Here it is...

It's monday morning, the sun is shining, and I'm ready to reveal ... drum roll please ... the first finished project of the year!!!! The granny blanket is the first project I've started and finished this year, its also the biggest piece I've ever done to date. The blanket is 48" squared, so it makes for a cozy throw, while the acrylic yarn makes it machine wash and dry, so its perfect for everyday snuggling. So much so, that I'm tempted to leave it by my favorite reading chair, ready for bed-time stories and late night knitting. But who knows I might change my mind. Yes, you know I will, at least five or six times in the next day or so.

It's funny, I though because of the size, I would get bored somewhere in between changing colors so many times and doing the same stitch over and over. To my surprise, it was quite the contrary. It was fun and challenging, and yes it's a whole lot of double crochet but never tedious. I was so exited to see the end result, and every layer of color just made it more and more rewarding. I liked it so much that I've already picked out my next color combination. And yes, I LOVED it so so much, that I'm teaching the beginners crochet workshop!!!!

We're starting off Tuesday, February 15th @ 10.00am and finishing on Tuesday the 22nd at the same time. We'll cover all the basics, chain, slip stitch, single crochet, double crochet,  how to start our granny squares, how to switch colors and how to piece them together. Its February Granny mania!!!! Oh won't you join us?!?!?!?

We just received a ton of new Algarve grande cotton yarn in some gorgeous colors, and we also have our Anne threads in a whole rainbow of colors, so you can come in a chose as many colors as you would like for your project. Tomorrow, I'll post some great combinations for some granny squares, as well as some project ideas made entirely out of the little, or not so little, squares. Ready to work those needles??? Call us or e-mail us for more information.

Thanks for stopping by!

Natalia

P.D. Do you have pictures of granny squares projects??? Send them our way!!!! I'd love to post them on our blog!!!

Spring Collection is In

Another package has just arrived, Ohhh I'm so happy. Allow me to show you some of the new yarns we've just received from the Skacell spring 2011 collection. In the picture above we have the Macaibo, in the most gorgeous array of colors I've seen this season.  The mMcaibo is a cotton blend yarn, and I can't wait to get my hands on it and see what wonderful things we can make with it. It has great shine and it sort of reminds me of those beautiful Missoni prints I so LoVe! Just click here to see some of the patterns Skacell put up on their page.

We ordered some great Algarve Grande 100% cotton as well. And as you can see by the color chips above, they are all bright and sunny and ready for some spring knitting/crocheting. You might even recognize some of the colors from the Pantone Spring 2011 Color Forecast!! We've been busy busy bees since we received the merchandise, so you can stop by shop and see them for yourself. And just in case you thinking of signing up or the granny blanket crochet class, the 100% cotton Algarve Grande yarn is perfect for our little project. So go ahead and make your color combinations!!!!

Have a great weekend lovelies!!!

Natalia

A first look

A little while ago I shared some pictures of the yarns mom and I bought while on vacations. even though I did get around to upload a few pictures of my granny square blanket, I had completely neglected mom's throw!!!! So here are the first pictures of Mom's throw!!

She's using Lion Brand's homespun yarn in a variety of shades, and she's following a pattern posted on their site. It's shaping up to be a massive, comfy, warm, and yes big enough for two throw!! Maybe even too warm for our Puerto Rican winters, but we'll turn on the A/C and curl up in our couch just for fun.

As for me,  I'm all done with my granny square blanket and I'm ready to snap some great pictures to show you the results. But before I do, I have tons of work to do! And no, I'm not complaining. My job for the week is to pick out new yarn lines and brands to carry in our store. Oh, you can imagine how fun it is to go trough samples of mohair, bamboo, cotton, silks, linen, and plenty of blends. The new colors for 2011 are all so beautiful I'm having a bit trouble editing my wish list. Which reminds me, thanks to all of you who voted on our poll!!! You've made my job a bit easier.

I can't tell you much more at the moment as I am in the process of placing all of the orders. But soon enough I'll give you a sneak peak.

On another note I do have few announcements to share with you. 

          We have a brand new calendar of classes and workshops for the coming months.

          Up next we have a Beginners Tunisian Crochet Class with Zulema,

          starting next Saturday at 10.00am. You can find more details here.

          Also, I am so excited to say that I'll be teaching a beginner crochet class.

          We'll cover all the basics, chain stitch, single crochet, double crochet etc. 

          For more details click here.

Thanks for stopping by!!!

Natalia

Straight from the box

Here they are!!! The new fabrics have just arrived. Literally, really, I opened the box 15 minutes ago, snapped a few pictures, no time for editing or photoshop, and here they are. I hope you enjoy your sneak peak, because I'm taking all 12 fabrics to be hemstitched later today, and they won't be back until early next week.

I have to say, I've already picked my favorites. There's a little bit of everything, girly, just for boys, and plenty of gender neutral fabrics, perfect for any baby!!!

Have a great day, and thanks for stopping by. Nothing like a little package in the mail to make my day!!!

Natalia

Granny loving and loving from the oven

Hello lovelies!

Ah my two greatest joys all in one day! I haven't had a day like today in oh so long. I had time to make a lovely brunch, crochet most of my Granny blanket and bake us a nice afternoon snack. And to think I only had time to do all of this because we are all sick...

... had we all been perfectly healthy we would have been out and about enjoying the weather and the sun. Instead I got to stay at home, and work the needles and the oven. I made some great progress on the blanket, and took a break to make cornbread with S. He loves to bake just as much as I do, and loves making a mess in the kitchen even more than I do. So with his lovely little hands, we stirred, poured, and baked.

And then of course we ate... and ate, and then I went back to my blanket, S. to his trains, and the hubby to his books.

All and all, a great weekend!!

This week we have some mayor projects and announcements. I'll be starting a new shawl, mom will be working on her throw and we have some amazing new merchandise coming in. Oh, and I have more yarns to order, have you voted on our poll yet??? I need help picking out colors!!!!!!

That's it for now, but be sure to send it pictures of your upcoming projects. Thanks for stopping by!!!!

Gluten/dairy free Cornbread recipe;

1cup    Medium corn meal

1cup    Gluten Free yellow cake mix

2tbsp   Honey

1          Egg

1pinch Salt

1/2tsp   Baking Powder

1cup     Goat Milk

4tbsp     Butter flavored shortening or dairy free butter substitute (ie Earth Balance) + 1 Tbsp

* Preheat Oven to 400*f, lightly grease an 8"x 8" baking pan.

*In a bowl, mix dry ingredients thoroughly, add egg, milk and honey and mix to incorporate with a wooden spoon. Add melted shortening, and mix once again.

* Place batter in the greased pan and bake for 20 min, or until top begins to brown.

Natalia

Happy Sunday

I love a good Sunday Brunch!!

Natalia

Granny Mania

Hi lovelies!

As promised, here's the first picture of my new project. I started it while on vacation, and it's very simple. It's one giant granny square! At the moment it stands 18'x18", but I'm hoping for more of a throw so I have a bit more crocheting to do. I'm working with four colors, and no real color design, just winging it. Stay tuned for more pictures. I'm so excited, that's the thing about big projects, you just can't put them down!!!!!!!!!

Thanks for stopping by!

Natalia

While on Vacation

 Hi!

The funny thing about mixing your work and you hobby is that even while on vacation, you end up working. Does that make any sense??

Crochet has been my hobby for quite some time now, but in the past year, it has also become my work. So much so that over the holidays I ended up making a ton of crochet towels, blankets and scarfs for both the store, and as personal gifts. So you can imagine I was very exited and eager to go away on vacation and leave it all behind.

 While I was packing my bags, I had no urge to bring along ANY needles, not for the plane, not for the layover, not at all. And then we got to Colorado, and it was cold, and the fire was crackling, and the sofa was comfy and, and, and... that's when it me. Of course I didn't want to say a thing, but I did, and here's the result.

The two of us got into the gigantic SUV with at least 6 empty seats (yes gigantic), drove through the snow, which for many of you is no big feat but for us crazy Puerto Ricans it can be a bit stressful, and ended up at the nearest yarn shop, Walmart. Lucky for us they had everything, and so we bought... well, almost everything. I got Caron Acrylic yarn in four colors to make my giant granny square throw, more on that tomorrow, plenty of navy blue yarn for a future project, some ribbons and some fluffy yarn for a pattern yet to be chosen. And Mom, well, she got about 8 giant balls of Lion Brand Homespun in a variety of shades. We got crochet needles, knitting needles, scissors, markers, some fabric, and on and on.

The Homespun turned out to be so awesome and easy to work with, she returned, and got another basket full of yarn. What can I say, when you love your job so much, you even take it on vacation with you!!!!!!

Thanks four stopping by!!!

Natalia

Crochet for the spring

Welcome back!!!

After a quick visit to the doctor's yesterday, I am happy to say I'm feeling much better today. Of course this only means its time to unpack and put away all of our winter clothes. But before I do, Here is a photo of the article in mentioned a few days ago on Facebook.

Town and Country Mag, one of my monthly reads since forever, has just put out a list of must have items for the spring. Luckly  for us, it features a great variety of crochet items!!!! I blogged about most of these pieces back in September during fashion week, but now with spring around the corner, its time to get those needles working!!!!  

Well, its back to unpacking for me!!! Oh and then there's the laundry and the cleaning, and the groceries and.........

Thanks for stopping by!!!!

Natalia

New Find

Hello!!!

Vacations are ohhh so very nice, but so is coming back home. I have so many details of our trip to share with you, but since I'm feeling a little under the weather today, I thought I'd share a blog I just found this morning. Ilaria Chiaratti is the author of IDA Interior Life Style. She loves to decorate with all the elements I adore, vintage furniture, fabrics, and yes crochet!!!

IDA Interior Life Style

IDA Interior Life Style

IDA Interior Life Style

She's also hosting a great give-away this month. The prize is this lovely table lamp. So head on over to her blog, read the instructions and participate. And while you're there, stay a while and discover all the beautiful crochet decorations she has in her home.

Thanks for stopping by!!! I'll see you again tomorrow!!!


Natalia

Happy New Year

We're back!!!!

Hi everyone!!!! New Year new adventures, new projects and so many updates!!!

Today I want to share with all of you our first adventure of the year, and of course the scarfs we made for the trip!!!! As you may know, I'm not crazy about sharing personal pictures, but for today I'll make an exception, we are not the worlds greatest models, but probably the proudest for showing off our handy work.

My family and I are so very lucky, and so very cold this morning.

We are starting the year off with a few days in Colorado. The days are bright and sunny, and oh so cold!! Good thing we were busy during the holidays knitting and finishing a few projects to keep us nice and warm, not to mention stylish. 

The view from our windows is so spectacular it's impossible to take bad pictures. Of course once I get home I plan on playing with my brand new Christmas gift... Photo shop!!!!!! I'm so lucky!!!

Mom made a gorgeous ruffled scarf using two skeins of my all time favorite I'm allergic to wool from Farmhouse yarns. No pattern though, she made it up as she went along. Now you know who I got it from!!!! The ruffles look so elegant stacked up on each other, it almost looks like a cowl in this picture.

Three scarfs two ways!!!! Here we are again, Mom still wearing her grey scarf a different way, me in my I'm allergic to wool light blue scarf worn as a capelet (very versatile design, I'll share the pattern later) and my hubby in his Christmas gift, an orange organic cotton scarf in double crochets and baubles. I wanted to share these little crochet projects so bad, I made them stand in the balcony for these pictures. Did I mention we are still in our PJ's and its four degrees outside!!! Oh and dad took the pictures, barefoot, in shorts!!!! Then again we are only here for a few days and we have to enjoy the cold weather before returning to our warm Caribbean paradise.

It's so nice to start blogging again!!!! See you all soon!!

Natalia