Mood:
hungryI am going through a kitchen reno (otherwise known as Hell) and have lost the digital camera (probably buried under the foot of drywall dust we live with). Need I say more?
On second thought...read this book(you won't be disapointed):
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The Glass Castle 
BookBrowse Says....
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Mood:
hungry
Last night I trucked up to Kitchener-Waterloo to speak at the KW Knitting Guild. It was the same presentation I did at DKC last fall on the writing of the book. I was taken out for dinner by Kara, Kate, Dorothy and Gloria to Ennio's Italian Restaurant. I have always loved KW and their Knitter's Fair and was pleased to be invited to speak. I had no idea the guild was so large! Over 200 they guessed.
They were a lovely bunch and seemed to like their fun. It always surprises me to learn of the knowledge of knitting these gals have at the guilds. Last night, I discovered what Japanese Short Rows were (a great explanation for this alternate method is at http://nonaknits.typepad.com/nonaknits/2005/04/japanese_short_.html). I also learned about tangles, discards from spinning mills. They sell as they may the wrong colour (but perfectly good yarn) for next to nothing and then, of course, you have to untangle it. Alina, I know you are groaning because I am sure both these things have been around forever and easily accessible on the Web. I probably just need to catch up!
Unfortunately, I didn't have time to get batteries for my camera, so no pics. But after my talk I sat next to Debbie New and had a chat with her and Sally Melville (who is leaving KW soon to move to Ottawa). So lovely to meet both and everyone else I met last night. Again, a wonderful guild!
So thank you Kara for inviting me, it was great to gab after the meeting.
Working on getting Flash up on the website. My portfolio page has ancient photos on it (not sure how they got up there) so please be patient. There will soon be preview pics from the book and from the 2 upcoming kids books I contributed to.
And now to baby design swatching.....
Thank you KW Knitter's Guild!!!!
www.kwknittersguild.ca
So I have heard about an underground club, and I have initiated myself into it. I was in Chapters 2 nights ago and, for the first time, saw my book on their shelves. You would think I would be tickled (and I was a little), but forgetting that Chapters organizes their shelves alphabetically by authors name, I was on the bottom shelf at the end!!! Yikes!!! How unfair for all authors T-Z!!! My maiden name would have helped (Steel), but even then, not quite central enough for the eye level prime real estate. It was then I joined the club. I grab the 3 copies of "12 Months of Knitting" and placed it smack-dab, one shelf below eye level, in front of me. I felt like a shoplifter! So I have heard from very realible sources, this goes on with authors and never did I think I would participate, but until I change my name to McPhee, I have joined the ranks of A-G and T-Z authors. Stephanie, I know with the surname Zee, readers would have still found your entertaining yarns - pardon the pun.
Alas, the photos from last Wednesday are coming in....
Thanks for a great night!!!!
Those who know me, know I am not someone who likes to be the centre of attention. So I was a little nervous about the whole book launch affair. But, I have to say, the night was filled with warm wishes from friends and family, yummy mexican nibblies and the chic ambience of In The Loop Cafe. I can't thank Terri, Christine and Elaine enough for offering up the perfect place for a knitting book launch. And Tracy who kept my mind off of my nerves by having me build kits. The food was catered by Alba. Her hubby is Terri's brother, Ted, who I discovered (much too late in the evening) makes the BEST margharitas! I'll have to see if they will share the recipe. So I asked, because Elizabeth went crazy for the nachos, where to get them. Alba makes her own nachos and they too were the best.
Lou escaped with Angela's George to the local pub - too much estrogen or yarn in the room, I guess. I suppose I can understand. So then it was a lot of saying hi to who came out for my night. Miss Chelsea was snapping shots of the evening but they won't be ready until Monday. I would love to see anyone elses. I met some great gals and saw gorgeous yarns. So I'll keep this short until Monday so I can add pics. But a big THANK YOU to all involved in making it a very special night (and not so scary for me).
Had a great day off - very productive, with the exception I never made it to the treadmill as planned. But I did head down to "In The Loop Cafe", as they have so generously offered to have my book launch there. The former Alterknits reopened recently as In The Loop and as I had never been to either, I was pleasantly surprised. As soon as I entered, I not only felt that warm, fuzzy feeling I get in yarn shops, but the aroma of fantastic coffee at 11AM was super-inviting!
I met Terri, one of 3 partners who I felt at ease with immediately and tried to stay focused on the business at hand - the book launch. My eyes strayed throughout to black boxed shelves stuffed with neat yarns, colourful art on the white walls, massive chalk boards and then there were the magazines and books! I knew Jen would love this place too, as it has this cool vibe. Oh and the projects that were more object d'art. I am so excited to have the book launch there next month!
Then came home, took care of team (basketball) finances, then hit the basement to clear out the "stuff" to finish the downstairs guest room. It is an effort that requires more than one afternoon and some serious purging. It is almost scary how many BBK (baa baa knits) bags I have left. Any suggestions???
Well, there we go. It is out! That little book of mine, that took the better part of a year to produce, has made its debut. It is surreal to see it on Amazon.com and exciting! Still waitng on confirmation for launch party (in Feb), so stay tuned. If anyone is so inclined to join us, please let me know as space may be limited.
So on Jan 8th, publication date, I was on a beach on Paradise Island. Lou & I took a 4 day mini-break sans enfants. Just the medicine after a crazy, busy, busy Christmas season and before a crazy, busy, busy basketball season. Squeeze a book launch in there and voula, you get a sick puppy. My throat has razors, I sound like a man and feel like crap. Yes, I need another trip! But I am getting one that is not so tropical. We are heading to Sarnia for E's Basketball. Lucy is there too with her wrestling squad. I hope I don't look and sound like the walking lurgy by then or find some great meds to mask it!
Working on advising and designing 2 educational books fror kids (knitting & crochet) at the mo and this is the year for my 2nd book to follow "12 Months". Enough about me: my daughter Lucy's buddy, Krysten (who is also a model in my book) has built an absolutely fab site for knitted hats! I was blown away by the concept, the photography and the hats! Amazing. Here she is...at
http://riderknits.com/riderknits/rider_knits_home.html
Well done Krysten!
OMG, another month and 8 days my book will be on stands. AHhhhhhhh! I haven't planned my party yet!!!!! The Book Launch Party - I have been to two. One was Kirsten Cowan's. She taught at Ryerson and so had hers there with lovely wooden and linen bust forms, dressing in her beautiful designs. It was a small affair and I was invited along with some Patons/Spinrite who's who and I believe Elisabeth for Needful was there. Wine and cheese were served and a short but sweet, enjoyable evening.
The second book launch was my friend Fiona's, held at the Textile Museum. A perfect location. There were more people as the venue was considerably larger than the office-come-showroom @ Ryerson. They have a small auditorium, with seats slanting down to the podium.
So here I am trying to think WHERE should I do this shin-dig????? I have a picture of what to do when, but the where alludes me. I initially wanted it at The Living Arts Centre in Mississauga where I taught knitting. It is a beautiful place but far for my friends of the Downtown Knit Collective to attend.
Any suggestions would be welcome.
I read the copy of the press release this week and so it becomes real. For months, it has been quiet and almost seemed like it was a dream that I wrote a book, had photo shoots and editted like mad. Now the excitement creeps up again and my baby will be for all the world to see. I hope you all like it!
My day off from work - Ahhhhhh.
My other hat is on today (I think I wear 15) - mom to 2 basketball players and basketball manager of my 11 yr old's team. We are planning our season of tournaments around Ontario and 2 in the USA. 9 in total - whew! Having finished basketball business, I have a little exercising to do and then LUNCH. As it gets colder, my appetitie is like a pre-hibirnating bear! While the laundry dries, I will swatch my little baby designs by the fire (albeit, gas and instant), simmer a stew for dinner, ending the day by walking over to the high school to watch my 17 yr old Lucy's game with her high school team, followed by a team practice for Elizabeth at the Hershey Centre. Life speeds up considerably at 3PM. I wouldn't have it any other way.
Back to school, back to work, back to book...and back to blog.
I know, I am about a month late. One daughter turned 11 at the end of August. My Dad had major surgery, which was pretty intense. My eldest daughter turned 17 the end of September. I started a new assignment at work at a new location. Which brings me to October. Birthday month. All of my sisters and mine at the end (which happens to coincide with Amy Singers). And it's the beginning of another basketball season for my girls, who both play rep. I happen to be manager of one team, while hubby Lou is a co-coach.
To make things busier (can they be, you ask?), my humble home has been chosen for 3 days of movie shooting. The movie people are painting walls, building a trellis on the outside (one that won't be usable) and putting us up in a local (quite nice) hotel.
Oh, did I mention my book is now listed (and pictured) on Amazon? Surreal. Even saying "my book" is wierd. Like saying "my baby" or "my husband" when those people are new in your life. The green here looks different from the actual, which is a little brighter. I know that may something only I notice (and obsess about). It's out there! WHEW!!!
I received the first galley of the book last week. Right on the tail of me finishing the last of the edits of the second "dummy" (-see, I'm really getting to know the lingo). A galley is a mock-up book, complete with a colour cover, except the pages inside are black & white photocopies on cheap stock. The photos have not been processed at high rez (resolution), so look grainy. I expected a galley to be a brochure, as they are made to be sent to magazine editors and TV producers (I know, I gasped a bit at that one) for press. It also goes to sites like knitty.com (be kind Amy!) and CrazyAuntPurl.com. You can actually order it on Amazon.com, but can't see any cover.
So I am slowly getting a view into what the big marketing machine looks like (although it is just a little marketing machine just now). My knitting life is fairly quiet, but soon to rev up when I go on vacation this Friday (can't wait!). I thought I would work on the next book proposal (again) and get it moving.The cottage should be fun. Lou's birthday is the 24th (although he will be home working. My mom's birthday is the 25th and mom & dad's 60th wedding anniversary is the next day. So I have invited all 4 of my siblings and their kids to the cottage to celebrate. We have already given my parents their big gift, so this is a nice way to celebrate casually. The Festival of Sound is on (Parry Sound's music festival) so we are hoping to take in a morning concert (Fa La La) of music from Vivaldi and Corelli. The artist who paints scenes of Parry Sound is Alan Stein and also paints for the poster for the festival. I love his work! He is having a show beginning the 4th in Parry Sound and then in Toronto in Sept. There is one of two I would like to buy below. Just perfect!
C'est ca. Bonne Vacance, mes ami!
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