Promotion...

Last week I launched the first Healthy Knitter pattern. It was an exciting time and represents the beginning of so many opportunities.

Now I am in need of a little assistance from the Healthy Knitter community. I need to increase the visibility of the Healthy Knitter.  To do this I have come up with a few ideas but I need your help.

1. From now until July 31 (11:59 pm), the first Healthy Knitter pattern "Winter River" will be available on Ravelry for $1, no coupon needed. Please consider purchasing this amazing pattern for a cowl in super bulky or sport weight yarn accompanied with walking information and a recipe for an easy to prepare chicken and white bean soup.

2. Please take a moment to "fav" Winter River on Ravelry.

3. If you have a Pintrest account, please "pin" one of the Winter River photos.

4. Finally, if you can share this promotion with at least one friend and ask them to do the same, this will increase the visibility of this pattern.

Thank you so much for all your support. It is genuinely appreciated.

More patterns coming soon! Stay tuned.

Knit one, walk two!

Winter River...

"The time has come the walrus said"...

Get this first pattern finished! Ok, so that isn't what the walrus said in Alice in Wonderland but you get my point.

Finally, at long last, I have completed all the necessary steps to publish my first knitting pattern. This project is the collection of many firsts and represents stepping outside of the box over and over again. And I couldn't be more pleased with the final product.  

Announcing Winter River, the first in a series of many patterns to come integrating knitting with healthy active living. Winter River is a cowl that can be made with super bulky yarn for a quick project perfect for summer knitting or a longer version made with sport weight yarn that will be perfect for fall days. This pattern comes with a walking program for those that haven't been walking or an "advanced move" for those that are already active but need a little help decreasing their sitting time throughout the day. Finally, there is a healthy recipe for "Chicken and White Bean Soup" that will satisfy even the pickiest of eaters and is a breeze to make.

Several years ago I had the idea to write a book about knitting and health. Last summer that idea started to take shape yet the more I explored the concept, the more I realized I had so much to learn before I could write a book. I took a step back and decided before the book I needed to learn to write a pattern and create a space (this blog) to share my thoughts on knitting, health and nature. Today's pattern represents a lot of learning, laughter, tears, friendships and conversations with many other designers, knitters and writers.

Many have inspired and supported me along the way but there are three people that I am so grateful for all their assistance, guidance, patience and mentoring.

The first is Donna Druchunas of Sheep to Shawl. Her mentorship has been invaluable. If anyone is interested in writing a knitting book, you must contact her. She's a guide, a teacher, a mentor, a hand-holder and provider of a good swift kick in the derriere when the procrastination bug hits or whatever else life deals. I would never have gotten this completed if it wasn't for Donna. Thank you just doesn't seem to be enough...extreme gratitude is more fitting. Thank you for believing my ideas.

Second is Lisa Orgler. Her insights on illustration, blog development and mailchimp got me through over some major walls. She has created all the beautiful illustrations, logos and pattern template. Thank you from the bottom of my heart Lisa, I can't thank you enough.

Finally, Sharyn Arnalt of the Yarn Scout in Bozeman, MT and GingerSnap Designs. When I really needed help and encouragement with the process of publishing patterns you were there. Thank you for your persistent, simple and softly stated "you can do this". Also, the environment that you have created at the Yarn Scout is so supportive. I will miss Sharyn, Kelsie and all the knitting group members once I return to Iowa.

You can read more about the specifics of Winter River on Ravelry.

A winter river...

The first time I fell in love...

Part 1.

When I was but a wee, young child, we lived in England. Those 4 years were and remain a very important part of my childhood. We left when I was 8 but my memories are vivid. I always wanted to move back. Although I was fortunate to grow up in an amazing, idyllic community in the mountains of Colorado, I have always felt I left my heart in the UK. Perhaps those are just silly childhood memories but nonetheless, they are my memories, disillusioned or not.

When I was about 5, my family and I travelled by train to the north of Scotland, Inverness and Loch Ness. Over the years I have recalled this trip in a dream-like state.

We stayed in an old stone house, small and simple, the bedrooms upstairs. It was cold, damp and a bit dreary yet just thinking about it makes me feel cozy, secure and loved. The small house set in the middle of a massive hillside, covered with green and dotted with sheep. It was bordered by a rock wall fence that most likely had stood the test of time, hundreds of years.

The hillside extended out of the great Loch Ness. I recall a tree with a swing. As I climbed higher and higher with each pass of the swing, I could peer over the edge, sneaking a peek of the Loch wondering when Nessie would appear.

At night, I lay in my bed, my senses purely on overload. The rain came down on the vintage roof that had weathered many a storm and the sheep huddled against the side of the house seeking shelter from the elements. The soothing sound of the sheep bleating, the soft rain pitter-pat…

And that’s when it happened. I fell in love. With the rain, with sheep and all their wooly goodness, with a cup of tea, cozy cabled sweaters and the Scottish Highlands. Perhaps this is when my love of grey skies, rainy days, lush green hills and fiber began. Certainly these are some of my favorite things.

Part 2. The opportunity to return…

Since having children travelling by air has been a source of anxiety, let alone travelling overseas. When the opportunity to attend a conference in Scotland arose I thought “I have to go”. I waffled with the idea for almost a year, committed at first because it was easy to say "yes" but as the time drew closer I became more hesitant. Recall the fear of flying.

Resistance needs a big push sometimes. So, I bought the ticket knowing that I was then committed. I made the arrangements for lodging in Edinburgh and a quick stop in Balloch for another meeting on the bonny shores of Loch Lomond.

Part 3. My return

Fast forward to present day. I’ve been to Scotland and returned home, 3 weeks ago. Each day I told myself to write about my trip, post the beautiful photos. At the end of each day I tell myself “tomorrow”.

Why have I been so resistant to put pen to paper? Wasn’t this a trip of a lifetime? And now with 3 weeks of reflecting I’ve realized why.

It wasn’t what I expected.

It was more. It was less. It was dark. It was inspiring. It was truly a mixed bag of emotions.

In all honesty, I wanted it to be just like I remembered. Just like the first time I fell in love. But let’s be realistic, there is never a “first love” twice. Real love is much more than that. It’s deep and emotional. It’s full of highs and lows. It comes with seeing the other side and not always the roses.

The history of Scotland is a bit dark. I’m sure there are grand moments in time but that’s not the tales that were told. So much death…from notorious battles between clans, with other countries and then there was the issue of lack of proper sanitation, The Black Plague, dysentery, cholera…

Yet the countryside was magnificent; beautiful beyond words. It was breath-taking and truly inspirational.

When I flew home, I felt at peace. Glad I went but a sense of closure.

So why did I not write about it for 3 weeks?

And now I know why…because it wasn’t the end, just the beginning. There is more to discover and I yearn to go back. I want to walk through the countryside, sleep on the ground where so much history has occurred, document the beauty, see as many sheep as possible, and learn as much about wool from the British Isles as possible. My dream hasn’t ended. It’s a dream or perhaps a love-story with many chapters…

The south shore of Loch Lomond, Ross Priory near Balloch.

Stay tuned for Part 4...the actual highlights of my trip including a few photos and some yarn treasures.

A naked run...

Running through the forest. It’s quiet, still except for the wind in the trees. No one is around. I am alone with the trees. The beautiful trees…exposed, vulnerable and aware.

I hear my breath, my heart pounds against my chest, I feel the earth beneath my feet.

The creek bubbles with excitement; full of fresh water from the mountain peaks. Moving swiftly through the forest. Spring is apparent with green leaves bursting from the tree limbs yet some branches remain bare, naked, innocently awaiting their time to shine. The bark is rough and dry; a mottled mixture of brown and white.

Amidst all the green, the bleak aspen grove is at first glance, ugly. On second thought the interconnected livelihood of the grove instill the virtue of patience. In all their glory, they too will bloom to life providing that magnificent sparkle and shimmer of light that peeks through the summer forest.

As I move along the beaten forest path, the eloquent thoughts in my mind shift from one topic to the next. My thoughts are safe, no judgment can be passed. Only I can hear the beauty of the words and truly comprehend their meaning. It all makes so much sense; it is a clear vision.

And then, the words begin to flow. I run, I speak out loud and share my thoughts exposed for all the forest to hear. At first they are jumbled and make little sense; they resemble the pre-spring aspen trees, ugly and bare. And then my words said aloud begin to inspire, to motivate.

I share my unedited thoughts with the forest.

I run faster, my heart beats louder and at this moment I know I can accomplish anything.

I speak of dreams and ambitions with the trees, there is peace.

Hope for the forest.

Hope for our world.