Finding inspiration

Where do you find inspiration? I’ve been dyeing a lot of yarn lately, restocking favorite colors as well as looking for new sources of inspiration. I saw this incredible cauliflower at the farmer’s market. I had to buy it because of the color. Instead of cooking it for dinner I spent time arranging it with various things in my kitchen. Then I began to see the bag of tangerines in a whole new light too. I love the way they look against the green/blue of the bowl. I had so much fun playing with the fruits and veggies I sent my husband out for take-out.

Fire

February seems like the perfect month to celebrate “Fire”. Fire has so many associations. There is fire as in emotional fire; passion and Valentine’s Day coming right up and something actually on fire, accidental or otherwise. Fire in fireplaces, in campfires, forest fires, gas stoves burning, smoke, candle light, flames, burnt toast, songs about fire, ring of fire, come on baby light my fire, flowers named after fire, sparks, fire in gemstones, firey redheads, …. After a fire there is renewal, healing, green lush vegetation, calm, a starting over.

Why am I thinking about fire?? The SolidSocks group on Ravelry is having a Fire themed KAL and I’ve just dyed a bunch of yarns all based on some aspect of Fire for them. Take a look. (P.S. They are all 20% off for the month of Feb while supplies last.)

Pumpkin Pie!

Just in time for Thanksgiving…….. two limited edition colorways:

Hachiya Persimmon

Pumpkin Pie

Thanksgiving is about my favorite holiday.

2011 Sock Yarn Club

Club YARN !! details for the 2011 Handwerks Sock Yarn Club are now up and open for sign up here. The 2011 club is inspired by 4 California destinations. I’m hitting all the high points – mountains of Lake Tahoe basin; northern rugged coastline of Bodega Bay;  inland central Death Valley; and fun in the sun Santa Monica, southern California beach living.  I’ll be dyeing and shipping yarns in Feb, May, Aug and November, giving you enough time to knit the wonderful sock pattern that will come in each mailing.

Four seems just right, not too many so you are always behind… I hate that… and not so few that you are bored twiddling your thumbs in between. 

Come join the fun, sign ups are open.

Crown of Leaves

This has been an amazing week. First it was Labor Day, hooray a  3-day weekend; then I got daughter back off to college; and then Hunter Hammersen released the free Gramercy sock pattern in Sock Plus 8.  Now, I see that the Fall 2010 Twist Collective issue is out with Faina Goberstein’s lovely Crown of Leaves hat pattern in Classic DK Tropical Seas….! 

Its gorgeous! Crown of Leaves

TNNA

I’m having an amazing time at TNNA.  (The National NeedleArts Association) The conference goes from June 12-14.  I’ve been in classes all day learning about teaching kids to knit, color trends and fashion forecasts, developing a plan for knitting samples, and choosing patterns that flatter you. I’ve even met some of my customers and made friends with new shop owners. There is so much to take in. There is going to be a fashion show this evening and an ice cream party hosted by Ravelry ! yeah!

I’m picking up ideas for improving my website and developing new colorways.

update from home:

TNNA was a wonderful experience. It was interesting to see the inside view of the yarn industry and how big name yarn companies promote their yarns. I had never really thought of the yarn industry as a fashion industry before but I can see now the connection and efforts taken to create knitwear designs based on runway fashions and trends. I usually look at yarns and knitting from the “how to” point of view and don’t always care if I am in style or not. I met many nice people and had a chance to reconnect with old friends and customers.

Dyeing Workshop

5/21/2010 Today I was notified by the retreat organizers that the retreat has been canceled. I don’t know anything more about the situation but if you had signed up, contact the organizers directly.

5/20/2010 The workshop has been put on hold while the company organizing it deals with some issues. I’m waiting to see what the outcome is before I move forward with more plans.

I’m so excited to be teaching a 2 day dye workshop in Chicago, November 12-14. There is also a Ravelry group set up for the retreat with more information here Hand Dyeing Retreat.

There will be plenty of hands on time, dyeing yarns with different techniques as well as time for knitting with hand dyed yarns. We’ll be exploring methods of developing colorways, sources for color inspiration, and how to get the knitted results that you want.

The workshop is limited to 20 people.