Photos Courtesy of Anne Podlesak and Elizabeth Green Musselman

Pattern:  Kellygnow Shawl
Designer:  Anne Podlesak
Yarn:  The Woolen Rabbit Opal
Colorways:  Myrtle and Mystic Mountain Pine

I promised today to share a little more about my collaboration for these patterns with Anne Podlesak and Elizabeth Green Musselman.

Anne and I, as you know have worked together many times over the years.  I love her designs and I love what she does with my yarns.

Late last year, Anne approached me about doing a sample run for a company that she and Elizabeth Green Musselman were creating, called Stitch Definition.

I wasn't quite sure what it was all about at the time, but Anne sent me a mood board
(I love her mood board ideas…just sayin'!)
…and based on her Woodsy theme, I sent her the 2 shades of green seen above for a shawl and another 2 skeins of a brand new yarn, called Sporty Opal, went to Elizabeth in a deep pussywillow.

Pattern:  Bettina Cowl and Mitts
Designer:  Elizabeth Green Musselman
Yarn:  Sporty Opal
Colorway:  Pussywillow

The way Stitch Definition works for an Indie Dyer depends on the package that you choose.  Basically, the dyer would get all the layout done with their logo- all the coordination with designers, tech editing, photography – and the ability to offer copies for sale (the option to have print rights versus PDF rights will vary based in what the yarn company wants).  Yarnies would get the finished samples.

I think it is a FABULOUS idea!  So many of us who dye yarn, are too busy dyeing those yarns. Finding that extra time in a day to knit fast enough to keep up with new ideas and trends can be challenging for dyers. 

Stitch Definition definitely will help indie dyers fill a gap by offering pattern design, layouts and the finished item.
Go take a peek.  It's not just for dyers, but also for designers as well.  They also offer a la carte options for logos, photographs, etc. 

Such a great idea….Best wishes Anne and Elizabeth for a very successful venture!!

 

In my last post I alluded a little bit to what Sunday Morning held in store for Ashley and I, so here is the story.
  As I mentioned, Ashley came home for a photo shoot for some items that were knitted with my yarns by a designer that I have grown to know and love.

Now mind you, it has not just been a little cold up here this winter, it has been downright frigid…and there has been snow….lots of it.  Yes, it's been a very long winter up here.

So when Ashley said she would travel up to do some pictures I had a certain place in mind, but it would mean walking across a long open field behind the Jr. High School that would lead to the Swift River.  A beautiful place for pictures….but it was a crazy windy day here on this Sunday.

You can get a sense of the wind here in this picture, even though we were not at the spot that I had planned.  Ashley being the mountain woman that she is, knowing that we did not have snow shoes, pointed out to me that we were going to have to poke through all of that untouched snow as we couldn't walk on top of the snow and it was a BIG field. 
Thank goodness for her common sense knowledge.

So we traveled a bit down the road that I take my daily walk down and we decided to head into a portion of the National Forest.  Oh, and did I mention that it was cold….it was SO cold with the wind chill.  Cold enough that I made her put her coat on in between pictures and I was bundled up in a down coat, a wool hat and angora mittens…brrr!

Ashley God bless her heart was not so concerned about the cold as to what she should do with her hands as she was feeling awkward.  I love this picture…it perfectly captures her free spirited personality.  When we do a photo shoot, she pours all of herself into it and I am always gifted with amazing pictures.

In spite of the crazy wind and the frigid cold weather I think we got a few good pictures.

The shawl pattern designed by Anne Podlesak is Kellygnow.
The Cowl Mitt pattern designed by Elizabeth Green Musselman is Bettina Cowl and Mitts

I will be sharing a post tomorrow about our collaboration and the new venture that Anne and Elizabeth have created.  It's a very exciting link in a hole that helps Indie dyers.
Come back tomorrow for more information. 🙂
~
Thank you so much Ashley for your patient spirit!

It was an unexpectedly busy and fun weekend and it all started with this one little wallet and pictures.
A few weeks ago I asked Ashley if she was up for a photo shoot.  I had a few items that I wanted to photograph and she always throws her full self into a photo shoot, which is why I love it when she has time to do one with me.  She was busy last weekend, but offered to come home to take pictures this weekend as she wanted to see my parents and little Asher. 

A while back when she was home at Christmas she showed me the very dirty state of the wallet that I had made for her about 3 years ago.  Oh my goodness it was in such a sorry state that I told her to go pick out a few fabrics from my not too small stash and told her I would make her a new one. She chose the fabrics above and truly I never would have put these 2 fabrics together, along with the turquoise zipper, but I love how it came out and they suit her perfectly!
Knowing that she was making the effort to drive an hour home, I thought it would be a kind gesture to get this done for her.  She was very excited.

 

So I spent Saturday morning getting a bunch of yarn re-skeined and out to the post office and then I settled in to prepared for Sunday's company, that quickly grew into a family gathering of the best kind.  Homemade chili (thanks for the recipe Jeff!), quacamole and lemon custard squares to quiet my parent's sweet tooth…ha!
Little Asher spent a good part of the afternoon entertaining us with his antics, as you can see here in this video that Hannah took.  I love that both of my grandsons really love the dogs here.
How darn cute is this??
(Oh…and the hamper isn't usually in the kitchen, but that is another long story for another day.)

Sunday afternoon was spent entertaining family, but I will wait to share what we did on Sunday morning on Wednesday….ey yi yi
Never a dull moment..ha!

I hope you had a wonderful weekend as well!

This week's Sparkle is brought to you by the word "Spring"!

Hello blackbird hello starling
Winter's over be my darling
It's been a long time coming
But now the snow is gone
Josh Ritter

NO, the snow is NOT gone, but you can surely tell that Winter is over.  You definitely can smell Spring in the air for sure..whoo hoo!
The spring birds are chirping in my yard and have chased those nasty pigeons to where ever they live until next winter.  Hoo-Ray!

I hope that you enjoy some warmth in your weekend.
It promises to be in the 40's here tomorrow, a virtual heatwave. 😉

 

~ Leave a little Sparkle wherever you go ~

I have missed sharing my Friday Sparkles and actually this was meant for a few weeks ago, but that little thing called work just got in the way. 

This little purse signifies so much of the sparkle that I have really been embracing in my life.  The sparkle of friendship!  My good friend Carole handed this to me while I was getting my booth set up for SPA and it made me smile.  Definitely on the outside, but even more on the inside, as I realize how very blessed I am to have such dear friends who are always there for me.

These friends have been the sparkling gems that have made my life that much richer for having them in it! 

Have a wonderful weekend and think about a way you can bring a little sparkle into some-ones life along the way too. 🙂

Alternate between solitary and the social.
Whether alone or with others, keep serenity.
Deng Ming~Dao

~

Pattern:  Snow Drifts
Designer:  Veera Välimäki
Yarn:  Woolen Rabbit Kashmir
Colorway:  Rowan
2014 Yarn club pattern and yarn available for sale August 2015

Well, it's been a little bit of a spell since I have visited with you here.  I have definitely been in a solitary mode with my dye-pots.  The last 3 weeks have been very busy and long days in the studio, getting ready for Spa and then turning right around to dye and mail out the large yarn club.
I won't lie, I took the day off to enjoy the wonderful sunny warm day that was gifted upon us today…and actually went on a nice walk.  It feels good to be able to get outside walking again.

I have so much to share with you over the next few days.  While I have been quiet here on the blog, there has been a lot going on in my Woolen Rabbit world.  One of which is this beautiful design for the 5th yarn club mailing designed by Veera Välimäki.  The fairytale that she chose was Snow White and I have to say that I just love this shawl.  Veera's designs are always filled with wonderful movement and this shawl is no exception.

The sign ups for the New 2015 Yarn Club will be on April1st starting at 9:00 am EST
If you are interested, you can sign up here on my website.
It is limited to the first 150 people to sign up.
I am very excited about the line up of designers that I will get to work with this year.  It promises to be another fun journey down "The Once Upon A Time" Rabbit Hole!

Ten years ago I discovered the world of blogging and I was mesmerized. My friend Anne, introduced me to the world of blogging all those years ago and through her links, I discovered a few more blogs. With each week that went by I found that I really looked forward to reading each and every post on these blogs…such a treasure! It was such a new way to share and read my love of fiber and knitting.  Back then, I think that I may have been following 10 blogs and one of those blogs was the blog of someone I so love to call "friend" now. 
Margene and the Zeneedle blog.

Over the years we grew up a friendship that I have grown to love.
I have visited her home in Utah and she has come to New England to visit with our close-knit group of friends here, and each time we visit, it's like we have known each other all of our lives.  It's a friendship that I treasure, along with a few other of my blog friendships.

Margene always commits to handwriting notes to friends in February and I love that I am a recipient of one of these notes most years.  Like Margene who says she has terrible handwriting (not so much), I have handwriting that is challenging to read as well, so I completely appreciate and love the effort that she puts into her February notes.  When I opened up the card from I received from her this week, I could only smile.

"Sparkle" was what I saw first and it did indeed make me smile. 

When I discovered the world of blogging, it opened up a huge new world for me living way up here in the North Country of New Hampshire.  Through blogging, I have met what I now consider to be my best and closest friends.  We have supported each other through the highest highs and the lowest lows and I know we will continue on doing the same.

Thank you Margene…you are a huge sparkle in my life and I am so happy to call you friend!!
xoxo

Pattern:  Chic Knits Elisbeth Cap
Yarn:  WW Kashmir
Colorway:  Red Riding Hood
Needles:  US 8

After having knit so many headbands and another one on the needles due to daughter #3 losing hers and wanting another one, as she is known as the girl with the knit headband, I thought it was time to give the cap a try.
I went with the longer slouchy version and I love it!

Hannah just happened to be home for a few days, so I managed to get her to let me take a few pictures before she headed off to work.  She has to work one shift every so many weeks to stay on the payroll where she works, and she wants to work there again this summer, so she comes home, which is nice.

When she saw the hat blocking yesterday, she laughed, saying "Mom, that is huge!"  It's going to be waaaay too big.  I said, you are going to be surprised.  I don't wear hats and I would wear this one.  She laughed at me in disbelieve.

So when we finished with pictures, guess what her response was?  " I think I would love one of these!"  Ha!  I'm seeing the succession of hats now with 4 daughters and a granddaughter.

Thanks Bonne Marie for another wonderful pattern!

So, today's Ten On Tuesday is ten things I am looking forward to right now.  I asked Carole if I could just write "Beach" ten times…but I figured that was not what she was looking for, so here you go.

It's no secret, this winter in New England has been crazy and with 2 more storms heading our way this week, it's hard to stay positive.  Last year I lost that battle, but this year, so far those twinkling lights have led the way…..like a lantern in the night and I am getting through it with a smile.  March is almost upon us with day light's saving, so it's all downhill from here. 🙂
  These are the things that I am looking forward to right now..

1. Our week on Cape Cod.  The picture above is one that Courtney took of the dock that we share with our neighbors a few years ago. I plan to spend a little time knitting in those chairs. (click on this picture….it is so amazingly beautiful.  Courtney has a great eye..this was taken with her phone).
2. Kayaking and this year I look forward to spending more time in the coastal marshes where there are amazing birds
3. SPA…although it's work for me, once the work here is done, it's all fun.  I love spending time with my friends that I don't get to see enough of, even if the bulk of my weekend is work…the rest is pure fun!
4. Having our bathroom finished.  I am SO.VERY.TIRED of looking at the hole that used to be my bathroom and now that the hot water heater is crapping out…yes, I am looking forward to having it completed.  (Not Ken's fault….the plumber is un-thawing everyone's frozen pipes.)
5. Getting back outside walking again.  I just can't do the dreadmill, but as soon as it warms up a bit, I will be back outside again. 🙂
6. I've said this before, but researching further education.  I love working with fiber, but I know that realistically this back can't do this forever.
7. Getting my hands back into the unfrozen dirt.  This year I am going to raise up some seeds again and I think I may dedicate a bed to flowers that I can cut to keep the house full of flowers for the entire growing season.
8. Finishing the huge picture project I am working on.  I will share that with you later in the week.
9. A potential trip to spend time with friends…
10. Climbing up my stairs tonight to finish a book that I have been slowly reading…a few short chapters at a time before I fall asleep.

~

And the sky's so cold and clear
The stars might stick you where you stand
And you're only glad it's dark 'cause
You might see the master's hand
You might cast around forever
And never find the peace you seek

I need light for my lantern, light for my lantern tonight.
Josh Ritter

You breathe,
Frosting mountains white,
Exciting trees to verdant flame,
Dancing sparrows on your wing,
Swirling waves into long sighs.
You breathe,
And all things live.
Deng Ming~Dao

It's hard to tell in this picture, but if you click on it, you may see the sparkle that glistens on the snow.  Tuesday morning when I put the dogs out for their early morning run, I was mesmerized by the snow.  Every where you looked it glistened and sparkled…it was so beautiful and peaceful
…and when I stood in that peaceful moment….I heard the birds. 
No, not the birds of winter, but the sounds of early birds coming home.
Yes, this winter has packed a punch for sure, but the sounds I heard on this morning let me know that Spring is on her way, and we can start looking for her in these quiet moments even with impending blizzards.
~
This is my sparkle for the week and it is a sparkle that makes me smile a big smile!
Have a wonderful weekend and stay safe and warm!!