Wednesday, June 27, 2007
FREE PATTERN, A PHOTO CONTEST AND….FLOWERS!
You know I believe gardening has everything to do with knitting—color, texture, weeds (tangles? Knots?), the extraordinary and the sublime. So, for this posting, I decided to highlight the irises in the bottom garden. What began as two keeps multiplying in proficient glory, as do the weeds clustering around their base. On the other hand, just beyond the screen's view, the weeds consist of sweet wild strawberries which I can hardly eliminate, right? Of course not. So, the irises grow amid the strawberries. I'm sure there's a metaphor in there somewhere.
But, more of more direct relevance to knitting, I have just gifted a free pattern for the Shell Dance Capelet, which I plan to make available for two months only.
Find the pattern under Free Patterns here: http://www.janethornley.com/blog/index.php/site/FreePatterns/
And (I'm getting a little breathless here), keep your eyes open for two new kits coming up: the Painter's Vest and the Field of Dreams top. Jackie and I are currently investigating making these kits in both a luxe version and a more economical kit using less precious but still lovely yarns.
And, below you'll find a photo of the bell tower of Guadalest castle in Spain which I took after climbing multiple stairs cut into living stone, transversing dizzying heights and puffing along the way. Reaching the top was a magical moment even if it left me feeling a bit peak-ed. Read why on the Conde Naste Site linked below. This extraordinary place will be part of Amal and my intinerary for the Spring in Spain Adventure Crochet/Knitting excursion coming up for May08. In the meantime, I submitted this photo as part of a Conde Naste cover contest going on this month. You can read my description and vote for me here:
Posted by Jane on 06/27 at 08:11 PM
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Thursday, June 21, 2007
Yarns amid the Ferns…
Katsara Yarns amid my woodland ferns
Do you realize that most of the topics occupying virtual space in the 2000+ knitting-related blogs out there focus on yarn (not world peace, poverty or politics) and far too often include cats? I believe there's some kind of connection between knitters and cats that has yet to be studied. Maybe, in some far distance time, scientists will confirm that knitters are akin to felines and may form furballs in their craniums... but that's another story. So, knowing as I do that we yarn lovers are united in our obsessions, I simply had to share my order from Katsara.
Sneak Preview for fall: Into the Woods Capelet
Katsara specializes in luxury handpainted yarns (please note the existence of three of my favorite words in the same phrase: luxury+ handpainted+yarns) and I just had to become acquainted with the offerings so immediately ordered five sample kits in five of their unique colorways. You won't be surprised to see my beloved greens and browns hanging out among my ferns in the photo above but, in my defence and in case Connie's reading this, I did order vanilla pinks, lilacs and, um, more greens and browns. The important thing is the yarns are glorious and represent 5 fibers dyed in the same color cauldron creating that subtle mix of color and texture I so love. I'm considering these for kits for my fall designs brewing. For more on Katsara, click here (but don't forget to return to me afterwards. You know I have more things to share) http://www.katsarayarns.com/colorways.php
Yes, I have been designing amid all my plotting and planning. I've just been so terribly busy being retired. Unbelievably busy. Of course, I should learn to be more strategic and just say 'no' when an opportunity (to travel, to collaborate, to participate in galleries, shows, do workshops or create more trips, prepare for magazine articles ) presents itself but I'm very, very bad at no's. Yeses sound so much better—all those sizzling s's making satisfying shusshing sounds on the tongue. 'No' is so...dull, like an ending, a punctuation point at the back of a sentence. A book end. Who can blame me for avoiding such conversation stoppers? Book ends have their place but not if it slows down momentum. So what if I hyperventillate? I'm excited all the time (and a little breathless).
Yes of course you're wondering when I'll get back to the Knitalong (soon) and asking where the hydrangea yarn kimono went (on the needles but Twisted Sister no longer makes that color) and if I'm working on any designs (as you can see, I am). Plus my new book, plus preparing for workshops (Santa Fe in July, Knit a Beach and Have a Yarn in August). You'll be glad to know I'm not bored. Speaking of which, the kits: check out the new one coming out this weekend for the Painter's Vest, the Tilli Tomas silk vest shown on the cover of the Knitaly book. In the mean time, I leave you with an image of the Pralines & Cream wrap keeping Hannah warm on a chilly May day in my yard:
Posted by Jane on 06/21 at 05:43 AM
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From the entry 'OF GIANT FIRS, COASTAL RAINFORESTS AND I'M STILL IN CANADA'.
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| By Iris on 2008 11 18 |
