I don’t know what it is but I’ve been craving romantic twenties fashion lately. The chic sophistication that screamed “empowerment” for women over 80 years ago still does it’s job in our modern world.

“You’re a ‘Modern’?” “Thoroughly!”

We certainly aren’t living with the same dated views and archaic expectations that were prominent in the roaring twenties but we still have strong women who stand out and make a name for themselves.

I am surrounded by them everyday. And as silly as it may seem, this was the inspiration for my newest knit design. I tried picturing some of the most inspiring women in history and then melded them with women who have touched me personally.

My friend,who despite working a high-stress MA job, still manages to make it look effortless and maintains beauty and grace while doing it. At the end of the day, she is still a loving mother and wife and lucky for me, a wonderful friend!

My mother, who showed me by example what it means to be strong and independent. She never held me back and never told me I couldn’t fulfill my dreams.

My sister, who just had to simply roll her eyes and watch her big sis continually trod down the wrong path only to welcome her once she came back. Never judging or scolding. But always there to support and love….and forgive.

A cousin and friend, who doesn’t let her current health condition get her down. Doesn’t focus on the negative but relies on her strength to upbuild her and so also upbuilds those around her.

I could go on easily.

But there just isn’t enough space. Not on this page. Not even in the smallest font.

Who inspires you? Strengthens you? Who makes you want to be the best you can be?

Over the river and through the woods
To Grandmother’s house we go.
The horse knows the way
To carry the sleigh
Through the white and drifted snow, O!
Over the river and through the woods
Oh, how the wind does blow.
It stings the nose
And bites the toes
As over the ground we go.

Meet my latest design…. “Through the Woods”!

“Readers, Through the Woods.”

“Through the Woods, Readers.”

This pattern has been a long time coming. Just ask my friend and co-worker, Amy. Who has endured the torment of listening to me go on and on about the various ideas I had in an attempt to create this design.

Or ask my dear husband, who had to witness the horror that is repeatedly frogging yard upon yard of “CO 100. No, wait! CO 120. Purl 4, Knit 4. No! WAIT! AAAAHHHH!!!!!!!”

I may at one point, have found him tucked away in some dark corner chanting, “Make it stop!!!” But it may or may not have been deafened by the sound of my thrashing knitting needles.

At any rate….. let us just say that this pattern took some time and effort and a couple hundred of my precious brain cells.

But alas, she was born! And isn’t she precious??

Yes, she is a girl. Just because she is so darn pretty. I think by far, this is my FAVORITE pattern to date! What do you think, dear readers???

You can purchase the pattern in my Etsy shoppe for $5.

And I would like to also mention that through the end of January, 10%  goes to the Haiti Emergency Relief Fund and another 10% goes to the Susan G. Komen Foundation to support Breast Cancer Awareness.

Hoping you all have a wonderful week! 

Love, Kalurah

There were many great comments to choose from and I just couldn’t bring myself to decide on my own, so I drew a name randomly.

Congrats, Emma! I hope this news makes your day a little brighter and makes a difference in your day!

Thanks to all of you for entering! Hoping you all have a wonderful weekend!  :)

I received a special little something in the post over the summer and I am quite proud of myself for keeping it secret for this long!

My very FIRST published pattern!!!

A very proud moment for me. One that I hope to repeat many times over!  :)

Of course this special moment would not be complete without having a Giveaway in celebration…..HELLO!

The prize…..

Your very own copy of the 2010 Crochet Pattern A Day Calender!

Just leave a sweet little comment on this post to enter. This time around, I am selecting a winner based on one simple question:

What/Who inspires you and why?

Comments will remain open until January 15th, midnight PST.

Have a splendid 2010 everyone!!!

Love,

kalurah

a year ago, almost exactly, I came to my friend at work and told her I wanted to knit. I had been flirting with the notion for several months verbally and for about a year, mentally.

all thanks to ysolda. in my opinion, the most talented artist of all things knit and beautiful! her designs actually haunted me at night. her sweet and whimsical style stirred in me a passion to step further outside my creative bounds.

I always had wild fantasies of all of the grand creations I could muster up in my minds eye. shawls, gloves, scarves, sweaters and hats. they were gorgeous and dreamy wooly wisps  inside my head.

I never imagined a year later I would be selling my own knit designs on etsy and ravelry. these were just high expectations in the form of hopeful aspirations.

but I did it. with my friend’s encouraging and helpful coaxing. she helped me get down the basic knit stitch and purling. (casting on came much later, trust me!) and just when I thought all hope was lost, she introduced me to the world of Continental Knitting. as a Crocheter, I found it extremely difficult  to wrap my head around the whole concept of English Knitting (or Throwing).

I found, once I started knitting Continental, it just flowed. I found myself shelving all of my crochet hooks and building up my stockpile of knitting supplies, as if I were some crazed squirrel, bent on stuffing as much wool and needles into my hypothetical tree hollow.

knitting is my new vice, my drug of choice, my life blood, my crutch, my freedom. goodness, what would I do without it? I shudder to think, really!

so, then….you will understand the very cusp of my excitement and glee when I awoke Wednesday morning to find that I had a ravelry pattern sale to who other than……my inspiration! Ysolda!

she purchased my Fisherman’s Wife neck warmer crochet pattern and left this absolutely elating message in my inbox:

*silence*

my reaction was just that. I was wisked away in a giddy stupor. words could not express my gratitude and glee at such a generous act from a complete stranger (albeit, my biggest knitting hero. but STILL!).

all that I COULD manage to rally were tears and sobs. YSOLDA! THE source of my inspiration. THE person who sparked in me the desire to push myself. words cannot express how her gesture moved me. well, I’m attempting to right now, believe me!

this all may seem trivial to some. especially to those who have wonderful things happen to them on a daily basis. but to me, this was huge! my life is full of little bits and pieces of wonderfulness from the hands of my husband, my daughter, my sons and close friends and family.

but this was somehow……. paramount. let’s just say it was the cherry on top of my remarkable life.

there. that’s it. the cherry. the very last ingredient. just when you thought it couldn’t get any better than that massive dollop of whippped cream on top. a giant cherry falls down on top of it all.

and then you’re more content than you could possibly express.

thank you, Ysolda. and thank you, Amy. you two are truly why I have gotten as far as I have creatively.

xoxo

love,

kalurah

All entries were entered into a random number generator and a winner has been chosen…..

Congratulations, Leah!!!!

You are soon to be the proud owner of a heaping pile of wool booty:

the fisherman’s wife neck warmer

zoe beret

a pair of eggnog fingerless gauntlets.

and the fisherman’s wife shawl!

thank you to everyone who entered and blogged, tweeted or facebooked the giveaway! i can’t let you all go empty handed…..

for everyone who entered, you will receive an e-certificate to use in my etsy shop! check your email to find out the surprise dollar amount.  ;)

hoping you all have a fabulous week!  :)

~kalurah

CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED!!!

WINNER TO BE ANNOUNCED TUESDAY MORNING.

wow! it hardly seems possible! tuesday, i reached my one thousandth etsy sale! where did the time go???

if only i could think of some way to celebrate such a hallmark??????

let's see......what, oh what could i do?????

if only i had something that i could giveaway!!!???

like maybe an elegant neck warmer.

or a sweet beret.

or a lovely pair of romantic gauntlets.

or a gorgeous shawl!

hmmmmmmm....... how about all four????
a perfect fall/winter wardrobe, each piece in Winter white.

now, does that sound like a proper way to celebrate this hallmark, or what!
i wish i could make a set for ALL of you but alas, time just doesn't permit.
nor do i have little worker elves at my beckon call.

so, i will have to settle for a drawing!
if you would love to win all of this hand made goodness, just leave a sweet little comment on this post!
as always, if you blog, tweet, facebook, text, "shout from the rooftops" about the giveaway,
you will receive 2 additional entries!!!

fine print (in bold print!) ::

~you MUST supply your email address in order to enter! (you can also email me your entry instead of in the comments)

~entries are warmly welcomed from ANYWHERE in the world.

~ if you do blog, etc about the giveaway, please let me know so right away!

~prize package includes all four items listed above (worth $240!!!)

~everything in package is custom handmade pieces, so winner will be asked for their sizes and
the complete gift package will be ready to ship within 2 weeks. pieces will only be made in Winter white colour.

<strike>~giveaway is open to entries until sunday, november 15th (midnight pst), so there is plenty of time to spread the word!
one winner will be randomly selected and announced the next day, monday november 16th.</strike>

now, go and do your thing! leave a comment, leave your email, then share the goodness with all of your friends!
have a very happy thursday, everyone!   

~kalurah

Hair today…….

Gone tomorrow!

Sorry….I just couldn’t resist!  

I can feel it starting….the air is feeling ever so slightly crisper, thinner, fresher. Fall is coming soon. I know it is because the box of fresh crayons and bottle of Elmer’s glue told me so!

School will be starting in just over a week. I’ll be heading down to the basement to pull out the lightweight jackets and stocking the kids dresser drawers with a full arsenal of socks.

For myself, fall means back-to-work for my etsy shoppe. Orders are beginning to trickle in from all of the far reaching lands where winter has already made it’s appearance.

Time for some fresh new shoppe items!

I am totally addicted to knitting now, thanks to my friend Amy! Who knew that all it would take is just learning to knit Continental style as opposed to Traditionally.

My newest knit pattern is the Trilsean Gloves. “Tril-shane” is the Gaelic word for braid. A very fitting name for these gloves since they have an offset celtic cable running down the length. These can be knit up in a matter of hours. A perfect weekend project. My pattern is all ready made up and I just need some eager volunteers to test it out for me!

If you’d like to test it out, just leave a comment on this post along with your email address. 

I’ve just finished my second knitting pattern! YAY!!! Who says no good can come from an entire week of the Flu??? What else was I to do!?

You can download the pattern here. Be sure to share your pics and pattern notes on ravelry! 

Have a fabulous week!