Butterfly Days

I love this time of year when every day gradually slips into a new season.

One of the things I love best is that each day

holds its own beauty and element of surprise,

as the weather is all over the place.

 Late Summer and Early Autumn are dancing with one another ...

Hot, humid days followed by thick muggy nights...

Then suddenly a cool fresh morning of blue skies and fluffy white clouds I could float away on...

Some days Summer wants to leave her cares behind and

let Autumn reign and other days she stands her ground...

Then a storm wraps itself around us.

I love it all.

Only God could create such glorious wonders.

I have come to think of these days as butterfly days.

Never in the whole of my life have I ever seen so many butterflies.

From early Summer my yard has been so filled with these lovely creatures

that they've flown into me, landed on me,

lighted next to me as I've sat knitting on the porch swing

and fed from my hummingbird feeders.

While I know it has to do with their migratory habits towards Mexico,

it seems so ethereal and even magical to me.

Like tiny particles of Heaven coming down and flitting all around me.

They bring me peace and make me pause and cause me to remember

to breathe and give thanks during these hectic days of my life.

Days filled to the brim with the blessing of family and overflowing

with the ever constant work of my hands... knitting and crocheting...

This photo depicts both family and my work.

My daughter Chelsea is modeling my Happy Vibes Crocheted Shawl.

We just happened to catch that exact perfect moment

when the sun was beginning to descend westward,

slipping towards its restful time of gloaming. 

All of the elements lined up perfectly...

The softly setting sun, 

the dogwood tree that's donning her Fall foliage,

the spider web shawl with colors that entwine the seasons together

and Chelsea....

My Autumn hued beauty.

Each day finds me switching over from needles to hooks repeatedly as

I knit awhile then finish up bits of crochet.

It takes nonstop work to prepare for an upcoming event.

First I'm making shawls, then I'm covered in stuffing and surrounded by various colors of pumpkins.

Turquoise is a new addition to my line of pumpkin colors this year. 

I've been told that it symbolizes allergy safe candy and

items for children with allergen issues.

It's also the color for Ovarian Cancer and September

is the month for this dreadful disease.

I stand in support of both.

Being a lover of all soft colors, 

I always make a variety of choices to accompany

the traditional orange pumpkins.

The Soft White and Green have always been my personal favorite.

I also really love the almost black one pictured here.

The unique thing about this one is that it's made from

undyed and unprocessed virgin wool.

That's the exact color of the sheep it came from.

There are tiny specks of white throughout.

I love the raw, natural look and feel of it.

Then, of course, because Fingerless Mitts are always my cup of happy,

some of these will make an appearance at our September Sale as well.

Some have knitted cables and bobbles with tiny embroidered rosebuds.

While others have pretty meandering lacework eyelets.

Every year as Summer begins to recognize her eminent defeat,

allowing Autumn's crisp and cooling breath to blow over us,

I feel my heart being tugged to provide warmth to cold hands.

I delight in introducing a new pattern or two of mitts every year.

For some reason, they give me great joy and deep satisfaction with each stitch.

Something about knitting mitts is uniquely different for me

than any other thing I ever make.

Maybe it's because our hands are such a vital part of who we are.

They carry our whole essence.

We love with them,

We feed with them,

We talk with them,

We heal with them,

We give with them,

We receive with them,

We show the world who we are with our hands.

We can't speak of love without the mention of babies.

These Pumpkin Hats are another make of mine

that hold a special place in my heart.

They combine both of my fiber art passions with a knitted "pumpkin" 

and crocheted pumpkin leaf and vine.

The one pictured here is Newborn {0-3 month} Size. 

However I'll have a full range of sizes available as shown below.

For those who are unable to purchase something you want

from the Sale due to my being

SOLD OUT before you arrive, or your inability to be there, NO WORRIES.

I will be taking custom orders after the Sale.

Also, as much as I knit, knit, KNIT...

I am still just one person with just two hands and a whole lot of happy,

active life going on in abundance around me.

Although I am a fast knitter, and a constant one, it's not an instant job.

So...

All that being said, 

I will have as much as possible with me at our September Sale

and then you can contact me afterwards if you want something specific.

I can always make it happen.

I got up one day last week and realized I had probably worked too late

into the night before when I took a good look at this photo...

At exactly midnight the previous night,

I attached the stem to this pumpkin

then set down my work and called it a night. 

The next day I posted this photo to my Instagram and Facebook pages.

Later in the day, when responding to a comment, 

I noticed I had attached the stem to the bottom of the pumpkin!

Of course I had to remove it and reattach it to the top.

Though my days are filled with butterflies,

my nights are full of pumpkins...

And apparently at the stroke of midnight

they do their own thing.

Or maybe Cinderella just needs a bit of sleep...

Especially if she wants to dance with the butterflies.

"Take time to be a butterfly."

Gillian Duce

Magic and Mayhem - The Winning Game

"When nature moves, butterflies take flight."

Anthony T. Hincks

Stay Gold

In this ever changing world of people doing things to their fellow man
that we cannot understand; that leave us gasping for breath and wondering...how?...why?... I still believe in the deep down goodness and great capacity that we have to love one another. My last few weeks have been quite interesting and full to the brim. In the midst of devastating world events and a very local school shooting threat, I have, in my personal realm, been touched so deeply by the warmth and kindheartedness of some very beautiful people.

In the heat of my mad dash week of preparations for the annual Pumpkin Festival Craft Faire a precious friend and neighbor had supper delivered to our front door, knowing that I was just crazy busy and wanting to help in some way. Mind you, she has an extremely hectic household of her own with six children but she was determined to lighten my load. My other friend and neighbor tagged my items and stamped my bags with my business name, as she does every year, around taking care of her four children. The friend and neighbor who lives in the middle of these two and directly across the street from me sent food over hot off her grill one night while she herself  was also preparing for the Pumpkin Festival and caring for her three little ones. This is the community I live in. These are the golden hearts that God has placed just within my reach. We run back and forth across the street when there's a need and we look after one another. To me this is Life at its very finest ... Life as it's meant to be... and I am so very, very thankful.

I've also been blessed by visits from friends who I've enjoyed lovely front porch conversations with. Some of them have shown up with fresh flowers from their gardens in hand for me. Others have brought home baked cookies or pumpkin scones. I've put on the kettle for tea or made them coffee. Together we are squeezing every last drop of pleasant porch time we can before the air turns to chill and forces us indoors again.  They are helping me create memories that I am storing in my heart for the long winter ahead. Each one being its own golden ray of sunshine in my soul.

Of course while we talk, I knit... and knit... and knit some more.

Autumn means lovely little pumpkins and I am just about to wrap up my custom orders on them for this year as I move on to other items to prepare for my upcoming Christmas event. I have knit so many pumpkins this year! I have to say, I think I've enjoyed them more than ever before. Like a dear friend said when she saw a ton of them all loaded together in a big basket before being sorted for individual orders,

"It's like having a litter of puppy's! It's going to be hard to let them go!"

The other thing I knit continuously every Fall

is fingerless mitts in various styles and colors.

Everyone seems to love them. I even have people who prefer them on the coldest of days because they still want their fingers free while driving. Plus a lot of us tend to have cold hands even inside, like my daughter, who wears them to work to keep her hands warm and her fingers free for typing on her computer. 

They tend to be my top selling item.

Some are knit in a DK weight lacework pattern

with a lush blend of merino wool and cashmere.

Others are chunky, cable knits in a soft blend

of merino wool, alpaca and Donegal tweed.

And I have to get my hooks into crocheting some as well, 

with this wonderful merino wool and bamboo fiber.

Although I do as much of my knitting as I possibly can sitting on the swing on my front porch, while weather permits, I have another favorite spot I love to go to knit once a week. Thankfully knitting is portable so I take my work with me wherever I go. One evening a week I take my granddaughter, Gabby, to ballet. She has two classes that together last 2 1/2 hours. This provides me with wonderful knitting time in one of my favorite coffee shops. Also I get to visit with the other customers and employees.

This week I spent time talking to a young man who I've seen in there many times. He's a regular. A friend of the manager. Through the course of our conversation I was very touched by his outlook on life. His desire to live simply and enjoy the smallest things in life... to quite literally find joy in living. We talked about several things. We talked about his siblings, my husband and children and grandchildren, happiness, God and what it's like to be content with our lives, comfortable in our own skin and thankful for everyday life

in a world that is plugged in and disconnected all at the same time.

And here's the thing...

this young man has been confined to a wheelchair all of his life

due to cerebral palsy.

Yet it is well with his soul.

He has figured out how to stay gold.

When the evening was over he thanked me for an "enjoyable conversation"...

Some people absolutely amaze me.

Though it may not seem like it at times,

there are still so many truly good people out there.

We have to look for the good in others and continue to try to connect.

Somewhere inside each of us is that carefree child of eternal summertime, turning a face toward the sunshine and believing that the world is full of hope and beauty and will be forever a place of gold.

"Stay gold, Ponyboy... Stay gold..."

{continue to be innocent and pure}

Johnny ~ The Outsiders

"I will praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;

your works are wonderful,

I know that full well."

Psalm 139:14

Spring, The Time of Plans and Projects

"Spring is the time of plans and projects."

So said Leo Tolstoy in his classic novel Anna Karenina.

Several Springtime's have passed since I read that hefty tome, which I found deeply moving on so many levels of human emotion. Then there were those times it offered small tidbits that were simply straightforward, practical and ageless, like the reality that for most of us Spring really does seem to be the time of

plans and projects.

I think it must be because, just as the earth around us, we find ourselves awakening once again, stretching our Winter weary limbs and blossoming with new growth. The Spring rain washes over us, bringing with it the scent of anticipation and excitement of all the greenness and bright color we are on the verge of experiencing, as though we've never known it before and at the same time have never been without it.

Ahh ...

Springtime ...

I love it!

For many of us it is the time we plan family trips and visits and sometimes quick weekend getaways due to the fact the weather has finally turned lovely. We begin to make our plans well into the Summer and early Autumn months. There will be Spring and Summer holidays and weddings sprinkled here and there as well. Back yard barbeques and lots of family and friends to laugh and enjoy the longer days of sunshine with. Doesn't it just make you happy to plan it all out in your heart?

Then there are always the projects...

This time of year always finds me working on some type of bunny project.

Over the many years I have been knitting these hats with bunny ears I've used a few different fibers and liked them all, however the last couple of years I have finally decided I prefer them knitted in Knit Picks Organic Cotton the very best. For one thing it's organic and for baby skin especially I think that is always an excellent idea. It is super soft and has no dyes or chemicals of any kind.

It also has enough body to it to make those ears stand straight up.

It eliminates any wool in the fiber against delicate baby skin

but is still an all natural fiber.

 I do sometimes work with blends that have a little synthetic in the mix but, generally, I prefer an all natural fiber, whether it's plant or animal sourced.

The Organic Cotton also makes a beautiful little "cotton tail" pom-pom.

I just love that finishing touch!

Now...

Although it's Springtime,

I oftentimes knit off season due to the fact I am filling custom orders.

I actually enjoy this because it keeps me all over the place in my day to day work, ensuring that I never get bored

{as if I could get bored with knitting or crocheting!}.

I recently shipped off an order to a customer out of state who wanted

some pumpkins knitted in the colors of Auburn University.

So, in March when I am usually elbow deep in all things bunny

I was knitting and stuffing pumpkins.

The order was for a half dozen. Three in each color.

I always knit my pumpkins in a double thickness of 100% Wool and stuff them within an inch of their lives {or my life...}.

The wool used for these was Cascade 220.

These plump pumpkins found their way to their new home last week and now I am finally putting the second sleeve in this lacework sweater that I had set aside for several weeks. I was able to let it wait because the customer who ordered it doesn't actually need it until early Fall.

This photo shows the first sleeve. Today's project is to finish the second sleeve then work the ends in so I can wet it and block it and sew on some pretty buttons. The entire sweater is worked in the round from the top down using Cascade 220 Superwash Wool. The sleeves were meant to be worked in rows back and forth but I decided to convert them into working in the round as well and am doing them on double point needles. I always knit round things in the round if at all possible. It only makes sense, as far as I'm concerned. This makes the entire sweater completely seamless.

A final note on the yarn used for this sweater ~

For those of you who have never worked with Cascade 220 Wool in the Superwash and might be worried that it is scratchy, it is NOT. It is a lovely wool to work with, offering beautiful stitch definition and enough softness even for a child's skin as long as there is no actual allergy or sensitivity to wool. Plus it can be machine washed in cold water and tumbled dry.

It's time for me to lay this sweater project to rest

 because there are more bunnies waiting to be made for the next custom order...

It is, after all,

 Spring.

"She turned to the sunlight

And shook her yellow head,

And whispered to her neighbor;

"Winter is dead."

A.A. Milne

When We Were Very Young 

Soothing My Spirit

Just one little pumpkin...

But I've already started knitting pumpkins for our annual

Fall Festival.

This year's Morton Pumpkin Festival

will be our 50th year.

The Anheuser Clydesdales will even be here

to help us celebrate by prancing down Main Street

in all their

beautiful glory.

I live on Main Street.

I am already excited!

There is much to be done.

Lots and lots of knitting and crocheting.

My friend Mary Anne, my cousin Kathy and I always have a booth together at the Craft Faire.

We work hard all year long to come up with new ideas and keep the classic old ones that we know customers love and will be returning for.

We realized last year that we have out grown just one booth space

so this year we will be filling two spaces for the first time.

Needless to say,

our hooks and needles are flying through the air at lightning speed.

It always seems out of season to me to knit pumpkins and other

Fall and Winter items throughout the Spring and Summer

but in order to be ready I have to work constantly on these

as well as trying to come up with new things

for my

Shop

that are appealing for warm weather months.

That's why people see things like pumpkins and fingerless mitts

popping up on my shop in the Summertime :-)

Truth be told,

as long as I'm knitting or crocheting,

I am happy.

"Properly practiced, knitting soothes the troubled spirit,

and it doesn't hurt the untroubled spirit either."

Elizabeth Zimmeramann

"As I get older, I just prefer to knit."

Tracey Ullman

So Happy To Be Back!

Oh My Goodness!

I'm BACK! 

:-)))

It has been FOREVER since

I've been able to post a blog.

I could NOT get

pictures to show up but

Sweet Hubby 

solved everything...

Finally.

So...

This is my Beautiful daughter

Chelsea

modeling a hat I just recently put on my

Etsy Shop

It's knit in Knit Picks Billow 

~Turmeric~

And just some more 

Pumpkin - y Goodness to leave you with...

I have missed all of you

So Much

&

I'm dying to know what's on your 

Hooks and Needles

these days...

Xo

  Xo,

 Danette

To Market, To Market

I'm in a whirlwind of activity here...

Knitting needles, crochet hooks 

&

Yarn

are flying in an absolute storm around me

as fast as I can make them go!

On September 12, 13 & 14

I will have a booth at the 

Craft Faire

at our local

Pumpkin Festival,

along with my Monday night knitting girls :-)

We are so excited!

Anyone local can look for us under my business name ~

Front Porch Knits.

I had these darling tags custom made on an Etsy Shop.

There will of course be plenty of Pumpkin items for sale.

These are made from the Knit Picks patterns ~

Clove {crocheted}

&

Spice {knitted}

But you know me...

I can't show up without plenty of sweet little baby items as well.

Some covered baby hangers...

A pile of  baby hats...

The pattern for these can be found right 

here

And some booties for precious piggies.

These are just a sampling of my wares.

I will try to squeeze out the time to show some more before it all goes.

In the mean time,

Mr. Parker,

{look how fast they grow!}

my 3 month old grandson,

is keeping me busy 

Wednesday through Friday,

as his Mommy has returned to work.

A week ago Tuesday we had another new baby in our family.

My sister is now a Grammy for the first time.

Elijah Wade 

born August 18

weighing a whopping 

10 lbs. 6 oz. !!!

And my daughter Hilary is expecting her baby boy in a week or so!

PHEW!

It's a real good thing I love to make baby items :-)

Happy Holiday Weekend to All of You,

God Bless,

Xo

  Xo,

Danette