Mad for Missoni

 Missoni for Target

Yes, I'm mad for Missoni! 

Evidently everyone else is,too. 

Today, marked the launch of  Missoni for Target.

The madness and frenzi for Missoni today
caused Target.com to crash and the

Missoni merchandise to fly off the shelves within just a few hours.  

Of course, I had to be there with all the excitement because

I love the designs of the

Italian Fashion House of Missoni. 

 As a knitter who loves fashion,  

I love their mix-and-match patterns and famous knitwear that they are famous for. Did you know, there are even Missoni knitwear patterns in Vogue Knitting magazines from the 1980's and 1990's.

Zig Zags

I am normally one of the first shoppers to hit Target when they have a big name designer collaboration.  Most of the time, the collections aren't even out yet so today I hit my local Target at 9:30AM instead of 8:00 AM when they opened.  No big deal right? 

Oh my gosh, what a mistake that was for me, a seasoned shopper.  I should have known better and I paid the price.  The Missoni merchandise was already pretty well picked over and I heard there was a line out front before they opened.

 Missoni Accessories

By the time I got to Target this morning the accessory items were just about sold out.

I was most excited to see the Missoni scarves.  There were only a few left at my local Target store. So I hit the road to other nearby Target stores and managed to find a few more scarves at each stop I made.  I also lucked out and found a cute cardigan and silk scarf in Missoni's trademark zig-zag print.

I must report that I was most impressed that the Missoni scarves were made of 100% silk and not polyester.  I know the Missoni family must have insisted on that. 

As for the knits...my cardigan is a rayon and cotton blend.  The fun knit scarves I picked up do have some acrylic content which I'm not that crazy about.  At Target prices though...I better not complain!

 The Missoni tags say:

Patterned After No One.

Priced For Everyone.

I feel pretty lucky today that I snagged some Missoni pieces!

Bound for Italy!

PS:  Don't you just love this 21" Spinner Suitcase?

Wouldn't it be perfect for a trip to Italy? 

I went ahead and passed on it today but I did tell my husband that it would be pretty cool

to wear my new Missoni outfit in Italy...someday????

Crafty Biscuit Anyone?

 Mollie Makes Issue Four

There are plenty of tea time treats

in Mollie Makes Issue Four.

I just snagged Issue Four off the cart at Barnes & Noble

a few days ago before it even hit the shelves. 

There is not much knitting or crochet in this issue

but I'm still enjoying this British magazine all the same.

Here's a little look inside:

 A is for Apron

A is for apron and I adore this one!

Yes, it is made in Liberty of London fabric!

This is a sneak peak from Liberty's very first book on sewing called

The Liberty Book of Home Sewing Projects. 
(This adorable apron is featured on it's cover.)

 

Do I dare tell my husband, I already want to go back to London
for more Liberty prints?

 B is for Biscuit

B is for biscuit and this issue of Mollie Makes

is all about biscuits and tea time treats!

The cover's sweet biscuits are cute and crafty.  They are designed by Ouissi Gresty.

They are crafted out of felt scraps.  Just a few basic embroidery stitches and voila...

you've got adorable sweet biscuits (with no calories).

Ouissi has an adorable website (appropriately called)
British Cream Tea 

and is also the author of the book Felt Biscuits. 

 T is for Tea

T is for tea and since Mollie Makes is British...

there are always tea time treats and inspiration

on Mollie's pages.

I really like staying in the know

with the British craft and shopping scene

by reading through the pages of Mollie Makes.

Being a loyal fan of Mollie Makes,
really makes you want to take a trip across the Pond!

Teeny Tiny Purse

I love these Teeny Tiny Purses.  I think they would be fantastic made up in my favorite

Liberty of London prints to hold all my purse change. 

I'm not much of a sewer but there are very clear instructions and detailed diagrams
on how to make these fabric purses. 
I just may have to find the right purse clasp so I can give this sewing project a go! 

The Great British Biscuit

In the spirit of Mollie Makes...

I love supporting artists, crafters and small business.

While having tea in an adorable tea room in London this year,

I fell in love with a tea towel by British illustrator,

Jill Tytherleigh. 

I now have an adorable red The Great British Biscuit tea towel

in my American kitchen and used it for the photo styling in this post.

I hope one day Mollie Makes includes Jill in the magazine.  I love her work.

In the meantime...

visit her website or her cute Etsy store Jilltydrawings
and treat yourself to a tea towel.

Mollie would approve!

Bliss!

 Debbie Bliss Knitting Magazine

Fall/Winter 2011

I'm ready for fall...

and Debbie Bliss' new fall magazine is enticing me
 to pick up my knitting needles
and start some fall and winter projects!

Here are a few of my favorites from Debbie's new issue:

 Fair Isle Cardigan

I'm a Fair Isle fan so I love Debbie's feature on Fair Isle knits called
The New Palette...The Bold Standard.

Debbie says it's time to "rev up your needles for a new approach to sweater weather." 

I love how she changed up traditional Fair Isle color work to a new palette of black and white.  Her Fair Isle designs are striking in this color palette and have a much more modern twist!

This snowflake crew-neck cardigan in varying shades of blacks, greys and silver is knit in Debbie's Baby Cashmerino.  I love how it is styled in the magazine with a black skirt. 

 Wristwarmers

I love small Fair Isle projects so I love these diamond pattern wristwarmers.

I'm not really a sweater knitter so this Fair Isle pattern is perfect for me and fellow knitters who want to tackle small Fair Isle projects.

They are also knit in Debbie's Baby Cashmerino. 

 Fair Isle Sweater

I love classic fashion

and this Fair Isle Cardigan is bound to become a classic!

With its snowflake motif....

I think it's perfect for hitting the slopes

or some apres ski parties!

It's knit in Debbie's Rialto 4-ply extra-fine merino.

 Basketweave Wrap

It's no secret that I love scarves.

I love to wear them and I love to knit them!

The cover Basketweave Wrap scarf is my favorite pattern in the magazine. 

It's knit in Debbie's new bulky (color changing) yarn Riva.

Admirers are asking "what's that color way on the cover."

# 02 Heather.  Now you know.

Debbie also has a new pattern book for fall called Riva
which was photographed in the British countryside. 

I can't wait to get my copy!

Party Girls!

Of course, the magazine wouldn't be Debbie Bliss
without some knit designs for "little cuties"!

There is an adorable feature called Party Girls
filled with "girlie" lacey party knits. 

This is another wonderful issue by Debbie and her team. 

I hope you find your copy soon...
and it inspires you,  like me,
to start up some fall knitting projects
and
make Debbie's daughter Nell's
Flapjacks recipe in the issue,too. 

A Blissful Day!

Debbie Bliss Magazine

Fall/Winter 2011

It's a blissful day whenever I pick up the new
 Debbie Bliss magazine.

The magazine's official delivery date isn't until September 6th.  For those of us "in the know",

the magazine usually arrives at Local Yarn Stores before the "big-box" chain stores.  I make it a habit to always dash out to my LYS the moment it arrives.

As for knitting, I don't knit much during the hot summer months here in California.  Debbie's new issue though is already inspiring me to pick up the needles again. 

Before I pick up the needles though...

I couldn't wait to bake Debbie's daughter Nell's Sweet Oat Bars (Flapjacks)

 recipe in the magazine. 

 My favorite feature in every issue is The Blissful Life.  I love that Debbie shares with us her favorite things and features a recipe by Nell in every issue.

Nell's Sweet Oat Bars

Nell's Flapjack recipe is a keeper!  

They taste just like the yummy flapjacks my husband and I love having in England. 

I'll be back soon with a sneak peek of my favorite designs from the issue. 

I'm off now to enjoy a cup of tea,

 a flapjack and my new Debbie Bliss magazine! 

It's a Blissful Day!


(In the photos:  Emma Bridgewater pottery.)

Hooked on Mollie Makes!

 Mollie Makes Issue 3

I'm hooked on Mollie Makes! 

Mollie Makes Issue 3
has just arrived in the US this week. 

 Sunshine Flowers

I love Issue 3 and all its projects.

I'm picking the cute crochet flowers by Carmen Heffernan as my favorite project in this issue.   Her Sunshine Flowers are featured on the cover and she gives a tutorial in the magazine on how to make them.  Oooh, I can't wait to give them a try and start crocheting flowers! 

Carmen works from her home in the lovely Irish countryside.

She has the most colorful and adorable flower shop on Etsy.

Go have a look...you'll be inspired!

 Sunshine Bag

How cute is this Sunshine Bag?

 I would love to make one in a Liberty of London floral print fabric..wouldn't you? 

 Mollie Makes says "its roomy enough to fit your whole life into (including your craft stash). 

I haven't really sewn anything since junior high so I think I better sign up for sewing lessons.  Although Mollie says...this is a cinch to make.  So I guess, I just have to borrow my sister's sewing machine.

 Flower Power

I've always loved making flowers. 

As a young girl in the 1970's, I used to make dip film flowers all the time.  Remember those?

Today, I'm obsessed with making flowers to adorn clothes and accessories.  So naturally, I adore the article We Heart Flower Corsages.  There are four flower corsage patterns all made out of cotton fabrics.

These flowers look pretty easy to make so I can't wait to get crafty and make a few.

Tea Time!

And, of course, since Mollie Makes is British...

you know there is bound to be a thing or two about tea in the magazine.

I love reading about all the craft cafes and shops in the UK where you can sit and knit

or craft and have tea and cake. 

This issue features a beautiful English wedding with a vintage tea theme.  There are lots of pretty photographs that are bound to inspire you to pull out your Grandma's tea cups

and have an afternoon tea party! 

Yay, for Mollie Makes!

I absolutely love Mollie Makes. 

I can't wait for Issue 4 and its adorable felt biscuits on the cover.
All the UK Mollie Makes fans are already saying...
 "it's the best issue yet"!


(In the photos:  vintage crochet motifs and my great-grandmother's crochet hook were used when I styled the photos.)

La vie en Rose

 My French Flower

My obsession with flowers continues to bloom!

I can now create beautiful silk flowers in the age-old technique of French flower making, thanks to my class yesterday with milliner artist  Jan Wutkowski. 

Jan flew all the way out from North Carolina to teach

French Flower Making at

 Lacis Museum of Lace and Textiles in Berkeley, California. 

 I always thought I would have to travel to  London or Australia to learn the secrets of traditional French flower making.  Thanks to Lacis and Jan's class, I now have the tools and secrets to create beautiful silk flowers in the French tradition. 

 French Flower Making

with Jan Wutkowski

Jan is an American milliner who trained at the Melbourne School of Millinery in 1995.  She has been designing and making hats since 1996.  Today she is not only is a milliner and teacher but also owns A Muse in Wilmington, North Carolina. 

Over lunch with Jan, I had the chance to get to know Jan the designer.  I was rather curious where her love for hats began and interestingly enough it began with her love for vintage jewelry.  Well, that makes perfect sense...vintage jewelry, hats, gloves all from other glamorous eras.   I loved hearing her stories about her brides and the one-of-a-kind hats she creates for the them. 

Of course, I couldn't wait to ask Jan if hats and fascinators are more popular today due to the Royal Wedding.  Jan quickly told me that fascinators can be many different things in millinery and they have been around a long time.  Yes, the Royal Wedding has made millinery more popular here in America but Jan is always busy with her clientele.  She not only designs beautiful bridal millinery but keeps very busy with her "Kentucky Derby ladies".

As a designer, Jan spends her calender year with the first half creating beautiful hats during the busy bridal, garden and Derby season.  The second half of the year, she travels around the country (and the world) as a milliner teacher. 

My Silk Fabrics

The French Flower Making class began with a nice introduction from Jan.  Next Jan asked us to introduce ourselves and talk about our interest with flower making.  It was so neat to hear every ones story.  Most students were from the Bay Area.  A few, like me, travelled a few hours for the class and one young lady came all way from Mexico!  Most of the students were involved in millinery and fashion and some students just loved hats.

For me, I am not quite sure where this path will lead me.  I am somewhat interested in trying to combine the flowers with my knitting.  Then again, I love hats and vintage so I might just end up embellishing hats and making brooches.

 French Flowers

To create our flowers, Jan taught us the process in the traditional French method using heat tools. 

 The first step was preparing our fabrics and then letting them dry during our lunch break.  After lunch we cut flower petals for creating beautiful roses.  Next we learned how to use our heat tools and shape our petals.  By the end of the day, Jan showed us how to assemble our flowers and everyone finished the class with a beautiful rose!

Jan had told us early on in the day, that even though we all started out with the same pattern and instructions, each of our flowers would be unique.  She was so right.  I was so amazed at every ones fabric combinations and their beautiful results. 

Lacis

I had so much fun taking this class. 

Thank you to Jules Kliot, the owner of Lacis for bringing Jan out to the west coast and for all your amazing supplies and resources! 

 Lacis has wonderful supplies for knitters, too.  I was so thrilled to find two handbag purse handles I've been searching for (even in England) and a hard to find Japanese crochet book.  Of course, I also came home with flower making books and supplies, too!

Lastly, Merci to Jan for sharing her knowledge of

French Flower Making

and for helping keep the craft alive!

Sew Crafty!

Feeling Crafty!

I haven't been knitting much but...

I have been crafty!

Lately, I'm obsessed with flowers
and
Liberty of London prints!

Sew Crafty

I was pretty excited when Liberty of London and Target teamed up last year.  Let's just say, with Liberty at  Target prices, I stocked up on a lot of scarves.  I'm so glad I did because now I'm getting "crafty" with them.

For my recent trip to London I put together a Liberty ensemble to wear to tea.   I jazzed up my Liberty for Target basic scarf with a cute pom-pom trim and now it looks like it came from a London high-street shop! 

I also upcycled  another Liberty for Target scarf into a big ruffled flower that I can wear as a hair pin or brooch.  I can even pin it on some ruffly tulle and it makes a darling fascinator! 

Ta Da!

I can tell you now, that nothing beats wearing Liberty of London in London!

Of course, I had to wear my Liberty ensemble the day I went shopping at Liberty of London.  The Liberty ladies on the Haberdashery Floor all recognized my accessories made from their famous Liberty prints. 

I also wore my Liberty ensemble to the adorable tea room High Tea of Highgate in Highgate Village (outside of London) and the owner Georgina noticed my Liberty of London accessories, too.  I loved that and loved the tea room, too!

And yes...

I wore my Liberty flower as a fascinator to tea!