For Nona

Jacob composed his first song today. He lovingly sang it to Nona in hopes that it would help her feel better.

She was a little baby and,

She drank her bottle.

She grew so big.

She had a little brother.

He drank his bottle.

He grew so big.

She held her baby brother.

I love you, I love you, I love you.

"There, wasn't that nice Nona?"

I apologize

I realize I haven't been adding too many post is the last few weeks. I have been sick & my children have been sick & we are trying to get the garden ready for planting. I hope you understand. I do have a few things I'm working on for the upcoming week. Do check back!

Shop Update

With all this sunshine pouring in through my windows I've been inspired to do some spring cleaning.  I am de-stashing my yarn. 

For the past several years I have been buying fleece from our amish neighbor down the road. He has a small flock of Jacob sheep that has brought many smiles to the faces of my children. Each year I have the wool cleaned & carded. One year I had it all spun into yarn. Needless to say my studio is quickly filling up with more of this yarn than what I can use. 

I am making this yarn as well as the roving I have available for you at my shop. 

Jacob wool is a really great fiber to work with. It's very warm, and not too scratchy. It felts well, dyes well (the yarn in the picture was dyed with goldenrod), & can easily be handspun. I also use the roving as stuffing because it is so soft.

I have made a few changes to my shop.  I hope you will stop by!

Mermaid Warriors

I get caught up in what is expressed through art. The emotion that sweeps me up & pulls me in. There is something that is incredibly freeing when a person has the space to create without abandon. There is growth that can happen when allowed to freely express yourself through art. I have seen this & have tried to find away to give children this same experience when creating art. I am excited to have found an e-class, Mermaid Warriors to explore just how to do that for girls. I'm hoping that I will grow, be empowered, and  find the ability to share that empowerment with girls through the arts.

 

A knitting portfolio

I thought I might share with you some of the knitting projects I've completed in the past.

All these designs are my own.

These first two photographs are from a portfolio I put together for Cirque du Soliel. I had gone to see the production "La Nouba" in Orlando. I was deeply inspired by the production & wanted in some way to be apart of what Cirque du Soliel is bringing to the world.  I sent them a portfolio of a few items that I thought they might consider offering in their gift shop. 

The Bangle Clutch

La Nouba bag

A "Fancy Nancy" art smock

Nona Belle's Winter Ballet Shrug

Show Scarf

(also for Cirque du Soliel)

Show Scarf

Another designer & I worked together to design this outfit for a design contest. I designed the shrug while my partner designed the pants & the hat.

We won the contest!

Celebrating Nona

Yesterday was Nona's 5th birthday.  Phil & I went in to preschool to celebrate her birthday with her class. It was so much fun to watch how she interacts with her classmates and to see how she glowed with the honor of being "Birthday Girl".

As the kids sat and ate their treats Ms. Tricia had the class raise their hands to share what they liked about Nona. I loved hearing how the other kids like  "playing with the giant ball" with Nona and how they appreciate that she "lets them play with her on the computer".  

After preschool, we went on a carousel ride, picked out a birthday gift at the toy store, bought candy from the candy store & filled our bellies with warm soft pretzels. Nona was in birthday bliss until the moment she laid her head on her pillow and closed her eyes on the special day.  I am so proud to call this precious 5 year old mine!

Happy Birthday Nona!

News from The Rocking Yak...

  There has been much excitement this week at The Rocking Yak!

First, I am excited to share with you some of the pictures that were taken at our first product photo shoot. It is very rewarding for me to be able to see the products that I designed & knitted up over the summer being used for The Rocking Yak.

I am also excited to tell you that another shipment of handspun, 100% yak down yarn is soon to be shipped to the United States! In this shipment, I will be receiving some Tibetan handbags that will be used in putting together some knitting kits for the patterns that we have. Once the shipment arrives, I will be adding these items to the shop.