![]() Freddie's Blanket by Joanna Johnson Illustrated by Eric Johnson Purchase for $19.95: Etsy (You can get a signed copy on Etsy) Amazon I do not know where to begin on this charming book. For me, it was the perfect way to blend my passions and share them with my son. This book contains beautifully illustrated pictures that go with a sweetly told story. Following this is a set of knitting patterns! You can knit little Freddie and his blanket! (The pattern is also available on Ravelry.) There are actually six patterns included in the books. There is Freddie's blanket, a boy platypus with overalls, a girl platypus with a dress, children's overalls, a baby swaddling blanket and a small hammer. All the patterns are adorable, but the platypus is, by far, my favorite. This was a very fun way to help my youngest son transition to a big boy bed and share my love of knitting with him. While the connection is not readily obvious, it was a stroke of genius the Johnsons had when they wrote this. My sons always love to see what I'm working on and are thrilled when it's something for them. (It also keeps me diligently working because they are always checking to see if I'm "done yet.") Now that I'm working on a character in a book they both enjoy reading, they are beside themselves with giggly glee. It is such a nice idea combining this story with knitting patterns that relate back to the characters. I will post the completed platypus as soon as it's finished, but I am including some of the photos available on the Etsy page as well as the Ravelry page. Bottom Line: This is such a sweet book that is well worth the money. If you have small children or grandchildren, they will love this very adorable stuffed animal and the story that goes with him. As a side note- if you are interested in classic children's illustrating, Eric Johnson has an excellent class on Craftsy. You can really tell a lot of love and care went in to this book.
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Fiber Artwork
Tuesday-Saturday 11:00am-5:00pm 817B Regal Drive Huntsville, Al 35801 I cannot put in words how much I love this store. The proprietor is a friendly, unimposing, knowledgeable woman who seems to care about her customers as much as her store. On the shelves with her beautiful yarn selection are the projects of customers hanging proudly, showcasing not only new patterns but also the yarn that made them. It is a very tactile place, and that is wonderful. I stumbled on this store quite by accident when I was about two weeks from having my second son. Needless to say, I was about the size of a house and was the type of pregnant that makes people nervous...like I could pop at any moment. My husband, the sweet man that he is, wanted to take me somewhere that would distract me from my very pregnant state of being. He saw online that this store was open. What we did not know was that it was having its grand opening in its new location the day we chose to check it out. (Really, that meant there was a tray of cookies out for incoming knitters. I cannot say no to a cookie on a good day. I certainly cannot say no to a cookie when I'm pregnant.) While it was clear the store was still getting itself organized, I was very impressed with the selection and loved the setup. It is my ideal sized knitting store. (Is that a weird thing to love? I am not a fan of huge spaces for knitting stores and sometimes you can be a little too cramped. Like the story of the Three Bears, the size of this store is just right.) Fast forward a little less than a year to Knit in Public Day 2016 and I found myself once again within the cozy walls of this fine establishment. This time I was significantly less pregnant and probably a lot calmer overall. The store seems to have hit its stride already, offering great yarns, great company and a lot of fiber knowledge...and fixed heddle looms! How fun. I hope to become a regular at this fiber shoppe, though my schedule with my tiny tots does not allow me to get out to the yarn store as often as I like. There is a website for the store at www.fiberartwork.com and there is a group on Ravelry that is very active. Please check out both. Bottom Line: This is one of my all-time favorite knitting stores. This should be a must on your list if you live in the Tennessee Valley. |
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