I work with the sweetest people ever. When I came into work yesterday Cecily gave me 2 oz of multicolored roving! She said it was as a "congratulations" for getting on the cover of Vogue Knitting. She's such a sweetheart, I love it! Here's some more inspiration to finish up that brown Merino that I've had on the spindle for a while now.... I MUST finish the Classic Elite Projects before that though... <sigh> They're due in 3 weeks, so... at least I know that in 3 weeks I will have time to do things for myself again! Huzzah!

A strange package from Soho...

August 28th, 2006

So, James and I were out for a walk the other day and when we arrived home there was a small package in our mailbox. We both got excited, as neither of us were expecting anything anytime soon, and we both love surprises. James made it to the mailbox first and saw that it was from Soho Publishing. I immediately began wondering what it could possibly be! The first thing that popped into mind was that they were returning some design submissions that they opted not to use. But, no... there was something hard inside... I was so impatient, that walking up the stairs to our apartment I was pawing at the adhesive strip... trying to dig into it. When I finally got into the package I was so happy to see that it was the Vogue Knitting on the Go book that has my two scarf designs in it! I've been waiting so patiently for this book to be published that I had almost totally forgotten about it.

I am a butterfly!

August 27th, 2006

Oh my god... what an awesome week! So, remember how I said that the trip to Ohio was the best time of my life? Well, I'm going to have to bump that to second now... I've gotta say, every time I get together with these people it's like I go through a sort of therapy. I learn more and more about myself with each encounter.

Before their visit I had been learning about what Carl Jung calls the morning and afternoon of one's life.
"...thoroughly unprepared we take the step into the afternoon of life; worse still, we take this step with the false assumption that our truths and ideals will serve us as hitherto. But we cannot live the afternoon of life according to the program of life's morning; for what was great in the morning will be little at evening, and what in the morning was true will at evening have become a lie." C.G. Jung

It basically says that in the morning we learn a set of "truths" which to live by, such as living to please others, and collecting things, money and acomplishments in order to live a happy, sucessful life. While in the afternoon, the "truths" that once played a huge part in life no longer make much sense, new truths begin being formed and the old truths begin becoming less and less true. I've been noticing such changes in my life lately. I'm learning to be a much more spiritual being, and that things, money and acomplishments don't make me who I am. Inner peace and happiness has become one of my main priorities. I've been taking time each day to meditate and indulge myself in things I'm passionate about. I've actually spent quite a bit of time working on ideas for the—once mentioned—book. I'm learning to live life to its fullest and enjoy every moment as it passes, rather than looking forward to good or bad things coming, or back to things once past. It really takes a lot of worry and guilt out of my life. I feel like I've crawled out of a cacoon that I had once been in and now have the freedom to fly.

Anticipation of a great vacation...

August 19th, 2006

Jim and I have 2 wonderful, beautiful friends coming up tomorrow from Texas. It's only been a few months since we last saw them, but it seems like an eternity. I can't wait to see them! I've been trying (not super hard) to clean up the apartment a bit, and to get things together for camping, but I totally lack the motivation. So they're going to have to accept how our apartment looks, and I'm pretty sure they're the type of people who aren't going to be absolutely discusted by the clutter and dust bunnies so much that they'd never return... hehe. We totally plan on just playing this by ear and taking each moment as it comes. I'd much rather do that than plan out what we'll be doing each day minute by minute. Just the idea of that brings stress to my shoulders. The only plan I have is to not let this become a stressfilled week. So, that seems pretty feasible. Today I had originally planned on bringing a load of camping supplies up to my family's land in Rochester, NH as well as going food shopping and starting to freeze some meats... but, none of the above happened. I was more inspired to work on yarn related projects... I'm hoping that all the supplies, as well as a cooler and everyone's clothes will fit in the car with enough room for each of us to sit comfortably for an hour and a half... We shall certainly see. Hey, if not... we'll have to leave some stuff behind. No big deal.

Oh my gosh!

August 16th, 2006

So, it's pretty rare that I come up with 2 posts worth of information to share with the world in one day, but today's one of those days. About an hour after I posted that last post I got a call from Tanis at Soho Publishing (Vogue's publisher). She said she had some more good news for me. For a second, before she told me I was absolutely confused as to what else it could possibly be. I thought this design has already brought me so much good news, that I couldn't imagine there to be any more... but, alas, there certainly was more good news! They're putting my design on the COVER! Oh my gosh, I thought it was a dream when she told me! To be honest, I'm still not quite sure it actually happened, but I'm pretty sure it was a real phone call.
I'm also going to be teaching a crochet class at the Fabric Place in Woburn Massachusetts on September 19. That's a Tuesday, from 6–7:30 PM. We will be learning how to make the beautiful squares—shown in the scarf to the right—in Wool Bam Boo, one of Classic Elite's newest yarns. It's not the same yarn as the one shown is done in, but Wool Bam Boo is equally beautiful, and has an extensive range of colors! Come join me, if you want to learn how!

Vogue's Stitch Workshop!

August 16th, 2006

The Holiday issue of Vogue Knitting will be out on October 17th! I'm so anctious to see what my design will look like. I just can't wait. I learned the other day that they will be using my design in their "stitch workshop" portion of the magazine. That's super exciting... so, you all need to check out this magazine... again... it comes out October 17, 2006! The stitch workshop, for those of you who've never seen the magazine is a few pages where they explain in detail, and through pictures how the stitch or special technique is done. Tee Hee, I can't wait!

On another note... Garments are starting to come in for Classic Elite's Spring photo shoot. It's somewhat surreal when a design that I had written the pattern for a few months ago all of a sudden appears as a real sweater... and it amazes me even more when it looks and fits just like what I'd imagined.

I've also learned how to do fair isle (finally)! It's been seeming lately, that whenever I think I'd like to learn something, it comes along. I don't feel like I go searching for someone to teach me to do these things, they are just taught to me. It reminds me of the saying "When the student is ready, the teacher will appear" or something like that. It's happened with both fair isle and spinning. I had been interested in learning how to do fair isle for quite a while now, but with no real reason to learn. I was asked at work if I could make a hat, and I said "sure", before learning that they wanted it done in fair isle. I then told them that I'd never done fair isle, so they said they'd teach me! The same thing, basically happened with spinning. At the ren faire, we were watching the mini-parade of the shops. When it was finished, all the shop workers scattered back to their little huts. My sister yelled out "Yarn" and I immeditely spun around and saw this girl wandering away with yarn over her shoulders. So we followed. It was somewhat of an unconscious effort... I just found myself drawn to her. Into the yarn shop I wandered, and I think I mubmled something about loving yarn... and the girl said they had yarn in all stages, pre-yarn (rovings), yarn and post-yarn (felted bags). Then another of the shop girls asked if I'd like to learn to spin. I eagerly agreed, thinking I'd be learning on a regular spinning wheel, then eventually going home and completely forgetting how, but still having the desire to get a spinning wheel. But, when I followed her, she picked up a drop spindle and just went at it! I was absolutely amazed! It's like the yarn gods know just what and when to teach me! It's great!

Bachelorette Faire!

August 14th, 2006

For my sister's Bachelorette party, we went to the New York Renaissance Faire. I haven't been in about 3 years, and I totally forgot how much fun it is! This is the first year that I've seen anything having to do with yarn at the faire! I was so excited to see a yarn-like shop that I just had to go talk to them... which, to be honest, is pretty unlike me. I'm a really shy person and it's hard to get myself to go up to people and start talking. I'm so happy I over came that fear and just did it!
	They taught me how to spin using a hand-held spinning wheel thing. I've been wanting to spin for awhile now, but my apartment just won't allow a full size spinning wheel to come live with us. I never knew hand-held ones even existed! I just knew that I'd be coming home with one of these.
Of course, I had to get some wool to get myself started! I got 8 oz of merino that was dyed chocolate brown. I LOVE it! I want to spin and spin and spin! But, I've got to finish some of my WIP's first. Oh well, it gives me a little bit of motivation to get some things done!

The Clear Bead

August 8th, 2006

The clear bead at the center changes everything.
There are no edges to my loving now.

I've heard it said,
there's a window that opens from one mind to another,
but if there's no wall,
there is no need for fitting the window or the latch.
Rumi

This is something that has been repeating itself in my head a lot lately. My hope, in sharing it, is that it may inspire you in a similar way as it has me.
Namasté.

What a beautiful weekend.

August 7th, 2006

This weekend was one of the best ones I've had in a while. I couldn't really tell you what was so special about it, but I speculate that it has something to do with my lack of obligations. I had finished (my part) of my sister's wedding invitations on Wednesday, and I completed the back of Classic Elite's Secret Project 1 Saturday afternoon, leaving Sunday completely obligation free, plus Jim was home from work. I think that was the first full day in, like... 3 weeks that we've been able to spend together. We got lots of errands done but it was very relaxing.

I'm also feeling very creatively inspired to design today. I'm hoping that work doesn't require much of me today so I may lavish myself in creative endevours.

I've also learned a better sketching technique (shown to the left). I was sketching with a blue colored pencil the other day and loved the way that the sketchy lines (that I didn't like) kinda disappeared, then with black, I could go over the lines I did like, and the blue just looks like a sort of halo around it, and the darkest lines are only exactly where I want them. I finally feel as though I've developed much more confidence in my sketching abilities. No... really, you totally didn't want to see how I used to draw...

A book, maybe?

August 3rd, 2006

I've been listening to lots of spirtually inspiring talk radio shows lately and I've become really inspired to do something more with my crafty talents. I'm opening up to the idea that anything creative is more fulfilling when I concentrate more on the process rather than the outcome. When I first started working with knitting, and getting paid to write patterns I thought it would be a great way to make some extra money. The more I think about it, though, the less I desire the money, and I want more and more just to create. The thought of creating a book keeps coming into mind. So, I've begun an outline and doing research for said book. Even just beginning the process has increased my desire to continue. As I said, it's the process that I'm more interested in, so I wouldn't go searching bookstores for Kristen TenDyke's book anytime soon. I'm actually somewhat hesitant about mentioning this to the world at such a infant stage, but I feel as though I have so many secretive projects that I can't talk about on here due to releasing private information, that I just HAD to get this one out of my head.

My Raw journey

Patterns for Sale

Tweed Beret

Violet, the Slouchy Head Friend

Lush Woven Scarf

Petal Socks

River of Life Socks

Crochet Motif Cardigan

Beatrice Ribbed Tie Coat