Yes, it's true I am moving.  Please don't shed a tear because I am happy about it really and I have Gail to thank.  She's set me up with a great new blog place that I am moving to as soon as I figure out how to post in a new way. 

Yahoo, you know I love you because you made my blogging so very easy for me.  You resized my pictures in the blink of an eye but you only gave me one picture per post and my readers, except for the faithful few, never leave comments because you have not made that easy, so I am leaving you. 

Please come visit me over at my great...new...easy to remember blog address Licensed2Knit.com   How great is that?!!  You'll need to update those bookmarks if I've made your list.

Thank you Gail, you are the best...Monica I need those cheat sheets please 
Remember to please be patient with me as this is not part of my skill set...but I love the adventure of learning something new.

Tootles!

A while back I was contacted by an editor from the Better Homes & Gardens Knit It! Magazine regarding the Heartland Knitting Retreat .  She told me that she would like to put a "blurb" about the retreat in the Fall 2006 issue of Knit It!  and she did!  Take a peek for yourself page 16, top right corner. There are some nice patterns in this issue as well.

In other retreat news, I am gaining traction on the donations for the Sunday morning "yarn tasting".  All of you retreat weekend attendees are in for a real treat!  Also, I happy to announce that in response to the requests for a day trip I have now added a Saturday only option for $160.00, this includes all Saturday activities like the aran sweater session, the knitted hexagon session and the ever-so-fun spinning with a spindle as well as the day's meals and snacks, including "admission" to the special fiber market.  The Saturday only option does not include lodging or class supplies.  These spots are available on a limited basis so send in your reservation now to be assured a space for what is going to be a really great day. 

Check out www.kneatles.com for updated information, you may have to hit refresh on your browser.

Dove Promises Message ~ There's no excuse not to dream.

I've been rejected twice by Knitty for the same pattern, my Cowabunga hat.  Then at the suggestion of Nancy I submitted my design to Debbie Stoller for the new Stitch 'n Bitch book in the works...I did receive a rejection email from her yesterday but Debbie did extend an opportunity for me to get my design published in her upcoming SnB 2008 Page A Day Calendar.  How very cool is that?!  So thank you Nancy, you've helped me make one of my dreams come true, me...a published knitwear design...wow!  I'll be happily signing my page for anyone that asks me in the fall of 2007 just in time for your holiday gift giving :) 

I am knitting as fast as I can to get various projects finished.  I just need a few more hours in the day to make better progress.  I have sort of fallen off the wagon and stopped my full fledged yarn diet.  I rescued a ball of 100% cashmere yesterday from Kool Knits sale room.  It had been marked down twice and was on a further 40% discount off that so I got a $30 ball of cashmere for a mere $7.50, I am working up a soft and warm seeded rib neck scarf out of it, the pattern will be published on the Island. 

Dove Promises Message ~ Hey, why not?

Nicky's knitting adventure began with this sweater.  She wanted to win the complete set of straight knitting needles in a local knitting contest but was dismayed when she learned she had won first place instead of the third place needles.  The yarn shop owner eventually got her to settle down when she told her that she could use part of her $400 cash prize to buy the needle set!  It's funny what motivates people...

I spent the weekend with the lovely and ever so talented Gail as well as the women of the Windy City Knitting Guild who were so smart to have brought Nicky Epstein to town.   I had a great "Nickylicious" weekend designing edgings and embellishments for a pillow face, knitting fabulous flowers for lapels and such and learning the magic of knitted cords, no wand required!  View a full photo spread here.

Day One: Nicky was a delight, I know we weren't seeing her "A-game" because she caught a nasty cold that zapped her on her way to Chicago, but her "B-game" was very inspired,  I was not disappointed.  My finished pillow face will feature a cascading array of fall leaves and acorns.  Any and everything we tried out as an edging can indeed to turned into a flower, giving you happiness by the bouquet full!  Fabulous day!

Day Two: After taking two Advil, I am giddy as we take a hands on tour of a knitter's floral shop I am so planning to knit up some more both felted and not to give as Christmas gifts.  They are quick, wonderful and so very sweet! 

Magic time!  David Copperfield has nothing on Nicky as the magic of the knitted cord is revealed.  Not many magicians share the secrets of their trade but Nicky did so in a most inspiring way.  I hereby promise to never take the knitted cord for granted ever again.  I commented to Nicky saying I bet she has a lot of fun at home because this stuff is so fantastic.  The applications for all her innovations are endless and you are limited only by your own imagination.  My mind is now churning and overflowing with ideas and future plans.  I feel a bit like Charlie when he first stepped foot into Willy Wonka's Chocolate Factory.  My eyes are so wide open!

And while I am at it I just want to say that I was once told by a former LYS owner that I could not create a spiral by knitting, that it was a "crochet thing" - POPPYCOCK!  We have seen countless spiral scarves out there, whether you call it the stashbusters scarf, the potato chip scarf or the rotini scarf...they are all just spirals which I can now tell you that Nicky takes the twist to a whole new level. 

Dove Promises Message ~ Learn something from everyone you meet.