Why Is It Still Winter

My daughter, TeAntae, son-in-law, Bryan, and I went to the American Craft Council (ACC) show at the Baltimore Convention Center. This year was the 35th annual show and ran from February 24-27. There were more than 700 top contemporary craft artists that presented their latest handmade creations including: jewelry, clothing, furniture, green craft, and home decor.

My daughter and I just love to go and get ideas of things we would like to try to make. The place will make your head spin with all the amazing crafts. The artist or fantastic to talk to as well as informative. I wanted to take a class with this Nuno felter but when I checked her website, the class I wanted is at the Penland School in NC and it is full. I am going to just have to play with it.

This year, the show featured cakes that local bakers had made using inspiration from different artist jewelry and pottery. I do not know what the cakes taste like but they were amazing to look at. The jewelry or pottery is in the pictures behind the cakes if you can see them.

I just got back from 4 days in Orlando, FL, attending a meeting. I really did not do very much so I have nothing to report. However, I finished my Boneyard Shawl by Stephen West. I thank Stitchingnut for her interpretation of the Boneyard Shawl. I was so impressed that I decided to give it a try. While in Cloverhill Yarn store in Catonsville, MD, I saw a hat that the colors just drew me in. I purchased enough yarn to make a shawl with no shawl in mind at the time. This is an easy shawl, just stockinette. I decided on the Windblown Leaf border from Nikki Epstein's, Knitting on the Edge.

Several people complimented me on the shawl when I wore it to the meeting.

I am presently working on a KAL shawl and a scarf that I started while I was in Orlando because I had brought the wrong needles for the KAL shawl and forgot the needle for the scarf I was going to start. I was surprised that the Orlando Walmart still had crafts so I was able to pick up a knitting needle.

This year, I am trying to knit from stash. My daughter said it was okay to buy yarn if I am short a ball, but every time I want to buy yarn, I am to put the money toward our vacations. I can do this.

It Was A Bear...but worth it

I have been in need of a way to carry my Lendrum spinning wheel for ages. I have dropped it off a cart while trying to take it into the hotel, a co-worker was helping me take things in a hotel one day and somehow broke off a piece of my Woolee Winder, and another time I dropped a bobbin out of my bag and broke it coming out of a hotel. ....I really needed a way to carry my wheel.

I bit the bullet and measured the wheel, pulled out some upholstery fabric from my stash that was purchased to make a purse, brought a yoga mat to use as padding, and made a general newspaper pattern for the front and back. My friend, Sue, and I went to G Street fabrics and I brought a 70 inch zipper as well as some fake leather. My daughter, TeAntae, suggested that I make the bag so I could carry it like a backpack. That turned out to be the best suggestion yet.

The front pocket is for me to put the head and bobbins in. Frankly, I do not have to take it off, there is enough room inside the bag but my Woolee Winder is precious so I will probably take it off when I am traveling. I will not when I am just going to be local like going to spinning. I think there is enough room inside for fiber, will just have to see.

I put the wheel inside the bag and put the bag on my back to see how it felt and it felt fantastic. I had decided to pad the straps that went over my shoulder and I think that really made the difference. Here is the wheel in it's traveling home.

I know you may think that I have gone back to my second childhood, but I just had to have this case for my Ipad. What fun it is to use and also have people take a second look because they can not believe what they are looking at.

You know how one thing leads to another. I then needed another case to carry the Ipad in, the one I had was too small. I saw a Mickey Mouse cover while we were at Walt Disney World but I was afraid it was too small. My daughter brought a Mickey Mouse case for her MAC and we decided that since the cost was the same as for the Ipad case, that I would just have to buy the computer case and cut it down to size. I did and it works perfectly.

But that was not the end of it. The stand that is built into the Etch-a-Sketch case is really not a stand, and I needed something for when I am in bed watching my Ipod videos, etc, while I was knitting.

I had to go to the kitchen store to exchange my c20 cartridge for my soda maker, I found the solution to my in the bed video problem which also works great on my lap when I am sitting on the sofa and when I am reading a recipe on my Ipad while cooking.

Who would have thought that I would find the solution in a kitchen store and for $12.00. This is a cookbook stand that adjust to several heights.

I am going to start dinner and rest for awhile. I think I work harder when I am home than I do when I out working. At least, I am just as exhausted at the end of the day.

OMG!!!! WOW!!!!

As everyone knows, my daughter and I are big fans of Disney. We go to the parks, take cruises on their ships, and have ownership in their Disney Vacation Club. Both my daughter and son were married at Disney World and took the Disney cruises for part of their honeymoons. So as you can see, we enjoy Disney.

My daughter told me about 6 months are so ago that Disney's new cruise ship, the Dream, second cruise would go over my birthday, Jan 31. I told her to book it. At that point, I started reading everything I could get my hands on about the new ship. Yes...I know there are bigger more luxurious ships out there but I also knew that Disney would put their touch on this ship that would make it their own unique experience.

When you walk into the atrium you know that Disney has really pulled out all the stops. The atrium is elegant but not stuffy. They took some of the fun things like the fireworks at sea and the pirate party and expanded them with new technology. The Aquaduck which is a water slide funnel thing goes out over the ocean (no I did not give it a try) but everyone I talked to that did it said it was fantastic. If you would like to read a very informative and delightful trip report, checkout Coach Rick on the Disney Cruise Line Forum. He says it all.

I was not disappointed as I came over the bridge and saw that baby. Okay, big baby. This ship is 40% larger than the first two, the Magic and the Wonder.

We decorated our door once we got settled and had explored the ship a little.

On my birthday, I did not get a towel animal but a towel birthday cake complete with pipe cleaners for candles.
Our room stewardess told us that she was not a good cook but she stayed up all night and baked and baked.

The itinerary was not important for this short cruise. We are not thrilled with the upper Bahamas especially Nassau so we had no intention of getting off the boat except for Disney's private island, Castaway Cay. It was our intention to use the ship as our all inclusive resort, the only thing we would have to pay extra for was the alcoholic drinks. We had on board credit to cover most the alcohol we consume, which was minimal.

The bed is so comfortable that we overslept and missed breakfast the morning of Castaway Cay. We could have ordered room service but went up to the coffee shop for a pastry and coffee/tea.

(This was the pillow on our bed)

We went for an early barbecue lunch on the island then went to the family cabanas since we wanted to know why anyone would pay so much for the use of the cabanas. They do have cabana's to rent on the adult beach as well but there is no privacy. When we got to the family cabana area, we were told that if we had not rented a cabana, we could not go into this private area with it's private beach. We stood and talked to the cast members in charge of the travel agent tour and they invited us to go in and look at the cabana that the travel agents would be coming by to look at. We fell in love with the cabanas and think that is well worth the money to rent, it even has snacks and includes all non-motorized activities for a group of up to 10. What I like was the little yellow button to push when you need service. Just think, cast members (what Disney employees are called) at my beck and call.

We left the cabana's and caught the tram to the adult beach. We had our Kindles', sunscreen and plans to just sit our chairs in the water and relax. Didn't happen....

This cruise was full of travel agents taking classes on how to sell the Disney cruise to their clients. We got to the beach and started talking to a travel agent that we have met on the tram. She asked us why we take Disney cruises and we have no children. This led to talking for about 2 hours. The bottom line is the service and staff. There are more retired couples on board than families with children.

We decided to go back to the ship instead of laying on the beach because now it was at the height of the sun. We also wanted to look in the shops and get a Castaway Cay speciality drink, the Konk Kooler. I truly think they dropped a bottle of rum in it but it was so delicious.

We had been running around the ship looking for great places to knit so when we got back, we just sit on the deck as well as on our veranda to watch the people on the beach.


We went to the adult pool area with the wade up bar but did not stay in the area except for the Cove Cafe coffee shop. Mainly because it was nosier than the family area, I think the main reason was the live band.

The shows were wonderful, Disney themed but Broadway quality. Even if you have never seen a Disney movie, you will love the costumes, special effects and music.

"BELIEVE" The genie from Aladdin and many of Disney's most beloved magic makers take a father on a magical journey to show him that anything is possible if you just believe.

"Villain's Tonight" begins when Hades and his faithful sidekicks, Pain and Panic (Hercules) welcomes new souls (the audience) to the underworld. However Hades has turned the underworld in to a happier and upbeat place. The fun begins when the Fates predict that Hades will lose his position in the underworld if he does not ramp up his evil factor.

Their is also the staple show "The Golden Mickeys" which is an award show for all the Disney great. This was has been updated for the new ship.

The last thing I want to tell you, for I could go on forever, is that I finally saw why you see so few children on board even through you know they are there. We got to go to the children's area,they have almost an entire deck. This place is amazing, no wonder parents can not get them to spend time with them.
There is a closet full of princesses dresses to try on, an animation lab that they can make their own animations, a hand washing station that is like putting your hands in a car wash, a submarine that is full of computers so play computer games, there is Andy's room from Toy Story that has all of Andy's toy's giant size for you to play in or with. There is even a dance floor that you can step on square in time with the music to make the floor light up. I think the best part for parents is that if you have late dinner, the counselors will come to the restaurants and take the children back to the play area and keep them up to 2AM so the parents can have some time to go to the lounges or dance clubs.

Okay, that was not the last. The clubs are themed like every thing on the ship. But they are not cheesy. The adult lounge area is called the District. I thought I would not like the dance club, Evolution, but the DJ was very good so we did spend an evening there. I like Pink, the champagne lounge because it is so ....pink and cozy. We even closed it down one evening. It is made to make you feel you are inside a champagne glass.

I also liked Skyline, this lounge is suppose to be that you are in a penthouse and outside the windows is a different city depending on when you are there. Lights go on and off, there are cars going by, etc. It really looks like you are looking out the window onto Hong Kong, Chicago, Rio, Paris or New York.

I have not told you anything about the the other lounges and family area, beautiful restaurants, the sport deck, spa or our room. That will have to be another time. This was a fabulous birthday and I look forward to many more trips on the Dream.

It Feels Like Christmas in January

I am trying to keep my mind off the weather and have my fingers and toes crossed that the flight on Saturday to Florida will get out with out any problems. I am really looking forward to my birthday cruise.

My friend, Sue, gave me my birthday present yesterday since she will not see me again until after my birthday. I almost passed out when I saw what she gave me.....a yarn swift but not just a yarn swift but the one I wanted. I have a swift but I had to push up one of those large clip things to hold the swift in place to wind the yarn.

I am using the swift on the winding station I made. I thought that I would have to put down some velcro or something to hold the winder in place, but would you believe, it does not move while it is whirling. Thank you Sue, I love it.

Thought you might want to see my old winder. Don't laugh too hard-- it worked. Trust me, when something is too good to be true, it is...I thought I was getting such a bargain when I brought this.

Now changing the subject, my son-in-law just finished my Christmas present. I needed a way to keep my hats and shawls out because I would actually forget what I made and some items were not getting used. I showed him a picture I saw of a stand that someone had made to hang their skates. He made me one for my hats and one for my shawls, however he is not satisfied with the design and has come up with his own design and said that he is making me another stand. I guess that will be my birthday present.

Frankly, I am very satisfied with what he made. I am anxious to see the new one.

Just want to show you some of the things we made for the Fish Exchange on the cruise. To explain this a little. Beside your door on the ship, there is a metal fish that you can leave messages. People make or buy these pockets so that people can leave little gifts.

This is what I made

to receive our gifts.

There are 8 cabins in our group but only 4 children . As part of our surprise gifts are a cookbook that my daughter put together of Disney recipes from the resorts, ship or restaurants in the parks. I printed the label on dvd's and my daughter put Disney music on it. Since one of the cabins is honeymooners, their dvd will be romantic songs from Disney movies. I also made some bookmarks. there are other things but this is all that I have to show you.

I will close with the cups that we decorated. To give a little explanation, you do not pay extra for water and soda but the drink stations have have very, very, small cups. People have been bringing their own cups and we thought that we would as well. We went on Etsy and found some cute cups with lids that looked like decorated tall To Go cups for $30 to $45. My daughter found cups at Tuesday Morning, for $4.99 and we went to Hobby Lobby and brought rub on transfers for $2 and $3.

The pink cup is the one I did for $8 total. The other cup is $45.00 on Etsy.Well, I have kept you up long enough, the next report will be on the cruise. We are taking two knitting projects in case we get bored.

The Party is Over

I am trying not to think about it but today is the last day of my vacation. Now reality has set in

and I will be tied to the company cellphone until 7pm each evening waiting for the phone to ring.

I have enjoyed myself this last month and really want to retire. I do not play the lottery but I am tempted to lose my money to give it a try.

I have been busy trying to keep my mind off of work. I finished another Ruffle Lace Cowl , since I work outdoors most of the time, it is nice to have something that covers my chest and head. I made this one with two extra repeats, 14 in all. My plan was for 15-16 repeats but I ran out of the Manos yarn I was using. The picture is pre-block. I am fanning out the bottom more so that it will look more like the original cowl.

In addition, I am on the purse craze again. I love making and carrying purses and knitting bags that I have made. I saw the Birdie Sling by Amy Butler at my favorite sewing store in Hanover, PA called Danner's Bernina Shop, when I went to pick up a part for my friend Sue. I could see this as a knitting bag as well as a purse. I brought the pattern and came straight home and made myself one.

In addition, since my daughter, TeAntae, and I are taking a cruise for my birthday at the end of the month and we will be going to Disney's private island for the day, I thought that we needed new beach totes. I used heavy weight window screening for the main body, canvas for the handles and top part of the tote and 4 inches of other fabric I had in my stash. I doubt if my daughter would like the Mary Engelbreit fabric but we will see. I wish I had embroidered our initial a little higher but it will work.

Today, I am making some Artisan bread, watching some travel videos trying to pretend that I am not here. I will spin a little, start a pair of socks (have not made socks in ages), and also work on a sweater/cape called Not Quite a Cape that is going very fast. I am using Ella Rae Kamelsoft which is Aran weight. I did not mention this in my last post but I have decided to learn two new knitting techniques this year. The first is not a knitting technique exactly but I have never seamed anything. I always avoid any project that takes seaming. This sweater/cape will be my first attempt. The other thing I want to learn this year is intarsia. I already have two intarsia projects picked out. One is the Ravenna Satchel and the other is In Bloom , I have the yarn in my stash for In Bloom so I may start with that one. We will see.

The New Year

I do not normally make resolutions because I do not keep them. I have decided to put together a Wish List this year that I plan to do this year.

1. Knit from stash...I have so much yarn and projects already put into kits that if I just knit this, I will have more than enough to knit this year. I also want to either finish my WIP or Frog. Frankly, if I have had them sitting around for months, it is obvious that I have no plans to get back to them.

2. Start weaving again... I have been so caught up in knitting that I have not been weaving. I think I have as much yarn for weaving as I do for knitting. I also need to sell my counterbalance loom because I brought it to make rugs and found that I really did not enjoy making rag rugs. My LeClerc loom is the older one and quite heavy enough to make a rug every now and then. I also need to get my son-in-law come to help me service theLeClerc, it is having problems.

3. Spin more. .. I love to spin and have lots of roving that I can spin without buying any. Last year, I purchased a new tensioned kate for plying and a great dvd's, one is on drafting by Abby Franquemont and the other plying by Judith MacKenzie. I have no excuse to get better this year. Right now, I am working on spinning three bobbins so that I can try to triple ply. My daughter and son-in-law brought me a Woolee Winder a couple years ago that has really help improve my spinning. You really can get more yarn on the bobbin, no stopping and breaking your rhythm so you can move the yarn on the hooks, and the yarn is level on the bobbin which makes what you spin look better than it actually is. I just love it.

4. Exercise more...My heart doctor and family physician have been preaching to me these last few weeks I have been home that I need to lose weight and exercise. My daughter has reminded me that I lose a lot a few years ago by just riding my recumbent bike and walking on the treadmill. That is very true, I did not even realize that I was losing weight. I am until my next door neighbor offered me some of her clothes because she had lose so much weight. I thought at first that the clothes would fit my big toe. I took one of her pant suits to a meeting because it was so pretty and found out that this was the only thing that fit. All my clothes were hanging off me worst than on a hanger. I am a diabetic with high blood pressure, I really do not have a choice.

5. Just do it

On a happier note....My daughter and I will be leaving on 1/29 to take a cruise on the new Disney ship " the Dream " for my birthday. I have made lots of magnetics for the door, and I plan to just lay on the balcony and dream.

My son, Roger, leaves for

Abu Dhabi United Arab Emirates

maps.google.com

His sister and I are so proud of him. He has not been at this company long and he was chosen to go for a month to put in a new installation. He is in I T. His birthday is today and I actually remembered to send him a text. He will never let me live it down about the year that I totally forgot. I have knitted him a hat that I had planned on giving to him with an Amazon gift certificate. I do not think he will need Windchief right now. He had asked for it since he loved the one I made Bryan (son-in-law) for Christmas.

I do not think I showed you what I did for my Christmas village this year. Because I kept up the restaurants all last year, I decided to do it again for this year but added a park. Also, my daughter and son-in-law gave me a White Castle for Christmas. I have such fond memories of going to white Castles with my friends when I was a teenager. I do not have snow down because I do plan on keeping "restaurant row" up all year and just changing the trees for the season.

This is it for right now. I will get back to you probably after the trip so that I can let you know how it was. Of course, we are taking knitting with us. We are not going to get off the boat in Nassau since we do not like it there, we thought that this would be a great knitting day on the balcony and of course ordering room service.