Michelle Edwards's Blog, page 5
December 9, 2011
Mittens Lost in the Woodlands
They have started to appear again. Rescued, they are hung on a branch, slipped into a fence post opening, or draped on a park bench. Sometimes a scarf, but more often than not, it's mitten. Usually child sized. Tossed from a stroller, dropped from a back pack; there are many ways to lose one.
Children's book writers and illustrators like to imagine what happens when woodland animals find a wooly curiosity. In The Mitten, Jan Brett's re-telling of a Ukrainian folktale, Nikki's new white mitten lands on the snowy ground. In Pobble's Way, a book by Simon Van Booy and illustrated by Wendy Edelson, Pobble's fuzzy pink "cloud" mitten, slips out of her pocket. In both books, knitters will delight to see how their hand work is pondered by woodland creatures.
Knitters will also delight to know that after reading the mitten books, there's more fun to be found.
Jan Brett offers many great downloads, on her website.
Flashlight Press is celebrating Pobble's Way with a mitten pattern and a contest. Written by Bev Qualheim of Bev's Country Cottage, the two needle mitten pattern is an easy one to master. Give it a try. And when your mitten is finished, send a photo of it to the friendly folks at Flashlight. You could win your very own copy of Pobble's Way.
Updates: Red Scarf almost done. A few more rows, and then, blocking.
My new essay, The Fledging, in this week's Lion Brand Newsletter. Happy Reading!
December 1, 2011
The Red Scarf Project
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Last night I cast on a scarf for the Red Scarf Project. I heard about it a few weeks ago when I spoke to a great group of knitters at Cornell College in Mt Vernon, Iowa. It's their 2011 service project.
The Red Scarf Project is part of the Foster Care for Sucess Project which helps young adults who have aged out of Foster Care. They offer all types of support ranging including mentoring, academic coaching, internships. To cheer students on in what can often be trying times, they send care packages and "volunteers across the country knit and crochet red scarves, which are traditionally included in the FCS Valentine's Day Care Package along with chocolate, cookies and handmade cards. The Red Scarf Fund was started by knitter Norma Miller as an emergency fund to help students pay for urgent expenses such as medical bills, transportation or housing."
The submission period for the next Red Scarf initiative is set for September 1, 2011 through December 15, 2011
Send scarves to:
FCS
The Red Scarf Project
21351 Gentry Drive
Suite 130
Sterling, VA 20166
Notes: I will be knitting the Victory Scarf pattern from my book, A Knitter's Home Companion.
Check out the Red Scarf Project's pattern suggestions. Consider adding an encouraging note and a gift card.
November 25, 2011
Turkey, Corn and Thankfulness
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The turkey that graced our table yesterday came from Perry Bender's farm in Kalona, Iowa. On Tuesday, my oldest daughter Meera, home from Philadelphia for the week, and I traveled down an almost gravel road to pick it up. On the way, we stopped to visit our friend and Iowa's Poet Laureate, Mary Swander. She's how we know where to get the best Thanksgiving turkeys.
It was grey and rainy on Tuesday. Chilly, too. Over hot tea and good conversation, I kept thinking back to other times and other conversations shared in Mary's kitchen. Once, before my youngest daughter was born, and when my older two children were still young, we spent a late summer afternoon at Mary's. After a while my kids were restless and hungry, so she boiled a huge pot of water. And into it went ears of sweet corn, picked that very morning from a nearby field. Soon they were served with butter and sprinkled with salt. And soon, too, we headed down the road to get another dozen. The Amish farmer took us to his field, the way I imagined he had done with Mary earlier that day, and there, in the tall greenness, he asked the kids to choose their corn. They chose quickly, knowing that back in Mary's kitchen the water in the huge pot was still hot.
Gratefulness. Turkeys, friends, and late summer sweet corn.
Notes:
Check out Mary Swander's poetry and non-fiction.
November 18, 2011
Vera Williams and the Happy Little Teapot
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Meeting author/illustrator Vera B. Williams at a children's book conference several years ago helped me discover a new joy in my work. Vera was leading the morning workshops for illustrators. She had developed some exercises for us to do, constructive plans for our time together. But once she began to talk about her books and her life —and Vera is a champion talker—most of us there quickly decided what we really wanted. We really wanted Vera to tell us stories about how a creative life is lived. With joy. And that she did.
The drawings and sketches I made during that conference, and later at home in my studio, took heart from the Vera's artistic freedom and openness. Something inside me changed, doors appeared and were opened. Windows filled with light. Drawing playfully, I tapped into a different type of imagery. Like the happy little teapot. And when I approach new challenges on my drawing table, it helps me to think back to those mornings with Vera Wiliams and the legacy of her life and work.
Notes:
For more info on Vera Williams and a complete book list : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vera_Williams
You can met Vera Williams on YouTube and be inspired, too.
Vera B. Williams talks about editing and illustrating.
Author/Illustrator Vera B. Williams talks about her writing process.
November 11, 2011
Doll Sweaters
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A Norwegian one was knit for …Molly an American Girl Doll. The matching hat had a large pom pom on top. Rosebuds, silk, were sewn on the neck band of the white cardigan I made for baby sarah. My daughter's dolls were well kept warm by my needles.
A few years, my friend, puppeteer and doll maker Monica Leo gave me a doll she made. I named her Monica.
She sits on the table by knitting chair. Since my children are now grown up and no longer live at home, Many days she's youngest in our house. Barefoot, wearing corduroy overalls and a thin cotton shirt, I have worried about her being chilled. I had always planned on knitting my monica some sturdy socks and a wool sweater. This September, I did. First a pair of slipper socks. And then, after many failed attempts, she received a sweater. A red and blue marled cardigan. Three buttons on the top.
Doll sweaters. Amazingly satisfying to knit one for the doll in your life.
Pattern I used
November 4, 2011
Florence Parry Heide
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We met at an SCBWI conference in Racine, Wisconsin. Her daughter Roxie introduced her to me. After our our lovely chat, we became pen pals. For almost two decades, we exchanged books, letters, and cards. Letters from Kenosha were always on Florence's signature blue stationary decorated with a border of simple figure drawings --in red. She always used words like happy, joyous, or cheers. Usually, she tucked poem inside. We both hoped we would meet again. But we never did. I will miss my pen pal, Florence. And we will all miss looking forward to her new books.
I caught a glimpse of time last night
as time was passing by --
So quick! So bright! so beautiful
Stay! I cried.
The echo came: goodbye.
Florence Parry Heide December 2001
October 28, 2011
October 21, 2011
The Rhinebeck Report
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We didn't buy an angora goat. Or an alpaca. My friend Suzanne did buy a goat feeder. Even disassembled, it was not a small purchase. Still, after Rhinebeck, when we met up with my oldest daughter Meera at a family wedding, we managed to fit the three of us, plus all of Meera's stuff into the old Volvo station wagon.
Rhinebeck, the New York State Sheep and Wool Festival, is a celebration of animals, wool, food, knitting, books and more. For me, it was also about friendships, new and old. New friend, Laurie Kimmelstiel, Equisite Little Knits, dropped by with a message from a childhood friend. Sheepish's Catherine Friend, from my Minnesota children's book critique group, had the table across from me. It was great visiting with her.
[image error]Sheepish by Catherine Friend
I was lucky to sign beside KnitSpeak's warm and funny, Andrea Berman Price.
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I love Teva Durham's new book Loop-d-Loop Lace. I was thrilled to meet her and her charming daughter.
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I can't resist mentioning that the incredible young designer, Ysolda, was sitting at the table next to me!
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And close in spirit, just two tables away, was my buddy, the one and only, Vicki Stiefel, co-author of the 10 Secrets of the Laidback Knitters .
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Rhinebeck gave me chance to connect with many knitters. Check out this Ravelry group who identified themselves with their cool sequined hats!
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It was a spirited two days of knitterly fun and conversation. I'm grateful for my time there. Thank you to the many readers of my Lion Brand Newsletter's essays who stopped by. And a carton of thanks to Scott and the folks at Merrit Bookstore who ran the Rhinebeck book signings with great fun and humor. You are the best!
Notes:
Photo credits: Suzanne Doershuk, proud owner of a new goat feeder
Patterns: Andrea Berman Price's Knitspeak book case cover
Patterns: Ten Secrets Ribs with a Side of Lace
Catherine Friend's Blog-
October 12, 2011
Rhinebeck Here We Come
Yesterday, my knitting buddy Suzanne and I left Iowa and began our trip to the Rhinebeck Sheep to Wool Festival in Rhinebeck, New York. All day Saturday and Sunday morning, October 15th and 16th, I will be signing A Knitter s Home Companion and investigating the wonders of a fiber festival my first. Endless are the possibilities of what can be hauled back home in my old Volvo station wagon, deceptive in it compactness. Perhaps this is the year for a spinning wheel. Or an angora goat.
If you are attending the Festival, please stop by Merrit Bookstore's tent at the back of Building B.
October 7, 2011
A Day of Preparations
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Today will be just a half day of work. This afternoon will be about cooking and preparing.
My new essay for Lion Brand is due on Monday. I was sure that it would be done by today. Yesterday, it almost seemed finished. But it's not. There's still some burnishing left to do.
The leaves are turning here. And before I faced the whirl and swirl of all I must do this morning, I stopped to watch glorious brightness of yellow leaves fluttering in the wind.
Enjoy the day.
