Flowers and Magic

Mary and I took a flower arranging workshop on Sunday 

at the same local shop 

where we did the Christmas wreath (here) 

and decoupage flower pot (here). 

So fun!

The instructor, a florist at another local shop, 

brought all the tools and materials we needed -

all we had to do was have fun. 

And it was a great opportunity to do two more of my favorite things - take fancy flower photos and play with the new AI filters on my phone. 

I was very impressed it was able to cleanly remove the pink gloves on the table

Used to be, you could only do this kind of clean-up/removal magic with high-end, very expensive computer software. 

Now anyone can do it with the gadget in our pockets. Incredible! 

Back To The 70’s

Mary and I did a workshop today at Deeply Rooted, 

a Mother’s Day gift from Matt and Donovan, 

Mary went with the cute giraffes 

that was straight out of the 1970s.

Remember decoupage?? I *loved* doing that, back in the day.

A little craft paint, some pretty paper napkins, good old Mod Podge, and voilá - 

lovely fancy flower pots 

filled with our choice of begonia or African violet. (Super healthy, gorgeous plants supplied by our favorite gift shop, plant store and workshop venue)

So much fun!

Early Birthday

As an early birthday present, Mary and I took a Christmas wreath class at Deeply Rooted, a newish local plant (and more!) store in town.

Mine started out as a hot mess - so many options! too many pretty things! - but I’m pretty pleased with how it turned out. 

Love that they had lots of thistle (channeling my inner Tanya) 

and wish I could have incorporated one of the bright red pomegranates, but they were so heavy I didn’t think it would stay attached. 

Today was the last of the shop’s 5 scheduled wreath classes, although they have a few corporate party/classes coming up. 

Hope they come up with more workshop ideas - I’d sign up in a heartbeat!

Half Day

It was hard getting up this morning - I am soooo not a morning person - but the Tunisian beading class with Darla Fanton was definitely worth it.

We worked with tiny beads (6/0), thread and a smallish crochet hook - thank goodness for the table-top magnifier I bought yesterday. No way I could have done this workshop without it.

Great class, very relaxing with everyone working at their own speed and the beads all pre-strung by Darla.

I'm going to miss Yarn Fest - where else can you find backstrap weavers hanging out in the hotel lobby?? - but I'm really (really, really) looking forward to sleeping in tomorrow.

As soon as I got out of class, we headed for Denver and the Mythical Creatures exhibit at the natural history museum. I think most of Denver had the same idea - the entry line was looooooong . . . until smarty Rachel remembered the self-service kiosks in the lobby. Bye bye, standing in line!

The exhibit was really interesting. Addy was excited to see unicorns but not so much the dragons and krakens.

Tomorrow is a free day and Tuesday we fly home. Addy is advocating for a visit to the Ft Collins children's museum and finishing up her embroidery.

I think we can arrange that.

Crochet Immersion

I'm sad there's only one day - and one class - left of Yarn Fest 2015. I've thoroughly enjoyed hanging out with my fellow yarnies, especially the crochet branch. And I really lucked out on the teachers - they've all been fantastic.

First class of the day was with Robyn Chachula, learning how to combine lace and cables. So many ideas!

The green sweater is from her Blueprint Sweater book and has moved to the top of my must-make list. The cables accent the lace but also keep the sweater from "growing", aka stretching out of shape. Brilliant.

Class #2 was Bruges lace with Mary Beth Temple, another well-known artist, author and teacher. What a great session!

This was the session I was most looking forward too, and neither the topic nor the instructor disappointed.

Bruges crochet is just beginning to be popular and there aren't a lot of published patterns yet. Getting started is easy - double crochets and chains - but the possibilities and variations are endless. I'm planning to pull out my bobbin lace books and do a bit of design research. Being bi-craftal has some great benefits!

Addy and Rachel met me after class for one last trip through the marketplace (Rach and I also hit the quilting Shop Hop at lunchtime. . . .)

We made a quick stop for a table-top magnifier (for tomorrow's beading class) and some embroidery supplies, then home for the evening so I could give Addy her first lesson in embroidery.

Didn't she do great?? Just look at that concentration!

It's looking more and more like Addison got a full dose of the crafting gene. Makes a grandma so happy.

Yarn Fest 2015

We made it to Loveland just in time for the snow (yesterday) and rain (today).

Thursday's class with Robyn Chachula was wonderful. In three, much too short, hours she covered a variety of unusual stitches that I've been wanting to try.

Solomon's knots? Check.

X and Y stitches? Check. Broomstick? Check.

Bruges lace? Check and double check for the very cool shell variation she showed us.

While I was taking my class and visiting the (very dangerous for my credit card) marketplace - the three booths in this corner alone sold angora, bison and paco-vicuña; soooo hard to resist -

Rachel was taking a beginning spinning class with expert teacher Maggie Casey.

I love having a new spinner in the family.

Today's classes for me were on Tunisian crochet -

including design elements for Tunisian arans,

with popcorns, arrows and cables -

and entrelac in the round,

which Addy decided should be a hat rather than a to-be-felted bowl. Silly girl.

I learned a lot in today's classes but I was disappointed in the instructor's teaching style. She handed us a booklet with instructions, gave a brief overview and then said 'go to it'. She'd answer any questions you had, but there was no "teaching", as in how to do the stitches or work the pattern. I was ok, since I've done Tunisian before, but some in the class were new to the craft and they were totally lost.

On a more positive note, I've spotted some great crochet in the wild -

and gotten ideas for both projects

and future classes. My head is buzzing with ideas and possibilities.

Three classes down, with three more to go. Crossing fingers for good instructors and fun projects.