multitasking challenges
I have always struggled to focus on more than one task at a time. I admire those people who can juggle varied tasks, plan 10 steps ahead and hold a separate phone conversation simultaniously. I would describe my own style of working as focused, but that's putting it gently. Downright obsessive is probably more accurate. I might take a while to find inspiration, a starting point, and to orient myself within a project. Once I get there, my mind churns away night and day until everything is just right. There is no stopping the flow of inspiration and ideas. Obsessive is the right word.
I spent one glorious term at Falmouth University in Cornwall, where I learned to weave and became known by my peers as the crazy girl who never left her loom. That was when I became aware of my all or nothing approach to creative work. That same characteristic reemerged in me over the winter that just passed; I became completely consumed by the process of making a book. If this is the first you're hearing about it, that'll be because I was so preoccupied with my work that I neglected to share the news. Typical me, terrible multitasker!
The Inspirational and completely lovely women of Pom Pom Press and I are collaborating on a book that is due to be released this Autumn! Knitting patterns, photographs, musings and doodles about and inspired by the magical and mysterious winters in my home of Mooresburg. Spring brought about a natural deadline, and I've spent the past month slowly and gingerly resurfacing from the intensive work of the winter passed. At last, I'm returning to the things I left dangling over the winter; dyeing yarn, new colourways, a studio open day and sharing news about the book and what I'm up to!
I'm slipping in a few behind-the-scenes peeks of the book photoshoot week back in February. Winter feels like such a long time ago on this warm and sunny day, and I am overflowing with excitement about this book!
models Kiyomi & Sachiko braving the cold!
panda the sheep (Romney / Merino cross)
This year more than ever, spring feels like a new beginning. The book project is finishing up and leaving space for something new. I can't promise that I won't fall down another rabbit hole, but I'll always resurface to check in with the world again!
Summer is almost here, and in Mooresburg we've already had lots of sunny and hot days (a lot of swimming in the river too!) Brit and I are at the beginning a long overdue colourway overhaul. Some Viola colourways are getting a bit tired, some have changed so much over the years that I hardly recognize them any more, and others remain tried and true. I want to sort through all of them, reorganize and edit. Anyone who has shopped Viola before knows that batches vary a great deal. Each batch is affected by the season or the palette of colours I want to create and this is never going to change, I really like these variations. What I want to sort out is the overlap that sometimes occurs between colourways, and to fill in some gaps that have emerged over time. While we're working through this process, you can expect lots of new colour names and eclipses. Some will become permanent, and others won't. We'll be dyeing new colours many times before settling on a final recipe, so don't be surprised if the same colour name looks very different from batch to batch. Whena new colour is finished, I'll be sure to share the happy news!
Below are a few colours that we've been working on. Some are new ideas, and others are old colours that are being rejigged a little bit. These are all going to be in our Solstice update, along with lots more light and bright summery colours!
reflections on Mohair Lace
Jupiter on Sock Minis
elixir on Sock Minis
Jaipur on Mohair Lace
Speaking of yarn, a shop update is long overdue. We've decided to celebrate the Summer Solstice with an update! I'll be announcing the time later on this week, along with lots of previews. We'll see the return of Favourite Sock Kits (option to purchase with or without Emily 's Favourite Socks pattern) as well as 100g skeins of Sock yarn, Mohair Lace and a little bit of Untreated BFL too. To learn all about these bases, take a peek at this page.
SHOP UPDATE: JUNE 21st. time TBA
More info and previews coming later this week!
xo