Yesterday, I told you about some of Pinkie Bear’s adventures at the photo shoot for my new book:
The Woven Bag….
On the last day of the shoot, we finished shooting the step-by-steps  before we went to lunch.
We were scheduled to shoot the author portrait in the afternoon, so since I looked be-draggled, weary and snuffly, we went off to Aveda to get a makeover.

Michelle Marx is a wonderful makeup artist! She has her own company, freelancing with makeup artistry.
Her contact info: Michelle

Pinkie decided that she needed a makeover, too, and, luckily, Michelle had the perfect makeup for a small bear!
I …read more

 When I was a little girl, my most treasured teddy bear was pink and white, and named, ahem, ‘Pinkie’.
The original Pinkie got lost in a move along the way, so in my early 20’s, I made a replacement Pinkie.
Pinkie has been  my travelling companion ever since.
And, when Jim and I got together, I made him Bluebear.
Bluebear fell madly in love with Pinkie, and they got married and have had oh so many adventures together.
We have photo albums of their travels.
Anyhow, Pinkie accompanied me to Cincinnati last week to help with the photo shoot for my new book, The Woven Bag.
(Bluebear …read more

 Yesterday, I posted about the photo shoot that I was at all week in Cincinnati.
It was for my  new book, The Woven Bag.
Here’s the photo studio at F & W Media where we were working:

There are the tables with 35 woven bags, looms and other equipment:

This is Christine, ace photographer and Jenni, editor extraordinaire, playing ‘Vanna’

Here’s Jenni at her lappy and Christine at her huge screen computer.
The camera is digital, and cabled across to Christine’s computer so we could see the pics up on the screen.

And, here I am, getting ready for a ‘how to’ shot.

Another shot of the tables …read more

I can  F I N A L L Y  tell you the title of the book that I’ve been working and working and working on!
I’m so excited! They have confirmed that the title is: (drumrolls, puhleeze…….)
The Woven Bag: 30+ Projects from Small Looms
I am publishing it with Krause Books, which is part of  F & W Media. And, yep, the publisher chooses the title of the book.
I am really happy with it because they’ve nailed it. yay!
I am sad though, because the release date has been moved to November of 2009 from July of 2009! boohoo!
anyhow……….
Last week, I was …read more

One of the best things about going to conferences is meeting wonderful people who are just so clearly fellow travellers and members of the same tribe!
When I was in Portland at the Knit and Crochet Conference , I met a kindred spirit who is doing fabulous work with silk, wool and other natural fibers: Lisa Horner of Purple Lotus Fiber Design. (doesn’t click through yet, sorry)

Lisa dyes ‘Gourmet Art Yarn’.

Rats…. a picture does NOT do it justice….. ah well… imagine great lusciousness!
Lisa doesn’t have her website up yet, but her yarns are available at the most wonderful store:
Abundant Yarns in …read more

Freeform friends meet up at the Knit and Crochet Show!
Over the years, lots of great friendships have been formed because of a neat list on yahoo-
the International Freeform group….
Usually on the Friday evening of a conference, the freeformers will get together and it’s always fun….

There’s Bubbly Bonnie and me and darlin’ Pirk!

And gorgeous Myra and wonderful Jorel in her galaxy vest and marvelous Mel wearing colors that she doesn’t usually work with (but it turned out great)

And then we grabbed Margaret and said, “Get into this picture!”
Image source: Noreen Crone-Findlay copyright

There’s a wonderful yahoo group of freeform crocheters that has been running for years. A bunch of us have been on it for a really long time and have become friends over the years by email and through conferences.
One of the people on the freeform list is Beth Boshears. Beth’s bundle of joy and a real sweetie.  It was great fun to finally get to meet her…. and oh no! I didn’t get a pic of her!
Beth blew me right out of the water when she handed me ‘an apple for the teacher’ when she was taking one of my …read more

I arrived in Portland on Wed night (Sept 10th) and took the light rail transit into the city from the airport.
I managed to get myself turned totally around, so got completely and frazzlingly lost.
Everyone I asked for directions sent me in a different direction.
arghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh……… dragging 2 suitcases around Portland at night is not fun!
Eventually, 3 very wonderful young Goth teenagers got me going in the right direction, and then a lovely young woman who was attempting to sign up voters helped
(come on people! You gotta VOTE!)
(I’m Canadian, and we’re in the middle of our own election, and you bet I’ll …read more

A little while back, someone asked me where to add a dab of vaseline on the Mud Valley Spinning wheels to make them run a little smoother.
I have lost that email…. oops… sorry….
So, here’s a couple of pics of Maudie, my dear old Mud Valley spinning wheel, showing what makes for smooth sailing with her:

Mine arrived without a tension cord, so I tied on a lumpy old loop of yarn. I meant to replace it with something nicer, but it works just fine, so what the heck.  Anyhow, lift off the glam woolie loop…..

and dab some vaseline  in…..
Then  it’s back …read more