How Do Those Sweaters Do That?

This week I was able to get to a few projects that I just haven't had time for in the past months. I had a skirt that really needed to be shorter than it was, and I got that taken care of.

I've had this red boiled wool jacket that I shrunk down long ago. I knew I wanted to do some design on it, and this week I was able to plan that out and make it. The white buttons are all sparkly, like snow in the sunshine.

I think it's funny, because this was a jacket that would have fit me before I put it through the wash. It was a boiled wool jacket before I got hold of it, and it shrunk down to fit about a 4 year old. I tell people that wool has an amazing ability to keep shrinking, and this is proof!

People ask me if the sweaters tell me what they want to be when I recycle them. Often they do. I had a lot of fun designing this one. I save small scraps that are colorful for just such a purpose. I'm lucky to have a stash of vintage buttons. They're from my husband's grandmother and an elderly neighbor. I love recycling and re-using!

Now, this one was a sweater that probably would have fit me. I didn't expect this, but it became like a boiled wool jacket in one cycle through the wash. It's now small enough for a four or five year old - maybe even smaller. This is the fun of working with wool for me - even as long and as much as I do it, it's still unpredictable. It's a mystery, and that keeps it an adventure.

Jewel Colors

Today was a wet felting day. These are the soaps I felted in jewel tones. The boy helped me lay out the colors for most of them. He does such a good job; I like his colors and combinations better than my own.

Coventry Winter Farmers' Market Starts Sunday

I had a wonderful weekend at the St. Peter Claver Church craft fair. It was a wonderful mix of artisans and the folks who came out were fantastic. I treated myself to a chair massage by Chris Barrett - a great way to take care of myself in the midst of a busy work day.

This weekend I have 3 events. On Saturday I'll be in Putnam for the Artisans' Market at the Kennedy Pavilion. On Sunday I will be at the opening day of the Coventry Winter Farmer's Market, which will take place at the high school from 11-2. My friend, Kathy, will bring some of my work to the Roaring Brook Nature Center Craft Fair in Canton.

I'm excited about the Winter Market. The Coventry market masters do such a wonderful job of promoting the market. Winter Caplanson puts out a weekly newsletter for the market. Here's a link to the market's website, and there is a link there to sign up for the newsletter. http://www.coventryfarmersmarket.com/

Now I need to go make things!

Getting Ready for the Craft Fairs

My outdoor market season ended Sunday with the Oak Grove School Hibernation Festival. No one wanted to hibernate, though, since the weather was gorgeous and we all enjoyed a lovely day out in the sun.

Now it's on to the holiday craft fairs. My first one is this weekend at St. Peter Claver Church in West Hartford. All proceeds the church takes in go to support their medical mission to Haiti, and I'm thrilled to be able to help out in this.

Here are a few recent additions .

A sheep made with curly fleece from Kelly Radding's flock.

A lambswool and angora hat for a little girl.

And some more hats. The cuffed ones are adult size, and the brown one is cashmere. The white one with the flower is a baby/toddler size.

Now that I'm working out of the house just on the weekends, I hope to be able to keep up more with the blogging. Hope to see some of you at a fair!