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!

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....