General Craftiness Around Here

There's a lot of craftiness going on around here. Every week at Chinese school, a lot of fun happens while the kids are in class. There's people doing crochet, paper work and beading. Let me show you some of the goodies from yesterday.

Annie, left, is the bead lady at the school and she just came back from Hong Kong. Don't you just love their hats? They crocheted them! She had a fun project for us. She had us make these red envelope decorations. The red envelopes [in this case also gold] are folded and stapled to make them. Beautiful!

I wanted to show you her bead projects. Can you say adorable? I want one of these bunnies.

Oh, little bear, you are cute too!

My boys would love this dinosaur.

Groovy, right?

A fish ...

A vase ...

One of her students brought in her "plate" for all of us to see. [Sorry for the bad photo.]

Side view.

So gorgeous but I don't have time to learn this ... yet.

Why?  I was busy working on my yo-yo project.  Also, my big guy's class is having a special day at school this week and their chosen theme is the Atlantic Ocean. The volunteer moms are going to turn their class into an underwater environment. I designed some fish. The kids will make them and we'll hang them from the ceiling.

We're going to have streamers and bubble wrap across the ceiling and hanging from there too.
Of course, we will need blue cellophane to cover the window and lava lamps to give the place atmosphere!

There's lots of stuff going on this week but I thought that I'd show you only the fun ones!

Oh, yes, yo-yo challenge participants. Projects should be posted on the 5th!! I can't wait.

xo, L

I Needed A Little Inspiration

Today, I needed to get out of the house. There were lots of little things that I had to deal with this week so when I had had enough, I said yes when my friend Dar called me and asked if I wanted to go out for lunch. Yes, yes, yes!!

We headed down to Frenchtown, NJ. It is a sleepy but funky little town and we love having lunch at the Frenchtown Cafe, walking around town and then walking along the river. 

The little trail along the river is easy and it's filled with little treats. The ice melting along the river's edge look like little droplets or gems.

We love to photograph the wonky trees. It was fun today remembering what we photographed in these same spots last spring as we walked by them.

Along the way, there are a couple of houses that we adore. I think that this is the garage of the house to the right of it. I would love it if were my studio!! The two buildings are not attached to each other.

Oh, but look at this one too. It's just a couple of doors down. Gorgeous!

There's a lot of interesting architecture and color in the town.

Just what I needed. A little break.

xo, L

Yo-Yo's Are Everywhere!

Hi, yo-yo challenge participants!! Have you been working on your projects? It seems that yo-yos are everywhere. I took my machine in to the quilt shop for servicing the other day and visited my favorite bead shop that is in the same plaza. Artful Beads is a funky bead shop that you should visit if you are in the Pennington area. There were yo-yos everywhere! Barbara, one of the owners, was sporting this beauty. Look at her necklace! 

They sell lovely clips! Their neclaces are divine!

Yesterday I went to Manhattan and it seems that yo-yos are popular in the Japanese crafting book department too!

Yes, we are way ahead of the curve. I can't wait to see your designs! Remember to join the Flickr page.

xo, L

This E-Thing Is A Growing Thing & Winners

I've got great news for those of you who knit! Leisure Arts has just notified me that iKnit will be available in an e-book format very soon! If you don't have a copy, here's a chance to download a copy!

It was a fun book for me to design. There are lots of easy and quick but stylish projects for the beginner to intermediate knitter. There are purses, scarves, and even a cable pillow. Look for it very soon at Leisure Arts.

Things have changed in the publishing industry and as a designer, this is one thing that I embrace yet struggle with because I started out publishing my patterns as print patterns. Let me know what you think!

Also on the internet front, I have gotten to know many of you via this blog or mostly through Facebook. If you haven't become a friend on Facebook, please do! I get a larger response to my posts there and it is so much fun.

I met Alex from Aurifil on Facebook and he gave me the opportunity to be Miss February on their Designer of the Month Event. Have you made a pillow or card holder yet? Remember to post it on their Flickr site to be eligible to win the thread. I look forward to seeing your finished products.

Thank you for everyone who posted comments here and on Facebook. The winners of my drawing are:

Hugs & Kisses Fabric - Quilter In The Gap

Aurifil Thread - Barbara Dekruyf Sindlinger [drawn from Facebook]

Aurifil Thread - Colleengonemad

E-mail me your information and I will send the goods to you! Congratulations! If I do not hear from you by Friday, Feb. 18, consider your winnings void and I will pass the prize on at another time!

xo, L

Happy Valentine's Day!

More Yo-Yo Love

hint, originally uploaded by serdreich.

Here is the second lovely project in our challenge! I can't wait to see more!

*Silly me, hit the button to hide my comments and forgot to re-set it.  It's ok now.

xo, L

Yo! Yo-Yo Challengers!

yo yo bead 1, originally uploaded by LadyOfIS1957.

Look at the first two submissions to our yo-yo challenge. Awesome right? Make sure that you join this Flickr site so that you can post your teases! Can't wait to see them!!

xo, L

Miss February - Aurifil Designer of the Month

GIVEAWAY - CLOSED

Yes, that would be me. Miss February though I forgot my calendar girl outfit in this photo. Thanks for dropping by. I'm so happy to be Miss February for the 2011 Aurifil Designer of the Month event. I've designed a cushion and a card holder for that special sweetheart or Valentine in your life. The applique shapes are all the same. You just need to decide if you want to make one or both projects!

I can't wait to see your versions of "Love". Please, oh please, let me see when you make one and don't forget to post it on the Flickr site that Aurifil has set up for you. You will be entered to win some thread from Aurifil. There's still time to make these adorable projects in time for Valentine's Day. Here's my little one for the reveal.

Go to visit the Aurifil blog for my interview and project details! Comment here, on the Aurifil blog or on Facebook. I am going to have a drawing of my own for some fabric and thread [assorted packs]. I've got company this weekend and a lot of other crazy things but comment by next Friday by 8 p.m. 

Good luck! xo, L