Thursday

Roses are red...



by Phoebe
Here I am at the Valentine Station-the old Loveland Post Office. Loveland is known internationally for its Valentine remailing program. There is a special red hand-painted post office box in the lobby of the Valentine Station where you can drop off Valentines to be marked with a special stamp from the "sweetheart city." This program was started by a Loveland couple in the 1940's, and for decades, many volunteers have helped stamp the special letters with a sweetheart cachet. If you do not live nearby, you can still participate. You can send your valentines to Loveland and have them stamped and sent all over the world! To learn about how to send your valentines from Loveland, check out this website.

Tuesday

Sit and knit a bit


by Phoebe
So now that I am home to relax before my next big trip, I thought I would sit a bit at my nearby local yarn shop. Sister took this photo of me with a cute little knitted chicken. This bench is a quiet place to sit and enjoy the good company of other knitters and dear friends.

Monday

An art opening



by Phoebe
I am happy to be a part of a rather creative family. Here I am at a gallery in our neighborhood for an artist reception for my grandfather, who is a very gifted painter. His specialty is automotive art. Here I am next to one of his very colorful paintings. Maybe he will give me a ride in a fancy hot rod someday!

Friday

Working man...


by Phoebe

Over the last couple of weeks father has been out in his studio whenever he gets a free hour or few to work on the illustrations for the new book. Often I sit with him to keep him company and so he can have a good reference for drawing me. He likes to paint all day on Saturday and also after dinner late into the night. He has a lot of pages of references which he looks at very carefully when he is drawing and painting. This helps him to get the details right. He also likes to do practice drawings, for instance, of mother's knitting hands, so he can get the illustrations "just so."

Wednesday

Be it ever so humble...


by Phoebe
It is nice to be home in beautiful Colorado after my exciting trip to New York. I have had a fun time telling my family all about my adventures in the great big city. After all of the fast-paced activity back East, it has been nice to just relax and enjoy playing with my sister and brothers. Can you see they even built a little Phoebe-sized snow igloo? It is the perfect size for me.

Monday

Subway journey...




by Phoebe

Well, if I ever wondered what such a thing as a metrocard is, I now know. When mother was a college student she used coins to pay for a ride on the subway system, but now you just swipe this little card and off you go into New York's giant underground train system. It was fun to sit with the hostess and chat about our many exciting adventures this week. But as I watched the busy lights of the city move about, I felt homesick for my family and our own little adventures. And as I stared out the window at the moving lights, I wondered... what will my next trip be like?

The Plaza and St. Patrick's

by Phoebe
My clever and crafty hostess has taken me to some of New York's best sights- including the Plaza Hotel (where Eloise got herself into so much trouble) and the stunning St. Patrick's Cathedral. I am still in awe at how grand it all is. I certainly feel like the country mouse in the city!

Thursday

More wonderful times in New York!

by Phoebe

My hostess (who happens to be quite the seamstress) let me take a sneak peek behind the scenes of a real Manhattan costume shop. The sewing machines there are much bigger than mother's back home. I do miss my family a little... but... these interesting friends were wonderful company. And what's a little homesickness in exchange for the sights of such a city? I think that the lights and signs and bustle of Times Square are all dazzlingly beautiful. And who knew the city police officers were such good horsemen? This police officer was kind enough to give me a lift!

Wednesday

New York, New York, It's a Wonderful Town...

































by Phoebe

Visiting Purl, an amazing yarn shop...seeing the ice skaters at Rockerfeller Center... and the most wonderful array of cheese I have ever imagined... What a wonderful way to be introduced to the excitement and wonder of New York City! There are so many people here, it is hard to find a place to wait to cross the street sometimes. The buildings are so tall overhead, no wonder they are called skyscrapers!

Tuesday

A quiet night in Queens

by Phoebe

My first night in the city was pleasant and quiet. I enjoyed a delicious cup of almond tea and a shortbread biscuit for an evening snack. At first I wasn't too sure of Alice the cat, as I did not wish to be her evening snack, but she seemed quite friendly once I got to know her. The home I am staying in is simply chock-full of yarn, roving, fabric, and other soft handmade things. I am glad for this nice blanket which kept me cozy on a cold night.

Monday

Hello New York!

by Phoebe  Greetings from New York City! I am tired from my long trip, but excited to be visiting the great city of New York! I am the guest of a dear friend of mother's, and she is treating me well. Aside from being a fabulous cook, she is a gifted spinner, seamstress, and knitter, so I feel right at home here. Check back soon to see where she takes me!

Saturday

Another pic from the shoot

by Phoebe

I wanted to share another picture from the photo shoot last week.  It's kind of nice and then some... it speaks for itself.

Thursday

First doll for sister to knit

by Phoebe

I am a part of a big family of homemade dolls and toys.  Sewn, knit, crochet.... yarn dolls, walnut dolls, spool dolls, paper shadow puppets, dolls made from old stockings, from wooden clothespegs...  I even believe there is an earlier version of me somewhere around here.  This week sister started her first knitted doll, made from this book.  The yarn is beautiful homespun sent to mother by a dear old friend who lives far away.  I believe I am going to visit this friend soon... but that is for another entry.

Photo shoot



by Phoebe
So we have had yet another exciting event here at Slate Falls Press... a photo shoot! I wish I could show you the photographs-they look so beautiful. But I need to wait and be patient until the time is right. This wonderful friend of mother's came over to take the photos for us and I even got to be in some of them with sister. I had a lot of fun doing this, I think it was even more fun than posing for the cover art!

Tuesday

Midnight Oil


by Phoebe

When grown-ups stay up too late, they call it "burning the midnight oil" or "burning the candle at both ends." This is from back in the olden days when people used oil lamps or candles for light at night because they didn't have electric lights. Fortunately, we do, as mother and father have both been working long after bedtime all week. This is where father makes his artwork. I think the snow looks soft and pretty.

Monday

Color study


by Phoebe
If you were wondering how the illustrations are coming along, here is a little peek. This is a color study of the cover. Father made a color study of the book using colored pencils and a rough sketch of the drawings. Then he and mother could look at the pages and make notes about the artwork. I like to see the way this is coming along. Big sister says that making a book sure is a lot of work!

Saturday

A new year and a new project


by Phoebe

Sometimes it is nice to take a break and start something new, according to mother. After months of working late nights on a special book project, she decided to make something new "just because." This is going to be a vest for my brother. Don't you think he will look smart in it? I do.