Saturday

Denver Post~ "Colorado Author Gets Cozy"

Finding a Denver Post article about Phoebe's Sweater in Saturday morning's paper was a great start to the weekend!  The article highlights our upcoming trunk show and book signing at Fancy Tiger Crafts and focuses on knitting as inspiration for our work here at Slate Falls Press.  Fancy Tiger, here we come!

Tuesday

Interweave Knits Holiday Gifts 2010

Phoebe's Sweater is included in the new Interweave Knits Holiday Gifts issue!  Check out the news and views on page 8.  I am proud to be in the excellent company of Miss Flitt, Spud and Chloe, Blue Sky Alpacas, Kristin Nicholas, Kathy Sletto, Pat Aube Gray, and Interweave Press!  Happy Holiday crafting to all!

Monday

Bee Family Farm

by Phoebe
This pig is one of the new friends I made at Bee Family Farm last week.  He really liked the way my wool sweater smelled.  (I am not sure I like the way he smelled.)

We saw sheep, Brown Swiss Cows (my favorite), and chickens... it was a great day to visit a farm.
They even put us to work a little bit!

For some reason, doing the laundry this way is much more fun!

The house tours were packed with interesting tidbits of 20th century domestic history.  Check out this baby bassinet!  It doesn't look too cozy to me!  But I loved all of the neat old-fashioned clothing and quilts.

"War is a Woman's Job Too!"
This booklet from the 1940's was of great interest to Mother for some reason... the prefect blend of domestic history and knitting, I suppose!

The family saved their original homestead house after a flood by cutting off the first two feet of house above the foundation and resetting it on a new slab.  If that isn't economy in action, I don't know what is!

Thanks for a fun and educational afternoon, Bee Family!

Wednesday

In the knitting basket...



by Phoebe
What's new in the knitting basket?  Mother has been busy working on the four patterns for the next book... but I did find these finished knits in the basket this month.  Can you guess her favorite color?
The patterns are:
Leaf Yoke Top by Angela Hahn
In the Garden by Ilga Leja
Goodale by Cecily Glowik MacDonald
and they are now a part of her collection of personal favorites!

Saturday

The Recycled Lamb

by Phoebe
The first stop on my Home for the Holidays holiday book tour was at The Recycled Lamb in Lakewood.  This was a special event, as we were able to share original artwork from our books, along with a sneak peek the trunk show of knits for our upcoming book, Freddie's Blanket, due out this winter.

It was a pleasure to meet such a kind and talented group of knitters, I wish I could come to every knit night here!  Do you see the gorgeous Geodesic Cardigan pictured here?  That is now on our knitting list for sure!  Also, Cathy's two-at-a-time socks were very inspiring... Mother can't wait to try those!

Here you see Cheryl modeling our upcoming pattern, the Hill Top Jacket.  Wait until you see the neat artwork Father is working on to accompany the pattern!


Can you see May, my new platypus friend?  She was well-loved by our youngest visitor to the book signing, one of my earliest fans and the daughter of Allegra, co-editor over at Petite Purls.  Another talented visitor was Cheryl Oberle, who we enjoyed meeting at the shop.  It was certainly a night for meeting creative and talented knitters.

We were surprised to have a visitor all the way from Michigan.  Maureen, from Whitmore Lake Yarn Company, showed up with her very own Phoebe's Sweater!  Don't you just love the way knitting can bring people together!  It was great to see you Maureen, maybe we will be able to visit your shop one day! 

Thank you for having us, it was a lovely evening, and we look forward to doing it all over again next time!




Thursday

Hill Top Jacket

For those of you who have been patiently waiting for the "grown-up" version of the Phoebe's Sweater pattern... it is really close now!  It had to go "on hold" while we went to TNNA.  Then it had to wait while we did book signings on the east coast.  Then again while the patterns were begin designed and knitted up for our second book.  But we haven't forgotten about it, not at all!
The Hill Top Jacket will be offered for sale on online, and will include pattern instructions for nine sizes ranging from 29" to 62".  It will also include a special bonus which you will have to wait to see, but it is pretty cool!  Almost ready!

Wednesday

Dear Froggy

by Phoebe It was fun while it lasted, Froggy.  I know you will be well-loved and appreciated at my cousin's house, and we will play together again soon!
love,
Phoebe

Tuesday

Honey Comb

Doesn't this freshly spun honey look scrumptious?

Our uncle is a beekeeper and he invited us to help him collect fresh honey this week.  We took turns cranking the extractor...

The extractor keeps the honey warm and separates it from the comb.

The beeswax is really beautiful!
We can't wait to spread this treat on some freshly baked bread!







Saturday

Freddie... What is he exactly?

by Phoebe
I can't remember if I have told you about the family of characters for our next book, but I wanted to show you a photo.  Around here, we like to talk about animal characters and names, knitting patterns and ideas quite a bit.  While discussing the second knitting picture book, several different animal characters were mulled over.  There was one special animal that Mother and Father kept talking about over and again.  One day, Father showed her this photo...
and right then and there the discussion stopped.  It was THE one, and ever since they have been eagerly developing this neat character.  I have never seen a platypus before, and hear that Freddie has a sister, so I am doubly excited to meet them!

Friday

Ancient Mummy... Newborn Baby...

by Phoebe
I recently took at trip to the Art Museum with some of my good friends to see an amazing collection of artifacts from King Tut's tomb.  I wasn't allowed to take photos in the exhibit, but trust me, it was really impressive! 

I also watched my first 3-D movie.  It was about mummies.  My friend was worried that the movie might be about dead people.  It was.  But being as I love history, I found it all quite fascinating.  I finished off the day with an outing with Mother to Knit Night...

... where she worked on her Minimalist Cardigan,

the Nanny worked on her Tea Leaves Cardi,

and the Weaver worked on her Feather and Fan Scarf.

The Doula decided to join us, and was busy knitting a pair of socks for her new baby...

... who happily slept in a hand knit blanket of her own invention.
All told, it was a good day.


Wednesday

Phoebe's Colorado Book Tour~ Home for the Holidays!


I am pleased to announce a new event:
 a Colorado Holiday Book Tour!
Now is the perfect time to pick up an personalized signed copy of knitting picture book Phoebe's Sweater for that special little someone in your life!
We have scheduled a series of four book signings in our home state of Colorado from now through early December, just in time for holiday gift giving!

Friday, October 15, from 6:00-8:00 PM
The Recycled Lamb, Lakewood, CO
Book Signing, Trunk Show, Author "Meet and Greet"
We will be joining the monthly knitting group at the Recycled Lamb for a book signing and a Phoebe's Sweater Trunk Show.  We will also have a sneak peek for the next book from Slate Falls Press, Freddie's Blanket!

November 5, from 6:00-9:00 PM
Fancy Tiger Crafts, Denver, CO
Book Signing, Trunk Show, Art Walk
During the First Friday Art Walk, we will be doing a book signing and trunk show on Friday evening.  This will be a great time to get together at Denver's favorite crafting station!

November 20, from 12:00-2:00 PM
Lamb Shoppe, Denver, CO
Book Signing, Trunk Show, and Coffee
Denver's favorite yarn shop will be hosting a book signing on the Saturday before Thanksgiving.  How can you beat the perfect combination- yarn, books, and coffee?

December 4 from 1:00-3:00
Book Signing, Trunk Show, Chocolate Walk
Buena Vista knows how to celebrate the holidays, complete with a parade of lights, a Chocolate Walk, and a visit from Santa... the perfect ending to our Home for the Holidays Book Tour!

I hope you can join us for one of these special events!

Tuesday

(A personal note from Joanna)

Dear Readers,

        When Eric and I began working on Phoebe's Sweater a few years ago, we had no idea where it would lead us.  Last fall, after a particular rejection letter from a book publisher, we started thinking about publishing this unique book by ourselves.  We took a huge risk, and as unpublished unknowns with no platform, put everything in our savings (and then some) into an entirely new genre of knitting book.  (At the very least, we figured, we would have a lifetime of really neat baby shower gifts.)  With the encouragement of family and friends, and faith that this was a journey we were meant to travel, we had a few thousand copies of Phoebe's Sweater printed, sent some review copies out in the mail, and hoped that people would like it as much as we did.
         It has been less than six months since we published our book, and I am sitting here at my desk facing a very important reality; at the rate we are going, we will be out of books in six weeks.  Being as it takes our printer about five weeks to reprint... we are thrilled to announce that Phoebe's Sweater is going into a second print run!  This so greatly exceeds our initial expectations for our book that I am almost speechless, (but clearly, not quite.)
          So without further ado, I would like to say, "Start the presses!"  (I love saying that!)  I deeply thank each and every one of you who have played a role in making our dream into a reality.
                                   
                                   XOXO,
                                         Joanna




Monday

Knit 'N Style

Phoebe's Sweater is reviewed in the most recent issue of Knit 'N Style magazine.  Check out the Holiday Gift Guide on page 26- there we are! 
We have a big announcement coming soon... we will update this week and fill you in on the very exciting details!

Sunday

My two-faced friend.

by Phoebe
Have you seen my new friend?
This little hedgehog is really cute!

Wait a minute...
Or is it a something else?

A squirrel!

Susan B. Anderson has done it again and designed another great reversible toy pattern!
Her collection of woodland critters patterns in Knit Simple Magazine is just adorable- Mother had yarn and needles waiting when her eagerly anticipated issue arrived in the mail last week...


... and we have all had a fun time playing with this new two-faced (in a good way) friend.  The perfect addition to our family's menagerie!


Saturday

Osborn Farm

by Phoebe
Our favorite way to celebrate the onset of autumn is to attend the Country Market at Osborn Farm.
Musicians, artisans, bakers, antique dealers, farmers, and families all gather to celebrate the new season and the fall harvest.  And there is literally fun for everyone!

An old-fashioned barrel train...

Livestock...

A psaltery, and even...

a hurdy gurdy!

We spotted this great hand knit pumpkin hat,

chatted with Kat, a talented weaver,

and checked out the beautiful array of pumpkins, corn, and gourds.

We did do some shopping, but were careful to only bring home a modest (yet inspiring) packet of goodies:




We are thankful for yet another great celebration at the farm!