priorities

February break is in full swing. This year has felt like one long winter vacation with all of our snow days. My kids and I aren't complaining- we love cozy days and any excuse to hang out together. There's a ton of baking, music making, and crafting going on… I just don't have the ability to chronicle it the way I used to (thank goodness for Instagram).  Being a single mother has impacted blogging regularly, but it hasn't altered my priorities around time with my children. In fact, I believe it's only strengthened my desire to give them everything I've got. This love flows out to their friends too… which must be why we always have a full house! And why I might find myself ironing yards and yards of rainbow chevron fabric for a curtain making project.

Yesterday while snowed in, again, we stayed in pajamas to sew and knit… for hours. Listening to music and talking while handcrafting inspire a deep connecting that I want my daughter and her friends to experience.  I'm not opposed to technology for this next generation, but I'm determined to expose them to the kind of communication that doesn't involve hashtags. There is an art to sharing time together- and I believe it is our job to teach our children how to "operate without screens", as well as with them.

Connecting with a community online will most likely be part of their future, as it is ours right now while you read this. Showing these sweet girls what quiet REAL TIME TOGETHER feels like is essential. 

Laura's Knockout Knits

I'm going from "quiet" in my last post to shout... because I'm so thrilled for Laura Nelkin! She's one of the most talented women I know- and also happens to be my dearest friend. Last week her first book, Knockout Knits, was published- and she launched it locally on Friday night with great fanfare... and a very special cake!

 It's a beautiful thing to witness someone you adore in a moment of success and triumph... and as her "official" photographer of the event, I saw the celebration both through the lens of love and also with the objectivity of documentation.

This book is a perfect example of who Laura is- inspirational, clear, funny, innovative and totally clever. We learned to knit on the same day... well, she caught on a little more quickly, as you can guess! And it's been a beautiful ride watching her grow into the sensation she is today. I still prefer my sewing machine, but Knockout Knits and the chill in the air is calling me back to my needles. The projects start out simple and accessible, with skill- building intrinsic to each pattern. From sweet boot toppers to complex lace...

With the holidays insight (shhhhh! I didn't say that!), it's nice to have a book filled with gorgeous accessories to knit up as gifts. My daughter and her best friend are campaigning for the Cha-Ching mitts on the cover. We shall see... mine does have a winter birthday coming up! Check out Laura's post today for more pics of the event... including the Cha-Ching girls!

LOVE giveaway #2: ribband in ruby

 It had been far too long since I hosted a giveaway... so for my Valentine to all of you, I've organized a week long celebration of gift giving from some of my favorite people. Their offerings are varied and wonderful, and I'm so happy that they've asked me to share them with YOU!
May I present LOVE giveaway #2: The Ribband Kit in ruby for heart day.

 Ribband is a versatile knitted jewelry piece: it is a 32 inch long beaded strand that can be worn as both a multi-looped bracelet or a necklace. Based on 4 stitches of knitting this is knitted beaded jewelry at it’s easiest!

My dear (dearest) friend Laura of Nelkin Designs is so GOOD, but especially when it comes to yarn and beads. She's lovingly offering this kit to one of you. If you're a knitter it should be a breeze... if not, I bet you know someone who could whip it up for you.


MATERIALS Included in Kit

16 yds Alpaca with A Twist Fino in Ruby
(Fino is a 70% alpaca/ 30% silk lace weight yarn)
Hook and Eye Clasp
390 Size 8 Glass Beads
64 4mm Czech Crystal Beads
Dental Floss threader for threading the beads onto the yarn
Ribband pattern which is necessary for working with this kit.

The kit is packaged in a perfectly sized organza drawstring pouch that can be used as gift packaging once you finish your necklace!

To see more pics and read more, please visit here.
To enter in the giveaway, leave your name and a way to reach you in this post before 2/22 at 8pm EST. The winner will be randomly selected and announced on 2/23.

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snow munchkin

We moved here for the seasons... so this "not so white" winter  hasn't felt right. As the temperatures plummeted this weekend, a sense that all was well and as it should be settled in throughout our home and the world outside.  The snow and bitter cold gave me just the right incentive to finish up some woolen projects. Laura had come over last week for some fireside knitting and wine. With her patience and help, I stretched out my fingers and began knitting The Munchkin for my daughter. It's the perfect quick knit. I'm rusty and out of practice, so I had wanted a super easy pattern with very chunky yarn. My daughter wanted a purple hat with ear flaps. It met both our needs.

By midweek, my decreases got a bit wonky, and I ripped and began again. I started to get worried that it would join the other unfinished knitting projects in my bucket. The arrival of snow lit a fire under my needles and after a second false start, I opted to plug on through rather than sort my mistakes- like a good knitter should (forgive me Laura). I just wanted to get it on her head already. It was a good choice... no regrets.

She's quite happy and loves it so much... so the little "oops" will stay as reminders of the snow-filled weekend we finished it up in. Perfectionism- take that! The most important thing after her pleasure-  her warmth! It's totally toasty, even after frolicking in our arctic conditions. Let the winter games begin!

Rhinebeck

Rhinebeck is such a huge and vast festival, but it felt almost cozy being surrounded by so many blissed out people, all happily dressed in their hand knit woolens. My experience was completely shaped by my company. I hadn't had any time with My Laura in so long, plus I got the gift of deepening my connection with her incredible friend, Caitlin. Don't you love when friends share friends!?  Spending 36 uninterrupted hours with lovely women: new friends, old friends, virtual-friends-now-made-real-friends...it's food for the soul. An added treat was a pub evening with lots of fun fiber women including my Squammie sisters: Jill and Cal. Big thanks to Julibeth and Peter, the most gracious hosts ever!
And then there were the sweet and delightful creatures...

The wool inspiration was wonderful, as you can imagine. There were thousands of dazzling and beautiful jewel-toned skeins of yarn as far as the eye could see. However, my lens was utterly faithful to the constant palette of undyed and plant dyed fibers that I find so delicious.

Two of the booths that whispered to me the most insistently were the above: Fiber Craft Studio and Fromm.Christine Fromm (below) is hands down one of the most skilled, clever and artful refashioners I have ever met. She has an absolute gift! Each of her one of a kind pieces is stunning. I didn't take any photos of them, just lovely Christine! But you must check out her incredible capes/shrugs, dresses, and hats on the top left portion of her site. She uses the details of deconstructed sweaters in the most brilliant way. Be prepared to have your breath taken away.

Thanks Rhinebeck... dreaming of next year!

Everyone is a winner!

Hope you all had a great weekend! It's with great pleasure that I get to announce the winners of the Craft Hope give-away. Now only one reader will actually have the book sent to her mailbox, but each of you will get to make one of the projects from within Craft Hope!  Lark has generously given me the instructions for Betsy Greer's  fingerless gloves( in PDF format) for sharing with all of you. Yay! It feels a little like everyone wins, doesn't it!You can download it right here.

And the book winner is: Kelly
"I would love a copy of this book, it's one I keep thinking I need for my collection. My girl scouts would have a great time helping out organizations with the ideas."

Congratulations! Please send me your mailing info so that I may pass it on to the publishers.

BIG thanks to Betsy and Lark!

Sally Rabbit's New Scarf

 

Today is a brand new day! Thanks for all of your loving thoughts last night and this morning. My daughter is doing quite well and my family is living with a bit more awareness and gratitude about each moment. Sally Rabbit has a brand new scarf and I have a brand new knitter*. I've gone from feeling like a so-so knitter to feeling like a knitting super star in my daughter's eyes. There is magic in what our children teach us.

*A little note about my knitting 5 year old... she has been finger knitting for almost a year, along with tons of other handcrafts (embroidery, braiding, weaving, lanyards, etc.). I believe she picked it up the needles quickly because of her intense desire and previous practice with textile crafts. Needless to say, she's hooked. After we bound off the scarf, we cast on for Sally Rabbit's new blanket. More pink.

Today

Our day started like any other...  but on  the way down to breakfast, my daughter slipped and hit her head. Hard. She was not being careless, nor going too fast. It just happened. In one second our day shifted. That's sometimes how it goes. 

After ice packs, arnica, and a loving lap had done their trick... a request came in. "Can I learn how to knit today?" Now this wasn't the first time my girl had asked, but I stopped knitting around the time I started blogging, and haven't felt very confident in my rusty abilities. When my teary eyed daughter asked today, I got out the soft pink yarn she had been coveting. I didn't even bother with the good beginning needles. I tried what I had in my basket... a circular 6 and we just went for it. I figured she'd hold the needles with me and we'd make her a garter stitch scarf together. I underestimated the deftness of those little 5 year old fingers. After several rows, she GOT IT! In order to have her feel some speedier gratification, I cast on (with bigger needles) for a teeny tiny scarf for her bunny (who had hit her head, too). We sat side by side knitting our pink scarves, and I smiled at the strange twist our day had taken.

Hours later, when her head began to ache everywhere, her doctor sent us fleeing to the emergency room.  I grabbed my keys... and gathered that pink yarn up, too. When my husband arrived at the hospital, he found us all quiet and relaxed. My son had a book and we had our pink scarves. Thankfully, our girl is just fine.

I doubt we'll ever forget the day she learned to knit... 

in the studio with Laura Nelkin

Laura wearing: Tower of Flames

I'm so happy to introduce you to one of my favorite women in the world. Don't you love meeting new friends? Well, go grab a cup (or a wineglass) of something good and settle in for a little chat with Laura Nelkin, an incredibly accomplished knitwear designer who lives down the road from me. Laura's distinct designs have earned her quite a following, and although she remains quiet and humble about her success... I'm her best friend so I get to toot her horn! Laura's incredible creativity, mixed with a keen sense of business, makes her my go-to person for all questions regarding my current projects. It doesn't hurt that she's a sweet, lovely and totally fun person to be with, too. So I'd love to let to share her with you!

-What led you to knitwear design and why is it the perfect medium for your creativity?
I’ve always been a crafter and entrepreneur. My Mom likes to talk about how she sold my woven ribbon barrettes with beads (like these) at her hair dressers when I was 8. After spending my teens, sewing crafting, and working with glass, I ended up going to Cornell University and gained an extensive background in Apparel Design and Textile Science. I hardly ever sew or weave anymore, but when I do, I realize how much knowledge I have stashed away in the recesses of my mind that isn’t being used (right now anyway, but I have plans!) I worked in the apparel industry for a bit and then had my own textile design company. Then my daughter was born, and I starting attending A LOT of play dates. Another mom taught me how to knit and I was hooked, I had found a way to be creative, AND be able to take my “work” with me wherever I went. Oh, and it turns out that designing knitwear is a ginourmous brain twister that exercises my math brain, and I LOVE MATH! Then I discovered that an awesome handpainted yarn company was 6 miles away from my house on country roads. I knocked on their door, and now I am their design director (it’s a dream job.) Knitting: it’s portable, it feels good , it can make your brain hurt (in a good way) and it’s social… perfect for me!-You are considered the lace bead guru/expert... what inspires you about this combination?
Hmm, I wouldn’t consider myself that AT ALL, I feel like such a newbie sometimes… I am constantly learning , and keep realizing just how much I don’t know yet. I am REALLY drawn to texture in my work, the addition of beads with yarn adds another dimension that allows me to stretch the boundaries of texture more than with just yarn. I do, though, try to make sure all of my designs work without beads, as I know bling isn’t for everybody.

Entemology: Laura's extremely popular new pattern. Free at Knitty.

-Do you have a favorite time of day to create?
That's a two-pronged answer. I typically come up with ideas while doing random nothings like taking a shower or washing the dishes, but my best design/work time is when I am ALONE, typically after 10 at night. (This can be really fun in the moment, but a super big bummer the next morning when we have to get up for work/school).

-What are the keys to keeping a balance between your work and family?
I am trying to learn how to “stop” and be aware of myself in each moment. For example, I recently moved my computer out of the kitchen and into a separate room so I have to intentionally walk there to go to work. I still automatically gravitate towards it, but I'm working on making sure I am making the decision to go to it, not just blindly seeking the glow of my screen. I'm also really aware this summer that I am being a “good mother” when I ditch work and go ride our bikes for ice cream, go to the lake on a whim, or catch a play. I am (we are) having a REALLY good time embracing the “good mother” in me!

-What is your favorite tool of your trade?
For work I am torn between my lightweight .25 cent garage sale metal swift, that I use often for winding yarn, and my computer. I have a healthy respect for my computer and in no way want to offend it by forgetting to mention it here!

Laura wearing the Jamie Lee

-Favorite season?
What I really love about seasons is the change, particularly the color. From winter to spring I have these favorite days where everything is this wet, rusty red-brown and you can just tell it wants to explode. All of a sudden, almost hour by hour, little bits of green emerge and in less than a week the grey and brown world we were living in is GREEN... it never ceases to amaze me. But to answer the question, winter. It just feels right to curl up and knit on the couch! Even though knitting is my work, I haven’t gotten over this guilty feeling when I sit down in the middle of the day to knit. In the winter I don’t feel the guilt as much as I do when it's a gorgeous spring day.

-Favorite food?
I love my carbs, but also REALLY love Greek yogurt with peaches or watermelon in it.

-Fave drink?
Coffee (decaf) and red wine, it’s a tie!

Fave article of clothing?
-My jeans… I wear jeans whenever I can!

-Summer reading?
Now:
*The Sharper Your Knife, the Less You Cry: Love, Laughter, and Tears in Paris at the World's Most Famous Cooking School by Kathleen Flinn (for Bookgroup)
*The Zookeeper’s Wife by Diane Ackerman (for Bookgroup)
Soon:
*Girl Who Played with Fire by Steig Larsson
*The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Anne Barrows

I’ll admit that I already read the whole Twilight series this winter (fondly known at my house as vampire crack.)

-Summer listening?
Music- Jonatha Brooke – ready for our road trip to NYC next week to see her? (my 40th birthday present from Laura)
Grassroots is this weekend and I am really excited to see Oumou Sangare with Bela Fleck, and 39 other great bands!
I also decided to listen to the archives of This American Life while I work on a secret design for the Year of Lace Club.

-Two random things most people don't know about you?
1. When I was 18 I toured around the country to see A LOT of Grateful Dead shows (it’s still funny to me that I never met you or my husband, though you two were doing the same thing at the same time!) (yes, I was a dead head!)
2. If I am ever stumped about something I head straight for the shower, 90% of the time I am clear and ready with a solution when I emerge.

Sweet giraffe print by Creative Thursday

Thanks Laura, we're all so lucky to have you as a special guest today. If you've got something on your needles right now... in other words, you knit... head over to check out Nelkin Designs for a full selection of patterns, some new beading tutorials, and a regular dose of Laura at her blog.

knittin' and drawin'

After my last post, a cold snap hit and we've all been enjoying more inside cozy time. My goal at the beginning of the week was to start knitting... the weather inspired me more than ever. My daughter has just about outgrown the mittens I made two years ago (size 2-4 really lasted). After many stops and starts in the form of gauge swatches and yarn changes, I am finally casting on tonight. I'll let you know how it goes, but I've selected a new-to-me washable merino wool, called Saphira. I bought it locally, but here's a link I found for you. Have you ever knit mittens before? It's fairly basic, and if they are for wee hands, they knit up quickly. I've collected way too many patterns... if I knitted non-stop for the rest of my life, I still wouldn't have used them all. Especially, since I always come back to the book pictured above, The Knitter's Handy Book of Patterns. It allows me the freedom to use whatever yarn I want, because each pattern is charted with multiple gauges. This book also gives ideas on how to customize each pattern to make it unique. Basically, it's a guide for the type of person who likes to create their own recipes with what they've already got stashed away... that's me! The super delicious alpaca (above) was too drapey for mittens...but makes a great hat (made one last year for another niece of mine...I have four). Blue was the request...guess that's obvious. If you're not a knitter, yet...this is a wonderful time of year to start. Because of upcoming holidays and winter weather, many knitters come out of the woodwork. Ask an experienced friend to get you started. Most knitters love giving help and advice.

My children and I have also been very busy drawing. the October Big Draw has had a big impact on our family. The next picture was taken this morning before breakfast...a spontaneous drawing session. There have been many!


My son hasn't been this interested in drawing since he was six or seven. We now spend regular evening hours side-by-side sketching in front of the the woodstove. It's become a magical part of our day and I don't want it to end when we move into November. I've included several of my drawings from the last week or so. You can find more in my photstream on flickr (in the sidebar).

retro robot:


concentrating:



knitting matryoshkas:


matryoshka family:

A number of readers have been writing in to say they've made various newspaper buntings or paper leaves...please consider joining the flickr pool of maya*made designs...here. I'd love to see them!

Check back soon...I've got a little tutorial coming up shortly.

fall knitty!

One of my dearest friends, Laura, is a knitwear designer (loladesigns) . She is currently the design director of Schaefer Yarn Company and is always coming up with incredible new pieces. I love seeing whatever she has on her needles, knowing it's destined to be some incredible new sock pattern or a gorgeous sweater I didn't even know I needed to have. She's prolific and even though we see each other a couple of times a week, I rarely catch her knitting the same thing twice! There are many (knitting) perks related to being Laura's close friend: late night calls when I get stuck with a pattern, hearing the latest news in the fiber world, being nudged to join Ravelry (even if I'm a bit overwhelmed by it's vastness), and most recently playing a little role in one of her successes. Her patterns are popping up everywhere and currently she has one featured in the Fall Knitty! It's this cozy sweater vest, the Abrazo.


We are each others cheerleaders, so Laura is fully aware of my current love with photography. She put her faith in me, and gave me an opportunity to practice my camera skills, by hiring me to do the Knitty photo shoot! It was a beautiful setting...


and we had a wonderful woman (Ms. Baxter) modeling. Here are a couple of the photos that didn't make the cut, but I still love.



Maybe you are a knitter and not familiar with Knitty... please, go grab a cup of something good and spend some time perusing their free patterns and wonderful articles. Not familiar with Ravelry? You'll need to sign up to receive an invitation, but once you're in... an entire knitting and crochet universe reveals itself. You'll need to bring a huge pot of tea or coffee before you sit down to check it out.

My knitting needles have been gathering dust for months, but this nippy weather (and Laura inspiring me) has my fingers itching to cast on. By the end of the week, I should be well into a new knitting project. I'm going public with this goal, so you can all be my witnesses.

On another note, I want to thank all of the friends that have been writing in to tell me that they've been enjoying using my tutorials. I'm thrilled to hear from you! I love creating them, but they can be time consuming...hearing that you've given them a try and seeing photos really makes it all worth while! I recently started a flickr group for you to share your photos of things you've created via maya*made. Please consider adding you photos to the pool...the more the merrier! You can also find the link in the sidebar.

Have a great start to your week!