Catholic Family Vignettes

Ahh...Temptations!

The ultimate knitting and yarn emporium!

Saturday afternoon my dear friend, Sandra, presented me with yet another lovely birthday gift...an afternoon of Tea and Temptations. Both Teh Ku Tea House and Temptations are nestled in cozy Dublin, Ohio and share the same parking lot.

Temptations is a delightful yarn shop that caters to knitters and crocheters. The fiber selection is excellent, with plenty of browsing room and delightfully displayed products and projects to "tempt" even the novice. Knowledgeable and helpful staff, a restful atmosphere, plenty of table and chairs encourage a thorough perusal of patterns and fiber. Temptations offers a variety of classes, but also invites the fiber artist to just "sit and knit." We spent nearly two hours in this delightful shop. I finally settled upon a lovely sock yarn in an intense brick orange shade, while Sandra picked up a few deliciously soft skeins of Baby Cashmerino.

Here are a few photos:











While the yarn was being rolled into balls, we stepped across the parking lot to Teh Ku Tea House. A relaxing contemporary interior, outstanding selection of tea and helpful staff made for a pleasurable afternoon of sipping tea and tatting. The lunch menu offered several sandwiches and salads, all prepared to order. The Tiramisu Blend was quite lovely and the grilled roast beef sandwich with horseradish was outstanding. Staff and management were extremely cheerful and solicitous of our needs, going so far as to offer to wipe the table while we were engaging in our needlework, so as not to stain it.

The afternoon ended too soon, of course, but two very grateful wives returned to husbands who had managed the children for several hours...giving us the best gift ever. The time together was precious, and as both of us have several children at home, those times are rare.

If you happen to be in the Columbus area, stop by Dublin. Tea and Temptations await you...don't miss it! Read more!

I love cold weather. Seriously. Snowy, drizzly, frosty and frigid. I tend to be "craftier" during the cold weather months. Knitting especially suits me at this time...cuddly balls of yarn, fluffy garments cascading from working needles and endless inspiration!

Knitting for others is such a pleasure...thoughts and prayers are worked into each item, no matter how small. Each item is as unique as its soon-to-be owner. I tend to "knit on the fly," altering the pattern to suit my knitting style or the recipient's taste.

What's in the workbasket, now?

Working on a pair of fingerless gloves in alpaca.



The boys attended an alpaca fiber show with our dear friend, Mr. Tom Ryan. They were quite taken by the sweet creatures and brought home the delicious, heathery gray yarn that is on the needles.

Two lovely capelets for my sweet granddaughters. My two youngest daughters received these same capelets for Easter and wear them constantly...real princess capes, they call them!


Crowns! I love this pattern. I made eight of these last year. Super quick to knit and definitely a one-of-a-kind stocking stuffer. I stitch on rhinestone buttons and pearls, and knit flat rather than in the round. Much easier to adjust the size, should it stretch.


My favorite hat "recipe." I've knit at least six of these. Very flattering and a quick knit.


Mittens. Mittens, mittens, mittens. My "little kittens" are always losing their mittens...

These weekend the girls and I will finish our St. Lucy Crowns and dolls (patterned after these).
The boys will be searching the woods for greenery for the Advent wreath and to deck the mantle. What fun!

Are you crafting yet? What's in your basket? I'd love to know! Read more!

Feeling like a rank amateur, I've have taken up the needles again. Though I am working on an extremely simple creation of my own design (knitting on the "fly" as I like to call it), my previously speedy knitting has become somewhat slow and clumsy. To be expected, I imagine, after a 6 month hiatus.

Knitting has been increasingly difficult, over the past two years. The problem: I knit too much! If I were a creature of moderation, I would never have knit to the point of injury.

Alas...obsession knows no bounds. The advent of the change in seasons and several lovely skeins of "Italia - Umbria", reminiscent of a pumpkin patch in fall, has fired the fan of creativity. Must...knit....must...knit!!

My oldest daughter is expecting my 4th granddaughter in a couple weeks. The fingers are a little too rusty, right now, to attempt the delicate pieces that I wish to present to little Anastasia.

So, I'll keep "knitting away" (with moderation, of course!)in hopes that my previous proficiency will return. Read more!

I am an avid knitter constantly searching for new and unusual patterns and fibers. Here is an interesting link for fans of the Lord of the Rings. Make your own elven cloak! Extremely cool, but also extremely pricey and rare fiber. Take a look at Stansborough Farms. Read more!