Stylish Storage

Ceramic Cables

Vases aren't just for flowers!

I'm storing my straight needles now in an adorable "wintery white" ceramic cabled vase.  

I found my cabled vase in the holiday section at Target.  As you can see, the 8" vase is perfect for holding straights.  They also have a larger 10" vase and photo frames in this "wintery white" cable design perfect for knitters who love cables!  They are selling out fast in stores but are still currently available at Target online.  

Happy Holidays! 

Hats Off!

Donation Drive Hats

Hats off to Knitting Fever for their donation drive collecting warm goods for Hurricane Sandy victims!

After Hurricane Sandy my husband and I gave a donation immediately to the Red Cross for Hurricane Sandy Relief.  As a knitter though, one can't help but want to send warmth like a nice warm hat.  As I said before, I have to limit my knitting time due to hand surgery earlier this year but I can certainly shop for hats!

Yesterday I went shopping for mens hats to send back East for Knitting Fever's donation drive.  I found 13 cool beanies at Tuesday Morning.  They were $15.00 hats for only a $1.99 each!  They are easy-care acrylic which is best for this type of donation.  I am packing them up today and shipping them off to New York.  I hope they bring warmth to those in need.  

If you want to help, you can take donations to participating yarn stores for Knitting Fever's drive and Knitting Fever will pick up the shipping costs.  (Yay, to Knitting Fever!) Or you can ship them directly (like me) to:

Knitting Fever, Inc

Attn: KFI Sandy Relief

PO Box 336

315 Bayview Avenue

Amityville, NY 11701

The employees at Knitting Fever are busy sorting and then delivering the donations themselves around the Long Island region.  

Again...hats off to Knitting Fever for being such a wonderful company that truly cares!

Make it Better

 Craftalong Hats 

I love the power of crafters!

Crafty bloggers, Brett Bara from Manhattan Craft Room and Natalie Soud from A Dose of the Delightful have organized a way to get warmth to Hurricane Sandy victims in their region.  It's called Make it Better:  Craftalong for Sandy Relief. 

They gave a shout-out to fellow crafters to knit, crochet or sew warm hats, socks, blankets, scarves, sweaters and mittens and they will deliver them to those in need. 

I wanted to knit hats but due to having hand surgery earlier in the year, I have to limit my knitting.  I still wanted to help.  So the other day I went thrifting and found 13 gently used (even new) hats to send to the craftalong.  Of the 13 hats, four were actually hand-made by someone else's loving hands.  I have hand laundered them and they are now on their way to New York City.

My hope is that the hats bring warmth, comfort and a smile to some young girls and ladies who could use a warm winter hat as they recover from Hurricane Sandy.  

Brett and Natalie have received over 2,700 items (and still counting) from fellow crafters.  They are now busy delivering the warm goods to various shelters in the Rockaways area of New York.  The deadline for their drive has ended but there are still many other groups collecting goods to help those in need.  

One of my favorite companies Knitting Fever in Amityville, New York (home of my favorite designer's yarns) is accepting donations of warm clothes and goods and are delivering them around Long Island which was hard hit by Hurricane Sandy.  They hope to continue to accept donations and distribute them for as long as there is a need.  Please visit the Knitting Fever Facebook page or their blog for more information and ways that you can help.  

Hey Bidder, Bidder!

 Silent Auction 

Benefiting Macmillan Cancer Support

My Silent Auction is in full swing now 

at Knitique, A Yarn Boutique in Elk Grove, California. 

Together Danielle, the owner of Knitique, and I are raising more funds for Louisa Harding 

while she is on her Team Macmillan Nepal Hike
through November 11th, 2012. 

All auction proceeds will be donated on Louisa's Just Giving Site 

benefiting Macmillan Cancer Support. 

There are so many fabulous goods to bid on that were donated 

all the way from England by famous British designers
and Louisa's friends.  

Don't by shy to bid.  You can even place telephone bids over the phone and we will be happy to ship your items to you.

Here's a look at the Silent Auction:

Snowy Snowflake Scarf

& Flower Brooch

by Designer Nicky Thomson

British Designer Nicky Thomson donated her gorgeous Snowy Snowflake Scarf and Flower Brooch in color Royal Azure.  I've been a fan of Nicky's for quite some time now.  

I have several of her wool scarves and flower brooches and always receive compliments when I wear them.

Nicky has developed a unique way of gently felting her wool designs and is a supporter of the UK's Campaign for Wool.  I love that she recycles and donates her wool scraps to local schools for children's arts and crafts projects.

When I contacted Nicky about a donation she told me:

 "I have actually always supported Macmillan Cancer Support.  My mum runs quite a number of events here in the UK.  It is such a good cause."

Thank you Nicky for your lovely donation!

Debbie Bliss Books & 

Emma Bridgewater Polka Dot Mug Set

Knitting Fever 

(Louisa Harding and Debbie Bliss' American Yarn/Book Distributor)

generously donated the Louisa Harding Thistle Yarn for my charity event also sent two Debbie Bliss books for my Silent Auction.  Debbie told me in an e-mail, that she wished she was in the US so she could sign the books for us!

Another fabulous British Designer, Emma Bridgewater donated an adorable 2pc Polka Dot 1/2 Pint Mug Set all the way from the Potteries in England.  The Emma Bridgewater company is a strong supporter of Macmillan Cancer Support and has regular events at their factory and retail stores to raise money for Macmillan.  

 Rowan Books

Louisa 's knitwear career actually began with an internship at Rowan so naturally Rowan wanted to donate for the auction.  Rowan sent three of their latest books for the auction:  Sarah Hatton Knits, Parisian Nights and Kidsilk Haze Trio.  

 Sardi Hat

You can even help raise funds at the auction even if you're not a knitter!  I have donated my Sardi hat that I knit as a sample for my Himalayan Hiking Hat Kit fund raiser.

The Sardi hat is Louisa's pretty heart cable design and it's knit in Louisa's Thistle yarn which is a luxurious blend of Merino Wool and Baby Suri Alpaca.  

I wonder who the lucky winning bidder will be?

Kim Hargreaves Books

(Autographed by Kim!) &

Nicky Thomson Flower Brooch

Louisa and Designer Kim Hargreaves have been wonderful friends for over 20 years.  Kim graciously sent her two latest books, Quirky and Enchanted, from Yorkshire England and even autographed them for the auction.  This is such a treat for Kim's American fans because I don't believe Kim makes many (if any) public appearances in America.  

Also in the photo above is a darling Nicky Thomson wool flower brooch in Bluejay Khaki up for bid!

So please don't be shy to bid.

If you live out of the area, you can place a telephone bid by calling Knitique and we will gladly ship your winning item/items to you with just the cost of the postage added to your winning bid.  

This is all really for such a wonderful cause and such a fun way to go shopping for fabulous British goods that are often not readily available here in the US!  

For telephone bids:

Knitique, A Yarn Boutique

(916) 714-7719