KNIT WEAR

A beautifully written feature in American Magazine, KNITWEAR, by it's editor Eunny Jung. I especially enjoyed her quote "knitting patterns or serial art?" This is a cool knitting mag, with a really wide scope on contemporary knitting ideas. I love the minimalism of the knitting patterns in it.

KOSKELA WRAP-UP

Great shots here on the Koskela blog of the recent workshops held in Sydney on Construction Knitting.

Knitted Cacti

New In store; Knitted Cacti by Andrea Daniel from Odds&Ends. Genius!!

GATHERING

Pia Jane Bijkerk has been gathering floral finds from her neighborhood here; a beautiful documentary of memories. You probably know of this celebrity blogger, author and contributor to the Country Style Blog where she has recently written a feature on Gather. Pia also wrote this post on her experience of the Construction Knitting patterns here, a little while back.

HOMESTYLE

A feature in this month's Homestyle Magazine on my new shop Gather. Unfortunately my web address wasn't printed with the article!!- hopefully some readers will be google savvy enough to find me.

KOSKELA WORKSHOPS

I'm still buzzing with inspiration from the Koskela space where the construction workshops were recently held. While the Wooli yarn is sold out on the webshop, Koskela still has yarn in stock for those looking for it.

Country Style Photoshoot

Country Style Magazine. has just launched The Wool Issue with pages and pages of wool things. Amongst these you can spot my Bespoke Yarn, Knitting Needles, cup cosies, chunky knit Cable Sofa Cover,knitted Joanie lamp (a collaboration with Lightly), Knitted Dress, a chunky knitted lampshade, felted baskets, and some beautiful yarn which I stock at Gather). This was a huge workload to supply these pieces for this shoot, and what great satisfaction to see the work in such beautifully styled shots.

SYDNEY WORKSHOPS

Just arrived in Sydney and its freezing cold; perfect knitting weather!! Still some places left for Construction Knitting Workshops at Koskela. If you're a Sydney-sider it's not too late to enter The Sydney Thousands competition for a giveaway workshop session, plus some Ebony Knitting Needles. What a incredible and inspiring space Koskela is; I'm really looking forward to spending my next few days there. Although - I'm almost full to the brim with visual saturation after viewing some of the Sydney Biennale today at the new MCA building. By the time this week in Sydney is over I'll be FAT with ideas.

Follow Your Heart.....

SYDNEY retailer Koskela has struck a perfect chord mixing design and people, humming with delectable, tasteful experiences in one impressive new space. I'll be doing some Construction Workshops at KOSKELA from 6 - 8 July. Book directly with KOSKELA to attend.

HomeStyle

Sarah Horn was commissioned to take these photos for an upcoming feature of Homestyle Mag. I was on a crazy deadline to finish the Bangarra Dance costumes while she was doing this, so I just kept working all while she busied herself around me and the shop capturing images. Lovely shoot!

WORKSHOPS

Beautiful Yarns

Australian Country Spinners are currently creating beautiful publications and designs for their yarns. Their designer Ann, is creating some magic with this styling. I have just worked with her on a exciting pattern publication to be released in Winter 2013, a long way off, but worth the wait, as it includes designers Romance Was Born and First Born, and some construction designs from myself using their yarns. But right now in store I have some of their gorgeous yarns and patterns. I've never been tempted to work on other knitting patterns, but I'll certainly be knitting a few of these up for myself. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Merino/Angora/Silk blend - ooohhhh this is a stunning yarn, and I have the whole colour range in store. I quote from my Handknitters Yarn Guide that when angora is added to wool "The wool adds just enough drape to the fabric to be beneficial, while the presence of angora maintains a lightness and loft in the blend", and then of course the addition of silk adds a lovely lustre.

Crochet: I'm no expert with crochet, but you don't need to be for this publication; and it's encouraged me to make every design in here as each piece is gorgeous; from nanna squares to ponchos as pictured, to sweet little dresses, shorts and slippers. Keep a look out for Gather's crochet workshops of granny squares and basic stitches in June. The cotton yarn range for these patterns are in store. The yarn handles and drapes beautifully.

Mohiar, in chunky 12ply. Great patterns in this book, and as its a chunky yarn its quick, and easy beginner knitting. It's a great off-shoot from the construction knitting into the world of other knitting patterns. Nice colour range; I'm currently knitting the piece on the cover in the sage green.

Sock's are my next winter challenge. I have a range of this German sock yarn in store in 17 self-striping colour combinations and I plan to knit up every colour myself as its impossible to choose one colour over another. Keep a look out also for sock knitting workshops at Gather over June.

Mr D

An exciting addition to my street is Mr D, a great new restaurant and bar. The danger is it's only a few doors away from the shop; I'll have to resist the temptation of daily breakfast,lunch and dinner there. It's pretty hard to because a morning coffee accompanied by the Mr D doughnut served with a syringe of foamy vanilla custard which you inject into the doghnut is pretty awesome. The lunch/dinner menu is also provocative enough to lure you back in there again; my favourite dishes so far are the Pulled pork, white polenta, apple salad, fennel pollen salt; and Risotto of braised duck, cavalo nero & pine nuts. The kitchen is open to the restaurant, so you see the roast ducks stacked on racks as they come out of the oven (and the doughnuts). Nice wine list with a mix of Hawkes Bay, Spanish and Italian. Great interior and graphic design; same design team as The Depot in Auckland. This place is making me miss Melbourne less.