Had a blast at OWC, with zero sleep the night before, but manage to stay awake and focused with the sheer excitement of being there. The most useful and fascinating workshop was Anne Maclachlan's Social Media session. The camaraderie and networking was priceless.  Wayson Choy was a wonder to listen to and he was so welcoming to me the first night. I met agents and writers and the wonderful organizers of the conference. I came away stoked to write, write, write. And I am.

On another (knitting) note,my Heirloom Shawl is done and Joan the test knitter is almost finished hers. Can't wait to post it to Ravelry!

...is published today on CommuterLit! Thrilled to bits! My husband wondered why I picked that photo...Geez!
Hope you all like it!
JY
​

At these prices, I'm hoping they go quick - I need to make some room here! If you're interested, head on over to Etsy and have a browse.

UPDATE: No longer available. Thanks to all.

      
As some of you know, I'm crazy about writing stories (as yes, designing knitwear too!). While some of my short stories are out there in the world waiting to be published, I participated in PitMad, an author pitch party last Friday, kindly hosted by Brenda Drake. 
     We could post 3 tweets to pitch my book, "Love and Terror" from 8AM to 8PM.
I carefully composed 3 tweets of 140 characters or less, complete with hashtags. I participated, hoping any agent would heart my tweet (that's the way it works), so I could query them directly, but what I was really hoping for, is that a particular agent that I think would perfectly represent my writing found me.
     She didn't.
     Somewhere, with maybe a half hour to go, she posted to tweet her directly win the next 30 min to make sure she saw your adult or women's fiction, so I did. A few minutes later, she hearted my tweet, "Art dealer Kate falls for Afghani artist Salim. CSIS investigation casts doubt. Someone is the terrorist – who? #PitMad #A #S." and my own heart grew three sizes that day!
     Off went my query and 10 pages to her inbox and my fingers are crossed, my toes braided and my heart is doing a jig, - yes jig; they still do those in the world…I'm certain.
     Now, begins the waiting game. Not any waiting game. The kind of waiting game that would have writers second-guessing themselves. But we mustn't do THAT!
     Instead, I’ll write Chapter 11 of my next novel, "Off the Grid" and knit the edging of the Heirloom Shawl (nearing the end!) as say a little prayer with each stitch, "I hope she loves it! I hope she loves it. I hope..."
   I don’t say her name because that’s too much pressure, but if my knitting prayers work, I’ll spill; I promise!
 
Happy knitting (and writing)!
 
Joanne

Thanks to Isobel and Alina - test knitters for these two new patterns of mine available on Mary Maxim. The yarn is lovely and cozy and both patterns will test a knitter's skills, but won't make you crazy. Hopefully an enjoyable knit for all.

Trying to hunt down the pattern for this edging as my B. Walker's are packed. We don't move in until mid October, and then the unpacking nightmare begins. Can anyone help and send me the 4 rows of this lovely edging?

Eternally grateful,

JY

I prefer gypsy to saying I'm living in limbo. Life isn't too tough, staying at the cottage, but I'm with my husband and daughters who are staying with friend's and can't work from solely a laptop. We have no WIFI here; I'm using my cell's hotspot as I write. Designing is trickier. I've packed my stitch books (I know, stupidly), but brought my latest fav wool to work with.
Joan is currently knitting the Heirloom Shawl for "Nine Months of Knitting" with Handmaiden Maidenhair in Crema - my follow-up to "Twelve Months of Knitting" and my stitch for the edging is packed! I pray the Parry Sound library has my Barbara Walker stitch book otherwise, I'll be pulling out the edging from the shawl I knit and writing it out - not fun!

Thankfully, I have all the patterns for the ebook (to be made avail here and on Ravelry) and will knit booties, hats and other such delightful items for expectant moms and babies. Ask me when it will be made available? Mmm, I'll say I'm aiming for January, but early Spring will be more likely - throw in a move in October and you'll see my point of view.

Happy knitting,

Joanne

Last Saturday, my best friend and her hubby of 25 years renewed their vows at their 25th Anniversary Beach Party. It was heart-pulling and romantic. The fun had by day on the beach, was followed with a soft guitar and singing to bring on the evening's re-nuptials. Not a dry eye on the beach that day. After all the guests had left, my best friend and I sat under the tent in the rain and gabbed until 3AM. These are the days to remember. Jox

• The shoulder finally healed and I finished the Heirloom Shawl (currently being test-knitted).
  
• The kayaking trip was a success (only I needed to jump into a random and have our male guide paddle me the last 500 metres back to the beach.
• I finished my novel, "Love and Terror" - currently being edited by someone who knows what she's doing and does it well.
• I took the first of many university courses and got an A- (I know, boastful, but at 50, and thinking I forgotten as much as I've learned, I was chuffed).
• Speaking of 50, I celebrated on my new favourite place on earth, Kauai and the Napali Coast; the night of, drinking Mai Tais with my eldest daughter and watching half-naked men dance at a Luau.
• I embraced my grey - whew!
• Hosted the first Writer's Retreat at the cottage with my writing group.
• Began submitting short stories (what I should have done BEFORE writing a novel).
• My needlepoint kits are available at The Needle Gnome and here.
• Most recently, I began designing knitwear again for myself and yarn companies - yippee!!! (TBA this Fall).  The knitting world has been so welcoming since my hiatus; such a warm bunch of people is our wooly world.
• Last week we sold the house we designed and built (and lived in, for a year and a half, just for fun). We move in 2 months - agh!
• And I renewed this blog.

...let me explain...

A year ago this June 13th, I watched my sister die of ALS. We were close. Nothing takes the stuffing out of you quite like losing a loved one. I still cry when I think of Liz and I still miss her, as I do my brother Richard, who died four years earlier. Grief stunts creativity - unless, of course, I was writing about Liz. Those words flowed. I watched as the Ice Bucket Challenge took the world by storm last summer. I peeped through the bushes to see my neighbour's family scream from the icy water. It warmed my sad heart. This month is ALS month. Here's how you can help: ALS CANADA

Which means slow knitting! I am a quarter the way around the Heirloom Baby Shawl, but still determined. Pain is almost gone, but range of motion not getting much better than a month ago - no higher than my ear which means: still bad hair days. The exciting news is I can roll onto my back without screaming! Yay! Thank heaven for small mercies!

So let me leave you with the thankful event of SPRING arriving at last to Canada! YIPPEE!!!!!!!!