Nicky Epstein is one of the most popular knitwear designers to have ever graced the planet.
Check out her website: Nicky Epstein
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 …read more

A tiny bog coat for Albert Einstein?  Say What?
The other day,
on one of my fave lists,
someone posted a link
to Bog Coats.
Bog Coats are an
ancient style of
woven coat that
are rather like
a kimono.
They are made from a
rectangular or square
woven piece of fabric
and are simple to make
but offer endless opportunities for embellishment and exploration.
Because I have been playing with tiny vintage Magic Looms that a friend sent to me, I immediately thought-
Woohoo! I could use the Magic Loom to make a tiny bog coat that would work as a Christmas ornament…….
I knew that I wouldn’t be
able to cut into the fabric
made on the …read more

Making a decorative mask is easy and fun.
Trace around
a pair of glasses
onto a scrap
of card stock.
Cut it out
to use as a template.
Trace the
template
onto a piece
of card stock.
In this case,
it’s a piece of
card that I saved
from a package
for upcycling.
Once you’ve
got the  base of
your mask cut out,
get out a small
ball of yarn,
and a spool knitter.
Spool knit about 20 inches of cord.
And, gather up
some beads,
buttons and charms.
Glue the spool knitted
cord and all the other
embellishments onto the mask.
Punch holes at the tips, and attach elastic or ribbons.  Tie the mask on and dance away, or hang it on the wall…..

A few years ago, I learned about Dios de la Muertos – the Mexican Day of the Dead, which is November 1, All Souls Day.
I saw a  fantastic
film that was a real
eye opener for me.
The film was an explanation
of how the Day of the Dead
is a celebration of love and life and connection.
We went through a rough passage a few years ago,
when we had many deaths of family and friends,
and we were worn out by grief.
The documentary said that Mexicans
feel that the ones we love
are still present in their own way
and that the veil of separation lifts
between Halloween and …read more