Thursday, June 23, 2005

if you are in the Berkshires, DO. NOT. MISS. THIS.

I rarely do this, but since this is a happening that happens BEFORE our story comes out in the summer issue, I want you to know about this guy. Thanks for notes from Kristi Porter, our roving arts reporter [stepping in while Larissa is on maternity leave]...

Artist Dave Cole will be orchestrating some big moves this coming holiday weekend at Mass MoCA in the Berkshires. Imagine a guy teaching some heavy machine operators to knit. Now imagine a guy teaching some heavy machine operators to knit with two giant earthmoving machines fitted with knitting needles fashioned from utility poles. That's the Knitting Machine. July 1st through 3rd, Dave Cole and his crew will be knitting an American flag which will then be displayed at Mass MoCA with some of Dave's other artwork throughout the summer.

Many enthusiasts will be on hand camping out near the museum and sharing in the festivities with all that you'd expect from a holiday weekend cookout when the knitting's done. A cookout with live music, food, free beer and a chance to meet the artist will be happening mid-day on the 3rd.

See these sites  for more details.

Wednesday, June 22, 2005

trying really hard to stay calm

but it is looking very much like me and my family will be visiting the renegade craft fair in brooklyn this Sunday!

we're going to be in Westchester County for a wedding this weekend, and our hotel is 38 minutes from the Renegade. The wedding is thoughtfully [thank you, cousin Jamie!] planned for late afternoon/evening on Sunday...so we just might make it there!

i have wanted to see a Renegade for two years now. i can't believe it is actually possible!

if you see me, say hi! i'll likely be subtle and wear a Knitty shirt. :-)

Friday, June 17, 2005

quick note: fall insertions are open!

For those who are interested, we've just opened a new rate card for this fall's issue. Like just a few minutes ago. Prime spots still available, but not for long! :-)

Monday, June 13, 2005

Please support Team Knitty! [now with Paypal, by popular request]

Team Knitty returns after a triumphant 2004, where we raised more than $5000 -- with the help of Knitty's readers and Elann.com, our corporate sponsor. It's time for us to assemble once again for the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation CIBC Run for the Cure.

What is Team Knitty? It's a group of Knitty staff and readers who collect donations that go to fight breast cancer. Then we gather in early October [this year it's October 2] to do the walk. None of us have ever run it, but that doesn't mean we never will. [Okay, *i* never will. :-)]

If you're in Toronto, or can get here, and want to join Team Knitty, you're very welcome! Leave your e-mail address in the comments [disguise it for spam-prevention purposes] and I'll send you an invite. You could also go to the CBCF website and join that way. Our team name is "knitty.com" and you should be able to search for it.
The purpose of the walk is to raise money for breast cancer research. So if you can, please click on this link to visit my online donation page. Your donation in ANY amount is very, very welcome. Something to think about: Knitty had more than 1 million individual visits last month. If each of those people donated just one dollar per visit, can you imagine the impact that would have?

If you don't do the credit card thing, we've set up a dedicated Paypal account. I wonder when CBCF will get with the Paypal thing on their own? [I keep asking. :-)] Anyway, the button's on the right navbar ---> Click away!

Big bonus:
- If you're a Canadian, you get a tax receipt when you use the CBCF's website to make your donation.
- If you're in the US, your money goes 20% farther! So every dollar you donate only costs you about 80 cents.

Every walk brings us closer to a cure. Thank you for your support.

Wednesday, June 08, 2005

Amy and Jillian did New York

And it's still there. We left some for other people.

When two friends who are writing a knitting book together go to New York, you would expect them to buy yarn. We did.

We hit School Products, Habu, Purl [where we finally got to meet Joelle], the Point and Brooklyn General. We bought yarn in each [except Habu - circumstances prevented us from buying there].
We ate soup dumplings and a lot of cold sesame noodles.
There was bubble tea.
There was a St Anthony parade in Little Italy.
There were 5-dolla DVDs [bootleg, of course] and more fake Prada and Spade and Vuitton than you can imagine.
There was walking and indulgence at Pearl River [twice].
There was a xxx-load of Starbucks daily, to keep our brains fluid.
There were metrocards and a lot of stinky subway stairwells and some blissfully air-conditioned 6 trains. We were ON THE SIX, baby. J Lo, take that!
We saw no celebrities, but were likely in proximity of Russell Crowe, just before he got busted. Seriously.
We found Macy's unbelievably skanky. When did that happen?
We fell in LOVE with Kinokuniya, the Japanese bookstore.
We finally got to meet the folk at Quirk Packaging, who are doing this book with us.
We also got to meet some very important people [a conference-room-ful] at our publisher's office, where passports were inspected before we were allowed entry, and the lobby is lined with glass cabinets filled with first editions.
We took an elevator to the penthouse of an unassuming building where they'd hidden a tiny perfect NY bar. There were cocktails.
We ate and also had a few nibbles.
We had two days of onsite photoshoot for Big Girl Knits, which we thought went very well.
We love our photographer. He's from Scarborough [aka my neighborhood]. He's insanely famous and very good at his job.
[He took our headshot! We look cute!]
We had the best burger at Pit Stop -- blue cheese. Go there just to hear the owner/chef speak with his delicious French accent. I would have. I will again, actually.
There was cake. There were books. There was more yarn.

And then we went home.

We don't have pics from every stop, and there were many, but here are a few juicy ones from the Point...which we LOVED.


J likes her Colinette.


We took over the whole place soon enough. Knitters everywhere! Food! Clapotises akimbo!


Ms Cooknknit from the knittyboards just popped in to escape a design-crazed husband and left with some Noro.


Em, I am NOT taking this down. You are adorable.


John, fab designer and Helane, the owner. NICE people, I tell you.


And mr John -- he whipped this little baby up and (blush) named it after me. I luuuuuuv this scarf, John, even if it is crochet. :-)


Look -- this is her first finished sweater! It's gorgeous! Why haven't I knit Kyoto yet? That's it. I'm knitting Kyoto.


Here is Regina. Here is Regina's yarn. We like Regina, even if she thinks she smells like a goat [which she doesn't].


J and I each had one and they WERE the best.


We had so much fun meeting all the Sara[h]s and Cassies and Cari and Valentina and Em and Jackie and Anne and more names that i'm sorry I can't remember. Special thanks to Cassie of the long braids who got us the address to Gourmet Garage and Regina who verbally held our hand until we realized how close everything was and just popped over there.

So now, back to real life. We have a book to finish [and a summer issue to publish, too]. Heads down. See ya later.

Friday, June 03, 2005

a story in links

She and I go via here to here. Hugs. Work/fun. Yum.

See you later next week!