A mailing list invitation & recent newsletter preview

Are you on my mailing list? I invite you to sign up to receive occasional email updates on events and news from my studio! Here is a peek at my latest newsletter to give you a taste of what you might expect to see in your mailbox now and then, when you join my list of subscribers and fans. I look forward to staying in touch with you.

Dear Friends, Autumn is just around the corner, and what a perfect time to dream of treating your fall and winter wardrobe to beautiful new accent pieces! Think of rich and vibrant colors, intricate textures, and versatile styles for the modern romantic -- all exquisitely hand-crafted in some of the world's finest fibers. Come to one of my fall shows to explore my entire collection of hand-knit fashion and wearable fiber art in person. I will be appearing in five spectacular events celebrating art and contemporary fine craft in New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Pennsylvania. Please see below for the complete schedule of shows. In the meantime, check out my feature & interview in the September issue of WAG magazine! Fall 2013 Schedule of Events Crafts at Lyndhurst Tarrytown, NY September 20-22, 2013 This weekend, in a gorgeous Hudson Valley location. Sensational shopping & opportunities to meet and interact with some of the country's best artists and fine craftsmen. Pennsylvania Guild Fine Craft Fair Philadelphia, PA October 11-13, 2013 A weekend-long celebration of art and fine craft in historic Rittenhouse Square in the heart of the city. Crafts at Purchase Performing Arts Center Purchase, NY November 1-3, 2013 An intimate show benefiting the Arts Center at SUNY Purchase. A unique opportunity for pre-holiday shopping in Westchester County, NY. CraftWestport Westport, CT November 9-10, 2013 Over 170 American craft artists in one location on the Connecticut Coast. One of my favorite shows of 2012. CraftBoston Holiday Show Boston, MA December 6-8, 2013 A prestigious and highly competitive retail exhibition of contemporary fine craft. Ideally timed for holiday shopping in New England. Have you visited my website and blog lately? I recently wrote about the unforgettable trip to Ireland I took earlier in the year. I invite you to follow my artist page on Facebook, and connect with me on Twitter and Pinterest. My online SHOP carries a selection of ready-to-wear hand-knit accessories and adornments. For availability of items not displayed in the online shop and for custom-order inquiries, please contact me directly. Have an enchanting autumn! Elena Rosenberg Wearable Fiber Art

Our Adventures in Ireland - Greenery, Glorious Sheep, and the Unforgettable Enchantment of It All

In May-June 2013, my husband and I took a much-anticipated and hastily planned trip to the Emerald Isle. We knew, from reading and hearing about it, that we would have an unforgettable multi-sensory experience in Ireland, that there would be sheep by the thousands, picturesque country vistas, hearty food, and excellent music. But we didn't expect our every expectation to be exceeded, and to be so immensely captivated by and enamored with the land we saw.

 

A typical landscape on the hauntingly and quietly magnificent Dingle Peninsula. Photo by Elena Rosenberg.

We had many quintessential Ireland experiences. From seeing multitudes of sheep around virtually curve in the roads, to being left breathless by the magnificent coastal landscapes of Ireland's West Coast. To enjoying pints of Guinness, delicious pub grub nouveau, and the soulful and toe-tapping Irish traditional music we both love so much, in a pub near Fanore. To staying in historic homes built in the 1700s and 1800s, and experiencing that renown Irish hospitality everywhere along the way. To witnessing Ireland's many shades and gradations of green, which, paired with the blues of the coast and the whites of the flocks of sheep, made for a vivid, refreshing, and delectable visual palette. We left a part of our hearts in Ireland, and cannot wait to return to see more of Counties Clare and Kerry we enjoyed the most, and to travel up to Donegal and Northern Ireland too.

 

Here is a handful of photographs from the trip. You can see more if you follow me on Instagram (find me at "elena_knitsandbits"). If you are planning a trip to Ireland, I'd love to give you a few tips about some of our favorite off-the-beaten path places to stay and visit, so feel free to get in touch.

 

This view from our B&B window, caught hours after landing in Shannon from NYC, couldn't have been more idyllic or ideal. We spent the first few days of the trip exploring County Kerry from a home-base outside of Killarney. Jacqui at Burke's Mulbur House was the epitome of hospitality, friendliness, and all-around good nature.

 

Killarney, Ireland. Photo by Elena Rosenberg.

The bright and jubilant abundance of gorse (flowering shrubs) seen everywhere around Kerry made driving through the late spring countryside quite magical. The obligatory sheep delightfully dot the landscape virtually everywhere. As a fiber and wool fanatic, I couldn't get enough of the gorgeous creatures, and each sheep sighting was accompanied by peals and shrills of giddy excitement even on day 10 of our trip. Though, sadly, only some of the sheep in Ireland are kept for their wool, we did encounter quite a few sheep whose fleeces were long and beautiful, and, I hope, used for wool.

 

While we did see lots of knitted pieces in tourist and mainstream shops in Ireland, I was disheartened to note that despite the complex cable designs characteristic of Irish knitting, the hand-knit items were often priced quite low considering the time-consuming work involved. Knowing first-hand the true high costs of using high-quality wools and designing and hand-knitting ready-to-wear and bespoke accessories and clothing, it appears that more consumer education and appreciation would be lovely, both in the US and in Ireland. Ironically, in packing for this trip I didn't anticipate just how chilly the weather could get along the coast in late May, and was glad to support the local knitwear economy by buying a cozy knitted wool hoodie mid-way into our stay.



Gorse growing in County Kerry, Ireland. Photo by Elena Rosenberg.

Spring Blossoms, Ireland. Photo by Elena Rosenberg.

While exploring the Iveragh Peninsula, in addition to the famous Ring of Kerry, we took a side trip to a lesser known Valentia Island, where we wandered around the overgrown sub-tropical gardens at Glanleam House and came across graceful horses on the hills overlooking the Atlantic. Unforgettable, magical, and otherworldly.



Horse grazing on Valentia Island, Ireland. Photo by Elena Rosenberg

We couldn't be happier when we had to brake for sheep crossing the roads, and the novelty and charm of this experience never wore off.



Sheep family crossing the road in Ireland. Photo by Elena Rosenberg.

For NYC suburbs' residents like us, it's not often that we get to experience an environment and landscape that are virtually timeless. Our trip through the ancient Gap of Dunloe gave us that sensation of timelessness. I am so glad the weather was fittingly wet and brooding.

By the way, a major advantage to traveling the in off- or shoulder-season is that we were either among only a handful of visitors or alone almost everywhere we went (the Cliffs of Moher being one exception).




Gap of Dunloe, Ireland. Photo by Elena Rosenberg.

On our way from the West Coast to Dublin, we visited rural County Kilkenny, where we were treated to scenes like these.


The setting sun, County Kilkenny, Ireland. Photo by Elena Rosenberg  



Kilkenny Sheep. Photo by Elena Rosenberg.

In Kilkenny, I lived out the fantasy of the countless period films I have watched, by staying at Ballyduff House, where the movie "Circle of Friends" (with Minnie Driver, Chris O'Donnell, Alan Cummings, and Colin Firth) was filmed. The house, the grounds, the ambiance, and the caring hostess, Bred, were all memorable.



Ballyduff House, Thomastown, County Kilkenny. Photo by Elena Rosenberg.

Family Portrait, Ballyduff House, Thomastown, County Kilkenny. Photo by Elena Rosenberg.

It was unbelievably wonderful to see hundreds of animals as an indelible part of the landscape wherever we traveled in Ireland.



Just another drive through rural Ireland - a herd of ivory goats. Photo by Elena Rosenberg.



This family of sheep has an enviable daily view of the Atlantic. County Clare, Ireland. Photo by Elena Rosenberg.



Horses near Ashley Park House in Nenagh, Ireland. Photo by Elena Rosenberg.
 

As rugged and severe as much of the West Coast of Ireland is, the way it is tempered and softened here by the pastel wildflowers and lichen, to me is somehow indicative and reflective of the wild and aloof yet delightful and endearing essence of Ireland itself.



Cliffs over the Atlantic, near the Cliffs of Moher, Ireland. Photo by Elena Rosenberg.



A 'polka-dot' shell fragment on the beach in Ireland. Photo by Elena Rosenberg.

We try to seek out special and off-the-beaten-path places and experiences when we travel, and the Burren Perfumery is the very definition of such a place, in a very literal sense. An oasis in the heart of the Burren region, it houses a most fragrant "body" shop, a quaint café, a charming herb garden, and an inspiring story. After hiking the "Burren in Bloom" (spring wildflowers of countless varieties among rocky outcroppings), a stopover for some aromatherapy and souvenirs of the Burren Perfumery's "Summer Harvest" and "Man of Aran" fragrances hit the spot just so. Not to forget, generous cups of herbal tea enjoyed al fresco around a moss-covered tree-stump of a café table.



A cup of herbal tea at the Burren Perfumery's Café. Photo by Elena Rosenberg.

Our trip was relatively short (10 days), yet we saw so much -- from castle ruins dating back 500+ years, to formal English gardens from the 19th century (in states of alluring disrepair), to trees, ancient and majestic. My one regret is not scheduling a visit to a dreamy looking alpaca farm (the first in Ireland!) down the road from Orchid House B&B where we stayed in Fanore. By the way, this was an excellent home base for exploring the Burren and the Cliffs of Moher.



Medieval fortress ruins, Ireland. Photo by Elena Rosenberg.



19th Century Gardens, Ireland. Photo by Elena Rosenberg.



A very old tree on the Ashley Park House estate in Nenagh, Ireland. Photo by Elena Rosenberg.
  

And yet there is mightily plenty more to see, soak in, and experience in this country we enjoyed so much. We hope to return very soon. For now, I'll daydream of Ireland while looking in its direction from across the Atlantic.



While driving across Ireland. Photo of and by Elena Rosenberg.



 

New Press - Feature & Interview in WAG Magazine; Fall Schedule of Events

Thrilled to share that my designs and I are featured in the latest issue of WAG Magazine! You can read the full article online.  Learn about the inspiration for my designs, my roots, recent experiences, and future plans. It's a great write-up, and I am honored to be in great company on the pages of this beautiful issue. Other designers profiled by the magazine this month are Rolando Santana, and Sarah Phillips, and almost the entire issue is dedicated to fashion and style, with nods to Carolina Herrera, Michael Kors, and others. It's a treat to be recognized by this great and well-respected publication as an emerging independent designer!


Elena Rosenberg featured in WAG Magazine, September 2013

WAG is a lifestyle magazine covering Westchester County, NY and Fairfield County, CT. I have the Artrider Productions team to thank for making the connection between the magazine and me. Artrider is the producer of three shows in which I will be participating this fall, here in the NY tri-state area. In August, I had a great time meeting the WAG staff, including Mary Shustack (senior writer), Dee DelBello (publisher/creative director), Bob Rozycki (managing editor and photographer), and Alissa Frey (audience development director and my wonderful model). Print copies of the September 2013 issue are available locally, and the entire issue can be accessed online.

 

Elena Rosenberg's Designs modeled by Alissa Frey

 

Speaking of Fall events, I am excited to have been invited to show my designs at 5 fantastic retail exhibitions this season, taking place in New York, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, and Massachusetts! The complete line up of shows appears below. I hope to see you at one or more of these events. I will be bringing many new designs and colors to the shows, as well as a few entirely new surprises from a small collection of wearable fiber art accessories I am developing. Hint: it's wooly, but it's neither knit nor crochet. You will need to visit me at the shows to see more!

Elena Rosenberg Wearable Fiber Art -- Fall 2013 SCHEDULE

 

Crafts at Lyndhurst, Tarrytown, NY, September 20-22, 2013

Pennsylvania Guild Fine Craft Fair, Philadelphia, PA, October 11-13, 2013

Crafts at Purchase Performing Arts Center, Purchase, NY, November 1-3, 2013

CraftWestport, Westport, CT, November 9-10, 2013

CraftBoston Holiday Show, Boston, MA, December 6-8, 2013

I invite you to follow me on Facebook for frequent updates and to sign up for my mailing list to hear about upcoming events and special offers.