APRICOTS!

Apricots growing and ripening in the orchard near my home in Sunnyvale, CA

The Consolation of Apricots - by Diane Ackerman

Especially in early spring, when the sun offers a thin treacle of warmth, I love to sit outdoors and eat sense-ravishing apricots.

Born on sun-drenched trees in Morocco, the apricots have flown the Atlantic like small comets, and I can taste broiling North Africa in their flesh.

Somewhere between a peach and a prayer, they taste of well water and butterscotch and dried apples and desert simooms and lust.

Sweet with a twang of spice, a ripe apricot is small enough to devour as two hemispheres Ambiguity is its hallmark.

How to eat an apricot: first warm its continous curve in cupped hands, holding it as you might a brandy snifter, then caress the velvety sheen with one thumb, and run your fingertips over its nap, which is shorter than peach fuzz, closer to chamois.

Tawny gold with a blush on its cheeks, an apricot is the color of shame and dawn. One should not expect to drink wine at mid-winter, Boethius warned.

What could be more thrilling than ripe apricots out of season, a gush of taboo sweetness to offset the savage wistfulness of early spring?

Always eat apricots at twilight, preferably while sitting in a sunset park, with valley lights starting to flicker on and the lake spangled like a shield.

From I Praise My Destroyer (Random House, 1998) http://www.dianeackerman.com/

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What's to see in my neighborhood?

My Neighborhood - Sunnyvale

Elder statesman palm around the corner from my home.

Beautiful finger-leafed tree

Agapantha, blooming

So now go out in your neighborhood and see the beauty all around you!

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New Projects for Spring!

Project Linus

Knit or crochet a square for our GREEN BLANKET project. Here is the first blanket coming together:

Green squares blanket project for Project Linus (almost done - stay tuned for the finished photo)

Make an 8"x8" square (or two or three) in any color green Vanna's Choice 100% acrylic yarn (Project Linus blankets have to be made with synthetic yarn) practicing your favorite knit or crochet stitches, and bring it to the April Knitalong at my home on Saturday, April 23rd (1-4PM).

I will have ideas for summer blanket projects for Project Linus in May.

Knitting a Spring-Summer Capelet

Knit this adorable capelet with Caron Simply Soft yarns - Plain colors and/or Shadows. You'll have fun making it and want to make several in different colors. You can make them all in one color, or you can make the ruffled edging in a different color - your choice. Email me (chaninca@aol.com) for the pattern - $7.50. Once you pay for it through PayPal, or by mailing me a check I will send it to you by email.

Crocheting a Spring-Summer Artful Blanket

Crochet this wonderful and cozy light cotton blanket using Sugar and Cream yarn. All you need to know for this pattern is the chain and single crochet stitch - so easy. You'll love the results and use it year-round! Email me (chaninc@aol.com) for the pattern $7.50. Once you pay for it through PayPal, or by mailing me a check I will send it to you by email.

Well, that's it for my blog in April! Hope you have enjoyed my posts. If so, send me a comment,, and sign up to follow the blog so you won't miss out on any of them. Be back in May.

Celebrate each day!

Channing

April's Away!

A beautiful poem for APRIL by Fay Slimm

All too soon the countryside, now freshed green and sprouting more than spring, looks out for wider room, shakes its newborn blossoms then ushers April to the door. And April's away.

No longer teenage, Flora's grown maturer now, slightly deeper hued, flowers adorning every late spring bough, while April, already pale, turns white. Then April's away.

Heated by more ardent sun, hedgerows must have stronger feed. Palid from work early done April leaves, and makes way for May to ensure Flora has her needs. Now April's away.

The Beauty and Inspiration of Poetry

The beauty of poetry reminds us of all that life is full of joy and sorrow. It picks us up when we are struggling, and enables us to express our deepest joy when we feel it - it inspires us throughout. Start your day with a poem - see how inspiring this can be. I will be posting poetry I love throughout the month of April, so check in and read inspiring poems to celebrate the season and the month.

Celebrate life however you can - each moment of each day!

April Project

Make a blanket for Project Linus (http://www.projectlinus.com/) who donates their blankets through multiple local organizations to children in need right here in the San Jose area. They are also sending blankets to Japan to help children in need there. So get busy, have fun and learn new stitches all at the same time.

Squares Blanket

Here's a photo of the collaborate blanket coming together that the CHANNING DESIGN Knitalong group is making in April. We chose green as our color, and cream as our edging. Everyone is making squares in either knit or crochet, trying new stitch patterns, or sticking to the basic garter or single crochet stitches. They are all beautiful!

Step 1: Knit or crochet 8"x8"squares using fun stitch patterns in color combinations of your choice. Good yarn choices are LionBrand Vanna's Choice, or Caron Simply Soft.

Step 2: Crochet and edge around each square in a single color - white, cream, or any other color that compliments your color scheme.

Step 3: Sew the squares together in the same color as the edging

Step 4: With the same color, crochet an edge around the full blanket - 2or3 rows of edging.

Or make any blanket pattern of your choice for a child or teenager. Just have fun and donate it to Project Linus. You'll have fun, learn and feel terrific about contributing!

Contact Sharon at sjlinus@comcast.net to find out drop-off information.

Beauty all around: flowers and plants in my neighborhood The rains have now lifted and have left their lush touch on Spring. The flowers are blooming, and we can shed those winter layers. Breathe deeply the light, warm air, and think of fun new projects for the warm-weather months. Be thankful and see the beauty around us every day. Be inspired! Along with poetry watch for project ideas throughout the month.

Anticipating Spring

MARCH - the turning month: anticipating spring

Look around you and you will see magic and mystery. The turning of life, the season in all its wonder! It doesn't take much to inspire me, but when the seasons turn, I am pulled out of my day-to-day focus and see again all the newness around me. I live near one of the last apricot orchards in Sunnyvale, and luckily it is protected, so as long as I have lived here (20 years this year), I have lived by the seasonal changes of this orchard. As we are turning from winter to spring in 2011, there is a carpet of mustard grass in brilliant yellow laying down around these stoic trees. And once again, they are bringing forth new fruit in their stages - blossoms, leaves, fruit, picking, shedding, barronness (while preparing for the next cycle). I've been noticing the brilliant yellow for a long time, but last week I noticed the first bursts of flowers on the trees. This coupled with full-bloom cherry trees in the neighborhood brings pinks and yellows and whites into the forefront - the first colors of spring!

Let us savor this period of turning, watch it unfold, and be inspired by the magic that is happening without any human hand. Here is a poem I wrote in the 1970's while living in Connecticut:

Glorious days! First of Spring!

Resounding in air waves,

warmth and rebirth.

Joy in new creation,

bursting hearts of love.

Blooming into tomorrow

as if it were to be their last.

- Channing (1970's)

Knitting Projects:

Using a beautiful chocolate CASCADE washable wool yarn I got at Green Planet Yarn in Campbell, I taught myself how to Continental Knit/Purl while making a lovely shawl for my daughter, Maya's birthday - March 2. It is a simple pattern of garter stitch on the edges, and solid stockinette in the middle. Then I dove into all the beautiful new colors of Soysilk yarn I got at Stitches, and embroidered sunflowers, black-eyed susans, vines, leaves, bees and butterflies along the side and bottom edges. She loves it - as I love her!

Crochet Projects

Inspired by Stitch Diva (Jennifer Hansen) at Stitches West I dove into the new crochet hook kit I bought from her and assembled a tunesian hook and tail for the size project I had in mind - a 15x15 pillow. Then I gathered together several of the new yarns I got at Stitches (An Oasis scallop and an Oasis textured), and threw in some Trendsetter Aura (eastergrass yarn) along with a coppery Vanna glamour yarn and some lime Soysilk yarn. Right now it's still in the formation stage, but I'm loving the way it's coming together. My plan is to use a velvet fabric for the back and sew the knitted front and fabric back together to form the pillow. Stay tuned for the finished piece!

Tips from Vogue Knitting for Spring!

http://www.vogueknitting.com/

It's all white now - style gets a spring pick-me-up with cool, crisp WHITE.

Check out how Vogue is designing with white. Take a look at their ideas and patterns. Design your own spring patterns (scarves, wraps, hats, and more...) with white and other spring colors. Take advantage of all the fabulous yarns for the warmer months. Knitting/crocheting isn't just for fall-winter, but for year-round creativity.

Free-Range Knitter - Jane Thornley

www.janethornley.com/

You have to check out this amazing designer from Nova Scotia. She designs her own patterns all from inspiration in nature - things like 'knit a beach', 'knit a river.' And she sponsors trips around the world, such as "Knitaly", Turkey, Spain, Santa Fe, and more. You can join her newsletter on her website - it's worth your while.

Welcome to the turning month - March. Enjoy every day as spring unfolds and keep your eyes open to all the colors of the season that inspire you! I look forward to seeing you soon in a class or my monthly Knitalong.

Cheers,

Channing

My annual yarn feast - Stitches West!

One more stitch - one more row. Ah, it's dawn!

- Japanese Haiku

In the rhythm of the needles (hook) - there is music for the soul!

- from an old sampler

STITCHES WEST - 2011! An island in my busy life of the corporate world, this weekend was filled with the most delectible delights for my fiber enthusiasm. I got inspiration again, and more beautiful building blocks for my creativity for the next year. Although you do see a lot of repetitive themes in yarn and patterns at this show, I sought out and found a lot of originality -

Stitch Diva (http://www.stitchdiva.com/) ! I love Jennifer Hansen for her originality in developing one-of-a -kind patterns with knitting, crochet AND tunesian crochet. She has put together a book of all her patterns that is amazing. Since I just purchased the Addi click-on set of circular needles and am set for life with knitting needles, I decided to purchase the DENISE kit crochet hooks that click into cords and stoppers so you can do ANYTHING in crochet and tunesian crochet. Now I'm set forever - and can begin endless projects in either knitting or crochet. I started a pillow over the weekend with some of the great yarn I bought at Stitches using the new crochet kit - and tunesian crochet. Stay tuned for the photo sometime soon!

I'm going to start a Tunesian Crochet class through ACE next quarter (starting in April), so come and join (http://www.ace.fuhsd.org/) - click on Community Interest, then Homearts.

Various Yarns, Books and Patterns - I also got a lot of wonderful yarn - wool, soysilk, and synthetic that looks and feels like a natural fiber. Luscious varigated colors in a variety of weights. New books (Fairisle and Entrelac and a new wonderful book on crocheted edging), patterns (a really fabulous pattern for a gorgeous granny square afghan, a tunesian crochet shrug, and more...)!

Buttons - And then there are the buttons from Gail Hughes (http://store.quiltedkitty.com/stores_app/Browse_dept_items.asp?Store_Id=17&categ_id=642&parent_ids=0,306%20) . She makes her own with molded acrylic, and I just adore her designs. I got a 50% discount because I bought from her on Sunday afternoon.

Tootsie P (http://tootsiep.com/) - another one of my favorites from southern CA does amazing dye work and kits to go with original designs. Virginia Gibbs, owner, has a wonderful sense of color and texture and her jacket designs are beautiful. I get all my Trendsetter Aura yarn from Virginia, and use it in my own designs for the Artful Blanket, some scarves, shawls and pillows. Check out the Artful Blanket in my Etsy shop - http://www.chaninca.etsy.com/.

John Marshall (http://www.johnmarshall.to/) - Then there's John Marshall who is a designer extraordinaire using ancient materials and designs from Japan. From John I purchased beautiful thin golden thread that I will combine with other yarns to bring out depth and presence.

So stay tuned to see the projects that come out of all this amazing feast of materials. I can't wait to get started!

Come to the February Knitalong at my home (1203 Crescent Terrace - Sunnyvale) on Saturday, Feb. 26th from 1-4PM and I'll be working on my first project. You'll also be able to see all the beautiful things I got at Stitches West!

Happy creating!

Channing

LOVE

FEBRUARY - the month of Love

"'Tis love that makes the world go round, and you have me in a spin!"

This is the poem in my new Valentine's Day cards - fun, short and sweet, but my point is that LOVE MAKES THE WORLD GO ROUND. In these days we have to consciously focus on love in our lives, in our communities, and in the world. Only if we choose this focus, and let the power of love become us, and thus bring it to those around us, can we make the purpose of our lives driven through love.

As a sideline, you who know me, know that I always want to know the background and the "why" of things, so I looked into the history of Valentine's Day. Way too much to put in my blog, but fascinating - so if you are interested in finding out how far back the traditions go, who was St. Valentine, and why did he become a saint, and how this tradition evolved over centuries of time, go here - www.theholidayspot.com/valentine/history_of_valentine.htm.

2011 is the YEAR OF THE RABBIT - so each month I am going to share with you the beautiful images from the Wells Fargo calendar. Here is the February image - our little rabbit leaping over hurdles and obstacles in his life - a reminder that we can all do the same.

Year of the Rabbit - Wells Fargo Calendar

Think about your life - and the impact of love. When we feel and know that we are loved, we can leap over tall buildings, take on amazing tasks, accomplish wonderful things, and be the loving/amazing person we really are to those around us. The secret is - that LOVE is all around - and all we have to do is begin to see it/feel it/know it and then act on it. So here's my original poem for February -

LOVE

Hold love in your heart - always.

Let your eyes see the world through love.

See love all around, even in darkness.

Trust in love, be in love.

Know that you are loved.

For love is the ephemeral glue that binds our humanity.

It is what brings the greatest joy, the possiblity of healing,

the ability to share and give, to survive, to be compassionate,

to be strong and to be tender, and to see into the heart of others.

Know that your greatest self is the self of love.

Love to live, live to love!

- Channing (February, 2011)

Love to all!

Channing

I love all of you, and look forward to seeing many of you in my classes, or hearing from you - my email is chaninca@aol.com. Let me know your thoughts on LOVE, wonderful stories and experiences of Love in your life. I would love to hear from you.

Love,

Channing

The Year of the Rabbit

Reach for the Stars

It's a new year.

A new opportunity to succeed,

accomplish new things and fulfill your ambitions, whatever they may be. Of course, sometimes you'll find an obstacle blocks your path. Or the path takes an unexpected turn. That's when you look upward and see how to leap from whereyou are to where you want to go. Determination can get you there. And get you further than you ever thought possible. Welcome to the year of the rabbit. (From the 2011 Wells Fargo Calendar)

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I hope you are off and running into your new year, and beginning to see why I love calendars which can inspire each day and each month throughout. And poetry - oh the joy of words so sweetly expressed. I just have to share this poem about WINTER with you, for praising each day of this season.

WINTER

- by Greta Crosby

- photo by Channing Miller

Let us not wish away the winter. It is a season to itself, not simply a way to spring.

When trees rest, growing no leaves, gathering no light, they let in sky and trace themselves delicately against dawns and sunsets.

The clarity and brilliance of the winter sky delight. The loom of fog softens edges, lulls the eyes and ears of the quiet, awakens by risk the unquiet. A low dark sky can snow, emblem of individuality, liberality, and aggregate power. Snow invites to contemplation and to sport.

Winter is a table set with ice and starlight.

Winter dark tends to warm light: fire and candle, winter cold to hugs and huddles, winter want to gifts and sharing, winter danger to visions, plans and common endeavoring - and zest of narrow escapes, winter tedium to merry-making.

Let us therefore praise winter, rich in beauty, challenge, and pregnant negativities.

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So bundle up, take a walk, notice the light, the trees, the sky. Feel the air - and how envigorating this season is. Let it envigorate you!

Send me your winter thoughts or a winter poem. Let me know what calendars you have chosen for your home in 2011. For now you can email me - chaninca@aol.com, although I plan to add interactive features soon. My blog is for sharing with you, and for you to be inspired to share with me (if you feel so moved!).

Cheers,

Channing

Starting the new year - 2011 Calendars

I'm excited - it's time again for a new year - 2011 - changing calendars, and starting afresh. I love calendars and over the last few years have made them an important part of my life. Every room in my house has one or more calendars, each chosen for it's beauty, theme and message. Calendars are a way you can incorporate the images and messages that inspire you into your life in a fun way. And so in a couple of days we will turn that last page of the 2010 calendar, and begin with the first month of the new year. Part of my new year's ritual is to select the new calendars that I want to live with over the next twelve months - images, themes and messages that will make each day/week/month vital and personal in my home. And so I create them, look for them, buy them, give them, and sell them - calendars for the new year.

My Calendars

Family Calendar - each year I create a calendar of memorable moments from the year past for my family who are all incredibly busy people living a wide distance apart. This calendar with a collection of photos and text from our lives brings us together when we cannot be together, reminds us of the moments/events that have passed in the year gone by, and keeps up close in our hearts.

New Calendar Search - I love to look everywhere for new calendars with interesting art, photography, graphics, and inspiring messages - anything unusual is intriguing to me. So far this year, I have found a calendar of illustrations of bugs for one grandson, and another of hot air balloons for the other grandson. I was given one by my bank that looks interesting (with Chinese watercolor prints), and bought another with stunning images of the Big Sur Coast. I'm still looking, but want to find them quickly so I can enjoy all twelve months of their inspiration.

CHANNING DESIGN Calendars - I always create a number of photographic themes and produce a variety of calendar styles to give and sell - popular themes are flowers, plants, trees, sunsets, Carmel, and from my travels to Alaska, Japan, Singapore and the Baltic (I did a theme on 'Doors of the Baltic' that was really terrific a couple of years ago). Putting up the new calendars in my home, sending them with holiday cards, giving them with holiday presents, and selling them at my year-end CHANNING DESIGN shows - well, it's all a part of my life at the end of the year.

CHANNING DESIGN calendars - Flowers/desktop and Trees/magnet

As the new year begins I will look forward to living with all these new calendars in my home and anticipate turning the pages each month. I'm always sad to say goodbye to the photo of the past month, but exited and intrigued to welcome the new images.

Why don't you start a calendar tradition? I think you'll see that it makes the daily, monthly and annual routine in life very creative, broadening and satisfying. If you would like to have one or more of my 2011 Flower or Tree calendars you can order them at http://www.chaninca.etsy.com/.

Happy New year!

Cheers,

Channing