President John F Kennedy
If you are old enough to remember November 22, 1963 then you know where you were when you heard the news that President Kennedy had been assassinated and was dead. I had recently learned I was expecting my first daughter and so I gathered newspaper and magazine articles to save for my children and grandchildren.
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Tagged Events, history, Memories, Photographs
This weekend was the first time that I was able to go to Rhinebeck, NY for the NY Sheep & Wool Festival. Before I started working for JMF, I either had rehearsal or a show every weekend. I would get an actual weekend off maybe once a year, sometimes it was much longer between weekends off, however. So Rhinebeck was always out.
The delightful Julie and her friend Lucia and I left early on Saturday and came back Sunday night. Here’s a peek of my Rhinebeck through pictures (and by “peek” I mean over 60. I took more than 300 so consider this just a few in comparison):
The drive there had wonderful views. I enjoyed watching the type of fall foliage change (less vivid reds and oranges as we went west across the pike):
The JMF ravelry group meet up:
Just kidding! That was the Ravelry meet up. Here’s the JMF meet up:
Brenda had to leave right after we took that photo, but before we were joined by Melissa, Melissa, and Melissa’s husband Jeremy. Jeremy was driving and as they got closer to the fairgrounds, Melissa started to look up directions. Jeremy said, “I was just going to follow that car with the Kay Two Tog bumper sticker.” (K2tog).
A Border Leicester Sheep, (same breed as most of our colored flock):
You’re about to see so many photos of knitwear that I was admiring from afar:
A display on the different kinds of wool!
I’m really loving cabled sweaters right now:
This goat was sleeping on the rail. I took a picture, it looked up at me, and then fell back asleep. Adorable!
Love the coloring on this sheep!
Do these sheep look like they’re being followed? They should! This is from the Herding Dog demo. This border collie clearly LOVES her job:
Julie’s warm bunny hat:
I found a lot of sweaters that reminded me of The Shepherd and The Shearer sweaters:
Rhinebeck is a a beautiful background for taking Finished Object pictures!
I adore this hat!
This is actually the seconf time I stalked this woman to photograph her sweater. Now that I’m seeing it on screen, though, I’m wondering if it’s a handknit or if it’s a commercial knit. Julie and I played that game. What do you think?
Cheviot sheep:
This girl’s matching ensemble was too precious for words!
Sunday morning we caught the Frisbee Dog Demo. I think that these dog’s are the happiest in the whole world!
The weather was perfect and many people took advantage of it to socialize
Llama / Alpaca parade!
Because you always see a strolling bajo player with his hand-knit bedecked groupies:
Great use of color:
We met up again on Sunday with Adelaide. Linda, Deb, and Jim joined us. It was so wonderful to have some time to talk to people who I’d never met before! Linda:
Adelaide:
Even while in line for food, I was scoping out awesome knits:
In the Food barn, there were also exhibits. This man was weaving dishcloths:
Lots of hand spun, knitting, and weaving was entered.
I didn’t always understand the judge’s choices. This handspun took FIFTH place!
This color combo is perfect:
Sometimes you just have to take a nap / look up at the passing clouds.
The shawl on the left I recognize as Celestarium.
I could have gotten apple crisp at two different places, but was swayed into getting this one by a satisfied customer:
It was a great last treat of the fair!
The skirt is Lanespliter and the orange sweater on the right is, of course, Kate Davies’ Owls.
I want to make this shawl in Herriot naturals! So simple, but so effective.
This blue sweater is so flattering! Anyone know what it is?
We pulled over at a scenic rest stop on our way home. It was well worth it. I really lucked out with the weather for my first Rhinebeck. I’m spoiled for sure!
I had a great time and can’t wait to do it again. Fortunately I wasn’t crazed about buying something in particular and took my time selecting my perfect souvenier. (A beautiful spalted elm nostepin.) This meant that if an area was too crowded, I could easily move through it without feeling like I was missing something. We never stood in crazy long lines, opting to get lunch earlier in the day and then an afternoon snack. And when the crowds were at their peak, we opted to go to a meet up and socialize. It was a great chance to take a break from the push of people and see / meet old friends!
Do you recognize any of the knits in this post? Feel free to let us know what the patterns are, as I’m sure I’m not the only one interested in learning more about them!
I’ll cut right to the chase. Susie did a great job throwing out the first pitch. I know it was incredibly nerve-wracking for her, but she really did an awesome job. Think I’m just saying it because she’s my boss? Video Proof (blink and you miss it):
We had an amazing experience that I don’t think we’ll forget. We have to thank Pacific Fabrics & Crafts for sponsoring the event and our trip out here. Without Annette, Sharon, and the whole Pacific Fabrics & Crafts team, it just wouldn’t have happened! It seems like the whole staff are just friendly, pleasant people and Susie and I are both tempted to just settle down right here in Washington! Cherry and Karin were so amazingly helpful. Well, onto the pictures. There are a lot!
We really had an amazing time. Everyone at the stadium was fantastic – Maureen, Mandy, the bat girl, the Moose mascot! We were well taken care of for sure! The Mariners have only won one other Stitch and Pitch game, but tonight makes TWO. Clearly Susie is their good luck charm.
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Tagged Events
The Possible Dreams Auction is being held this year on Sunday, July 28, 2013 at the Winnetu Oceanside Resort in Edgartown. The auction is held to help raise money for the Martha’s Vineyard Community Service organization. This fundraising event supports a wide range of human services to more than 6,000 Island residents and visitors each year.
Let’s back up to 2001, the one and only time I was at the Possible Dreams auction, which was then held at the Harborside Inn in the center of Edgartown.
Guests of the inn didn’t need to purchase a ticket which worked out nicely for my family as we were staying there. Many of the Island celebrities donate an “auction” such as a sail on a yacht, or behind the scenes at a TV show, or tickets to the Super Bowl, or dinner with your favorite author or actor. Walter Cronkite, Norman Bridwell the author of ”Clifford the Big Red Dog” books, Patricia Neal, Ted Danson, Mike Wallace… along with the late Art Buchwald as emcee are just a few of the names to donate their time and talents.
But the biggest name was always Carly Simon…
… I staked out my seat on the deck over looking the gardens hours before the auction was to start. There were 50 or so auctions and Carly was #34. Her auction was:
“NOBODY DOES IT BETTER… If you’ve ever wanted to WRITE A SONG… let CARLY SIMON help…co-write it and sing it with or without her at her home – in her private studio. CARLY will burn a CD for you to take home. This is for one lucky music-lover and a guest”.
The bidding began at $20,000. Three times she sang snippets of songs … she messed up the lyrics to “Jesse” which the crowd laughed at. People started yelling out requests and it turned into a short and sweet mini concert. The final bid was around $55,000.
Clifford the Big Red Dog below waving at the crowd as the sun disappeared and fog began rolling in.
If you’re on the Vineyard Sunday, July 28, 2013 go and be part of a fun afternoon and help the people of the Vineyard.
CLICK HERE for a list of the Possible Dreams.
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Tagged Events, Martha's Vineyard, Memories, Photographs, Possible Dreams Auction
We have two confirmed Seattle meet ups where you can meet Susie and see both the Spring / Summer 2013 collection as well as a sneak peak at the Fall / Winter 2014 collection.
Pacific Fabrics & Crafts, Everett Store
Wednesday, July 24
1-3pm
This is a ticketed event. The tickets are free, but you need to call the store!
10203 Evergreen Way
Everett WA 98204
425-353-8866
www.pacificfabrics.comFacebook Event Page!
WildFibers
Wednesday, July 24
6-8pm
Space is limited, so please call ahead to reserve your spot!
706 South 1st Street
Mt. Vernon WA 98273
360-336-5202
www.wildfibers.net
Facebook Event Page!
In addition, Susie will be at the Pacific Fibers booth after she throws out the first pitch at the Stitch and Pitch.
I hope we’ll see you there!
Happy 237th birthday America
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Tagged Events, holidays, Photographs
Happy 4th of July, everyone! Three weeks from today, Susie will be throwing out the first pitch at the Seattle Mariner’s game!
There is nothing more American than baseball, right? Susie brought her baseball with her to the photo shoot and then to TNNA. (And I’m wondering if she stuffed it into her luggage on the way to Scotland!) She didn’t throw a single baseball. She did however, throw a few rocks into the Salem harbor under Nancy’s guidance and she got better surprisingly fast! So I have high hopes that her first pitch will go spectacularly well.
While we’re in Seattle, we’ll also be doing some meet ups at yarn shops! Not all the details are perfectly set in stone yet, but as we get closer, I’ll be sure to give you the schedule. We’re both really looking forward to getting out to see the Pacific North West, and I’ll get to cross another state off my list of states I’ve never been to!
Don’t forget to get your tickets to the stitch and pitch! You can buy tickets at LYS in the area and some of them come with extras on top of the free giveaway items already included. (Some of which includes some stuff by JMF that you won’t want to miss!) I know that if you purchase your tickets at Pacific Fabric you can get an awesome tote bag of extra goodies for just $4.99 more! So check out your LYS to see if they’re selling tickets and maybe you’ll get a little something extra!
I decided to practice for stitch and pitch last night by seeing the Boston Red Sox vs. the San Diego Padres at Fenway. This was my first baseball game and it definitely was an adventure!
So now I’m all warmed up for the Mariners vs the Twins at the end of this month!
(Sorry, this is the only picture my husband took of me and it was so bright and hot I couldn’t see that it was super blurry when I looked at it on the camera!)
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Tagged Events
My friend Gale Zucker is an in-demand knitwear photographer– she shoots all the Mason-Dixon girls books — and she also teaches amazing workshops. She taught one at the farm a couple years ago. We learned so much and had a blast!
Gale and the folks at Interweave have put together a webinar of Gale’s Photography for Knitters workshop!
I’ve done a couple of these webinars and they are a great way to learn a new skill. It’s nice because you learn at your own pace, in the comfort of your own pajamas. Plus it’s a total bargain– only $19.99.
FYI– This isn’t a sponsored post. I just really like Gale and think this workshop is the bee’s knees. The in-person version of this workshop got me started on serious photography, so I’m a fan.
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Tagged Events, Uncategorized
Branch Brook Park ~ Newark, New Jersey
Branch Brook Park is located in my hometown of Newark, NJ. Branch Brook Park was created in 1895 making it the first county park in the nation. It has the largest collection of cherry blossom trees in the world… more than Washington, DC and more than Japan. The cherry trees were a gift donated in 1927 by Caroline Bamberger Fuld. BBP is 360 acres and has almost 5000 cherry trees.
This year, 2013, the Cherry Blossom Festival runs from April 6 – 20, the Bloomfest is Sunday, April 13, 2013 from 11am – 5pm
The cherry trees below are along Second River which forms the border between Newark and Belleville.
In the tree below on the left is my daughter Deb and her dog Chappy in 2010 - on the right is Deb and our first mini-dachshund, Mustard sitting in a tree at BBP in 1979 .
If you’re in, or around Newark, NJ go and visit this beautiful park and enjoy the cherry blossoms.
- by Joan -
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Tagged Events, flowers, New Jersey, Photographs
It all began with this little snippet in the Vineyard Gazette in September of 1990. My daughter Deb likes Harry Connick Jr and I’m a huge fan of Carly Simon, I have been even before I knew of her Vineyard connection. This seemed like a perfect weekend getaway for us but how could I manage to get tickets when I live in NJ and they were only on sale on the Vineyard !
I did it. I was determined and when it involves the Vineyard my determination is un-stoppable. So off we went. There were a few glitches along the way concerning MV accommodations and ferry reservations so we decided to stay in Falmouth on the mainland and just go to the Vineyard for the day of the concert.
It was a spectacular September Sunday afternoon on the Vineyard, the Campground was filled with happy concertgoers bustling around.
Before the concert began we were talking with a woman sitting next to us who was going on and on about how excited she was to be seeing Carly Simon. She said she had chatted about it with her seat mate on the small plane she had flown over to MV on that afternoon. She told him she had no idea who Harry Connick, Jr was, but that she was mainly there to see Carly.
When Harry stepped onto the stage she gasped and said “oh my god, that’s the young man I was talking to on the plane.” Just a tad embarrassing.
At 3pm Harry stepped on stage and the concert began. His band was fantastic and Harry’s voice velvety smooth. After about an hour or so of great music the lights were turned off. The only illumination was the sun shining through the stained glass windows around the perimeter of the Tabernacle !! And out stepped…..
CARLY. I was beside myself. In actuality though the person beside me was Carly’s mother!! I have seen Carly in concert several times since then but seeing her on the Vineyard and at the Tabernacle was something really special for me. Harry and Carly sang a few songs together, their voices meshed beautifully.
Carly did a few songs alone and then way too soon it was over. What a fantastic day, one we’ll never forget.
The reviews of the concert were glowing, much like the talents of Carly Simon and Harry Connick Jr. as they stood side by side on the stage of the Tabernacle.
After the concert we had ‘drinks’ with the band at the Oyster Bar in Oak Bluffs… us and about 100 other people… then we headed to Edgartown for dinner.
Too quickly our lovely day on the Vineyard was coming to an end. We drove back to Oak Bluffs for one last look at the now darkened Tabernacle. We had booked a late ferry and it’s one of the few times I’ve sailed at night. The sky was star filled, a cool breeze was blowing and a young man on board was strumming his guitar and singing softly. Perfect day.
I”ve seen Carly 6 or 7 times but this was the first time and there couldn’t have been a more perfect place.
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Tagged Campground, Events, Martha's Vineyard, Memories, Photographs, Tabernacle