hap knitting, workshop planning, looking ahead

My summer knitting's been all about shawls. One's waiting for fringe and blocking, soon to be shown. This one's  a hap shawl- a construction and style I've been meaning to get to forever. It's the right knit at the right time for me - and apparently in the right place with the right project bag too, as you can see. So matchy-matchy, that's me.

I'm making a Hansel (Half) by Gudrun  Johnston. Because if I'm going traditional Shetland shawl, it should be from the source. Ok , not really.  It's actually because she is a lovely person and her designs are so wonderful. You start with a garter stitch triangle that grows with a yarn over preceding the 1st stitch each row. Those edge loops will be picked up, making a lacey connection to the borders, which is varied width stripes in an old shale lace. I'm knitting it in Starcroft Fog, which comes from the Nash Island sheep. Loving. Every. Single. Stitch.  I can't say enough about how much I adore having this yarn in my hands. I'm just about at the pick up the border stage, and plotting what order my stripe colors will be.

In other news  and we're going bullet style here with lots'o'links

- Craft Industry Alliance -  Joined! If you are a maker who sells, designs, offers services to the creative community or is contemplating any of the above, do yourself a solid and check out this group. Craft Industry Alliance.  It's sewists, knitters, jewelry makers, surface designers, writers, dyers, graphic artists...you name it.  Learned about it while teaching a webinar for them on Creative Consistency: Your Words & Pictures Online with Beverly Army Williams. They have a nice set of resources including forums, webinars, and their blog and  newsletter.

- Fiber College of Maine coming soon, Sept 7-11th. You  could sign up for my classes ;-),  but if you don't want to make Haiku Photo postcards or do a Creative Vision Challenge photo workshop (fun! can't do it wrong!), there are tons of other options.  I also heartily recommend the event as a fab way to end the summer and get a kick of inspiration for the new season. The setting, on Penobscot Bay in Maine, is so worth the ride. More here.

- Spending lots of time this summer giving the rental side of our 2  family home a facelift. It's looking pretty good now.  As Mr Rogers says "Won't you be my neighbor?" . 

It's this whole side of the house, sort of a townhouse style rental. You have to love beach neighborhood lifestyle, being in a village. It's a 1 minute walk to private beach, there's a low key pizza place on the corner, and it has that 100 year old house, old wood floors, shabby chic vibe. And a lot of space to store your yarn. Pass it on if you know anyone in my area , shoreline CT east of New Haven- or maybe someone who wants a weekend home that isn't deep in the woods.  Zillow listing here.

fiber college coming soon, new workshops this year!

I can't ignore that September is rolling around soon. A couple of events I've been looking forward to are just around the bend. The first?

FIBER COLLEGE OF MAINE Sept 7-11, 2016

I'm teaching two new workshops. I'm pretty excited about them.They're also, I think, very much in the spirit of Fiber College.  Which is to say inspiring, fun, a chance to break away from the norm with no pressure. The photo above promotes a photography class aimed at anyone wanting to stretch their image making muscles: Creative Vision Challenge.  We'll be talking about ways to get out of imagery ruts, and provoke new ways of seeing. We'll be shooting challenges to make sure that happens. I am a firm believer in cross-pollinating your making experiences, it helps you grow.  This class should be amazing for anyone looking for a little jolt.

This image promotes a workshop called Haiku Postcards, co-taught with friend and frequent partner-in-workshop-crime, Beverly Army Williams.  We've come up with a project based class, one that lets you walk away with something in hand. We will be thinking about single shot imagery, photographing (with our phones-or cameras if you insist) on the beautiful grounds. We'll be printing images, placing them on  on postcard paper and then under Beverly's guidance, writing haiku to go with them. We can't wait to roll this one out. Sign up from the link on top or here.

(From the Oh, Natural Tahki Yarns collection I shot, just releasing. Love, love , love this hat.)

There's an interview with me on Fiber College blog. I keep returning to teach at Fiber College. It never fails to inspire, create community, and send me into the shortening days time of year with a good attitude. I leave Searsport full of ideas and the beauty I take in on  Penobscot Bay.  Also, full of lobsters, and wine and blueberry pie...but that is not strictly  required :-)
I've posted raved about Fiber College here, here, here and here, too. One important aspect: unlike other creative retreats and events, you do not need to pay one big fee. You can come and take just one class, or just pay to enter and stroll the grounds and try the mentored dye tent or other "pop=up" experiences, and shop, or you can take classes every minute you are there. 
So...next post..a big something else coming in September, too.