Another deadline....

Well I can't post any pictures - but I am finishing up 2 deadlines for an upcoming Winter knitting magazine. I'm very happy with both designs but I hate deadlines...they just un-nerve me.  And everytime I look over my instructions, I either start changing numbers around - because I don't trust myself or they don't look so good on paper, or they don't have rhythm.  Then I just start making mistakes by confusing myself!  I guess the worst part of the whole process is that I don't know how I compare to the other contributing designers. 

Do they just plug in numbers and stick to it without re-adjusting? 
Do they work and re-work their pattern - racking up the hours and diminishing the hourly pay from $1 to 10 cents an hour? 
Are they more careless than I - or am I more green?
Does the Tech Editor have more red ink stains on my pattern than anyone elses? 
Do they add unhappy faces to mine?

 I guess the only way to build confidence or at least know where you stand against the other designers would be to tech edit on the magazine end.  That way, you could see what the various designers have submitted and be re-assured that they make just as many mistakes as you do and that their numbers don't make any more sense.  This is my 2nd magazine, and my 7th book contribution.  It would be nice to get past the "I wish I knew my strengths and weaknesses".  Although there is no time for a feedback sheet - or a sliding point system like at school, it would definitely let us know if we need to improve our skills on the next batch of designs or if we are doing just fine as is.

I have to get them both off by tomorrow - so gotta go.  I'm thinking of going on a hyiatus (spelling???)...and knit a piece for myself using another designers design - yes, that being Nicky Epsteins Aran Gala sweater.  It would put me temporarily out of commission but I think I've had all the deadlines I can handle for 1 year. 

Oops - forgot, I still have a few more projects that need tending to!

Finally met Nicky Epstein!

I think one of my first knitting books was from my mom and it was a Nicky Epstein book.  Every time I get together with my mom, she always buys me a knitting book and 90 times out of a 100, it's a Nicky Epstein book.  In fact, for 10 years, that was the only designer name that I recognized and followed.  I take knitting classes where ever I can - and when ever I can but I haven't caught sight of any Nicky classes.  I haven't even seen her name on the TNNA or Madrona class schedules.  So when I heard she was giving a class at Yorkshire yarns of Lakewood (http://www.yorkshireyarns.com/) - I knew I had to take it.
It's amazing at the designers, authors, anchor women and calendar chicks that Sonya can convince to talk, teach and book sign at her shop.  Keep your radar on her calendar of events...

We had to bring 2 8x8 swatches with us.  The class was based on her upcoming book due out in November - color blocking.  Wasn't sure exactly what this class entailed, but I didn't care.  We learned how to make a turtle stuffed animal out of one of the squares and a hat out of the other.  I'm not a stuffed animal fan - but that wasn't the point of the class.  The point that I got from it is that you can take something as simple as a block and transform it into anything you can imagine.  She showed us how to create sweaters, gauntlets, shawls, hats, berets, purses and scarves out of 12x12 blocks.  It was fascinating how her mind works.

I bought this book - because I fell in love with one of her sweaters in it that I actually saw at TNNA 2 years ago and couldn't get it out of my mind.  Mind you, it's a little over the top - which I don't feel I am.  In this case, however, I feel like I may be coming out of my shell!  Get ready....

There are over 150 pearls on it with osterich feathers to ensure that I'll be noticed!   The picture doesn't show off the gorgeous cable stitches or the richness of the yarn (Cascade Dolce) - or even the 3 different sizes of pearls sewn on in and between and around the cables.

I'm thinking if I can get some of my many deadlines done, I might have time to get this sweater done in time for my nieces wedding this October.  Or will I look like the bride????  Mother of the bride????

I may also make it so that the Osterich feathers can be attached and detached as needed for the occasion.

Fun fun class....lastly...this sun shawl is spectacular up close.  I'm not a shawl fan but this was unbelievably gorgeous in person.  Knit with Art yarn - pure silk, the yarn alone cost $300 or so (according to Nicky).  Perhaps that's another reason that it's so spectacular, anything knit in cashmere, angora or silk is going to be stunning!  Interesting enough...is that it is knit in the garter stitch through out and short rows.....and I call myself a designer???  Now that's what a real designer creates!

I love taking classes....they inspire me to go further, think outside the paradigm and truly create a one of a kind master piece instead of the everyday dozen.

Everyone is on vacation

Pedicure on vacation

Scrumptious yarn on vacation

- the beginning of the 3-colored jogless hat (upcoming class this fall)

Frog Tree yarn "Meriboo MW" (machine washable) http://www.frogtreeyarns.com/

Hat on vacation

This is the 2-color jogless hat (upcoming class this fall)

Frog Tree yarn "Meriboo MW" - love this yarn....

Girls on vacation

Another great vacation.  This time to the Pacific ocean.  Each girl brought a friend - one being my darling niece and it was the absolute perfect vacation!  My husband had 5 of his college buddies stay at the house for 3 nights for their yearly golf tournament so we were forced to leave home.  I took 4 girls and 4 knitting projects and that's all I needed to be content.

Summer is about making memories......

My quarter page Mug Shot in Fall Interweave Knits 2010!

I absolutely love Interweave Knits.  I only get one knitting magazine and it's this one.  I always read the magazine when I first get it, cover to cover while drinking my tea but being summer...I was hauling the kids off for a bike ride on the waterfront with my brother.  So I grabbed the magazine and threw it in my beach bag to read at while having our picnic.  We ended up buying lunch at a snack shack and walking for hours while the girls' biked.  I came home late and exhausted and frankly forgot about the magazine until now....

I was just checking my last emails of the evening...don't know why.  There can't be anything urgent at 10 pm!  But,  I had this strange email stating that she saw my sweater in an Ad in the Interweave Knits magazine that just came out.  She went first to Frog Tree Yarns in search of the pattern then googled my name after she was unable to find anything on Frog Tree's website.  She loves the sweater and wants to know where she can buy it.  Good heavens, I wasn't aware of this Ad!  I knew there was one coming out this fall in the Yarn Market News magazine - but I had no clue that my mug shot would be in my favorite magazine!  It's not just any Ad - it's a quarter page Ad!  Wow - I hope I can sleep tonight...

knit-n-bake

In keeping with my "Where do you like to Knit" line....I decided that knit-n-bake was just up my alley!

We headed over to Hills Resort (http://www.hillsresort.com/) in Priest Lake, Idaho for our yearly vacation with another family.  It's in the Rocky mountains and the heat can be intense.  The lake is glacier water and my big toe was screaming from what it thought was frost bite.  There's only one way to cool off - laying in the raft and dipping the hands in the water once in a while to change direction.  I kept the yarn in a plastic sack as a precaution and was able to get quite a bit of knitting done while bronzing....I mean burning.  If you haven't knit-n-baked this summer, you haven't had a good summer yet!

A few new books now available

Looks like both of the books I have contributed designs to are now available....The knit prayer shawls has 1 of my wraps while the In the Nick of Time has 2 of my stocking designs - both being on the cover. 

I just received my knit prayer shawls book and there are 15 gorgeous shawls in it.  I haven't received the In the Nick of Time book yet - but I'm excited to see all of the stockings.  The prayer shawl was due last September while the stockings were due in February so I was really surprised to see them both pop up in the same week. 

To purchase:  http://www.anniesattic.com/detail.html?code=121045

To purchase:  http://www.leisurearts.com/info/Knit_Crochet_Prayer_Shawls.aspx

Where do you like to knit?

I like to knit on the beach with Sherri - while our lovely children play at our feet! 
Never mind that they're bored...I'm getting alot of knitting done!