...and now a word from our sponsors! 05/26/2009
Most of the attendees of the Men's Spring Knitting Retreat are still reeling with emotion from the amazing event we were lucky enough to attend. It must be said, though, that without the generous support of the sponsors who helped make it possible it wouldn't have been the same. I invite you to download the attached file and take a moment to visit each of these vendors - they all offer amazing and unique products - and when you buy from them, please mention that you do so because of their support of the Men's Knitting Retreat! 
 Attendees of the Men's Spring Knitting Retreat, 2009 - Easton Mountain, NY As far as knitting goes, I have been working like a madman on my Men's Knitting Retreat Sock! (yes, we have our own sock pattern!) - beautifully designed from one of our supporters Marlowe Crawford (Marlowec on Ravlery) - the pattern should be available for purchase after the fall retreat. I'm almost done with the first sock... see?? I really like the way the pattern moves across the foot... and this yarn? you love this yarn? well, it's from one of our sponsors....and the yarn is called Fibernatura Yummy! - the needles were a gift from Joe (one of the organizers) and the main stitch marker was a gift from another attendee.... and believe it or not, I am enjoying the proces  2 Comments Comfort Blanket for Jason - call for squares 04/29/2009
Jason1978 from www.menwhoknit.com has shared with his knitting community his struggles with cancer (testicular, now apparantly other forms) and we are all feeling like we need to do something - so I created a .pdf file that explains the details of how we will go about creating a comfort blanket. Note that we need 72 squares - I hope everyone will save the file to their computers, and print/post as needed - on your blogs, websites, distribute to local yarn shops or stitch and bitches.. have everyone write notes of support for Jason and include them with the squares. We must move swiftly on this - time is of the essence... so let's make it happen! I look forward to spending time assembling the blanket and getting it sent to Jason and his family. I have posted it on www.menwhoknit.com - I hope others (whether you know Jason or not) will take time to make a square or two and write a note of support. This is a difficult time and hopefully our notes of support will be helpful. 
 I finished and put a new yarn bowl up on my ETSY site - (click HERE to see that page) - which sold today and is now on its way to NY... I also put the cards on the etsy site and added a few other ceramic pieces and one knitting book. I plan on putting more knitting books on there as well as collections of yarn by color (for freeform knitting/crochet) to see if people are interested in buying it... but that'll have to wait for now - so many things are going on it's difficult to schedule much more into my day!  I was also able to get more large knitted pieces into the kiln last night - along with some glazed pieces I should be able to show in a week or two. The class is off to Davis next week for a ceramics conference... I am not going - saving my time away from work for my trip to NY for the Men's Knitting Retreat - and looking forward to it. Kauni Update 04/20/2009
 It may not look like much, but I knitted about this far (around row 23) of the pattern for the vest before realizing that I was on the wrong gauge... remember, I am working with 240 stitches and two yarns for this pattern - it's complicated for me (ok, not really complicated - but tedius, yes) and after a weekend of serious knitting I am pretty much back where I started! I decided to keep the ribbing and just go up a needle size. My gauge is still way off from what it is supposed to be (remember, this is TEST knitting) but it's looking good and if I can find someone to wear it (I think it'll take a 34-36" chest) I'll be happy. In love with Kauni - a good beginning 04/13/2009
 At the urging of my internet pal Holly (who blogs HERE) I have started a kauni effektgarn vest. (Note the link for the yarn is not where it came from but will show those unfamiliar the color ranges and gives a definate "diving off" point for anyone willing to take the plunge!). Finished Object! 04/08/2009
 Yes, it's true... I really DO still knit. Although this has been done for a while, I didn't show it to you..Yarn - Mondial Oggi Paragraph. More ceramics (and pseudo-knitting related!) 03/02/2009
 Saturday was an all day Ceramics day for me... I'm starting to work on forms for YARN BOWLS! - I am hoping to be able to offer a number of these for sale by the early summer. If you have particular wishes regarding sizing, color, etc. be sure to email me and let me know and I'll try to make one to fit your needs :)  I also started work on an organically shaped "knitted" vase - this piece stands about 14" tall and is highly textured on one side, less on the other (but the same pattern) - I like the feeling this is conveying; marriage of clay and knit.... we'll see where it goes from here. Any suggestions as to what color you might like to see this vase?  Here's my first attempt at a truely knitted "vase" - there are holes in this one where the stitches gap apart... but it should be a great holder for knitting needles! it's drying and waiting to be bisque fired...  And this... ladies and gentleman is a porcelain knitted swatch - it's about to be bisque fired as well - and may end up as a framed piece... it's a test for future projects... but I'm having a great time experimenting... I have 3 bowls being bisqued right now, and in addition to these pieces 6 more bowls waiting to be trimmed and to go to bisque firing... it was a fun Saturday class this time - quite productive! | Sign up for the
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