I just visited our local museum with a friend yesterday. I haven't been there for a really long time and forgot how spectacular it is. I haven't seen the dinosaur exhibit since it re-opened. It is spectacular! They also have a whale exhibit there from New Zealand. The architecture in the museum is wonderful. The old marble on the floors is worn with time and all the people that have passed through those hallways.
No this isn't the tree in my livingroom. But it is a tree in the Hall of Architecture. They had about 6 trees all decorated differently with different themes.
This could be my new pet. Now sure if it would eat me in the end, but it sure is cute. What do you think it's name should be? I did get to hold a real dinosaur bone. This was in the American Indian exhibit. It really does look like I am on a river bank. Well except for the sign that says to come and sit inside the canoe. Just forget that is there and pretend I am on an Alaska riverbank.
You can't imagine how big the T Rex is. They have two facing each other as in battle. After seeing all these exhibits it is fun to think of the movie Night at the Museum and try to think if they all came alive what it would be like.
Sunday, December 20, 2009
This is Amelia. Three Rivers Knit and Crochet's youngest member. I made this sweater for Amelia. Her Mom, Rebecca, made her hat. Isn't she the cutest! She comes every week with her Mom and we love seeing the parade of clothes she has. I have to say she is a fashionista already.
I have been working on some really cool projects for Highland Alpaca's yarn store. The first picture is a sample of bed slippers. I haven't made them in Alpaca yet. This is the sample I made from Drops Eskimo wool. Then I felted them. I added an acrylic yarn at the top to give it a little embellishment. The slippers are knitted and fast and easy. Great for beginners.
The other project below is made from Highland's signature Alpaca yarn. The signature yarn is 3 strand. One strand is maroon, one black and one off white. I added some of my own Alpaca yarn for the black band. It is crocheted and another fast and easy project.
The hat pattern is offered free with the purchase of their yarn. I'm looking forward to next year and the projects I can cook up.
Look at all these penguins in a row. Does it remind you of the march of the penguins? Well kinda only the stuffed version. These were just a sample of what was made for the Yarn Ball. One of our members, Theresa, made 10. All sold in the blink of an eye. Well Pittsburgh is the home of the Penguins! We raised over $2400, last count, for Rwanda Knits or our local VA Hospital.
Rwanda Knits trains women with a home business in making knitted items. This donation helps with training and supplies. Did you know our government does not supply our veterans with basic toiletries or even underwear? The money raised will help to provide those basic items or some Christmas presents to the veterans who don't have families that visit.
It feels so good to be part of something that puts a smile a face. We are already talking about next years yarn ball.
Two of my three dogs are silly Labs. They make my heart laugh with their personalities. One I call my velcro dog. I am sitting on the sofa with Jim and they both have to be on the sofa with us. Elly May is laying down with her butt up in the air on a pillow. Phoebe doesn't have any room so is sitting against me whining because she doesn't know where to go. Every day these three make me laugh and make life joyful.
Aren't these critters cute! Joyce came to the crochet group today and needled felted these little guys. Boy did they get alot of attention. My favorite is the little green guy. He reminds me of a inch worm. The lips are cute and the eyes are really expressive.
Needle Felting Fun Making a Black and Gold Penguin
Saturday October 10th
9 am to Noon
$40 Per Person
Class limited to 15 people
Register by emailing Karen Cuffaro at kconline1@verizon.net
Join us for a fun class to create a delightful penguin using alpaca fiber.
Class instruction will include discussion on a variety of needle felting techniques for both flat and dimensional felting. Needle felting utilizes small, sharp, barbed needles that cause the fibers to tangle into each other when poked. Endless possibilities exist for the use of this simple tool in creating pictures, embellishments, and three dimensional objects. A variety of samples will be on display showing the great diversity of this felting technique.
No experience is necessary, all materials are included to complete the penguin. 2 felting needles are provided and additional ones will be available for purchase should you break one in class.
Bring your camera!After class enjoy spending time with the Alpaca in the pastures and shopping in the Farm Store.Plus see the babies!There are over 85 Alpaca on the farm and come in over 20 different natural colors.Alpacas are gentle creatures that hum to communicate with each other and are very social.Alpaca fiber is one of the finest animal fibers in the world.Because of its fiber structure it is considered warmer than wool and isn’t itchy like wool.Many people who can’t wear wool can wear Alpaca.
Instructor Wini Labrecque
Fiber professional & textile artist
STAR WEAVER FARM/SWF FIBER INNOVATIONS
www.starweaverfarm.com
724-272-4285
Wini Labrecque has made fiber her profession, studying, training and evaluating its properties from both a scientific and hands on approach.As a textile artist, she has developed a solid background and interest in a wide variety of techniques for utilization of fiber from raw state to finished product.Since the late 1980's, utilizing natural fibers, Wini has been spinning, weaving, knitting and felting. Her handspun skeins and woven/knit goods are sold at area art festivals and in area specialty shops.Wini lectures on all aspects of fiber as well as gives classes in beginning spinning, felting, dying and/or weaving to individuals or small groups. She is a Fiber Arts judge as well as a judge for spin offs, hand spun and mill spun skein competitions, an apprentice camelid fleece judge, and currently completing certification as a camelid fiber grader/sorter.
I just visited our local museum with a friend yesterday. I haven't been there for a really long time and forgot how spectacular it is. I haven't seen the dinosaur exhibit since it re-opened. It is spectacular! They also have a whale exhibit there from New Zealand. The architecture in the museum is wonderful. The old marble on the floors is worn with time and all the people that have passed through those hallways.
This could be my new pet. Now sure if it would eat me in the end, but it sure is cute. What do you think it's name should be? I did get to hold a real dinosaur bone.
This was in the American Indian exhibit. It really does look like I am on a river bank. Well except for the sign that says to come and sit inside the canoe. Just forget that is there and pretend I am on an Alaska riverbank. 
You can't imagine how big the T Rex is. They have two facing each other as in battle. After seeing all these exhibits it is fun to think of the movie Night at the Museum and try to think if they all came alive what it would be like.
