Feels like Groundhog Day

Hello Friends!

It is in fact Groundhog Day as I write this--and apparently the little guy did whatever he does that indicates 6 more weeks of winter. Boo hiss! It is snowing outside my window now so I guess that's true.

If you've been over on Social Media, you know I introduced the PeaceTree Fiber Adventures new logo. I love it to pieces! My best friend drew it for me, making it even more special. Looking forward to growing this brand and living the theme that everything grows from a place of Peace. If you haven't seen it, zip on over to our Knitting and Yoga Adventures Facebook page or @knittingyogi on Instagram to read the post.

Registration for all 2020 Retreats is in full swing. Cape Ann is full, Vermont has 6 spots open and Knit Maine (being a much larger event) still has plenty of room. What is interesting to me in receiving all of the registrations and questions is the vast array of people interested in attending. From beginners to advanced knitters, younger and older, from all over the US, attending with friends or attending solo--it's fantastic! All of these people trying to carve a weekend out that is just for them--I am all about time for self-care!

In answering the question about "is there something for me?" at the retreats around emerging, beginner knitters--the answer is a resounding "Yes"! At Knit Maine, there are lots of choices for learning, building on and improving skills. At Cape Ann and Vermont, we have a wide range of skill levels in our participants but the projects are always do-able. What's even better still is that the more advanced knitters are always willing to help those who need it, during class and in the evenings when we are just hanging out together with our projects.

Looking back over the years when I first started attending these retreats, I realized that my skill level has really sky-rocketed. Much more than had I been on my own, I'm sure of it.  The exposure to the amazing instructors that we bring in and the people that you meet, gives you so much confidence and the guts to try something new. To name a few, I've learned color-work and stranded knitting with 2 and 3 colors, a bit of design, shawl designs, fancy schmancy mittens and I learned something that I hadn't known about myself--I can learn and execute complicated cast-ons like it's my job. Who knew??

Denise Bayron and me in Rhinebeck.
This Entrelac shawl is one of my very first
"Just Be Brave and Do It" projects.  

Don't let your abilities, or perceived lack there of, keep you from attending. Instead consider this the perfect opportunity to dig deep into your awesome hobby and take it to the next level. For the more advanced knitters, there is always more to learn and even the most seasoned knitters will have a moment of "Wow. That's a great way to do that!".

I look forward to seeing you soon! Please feel free to keep the questions coming.

Peace,
Christine

Anxiously Awaiting

Hello Friends!

I hope this holiday season finds you well and just the right amount of "whelmed". I try so hard not to become overwhelmed but it's an uphill battle every year! I have delighted in getting about 90% of my shopping done from my couch this weekend. Bless you Internet.

Not to rush things along, but I am so anxious for 2020 to get here--bringing us that much closer to  Retreat time! Let me brief you on 2020....

The Cape Ann Retreat with Denise Bayron is full but we are accepting Waitlist registrations.

Jan 1, 2020--Registration Opens for Knit Maine and Quechee VT. WooHoo!

Knit Maine is Sept 3-6, 2020--the Instructor Introductions and Class Lists are available on the website if you would like to start planning your dream schedule. We have an amazing group of talented instructors teaching an unbelievably exciting and varied list of subjects.  Knit Maine is being sponsored by JaggerSpun Yarns, Green Mountain Spinnery, Berroco and Knitty.com.  The Marketplace will feature yarns and swag from On The Round, PortFiber, Madder Root, DirtyWater DyeWorks, Seacolors Yarns, North Light Fibers and JaggerSpun. Information on cost and accommodations can be found on the KnitMaine page of our website.  This weekend is going to be phenomenal!

Mary in her "Farrah Fowler" sweater.

Quechee VT is November 5-8, 2020--We are thrilled to welcome Mary Annarella as our Instructor for Quechee in 2020! Mary's designs are beautiful, wearable and fun. Our weekend in Quechee at the Quechee Inn at Marshland Farms will include 3 classes with Mary and a special field trip Saturday Afternoon is in the works. Information about the Quechee Retreat can be found on the Quechee Retreat page of the Website. Everyone always loves Vermont!

I hope to see you all in 2020. Please do not hesitate to contact me at peacetreefiberadventures@gmail.com with any questions.

From my home to yours, I wish you peace, health and joy in 2020 and always. May your holidays be merry and bright!

Warmly,
Christine

New Beginnings

We are back from an amazing, and I mean AH-MAZING, weekend in Quechee. So much goodness.

First of all, hats off to Kristin Drysdale who proved to be a fantastic instructor and fast friend. She is informative, clear and oh-so-very patient. She was the last to bed each night as she made sure each of her students was on a good path in their knitting project. 

Our last dinner was a lovely affair honoring Lisa Evans and all she has done for the many, many people who have taken the time to travel with the Knitting Yogi. We had a champagne toast, scrumptious dinner, lovely words, and more than a few tears and hugs. We wish Lisa the best in her future endeavors! We are thrilled that she will be joining us at Knit Maine next September. 

We have some housekeeping matters to discuss-- We have a brand new beautiful website! The website address www.knittingandyogaadventures.com remains the same but will be directed to the new site. When this happens, you will see a new name in the browser address bar. Don't be alarmed--you have arrived at the new site.

With this new site, you will start to see a new name attached. We are still Knitting and Yoga Adventures (K&YA) but my spin on the name will include "PeaceTree". For those of you who have met me personally, you may know I have a tattoo of a Peace Sign with the Tree of Life coming out of it. That holds significant meaning for me--everything grows from a place of Peace. The new name and logo will incorporate that. 

The new website address is www.peacetreefiberadventures.com if you want to add a bookmark but again, the usual web address still works and gets you where you need to go. 

All registrations for upcoming retreats will be done from the new site. 

If you check out the new site--all of the Knit Maine instructors are listed!! Mark your calendars--the classes will be announced before Jan 1. It will be an incredible weekend!

Cape Ann Registration opens soon! I will send out an email to subscribers for the inside scoop on that. Have you seen Denise Bayron's new pattern? The Moving Forward Wrap--how apropos for her to be our Instructor in April. It's all about moving forward now. 

Peace. 

Lots of Excitement!

Hello Friends!

As we finish out the 2019 retreat season in Quechee VT, we will celebrate with Lisa Evans as she leads her last retreat as the head of Knitting and Yoga Adventures. I am so thankful that Lisa will be around to help me take K&YA into next year and, have no fear, you will see her again at Knit Maine!

As we continue our transition, I am thrilled to announce that Cape Ann 2020 in Rockport MA will be open for Registration, early Dec 2019  ( a departure from our usual Jan 1 date).  We will be taking over 2 buildings at the Yankee Clipper Inn and have exclusive use of the property. It is a beautiful setting and if it were any closer to the water we would need a

The Yankee Clipper Inn

boat! Yoga will take place in the  mornings overlooking the ocean. If we get lucky with weather, we may even be able to take our practice outside. Bliss. Feel free to inquire directly with Mike at the Yankee Clipper Inn about rooms and to make reservations.

Denise wearing her #Hatdana as a Cowl
One of many ways to style it!

I am thrilled, elated, over the moon to announce our Cape Ann instructor--Denise Bayron of Bayron Handmade! Denise has many talents and will be sharing techniques from her most popular knitting patterns in our class time. Give Bayron Handmade a look to learn more about Denise and her passions.

Denise's many accomplishments include pattern mentions in the New Yorker and her Grace Pullover was published in the April issue of Laine Magazine. Her CardiZen was nominated in the Mason Dixon Knitting Bracket, Cardigan category. She also has a pattern, Indoorsy Tunic, featured in the upcoming issue of Making Magazine, #8 Forest. She is currently teaching at Vogue Knitting Live in Austin and New York.  You can also find her on Instagram @BayronHandmade.

She and I have gotten to know each other over the last few weeks--she is lovely and wonderful and I am so happy she is joining us! There will be something for everyone in Denise's lessons. She believes making your own clothing is an empowering practice, one in which you can make affordable, durable garments. Denise's design aesthetic lives at the intersection of innovative making and sustainable fashion. It is her hope that her patterns enable you to create garments that make you feel confident and are comfortable to wear. I think we can all get on board with that!

I will be sending out an email to our newsletter subscriber list as Registration time draws near. I hope to see you in Cape Ann. Please visit Knitting and Yoga Adventures for more details on Cape Ann, Knit Maine and Quechee VT 2020.

A Gift You Can Bank On

Here's something that I predict will surprise absolutely none of you: I knit pretty constantly. My hunch is that you probably do, too. This never ending knitting passion of mine elicits ongoing, full-spectrum remarks from friends and family. I hear comments ranging from, "Will you knit me a sweater?" to "It's rude to knit at the dinner table!" and everything in between. Once, I was listening to our local NPR station-- I do some commentary for them-- and I heard the morning DJ talking about me and how "Every time I see that woman she's KNITTING!"

Guilty as charged!

One plus side of having such an out-in-the-open pastime is that it nets me lots of great knit-related gifts. For example: I gave some little friends of mine a drop spindle, they sent me back a ball of homespun. Every Christmas-- though I insist on no gifts-- I always wind up with at least a couple of gift certificates for my favorite yarn store. And for my recent birthday, a good friend of mine gave me the little bank you see pictured above. Isn't that hilarious? I laugh every time I look at it.

Last night, I was hosting a dinner party, and my partner, Ori, was jokingly "bemoaning" how I drag him to knit stores around the country. Truth is, he doesn't really mind. Like the rest of my inner-circle, he knows that the fastest way to make me happy is to do something knit-related with me or for me.

So all this has me thinking-- going on the Knitting and Yoga Adventures retreats is this magnificent gift we give to ourselves. I so look forward to Monhegan Island that the minute we finish one retreat, I have the next one blocked off in my calendar. In one short week (that, thanks to island time, feels luxuriously long) I totally recharge my batteries, stretch my mind and body, and just feel so much better about life. Then, when I get back to civilization, everyone who has the benefit of coming into contact with me-- from the guy sitting next to me on the plane to my four dogs waiting at home for my return-- benefits a thousandfold. I mean, it is a win-win-win-win-WIN situation.

Which is all my way of saying-- if you've been thinking about attending but haven't quite decided yet, please consider this: sure, sure, it's a gift you give yourself. But really, it is the gift that keeps on giving and everyone you know will be so happy you went.

For more information on the Maine and Vermont retreats, just check out the website.

Spike

p.s. I'm working on a knitted yoga mat bag in preparation. How about you?