giveaway #59

The two winners of the String Theory yarn & a choice of Surya or Ruffle My Feathers pattern are:

marlono & Rowleeeee

Congratulations! Please contact me at yarnonthehouse@gmail.com to collect your prizes.


This week I'm bringing back a wonderful and generous sponsor: Joanna & Eric Johnson of Slate Falls Press. Do you remember meeting Joanna last year? She and her husband are the fantastic writing and drawing duo behind the fun childrens' books: Phoebe's Sweater and the new Freddie's Blanket. Their books are truly genius! In essence they are knitting picture books that you can share with your favorite l'il boy or girl.

The newest children's story has the sweetest platypus as its main character! And, is full of darling knitting patterns that are incorporated throughout the entire story. I just can't get over how great this concept is and even my soon to be 10 year old likes the books and patterns. Here's a little more from Joanna herself about the new book and the creative process:


"Eric and I really enjoy working together to create these unique knitting storybooks for children and adults to share together. Often while we are going about our day we discuss little details about the storyline, the illustrations, or the patterns. But our most favorite part of the creative process is when we begin a new book- that initial brainstorming session when a new book is conceived is really an exciting creative moment for us, and it is the big spark that fires the rest of the long journey to having a finished book. I have learned to keep a notebook handy at all times! Of course, the day when thousands of copies of our books arrive is rather exciting, too, but it is that very first collaboration of an idea that we love the most.

From there we talk about character, then names, settings, seasons, deatils, it is all out there on the table to be discussed. When we were exploring animals to be the character in Freddie's Blanket, we talked about a variety of critters. But once the platypus was mentioned, we were smitten. Eric sent me a photo he found of two baby platypodes (yes, this is the correct pluralization!) nestled in the palm of a scientist's hand, that decision was set. From there, we explored the habitat of the platypus, and fell just as hard for the beautiful and interesting plants and animals of Australia. Every animal, plant, leaf, and bug in this new book is Australian. Now even our children want to go there, too! Details like the character names come along early on while we are talking through all of the decisions we need to make. We don't obsess too much over the names, we just try a few out, ask the children how they like them, and call it "good" then and there.

We are actively working on our third book which we plan to publish in 2012. It will be another Phoebe Mouse book and is set during the summer, so our friends in warmer climates can be a part of the fun, too. Eric and I are working through a storyline that pulls in a lot of details from our own childhood summers and we are really enjoying the ways we are finding to bring our two distinct sets of memories together into one story. It will include knitting patterns again (I am going to pick up my needles in just a few minutes here and keep working on the first design, which I am really enjoying!) but this time we are adding in a little something extra to go along with the knitting. There are a few hints on our blog that let you in on the secret- and we are thrilled about who we are working with on it!"


Joanna and Eric have put together a fantastic giveaway for you this time, but first check out some of the patterns in this book:












Just too cute for words! Now onto the good stuff: one Grand Prize winner will receive a signed copy of Freddie's Blanket and EIGHT skeins of Brown Sheep's Company's Serendipity Tweed, a cotton and wool blend. That's enough to knit a Baby Envelope Blanket, Freddie Platypus, and May Platypus. Two runners up will also a receive a signed copy of Freddie's Blanket to add to their knitting library. How fun!





I would like you to do the following if you would like to be entered into this week's giveaway:


1. Read over the rules if you have not done so already.

2. Leave a comment on this blog post by the end of Sunday, 5/8/11. I wanna know if this if your first time hearing about these awesome books? If so, what do you think and do you have a special someone you would love to share them with? If this not your first time hearing about them, tell us what you like about the books and how you ran into them originally?


I'll randomly pick the winners in 2 weeks and post the results along with the new giveaway, so be sure to check back. Good luck everyone.

Sincerely,

Ve