If you’ve been following this series, you’ll know that Adélaïde was the name of the historic botanical artist Pierre-Joseph Redouté , and about whom I posted previously, and her story is that she grew up to be a painter in her … Continue reading
My beautiful younger niece met me at the castle today.
It was so spontaneous!
I am so lucky and grateful that she could do it, because she is leaving back to university in a few days . . .
. . . but even more so because it was such a cool morning
after an impossible record heat wave we’ve had.
She is at home in the castle walls,
having been here so many times to model the endless sweaters . . .
so gracefully, and so genuinely.
And she gave this new design much needed relevance and proportion
because of the super voluminous shaping.
Both looked so lovely when she wore them, but I gave her the grey one, as it is casual and played down, and she loved it the most! I think its everybody’s favorite actually.
Redouté Roses pattern was posted earlier today over here And so now I can put all the yarn away, clean up the loft for a clean slate, and go for a nice walk in the woods, because with the help of my niece’s spontaneous rush to Calistoga for an impromptu photo shoot at the castle, I am now done & dusted with the project. I do think I want to make another one day, cropped dramatically, that would be so fun! (See all posts in the series)
Yesterday I was finally able to meet both of my nieces at the castle, to give my eldest niece her Fisher Vest and to take a few photos in the swiftly darkening light of the very late afternoon.
I haven’t seen my eldest niece for over a year, since the last time we met in the middle of the worst of the California covid surge, to shoot these photos , remember?
She has been so busy with life as it just flies by us at times, and the pandemic has not helped either. But I must report, she is doing excellently in spite of it all.
We only had minutes before the light was too low, so only time for a few shots. Her birthday was end of the year, and I made her some fingerless gloves, snipped the tips off of the prototype which I had hidden away in a drawer, and ripped back. Fingerless gloves? She loved them. She is also wearing Aria Stole, which sweetens up the vest just a bit more, don’t you think?
Youngest niece stood by as photo assist (we had photo shoot for her & new design last September) and I couldn’t help but take one or two of her, for today she returns to university, and it will be months again before I see either of them. I loved the short time we spent together, closing it with an early dinner on the patio of Villa Corona Taqueria in St. Helena, it was a perfect whirlwind visit!
Youngest niece and I met at the castle today, we took some photos, and then had a picnic in the dappled shade of the oak trees. It was a lovely last summer visit before she leaves to college. The Sol Inca sweaters have been tucked away for over a year waiting for the day both my nieces could model, but today only my youngest was able to make it. I hope to get another duo photo shoot of them over next winter solstice, but these shall have to suffice for now . . . just a hodgepodge . . . Sol Inca, Calidez Vest, and also a sneak peek at a brand new design that is not quite ready for it’s debut, that is coming just around the corner. Ok, now click 1st image in mosaic and go see the slideshow!
Patterns: Sol Inca, Calidez Vest , Aria Stole, and Mystery Vest not yet identified.
SOL INCA design came from a well spring of curiosity, where from I researched culture and made many relevant posts in series “Gifts From The Sun”.
Today we met at the castle for Autumn Sweaters 2020.
They are wearing my latest sweater design Sol Inca,
 the “afterthought” pullover.Â
The sweaters were so long in the making . . .
and in the waiting even longer to get together . . .
then with so many tourists milling about the castle, we just made it quick.
Although fewer photos were taken, as usual my nieces were fabulous!Â
In closing, SOL INCA design came from a well spring of curiosity, where from I researched culture and made many relevant posts in series “Gifts From The Sun”.
(click 1st image & see entire slideshow)Â Â
Autumn pullovers appear in the interesting castle nooks . . . We met in Calistoga at the roastery for coffee while talking about things going on in our lives, and lucky for us it was an absolutely beautiful sunny winter … Continue reading
It is the eve of the vernal equinox, and so tomorrow is officially Spring ! My niece, Miss Nineteen, is on break from college, and so we met at the Calistoga Roastery, then went of course, to the castle… I … Continue reading
I met my niece . . . Miss Sixteen . . . at the castle yesterday,
so she could model my latest lace collection Aria With Variations.
She was absolutely spectacular.   I think she has really has mastered what is essential in modeling,  having developed her character that is genuine and honest . . .
So natural, with a hint of bashful, and a lot of charm.
Here she is wearing Aria stole, in rose UnSpun 1100, in size 1,
and Variation One stole, in light grey UnSpun 880, in size 2.
Really there needs to be nothing else said, because she in her lovely way, she says it all!
( just click first image in mosaic to see the whole slideshow)
All posts in series Veils & Variations.
Yesterday I met my nieces in Calistoga at the Roastery, we had a little catching up over coffee & tea, then they put on their new Hillwalker sweaters, and this time we headed straight down to the Castle in St … Continue reading
A little sooner than I expected,
but I am posting the first of a two-part pattern.
First part, the pullover…
and my younger niece who is now Sweet Sixteen!
Miss Sixteen’s birthday pullover in the new pattern Hillwalker.
We photographed in Calistoga yesterday …
(( I love Miss Sixteen’s new hair cut! Don’t you? ))
Oh, and look who is now driving!
Driving off from the back lot of the roastery!
A stellar time with my niece and her mom at the Roastery on Sunday, with a quick photo shoot.  I am needing a little extra time to get the cardigan ready , so that will be part two, very soon. But for now, please go check out the new Hillwalker pattern live on Ravelry…
I didn’t make it all the way to Calistoga for the actual Lincoln Street locale, but we improvised in St Helena instead. After meeting at St Helena Roastery, for coffee (please tell me you don’t notice the drop of chocolate syrup from Miss Fifteen’s mocha, spilled on her Lincoln Street before the photo shoot… lol!), we then took the photos against the stone of the St Helena Catholic Church, then went to Lolo’s Consignment Shop. Lastly we had lunch at Villa Corona, and walked around the Main Street a while too. Absolutely colossally wonderful summer day spent together with my nieces!
Now you can make your own Lincoln Street sleeveless …
and the pattern is available !
Details are HERE.
I met my nieces at the Roastery in Calistoga this morning, then we hit the four corners … It was a stellar success! Â It has been a couple of months since the Autumnal Equinox … I worried I’d never finish … Continue reading
Spring tees photoshoot in Calistoga…. at the four corners.
In front of Brannon’s…
At the corner of the old bank… 
Over outside of Hydro Grill…
Next to the red geraniums outside of All Seasons Bistro….
Then my nieces Miss Seventeen & Miss Fourteen, were keen on visiting the old mural, although it seems to have faded somewhat in the bleaching hot Calistoga sun…
Just walking up Lincoln Street having fun…
Then we disappeared into thrift shop…
And we didn’t buy a thing!
Then we called it a day, and that about wraps it up for Spring Tees 2017!
* * *
Pattern:  Calidez with short sleeves and summer/spring hybrid neckline
Yarn: Knit Picks CotLin in colors “Raindrop” and “Pomegranate”
Spring Tee details on Ravelry here & here.
All Sweater Success posts of past and including this one here.
It was pouring down rain most of the day, but fortunately late this morning it settled a bit and we got in some great shots of Miss Sixteen & Miss Fourteen modeling Calidez Vest. At the wall outside of Brannan’s … Continue reading
Another sweater success! We fell out of tradition this time not photographing in Calistoga, but at our new favorite, the castle! Few words this post, but the cardigan pattern is almost ready, and will post soon!
All Sweater Successes Past & Present / Ravelry project details here, and here.