Free Snowman Knitting Pattern at Knit Picks

Check out this adorable new free pattern for felted snowmen from

KNIT PICKS

OCTOBER is GLOBAL FAIR TRADE MONTH

Just in time for the holidays......

I went to a Fair Trade Sale at a local church near my home and I decided that buying Fair Trade is the best way to shop for holiday presents this year. I bought a beautiful hand woven headband from Guatamala.

I found a lovely lavendar soy candle made by THE ENTERPRISING KITCHEN.ORG helping women in Chicago get back on track.


Yesterday, I purchased a beaded purse made by the Mayan Women's Beading Collective at the Textile Art luncheon. I sat down tonight to write about Fair Trade goods, only to discover, by coincindence, that OCTOBER is GLOBAL FAIR TRADE MONTH.

Yes, I also bought a $30.00 tin of popcorn (outrageously expensive) from the local boy scout going door to door, but I'd much rather spend my money supporting people in need, especially the WOMEN who are feeding their entire family for a month with the proceeds from the sale of one beaded purse.

So, this holiday season, when you're shopping at Nordstrom, Target, Coach, or your local church craft show.....keep in mind FAIR TRADE. Your purchase can really make a difference in someone's life. Look for fairly traded items in stores too.

You may ask, "What is Fair Trade"?

Fair Trade is...

- The practice of buying products directly from producers indeveloping nations and developing parts of our own country.
- About helping people to become self-supporting andself-suffiicent regardless of race, gender, or religion.
- Buying goods bought directly from producers, artists, and families, NOT from sweatshops, slaveholders, or big businesses.
- Guaranteeing fair prices and fair pay to both women and men.
- An investment to improve social, educational, and medical conditions in the producers' home communities.
- When producers are paid for their products up-front to ensure long-term success.
- Environmentally safe which ensures sustainable production methods that protect the environment and cultivate healthy communities here and abroad.
- Guarenteeing no forced child labor was used in production. Many of the children once forced to work in clothing and carpet mills are now in school.

OK, now that you know what Fair Trade is, you may ask "Where can I shop for Fair Trade items?" ONLINE of course! Shop from your home, avoid traffic, save on gas in your car, don't wait in any lines! You can find items from all over the world, on some websites you can choose an area of the globe, or type of craft or product. COFFEE is a popular one, as are handicrafts made by local artisans.

FOR EXAMPLE:

SHOP THE CAUSE.ORG is a project of Women Thrive Worldwide, a non-profit that fosters economic opportunity for women living in poverty worldwide.

How about looking at ORIGNAL GOOD. It's the new product brand from World of Good, Inc. providing amazing handcrafted from artisans around the world.

Searching for clothing and accessories? Look no further than MATA TRADERS whose mission is to provide high fashion, fairly traded clothing and accessories to a growing network of socially conscious consumers and retailers. The products are made exclusively in India by women’s cooperatives.

Need a gift for a CHOCOLATE LOVER, or want to treat yourself? Try the EQUAL EXCHANGE CO-OP for fairly traded organic coffee, tea, chocolate and snacks from farmers all over the world including the United States.

According to their website, "One purchase at a time" from GIFTS WITH HUMANITY.ORG will help change the world.

One of my favorite successful sites is the KALLARI RAIN FAMILY, a self-governed coalition of Amazon artists and organic cocoa producers whose co-op began in 1997 with less than fifty families and has now grown to over 800 families.

At TWO HANDS WORLD SHOP you can find beautiful Fair Trade certified arts and handcrafts from the world's artisans. Listed by category everything from bags and purses to home decor and toys.

Here are some links to Fair Trade Shopping from SHE WHO PAINTS for more ideas and inspiration.

And last, but not least, you've got to take a look at LUCUMA DESIGNS which strives to bring you contemporary crafts and folk art to smile about. They "empower creative women and family workshops in Peru to help themselves and their community". You will be amazed at the talent and artistry.

Look for these labels when you buy:

And perhaps there's even a FAIR TRADE store in your town,

like this one here in Cleveland Heights, Ohio

REVIVE

WOMANCRAFT.NET

Now I've got to get back to my holiday shopping !!

Textile Art Alliance Wearable Art Fashion Show & Boutique

I just got back from the

Cleveland Museum of Art Textile Alliance Wearable Art Fashion Show and Boutique

Here are some of my favorite designs presented: Be sure to click on the links to learn more about each artist ! The name of each is ABOVE the photo.

Blue Bridge Studio - Paula Singleton from

Akron, Ohio

Memphis George Fine Art Jewelry

Nagada Fashion handwoven textiles from Egypt




Hatsumi Yoshida born in Japan and

currently lives in Bali

Art of Cloth

the best fitting clothes, loose drape, beautiful colors, designed and made by my neighbor, Rose Corrick



Blis Boutique another one of Cleveland's favorite

Art to Wear Boutique

Fine Points

my favorite yarn shop AND clothing boutique owned by Liz Tekus in Cleveland




Front Street Studios by Julie Corcoran in Mannington, WV

Midwest Fiber Company

owned and handcrafted by Lee Ann King,

located in NW Ohio



miKNITures by Cleveland's Pavia Lewis and member of the

Northcoast Knitting Guild

Mayan Women's Collective

beautiful beaded necklaces and purses with all proceeds going back to the women in Mexico

THERE IS A SALE IN CLEVELAND HEIGHTS ON

SAT. & SUN. NOV. 22 & 23

LEAVE A COMMENT IF YOU WANT THE ADDRESS

PaMaTi Designs

TR Hats by Tatiana Rakhmanina

Noro Tovesta Bag

What's not to love about NORO KUREYON???

I felted this bag instead of lining it according to the pattern.

The pattern is by

Cornelia Tuttle Hamilton

from Noro: Cornelia Tuttle Hamilton Book 2

Another Cool Website

Check out KNITBEADS.COM

Free patterns, beads, books, paper crafts and more !!

New Plan for Koigu Shawl

I have frogged my koigu shawl and I plan to make this project instead:

Wool Peddler's Shawl by Cheryl Oberle in her book, "Folk Shawls"

Thanks to inspiration and tips from blogger Crispynoodleknits, I found this project on ravelry.

my koigu stash:

Stitch N Pitch

What a great way to celebrate my birthday this year !!

Stitch n Pitch Cleveland Indians Game July 10

Louise and Laila

I'm back from my 2nd AZIZA Retreat at 13 MOONS in Norwood, Ontario Canada.

Louise and Laila love their Interlacements Beaded Scarves !!

The theme for me this year was "sprouting seeds", a new beginning

Koigu Simple Yet Effective Shawl

I can't think of a better way to use up my stash of Koigu - 6 skeins purchased at Love to Knit's recent going out of business sale.

I found the FREE pattern surfing around on Ravelry - it can be found at

COSMICPLUTO KNITS BLOG

The Charlotte's Web Shawl pattern intrigued me for this yarn but I decided I wanted something easier to make. I am, however, incorporating the subtle color changing blending squence from the Charlotte's Web pattern into my Koigu Simple Shawl.

2 Beaded Scarves completed

I just finised these 2 beaded scarves for my 2 Canadian retreat leaders whom I am visiting again this summer.

Tiny Toes yarn from Interlacements and beads. The pattern is by Deanna Van Assche

First Pair of Socks Finished !

I finally finished my first pair of socks, Blue Moon Fiber Arts Socks that Rock pattern and size 2 double pointed needles. The yarn colorway is Cracked Canyon 100% merino.

Blue Moon Fiber Arts

We love to knit socks

On the right and middle are 2 socks I made in recent Sock Classes.

The left is my first attempt at a real pair with Blue Moon Fiber Arts Socks that Rock yarn.

And the Northcoast Knitting Guild really loves to make socks !!

Amanda's Squatty Sidekick

Check out Knitting Daily.com Free patterns for Amanda's Squatty Sidekick. Quick and easy,

I knit it with Manos del Uruguay 100% wool.

http://www.knittingdaily.com/freepatterns/

Bag of Diamonds

Another completed felted bag !!

From Knitter's Magazine, Winter 2005

SLIP STITCH pattern, fun, quick and addicting. I can't wait to make another one. Knit with BLACK Cascade 220 and the one and only self striping Noro Kureyon.

My bag was selected to be on the pattern page for this project on Ravelry !!

Felted Fido

A fabulous quick FIBER TRENDS pattern - knit with Cascade 220 and Berroco Hush. I made this for our Northcoast Knitting Guild Toy Competition meeting in May. Then we donate our toys after prizes are awarded.

Meet CLEO !!!

Yesterday we adopted this adorable 3 month puppie

a Sheltie mix female we named CLEO

from the Cleveland Animal Protective League

I'm ADDICTED to Ravelry!!

As I mentioned in my last post, I am now on

Ravelry --- my name is smiledr710

I have been busy posting pictures and descriptions of my projects. It is so well organized, easy to use. Much to my dismay, there were no groups established yet for some of my favorite projects...so, what did I do?? I created them myself!!

My first finished vest

I learned so much from making my first wearable garment that,

unlike a poncho or shawl, was actually designed to fit !!

I made 2 fronts, a back, a collar, and even

3 buttonholes !!

I used

Plymouth Encore Mega Colorspun Yarn

single strand

SEED STITCH throughout

and

Sarah James pattern #WV 301

My project was even selected to be on the Ravelry page for this pattern !!

Free Knitting Patterns at HowStuffWorks.com

I just discovered another website full of

more wonderful free patterns and detailed instructions.

TAKE A LOOK !!

HowStuffWorks.com

You Tube Knitting Instructions

I am so excited to see that there are so many instructional knitting videos on

YOU TUBE !!

I've been trying to make this MANOS YARN SCARF

called
"MY SO CALLED SCARF"

posted by

WINGEDSHEEP and you can find her You Tube instructions
HERE