Color Makes The World Go Round

I have done a lot of "work" related projects lately and haven't been able to post much about that work. I have spent a bit of time working on a couple of things for myself recently. There was an adorable blanket hanging at The Knit Cafe when I was in Toronto and I just wanted to make one too. For some time now I have been slightly obsessed with scrumbling and piecing bits of things together [perhaps that is why I like applique]. I can crochet to some limited degree but knitting is much faster for me. The beauty of this little blanket is that it is knit while still maintaining that sort of pieced together look. Here is version one in Cascade cotton.

Then trouble started when I wandered into a new shop [well, new to me], The Knitting Lab in Bernardsville, and I fell in love with Lumpy Bumpy Yarn by Charlene by Farmhouse Yarns. If I was obsessed before, then I probably need help now. The piece came out so funky! My neighbor, Jennifer, thought that it would look nice as a scarf. I think that I am set for winter. [Update: I think that I will use these circles to make a purse. Can't make up my mind!]

I've even added to my stash [shh, don't tell my anyone!]. I ordered some of SweetGeorgia's roving and yarn. Yummy, yummy, yummy. Even though I don't wear pink much, I still love these colors.

I went to two Quilt Pink Events in my local area this weekend. What fun and the ladies did a fab job of it all. Here's Toby, owner of Kindred Quilts [http://www.kindredquilts.com] in Clinton, in front of one of the quilts that we worked on.

Later on, I dropped by Pennington Quiltworks [http://www.penningtonquilts.com] to check out the Quilt Pink activities there. Another beautiful quilt. That's Jan Crane, the owner of Pennington Quiltworks, on the left.

I hope that everyone had a great time and supported your local quilt shop event!

Luna de Miel

I have always loved the Spanish translation for honeymoon. Literally translated (luna = moon, miel = honey) it sounds twice as yummy. Well, I am (finally!) off to my own luna de miel so I will not be posting for a while.

We are going to one of my favorite cities in the world (so far)...Barcelona. I can't wait to take C around and show him all my favorite places, as well as check out some new ones on my list. Then we rent a car and go road trip up the Costa Brava. We'll also squeeze in a flight all the way down south to Malaga for a quick visit to some family. Only a few days more to go...I can't wait!

See you all when I get back!

Everyone's Back to School

I can't believe that we're into September already!

I have had an incredible summer. The only thing that would make it better is high-speed internet access. The big trip of the summer - Waikiki. So beautiful and luscious. Fabulous. It would be great to come here for a month or so every time I have a book to write. The only thing that was difficult was the length of the flight.

I loved the contrast between the green and the drabness of the wood in the photo above. It was worth renting a car and driving around the island. The beaches are gorgeous there and the flowers and postcard perfect pictures are inspiring.

The surfboards were so cool looking on the beach. The sky and water were two different shades of blue.

I just love the colors on the island and the scenary is beautiful. I took these photos of the flowers just walking down the street!

Equally fabulous was the time that I spent at home in Canada. Always fun. I love to go to The Knit Cafe in Toronto and hang out. You get to meet the most interesting people in this funky little shop. I sat there for an afternoon chatting with Iwona and some of her customers. She's the manager of the shop and has a really funky soul. Her designs are always outside the box but in an edgey sort of way. I am making a scarf and a blanket that she designed. I also bought some Fleece Artist. Cool fibers.

I went to visit my grandmother in Pembroke [near Ottawa]. I love going up there to relax and to see her. The drive up there is always relaxing and beautiful. It makes her really happy to have visitors.

I just finished my first knitting book with Leisure Arts. I think that it will be available next March. It was fun but challenging because I could only use certain yarns. The projects include purses, belts and scarves. My Christmas Decor book should be out about then. I will let you know when exactly because publishing dates change all of the time. I had a really fun time designing the holiday projects and I am sure that you'll love to make them for yourselves or for gifts.

Now on to the next book. Well, books. My next big projects include two books for Martingale/That Patchwork Place. The first one is a really fun quilting book and the second is a scrapbooking book. No, I don't sleep!

Again, the Houston Quilt Market is creeping up on those of us in the industry. It will be at the end of October but I know that the show will be upon us quickly. So much to do and so little time!