I MOVED!

Hey knitters!!!

I'm really excited to tell you that I've moved my blog (and podcast...and website!) over to a new location! Please join me at http://www.GinaHouse.net :) I'm most likely going to keep this blog here, but everything that's here (except old blog posts) will be at the new website: podcasts, free patterns, patterns to purchase, etc. I think you're really going to like it - it's very much more like me and like my personality. It took me a lot less time than I thought it would to create it - thanks to the amazing iWEB program on my iMac! Yipppeeee!

New Features on the new website:

1. Better and brighter layouts
2. New Amanda Hat Tutorial movie
3. Podcast, blog and pattern downloads available in one handy website!
4. At least 5 photo albums (hooping, designs, knitting projects, family, trunk shows etc) to check out
5. New (upcoming) podcast and blog post! (very similar to this, lol!)

That's just the things I can think about right now...

I would LOVE for you to head over to the new place right now...subscribe to the blog and podcast...even to new photo albums!

I'd love to hear what you think and see you soon!

Love, Gina

New Designs are Creeping Along...

My new book is slowly coming together...if I'd only be able to focus on it (and not be distracted by my hundreds of other hobbies), I think I'd be further along. Seeing the lovely Kelly from The Elegant Ewe at SOAR this past weekend really motivated me to work on my book more. She (and the amazing owners of the Elegant Ewe) has been super supportive of me and my Dreamscape books. And, of course, my knitting group...especially Sarah, Jackie, Judy and Hilary.

In the past couple of months, I've completed 2 lace shawl designs (The Beauty Shawl is shown at the top.)and 1 cowl design. I'm sketching out and making plans for 7 more designs. The way things are going right now, I think the book is going to be geared towards lace. (Don't moan!) It will be lace projects that are accessible, fun to knit and for all ages. I have a project for almost every age bracket. I'm shooting towards getting this book done for early spring 2012.

My intention was to have the book done by the end of December 2011, but I was freaking out with stress over Tim going into college, trying to refinance our mortgage and working on getting my Hoopnotica Teacher Training (to start my hooping/hoopdance classes this fall) that I just said, "Okay...you're your own boss. Just put it aside and get back to it when you're more happy and calm." I can just imagine the projects I'd be putting together for the book if I was stressed out and upset...like the Knitted Noose and the I-Cord Strangler (which is not to be confused with the Crochet Chain Choker).



(pic of me with my Hoopnotica Teacher Training group for Level 2)

Anyway, I'd also planned on blogging much more than I have been, but it seems like I'm somewhat addicted to Facebook and my knitting page on there. I keep forgetting about my poor blog :( It's so much easier to add daily updates, pics and new albums of photos on there...know what I mean?

So, while I work steadily (and knit faithfully) on my new designs, I'd love to hear from you about what aspects of a knitting pattern book that you like best. If I'm able to incorporate those aspects into my new book, I will. So far, I know I'll be including:

- Spiral Binding
- No-glare paper
- Paperback
- Lace charts on its pattern page
- Wraps per inch for yarns
- Specific yarn information and suggested type of yarn for projects
- Full color photographs (with close ups, as well)

Anything I might be missing?

Thanks again for all of your support of me and my designs. I wouldn't be able to do it without you!!!

Gina
xoxoxo

Just in case you don't already know, here are other places you will find me (more often than here on the blog):

Sleepy Eyes Knits on Facebook
SleepyEyes on Twitter
SleepyEyes on Ravelry
SleepyHeads Group on Ravelry


and, of course, my website stuff:

Yoga Garden
HoopGlow on Twitter
Yoga Garden/Hoop Glow on Facebook

It's a Gemini thing...

I think it's a Gemini thing to have a million interests at one time. At least, that's what's normal to me. It seems like, once I feel like I've mastered (or semi-mastered) a hobby, craft or activity, it's time to move on to something else. I think that's why I loved school so much growing up. Every year, every month, every day was something new to learn. I don't think I'll ever go back to college to get my Master's degree (I've got a B.S. in Mathematics), but I love learning and I think of my life now as my own, personal college.

In life, I've not only had experience with being a daughter, friend, sister, girlfriend, wife, lover and mother, but also learned how to read, sew, crochet, knit, quilt, cross stitch, paint, cook, canning, making soaps, candles and dolls. I've taken up yoga, Reiki, reading tarot cards, bellydance and now, my favorite, hooping and hoopdancing. These are only a partial list of the interests in my life of learning so far. Is it because I can't sit still? (very possibly - you can ask my husband) Is it because I'm flighty and can't stick to anything? (possibly) Or is it because I just can't stop my love of learning and absorbing new information as much as possible? (that's MY answer - lol)

This year has been a challenge. I've had an incredible number of changes and events in the past year and I sometimes feel like I'm not quite caught up yet. In some people's eyes, these changes and events may seem trivial and unworthy of so much contemplation and time. But, to me, the accumulation of these things has been overwhelming - both good and bad. I've tried to organize these experiences in my mind and heart and, hopefully, at some point I can say that everything is in it's place - and can sigh in relief. In order to keep some perspective, I've made sure to write down all the things I'm grateful for each day and it truly makes a difference.

Having such a large number of hobbies and interests helps to calm my mind and dampen my feelings of being overwhelmed. For the most part, knitting is my activity of choice when it comes to calming my emotions and balancing any feeling of anxiety. It's amazing how two needles and yarn can be so relaxing!

The past few months, sewing has taken over - more as an obsession than a relaxation. I find that, as soon as I get my sewing machine out, I'm frantically tracing, cutting, looking over patterns and dimensions and then, exhausted, sitting at the sewing machine to crank out my project. Of course, sewing is so much fun and very rewarding - I love creating practical items for myself, my home and my family. But, man, is it frantic! It's go-go-go the whole time. Whereas with knitting, I can sit there, knit one stitch as slowly as I feel like, daydreaming about whatever I want and the knitting still happens and I'm still calm. of course, sometimes there are outbreaks of craziness - like yarn that breaks, splits, knots, pukes up the middle or a pattern that is just SO wrong that you feel like strangling the designer (that sometimes includes myself!). But, on the whole, knitting is wonderful.

I'm happy that I've gotten my knitting mojo back in time for the end of spring/beginning of summer. That time, of course, is known (to me at least) as the Summer of Lace Knitting.

In New Hampshire, it doesn't get overly warm but, to us, it's damn hot. When it's humid outside and the temps are in the high 80s, I don't feel like touching the fiber on my spinning wheel, doing any exercise (unless fully air conditioned) or cooking on my stove. The last two are inevitable, but the first I can substitute with some nice, lightweight, super fine yarn and an interesting lace pattern.

Here are some of the lace projects that I've finished so far this spring/summer:

1. Pleidades Shawl



-Knit using Mad Color's (formerly Sereknity Yarn and Fiber) Perfect yarn in Purple People Eater colorway

2. Weekend Shawl



-Knit using Swoon Fiber's sock yarn in Pinkish Red/Maroon colorway and Cascade Heritage sock yarn in brown colorway.

3. Echo Flower Shawl



-Knit using Jaggerspun Zephyr merino/silk in white colorway

and, the shawl I'm working on now is this,

4. Spring Things Shawl



-Knit using Karabella Lace Mohair in a neon green colorway

(All of my projects are also on Ravelry with more detail and more photos. Click HERE for my Ravelry notebook page.)

Along with knitting lace, I'm finding a lot of joy in hooping and hoopdancing. As I've mentioned before, I'm taking a teacher training course with Hoopnotica in September - in the meantime, I'm teaching free hoopdance classes in my neighborhood for experience. So far, they're going amazingly well and I'm having a lot of fun. (I hope my students are, too!) I'm still working on shoulder hooping, leg hooping and angled hooping. I look forward to my 30+ minutes each day that I practice ; )



If you're ever in the southern NH area, I'd love to see you at a class. The free classes are ending at the end of August, so take advantage while you can! If you'd like more information about Hoop Glow hoopdance and my classes, click on these links.

Thank you for still being loyal to my blog and for listening to my babble. It's so nice to know that you're still out there...

*HUG* :D

Spring Update

(Me in my new design, Winter Hiking Hat)

Hey Knitters!!!!!

I know it's been many, many months since my last post. I've watched my blog update go from over 300 hits a day to a very sad 90 hits a day. Yikes! What a depressing situation - though completely understandable. I really hate it when I'm following a blog and then that person doesn't update for a LONG time. But, I guess they usually have a good excuse.

Here are my excuses:

1. College
Helping my son, Tim, get through his college applications and scholarship applications...as well as going through the HELL of financial aid and horrible horrible FAFSAs. Though, I must highly recommend using the wonderful organization NHHEAF, if you are in New Hampshire. We went at least 3 times and, every single time, they were more than helpful. The people who work there try their very best to explain the whole college and financial aid process with you, without making you feel like a complete idiot. Happily, Tim has finally chosen to go to Champlain College in Burlington, VT (with a $10,000 scholarship!) for Game Programming. Also, Tim will be inducted into the French National Honor Society in May. Yay for Tim!!

Tim also participated in the 2011 Penguin Plunge in January to raise money for the Special Olympics - that was a great day!



2. Hooping


(my Pink "Firefly" LED hoop from Hoopnotica)

I'm preparing myself for the Hoopnotica Teacher Training in September this year. As many of you know, I also teach yoga (http://www.YogaGardenNH.com) and I'm hoping to add hoopdancing to my teaching experience - and I'd love to incorporate hooping into a yoga class as well. I started hooping in December 2009 and it was a very slow process for me to start with. I couldn't even keep the hoop going around me more than once for weeks and weeks. But, I kept it up and now I've learned lots of cool tricks and hope to practice enough so that I can teach others in the fall. I've been practicing at least 30 minutes a day and I'm making progress. If you want to check out my hooping page, click here for HoopGlow. Yay for me!

3. Sewing


Okay, I'm a traitor to knitting. It's true. I've spent most of February - April sewing (and hooping). And not knitting. I'm trying to work on my new (!!) book, a sequel to Dreamscape. And I'm lacking the enthusiasm that I was hoping I'd have. I have ideas sketched out for most of the designs and have already started on (which is very lovely, but going pretty slowly because of my other interests) Did I tell you that I had to order a 4th order of 100 Dreamscape books in December?? I was really happy about that. But, now, sales are down and I think knitters are waiting for something new. The other knitwear designers of the world must either be single or retired, because I'm having the hardest time trying to keep up with my housework, my family and my hobbies. Maybe I'm just too scatterbrained? But, those other designers must really focus 100% on their designs 24/7 to be able to crank out such fantastic things continuously. Sadly, I can't (and really don't want to) do that. While my kids are still somewhat young, I'd like to enjoy them. I have years and years left to devote to designing. Right??

Anyway, that was a tangent.

My hubby bought me a sewing machine last year for my bday in May and I was too scared (yes, scared) to use it until a few months ago. I usually always sewed everything by hand (toys, blankets, eye pillows, etc) and the machine really intimidated me. Luckily, it's a Hello Kitty machine, so it's less scary :D My friend, Hilary, came over and forced me helped me to start sewing and that was a breakthrough. Since then, I've made SO MANY things:

3 pairs (or more) of Waterproof mittens for Ian's winter hiking expeditions
1 balaklava and 2 cowls for Ben made of fleece
4 collapsible shopping bags for friends and family
2 baby quilts (in duck patterns)
4 Robot squishy toys
1 pretty patchwork bag with handles
1 knitting accessory bag
1 accessory bag that matches the patchwork bag
1 black peasant blouse (for me)
1 adorable strawberry skirt (for me)
1 super cute cherry pillowcase for my bed
1 pair of Spongebob flannel pajama pants
1 sweet Pennant Banner for a very special little girl that says, "Riley's Room"

So, now you can see why I haven't been knitting! lol

If you're into sewing, too, check out the book: "One-Yard One Skein Wonders" by Storey Publishing. I borrowed it from the library at first, but ended up spending so much time and money copying the patterns that I liked that I just bought the book. More great sewing books that I found are: "Weekend Sewing" and "Sew What? Skirts" - both are very nicely organized, appropriate for beginners and fun to read - and are inspiring.

4. Designing


As I wrote above, I'm in the process of creating my new book so all of the knitting I've been doing lately has been, well, work. It's not something that I can easily pick up and just enjoy. I've got to pay attention to what I'm doing, write down changes or mistakes that I've made to my pattern and just THINK alot. That's not always a fun way to go about knitting. My friends have suggested that I just have 2 projects going so that I'll have something mindless and fun to knit, but then I KNOW I'll end up procrastinating and not completing my designs for the new book. So, I'm trying to be responsible, but...it's hard.

I have completed a number of projects so far this year:

Angora/Merino Wrap
Amanda Hat for me
Armando Hat for my dad
Mittens
An Amanda Hat with earflaps
Ben's felted clogs
2 Winter Hiking Hats (my new design...Ravelry link HERE)...(see top photo)
2 sets of Baby Duck socks
2 sets of Baby Duck hats
A Baktus
and, my favorite, my Garden Gnome Mittens.



If you want to see some pics and/or details of them, click HERE for my Ravelry page.

5. Blog
Let's face it. Facebook has taken over blogging. Or, at least, I think so. Most of the people who keep in touch with me (in the knitting world), do it on Facebook. I constantly update my sewing and knitting projects on there - with links and pics. I'm finding it harder and harder to update my blog. But, here is where I have links to my patterns and other stuff, so I won't get rid of it. But, if you're interested in keeping in touch with me more often, friend me :)

This is my personal page: http://www.facebook.com/gina.sleepyeyes
(if you don't mind seeing stuff about my family, friends, hooping, sewing and knitting...it's less censored than here...lol)

Or, you can friend me as Sleepy Eyes Knits: http://www.facebook.com/sleepyeyesknits
(where I only update knitting related news/shows/projects/etc)

So, I think I've pretty much updated most of the stuff that I've been doing. Sorry that there's not too many photos and very little talk to knitting, but I hope that will change once I get more time on my hands. Hopefully!

Would love to know how you're all doing and thank you again for being so loyal to my blog. Hope to see some of you on Facebook, too!

Lots of love,
Gina :D

P.S. YIKES!!! Almost forgot...did you see my NEW Classic Elite pattern (Webletter #171), "The Kimberly Shrug"??? This pattern (named after my sister, Kimberly) came out right after Christmas this year. You can download this FREE pattern HERE on the Classic Elite website.

Check it out and let me know what you think!! :)

A New Pattern, Recent Trunk Shows and Hooping a'Plenty!

I'm back! Finally...whew...I think once a month posts are all I can possibly get in at the moment. If you're on Facebook or my SleepyHeads group on Ravelry, that's a MUCH easier way to see what I'm up to and see pictures of my latest designs/trunk shows.

Anyhoo, I thought I'd update now before another month goes by without a post. I'll start with the smaller, personal stuff and then end with my NEW PATTERN! Yay!

FAMILY

The past month or so, it's been constant work helping my oldest, Tim, get his college applications sent in, essays written and portfolios created. He's intending to go into Game Programming/Design and has 5 colleges in mind. I thought that the Common Application would be so much easier, but really, it wasn't. Two of the colleges Tim was interested in weren't accepting the Common App and seeing how easy those were to fill out made me think, "Why the heck isn't the Common App set up like THAT!" The CA website is just not that user friendly at all and there is little room for change or being able to add things that aren't listed as options. Ugh. But, at least there'll all in and now Ian and I just have to focus on the horrors of the CSS Profile and the FAFSA. (please kill me now)



This is his senior picture, which I think is very handsome ; )

HOOPING

As some of you know, I got addicted to hooping last December and I've been loving it. Now that I can actually keep the hoop around my waist for more than 5 seconds, I love grabbing my hoop whenever I have a free minute. The best part is, I don't have to change into any fancy clothes or make sure I have an hour of allotted time to work out. You can work out with this slightly weighted hoop for only 30 minutes and burn over 300 calories! I'm having such a fun time with this that I've decided to get my Hoopnotica Teacher Training certificate so I can teach hooping next summer. I'll be taking that weekend intensive in March 2011. I've been practicing every day for my training....well, mostly hitting my head with my hoop and banging the hoop on my legs, but I still keep at it. LOL! I even thought of incorporating the hoop into my yoga class routine. As long as I have enough space and some interested yogis, I think it might be awesome! Check out Hoopnotica's website for more information, pictures and videos on hooping, weight loss, teacher training and to buy their stuff (adorable hoops, dvds, cds, etc.)

TRUNK SHOWS

I'm delighted to say that BOTH of my recent trunk shows were a HUGE success! As of this moment, I have absolutely NO Dreamscape books to sell -only PDFS. That's amazing! (There are still a few Dreamscape books available online to purchase - either at Coveted Yarn or Willowgate Yarn - see links on right sidebar...so hurry before those are sold out, too!)

Tonia Barry of the Classic Elite Design team, was wonderful and asked me to have a show at the Hub Mills Yarn store in Lowell, MA. The day went by so quickly and I loved looking at all of the gorgeous yarn in the store. It was lovely meeting so many people who came to look at my knitted samples and buy my book. I'd definitely visit that store again : )



Bernadette Vaughan of the Slater Mill Guild Studios, went out of her way to make my day fantastic. She organized this wonderful Knitting/Spinning/Quilting event at the Slater Mill in Pawtucket, RI and I thought it was amazing. There were not only vendors but, also my trunk show, presentations on spinning, beautiful quilt samples, and hot cider and goodies to munch on. The space was so beautiful - bright, light, roomy and felt so good to be there.



I was there for 5 hours and it seemed like just one! I sold ALL the rest of my Dreamscape books and had a large number of people interested in my designs - trying them on and complimenting them. I felt like someone important for that little while! : D



I'm happy to say that I've been asked back in January for their annual Knitting Weekend - where I'll be able to teach an Amanda Hat class and a Yoga/Knitting class during the weekend. Woo-hoo! I can't wait!

Thanks from the bottom of my heart for Tonia and Bernadette!!

FINISHED KNITTED PROJECTS

1. A Blanket for my Mom (I knit 3 of the squares and my friends knit the others):



2. The Harriet Cardigan from "A Fine Fleece" in Jaeger Pure Merino DK in blue:



3. Two Cowboy -themed washcloths for my sister's bathroom: (the other is a brown cowboy boot)



4. Another Persephone Beret in white for my mom's friend

5. A pair of Garter Stripe Baby Socks to go with the EZ's Baby Surprise Jacket in my handpainted sock yarn



6. And Gun Shy toy for Ben - who is obsessed with anything like laser guns and such.



Currently, I'm finishing up my friend Libby's scarf (in new pattern!) and the Fylindales Cardigan, also from "A Fine Fleece" in an imported 100% Scottish Wool aran yarn in the colorway, Blossom.

NEW PATTERN!



My newest pattern, called "Bobbi's Birthday Scarf", is now available for purchase! Yay! This scarf is a classic, cabled, unisex scarf with a twist - you add fabric to the back! If you're a quilter, you can even line the scarf with one of your gorgeous quilted creations. Depending upon the yarn and fabric you choose, this scarf could be made for anyone in your life...family, friends, teacher, bus driver, etc. The pattern is $5.00 and you can purchase the pdf here on my blog (see right sidebar of homepage under "Patterns for Purchase" or on Ravelry.



Well, I think that's about all that's new at the moment. As you know, I'm going to begin working on my newest Sleepy Eyes Knits book in January 2011 in hopes that it will be published by December 2011. This book will include baby, toddler and child patterns in a readable and colorful format. I'll be using the spiral bound format again and I'll also be offering a set of BOTH Sleepy Eyes Knits books for a great price around the holidays.

MY PATTERNS IN OTHER BOOKS

By the way, have you seen all of the Amanda Hats in the new book, "1000 Fabulous Knit Hats" by Annie Modesitt? Check out the TEXTURED HATS section. Most of those hats were knit by me or friends of mine. Soo cool!

Also, my OTHER new pattern in finally out in the new book, "101 Sock Skein Wonders" by Judith Durant. My "Ericka Scarf" is on page 94. The scarf is named after one of my close knitting friends, Ericka, and is knit using only ONE SKEIN of Noro Kureyon sock yarn, though you could use any sock yarn for this project. It would look best in a semi-solid or striping yarn, though. Take a look at both books and let me know what you think!

Hope you're all doing well and thanks so much for staying loyal to my blog.

Hugs and Happy Knitting!! xoxxo