Mardi Gras 2017!

As someone who has participated in Mardi Gras parades, let me tell you this is ONE

PARTY!  There is nothing like being there in person!  

. Happy Mardi Gras! You may know that Mardi Gras means "Fat Tuesday" and "Laissez les bons temps rouler" is a Cajun French phrase that translates to "Let the good times roll!" ... 

Thank Pope Gregory XIII for adding the event to the calendar (yup, the Gregorian calendar) in 1582 on the day before Ash Wednesday, which is Lent, the 40 days of fasting and prayer leading up to Easter Sunday.

* Another name for Mardi Gras is "Shrove Tuesday." The word "shrove" comes from the "shrive," which means "to confess." Going to confession is an unofficial practice of Catholics to prior to starting the 40 day spiritual journey of Lent.

* International names for Mardi Gras include: Martes de Carnaval in Mexico, Fastan in Sweden, Martedi Grasso in Italy, J'Ouvert in Trinidad, and Karneval in Germany.

* Like many holidays we celebrate today, the festivities include evidence of pagan tradition.  Feasting and masquerades, which are important parts of today's Mardi Gras celebrations, were also parts of the ancient Roman festivals of Saturnalia and Lupercalia, according to Huffington Post.

* It wouldn't be Fat Tuesday without purple, gold and green beads, but how did those colors come to be symbolic with the holiday? The International Business Times reports that the King of the first daytime carnival in 1872 selected those colors based on their associated meaning and he would toss them to people he thought fit that meaning.
Purple = justice
Gold = power
Green = faith

* New Orleans was not the first American city to host a parade for the occasion. That was Mobile, Alabama. Louisiana is where the celebration originated in North America, though, and for that we can thank France for sending  the LeMoyne brothers in 1699 to defend France's claim in Louisiana, as they brought the holiday with them.

*  New Orleans held its first Mardi Gras parade in 1837. Floats appeared 20 years later.

* Lawmakers in Louisiana made Mardi Gras a legal state holiday in 1875. It is still observed in parts of the state and is also a state holiday in Alabama and Florida.

* Masks are a fun part of Mardi Gras, but if you're riding on a float, don't leave home without one. It is illegal to ride on a Mardi Gras parade float in New Orleans without wearing a mask.

* Mardi Gras may be the day before Lent, but it also marks the end of Carnival season, which begins Jan. 6.

* It is also known as Pancake Day (read about free pancakes for charity at IHOP here) or Paczki Day (learn "Secret of Perfect Paczki" here).

Print Your Labels!

 I came across this post about printing your own fabric labels for clothing items at home--
I have ordered labels before and there are plenty to have for the ages, but sometimes, I would like to have a special label for a special item--this is just perfect for that!!

This website is a rich with techniques and tips on crocheting patterns and stitches!  A definite follow along site to add to your daily routine!

And They Call It Progress!

I'm loving these monthly knit alongs! 

Yes, I'm making progress--sometimes, I wish there was more

to the monthly pattern,

but so glad I can keep up!

This is the Estonian Knit along designed by 

Toni L. Lorenz

Her Ravelry forum is Knitting in the Loft 

At times, I wonder about my bead selection, but my handspun yarn picks

up the golds, greens, rosy hints of the beads.

This one is quick knit each time! I'm glad my handspun wool is 

working with this pattern; it is designed by

Elizabeth Ravenwood--she is quite the designer.

Her ravelry forum is A Big Comfy Doghouse!

My heart be still!  "When Calls The Heart" is

back in production!  And this is KAL

to accompany the viewing.

Really love this hand dyed yarn from 

Sarah Vance Designs. 

Hope I can continue to keep up the progress!

Year of Stitches Continue--

If you are doing the year of stitches, you should be following along

with Julie B Booth's blog.  She gives helpful tips and 

unique stitches to master or practice.

She has creative ways to continue that stitching path once you

have run out of ideas.

Here is my stitching--nothing really unusual or unique--

just enjoyable stitching

Snowmen A To ZZZZ Block of the Month

designed by Crabapple Hill--love their designs!  I really Needed  a snowman quilt for myself--it might take me longer than a year to stitch at the rate I'm going, but I'll get there sooner or later.

Hope you are enjoying the stitch along!

Rakestraw or Mayan Spinner

The Rakestraw Spinner is certainly an interesting spinning companion.  There are simple means to spin besides the drop spindle, that started out as a rock on the end of a stick--this is one of those ways.

These Mayan Spinner-style spinners are great for anyone who struggles to use a drop spindle or who is learning to spin. If you suffer from arthritis, fibromyalgia, or tendonitis, you can carry on spinning with the Rakestraw Spinner. Wonderful for children, who pick it up straight away, for the elderly, and for everyone and anyone! It almost spins itself and can be more productive than a drop spindle.

Spin on!  

Coloring Like A Youngster

Recently I wrote a blog post about this pattern that I found (as if it was lost!)

in my UFO pile.  It was time to get it out and begin work--why is it sometimes,

we just can't get motivated to do some patterns and there are others

we spend so much time on?  Oh, well, moving on.............

I copied off the pattern before we went on an extensive trip--got out my box

of crayons and begin to color and giggling all the time I

was coloring with my brand new box of Crayons!

So much fun!  Then the other day, I found a tutorial on what steps to

take for coloring this exact pattern.

I think I'll darken my boot more and maybe add more color to my

pumpkin, but overall

coloring on fabric is a hoot!!

I know that I'll have a completed quilt by October rolls around.........

IF I make the surrounding blocks!

12 Months of Techniques?

Okay--I need to stay off the internet!  Should do no more searching,

browsing, reading, cruising, exploring, adventuring............... 

Why?  I get into so much trouble--take a look at this......................

I stumbled upon a bag of techniques--Oh, golly, gee whiz, when can

I open it?  March 1st is what I've been told...

that's a while away--can I keep my patience steady and under wraps--

of course NOT!

Look at all these cool designers you too can enjoy!

Okay, so I'm an enabler, but I enjoy having company on

this exploration of knitting a year of different techniques--

and some of my favorite designers are adding to the pot of

knowledge; then there are others who just could be added

to my list of favorites!

With credit card in hand, I ordered that bag of techniques...

Hope it arrives soon--because, my curiosity is worse than a cat's!