Knitstyle by MMC

EtsyBABY's Annual Candee Cayne Holiday Hunt

2011-11-29T21:00:00.000-05:00

It's the 4th annual Candee Cayne Holiday Hunt hosted by the EtsyBABY Team. Tuesday, November 29th - Friday, December 9th, search Knitstyle's shop for the Candy Cayne graphic, purchase the listing and you'll receive FREE SHIPPING! Visit the EtsyBABY's website for a list of other participating shops and see what sale or special promotion Candee Cayne has to offer.

Look for this Candee Cayne graphic!

Black Friday - Cyber Monday Sale

2011-11-24T09:00:00.006-05:00

Happy Thanksgiving!! I was cooking away in the kitchen for most of the day yesterday. Baking some yummy pies for Thanksgiving dinner and since I don't do any of the meal cooking for Thanksgiving I decided to cook a nice dinner last night. I enjoy being in the kitchen and it definitely got me in a cheerful mood. Hope you have a very nice Thanksgiving and are able to spend it with friends & family!

Ready for some great weekend deals for Black Friday and Cyber Monday?? A group of EtsyKIDS Team members are having special sales and promotions all weekend so be sure to check them out! Knitstyle by MMC is offering FREE SHIPPING on all orders (excluding Patterns and Kits). Just use the coupon code "NOVSHIP2011" at checkout.

Do It Yourself, Or Not

2011-11-16T20:06:00.005-05:00

Are you a knitter or would you rather purchase an already knit pair of SNUGGS(c)? SNUGGS(c) are Knitstyle by MMC's original design for suede knit baby booties. They are completely lined with the softest plush yarn that any baby would love!
Since 2007, Knitstyle by MMC has been knitting numerous pairs of SNUGGS(c) in either tan or chocolate brown. In 2009, I introduced the option for knitters to purchase my original pattern and knit their own pair of SNUGGS(c). Now, I am offering buyers to either purchase an already knit pair; purchase a DIY kit that includes the pattern and yarn; or to purchase the pattern alone. I also introduced some new colors for the suede-like yarn (colors to choose from: Tan, Chocolate Brown, Black, Purple, Light Blue, and Light Pink). Check these out!

SNUGGS(c) in Purple

DIY Pattern and 2 Yarn Kit

DIY Pattern and Suede Yarn (Blue)

DIY Pattern and Yarn Kit (Pink)

U-Pick Strawberries

2011-06-12T15:00:00.004-04:00

I can remember the early days of June.. as a child, my grandfather would bring me along to help him pick freshly ripened strawberries at one of our local farms. I looked forward to going each year and since then, I have always enjoyed strawberry picking and have made a habit of it almost every year. For the first few years, I would bring along one of my nephews, who at the time was 3 or 4 years old. He is now 14 and probably too cool to go strawberry picking with his Aunt Megan! Nonetheless, I have a growing supply of young nephews and nieces and continue to bring 1 or 2 kids along with me every year. A few years ago the farm closed and re-opened under Whippoorwill Farm CSA. This meant the U-Pick Strawberries was only open to CSA members so last year I decided to join the CSA, primarily for the strawberry picking!!! The rest of the CSA season was absolutely amazing I had to join for another year! Last week, we received the CSA newsletter letting us know that the strawberry patch would be open on Friday for strawberry picking... so, I bagged the TGIF gathering after work and left work early to get there for the last hour of picking time on Friday afternoon. My 3-1/2 year old niece, Sydney, joined me for the fun this year for a second year in a row. We had fun picking strawberries (and some daisies) and I hope that this tradition is creating memories that will last...

In past years, I've made strawberry pie, strawberry muffins, strawberry lemonade, strawberry margaritas (yum!), strawberry margarita squares, strawberry shortcake...

Yesterday I bought some rhubarb and today I decided to make a strawberry-rhubarb crisp. Found the recipe while I was looking through some cookbooks on this rainy Sunday morning. Heading to my sister's for dinner tonight for Lamb chops and we'll dig into the crisp for dessert!

Strawberry-Rhubarb Crisp

Cake Decorating (For Amateurs)

2011-03-06T12:00:00.001-05:00

Cake decorating can be fun but it can also be a little stressful if you are not prepared or do not allow yourself enough time. I started getting into cake decorating for my nieces and nephews over the years and have learned to make sure I allow myself enough time so that I can take my time with the details and enjoy the process. If I rush, I tend to make mistakes or get a little sloppy and am unhappy with the final result. So... with my latest cake I decided to document my process and share with you all. This cake was for my nephew's 8th birthday and he is a HUGE hockey fan! Special Request: sports theme

Step 1: Pick a theme/image you want to decorate. If it's your first try to keep it simple! What you decide will determine the shape and size of your cake. Here, I chose the Boston Bruins logo.
Step 2: Bake the cake and let cool.

Step 3: Make frosting. My favorite frosting is this Italian Meringue Buttercream I found on Martha Stewart Recipes. It makes 4-1/2 cups which is more than enough to frost a cake. It's not the best option for decorating but it taste great (not too sugary) and works well. The photos below show the process of making this frosting, from making the syrup, beating egg whites, adding syrup to egg whites, and finally beating in butter and vanilla to finish frosting. The directions are pretty straightforward!

Step 4&5: Level cake (all layers) and frost. I wanted a white background so I added a few drops of white coloring gel to brighten the buttercream. Buttercream tends to have a buttery yellow tint to it. This is a double layer cake and I always add frosting between layers as well. The leveling will help keep the top of the cake flat. The layers do not have to be completely flat, but enough to remove the round bump in the center.

Step 6: Divide up remaining frosting and color. Depending on how many colors you will use, you'll need to divide up the frosting accordingly. For this cake, I have 2 colors: yellow and black. Now, this was my first time making black frosting or icing so I would like to share a little tip I learned. After dividing the frosting, I melted some dark chocolate and added it in (about 2 TBSP for about 1-2 cups of frosting). Then I used a black gel food coloring. The chocolate will help with getting a true black quicker without having to add too much coloring. Adding too much food coloring can alter the taste of the frosting. It is best to add the coloring in small portions and mix to see the results. Add more if necessary. Another tip ... while mixing the black color in, the frosting turned a silvery gray at first but in time (by the time I started the decorating) it darkened and turned black.

Step 7: Decorate! With the colors ready and pastry bags filled we are ready to start decorating (I like to have pastry bags ready for each color so there is no need to clean anything once the decorating starts). Depending on what you are going to decorate, it is best to have a plan on where to start and end. You can also use a knife to carve it out first to make sure the sizing is appropriate. Here, I started with the outside first, then the middle and then I filled in the rest.

Finishing touches ... filling in and the side of the cake. For the side of the cake, I filled it in by creating single layers around the cake, starting at the bottom (or you can start at the top) and working my way around and up to the top.

Step 8: Put candles on it and sing Happy Birthday!!!

I have posted a few images of cakes I have made in my Flickr account: Cakes

closing out the year...

2010-12-29T20:00:00.000-05:00

I am just amazed at how quickly this year has come to an end! It has been a relatively quiet year for me at Knitstyle as my "other" job drew most of my time, focus and energy (as it should). This left very little time for my crafty adventures and involvement with my Knitstyle shop. For me, the knitting, sewing and involvement with the Etsy community has been a positive outlet as there have been a few changes in my life over that the last few years. However, I hate having so many unfinished projects because it all just feels like clutter (physical and mental). There were a few times this past year that I sat down here to write a new blog post and just couldn't think of the words to write and I ended up closing the "new post" window with nothing written. Don't get me wrong, it was a good year with many wonderful things happening all around. One of my favorite new things from this year was participating in one of our local CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) crop shares and found myself happily overwhelmed with all the great veggies, strawberries and flowers I picked up every week for 22 weeks! I was introduced to a variety of new vegetables I hadn't tried (or even heard of!) before and learned a few new recipes. I found myself in the kitchen quite often (instead of in front of the sewing machine) cooking up new dishes; quiches, sauces, a variety of soups, strawberry pie, many fresh salads, pesto, and simply steaming lots of vegetables. For me, I find comfort in the kitchen... I just don't like cleaning up the mess when it's all done! I am already thinking about next season!
So, with the closing of 2010 we welcome 2011... and a new niece arriving soon for me! This only means that I will be busy knitting and sewing new things for her and for my shop! I already have the fabric picked out, squares cut and ready to be sewn together and stuffed. So exciting!!!

Happy New Year and Best Wishes!

CYBER MONDAY SPECIAL

2010-11-29T09:30:00.002-05:00

Visit Knitstyle by MMC today, 11/29/2010, and receive 25% off your entire purchase (prior to shipping). Discount with be refunded via paypal within 24 hrs of purchase.

Happy Shopping!!

New Items:

2010-06-08T20:30:00.003-04:00

Hello!

While I was searching for some new fabric to use in my shop, these wonderful multi colored fabrics caught my eye! The Goldfish Cloth Play Blocks (Heather Ross fabric) have been a big hit in my Etsy shop. I only have a limited amount of fabric left and soon they will be all gone! The Automobile themed fabric is just as fun.

I thought Automobiles would be a great theme to go with and the colors were just so fabulous! Here's a set of 3 Small Cloth Play Blocks with the automobile theme from the Riley Blake collection. The colors: turquoise, orange, brown, red, green and yellow!

Next, I came across these stripes, stars and circles fabric by the same designer, Riley Blake. These looked fun, colorful, perfect for making my blocks and great for learning shapes. Here's a Medium Cloth Play Block I call ALL STAR!

Please check out my Etsy shop, Knitstyle, for more great Cloth Play Blocks!

Knitting Pattern

2010-03-18T21:00:00.002-04:00

Hello!
The Lizard Ridge Knitting class went very well and after 2 classes I am able to continue working without needing help from the instructor! Hooray!! The last few months I haven't had the time to knit and was definitely having a hard time getting back into it so the class was refreshing and enjoyable as well as the wine and cheese! While sitting in the new yarn shop here on the Vineyard, surrounded by an assortment of beautiful and unique yarns, I really started to get inspired and bought yet another knitting magazine with some new patterns. I am hoping that by next fall I have a few more knit items to start listing in my Etsy shop ... we'll see! I also got inspired after talking with the instructor and hearing her abbreviated life story. While starting a family and in between jobs she started creating knitting patterns and selling them to big companies. So, I got thinking about this pattern I created when I started knitting and selling the baby SNUGGS (c) (hand knit suede like baby booties) ... It was my very own original design and pattern that I worked hard to get right and I had already started officially documenting the pattern but hadn't quite put the finishing touches on the document. So, over the last week (thanks to a nice rainy weekend) I really put myself to the challenge and finally finished the pattern! I had a friend do a quick review, updated the document and poof, a PDF was made! Listed the first copy in my Etsy shop (Knitstyle by MMC) the other night and the next morning I was so excited to learn that it SOLD!! So, to all the knitters reading this, please visit my patterns/kits section in my Knitstyle by MMC shop if you'd like to purchase your own copy of the SNUGGS(c) Pattern ... The pattern includes 2 full pages of instructions with lots of photos to help guide you through the steps.

Lizard Ridge Knitting Technique

2010-03-04T20:00:00.001-05:00

I recently signed up for a knitting class to learn the "Lizard Ridge" knitting technique. It was a last minute decision to join the class and I am so happy that I did. I haven't had a lot of extra time to dedicate to knitting lately and it was so nice to pick up my knitting needles again and start knitting something. So, the idea of the class is to knit a bunch of Lizard Ridge Squares (about 12"x12" or so) and then stitch all the squares together to make a beautiful blanket. Here is one example of a finished blanket (not mine!) Click on photo and it will bring you to the lizard ridge knitting instructions.

Hmmmm ... after one class, I am only 1/2 way through my first square! I'm thinking that this is going to take me a very long time to make a blanket like that! Or I might just make a pillow using my first square and go from there! Here's what I have finished so far ...

Happy knitting!

Knitstyle by MMC on Facebook!

2010-02-22T10:30:00.002-05:00

Knitstyle (by MMC) now has a Facebook Page! For all those who are on Facebook please check out Knitstyle by MMC on Facebook and become a fan- you'll automatically be entered into a monthly free giveaway of 1 Medium sized Cloth Play Block. All fans will automatically be entered each month and 1 winner will be selected at random on the 15th of each month. First drawing will be held on March 15th and one lucky winner will receive a MEDIUM sized AVIARY Cloth Play Block (made with Joel Dewberry Fabric in 100% cotton)... so hurry and become a fan today! Winners will be posted on Knitstyle by MMC's Facebook Page.

Knitstyle by MMC's Facebook Fan Page

My Etsy Finds ... Dahlias

2010-01-10T11:00:00.001-05:00

I've been searching through Etsy lately trying to find some cool art work, mostly giclee prints, for my new house. One of my favorite flowers, is the Dahlia. Every year my dad plants several Dahlia bulbs in his garden and around the yard. From whites and light hues of pink and yellow to big and vibrant puples, oranges, red and pinks. He puts alot of care into them every year and during the fall when the flowers stop blooming, he digs them all up and stores them in the basement for the winter. Here are a few Dahlia prints I came across in my search on Etsy.

1. Prettypetalstudio
2. NatureMandalas
3. ModernArtEveryday (MAE)
4. Gauchogirl

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

2009-12-23T13:39:00.005-05:00

Wishing you the best Holidays for 2009 and a terrific New Year for 2010!!

Warmest wishes from Knitstyle (Megan)

CYBER MONDAY 2009

2009-11-29T20:42:00.007-05:00

Cyber Monday - November 30th, 2009

Knitstyle by MMC will be offering FREE SHIPPING* on:

MEDIUM Cloth Play Blocks

ALL knit items

*(USA & CANADA ONLY)

EtsyBABY Holiday Hunt

2009-11-09T13:19:00.007-05:00

EtsyBABY is kicking off the holiday season starting, November 7th with their 3rd Annual Holiday Hunt Promotion!!!!!
Candee Cayne, EtsyBABY's Holiday Helper, loves to play Hide 'N Seek!
EtsyBABY needs YOUR help to find where Candee Cayne has hidden! We need her back in the EtsyBABY nursery by November 30th, to help EtsyBABY members prepare for all of the holiday goodies that are purchased! She has hidden in multiple EtsyBABY Member shops and the shop owners are generously offering rewards! For participating shops, please follow this link: http://shopetsyBABY.com

Knitstyle: By purchsing an item where CANDEE is found, you will get $1.50 Shipping on entire order. Either send me an Etsy convo or I will issue a refund via paypal.

Etsy for Pets

2009-08-13T21:24:00.004-04:00

My Black Lab, Neely, is 6 months old now and growing so fast! She's a sweetheart and loves going on the boat with me to work every day. She loves swimming in the ocean too! I have found some great handmade pet products on Etsy and want to share some of my favorites with you. One of my first Etsy purchases for my dog was from Sugarplumcollars. I instantly fell in love with all of these collars and it was truly difficult choosing one. In fact, I think it took a couple of weeks before I decided on the Spring Breeze. I ordered it in a big size knowing that Neely was going to be growing. She finally grew into it last week and now wears it every day. We get compliments on it all the time!

Another Etsy purchase was from Woofpurrcreations where I purchased 2 tug-o-war braids with squeakers. I love that they are a safe, earth-friendly toy and handmade in the USA. Neely loves to chew on these, especially the squeaker end. I would definitely recommend one of these for your dog!

Blog Giveaway WINNERS!!!

2009-06-24T20:16:00.003-04:00

Thank you all for visiting my blog, taking a look through my Etsy shop (Knitstyle) and leaving a comment to enter the blog giveaway. I have 2 lucky winners that will each receive a MEDIUM sized cloth play block!

Winner #1: JohnsonFamily
Winner #2: Eve

Please contact me to claim your block!
knitstylemmc{@} gmail{dot}com
by 6/30/09

Blog Giveaway from Knitstyle

2009-06-18T09:30:00.005-04:00

I know everyone loves a Blog Giveaway! Here's how it works ... it's easy as 1-2-3!

1. Visit my Etsy Shop, Knitstyle
2. Come back here to the blog post and leave a comment and tell me what you like best from my shop (please leave your first name and last initial and email address).
3. Seven (7) days from the date of this post, come back to this blog and look to see if you are a winner.

The blog giveaway will be closed at midnight on Tuesday, June 23rd and 2 winners will be randomly chosen to each win a MEDIUM sized Cloth Play Block. Winners will be posted on Wednesday, June 24th.

Where has the time gone?

2009-06-17T20:56:00.010-04:00

Hello All!

The last few months have been quite busy for me and I have some exciting news to share. First, I bought my first house!!! Still can't believe it and I did it all on my own! Spent a lot of time cleaning, painting and getting it ready to be lived in ... with a lot of help from family and friends. Here's one of the before and after shots ...

Second, I have the sweetest little black lab puppy now! I've had her since she was 10 weeks old and she is now 4 months old. I've been enjoying having her around, but, puppies are A LOT OF WORK! Fortunately, I can bring her with me to work so we get to spend a lot of time together. She is a joy and her name is Neely ...

These 2 things have occupied all my extra time and the reason why I had my Etsy Shop in vacation mode for a few weeks. I recently opened back up again but only until the end of June. Knitstyle will be back in vacation mode for most of the summer while I continue to work with my puppy and catch up on a few other things. Hoping to have some time to work on some new items for my shop!

Polka Dots for Baby

2009-02-17T21:45:00.011-05:00

I love these fun and stylish polka dot blocks and burp cloths! They make such a wonderful gift for a new baby and every time I make a set of blocks or burp cloths with this Amy Butler fabric I have so much fun! The colors are so bright and cheerful and just knowing that they will soon be in the small hands (or mouth) of a special little one brings me joy. The fabric is 100% cotton and I use high quality fiberfill or eco-friendly bamboo fiberfill to stuff them and include a few ribbon tags along the seams for baby to tug on. I currently keep a hefty stock of these 6 colors: red, orange, yellow, green, blue and pink and hope that Amy Butler never decides to discontinue this fabric!!

(1) Set of 6 small polka dot cloth play blocks
(2) Polka dot burp cloths can be purchased in a set of 2 by selecting 2 colors of your choice.
(3) Set of 6 polka dot burp cloths
(4) Set of 3 polka dot cloth play blocks - small, medium & large.

The small polka dot cloth play blocks can also be purchased in a set of 3 or 4 by selecting the colors of your choice.

Want to make your baby gift extra special? ... In addition to purchasing some blocks and burp cloths from Knitstyle, I would suggest buying a set of 2 coordinating spotty elephant onesies from Tadpolecreations. Your gift will be complete and the envy of all the moms!

Help SAVE Handmade Baby & Kids Products

2009-01-08T21:00:00.009-05:00

EtsyBABY & EtsyKIDS are launching a huge promotion to help SAVE Handmade Baby & Kids prodcuts. Starting Friday, January 9th - Monday, February 9th. over 100 shops will be offering discounts, free shipping and more to help in the request to change the CPSIA and help save handmade toys and kids products.
Knitstyle will be offering FREE SHIPPING on ALL MEDIUM sized cloth play blocks.

Etsy: Your place to buy & sell all things handmade
knitstyle.etsy.com

Visit ShopEtsyBABY for details and a list of participating shops.

Wishing you the Happiest of Holidays!

2008-12-21T10:30:00.002-05:00

Wishing you a very Merry Christmas and Happy & Healthy New Year! Knitstyle will be taking a short break from now through the New Year. I look forward to "re-opening" my Etsy shop, Knitstyle, with new and fun products!

Cheers!
Megan

Babble Magazine's Holiday Gift Guide 2008

2008-11-21T15:30:00.011-05:00

I have some exciting news to share with my blog readers ... Knitstyle's Goldfish Cloth Play Blocks are featured in Babble Magazine Holiday Gift Guide 2008!!! How exciting is that?! I was contacted by an Etsy Admin last month and was told that Babble Magazine would like to "potentially" feature one of my items in their online Holiday Gift Guide for 2008. If I was interested I had to send a set of blocks to Babble for review. If they were selected my blocks would be used for a giveaway and I would not get them back. I quickly made the blocks and shipped them to the Editors of Babble Magazine in hopes that they would select my handmade products to be featured in their Holiday Gift Guide. It was so hard not to mention anything about it to anyone, but I am a bit superstitious so I didn't say a word.
A few days ago I received an email from Babble notifying me that my product has been featured in Babble Holiday Gift Guide ... I clicked the link and sure enough they were there under the baby section ... right between a pair of Robeez shoes and a large stuffed toy from Babystyle. Wow!

Have a look for yourself, sign up to be entered into the giveaway and be sure to check out the other categories for more great Holiday Gifts!

Babble is a new kind of parenting magazine, one that talks to parents not just as caregivers, but as fun, smart, intellectually curious people.

2008-11-18T12:15:00.006-05:00

The EtsyBABY Blog giveaway begins on Tuesday, November 18th and we will be "giving away" items donated by members of the EtsyBABY TEAM over the next few weeks.

The way our giveaway will work: On the EtsyBABY Blog, we will be featuring various items over the next few weeks and you, the etsybaby blog readers, will be given a chance to enter each giveaway for an opportunity to win a FREE gift. You can enter as many giveaways as you'd like, but you can only enter each one ONCE! All winners will be selected at random and posted on the blog. Once the winner's name is posted, you will have 72 hours to claim your prize.

Giveaways will begin on Tuesdays and Thursdays in the morning and they will be open for 7 days; closing the following Monday or Wednesday at midnight EST. A winner will be chosen at random within 24 hours.

How can you enter the giveaway?
1. Go to the EtsyBABY Blog
2. Go to the giveaway you'd like to enter
3. Follow the link and visit the sponsor's shop(s)
4. Go back to the giveaway and leave a comment about something in that shop you like. Please, only leave ONE comment for each giveaway
5. Please leave your first name with a valid email address so that you can be contacted if you are a winner.

Help spread the word by posting about the giveaway on your blog or at twitter!

Please note: All giveaways are NOT open to everyone. Each giveaway will state USA RESIDENTS ONLY or USA/CANADA ONLY if that is the case.

***Also, current EtsyBABY Team Members can post comments but they are ineligible for the contest and their name will not be included in the random drawings.

Here's a list of participating sponsors (in no particular order)

1.Modestmilk 2.Alphabulous 3.Seraphinarose 4.Knitstyle 5.Goldtonedesigns 6.Babycheeks 7.Beadedsocks 8.Kraftyladykreations 9.Scandeez 10.Kitschycookids 11.Tutucuteandmoore 12.Zenbebe 13.Candysticklane 14.Luluswoobies 15. Littlebirdcreations 16.Thepatacakebaby 17.Boogaboobabies 18. Obabygear 19.Radcover 20.DaisyCreek 21.Mommysmonkey 22.Starbugaloo

Etsy Front Page

2008-11-14T19:47:00.000-05:00

How exciting is it when you turn on your computer, go to Etsy.com and see your handmade product on the FRONT PAGE?! Knitstyle has made it on the front page of Etsy twice in the last month and I missed it both times! I was fortunate enough to have some friends watching out for me and they captured the whole thing for me. Here's Knitstyle on the Front Page of Etsy!

2008-11-07T07:34:00.004-05:00

EtsyBABY is kicking off the holiday season on Friday, November 7th with their 2nd Annual Holiday Hunt Promotion!

Candee Cayne, EtsyBABY's Holiday Helper, loves to play Hide 'N Seek! EtsyBABY needs YOUR help to find where Candee Cayne has hidden! We need her back in the EtsyBABY nursery by November 30th, to help EtsyBABY members prepare for all of the holiday goodies that are purchased! She has hidden in multiple EtsyBABY Member shops and the shop owners are generously offering rewards!

At Knitstyle by MMC, you'll receive a FREE small cloth play block by purchasing a listing where you see the Candee Cayne graphic.
Knitstyle by MMC

For more particpating shops, please follow this link:
ShopEtsyBaby Holiday Hunt
(don't forget to check out page 2!)

2008-10-20T22:32:00.006-04:00

Friday October 24 and Saturday October 25th be a part of a massive Etsy Street Team event. With over 175 EtsyKids’ shops participating you’ll be sure to find huge deals on what you need this holiday season for children big and small.
Get your shopping list ready today and beat the crowd by previewing the entire list of EtsyKids shops taking part in this colossal event:

EtsyKids BOGO Sale

Knitstyle by MMC will be offering FREE upgrade of BAMBOO Fiberfill for all orders of Cloth Play Blocks. Please include "FREE BAMBOO" in notes to seller at checkout.

Happy Birthday EtsyBABY!!!

2008-10-05T08:17:00.003-04:00

EtsyBABY© is turning 1 and it's time to celebrate!!!

Team Members are celebrating with discounts, free shipping and free baby goodies starting October 1st through October 10th 2008. Come help us celebrate and have a look to see what great discounts we have to offer!
KNITSTYLE is offering FREE SHIPPING on ALL Polka Dot Blocks and Burp Cloths.

Visit our participating member's shops @
EtsyBABY© Birthday Bash

Martha's Vineyard Baby Toy Collection

2008-09-14T09:20:00.003-04:00

I'd like to introduce a Special Edition to my Etsy Shop. Earlier this year I came across this very special fabric with printed scenes from the island of Martha's Vineyard (where I live). At the time, I was picking out fabric for a sewing class I was about to take and wanted to make something for my cousin who was going to have a baby a few months later. She grew up on the Vineyard but now resides on the west coast so I thought this Martha's Vineyard fabric would be perfect for her new little one soon to arrive.

The class was called "Quilt In A Day" and was set for the entire day. I was a beginner so I had a lot of help from the shop owner/instructor in order to finish my first quilting project (a baby quilt). This is the quilt I made that day and later shipped off to my cousin with some cute embellished burp cloths made from the same fabric. I also included a wonderful Zadyball from one of my friends at EtsyBABY!

A few months later I went back to buy some more of this fabric and started making cloth play blocks. They are unique and specialized so I wasn't sure how they would sell. Each block has 4 out of 6 different scenes from Martha's Vineyard; Islander Ferry Boat, West Chop Lighthouse, Edgartown Lightouse, Man Fishing, Oak Bluffs Gazebo/fireworks, West Tisbury Grange Hall/Farmers Market. I was thrilled after the first one sold! I sold a few more and had a few request for friends and family over the summer. Just recently, I finally made a trip back to the fabric store to buy more of this fabric and that is when I learned it had been DISCONTINUED! I was able to buy a small amount of the blue and some green so now I have a very limited supply! I'm having a hard time deciding whether I should just keep the fabric for myself or start cutting it up to make more toys for my shop.
Currently I am offering the medium sized cloth play block in blue, red or green. The block can be purchased individually or with a set of 3 toys that each make a noise- one squeaks, one jingles and one crinkles.
The fabric is from Susan Branch's Martha's Vineyard Watercolor Collection

Baby Toys with BAMBOO Fiberfill

2008-07-18T18:23:00.015-04:00

Hello! My BAMBOO Fiberfill is here! You now have the option of having soft baby toys (cloth play blocks and knit bears) from my shop filled with Bamboo Fiberfill. What is Bamboo Fiberfill? Bamboo Fiberfill has a unique soft and silky texture, is Earth-friendly and made with renewable resources. The Bamboo plant is the fastest growing timber plant and requires no fertilizers to grow. It thrives naturally without using pesticides to grow. The Bamboo fiber is eco-friendly, naturally antibacterial, anti fungal and has great mildew resistance. At Knitstyle by MMC you can add bamboo fiberfill to your order of cloth play blocks or a knit bear!

My niece Sydney loves to play with her cloth play blocks! Sydney is wearing a super cute "Here Kitty Kitty" onesie from Oliverlane.

Welcoming A Friend to Etsy - Jessica Pisano

2008-06-14T08:25:00.006-04:00

Another long break since my last post and I only have a few minutes before heading out to watch my nephew's final soccer game for the Spring season.
Another close friend of mine, Jessica Pisano, recently joined the Etsy community. She is an established artist and always amazes me with the new work she introduces each year. Jessica starts her work with a black & white photo that she took and prints it on archival acid-free cotton rag paper. She paints the surface with a variety of mixed media and finishes it off with a coat of UV protective varnish. She then mounts her work on either antique tin panels, custom wood frames, birch wood panels or matte and framed. Jessica is also the founder and director of the Belushi Pisano Gallery on Martha's Vineyard. You can find out more information about Jessica and her work at jessicapisano.com or visit her blog. Here are a few examples or her work that can be found on Etsy:

Etsy: Your place to buy & sell all things handmade

jessicapisano.etsy.com

Happy Mother's Day!

2008-05-04T21:00:00.006-04:00

I've been back home for about 2 weeks and have been finding it hard to get back into the swing of things with my knitting and sewing. For the first part of April I was traveling around Arizona and California. I was in Sedona, Arizona for vacation and it is so beautiful there! We really enjoyed the trip; from the Pink Jeep Tours, Horseback Riding, Grand Caynon trip and most of all just getting away from home! Now, it has been over a month since my last post!

Mother's Day is next weekend and although my mom is no longer with us I'd like to share a few of my Etsy favorites for this Mother's Day. I'm sure my mom would have enjoyed these too!

(Mother's Day card from Moderncard)

(Fabric Coaster by Starfishbarbados)

(Heart bowl from JDWolfePottery)

(Knitting Needle Organizer from Sarahkincheloe)

(I LOVE YOU ceramic bowl by Palomasnest)

1-YEAR ETSY ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION

2008-03-27T09:00:00.007-04:00

♥ ♥ ♥ KNITSTYLE'S 1 year Etsy Anniversary Celebration ♥ ♥ ♥

I joined the Etsy community 1 year ago on March 30th. Help me celebrate with these great offers!

*FREE SHIPPING (USA & CANADA, First Class Mail) through March 31st!

*Purchase an item where you see the SUNFLOWER graphic and you'll receive a FREE gift!

*SUNDAY, 3/30: All purchases will received a FREE set of mini lavender sachets. Please include ANNIVERSARY in note to seller

POLKA DOTS Cloth Play Blocks

2008-03-20T21:23:00.014-04:00

I finished the third set of blocks to complete my order and have also added them to my Etsy shop. I am also offering the polka dot blocks in a set of 3 or 4 all sized small.
I love these polka dots! I can make them in my standard sets as shown or in custom sizes. Here they are!

Cloth Play Blocks

2008-03-12T20:57:00.041-04:00

Hello all! I have recently introduced a new product to my Etsy shop. These cloth play blocks come in a variety of fabrics, patterns, colors and sizes and are lots of fun for baby to play with. Since joining the Etsy I have seen some absolutely beautiful fabrics and some amazing items made with these fabrics. I decided I wanted to pull out my mom's old Singer Featherweight sewing machine and learn to sew again. It is a very simple machine but I absolutely love it and it is perfect for me! I made my first play block for my adorable niece Sydney, who is now 4 months old. She instantly loved her block and I knew I had to make more! The SYDNEY block is constructed using Heather Bailey fabric - you can find them posted in my shop, Knitstyle by MMC. I soon had my first custom order to make a set of 3 blocks sizes small, medium and large in Heather Bailey fabric. Lucky for me, my buyer is a professional photographer and she took amazing photos of the blocks she ordered (click the photo at the top of this post for more photos). You can also view her work here: heatherwagnerphotography
I am currently working on another custom order of 3 orders of the set of 3 block (small, medium, large). I have finished 2 of these sets and am so happy with the way they came out. I currently have 1 final block to construct before completing the order and can't wait to share this set with you too! These blocks will be going to a great Etsy Buyer who has been a pleasure to work with.
Here are my standard sizes:

Small: 3"x3"
Medium: 4-1/2"x4-1/2"
Large: 6-1/2"x6-1/2"

I am happy to do custom orders so please feel free to contact me with your interest!

Etsy Baby Shower Donation

2008-02-16T10:00:00.010-05:00

Every few months June from Ficklefaerie holds a Baby Shower for the expecting moms from various Etsy shops. I particiapted in the one held in the Fall of 2007 and just recently donated to 2 moms for the most recent baby shower. Etsy is a great community and most everyone is always very friendly. June works very hard to make sure all the expecting moms (or those who have recently had a baby) are matched with a shop who is willing to donate a gift. Since I volunteered to donate to 2 shops, I was contacted by Enthral and Polishedappearances to let me know that we were matched. Here are the gift sets I sent them:
Enthral - 1 pair of "Cinnamon Stick" baby bootees, 2 baby LOVE embellished burp cloths and 2 lavender shachets.
Polishedappearances - 1 pair of chocolate brown SNUGGS, 1 embellished burp cloth and 2 lavender sachets.
You can view other photos Etsy Baby Shower Gift Donations on the Etsy Baby Shower Flickr Site.

Hand Knit Mohair Poncho

2008-02-04T18:44:00.001-05:00

Ponchos are great any time of year and so comfortable to wear. They can either look elegant or casual. I love to wear mine to dress up a pair of jeans.
I hand knit my first poncho a few years ago using black mohair yarn from Suss Design. The yarn is so soft I love wearing it. I've had so many compliments on it and I just love to tell people that I made it! I recently finished a second one using the same mohair yarn from Suss Design but in soft muted colors of cameo pink, pebble brown and natural to create the striped Neopolitan look.
The first poncho, my black one, was knit using large needles- size 15. I decided for the striped one I wanted a closer knit so I used size 13 needles for this one. I am very happy with the way it came out but, what was I thinking? Thisone took forever to finish!!! I decided to add it to my Etsy shop and see if I would have any interested buyers. This poncho can be worn in 2 different ways - either off the shoulder as shown in the photos or with a V-neck in front.
This poncho is very simple to create. You knit a rectangle that is 32 inches x 56 inches and fold it in half. Then stitch together the top side, leaving an opening for the head.

Have a look inside my Etsy shop, Knitstyle, for more hand knit creations!

EtsyBABY TEAM Valentine's Day Promotion

2008-01-20T07:53:00.001-05:00

The EtsyBaby Street Team is having a Valentine’s Day Promotion Starting Sunday, January, 20th through Friday, February 29th

Please help find BOW-BEAR for cupid!

"Cupid needs your help to find his bow & arrow! Bow-Bear has been wondering around looking through all the EtsyBABY shops trying to help cupid find special things for those special someones, but now he's lost!!!! Cupid is offering a reward and has been posting pictures of his bow & arrow in the EtsyBABY shops. When you purchase the item where Bow's picture is found, you'll receive your cupids reward."

Knitstyle: FREE Felt Trio of Hearts OR Lavender Sachets made with Heather Bailey fabric

For a list of participating members -CLICK HERE!

Suede Knit Baby Bootees

2007-12-19T08:52:00.001-05:00

Hand knit baby SNUGGS - Knitstyle's version of the popular UGG Boots.

SNUGGS are knit in Suede yarn that is 100% Nylon. It may not be real suede but it looks and feels exactly like the softest suede. Then they are finished off by knitting the softest plush yarn that is used to line the entire inside of the bootees. The special baby in your life with love these furry-trimmed suede bootees. They will keep baby's feet warm - a must have for the winter!

Material: Suede 100% nylon, Plush 100% nylon (White).

Sizes:
Newborn - 3 months
3 months - 9 months

Special Edition Baby Booties

2007-12-04T21:28:00.000-05:00

I like to see happy customers and 4-month old Eloise loves her new Candy Cane Striped Baby Booties ...

(Click on image to see larger version-
Photos taken by Eloise's mom Susana)

Here are my SPECIAL EDITION Holiday Baby Booties - Candy Cane Striped, Holiday and Santa Baby!

EtsyBABY Kris-Mouse Holiday Hunt Promotion

2007-11-15T08:15:00.000-05:00

The EtsyBaby Street Team is having a Holiday Promotion Starting Saturday, November 17th through Wednesday, December 12th

there's a mouse in the house...that's right Santa's helper kris-mouse is making his way through the EtsyBABY shops listed below. Kris wants to help you find special gifts and great deals for those sweet babies On your list.

You'll find kris hanging out on at least one item in each of shops listed. If you buy an item Where kris's picture shows up you'll receive a free gift with your purchase.

(you'll know kris as soon as you see him)

Prizes vary from shop to shop so be sure to look at as many shops as possible.
See shop announcement's for prize details.
Remember this Christmas Season shop where kris-mouse shops...EtsyBABY!!!

For a list of participating members go here: Kris-Mouse

Baby Girl (my newest niece)

2007-10-30T21:05:00.000-04:00

Sydney Priscilla
born October 29, 2007 at 5:23 p.m.
7 lbs, 15 oz - 21 inches long

1-day Old

3 hrs Old

With big brother Will

South End Open Market, Boston

2007-10-23T18:09:00.000-04:00

This past Sunday I shared a booth with a fellow Etsy shop, Moderncard, at the South End Open Market in Boston. It was my first show and I had a great experience. A lot of work went into the preparations for it especially since I decided to make my own sign. I thought it would be a great idea to make it look like the tags on my items. With that in mind I began the design stage and searched around for some supplies. The first step was picking a size and getting the materials. I designed the shape myself using a 3D modeling software program I use for work. I generated the file and sent it to the shop to be cut on a special machine. I was so happy when it came back! Next was the paint process.
I do not have a lot of experience with painting so I had a lot help with this stage. We painted 2 coats of primer over the entire sign, then 2 coats of the pink center and off-white edge. Once those were dry, the brown ring was added and then the lettering. In the end, I didn't have enough time to add the "B Y MMC" so I printed it out and stuck it on!

Sunday turned out to be a beautiful October day and we had lots of visitors to our tent. Here are some photos I took-

The Priscilla Scarf

2007-10-16T20:46:00.000-04:00

I am so happy to introduce this new scarf collection to my shop. The Priscilla Scarf is a gorgeous combination of 3 different yarns wound together and then hand knit in a garter stitch using #17 needles. The yarns are from Ironstone Yarns and features Eyelash, Felicia and Paris Nights all wound together. Yarn materials are a cotton boucle, a metallic, and the eyelash. My mom, Priscilla, introduced me to this yarn combination a few years ago and every time I knit a scarf using these yarns I think of her.

VERMONT

2007-10-03T21:06:00.000-04:00

Vermont in the Autumn is always so beautiful-

Looking across Lake Champlain to the Adirondack Mountains in New York

I drove up to Vermont last weekend to visit my old college town and some friends who are still living there. Although the weather was not the most clear (until the day we left) it was still a great trip. Just driving around campus and Burlington brought back so many good memories.

Early morning hike at Camels Hump was an adventure and unfortunately it was so foggy we didn't have the amazing views we had hoped for. I also had hoped to meet my old roommate's newest baby while visiting but that didn't happen either! She was expecting her second child last week and delivered a healthy baby girl today. I can't wait to meet Olivia!

Custom Order

2007-09-15T22:26:00.000-04:00

My first custom order was for 2 sets of potholders in red and green holiday colors. The buyer contacted me in August in regards to making these potholders to go along with some scones she will be baking to give out at Christmas time. I was so excited but it was so hard to think about Christmas in August! I picked out these great colors in 100% cotton from Suss Designs cotton collection. When the yarn arrived they colors just looked awesome. I knit my 6 potholders, 2 sets of 3 and off in the mail they went. My buyer loved them when they arrived and I hope that her gifts are well received come Christmas.

Tagged!

2007-08-21T12:45:00.000-04:00

Becky from Beckykay Designs tagged me on Monday. Here are the rules:
1. You have to post these rules before you give the facts. 2. Players, you must list one fact that is somehow relevant to your life for each letter of their middle name. If you don't have a middle name, use the middle name you would have liked to have had. 3. At the end of your blog-post, you need to choose one person for each letter of your middle name to tag.
Ok, I have 8 letters in my middle name and 3 L's so bare with me! It's not a common name and often don't like to tell people what it is. My mother gave us all our first names and my dad picked the middle names so I got his mother's maiden name.

M: Martha's Vineyard- where I was born and currently live.
C: Cook- I love to cook and enjoy finding new and interesting recipes to try.
L: Loving- I'm a very loving and caring person. I care A LOT about my family and friends.
E: Engineer- I'm a Mechanical Engineer and get to design cool things that go in the ocean.
L: Level-headed- I'm very practical (most of the time) and my family and friends know they can count on me for anything.
L: Lunch- favorite place for lunch Pie In the Sky.
A: Auntie for 8 kiddos- 4 nieces & 4 nephews with one more on the way.
N: New England Patriots- favorite professional footbal team ... GO PATS!

This is who I tagged:
Moderncard, Saras Texture Crafts ,AMK Stitches, Peachtreeknitter, Pink Sunrise, Paper and Paste, Georganne, Seasidequilts

Baby Shower Time

2007-08-16T08:54:00.000-04:00

I am hosting a baby shower for my sister this coming weekend. Her first child was a boy, Will, who decided to enter this world 3 months early! He is now 4 years old and expecting a little sister in October. Since Will arrived early, we didn't have time to do a baby shower so I organized one this time around. I can't wait to show off some of the great ETSY products My first purcahse was this great baby onesie card set from Moderncard. Jess at moderncard is a pleasure to work with. She is super friendly, makes fabulous cards and is willing to do custom orders. My second purchase was from Rikrak, where I found the beautiful vintage quilted bibs. Again, very friendly service from rikrak. Another purchase I made was a 3-pack of baby onesies from Lemonsandlollis. I picked out this cupcake one to give to my sister. Corina was so sweet & friendly and even posted my shop on her blog. I bought a set of washcloth lollipops from Jkalea for a decorative display at the baby shower and then plan to give them to my sister and other expecting moms that will be there.

ETSY truly has some amazing products and everyday I find new sellers and new products I just love.

Sprout Bear

2007-07-29T21:30:00.000-04:00

Sprout Bear is so soft and cuddly!
I really enjoy knitting these bears, especially since the yarn is just so soft. When I saw this green yarn I couldn't resist buying it and thought it would be perfect to knit a bear with it and name it Sprout - named for the baby girl my sister is expecting in October 2007. I have knit a few other bears, all named after some of my nieces and nephews. The bears are stuffed with non-allergenic Poly-Fil and have a ribbon tied in a bow around the neck.

Measurements: 11 1/2” tall

Variegated Throw Rugs

2007-06-20T22:01:00.001-04:00

These hand knit throw rugs were knit in a 100% cotton yarn. Knit in a simple garter stitch with 2 strands of cotton yarn held together for extra thickness. Rugs are shown in variegated color combinations of ecru, lime green and purple; and ecru, orange and purple. The pattern came from Suss Cousins Hollywood Knits Style book. This book was given to me as a birthday gift from a friend. In return for this wonderful gift, I made the ecru, green and purple rug for her birthday. I have found many great patterns from this book as well as interesting yarns from her online yarn store. Recently, I finished my second rug shown in the color combination of ecru, orange and purple and now have it posted in my Etsy shop. These throw rugs are a great addition to any room!

Cabana Beach Tote

2007-06-10T10:36:00.000-04:00

I had so much fun making this tote and absolutely love the way it came out. I took strips of a yellow floral fabric and knit them together in a stockinette stitch. These knit strips are what make up the outside of the bag and give it a very unique texture. The striped fabric make up the base, top edge, handles, inner lining and inside pocket. It's the perfect size for your everyday needs!

Hand Knit Bears and Baby Things

2007-06-10T09:48:00.000-04:00

For my sister and my friends that are having babies this year!

My bears are named after my nieces and nephews-
Colleen and Grace playing in the backyard.
Andrew, Will, and Grace at the baseball park.