| 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 |
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| I can only dream... sounds amazing.... At least I can pass it on to spread the awareness if you are able to go... |
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
kitty: I can dream
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
kitty: fireplace retreats
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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. |
Monday, January 11, 2010
kitty: cool site
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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. The site is just breath taking. Image taken from a screen capture from Luxirare.com... http://luxirare.com/crayon/ |
Thursday, January 07, 2010
kitty: Haapsalu Shawl - Haapsalu Sall
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Estonian Version Publisher - Saara kirjastus(Saarakiri OÜ) |
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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. ...... |
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More Info / Pictures: Estońskie Szale - Estonian Lace Haapsula Museum - Läänemaa Muuseumi Gjabouri's Blog - Haapsalu Sall Book Purchase other Books and booklets - hobipunkt (have not ordered before) Włóczkomania - Diagrams of Estonian Lace
- Greta Garbo Shawl |
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| New Estonian Book in JP | |
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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 My Copy just arrived, but I haven't had time to study it or read it.
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Saturday, January 02, 2010
kitty: 2010 a new decade begins & 2009 draws to an end
Friday, January 01, 2010
Kitty: Happy New Years
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
kitty: Two new books from Avril
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| 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 |
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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? |
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Tuesday, December 22, 2009
kitty: dreams come true... sorry not a crafting post
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. |
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| If you would like to see the rest of the collection of photos: |
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Tuesday, December 15, 2009
kitty: Puzzeling Inspiration
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More Inspiration in the twirling petals of the Monkey Puzzle plant. Taken at Kew Gardens
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Sunday, November 22, 2009
kitty: colour inspiration - part 2
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.... 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. |
Sunday, November 15, 2009
kitty: We interrupt this blog, for an personal message: Happy Anniversary of our first Date, M
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| 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 |
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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 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.
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. |
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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. |
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| Kitty Kitty on Flickr | M on Flickr |
Friday, November 13, 2009
kitty: Habu AOS-34 Fishnet Yarn
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Habu Textile: AOS-34 fishnet yarn 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 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.
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Photography has always held a special place in my heart though. During High School I meet a 














