kitty: I can dream

Ahh.... if there was only more time in the world to study all the things I really love and want to learn. I would seriously consider signing up for a tour I just found out about that is being put together by SFS Tours with Yoshiko Iwamoto Wada (Her flickr account)

Information taken directly from The World Shibori Network Website

"2010 MAY : ARIMATSU NAGOYA, JAPAN Arimatsu, Nagoya, Kyoto, Miyama, Kiryu, Tokyo May (21) 22 – June 7, 2010 Proposed Itinerary & price - Sign-up Details: Arimatsu for 7 days; Kiryu for 2 day; Tokyo 4 days; Kyoto 2 days; picturesque rural village with a natural indigo dyer. The first weekend in June is the annual Shibori Fest along the old Tokaido, located in the traditional shibori center of Arimatsu. The Shibori Fest, the area’s most important festival of the year, draws people from all over the country who travel just to attend this lively celebration. The town and its leaders are delighted to invite the SFS group into their community during this bustling, exciting time of year. SFS is encouraged to get involved with & up close to the local traditions, celebrations, and preparations: sit in on music rehearsals, help decorate floats, observe food preparations, etc. Among the tour highlights: a shibori workshop designed for SFS members to learn from and exchange creatively with local master artisans; an opportunity to exhibit your experimental creative works at the Shibori Fest; learning from an acclaimed master dyer of natural indigo; absorbing the natural beauty of a unique, thatched-roof village (a designated National Treasure preservation area); experiencing traditional ryokan (inn) and Japanese onsen (baths). WSN web members given priority registration and discount. Limited capacity. Interested? Email: yoshiko [at] yoshikowada.com, subject “SFS Tour: ARIMATSU” "

I can only dream... sounds amazing.... At least I can pass it on to spread the awareness if you are able to go...

kitty: fireplace retreats

We have broken the record here in Columbus for continuous snowy days, 17 days and counting. I also think that the grumpiness meter is also growing with just about everyone I am talking with on a daily basis. Prime example of people not dealing with cold, gray, snowy days. So I have been trying to take small retreats in front of the fireplace. Lots of cream tea and even some home made cookies to cheer me up. I haven't really been able to knit much since I injured my hand in London. Last night I tried to knit a little on Mia's very late Christmas gift. She already knows about it, but here is a little sneak peak. It will be a well traveled shawl.

kitty: cool site

Wow... I was surfing around and came across a blog where the artist created these amazing handmade food based crayons. I am just in total and complete amazement so I had to post about it. How fun would it be to have a dinner party where the first course was rice paper and crayons that you could either write on the paper or just munch down on the crayon. For me it is always a bonus if you can play with your food before you eat it. Or on a more practicle level for parents you would no longer worry about your kids eating wax. http://luxirare.com/crayon/ The site is just breath taking. Image taken from a screen capture from Luxirare.com... http://luxirare.com/crayon/

kitty: Haapsalu Shawl - Haapsalu Sall

Pre-Order Knit & Purl	Estonian Version Publisher - Saara kirjastus(Saarakiri OÜ)
Annotation: A glorious, coffee-table size book of knitted lace, Estonia and a binding love between the two. Not a simple pattern book, and certainly not a project book, but a time capsule into a far off world where the soul of a people is captured in the hands that guide the needles to create the indigenous patterns of a rich heritage. The photography capturing this world is rich and the drawings and charts make the techniques and patterns close to a hands-on learning experience.	Per the publisher site: "Ordering books in english 22.07.2009 We are glad to pronounce that now you can buy our lovely book of “Haapsalu sall” by Siiri Reimann and Aime Edasi. To order a book, drop an email to our manager of international sales (tiina@saara.ee) with your exact wishes. " I am itching for there other books - Click Here
If you are in love with lace knitting, it isn't to late to pre-order a copy of Haapsalu Shawl's from Knit & Purl. There are some rumors that there will only be 300 copies of the book printed in English. This is a translation from the original version which was written in Estonian and is out of print. My Copy came on Monday and I haven't stopped reading it and looking through the photos. I have even used one of the patterns in another textured shawl recipe shawl I am making for a christmas gift that I am really late on. Review: Unlike Nancy Bush book on Knitted Lace of Estonia: techniques, Patterns and Traditions, that was published in 2008, this is not a project book per say. It is a stitch dictionary of traditional designs with some very basic instructions on how the patterns were used in a few historical designs. The book is laid out with a brief history of the town and the knitters. There is a collection of reproduced historical photographs of the knitters of the area past and present. The next section is an outline of the techniques that will be needed to accomplish the art. There are wonderful drawings, photographs and the keys to the charts. It even clearly shows you how to build a lace frame and how to stretch your project. The stitch Library (More than 100 Lace Patterns) is then divided by themes. Variations of Lily of the valley motif, leaves/twigs, money, and large motifs that are shown in shawls. There is a mix of nupps, cables, crossed stitches, and patterned holes. Then there is an extensive section on lace edgings. The charts and images are very clear and easy to follow. ...... I have pretty much been in love with Estonian Lace for awhile and I have posted several post about the cast on and structure in previous post. ( Thoughts on Square Shawl - Estonian Lace ) I really hope I have the honor to take one of Nancy Bush's classes on the subject some day. But until then, I will treasure this english stitch dictionary for my records. The books is absolutely beautiful and though the price is high for the book I feel it is more than worth the price.
More Info / Pictures: Estońskie Szale - Estonian Lace Haapsula Museum - Läänemaa Muuseumi Gjabouri's Blog - Haapsalu Sall Book Aeti askeldused - Minu Haapsalu salid Purchase other Books and booklets - hobipunkt (have not ordered before) Włóczkomania - Diagrams of Estonian Lace - Greta Garbo Shawl Forum for Haapsalu Shawl - Click Here fotoforum.gazeta - Click Here or Click Here drutki szydełko i robótki - Click Here
New Estonian Book in JP
	Estonian Lace! Seto Lace & Haapsalu Lace エストニアで習ったレース—マフラー、リストウォーマー、ポーチetc. (大型本) by 林 ことみ Amazon jp My Copy just arrived, but I haven't had time to study it or read it.

kitty: 2010 a new decade begins & 2009 draws to an end

After looking at the collection of FO's for this past year I kind of feel like a slacker. My List of FO's is pretty short sadly. I am really not sure how 2009 just flew past me. So many projects were planned, but sadly they are still on paper and this is all that came to light. I am on a complete yarn and fiber diet until I clean out 2 of the bins from the closet. So I had better get busy. Time is a wasting. The Goal for me this year to come is to fill this blog with lots of new FO's and more informative post for the blog. I also just wanted to say Thank You to all the friends who are still reading this blog. This year has been a pretty rough year here at Knitbuddies. We have shared a lot of happy memories together and sad ones as well. It has been really hard continuing to post since MG left. Somehow it is a lot harder with out her here. I still just really miss her sweet post and creative projects. I have big plans for making 2010 so lets up it will be a great year. Thanks again for everything and Happy New Years.

Kitty: Happy New Years

2010

Wishing you all a Happy New Years. May the year to come fulfill all your dreams and wishes.

kitty: Two new books from Avril

Children Playing with Yarn No. 6		Torii Setsuko baby knits - cashmere and organic cotton knit By Torii Setsuko
Hardcover: 64 pages Publisher: Lavigne (2009/11) ISBN-10: 4904721063 ISBN-13: 978-4904721063		Hardcover: 64 pages Publisher: Lavigne (2009/12) ISBN-10: 4904721659 ISBN-13: 978-4904721650
Contains: Scarf/caplet, hat, baby blanket, shorts, Bolero, Tank Dress, Purse, Hat, Tank Top, Let warmers, Fingerless gloves, Cape, & Pants Mom and Child: Changing Blanket/Mom's neck warmer, Caplet for child or mom, Beret for mom and child, Skull cap for the family Tank for the family, Bow Tie / pompoms decorations, Hat, purse, & hat		Contains: Baby Blanket, Tunic Dress, One PIece Dress with Bolero, T Shaped pullover, Stripe Pants, Knot Button Cardigan, Rib Pants, Baby Boots, Square Knitting Cap, Wide Border Pants, Checkered Vest, Patchwork Blanket, 2way Blanket,
Every 6 months or so it looks like Avril puts out a book using there yarns. This fall though it seems they have chosed to publish 2 children's books for Avril Yarns. Torri Setsuk seems to have a great departure for the sleek subfusk designs that we have seen in the past. Here we have fairly bright coloured simple designs for children using rather bulky yarns. I wonder if she is a new mom or a new grandmother?

kitty: dreams come true... sorry not a crafting post

Once upon a time, there was a 6th grader who fell in love with a land far away. She dreamed of a country where Prince and Princesses had fairy tale weddings. A land where you could walk in buildings built by the romans and common people worked in historical landmarks. Oh and a land where taking tea was not uncommon. Well this past December, my dream came true and I finally made it to London.

If you would like to see the rest of the collection of photos:

Dreams come True Random iPhone photos of London London Dec 9, 2009 - The Total London Experience - Golden Tours London Dec 10, 2009 - A day of shopping London Dec 11, 2009 - Windsor, Bath and Stonehenge - Golden Tours London Dec 12, 2009 - A Quiet Day at Kew Garden London Dec 12, 2009 - Final night in London

kitty: Puzzeling Inspiration

More Inspiration in the twirling petals of the Monkey Puzzle plant. Taken at Kew Gardens "The origin of the popular English name Monkey-puzzle derives from its early cultivation in Britain in about 1850, when the species was still very rare in gardens and not widely known. The proud owner of a young specimen at Pencarrow garden near Bodmin in Cornwall was showing it to a group of friends, and one made the remark "It would puzzle a monkey to climb that"; as the species had no existing popular name, first 'monkey-puzzler', then 'monkey-puzzle' stuck." Wikipedia

kitty: colour inspiration - part 2

.... colour inspirations The green moss this season just seems to be everywhere in Ohio this year. The colours keep catching my eye when ever I go out to shoot.

kitty: We interrupt this blog, for an personal message: Happy Anniversary of our first Date, M

Julia Margaret Cameron Rachel Gurney, I Wait, 1872 © The J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles	Julia Margaret Cameron Mary Hiller, Call, I follow, I follow, let me die! 1867 @The V&A
	One of Robinson's most famous photos comprised of 5 negatives. It was quiet controversial since critics didn't think death should be shown with the painful sentiment of the human experience. This photo is one of the best examples of the combination of art and science at the birth of photography.
Fanny Cornforth 1863 ©Delaware Art Museum, Samuel and Mary R. Bancroft Memorial	H.P. Robinson "Fading Away" 1858
Today marks the 15th Anniversary of my first Date with M. Though we had known each other for about 2-3 years before, November 15th was the first time we went out on an actual date. Sadly M, still remembers me dropping a piece of rice on my hair and teases me about it to this day. Today also marks the 1 year anniversary of getting back into photography. M bought me a DSLR last year as an anniversary gift and it really has changed our lives over the past year. We have become a lot more active, leaving our computers to actual go out and enjoy the world. Taking a few minutes to breath the air outside our door and being still long enough to capture a bee in flight. One summer M's cousin spent the summer with us, and recorded in her nightly diary what she had done that day. Looking back at it, it is kind of painful if you consider how routine we were in our activities and work. Saturday, get up 11am, Go to Chinese Buffet, 1:30 Go to Bubble Tea, Go across the street to MicroCenter look around taking the same path each week, Leave 2:30, Go to Best Buy walk the same path, Go Home by 4 and play video games or work. That pretty much was our life, we went to computer stores or stayed on the computer working. Now we still stay on the computers far to many hours working we are at least taking some time to enjoy life now and time together pursuing our mutual passion of photography. Photography has always held a special place in my heart though. During High School I meet a photographer, David Hungate who helped teach me how to photograph sunspots as one of the side aspects of my Science Fair Projects. That experience also lead to me trying to major in Historical Photography in College. Sadly OSU closed the department soon after I declared my major. So it really has been rediscovering an old love this past year and a happy exploration. Don't worry I still have a great passion for knitting and fiber, but photography is a new hobby that I can share with M. Happy Anniversary M and to my D90. Thank You Some of my favorite photos that I have taken this past year.
The photos at the top of the post are some of my favorite photos in history. I have always loved the pre-raphaelite photographers and early Victorian Mourning photographers. The emotions that they were able to capture with what we would consider premative equipment has always amazed me. But as Ansel Adams "The single most important component of a camera is the twelve inches behind it." To be honest the reason that I have pretty much always had long hair has been my love and admiration of the beauties depicted in pre-raphaelite art.
Kitty Kitty on Flickr	M on Flickr

kitty: Habu AOS-34 Fishnet Yarn

Habu Textile: AOS-34 fishnet yarn content: 100% linen with persimmon tannin coating yardage: 27 yds./oz. weight: chunky Source: Indonesia Gauge: 2.5st to 1 inch on US13/ 9mm It is funny how one yarn in your mind can stand apart and over time signifies a company to you. The Fishnet Yarn at Habu would be that yarn for me and probably closely followed by there linen paper. When I first visited the Habu, there was a net hanging from one of the shelves on the wall when you went through to the yarn room. And next to it was a small basket that contained at that time small hanks of the Japanese Silk Fishnet yarns. Holding and fondling the yarn balls gave me an almost magical surreal experience of total amazement. I was already luck enough to have one ball since MG had given me a ball for Christmas the year before. But here they were all set waiting for someone to do something with them. The yarn is created by taking handmade linen fishing nets that can no longer be used; then cutting them apart and then retieing them into long fragile strings. The fishing nets themselves are made out of Linen that is treated with persimmon tannin, which creates a waterproof coating on the thread. Persimmon Dye (Kakishibu) is made from the fermented juice of unripe persimmons and requires no mordant. Like Indigo it is activated by air and sunlight darkening with exposure. But Kakishibu is more than just a dye it was also used as a preservative, water proofing agent, and an adhesive in traditional textiles. It is even used to clarify sake and stain wood. The Original yarn that Avril/Habu offered was source from Japan and was made out of Silk. Since November is Vestember, I had been really thinking about using the thread as a decorative texture combined with traditional Guernsey stitches in a chunky heavy lanolin wool, but I think the yarn is just to fragile to be used in worn textiles. Knitting just a small swatch, the yarn broke 6 times, 2 of which were after the row had been knitted. So I am not sure what to use the yarn again. It still has a magical effect on me and I am just mesmerized by the yarn, but what to do with it. Guess it will go back in the stash box for yet another day. And my long thought out perfect vest idea is squashed.

Resources: What is Persimmon Tannin Juice? Kakishibui Kakishibu-club