november post 13: circular reasoning saves the day

I am only barely scraping by my NaPoBloMo  attempt with a post today,  by the good grace of designer Elizabeth Elliott aka The Cusser Knits  releasing her wonderful new pattern Circular Reasoning.  It's the same geometrics that I love in her Contrariwise hat, but in a cushy cowl,  knit as a tube. 

When I photographed it for her in late August, I went out scouting for a location with no hint of the season...aka an urban plaza that was light on the nature. My good luck to find this bench, thoughtfully painted and then distressed by time and weather, to match the cowl's colorway.

It's  knit in   Spincycle Dyed in the Wool yarn, and it feels pretty amazing. The shifting colorways of the contrast color--well, I'm just going to warn you now that if you click over to their page, it is going  to be hardto leave without a purchase. Don't say I didn't warn you. 
OTOH--your holiday shopping for a knitter you love might get accomplished. Silver lining! One skein for them, one for you!

You can really see how the yarn plays here. The design features both texture and colorwork, which means it'll require some attention but won't be boring.  The stranding and ends all end up inside the tube, so not much to finish. That's a win all around.
Thanks to the brains & beauty of Josephine, my model, who once again made it all look effortless.

november post 12: old town alexandria VA

As you might have noticed, I get around. It's not like I'm well traveled globally, I have missed Marrakesh and Tuscany and England and many of the places you'd expect me to have been.  But I'm excellent in the Nook & Cranny Travel Department. Through working on photo assignments for magazines or business, or by my own curious wandering, I've spent time in so many  charming/beautiful/fascinating or quirky pockets of our continent. Add Old Town Alexandria,Virginia to the list.

I was there to teach at Fibre Space, the wonderful yarn shop in the lower left, above. It's just across the river from Washington DC, an easy Metro ride and well worth it. The neighborhood is colorful and so stroll-worthy Also...delicious. Hard to choose where to take snack breaks.  I had a roasted fall vegetable salad with brown butter vinaigrette. Need I say more?  Well, yeah actually I do:

All these photos were taken with my phone on Thursday, the day I taught two rounds of Phone Camera Workshops. The first was to a group of Old Town boutique owners/managers, and the second was to a group of knitters. That's a little stack of Miss Babs yarn held by a local jewelry designer, in the upper right.  Fibre Space is an incredibly well-run and well-stocked--aka TEMPTING and lovely place to hang out for a couple of days, it took extreme self-disclipline not to spend all my earnings on the spot. I held it to a tote bag and a couple of skeins of yarn for my mom. And many many new ideas.

november post 11: modern lopi one launches

Two days of teaching at Fibre Space in Old Town Alexandria was a blast.  Great store and great students. I am already plotting a return. But, nary moment to blog. Or even knit. Oh, the irony.

Fortunately I have some good hearty Knitting News to share with you:

 The release of this new book, Modern Lopi.  Do yourself a favor and pre-order now. Lopapeysas (and more) for all. Info and just a few more photos on Lars' site, about the book and patterns.

You can see my name on the cover. This was a memorable photo shoot, on a jungle steamy hot summer day last year. The lag time-- or as it is known in the publishing world, production- makes an instant gratification-type person like me  twitchy. And then one day, there it is, all put together and beautiful, like a little party bursting out. All the particular challenges of the work are faded from memory and all the very best parts are shining there in the photos. I'm looking forward to having my nice fresh copy soon.

Sjáumst!*

*I really hope this means see you later in Icelandic. I mean, I looked it up on the internets, it has to be true...

Nov post 10: TRIP MITTS sneak peek

See you tomorrow night or Friday at Fibre Space? Hope so!

I brought these mitts with me,in fact I brought a ton of knits with me for my trip to teach at Fibre Space. Next to a fiber festival, teaching at a yarn shop is THE place to wear multiple handknits, right? It was chilly when I left Connecticut. So happy to get off the train in DC in warmer weather! The mitts are perfect in the early morning but my sweaters and cowls may not get much of an outing, after all. Anyway,  these are the Trip Mitts, a new pattern that I'll publish next week. Blogging every day and publishing a pattern? who am I????

The Trip Mitts, knit in Anzula Oasis. Details to come!

november post 9: phone photos phorever

I resisted my phone camera for a long time, but when I finally fell for it, I fell hard.  The basic quality is quite good, and I don't need to tell you how easy it is to just hold it in your palm, take a picture and slide it back into your pocket.  Add some free and powerful apps and I'm amazed at what photos I can create.  You can, too. Join me at Fibre Space in Alexandria VA  on Thursday night 6-9 and we'll make iphone/smartphone masterpieces, together. Go grab one of the last seats, now!*

My Instagram looks like this. The class will cover making images that jump out on the social media. You can see I included work, play, family, knit-related content...life.  I pretty much stay away from looking down at my lunch plate and shooting it although if you like to, we can cover that too. I won't judge ;-)  We'll talk about how to make the best , strongest images, how to quickly edit them in your phone, and some apps that help you create a signature look, or add depth of field to mimic a DSLR shot ( as in my fortune cookie image,  and in the shot of Zoe with the dog--you can see how the chairs are defocussed--by me).

* this is a fun class to bring along a friend , whether they are knitters or not. Who knows. they may succumb to the charms of Fibre Space and become one of us.

november post 8: when in doubt, show sheep shots

an old favorite, from Autumn House Farm

• • •  Teaching at Fibre Space in Alexandria VA in just a couple of days! 

 The workshops are close to full- jump on in!• • • •

 

• Thursday Evening 6-9 Smartphone Masterpieces - hands on & fun class to take with a non-knitter  

• Friday - 10-5 Photography for Knitters & Makers- soup to nuts, Shooting to Editing & review - get up close and personal with your camera. 
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november post 7: who knows where the time goes?

I was too busy doodling the day away on Saturday to remember to do a post. ooops! Perfection is boring, right? I'll keep plugging away for the month of November.

Time - or the lack of it--is serious business around here. And I mean that, literally. When you are self-employed, it's all one big blob of time- there's not timesheet to fill out, no hours you are expected to keep. On the one hand, there's ultimate freedom. I'm not complaining!  On the other hand: no work=no pay.  I've been working as a freelance photographer full-time most of my adult life. It suits me.  But it means my job depends on me figuring out how to make the most of my time , whether I'm on a photo shoot somewhere, editing images and  doing paperwork in my office, or planning an afternoon outing with my family. Or knitting and making stuff. If I wait to fit in, it ain't happening. The best thing is to make time for making. 

Wait, does that sound like a bumper sticker & t-shirt?

I got into working for myself because I wanted to avoid corporate/institutionalized structure--but guess what? Joke's on me! Time management theory, that organizational tool dear to the hearts of corporations, is now one of my favorite subjects. Have I found the ultimate fit-all theory? Nope, I don;t think there is one. But I had already worked out my own little semi-effective system when I heard this interview with Jule Sheranosher on the Beyond the To Do List  business podcast.  I don't listen to biz podcasts often, once in a while I remember it may be good for me-and I had this one in a set of links I'd saved.  After I heard it, I started following her Time Hackers blog & podcast snips. That link gives you some idea of her approach.Even if you just use one or two of her ideas, you'll be doing yourself a favor.

Warning: There's no woowoo factor. You won't see any hands gently cupping a seedling on her website, or little flowery curlicues. But that's what I like. Get'er done and you have plenty of time to find your own woowoo. Wait--is that a bumper sticker?..........
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november post 6: gyre- and 1 week till Fibre Space

Less than a week till I'm at Fibre Space in Alexandria VA, Nov 12 & 13th 

Thurs evening 6-9 : SmartPhone Photoclass . Not just for knitters, it's a fast, fun, phone photo class.Bring a friend!

Fri 10-5  Photo for Knitters & Makers - Tips, tricks, shooting, editing, critiquing - we'll do it all, click links for both classes' details. Limited spaces left! See you there.

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 Last month, I photographed Gyre by Elizabeth Elliott.  If you love it as much as I do, you'll be glad to know she's got it on sale on Ravelry till November 10th. This is the same person who brought you Contrariwise, by the way. She's good.

It's lined, not some kind of insane double knitting.  There is something so playful-or maybe slightly subversive-about the simple stripes paired with the baroque curlicues. Added bonus- no exposed floats of yarn or ends to weave in. They are hidden between the layers. Gotta love that.

If you want to keep it simple--or lighter weight--the pattern is also written for just the swirly side , no lining. 

In a perfect world, I'd finish my gray sweater and cast on for this tomorrow. I have some dark red and pumpkin-y orange yarn that're begging me to pair them up. What?  Doesn't your yarn talk to you? I've got several skeins that all but scream at me for attention when I walk by them......

Many thanks to Ariana for stepping in and modeling again.





  

november post 5: TBT red scarf project- returns

On the Throw Back Thursday bandwagon - back to Nov 2010..... I was going to post about the Red Scarf Project today, anyway. It's  time to knit or crochet this year's donation to support foster kids going it on their own in college. But I said it well before. The need hasn't changed at all. Only links have been updated, for accuracy........................so back we go 5 years this week.....

How convenient !I needed something to show,

and last week's pitstop near DC caught my mom with three scarves she & her buddy Claire knit for this year's Foster Care to Success (formerly the Orphan Foundation)  Red Scarf Project, (linked to guideline) which sends a handknit red scarf to approximately  2500 former foster kids now attending college. FYI:  The scarves should be sent to the FOSTER CARE TO SUCCESS (FCTS) office by December 15th, they get sorted and mailed on Valentine's Day.*

 This one is knit from the same Brown Sheep Lambs Pride Worsted in Wine Splash I showed last week, she can't remember which scarf pattern,  it was a 2 or 4 row repeat she downloaded. The red tweed one was Claire's; Claire said she had trouble following her directions, so the stitch is not  as it was supposed to  be but it looks pretty good in a different way. 

 

The last one is Wavy, from Knitty 06, in Cascade 220 superwash.  Although Leo is a  Miami-based college student who doesn't need a woolly scarf and, anyway, eschews handknits (I know!? let's not go there!) he modeled it  to prove that it looks pretty good on a guy even if he's making faces..

*All  Red Scarf Project details here .
Essentials:

• red or non-gender color yarn, any weight except super bulky (it mails in a fed ex box)

• any knit , crocheted or woven pattern that suits either gender. Lacy, not so much.

• 5-8" wide, about 60" or so long

The folks at the FC2S offices  are not weighing and measuring with scientific instruments, it's guidelines, don't fret! Send them by December 15 and feel good. Or, you can feel just as good by sending a donation of gift cards or money to suport the kids who have no "home" to call for reinforcements. Go, cast on for one. Or send. Today.

 

A few remaining red leaves. Just for inspiration. Doncha love red with light blue?

november post 4: that granny square hat

In which I share two topics dear to my heart: granny squares and the virtue of having an ongoing series photo project (ha! You thought I was going to say Zoe and Bobo, two topics also dear tomy heart. OBVIOUSLY).

The usual suspects. She put the plastic rats, shown under her arm, on his head after the hat came off.

A while back I saw this granny square hat on Pinterest, called the Rainbow Beanie, which linked to a tutorial. I love me a granny square project on the side of the knitting, it is all about playing with scraps of color. I figured why not use leftover yarns from Zoe's blanket to make her one.The tutorial itself comes down on the super chatty side of things, but it'll get you going.  Sometimes less is more, in the instructions, if you know what I mean. The hat itself is a keeper- and gets pulled out of the  basket by the front door with some regularity.  Year round, whether she needs a hat or not (I am sure many would agree with her, that you always need a hat).  I am tempted to make a less Grateful Dead-ish one for myself, like Fiorella by Courtney Kelley. Though I suspect it'll still have that hippiechick look on me.(Even worse, aging stuck in time hippiechick. Not a pretty category).

This photo was  in my Instagram feed (I am @galezucker on Instagram), it's part of a series I started 18 months ago  #dailyzoe   Zoe, the easiest kid on earth has one thing she is particular about. It began as soon as she could point and grunt. She likes to put together her own clothing. She has opinions.  Since I care not at all what people think of her outfits, and she's been dressing herself since she 2, this works out well for us all.

It's more than a little overindulgent, I get that. But just as I always have a granny square project going on, I like to have a little photo series underway, something that I can keep adding to, that can be a signature of sorts, and a little bit of a challenge, trying to keep it from getting too repeititve . It's all shot on my phone cam,so it's short and sweet and easy to upload to Instagram and FB.It's a creative doodle, who doesn't love a creative doodle? You can see more at #dailyzoe  on Instagram.

november post 3: election day knitting

I assure you that I serve as an election official for reasons beyond this: it is the only day of the year that I am compelled to sit in one room all day long--and I can knit.

 My duties include reminding voters how to feed their ballots into the tabulator after they've filled in their choices  " up or down, either side works!",  helping them if it doesn't go in correctly "Sir? Sir? ...SIR! DON"T LEAVE!  YOUR BALLOT WAS REJECTED"......and handing out the little stickers.

Above, where I was, knit-wise, by around 5 pm. Later I got the sleeves to matching lengths, went through that floppy sloppy stage of attaching them to the body that had already been knit, had the satisfaction of getting it to that all under control, smugly working on the yoke stage--and then realized something was not.quite.right.   One of my underarms had no stitches under it. I am not sure how that happened. I'm hazarding a guess it was operator failure, not a pattern error.  

But let's not dwell on how I'll solve this , let's appreciate this yarn. Berroco Fiora in a silvery grey called Georgia. It's a cotton alpaca wool and viscose blend, has a beautiful glowy quality, feels amazing to knit and is exactly the right weight sweater for now.  I hope I get it off the needles and onto my back--with normal armpits ---soon.

november post 2: what's your sweater starting rule?

I loved reading the comments from yesterday's post regarding my scheming to knit the Holland sweater, while owning how slow my sweater-in-progress is going. To be fair, Mary Lou, who said I should make the new pattern but only after I finish the one at hand is so right. She knows the slo-mo project is a test knit I'm doing for her, for a book project we've been working on together....and she knows what happens once I get distracted. Trouble. It's a fabulous pattern, by the way, so I have no complaints.

Anyway, she didn't have to worry. I'm in the same camp as Michele/pdxKnitterati who said she has rules about cheating on her sweater underway (Ok she didn't put it that way, but you know that's what it is).  Until I read her comment, I didn't realize I have the same rule.  I'm fine with casting on a different kind of knit--I have a shawl, a scarf, a pair of socks, a blanket all in various stages of done--and various levels of challenging, if you know what I mean. Like, a scarf that needs me to count stitches and switch colors but a blanket that's super simple...but I'll only work on one sweater at a time. In fact I pretty much will only work on one of each kind of project at a time.
Am I alone? What are your personal  guidelines for starting projects? Isn't it funny how we make up rules for ourselves? (and, ummm, then break them?).

november post 1: holland pattern & fibrespace classes coming 11/12&13

I am thrilled to be teaching at Fibre Space in Alexandria VA Nov 12 & 13th 

Thurs evening 6-9 : SmartPhone Photoclass . Not just for knitters, bring a friend!

Fri 10-5  Photo for Knitters & Makers - Tips, tricks, shooting, editing, critiquing - we'll do it all, click links for both classes' details. Limited spaces left! See you there.

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Now, on with the show. Maybe it's the weather or the time of year or the glut of  tempting new patterns going by my field of vision, but I am super inspired to be knitting/making stuff.  For example, I shot this sweater, Holland, designed by Maureen Clark for Green Mountain Spinnery in August.  It has so many good points.

I'll confess, I tried on the sample, I couldn't resist. As you may know, I am shaped not at all like beautiful Josephine, shown here. And yet this sweater somehow looks great on both of us.  That's point 1.

Point 2 - the swingy shape. It's fun to wear. The sleeves are not wide, they are slim fitted, which is Point 3, it doesn't have that saggy baggy overall effect- it works the way Boxy does. The wide  soft V neckline is Point 4- you can wear with a collared shirt or a tank top. A crisp V neck is too preppy for my taste. You could dress this up. Even I could dress this up. It's that good.

Point 5 Beautiful details. The unfinished rolling edge collar, raglan sleeve,  sleeve embellishment stitches. Point 6 it's DK weight, so it's not too heavy yet it'll knit fairly quickly. It's shown in Green Mountain Spinnery Sylvan Spirit, a western (USA) Targee wool and tencel blend. (If you aren't familiar with the Spinnery , you should check them out. They've been doing Grown in the USA and breed specific, thoughtfully sourced yarns for decades, way ahead of the curve).  I love the tweedy gray.  Whatever I knit this sweater in, it's going to need to be tweedy. Maybe in their Mewesic yarn, which is soft and tweedy wool and comes in a really good denim-y shade called Blue Bayou . 

All this sounds so doable- but I am embarrassed to say I've been taking for-eh-vah to knit a simple DK weight sweater that I started in, oh, I dunno, August?  I am only happy that democracy will come to the rescue of my knitting, as I should be able to get some serious sweater time in while working as an election official on Tuesday, during this quiet local-races-only year.

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I just learned that NaBloPoMo is a general thing (I read it on BlogHer) not just a knitblogging thing, as I'd thought. And it stands for National Blog Posting Month.  My track record isn't great but my intentions are solid. I did decently in November 2009. Having just read over the entries from that month, I am cheered by knowing it's possible to come close (I made 25 posts) and also touched by that glimpse into my own life 6 years ago. Only six years! So many changes. 

 Come back and check on me while you're surfing around.   I might just stick with this blogging thing, how about you?

 

contrariwise hat pattern shout out...and more

I have been photographing a lot of knitwear. Like, a lot. For designers, for yarn companies, for Vogue Knitting, for a new book with myself, Kirsten Kapur and Mary Lou Egan. The best part is...knitwear. The worst part is not being able to show what I have been doing, or blab, or y'know, otherwise spill the beans.

The best part of the worst part is a day like today, waking up to an email from designer Elizabeth Elliott, saying she just released Contrariwise, this great hat pattern I shot for her in August. So, now I can share it. And the worst part of the best part of the worst part is...I couldn't cancel today's schedule to just cast on and knit one for myself.  (More views on her Ravelry pattern page, linked above). And a big kiss to the GCafe in New Haven for letting us use their beautiful- and air conditioned- interior.

In other news, bullet version
• thanks to all who commented on the giveaway for the Knitless book, the winner has been notified

• Sadly,  I'll be missing the annual wingding of a weekend known as Rhinebeck, the NY Sheep & Wool Festival.  Too many complications and time conflicts in this modern life.  Ironically, this is a year when I was on track to finish a new sweater... in your best Marlon Brando voice please, I coulda been a contenduh .

• Kay & Ann are back, blogging at Mason Dixon Knitting.   Go say howdy and sign up for their newsletter. It's downright heartwarming to read the two of them at it again. I hope it's contagious, this return to blogging. Hint hint this means you. And you. Yes, you too.

• If you are getting psyched for Rhinebeck or, like me, are wistfully watching from a distance, the video compilation I made of my Rhinebeck Style photoshoot is still up for viewing. I'm pretty sure this is never going to appear as a book--my original intention--as it hopefully asserts at the end. I may still come up with some sort of format so all of you who so generously posed can get something more permanent out of the project. Stay tuned. In it for the long haul, I am. So many handknits. So many smiles.....

book review & giveaway: Knitless by Laura McFadden

So, I was going to tell you how I'm not so much of a big stash person.....

I made the photo above-not the cover-and the photography in the book is NOT by me- but nice and colorful!

Then I decided to  set up this shot and basically, all I did was grab a couple of bags that were within reach of my desk. Not, like, the only bags of yarn in my office.  I realized a lot of yarn has accumulated.....let's just say, I do indeed have a stash.
  Laura McFadden's crafty book Knitless: 50 N0-Knit , Stash-Busting Yarn Projects  is full of ideas for us. Some  projects are quickies, some take time and concentration.  She is an experienced crafter in many media, so she brings in paper arts, jewelry, embroidery, coil and coin rugs, macrame--and more that mix it up. Nary a knit or crochet pattern in here. Perfect opportunity to stretch your craft muscles a little while using up yarn that is lying fallow. 

photos courtesy of Running Press, from Knitless

Some projects offer a technique or idea that you can roll with, like the yarn covered bicycle, or a yarn-bombed chair that has pre-knit/crocheted recycled components. Love, love, love. (Warms my CraftActivism heart).  Some give you ideas to use yarn gobbling elements, like pompoms--I'm thinking the PomPom Covered Slippers would make a great gift, and fun in the process, as well.

Other projects are more "Make and Take"--detailed instructions to make a specific item, complete with templates for re-creating the piece, exactly.  This kind of crafting isn't my jam, but it has huge appeal for those who want to try a new craft successfully,  and when you want a project you can claim as done by the end of the day.   Coming off of making a book with 28 projects in it, all knitting, I tip my hat to the author for putting together fifty projects with clear instructions and photos. 

No Knit Quick Scarf photo courtesy of Running Press, Knitless

This is a book I'll keep on the shelf for a day when I feel like messing around and making something but I'm not sure what.  The No-Knit Quick Scarf  (above) is so simple it's crazy- I have seen a cheapo version in a store and loved it. I can imagine it with a leftover single skein of something delicious like Malabrigo Rasta. 

String Art Lamp photo courtesy of Running Press, Knitless

What else might I be creating from in here? The 70-'s retro string art lamp brings back memories of trying this with my mom--I didn't have much patience at the time, mine was a disaster.  I'm so tempted to try again now in my more, um, mature  version of my craftng self.

GIVEAWAY !  Want a copy of Knitless: 50 No-Knit, Stash Busting Yarn Projects by Laura McFadden? Leave a comment below, by midnight September 20, 2015.  
Since I am still using the frustrating yet free Blogger platform, you'll need to include or spell out your email (as in MeATcraftqueenDOTcom) or else Blogger will make you impossible to reach.

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This book was sent to me by Running Press, the publisher. The above review  (unless you just skipped to the giveaway and if so--shame on you) is my unbiased opinion. If I didn't like it, you wouldn't be reading about it.

The blog tour for the book continues , here's the run down:

9/15 Pretty Things

9/17 She Shoots Sheep Shots

9/18 Knit and Nosh

9/19 Knitty Gritty Savings

9/20 ZakkaLife

9/21 Lorelei’s Blog

9/22 CraftGossip Knitting

9/23 Wendy Knits

9/24 Cut Out + Keep

9/25 Think Crafts!

9/26 Our Daily Craft

9/27 The Crafty Princess Diaries

9/28 Delia Creates

summer 2015 making report

I was making many things this summer. Except for, obviously, blogposts.

Sweet rowboat that carried us ashore on Nash Island at the start of summer. Waaaay overdue blogpost about that weekend.

A great deal of my making this summer surrounded a very special book project. It's a beautiful knitting book, from Clarkson Potter, but it won't be out for a year (tap.tap.tap. i'mma gonna wear a hole in the table drumming my fingers in anticipation).

 Here's a photo from the wrap of the book shoot, at the end of some very long steamy photo days. We cleverly ended on the beach...and we also unconsciously dressed as if we planned it. Cute group, right? You're probably recognizing my co-authors Kirsten Kapur  and Mary Lou Egan and the rest of the crew and models who all worked their tushes off.

Aaaannnd a super dorky BTS moment. There are wonderful shots of us working but all show too much, I can't spill the beans on the knits. Very  frustrating!  I have been proud of every book I've worked on but this one is going to be so freakin' good and you will want to knit everything in it. I already am.... That's all I am saying on it for now.

A quick report on the general activities, making and more:
- knitting-- yup yup. Finished two hats, a shawl, a cowl or two- that right there is a couple of blogposts of material, right? and now I'm  on a sweater--in my mind I've lined up my next 4 projects. I don't have enough knitting time lately but I am so in the mood. There's a new Fringe Hat a-long, and yarn from last autumn...and and and and...

The aforementioned yarn, from Rhinebeck last year. With Bobo's paws, just because.

-stitching- major fail. No progress on the Alabama Chanin projects, and despite swearing I'd crack out the ol' Singer, and make at least one Sonya Philip tunic, and some cute little frocks for Zoe, who couldn't be more appreciative and excited to have me make things for her...nope. The weather has been way too good for weeks, I can't bear to be inside. Plus, see making a book, above.

- books -most recently A Constellation of Vital Phenomenona by Anthony Marra , one of the best I've read...period. Fiction, brilliant, moving. Go get it.

- swimming- every day at the beach, still. Fingers crossed to make it into October this year. 

- reconnecting with old friends- yup. In June,with dear but farflung college friends , then in July,  my high school reunion-- a really down to earth and fun one, where the kids I hung with in 3rd and 4th grade and I all wondered why we lost touch in high school and  became our old selves again. It was eye and heart opening.  Highly recommend making the leap.

- traveling-- not so much! which let me hang around the 'hood and enjoy all the beach days, get to pick all the fruits as they come into season and cook and picnic and host visitors  and attend summery events like weekly outdoor music . I'm off ot Maine next week though, and looking forward to teaching Making Digital Photo Collages at  Fiber College.*

- shooting more knits and yarn and people -- yup. It's my job but I never get tired of it. Wait'll you see some of the new designs I've shot lately, and some amazingly talented new clients.

- blogging--well, as I said at the top, definitely failing. I 'm on Instagram a lot, and it's just too easy to neglect blogging...time to get back in the habit.

- teaching-- the Photo Editing webinar from Interweave is at last available reliably from the link. I teach it live too, in person, whenever you want me to...just give a shout.  And, I'm going to be at Fibre Space in November. yay!

So what have you been making? What's next on your list?

*still room in my class. C'mon up and join me!

upcoming: say cheese!

In June, stones on Nash Island.
I may need to re-post this from time to-time, it's  a visualization of my mantra this summer: One stone at a time. Although Anne Lamott says it better.

Here it is mid-summer. Though there's mucho to blab about, instead I'm linking some upcoming classes/events/workshops.

-  Fiber College in Searsport Maine, September 9-13. The only thing that makes the end of summer bearable is looking forward to this creative gathering on beautiful Penobscot Bay. As in past years, I am collaborating with Beverly Army Williams to teach two new classes that combine photography and writing for your creative business (and creative life...not limited to those with businesses).  We are doing  Making Your Social Media Twinkle (yes..twinkle) on Friday, and Selling your Products Online, on Saturday. I am also teaching Photo Editing class, Sunday morning, which will leave you able to optimize and all around make your photos fanatastic-and no Photo Shop needed.  Class descriptions and registration info here.  Fiber College is an unusual, artful, affordable and always inspiring. Maine is stunning in September, by the way. Join us. 

- Say Cheese: A Foodie & Photo Workshop Day--  new & different and truly delicious, this one. I am teaming up with longtime friend and food professional Arline Conigliaro in Lawrenceville NJ to offer two sessions of this artisanal cheese-making, nibbling, wood fired personal pizza crafting and phone photography day...details here. 
 If you know any food bloggers or folks who  like to photograph beautiful food before eating it- and post the results online--pass this on!
Two sessions_ Sunday August 9 and Monday August 10 . Bring friends! 

3rd Thimble Isles Knitting Cruise July 21- ahoy!

Sailing by with a quick post, sorry this is of interest only to those within striking distance of Connecticut

there are no bad views from the Volsunga, our vessel

Ok mateys- Get your ticket now for the 2015 Thimble Islands Knitting Cruise, July 21st, Tuesday 6-8 pm leaving from the Stony Creek Dock in Branford CT.    Cruising, knitting and snacking included for $25. by Paypal*.  Handy dandy button at end of this post.  We've got 12 seats left, grab a project and bring a friend.

knitting friend Beth who (sob) left us for the pacific nw, on the 1st cruise in 2012

montage from last year's cruise

I know it's hubris but I'll say it anyway:  It's definitely the most seaworthy daytrip in the knitting world. Plus: fun and relaxing and great company.

Pretty sure we have pioneered knitting, yarn winding and drop spindling on the Volsunga.

Use the button to buy your ticket  via Paypal*, I'll send you a confirming email.
A few deets
• we cruise rain or shine, the Volsunga has an awning covering it, and lights.
• space is limited and we usually sell out.
• BYOB, we'll have fabulous snacks and seltzer/lemonade. I recommend gin and tonic, it goes well with salt air and peeping at the island homes,  but that's just me ;-)
• parking can be tricky in the village of Stony Creek so try to carpool and definitely aim to arrive early so you can walk down to the dock by 5:45

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If you don't use Paypal and want to send me a check or some other payment method, shoot me an email at ezisusATsnet.net