beebonnet report

Pretty boys

I am noticing a few things about my new town.  Like, people actually say hello!  Drivers are courteous! Bicycles rule!  Fireworks are legal! (in Los Angeles, they've been illegal for a long time due to extreme fire hazard.  Mr. Bonnet and I were actually alarmed by all the fireworks zipping around on the 4th!) and there seem to be a lot of pretty boys.....

Did I mention peacocks the other day?

I went out for a stroll along the Willamette river that same day and look at this pretty boy I saw.

And then, just this morning, I found this pretty boy in my yard

Both of those pictures were taken hastily with my iphone so they're not the best quality.  But you can see I've been keeping company with some very pretty boys lately!

Work on the book has resumed (which is why I've been a little silent).  I am really glad I was not in Los Angeles for the recent Michael Jackson memorial, it sounds like it was a traffic nightmare. 

Monday's winner for either the Tree of Life or Talking Fish pattern is Charissa!
Tuesday's winner for either the Tree of Life or Talking Fish pattern is Kristen!
Wednesday's winner for either the Tree of Life or Talking Fish pattern is Renee!

If you are a recent winner please contact me and let me know which pattern you'd like.  I've gotten a little mixed up, so even if you sent me an email before, send another and remind me.  Thanks!  Send email to MAIL AT JANELLAIDMAN D O T C O M  (hopefully you figure this out - I'm trying to avoid spam)

Comment Contest Reminder - each day I'm giving away a downloadable version of the featured pattern. This week's featured pattern is Tree of Life or Talking Fish. Leave a comment and you'll be automatically entered for the random drawing. Winners are chosen by random number generator. Each Sunday I choose one person by random number to win a copy of the book when it comes out! So keep commenting to be entered for the drawing.

More Firebird, Tour de Fleece

Are you wondering what the Firebird sock looks like from the front?

The colors are reversed on the socks of course, but they would also look beautiful not reversed I think.

I also think this sock would look gorgeous in peacock colors.

And speaking of peacock colors.... I am taking part in this year's Tour de Fleece on Ravelry.  My goal is to spin enough yarn for 2 pair of socks during the Tour de France.  I don't really watch the Tour de France, but I'm always  happy to spin.

My first project is this beautiful Bluefaced Leicester wool (BFL).  Bluefaced Leicester is a long lustrous wool with a fine diameter to the wool which makes it soft enough for next to skin.  The long staple length will make this a good wool for socks.  This particular wool that I'm spinning is not superwashed, but I like to hand wash my socks anyhow.  You can easily get superwashed BFL these days.  And for those of you who are not spinners, I'm excited about the new trend in BFL sock yarns out there!

I'm spinning this 3-ply and preserving the color sequences.

Friday's winner for either the Tree of Life or Talking Fish pattern is Angela Marie!
Saturday's winner for either the Tree of Life or Talking Fish pattern is Corvidae!
Sunday's winner for either the Tree of Life or Talking Fish pattern is Shirley!

The weekly winner of the book is Walden!

If you are a recent winner please contact me and let me know which pattern you'd like.  I've gotten a little mixed up, so even if you sent me an email before, send another and remind me.  Thanks!  Send email to MAIL AT JANELLAIDMAN D O T C O M  (hopefully you figure this out - I'm trying to avoid spam)

Comment Contest Reminder - each day I'm giving away a downloadable version of the featured pattern. This week's featured pattern is Tree of Life or Talking Fish. Leave a comment and you'll be automatically entered for the random drawing. Winners are chosen by random number generator. Each Sunday I choose one person by random number to win a copy of the book when it comes out! So keep commenting to be entered for the drawing.

Firebird

Oops! my last post posted before I was quite done with it, but I'll have more info in the next few days anyhow.  I hope you all had a lovely 4th of July for those who celebrate, and lovely Saturday for those who don't!

I started off the day by buying a bicycle!! Wheee!  But then, unfortunately, I ended up spending most of my day in the emergency veterinary clinic with a sick cat.  The good news is, It looks like he'll be ok I think.

Anyhow, here, as promised, is a new sock pattern.... Firebird!  Hope this brings a little fireworks to your day.  Ravelry info and other stuff will go up tomorrow.

The firebird is a mystical creature whose brilliant red plumage glows with the intensity of a bonfire. Just one tailfeather from the firebird is enough to light an entire room. The firebird flies around the land spreading hope and beauty. Woe to those who might try to capture it!  The firebird socks can also light up a room with just a few feathers.

 

The Enchanted Sole and Sock Summit

I have been working extremely hard the last several days (weeks, months) to try and have this book ready for Sock Summit.  However, it is pretty unlikely that that is going to happen, there's just too much left to do, and I would have to get it to the printer by Wednesday for this miracle to occur.  The book will be out in August though, probably the middle of August.

Because the book won't be at Sock Summit, I will have some other kind of special promotion at Sock Summit, but I need to take a few days to think it through before I announce the details.  So if you are attending Sock Summit, keep your eye out here on the blog for more information.

For those of you who pre-ordered the book or are thinking of pre-ordering, all pre-orders will arrive signed by me. (here's a little secret, I love signing books - it makes me feel so grown up!).  The pre order deal is 10% off plus free shipping, signed by me.  Pre-order sales will end July 31 and after that you will have to buy it from your LYS or online through a yarn store or a bookseller like Amazon.

The Book is Marinating

Well, I've done as much as I can for the moment on the book.  It is out being whipped into shape by the tech editor and copy editor.  For me, that means I let the book marinate and stop thinking about it for a few days so that I can come back to it with fresh eyes.

So I took the opportunity to drive up to Oregon to my new house and spend a week or two enjoying nature, nesting in the house, hanging out with the inlaws and just generally relaxing.  In there I am also mulling around my next book idea which I'm excited to start on!

I've got another sock to reveal, and I think I'll reveal it tomorrow, in honor of Independence day, and fireworks.  You may all be too busy doing other things to look at my sock, but if that's the case, you'll be able to see it the next day anyhow.

Today we had some very cute deer come visit our garden.  They sure made a racket crashing through the underbrush.  I like the way they spring up in the air and leap away when they want to eat some other berries, or if they get spooked, or for whatever reason.  Amazingly, my dogs seemed pretty unaware of them.

This time the drive to Oregon was longer than usual because I accidentally took the wrong highway at one point.  So our normal 14 hour drive took 15 hours.  Ouch.  And to top it off, it was EXTREMELY hot, 107!  Thank heavens we have new(ish) cars, with AC.  I remember the olden days when our AC was 55/4 (55 miles per hour and 4 open windows).  On the other hand, I used to love to hang my head out the window like a dog and let the wind whip around me, it felt so exhilarating.

Are you a spinner?  Check out the new Spindlicity "blogazine" format.

I've started a new pair of socks, which I'll show you on Sunday when I have a little more done, and progress continues on the Oakmoss socks, Tintagel? Lothlorien?  You'll find out soon!

I hope you all have a lovely July 4th, I plan to sit on my balcony, eat some fruit salad, watch a little fireworks and knit!  What do you plan to do?

Tuesday's winner for either the Tree of Life or Talking Fish pattern is Eleanor!
Wednesday's winner for either the Tree of Life or Talking Fish pattern is Darlene!
Thursday's winner for either the Tree of Life or Talking Fish pattern is Jolene!

If you are a recent winner please contact me and let me know which pattern you'd like.  I've gotten a little mixed up, so even if you sent me an email before, send another and remind me.  Thanks!  Send email to MAIL AT JANELLAIDMAN D O T C O M  (hopefully you figure this out - I'm trying to avoid spam)

Comment Contest Reminder - each day I'm giving away a downloadable version of the featured pattern. This week's featured pattern is Tree of Life or Talking Fish. Leave a comment and you'll be automatically entered for the random drawing. Winners are chosen by random number generator. Each Sunday I choose one person by random number to win a copy of the book when it comes out! So keep commenting to be entered for the drawing.

My Head is the Size of a Beachball

Thanks everyone for all the really swell comments, I wish I could hire you all to just comment like that every day of my life!  I would always be on the sunny side of the street then!

I like Tree of Life too, I have a love affair with trees, they just make me feel peaceful.

Several people have asked about the yarn used.  The yarn in the blue/black version is Malabrigo Sock yarn in colors Indiecito and Black.  It's a very soft yarn, and the resulting socks are kind of silky feeling even though it's 100% merino.  I also have a sample sock knit up in autumn colors in Lisa Souza Sock! in colors petroglyph and garnet.  It doesn't have as much contrast, but it's also striking in an autumny way.

And were you wondering what the back of the sock might look like?  Well here's a peek at that - because you should look as good going as coming!  I think they'd make great clog socks.

A few people have asked in the comments how they can pre-order the book.  You can pre-order here.  It's 10% off, free shipping for media rate mail or only $2 for priority upgrade, and arrives signed by me.  International orders are 10% off but you have to pay shipping (I know the shipping part of the order button is broken, I will email international orders close to the ship date and let them know the shipping cost).  Pre orders end July 31st, after that you will only be able to get it from your LYS or an online seller like Amazon or other bookseller.

And now for the winner!

Monday's winner for either the Tree of Life or Talking Fish pattern is Steph!

If you are a recent winner please contact me and let me know which pattern you'd like.  I've gotten a little mixed up, so even if you sent me an email before, send another and remind me.  Thanks!  Send email to MAIL AT JANELLAIDMAN D O T C O M  (hopefully you figure this out - I'm trying to avoid spam)

Comment Contest Reminder - each day I'm giving away a downloadable version of the featured pattern. This week's featured pattern is Tree of Life or Talking Fish. Leave a comment and you'll be automatically entered for the random drawing. Winners are chosen by random number generator. Each Sunday I choose one person by random number to win a copy of the book when it comes out! So keep commenting to be entered for the drawing.

Tree of Life

Happy Monday everyone,  the new pattern today is Tree of Life

The Tree of Life shows up in many cultures, myths, philosophies and religions and reminds us that we are all interconnected with each other, we are rooted with the earth and our branches reach out to every living being. Make some tree of life socks to forge new roots, to remind yourself of your own connections, or just to bask in the serenity of their branches!

Thursday's winner for either the Tristan & Isolde or Talking Fish pattern is Jennie!

Friday's winner for either the Tristan & Isolde or Talking Fish pattern is Sue A.! (ooh, the random number generator must have heard you!)

Saturday's winner for either the Tristan & Isolde or Talking Fish pattern is Anne!

Sunday's winner for either the Tristan & Isolde or Talking Fish pattern is dim45Ann! (again the random number generator picked number 1)

The winner of the week for a copy of the book is Debbie Bourque!

Congratulations everyone!

If you are a recent winner please contact me and let me know which pattern you'd like.  I've gotten a little mixed up, so even if you sent me an email before, send another and remind me.  Thanks!  Send email to MAIL AT JANELLAIDMAN D O T C O M  (hopefully you figure this out - I'm trying to avoid spam)

Comment Contest Reminder - each day I'm giving away a downloadable version of the featured pattern. This week's featured pattern is Tree of Life or Talking Fish. Leave a comment and you'll be automatically entered for the random drawing. Winners are chosen by random number generator. Each Sunday I choose one person by random number to win a copy of the book when it comes out! So keep commenting to be entered for the drawing.

The Yarn for Talking Fish and some musing.

I've had a lot of positive responses to Talking Fish, which of course makes me want to do happy dances all day long, so thanks for the kind words everyone!  I think part of what people really respond to with a sideways sock is seeing the yarn striping up and down the sock instead of around and around your leg.  It's a very flattering look.  When you see some of my other sideways socks that aren't so ripply, you'll see that the vertical stripes hug the contours of your legs, and make them look, well, sexy.  It's a wonderful effect of seeing the yarn in that orientation.

So a sideways sock is a great way to show off a painted skein of sock yarn.  And the yarn I used for that picture of Talking Fish is really lovely.  The yarn is Enchanted Knoll Sock yarn, in the colorway "Sedona".  I can't say enough nice things about this yarn.  The Enchanted Knoll colors are really saturated and gorgeous and the yarn has a nice tight twist that keeps it smooth and lovely.

The sideways method of construction is not hard, in fact my test knitters who had never knit sideways socks before told me they really enjoyed it, and that it was a fast method for knitting a sock.  The only tricky parts (if you can call them tricky) to a sideways sock are that you need to know your gauge, both stitch and row gauge, and you will need to kitchener the sock up when you're done knitting.  I know a lot of people don't like the kitchener stitch, but I just think of it as knitting with a tapestry needle, and then it becomes just another type of knitting that I do.  Knitting is all about the repetition, and kitchener stitch is exactly like that!

I'm nearing the end of editing the book and getting ready to send it off to the printer.  What an amazing process it is writing a book.  I still have a few variables in the works before I will know whether it will be available by Sock Summit.  I will update here on the blog when I know for certain whether it will or will not be available by then.

Today I shot some final photos for the glossary at the back of the book.  Since my hands will be in the photos I got to go have a manicure, a luxury I haven't indulged in since my wedding!  Yikes!  I forgot just how great a manicure (and pedicure) make you feel.  It was wonderful to sit down and HAVE TO stop using my hands for a half hour.  I never realized how much I use my hands all day long.  If I'm not knitting, I'm manipulating a mouse or typing or drawing.  The thought of not using my hands makes me a little nervous, which is why I'll go out of the house with mismatched shoes but I won't go out without knitting, even if I'm going to the supermarket.  I think I live in fear that I will somehow be stranded by a giant sinkhole of doom preventing me from getting home in a timely manner and I will have to sit idle without anything to do except drum my fingers on the dashboard and wish for my knitting.  I take knitting everywhere, restaurants, appointments, and visiting with relatives.  Recently I showed up at my relatives house and didn't feel like knitting (I've been burning the candle at both ends lately and my fingers were actually tired!) my relatives remarked that it was the first time they've seen me not knitting and that it "looked good" on me (to not be knitting).  One of my other relatives also remarked recently that my knitting was just like her son with his @#%$! handheld computer game.  I realized that, to a non-knitter, my knitting can actually appear rude and it startled me.  It won't make me stop knitting, but it does make me aware that I need to remain engaged in the conversations around me rather than drifting off into happy knitting land when I'm socializing.  Do you ever get this reaction from people?

Well, if you've gotten this far, you might be wondering if you've won a pattern.

Wednesday's winner for either the Tristan & Isolde or Talking Fish pattern is Marie E!

If you are a recent winner please contact me and let me know which pattern you'd like.  I've gotten a little mixed up, so even if you sent me an email before, send another and remind me.  Thanks!  Send email to MAIL AT JANELLAIDMAN D O T C O M  (hopefully you figure this out - I'm trying to avoid spam)

Comment Contest Reminder - each day I'm giving away a downloadable version of the featured pattern. This week's featured pattern is Tristan & Isolde or Talking Fish. Leave a comment and you'll be automatically entered for the random drawing. Winners are chosen by random number generator. Each Sunday I choose one person by random number to win a copy of the book when it comes out! So keep commenting to be entered for the drawing.

Talkin' 'bout Talking Fish!

I have so many patterns yet to share, I thought I'd share a new pattern today!  So, because many people expressed interest; I give you "Talking Fish"!

If you happen to catch a talking fish, it is best to spare his life and throw him back.  A grateful talking fish will probably bring you riches, good luck, or at least grant you a few wishes. This talking fish loves the ripples of the watery river, and brings the good luck of a flattering fit, and the charm of a painted skein shown off to maximum effect. Your fishies will be the talk of the town.

Monday's winner for either the Tristan & Isolde or Talking Fish pattern is peachesforever!

Monday's winner for either the Tristan & Isolde or Talking Fish pattern is SylvieT!

If you are a recent winner please contact me and let me know which pattern you'd like.  I've gotten a little mixed up, so even if you sent me an email before, send another and remind me.  Thanks!  Send email to MAIL AT JANELLAIDMAN D O T C O M  (hopefully you figure this out - I'm trying to avoid spam)

Comment Contest Reminder - each day I'm giving away a downloadable version of the featured pattern. This week's featured pattern is Tristan & Isolde or Talking Fish. Leave a comment and you'll be automatically entered for the random drawing. Winners are chosen by random number generator. Each Sunday I choose one person by random number to win a copy of the book when it comes out! So keep commenting to be entered for the drawing.

Tristan & Isolde

For those who like the lace up look in a more practical form...

"Two star-crossed lovers ensnared in a triangle, Tristan and Isolde were bound together by a love potion gone wrong. These cable crossed socks require no potions to make you love them. They are sturdy, warm and look good in every color, and are equally handsome for both men and women. "

Sunday's winner for either the Atlantis or Galadriel pattern is LorieH

And the week's winner for the book is mk!

If you are a recent winner and I haven't yet sent you a link, please contact me.  I've gotten a little mixed up, so even if you sent me an email before, send another and remind me.  Thanks!  Send email to MAIL AT JANELLAIDMAN D O T C O M  (hopefully you figure this out - I'm trying to avoid spam)

Comment Contest Reminder - each day I'm giving away a downloadable version of the featured pattern. This week's featured pattern is Tristan & Isolde. Leave a comment and you'll be automatically entered for the random drawing. Winners are chosen by random number generator. Each Sunday I choose one person by random number to win a copy of the book when it comes out! So keep commenting to be entered for the drawing.