KNITTING PEACE

Perseverance at its Best

2012-02-01T04:43:00.000-08:00

I love sharing about my knitting team and all they inspire in me. It’s amazing for me to experience how women who are incarcerated with their children, can put forward their best face and truly give meaning to the phrase “making the best out of any situation”.

One of my favorite knitters Alejandra is a young woman, mother of 2 who is studying accounting while incarcerated. Her children don’t know where she is, they have been told she is working abroad because Alejandra does not want them to feel sad or scared.

When Alejandra first started work with us, I was amazed at her perseverance. She clearly knew only basic knitting, but really wanted to be a part of our team. The first piece she knit was a charcoal grey alpaca wrap, which she must have re-done at least 5 times, because each time she felt it wasn’t quite perfect enough. I loved her enthusiasm and the fact that she took it upon herself to always to her best.

Two years later, she is not only one of my best knitters, but also my go to person whom I count on to train the other girls, and keep the quality of their work up to par. During this time, she has saved enough money to buy herself a little private space within the jail, where she spends her day in privacy, knitting, reading and making the best out of her situation. Her little space is very clean, the walls are adorned with pretty wrapping paper, and all of her possessions are neatly folded and stacked on a shelf. She has pictures of loved ones on the wall beside her little bed, and a nice size TV and DVD player where she has watched The Secret, Eat, Pray, Love and anything else I give her.

Her supposed release date was December 20^th of last year, but Bolivia is very bureaucratic and many signatures have to be signed, papers get shuffled, put away and many times lost in translation. Therefore she is still waiting for her release date, however lucky for us she will only be moving a short drive away from the jail, and we have decided that she will continue to work for Knitting Peace from the outside as well.

I am excited to experience her continued transformation, and look forward to helping her along the journey.

~Namaste

Recreation and Work... One in the same?

2012-01-20T12:59:00.000-08:00

A few years ago I was working as a financial analyst in Los Angeles, and one day as I sat in front of my computer, counting the minutes until quitting time, it occurred to me that there had to be more to life than spending a third of it performing tasks which I did not enjoy. That moment, although brief was my aha moment, in which I was literally able to observe myself from the outside and clearly see that I had been living someone else’s life, who’s life I was living I did not know, but it certainly did not feel like mine, it felt as if I had completely missed the target.

This epiphany lasted only but a moment, however it completely changed my outlook on life and all of a sudden I realized how limiting it was to dislike a major part of my life, all for the perceived comfort of a steady paycheck. How had this happened? And what did I need to do to become one of those people that seemed to have everything at their fingertip? I literally had no idea; however something in me was dying to find out.

A short time later, I came upon a quote that said “Make your recreating and work, one in the same”. I can’t recall whose quote this was, but I am in eternal gratitude for his or her clarity and wisdom. This was the answer to what I was seeking, and all the guidance I needed. It was so simple, yet I had missed it for so long. All I needed to do was focus on what I loved to do, and find a way to get paid for it.

It sounds funny but never underestimate the power of intention. A few months later, I started my own company in which I now design and make knitwear clothing. The plus of it all is that I decided to work with incarcerated women in Bolivia, which is where I now live, happily married and enjoying my life with all of its trials and opportunities for growth.

If you would like to know more of what we do, go to www.Knittingpeace.com

~Namaste

Homemade cookies from jail

2012-01-16T12:16:00.000-08:00

Well over a year ago, Eulogia who is an integral part of my team of incarcerated knitters suggested I hire her husband Victor to knit for Knitting Peace. At first, I have to admit I was hesitant, it seemed logistically complicated, and I wasn’t sure he knew how to knit. You see, Victor is also incarcerated. He is in Chonchocoro, which is the high security prison in La Paz, located about an hour outside of the city. I have no idea why he is incarcerated; however Eulogia is allowed to visit him twice a month.

She assured me his knitting skills were just as good as or better than my girls, and she proved herself worthy of her word. Victor is not only a really good knitter, but he has on more than one occasion gone without sleep in order to meet our deadlines.

At Chonchocoro some of the inmates have cel phone privileges; therefore Victor and I have had the opportunity to speak, although we have yet to meet face to face. He is a very gentle and sweet man; he loves to knit for us, and takes our work very seriously. On many occasions he has delivered his work faster than my female knitters, making sure he has things ready for me when Eulogia goes to visit him. She happily delivers him the yarn I give her, and on her next visit brings back the finished pieces. The logistical nightmare I had initially feared is a no brainer and I am very pleased with the results.

Victor shared with me that he is also taking baking lessons and learning how to make all kinds of sweets. Upon one of Eulogia’s returns from visiting him, she not only delivered a beautifully knit piece, but also a sweet little bag of anis and orange cookies which Victor had sent me. They were delicious, and filled with the sweetness of gratitude, and I happily ate them all in return.

~Namaste

A Merry Christmas in Jail

2012-01-10T09:56:00.000-08:00

This past Christmas season was very special for me and Knitting Peace. Mainly because I finally had the opportunity to stay in Bolivia for the holidays, which up to know I usually spent in Los Angeles, selling our goods and participating in gift fairs. However this year was different, I spent it here, with my team!

We were all very excited, and although I couldn’t put together the celebration my girls deserved with a tree, Santa, champagne, gifts, etc (let’s not forget the girls are in a jail), I was able to go into the jail during non visiting hours and have a special intimate gathering with my team, where we shared tea, chocolate milk, Christmas Paneton and cookies. It was the first time in a long time we had the opportunity to gather around a table and chat.

I started off the gathering by sharing my gratitude with them for all of their hard work, diligence, perseverance and inspiration. I experienced tremendous growth in each one, on a personal and team level this year, and am extremely grateful for all of their effort and support. Each team member received a Paneton and chocolate milk to share with their children on Christmas day, which they greatly appreciated. I also gifted them pictures I had taken of them throughout the years of working together, which they asked me to write an inscription on.

Towards the end of our sweet meal, the girls surprised me with a showering of gratitude and beautifully spoken words of excitement for what is to come, love for the work that we do, lessons received, and mountains of joy. Each woman shared freely what Knitting Peace has meant to them, and all that they had achieved. In that moment I was able to perceive a group of women sitting in their power, and I almost forgot that I was in a jail. I realized that each and every woman sitting around that table was free; in their hearts and in their minds they experienced the freedom to be in peace and outside of the limitations of the walls of that jail.

~Namaste

Empowered business women and true success

2011-11-17T16:03:00.000-08:00

For a very long time, my interpretation and vision of a successful business woman looked like Miranda Priestly from the movie The Devil Wears Prada. In other words I held the belief that in order for me to be successful in business I had to be ruthless, stern, completely dedicated to my work and let’s face it, kind of a bitch.

Now, although I love my work, and have the ability to be stern, those other characteristics are not traits that I believed describe me very well, I considered myself to be more of the sugar and spice and everything nice kind of girl.

Being aware of the large gap between how I thought I needed to be and how I thought I was, brought forward the fear that possibly I did not have what it took to be successful in business, and that I may be “kicking oxygen” as we say in Bolivia.

Ironically, last month I was invited to go to Arequipa Peru to participate in a Empowered Women seminar and workshop organized by Yente, a non-profit organization from the Netherlands that has the intention of strengthening female entrepreneurship via missions, matchmaking, network strengthening, exchange of information, it’s an online community for women entrepreneurs.A total of 20 women from Bolivia where chosen to participate and travel to Arequipa for this 3 day event and to my surprise I was asked to represent Bolivia during the event inauguration and give a speech about my experience of success with Knitting Peace. I was flattered of course, but mostly nervous since I did not consider myself to be very successful, however with my heart on my sleeve I accepted the challenge and prepared a heartfelt story of Knitting Peace and how we were making a difference in all the lives we were touching.

At the end of the event what I learned was that woman of all walks of life and traits were leading successful businesses, and these women were amazing and not at all bitchy or intimidating. I also learned that I had nothing to change about myself in order to be successful, because I already am. Success is living in full alignment with one’s purpose and there is little room for ruthlessness in authentic success.

This shift in awareness has brought me to a space of self acceptance and an inner knowing that I am not kicking oxygen, I am being fully guided at all times and being gifted with synchronistic miracles which have paved my path with inner peace and authentic self expression. Which… YAY, is such a relief!

~Namaste

Our 2011 Collection!

2011-10-12T16:40:00.000-07:00

We are very happy to share our 2011 collection, composed of chunky alpaca hand knitwear, like boyfriend sweaters, capes, and long cabled sweater vests. We also created a line of ultra thin hand woven knits that include sweater dresses, sweater coats, hooded wrap around cardigans, and more.

This new collection is inspired in the power of color, nature and versatility; where day wear easily transitions into evening wear, and spring wear can easily adapt into winter wear

Hand knit alpaca cable sweater vest

Hand knit alpaca Cape

Hand knit alpaca cabled Boyfriend Sweater

Hand woven alpaca hooded wrap cardigan

Hand woven V Stripped alpaca dress

Hand woven alpaca ribbed sweater dress

Hand woven alpaca sweater coat

To find out more about our collection or how to order a piece, please visit www.knittingpeace.com or email us with any questions you may have.

~Namaste

Our New Collection! and New Team!

2011-10-06T17:13:00.000-07:00

We have been a busy group at Knitting Peace! We launched a new collection, had our first Fashion Show, and revamped our store space. This is the reason for our silence in the past few weeks. In addition to all of this, we also started working with a new group of knitters, who are amazingly talented. This new group is creating all the new hand woven pieces added to our collection. We also added a new line of hand knit pieces, which of course as always are made by our group of incarcerated women.

The pieces are chic, full of color, layer friendly and transition beautifully from day to night. We love this new collection and know that you will too!

Here is a preview, and will all soon be available on our online store www.knittingpeace.com

Enjoy!

Alpaca Hand Knit Ribbed Shrug Alpaca Hand knit Cardiwrap

Alpaca Hand Woven Sweater Coat and Scarf Alpaca Hand Knit Cape

Alpaca Hand Woven Sweater Dress

Alpaca Hand Knit Cardiwrap Alpaca Hand Woven Sweater Coat

Cultivating Patience

2011-09-16T13:45:00.000-07:00

Sometimes, when running my business I get caught up in the mountain of minutia that needs to be taken care of in the day to day, and I lose sight of purpose, and the reason why I chose to start my own business in the first place.

When my Knitting Peace journey began, I was in denial of it being a business. I was more in love with the opportunity of spending my time creating while being of service, which was my intention and reason for getting on this boat in the first place. The business aspect, however inadvertently and eventually became a necessity and a very big part of my every day.

Deadlines, production demands, cash flow, and distribution channels at times distract me from my original intention, placing me in a state of disconnect from what I love most about Knitting Peace. During these times I feel impatient with my team of knitters, and the deadlines which aren’t met and find myself in a state of intolerance for the missed sales opportunities due to the slowness of our production process.

Luckily the Universe through the help of my team of knitters; provides opportunities for me to get back on course, and attune to what matters most. During the past few weeks, after our week long hiatus, due to the hunger strike, I went back to the jail with a clearer head, and I understood that I was interacting with women who are dealing with a lot of challenges; they are humans who require special care, and extra patience. I cannot expect them to deliver what other knitters who aren’t incarcerated deliver and in order for our journey to coast in harmony I needed to adjust my sales and cultivate patience and compassion for what these women experience in their lives.

In this space I learned that Sandra our newest team member has a 16 year old daughter who visits her and sometimes has to walk home, because she doesn’t have money for the fair. Bertha has a 14 year old son with epilepsy who lives in the jail, and some days it’s really hard for her to knit, she does not have the energy to do so. Vicky sometimes gives her knitting to her bunk mates, so they have some work to do. These stories are part of the everyday lives of these women living in incarceration. In losing my expectations, and aligning with what is I am more able to see and experience them where they are, making our journey flow more gracefully towards a greater good.

~Namaste

Day 5 of the Hunger Strike in Jail

2011-09-02T06:05:00.000-07:00

The strike continues with no resolution in site. I went to the jail to pick up some of the items our team had finished knitting and got a glimpse of what the hunger strike is about.

This is the front entrance of the Jail: "Centro de Orientacion Femenina"

Many signs where taped to this wall. The women involved in the hunger strike are demanding that the accusations be clarified, and the truth be told

Sign taped to the front door reads "We demand the truth. This strike is because we want photocopies of the false accusations made against this center, sent to us"

The center was accused of harboring drugs, alcohol, prostitution and abortions. Hopefully this situation will be resolved soon, so the women who aren't involved can continue to work in peace.

~Namaste

A hunger strike in the jail

2011-08-31T11:43:00.000-07:00

Working with incarcerated women, has its trials and tribulations, especially when the jail is in Bolivia, a country known for being prone to strikes, marches and revolts on almost a daily basis. This same cultural phenomenon is also found within the jail, this year alone the facility has had two hunger strikes already.

When a group of incarcerated women decide to go on a hunger strike, the entire jail is put under a state of emergency and total lock down, meaning visitors, lawyers or artisans like me can’t go inside the jail for an undefined time. The entire incarcerated community has to undergo the state of emergency, as a consequence of the protesting group.

This makes my work very difficult, since during these times I can’t deliver yarn for any of the orders we receive or do the quality control I need for the work in progress. This is one of the glitches of working with incarcerated women. My knitters are also affected because their work is slowed down, and therefore so is their income.

This time around the strike is due to a complaint made by one of the prisoners, who sent a letter to the press stating that drugs, alcohol, prostitution and abortions where common within the jail. The interesting aspect of this is that some of the women inside the jail took offense of this statement and took it upon themselves to start a hunger strike demanding that the author of the accusatory letter be removed from the prison and taken elsewhere. The group of protesting women feel’s humiliated by the accusations and wants the letter to be retracted. They don’t want people on the outside to think these accusations are true. However, it is common knowledge that alcohol and drugs are found within those walls.

It’s interesting for me to hear their reaction. It seems to me that if said actions are happening within the jail, it would behoove the prisoners to have more protection and stricter controls in order to protect the women and children within the jail from being exposed to the many downfalls of drug and alcohol abuse, which can lead to unwanted pregnancies, violence, abuse, depression, prostitution and more.

None of the girls on my team are involved in the strike, yet they are experiencing the downfalls of the issue in place. Prior to the strike they requested that I leave them with a lot of work, should the strike begin and get prolonged. Knitting keeps them busy and out of trouble. Let’s hope they are busy at work, and staying safe while knitting in peace.

~Namaste

Alpaca Creations

2011-08-19T05:12:00.000-07:00

I love sharing Knitting Peace's latest news, creative endeavors and creative process. Here are a few images of what we have been up to.

These colorful pieces are hand knit Alpaca Cowls, which can also be worn as a shoulder cover as well as a skirt. They are very popular, because of the colorful pallet and versatility. We love these!

Knitting Peace Alpaca hand knit Cowl

Available on our website and on SALE now at
http://www.knittingpeace.com/knitting-peace-store/accessories/cowls.html

Now, not all of the new designs get posted on our website, some must go through several rounds of evaluation, re-defining and tweaking.

Our latest prototype was just finished. One of my favorite knitters Louisa, had a bit of a hard time bringing my vision into physical manifestation . However I have to admit, I love what she made!

We will tweak the prototype a bit here and there, with an end result of a beautiful hand knit chunky Alpaca Sweater dress available for Fall 2011, no worries!

I love this color!

Alpaca Sweater Dress

Knitting towards a greater good

2011-08-17T10:47:00.000-07:00

We just recently started an internship program at Knitting Peace, which has been an incredible blessing. I didn’t realize how much work I was postponing until Beatriz came along, and got my wheels spinning in motion. It’s fascinating how the Universe works, we truly are powerful beings.

I had set the intention of attracting a team of supporters to help me take Knitting Peace to the next level, and bam… I feel like I have an army now. It’s amazing how much can be accomplished with strong intention, honest self evaluation and grounded clarity. What seemed impossible and a burden is now clear open space, with infinite possibilities.

In my moments of doom and gloom, I had forgotten why I had chosen to work with incarcerated women, and why Knitting Peace existed and what it stood for. Luckily, with the help of Beatriz’s soft presence, my girls had the opportunity to open up and share with her what Knitting Peace meant to them and how our work together has benefited their lives.

Hearing what each team member had to share, expressed so lovingly was a gift for me. These women did not sound like repressed, fearful women who are incarcerated. They expressed themselves like warriors who were on a path towards something better.

Xenia shared that she hoped Knitting Peace would continue to grow, and that she could continue to work for us even after she restored her freedom. She looked forward to assisting me in creating new designs and putting her talents to good use. She felt she made a difference in Knitting Peace and was proud of the work she did with us.

Rosario, mother of 2 expressed deep gratitude for the opportunity to work. She shared that very little work was available to them, and that through Knitting Peace she was able to work continuously throughout the year and support her children in staying in school while she remained incarcerated.

I am once again reminded of the importance of our work, and inspired to continue on this path. It’s a very exciting time for Knitting Peace, we can’t wait to see what else the Universe has in store!

Winter Line Sneak Peek

2011-08-15T15:19:00.000-07:00

Our new 2011 Winter line is coming together. Here is a sneak peek.
Hand Knit Alpaca Sweater Dresses, to wear day and night for work or play.

Everything made by our team of incarcerated women in Bolivia.

Enjoy Knitting Peace!

Photos by Daniel Caballero Mercado

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The Economy and Style... must they go hand in hand?

2011-08-11T16:59:00.000-07:00

With the economy at question mark, I imagine spending in most households has become questionable as well. Debt is at an all time high, and a lot of people are experiencing for the first time, what it means to live and spend within their means. In most countries this is the norm, however in the US and other developed countries, this is a new way of living, a new and hard concept to swallow.

Having lived both in the US and Bolivia, I have experienced both contrasting mind sets regarding consumerism and know what a huge shift the US is going though at the moment. In Bolivia, most people don’t go shopping every weekend, and there aren’t huge discount sales on every street corner. I have yet to go “window” shopping with my girlfriends, and doubt anyone holds a credit card with a $10,000 spending limit. Life is very simple here; when the first winter breeze comes the fashionistas run out to buy a new sweater or coat, maybe both … but not a whole new wardrobe.

I can appreciate both life styles; I love fashion and loved living in LA where there are so many pretty things to see and try on, which are always going on sale.

So, with the economy in mind, fashionistas at heart and practicality at hand, I am creating a new line which is not only beautiful and as always socially conscious… but can be worn all year long, and in many different ways. Versatile is my new theme, and I plan to make all of our new pieces Versatile, and layer friendly, so they can be worn in the spring, summer, fall or winter.

Our team of knitters loves this new concept, and is busy at work with our new collection. Here is a sneak peak of one of our finished pieces

How many other ways can you think of wearing this beautiful Alpaca accessory? And what would you call it? We would love to hear your input, please share!

~Namaste

Learning to Knit Again

2011-08-06T06:53:00.000-07:00

Learning how to knit at the age of 9 was challenging, especially since I am left handed. I remember being one of the only girls in my class to actually do the knitting assignments myself. Most girls in my 4^th grade class had their nannies or grandmothers do their knitting homework for them. Although I had a hard time learning how to knit I still loved it, and practiced constantly until I was able to figure out on my own how to combine and create stitches which were new to me.

Last week, my knitting skills where challenged yet again. I decided to learn how to knit on a machine, with the intention of designing our new Knitting Peace knitwear. Luckily for me my mother in law is an expert knitter (hand and machine) and was kind enough to teach me the basics of machine knitting. After a few hours of playing with the machine, and getting a handle on what mistakes to avoid, I was able to knit this piece. It’s my first, and I love it… as I loved the first tiny scarf I made, with my pink yarn back in the day of pigtails and chubby fingers.

I know it doesn’t look like much, but it’s a start.

Learning to Machine Knit

Knitting Peace's coming Winter Line!

2011-08-02T05:21:00.000-07:00

Its August already, winter is on its way out in Bolivia (although is still very cold) and the fall is on its way in on the Northern Hemisphere. This flux in seasons tends to spin me into frenzy. I live in a state of mind of the never ending winter, where I am either designing for the cold, living in it, or traveling towards it.

I am currently both living in it and designing for it. August is an exciting month for Knitting Peace, it’s the month in which we prepare our Fall/Winter line for our clients in the US and Europe. Our team of knitters is excited to see what new techniques they will learn, and new colors we will be using. They are anxiously waiting for me to get them started on the new line.

This season I felt inspired by the bright colors and thick cozy sweaters displayed on the runways during fashion week. Jade Green, Scarlet Red, Plum and Rust are colors that I loved seeing on the runway. Don’t get me wrong I love Grey, but my girls and I are ready for a more brilliant pallet to work with.

2011 Runway Fashion that is inspiring our new Knitting Peace Line!

Vogue Knitting

Max Azria Tracy Reese Alexander Wang, Zero +Maria Cornejo, Karen Walker

Marc Jacobs Jill Stuart and DKNY

With all the changes happening in Knitting Peace and our plans moving into motion towards expansion, it seems incredibly appropriate that our new line should reflect an expanded and more brilliant look. Our new Alpaca hand knits will be more intricate, colorful and ultra thick and cozy.

We recently purchased a knitting machine for thick yarn, which I just learned how to use. It’s not as easy as it looks, but a lot faster. At first I resisted the move towards machine knitting, I felt it did not compare to hand knitting and would make our product industrial. However I soon realized that in order to grow and expand, I needed to increase our production capacity significantly which becomes possible by using a knitting machine. The machine allows us to make certain pieces of the garments quicker, and then add intricacies and the cozy touches by hand knitting them on. This also makes the girls work a lot easier and allows for a quicker turnaround of finished product, which translates into more money for them. The finished product is still ultra soft, however more beautiful and of better quality. We love this, and know that you will too!

Our new line will include hand knit and hand finished products, in bright colors and cozy ultra soft Alpaca fiber Our pieces promise to be thick, long and the sweater you will wear everywhere this winter. We are very excited to launch our new line, so stay tuned on www.knittingpeace.com for more Knitting Peace news to come.

~Namaste

A new friend from within the Bolivian jail

2011-07-26T15:48:00.000-07:00

I experienced a life lesson from a wonderful English woman who happens to find herself incarcerated in Bolivia. She has been “inside” for 3 and half years. Her fair skin, bleached blonde hair and blue eye shadow make her stand out amongst the dark braided hair and colorful long pleated skirts worn by the other female prisoners. At least 90% (if not more) of the women who find themselves in this particular Bolivian jail are of indigenous decent. So my English friend is easy to notice.

She generally sits close to the worn down empty water fountain built in the middle of the courtyard. Day after day, she sits reading one of her books very peacefully. As an observer I can almost see the chaos spin around her and away. It’s as if she is sitting in the eye of the tornado in complete stillness and peace, while everything around her is seemingly going array, or not… and if so, she doesn’t notice. On many occasions we’ve had the opportunity to chat, and in her presence I almost forget where I am, she has the amazing gift of emanating stillness and peace.

She is probably somewhere in her fifties, she has 3 sons and had lived many years in South Africa. As in most of the cases of incarcerated women, she had an abusive husband and now recognizes her incarceration as a profound experience. She shared with me that this time “inside”, has taught her to stay inside herself and experience authentic peace. “It was the only way to survive”; otherwise negativity from the jail can seep in very easily and make life miserable. She is grateful for her imprisonment which has taught her the meaning and beauty of being still and living in the present, “inside the jail, nothing changes, every day is the same”. I have only recently met her, but I image much of her has changed from her incarceration, and I am grateful for her lessons, which also teach and remind me to go back inside, into that space where I am home, and loving is the only way to be.

Once again Viktor Frankels’ message comes to mind, “Everything can be taken from a man or a women but one thing: the last of human freedoms to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one’s own way.”

~Namaste

Knitting Peace at a Crossroad

2011-07-19T10:00:00.000-07:00

Knitting Peace is at a crossroads, with two and a half years under our belt, I feel we are ready to step into bigger shoes and the Universe has been pointing us in that direction, bringing forward new opportunities for KP product placement in Europe, the US and South America. This is very exciting, yet requires a reevaluation of our business model.

Our girls are doing a great job in trying to keep up with the new opportunities for product placement and new distribution venues, but it hasn’t been easy. Our team of 15 solid knitters is working around the clock, however their knitting skills and obligations within the jail limit their full time availability to meet all of Knitting Peace’s demands.

After a long hard look at what we have accomplished and where we want to be, it looks like it’s time to consider hiring knitters outside the jail in order to meet the competitive demands of bigger clients worldwide.

So I have made the decision to incorporate experienced knitters outside the jail onto our team, who are seeking opportunities for poverty alleviation and empowerment. Being in Bolivia, one of the poorest countries in the world, I am exposed to a plethora of women who fit this bill, who would love to work for a company that supports their personal development as much as the sustainability of their homes.

These new knitters will comprise our new development design team, and will work out of a small studio (in my home), where we will focus on designing new products. Once the products have been tested and perfected in our local market, our team of knitters within the jail will take over the production of these new designs for placement in external markets via our website and our wholesale venues.

After a few cycles of running through this new process, I plan on creating a new position in our company for a person who will be in charge of our team of knitters within the jail. This person will be very savvy at building and motivating team momentum, as well a inspiring great performance and enhancing the quality of our end product.

I am excited for these new changes, and the opportunity to create new positions within KP in order to delegate tasks which are not my strength and focus on that which is my forte.

This momentum and growth is due to the support of our amazing followers who have helped create awareness about Knitting Peace, and we promise to continue to expand our business while being true to our purpose which has always been and will continue to be to provide opportunities of poverty alleviation and empowerment to women looking for the chance to make a difference in their own lives and the lives of their children.

So, stay tuned for much more Knitting Peace in the future!

Moments to Treasure

2011-07-04T17:27:00.000-07:00

I often get caught up on the hamster wheel of doing, running on auto pilot, with a daily list of to do’s, deadlines that must be met, and projects that need to be started. Having a creative mind keeps me very busy, and full of great ideas which I am always starting.

However from time to time, I am reminded or forced to stop and just be; presented with moments which take my breath away and are full of beauty.

Virginia recently joined our team. She was presented to me by a loyal team member, with the promise that they would work together in order to bring Virginia up to speed. Little did I know that Virginia was an experienced knitter, and had been trying to get on Knitting Peace’s radar for some time.

She has been on our team for almost two months, and in that time frame has consistently presented beautiful work with a speed I had not known possible for hand knitting. However that is not what has impressed me most about Virginia. What impressed me most is her tremendous capacity to bring lightness and positive attitude to any situation; I find her light heartedness inspiring. I remind you, Virginia and all my knitters are incarcerated, making light heartedness hard to imagine, given their circumstances.

One day, while I was waiting for one of my knitters to show me her work, Virginia sat next to me and began to share her story. She is a mother of 3; her children are 14, 12 and 9, and they currently live with her mother. During her incarceration she has worked in the kitchen or laundry department which provides a monthly wage of less than $50, hardly enough to support 3 children, herself and pay for legal fees.

Virginia shared that she had heard about Knitting Peace and considered trying to get on our team since last year, but was afraid her knitting skills weren't good enough and was intimidated by our work. Luckily for me, she got over that and is now a valued team member, making more than twice the amount she earned in the kitchen or laundry. Her ability to provide for her children has improved substantially and I am so happy the demand for our beautiful pieces allows me to support her talent and the sustainability of her family.

In this cycle of life, we are all one. One’s needs are joined synchronistically to another’s talent by the invisible light that binds us all. What a blessing and privilege it is for me to support and help that light grow.

Virginia’s specialty: Knitting Peace's Versatile Scarves

Photos by Daniel Caballero

Hackers De-light

2011-06-29T17:28:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago, I experienced every online retail stores worst nightmare… my website disappeared; everything was gone from virtual space, which in my mind’s eye looks like infinite unknown black empty space.

Now most tech-savvy folks would quickly know to have the site’s backup reloaded giving place to the end of the nightmare. However, I am not tech-savvy, nor have I ever cared to be despite the tech savvy advice and teachings of my tech savvy friends (you know who you are).

So, now weeks later, I am stuck and dumbfounded with the news that a Hacker has attempted to steal my web traffic, causing mayhem on my website, and the consequential disappearance of it, with no backup anywhere to be found.

True to character I ran through a cycle of typical reactions, which look like this:

Denial: It’s just a glitch, it will fix itself

Procrastination: I don’t have time to deal with this, so it better fix itself

Hope: It’s not a big deal, help will be provided, the Universe is very generous

Panic: Somebody please help!!! It’s been weeks since my site has been down; I don’t think it’s a glitch

Judgment: Stupid me, how did I let this happened?

Physical manifestation of pain: beyond belief back pain, requiring complete bed rest for 4 days and help for everything…

(I kind of felt like this)

Yep… a plethora of opportunities for growth, which I can only now see with clarity. Through the lens of a higher perspective, I can laugh at how my human condition had attempted to fix the issue through avoidance and judgment, which inevitably forced me to be completely still and deal with the real issue at hand, which had nothing to do with the website disappearance.

The real issue at hand is how I chose to react, and how I can choose to react differently the next time I am gifted with a situation I have very little knowledge about. Avoiding asking for help when I don’t have the answers is not a strength but a weakness. Asking for help in most cases can speed up the healing process needed to resolve an issue. I get it, finally… I hope, for my husband’s sake, that I do J

What this means for our loyal followers is that Knittingpeace.com is under construction at the moment, and will be back better than ever very soon. Should you feel inspired by one of our pieces, please shoot me an email (Sonia@knittingpeace.com) and I will be happy to assist you.

My knitters are working full time these days, thanks to all of your support, and our intention is to continue to grow and expand while knitting in peace.

~Namaste

Winter is Here!

2011-05-26T16:11:00.000-07:00

On the southern hemisphere we are revving up for what seems to be a pretty rude winter. This month has served as a forewarning for what’s to come in the winter front, and fortunately for Knitting Peace, we are prepared. Our winter line is full of versatile pieces that are sure to shield the winter breeze, dim sunrays and long months of minus zero winter mornings.

My favorite early morning yoga gear during these cold months includes my Knitting Peace Alpaca Cardiwrap, Hardtail leggings and Ugg boots. It’s the gear I wish I could wear in LA during the winter months of whopping 68^oF weather. Don’t get me wrong, I love LA but I do yearn for a real winter, where I can fully enjoy all the beautiful pieces my Knitting Peace girls make.

This fall a favorite in Bolivia has been our Alpaca Handknit Cardiwraps which we re-designed for this season. They are as always ultra soft, ultra warm and now surprisingly lightweight, weighing in at only 500grm which makes them so much yummier to wear; and to continue to spread the warmth, we included pockets on each side panel, keeping all extremities out of the cold.

Alpaca Cardiwraps

For the fashionistas who refuses to be bothered by threats of bronchitis or the flu, we have a very sexy piece that is sure to keep you healthy while jumping from dinner party to bar to club. Our Vneck Sweater dress, worn with skinies, leggings or as is, is ultra soft, sexy and warm enough to keep you comfortable on those long nights out on the town.

Alpaca VNeck Sweater Dress

When I first presented these designs to my team of knitters, I was met with confusion, a bit of enthusiasm and a lot more confusion. My girls had never made or seen anything like these pieces, they were eager to learn; but not quite sure what they were making. After many (more than I care to count) finished prototypes, we finally achieved pieces that are Knitting Peace worthy, which we are sure you will love. So, whether you are on the Southern or Northern hemisphere, keep an eye out for these pieces, which are sure to become a favorite in your closet.

~Namaste

Making Survival as easy as Breathing...

2011-05-16T06:17:00.000-07:00

Life has been full of surprises, one being my recent marriage which turned Knitting Peace’s routine upside down. Apparently I had an internal bride sleeping within who took over my life for two months, and I watched myself get taken down the wedding rabbit whole, in the midst of a whirlwind of wedding dresses, color pallets, up-do’s, half-do’s, flower arrangements, round cakes, square cakes, party favors, center pieces and a million more details… exhausting, yet so tempting I couldn’t help but to allow my internal bride follow her hearts fairy tale wishes.

As the wedding date came near, Eulogia and Emiliana (2 of my most loyal and hard working knitters) pulled me aside, they had concerns to share with me. They confessed they were worried that my new role as a wife would consume my time, and focus; keeping me too occupied for Knitting Peace and them. At first, my initial reaction was aloof, since that hardly seemed possible, and continues to seem unlikely. I love my work, and feel more focused than ever. However, after taking some time to sit with what they were expressing I understood that their fear was very real for them, and shouldn’t be dismissed.

I realized that not only were they worried about their future survival, but that these women were also carrying their experience of being an indigenous woman in Bolivia, which more often than not meant having multiple children, and carrying the burden and weight of their families survival and well being; in a society that limited their potential to break out of their cultural box and offered few opportunities for a future in which their children thrive.

Once again my girls teach me, and remind me that my reality is not always the rule or the exception, and when working with these strong spirited women, it’s important to listen beyond their words, and step into their shoes for a bit, in order to offer a new light to their perspective; meeting them where they are and share a new vantage point.

In providing new perspectives and opportunities we are able to break walls, limitations, and open doors for future generations to expand beyond our projected reality. In doing so, we can achieve together a world in which all women will have the opportunity to experience their inner fairytale wishes, childlike dreams and the sweetness of committing to a life in which we each can thrive, making survival no longer a burden, but as easy and natural as breathing.

~ Namaste

Non-linear Life as I Know It

2011-05-04T05:03:00.000-07:00

After a long absence from the blog world, I feel my creative juices overflowing with excitement. So much has happened in the first 4 months of this year, curiosity pulls me to question what else is being brewed by the Universe for the remaining 8 months to come; although I know in spiritual terms time is of none essence, and we each hold the power to create what we want to experience and learn, at a spiritual level. More often than not, our growth comes when we choose to align with the truth of who we are, and physical time has no bearing on that.

I have learned and continue to learn every day that surrender is the key to experience the perfection of life, its wisdom and its surprising and amazing synchronicities. How many times have I found myself trying to accomplish something in a certain time frame, which my human eye deemed to be the “only” solution; while finding on the other side multiple obstacles and closed doors? So many that through mere exhaustion I finally just let go, which turned out to be the real solution; giving way to a flow of new found doors, synchronicities and opportunities my human eye had never even considered possible.

Surrender does not mean giving up, or being passive. It means accepting that I am not alone or separate from the Universe. It means choosing to embrace my oneness with the Universe, and believing that I, as a Divine Being have the opportunity to allow the Universe to guide me beyond my human experience. It means aligning with what is, and letting go of what my humanness deems as right or wrong, allowing for space through which the Universe can assist me through.

Surprises that came forward when I finally just let go

Train Cementary, Uyuni Bolivia

In the Siglo XX mine... (not too long ago, women were not allowed in)

Traveling on a Train

Working as an interpretar, translating Pres. Evo Morales

Coming out of the mine

Magical Salar de Uyuni

Dani, best surprise of the year :)

The real beauty of surrender is that as we experience it authentically from within, not only do we create an inner state of peace, but our outside world starts to gravitate towards that peace and synchronistically our physical world reality aligns with what we were trying to accomplish in the first place.

I am reminded of this every day, especially while growing my business. By nature, I have the tendency to plan… I plan our budget for the year, our sales, our cash flow needs, I make assumptions based on the current price of Alpaca, plan on lines of credit, etc… all good tools to get a better understanding of how I would like the business to grow. Now, more often than not, these plans don’t get accomplished as I had planned. In the past this used to bring forward feelings of being inadequate to run my own business successfully, judgments of not knowing what I am doing, and thoughts of going back to getting a normal job where I could count on a steady paycheck without the risk of “failure”.

After running on this hamster wheel until exhaustion, I finally realized the lesson. I learned to view my planning tools as a way of establishing my intentions for Knitting Peace, which I then choose to surrender to the Universe for greater guidance, trusting that whatever comes forward will bring additional lessons in service to the growth of not only my business but me. It’s that simple, no need for judgment or self inflicted punishment (i.e. a 9-5 job).

It is from this space that I can more easily flow with what comes forward, as I no longer feel burdened by the need to accomplish things in a certain time frame, because I know and trust that linear time is of non essence when working and aligning with the Universe.

~Namaste

Knitting Peace: 2 Year's in the Growing

2011-01-26T00:08:00.000-08:00

Knitting Peace is celebrating its 2 year anniversary, and along with 2 years under my belt come many lessons learned, new perceptions, cultivated relationships and the opportunity to question what have I done? How far have I really gotten?

During these 2 years there has been many times in which I have questioned if I am the right person for this job or if someone else might have done it better. The reality is that this may have been the case, I am sure other women could have Knitting Peace in many major department stores and magazines by now. However, this project came to me, and I have to trust and be patient with myself as I learn the ropes which is a big part of the journey of a 1^st time entrepreneur. Learning what questions to ask and acting on the information received is another big part of the journey. If it were all up to me, I would happily spend my time at the jail creating new designs with my team of knitters. That is all I would do, and let the business aspect manage itself… however as many business owners know, being in business for oneself requires a lot more work than a normal 9-5 job, and the wearing and juggling of many hats. A normal day for me can range anywhere from going to the jail to see how my knitters are doing with our products, to having meetings on Skype with prospective clients in Europe, to sewing labels on each finished product; while managing cash flow against projections and day to day expenses. It’s a big deal, and a lot of work, and thus far, without the monetary compensation or benefits a steady 9-5 job provides.

At times the challenges that emerge feel like tests, provided for me to question how invested am I really? These opportunities emerge to evaluate and ask if I am the right person for this job. Do I have what it takes to make Knitting Peace all it can be? And essentially how badly do I want this? Moments like these are challenging, however I am grateful for them, because they provide me the opportunity to rise above my physical world reality and guide me to go back to the basics, the beginning; to remember my initial motivation, inspiration and ultimately reconnect with my heart.

Physical world reality can at times seem stifling, or slow to reflect progress and growth. Staying grounded in ones initial inspiration makes each day, lesson and challenge worth the initial discomfort. And maybe that’s what it’s really all about: being inspired, being the inspiration, and allowing inspiration… being, allowing, flowing and accepting. And how that manifests in physical world reality is up to us to decide. For me it looks like Knitting Peace, for you it may be your family, the environment, money, singing, or an infinite number of things. Whatever it maybe, it’s important to be clear. What does your inspiration look like? What inspires you? How do you inspire others? And more specifically, how can you choose to be the inspiration you want to experience in the world?

These are important questions to ask oneself as we seek to align more fully with the calling of our hearts. ~Namaste

Mariela... a Mothers Love

2010-12-29T23:36:00.000-08:00

With the New Year just around the corner, I feel inspired to take a look back at the unfolding of 2010 and make inventory of what I would like to bring forward to 2011, as well as what I can chose to step away from, in service to continued alignment, growth and stepping deeper into the truth of who I am.

One of my greatest lessons this year has come by means of Mariela, one of my favorite knitters. She has been incarcerated for over 3 years. She was brought in days after her daughter was born, who was initially taken to a home for the first year of her life, until she was reunited with her mother, in jail. This little girl named Giovanna is now a bit over 3; she is a beautiful strong being and is not afraid to express herself. One day I found her at the main gate, crying to get out, while her mother watched from afar understanding that this little one did not want to be incarcerated any longer.

Mariela has little support from family outside of prison. She is very young and more often than not, needs to buy Giovanna medication for ear infections, teeth decays, bladder infections, and stomach infections. It seems Giovanna is always sick, and Mariela is consistently working hard to help Giovanna heal.

Mariela and Giovanna, 2010

Mariela is a very talented knitter; she learns fast and knits fast once she gets the hang of a particular design. We worked for months to come up with the Sweater Vest design pattern, making one proto type after another. It was a long process, yet Mariela never gave up, she persisted even after having to unravel her work many times, until it was perfect. Any knitter will tell you that unraveling a knit piece is not fun; it’s like drawing a painting and then having to erase it.

She took great pride in the creation of the Sweater Vests and took it upon herself to make each one to perfection. I noticed she became very protective of this design, and diligently worked on each one, without any rest in between. She seemed more content and centered as each piece was finished. One day she asked me to hold her pay until she delivered all of the Sweater Vests I had requested. I agreed, knowing that she probably wanted to save the money for something important.

Once all the Sweater Vests were delivered and Mariela was ready to receive her payment, she shared with me that she was planning on using the money to buy a “toldo” which is a small (tiny) covered space most inmates buy as a place to spend their day in and hold all of their belongings. It’s the only private place they can have, if they can afford to purchase it while they are in jail. Once they leave, they can sell it to another prisoner recovering their investment. These “toldos” are very important for mothers because it allows them to nurture and care for their children in a private space, a space they can call their own, a safe space for their children to rest and be.

Mariela did not have the means to buy a “toldo”, but she created the means by working diligently in something she believed in... her daughter. Her response and growth inspires me to continue to work diligently, unraveling and erasing that which no longer serves me, and stepping forward with what does, accepting guidance to steer my vision while allowing my journey to become a co-creation.

Hand Knit Alpaca Sweater Vest in Mocha

Photo taken by Daniel Caballero

Hand Knit Alpaca Sweater Vest in Grey

Photo taken by Daniel Caballero

Mariela and all the women of Knitting Peace are a gift. We hope you love Knitting Peace and continue to help us grow as our intention for 2011 is to grow and expand, touching more and more lives each day. ~ Namaste