Cozy Comments

I’ve enjoyed knitting on airplanes for four years with no problems. I received a stern look from a flight attendant only once while knitting in an exit row. She asked for my verbal agreement that I was willing to open the emergency door. I replied, “Yes, as soon as I knit to the end of the row!” I learned not to joke about emergency procedures! 

I carry two knitting projects with me. One project is easy so that I can put it away quickly without concern for picking it up again. The other is more difficult for knitting in airports. Both projects are on circular needles with 2-3 rows knitted. I put each in a clear, zippered plastic bag along with a copy of the pattern directions. The only tool I carry on board is a crochet hook. The rest of the yarn and tools are packed in my checked luggage. 

                                                                                                                            With the plastic bags in the outside pocket of my roller backpack, it’s easy to take a project out. With the yarn in the pocket, I can knit sitting or standing. 

                                                                                                          After buckling in, I’m very careful not to bother my seat mates. I choose small projects, knit scarves lengthwise, and use no more than two different yarns. I use circular needles because it’s very difficult trying to find a single needle dropped on a plane floor while not elbowing your seatmate! 

I put my knitting and water bottle with a Kup Kollar on it in the seat pocket. 

As a side note, I’m wearing one of my pairs of Skechers shoes because they’re very comfortable and stylish. I have walked many miles in my Skechers after reaching my destination!

                                                                                                                 I stopped knitting to play with my new Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H50 camera.

                                                                                                                          This photo reminds me of a conversation with a 2 year old on a previous flight. The toddler told me he could see a big plane outside his window. I was really hoping he couldn’t! Excitedly, he pointed out his window at the wing of our plane saying, “See! See the big plane!” 

You can prepare this dessert from Boulder Ice Cream in a short time but your guests will think you slaved for hours! Serve with frosty drinks using colorful Hawaiian Kup Kollars on the glasses.

                                                                                                          Island Coconut (Ice) Cream Pie

1. Slightly soften a pint of Boulder Ice Cream Coconut flavor.

2. Spoon it into a graham-cracker pie crust and freeze.

3. Just before serving, sprinkle grated coconut on the pie and decorate with cut pieces of fruits such as pineapple, mangos, kiwi, and oranges. 

July is National Ice cream Month. We suggest you use a Kream Kollar and begin taste testing your favorite flavors this month!

                                                                                                                    If you’re tired of name brand ice cream but don’t want to make your own, try ice cream from a micro-creamery.  These companies make hand-crafted small batches. They are continually experimenting and adding new flavors.

Here in Colorado we have Boulder Ice Cream. They use a slow churn process and all natural ingredients.  Along with their delicious ice cream, they make sorbet, gelato and frozen yogurts. There are over a hundred flavors such as Boulder Brown Ale and Cranberry Walnut.  

I’ve really enjoyed using my Kream Kollar on pints of Boulder Ice Cream so I could write this blog post!

                                                                                                                          A customer asked if the Kup Kollar Grande would fit on a pint of ice cream. She wanted something to protect her hands from the cold carton. Because I’ve eaten out of pints of ice cream many times, I was intrigued!  

The Kup Kollar Grande didn’t fit so I designed a pattern to create the Kream Kollar. Next, we needed a name for a cow graphic for the web site. At a board meeting (family dinner), Pam suggested Krissy Kow. I drew my ideas for a graphic, gave the sketches to John at Art and Technology, and he produced this adorable cow!

The Kream Kollar is designed with Thinsulate insulation by 3M which slows down the melting of your ice-cream while protecting your hands from a wet, cold pint container!

                                                                                       I needed to wait in a clinic while Perry had hand surgery. I packed my coffee knitting bag with a knitting project, magazine, snacks, miGo tumbler with ice, and a water bottle filled with Celestial Seasonings blueberry tisane. I put a Kup Kollar Grande on the tumbler and a small Kollar on the tea bottle to hold in the cold. The Kollars also absorbed all the condensation so nothing in the bag was wet!

                                                                                                When we arrived home almost 4 hours later, ice was still floating in the tisane. The miGo tumbler and Kup Kollar Grande make a great team! 

                                                                                        People enjoy sitting at the counters along the walls in coffee shops while working or playing on their laptops. They can take a break by looking through the window at the street theater or outdoor surroundings. Often times the sunlight comes beaming hotly through the window melting the ice in their cold drinks causing a watery taste. The take-out cup soon sits in a puddle caused by the condensation when hot air touches a cold surface. Using a Thinsulate insulated Kup Kollar will solve the problem by slowing down the ice melt and soaking up the condensation!

Photo credit: Colleen 

                                                                                                    Perry and I were invited to stay in our friend’s townhome in Woodstock, Virginia in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Because I have seen Asian decorator items in Diane’s home, I decided to give her an Asian tea set and matching Asian Floral Tea Tabard (tea cozy) and Kup Kaps (cup lids). I found this beautiful set in Denver while visiting Sean and Pam.

                                                                                                         A beautiful setting for a delicious dinner and Jasmine tea!

                                                                                            Tiny tots don’t like to hold cold tumblers. To protect their hands, slip a Kup Kollar (cup wrap) onto a 10 ounce Playtex Coolster Tumbler. Designed with Thinsulate insulation by 3M, It will keep their beverages colder, longer!

                                                                                             For a special treat, serve French press coffee or tea on a breakfast tray. Use a Koffee Kozee (coffee cozy) on the French press and a Kup Kap (cup lid) on the cup to keep the brew hotter, longer. The music fabric gives style to the tray. Add French toast topped with fresh raspberries and a vase of roses for a guaranteed hug!

From their web site, “EDUCAUSE is a nonprofit association whose mission is to advance higher education by promoting the intelligent use of information technology.” My daughter is a Communication Specialist and Co-Host of EDUCAUSE Now, a monthly podcast show, at EDUCAUSE. She handles marketing strategy and promotions for the company’s 20 or so conferences held across the country throughout the year.

                                                                                                                                            For the 2008 annual conference, I asked Colleen for two company shirts with appliqués. I designed Kup Kollars for her and a coworker. It helps to know the president of Koffee Kompanions!   

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Colleen also used her Kup Kollar on hot and cold drinks throughout the day to keep her beverages drinkable, longer as she carried out her responsibilities on site. Interruptions aren’t as significant when you have a Kup Kollar holding in the heat or cold!