Spilly Jane

  There is a Mitten Designer in Windsor, Ontario creating fantastic patterns.  Her new pattern "Camilla"  is  available free on  her Spilly Jane blog. http://spillyjane.blogspot.com/  She sells patterns on Etsy too.
 Mittens  are dear to my heart  because my mother was the "Mitten Lady" for the children at the Catholic
Grade School in the Corktown area of Detroit (she could not bear to see children with cold fingers).  She
knit hundreds of mittens each year and my Father would deliver them.  It was one of those simple kindnesses
that make me love her so much. 

Gifts from Mexico...

I have been thinking about needlework (again).  Gigi went to visit family in Mexico and brought me all these treasures...
  All the work was done by local women.  Fantastic!

Phoebe Philo "flaws and all"

EmailStory    Here is a very cool story that references my favorite designer, Phoebe Philo and her love of the hand made, the imperfect and our search for a sense of place .
  I feel that way about hand knit items, my favorite clothes and furniture.  It gives me a sense of place and where I've been....and where I want to go.
 
 
 

and the next two...

 I am working on two additional sweaters....these will have colors and a bit of fun.  I want to add more finishing techniques to my needlework this year.
  In the LA Times Image section (my favorite section of the LA Times) was a good article about three very
creative Southern California designers...there use of yarns and patterning is really unique.  Read the article and then check out there web sites
Designer knit sweaters: Southern California knitwear designers - latimes.com

Link: http://www.latimes.com/features/image/la-ig-knitwear-20110123,0,1290010.story

The new year...resolutions, lists and the scale

  I was so thrilled after sending off my blanket and sweater layette to Children's Hospital in Los Angeles that I knit TWO Baby Surprise Sweaters (Elizabeth Zimmerman pattern) and  many caps of all different colors.
I am on my third and I am going to add a collar and edging to this one....
  All my yard was purchased at Twist Yarns in Manhattan Beach .  Twist carries really beautiful yarns and so many are organic and/or one of a kind "Yarns of Conscience" by local women trying to make a living in South America, India, and Africa.  It is always a feel good purchase at Twist.

    and so 2011 begins....