Finally..... and ...... Loving......

All of you regular readers know that I live way away from anywhere. Two years ago, Verizon came through town and strung some DSL lines. 70% of the residents of the town were able to connect to high speed internet service for $20/month. Five roads in the town were not serviced and you know who lives on one of them.

As beautiful and remote as our farm is situated, high-speed internet service is probably not going to happen in the near future. I have been on town committees, gone to see the governor, and I am still hoping. But I finally gave in. I went to Verizon and bought myself an "air card." I had been holding out, against hope, that our residence would someday get high-speed internet access. But frankly, I have given up for the short term. I will continue to work towards "fair internet access for all" but man oh man, I can't believe what I have missed.

Like Dianne of Sheep Dreams who is doing a fabulous Kristin Knits/Julia Yarn Giveaway..... Check it out here and enter before Wednesday evening.

Or Kieren Dutcher's blog "Tyger Voyage."
And these incredibly beautiful Harris Tweed Bags from Kit Mitchell.
And "Dot Pebbles."
And "Farmers Weekly Interactive."
And "Canal House Cooking."

More to come, I'm sure. Tonight, I will leave you with this photo of the lambs in the lower orchard just before Thanksgiving. It's deer hunting season now and I'm not sure I would feel real confident walking down through there except for a Sunday.


This black ewe lamb is quite beautiful.


And I love this guy with curly horns.


And is hard not to love Olympia - star of "Olympia's Knit + Crochet Felted Flowers" and her own series of postcards available on my website shop page. Can you believe how big she has gotten? Chances are she is pregnant now and will have a lamb(s?) by spring.


Olympia's Flower Pattern would make some great quick knitting and crochet projects for the holidays. As a brooch on a coat.....


Or as a bow on a present


that can turn into a barrette.....


Happy Knitting and Crocheting Everyone!

Olympia the Lamb as Art

Just when you had thought you have seen it all...... Kristin presents.....
Olympia The Lamb bedecked in her very own Floral Felted Wool Knit and Crochet Lei.

Olympia the Lamb with a Handmade Felted Wool Lei

Olympia the Lamb looking Sideways with a Wool Floral Lei

Olympia The Lamb with Wool Floral Lei Baaaaahhhing

These images are also available over on my website for sale as postcards on my shop page. The Lamb in a Wool Lei Series comes packed 12 of one design or assorted 4 each of the 3 designs in the shop now.

Sheep as Art? What do you think? Hop on over to my store to support the Sheep As Art Project just in time for the arrival of spring. A pattern for your very own Lamb Lei coming soon.

p.s. The ©2010 Kristin Nicholas isn't on the images on the postcards.

Lamb in a Striped Sweater on Op-Art Backgrounds

I've been having a bit of fun lately - amusing myself with the photographic images of our lambs wearing sweaters. My amusement has now morphed into this little series of three Op-Art Lamb in Sweaters on Different Backgrounds. Just in time for sending out for Spring's Arrival.

Here are the three versions of this one cute little lamb:

Lamb in Sweater on a Floral Op-Art Background

Lamb in Sweater on a Polka Dot Background

Lamb in Sweater on a Checked Background

These images are available in sets of 12 of a design or assorted - 4 each of the three designs in the Op-Art Sheep Series. You can find them on the Shop Page of my website.

The lamb is of course wearing her "Lamb Sweater" which you can make for your favorite pooch (A Dog in Sheep's Clothing) - an easy to knit pattern also available on my Shop Page for instant gratification PDF download.

Enjoy.

A Knitting Book Author's Thoughts

My latest book, Kristin Knits, didn't come out until mid-November of 2007. It missed the critical time for knitting book sales and caught only the tail-end of fall and Christmas sales. I was disappointed with the timing but that was out of my hands. I just had to accept it and be happy. And I was happy with the book and the placement it got in the big chain bookstores last winter. The sales were good too. Thank you Storey Publishing for taking a chance on me.


I just realized that this is Kristin Knits first official fall season. I'm hoping that it keeps selling this fall. I was speaking with a friend of mine in the yarn business the other day and we were discussing how hard it is for a book to get noticed these days. You go to a big book store and there's a huge bookcase full of knitting books. How does anyone ever pick one out, tell me. Luckily, Kristin Knits has a colorful spine label. Honestly, look at these cookbooks on my shelf - How do I ever find a favorite recipe? By the spine label of course!


It really is a rather difficult time for knitting book authors - there are so many choices and knitters only have so much money. But on the other hand, it has been rather easy to get a publisher to take a chance on a book and accept a proposal. When a book comes out, getting publicity is pretty important. The knitting magazines can only feature a few books in their book review section (and one magazine has dropped their book reviews altogether). Honestly, it is scary if I think about it. This blog helps if I can get people here. Teaching around and at Stitches does too but I can only go so many places. (By the way - there is still room in my Thursday afternoon Opening Day class at Stitches East. Click here for more info.)

I suppose with the economy in a downswing, there won't be as many knitting books published -- I think that will be a healthier marketplace for authors like me. What are your thoughts on this?

Post A....

Postcard! Will miracles never cease. For months, many of you have been clamoring for prints of my photographic images. Now you can find postcards of some of my images available as postcards over in my shop.

In honor of this weekend's Rhinebeck Sheep and Wool Festival, here's a sneak peek of four different sheep postcards I now have for sale. You can purchase them in sets of 12 of an image or an assorted set of 3 each of the 4 images.

Sheep in Autumn

Sheep in Snow

Sleeping Twins

Just Born Lamb

Hop on over to the shop to order and see more designs. My family and I thank you.

And if you can't get to Rhinebeck, don't forget my hometown Franklin County's "FiberTwist" on Saturday, October 25th. I'll have a booth there and I have promised Julia she can come and help sell. Should be interesting, to say the least. She is so excited about meeting all the people!