July 30
Already? Greetings! I had a great time last weekend at Northeast Fiber Arts. We put together squares then Jen felted later in the day to create one long scarf for the Heifer International fund raiser.
http://www.heifer.org/
Then we worked on our various projects.... knitting, spinning and needle felting. Some very impressive work! As I can only show just so much, I chose my favorite winter scene, and an angel. A great time, as usual.....
When leaving yoga last week I mentioned to one of the gals that I was headed out to berry pick that afternoon, and she told me about Mulberries in the town cemetery. I thought they were bushes, but .... they're trees. I was curious and stopped to look on my way home and saw three huge mulberry trees with ripe berries everywhere! I went back a bit later and picked four and a half cups. I laughed because as I was picking, they were falling and hitting me on the head! The ground was covered, making it slick to walk, and they stain your hands like crazy......
I came home and made up 10 small jars of jam, wonderful flavor~ I mentioned it to Jen at our 'knitting get-together'. She had just taken a workshop on silk, and explained to me that in the early 1800's, when the textile industry was becoming prevalent in New England, Vermont was encouraging women to create silk. They could be paid up to 50 cents for a certain amount of silk cocoons and spun fiber. Mulberries aren't the only thing silk worms can live on, but it is their main and preferred diet. So, Mulberry trees were planted in the state's cemeteries because they were public lands. The industry survived 35 or so years, but died out as our climate isn't conducive to silk worms.... and now we're left with lovely huge Mulberry trees. Lucky for us, and neat how that all came together. I put up raspberry jam as well, so now we're set! And all without sugar!
Still knitting away at my various projects and have been on a granny square kick as well. I love to crochet, but choose knitting (usually) but a group of gals on Ravely are separately creating a 'theme' afghan and it seems I'm hooked ;)
I've always wanted to do a granny square afghan, and an working in wool.... fun colors too.
I want to share a review that came in about the new Manhattan Commuter Bag (from a good long time customer) thanks Winnie!
~Hi Martha,
I received the Manhattan Commuter Bag in Cocoa this afternoon. I love,
love, love it! Really like the fabric, but the design is to die for. You
have a real winner!
Thanks so much for such wonderful bags.
Winnie~
We had great weather this week, sunny and finally warm. It gave Woody a chance to touch up the kayak that he built, so hopefully he'll be able to get it back to the lake.
Welcome to all who created an account this week! Enjoy tonight's bags... I sure enjoyed making them. Till next week, knit on good women!
Martha.
