This year brought me opportunities to visit new places – like Louisville, and Chicago – and to test my wings professionally.  It brought stronger friendships and a deeper appreciation for the people in my life.  It even brought a new little dog into my home.

We’re getting ready to celebrate New Year’s Eve tonight with some good friends over lots of munchies, some beer, and a couple games of euchre.  Whatever you are doing this night, I hope it finds you reflecting back warmly on the year behind us and optimistically on the year ahead.

And just in case you’re looking for a healthy dish to share with friends tonight, here’s a new recipe I’m trying for the first time.  Found it on Pinterest, and it’s not only healthy, but also delicious!

Wishing you a happy and safe new year!

~Stephanie

15 Minute Black Bean and Corn Salsa

The day started out with a trip to the bank, then off to check our P.O. box for last-minute vendor applications. (There are always a slew of people who wait until the last-minute to apply for the show, so I have to check the post office every day or two as the show gets closer and closer.) After the post office, I knew I’d be headed for the Y to exercise, so I ran the morning errands with a clean face (translation: “no makeup”), and of course that means that I ran into people I knew and whom I did not particularly want to bump into naked-faced, but there you have it.  (A fair-skinned girl like me looks like a totally different creature without mascara.  Just sayin’.)  Anyway, then I was off to the Y – and all along my travels throughout the morning, I was stopping and posting show fliers here and there around town.  (I really like this year’s flier if I do say so myself…)

Finally, a shower. And mascara, by God!  Then back in the car and headed for Marion to meet up with Dan Hayden, the winner of our car show trophy last year and uber nice man who is helping us spread the word about this year’s car show. (He’s also sponsoring a trophy this year and donated some items as door prizes.  How generous is that!?)  I passed some fliers on to Dan but not without stopping to check out a few of the gorgeous old cars. Like this one:

I took four pics of various old cars at the car show today, and only a few minutes ago did I realize that they were all Camaros. Hmm. At least I’m consistent!

But no time for chit-chat, I was back on the road again, this time on my way to Beehive Books in downtown Delaware to – what else? – hang a flier, and maybe drink a delicious pumpkin spice latte in their coffee shop.  (It’s fall!  A PSL must be consumed at every opportunity.)  And then last, but definitely not least, I ended up at one of my favorite places in Delaware, the Delaware County Community Market for some local foods grocery shopping and to, well, leave a stack of fliers.  Plus, I might have oogled some of the fall eye candy while chatting with the manager, Bob. Just look at these beauties…

Finally home, and now I can rest… but only for half an hour.  Then I’m headed out for a night of league bowling.  As long as I’m going to be at the bowling alley, I might as well leave a few fliers there…

A busy woman’s work is never done. 

~Stephanie

Our little town has some really unique shops and restaurants. You wouldn’t expect a small town in Ohio to have so many shops that trade in art, but we do… And plenty of nice antiques stores, too. Plus, we have a pretty good variety of interesting restaurants.  This is one of my faves… Amato’s Wood Fired Pizza. The service isn’t great but the food is terrific, with meatballs made by hand every day and subs and pizza cooked in a real wood fired oven.

If you’re ever in Delaware, Ohio, check out Amato’s. And ask for a table in the back so you can see and smell the wood burning.

Happy Saturday!

~Stephanie

You can never have too many luscious colors to choose from.

May I have your attention please?  NEW YARN!  30 colors of Cascade 220, 20 shades of 220 Superwash, 5 new colors of Pacific Chunky… and take a gander at the new Cascade Ecological Wool with a monstrous 478 yarns per skein! The shop is open 9 to 12 today.

Gotta run now… I’m teaching at 10:30 this morning and my hair’s a fright!

Keep ‘em clicking, friends.

~Stephanie

This year I am starting on winter knitting and gift knitting early, and I encourage YOU to do the same.  Here are a couple of knitting classes coming up at the shop this month that can help you get a jump on your holiday knitting.

It’s not too late to sign up for tomorrow morning’s Ribbed Scarf class – and if you like this pattern but you’re busy tomorrow morning, I’ll be offering this class again in the fall.

This ribbed scarf pattern is for beginning level knitters who’ve mastered the basics of knitting and purling. Oh, and you also have to be able to count to 3.

The ribbed scarf show above is made with Cascade’s Pacific Chunky yarn and a pair of size 10 needles.  The beautiful thing about this pattern is that it’s the perfect easy pattern for knitting in front of the TV.  This gorgeous textured rib is just a variation of the basic knit and purl stitches, so even beginning knitters can make it – and not only is it warm, but it makes a terrific gift for men OR women!

If you’re more of an intermediate knitter and want to take your DPNs for a spin, take this class, too:

This mini mitten garland is great for the holidays. The garland consists of 24 little mittens knitted in various colors and patterns – the perfect way to use up the scraps in your stash!

This class is based on Smitten, the mini mitten knitting pattern offered as a free download on Knit Picks. But, we’ll play with different colors and patterns to make your garland of 24 mini mittens come alive, using up your stash in the meantime!

Come join me for a knitting class at Reap What’s Sewn in Delaware, Ohio.

Happy August!

~Stephanie

PS – Did I mention there are only 143 shopping days ’til Christmas?

This bag would be terrific for taking your flip flops and such to the beach. The sand would just drop right through it, since it’s knitted in birds-eye stitch, which is open and lacy.  But also, it would be great for the farmers market, or as a produce bag at the grocery store.  Why? Because it’s so stretchy!  It takes on the size of all the stuff you put inside, and then shrinks back to its normal shape and size when empty.  So it would be a great tote for anything from your beach duds to your fresh peaches.

This class is suitable for intermediate knitters.  The pattern is available here as a free download from Ravelry if you would like to peruse it.

The class will take part in two sessions, which meet July 31 and August 7 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.  Each session is $20, and you’ll receive a 10% discount on class supplies purchased at Reap What’s Sewn, which is where I sell my yarn and teach classes.

If you have questions about the class, just leave me a comment or call the shop.

I hope you’ll join me to learn this great bag!  Now that I’ve knit one of these, I want to make a dozen more – they’re quick, fun, and a very interesting knit!

~Stephanie

And just to tantalize you a bit more, here’s a close-up picture of the very stretchy and versatile birds-eye lace stitch:

But the week is winding to a close and now I’m getting desperate for indoor distractions.   Monday we’ll be heading back to work, so I’m trying to get the house put back together after a week of sloth.  It’s not hard to get interested in organizing projects when you’re bored and it’s sweltering outdoors.  Because, let’s face it, the options are limited.

So I’ve been working on some home org and craft projects today, and I wanted to share the results of this first one with you…

One plastic hanger plus two packs of dollar-store shower curtain rings equals a cheap and easy way to organize scarves in your closet:

Friends, when organizing my closet passes for entertainment, you know I’m desperate. Please, let this heat wave end soon!

What are you doing to stay out of the heat?  If you have ideas, please share them!

~Stephanie

We’ve set the date! Mark your calendar and join us for our second annual Buttermilk Hill Harvest Show on Saturday, October 13, at the Delaware County Fairgrounds.  More details to come.  Vendor booths are available now – check out the fall show page for vendor applications.

It is just beautiful here today. The sun is shining, it’s not too hot, and yesterday’s humidity has cleared up, leaving the air crisp and comfortable. It’s the perfect day for working in the garden.

Soon it will be time to plant vegetables, but for now I am pulling weeds and getting the beds ready to be mulched. For some reason this year I am having a problem with grass spreading into my flower beds.  We bought some edging, but it’s not doing any good curled up in its packages in the garage.

With gardening, there is never nothing to do. I keep reminding myself that somehow it will all get done.

This time of year the gardening chore list is long, but I’m trying to focus on what’s in bloom and not what needs to be done.

What a beautiful day to be outside!

Enjoy your day.

~Stephanie

Some neat things to make with old buttons:

Check out this retro stacked button necklace from Yellow Blackbird:

Hope Studios has a very clear tutorial on how to make some really cute and summery-looking button bracelets:

And Ellen’s Creative Passage features charm bracelets made from old buttons:

I think I need to try my hand at some of these. If you’re looking for more ideas on what to do with old buttons, there’s a collection of 50+ more ideas on the Saved By Love Creations blog, as well as lots of other craft ideas for repurposed items, like paper and old books.

If you try any of these ideas, I would love to see your pictures!

Happy Friday!

~Stephanie