All posts by Jackie E-S

Jackie E-S is the owner of HeartStrings FiberArts, a showcase for her growing roster of original pattern designs. As a certified master knitter and teacher, Jackie continues to share her love of knitting and knowledge through design and publication of skill-building pattern instructions, and conducting workshops, programs and demonstrations. Her interest in the fiber arts extends beyond knitting and spinning to include weaving, dyeing and all needle arts. She also enjoys contract bridge and music.
Cooking, Musings

Halloween Count-Down

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Jackie-O-Lantern Open Wrap Pizza A while back, Tink B-D invited designers to submit a remembrance related to a recipe for this year’s Halloween count-down at TheArmChairChef.com. I finally got my act together to figure out what I wanted to do, and to do a write-up and some pics for count-down.

My family never really cooked or baked for Halloween, but who is to say one cannot create new remembrances! I am calling this food concoction the Jackie-O-Lantern Open Wrap Pizza.

I will let you know when the recipe is posted on TheArmChairChef site (or if Tink thinks it is too weird and rejects it, I will post it here later, lol).

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The Designing Day

Hint-of-fall weather to energize the creative spirit

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Maple Leaves from Playing in the Leaves, a HeartStrings design by Jackie E-S Happy Fall! I know it has been WAY too long since I posted to my blog. But then, I was never a great letter-writer nor did much in the way in keeping a daily journal. Days just slip by … believe me, the older you get, the faster they go.

I am not going to try to catch up in detail on all that has gone on since my last post. I did have a great beginning to the summer though — exhibited at TNNA Columbus trade show, vacationed in Maine, New Brunswick, PEI and Nova Scotia, and chalked up some more points toward my Life Master’s in bridge. Then the days of hurricane evacuations ensued, and believe me, that is NOT conducive to productive design work, lol.

Well, I am finally getting settled down again (I hope!). The Fall release, albeit delayed due to the hurricanes, is finally completed and shipped. It included Playing in the Leaves (there are instructions for the maple leaf as pictured above, along with an aspen leaf and oak leaf), Lace Doily Beret, and A Feat of Twist Socks. Do check them out if you have not already done so and let me know what you think.

Some gorgeous hint-of-fall weather has arrived here in south Louisiana — terrifically low humidity for us and low 70’s. Great for energizing the creative spirit! So, thought you might like to see what I have next up on the plate.


Prototype and yarn to make Elemental Changes Shetland Stole
 It is a new design I am working on to publish soon. The working title is “Elemental Changes Shetland Stole”. The backdrop for this picture is a portion of the sample prototype for the design concept of this to-be pattern.

The yarn I am planning to use for the sample model in the published pattern is Sarah, a Suri alpaca and domestic Merino yarn by Kraemer. Have you tried this new yarn yet?
Well, I am off to wind up some yarn and try it out!

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Musings

Flag Day

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Flag Day Today, June 14, is Flag Day which commemorates the adoption of the flag of the United States. So this post is my little tribute to the flag which represents our freedom. Please let me also sing throughout cyberspace my huge thanks to all who serve to keep our country free.

This little sample is knitted in hand-dyed tencel thread ‘Let Freedom Ring’ from Heritage Yarns using the HeartStrings Morning Surf Scarf pattern. I like how the colors of this thread arrange themselves within this airy, undulating pattern stitch – reminiscent of the US Flag waving in the breeze. I have plenty more left in my skein and plan to do a regular size fashion scarf or wrap in celebration of the July 4th Independence Day.

By the way, Margaret at Heritage Yarns is offering Let Freedom Ring tencel by special order only through June 21, 2008. Tencel is wonderful to knit with and wear in the summer. If you’ve been thinking of trying tencel, here’s a chance to do so, and demonstrate patriotism as well (or did I have to give you an excuse to buy more yarn? LOL)

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The Designing Day

Duo-Zephyr My Beading Heart Scarf

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I designed the My Beading Heart Scarf for 2 strands of laceweight yarn, which I originally sampled in Lorna’s Laces Helen’s Lace Purple Club. The idea of my design was to allow closely-toned multi-colored laceweight yarn to mix visually into less distracting, yet ever-interesting color patterns. The idea of the beads was to complement and lend a more structured design element to the otherwise random images produced by the variegated colors of the yarn. Sort of like the ying and yang of design, don’t you think?

My Beading Heart Scarf All along though, I had in mind to raid my stash of Jaggerspun Zephyr wool/silk to try out combinations of closely-toned solid colors, too, for subtle yet interesting color play that cannot be achieved by a single solid color alone. For the scarf pictured here, I chose Plum and Mulberry. The beads I chose to enhance the overall effect were Miyuki #2440 Transparent Gray Iris beads.
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I have lots of other yarn color combos picked out and matching beads, but just not enough time to knit all I want to. So let me know what you try and share pics if you can!

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Musings, The Designing Day

Cajun Gold Concertina Lace Socks

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Cajun Gold Concertina Lace Socks - front view Here are the pics of the Concertina Lace Socks in Lion Brand Sock-Ease that I promised to show you. (You can click these smaller pics to see a larger picture in a separate browser window.) Cajun Gold Concertina Lace Socks - front view

This is color #204 Lemon Drop. I chose the gold colorway for these Concertina Socks, as I was smitten with the beautiful bright yellow/gold Cajun accordions last fall at the Acadian Festival in Lafayette. That is why I am calling them my “Cajun Gold” socks!

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