Sugar Bunny Boulevard

Busy Bee

Mommy has been a busy busy bee!  I took pictures of this bee in the flowers when we visited the William Allen White house in Emporia, Kansas a few weekends ago.  He was probably the biggest bee I have ever seen in my life - this picture is close to life size if you can believe it.  I did zoom a bit but he was giant!

• Yarn for The Loopy Ewe is finished and mailed
• I don't know how long it takes for it to be listed in the Loopy Shop once it arrives but I do know picture taking has to happen.  And various other things.
• Very important package of pink dye for Pink Ribbon Sock Yarn has arrived just in time for me to leave on the trip to my sister's wedding in Michigan
• I can't prepare the kits when I'm not home
• Probably not a good plan to ask my sister if she'll consider rescheduling her wedding because I haven't gotten the kits out yet
• Pink Ribbon Sock Kits will begin shipping July 7
• It will be nice to move all of this yarn out of my house and into someone else's house
• Packing for the Michigan trip is interesting - it's the first long road trip I've taken with knitting included (Estes Park last summer didn't count because I was doing the driving!)
• I strangely believe I can knit at least two sweaters on the trip
• And a dozen pair of socks
• I'm only taking the yarn for one sweater
• And 1.5 pair of socks (one pair of socks is already 1/2 finished)
• I'll be visiting this lady
• And this lady
• And this lady
• I strangely believe I can visit at least a dozen yarn shops on the trip and that my husband and two small children will be thrilled to do so
• I only plan to visit this one though I just might have to visit this one as well since I'll be in the neighborhood  :)

Everyone take good care of every little thing and have a super wonderful and fun and Safe 4th of July - even if you don't celebrate the US Holiday!  XOXOXOXOX

Yarn Makes Us Happy!

A few days ago Emeline and Lila Pearl proclaimed "Yarn Makes Us Happy!" so of course I had to grab the camera to see if I could get them to repeat it.  This is how it went....

For Margene

Courtesy of Mr. W's garden.

Sometimes when I'm intensely focused on something it's very difficult to step back and see the big picture.  That's what this series of photos makes me think about, even though I didn't plan it that way.

Goals.  Committments.  They've been kicking my arse ever since June 1.  I'm winding.  Skeining.  Tagging.  Dyeing more.  Waiting on an ohsoimportantpackageofpinkdye.  Watching the weather and packing an "emergency tornado bag of life's essential things just in case" several times per week.  And feeling a bit of a squeeze because we're leaving Jun 21 for a trip to Michigan for my sister's wedding.  Oh yes.  Life happens in the most difficult ways sometimes.  I suppose that's what keeps us alive, hm?  :)

For Mom

I'm busy busy dyeing yarn, winding yarn, skeining yarn, twisting yarn, and tagging yarn. 

Hope you're all happy and well and enjoying your summer! 

 

Take good care of every little thing and I'll try to post a few pictures when I don't have time to write!  XOXOXOXOXOX

A Spinner Is Born

Last week on Thursday evening I taught my first spindling class.  There were six students.  All unsure of themselves.  All wondering if it was truly possible to learn.  There was me, unsure of myself and wondering if I was truly capable of teaching other people how to do something that seemed to come very naturally to me.

Suzannah was permitted to come along.  I normally don't let her tag along when I'm teaching a class but it seemed okay this time.  Thursday night is always busy at Twist and I figured she would have someone to talk with since it was SnB night and she could always help wind yarn or might pick up some yarn and needles as she has been known to do when she doesn't bring her own.

Instead of mingling with the happy SnB crowd, she sat in on my class.  After a brief demonstration of how to make your leader, I was through with the spindle I brought for demo purposes.  Suzannah was just itching to try spinning so she picked up my spindle and wool.  She has watched me doing it nearly since I first began spinning, so she was no stranger to the mechanics.  She just hadn't tried it before.

Soon I had a room full of seven people, including Suzannah, proclaiming "Hey, I can do it!" 

Spinning, as I tell most every person that stands still long enough to listen, is the single most satisfying artistic pursuit I have ever attempted.  It brings me happiness that I can hardly describe.

Over the next few days Suzannah finished spinning her fiber, wound it off and plied it on Mothers Day.  A spinner was born and I couldn't be more proud.  She has even asked if she can take a spindle and wool to her dad's house this summer.  I think she really hearts spinning.

Everyone in my house, whether they spin and knit or NOT.... is a yarn sniffer.

The Pink Ribbon Sock Kits are doing well - only 41 remain.  If you're waiting until the last minute, don't wait too long!  If you already got one and you're not sure if you want a second, this is the moment because I probably won't do these kits again.  :)

Take care of every little thing and have a lovely week! XOXOXOXOX

Wee Tiny Things

It will be a very happy day here at the Bunny Hutch when we get that Economic Stimulus check.  I just did a nice post, pictures, lots of chat about friends made with socks, etc etc.  This slow computer decided it didn't want to upload, Typepad couldn't figure out why I still have an archaic computer, and the post was lost.  Lost.  LOST.  No time to put together another wordy post like that one so this will be extremely brief.

Pink Ribbon Sock Kit Love:  Thank you!  Info page is here and linked on the sidebar.  Preorders begin Monday May 5 at 12noon Central Time.

Wee Tiny Sock Love:  will go on forever.

This dear person knit for me:  Becca aka Nutmegknitter.  Check out her precious daughter.  Be warned Becca - I chew on babies.  Keep her far far away from me.  And Koigu owners watch out - I will be stalking your stash pages on Ravelry to see if you have this colorway!  :)

I knit a precious Wee Tiny Sock for Abigail at 1870 Pearl.  There is a whole saga that goes with that sock and she tells it very well over a serious of several posts.  She ended up knitting a pair of gorgeous knee socks but nearly gave me a heart attack when she LOST her Wee Tiny Sock!  Wee Tiny Sock blockers are not safe I tell ya.  Not safe!  :)

I also had the opportunity to knit a Wee Tiny Sock for Angela at Revelations of a Delusional Knitter.  Her original pal had a mishap with a car door and was unable to knit in time to make Angela's Wee Tiny Sock so I got to be an Angel.  (\o/)

I failed to photograph either of the socks I made so thankfully my pals made up for it.  :)

Everybody take good care of every little thing and I'll be back here updating the Pink Ribbon Sock Kit Preorder Page with new photos during the weekend!  Yay - I'm knitting my 2nd pair of these socks in a row and still love them!  XOXOXOXOXOXOX

Beautiful Things and Surprises Revealed

Happy Spring Wednesday Everyone!

Sunday afternoon there was an estate auction two houses down on our street.  The neighborhood was a bustle of cars, people walking, a din of chatter and auctioneer sounds.  We picked up a few goodies and Jeff shuttled back and forth between the auction and our house depending on what they were selling at the moment.  For a while I sat on the porch swing knitting while Emeline and Lila Pearl played on the porch and ran about in the grass.  It was a beautiful sunny day - perfect for the auction.

Emeline was down in the grass picking dandelions and wandered over to the driveway.  She stopped in the middle of the driveway and stared for a moment at the garage.  Then she said, "Mommy..... Mommy!  Come see this!  Mommy.  You have to see this beautiful thing."

For a few days every spring our driveway is covered with a halo of bring pink blossoms - the red bud trees are stunning.  I actually hate those trees the rest of the year because every single tiny pink blossom produces what seems like approximately one hundred wafer thin seed pods that litter our driveway and patio later in the year then crack open and release four or five small disc-like seeds which get stuck on your shoes, feet, etc, and get tracked through the house.  Think cat hair.  These seeds and pods haunt you like cat hair.  The cat can be dead and gone for twenty five years but you still find their hairs around the house - even when you move to a different house.  Yes - the seed pods are like that.  The only thing that keeps me from cutting our red bud trees down is the picture above.  When they are in bloom I would like to set up a tent at the end of our driveway and stay out there until they're gone because it is a beautiful sight to see.  And I'd still be nearby to a bathroom.  I was happy to know Emeline notices these beautiful things in our world without being prompted.

It's always a fun and unexpected surprise when someone who I don't know ads me to their "Friends" on Ravelry.  I always wonder why in the world they want me for a Friend if they don't know me.  A few days ago I received a notice that Cedric added me to his Friends.  When I get a new request I always add that person to my Friends, then click on their picture to read their profile so I can learn more about them.  Cedric is a 74yo man.  He has been knitting for over 70 years.  And lives in the Shetland Islands.  This is all very interesting to me.  Even more, he's all of this - lives in this place - and has a computer and is using Ravelry.  And he has less than 40 people (at the time of this writing) on his list of Friends.  I am so honored that Cedric added me to his Friends.  Hmm.  His birthday is November 9th.  Maybe he wants to participate in the Ravelry Scorpio Birthday Swap this year!?  You never know.  I could ask him. 

Although I haven't been posting a whole lot, I am getting caught up on Bloglines.  Why oh why do I love to read so many blogs?  I'm keeping the number down - less than 200 unread posts now when it was over 2000!  And I'm happy to say I did read - a bit of skimming might have happened - but I didn't just wipe it all out and start anew.  I'm not commenting much (who has time? actually I would have time but my ancient computer doesn't like to leave comments - that will all change when we get our Economic Stimulus Check next month!) but I'm reading reading reading!  :)

SURPRISE TIME!

So the surprises.  I have three surprises right now.  I'm keeping one as secret a while longer.  The other two are ready for a Reveal!  Yay!

Surprise #1:  I told you I've been writing a sock pattern to be released with a kit.  Here's a little more information about it.  I've got my fingers crossed that you'll LOVE this!

Introducing Pink Ribbon Socks!

These are not the final pattern photos - I'll probably try to get the giant sack of yarn stash out of the way for the final photo shoot.  heh

The kit concept began with this colorway - called Pink Ribbon.  After I dyed it and I saw this yarn I was instantly inspired.  The pattern came together quickly in my head and with some research, lots of swatching, and diligent knitting, my idea became an actual knitted item (even a pair!).  Now the pattern is on paper, has been charted and is on its way to my test knitters!  Wow!  The original pair of Pink Ribbon Socks fit my daughter Katie perfectly (and it was her turn in the family sock knitting queue).  She wore them for the first time to school yesterday.  For some reason that made me nervous.  hehe

The Pink Ribbon Sock Kit is a limited edition and will soon have a web page with instructions for preordering.  The kit will cost $40 plus shipping, international orders will be accepted, and $20 of every purchase will be donated to the national Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation!

The Pink Ribbon Lace pattern begins at the top with a cable twist and goes down each side of the leg, seperating at the gusset, carrying the ribbons to meet in the front and back.  The Pink Ribbon Lace pattern continues down the front of the foot and at the heel concludes with a cable twist.  The foot and leg can be adjusted in length by adding or subtracting repeats from the pattern, or adding stockinette at the end of the foot.

Complete instructions are given in the pattern for heel flap construction, turning the heel, and completing the toe.  Alternate toe construction can be substituted for what is given in the pattern.

There will be 100 kits available, and each will come with the pattern, hand numbered, in a sheet protector along with 100g of the exclusive Sugar Bunny Boulevard Pink Ribbon colorway and the receipt confirming your donation to the Susan G. Komen foundation. 

If there is an overwhelming response to the kits there may be a second limited edition release later this summer in time for Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October.  At this time I haven't found a way to release the pattern for sale on its own so that the money can bypass me and be donated directly to Susan G Komen with an automatic download.  If anyone has ideas for this please let me know.

Surprise #2:

If you can stand it, I do have one more surprise.

Sugar Bunny Boulevard yarn and stich markers will soon be for sale at The Loopy Ewe.

I think that sentence stands alone.  If you're reading this you probably have a clue.

Had enough surprises?  Okay, then I think I'm done for now.  And next time I promise to show and tell about my Wee Tiny Sock Swap experience of 2008!  Yay!  I really love WTS.

Have a super wonderful rest of your week - enjoy the beauty of spring all around you - unless you're cussing about snow still falling - but still there must be some beautiful things to be appreciating, right?  Like you could pretend that you live in Australia and it's supposed to be getting cold and starting winter now?  :D

Take care of every little thing and I'll see you back here next time or maybe in your blog comments!

XOXOXOXOXOXOX

I Heart This Book!

Have you checked out the latest book by Kathleen Taylor, I Heart Felt!?  Seems like everybody around blogland and the knitting world is chatting with her and talking about this book.

You might remember that Kathleen Taylor is the author of Knit One, Felt Too, but she is also the designer of the KnitPicks Palette Fair Isle Cardigan, which I (cough) started a (cough) Knitalong for way back in October 2006.   I have the yarn.  Special Addi Natura circular needles dedicated to the project.  And I finished the bottom band of ribbing plus the first stranded motif.  (cough)  But several other dedicated knitters finished their sweaters!  Back to the issue at hand here.

As I was saying, Kathleen is such a versatile designer.  We know she has designed lovely patterns for felting projects.  We know that she is a prolific designer of breathtaking stranded knitting patterns (check out the list of her designs and books on Ravelry!).  In her new book I Heart Felt she takes us by the hand and skillfully walks us through the land of felting our stranded knitting.  It's a delicate art, balancing stranding in the pattern from row to row, resulting in an evenly fulled item.  Kathleen has presented many lovely examples here from pillows to several must-knit tote bags and more.

Not interested in stranding and then intentionally felting your stunning effort?  Kathleen has given us detailed easy-to-follow instructions for the latest popular way to embellish our felted items:  Needle Felting!  A few years ago I Could. Not. Find. needle felting tools and I wanted to explore this technique So Much!  Now we can get the tools anywhere and Kathleen has given us classy timeless patterns to use them.  As I ooh'd and aah'd my way through this pattern book, two things caught my eye.  One was this pair of slippers.  When the moment comes that I need a break from EPS sweaters and writing sock patterns and dyeing dyeing dyeing yarn yarn yarn... This will be what I decide to make for Myself.  Felted slippers seem to be one of the most popular knits to gift and what's better than a gift for yourself?

Finally.  If you're a girl.  If you have a girl in your life.  If you KNOW a girl.  You will want to make these.  You might want to make them for yourself.  Or your daughter sister mother or best friend.  No girls around?  Make a crown for a boy.  Or a man.  He'll love Heart you for it.  :)

As much as I Heart This Book, I really Heart Kathleen Taylor.  She's not only a multi-talented fiber artist but generously shares many many free patterns through her blog.  Thank you Kathleen for giving so much of your talent and yourself.  I really Heart You.  :)

Everybody take good care of every little thing and I'll be back soon to tell about a few exciting Sugar Bunny Boulevard secrets!  XOXOXOXOX

Where Is Spring?

Happy Friday Everyone!  :)

So it's supposed to be Spring.  The season of renewal.  All over blogland people are suffering from the fact that Winter doesn't want to let go.  Spring is trying to come forth and it's having a hard time pushing past the bully that Winter seems to be this year.

Spring appears to be the season when kids who play spring sports (track and baseball and tennis anyone?) are constantly cancelling practices games and meets because of rain - in some cases, snow.  Sheesh.  C'mon already, Spring!  Let's have a bit of tweeting birds and sunshine!  Where can we rustle up some flowers and butterflies?

Actually, just across the street Mr. W's pear tree is blooming - not quite all the way yet but looking oh so pretty and his yard is FULL of daffodils.  My favorite bulb.  I really need to be thinking Spring Flowers when the weather gets chilly this fall!

I nearly froze to death this morning getting a picture of the pear blossoms.

I've been dyeing and spinning a bit of Spring too.  Wanna see?

Sunshine.  This is the first time I've spun sock yarn that I felt really satisfied with.  How long did it take me to get to this point?  Thank goodness I didn't know how long it would take when I started spinning.  I feel like I've been spinning a looooong time and it's been what.... less than two years?  lol  Finally sock yarn that isn't too thick, isn't overtwisted - it's Just Right.  And beautiful.  Sunny and happy.  88 grams.  395 yards.  Not for sale.

New Leaf.  Dyed to sell but couldn't.  I'm keeping this one and dyeing more.  :)

Apple Blossom

I was trying to do a shop update today but the week got away from me and we've been sick, the rain is getting us all down, and really all I've wanted to do is knit.

Emeline loves to use my camera.  Yes, it horrifies me to see her walking around the house with it but she just begs so sweetly and promises not to break or drop it.  She usually sneaks it out of the kitchen but this morning I allowed her to take some pictures.

She actually takes very interesting and Good pictures!  Here's one this morning of me... what else?  Knitting.

I've been doing some secret knitting and guess what.... you won't believe it.  Pattern writing.  I'm writing a sock pattern that will be available as a kit very soon (I'm really hoping first week of May?).  Very exciting.  I have some other secrets - one that I know you'll find out about... another I'm patiently waiting to hear about.  Fun fun fun and it's all about yarn and knitting and fiber.  Yay!

Having the babies around keeps life interesting.  Emeline is, once again, working on potty training.  No diaper now for about three days.  Several accidents and some long awaited successes as well.  Hopefully Lila Pearl won't be far behind!

Everybody have a wonderful Springy weekend - whether you have rain or the coveted Sunshine!

And take good care of every little thing.  :)       XOXOXOXOXOXOX

Priceless

There are times when you need something.  Something special.  Something to pamper yourself.  Something to pamper your mind and heart and soul.

When the winter has been long, or whatever the reason - rejuvination comes in many ways.

Most Saturdays I drive early in the morning to Wichita and spend time feeding my heart and mind with knitting and chatter among like-minded friends at Panera, then head over to Twist when it opens.  Sometimes I'm teaching a class, sometimes not.  It's always a good thing for me.  I try not to feel too guilty about leaving Jeff with the babies on those days - it's good for Mommy to get away.

Occasionally I have the opportunity to really get away.  Last summer when I went to the Estes Park Wool Market and met Margene and several other knitting grrls was one of those Real get-aways.  One that left me feeling renewed in spirit though a bit weary from the drive home.  You know it's always harder to drive home from a good time like that.  But I came home knowing that I'm one of the few people in blogland who can claim that they've slept with Margene.  heh

A few weeks ago I had a similar get-away when I visited with my friend Kyra in Kansas City.  One of the bonuses is that it didn't take 12 hours to get home.  It was a lovely weekend in every possible way.  Kyra was a delightful hostess - her home is beautiful and serene.  Serene is a perfect description of the entire weekend.  Yes - even with her four dogs and two cats it was serene.  Knitting, spinning, fiber chat.  What else could you want in a rejuvinating get-away kind of weekend?

On March 15th we woke to 1/2" of new snow - quite a surprise.  Kyra fixed a beautiful breakfast (she thought I was crazy to take pictures of breakfast) then we went to a few of the area yarn shops.  I was limited by disc space on my camera so I only took pictures of the best stuff (yes, breakfast qualified!) and wow - it came out lovely in a slide show.  I used every single picture.

Two things I'll tell you about besides the great breakfast and Kyra's beautiful home are Cottage Fiber and Maggie's Farm.

Cottage Fiber is operated by friendly and dear PJ.  Her studio style shop in the historic Crossroads Art District of Kansas City is a symphony of texture and color and contrasts for the senses and Heaven on Earth for anyone that loves fiber in whatever form you like.  Floor to ceiling - there are things to see and look at everywhere.  Not one single photo could sum up the experience of visiting Cottage Fiber so I included every picture I took in the slide show of the weekend.

Maggie's Farm, named for the resident dog, is an organic sheep farm operated by Barbara and her husband Dave.  The first time I visited her website I was sold on her attitude toward their animals and love of their farm.  I wrote her immediately to reserve a fleece and ended up bringing home two!  The experience of visiting with Barbara and Dave was a such a delight - I hope to get a fleece from them every year.  The sheep - their home - Dave's workshop - it was all too wonderful to describe.  After visiting the sheep we went inside, had a cup of tea... and then another... enjoyed chatting about spinning wheels.... and the clock kept ticking the minutes and hours away.  We had to leave.

It was a priceless weekend - the kind that you take a deep breath and have a dreamy look in your eye as you recall the restoration of your mind and attitude and body and outlook on everything.  Everybody should have a get-away like that once in a while. 

Here is a photo story of the weekend along with a bit of video that Kyra took of the shearing just two days before my visit to pick up the fleeces.

Everybody have a wonderful week and take good care of every little thing!  XOXOXOXOX