Fishing for Answers

My sister lives in Germany, and the minute I found out she was to become a grandparent, I compulsively picked up my knitting needles. Time to get busy. With a few other projects simultaneously in the queue, I had to keep this simple. In my stash of yarn, I found this Caribbean blue cotton from St. Tropez called 'Holiday.' (The St. Tropez brand, unfortunately appears not to be available any longer. Can a fellow knitter confirm its retirement?)

Have you seen this label around lately?

I knitted a short sleeve number, and added, to its brilliant sea, an exotic underwater inhabitant. But....something just wasn't right. The sweater still felt a little plain to me. As much as I wanted to stuff it in an envelope and send it off, I couldn't just yet.

First attempt

So, I took a drive. It happened to be a spectacular day and the coast was unusually clear. I pulled into one of my favorite places in the world, beautiful Point Lobos State Reserve. This park, such a special place for me and my family, never fails to inspire.

As I listened to the waves ebb and flow on Gibson Beach, my mind drifted back to the  sweater. (I know these conundrums must also haunt my fellow artists...). The blue-green Pacific looked inviting and I dipped my toes into its bracing cold waters, retreating as the waves rolled in. And, there it was--my answer.

Sand dusted off, shoes on, I raced to the car. Okay, actually I ambled as quickly as I could up a set of precipitous stairs, side-stepping the nature trail and the ancient tree roots growing through its uneven dirt paths.

Yes, there was something missing.

I picked up my needles and started over from scratch, adding pearl stitches in an asymmetrical form as I went along, thinking of the movement and conveyance of water. Those waves. Those staggering, enduring,  heart-pounding, reassuring waves. That's what was missing!

Rippers and rollers knitted with easy pearl stitches finishes this second attempt off right.

Adventures in Babyknitting

Few things please me more than the photos I receive of happy babies wearing my knits! We'll be babbling much more-- in-depth--about kid knits in the future---baby booties, beanies, blankets and more. Stay tuned. Meantime, here's your spoonful of sugar!

Little Wren, courtesy of proud parents, Jendi & Shayn.

All Square Now

Quick update: Remember the blanket squares I'm working on? Well, here's the finished product that will go to the Red Cross! Ta Da...

Hitting a Snag

It's been so hot around the country lately! Most of your sweaters are probably packed away in the closet with the rest of your winter wardrobe. But even here in sunny California, evenings can become chilly fast, with inland temperatures dropping, catching us off-guard. So, we tend to keep a few lighter sweaters handy.

Maybe this has happened to you. You put on your favorite sweater, ready to leave for dinner, and then see one of those unsightly snags! They look so sloppy, don't they? Well, here's a quick little trick that will fix those loose loops. This is so easy--no need for a tailor. And, it works for both your machine and hand-knit sweaters and keeps them looking brand-new.

Such a simple fix!

• Something you must have on hand: two crochet hooks. A smaller one (size 12) for tighter-knit sweaters, and a larger one (size 4) for looser-knit sweaters. Pick one up at Michael's, any knit shop, or a Joann Fabrics. My favorite is Beverly Fabrics in Monterey (be sure to check their flyer for money saving coupons. I do!).
• Stretch your sweater close to the snag just a little so you can see the opening. If you're lucky, this may just pull the loop back into place. But if not, this where the hook comes in.

Or, give this a try!

Hello (again) Dolly!

Ah, the dollies...

My bags of leftover yarns from various projects, by no means, ever go to waste. Yes, I've made quite a few of these little toys over the years. Girls in yellow dresses with blue satin sashes. Boys in overalls with golden eyelashes. You get the picture. These dolls aren't so much for children, as they are my children! And each has its own personality--just like my own two kids!

Hanging out at the Los Laureles Lodge Christmas Fair.

The dollies are made here and there all year-long, but I really put pedal to metal (or needle to yarn) around July. My hands are kept busy preparing for Los Laureles Lodge Christmas Fair in early December. My table, a staple for the past six years or so, just has to be stocked--with lots of dollies, among other things--because there are good homes waiting!  

An Artful Education

My mentor's tome and my greatest influence

It was the 1950s. Zurich. During my early school years, I simultaneously attended the Konservatorium Musikschule to study classical piano. I was pretty good (playing Rachmaninoff at age 12), but when it came down to it, I just wasn't ready to take the stage. Five years of my parents' hopes and dreams down the drain.

At 16, out of high school and with a musical career out of the question, I thought teaching home economics was my path, but pesky school counselors discouraged that direction. Strike two. Luckily there was something else I was pretty good at---and could fall back on. Drawing.

So, I applied and was accepted into the Textilfachschule. I didn't know then how amazing this opportunity was.

I was enrolled in one of the first programs specifically for fabric design artists and taught by Johannes Itten. He was the Swiss
expressionist painter, designer, teacher, writer and theorist associated with the Bauhaus school. Needless to say, he is a legend. And to think he accepted me! I still don't know what he drank that day. It must have been good.

For four years Itten taught me and a small group, that he whittled down from 12 to three as the years progressed. We specialized in silk fabric design.

Grand times! With my classmates (that's me on the left).

We started the day at our school desks, emptying our brains, breathing deeply in and out
yoga-style, even doing gymnastics, all to keep the focus keenly on work. A little strange back then, but I guess we were ahead of our time.

Hours were spent on "fieldtrips" studying animals at the Zurich Zoo- the patterns and movements of their fur and feathers. We looked at flowers with our teacher Rosemary Mueller. We dissected every petal--each node, bud and stem. Hours were spent drawing flowers.

We copied intricate fabrics---painting their designs on paper.

Luckily I retail no evidence of our Yoga poses; just jottings and drawings.

And beyond, far beyond Zurich, we'd venture to Italy, Siena and Florence. France--Paris, of course. Germany. We looked at church vestments, windows, steeples, and all of the museums. Soaking in all the motifs, surfaces, weaves, light, and colors.

In the classroom ,we hit the books learning the history of art from ancient to modern. History of textiles. Then, hands-on how to design for the loom. And so on. After I skipped one class and Itten came down on me hard, I learned my lesson---and never stepped out of line again.

How fortunate I was! It was a grand education and opened up a world of color.

Squaring Off

Bonjour. Sali. Gruetzi. Hi. It's Mireille.

I'm so excited to share the process of my creations with you! I know I'm opening a huge can of worms---but here we go. Thank you for going on this journey, riding the Colorfulwheel with me.

(In order of appearance) A painted canvas, originally done as a fabric design; (Second up) A watercolor of irises. (Third) A fabric design called 'The Flood.' Fabric design is truly my first love.

You can find my needlepoint designs of these fabric paintings at Juli Poitras's venture, JP NeedlePoint. I am thrilled to be featured along with her beautiful work.