Ears and eyes knit hats that rock from PolarKnit

So Winter TNNA 2009 was this past weekend and it was a fiber-blast!
This is Maria Del Pinto and I in the PolarKnit booth. They make polar fleece yarn-can I just say how soft and warm and pretty and scrumptious it is????
It gets better, not only do they have fabulous yarn, they have these killer hat patterns,
Above is me sporting the Elf hat:Pop on over here for the FREE pattern and below is Maria in the Polka dot alien hat, Click here for the FREE pattern for this and the devil hat she is sporting in the first photo!
So not only do they have yummy yarn, killer free patterns they also have:

Yarn Dots unite knitters with smiles, passion, attitude and fun! They pop easily into any knitted or crocheted chunky item. Yarn Dots come in eight funky designs that are guaranteed to add a little flair to your wardrobe. Pop one into your knitted hat and one into your scarf. Check out the pink "Skully" Yarn Dot below. It's a customer favorite!

I haven't decided where I'm putting mine (it is currently on my computer keyboard making me smile) but I can't wait to figure it out!

Another very cool aspect of TNNA is running into other fiber designers and checking out what they currently are sporting. We ran into Myra Wood, author of Creative Crochet Lace. She was carring this cool crocheted bag made from soda can tabs, is is made by Escama Studio. How cool is that!
I'll have more yarnie goodness soon!

Crafty Blogger Link Monday

Sending warm thoughts to all of you who are a bit chilly right now!

cathie filian
Cathie Filian has a quick and easy idea for storing girls hair barrettes and bows.

The Impatient Crafter
Diamonds may be a girl's best friend, but crystal and a little ingenuity are a crafty girl's best friend! Inspired by Beyonce's Golden Globe glam necklace, Madge whips up her own budget friendly version!

The Crochet Dude
Drew has released his latest video podcast filmed from his studio in Houston.

Craftside-A behind-the-scenes peek at a crafty world
This week at Craftside there is a tutorial on how to fold a gift bag, make a photo strip with your own photo stash, brass knuckle crafts, our author schedule for CHA 2009, and a few "computer altars" in addition to questions posed to you readers and as our thanks for sharing you are entered to win a free book!

Layers Upon Layers
Cyndi's friend Debe is just as obsessed with mixed media clocks as she is!

Cross Stitch at About.com
Download an exclusive pattern from PinoyStitch based on the classic painting Love and the Maiden - just in time for Valentine's Day!

Carfty Princess Diaries
Crochet is hitting the runways of LA as the crochet bikini makes a comeback, sorta, kinda, reports the Crafty Princess.

About Family Crafts
Start getting ready for St. Valentine's Day by making these fun beaded safety pins.

Sweater cuff Gun recycling logo

My friends know how I am a die hard crafter and one of them gave me a whole tote full of her cast off craft supplies, whoo hoo Christmas in January!

Well in this box of treasures were these neat little gun studs. You know those fun little bits of metal that you poke through fabric or paper and bend back the tabs to secure.

I took them out of the package to see if they were going in both directions but alas they only pointed to the right. So I started to play around with a few of them to see what kind of layout would work. This is what I came up with:
I think it looks like this symbol:
Kinda works out perfect for this here blog and designer who's favorite thing is making something out of something else!

By the way if you hadn't guessed the base of my cuff is the cuff of a slightly felted sweater that I cut just after the cuff seam which is why it has a ruffle look.

And yes that is my ironic "welcome" sign at my front door :)

And I am proud and giddy to announce I was interviewed by a wonderful AP (Associated Press) reporter, Jennifer Forker and you can check it out over at MSNBC

It includes 2 project that are super fun to make so be sure to get yourself some more Sweater Surgery!

Evoloution of the Dance 2 by Sandy Laipply's son Judson

I was so waiting for the Solder Boy dance/song!!! And then it came almost at the very end! I love this.

Crafty Blogger Links to keep you warm!

Aileen's Musings
Download some freebie Cabinet Cards from Aileen's Musings this week, and check out her gouache paint and altered cabinet card tutorial.

Cathie Filian
Cathie Filian has a fun tutorial on recycling jeans into fashion cuffs with personalized patches.

Crafty Princess Diaries
The Crafty Princess asks: Are you a tweaker or a tried and true crafty type?

Cross Stitch at About.com
Be the first to stitch and submit a photo of Connie's free BGB Gizmo Pattern and have your photo featured as the stitched model. Get your 15 minutes of Cross Stitch fame!

Layers Upon Layers
Fabulous artwork by a very motivated distance learner :-)

The Crochet Dude
Drew kicks off the New Year with a free pattern. Check out his "Cafe Couture"!

Craftside- A behind-the-scenes peek at a crafty world
Kicking off the new year Craftside will theme each week with a letter from the alphabet and give away a book a week to a lucky commentor. This week there is ATC art, a free antler graphic from Design Parts Sourcebook: Romantic, photos from an appearance by Patti Medaris Culea with doll and altered book pocket design, and a sneak peek at some of the cool pages from Essential Fashion Illustration-Men.

The Impatient Crafter
If you're attending the Tucson Gem Show or CHA, Madge would love to meet you! Check out her schedule and come take a class or get a signed copy of one of her new books!

About Family Crafts
Over the years I have learned some trick when it some to storing craft supplies and staying organized, and I am happy to share these with you.

Friendship Booties from the book Faith, Hope, Love, Knitting

I recently got the book:
Faith, Hope, Love, Knitting: Celebrating the Gift of Knitting with 20 Beautiful Patterns
by Lorna Miser

Warm, inspiring stories, in the tradition of Debbie Macomber & Kate Jacobs. Beautiful knitting designs that celebrate special moments and relationships. Show how knitting can be the path to a higher power to guide our daily lives.

and it is just lovely!

I have a new baby in the family so I thought I would try baby booties for the first time and there is a super cute pair included in this book.
I tend to judge how easy a pattern is by how long it is.
This one is essentially 5 different rows of knitting-I can handle that for my first time bootie knitting.
I whipped them out in 2 hours while watching (listening actually) TV.
The pattern called for lovely fluffy yarn but I like to use a smooth yarn for the first time.
My all time fave is Red Heart Camo for this.
Here you have it:
I will definitely be making more of these!
There is also a way-cute bunny in the book that is definitely calling to be made!

Sweater Surgery in The Detriot News

One of the fabulous contributors to Sweater Surgery, Martha Bishop, has a fun article written about her in The Detroit News. Pop on over to read and see more pictures of how she makes her designs!

The First Crafty Blogger Links of the New Year

Layers Upon Layers
Come and drool over the multi-layered collages of Melinda Asztalos.

Craftside- A behind-the-scenes peek at a crafty world
The last week of 2008 at Craftside brings you a mixed media polymer clay design, a sneak peek into the upcoming book Paper Puppet Palooza with a fun egg and bird moving card and a melting Tyvek technique. Happy New Year Crafting!

The Impatient Crafter
Need some solid advice about how to do what you love and make money? Madge shares some old advice for a new year.

About Family Crafts
If you are looking for a reason to celebrate, find out what holidays and birthdays are celebrated in the month of January 2009 using this special days calendar.

Aileen's Musings
Aileen has a great blog giveaway going on. Stop by and answer a question and maybe you'll be a lucky winner of an issue of an Altered Arts Magazine!

Cathie Filian
Spring brides are getting busy planning all the details of their big day and Cathie Filian has an easy tutorial on making wedding favors.

Crafty Princess Diaries
It's time to get organized for 2009! The Crafty Princess talks about her own battle with the clutter bug.

Cross Stitch at About.com
Make some stitching resolutions for the coming year using these ideas from Connie G. Barwick to get you started.