Charity! Halloween! and Charlie!

I finally made it over to Stitches From the Heart last night to drop off our first big donation. 73 baby hats and 25 scarves. Thanks to the hard-working kids in class for doing such a great job, and THANK YOU (that's a big thank you) to everyone who donated yarn and supplies for these projects. Your donations are on their way to good homes!





Halloween is in a few days and I am REALLY excited! Charlie? not so much. Here he is acting like a vampire sleeping. Or, a bat. Or, a dead cockroach. You decide...

This is what I came home to last night. Very happy pooch standing on a chair, wanting to dance with mommy.


I LOVE Halloween, and wanted to give you all a hint about my costume. I really like dressing up as current reality show "stars". In the past years I was Anna Nicole Smith, Brittney Spears (my friend Chris was K-Fed and we were Chaotic), and Kelly Osborne. I think this costume is my greatest yet. I will post pics next weekend. For now, here is your hint...

Sidebar...Malibu Lagoon Field Trip

Since my REAL job is Marine Biology teacher, I want to include a tidbit from my week that did not (for once) include yarn. This week I took a big group of my students to the Malibu Lagoon. It is a local estuary, one of the few remaining in Southern California. The weather was unbelievable, 80's in mid-October. The volunteer scientists taught the kids a ton of information, and it is really cool that this estuary is just down the street from our school, but none of the kids have evern been there. I am glad we had the opportunity to get out of the classroom and get our feet wet (literally) and learn about a local ecosystem. Lots more trips to come!

...the birds and the surfers off in the distance

Here is one of the groups that came along. These guys spent the first part of the morning cleaning up the beach and the estuary, earning community service hours in the process. Way to go, guys!

we played some team-building games while waiting for the scientists to set up their equipment...
the human knot

group chair

here is Jennifer testing the salt content of the lagoon using silver nitrate percipitate. very scientific!

there were dissecting scopes for us to use and get a closer look at the creatures in the lagoon!

learning about the fish of the lagoon


This week I taught the first of two classes on X-mas Stockings. We cast on our stitches, and everyone was happily knitting in the round when class was finished. Next week: we turn the heel and head for the toe. I'll post pics from Thursday's class.

Christmas Stocking This Week! and the Great Pumpkin!

Leyla and I went to the Craft Fair at the Pomona Fairplex yesterday. It was such a blast! We did needle felted make and take pumpkins...

My next needle felting project is a little Charlie Browne. Should be cute! I bought chocolate brown roving, and light blue for his collar. I can't wait to get started! We also learned how to do punch embroidery. We made an apple that I plan to finish and make into a magnet. Really fun stuff. I know eventually all of my denim will have a little something added...
I also bought a simple weaving kit. I think it will be a fun way to use up extra leftovers from projects. More on that later...

THIS WEEK AT YARN GARDEN: X-mas Stockings...hung by the chimney with care.



This class will be 2 Thursdays, Oct. 19 and 26, from 6:30 to 8:30 pm. You will need size #11 DPNs and a bulky wool. All supplies are available for purchase at Yarn Garden. Class is $40 for both weeks. You will learn the ins and outs of your first sock! Once you are done, you can add a name, embellish with snowflakes, stars, buttons, ribbon...sky's the limit! Call Yarn Garden for more info and to sign up! 818-980-6667

X-mas Stocking Update...Class Coming Up!

Hi all. An uneventful week. My students are all happily working on their baby hats, which are due in 2 weeks. I'll post pictures when the hats are turned in.

This week I have been working on finishing the Brea Bag, which is this week's class at Yarn Garden. Next week I'll be teaching a 2-week class on knitted Christmas Stockings. Class will be Thursday evenings, October 19 and 26, from 6:30 to 8:30 each evening. Call Yarn Garden to sign up, and find out what supplies you will need. Here are two of the stockings I designed. I really like the pom poms on the skinny one. The newest stocking on my needles is red, green and white. Stay tuned for updated pics!






On a personal note, I bought a new car today. After many weeks of research, I decided on a small SUV. I love my new car!

We took Charlie for his first ride in the new car tonight, and he was pretty good. It has always been a pain trying to keep him in the back seat of Mike's car, but the new car has a fold-down area in the back. I put a big blanket down and he explored. Overall, it was a success. I think it is going to take a few more trips for him to realize that he can't sit in my lap when I am driving. Sometimes he forgets he weighs 65 pounds. The big guy thinks he is a lap dog. So sweet.

Next Satruday I am headed out to the Pomona Fairplex for the Sew, Craft and Quilt Fair. It is an all-day event that has tons of booths and lots of demos. Check out their website for more info: http://www.rustybarn.com/ There is a Pomona catalogue to download. Hope to see you there!

I Heart Socks!

"Knitting Under the Influence" evening was a success! Thanks to Claire LaZebnik for coming out to Yarn Garden Friday night for a fun night of knitting, chating and yummy delights. It was so much fun meeting everyone and getting to hear a bit of the book. If you don't have a copy yet, it is for sale all over town. I recommend this novel, very funny and so true! Lots of knitting laughter as well.




SOCK WARS
As you know, I was killed by my assassin's "bullet" last week, and her package was so fun to receive. She (Karen from NY) sent me socks filled with goodies. Some tea, soap and candy, as well as some pretty awesome stitch markers with SKULLS on them! I sent my sock off to Karen's assassin, and she just sent me a message saying she had received my package. I went to her blog and borrowed this graphic for sock wars. Very funny.



Here is Charlie modeling my new wool socks. He likes them but they are mine. Sorry, Charlie! BTW, I know I am his mommy, but how cute is he? I Love this guy, and Mike and I are having so much fun watching him grow up and seeing how he changes each week. Practice parenthood is awesome!


Christmas is coming! Christmas is coming!

Since I am now a "sock knitter" I decided to try my hand at a very large X-mas stocking. I didn't really follow a pattern, just used the basic recipe for socks and let my creativity do the rest. I really like the results! I added the money for size reference. I will be teaching a variation on this sample at Yarn Garden, Thursday nights October 19th and 26th, from 6:30 to 8:30 each night. You will learn the basics of double-pointed needles, and the result will be a great x-mas stocking. No worries if you haven't ever knit on dpns before. This pattern is really basic (all knit), a great introduction into the world of socks. I am knitting a second version, longer and thinner. I remember having a big bulky stocking when I was a kid, but the long, skinny stocking might look cute too. We'll see. I can help you invent whatever type you want to knit. Call Yarn Garden for more information.

Such a busy weekend...whew...I need a nap!

This was a crazy weekend. So much happened. Friday night and Sunday afternoon, Anne, Jodi and I volunteered at the San Gennaro Festival at Hollywood and Highland. Jodi and her hubby Mario taught mosaic tiling and Anne and I taught some knitting basics. The kids corner was hoppin’! All in all it was a great event that raised a lot of money for various charities.
here is Anne teaching a really good little knitter. These two girls were our best students of the night! Very quick learners! And there I am at the bottom teaching the bigger sister. Both got it so fast and seemed to be having as much fun as we were!

































































SOCK WARS
I am a warrior in Sock Wars and I think I was unofficially assassinated late last night. Here’s the deal: each knitter has a target (the person they are knitting for) and an assassin (someone who is knitting for them and trying to “kill” them). My assassin is this really cool woman from NY, Karen. She emailed on Saturday morning saying that she was almost finished with my socks. Bummer. I was 1” into the cuff of my first sock. Her email motivated me to get my butt in gear and knit, so I did, finishing my first-ever sock! I am really proud of it! Then Karen emailed again last night saying that my socks (the proverbial bullet) were going in Monday’s mail, arriving around Wednesday. Oh well, it was fun while it lasted! Plus, I learned how to knit a sock! Next on my needles, a PAIR of socks in Debbie bliss cashmerino. Snuggly!

































Many, many thanks go out to Julie at The Little Knittery for the amazing donation of yarn on Saturday. There is an assortment of wool, DK weight, novelty and even some ribbon. The kids are going crazy over this stuff. So many baby sweaters and hats will come from this donation! Everyone should get over to The Little Knittery on Franklin at Vermont and see and feel the great yarn she has for sale. The one-of-a-kind selection is to die for!

New Kids, Felted Project Bag, Volunteering...a very busy week!

As you all know, school started 11 days ago, and my knitters are all new to the craft. Such a challenge! I have 30 kids in the class, 4 of them are boys. Yipee!!!! Here are some pics of the kids knitting with some donated yarn. The first assignment was to knit a square. Just a simple square. Perfect the knit stitch. Once they passed the inspection, they then tackled the ever-popular-first-project...the scarf. Everyone is knitting for Stitches From the Heart, so we should have a big bag of donations coming soon. I am surprised, this year's group is fast. I gave them a week to finish a scarf, and kids were coming back the next day for more yarn. I don't want to tell them to slow down, but at this rate, I'll run out of stuff for them to knit with! I guess that is a good problem to have, right? If anyone out there has any yarn they want to donate, please email me knewbill@earthlink.net and I'll figure out a way to pick it up. All donated yarn goes toward charity knitting.







Today I sat down in the knitting oasis and finished the felted bag from last post. I added clear plastic handles, lined it with Eifel Tower print fabric, and added a big polka dot pocket. I love it. It is now my official knitting bag. It is big, roomy and comfortable on the shoulder. Perfect!








All of us at Yarn Garden are pleased to announce that on Friday, September 29th, from 7 pm to 9 pm, Claire LaZebnik will be reading from her new novel "Knitting Under The Influence". We will have wine, cheese and yummy desserts to munch on while Claire reads from her book. I started reading it last night and LOVE IT! Very funny, and some of the characters remind me of some friends I have. We invite all of you to join us for this very special event. If you missed her first reading last week, here is your chance to meet the author, share some fantastic food with a really fun group of knitters. I can't think of a better way to spend a Friday evening. Please call Yarn Garden if you plan to attend. 818-980-6667




As if I didn't have enough going on, Anne and I have volunteered at the Feast of San Gennaro this coming weekend in Hollywood. We are in for a busy weekend. Friday evening and Sunday afternoon we will be in the kids area teaching 100+ kids how to knit. Anne and I made over 100 pair of knitting needles, balled red-white-green yarn and put together little knitting kits for each kid. Are we nuts? Probably. But it is a great cause and we both love the idea of passing on this skill to the next generation. Come on by and say hi! The whole thing takes place all weekend at Hollywood and Highland. It is hosted by Adam Corolla and Jimmy Kimmel, and there are tons of food booths, celebrity chefs, entertainment, rides, etc. I am really excited about the food! If you saw this festival on the Sopranos, or if you have gone in the past when it was at The Grove, you won't be disappointed this year. It sounds HUGE and, of course, all $$ raised goes to charity. Gotta love that!


This week's class at Yarn Garden. The Brea Bag. Finally, we get to this. I have made a few little changes to the original pattern, seen in the past in my blog, and I think it makes the purse easier to knit. This is a great way to expand your use of cables. This is a two-week class, $40 for both weeks. You will need size 11 or 13 needles, depending on how loose you want the stitches, aslo depending on the yarn you choose. I suggest a bulky weight yarn, like Lamb's Pride, my favorite. You will also need a cable needle. If you are interested, the class is Thursday evening, 6:30 to 9:00. We will be meeting this week and next. Please call Yarn Garden to sign up. Space is limited. 818-980-6667




And finally, my favorite non-human in the world. Charlie. My friend Andi was shooting a photo assignment and needed a model. Charlie jumped into the chair and she took some great photos of him. This one is my favorite. He looks so regal. I also love it because I love my livingroom drapes. I am such a girl sometimes!


Have a great week everyone, and I'll see you next time!