The image you see at the top of this post is a wonderful book — the upcoming Itty Bitty Toys, published by Artisan Books and on sale in November. It was written by one of our family (our Workman family, that is), the inimitable Susan B. Anderson. She has a fabulous blog, which you can find here. I met Susan at The National NeedleArts Association (TNNA) trade show in January of 2007, and I’ve loved her ever since. We got to see some of her knitted toys here in the office a week or so ago, and grown men and women were playing like kindergartners with her irresistible projects — things like a stuffed pig; a bouncy ball with a striking felted cover; and the pièce de résistance, a knitted cat that turns inside out into a knitted mouse! There are about 30 patterns that knitters, parents, and kids will drool over. While you’re at it, check out Susan’s other books, Itty Bitty Hats and Itty Bitty Nursery.As I’ve often said, knitters are a special breed. TNNA is a gathering place for yarn companies, designers, publishers, shop owners, and anyone associated with marketing and furthering information about needle arts. I got the scoop on new fall yarns, pattern books, trends in knits, and, of course, our authors! Edie Eckman was there, crocheting away; Judith Durant was there, beading away; Candi Jensen was there, taping for her show Knit and Crochet Today, which airs on almost one hundred PBS stations across the country; and Kristin Nicholas was there with a new line of yarn from Nashua in her signature colors—by that I mean her lush, gorgeous signature colors.It’s a treat to be able to go to TNNA, but I worked like crazy, making some new relationships, scoping out some new authors, and working with Gwen Steege, our acquiring editor for crafts, on a supersecret new project that we’ll be able to let you in on . . . oh, sometime in the future.So if you’re a knitter, revel in some summery, cottonish yarn or just wear a lovely sweater. It gets chilly at night.
Articles of Interest
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Be a Wildlife Ranger in Your Own Backyard
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Plant Partners: Seven Benefits of Companion Planting
As you develop your garden planting plans, take time to consider the benefits of companion planting and how these mixed-planting strategies can help your vegetable garden flourish. Most of the benefits that companion planting strategies provide fall into one of the following seven categories outlined … Read More
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Will the Pandemic Revive Hands-on Projects?
Stop me if you see a pattern here. My wife, having never previously demonstrated an interest in puzzles, has recently become a jigsaw junkie, burning through 1,000-piece projects every two weeks. Many of her friends are doing the same. Harry Potter star Daniel Ratcliff says … Read More
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Breakfast is Ready: Baby Bear Porridge
Rise and shine silly bear. Breakfast is ready! Busy Little Hands: Food Play!, from Amy Palanjian the creator of Yummytoddlerfood.com, is packed with activities (like this!) for preschoolers that foster fun in the kitchen and promote healthy eating habits. Read on … Read More
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Gaga for Garlic
As an herbalist, people are always asking me what my favorite herb or spice is. Easy: garlic! Pungent garlic is a remarkable medicinal food with widely confirmed health benefits — all wrapped up in a delicate white paper case. Garlic has played a central role … Read More