My thinking perch

Some of my most creative moments come from walking or running across the Tacoma Narrows Bridge.  Aside from the whizzing cars, the view is breathless!  When I run towards Tacoma, you can see our majestic Mt. Rainier (you can see it to the left - that white mound is Mt. Rainier).  When you look to the right, you can see Puget Sound.  If you look straight down, you are almost guaranteed to see a Harbor Seal and when I run back towards Gig Harbor, I can catch a glimpse of another mountain range.  The bridge span is 1 mile each way and when I'm feeling energized, I'll add an on-ramp to my run.  There is something about the serenity of the view that helps me organize my thoughts and re-design my sketches.  It's also the last place in Gig Harbor that has sun.  We have so many trees around that many of my other runs become shaded quickly.  So if I am in need of some vitamin D and it's getting late, I head for the bridge.

Zoo yarn????

Today was my youngest daughter's field trip to Woodland Park Zoo.  My favorite all time animal is the snow leopard.  The cat family is my favorite animal category with the snow leopard in the top heap.   So - to my delight, we came across the snow leopards.  There were 2 of them and they were in plain sight.  Next to them was a small exhibit.  Not sure exactly what the exhibit was for - but it was freshly sheered camel (??) hair, camel roving and a ball of camel yarn.  So, jokingly, I told the attendant that I would like to buy a skein of yarn.  Much to my surprise - she said that they actually sold the yarn in the gift shop!  I called my best friend - Sherri (also known as my test knitter) - who was also on the same field trip.  She was in the penguin exhibit and had by passed the snow leopards.  I told her about the yarn and she bee-lined to the gift shop - making it there way before me.  Here's what I got.....

The proceeds go to the snow leopard conservation program as well as to  the Mongolian Nomadic women and families.  It's camel wool - and it's one of the only means of livelihood for the nomads.  The color is hard to describe - I would say a charcoal grey with black and dark green undertones and brown fibers.  Wow - too hard to describe in words.  Cost was $27 for 150  - 200 yds.  I'm thinking of making myself some mittens/gloves or fingerless gloves.

Oh - and here is my lovely child....  feeding a bird - the highlight of the trip.

Memorial Day photo shoot

Is There anything better than a photoshoot with babies?  Just one word describes this moment....precious, precious, precious!

It almost makes you want to have another one -

Textured Socks - Fall design

These socks were created for Crown Mountain Farms - Sock Hop Club (http://www.crownmountainfarms.com/).  Sherri Hazen, my loyal test knitter, test knit up these socks using Cascade Heritage solid sock yarn (http://www.cascadeyarns.com/).  She fell in love with this yarn - while I fell in love with the color (#5630).  It's a cuff down, simple 2 row pattern repeat with an oversized cable running down the center. 

Due out this summer as part of the fall collection.....

Thanks Sherri - you do awesome work -but I still think you have a knitting machine!  No one can knit as fast as you!

A designers deadline list

TNNA is just around the corner.  For those of you who don't know what that is - it's a Needle Arts convention for yarn companies, designers, yarn shop owners, publishers, authors and teachers.  It is the only one I attend and it's where the fall yarns, patterns and gadgets are unveiled.  It's also where I get to be amongst thousands of my closest yarn hoarding, obsessed knitting friends!  It's the only trip I get to take away from husband and kids - and where I can knit until my fingers fall off!  I always take a few classes as it's fun for me to see the different teaching techniques, not to mention all of the new tricks I learn. 

I am so excited about this trip but the work leading up to this trip is so involved.  Here's a short list of what I need to accomplish prior to jumping on the plane...in exactly 16 days.....
1) finalize seamless short sweater pattern
2) tech edit seamless short sweater pattern
3) finalize lil summer dress pattern
4) tech edit lil summer dress pattern
5) photograph lil summer dress pattern
6) send lil summer dress pattern to printers
7) bring 100 copies of dress pattern to TNNA for pattern signing
8) finish up cowl neckline of lovin summer shell
9) finalize lovin summer shell pattern
10) tech edit summer shell pattern
11) photograph summer shell pattern
12) send off mass email to retailers - announcing my pattern signing at TNNA
13) swatch up hat for Zealana
14) knit up hat for Zealana
15) do homework for TNNA classes
16) finalize Fiesta yarns project (not for TNNA but due at the same time)
17) create an instructional YouTube video on the trim piece of the lil summer dress

Let me also mention that I just did 3 photoshoots using "moi" as the model in an effort to meet a deadline for an Ad due out this August.  I missed the deadline by a day - but I think they'll still take it.  I had issues with wanting to send a headless sweater to the graphic artist, who in turn told me to get over it and just keep my head in the picture.  She finds headless sweaters rather disturbing which cracked me up and I now have to re-think my philosophy of beheading all of my models.  I learn something everyday and when I'm not learning, I am forced to re-think my path. 

Yes - in addition to this long overwelming list, I still have to feed the family, care for the home (a tad), volunteer at both schools and sleep if possible.

More photos are in the works....

Feminine Flair Jacket Fall Design

Here it is....the Feminine Flair Jacket - available this fall.  This jacket is a simple top down cardigan using a larger needle than the yarn called for to keep it light and airy.  Simple ribbing is strategically placed under the arms, center of the arms and center of the back to give subtle shaping and texture.  A ribbing is placed at the rib cage to pull in slightly, then an even larger needle is worked for the skirting to give the sweater movement and to avoid becoming too heavy in weight (this is a chunky yarn - ).   The construction makes this sweater extremely flattering for all body types.  For those of us less endowed, the closure can be moved over to create a criss cross/overlapping bodice.  I love working outside the norm - meaining working on larger needles than expected to give this chunky yarn more movement and allowing the sweater to be worn year round as opposed to just the cold winter months.  It also uses less yarn which makes it a more economical sweater as well.  You can also shorten the skirt - which would be just as cute. 

Sweater will be available for viewing at TNNA, Columbus at the Zealana Booth.  The pattern will be available for purchase mid-summer.

Sock club sneak preview

Crown Mountain is just about to ship out their 2nd shipment in the Sock Hop club.  Here's a sneak preview of the pattern that goes along with the hand spun / hand dyed yarn.  This colorway is called Shadow on the Wall and compliments the stitch patterns perfectly.  For more information on the Sock Hop Club, go to http://www.crownmountainfarms.com/

I must have swatched a good 10 ideas/sketches before coming up with this one.  Many of my thoughts just didn't work well with either the sock itself (too restricting, too difficult, doesn't stand out against the yarn).  I also have to take into account that this is a general sock club with 50 knitters - from every knitting level and from every age group and region so it's really hard to come up with something that you think will appease everyone.  I hope I was able to achieve that.  The pattern is an easy repetitive pattern and the cables are only worked every 24 rounds.  I have my trustworthy test knitter, Sherri Hazen, knitting the sock up in Cascade "Heritage solids" in a beautiful blue (color #5630).  I love to show socks in both a solid and a variegated  yarn as they both look totally different from one another.