test smitten

   
wrestler masks in San Antonio TX

Traveling Woman is almost done. Ten rows to bindoff. How often does the name of the shawlette you're knitting so closely match your life? OK, if it was really going to match me it'd be Slightly Crazed and Forgetful Traveling Woman. Catchy, no?  

Boston, Ohio, Seattle all coming up. Ooh and maybe a stop in Squam NH.  But  I am fantasizing about having the shawl blocked and on me for Seattle in June.

 
at the recent workshop at Juniper Moon Farm, shooting FO's (funny Fo's I guess)

Added bene to my photo shoot in Seattle: I'll be teaching a Photographing Your FO's class on Sunday June 20th 1-3:30 at The Fiber Gallery.  Very excited this worked out.  Space limited, sign up and show me a Seattle good time. [edited 5/29, this class is full, THANKS!]

You know what you almost never hear me blabbing about? Garter stitch. Nothing against it, sort of boring, makes a nice border, etc.  But I'm test knitting a garter stitch project for the new book project with Joan Tapper and y'know what? I'm a little smitten. Maybe more than a little. Like,I can't stop.

Or, maybe it's the Noro.

showing some class

First, there was the wonderful class  2 weeks ago at Loop & Leaf in Santa Barbara. Reports here, here and here.  What a fab group of knitters! And the setting, 100% charming.  Just a short one, a 3 hour class, on Photographing Your FOs.  No kidding, I was plotting a return appearance before I left the premises. Interested? contact me, or Celeste at the shop.

A week later I headed to Virginia, for the Juniper Moon Farm Photo Workshop Weekend . (click  to get some idea of the action). I like to think of it as the first ever, because that hints of return, which I am all for.

little known fact: Susan is a fabulous trained chef. Eating well at Juniper Moon. Seriously.This was lunch break.

Go get a drink and put your feet up,  the rest of this post is long with  lots of photos.

Susan Gibbs, or Shepherd Susie as she is known on Twitter, is the brains and the beauty behind Juniper Moon.  We'd been talking about doing something together for ages and boy was it fun to finally do it. And what a fabulous group joined us. (If any of you are reading this, post links to your own photos from last weekend in the comments, OK? I know you've got the goods).

A weekend workshop means plenty of time to shoot, to get to know your subjects,

play with color

and motion (this didn't quite work but you can see the potential).

And oh the cuteness! Lambs & kids & her beautiful dogs.
Did I mention the chickens? Good looking chickens.

Work with light & shade

.Discovering that a kid makes an adorable prop but distracts from the sweater details. BTW? This is Maggie, who is assisting on the farm, and is a talented spinner, I have my eye on some of her yarn at the farm retail shop.

Dyeing demo. The weekend format left time for a couple of yarn experiences that were interesting as well as photogenic- and we also had time to download images and discuss. I have to tell you, this doesn't seem like work to me at all. I know it's self-promotional as all get out to say this , but if this looks like fun to you, bookmark this link, where I list upcoming workshops.  The next one is in Kentucky! July 10th  & 11th.

a tiny peek at the weekend workshop

I mean literally! The Lamb Also Known as Tiny, posing for the cameras at the first ever Juniper Moon Photo Workshop Weekend.

in the city of angels

Whatever your house of worship,  the spirit that built these amazing towers resonates so powerfully, you can't help but feel there's some religion going on. So much passion in the metal, the tiles, the glass fragments, the curlicues in every inch of concrete.

Saturday in Los Angeles, my friend & hostess with the mostest Ellen Bloom took me to the Watts Towers. If you love mosaics & outsider art and exploring the nooks and crannies of Los Angeles,  Ellen is the guide you want.

Well, possibly, you also want our inimitable Watts Towers guide Marqueeda.

and back at Ellen's place, there may have been a little proselytizing, and a conversion.

Thanks Ellen !