Victoria Day?

Why do we have a long weekend in May? Why do we call it Victoria "Day" weekend? History/ tradition or are we celebrating "Spring"? Spring? Really?? as parts of Alberta had snow over the past weekend.

Are you aware we are the ONLY country to celebrate Queen Victoria with an official holiday? Did you know Queen Victoria was the first monarch for the Confederation of Canada. Her birthday was May 24. Canadians have celebrated her birthday since 1845. Victoria Day was officially declared a statutory holiday in 1901, recognizing her as the "Mother of Confederation". 

Federal government protocol dictates that, on Victoria Day, the Royal Union Flag is to be flown from sunrise to sunset at all federal government buildings—including airports, military bases, and other Crown owned property across the country—where physical arrangements allow (i.e. where a second flag pole exists, as the Royal Union Flag can never displace the national flag), quoted from the Alberta Archives, Alberta General Holidays, Government of Alberta Human Services, 2012. 

How interesting! Canadians as one of the youngest nations, we have a long history of affiliation with the monarchy. 

In addition to saluting the then Queen Victoria, celebrations have included parades, full sunset gun salutes, athletic competitions, picnics, "displays of illuminations" (now known as fireworks). 

Some of the events which happened locally include : 

 - Mirror, one community I know of, celebrated with Mirror Days, including a parade and Show 'n Shine

 - Provincial campgrounds were open for the first long weekend of the season

 - Summer Village of Gull Lake had a Pancake Breakfast on Sunday

 - Lincoln Hall had their annual Steak Dinner fundraiser

 - and Ellis Bird Farm officially opened several of their feature attractions over the weekend!!

From a gardeners' manual - plant your garden and annuals on or after the May long weekend. It was a bit cool on Saturday, but Sunday was a better day for planting. 

Tourist season has started, we had our first 2019 tour of Red Hat Ladies in this past weekend -the first group this year that I am aware of. 

As knitting, crochet, woodworking and other creative crafts are often considered historical, older skills - The Crafty Lady decided to feature an old favourite this week for the 75% off sale. 

Sirdar

Snuggly DK

164m/50g55% Nylon/ 45% Acrylic
Reg. $6.50

75% Off

$1.63

This yarn would be great to help finish up some of those projects you did not quite have enough of, or the right colour. We have enough to do smaller projects at this price - it is a great sale!!

Posted by Anne, happy, happy crafter - who is slowly getting projects finished and may get the garden in next week. 

'Round and 'Round and 'Round She Goes...

"...and where she stops, nobody knows!"

That phrase originated with 'wheels of fortune' and similar games of chance, but it can also apply to a merry-go-round, or a 'round-about' (not the traffic kind!) or a carousel.   I don't know about you, but this invention, which apparently evolved from early Middle Ages jousting traditions (!), remains one of my very favourite rides at any amusement park or fair grounds.

Whenever we took the family to Heritage Park in Calgary, I insisted on a ride on the antique carousel, which had been moved there from its original home in Bowness Park.

Carousel, Heritage Park, Calgary
Photo credit: TripAdvisor

These wonderful creations are so colourful, with beautifully decorated horses and other animals, and music that is very distinctive -- usually played on an organ or caliope, or at least a recording thereof, setting the tone for an afternoon of fun and frolic in the sunshine.  I dare anyone to resist smiling when they listen:

I'm thinking it's not only the round shape, but also the colourful nature of this week's Super Special Sale yarn that gives it its name:

Carousel Chunky

King Cole Yarns

Colour-way seen here: #2775 - "Roller Coaster"!

70% Acrylic

30% Wool

Machine washable, hang or dry flat

200 grams = 316 metres (345 yards)

Regular Price: $20.00

Sale Price: $5.00

With a combination of solid and marled dye repeats, it makes for texture as well as colour, and works well for baby blankets, slippers, hats, scarves and wraps!  (The Crafty Lady has made a version of her well-known shrug with it, which you can see in the shop.  😊)

You could even make several of these items from one ball -- the perfect portable project for a road trip, a weekend camping or at the cottage, a sunny afternoon on the patio or -- while waiting in line for a ticket to ride on a carousel!

Do drop in this week to outfit yourself for that perfect Victoria Day long weekend project.

See you in the shop!

*Written by Margaret who can knit in cars, on buses, trains and planes...but has yet to try it on a merry-go-round!

It is Alberta!!

Saturday had been designated Highway Clean-Up Day across Alberta. Did you notice it snowed all Friday evening, all night and it was still snowing when I came to work last Saturday!! Needless to say, due to the condition of the ditches and icy roads - Highway Clean-up was postponed.

Now - be fair! I am not a "smoker" of anything! I do not know a great deal about the benefits/harm of smoking "weed" - so I am not taking sides!! I just thought this was funny!

It has been a while since I heard someone tell me - if you don't like the weather wait 10 minutes! Did Mother Nature get stuck on snow?

All across the prairies, we did not get enough snow over the winter. We seriously need the moisture, and for years we have been told not to plant our gardens before the May long-weekend. So why am I hearing my avid gardening friends complain - last year they had their garden in by this time last year? Are we trying to confuse Mother Nature or is it just our way of trying to control the uncontrollable?

I am hoping the moisture just keeps falling, as I am still trying to work on some winter projects and not being able to get into the garden (as it is too wet) just allows me to knitting and not feel I "should" be in the garden.

I found some beautiful merino to make a shawl and am still working on socks. I am really enjoying socks - finally. I have struggled for years and not found making socks satisfying. This year, for some reason they are turning out, they fit and are really comfortable. What a gift!! Total contrast - lace patterns and solid knit socks. Who is trying to confuse whom?

Speaking of spring - are you thinking of new projects for the cabin? Something quick, smallish, and fun to work with? I was thinking this week's feature yarn would be great for new covers for couch cushions - both indoor and out.

When I went looking for projects worked our 75% off sale yarn - I was really surprised! Every pattern was a sweater, hat, cowl, socks, scarf or touque! Not a pillow on Ravelry - in this yarn. I am hoping the pictures below will allow you to see the stitch definition - and the versatility of this yarn!

Cowl 

Scoodie = Hood w scarf

TWEED DELUXE

smc select

54% alpaca, 32% new wool, 14% polyamid

Hand Wash/Dry Clean

50 g./80 m

Reg. $9.00

   75% OFF
Sale $2.25

Posted by Anne, happy knitter - who is really appreciating the snow - when I have a leak in my rubber boots! Is a new pair on the horizon for Mother's Day? 

Shall We Dance?

Back in the early nineteen-nineties, the public school a few blocks from our home in Calgary was a "community school".  This meant that the city's Parks and Recreation programs were able to be offered in the school for community residents to enjoy.

Included in those classes was "Introduction to Ballroom Dance" -- and somehow I persuaded my husband that we should go.

We ended up taking at least two sessions of this class, as well as going to Friday night dances in order to practice what we'd learned -- fox trot, waltz, rhumba, cha-cha and two-step.

When the school stopped offering the classes, we sought out ones in other locations and commuted downtown for them focusing -- because it was a favourite -- on Latin dance.  This means that in addition to learning more advanced moves in the rhumba and cha-cha, we took up the samba and...TANGO!

The tango became my husband's favourite of all the Latin dances.  It's mainly a 'walking' dance, but because of the count of the tempo and the moves of the upper body as well as the legs, it is fairly tricky.  Also very romantic...and sexy!

When Scent of a Woman came out, this scene became a lovely memory...

Now...this week's Super Special yarn is named "Tango" -- after the dance, and after the wonderful music of composer Astor Piazzolla, whose music elevated it from the streets to the ballroom.

Why Ice Yarns named it that, I confess I have no idea.  Perhaps it's because a little lace can add a lot of flirty fun to the hem of a dress made for dancing...

So...if there's a tango in your future -- or a wedding dance, a prom, or just a fun night out on the town, perhaps adding a bit of lace to the edge of your gown or your shawl, or knitting up a frilly scarf to conceal a bit of -- ahem! -- decolletage...

We offer you

Ice Yarns

Tango

75 grams = 29 metres (32 yard)

100% Acrylic

Regular Price: $22.00

Sale Price: $5.50!

As for me...my last tango in Calgary was in 1996.  Later that year my husband, a man with Type 1 Diabetes, hurt his left foot.  Within a few years, he had no legs to stand on, let alone dance on.  So...it remains a sweet memory.

But someday we'll meet again, and we'll dance...

*Written by Margaret, who believes that she was born knowing how to knit -- and how to dance.

Easter, Passover, Celtic/pagans and Spring

Easter, Passover, Celtic/pagans and Spring           

I am NOT a theological student (someone who studies/has studied) religion over the centuries. From my very limited knowledge – all focus on new life, second chance, hope and a spirit of thanksgiving we have survived the winter.

“The Easter narrative draws us into Christ’s life, death & resurrection. He gives us ‐ individually and as a Community ‐ our identity, our life and our future.   This is a time for all of us to explore our journey of faith and for Community” quoted from Northumbria Community website.

There is green in the fields around Lacombe and Bentley, the ice is slowly receding off the lakes, many of the birds are starting to come back – and I saw a butterfly in my strawberries on Friday. I was just disappointed when my great-grandchildren were here on Saturday for Easter dinner the butterfly would not come out.

I had found two damaged bird nests. One fell out of a tree during a winter windstorm and the other was blowing in a ditch – so neither would be used this spring. I brought them home and we had a great time trying to speculate on what kind of birds might have created them.

When you step outside in the country, often you now can hear the birds calling as the build new houses for their mate.

People are starting plants in side, spring cleaning and freshening their homes – even spring cleaning the car! How radical after the winter collection of “things”.

I walk in the Summer Village of Gull Lake almost every day. I pick up garbage and the “gifts” dogs and people leave behind. As the snow has receded, on 1 walk – less than a half mile – I picked up after 5 different dogs (judging by color and size, several candy wrappers and 67 cigarette butts.

Please people, this is so damaging to our environment – please take all your butts home!

Back to spring and hope – as we clean our closets, please remember there are many places to donate items you will not be able to wear this summer. I know I am reducing the number of tops in my closet! Leggings and slacks have been purged over Lent, shoes are also on the list – my husband just staggered and had to sit down 😌

I have not worn several of my good heels lately as I have damaged my knee (a great excuse to be allowed to sit and knit) so the spikes and heels were the first to go. I was talking with friend over the weekend and her challenge was her purses – she has or had 47 purses. I don’t have enough storage room for 47 purses! If I did, could not have all of my yarn stash!! Each to our own stash

While cleaning and looking in hope, is it time to add a bit of sparkle to a room?

This week's 75% off special is definitely sparkle and fun, limited quantity and Not yarn. 

Beaded Tassel

Reg. $ 6.69

75% Off

$1.68

Posted by Anne, wishing everyone a Blessed Easter, Happy Passover and Hope for a new season

All Toned Up!

Do you live a colourful life?

By that, I mean, do you knit, crochet, embroider and/or quilt by following patterns exactly -- right down to the colours used?  Or do you take the pattern and run with it, colour-wise?

I confess I'm of the latter group.  I love to play with colour -- and use colours that make me feel good or that suit the person for whom I'm creating, regardless of what the pattern's designer originally used.

I wasn't always this way, though -- especially in my quilting life.  When I began as a quilter about 25 years ago, I bought pre-selected bundles of fabric -- where all the fabrics were co-ordinated -- or I bought and assembled kits.

Over the years, though, I studied some Colour Theory, and have learned a LOT!

Source: Color Wheel Artist

In addition to the primary hues (red, yellow and blue) and the neutrals (black, white and grey, which aren't hues), there are tints (hues with white added) and shades (hues with black added)...

And there are tones -- hues with grey added, as you see in the picture on the right.

Tones are popular because the grey that's been added to the original hue(s) reduces the intensity.  Just the right amount of grey creates a more complex colour that is also often considered more sophisticated than true, bright colours, which are often associated with children -- especially in the realm of clothes, toys and/or furnishings.

In the last few years, for both fabric and yarns, tones -- greyed colours -- have been offered up in layers of tints and shades, for what's referred to as a "tonal" effect.

And we have as this week's Super Special such a yarn, which will give you a fabric that is textured with tints and shades of a single colour.  It's chunky, so it's just right for hats, scarves, mittens, boot toppers or cowls, when you're in the mood for accessories that have subtle texture, and perhaps just a bit of sophistication.

King Cole

Big Value Tonal Chunky

100% Acrylic

100 grams = 152 metres (166 yards)

Regular price: $8.00

Sale Price: $2.00!!

Note how it knits up to show off the tints and shades of the tones of colour:

Pattern: Mountain Nights Slouch Hat
Designer: Kelly McClure
Free Ravelry Download

This crocheter created a wonderfully textured sweater with this yarn.

Pattern: Veronica Cardi
Designer: TLYarn Crafts
For sale on Ravelry

Time to tone up!

See you in the shop!

*Written by Margaret, who prefers toning with yarn to toning at the gym!  😉

Thanks - New 75% special

When the first 75% off sale is sold out on Monday, we offer a second option - store policy!

The Cozy Soft Chunky was such a great deal it has all been sold!!

Second chance for this week -

Kilt

by Katia

46% virgin wool, 46% acrylic, 8% polyamide

Machine wash

50g/60m 

Reg. $12.00

Sale

$3.00

Limited quantity!!


Teaser - On April 17, the Lacombe Kinsmen are hosting a Silent Auction, fundraising for the Lacombe Performing Arts Centre. Note: The Crafty Lady is a board member of the LPAC.

Our donation to the Silent Auction is this shawl - knit from KFI's Luxury Collection Albina - gorgeous colour changes, soft and comfortable to the touch, light and warm.

Please come out to support the Community Fundraising Event!!