New Stockists

ALL Knitwear is now available for purchase at two new retailers. Douglas + Bec is a small shop run in conjunction with a design studio and gallery, based in Auckland, New Zealand. It is nearing the winter season in that part of the world, and if you live locally you will soon be able to shop from a range of hats and scarves. General Store is a retail environment created by Serena Mitnik-Miller and Mason St. Peter, located in San Francisco. A colorful selection has been available in-store for the past month, please stop in if you live in the area. (Also, they carry Beatrice Valenzuela handmade shoes here and many other beautiful items for your body and home). Thank you to Rebecca and Serena for including me in their retail spaces. And don't forget, if you live in Melbourne, you can experience the ALL Knitwear range in its entirety by stopping into Dagmar Rousset where I have been sending new sizes and styles every two weeks. Shop till you drop!


(Douglas + Bec, 9 St. Mary's Road, St. Mary's Bay, Auckland 1011, New Zealand)

(General Store, 4035 Judah Street, San Francisco, CA, 94122)

KH-965i & DAK 7

Wheeeee! I have finally had a few days to work with my new machine and software set-up. In some ways I have been dreading this transition because it is completely upsetting the way I have been working for the past year. But mainly, I am so pleased and excited to be working with new tools that my enthusiasm is overshadowing any doubts. I have been temporarily setting up shop across the way at the center table, to keep the old machine in tact until everything has been transferred over, and to access my computer which is now a priority.

Part of this new process has involved tapping into the Windows side of my partitioned hard-drive. It's a different world over there! I had no idea that starting my computer in Windows would actually be like operating a PC inside of a Mac. I guess I don't know what I was expecting, but when I got over there and was greeted with full-on Microsoft language and graphics I felt a little overwhelmed. Yes, I am a Mac snob, even though I grew up using PC's and worked on one for three years at Target. But after I changed a few themes around and actually started using Design-A-Knit I started to warm up to Windows a little bit more, and now...I'm starting to like it over there...

White

Who is ready for spring cleaning? It's been on my mind for weeks now. I'm not sure what I'm waiting for. The five inches of snow we got yesterday is putting a damper on my spirit, not the kind of white I was looking for! This year, I am finally wanting to get rid of everything. All of those beautiful thread-bare t-shirts I have thrifted over the years can finally go. So too can my 1980's earring collection, scores of cassette tapes, bolts of fabric, books, and a massive heap of shoes. I can't wait for the day when we can open up our kitchen screen doors to the back garden. Let summer in!

Hot Pink

This is going to be my color this summer. You know what looks great with hot pink? A golden brown tan! I have been slowly adding pieces to my summer wardrobe and bargain-hunting online has become one of my favorite activities. A few of my most recent purchases have been hot pink, a color I welcome after months of only wearing blue and gray. I spent the whole last year visiting the Marais USA site over and over again, trying to figure out which of their stylish options would suit me best. I debated many options but never thought that the patent leather Criss-Cross Sandal would be the one. When I received my package in the mail yesterday, I knew I made the right decision. They are beautiful! Every detail was considered and I can't wait to wear them all summer long. I am going to Miami in May and am craving the heat and sock-less days.

Happy Friday

Another Brother

Yesterday I welcomed another Brother into my studio! I have been anticipating the arrival of my second knitting machine for a few weeks and it is finally home. This model was manufactured in the late 1990's instead of the early 1980's like my other machine, and because of this it offers many functions and possibilities that my current set-up lacks. In addition to the new machine, I also purchased Design-A-Knit, the famous software for home knitters, so I may now join the ranks of hundreds of ladies throughout the country that can babble on about DAK. Prepare for a deep dive into zany, I've just been dipping my toes into the water up until now.

In other news, thank you to everyone who has made a purchase from the new collection and sent kind words of support, I appreciate you! Finally, I wanted to mention the launch of a new site, Studio-Sweet-Studio, described as a happy place for artists and visual enthusiasts. This is the work of one of my favorite new buddies, Tuesday Bassen, and functions as part of her senior project in her final semester at MCAD. Tuesday conducted a studio tour at our place and an extensive Q&A session that promises to be a refreshing break from the usual.

ALL Knitwear SS/2011

New styles are now available in the ALL Shop! This collection features all of my favorite colors with new patterns ranging from cacti to confetti. Create whole outfits with pattern multiples or mix and match! Peruse new silhouettes like the festive Confetti Split Cardigan and the wild Freestyle Shift 001. All styles made from ringspun cotton yarn, looks great with summer!






Modeled by Jess Hirsch, Alberta Mirais, Celestine Pueringer, and Lindsay Noble.

Art

Look! I got my nails done yesterday with my pals. It was the 27th birthday of one of my finest girlfriends and my treat was a full manicure and nail painting for both of us. I've had a manicure before but never anything like the one I had yesterday (the other one did not include a parrafin dip or the hand-painted nail art). I'm sure I sound like a bumbling novice, but I would definitely do this again and recommend it to anyone who is looking for an activity that is both pampering and fun. I can't help but imagine all of the other nail art possibilities that exist out there, and of course, the thought of making my own nail designs entered my brain immediately. Polka dots and smiley faces? Yes!

Pink Lemonade

Spring is a-coming! Daylight savings time starts this weekend, the days are getting longer, it's still snowing outside but I don't care. I am ready for spring and so is the ALL Shop, which will update with new goodies on Monday, March 14th. If you are on the mailing list, you will receive an email reminder with the particulars. Many of the items presently on the site will go away with the exception of a handful of favorites. The shop will be squeaky clean and full of color, get ready for happy.

Still Wearing Hats

Esprit de Corps

WOW! My friend Sarah sent me a whole slew of scans from a 1980's Esprit Catalog this morning. It is jam packed with many highly inspirational spreads and page designs, I felt elation as I scrolled through. I grew up wearing Esprit, a lot of it, so this hits close to home. I love everything about the hang-tag spread, from all of the different design variations to the multi-colored swift tacks. The shirt flats with the friendly arms are so simple and endearing, and the colors are right up my alley. YAY!

WAD!

When I was in Paris last fall, I was introduced to a few editors of the French design and culture magazine, WAD. This quarterly magazine features tons of fashion designers from all over the world, big and small, for both men and women. The unisex approach is nice for those that enjoy looking at styles for both genders, like me.

After I returned from my trip, I was contacted by their office to contribute to their Winter 10/11 Issue #47, which I received in the mail last week. All of the text in the magazine is printed in French and English, and I especially enjoy the creative rendering of Lindsay's face. The English translation is pretty wonky, I can hardly make sense of it. I was trying to tell the story of my first sweater commission for a man and his chihuahua but the details didn't quite make it. Regardless, I am honored to have been included in this issue, take a look!