Rainbow Princess

I know I've written about Ann Marie before...about how kind, wonderful, and beautiful I think she is.  But this is really too much to handle.  She is the most radiant rainbow princess I have ever encountered.  Sam stopped by a few nights ago to share the photos he took of the collection and NLMH events from last weekend, and all I can say is DAMN SAM!  Sam and I have teamed up a lot in the past with fashion and photography, but past shoots have primarily involved the use of Joy Janice, our fiberglass friend.  With so many gorgeous real life models participating in this project, it's no surprise that moments such as these were captured. 




All photos by Sam Hoolihan, modeled by Ann Marie Freeman

New Land of Milk and Honey

Thank you to everyone who came to the opening of New Land of Milk and Honey last weekend!  We are going to be scheduling a few more events in the space throughout the course of the show, and are considering doing the performance a second time for those who may have missed it.  In the future, will also have the performance on DVD.  You can visit the Soap Factory to see the installation, videos, and costumes until April 4th.

Saturday was an awesome day with the dearest friends.  So happy!  I can't even explain my joy.  

There will be more documentation coming from Sam Hoolihan and Ross Yates, but for now here are some photos of the performance by Patrick Kelley.


Introduction (Croix Clayton)

"Opening of the Tetrahedron" (Tim Hudson and Ann Marie Freeman)

"Meditation" (Aby Wolf, Ann Marie Freeman, Croix Clayton)

"Zodiac Song of Harmony" (Aby Wolf)

"Tamale Handout" (Tim Hudson, Paul Puleo, Croix Clayton, Alberta Mirais, Aby Wolf, Fletcher Barnhill)

"Three Pillars" (NLMH)

"Patterns of Life" (Lindsay Noble, Annmarie Schwankl-Hoolihan, Aby Wolf)

We Summon You!

Please join us on Saturday, February 20th for the opening of New Land of Milk and Honey, at the Soap Factory (518 2nd Avenue SE, Minneapolis, MN 55458).  The opening goes from 7:00-11:00 p.m. with a performance from 8:00-8:30 p.m.  Free to attend by all, donations will be gladly accepted at the door.

See here for a SFG4 promotional video by Bob Fagerhaugh!
Peace and Love from the NLMH...



Video still by Adrian Freeman and print design + animated gifs by Eric Carlson.

1-UP For DBJ

I finally finished my first project using all double bed jacquard (DBJ for MK nerds).  This has been a battle I've been fighting for awhile and will be one of the last pieces I make before the show.  For anyone that doesn't know, DBJ means that the fabric is double-knit, or knit on both sides so all of the floats are enclosed between two knit faces.  It requires full use of needles on the ribber bed (purl) and the main bed (knit), and uses twice as much yarn as a normal fairisle.



A few more things will surely pop up between now and then, but rehearsals are starting on Saturday and some gallery things still need to be figured out.  I spent all day yesterday on the computer, trying to layout the way the costumes will be displayed during the exhibition.  This kind of thing takes forever and frustrates me more than dropping an entire sweater off the needle bed.  I also dropped my phone in the toilet.

Erin and Brett have been doing some incredible things in the space with their landscape installation, and have been working in the gallery non-stop.  I saw the latest progress last weekend and my mind was blown.  I can't wait for you to see it.

Knit Knap Paddy Sack

Well, after spending the past two weeks on pants, pants, pants, I have shifted into something new.  The NLMH crew will be needing satchels and sacks of sorts to carry things around, like tamales, fresh baked bread, and produce.  Here are two versions of the slouchy drawstring knapsack, the one on the right has a silver lining and leather strap.  I am working on more knit backpack styles and other accessories to finalize the collection, and this week I will get back with my old self to do some real sewing and pattern making. 

I am running out of all my favorite colors which is an indication that it's time to start wrapping up.  I thought a lot about knitting over the weekend and momentarily enjoyed the idea of abandoning this aesthetic all together with the close of New Land of Milk and Honey.  I don't think I will quite yet, but I am anxious to wrap my head around some new ideas.  I've always been able to walk away from just about anything, sometimes the timing just isn't right.

Cut Loose

These shorts aren't for me, they're for somebody a foot taller than me but I like wearing them too.  It's a new kind of cozy, kind of like a snuggie for your bottom.  I've been cursed this week thinking about all the things I want to do after this show is over, and it's starting to be a distraction.  I can't stop fantasizing about the day my new yarns will arrive in the mail, knowing that no loyal sense of duty will stop me from obsessing over each new fiber.

Yarn shopping on the internet is a funny experience, zany even.  It's true, some of the sites may be a little outdated, but it feels kind of nice to hang out in the "old internet" for awhile.  That being said, it is hard to find a site that has an interface capable of displaying all of the information I want to know.  So far, Cotton Clouds has been the best site I've found to view color cards and descriptions without forcing my computer into paralysis.  If anybody out there has any outstanding internet cone yarn resources, I'm all ears. 

The Big X

I am starting to do fittings this week, which means I will pull everything off the rail to have a good look at it again.  Viewing all the pieces in the order they were made will make my train of thought for the past six months pretty evident.  Remember the time I was way into turtlenecks, and that other time that I couldn't stop with variegated stripes?  They're all bunched together, and you can see when I traded my old favorite thing for a new favorite thing.  Or, how I combined all of my favorite things...like big pants, with rugby stripes, and non-rugby stripes, and fairisle, and all of the last bits of color I have been saving for a special time.

I am nearing the end of my collection for New Land of Milk and Honey.  I ordered some new yarns yesterday to try out after the show, and the excitement is overwhelming.  It will be just like starting over.