Saturday

Dusk

by Joanna
Dusk. It was love at first sight.
From the pattern book, The Fine Line, by Grace Anna Farrow.
Amazing how much knitting you can do while on bedrest.

Friday

The Yarn Angel, Queensbury, NY

Lindy, a very talented knitter at The Yarn Angel, in Queensbury, NY, created this fun knitted set from Freddie's Blanket as a store sample. How cute! Thanks for sharing, Lindy!

Tuesday

Freddie Goes to Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival

Max received a hand knit Freddie for Easter this year.  His mom finished him up the night before Easter and just couldn't wait to see his face in the morning- of course he was delighted.  He loved his sister's Phoebe doll but really wanted his very own friend.  Freddie went to church with Max and he had a great time crawling under the pews with Max!  He is a good naptime buddy, too.
When Max went to Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival, Phoebe and Freddie went along, too. They decided to travel by wagon and it wasn’t long before Max took off the lid of his chocolate milk and promptly spilled in all over the wagon and onto Freddie’s overalls. What a mess! Thankfully there was only half a cup’s worth of chocolate milk. So after a quick rinse of the wagon, they were back on the road again. Except poor Freddie didn’t have a change of clothes so he spent the rest of the afternoon napping in the van waiting for his clothes to dry! Little boys do tend to be messy and it seems like this is the start of a beautiful friendship between Max and Freddie.
Now if only Max would stay in his bed all night like Freddie does... Max starts off in his crib and always ends up in mom and dad's bed. Maybe once he gets his new handknit blanket and his toddler bed set up he’d be more likely to sleep by himself. I suppose his mom had better get that blanket on the needles soon!

Sunday

Christa Tippmann Photography


Today we are sharing an interview with a very special person- our photographer.  Christa Tippmann is a wife, a mother, a knitter, a sewist, a great friend, and the very talented woman behind the lens.  She does all of our pro photography here at Slate Falls Press and working with her has been a joy.  You can see galleries of her work here on her website, Christa Tippmann Photography.  Christa has kindly agreed to do an interview with us and I can't wait to show you some of her stunning photographs.  Here we go!


How did you first get interested in photography?

About 5 years ago when my husband bought a camera for his business I started learning how to use it little by little understanding how to get the pictures I wanted. About 3 years ago I actually started to take pictures of people other than my children, that is when things really started for me, putting myself out there learning and growing a lot.


Your style is very natural and relaxed, I love that! Where do you like to shoot photos best?

Anywhere with lots of natural light. I love the early morning and later evening most, that time of day lends a lot of extra drama and interest to photos. I am a sucker for a pretty landscape just as much as a grungy ally.


Do you have a favorite photo?

I usually have a few from each shoot! My favorites are usually something with great detail or a photo when you really get a sense of the person and what they are feeling at that particular time.


Where do you get your inspiration?

Oh my, life in general. Relationships, emotion, personalities . I find so many things beautiful and just challenge myself to capture everything in the most authentic way possible.


Do you purse other arts and hobbies? How do you "unwind"?

I feel like a collector of hobbies sometimes. I think I just really like to know how to do things. I recently took up knitting and have been sewing up a storm in the past few months. Spending time with my family and friends keeps me going so I definitely make lots time for both!


Describe your dream photo shoot:

Anything with a clear concept that has been well thought out and when people are relaxed, real, and just enjoying the moment.


Is there anything else you want to share?

I regret not taking more photos of little moments in the past. Some of my favorite personal photos are not of big events but simple moments like coloring with dad, playing in the leaves, snuggling on the couch, being silly, going out on a walk. That’s why I love what I get to do so much, I give people the ability to look back at a time that’s past. I think that should be available to anyone, that’s my main goal.


Thanks, Christa, for sharing your work with us.  We look forward to what you will be doing in the coming months!


Friday

Sunny Girl

This week, a little dress safely arrived via post to its intended recipient- a baby girl cousin who will be joining our family within the month.  Isn't it sweet?  It will be even sweeter once little baby (we don't know her name yet) is wearing it!  The pattern is from Vogue Knitting Holiday 2009 and is the Vintage Baby Dress by Kristen Rengren.

In other news, the sweetest Freddie's Blanket review and book giveaway just went live today.  If you would like to read it, kindly visit Talitha Kuomi's site right over here.  A happy weekend to you all!

Monday

Garden Tour...

by Phoebe
Mother is on bedrest so I wanted to share with her the signs of spring at our house...
the vegetable seeds look like they are off to a good start.

And we will have cherries again this summer.

The tulips Mother carefully planted four years ago have finally bloomed,

and the apple tree Father planted from a seed is well on its way.

The two year-old redbud has made itself at home,

along with the lilies of the valley which crawled under the neighbor's fencerow into our yard.

It was the most beautiful weekend, the kind when you don't even mind this:

Last year's groundcover plantings will hopefully take over,

like the grape hyacinths have.
And hopefully Mother will be up and out again soon, to enjoy life's continued growth.

Friday

a big clue...

by Phoebe
I took a look at the drafting table in
Father's Studio and found a big clue...
It looks like I (Phoebe) will be making an appearance in another storybook... at the beach! I wonder what will happen to me there?

Wednesday

Artful Blogging Magazine

by Joanna
I recieved a lovely email from a fellow knitter a few days ago saying that she had seen a photo of a little girl wearing a Phoebe's Sweater in the summer issue of Artful Blogging Magazine.  Of course, my curiosity was aroused!  I was able to purchase a copy at our local newsstand and sure enough, there she was!  Jen Price's blog, i beLieve in Love, is featured in the magazine.
It is the kind of story that makes you feel all warm and fuzzy about the internet.  Last spring, Jen won a copy of Phoebe's Sweater and yarn to knit Phoebe Mouse over at the Yarn on the House blog.  (And, interestingly, this week we are giving away a copy of our new book and yarn at Yarn on the House again!)  Jen and I shared a few emails about her projects on Ravelry, and I was very happy to see how sweet her knitting projects are.  I was even happier to hear how much her daughter enjoys her Phoebe doll and sweater! 
If you aren't dizzy yet, you can visit Jen's blog here and read her touching story about her journey to being published, and even enter to win a copy of Artful Blogging.  Moments like this make me realize more than ever how blessed I am to be able to do what I do.  I have said it before, but I truly love the way our work brings people together.
Happy knitting, sewing, reading, crafting, living to you all today.