This Land Is Your Land, This Land is My Land

I'm a long way away (18 states, to be exact) from having visited all 50 states, but I'm still so jealous of photographer Carol Highsmith's undertaking in her 21st-Century America Project.  As part of the project, Highsmith will photograph the country, state by state, capturing the cities, towns and countryside of 21st-century America, and the life of its people.  The whole project is expected to take an amazingly ambituous 16 years.  She's donating her pictures to the Library of Congress, and you can find them here.

She's already finished Alabama, which she shot this summer.  I particularly love the way she included both iconic structures (the Pettus bridge in Selma) and everyday places (a candy store in Mobile).  Here are some of my favorites. 

I plan to check in on Highsmith's progress periodically and post highlights as new states are added.  In the meantime, I wonder if Highsmith needs a photographer's assistant?  If so, count me in!

Semi-Annual Sale Starts Today!

The Yellow House Knits Semi-Annual Sale begins today!  The sale will run until October 24.  ALL sweaters will be 40% OFF.

Don't forget the additional special offer for bloggers: Blog about the sale before October 17 and receive free shipping on your sale items (in addition to the 40% off) or save 15% on a future order. Blog postings must include at least one picture of a Yellow House Knits sweater. Email yellowhouseknits(at)gmail.com to let me know where to find your posting, and I will email information about redeeming these offers.

Ellie in Aspen Street

I love these pictures of Ellie in the Aspen Street sweater.  The coloring is perfect for her fair skin and blue eyes.  She doesn't seem to be shy around the camera at all.  What a happy young lady!

Photos courtesy of Alexi Killmer.

All Bundled Up

Here's little A.J. in her Yellow House Knits sweater, all bundled up on a crisp fall day.  Isn't she adorable?!

Just a reminder that I offer 10% off a future sweater purchase to anyone who sends me a picture for the Photo Gallery. 

Status Update

I'm a little delinquent in posting my monthly update, but that's how my September was unfortunately--even with vacation, I felt like I was late for everything, always rushing.  Here's to a calmer October!

35 Before 36 Update

1. Read 12 books.  6/12 complete.  Read in September: "The Girl with the Dragon Tatoo" and "The Girl Who Played with Fire" by Stieg Larsson and "Stash" by David Klein. 
2. Go to New York City for a Broadway weekend.  Reservations made for November!  Trying to decide what shows to see. 
3. Start saving regularly—even if modestly—for the addition to my house.  On track.
4. Clean out my closet and give a lot to Goodwill.
5. Finish my state streets project.
6. Donate to: Washington Humane Society, Legal Aid Society of the District of Columbia, and my various alma maters: Northwestern University, Carnegie Mellon University, the University of Michigan Law School, the University of Michigan School of Public Health.
7. Go to the U.S. Botanic Garden.
8. Get a massage and/or a facial each month.  4/12 complete.
9. Purge and replenish my underwear drawer.
10. See 12 movies in the theater.  4/12 complete.  Saw in September: "The Town" and "Going the Distance"
11. Spend a weekend the Omni Bedford Springs (my favorite).
12. Keep an inventory of food in the freezer.  On track.
13. Run three half marathons. Detroit is coming up!
14. Try yoga again.
15. Start to research the history of my house.
16. Reorganize my pantry.
17. Buy a nice piece of jewelry (pearls?).
18. Try 12 new (to me), local restaurants.  4/12 complete. Tried in September: 701 and Brasserie Beck.
19. Improve my bread-baking skills.
20. Take Bullet on a weekend trip.
21. Get a new camera.
22. Take more pictures.

23. Pay off my car.
24. Master real push-ups.
25. Make at least two meals per month to freeze for later.  On track.
26. Organize my knitting and needlepoint supplies.
27. Send more postcards when I travel with notes telling people I’m thinking of them.
28. Make a star tree-topper for my Christmas tree.  Canvas is purchased--need to start needlepointing.
29. Have a party.  Planning for Alissa's shower is well underway.

30. Go to the renovated National Museum of American History.
31. Go to the beach.
32. Buy fresh flowers more often.  I'm still trying to pick some up whenever I got to the farmer's market.
33. Paint my old patio furniture (or have it painted).

34. Take a crafting class.

35. Walk home from work at least once a week, weather permitting.  So far so good.

Window or Aisle Seat?

I'm a die-hard window-seat girl.  I particularly love the time just after take-off and just before landing, when you can still see the ground.  I love trying to pick out places and landmarks that I recognize and to see the world getting smaller and smaller--or larger and larger.  From that distance, the world always looks so peaceful. 

So, it should be no surprise that I think Maxwell Mackenzie's aerial photography is just so cool. Mackenzie is known for his architectural shots, but the Fraser Gallery in Bethesda currently has an exhibit of his aerial work.  He takes the pictures while he's flying the plane (don't try that at home!).  I especially love the second one below of the deer running through the clearing. 

Mark Your Calendars!

The Yellow House Knits Semi-Annual Sale begins two weeks from today, on October 10 and will run until October 24. The Semi-Annual Sale is your chance to get in-stock handknit baby sweaters at a significantly reduced cost. Order a few for holiday gifts!

All in-stock sweaters will be 40% OFF. Custom orders placed during the sale period will receive free shipping.

If you've had your eye on a sweater, I encourage you to act quickly once the sale begins. A number of Yellow House Knits customers buy from me only during these sales because the savings are so great, so the inventory changes quickly.

There will also be an additional special offer for bloggers: Blog about the sale between October 10 and October 17 and receive free shipping on your sale items (in addition to the 40% off) or save 15% on a future order. Blog postings must include at least one picture of a Yellow House Knits sweater. Email yellowhouseknits(at)gmail.com to let me know where to find your posting, and I will email information about redeeming these offers. So schedule your blog postings now!

Love Is All Around

I think everyone is familar with the image of the LOVE sculpture with the tilted "o."  I've walked past it many times in New York, and I noticed it around Julianne Moore's neck in "The Kids Are All Right," but I didn't realize it was quite so ubiquitous.  Take a look:

The LOVE image was originally designed as a Christmas card for the Museum of Modern Art in 1964 and first exhibited as a sculpture in New York City in 1970.  The original sculpture has been on display at the Indianapolis Museum of Art since 1975:

The sculpture has since been reproduced many times and in many forms.  The sculptures can now be found all over the country (not to mention in jewelry, postcards, T shirts, and so on).  Here it is in LOVE Park in Philadelphia:

And on the campus of Wichita State University:

Back in New York City:

And up in Rockland, Maine:

It's even on display in Hebrew at the Israel Museum.  

At the risk of taking the words of my all-time favorite TV show in vain, "love really is all around!"

September Special Offer

Today is September 20, so this month's special offer is a 20% discount on all sweaters ordered between now and Thursday.  This offer INCLUDES custom orders!

Mention coupon code ITHY-SEP in your convo or email (yellowhouseknits@gmail.com) to take advantage of this offer. Orders/emails must be received by midnight EDT on September 23.

Have fun!

Nora in Yellow House Knits

I've been a little slow in posting pictures from my photo shoot with little Nora.  We had a fun morning taking her picture.  Nora's mom and dad were super enthusiastic about the whole process, which I just loved! 

Here are two of my favorite pictures of Nora.  Isn't she just adorable?