I know many of you listening out there have reached out to me about trying to find balance between maintaining your creativity and your desire to make with also the challenges of caring for your families, your careers, and your other responsibilities. I have to let you know that every single time I chat with Shannon, she makes me feel better. This week’s guest is none other than Shannon Cook, a Canadian knitting and sewing pattern designer, author, and publisher and the writer behind the very popular blog, Veryshannon.com. Her blog used to be called luvinthemommyhood, so you might be familiar with that one too. Shannon is happily living a handmade life near the ocean on Vancouver Island with her husband and two daughters. Her two girls are a little bit older now and I feel like she is one that has gone before and is clearing the path for someone like me, where I feel like I’m still in the weeds.
Shannon designs patterns for the modern knitter. She uses interesting and engaging textures, vibrant colors and striking lines to create garments and accessories that are destined to become wardrobe staples. Shannon is incredibly creative and community focused and through knitwear design and publishing books like her new collaboration with Jane Richmond called Within: Knitting Patterns to Warm the Soul, I feel like Shannon is living proof that honouring your desire and need for creativity is so important and can affect people in a way that you don’t even realize. It’s true, I don’t think Shannon realizes how much of an inspiration she has been to me personally over the years. So without further ado, I’d like to introduce you to Shannon Cook.
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In today’s episode, Shannon and I talk about her design process, finding work life balance, and her practice of meditation and mindfulness and how it has helped her manage stress and improve her creativity.
Where to find Shannon Cook:
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Twitter: @soveryshannon
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Instagram: soveryshannon
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/soveryshannon
- Ravelry Group: www.ravelry.com/groups/very-
shannon -
website: www.veryshannon.com
“Within” and VeryShannon Giveaway
Shannon would love to send one of our lucky listeners three patterns of their choice (either knitting or sewing) as well as a copy of the Within e-book. To give as many listeners as possible a chance to enter, we will keep this giveaway open until the end of March and then draw a winner after that date. Simply enter your info below and we’ll enter you in the giveaway and also subscribe you to our SweetGeorgia updates, so you won’t miss a thing.
Thanks for Listening!
Thank you so much for joining me this episode! If you enjoyed this episode, please share it with your fellow yarny friends. And if you like what I’m doing here, please leave a rating and review on iTunes for the show. I read each and every email and bit of feedback, whether it’s on Instagram, Twitter, or Facebook, so I welcome your comments.
Music Credits:
The Young and Beautiful – by Ivory Hours
When I Get To Tennessee – by Hayley Reardon (on NoiseTrade)
It was so great to hear about the inspiration for this collaborative book! Each time I look at the designs I feel like I am there, snuggled in the warm designs.
Thanks so much for listening!
Found you through baaad anna’s (and a few clicks-about thereafter, ha ha!) I didn’t realize how interwoven the Vancouver-and-beyond yarn scene was, but I’m really excited to start exploring all the creative promotion that’s been going on here. Thanks for showcasing some of the amazing talent that’s come out of the area… I’m learning a lot!