When Colour Marries Texture

I had an interesting conversation with a non-knitting friend of mine, Sarah, about something she'd seen on PBS about Latvian knitted fabrics. She was very impressed by the colour work (and quite right, too!). It got me thinking about how some people are colour people and some people are texture people.

Sarah is an artists whose preference is the medium of paint so it really kind of makes sense that she's a colour person. I tend to enjoy creating textured fabrics more than colour work which is probably why I use a lot of solid-coloured yarns or hand-painted or kettle-dyed if I want some variation (textures tend to be obscured if you're using varigated yarns or any kind of colour work). But, what I really love is when a great colour comes together with texture and creates something magical.

Case-in-point: my all-time favourite shawl pattern the Fylleryd shawl by Mia Rinde. It's a stunning Estonian lace style shawl with lots of nupps (miniature bobbles mimicking lilies of the valley). I have made this shawl about 9 times and every time the results are very pleasing. I've made several in white, one in bright yellow and one in a deep purple/burgundy. I am currently making a pink one with a much heavier yarn (about four times heavier than the lace weight that is called for). No matter how many times I work this pattern, I get a little thrill when it comes off the needles. And seeing the gorgeous lace pattern bloom when I block the finished item is just a feeling you can't describe. As good as these feelings are, though, when you use a great colour -- it's off the charts!

Anyway, I don't know if I had a point but there you go.

Just a little randomness: Nick Offerman says that everyone should learn how to knit. Of course, I'm paraphrasing.

I was at the doctor the other day and I was talking to a nurse who is a knitter. She was making a pattern for socks and was thinking about publication. I was terribly excited for her but she said that all her "work friends" thought she was nuts and needs to get a life. Hey guys: lay off your knitter friends! Even if you don't "get it" it's not weird or a waste. Be nice and you may even get stuff. ;0)

Peace and lovelyness be with you!

Absences and Teenie Tinies and Get-Togethers

Hello you! You know who you are. Because it's you, isn't it?

It has been a crazy few months to say the LEAST. The last time we met, I was in the middle of a huge commission (which went rather smoothly, I'm relieved to say!) and then I had to finish a correspondence course I was taking for writing (I passed). Things have mercifully slowed down to a more tolerable pace in some areas but have been geared up in others. Anyway...

I recently attended the 24th annual Gallifrey One in Los Angeles, CA. This is a 3-day Doctor Who convention. (Oh yes. I'm one of those people.) It was a lot of fun and I want to give a huge shout-out to all of the awesome people I hung out with but especially Cheryl & Daisy from The Sonic Toolbox, Chip from The Two Minute Time Lord, Andrew, Chris A., Chris S. & Laura from The OodCast. These are some of the loveliest people you'd ever want to meet and you should all listen to their podcasts. I also want to say hi to Nick Briggs (a.k.a. Dalekface), Jason Haigh-Ellery, Tony Lee, Nick Pegg and Richard Dinnick*. All very talented very sweet men (well...mostly. You know who you are. ;0) ) And a very special hello to Ken Deep. He is helping to organize a DW convention in Long Island, NY and if you have a chance, you should support this small but worthy group.**
For Gally, I made and distributed over 30 Teenie Tinies. About 11 of those were teenie tiny Cybermen which went to a select group of strangers. ;0)

Two of the recipients of TTC's were Mark Strickson and Shaun Dingwall. Meeting them also happen to be in my personal highlights from the weekend. (Shaun said I have a lovely smile... *swoon* but I was too chicken-hearted to stand & talk to him. CURSE my random shyness...) So you will never ready this...but hey guys!

Every year, Gally holds an auction for charity. This year, the charity was Alex's Lemonade Stand***. I auctioned off a set of 11 Doctors. Well...I say "a set of 11" but actually it came out to 4 sets of 2-3 Doctors (the auctioneer wisely divided the lots to get a better price).

I will be offering Teenie Tinies for $.75 a piece or 6 for $4.00. I might be able to do a deal on bulk orders. If you are ordering a big-ticket item, I may be able to throw one or two into the bargain, but you must request it and cite code: TTG1 when you order. And please specify if you want to pick critters out or want more of a grab bag.

I guess the point I'm making...and really all else I'm going to say is I'm sorry that I was gone so long. I hope to be more regular in my posts and I hope that you will stick with me!
Loads of love to all!

*Most of these guys are from or have done work for Big Finish. Check out bigfinish.com for more information and for GREAT full-cast audiobooks. I mean it. Do it. And remember: Subscribers get more at Bigfinish.com!

**For tickets and more information, go to longislanddoctorwho.com

***For More information or to donate to Alex's Lemonade Stand, go to alexslemonade.org. This foundation has an inspiring and heartbreaking background and is definitely a worthy cause!