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/
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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.

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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.

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I'm Moving!

And to this house although it does not look like this anymore!

For more than half my life I have lived in my small studio in Folly Cove. I put out an open sign, made jewelry and waited. I forgot about the days of open ended time where I could experiment and not feel the pressure to have something "saleable" by the end of the day. All that changed at SPA in Portland Maine about four years ago. Now held in Freeport, the event continues to be a high point for New England fiber enthusiasts. Motivated by my time there I have expanded my line of shawl pins and added my Cable Needle Necklaces, Flame eyed yarn sewing needles with much more to come as soon as I redo my site. RoseAnn Hunter and continue to expand our traveling for teaching. The above left photo shows examples of our "Wire and Wool Jewelry Class" that combines simple techniques from both our disciplines.

With all this in mind, I realized I needed a bigger place so I could host workshops. Ideally it would be walking distance from the Rockport train station and from the shopping area of Rockport itself. As I finish redoing the house I can focus on making all this happen. Not being open except by appointment frees up energy for new directions.

Redoing a house is a new experience for me which involves many decisions some of which I may have to live with for the rest of my life. I knew there would be some I might regret but never the choice of this house which fulfills all my criteria. I will let nothing undermine the joy I feel in this new beginning.

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Leslie

MA Sheep and Wool Here I Come

I love this show! I love the fairgrounds setting that has a Brigadoon feeling to me. I love that I get to visit with Judy from Ball and Skein and spend two days in the company of her gorgeous yarn.

The above photo shows my new shawl closures. The Button and the Trillium designs need either a YO or picot to button through. The other two designs are made to slip through a knitted or crocheted garment as long as the needle size is around a 6 or larger. These closures represent my trend toward designs that do not require a separate stick.

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Leslie

My First Yarn Crawl

This past Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday I basically lived at Coveted Yarn in Gloucester MA, a mere 15 minutes from my house! Needless to say the view was outstanding. I am referring to the shop's plethora of amazing yarn but also the the parade of fashions I witnessed made by the "crawlers". My favorite item was a scarf in progress that was double knitted in two different variegated yarns using a simple graphic design. Carol, the genius knitter, sat on the couch as we clustered around to watch her knit down a row complete with commentary.
The only downside was my table was less than three feet from the overflowing candy bowl. I took on the job of refilling it throughout the four days. I did my level best to make sure I was needed for the task.
Many thanks to Rob, Laurel, Astrid, Magda and the rest of the crew for a woolly warm time during the raw, rainy crawl. A special thanks to Courtney at the Seed Stitch in Salem, MA for putting this all together.
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Leslie

Odessa ? - Feb. 25, 2010

The minute you let a pet into you life you know this day will come but you don't know when. I had scooped her up from a colony of feral cats living nearby in a state park. I picked the calico because she was pregnant and Odessa because I strongly suspected she was her mother or a least her aunt. The year was 2001 and my own mother has just died. That brought the count up to three cats, a nice normal number.
Today I had to put her down. It is a surreal process. Having done this before made it easier. Having had both parents and a brother die reframed the perspective. Knowing that I had brought her in to live an easier albeit more confined life helped.
How we deal with loss says a lot about us. I think I lived avoiding loss for a long time. I now see that cheated me out of things and people I truly would have enjoyed had the fear of loss not overshadowed the potential of joy. So in this moment I am surprisingly OK. In this moment....
I have jokingly said that the reason God did not make dogs and cats to live as long as parrots is that no one would get married. Each pet comes into our lives to help us through the time we have together. How lonely a journey it would be without them.
Miss you my Dessabella.