Signatur October 2009 Newsletter 13

Designers & Creators returns to 'wow' Sydney
Bringing together Australia's finest artisans : November 13 - 15
Hart Ceramics - Lyn Hart carves into her stunning hand-thrown pottery
		There's a frenzy of activity going on in preparation for Designers and Creators at Turramurra. Lyn Hart (above) carves into a hand-thrown piece on her potter's wheel. Dave Jones (right) uses ebony and ivory piano keys as door handles on his hand-made Australian timber furniture. Bev Cooper of Belisa Cashmere (left) brings both ready made and crochet kits to your finger tips. Adorn those fingers with diamonds and jewels from Aharoni Jewellery. Carol Marando and Marie Claude Chapman bring glass to life with lampwork beads. Jane Stapleford creates delights with her feathered friend the Gang Gang; her larger works create fantasy pictures of wildlife and fairy tales.
Belisa Cashmere indulgence				Dave Jones furniture art
		JANE'S BOOK LAUNCH with the ABC's DEBORAH CAMERON Swing Swagger and Drape will reveal it's pages at Designers and Creators, and we are very lucky to have Deborah Cameron of the ABC radio morning show to help with the launch. A passionate knitter and supporter of the annual 'Wrap with Love' Knit in, you can join Deborah and I for the book signing on Saturday around lunch time.  See show listing for participants
Jane Stapleford's cocky				Aharoni Jewellery
		Buy for Christmas: plenty of time to send the perfect overseas gift! Designers and Creators is truly a unique Australian shopping experience. Bespoke is back! Custom-made has become design's new/old buzz word: it's yet another service that differentiates our creations from off-the-rack retail. Most of our exhibitors are delighted to create something unique, just for you, be it a hand knit where you choose the design, yarns and colours, a dining suite, or a diamond & ruby ring.
Carol Marando				Marie Claude Chapman
The venue for Designers & Creators is Turramurra Masonic Hall, on the corner of Pacific Highway and Turramurra Ave, Turramurra, Sydney. (between Pymble and Wahroonga) Opening Night : Friday 13th November from 10am to 9pm. Saturday : 10am to 5pm Sunday : 10am to 3pm. Public transport - Turramurra Station is one street away - an easy stroll!
Entry to the show is free, however we'll be offering a $5 voucher, to enter the draw to win a $200 spending spree at the show. You can buy as many tickets as you like.
Go to www.sigknit.com
Lindy Batchelor's zoo & rainbow connection
		Talented, passionate and wonderfully driven, Author Lindy Batchelor is a long time Signatur customer. In 2001 she published her first children’s book about Sydney’s Taronga Zoo. Lindy commissioned a cardigan to wear to her book launch. Since then Lindy has established a reading club & turned up at the studio last week to pick up her second commission - Rainbow Reading Club. She arrived wearing the Taronga Zoo cardigan. Out came the camera so i could share this with you. I’d forgotten how much fun it was with the giraffe, zebra, tiger and elephant!
Above, Lindy's favourite cardigan, knitted to celebrate her Taronga Zoo book. Below. Lindy's new Rainbow Cardigan, where everything is knitted into the design apart from the faces - Laura had great fun with the hairdo's.
You can see how much fun I had drawing out these pieces, and Laura did a fantastic job knitting the rainbow coming out of the pages of the book, as well as the little people. The two-tone colours in the front are for day and night.
Go to www.sigknit.com
How to Order Jane's book
It seems like I've been looking forward to this forever - Swing Swagger Drape launched in September in the US, October in Canada at the Creative Festival in Toronto, and in November in Australia, but you can pre-order a signed copy on my website. YES, there are patterns in the book! It's also a very beautiful book with stunning photography showing the landscapes and elements that inspire my designs. And it's jammed full of designs - all with options and hats and practice techniques pieces. And, this will be mailed to you within the US, Canada and Australia. I am still to get the UK release date and price. Sydney copies can be picked up and signed at the Designer & Creators show, featuring the ABC's Deborah Cameron, in Sydney on November 13th - 15th.
You can see what the book is about and what early blogs are saying at the KnitTalk community blog
Left to right. Dice sweater for her with Leaf and Fan pattern and Shawl collar. For him a buttondown neck. There are three Men's designs with the Orbit sweater (right) and Lava Sweater, which both have Intarsia fronts, striped backs as below and sleeves with blocks of colour.
Far right shows the Lava Drape worn wrapped, where the corrugated garter collar creates a Cowl neck. Fronts in basket stitch and body in the Lava design. This is also in the book as a single colour Drape. Centre shows the back and 'fit' which creates a high waist and A line 'fish tail' to the hem. Right shows the alternate design options of a jacket and jumper for the Lava design. Left solid and broken colour stripes in the back - I am hoping to see images of this used as the front and back - if I had another 10 pages in the book I could have another ten options of playing with stripes - it does look great on the Jacket in the book!
If you have the book, you can buy the Signatur Australian Wool Yarn
Above centre is the Lava Drape - You can order the yarn for the above colourway and there are more  to come. The pricing for Yarn only for Australian customers is A$201, and A$244 if you add the book (email Jane).  North American customers will pay US$220 for the yarn and book (Email Jane - book mailed from USA,  yarn mailed from Australia. UK customers will pay St140 for the yarn only (Email Jane)
Standley Chasm in Australia's Red Centre. Lydia looking cool on a 90 degree day in the Santa Fe Railway museum. The town commissioned young artists to grifitti the train carriages!
Go to www.sigknit.com
KNITTING CLASSES across the USA Winter 2010
September has been frenzied but wonderful - after the book launch I've met new friends at Mitre and Intarisa classes in Long Beach (CA), Everett (WA), Appleton (WI) and Charlottesville (VA) I am now able to confirm even more classes in January and February - here they are!
TX Dallas Fort Worth - Desert Design Knitz - Thurs to Sat 14 - 16 Jan - desertdesignsknitz.com MI Maple Grove - Amazing Threads - Sun to Tues 17 - 19 Jan - amazing-threads.com MI Plymouth - Micus Boutique - Thurs to Sat 21 - 23 Jan - micusboutique.com NC Southern Pines - Bellafilati Yarn Store - Sun to Tues 24 - 26 Jan - bellafilati.com CA Long Beach - Alamitos Bay Yarn Store - Sat & Sun 30 - 31 Jan - yarncompany.com VA Richmond - Got Yarn - Fri to Sun 5 - 7 Feb - gotyarn.com WA Tacoma - Madrona Fiber Festival - Thurs to Sun 11 - 14 Feb - madronafiberarts.com
Yarns by Design - 2nd - 4th October
Miters, Intarsia, Fit & Style, Texture Stitches East - Intarsia, Mitres and button making.
Go to  www.sigknit.com
TORONTO Creative Festival
TORONTO Creative Festival 16th - 18th October Jane's first exhibition in Canada
I have been looking at the Creative Festival for a few years - here I come!
We'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. Thanks for your support - Laura, Petra, Meg, Sue, and I look forward to seeing you in the knitting circle!
Go to www.sigknit.com