KnitKickers

Dear Mom,
A new design flew off my needles last spring and I had hopes of it being accepted by Knitty, but it didn't make the cut. Ah well. I can debut them here, instead.

I'd been wanting a little boot topper, but something lacy. Something that could be worn as a dressy accessory and something that would make a dressed down work boot look pretty, too.

I called on Bonnie Jo and my Young Lady to do some modeling for me, and Bonnie Jo gets credit for the clever name.

More details about KnitKickers can be found HERE.

Love,
Kim

The Weekend

Dear Mom,
A picture is worth a thousand words and this next one pretty much sums up the weekend here.

The family room has been officially Spring Cleaned. The last bit required a family effort. The toy box, games and movies have all been purged of out-grown and unwanteds. The Goodwill received a healthy donation this weekend.
Unfortunately, giving all that attention to one room (and that room is looking mighty good, I must say) means that the rest of the house is looking rather seedy and I am way behind on laundry. Today is for catching up.

All work and no knitting makes Kim cranky, and without breaks My Hero and I would probably be crippled right now, so we did do more than clean, take trips to the hardware and lighting stores, spackle, paint and stain. I knit my way past the halfway point of my sweater thanks to Season 3 of The Closer. (I just love that show and enjoy every character in it! Thank you MaryLee for introducing me to Deputy Brenda Lee Johnson.)

This sweater is looking like a blob right now, but I am hopeful that it will come together the way it does in my head. It could be that elusive perfect sweater. Or a horrible waste of time and good yarn. We shall know soon. Maybe. I still have that second Polska mitten to start and last week My Hero asked if I could knit a baby gift for a March baby. Just putting all that in writing made me nervous. Gonna go brew another pot of tea and get a move on.
Love,
Kim

Photo Shoot

Dear Mom,

Having finished a pair of socks for the May 2010 issue of Creative Knitting magazine, and needing to deliver them along with my pattern instructions, I was invited by the editor, Barb, to meet her at a photo shoot yesterday.
The location was only about 15 minutes away, but I felt like I was in another world for a little while.

The models were breathtakingly beautiful, as you would expect, but read that again. I didn't just say beautiful. I said Breathtaking. Stunning. Photogenic has a whole new meaning for me now. And the models were polite and friendly. I was equally struck by their poise while being photographed and STARED AT as I was by their looks.

Fascinated, I asked if I could take photos of them taking photos.

Here is Editor Barb, writing down an identification number and the sweater's name on a dry erase board. After the photos are taken, the model will hold this board and have another photo taken. She will also take an additional shot holding a color board. This is Liz:

Liz was fluffed and styled, special attention taken to showing the sweater to its best advantage.

And Liz's legs were probably ended at the height of my waist.

This photo shoot is for the January 2010 issue. Special care was taken that the backgrounds won't look too summery, and those models, wearing wool sweaters in August didn't even appear to be overheating.
In addition to the photographer and the hair and make up professional, there was also a stylist who coordinates the sweater, clothes and accessories for the models. She would pick up the models when they were done, whisk them away in her van and return with them wearing a new look.

This is Brittany, a former Miss Indiana. Make up touched up.

And beautiful.

Love,

Kim