Wrapped in Love!

It is time for quarterly Expatchers' birthday party! It is not just a time for us to gather and celebrate another year older, but it is also our time to celebrate our love of being together; of sharing our love for others.

A delicious cake to top off a great lunch! and then it is time to 'show-off' our undertakings

Linda presents her recently quilted (by Sandy) blue/white--

This starry quilt will be wrapping around her daughter soon

detail of Sandy's quilting skills

Karen had this delightful child's quilt to show-off

a panel for the center but look at the wonderful checkerboard borders..

and with a minki backing, Karen's grandchild will feel not only warmth but love of grandmother's hands. 

TEXAS FURNITURE MAKERS SHOW

Texas Furniture Maker Show presented their finest work in this 14th year at Kerr Arts & Cultural Center in Kerrville, Texas.  What a show!  How can you not love the art of furniture making with the most interesting of materials--natural wood!?

 

This is the headboard for bed--

 

Love, love this hutch!

 

Lots of inlay with turquoise

 

There were also some 'quirky' pieces, like this wall hanging

 

 

 

and this giant clothespin!

 

overview of the showroom

 

 

why not place this desk in your office?

 

and this bedroom chest would be wonderful

 

 

Texas designed fireplace screen

 

 

side board.............

 

 

fabulous dining table made from one single slab

 

 

 

display table

 

 

jewelry chest

 

 

 

and this whimsical coffee table--these all pieces that you like to take home with you.

 

WHY? OH, WHY?

WHY OH WHY??? Did I join Ravelry?  why oh why do I look at all those groups and patterns??  But, here I am looking at all the mysteries and other sundry knitting projects beginning in November and December.... 

First off is from Renee, who is goddess knits.  I have knit several of her previous lace shawls--always well written and free, if you get on the band wagon soon enough.  I did the summer shawl, not the fall one, so now it's time for winter knit!

And one of my favorite hat designers--Wooly worm Head--love her mysteries, which are always stylish and uses stash yarn

One dear me--a sock mystery from Melissa of Hazel Knits!  Love to knit socks and mysteries!

Erica of Fiddleknits is hosting a collection of color work shawls, featuring her birth stones color range of yarns.  First shawl will launch November 15th. 

Another mystery sock pattern--I'm in!  I have no will power!  This one is hosted in sock knitters anonymous group with Stefanie Bold as designer. 

 

 

Contemporary Handweavers of Houston Annual Sale

It's just perfect!!  The CHH (Contemporary Handweavers of Houston) held their annual sale in late October.......and I'm here to attend!  The first time in years I've been able to see what our members are creating. The sale this year was held in our Guild House--a smaller venue than in years past.  When I arrived on the first morning of the sale, it was already bustling with activity--shoppers galore!  That's a good thing! 

As I roamed through the crowd, I ran into many of my weaver friends--here is Olga and Rosemary looking over the jewelry table.  Olga is a world class felt maker and had several of her jewelry pieces in the market.

Lovely hand-woven pillows

and the tea towels!  Oh my--what a variety!

Feast your eyes on these goodies!

There were even Handspun yarns

And batts of spinning fibers!

Here are a few of the different hand-woven items--loved the luggage tags!

Small trinkets for stocking stuffers

And the silk hand dyed scarves........................

Rag rugs for any room of your house

Tree ornaments.............and cards

Silk paper orbs

And let's not forget the wearable garments

and you say, what did I buy?

One of those gorgeous spinning batts--perfect for a project--more later on that...

This lovely crackle weave towel by Marian Carlson

And shadow weave towel by Barb-e-designs

A felted pouch for my business cards, clever creation by Rosemary. 

I was excited to attend this event and see so many of my weaver friends and their creations!