Alpaca Visit to Brookfarms



Brookfarms, Glen Ellen Ca

My visit to Brookfarms was wonderful.   It's amazing how beautiful and gentle the Alpaca is.   What beautiful eyes, large round, gentle and kind .
The added treat was spending a lovely Fall (95 degrees) day in the Valley of Moon, Sonoma Valley.  The other night driving home there was the most amazing moon rise--yes "moon-rise" The moon was huge, golden, red and orange -coming up from the mountain. 10 minutes of absolute wonder and then somehow 10 minutes later, the moon shrunk and floated up into the night sky!!!!

This area is heavenly- "Another day in paradise"

Sonoma Hoodie

Sonoma Hoodie-  My new pattern It is so easy to do.  Knit from the top down and in the round for the sleeve.  I used a crochet hook to weave in the ends and absolutely no sewing.  Then I found all these great sports buttons in my stash. 

Elizscknits on Ravelry

Alpacas in Wine Country

Sept 25 and 26 is  National Alpaca Farm Days & Weekend Brookfarms in Glen Ellen is having an event.
Knitting and spinning demonstrations, yarn and  roving  for sale.  Alpaca is a gorgeous yarn and it seems that the number of alpaca farms in the US has increased greatly over the last few years.   Why even one of my physicians has alpacas as pets!!!

In a classroom again

I knew I couldn't stay away for long.   This summer a new quilt shop opened in town,   Broadway Quilts.  Of course I had to visit and when I introduced myself, Gery (the owner) asked if I'd be willng to teach a kids beginning sewing class!!  Well, of course I would!!!  And so it began.... We had a wonderful summer with classes for adults and kids, everyone was really attentive, worked dilegently and so willing to learn..  the projects are bags, beautiful bags as you can see below.  Fall classes have begun and again I have a wonderful group of students.  .   

Sewing Class at Broadway Quilts

the finished bags- Kids Love to Sew

OTN & super garage sale find!!

I love to go to garage sales!!!  It my only addiction (not counting yarn, needles and books-- well I have to go somewhere to find this stuff!!) and I found this basket at a sale a couple of weeks ago.  Isn't it lovely!! 

Mini Mochi yarn (pattern online www.straw.com)

Last month was  the anniversary of  Elizabeth Zimmerman's birthday and and a local yarn shop had a celebration.   A group of women from the International Knitting Studio met at Village Knitters in Santa Rosa and  it was a great night.  

Lots of demonstrations, beautiful yarns and I saw this hat.   A few of the ladies have been asking to learn fair isle knitting and this is a wonderful  introduction to learning the technique-- The trick in this design is that the yarn is variegated and the color changes happen as you knit.

Sept 12th

It is Sept 12th.   On Friday as I drove by a local school, I watched as children placed small American flags carefully and neatly in rows on the lawn.  It took me a few seconds to realize what was happening- the respect and honor paid to those who lost their lives was clear------thank you

Rhinebeck here "we" come....

Have I mentioned the Divas?   We are a group of women, most friends since high school,  who have reconnected and travel together.  Our last big trip was to the Dominican Republic,  wonderful time, but best of all fantastic to be with great women.   We may not have contact on a day to day, week to week or month to month basis, for that matter, but we do enjoy getting together to have fun, support each other and share what life brings us.    Well anyway, we are going to Rhinebeck this year some for the New York State Sheep and Wool Festival, some to take in the sites of the beautiful Hudson Valley, some to shop, but all to share some time together.    I am so looking forward to this trip.    

Back again

My apologies for the delay in getting back to my posts!!! It has been a busy time for me.  Moves, sales, classes to teach ( sewing and knitting)  and new friends.   This is heaven!!
 I published a few patterns on Ravelry   Elizscknits and one in particular is very popular.   Sophia --It's  top down and no seams at all.  I have more to knit and write and looking forward to posting the patterns.   

Have to run off to garages sales!!!

Pi Shawl

This week has been super busy and the weekend it going to be even more busy &  fantastic.  I'm going to Stitches West- have 3 classes scheduled.  Again I'm so happy to be able to participate in this event.   My knitting has been focused on design and since the classes are all about design, I decided to start a Pi Shawl-  The ladies at Sonoma Yarn have begun a KAL and although they meet on Thurs. nights and I will not be there for a few weeks-the idea of bringing something "easy to knit" along with me to the convention was a no brainer!!! 

Just finished these sweaters and will teach a top down class in May.  I have more sweaters on the webiste
http://www.seamlesslysimpleknit.com/

Publishing on Ravelry

Hi,  Finally finished the revisions, reviews and additions to the pattern I've been working on and although I'm tempted to tweak it a bit more-  I've got to let it go out into the world of knitter's so that they can create this fun, easy, no sew sweater.   The sweater is titled "At the Game" and it was posted to Ravelry (for Sale) this morning.  My Design store is Elizabeth Calabro.    I'm so excited!!!  There are two versions. One is
"At the Game" a basic pattern incorporating short row shaping, top down knitting and no sew techniques

and  "X At the Game" which I consider the extra special instruction sheet, that includes photo's of all the steps and detailed instructions.   I personally love to make this sweater and I decided that although my goal was to design instructions enabling the beginner to have total success--the experienced knitter should have the option to purchase a pattern and not download all those extra pages.