kitty: special moments in your life

special moments in one's life.....

Back during TNNA, Olga (Olgajazzy) and Vanessa (Coloursknits) came to visit Knitbuddies during the convention. Here are some of my favorite moments and some of the people I had the honor in meeting. I even got to go to the first official booksigning for Ori Ami Knits. Wonderknits did a booksigning right before TNNA began.

PS. I stole some of the photos from Olga's Flickr stream. I didn't have a camera during the booksigning.

kitty: Duplicity Pullover is growing!

Pattern: Duplicity Pullover by Olga Buraya-Kefelian Book: Ori Ami Knits Fiber: Habu Textiles A-1 Tsumugi Silk Habu Textiles A-148 Wool Stainless Steel Colour: 14 & 52 in A-1 ??? A-148

Duplicity Pullover is coming along. I have about 9 more decreases in the top and then off to the collar. I am really happy with the way the pattern is going along. Hope everyone has something fun scheduled for the weekend. Happy Early Fourth of July to everyone and Happy Canadian Day today.

kitty: Ori Ami Knits arrives in hardcover - Duplicity Pullover by Olga Buraya-Kefelian

Pattern: Duplicity Pullover by Olga Buraya-Kefelian Book: Ori Ami Knits Fiber: Habu Textiles A-1 Tsumugi Silk Habu Textiles A-148 Wool Stainless Steel Colour: 14 & 52 in A-1 ??? A-148

I am so happy to say that my hardbound copy of Ori Ami Knits arrived a few weeks ago. If you haven't checked it out yet, it is certainly worth a look at either Ori Ami Knits or the group on Ravelry. The pattern collection are the creation of Olga Buraya-Kefelian and Vanessa Yap-Einbun, with two patterns written by Kirsten Johnstone. The book is absolutely lovely and as you all already know I am addicted to Habu yarns so the book is perfect. The patterns are a little edgy with interesting constructions techniques, but most importantly to me they are available in 10 different pattern size ranges. So even us Rubenesque girls are in luck. It is so rare that you can find trendy designs that are available for the 32 inch bust as well as the 50 inch bust. So thank you so much girls for treating us all with respect! (It means more than you can imagine. I am so tired of being treated as a second class citizen particularly by indie designers.) Duplicity marks the second sweater in the book I have started. The first (Abyss by Olga Buraya-Kefelian) is still setting on the shelf behind me waiting for me to sew the last few snaps on and it will be done. But in 80 degree weather the thoughts of a cardigan seem really unnecessary. For me the book represents a great source of patterns to use up my stash. I have been setting on two bins of Habu yarns looking for a book just like this. Though I love the patterns by Setsuko Torii there are not that many of them on the market and they all begin to look the same. Olga and Vanessa have brought us a new Fresh Outlook on design to use with our much loved fibers.

kitty: Sakura... Sakura... Sakura... Sakura Textured Shawl Recipe

Sakura... Sakura... Sakura Textured Shawl (The flower in the photo is actually a plum. My Sakura trees are in bud still.)

Pattern: Textured shawl recipe Fiber:Avril 1ply Silk and Wool Colour: Sakura Leaves Dyed by: Barefoot Shepherdess

Last year MG gave me two bundles of amazing fiber to spin for my birthday that had been dyed with the leaves of a Sakura. I absolutely fell in love with the colour and thought it was one of the pretties colours I had ever seen. So MG let me know whom she had ordered the fiber from and I went to check out her etsy store, Barefoot Shepherdess. (blog - etsy) I immediately ordered almost all the rest of the sakura roving and a hank of her yarn. I had wanted to make a shawl for a friend's birthday and thought it would be perfect. Even though I have had the yarn for a long time I still was sadly a month late getting her, her shawl. Sorry Vanessa, I feel really bad about it being late. It arrived yesterday so I can post photos finally.

(Playing with Custom Filters)

It is another version of the Textured Shawl Recipe. I went through all the patterns that she faved on ravelry and this was one of the ones on her list. :) Textured Shawl recipe remains one of my favorite patterns; I think this is version 4 that I have knitted in the past 12 months. Though I think I should probably find another pattern to make.

kitty: a special interview with Vanessa Yap Einbund of coloursknits

flow - fibers journey by Vanessa Yap Einbund Published | January 1, 2008 Dimensions | Square 80 pgs Available on Blurb

I know I alluded to it earlier in the week, but I am very honored to present an interview with the multi-talented Vanessa Yap Einbund from coloursknits and Vanessa Yap Einbund / Photography & Design. I know most of us fell in love with Vanessa's postings about her knitting projects over the years, but her site has evolved too much more than just a knitting site to a blog of beautiful photographic inspiration and design. And now she is offering to the public her first self-published title : flow - fibers journey.

Hi V, First of all I just want to thank you for stopping by and answering a few questions. It is a rare opportunity to actually get to talk to the photographer about her art. I feel very honored that you agreed to visit the blog for the interview. Q: Are you a self-taught; photographer or did you have a mentor that showed you the ropes?

Yes! I am completely self taught, I read all types of articles/books and get all the experience by practicing my shots. I also have had such a wonderful opportunity to make wonderful friends through Flickr and other photography sites. They have been giving me great inspiration and encouragement.

Q:What inspired you the most?

Photographically, what inspires me most is the objects around me... the simple things in life that we don't generally see the beauty in.

Q:Do you rely on lighting (natural, or artificial), or do you rely on dark-room/computer manipulation?

I took most of my photos using natural light. But it's also depends on the situation, sometimes you just can't avoid using studio lighting if the subject or location you're photographing has very poor light source.

Q:Why are a lot of your photos "off center" and have so much empty space in them?

hahah..good question! When I look at a subject, I generally stop and think much about how and what I want to achieve, then I capture it and work on it in the way that feels right to me. The fact that so many photos of mine have an off-center composition isn't something I plan deliberately; it just comes out of what I do by pure feeling... I love the idea of having empty space in my photo...to me it is also a sense freedom and peacefulness I would like to convey through the imagery.

Q:What is the ONE lasting impression you want to leave in your photos?

Everything is beautiful...unattended plants on the sidewalk, little pebbles on the pavement that no one even care to look at, the darkness, everything strange, twigs and leaves...homeless men, crying babies..there are limitless...it's how you see through your lens that's matters.

Q:Before you put your work "out there". Do you have it critiqued by someone else, [o]r do you just go with what your heart tells you is right?

I just go with my heart, pretty much. I have to admit I am the hardest critique for myself. I wouldn't put anything out there unless it was doing what I intended to do... for myself emotionally.

Q: What profession other than your own would you like to attempt?

Running my own cafe that sells yarn, coffee and wine, traveling photographer specialize in food, as a photographer/stylist for martha stewart's/ saveur magazine.

Q: What turns you on creatively, spiritually or emotionally?

Love! I'm just kiddin..I think it's people around me..especially my loving husband whom constantly giving me support. My friends like Olga and Priscilla. Remembering how lucky I am, I should make the most of it and do what I love. And find time to give back at some point.

Q: Do you have any intention to earn a living as a full time photographer?

Aside of my graphic design work...I've never done anything just for money. Photography started out as a primary means of self-expression and it is still is . Except, now I earn part of my living as a freelance photographer. I hope to continue that way and have a balance in life between photography and design. Thanks so much, everyone! It was fun I hope I didn't do too bad a job answering them, I never know how to talk about these things without sounding completely ridiculous. And of course My preference would be to talk about my photography, I’m not sure that I would be much of an interesting topic! Thank you for having me here and all kinds of wonderful and thoughtful words.

Thanks so much again for stopping by and taking your valuable time for the interview. I can not wait to see your up and coming projects. Be sure to check our her photos also on Flickr

~photos up above were captured from coloursknits two web site and the cover of her book flow.