My daughter, Chloe Findlay-Harder,  has been organizing some things in her studio. photo by Noreen Crone-Findlay copyright Bless her heart, she gave me a couple more of the fab wire baskets that she made a few years ago. Here’s one of the new ones, sitting on the shelf that lives on my knitting machine table. When I was busy admiring the new baskets, photo by Noreen Crone-Findlay copyright I realized how  much I love using baskets for organizing studio stuff, and that I have baskets by the dozens. (There’s another one of Chloe’s baskets in this pic, too) So, I started taking photos of some of the baskets in my studio, and before long photo by Noreen Crone-Findlay copyright I had taken almost 50 photos…. I won’t... [Read more]

Vintage Magic Looms are a sweet little tool, and I love them. photo by Noreen Crone-Findlay copyright But, the boxes have a baffling oxymoron- a photo of a crocheted granny square, which could lead people to assume that the Magic loom produces crocheted granny squares. They don’t. But you can make wonderful squares with Magic Looms, and then combine those squares to make other charming things. photo by Noreen Crone-Findlay copyright Like this tiny bog coat that I made with four little squares from the 2 inch Magic Loom. Here’s the link to that tutorial: Bog Coat on the Magic Loom The coat in the photo is about 3 inches tall, but, you could make a full size Bog coat for yourself with the Magic Looms. I’ve made a video tutorial... [Read more]

Many years ago, my husband bought me a wonderful little tool that has become one of my absolute favorites. photo by Noreen Crone-Findlay copyright It’s a little robot with lots of  articulations that allow the arms to be manipulated into any position that you need. The little robot introduced me to the wonders of the alligator clip. Well, perhaps it wasn’t truly an introduction to the alligator clip…. wikipedia says that alligator clips are often used by dentists to clip the bib around the victim …erm… patient’s neck. So, I guess I would have been in close contact with alligator clips before my husband’s spiffy little gift revealed the wonders of the alligator clip to me. But, I am a whole lot more... [Read more]

Nicky Epstein is one of the most popular knitwear designers to have ever graced the planet. Check out her website: Nicky Epstein copyright Sixth and Spring Books If you are already a fan of Nicky Epstein, you are going to be thrilled with Knitting a Kiss In Every  Stitch: Creating Gifts for the People You Love And, if you weren’t a fan before, you most certainly will be after you see this lovely, delight filled treasure of a book. This is a book that is all about love: The love of knitting, the love of great, and inspiring designs, and the pleasures of  putting love into action by making wonderful gifts. It’s a beautiful book, built on an excellent concept, and filled with gorgeous photos of inspiring projects. Here’s A... [Read more]

One of the many things that I love about the fiber arts is that they are sooooooooooo forgiving. photo by Noreen Crone-Findlay copyright You can make a right proper hodgepodge of most things ‘fiber artery’, and mostly, not booger the blazes out of the yarn. And the best part is… with most of the fiber arts (except for tatting, which is lametably un-rip it rip it rip it-able) you can ‘frog’ that messed up project right back down to it’s yarnie little zero state, and start all over again, no harm done, kiss and make up and better luck next time! photo by Noreen Crone-Findlay copyright I did some serious ‘frogging’ today….. ‘rip it rip it rip it’ (ribbit ribbit=frog it). Several... [Read more]