It's Still Winter....

Yes, it's still winter.  The cold, hard truth.
It's also been almost 1 week since I've picked up my knitting needles!  While my latest design is cozying up to my fabulous tech editor, I've been spending some time sharpening up my own technical skills.

It's funny because as a kid, I never thought that I would use math, or graphic work in my day to day life, much less use it as a part of something that I actually enjoy (okay, well that's a half truth because I do love graphic design work), and yet here I am creating glorious spreadsheets, working out complex formulas and cranking out schematics.
It's a lot of grunt work and something that I've cringed from in the past, but after the last year of knitting up a storm, it's an interesting type of break away.

But when it comes down to it, it's all about the knitting right?
Here are a few photographs of my upcoming designs.

For my cardigan, Fezziwig, I worked with Quince and Co. yarns for the first time.  Such a lovely surprise!   Not only is the yarn such a pleasure to work with (the stretch factor is unreal), but the finished product is unbeatable!

  I explored some new techniques with this sweater that were really fun and that made a really wonderfully durable garment.
My favorite design element are the pockets which are deep enough to really stuff my hands in as well as toss my keys or cell phone into.

The big squishy collar is so soft and warm, you just want to snuggle.  Somebody get me a cozy fireplace to sit next to with a book!

I also created a little slouch hat using some wonderful Spring Tree Road yarn.
I actually designed the hat, however, for Augustbird yarns and knit it in a gorgeous brown skein as well, but you'll have to wait for those photos!  The hat is making its way across the country to Maine where it'll be modeled!

 This is one of those sneaky little designs that has a trick, or 2 hiding beneath the surface.  There are some special elements that make this little guy work!

I love simple knits and simple lines that have a little something to them to make them interesting!  Secret's in the sauce!

Speaking of sauce...okay, well not sauce really, but juice, I've been doing quite a bit of juicing lately.
Now while I may end up in the poor house because of how much organic juice making costs me, at least I'll go there with lots of vitamins running through my veins!  My little ones love watching the machine crunch, crunch, crunch up the veggies and I love knowing that they're getting a lot of yummy nutrition!  Who'd have thought my 2 year old would consume kale so readily?

Antiquing

Anyone who knows me, knows that I haunt antique shops frequently.
I classify antique shops into 2 groups; those who's owners think that everything in their store should be in a museum and is therefore practically priceless (or rather, a price that no normal person can afford), and those who's owners have stocked them with endless amounts of wonderful little treasures just waiting to be discovered at prices that almost everyone can afford.
Today I stumbled upon one of those wonderful little treasure shops.  The owner was so sweet and I knew immediately that she was a true lover of antiques and exciting little objects.  She knew where every little item was hiding in her shop that I might be interested in and took no time at all rushing around into corners and pulling magazines that she "just knew I needed" out from under old milk crates.

An antique lover like her loves to see old things find new homes and have new life breathed into them.

 

  I was so grateful for her suggestions, but most elated at her willingness to part with the most amazing, little, vintage dress form at the exceptional price of $30.00!  She said it was fate because the dress form was not only my EXACT size, but also because it "gave her the creeps" when she turned the lights out at night. 

My new dress form (who I've decided to name Greta, by the way) will come in handy for measurements, sizing and even for getting those buttons right (oooooh the bane of my existance).

She has a tiny bit of wear on the bodice, but is otherwise in amazing condition!  I love the metal stand!

Poor little Evellyn wasn't sure what to make of the new "lady", so I dressed her up for the time being in one of my shirts, and Evellyn felt better....

I also found an amazing little trunk that you will be seeing in an upcoming photoshoot!
The craftsmanship of vintage items never ceases to amaze me.

The Bleak Midwinter

It's been awhile since I posted last. 
I try to be an organized person; keep the house cleaned, the meals cooked, the family fed, the designs flowing.....but at some point, you just run out of time at the end of the day.

But at the moment, I'm taking a few minutes from housecleaning, to sit here at the kitchen table watching the snow falling in what is historically (oh, this year is no different) my least favorite time of year.  When you live in the Northern Midwest, the winter months can really seem to drag on forever.
Now, because I'm a knitter and a spinner, I suppose the politically correct thing would be to say, in a cheerful voice, that  "it's just more time for knitting", but the reality is, I get flat out cabin fever crazy.
Of course, I could get outside and enjoy the snow and I do, but when you have 2 little ones, they only last so long in the sub zero temperatures.

With all of this being said, I've been spending a lot of time thinking of what I'll be doing with my flower garden this year, and how I plan to re-establish the landscaping that I went crazy tearing up in the fall.
In my perfect world, where I have a very green thumb and great success with plantings, my garden would resemble that of my idol, the fabulously eccentric Tasha Tudor.
Besides painting, writing children's books, dressing in period clothing and pretty much, just being the coolest person to ever have lived, Tasha grows some of the most beautiful garden that has ever been grown.

I grew up daydreaming through picture books of Tasha's gardens, home and illustrations and still find myself getting lost in them every time I'm lucky enough to stumble upon them.

This year, I'm planning to load the front of my porch with bounties of white hydrangea bushes.  I've transplanted my peonies to the back of the yard since keeping them near the house has brought some unwanted ant friends.  I also want to spend more time properly arranging the flowers so that they grow in perfect seasonal time, so that I always have pretty cut flowers for my kitchen.

Le sigh.  (the snow has just picked back up outside and my husband has just put down my fresh cup of tea.

Well, I don't suppose any post would be complete without letting you know about some of the things I've been working on in the world of fiber.

First, I released a cloche pattern called Downton Girl that pays tribute to my favorite show (and I know I'm not alone here!) Downton Abbey.

I've also come up with a lush cowl, hat and mitts set that uses a really fun textured pattern that is surprisingly simple.

At the moment, I'm working to finish up a comfortable cardigan that I'm going to call Fezziwig.
I've added cables at the back that create a nice, gentle shaping at the small of the back, but my favorite part about the sweater is the deep, truly functional, set in pockets.
I'm always grateful for a place to safely toss my phone or keys when I'm loading and unloading my 2 favorite wee people in and out of the car.

These photos show my "rough draft".  In the next few weeks I'll be posting photos of the finished version in the every squishy Quince and Co, Osprey yarn.

The Fallow Times

We've been getting ready for the holidays; all the decorations are up and the Thanksgiving meals have been had.
Over this past weekend, while we were home tucked into our family's cozy homes, I finished up the pattern for a new set of mittens to match Fallow, the cowl I'm hoping to make available in December.

I was so excited to photograph my friend and fellow knitter Jacqueline in a pair of green mitts knit in gorgeous Sanguine Gryphon yarn.   We braved the snow flurries and extreme winds and still found a brief moment of magic.

I also got to snap some photos of my sister wearing the full version of the mittens.   How much do I want her coat?  

 I may have even gotten my husband involved while he decorated the porch...

I'm hoping these mittens that I made by request will be the perfect companion to Fallow

 I’ll learn to love the fallow way
When winter draws the valley down
And stills the rivers in their storm
And freezes all the little brooks
Time when our steps slow to the song
Of falling flakes and crackling flames
When silver stars are high and still
Deep in the velvet of the night sky

 The crystal time the silence times
I’ll learn to love their quietness
While deep beneath the glistening snow
The black earth dreams of violets
I’ll learn to love the fallow way

 I’ll learn to love the fallow way
When all my colors fade to white
And flying birds fold back their wings
Upon my anxious wonderings
The sun has slanted all her rays
Across the vast and harvest plains
My memories mingle in the dawn
I dream a joyful vagabonds


The crystal times the silence times
I’ll learn to love their quietness
When deep beneath the glistening snow
The black earth dreams in of violets
I’ll learn to love the fallow times
No drummer comes across the plains
To tell of triumph or of pain
No word far off battle’s cry
To draw me out or draw me nigh
I’ll learn to love the fallow way

     

I’ll learn to love the fallow way
And gather in the patient fruits
And after autumns blaze and burn
I’ll know the full still, deep roots
That nothing seem to know or need
That crack the ice in frozen ponds
And slumbering in winter’s folds
Have dreams of green and blue and gold
I’ll learn to love the fallow way
And listening for blossoming
Of my own heart once more in spring

As sure as time, as sure as snow
As sure as moonlight, wind and stars
The fallow time will fall away
The sun will bring an April day
And I will yield to Summer’s way


The Fallow Way  by Judy Collins

The Chill Has Set In!

Well the chill has definitely set in and things have been busy busy around our house.
I have a few new designs off the needles that bring some gorgeous and fun drama!
I've been working a lot with gorgeous Malabrigo yarns lately and have been working quite a bit with the chunkiest of them! 
I think that chunky yarns don't get enough exposure in garment wear.  I find that if knit at the appropriate gauge and with the appropriate shaping, they can be quite flattering, not to mention snuggly warm and quick to knit up!

Fresh off my needles and currently in the test knit/ tech edit phase of it's little life is Wilde and it's mini version Wilde Child.   Both use the glorious Malabrigo Rasta and get only 1.5 stitches to the inch!   Dramatic, fairytale like and functional are key!

 

Another chunky themed, quick knit is Selkie, which I created using Malabrigo Chunky yarns.  Again, another high impact piece with function and folklore at it's core.

 

Just a Saturday

It's been the most beautiful day today and I'm sitting here having a cocktail with the husband listening to the amazing Alison Krauss.  I am always transported by this haunting song.  Music like this paints pictures in my head and often times is the backdrop for my artwork and even knitting.

 This song is included on a playlist that I made today for the next bonfire we'll be having out on the farm where I grew up.  Every month, my brothers, sister, husband, friends and I try to get together for a night out in the country, watching the stars, listening to good music.....it's pure perfection.

In the meantime, today I knit up a little hat I'm calling Falling Stars because the stitch pattern of the brim reminds me of twinkling stars...the kind we lay out on the hay wagon and watch.

  

I've also been working on a comfortable design for my wee one.   She needed something for the fall and I wanted something that is a little en vogue right now, so chose a comfy "grandpa" sweater with a shawl collar.  The design is simple with straight lines and an easy knit, but I included a bit of short row shaping  and a fun little detail at the back to give in an "English Storybook" feel and I am really pleased with the overall outcome. 

She let me take these cute little photos of her, then we came inside on the chilly day to make some yummy oatmeal cookies.  Sometimes it's a bit of a disaster to let your kids be creative in the kitchen, there are eggshells on the floor and mess to clean up afterwards, but this photo captures every reason why I let my children be as creative as they want.....because they are learning and they are creating..something my parents always let me do.  As a "housewife" it's easy for me to get wrapped up in cleanliness sometimes, but as a mom, I always try to remember that it these aren't just messes....they are moments......

  And as always, I've been spinning my little heart out.  This time, I've been spinning something for a fellow Ravelry friend.  I love spinning for myself, but there is something that is just so satisfying about spinning something and gifting it to someone.