A Shanty House Warming

 With Cameron's Restaurant now closed, Three Sheets has nowhere to sing until we find another pub to host us. In our third week as nomads I decided that  I could host the group and make it a low key house warming/ Shanty singing night.  And so I did. It was not all I had envisioned it would be but it was. That it happened is what is important.  And I would love to do it again in better weather when we can sit outside instead of being crammed  into a room that seemed large until everyone showed up.
Blog On!
Leslie

Stitches West here I Come

This coming week I head to CA for the biggest Stitches yet. This is thanks to Intwined Pattern Studio. As a company that sells knitting software they don't need tons of room to show off their product. All I need is a card table, a chair or two plus my tools and shawl pins, of course. This is a long way to go so I am "bare bonesing" the display. And forgoing my clothing fantasy. At Stitches East I met Gryphon. If you knit her site is a treasure chest. I saw her first at the hotel coffee shop. As you can see from the photo her outfits were inspiring. I wish she gave a workshop in Wardrobe Organization and Style.

Blog On!

Leslie

Greeting Card from a Man Who Knows Women Who Knit

Illustrated by Teresa Burns Parkhurst for oatmeal studios
shows a point of view I wish I had come to earlier in my life. Although there are no scars on anyone, I would have a lot of sweaters, scarves and hats
to show at this point.
"Forge our swords into knitting needles"
Blog On!
Leslie

PS- Image used with permission of Oatmeal Studios. All rights reserved.

Shawlette by Darcy Knotty Knitter, Slide by Me

I have Darcy to thank for the motivation for this new idea. She made me this mini shawl of the most scrumptious yarn. The size didn't need much to keep it in place so I thought up this slide. I am making many versions to take to Stitches West. Nothing like having thousands of knitters pass by your booth and offer their honest opinion to know if you are on to something....or not.

Blog On!

Leslie

My Work at Vogue Knitting Live! Booth #1500

Thank you Chris from http://www.myfavoritethimble.com/ for making space at your booth in Americas Hall 1 at the Hilton in NYC. Chris said to mention that there are two halls on two different floors so make sure that if you get there you see the whole show.
There is nothing like the creative energy at these shows. First there is the array of fantastic fiber arts products. It is not uncommon for me to develop an interest in something to which I was previously indifferent due to seeing a display. Then there is the endless parade of creations on attendees and show personnel as well. As I like to say, "This is the only situation that you can fondle the garment of a stranger and not end up in jail!"
Check out the show's site at http://www.vogueknittinglive.com/
Blog On!
Leslie

The Balsams Grand Hotel Revisited

It is only fitting that my last post was about RoseAnn's and my time at The Balsams Grand Resort Hotel and my next entry shows our return trip to that amazing place. In between I have changed, by my own choice, much in my life. This is not the first time in my life I have felt like the last person in the line in a game of whip. This memory is from my grammar school days at the Whitman School in Brockton, MA. The game starts innocently enough by forming a line of kids all holding hands. The leader starts running with the line snaking behind. When the leader stops the line swings in an arch. Whoever is the last person is moved at speeds usually beyond their ability. Any sense of control is gone. I have moved from a house I had lived in for more than thirty years, changed my viewpoint of my business that I have carried for over forty years and updated a sense of self that is older than both the previous attitudes.

Here are RoseAnn and I in the Ballot Room at Dixville Notch, NH, the first reporting precinct in the nation. The wall is full of mostly black and white photos of political dignitaries. The Balsams in general has an historic feel to it but this room feels like the hub of all that.

Blog On!

Leslie

Back from The Balsams!

RoseAnn and I just returned from almost a week away. The bulk of that time was spent as artists in residence at The Balsams Resort in NH. Never having experienced anything quite like this I am thinking now of how I could be better prepared if the chance comes around again. So much about it was over the top. Just to sit out on the porch with that "Edenistic "view and watch the parade of hummingbirds is magic. It took me a few days to figure out how to control myself in the dining room. With the possible exception of a wedding or other special event, I have never encountered food of that calibre.

As artists in residence we were available during the day to demonstrate. We also chose to teach and found that several of the children were quick learners. Sorry to say that I missed photographing Conner's red wool rose complete with leaves that he made as a pin for his mother.

I split my time between making ornaments in bronze and copper and a crochet project with the yarn I had won at the CGOA Professional Day.

My next post will focus on the Green Mountain Rug Hooking Guild meeting where we taught.

Blog On!