My morning cup of coffee got all dressed up!
Sorry for the blurry pic — I took it before I had any coffee. 
My coffee cup is wearing a Coffee Cozee. My friend Aimee makes these and sells them in her etsy shop. Isn’t mine cute?
It’s adjustable, with an elastic loop and button, so it fits pretty much any size cup.
Aimee was with me in Florida this past weekend. Aimee is also my event planner and she very kindly drove down to Florida from North Carolina the night before I arrived so she could pick me up at the airport and drive me around for the weekend. (How’s that for a great friend?) She stayed at the hotel with me — we had adjoining rooms — and showed me a stack of these cute coffee cozees she had brought along to sew the buttons on. Because I was squeeing over all the cute fabrics, she very kindly gave me my favorite one — pink and white bunnies! Now I don’t have to use those paper sleeves for my coffee.
I had a lovely time at Sip n’ Knit this past weekend. If you are in the vicinity of Maitland Florida, you must stop by. The shop is located in a building that used to be a house, so there are several different rooms to explore. There is lots of lovely, lovely yarn there, and the room where we held classes was great — large enough for me to move comfortably around to help (and pester) all the students, and comfy and well-lit. And the shop is just so darn cute!
(Speaking of event planning, we’ll start scheduling events for 2010 in November. So if you want me to come to your shop to teach, you can contact her starting next month at the addy over in the left sidebar. )
Last week I received another great knitting book to review . . .
Haiku Knits
This is Haiku Knits: 25 Serenely Beautiful Patterns Inspired by Japanese Design by Tanya Alpert. It’s hardcover, 144 pages long, and will be released on October 20, 2009.
The title says it all — the patterns are all inspired by Japanese design. Here are a few of my favorites.
This is a lovely long scarf/stole knit from Louet Sales KidLin Lace:
This cute cropped jacket is knit from Blue Heron Rayon Metallic and Habu Textiles A-60 Linen Paper:
The pattern is available in two sizes — a small/medium and a medium/large.
This long sleeve pullover is my favorite in the book:
It’s knit from Habu Textiles A-60 Linen Paper and A-20 Stainless Steel Silk. The pattern is in 3 sizes.
There is beautiful photography all through the book:
See?
And there is a Haiku at the beginning of each of the 5 pattern sections.
Who’d like my review copy? It’s a lovely book and I am sorely tempted to keep it for myself, but it’s really not my style (I’m leaning more towards “Aging Hippie”) so I’ll pass it along to one of you.
Leave a comment on this blog post by Sunday October 18th at noon Eastern Time, and the Random Number Generator will select one of you to receive the book.
(Don’t know how to leave a comment? It you are on the main blog page, look at the end of this post to see a link that says “x Responses” and click on that to take you to the page for this post. At the bottom of this page there will be a form for you to fill out to leave a comment.)
I have done some knitting, but I’ll save that to talk about tomorrow!
“It’s good to have Momma home!”
I’m an aging (or aged) hippie too, but the patterns look neat!
I’m in love with that pullover!
And those coffee cozees are brilliant! Anything that saves paper makes me happy – but even happier when it’s cute and makes me giggle!
Hi. Please count me in for the knitting book. Actually, I’m an aging hippie too. But, that is only on the outside. Inside I’m young and free-spirited.
Please, oh please, count me in. While I am not the most fashion forward individual, I love all things Japanese and Japanese-inspired. I love the simplicity of form that is present in so many of these pieces.
Seanna Lea´s last blog ..Here I am – Knitter #3
Please count me in too, the book looks very interesting.
Greetings from Belgium!
Welcome back!
count me in for the drawing, pretty please!
Like everyone else, I love the pullover
Love the bunny cozy….too cute…and you can always know your cup when someone stops by and puts their cup on the desk too…great idea…
Ooohh….another knitting book! Me, me me!
Ooh, that looks really cool!
I lean towards “hippie” as well and I think those patterns look cool.
Oh! That book looks lovely! I may have to pick that up if the random number generator isn’t my best friend. Ha ha ha!
Deinera´s last blog ..Oh the rain…
I’ve long passed the “aging” stage into aged. But I would love the book, it looks so serene.
I loved that last pullover! Absolutely gorgeous
I’m in denial about my aging, so count me in for the book!
There are actually people who don’t know how to leave a comment?? lol
I would love your copy ^^ I studied abroad in Japan last summer and loved the fashion. Lucy looks gorgeous, like usual!
Oh, I like the one on the front of the book. Count me in.
Oooo… Pick me! Pick me!
It’s not my actual style (which is pyjama bottoms and dried up baby food) but it sure is my *aspirational* style – I’d love it!
Imogen´s last blog ..Things Not to Buy
Oh! I want the book, it comes out on my birthday!
Rebecca Green´s last blog ..Clapotis Progress
It’s not my *actual* style, which is sadly pyjama bottoms and dried up gummy baby food… but it is my *aspirational* style! I’d love it.
Imogen´s last blog ..Things Not to Buy
I agree, the pullover is really cute. Tell Aimee her cozies are just too cute!
I’m leaning toward aging hippie also but would like to have the book. I like shawls but tend to feel more comfortable in pieces like the Daily Sweater.
southparknitter´s last blog ..This weasel won’t pop
I love that coffee cozy idea. I’m sure Aimee will be inundated with orders now that you’ve blogged about it!
*crosses fingers in hopes of getting the book*
Julia´s last blog ..Good day all around
I am intrigued by Japanese inspired knits these days…I would love to peruse this book
It sounds like a fantastic weekend away
Glad to hear you had so much fun and what a cute cozee.
I love that pullover as well. Would love the book
It is so nice of you to put the book up for a contest! I am new to your blog, and I am enjoying it very much. Thank you for sharing!
I keep meaning to snag a cozy from Aimee’s shop. They are so cute! And the book looks lovely, too.
If I win the book, I will totally knit that scarf/shawl, and then I promise to pass it on to another knitter and share the joy.
thebookmistress´s last blog ..Israel’s New Consul-General in San Francisco
That really is a very nice pullover
I’d love to take a shot at winning the book and reading the haiku 
Book looks interesting and so does the stainless steel yarn.
I agree, that last sweater is beautiful!
Being home is the best. I’m so not a fan of Florida and glad I don’t have to go there anymore. And of course I’d love the book!
It’s very pretty, but linen and stainless steel sounds like a recipe for the itchy scratchy show.
The cozy is cute. Aimee rocks.
Tiny Tyrant´s last blog ..Go Vote
The book looks great–it seems to have a lot of interesting constructions/materials. Sign me up!
Cute Cozee! Go Aimee!
Looks like a really interesting book – please add me to the drawing!
That’s a pretty book! I love Japanese and Japanese-inspired things!
Love to have a chance at this book.
That looks like just the thing to tempt my Japanese obsessed friend to become a knitter!
That looks like a beautiful book. Thanks for offering it!
I love the long scarf. The pieces are beautiful! I sure would like to see the stainless steel silk – it sounds very interesting.
Wow, I love that sweater too!
You know Wendy my experience of giving is that it always seems to come back in spades. When I was a hungry teenager, I can remember not being overly concerned with money and such. It seemed I would give and share the bit I had and low and behold if I didn’t find dollars on the street blowing around or have money sent to me in the mail. Life is a lot like that. Don’t do things to get, but do things because you really want to. Cheers.
Love, love, love that sweater. Want to wear it immediately. Hope I can show off a shoulder like that model soon!
The patterns look really interesting. Want that book!
Count me in!
Wow, I’m gonna go look and see if I can find pictures of the rest of the patterns!
Wow that book is yummy. BTW..Thank you for having one of those blog that you set a reminder in your Outlook once a week to check it out.
I love your coffee cozy and just had to have one. Yes I could have made one since I do sew, but it is more fun supporting other fiber artists and your friend Aimee had one with little sheep. I know she made it just for me. I appreciate you introducing us to other fiber artist and yarns. I feel it is one of the reasons I was put on this earth…..to support other fiber artists.
Thank you Wendy.
P.S. please count me in on the book drawing. I would LOVE to have a copy.
Another aging hippie who’d love that book. Thanks for being so generous.
I love the blue scarf/stole. It would definitely pose no fitting problems
)
Lucy is beautiful. Don’t cats look so content when they have their front paws tucked under?
Count me in! Japanese inspired knits are so lovely.
Me too, me too! I’m past aging hippie, but I knit for several young ladies that would love some of those projects.
Looks like a great book — sign me up for the drawing, please! Thanks so much –
Kirsten V
This book is a beautiful work of art!
Gawjus! Would love to win it! Thanks for sharing.
oh that book does look wonderful! I hope you pick me!
Claudia´s last blog ..Taking a few steps backwards
Please add me to your book lottery, I need a shawl pattern!
I just love the photos of Lucy! I never win anything, but what the hey….
The patterns and photos in the book are stunning! I’m in!
Hey, great looking patterns in that book. Count me in!
Those patterns look just gorgeous – count me in!
MaxJerz´s last blog ..learning to ask for help
Wendy–I love the book. Hope I win.
I love the sheer classiness and Japanese-style of the patterns. Please put me in the draw.
The book looks like a lot of fun! Please consider me for winning it, my luck has been terribly down lately (my computer and monitor have decided they don’t like each other anymore..).
Also: cute coffee cozie!
Wendy, My daughter (she’s seven) loves to read your posts with me daily, she loves reading Lucy’s comments! She’s an animal lover.
oooh, oooh, oooh. ooh, ooh.
coffee cozee by Aimee
Me, me, me!!! I win!!
(is that a sock yarn critter growing in that mixed lace picture?? Is it?)
Please enter me in the drawing, and keep up the lovely work! It’s so inspiring to see your beautiful patterns.
Oooooo what a pretty book!
I like that pullover and the yarn photographs are fab. Here’s my comment to throw into the Random Number Generator’s hat!
boutrosbabe´s last blog ..Highland Handmades
Love, love, LOVE the Coffee Kozy! Wow. Great idea.
Would love the book so i can give it to my friend Tracy who introduced me to Japanese design at the local Japanese book store.
thanks!
Nope, don’t need the book — I’m past aging hippie and into grungy granny. Just wanted to say I just finished my first socks from the “Toe Up” book and I’m soooooo hooked!!!
oooh, lovely!
I bet that great coffee cozy would work on non-disposable coffee cups, too! And speaking of bunnies, could you blog about angora and angora blend yarn? I recently got some angora fiber and am pondering what kind of yarn to spin it into. TIA!
Oooh I would love to have that book! The designs look fantastic.
Nicole´s last blog ..Boo!
Wendy,
The book looks beautiful. I am glad you had a good trip to Florida. The coffee cozies are really cute. Please say “hi” to Lucy. She has been looking fab in the pictures.
Melanie
I would love the book!
Love the patterns! Love Lucy more, but I can understand why you wouldn’t want to raffle her.
The book is gorgeous! I live in south Korea (obviously very close to Japan) and get to ogle all the gorgeous Japanese influenced knits they have here. But I can’t make them because I can’t read Japanese! I’d love to have a chance to win a copy of the book, especially as I am so close to all that yummy yarn!
Love the coffee cozy great to save trees by not using a paper sleeve. Book looks lovely too.
love the book, thanks for sharing pictures. I really like the scarf and the first sweater
OOOoooo random generator gods pick me pick me pick me please please please That book lookd absolutely lovely.
I would love to be randomly generated to this book.
Don’t worry contestants, I never win anything…….
Enjoy your blog and would love to be chosen to receive the lovely book. I’m sure Lucy is pulling for me also. Thanks for the chance.
Your idea of “some knitting” are amazing. My some is one thing, not three;-P
Oh Great Random Number Generator, pick me, please. I could use a little stroke of good karma.
If I don’t win it, I’ll have to buy it – too gorgeous!
Count me in for the drawing for the book! I am also more of a cozy-knits-aging-hippie-type, but I many more “feminine-knits” friends and I bet there would be some gorgeous gift ideas in there.
Glad your trip went well!
I would love to win this book for two reasons…
1. I went to Japan eight years ago this month – in October of 2001 – for three weeks as a member of a Fulbright Memorial Program delegation. It was just weeks after 911 and the Japanese people were wonderful to us. It was a once in a lifetime opportunity that proved to be the best educationaly enriching experience I ever had. This book would be a lovely “anniversary gift” and reminder of this unique opportunity.
2. I am currently developing a service learning project for a class that I am taking. My project will provide a guide for teaching children to knit and then involving them in knitting for charities. I have been researching a variety of resources that have knitting as a theme that teachers could incorporate across the curriculum. For Language Arts I have been focusing on poetry, so these haikus would fit right in!
Arigatō
Love your blog and the book looks great too!
This Japanese design craze is fascinating!! I have a special interest since my son lives there. Good luck to myself.
Good to have you back. Can’t wait to see what is on your needles.
Love the book!! It looks great!!
Love your blog! Thank you for the chance to win the book.
Gotta love anything with bunnies! Please count me in, the book looks lovely. N
Sounds like you had a very nice weekend and best of all you came back to her fuziness! Nothing like a fuzzface to make one feel welcome.
Personally I like the scarf looks a bit like a Clapotis.
Tina
Hmm, I do well at door prizes and trivia, but not random numbers, seemingly. But if selected, I will gladly serve, I mean, accept the book!
You’re knitting something stripey? Unusual for you!
Cathy-Cate´s last blog ..Weekend Update with hints o’ Sun(flower)
What a beautiful book!