Beep Beep!                                                                June 2008

Beep Beep came off the needles this weekend!  Yeah!  I had every intention of having all my new designs ready for market, but simply ran out of time.  So, I used creative photography in order to get an image in our catalog.   Now that I have the completed project, I don't think I will be changing the picture.  It will be a constant reminder to me " to get things done & on time!"  

I am happy to share this story of Beep Beep.  When I was a child my brother just 15 months younger than I, had a hand-made blanket much like that of Linus.  He would carry it everywhere!  What made this blanket special were the blocks and borders that made up his imaginery city!  He would drive cars on that blanket for hours, making a sound only a young boy can make.  It sort of sounded like a run on of raspberries.  I am not sure what every happened to that blanket, but its memory remains close to my heart. 

In honor of my brother, I decided to re-create his blanket.  Beep Beep is made up of Knit Avenues and Purl sidewalks.   There are lots of parking spaces and wide open roads to travel.   Blocking is fun with this project.  I use a hot steam iron to flatten the blanket much like a hot steam roller on pavement. 

I am not sure if my son will warm up to Beep Beep.  Perhaps, in a few years?   He has his favorite blankie that I designed and knit, the days leading up to his birth.  I am working on a sample of that blanket (in the exact same yarn and color scheme) to share as an Heirloom Stitches design in my next collection.  

Should you decide to knit & gift Beep Beep, might I suggest that you include a few cars to go with it. 

 

 

Miho                                                                          June 2008                              

 

McKenzie and Miho are best friends.  Experiencing the adventures of Kindergarten together.  Everything we knew about Miho we learned from McKenzie.  Miho is from Japan.  Miho has a sister in 1st grade and they all ride the same school bus.   When the school would send home pictures from field trips or special events, the images of McKenzie and Miho showed the love they had for one another.  They would sit together whenever they could.   They would even dress the same (by accident)!  In McKenzie's world, Miho was everything.  

 

I got invited to one of those clothing parties where all the outfits were cute but way overpriced.   I typically don't buy from those parties but couldn't resist one outfit.  The fabric, a collage of little Japanese girls on a pale pink background.  I order the cropped ruffled pants in the printed fabric and an adorable matching embroidered swing top.  The face was that of Miho.  I HAD to have this outfit for McKenzie.  So I ordered it!   When the outfit arrived, McKenzie could not believe it.  She said, "it's Miho"!  I knew I needed to knit a little something to cover her shoulders since we'd wear this outfit for special occasions that typically end up in chilly resturants.  I began to design a simple kimono style cardigan that would compliment the outfit.   We referred to it as the "Miho Hug"! 

 

McKenzie began to tell us that Miho was going to Japan.   We assumed Miho was going to Japan to visit her family during the upcoming summer break and didn't pay much attention to it.

 

Miho sent home a goody bag filled with Japanese candies with a note, "McKenzie, you are by best friend".   McKenzie and I sat down together to decide which candies were our favorites.  They were all good!  Before we could even get a thank you note together, we found a note in McKenzie's bag the morning before school.  The note was from Miho's mom and it read:  "I'm sorry too late.  We have to move back to Japan tomorrow.  Thanks for playing with Miho." 

 

As I brushed McKenzie's hair that morning, I cried.   How do I tell her that her very best friend was moving?  And to Japan?  How will we find her half way around the world?  Why didn't anyone tell us that she was MOVING?  It was very disturbing and all felt so final.    We sent McKenzie to school that day wondering how she would learn of the move.   McKenzie came home from school that day and said all of Miho's things were gone.  The only thing left was her chair.   That was my que to share the story of her move back to Japan.   McKenzie took it very well and asked when we could go visit Miho.   She said Japan is a small island and it isn't too far away from California.  As I laughed, I promised McKenzie that one day we'd find Miho and visit her. 

 

 

  That's me!                                                                           June 2008

This photo was taken of me at my home in Wisconsin in 1974.   I threw this picture up on my blog several months ago and meant to explain why it was there!   Here's the story!   It was a typical winter Saturday morning and there were reports of snow.   Keep in mind, I live in Alabama where snow is like a hurricane.   Regular programming is interrupted to report the weather.   Not a loaf of bread or gallon of milk could be had.   Our gas tanks were filled and the propane grills on standby.  The kids stared out the window for hours before the first snow flake was spotted.  It wasn't long before the ground was covered with a blanket of snow and the kids were getting dressed to venture outdoors.  Sad but true, I had not knit hats or mittens for my children.  They had their winter coats to keep them warm up top and with several layers of socks, their kitty and froggie rain boots quickly became their snow boots.   Luckily, McKenzie found a hat & a pair of mittens.  Grey on the other hand, was forced to wear socks as mittens.  Sadly, the excursion did not last long.   Grey was confused and carried an umbrella while his big sister sled down the hill of our front yard and built a snowman with the neighbor children.   I remembered the above photograph and felt the need to catalog the event.   I grabbed the camera and headed outdoors.   I now have pictures of both McKenzie and Grey to match that of mine.    

 

To commemorate the day, I created Chill Man!   Complete with a carrot nose and hand-knit scarf and mittens, Chill Man is appropriate for both brother or sister!  

 

February 2008

It's been a month since TNNA when I first introduced Heirloom Stitches. The response to this collection of hand-knit patterns far exceed my expectations. Many thanks to the merchants who've elected to carry my patterns. I know their customers will appreciate them as they are basic designs that can be knit throughout the years.

As I prepare for the Fall Collection, I often wonder why there has to be a color for the season. Who picks the color anyway? And who says they are right. I choose to work with colors that make me happy! Colors that suit the personality of the design. I haven't a clue what the color of the season will be and quite honestly, I really don't care.

The Fall Collection will include items such as: Grey's Beret, Classic Mittens, Chocolate Covered Cables, Miho shrug, Classic Cable Socks, a modified Traditional Christmas Stocking, holiday garland, Kitchy Kool Trivits and much much more. I suppose I should get busy!

Donna