Greetings fellow fiber enthusiasts!

I am in the process of starting the new year off with an article featuring knitting in the lives of working women (corporate executives to stay-a-t home moms)  and  I am conducting research on the craft of knitting/crocheting in today’s modern world for a future article on the Examiner .  I would love to know how you juggle your knitting/crocheting with your job, your family and your life in general.  Do you have support from your family and friends for your craft? Do you sell patterns, fiber or hand-knitted/hand crocheted items?  If yes, when do you have time to fit everything else into your busy schedule.

I will not be listing names in my upcoming article, unless you request that I do, but I am curious to see what types of issues or minor stumbling blocks in might encounter in your knitting/crocheting journeys.  I’ve posted a request on Ravelry and had a great response, so I thought I would ask all of you as well.

If you would like to participate in my research, please email your experiences to:       peacefullyknitting@yahoo.com

Thank you so much and happy holidays!

I simply cannot believe that we only have three more days until Christmas!  This year has simply flown …. where does time go!

Hmmm… time.  I find that my time has been spent in writing, knitting, creating new designs and making many new friends in person and online, all unique but yet kindred spirits.  The most precious moments of my time has been spent with my sweet husband and my four-legged baby girl, Sparkles.   So this Christmas I am very blessed for all the things I have accomplished this year and I’m excited about what things are ahead for the new year.  I look forward to 2010 with sheer excitement.

Thank you all that have entered into my humble giveaway.  I’m so blessed to have you as followers and Twitter friends.  May this holiday season bring you happiness, good fortune and friendship!

Happy holiday!

Wow!  I have had over 10,000 visitors to my blog in just a little over a year and want to say thank.  I am still totally amazed and in awe that you take time out to read about my life of knitting and a few other fun things.  As a token of my appreciation, I want to have a small giveaway.

So, I’m celebrating this momentous milestone by giving away a copy of my Aran Cable Knit Hat Pattern, 1 skein of Ella Rae Classic Wool (light dusty pink color #06) and a set of 6 stitch markers created with silver celtic style charms and  accented with Swarvoski Crystals.  To enter, simply leave me a comment letting me know that you have either become a subscriber to my blog,  become a fan on my Facebook fan page or follow me on Twitter.   I would also love to hear the reason why you like my blog!!!

This giveaway will be closing on Saturday, December 26 and I will announce the winner on Sunday, December 26th.  The winner will be chosen by a random number generator.  Thank you so much and good luck to all!!!

Thank you all so much for visiting my blog.  I’m totally amazed and so honored that you like stopping in to take a peek and read about my knitting ramblings.

In honor of hitting 10,000 visitors, I will be holding a contest.  I am in the process of putting together my giveaway item(s) so please stay tuned!!!

Happy knitting…..

As I approach my 10,000 mark on visitors to my humble blog, I’ve decided that I should have a contest to thank you all for visiting.  Stay tuned for the details.

I’ve been busy gearing up for the new year and  just added this yummy yarn to my stash, which will be used in my new “mixed elements” shop on Etsy.  This lot of yarn is a mixture of wool and mohair by Ironstone Yarns of Las Vegas, New Mexico.  It’s gorgeous yarn and I can’t wait to start knitting with it.  I just finished  the Marmee Lace Cowl ( neck warmer)  that I’ve decided to knit again, but 100% in the round.  I will be using the mohair as an accent (last on the right) and think it’s going to be yummy when I’m done.  I have more yarn coming and my stash will be “running over”!

I was able to spend a glorious morning in Joanns Fabric while hubby went to his favorite shops.  Needless to say I could have spent a small fortune while there.  I think everything was on sale, especially Christmas items, and I’ve never seen Joanns that busy.

I was on a mission though.  In January I’m starting a second Etsy shop that is based on “mixed elements” and was looking for unique, organic style buttons.  I was excited to see the large collection of such buttons today and I had a very hard time deciding what to buy.  I ended up buying Organic Elements in wood and coconut,  JHB in shell and coconut  and Textures by La Mode that are ceramic ~ they had many in this line to choose from and it was very hard to decide which ones to buy.  I was also interested in their line of buttons from recycled fibers and plastics ~ a very “green” line ~ that looked like real wood but will try those at a later date.

This should get me started with what I’m planning and I also have several buttons that I’m considering from Etsy shop owners.  I love the new ceramic buttons that are be created, as well as the variety of wood buttons.  So many to choose from ~ makes it very hard!  I recently wrote an article on buttons …. check it out by clicking here .

I love Namaste bags and Knit Purl Gurl has a terrific giveaway for the Hermosa bag.  Even if you’re not the lucky winner, these bags are a must for your Christmas wish list and make great gifts for the knitter/crocheter in your family or in your circle of friends.

Visit Knit Purl Gurl and enter her drawing….. hurry, it ends today!

I recently purchased a gorgeous purse pull from Cindy, of CinLynnBoutique and found a cool purse today that it looks awesome on…. Thanks Cindy!

I have finished my “Woodland Beauty” beret for Victoria, my husband’s niece (mom to Grace).  This beret is the perfect slouch look and I truly hope that she will like it…..

Woodland Beauty – I modified the pattern for the Perfect Beret by Janelle Masters to give a more slouchy look and I also modified the top for to give a star look.  The yarn is quite yummy… for this project I used my stash yarn of Persimmon Tree Farm Pot Luck Yarn, a blend of 55% wool & 45% mohair.

I finished a hat for my great-niece, Grace.  This pattern was very quick to knit and I’m hoping my mother-n-law likes it, as she’s giving it as a Christmas gift.

I used  Bernat’s Baby Jacquards Ruffled Hat pattern, that is a free download to anyone who registers on their website.  This pattern is also available in crochet, which is just as cute as the knitted counterpart.

For a touch of “flair”, I did add a crocheted flower on the side with a pearl button in the middle.  Looks really cute and I think this hat has “Grace” written all over it!

This is what I call a perfect “pose”!  Our doggie very seldom will sit still for a photo but my hubby managed to coax her into posing.  I think I need to knit her a sweater…. she’s like a little kid and seems to keep wearing the same little polo dog sweater.  Sigh…. must knit!  In the words of Brenda Dayne of Cast On …. Knit, knit like the wind!