In my blog I plan to chat about nature, crafts, baking, gardening, beekeeping, family, and whatever else seems appropriate at the time. Sit back, relax, and enjoy!

Tuesday, February 28, 2012

Winter Woolen Workshop - part III









OK, so you remember yesterday's post. We were going to sneak over to this building and take a picture from this round window.


But before we go to that mansion, let's check out this "chick with sticks".



This is what the WWW is all about. Teaching people how to do handwork from days gone by. She learned to knit on Saturday and got busy making a scarf.



Now this is in the 'other' mansion. The Seiberling mansion. The one my Shug and I got married in. These ladies are quilting. There were people sitting around knitting and spinning too.



As we began our climb to the top,

I said, "psssst....hey RJ (reality jayne)...look...see this landing?"

"yeah"

"It's where we stood when my Shug and I got married."

"So, whadayagonnado..take a picture of it?"

"yeah...I think I will!"







I walked down those steps, in my weddin' dress, and did not trip!
Look at some of the gorgeousness in this place. This is one of the bedrooms, in the round area.

Walking up the back steps (the maids steps)

A painting on the 2nd floor...




As we wander around some rooms, and look at a few displays, I snap a couple of pics. But not many because we were on a mission. These stoves were once made in our little town.















Chick with sticks is doing very well....in case you were wondering.


This is the grand ballroom. It was hard to get a good picture because of all of the people in it.


It goes through that archway. And there is a stage on one end of it. I imagine it was where the band sat. And we were up here, on this third floor, trying to find a door that leads to another stairway. We just needed to get up one more flight, to the attic, but the doors were either blocked or locked. But see that room to the right. Well, there was a door in there that was not locked. We went in.....



What. In. The. H?


Are you kiddin' me? This was the only room, unlocked, and accessible, and there is no way I could get a picture out of this window. Crap.


So we went back down to the 2nd floor, which wasn't near as exciting. But I snapped a couple of quick pics. Because we had to get back. We were gone awhile.



And one of my granny square peeps did come back. She was doing very well by the way. She had another granny started. She wanted me to show her how to change colors.

Oh, and this building. It was a carriage house. It's where my shug and I had our wedding reception.


Dammmmnnnn. Busted. Granny Bee at the bottom of the stairs....




And check out 'chick with sticks!'


She drank a ton of caffeine loaded cola


and finished that scarf!

More to come on the WWW. I gotta show you what I bought, what I didn't buy, and what I wished I would have bought!


But first...look what was on our farm yesterday!


Robins!!! Spring is coming soon!!


I can't wait for them to start singing. You know that song that they do...at 4:00 a.m....when you are sound asleep. That one. I love it.


Cindy Bee

Sunday, February 26, 2012

Attic 1200 and teaching granny squares



These are the mansions where the Winter Woolen Workshop takes place. Two mansions in Kokomo that are now used by the Howard County Historical Society. (I know I tell you this all the time....but I'm telling you again....My Shug and I got married in the one above)


Crochet Council was in this mansion, in an alcove, of which I showed you yesterday. Crochet council consists of the Bee Lady (me) and Reality Jayne.

So, yesterday morning I happened to be looking at Attic 24's blog, before I left for the WWW and I thought.....I'm gonna take an alcove picture....I told my outlaw friend RJ, and we conspired to sneak up a level (ssshhhhh don't tell. That level was pretty much off limits) Quickly and quietly we go up the stairs....... There was only one room (closet?) open up there. All of the other rooms had locked doors. What's behind those locked doors we wondered....

But we had a mission....a picture....from the attic...I'm going to call it Attic 1200!





I couldn't stop it was so fun taking pictures from the attic window! Of course RJ was behind me..."take it up close...put your camera on the window....Beee.....your picture taking skills....jeeeesh." I told her to shuuush!




OMG! Somone's coming....quick! HIDE! We hid behind the wall waiting for them to leave. phew...close call.....





Another view - close up - hmmmm, wonder what's on the other side of that window.





Today - we will sneak over to that mansion, sneak up to the attic level, and take more pics from that side of the fence (so to speak)







Later that day.....I took my granny square stuff over to the other building. Drug it all from the second floor of one building to the third floor of another - how many flights of stairs would that be...yup five. A cart of yarn and two big bags of stuff. I forgot a couple of things in the other building but guess what....I was not going back.



I was getting ready to teach a granny square class. I set up and had a few minutes so I took a stroll through the room. I will take more pics today because you have to see this room. I believe it was probably a ballroom back in the day. Dangit...I want a ballroom in my new house.



These ladies were making an Easter Bunny Basket. That's Jeannie with the tape measure over her mouth! Kinda funny, considering what I told her earlier that day. I said, "Jeannie...guurrrrl....I have no idea what you are talking about because you just drink caffeine all day long and talk and talk and talk. I have learned to tune you out just like I used to do the boys I watched!!! I just hear a bunch of background noise yammerin on....!" We have so much fun hanging out all weekend together.



Look at these adorable baskets. See the bunny ears?





Cute huh?



And Barb is teaching a quilting, embroidery class..something like that. Knowing her, there are beads involved! Maybe it was a crazy quilt class.





All I know is.... I knew I was in trouble the first five minutes of my class. I was teaching five people how to make granny squares. Yup....I was in Trouble! Quadruple trouble!



Let me start out by saying the only one that had crocheted before was 11 years old...





She was my star student and I loved the way her nail polish matched the yarn she chose!



By the time it was over .....three hours later....I was nervous and sweating in the arm pits! It was not this hard when I taught my left-handed cousin a few weeks ago! I bet I walked around that table 30 times. I now have granny square rules for teaching a class. The first one being...you must have a basic knowledge of crochet! But by the time I kicked them out...I mean...they left....they all had a granny square.


I fully expect them to hunt me down today to help them again. I'll be hiding in the attic. Shhhhh...don't tell.

Cindy Bee

Saturday, February 25, 2012

Winter Woolen Workshop - preview tour

Behind the scenes.....If you've never put on an event like this, you have no idea what it takes to pull it off. I know, I've been 'in charge' of events like this before.....deeeeep cleansing breaths...



is what I was saying to the Granny Bee when they were trying to set things up last night.



She pulled it off! She's working hard in her slippers!!! (tee hee) She is NOT telling anyone to just let her finish this up by herself, that she sometimes just works best alone. She didunt say that....and I am not putting it on my blog. Cause if I did, I'd get in troub!



But there she is, all alone, gettin' it done!
So let me just say, this room looks wonderful today. And let's just go on a preview tour ok?



















These pictures were all taken last night, during set-up. Kathy....are you helping or not?




















Kathy and Barb were reminding me of when I was a kid. Mom and Dad would put me in charge of watching my brother and sister. Both instigaters as the younger siblings. I'd be trying to do something, and I would be a bit frustrated, and they'd be laughing about it. Just sayin'...












































hand spun alpalca fiber made into all kinds of cool things like socks, scarves, sweaters, mittens, stuffed animals, etc.































FUN FELTED PINS!























More fun felted pins.








































Angela, from The Country Cellar (see side bar) and her sister have these adorable pin cusions. Isn't that teapot cute.










This guy was in a room full of menopausal women, his wife, and one woman that was trying to stop smoking. He knew to do what he was told, and do it with a smile on his face!






And this little alcove...well it's the Crochet Council's area. We 're having fun. I'll report more later.


Wish you were here!


Cindy Bee