Thursday, May 12, 2011

Harvesting Color could be yours!

Hi Knitters,
I'm almost done with the Owl Babies pattern. I should have it up by early next week. This week has completely flown by, right? It's been a little blurry. Thank you for the sweet and wonderful response on the owl project. I appreciate it. Trisha Malcolm (Vice President and Editorial Director of Vogue Knitting) even posted my Owl Baby on her facebook page! That was fun to see. It's coming.....

Okay, a little more business this Saturday, May 14th, I am teaching a workshop (there are still a couple of openings!) from 1-3pm and having a drop-in meet and greet book signing from 3-4pm right after the class. All are being held at Stitcher's Crossing in Madison, WI. I have a big box of gifts from Blue Sky Alpacas/Spud & Chloƫ for the students! Plus I'll bring a few extra giveaway prizes as well.


Here is the phone number to sign up or for more information: 608-232-1500!

I am headed off to the Kentucky Sheep and Fiber Festival, May 20-22nd, which is next week already. I think there are still a couple of openings in my class on Saturday, May 21 if you are around and interested. The class is a good size right now but I could take a couple more. I will have some Spud and Blue Sky Alpacas gifts for the students and a couple of fun giveaways during the class, too.

If you don't want to sit for a class I am having a casual meet and greet book signing on that same Saturday afternoon as well. I can't wait as this is my first Sheep & Wool festival of any sort!


Now onto the review and giveaway for the day. To be forthright, the book being reviewed today was sent to me by my publisher, Artisan Books. I get all kinds of books from my publisher and other publishers. I don't review them all. I only review the books I feel strongly about and can genuinely recommend. I have a big stack waiting to be reviewed because honestly, there are a lot of good books out there right now.

Harvesting Color is a beautiful new book by Rebecca Burgess. Rebecca is a fascinating person. This past year she has been on a journey of wearing and creating all of her clothing from seed to fabric using basically local resources only. I have been following this adventure with admiring eyes.

Click here to see Rebecca's site and to see her fantastic seed to cloth journey. The journey culminated in a fashion show that showed off and gave credit to the farmers, gardeners, weavers, knitters, dyers, seamstresses, etc. I am so impressed by this. Click here to see the fashion show. Honestly, I would love to make all of my clothing from scratch. I can't imagine how satisfying that would be.

Now a little more about the book. Rebecca has written a book about using plants to dye and stain yarn and fabrics. She gives geographical locations for harvesting the plants, how to harvest, information about wool and fiber, recipes for dying, and so much more.
The photography is beyond gorgeous. It takes you away. I was surprised to see how many of the plants are actually available in my area. I am planning on taking some Spud & Chloƫ Fine in Popcorn (a natural white) and trying out some of this dying for myself. This summer that will happen!
The in-depth instruction is so easy to follow and the results, as you can see, are wonderful shades of natural color with quite a wide range.
She also shows some spot dying techniques with flowers and leaves. I think TC would love to try her hand at this this summer.
There are wonderfully simple knitting patterns for things like a blanket, hat, scarf, hand warmers. The projects show off the natural yarns at their best. Every hank of yarn looks squishy and yummy and rustic in the book.

Spinners, you will LOVE this book! I want to spin some natural roving into yarn to then plant dye as well.
Each page is thoughtful to the fullest. I am looking more and more toward a natural lifestyle with my crafting and creating and this book makes me want to jump in fully today. I have such an admiration and respect for Rebecca's lifestyle and revolution.
Plus, Rebecca is really, really cute! She obviously loves what she is doing and believes in it with all of her heart. That quality is contagious.
Just look at the back cover of Harvesting Color. Have you ever seen anything more beautiful than that as far as a fiber shot goes? I haven't. I want to jump in and stay.

You will love this book! It is a piece of art.

If you would like a copy of Harvesting Color please leave one comment on this blog post. Please include your Ravelry ID or an email address so I can gather your mailing address if you win. Please do not email me. I will pick a winner in a couple of days (I'll be back with my Owl Babies pattern by then, too).
I have a bunch of new books at my house lately. Here are a couple more from Artisan Books that you may be interested in that I highly recommend.

Guide to Girls' Hair is a fantastic book. TC has paper bookmarks all over this book. She is crazy about fixing and styling hair. When we first got the book, TC was waking up early to style her hair with the book as her guide for a good week. It was really funny.

The styles in here are do-able and cute and age appropriate for kids and teens. It is a fun, fun book! If you have a little girl to teenage girl or older you will love this book for hair ideas.

Click here to find out more about Guide to Girls' Hair!
A second book from Artisan that is completely charming and different is Snow Play. The whiteness and snowy scenes make you love winter and all it offers. There are so many fun snow-centric ideas offered in here, games, snow characters, fun things to do in and with the snow. The book is adorable and fun to look through. I just love everything about it. It's like a craft book for snow. My kids have looked through this a bunch of times and it is now on my living room coffee table as a staple. The cushiony cover has these clear droplets like snow that give it a playful feel right from the start.

A bunny snowman? You can't beat that.


Don't forget to leave a comment to win Harvesting Color! I'll be back with a new pattern.
best, susie

68 comments:

Jennifer said...

The Harvesting Color book sounds fabulous! Gardening and knitting are my two favorite activities.

zimme345 said...

I am totally in love with the photography for this book.
What a wonderful giveaway!

Anonymous said...

This book is gorgeous, thanks for introducing it to me and for the giveaway!

Jen Price said...

I always love new knitting books!

Michelle said...

I would love the chance to win this book! I'm fascinated by plant dyeing. I've dyed with black walnuts before and would love to try more! We went to a presentation for pioneer days at our local museum, and I was just blown away! Queen Anne's Lace makes a LOVELY green color! oh, please pick me! :0)

stitchywitchy on Rav

Kelsie Butler said...

Wow. Harvesting Colors looks amazing. I would love to have a copy. This would be awesome to win!

Barbara L. said...

What a lovely book, Harvesting Color. I have recently taken an interest in natural dying so this would be great if I were to win it.

Ravelry ID: knityid

TwinMamaLinda said...

What gorgeous pictures in the Harvesting color book. I would love to start spinning (the next step really) and the idea of making my own colorful creations makes me a little giddy! Thanks for such a good give-away!

RavID: Twinmamalinda

Andrea said...

I just added this to my Amazon wishlist (but would love to win it!). It's my plan to make a dye garden and this looks like a wonderful and inspiring resource.
Andi
andibrown@msn.com

knitterlydesigns said...

I would love this book. It only makes sense when you use quality yarns to use quality dies from nature.

Ertman-Trowbridge Family said...

Goodness! I love all the books you mentioned. The hair book is something I really need to look into. I am not good at doing hair and I have two little girls.

But Harvesting Color looks amazing!

rav id: valeriechristine

Julie said...

I am loving the pictures! I am just getting into fiber dying, and have plans for planting a whole dyer's garden to harvest this summer...but I can't wait that long! This book's inspiring images are just what I need to hold me over!

ravid: loveelamb

Laura ( Flours and Fibers) said...

Ooh! I would love this book. I've recently become obsessed with spinning and last night I was researching dyes! Thanks for another great giveaway!

Laura
Rav ID: FloursAndFibers

stephigordon said...

This book looks beautiful! I would love to win - thank you for the chance! Stephanie (indigodogmt on Ravelry)

tjf said...

The Harvesting Color book looks beautiful and sounds wonderful. Thanks for the giveaway!

Tricia
thefankells@mesanetworks.net

Miss Julep said...

Oh wow! I know someone who would LOVE this book!! Fingers crossed, thank you for offering this giveaway!!

Charlotte said...

Wow, that book look so amazing! You are totally right about those pictures, they are wonderful!
My email is yarnsandtales@yahoo.com

Anonymous said...

I love harvesting color.

JenksSKB on Ravelry

Zenitude said...

I love dyeing my own yarns but to do it with plants would be so cool! I would give this book five-star treatment at my home!!
woolyknitsnbits(at)live(dot)ca

kendraja said...

It is time to plant the garden! Have been wondering about dye-ing my own yarn with veggie items, like beets, leaves, and other things found in my yard.
Maybe this book will educate me about this?
Thanks for the chance!
Rav ID: kendraja

Jill Nault said...

Funny you should review this book now! I'm just about to plant a few rows of dye plants in my garden this spring.

I can't wait to try dyeing from my garden! What a pretty book and a geat giveaway!

Thanks Susan! You have the best contests!

Anonymous said...

What a great giveaway for this time of year, with all the colors of spring and summer in abundance! Thank you for the generous off! K. Gerber

Erin said...

Beautiful book! I would love to win this!!

emilou said...

I have a little dream of living on a farm and getting all pioneer woman.

emilou on Ravelry

Tully Family said...

I'd love to win- thanks for letting us know about it. My raverly is tullyfamily

jeaniebabb said...

'Harvesting Color' sounds like an outstanding pastime! I'm jeaniebabb on Ravelry, and would love to learn more about dying!

Anonymous said...

What a great giveaway!

sandy said...

I've been knitting and spinning for a while. I am ready to start dyeing!

sandy said...

I have been knitting and spinning for a while now. I am ready to start dyeing.

Andrea@That'll Do Farm said...

Thank you for the opportunity to win such a beautiful book. I spent the morning at the garden center buying plants for a dyers garden -- my new passion. Now it needs to stop raining here so we can plant!!

JoAnnaJae said...

It would be so wonderful to take the yarn I've spun and dye it to match my mood. So lovely!

Rav ID: ambitious

Jodi said...

Harvesting Color looks lovely and cheerful!

rav: caffeinatedyarn

Lacey said...

Wow! I got sucked into research by clicking links on this post! That is SO cool that she is trying to live/wear local. I'd love to get my hands on that book. Thanks.

venutianbeauty on Rav

Anonymous said...

What a beautiful book!
Love your wee owl!
Luvsknittin on Ravelry

Suze said...

I grew up in Kentucky! I wish I could go to the fiber festival. KY is absolutely beautiful this time of year, esp the bluegrass area. My hometown is a 20-minute drive from Lexington where the festival is being held. Have a great time!!

LittleMissEclectic said...

What a beautiful book! And having three little girls, that hair book is adorable. I might have to wander over to amazon and add it to my wishlist. *looking so forward to the owl pattern release!
LittlMissEclectic on ravelry

jessamyb said...

Thanks for showing us so much of the beautiful book Harvesting Color! It looks amazing! I look forward to the days when I have time & space to spin & dye my own yarn!
RavID: jessamyb

Jessica said...

What a beautiful book! Looks gorgeous and interesting.

Connie, the daisyhead said...

This book looks amazing! I love dyeing wool so this would be a great continuation for me and my daughters.

Thanks for a great giveaway!

~daisyhead on Ravelry

leticia burn condon said...

awesome book..... i would love it, love the natural dye ideology!

rav id - knittingmommee

knitterlydesigns said...

I would love to hav ethis book. It looks wonderful.

Elise said...

Wow what a beautiful book.

Aimee B said...

Oh, I would love to win this book! (aimeejenette at hotmail dot com)

Anonymous said...

Book looks really cool. I love it when yarns are arranged in color groups, so Pretty.
Rav ID mom2cagc

kathy said...

As a gardener and knitter, I would love to win a copy of this book! Ravelry: unc929400
Email: kathy at newagrarian dot com

Katzknits said...

Would love to win this book! Just planted my first dyer's garden and can't wait to see what the harvest brings.

Rav ID rednitter

Anonymous said...

I have just discovered your blog and bookmarked it! It is so beautiful!The book is stunning; I cannot wait until it is coming out, in the meantime I hope that I will be the lucky winner!
Love from Germany
Sabine
RAV ID bumbles1

Nichole C said...

The book looks unbelievable. I would love to win it. Good luck everyone!

Artifax said...

Oh, that book looks stunning!! I was just talking to someone about a summer yarn dye fest for kids. This beautiful book looks like it would fit right in with that idea!

enquiry@jeweledonline.com

Anonymous said...

i would love to win this book and give it to my friend in Finland who is raising sheep and spinning the wool. Although she so far has left the wool in its natural color, she has been interested in finding way to dye it. This would make an excellent gift for her! ravelry id benessi

Trish said...

Susie, you always have the best giveaways! I'm looking forward to the baby owls pattern, too. :) My Rav ID is simplescrapper .

slmiller8 said...

I used to do a lot of natural dyeing, but have gotten away from it. this book would definitely inspire me to get back on track!

LauraLillyLaura said...

What a wonderful book!! Pick me!!

LauraLillyLaura said...

I would love this book!! Pick me!!! beehiverugs@yahoo.com

noodledogknits said...

Silly blogger, I hope things are fixed for a while now.
This book is a perfect addition to any knitter or spinner's collection. I love dappling in the dying world every now and then.
rav id: ceweller

Knitbakeread said...

That book looks fantastic! Also I immediately went and ordered a copy of the girls hair styling book, for my little girl when she's a bit older.
Only recently discovered your blog, it's a great read.
Rav ID: Knitbakeread

iluvdandelions said...

Harvesting Color looks amazing! I would love to win this book.

Julie said...

This book looks lovely! I have plans of one day having a whole dyer's garden, but am a little to impatient. Harvesting what is already growing wild seems much more suited to my nature!
ravID: loveelamb

Terese Webb said...

I learned how to tie dye t-shirts with natural dyes when I was in High School ,many years ago. The colors were beautiful. It was almost as much fun gathering the plants as it was dyeing the shirts. In middle age I have become a knitter. It would be wonderful to relearn how to use native plants to dye yarn. I am on Ravelry as jonesgirl or email address is:
doerunorchard@yahoo.com

Anonymous said...

Natural dying is in my future. Skispinner ravelry or Imler_Sharon@yahoo.com

Karin said...

What a beautiful and inspiring book! I would love to win and read it ... and then go do more dyeing :)

ravID: KikiBaby

Marti said...

Sorry you had such an awful time with the technology. Love the book. What a wonderful inspiration!
Rav id: MadMartiKnits

Marti said...

A beautiful book and an inspiration! Sorry your technology had a hiccup. MadMartiKnits on rav

sLee said...

this book looks awesome. I hope to win! Thanks :)

Helen said...

It looks like a great book. Thanks!

ScottieGirl Knits said...

I am fasinated by plant dyes. Our yards are filled with potential.
ScottieGirl1 ~ RavelryID

ScottieGirl Knits said...

I am fasinated by plant dyes. Our yards are full of potential.
ScottieGirl1 ~RavelryID

Unknown said...

this book looks awesome!