Baby Yoda and Cranberry Banana Bread

I found this Baby Yoda pattern on line - free! I absolutely couldn't resist knitting it. The size shown is for a 9-month old. I did alter the pattern a bit. Here's how I made my hat:
(for an 18" circumference baby head): Double strand of yarn (I chose Peace Fleece Shaba Green with a Cascade 220 heather green #8505), and knitting on a set of US 9 double pointed needles (no seam) cast 15 sts onto each of 3 needles =  45 sts. (Gauge is 3 sts to 1"). Knit 24 rows around, or until desired length, this came to about 5" for me. Note: there's no cuff, it just curls nicely. Start deceasing in Row 25: Knit 7, k2tog, repeat around the row. Next row decrease (k2tog) whenever you get to the decrease of the previous row. When you get down to about 6 sts (I can't remember exactly) loop your yarn through the stitches and pull tight, then secure ends inside the hat. Ears: KNIT TIGHTLY so they have minimal flop factor, and leave several inches of yarn on the end for attaching to hat when done. Cast 12 sts. onto one of your US 9 double pointed needles (using a double strand of yarn), knit for 3 rows (garter stitch).
Row 4: K6, K1F&B, K5 = 13 sts.
Row 5: K6, K1F&B, K6 = 14 sts.
Row 6: K7, K1F&B, K6 = 15 sts.
Rows 7 thru 13: knit (garter st.)
Row 14: K1, K2tog, knit to the end of the row.
Row 15: Knit.
Repeat Rows 14 & 15 until you have just 2 sts, knit these 2 together and pull the yarn tight. Thread the yarn ends along inside the bottom edge of the stitches, leave a good length to sew the ear onto the hat.
Make a second ear just like the first.
Sew the ears on securely making sure to curve the top edge around towards the front of the hat - very Yoda-like! This is the blog where I found the original pattern: shinahchang.com/blog   3/2014

This is what the ear looks like before curling the top edge inwards.
Happy Knitting!

Almost forgot, I just discovered how wonderful cranberries are! I've been experimenting and they are divine in banana bread! They keep for the longest time. I've had some in my fridge since Thanksgiving (leftovers from the stuffing) and they are just now making their way into other baked goods. A great discovery, life is so full of possibilities! 

Sheepscot General 9th Annual Holiday Bazaar

Announcement: I'll be in two holiday shows: Sheepscot General's 9th Annual Holiday Bazaar on December 6th, 5:00 - 8:00pm.  At this event I'll have my art prints, cards, mittens and painted rocks.

Here's a new pair of mittens, sort of a medley of lilac, purple, periwinkle. These are a women's small medium, and they will be available at the Sheepscot Bazaar.

The second show is the North Yarmouth Academy Holiday Craft Fair - December 7th, 9:00 - 3:00pm.

At this fair I will have all my work listed above, and additionally my needle felted animals.

Hand Painted Beach Stones

Longfellow's Greenhouses Autumn Craft Show

 Here are my latest mittens - all ready for the Autumn Craft Show at Longfellow's Greenhouses.

 

I have 46 pairs of mittens for sale. As this is a craft show, I will also have my needle felted animals, greeting cards, and a 'new product' - hand-painted beach stones.

My summer camping trip is rapidly becoming fond memories - especially now that we are once again lighting the woodstove and waking up to temperatures below freezing. Ah, 'wintah' is indeed coming - no wonder I love mittens! Here are some photo collages from our camping trip to the Canadian Maritimes.

This last group is from Cobscook State Park in Washingotn County, Maine.
I'm looking forward to our next adventure.

Camping, Knitting, Painting, Canoeing

Tomorrow I head out for a few weeks of camping, canoeing, knitting, and painting in the Canadian Maritimes. While my knitting inventory is already in good shape for fall craft shows, I'll be knitting some additional chicken mittens on this trip.

Oh, I do love the flowers of August! Pictured here is a bouquet from a very good friend. I receive an arrangement every August from this amazing organic gardener. Happy August!

15 Years Teaching Art...

After 15 years teaching Visuals Arts in rural Maine, it's time to change pace, create more time to create. It's taken this spring season for me to resign from my teaching position, wrap up this phase of my professional career, and find a perfect new position. I have been very fortunate to find my new job at the same elementary school. Starting this month, I can be found in the Learning Commons. A Learning Commons is a relatively new concept for library, emphasizing an interactive, multi-purpose, technology integrated environment where students creatively research, investigate, build (3-D printers), read, and generally explore information. I will be helping my students in a variety of capacities and generally working a lot less hours than I did as a Visual Arts Teacher-Ninja. (insert my favorite emoji: the girl doing a cartwheel). I'm feeling enormously grateful heading off in this new direction - and more frequently into my studio. (cartwheel girl)

Summer has brought experimenting in my studio - painting on stones! This is something I did many years ago with one of my sisters selling the finished stones in a little wagon on Fire Island in New York where we spent that summer. We did a brisk business! Back then I had a signature bird that I painted over and over again on lovely sun-bleached smooth round white stones. Today I'm letting the stones sort of speak to me and tell me what they want to become. It's enormously fun, sort of like releasing the creature from within.
Happy Summer!

Snow Day #6

I just loaded my Luna Moth and Red Geranium fine art print and greeting cards in my Etsy shop. This is a lovely and vibrant botanical illustration. The cards are a smooth heavyweight stock and blank inside - good for all occasions. Enjoy! https://www.etsy.com/shop/GenevieveKeller

Today I also knitted this little chipmunk a sweater and hat as a Valentine's Day surprise for the students at school. Tomorrow is Valentine's Day... they are going to love this little character!

New Painting

Here's a painting that's close to being finished. I'm thinking that it will make a nice greeting card in addition to being a fine art print. Happy January!