Signatur July 2009 Newsletter 11

 

Inspiration from the Image

From inspiration to imagination to design

We all love to experience people, fashion, scenery - life - first hand. Travel, friends and family, career, shared leisure experiences, expand our horizons and imbue us with the myriad colours that texture our personal canvas. The ideas of others, presented through images, also enrich us with a world imagined through another's eyes. The last 18 months of creating Swing, Swagger & Drape, have given me the best of both worlds. I've experienced so much personally, and with the brilliance of Alexis Xenakis and his multi-talented XRX team, I hope we'll succeed in bringing raptuous images, and stunning designs, drenched with color and style into your world and onto your needles!

SWING, SWAGGER, DRAPE - Knit the Colors of Australia - Launch Dates

USA - Book Launch and Opening Day presentation at Stitches Mid West September 10 - 13 Australia - Sydney launch will be at The Australian Designers & Creators show November 13 - 15 at Turramurra Masonic Lodge, Pacific Highway, Sydney. Opening Friday 5pm - 9pm

Pre-order from August

You'll be able to pre-order your signed copy on line from August this year. Copies will be dispatched within Australia, UK & USA to avoid airmail postage rates. For more information email Jane.

Turn up the Radio - and knit for charity

Jane will be joining Deborah Cameron on the ABC morning show for the annual Knit In - Wrapped with Love - held on Friday 7th August 2009, from 7 am to 11 am, at ABC Sydney headquarters, Harris Street, Ultimo Sydney - all are welcome. It's a sight to see, with thousands of knitted squares completed over the last 12 months and happily donated to Wrapped with Love. If you'd like to download the instructions for knitting the squares visit the Arts and Crafts of NSW web site. I will also be on Deborah Cameron's ABC 702 morning program sometime in the week of July 13 - 17.

UPCOMING SHOWS - CANBERRA & THE BLUE MOUNTAINS

Join Jane at The Fibre Festival at Canberra's Old Bus Depot Market

Sunday 12th July - this is an award-winning market and should be on your 'must-see-and-buy-from' list when enjoying a weekend in Canberra.  Throughout the year OBDM have special events - the Fibre Festival draws designers and makers from Sydney and Melbourne, as well as regular stallholders. I'll have a great range of styles and designs on display, and am happy to make-to-measure or talk sizes in a kit.

DESIGNERS & CREATORS at BLACKHEATH

Left - glass lampwork beads worked with coloured wire into a stunning neck piece Centre - Opal and Gold Bracelet. Right - Hand painted silk shirts, wraps and purses.

The Designers and Creators artisans present a second show in the Blue Mountains with over 30 exhibitors. These shows are about bringing creative individuality into a collective event, letting you meet the makers & creators, and lettings them meet you, their customers. The Blue Mountains is 1½ hours west of Sydney, and is second to the Sydney Opera House in popularity. Downunder July is mid-winter, & the mountains are popular for Christmas in July celebrations! A fabulous time of year for knits!

Above a masterpiece "Once Upon a Time" by Blue Mountains Artist Jane Stapleford

Dates for Designers & Creators, Blackheath - 24th July to 26th July Opening Friday 24th 5pm to 9pm, Saturday 10am to 5pm and Sunday 10am to 3pm. Thank you to all who supported our first show at Turramurra, it was a wonderful success.

Left. New to Designers and Creators is Pages Shoes, handmade to your selection of leather & suede, in colours and textures and finishes including buckles and bows. Right, Marie Claude Chapman's intricate lampwork pendant. Centre. Margaret Proctor is affectionately known as the 'Cat Lady'.

Coco warms to Carbon challenge

Create your own winter warmth, reduce your carbon footprint & snuggle into a Wool & Mohair Mitred Throw or Coco Capelet Meet the team at Alamitos Bay Yarn store. Cindy on the far right will be hosting classes & book signings September 15th to 17th.

Your Winter Project - Mitres to Intarsia, Swingcoat to Vest

Whether it's winter where you are, or you're planning ahead for Spring, it's the perfect time to match a Signatur Knitting kit to your style and skills. Below is a wonderful cross-section of challenges from my most popular Diamond Swingcoat in cream to fashionable fun with the Tootsie Drape. The list below runs in sequence from the cream Diamond swingcoat.

1. Diamond Cable Swing in cream with finged hem and collar. Now available as a sleeveless Vest and with a shawl collar option. 2. Mitre Vee Capelet in colourway Owl. The Capelet is seen worn sideways with centre back mitre panel on the shoulder. Knitted without seams, the back mitre panel has 2 to 10 colours. Worked below in Autumn colours with Blacks, Reds & Purple. 3. Coco Panel Cardigan, knitted as mitre panels, then stitches are picked up to create width to the side seams. This design is great fun & I've also taken it into the Coco Shawl Panel design. 3. Tootsie Vest from the back worn upside down to create a big collar, below is worn reversed with minimal collar and long length. 4. Coco Wool and Mohair Jacket, with a slight A line shaping. This popular design can also be knitted in pure new wool. 5. Split Texture Kimono in Cherry Red, this is a combination of textured stitches, the back hemline has a button down detail. The shawl collar is sewn on, but is created to look like a scarf. 6. Coco Capelet in Wool and Mohair, shown with the Vee worn centre back, it can also be worn wrapped.

On the road, camera in hand

I am always being told. "Take more photos - you'll appreciate it later!" So I did. left Alexis Xenakis stands by his camera, while Elaine Rowley poses 'in loco' at Santa Fe railway museum, one of the many locations photographed last May for Swing, Swagger & Drape, in New Mexico. Right, Brett wearing one of his many caps - videographer on location in Australia's Outback.

Guess & Win

OK, OK, You don't have to be handy to know what the above are, but what are they made of? Email Jane with your suggestions - the first three correct emails (received by date/time) will win a free signed copy of Swing, Swagger & Drape - Knit the Colors of Australia.

I'd love to hear from you

If you'd like to ask a question about anything in this newsletter - or anything all, please email Jane. We (Laura, Petra, Meg, Sue, Jane, all our show team, and our wonderfully talented knitters) thank you for your support - we look forward to seeing you in the knitting circle!