room.
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Family-run Hotel Solomou is a centrally located Athens hotel, a 4-minute walk from Omonia Square and walking distance from the Acropolis. The rooftop terrace has a view of the Lycabettus Hill.
Score from 510 reviews Good
Only 55 yards from Metaxourghio Metro station, Nafsika Hotel is situated close to the National Museum in Athens, and within walking distance of the Acropolis, Plaka and the Monastiraki flea market.
Score from 522 reviews Good
Hotel Neos Olympos is a neoclassical building, in the center of Athens, 220 yards from the central train station and metro. A buffet breakfast is served and free Wi-Fi is provided throughout the...
Score from 973 reviews Good
The Alassia is a deluxe, Athenian boutique hotel with a prominent location just 215 yards from Omonia metro station and within a short walk of Syntagma Square and the Monastiraki area.
Score from 933 reviews Good
good price location near city centre and metro
poor facility cigarete smell everywhere a lot of noise also at night small bed, dirty blanket very calm room (in the end of October) terrinble surroundind, frightening building under construction opposite the hotel poor wifi signal in the public room although it was declared
This place is vile, walked in to a guy smoking an the building stank. First booked 1 bed room was told I would have to wait for my next day to get in it as they double booked or something. So was told what room I was in wasnt shown just told then as soon as I opened the door there was a bed bug on the wall, I lifted the sheet to find two there aswell. Walked in shower if you can call a dirty poo stained hole in the floor where im supposed to wash a shower. It was now 12 am so wasnt going to be walking around athens by myself that time to find a new hotel. I then killed at least 25 bed bugs on the bed, wall, shower, door and pillow. I went down saying my 4 day stay will now be 1 night an I want the rest of my money back he said ok but he cant do nothing now wait till tomorrow to speak to manager. Which I did wrapping myself and luggage up so no bugs could infest my belongings. Worst night sleep if you call waking up every 30 mins to flick a bed bug off my pillow a sleep. Next day went dowm stairs and kindly enough the manager did refund me for the next 3 days but said something offensive and angry in greek about english people as I left. Always nice tohear. So dont stay here , if you want bed bugs in your clothes for your future travels go ahead but otherwise avoid. Spend that extra on a nice hotel Athens is well worth it.
Prix Localisation
Chambre vieillotte Rue sale Service minimum
Cheap. Nice restaurant across the street. Few blocks away from metro.
I booked this hotel despite some bad reviews. Travelled with my two kids and had booked one room for three persons. Arriving late at night the receptionist says he hasn't any three person-room, but offer a double and a single room on different floors. I'm not very happy to leave my kids alone in such a place, som I said that I wanted to sleep in the same room as them. If he could find a solution - maybe one extra bed in the double room? "That's your problem, not mine", the receptionist replied. That line summes it all. I took the two rooms, and carried the mattress down one floor in the evening an back next morning. Poor facilities, smell off cigarette smoke all over the place.
Can check-in earlier (in my case 6 am)
cockroaches in the toilet, Feces tainted WC, Dusty floor, No air conditioning (It is summer and 36 degrees), Pointless Balcony, Smelly room.
Its dirty, air conditioning is not working. Far too expensive, even for the small price. Not to be recommended.
Hot room, no aircon
The location was near to the centre of town and the markets.
Air conditioner didn't work. Extremely hot, we didn't have one goodnight's sleep there. Very noisy outside. Shower curtain and rail was broken. Cockroaches in bathroom. ..
The fact that we need to pay extra for aircond was frustrating and when we decided to pay extra, the remote wasn't working and we had to sleep so uncomfortably the whole night. I should have asked to change for another room!
There wasn't a thing I liked about this hotel.
I realize Alma is a low budget hotel, but We would never stay there again. We arrived late at night, and were put in a room where the toilet didn't even work, in fact it hadn't worked for some time, because there were parts missing from the system, so they just turned off the water. The room was filthy, and looked like it hadn't been swept for some time. There was a great deal of noise that seemed to come from the plumbing system in every wall. It is a very run down, and badly maintained hotel.
Location was excellent and reception staff was very kind.
it was smelly, cleanliness required more attention. aircondition was not good and washroom shower was broken.
Nothing was worst place I ever been in, attitude is zero, every response was no.
Everything. Nothing worked. Ie, wifi, a/c, water dripped, lift was very slow, bed rock hard, hot noisy and uncomfortable. For 20 euro plus 22 in cab to get there. Plus food is terrible for the price, better off paying double in main Athens near fascillities.
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Electronics companies came out on top this quarter. Learn which branded video campaign drew 49 million views in one quarter alone.
When costumed characters come knocking (via Twitter), Honda will respond with Vine videos and a link for a sweet treat.
Viewers are glued to mobile devices, and connected TVs are coming on strong, so advertisers can't stick with purely desktop campaigns.
Do you want to entertain your viewers or do you want to educate them? Branded video can do either (but only one type will get your agency a Cannes Lion).
Pixability goes programmatic with a platform for buying TrueView ads, monitoring results in real-time, and measuring campaign performance.
Attention spans are short, but video ad breaks are long. Want to keep viewers engaged? Give them extra-short video ads.
How-to videos can go a lot way in making potential customers comfortable, showing them how to use a product and the results they can expect.


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Selena Gomez May Go on World Tour in 2013
Selena Gomez fans 'round the world rejoice! The singer and actress may be coming to a town near you in the new future!
Selena Gomez fans 'round the world rejoice! The singer and actress may be coming to a town near you in the new future!
Justin Bieber and Selena Gomez have broken up yet again, and reports suggest another man got in the mix -- but not in the way you're thinking. (Of course not, because that would make them remotely interesting.)
Is there trouble in paradise again for Justin Bieber and Selena Gomez? Rumor has it that Gomez's ex, Nick Jonas, may be coming between the couple -- but not in the way you're probably thinking.
Break up? What break up? Justin Bieber and Selena Gomez were spotted on another date night, this time in Los Angeles. Fresh off their Times Square date last week, the couple was snapped leaving an L.A. restaurant on Sunday, Dec. 2, holding hands, which is not behavior that a couple who is no longer together engages in.
Justin Bieber told Oprah Winfrey during his 'Oprah's Next Chapter' interview that he loved girlfriend Selena Gomez for a variety of reasons, but the main one was her big, generous heart. That heart is on full, open display in this video, where the singer/actress met with a fan and made her Make-a-Wish Foundation dream come true.
How does Justin Bieber come down from the high of performing a sold-out show at Madison Square Garden? On Wednesday, the Biebs followed his concert by taking Selena Gomez out for a late-night date to play video games and ride roller coasters in Times Square.
Selena Gomez and Katy Perry opted for dark-hued gowns at the UNICEF Snowflake Ball, held in NYC last night (Nov. 27.) Darker colors are usually perfect for this time of year, when it's chillier, and these shades convey a sense of warmth and romance. Both pop stars looked stunning in their gowns, even if one look had us scratching our heads.
Selena Gomez sizzles in red -- on her lips and on her hips -- in the outtake photos from her Glamour 'Women of the Year' cover story.
Ay yi yi! Just when we thought things were going well in Jelena-ville, Justin Bieber and Selena Gomez were again the subject of a whole lot of drama on Friday night (Nov. 16) -- and there are photos to somewhat prove it. The couple were rumored to have gotten into a massive fight, but we're hesitant to buy it.
Of all the Jelena rumors we've been hearing lately, we're taking this one with the biggest grain of salt. That said, reports are circulating that One Direction member Niall Horan has had his eyes on Selena Gomez since she dumped Justin Bieber -- even though they may not be over after all.


text: My boyfriend and I came in for breakfast and to get a bunch of breakfast items to take back to our villa for family. We bought stuffers, (these massive, amazing bread things stuffed with ham & swiss or other options) muffins, bagels, mango bread, and banana bread. Everything was really delicious! They were so accommodating for our walk in large... More


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TUESDAY, June 12 (HealthDay News) -- The use of insulin glargine to normalize fasting blood glucose levels is not associated with improvements in cardiovascular outcomes compared with standard care, according to a study published online June 11 in the New England Journal of Medicine to coincide with presentation at the American Diabetes Association's 72nd Scientific Sessions, held from June 8 to 12 in Philadelphia.
Hertzel C. Gerstein, M.D., from McMaster University and Hamilton Health Sciences in Canada, and colleagues from the Outcome Reduction with an Initial Glargine Intervention trial randomized 12,537 adults (mean age, 63.5 years) with cardiovascular risk factors and impaired fasting glucose, impaired glucose tolerance, or type 2 diabetes to receive insulin glargine or standard care. The coprimary outcomes were nonfatal myocardial infarction, nonfatal stroke, or death from cardiovascular causes (first coprimary outcome) and these events plus revascularization or hospitalization for heart failure (second coprimary outcome). The authors also looked at between-group differences in microvascular outcomes, incident diabetes, hypoglycemia, weight, and cancers.
During a median of 6.2 years of follow-up, the researchers found that there were similar rates of incident cardiovascular outcomes for the insulin-glargine and standard-care groups (first coprimary outcome, 2.94 and 2.85 per 100 person-years, respectively [P = 0.63] and second coprimary outcome, 5.52 and 5.28 per 100 person-years, respectively [P = 0.27]). Approximately three months after therapy was stopped, new diabetes was diagnosed in 30 and 35 percent, respectively, of participants without baseline diabetes (odds ratio, 0.80; 95 percent confidence interval, 0.64 to 1.00; P = 0.05). The rates of severe hypoglycemia per 100 person-years were 1.00 and 0.31, respectively. In the insulin-glargine group the median weight increased by 1.6 kg, whereas in the standard-care group weight declined by 0.5 kg. No significant difference was noted in the incidence of cancers between the groups.
"When used to target normal fasting plasma glucose levels for more than six years, insulin glargine had a neutral effect on cardiovascular outcomes and cancers," the authors write. "Although it reduced new-onset diabetes, insulin glargine also increased hypoglycemia and modestly increased weight."
The study was supported by Sanofi; several authors disclosed financial ties to pharmaceutical companies, including Sanofi-Aventis, which manufactures insulin glargine.
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text: The Frank Zappa wiki last edited by MisterAnderson on 09/29/13 09:30AM View full history Frank Zappa was a musician noted for his experiental rock and jazz, both in his solo career and with the band, the Mothers of Invention. He spoke out against the censorship of music and art, which brought him at odds with Tipper Gore, wife of former U.S. Vice President Al Gore, and her organization, the Parents Music Resource Center (PMRC). He testified in front of the United States Senate regarding sexuality and alledged Satan-worship in rock music. He died at the age of 52 from prostate cancer.He is the father of Ahmet, Diva, Dweezil, and Moon Unit.In comics, he first appeared in Fluide Glacial #3. Revolutionary Comics reprinted Rock N' Roll Comics #32 - Frank Zappa as Frank Zappa: Viva la Bizarre, a posthumous tribute to the musician.


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Nov 19 |
Arapahoe Basin, Aspen Highlands, Aspen Mountain, Buttermilk, Copper Mountain, Crested Butte, Deals, Dining and Nightlife, Events, Loveland, Monarch, Powderhorn, Purgatory, Ski Granby Ranch, Snowmass, Steamboat, Sunlight, Telluride, Winter Park, Wolf Creek |
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As the days grow shorter and the snow gets deeper, resorts are ready to ring in the winter holiday season in Colorado Ski Country USA (CSCUSA) with lodging packages, fun family activities,...
Oct 23 |
Aspen Highlands, Aspen Mountain, Buttermilk, Crested Butte, Deals, Powderhorn, Purgatory, Silverton, Snowmass, Steamboat, Sunlight, Telluride, Wolf Creek |
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It's a great time to be a Colorado skier. Whether you buy a full season pass at your home mountain (often with reciprocal free days at nearby resorts) or pick up 4 packs and discount...
Sep 19 |
Arapahoe Basin, Deals, Eldora, Loveland, Monarch, Powderhorn, Ski Cooper, Ski Granby Ranch, Sunlight |
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This is what skiing in Colorado is all about. Our mountain correspondent Jules took a visit last winter to Sunlight Mountain Resort. Featuring hassle-free access, no lift lines, great snow,...
Aug 27 |
Deals, Powderhorn |
Colorado Snow Sensei |
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Powderhorn Mountain Resort (PMR) is excited to announce the launch of season pass sales and new learn to ski and ride products, August 29 – 31, 2014, at the Epic Rides/Grand Junction...
Aug 15 |
Arapahoe Basin, Aspen Highlands, Aspen Mountain, Buttermilk, Copper Mountain, Deals, Eldora, Loveland, Monarch, Powderhorn, Resorts, Snowmass, Telluride, Winter Park |
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Can you believe that the 2014-15 ski season is barely two months away? With Labor Day weekend signaling the end of summer, Colorado skiers and riders can find significant savings on ski...
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Lee, Masson share North Texas LPGA Shootout lead
Meena Lee shot a season-best 64 that included a nine-hole stretch without a par and Caroline Masson had her second straight 67 on Friday to share the lead in the North Texas LPGA Shootout.
Tee times: Wells Fargo Championship, Round 3
Here are the third-round tee times and pairings for the Wells Fargo Championship at Quail Hollow Club in Charlotte, N.C.
5 Things: Cabrera, Flores share Wells Fargo lead
Just as he did a day prior, Angel Cabrera used a run of birdies to remain atop the leaderboard Friday at the Wells Fargo Championship. At 9 under, Cabrera is tied with Martin Flores for the lead at Quail Hollow Club.
U.S. extends lead to 12-6 at Concession Cup
The U.S. won seven of the nine four-ball matches Friday to take a 12-6 lead after two days of the Concession Cup.
Tracker: Cabrera, Flores lead; Lefty, McIlroy drop
Among a top-heavy field that includes Phil Mickelson and Rory McIlroy, both of whom will start Friday under par, it's Angel Cabrera who begins the second round of the Wells Fargo Championship with the lead at Quail Hollow. Track the action right here!
ANNIKA Award Watch List: May 2, 2014
As the spring season progresses, Golfweek is monitoring the race for the inaugural ANNIKA Award presented by 3M. The award is presented to the best female college player, as voted on by players, coaches and select media.
De Jonge bounces back with 62 at Wells Fargo
After shooting 8-over 80 in the first round of the Wells Fargo Championship, Brendon de Jonge bounced back with a second-round 62 Friday at Quail Hollow Club.
Haskins Award Watch List: May 2, 2014
Stanford's Patrick Rodgers and Georgia Tech's Ollie Schneiderjans add a pair of victories to their impressive 2013-14 resumes and keep a lock on the Nos. 1 and 2 positions in the Haskins Award Watch List.


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Kanye Kame
Stilts, FINALLY mm "i' Zii! ,
lliw', KAMEHAMEHA
lliw', KAMEHAMEHA
Top Rated Controversial Best Lowest Rated Newest Per page:Order:
What do you think? Give us your opinion. Anonymous comments allowed.
#16 - CiaranPM (08/20/2011) [+] (2 replies)
#42 - lordlucifer (08/20/2011) [+] (24 replies)
#25 - Womens Study Major (08/20/2011) [+] (1 reply)
when we were kids me and my brother used to pretend we were saiyans all the time and went around shouting kamehameha thinkining that it would work eventually. it used to weird everyone out but i guess you could say it was a fundamental part of our childhood. anyway last year my brother got cancer and the chemo ****** with him pretty hard, when i went to visit him in the hospital he asked me to do one last kamehameha before he died. my brother wasnt gunna die but i knew that i had to give him the best kamehameha ever if i wanted him to feel better. so i took a long hard breath and yelled as loud as i can KAME-HAME-HAAAAAAAA!!!! my brother didnt say anything he just stared at me. i left his room and a lot of people stared but i didnt care. a few seconds passed and my brother opened the door, got on the floor, everybody walk the dinosaur!
#10 - therealbigfoot (08/20/2011) [-]
he doesnt know what dragon ball z is, and bet you hasnt watched a single hp movie
#1 - AwesomeAnonomous (08/19/2011) [-]
#7 - Womens Study Major (08/19/2011) [-]
http://www.you t [url deleted]
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tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-72161856797614276372014-11-29T01:00:29.111ZCrafts from the CwtchSarah ~ Crafts from the Cwtchhttp://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-7216185679761427637.post-75897067115573627022014-11-27T23:34:00.000Z2014-11-27T23:36:23.044ZThankful (that it's almost over...)
 I have to tell you that it's been an 'interesting' week - yes, that's a euphemism - I can't help but wonder if there is some madness in the suddenly wintery weather. Regardless, in the spirit of my many Stateside readers enjoying a day of thanks I re-wrote this post to give it a more positive spin and I already feel a bit better - I need to include some points of gratitude in my daily journaling. So here we go...

I'm thankful that I finished a mini hot water bottle cover using the Scheepjes Stone Washed XL scraps from my Cosy Colourblock Shawl the day before Little Miss' eardrum went pop. She's fine now, but has been in a lot of discomfort. (This cute little version will be available as a written pattern on the blog next week and you can pick up the mini hot water bottles on Amazon for around £2 if, like me, you don't have many shops around.)

I'm thankful to Ysolda for her excellent summary of the "VATMOSS debacle and the possible options to work around it. If you have missed this, it's something that you should be aware of as it will be sure to have a significant impact on the knitting/crochet community and the way that we buy and sell patterns and digital content. It will inevitably lead to higher pattern prices for all of us 'Inter-Knitters'*.

I'm so very thankful for my lovely mum who walked the dog, took My Boy to school AND managed to do some test / sample knitting for a few of the new patterns that are nearing completion - oh yes, I've been busy! (Just not sure if I can afford to sell them - see point above!)

I'm thankful that there's a lot of exciting things to come in the next few weeks... if only I can catch up with myself.

 I do hope that all those who celebrate have had a lovely Thanksgiving.
 ----------
 *Is that phrase Cwtch-speak, or is it a 'thing'? It's shorthand for "Internet-savvy-knitters".
 Sarah ~ Crafts from the Cwtchhttp://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-7216185679761427637.post-44705666559252535812014-11-24T15:10:00.000Z2014-11-24T16:45:55.601ZEntrelac Part 1: What is Entrelac?
 When Wink came up with the idea of an entrelac project for our "Unravel yarn" (if you don't know what I'm talking about, see this post) my immediate thought was that I didn't have a clue how to start knitting with this technique. As Wink hadn't tried Entrelac crochet either, it seemed like the perfect excuse for us both to learn new skills. First I wanted to know exactly what it is...

 The most traditional modular knitting is Entrelac, which consists of rectangles laying at right angles to one another, creating a basketweave effect. The edges of the fabric are usually made up of triangles that nest into the top, bottom and sides, although these can be omitted to create an interesting serrated effect. The modules can be made in Stockinette, Garter Stitch or any other number of other stitch patterns, and /or in contrast colours.

 - June Hemmons Hyatt, The Principles of Knitting

 So Entrelac (which literally means 'interlaced') is constructed in tiers rather than rows, and each tier slants in the opposite direction to the one below. This really interested me, and as there are lots of small rows within each tier, it's another great use for 'knitting backwards'. I decided the best thing to do to understand the technique would be to make a swatch, and I set about knitting this....

 Wishing to save the 'real' yarn for the project, I chose an inexpensive gradient (Drops sock yarn of some sort, I've lost the ball band so can't be more specific) so that it would be easier to see how the tiers are built up - I think you should be able to work it out from the picture from the changes as the colours blend from orange to black. The arrows in this version of the same photo should help to illustrate it further...

 Despite looking a little complicated, it turns out that it's pretty straightforward and after working on lots of other projects since starting this swatch, I'm now ready to get started with the "real" yarn. In the next post, I'll show you how to make the foundation triangles (illustrated in blue in the picture above) and tell you why I think knitting in the round is going to be quicker than knitting flat... which gives you a clue about my project! Hope to see you back here for that.

 Don't forget to check out Wink's latest post on entrelac crochet, which can be found here.

 Additional resources: (including some affiliate links)

 If you can't wait to learn more about this technique, you may like:

Online class - Entrelac Knitting Class on Craftsy

Book - 'Entrelac' by Rosemary Drysdale (pictured)

Patterns - There are many entrelac patterns on Ravelry - I've sorted this list by 'most popular'

 Sarah ~ Crafts from the Cwtchhttp://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-7216185679761427637.post-38386518055392864402014-11-20T12:14:00.004Z2014-11-20T12:14:45.774ZAll I want for Christmas.... Giveaway!
 It has become customary to do two things on this blog at Christmas - to publish a Festive Gift Guide, and to give some lovely things away! The FGG starts next week, but I am delighted to show you the gorgeous goodies that you can win if you are randomly selected....

 I know many of you spotted the colourful KnitPro Marblz - limited edition - handcrafted needles which I used to photograph the Backwards Bobble Tutorial. They are part of a stunning interchangeable set I was sent to try out and which I will be sending to one lucky reader! The collection includes eight pairs of Marblz interchangeables ranging from 3.5 to 8mm, cables, cable connectors, a needle gauge and a lovely pen.

 If you are familiar with KnitPro, you'll already know the quality you can expect. These come with black cables (I think they are the same as the Karbonz cables) and can be used with all your other KnitPro accessories, which are widely available. I hadn't tried acrylic tips before, and I'd heard that acrylic can be a bit 'squeeky' but I didn't have that experience knitting cotton/acrylic yarn for the tutorial - in fact the experience was very smooth. These needles are so pretty they might make you want to cast on a project in every size... in co-ordinating colours. They sell for £79.99 in my local shop, and you can get them for £59.99 on Amazon.

 Of course, if you win them, you'll want something new to knit. I've chosen my very favourite shade of the incredibly soft and squishy DK Merino from the Yarn Stories range (pictured) and you will get 2 balls of that with your needles - I'm not telling you which colour it is as it's always nice to have a surprise - you'll have to take a look and guess. Because good things should always come in threes, you can also choose one of the patterns from my Ravelry store.

 To enter the giveaway, all you need to do is to leave a comment on this post telling me what YOU most want for Christmas! Be sure to leave your Ravelry user name or email address - if you don't do this your entry will not count. The closing date is Friday 5th December - which means that the parcel has a good chance of getting to *most* places before Christmas, provided I get your address quickly. If the winner is in the Far East, Australia or New Zealand it might be a New Year Gift instead.

 Good luck everyone!

 Sarah ~ Crafts from the Cwtchhttp://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-7216185679761427637.post-12144695919036303592014-11-18T17:18:00.000Z2014-11-18T17:18:03.656ZRandom Discovery of the Day (and trip-planning)
 It seems that everyday I learn something new and interesting from "social networking", and today is no exception. Today I learned about this red lacquer box....

Source: Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam

 If you haven't seen it before, the clue is in the caption. This box belonged to Vincent Van Gogh who kept a selection of yarns which he used to work out the colour palette for different paintings. If I ever knew this from A-level Art, it has long been forgotten (actually, most of it has been forgotten!) and I found it quite fascinating when @vikkipwillis posted a picture of the box on Instagram, wich prompted me to look up more information. I found lots of interesting posts like this, this and this. (Thank you, Vikki!)

 The original box is still in the Van Gogh museum in Amsterdam which seems like another good reason to plan a trip - the last time I visited the city, the museum was closed. I now have a growing list of good reasons to go again, and feel I should start researching yarn shops there too. Have you ever been to the museum? Did you see this box? Do you have any recommendations for a 'yarn crawl' through Amsterdam?
 Sarah ~ Crafts from the Cwtchhttp://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-7216185679761427637.post-222679901089565652014-11-17T09:50:00.003Z2014-11-17T09:50:58.055ZCatching up!
 It's been a weekend of catching up. Catching up with My Boy who returned from his first overnight school trip (he enjoyed that more than I did). Catching up with a husband who is always at work (so proud of him). Catching up with the laundry (urgh). Catching up with my projects (yay). There are a few things in progress at the moment, which only those following on Instagram might have seen:

A hotwater bottle cover which I'm improvising from the Scheepjes yarn 'leftovers' from my Cosy Colourblock Shawl. It's only a small one but I like it enough to get more yarn for a standard sized version too, which perhaps defeats the purpose of using up my scraps, but that's the way it goes sometimes.

A new 'multi-purpose' design which should be ready to test later this week. It's a slight departure from my usual style with glamorous lace and sparkles - in fact, I felt compelled to paint my nails to start knitting one of the variants.

The entrelac project I mentioned last week - which I will show you in a separate post, along with a tutorial.

 In fact the only thing I didn't catch up on this weekend was this blog (I'd planned to post this update yesterday)! Stay tuned as there are various things coming up in the next week or so, including a fabulous giveaway and the entrelac tutorial I mentioned. In the meantime I'd better get back to my knitting - those sparkles aren't going to knit and block themselves, are they?

 Sarah ~ Crafts from the Cwtchhttp://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-7216185679761427637.post-24243578981679108942014-11-13T09:00:00.000Z2014-11-13T10:11:43.612ZFree Pattern: Colourblock Shawl

 Last week I showed you my finished Colourblock Shawl, and I've finally had time to write up the pattern. It's a really simple design and the side-to-side construction means you can simply bind off whenever you want, and you'll have the perfect triangle shape. Because of this 'bias' construction, the fabric is stretchy and will wrap and drape beautifully. The Scheepjes Stone Washed XL yarn has been chosen to compliment the shape, and is incredibly soft and snuggly.

 The shawl starts with a single stitch and gradually increases by one new stitch on every right side row, until it's to the size you'd like or you run out of yarn. When you're done with the knitting just bind off and add a fringe.

  Following these instructions will give you exactly the same shawl as mine, but you can change the colours or change the stripes as often as you like to get your own unique shawl. I've added a project page on Ravelry in the hopes that you'll upload your pictures and I'll get to see what you come up with.

 You will need:

1 x Scheepjes Stone Washed XL in Amazonite (Colour A)

2 x Scheepjes Stone Washed XL in Smokey Quartz (Col B)

1 x Scheepjes Stone Washed XL in Lemon Quartz (Col C)

4 x Scheepjes Stone Washed XL in Coral (Col D)

For the fringe: 1 x Scheepjes Stone Washed in Moon Stone - note this is not the XL, but the sport weight

6mm circular knitting needles at least 80cm long (used to knit flat)

Crochet hook for attaching the fringe

 Instructions:

Using Col A, cast on 1 st

(RS) Kfb = 2 sts

(WS) Knit

(RS) Kfb, K to end = increase of 1 st

(WS) Knit

Repeat rows 4 and 5, changing colours as follows,

Col A - work to end of ball, finishing after a WS row / 50g

Col B - work in this colour for 65g, finishing after a WS row

Stripes of Col C and B - work (4 rows of Col C, then 2 rows of Col B) four times, carrying the yarn along the increase edge

Work in Col D until the shawl is to the desired size or you have used 4 balls / 200g of this yarn (whichever is the greater)

Bind off loosely and sew in ends

Attach fringe evenly along the bottom edges, as pictured

 I have hardly taken this off since it was finished (good job it can be machine washed), and it's had so many compliments (from both men and women, including strangers in the street). I really hope you enjoy making and wearing it too.

 Sarah ~ Crafts from the Cwtchhttp://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-7216185679761427637.post-13525542991413277032014-11-10T12:00:00.000Z2014-11-10T12:00:01.196ZQ: What's backwards and interlaced?
 Before I give you the answer to my question, I should tell you how this new project came about. Back in February when I went to Unravel with my friend (Crochet-blogger extraordinaire) Wink, we both bought the exact same skein of yarn (except hers was pre-wound one way, and mine the other). At the time we both happened to be wearing projects we'd made from Kauni Rainbow yarn - mine was the Whippoorwill my mum made "famous" and Wink's was a beautiful crochet shawl, which was completely different and equally eye-catching. Here they are together...

 The yarn we both bought was not totally dissimilar to the Kauni - another rustic 100% wool yarn with a gradient. But this time, much more subtle and only 100g. We thought it might be fun to make something similar with them, but on purpose this time...

 The yarn has sat in both our stashes since then, and we thought about what it might like to become. A little while ago Wink came up with the idea of something using entrelac. I hadn't tried it but thought it sounded fun and set about trying out the technique... which turned out to be perfect for backwards knitting! So over the next few weeks, my skein will be turned into something using entrelac knitting and Wink will be using entrelac crochet. At the end of it all we'll be publishing both patterns on our blogs for you (they'll be free).

 Wink has written about our collaboration today too, and we'll post periodic updates on our progress, which will include some tips and tutorials (I'll be showing you how to incorporate the backwards knitting technique from this tutorial, so you don't have to keep turning the work). I'm really excited about this, it should be great fun - if you haven't tried it before, it is much easier than it looks! Stay tuned...
 Sarah ~ Crafts from the Cwtchhttp://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-7216185679761427637.post-8715435341888687962014-11-09T20:12:00.004Z2014-11-09T20:13:32.384ZWabi-sabi

 Wabi-sabi represents a comprehensive Japanese world view or aesthetic centred on the acceptance of transience and imperfection. The aesthetic is sometimes described as one of beauty that is "imperfect, impermanent, and incomplete". It is a concept derived from the Buddhist teaching of the three marks of existence, specifically impermanence, the other two being suffering and emptiness or absence of self-nature. Characteristics of the wabi-sabi aesthetic include asymmetry, asperity (roughness or irregularity), simplicity, economy, austerity, modesty, intimacy and appreciation of the ingenuous integrity of natural objects and processes.

 Source: Wikipedia

 The term 'wabi-sabi' is new to me, but the concepts it describes are not. In the midst of our autumn, it is the perfect term to describe the beauty of nature and the fading colours which will soon give way to the desolation of winter. When I learned this term, I immediately went back to tag many of the photos on my Instagram feed, as I realised I've been capturing moments of wabi-sabi for a long time without having a name for it.

 You may have noticed that there has been no mention of novels over the last couple of weeks, and that's because I've been obsessively watching (streaming via Amazon) the TV show "The Big C ". That too is wabi-sabi. If you haven't heard of it (I hadn't) it's a comedy-drama about a 42 year old wife/ mother who is diagnosed with terminal cancer, and who - over four short series - seeks to live life to the full while she still can.

 With such a premise, it was never destined to have a happy ending but I found myself laughing, crying and generally loving the eccentric cast of characters which include stunning performances from leads Laura Linney and Oliver Platt. It's wabi-sabi in the way it captures the imperfections of family life and relationships and also in the portrayal of the inevitability of the life-cycle. Touching, uplifting and great TV, which has accompanied a great deal of knitting. I'd definitely recommend giving it a try. (The affiliate banner below will take you to a 30 day free trial of the streaming service I've been using. If you try it out, I also really liked the Amazon exclusive show Transparent - if you are not offended by adult themes and gender issues, that is another one to try out.)

 There's a lot planned for the coming week including a new collaborative project which I'm pretty excited to tell you about. I'm also working on a sample for a new design which is distracting me from the reality of My Boy heading off on his first 'overnight' school trip - he's excited but I'm in a bit of a tizz. I'll be back soon to tell you about the new projects and in the meantime, I'd love to hear any wabi-sabi moments you'd like to share.

 Sarah ~ Crafts from the Cwtchhttp://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-7216185679761427637.post-74342650001600561802014-11-06T16:18:00.000Z2014-11-10T13:27:58.191ZColourblock Shawl Ta-dah!
 Overnight, the first frost of the year appeared and it is suddenly feeling very cold. For this reason I'm incredibly pleased to have finished this most snuggly of shawls (you can see the other posts about it here). My friend Charlotte kindly stood outside on a very cold and windy day (again) for me to take pictures - thank you Charlotte.

 I always intended that wearing this shawl would be like wearing a big hug, and can confirm that this is indeed the case.

 Deciding on the colour, size and location of the fringe probably took almost as long as knitting it. I eventually went with the sport weight Stone Washed in a contrasting colour and it has lots of movement which I really like, but wasn't very easy to photograph in the wind!

 The shawl worked up quickly and easily between other projects, and was very relaxing to make - it's designed so that you can just keep knitting until it's the size you want, and really I could have kept going as I was enjoying it so much. I love it!

 If you like it too, I'll be posting the free pattern here next week [on November 13th], but in the meantime I've been tipped off (by Chrissy - thank you) that the Scheepjes Stone Washed XL yarn I used is currently on offer at Deramores. If you're thinking of making one, this is the supplies list so you can stock up:

4 x Stone Washed XL in Coral

1 x Stone Washed XL in Amazonite

1 x Stone Washed XL in Lemon Quartz

2 x Stone Washed XL in Smokey Quartz

For the fringe: 1 x Stone Washed in Moon Stone - note this is not the XL, but the sport weight

6mm circular knitting needles at least 80cm long (used to knit flat)

 Incidentally, I noticed from this photo that there appears to be some variation in the colours (which were of the same dye lots) but when knitting it, photographing and wearing it, I didn't notice this at all. Perhaps it's a trick of the lense? If you are bothered by this sort of thing, it may be worth alternating balls every few rows on bigger projects... just in case.

 Sarah ~ Crafts from the Cwtchhttp://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-7216185679761427637.post-56257708749579240382014-11-05T14:54:00.000Z2014-11-05T14:54:12.594ZTutorial - Knitting Backwards: Bobbles

 A few weeks ago I posted a "knitting backwards" tutorial. In it, I outlined the steps for knitting 'backwards', or in other words, purling with the right side facing you, so that you do not need to turn the work. This is a technique that my left-handed mother uses all the time - she knits back and forth like a knitting machine - but I only taught myself to do when I was working on 'Miss Winkle' - a pattern which required frequent turns after only a few stitches. Since then, I have found myself using it for various different projects and thought that I'd share some of the practical applications with you, starting today with bobbles.

 For this example I'm using a bobble with the following instructions: "(k1, p1, k1, p1, k1) into the next stitch, turn, p5, turn, k5, pass four stitches one at a time over the knit stitch to finish the bobble". Without turning the work, it looks like this....

 I've recently finished a project with lots of bobbles, and I can tell you that this made a massive difference to the overall speed with which I could knit them. It also saved the various colours I was using from getting tangled up with frequent turns.

 I have a few other 'backwards knitting' tutes to share, but I'd love to know what else you use this technique for. Oh and if you're fancying those gorgeous knitting needles, they are part of a KnitPro Marblz Interchangeable Needle (Limited Edition) set which I'm going to be telling you about and giving away before Christmas, so stay tuned!
 Sarah ~ Crafts from the Cwtchhttp://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-7216185679761427637.post-49022193357243511142014-11-01T09:55:00.000Z2014-11-01T13:03:20.933ZHandmade Christmas Decoration: Festive Candle Holder (Upcycle)
 It's November already and time to start posting some festive things! It's no coincidence that today's post is part of the Stitch Craft Create Handmade Christmas Decoration blog hop. It contains a short Christmas book review, a free pattern and some exclusive (affiliate) links with a £5 discount code and also a link to some free ebook downloads.

 As part of the 'hop', I was invited to pick my favourite project from the book 'Handmade Scandinavian Christmas' by Hege Barnholt. There is plenty to choose from in a book designed to inspire family Christmas traditions, and it pretty much all appealed to me. I love the simplicity of the Scandinavian style and how items from nature are collected and brought indoors (you already know I love doing this, as evidenced in my most recent pattern) and used as decoration. The book evokes the kind of Christmas I like to imagine we will have - the realities of burned roasties and sprouts that accidentally get left in the pan until the dishes are washed are not a part of it at all.

 If you love walks in the forest, cutting and gluing, feeding the birds, making gifts, knitting, homemade food, beautifully wrapped gifts and making things as a family, then you'll probably love this book too - all of these things are covered. In fact there are over 120 handmade festive craft ideas and they are all relatively simple and inexpensive to do. Plenty are suitable for little helpers. As I type this, we have apples drying in the oven.

 Perhaps it's because I first read the book on a particularly cold and dark evening, but for my own project I decided to use the various "light and warmth" candle ideas as inspiration. This was my starting point...

 With a cupboard full of glass jars (I drive my family mad with them, but they are so useful) this was an easy choice. I love the way the light diffuses through the yarn but wanted to knit something. This is what I came up with...

 I had planned to collect some holly or pretty berries, but as this Halloween was the hottest on record and the roses are still out, there was nothing suitable. You'll have to use your imagination for that! If you'd like to make your own, the following pattern is suitable for any jar which is 15 cm high, but can easily be altered for different sizes, simply by casting on more or less stitches (if using aran yarn and 6mm needles, cast on approximately 1.3 stitches per cm).

 You will need

Standard glass jar is 15 cm high (eg 500g Dolmio jar like mine)

Approximately 15g scrap yarn in Aran weight (I used 15g of Red Heart Soft)

6mm needles

Needle for sewing up

Tea light (the scented variety can be very festive)

Long matches or candle lighter

 Instructions

Using a long tail cast on, cast on 20 sts, leaving extra tails for sewing up

(WS) Purl

(RS) K2, *yo, k2tog; rep from * to last 2 sts, k2

(WS) Purl

(RS) K2, *k2tog, yo; rep from * to last 2 sts, k2

(WS) Purl

(RS) Knit

(WS) Purl

Repeat rows 3 to 8 five times (or until the piece can be stretched around the circumference of the jar, if using a different jar)

Bind off loosely leaving a long tail for sewing up

Sew the cast-on and bind-off edges together (to make a tube) using flat stitch, do not cut the ends yet

Fit the tube over the glass jar and use the tail ends to sew a running stitch around the top of the piece, fitting it to the jar

Place a tea light inside

Optional: tie on holly (or other lovely festive things) with ribbon or string

 You can find full details of the blog hop and the other blogs taking part here. If you like the look of the book, you can find it at the Handmade Christmas shop which includes lots of craft materials and gift ideas as well as ebooks and downloads. (You can also download a selection offree ebooks when you sign up for the newsletter!) If you haven't shopped with them before click the link below and use the code SCC525 to get a £5 discount on your first order over £25.

 If you're visiting for the first time as part of the blog hop, it's lovely to have you here. Before you go, you might like to visit some of my other popular posts via the patterns/recipes and tips/tutes pages. Hope to see you again soon!

 Sarah ~ Crafts from the Cwtchhttp://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-7216185679761427637.post-18011573572410568322014-10-30T09:31:00.000Z2014-10-30T09:31:03.546ZDesign Notebook: Colourblock Shawl in progress
 Last week I showed you the gorgeous Scheepjes Stone Washed XL yarn being used for my colourblock shawl, but I didn't tell you much about the project or how it came about.

 It all started - as it invariably does - with a rough sketch in my Traveler's Notebook back in May. I was clear that the shawl needed to be knit on the bias, that it could be made in any size, and that it would be easy enough to make as a first project, and I wanted it to be snuggly and to have a fringe. The idea was left amongst the pages until a while later when I discovered the perfect yarn...

 It hasn't taken many hours of actual knitting - there have been lots of other priorities and distractions - but it's almost finished. I'm still not 100% sold on the yellow and wish I'd picked purple instead, but I love the texture and it's extremely soft and drapeable.

 With just 100g of orange to add, it's time to decide on the fringe (which may take longer than the knitting as this is a speedy project using 6mm needles). I have kept aside both blue and grey yarn with thoughts of a multi-coloured fringe, but I have a ball of the sport weight Stone Washed in Moon Stone (cream) which is left over from a different project and it's calling to me... so I'm seriously considering that one too. Some experimentation is in order.

 Of the many things I've made this year, this is definitely one of my favourites - I can't wait to wear it. It's really simple but surprisingly effective - exactly the sort of project I love. Hopefully it'll be finished soon and I'll be posting the free pattern here for anyone who'd like to make one.
 Sarah ~ Crafts from the Cwtchhttp://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-7216185679761427637.post-48729117430880609232014-10-27T17:23:00.000Z2014-10-27T18:51:57.938ZGreat knitting ebooks to borrow for free (as part of free trial)
 If you've been visiting these pages for a while, you'll know that I'm a big fan of ebooks and go through quite a lot of them each month. I also like a freebie. As I know many of you are the same, I decided to write this post to tell you what I'm doing to try lots of different books out. It includes affiliate links. You can read more about them here.

 I've been considering the new Kindle Unlimited service since it was launched here a few weeks ago, and initially decided it really wasn't worth the 30 day free trial, for a number of reasons including:

I have *so many* books on my Kindle already that I haven't read (because I buy them when they are on offer or part of the Daily Deal)

I am already a Prime Member and can borrow a book a month as part of that

Lots of the novels I want to read are not included in the Unlimited package

 So I didn't think I'd bother with the the service... but then I did a little research on the 'knitting' (and other craft) books which are included, and discovered that there are some real gems on there... but you do have to look through quite a lot of other books to find them if you don't know exactly what you want. If you're thinking about giving the free trial a go, here are some of the books I think you might like.

 I have the paperback of Sock Knitting Master Class by Ann Budd and it's great! It was recommended to me by several knitters when I was first attempting socks and it has lots of lovely patterns written by some of the best-known sock designers. The paperback is usually about £15 and the Kindle edition over £8. If you're knitting socks for Christmas I'd say that the free trial is worth doing for this book alone. If you're not quite at "master class" level, there's also a beginner sock knitting book by the same author with fabulous reviews (linked below). I've linked to some of the other books I think are worth checking out below too. There are lots more to discover (including Cookie A's Sock Innovation which I also have in paperback and would highly recommend but I didn't put a picture in case you think it's all about socks!).

 How it works: Kindle Unlimited is a subscription service - you pay £7.99 per month to borrow as many books as you like from the Kindle Unlimited library (up to 10 at any time). You don't need a Kindle to read them, and can use any compatible device which has the free Kindle App installed (this includes most tablets, smart phones and computers). In my opinion, these types of books are actually better on a tablet (inc Kindle Fire) or computer as they have a lot of illustrations and images - for this reason I'll be reading them on my iPad.

 Click the images to view the books on Amazon

 When you sign up for the 30 day trial, you can borrow as many of the books from the library as you like (there are lots of different books to choose from including children's books and various genres and these novels with audio narration so you can knit and listen at the same time).

 If you decide that the package isn't worth £7.99 per month, you can cancel the trial before the first payment is taken so you never have to pay anything. If you like the service and wish to continue, then you don't need to do anything, your Amazon account will be charged at the end of the trial. I don't know how long I'll subscribe to the service, but if nothing else, this is a great way to try out some of these books, especially those which cover techniques I haven't tried before (like shadow knitting). If you have any other recommendations from the available books, please leave a comment so I can check them out.

 Tip: If you decide to keep the membership and use Ravelry, you might like to add the books to your Ravelry library so you can easily search the patterns without having to look through all the books.

 Sarah ~ Crafts from the Cwtchhttp://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-7216185679761427637.post-45706906220718798912014-10-23T10:31:00.000+01:002014-10-23T10:35:24.050+01:00Colourblocking
 In the last post I talked about some of the yarn that had arrived in recent weeks for new designs, but what I didn't get around to showing you was the biggest single delivery of all.

 I should perhaps start by saying it was inevitable that a parcel like this would arrive. I follow lots of blogs and had seen so much of this Scheepjes Stone Washed XL (a relatively new yarn from a well established brand) courtesy of the various Dutch crafters I follow. After seeing Wink's beach bag CAL I decided that this might just be the yarn I was looking for to produce something from a sketch I drew months ago. So varying amounts of four different colours were ordered - Coral, Lemon Quartz, Smokey Quartz and Amazonite - and arrived looking like this...

 These are definitely not my usual colours - especially the yellow - but I confess that my order was heavily influenced by the sky here at the start of Autumn. It changes so much throughout the day - starting out blue, turning to grey and then giving a flash of sun in the mid-afternoon, ready for the beautiful oranges of an early sunset. It's my favourite thing about living in West Sussex which is relatively flat (compared to my hometown in Wales) and offers magnificent views of the skyline.

 As I hadn't tried the yarn before, it was essential to cast on immediately. In no time at all I'd knit up the first 50g ball and had completely fallen for it. The yarn is 70% cotton and 30% acrylic and is incredibly soft, with a slight halo. Knitting garter stitch on 6mm needles, it produces a deliciously snuggly and textured fabric and I think everyone who has squished it has fallen for it too. Because it's so soft and washable, I used the 5 ply version for my latest pattern - Leaf Collector's Mitts.

 All this happened at the same time my hand stopped working (see this post), so although I might normally have finished this project in a single weekend, it was delayed for a week, followed by other things which had to be finished for deadlines. *sigh* All good things come to those who wait, right?

 It's really good comfort-knitting (I've done a bit more than you can see in the picture) and I'm itching to get back to it... but had to use the needle tips for another project I'm working on* so I need to finish that one before I can get the needles back. I'll give you an update next week when I'm hoping it might be well on the way to completion.

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 *Knitter's Problems: How is it that you can have four complete sets of different needles, plus spares, and the ONLY 6mm tips you can find are on another project?
 Sarah ~ Crafts from the Cwtchhttp://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-7216185679761427637.post-31222549492215250002014-10-21T16:56:00.000+01:002014-10-21T16:56:42.276+01:00Yarn Tease
 The postman has told me that he's fed up of delivering my parcels. You see, there's been a lot of new yarn to swatch for some of the designs I'm working on. I guess this is the inevitable result of regular journaling - everything ends up in my notebook and eventually wants to be turned into an actual project. As there have been so many posts NOT showing you anything, I decided that today's 'Show & Tell' would be a quick peek at some of the things in my yarn basket, which are also a hint at things to come in the next couple of months.

 You'll notice there are a few shimmery things - I'm working on a pattern which I am really excited about and planning to swatch in a few different yarns to suit different budgets. This stunning undyed alpaca/silk arrived today - it's Blue Sky Alpacas Metalico and is jaw-droppingly beautiful. Look at that natural shimmer! It's a total luxury yarn and I can't wait to see it knitted up ... but it's so lovely I almost don't want to unwrap it from the skein.

 In total colourful contrast, this Malabrigo Mecha (colourway Piedras) threw me a real curveball - I got it on a whim, but it's so beautiful, I altered another design planned for a different yarn, in order to suit it. Each stitch is the most amazing colour - and I really think it needs a simple design which will allow the colours to sing without being overpowered.

 You might have guessed that working with yarns like these, I've started to really love swatching!

 Just for fun, I also started playing around with some of the new Yarn Stories merino DK to see what it's like. I love the cobalt and spring green together and they feel so soft and snuggly. I really want to finish these mitts but just haven't had a couple of evenings free to get them done. It seemed I'd have so much more time with the children both at school but that is definitely not the case, as I'm trying to cram so much in.

 In fact, this is only the tip of the iceberg, as my WIP-bag 'overfloweth' at the moment. I have even more gorgeous yarn - and a new project - to show you later in the week, but it needs a whole post to itself. (It's going to be a free pattern here on the blog once it's finished and written up and I LOVE IT!)

 Before I go, a huge thank you to everyone who has already purchased a copy of the Leaf Collector's Mitts pattern. I have been absolutely thrilled to see that some awesome knitters have already downloaded it, and some are using it for the Little Bobbins Mittalong. Happy Mitt-ing!
 Sarah ~ Crafts from the Cwtchhttp://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-7216185679761427637.post-78045996169134973492014-10-18T09:01:00.001+01:002014-10-18T09:01:34.631+01:00Design Notebook: Leaf Collector's Mitts
 I'm pleased to announce that the pattern for Leaf Collector's Mitts is now available to download from both Ravelry and Craftsy. I've already posted about the project a few times, so I won't repeat how the design came about, but (based on the types of questions I usually get) I've put together a few notes for anyone who might be unsure whether the pattern is suitable for them.

 I must start by saying that it is intended to be accessible to beginner or intermediate knitters, so I've tried to pre-empt any questions while writing the pattern, but the following may be useful in deciding whether to make a purchase. If there are any frequently asked questions which are not covered here, I'll come back to edit this post.

 What skills will I need?

It's mostly knit and purl stitches with a few increases and decreases on alternate rows. You'll need to be able to work a 'yarn over', a 'k3tog' (knit 3 together) and to follow instructions/photos for a simple decrease I've called "s3yp3" - you probably won't recognise the name, but you can see it here and it's detailed in the pattern.

The pattern includes both written instructions and a chart, so you can follow either. If you haven't used a chart before, you might like to give it a try because it's a good one to start with - the number of stitches remains the same, it's easy to spot any mistakes as you go along as the chart looks like the piece you're knitting. In fact, it's such a clear chart to follow, you may find you like it more than reading the written instructions.

It's knit flat (so you don't have to worry about using DPNs or circular needles) and joined using 'mattress stitch' - see below.

 It's knit flat? Can I knit it in the round?

 Of course! I prefer to knit in the round but this pattern is designed to be knit flat in response to the overwhelming number of requests I've had for a 'flat' version of my other patterns. Leaf Collector's Mitts is very easy to adapt as there is a selvedge stitch at the beginning and end of each row (this makes for a perfect mattress stitch join). If you want to knit in the round, simply omit the selvedge stitches on each row - the pattern will work seamlessly for you. Just work flat where you'd like the thumb hole to be.

 I've never used mattress stitch before!

 Don't worry, it's really easy. There are lots of tutorials online already, I especially like this one from Knitty.com as it has clear pictures. For this pattern, you can pull the first and second stitch apart a little at each side to see the 'bar' you'll sew up. Your join will be almost invisible, inside and out (see photo below right).

 I have loads of yarn already and want to use something from my stash, what should I look for?

 I used Scheepjes Stone Washed which is a very soft washable sport weight/ 5 ply. Here in the UK, sport weight isn't that common, and if you're substituting yarn from your stash you could use a light DK and that will work just fine. If in doubt, knit a swatch and check you like the fabric and that the gauge will work for you (see the next point).

 I have tiny/enormous hands, I'm worried they won't fit me as there's only one size.

 As both the ribbing and leaf pattern are stretchy, I'd be very surprised if they were too small, but if you have tiny hands, or want to knit the mitts for a child, there are a couple of options. You could either use 4ply yarn and smaller needles, or omit one of the leaf pattern repeats - either way I'd highly recommend you make a swatch (yes, really!) to work out how many cms you get for each repeat of the pattern (I get 6.5 cms per repeat at the gauge stated in the pattern) and then work out the best option for you.

 I'd like them to be longer. How easy is it to do this?
 Really easy. Repeat the leaf pattern, before moving onto the ribbing - five repeats would make a nice long armwarmer, I'm planning that length next.

 Is there a version with a thumb?
 No. I prefer mitts without thumbs as this makes them much more versatile. Once you have thumbs, they have to be worn as gloves, but without a thumb, you can push them up and wear them as cuffs or armwarmers (pictured). This is especially useful when you have 3/4 length sleeves (like most of my wardrobe) or if you need to wash your hands or do something messy - just push them up and you stay toasty but have your hands completely free.

 (If you want to add your own thumb, you can add it wherever you like, depending on how long you want your mitts to be.)

 I hope that has everything covered and that you enjoy making your Leaf Collectors Mitt as much as I did.
 Sarah ~ Crafts from the Cwtchhttp://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-7216185679761427637.post-65537896088412099542014-10-17T12:46:00.001+01:002014-10-17T12:46:47.243+01:00The joy of..... Grafting
 Grafting (aka Kitchener Stitch) tends to get a bad press. It is often perceived as being 'difficult' or advanced. But the truth is, it's actually very simple, and produces a seamless invisible join in your knitting. In fact, if it weren't so perfectly logical, I'd think it were magic.

 For example, it's absolutely perfect when you just can't find a suitable way to reverse stitch patterns so that they are exactly identical when inverted from bottom-up to top-down (see my last post if you're wondering what on earth I'm on about!*)

 If you haven't tried it yet, you might like this free class from Craftsy: Ins and Outs of Grafting (affiliate) in which Anne Hanson shows exactly how it's done (the class also includes additional materials and student-led discussions which you can refer back to anytime). If you prefer written words and photos, there is also an excellent article on Knitty.

 If you haven't already, give it a go!
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 *Yay - so I almost have an FO for Friday, just the border and blocking to go and it's done. But you'll have to wait to see it. I really hate having so many projects I have to keep secret from you, but that's the way it is at the moment. Next week I'll have a gorgeous project which I can share here - can't wait for you to see that. Have a lovely weekend!
 Sarah ~ Crafts from the Cwtchhttp://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-7216185679761427637.post-51323857152224155432014-10-16T13:20:00.000+01:002014-10-16T13:21:18.025+01:00Knitter's Problems: Still obsessing about decreases!
 Last week I showed you the uncommon decrease I'd decided on for the forthcoming Leaf Collector's Mitts pattern - which is ready apart from a few minor changes suggested by a lovely editor, that I haven't time to make. In my post (which you can read here if you missed it) I talked about the frustration caused by left- and right-leaning decreases not matching when they really should.

 This whole issue is still driving me bonkers this week - I have almost finished another pattern, but for the final section, an inversion of the first section - which has revealed the same issue again! Except this time it's a single decrease and not a double, and one is knitted top-down and the other bottom-up... so the same solution doesn't work.

 The bottom-up version is lovely - great stitch definition and looks exactly how I wanted it to. The top-down version.... not so much. It's making my brain ache, as this project has a definite unmovable deadline - Sunday - and my 'perfect' planning was completely knocked out by the week I'm now referring to as 'mosquito-gate' and which had been my intended contingency time.

 So while I'm thinking about this, I'm sharing the resources I'm using to try to make sense of it. Surely some you have faced these problems too (if so, what did you do?) or will do in the future, and you'll remember this post to come back for the links. If nothing else, it'll make me feel as though I'm making progress.

 June Hemmons Hyatt talks about the issue in The Principles of Knitting:

 While it is common to use mirror-image pairs of decreases to shape the two sides of a garment, this can be problematic because the facing stitch of a Left Decrease tends to be larger than that of a Right Decrease. This is odd, since the structure of the two is the same..... Why it does this remains a mystery.

 The wonderful TechKnitter offers some advice. In fact lots of advice, in a series of posts starting here (with the background), continuing here, and offering some solutions here (with SYTK - slip, yank, twist, knit) and here (including a crochet hook).

 So now I'm trying to decide whether JHH's twisted decreases or the SYTK option would be best for the pattern and the intended audience..... Did I mention that my brain hurts?!?

 If When I get this sorted, I'll make the final changes to Leaf Collector's Mitts and get that published, as I know some of you are waiting to knit them! Also there's a "mitt-along" about to start on the 'Little Bobbins Podcast' which they might just be perfect for. You can find more details here.

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 If you're wondering why the photo is in black and white, it's because there is some colourful awesomeness in it which I'll be showing you soon! Maybe you can guess what it is.
 Sarah ~ Crafts from the Cwtchhttp://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-7216185679761427637.post-40521522312645792752014-10-14T12:29:00.000+01:002014-10-14T12:29:09.986+01:00Knitting Quirks (or 'Confessions of a Sloppy Knitter'?)
 There are several things that I know I *always* do 'wrong' when knitting. Despite knowing that they are wrong I still do them, and I've learned to work-around my mistakes as a matter of course, rather than just doing the things right in the first place. I'll give you a couple of examples.

This plant has nothing to do with the content of this post, but I loved the texture and sense of a "last hoorah" of colour

 Firstly, I always pick up stitches by the left 'leg', even though I know picking them up by the right leg is correct. I always pick them up that way and then knit into the back loop on the next row to untwist the stitches. At the moment I'm working on several new designs and I'm swatching a lot and trying out new ideas - there's a lot of 'ripping out' of rows, and so a lot of picking up stitches, but I still don't pick them up the right way. (Probably a result of dropping many stitches while learning to knit and being so thankful when I could grab them any-which-way, I didn't care about their orientation.)

 Another example arises when knitting yarn overs between purl and knit stitches. I know there is a correct way to do it (to ensure they are the tight size and not twisted) but I'd say they are right only about half of the time. I don't even think about it now - I just get the yarn over that needle in one way or another and sort it out on the next row - if they are mounted the wrong way, I simply knit into the stitch in the way that will keep the yarn over open and untwisted.

 I'm not really sure if these are quirks of my knitting, or whether I'm just a sloppy knitter. It seems to work out in the end project so I'm calling it the former. How about you? Do you have similar knitting quirks? What do you do which almost always results in a work-around?

 Sarah ~ Crafts from the Cwtchhttp://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-7216185679761427637.post-85939244405917802912014-10-10T09:43:00.000+01:002014-10-10T10:22:24.673+01:00FO: Leaf Collector's Mitts and a new rule

 The pattern for my Leaf Collector's Mitts is finished - as much as anything unpublished is ever finished, as I can't resist tinkering with the wording and layout - and will be released next week. I'm already planning on making myself a long version with 5 repeats of the leaf pattern in a neutral colour (maybe off white or grey)... but first I have a completely different sample to finish.

 In the meantime, I've made a new rule for myself: Don't knit any more samples in purples! As if the autumn light wasn't bad enough, this lovely shade of pinky-purple (it's Scheepjes Stone Washed in Corundum Ruby) has been really hard to capture. None of my photos do it justice.

 I'm not sure when the transition from 'blogger' to 'designer' began, but more time is spent on the latter at the moment, which is exciting, challenging and a little nerve-wracking*, for each time one of my 'pattern babies' is sent out into the world (to another knitter for testing or on general release) I feel like I'll be found out as a fraud - that it won't make any sense at all to anyone else. Thankfully that's not the case, but it's still a recurring doubt. Talking to other people who create for work or pleasure (including my very talented husband whose credentials are not in any doubt), I think this must be a common experience. Can you relate to it too?

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 *The flip-side to this is realising the person you're talking to is WEARING one of your designs! Do you remember my friend and model Charlotte? She loved Little Bear's Porridge so much when we were photographing it, she's made her own!
 Sarah ~ Crafts from the Cwtchhttp://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-7216185679761427637.post-17279956249222498952014-10-08T22:12:00.002+01:002014-10-08T22:14:40.115+01:00Say hello to S3YP3 (it's a left-leaning decrease, not a Star Wars character)

 As I mentioned yesterday, I've been busy with a new pattern. It wasn't planned, but as soon as the sketch of an idea was doodled in my notebook (the first step for all my designs) I knew exactly how it should look and needed to knit it. By searching various stitch dictionaries and resources for ideas, I found an existing stitch pattern that seemed to work. So when I embarked on this "quick little project" I thought it would be a case of doing some math, fiddling with my chart to make the stitch pattern fit and flow* with the other elements, and that would be that.

 As it turned out, my swatch revealed something that many other knitters have known for a long time, but which I'd never realised. You see, the design includes right- and left-leaning double decreases. In the stitch dictionary, the right-leaning decrease is made with a simple 'k3tog' (knit three together), and the counterpart a 'sk2p' (slip one, knit two together, pass the slip stitch over) and I've used that stitch plenty of times without noticing anything odd about it. But swatching a project where 'sk2p' was repeated over several rows, it became apparent that it's a bit of a tricky one - not because it's hard to do, but because it doesn't look the way you might expect. It's inconsistent - sometimes loose and sloppy - unless you are very careful with the tension and don't put the needle too far into it, and all sorts of fudges.

 And it wasn't just me. A bit of research showed that this is a known phenomenon! My searches turned up various instances of knitters looking for better alternatives as they were not happy with it. Part of my ethos is that my patterns are accessible to beginner/intermediate knitters, so this would not do at all. I needed a more reliable stitch!

 I tried various other options for a left-slanting double decrease but nothing was right. Finally I resorted to June Hemmons Hyatt (you'd think I'd know to go there first) and came across the alternative idea of making an extra stitch and then removing three stitches. There wasn't an abbreviation, just a description "wrap yarn and pull three slipped stitches over new stitch". I tried it. It worked! (What would I do without that book?)

 So the new pattern includes a stitch I've abbreviated to 's3yp3', and I've taken some photos for the pattern which I'll share here too (and oops - the last one isn't in focus!):

 1. Start by slipping three stitches as if to knit,

 2. Put the working yarn over the needle to create a new stitch
 3. Pass the three slipped stitches over the new stitch (JHH says it can be all at once, but I found passing them individually gave a nicer result)

 And there you have it. It's worked out much better than the original stitch did, and I'm sure that it'll be easier for newer knitters to get a great result using this. I'd love to know if you've used this stitch before, or if you've even noticed that k3tog and sk2p look so different, despite the logic that they should be mirror images.

 If you're interested to see more of the pattern, it's being tested at the moment and will be available very soon, but there's already a little peek on the Patterns page.
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 *My husband is a (TV and Film) Editor and he says the sign of a good edit is that you never notice it at all - it all seems to flow so perfectly, you only notice when something feels wrong. My recent dabblings into design have shown me that this is definitely the case with knitting. Something works well when you don't notice how one thing moves into another (eg how a rib transitions into the pattern, or how one stitch pattern becomes another). These are the things that take a lot of time to get right, but that most people won't notice.

 Sarah ~ Crafts from the Cwtchhttp://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-7216185679761427637.post-82764990430984052552014-10-07T14:43:00.003+01:002014-10-07T14:43:53.456+01:00A Quick Tuesday Tip
 Inspiration struck, and although I should have been working on something else (something with a deadline that I lost time on last week), there was an idea that wouldn't leave my head. So last night, I cast it on. I'm really glad I did as it turned out just as imagined. I've spent today writing up the pattern.... which is almost done. While knitting up the second half of the sample, I realised that I haven't shared this little washi tape tip on the blog before, but it's something I do all the time and find incredibly useful.

 When leaving a long tail for sewing up, secure the end with washi tape - it prevents tangling and also ensures you don't start knitting with the wrong end of the yarn. As the tape is low tack, it doesn't leave any sticky residue or damage the yarn when removed.

 If you are looking for more ways to use washi tape with your knitting (like you need an excuse for more washi!), there's a post in the archives which you might like. That's it for today, see you soon!
 Sarah ~ Crafts from the Cwtchhttp://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-7216185679761427637.post-77546319559851546852014-10-02T09:07:00.000+01:002014-10-02T09:07:34.367+01:00Socktober - a bundle of sock tutorials
 As mentioned yesterday, until I can knit and properly blog again, some of my existing posts are being brushed down, dusted off and given a new lease of life. As (S)Oc(k)tober is upon us and I've written several 'sock-related' tutorials over the past few years, I thought it might be useful to present them here together as a kind of virtual bundle. Simply click on the images to visit the posts, you'll find other useful links within the posts themselves.

 1: De-mystifying Toe-Up Socks - a three part series including all the steps necessary to knit your first 'afterthought heel' socks. Part 1 includes a photo tutorial for Judy's Magic Cast-On which is useful for all sorts of projects.

 2: The Sewn Bind-off is one of the most versatile and simple - it's also great for cuffs, sweaters, and hats.

 3: Casting on Two-at-a-time socks - and how to manage the yarn so it doesn't get into a big tangle!

 4: Darning: And finally, when you've worn your socks lots and lots, you might need this one!

 If you're looking for tips and tutes on other topics, there are plenty more in the archives - you can access them here.

 Sarah ~ Crafts from the Cwtchhttp://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-7216185679761427637.post-31688585387910975342014-10-01T10:13:00.000+01:002014-10-01T11:16:24.956+01:00Flashback: Free Armwarmer Pattern
 While I'm not able to blog very much*, I'll take the opportunity to link back to some of the things newer readers might have missed. Today it's the turn of my free armwarmer pattern

 This was one of my first patterns and can be downloaded as a PDF on Ravelry and Craftsy. They are quick to knit and make a lovely gift. There are options to make long or short versions, with or without a thumbhole.

 There are already quite a lot of projects on the Ravelry gallery - you can see some of my favourites here, here, here and here. If you've made a pair already, don't forget to add your photos - I'll be looking for some for a revamped version of the pattern in the coming months!

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 *It's been one of those weeks. Nothing has gone to plan. I'm making daily trips to the hospital (yesterday it was a four hour round-trip) to get intravenous antibiotics for an infected hand caused by mosquito bites. Although the swelling is going down and I can use my hand now, the other arm is limited due to a 'permanent' line - a 20cm cannula - running from my elbow to my shoulder. It's too uncomfortable to do much (I can't knit for more than a few minutes) and the drugs are giving me a rotten headache. Hopefully it'll only go on until the weekend. I'm attempting to practice acceptance. Trying not to worry about the deadlines that are looming, for work that isn't finished. Trying not to worry about missing blog posts that I'd planned. It is what it is... it is what it is...

 Huge thanks to everyone who has sent kind words and wishes on Instagram and Facebook xxx
 Sarah ~ Crafts from the Cwtchhttp://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-7216185679761427637.post-44785130899712869742014-09-26T14:06:00.002+01:002014-09-26T14:06:52.474+01:00'Scarves & Cowls' book review & finished object
 As regular readers will know, my favourite knits are 'quick win' projects that don't take too long to complete, that are easy to knit and that result in a cheery accessory. So when the new Fiona Goble book turned up for review (you are sure to know Fiona's other books including 'Knit Your Own Royal Wedding') I was delighted to see it contained 36 such projects.

 There are ten patterns for children (although I'd be tempted by some of them myself) and the rest are a mix of adult sized scarves/cowls (many are unisex) and a headband. The photography is bright and cheerful and there's even a model with a massive red beard. What's not to love?

 As you can tell from the pictures, the knits are pretty straightforward, and it's a really lovely collection for a new knitter, but would equally suit someone who has been knitting a little while and accumulated oddments of yarn they are not sure what to do with - many of the projects require only one or two balls, and none of them will take very long to knit.

 I like to knit something from a book as part of a review, and whipped up the twisted headband ( I couldn't resist another!) in just a few hours from a stashed ball of Red Heart Soft*, and am now on the hunt for a vintage brooch before it gets cold enough to wear it. The pattern was well-written and easy to follow, with detail on all techniques provided, should you need them.

 If you're a more experienced knitter, you may not need a pattern to create these types of projects, and will probably have seen similar designs before, but it's such a lovely collection and so nicely presented, I can imagine making more projects from it (gift knitting!!!). Yes, it gets a big thumbs up from me, and I'd recommend for beginner/intermediate knitters. If I'm honest, I wish I'd written it myself!

 The book is called "Scarves and Cowls" and has an RRP of £12.99 (it is currently £9.09 at Amazon ) and is published by CICO books.
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 * I hadn't used this yarn before which had been sat in my cupboard for a while, and was pleasantly surprised - it's very inexpensive acrylic (100g/167m for £1.99) and feels nice next to my face. One ball is enough to make this and another for Little Miss. It'll be interesting to see how it stands up to wear and frequent washing as it might be a good one for bigger items for the children, which I wouldn't want to spend too much on, and which need to be thrown in the washing machine.
 Sarah ~ Crafts from the Cwtchhttp://email@example.com


text:
14 January In Events, K1 Speed Austin by K1 Speed Staff Writer Tags: atx, austin, Austin Tx, Bbq, Dudley, family, Fun, go kart racing, Hale Court, Indoor Go Kart Racing, indoor go kart track, Indoor Kart, indoor kart racing, Indoor Karting, indoor karting center, January 24, K1 Speed, klbj fm, Mc Hale, Mchale, Morning Show, racing, radio, Rudy, Show Time, Swag, texas
The Dudley & Bob Morning Show @ K1 Speed!
K1 Speed Blog - go karts, karting and go-kart race events
KLBJ-FM – The Rock of Austin – Dale, Bob, & Matt are off to the races again! Come out to K1 Speed Indoor Go Kart Racing Thursday from 6-8pm to try and beat The Dudley & Bob Morning Show's race times. Enjoy some Rudy's BBQ, and grab some sweet KLBJ swag!
WHERE – 2500 Mc Hale Court Austin
WHEN – Thursday, January 24, 2013
WHO – KLBJ-FM /The Dudley & Bob – Morning Show
TIME – 6-8pm
K1 Speed Austin
2500 McHale Ct,
Austin, TX 78758
Phone: (512) 271-5475


text:
|Wilderness Tripping - BWCA & Beyond
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I would
Posted by: glendorado on Apr-29-13 8:23 AM (EST)
have skirts for your yaks. It can get pretty cold in sept, & water temps can be cold as well. Last thing you need is to swim & be 1-2 days from getting back. It is a beautiful area with tons of camp sites. (fees apply) Here's a link to Voyageurs FAQ. http://www.nps.gov/voya/faqs.htm You won't see a lot of traffic that time of year-mostly fishing on the big lake. Can be a little dicey if it's windy on the big lake as well-big waves.
Get a map from the visitor center (have them mail it to you)It will show camp sites etc.. Have fun.
EZ Launch� Kayak & Canoe
Shirts / Tops
Reflective Hull Decals
|Table of Contents


text:
After finding myself in a city I didn't know, a long drive behind me, and in a hotel I had made reservations for, but which ended up not meeting my expectations, I walked across the highway to the Clarion, which just by appearances, looked nicer than where I was. I was relieved that they had rooms available, so I decided... More
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text:
Yalumba Museum Release Antique Tawny
Back to Products
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375ml Bottle $216.49
Case of 12
375ml Bottle $216.49
Case of 12
Item #419013
Size: 375ml
Type: Fortified Wine
Varietal: Port
Country: Australia
Region: South Australia, Barossa
"The non-vintage Museum Reserve Antique Tawny is a concoction of multiple grapes from a 16-year-old solera. It exhibits a medium amber color, fabulous ripeness, and a huge bouquet of honeyed fruits, prunes, plums, and a hint of figs. This gorgeous Tawny is appropriate to drink as dessert rather than with dessert. This wine does not improve in the bottle, but it will last for many years."
Reviewed by: The Wine Advocate - 92pts
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De Bortoli 8 Year Old Tawny
"Pungent aromas of red berries, poached pear and toffee, with accents of thyme, honey and dried flowers. Light and fresh, with noteworthy restraint to its toffee- and honey-tinged fruit flavors. Gently styled and ridiculously easy to drink, finishing with a note of raspberry and impressive depth and persistence."
$19.99 / 750ml Bottle
$113.94 / Case of 6
$113.94 / Case of 6
Yalumba 21 Year Old Tawny
"Comes across as slightly spirity on the nose, with a pronounced nutty character that persists throughout, but which is balanced by layers of dark toffee, molasses and date-like fruit on the palate. This is rich and sweet, with great intensity on the finish."
$48.99 / 375ml Bottle
$558.49 / Case of 12
$558.49 / Case of 12
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Selected Community Events
Breakfast with Santa
Dec 13, 2014 8-11:00am
Monona Community Center, 1011 Nichols Road, Monona WI 53716
Join Monona Parks & Recreation's annual Breakfast with Santa on Saturday, December 13 and see the Monona Community Center transformed into a winter wonderland. Reserved seating is available for 8:00, 9:00, or 10:00 am with pre-purchased tickets. There will be a limited amount of seating the day of event. Enjoy a breakfast including pancakes, french toast sticks, sausage links, bacon, apple sauce, milk, coffee, and dessert. Santa and Mrs. Clause will be available for photos throughout the morning. The Friends of Monona Senior Center have a special arts and crafts present-making workshop, and there will be horse drawn carriage rides (weather permitting)
Cost is $6.00 per person (ages 11+), $3.00 (children ages 3–10), 2 and under
Reserved seating is available for 8:00, 9:00, or 10:00 am with pre-purchased tickets. Purchase tickets over the phone with Parks & Recreation at 608-222-4167 or at the Parks & Recreation Office (1011 Nichols Rd, Monona WI 53716)
**This is a very popular event, reserve your seats today!**
Monona Parks and Recreation
The Singing Christmas Tree
Dec 6, 2014 Dec 6th at 4:30pm and Dec 7th at 10:30am and 4:30pm
Dec 7, 2014 Dec 6th at 4:30pm and Dec 7th at 10:30am and 4:30pm
Cambridge, WI
In 1964 the first Singing Christmas Tree was performed at Willerup United Methodist Church in Cambridge, Wisconsin, and a local Christmas tradition began. The holiday presentation returns December 6th and 7th to celebrate 50 years of sharing the story of the birth of Jesus Christ through song and fellowship.
The Singing Christmas Tree will present "The Story of Christmas" on Dec 6th at 4:30pm and Dec 7th at 10:30am and 4:30pm.
Refreshments, including Scandinavian cookies and lefse, and a time of fellowship will immediately follow each presentation. The event is free and child care will be provided.
Willerup United Methodist Church is the Oldest Scandinavian Methodist Church in the world and is located at 414 W Water St., Cambridge, WI. For additional information, please visit our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/TheSingingChristmasTree
Willerup United Methodist Church, 608-423-3777
Buddy Lee's Annual Making Dreams Come True "Christmas Toys for Kids"
Dec 7, 2014 11a-7p
Colonial Bowling and Banquet Center 1415 W. Wisconsin Street Sparta , Wi.
23rd Annual Making Dreams Come True "Christmas Toys for Kids". Admission is a new unwrapped toy or a monetary donation at the door. Live entertainment from 4 of the areas finest Country Bands, food and refreshments served all day, Door and Raffle prizes after each band. All proceeds will go to distribute and purchase toys for the area's needy children at Christmas.
Buddy Lee 208 W. Monroe Street Apt 103
Mauston, WI. 53948 (608)206-2698
Holiday Concert with Middleton High School Choir
Dec 18, 2014 12:45-1:45 pm
Holy Wisdom Monastery, 4200 County Road M, Middleton, WI
Holiday Concert with Middleton High School Choir
Thursday, December 18, 2014 at 12:45 pm
Holy Wisdom Monastery, 4200 County Road M, Middleton, WI
Please join us for the annual holiday concert, performed by the Middleton High School Choir and directed by Tom Mielke. The choir spends the day traveling around the area giving performances and we are honored to be one of the venues for their day. The short concert will take place on Thursday, December 18, 2014 at 12:45 pm in the monastery assembly room. It is free and open to the public, and a light reception with cookies follows. No RSVP is required. For more information, contact Mike at email@example.com, 608-836-1631, x124.
Mike Sweitzer-Beckman, firstname.lastname@example.com, 608-836-1631 x124
Cambridge Country Christmas
Dec 6, 0014 10am to 5pm
Dec 7, 0014 10am to 5pm
Cambridge, WI
First weekend in December ~ three festive days of holiday fun with holiday activities starting Friday night, December 5th
You're invited to enjoy the wonders of a small town, Old World Christmas - historic store fronts twinkling with white lights, streets bustling with holiday shoppers and the season's aromas of spiced cider & evergreens in the air.
Cambridge Chamber of Commerce