New Bags in the Shop

I spent the later part of my afternoon putting new bags in the shop. I'm trying to get a bunch of stuff loaded up because it seems like people spend money on US holiday weekends. Sales usually go up so I thought it might be good to be well stocked. These are all part of the 75 I made for the shop at the end of May.

No knitting to show actually. I keep trying to knit with a particular yarn that we got. I think most of it is going back because its just driving me batty and I've already made one scarf that has this yarn in it. He got enough for two more scarves. Not gonna happen. I've been knitting on his scarves (or trying to) and haven't touched the sock all week.

I have a couple of bags to work on this weekend. One is a surprise for my secret pal. One is just because. So definitely sewing on my holiday weekend. We are vaguely on house arrest tomorrow. They will be closing down our street so people going to the lake won't try and cross it and loiter/park within our neighborhoods. Also the one road across the lake is likely to be a huge traffic jam. Its best to just stay inside. We can watch the fireworks from the backyard when they go off and avoid the crowds.

I'm off to go do some crafting and possibly think about a wedding. We haven't done that at all yet so no need to ask how its going. And I mean AT ALL. No planning or ideas or anything yet.

occupying my time today

A custom order.

There are eight of these bags. They worked up surprisingly quickly. Only a couple of hours of work. I think she wants three, I need to ask though before I can post the others to the shop. The pictures don't begin to show how cute these bags are.

The outside front. The print was very large and I had a time figuring out how to cut it so I would get eight substantially the same bags. I think I did a really good job of it too!

The outside back. This fabric is Knitmare on Elm Street. Its a deep chocolate brown with white and sage images. Very cute. There were five images on the fabric and I made sure to get them all on one side or another. Some bits, like the cats tail might be cut off thought.

The inside. The matching knitting skull fabric. Very cute again. The needles are sage green and the skulls are white with green dots. I didn't quite have enough of the green silken thread for all eight bags so I will need to be getting more of that.


Doll Clothes.

A bunch of doll clothes. These are actually a surprise for the recipients so I won't be sharing much of this besides little teasers for a while. But teasers are fun too! Most of the work on this today was just picking out some patterns and finding fabrics to go with those patterns. I washed all the fabric with vinegar and lavender, my usual color setting combination. So they all smell really nice. Even with that I am worried about getting stains on her dolls because apparently the doll skin stains easily. I think I am going to line everything I think could be staining with a thin muslin. Such as blue jean material. That way nothing dark or questionable will touch the skin and the effect of the clothes will still be the same.

Fiery socks and my reading.

My sock managed to get all the way up to the where the gusset starts while I was finishing that 500 page book this morning. I'm not sure why I rushed through the book except that it was a really good book. I think it took 6 hours or so of reading to knit this foot.

From my worktable

(Its picture heavy!!!) I've been told I haven't talked about the shop in a while. I will admit that I was completely surprised to find out that the next things to make there way off my worktable during this creative shop break are beaded. Very very surprising. I thought I would sit down and sew during this break.

Earrings that make me happy...there is one other pair but it didn't photograph this time around very well...

Turquoise and Red. I wanted to do something with my red flowers which have blue veins and this was the perfect solution.

Green and Orange. This all at once reminds me of summer and freshness and of Autumn and the changing of leaves and pumpkins beginning to be seen.

Purple, Orange, and Green. Love this combo. The purple bead looks almost black in this photo but its really much lighter. I thought I would only be able to make one and then remembered a lone stitch marker that had a second of the clear top bead. So there is a pair!

I also got creative and made some charm dangle things for cell phones or cameras or backpack zippers or whatever. I had some big beads with holes to small for bags and to big for stitch markers.

And this combo with the iridescent quality. I didn't have enough of these beads for making stitch markers so I paired them this way. I think its cute. They would make cute earrings too!

So these things plus some new stitch markers and some zipper pulls(!) will be making it in the shop sometimes soon. There was a little weird issue with my desktop computer (where I do all the shop work on the photos) that it needs updating and was driving me nuts and I couldn't remember the password Chris set to update it. Its updating now.

In knitting news way down here at the bottom of the post. The sock is finished and I'll be starting the next one sometimes soon. Not sure it will be tomorrow though. I have a BUNCH of very teeny clothes to make for a friends daughters doll and a custom bag order that needs attending to since the fabric arrived today. Plus whatever else I come up with!

Also does anyone remember this sock from a long time ago?

Its been frogged, reskeined, washed, and dried. Its ready to find a new home. I realize that while I think the color is really pretty it doesn't fit my normal knitting aesthetic and chances are really good that I won't enjoy knitting it no matter what I do. Someone really ought to get to enjoy it. Don't you think? So I'm posting it for trade/sale on Ravelry.

Changes to the Shop

Why are there so many bags this weekend? 75 total that are intended for the shop. A few others that are not. So why?

Well I am making a couple of changes for the next couple of months.

1. I am increasing the price on the "designer" sock bags by fifty cents. I gave a lot of thought to whether I should do this or not. But the fabric, because it is designer and because I can't find it locally (or have to drive quite far, DFW is rather large), is significantly more expensive for me. This increase won't apply to most of my bags, just for those specific that are more expensive to acquire. That is fair right??

2. I have a BILLION ideas in my head for things I want to create/design/build for the shop. Currently, I spend a lot of my sewing and crafting time working on sock bags and totes. (I don't really even knit on the weekends because I am always doing something else!) Given that I want to get these other ideas out of my head and into real life, I didn't want to spend all my time on these other bags. So for June (if not July) I am going to spend my weekends designing and creating NEW things. I wanted to have a large stock of sock bags so I could keep updating the shop throughout my design period. New things may pop up in the shop if I am happy with something before the end of the month(s) or I may just wait and see if the ideas sharpen any more.

Pretty sure this is baby fabric, but gosh it is cute!

3. I've decided that I am only making totes on commission. I have one sock monkey tote that needs finishing (I ran out of heavy interfacing) and after that only commissions. I seem to sell them better if I know someone wants them.

4. I am considering writing patterns up for the tote and for the sock bag. For sale. I realize that some people might like to create their own from their own favorite fabrics, but if I make the patterns free I obviously run the risk of loosing out on a number of sales as well. Not smart from a business sense. Pattern writing takes time as well so that is going to cut into sewing time. At least I know that the patterns work properly!

5. I want to revamp my logo's so they are more business card shaped and I can have them properly printed. Its not that fun to cut them all out so they are nice and orderly looking. I am also a bit tired of having to write all my yarn information on the back and business cards will automate that process somewhat because I can print a label to stick to the business card. Another thing that takes time.

So there are 75 new bags. Some are one or two offs and others I've made multiple copies of. They will be popping up in the shop throughout June. The bags in this post are a small sampling of some of my favorites! The Amy Butler bag at the top and the flower bag just above are going in the shop tonight. The others will follow throughout the month or two.

I'm tired.

What 75 bags look like when their sides have been sewn together and their corners trimmed to size. I've sewn most of the corners shut too. Off to bed now.

Another doll...

I think it is no secret that I seriously love handmade dolls. I've been trying to get one of Maritza's dolls for a while. But the problem is that I was picky. I didn't want one that was mostly blue fabric. I didn't want a mouse or a bunny. I also knew for certain that I wanted a BAT. They look so so cute. So I've been haunting her shop (SotoSofties) at each update waiting for just the perfect bat to show up. How do you think I did?

Front.

Back

Love the wing fabric.

Love the foot fabric. What isn't to love about white dots on orange?? I need to find some of this fabric so I can play with it!

Her name is Felita and she is a fruit bat. I think she is absolutely gorgeous! And quite petite at 7 inches tall with a 12 inch wing span. She's getting along marvelously with my other dolls. (Me reflected in her eye!)

Also today I am promising another finished object for tomorrow. (Three total for this week! WOW!!!) Two days in a row now I have put it off. I promise that it is really really good. Its also already been put to good use!

Postage

I've spent quite a bit of this evening getting stuff ready to go out tomorrow. Knowing I actually need to walk into a post office (customs forms can't be filled out online!) makes me want to have it all ready before I leave for the office tomorrow so I can do it on the way home before it gets busy.

There are 8 packages. Some shop sales. A swap package for Carla (sorry I am so much later then I said!!! I hope you like it!!!). A calorimetry winner's package. And some pay it forward. Other pay it forward went out on Tuesday.

So who won the Calorimetry. Was it Gus??

No sadly knitwear makes him hot. Especially as the weather is heating up. (To answer a comment question, this is why Gus doesn't get one!)

No our winner was Robyn, of Robyn's Nest (nice shop!) and Knit & Purl Mama. Robyn I hope you like it!

Please remind me...

Someone please please please remind me the next time I volunteer to make sock monkey bags or dog bags or cat bags or any other animal, that every time I have to maim a monkey or decapitate a dog, or ... cut the wiggle off a bulldog butt... that it makes me sad. I'll still do it, but at least I'll be prepared. Thanks. Really.

Small and large sock monkey bags. I LOVE the way these turned out and this Moda fabric is FABULOUS. I will be buying some more of this. Not necessarily more sock monkeys but definitely more Moda. Going to go look later and see what they have available.

A couple more currently in the shop. The monkey's are there too.

Love this paisley! So pretty and springy.

Dogs have made it to the shop. This is the bag I had to cut the wiggle off the bulldog on! Makes me so sad. What is a bulldog without the wiggle???!?

Into the shop tomorrow (because its already 1040 PM)

I LOVE this fabric. I can only describe the in person effect as luscious. I am completely reminded of fresh peaches and strawberries... mmm... Seriously, I don't think my image does this fabric justice. Its vivid and fresh and seriously juicy looking.

I have several other bags that are going to make it to the shop sometime soon as well. I'm still working on two designs but spent most of my craft time this weekend getting these things done and not spending as much time on the designing bit. I'm hoping to spend next weekend perfecting a couple of bags. I still need to finish my swap bag so that will happen tomorrow so I can send it out on Tuesday when I ship everything else.

I've finished a knitted something with that green yarn, but it wasn't what I originally intended...not enough yarn... more on that tomorrow! Off to bed now.

buckling down

I buckled down when I got home today and have worked for the last 8 and a half hours on shop stuff. (Minus about 45 minutes for a quick dinner.) There is a lot of stuff that is not quite done, but all of it should be finished tomorrow and pictures taken. I'll post of the custom stuff after that (so Saturday afternoon?) and then post some not custom stuff to the shop Sunday probably?

Anyway right now I am ready for bed. Good thing I barely "work" on Fridays. Maybe its a good night for a movie?

Night all! Happy knitting!

Shop Update

I've done a small bit of knitting. I went for a nice long walk and lifted some weights. I've hung out with Chris.

But my main accomplishment for the afternoon is loading some things into the shop.

I've loaded a couple of new yarns. Including this one and a sky blue one.

I've loaded some new bags. Chili peppers. Brown and Yellow Circles. Blue Plaid. And some Apples.

I've also loaded the Ordinary Bird Choir into the shop. They are actually loaded as pieces and not as a whole. I only really realized they looked like a choir after I meant to load them here. These birds are cut freehand when I am ready to sew them. No pattern so they are totally unique in size and shape. I love them.

What have the dogs been doing while I was doing all of this stuff this afternoon? What they do best of course. BE LAZY.

Off to go fix dinner since we may or may not have intentionally skipped lunch due to doing stuff.

Augustus and Abigail's Favorite Things (Contest Results!!)

Today we announce the winners, but for those of you that want to get to know Abby and Gus a little better here are a list of the top 10 things they love to do. Quite a number of people got Abby's favorite, but no one guessed either of Gus' top two. I knew he'd be harder and I'm glad I said you didn't have to get it right!

Augustus' top 10
10. Ride in the car with the windows up but the sunroof open.
9. Walk - He likes to take his time and smell the flowers. Nice, easy, slow is the way to go.
8. Chew on his toys - not that interested in stuff that isn't his
7. Tug, Abby is his favorite to play with. If I'm sitting on the floor he'll climb into my lap and try to get Abby to tug the other end of his toy because my legs hold him in place and he gets more leverage. Usually this results in Gus and Abby growling and Gus getting pulled off my lap by Abby and dumped unceremoniously onto the floor. (Her strength is superior)
6. Get petted. He really loves a good scratch just above his tail.
5. Chase Abby. This usually accompanies soccer or wild puppy energy.
4. Stealing Abby's toys, since they are his too I can see where the concept of sharing could be hard to get through to him. Especially the squeeking ones.
3. Run around with a bottle banging it on things. After a good 10 minutes of running around he'll settle down to chew it. He will do this with boxes too and then tear them apart rather then chew them.
2. Bite Abby, particularly on the ankle.
1. Wiggle - This is and the bite Abby is probably interchangeable but I put wiggle first because he wiggles while he's not biting her, but won't bite her without wiggling.

He usually does most this stuff with a big silly grin on his face.

Abigail's top 10
10. Ride in the car with the windows up and the sunroof open. Neither likes the wind in their faces but they love to smell the air, especially as we drive over the lake.
9. Play word games and cock her head whenever she recognizes a word. This doesn't mean she knows what they are but if she's heard them before her head goes left and if she hasn't it goes right.
8. Lick her foot (especially if her mouth hurts)
7. Tug. She loves to play with us more then with Gus but he's a good and demanding substitute.
6. Play Fetch. Anything and everything is good for throwing!
5. Squeek anything.
4. Chew. This is right at the top of the list but she's always hesitant because of the pain from her jaw issues in the past. Once she is coerced into it she'll chew for a long time. She'll chew her puppy for hours for comfort though.

3. Chase the light. This is a game that Gus doesn't get at all. Abby will chase any sort of light reflection, flash light beam, laser pointer, etc...
2. Soccer - If we can't walk soccer is an OK substitute but she would MUCH rather walk. Gus doesn't really get soccer either, he just chases after her and gets happy when I say good boy.
1. Walk - She is not a sniffer either she is all business with the walks. As far and as fast as I will let her go. We really really should be at a running pace, but Gus can't keep up and he's a sniffer. This fast walk loving trait is NOT a typical bulldog thing. Not at all.

Now that you know my bulldogs better I can announce those winners you've been waiting for.

I am very sad to report that despite last minute efforts we did not get to 100 entries. We still had a really excellent turnout. But, the tally stands at 98 entries. 1 of the 98 was a late entry but I let them in anyway. 96 of the 98 were valid. Contact information made the entry valid. So there are only two winners today. Sorry about that, I really thought I'd be giving away 3 prizes today, but perhaps next time we will make it to the goal number and I can give out more stuff.

Our first winner is...

KNITTING PANDA

Our second winner is...

ELLEN (toppingoff55)[no link for her, just email which I won't share obviously]

Ladies, if you would email or ravel PM me your addresses I will get a package sent out to you probably on Wednesday.

Thank you everyone for playing with me and celebrating 313 posts, Isidore's birthday and my own. Now the big question is whether I will get to 2162 comments or 500 posts first. Which do you think?

:: :: ::

Just in case you think I've been spending all day petting new yarns or playing with new toys. I'll let you know I got NO crafting stuff for my birthday! NONE, ZERO, ZIP. I even tried to go get the Harlot's new book yesterday but the store didn't have it. Not only didn't they have it available they hadn't actually ordered it either! Can you believe that??!? Apparently that North Texas city is too hip for knitting. (It wasn't my local store.)

I have gotten some crafting done this weekend. Yesterday we drove a long way to have dinner with my MIL and SIL and to go shopping (see above about Stephanie's new book), so I got a LOT of knitting time. I have finished one front for the project that jumped on my needles on Thursday late and now am working on the second front (no this isn't a sweater.)

I also finished about 20 new bags today. Here is a picture of all my hard work. Some of these still need pieces and parts (drawstring, bead, or cord stopper) because I ran out of those pieces and parts. Its a pretty pile though!

Roving

My first rovings are in the shop!!! YAY!!

Deep Ocean

GrayPlum

Camo

:: :: ::

I am going to be spending a good bit of the day with my mother-in-law, sister-in-law and SIL's boyfriend. We are going to go look at Mini Coopers for SIL boyfriend and then we are going to go look at plants for the front garden. Chris and I looked at stuff yesterday but we don't have a sense for plotting a garden. So I called my MIL last night to see if she would come help me today so that forward progress can be made as we still haven't heard from any of the landscapers.

I've knit about 8 rows on the second zombie sock. ITs coming along, but I expect that I won't get a huge amount done today. I want to thank all the wonderful Sock Madness cheerleaders that have stopped by to cheer me on! I totally appreciate your encouragement. Whether I am still in or not I wish you Good Luck in the next round!!

1 little zombie was jumping on the bed...

LOOK!!

My first zombie is all growd up. Isn't she marvelous??!

I've cast on and begun the second little zombie, but I am exactly one cast on and half a row into it. They've set a deadline for making it to the next round of Tuesday 25 March which as you all know is a very important day (the contest! my sisters birthday! Coming soon!!!) and well its also only 4 days away. There is a good chance that I will be half or more of a sock in, but there is little chance that I will finish by then because there is simply too much to do. Am I upset about it? No, actually not at all. I'm going to rather enjoy watching from the sidelines and cheering the other knitters on. Not to mention taking my time knitting each sock and just enjoying the patterns.

1 little zombie jumping on a bed
he fell down and bumped his head
wouldn't it be better
and just a little wetter
if there were two little zombies jumping on the bed?

(mmm...brains...)

I may have to continue this rhyme at another time...with 2 zombies...

:: :: ::

I've posted a couple more yarns to the shop. Forest Path (Merino/Silk handwash only) and Colorado II (a darker version of the original in Superwash Merino/Nylon). I shall be posting three rovings to the shop in the morning (most likely). They are BEAUTIFUL....

:: :: ::

ETA :: Contest link. Cinnamongirl is having a contest to give away some really pretty purple Malabrigo. Go see and tell her I sent you!

Good News! (blatant advertising for my shop and a 1000 comment winner!)

There is good news all around...

First we've hit 1000 comments.

"Hedgerow Project Bag"

Second I've updated some of my new yarns into the shop, though I still have 7 or 8 colorways to go. I also added a pretty new bag that for some unknown reason didn't make it into the last update. Etsy is slow tonight so I won't get this finished. Most of the blues are still to go. I'll try to get a couple more each night (or every other depending on how busy my evening is) until they are all up! If you see something you want today, but want to wait until I have all the colors up, you can always send me an email (rlyn4579 [!@] yahoo [.] com, convo with me through Etsy, Convo me through Ravelry (I'm YarnPig) or post a comment here and I will reserve it for you if I can (that is if I get your message before someone else gets it!). Then you can continue browsing as I get things (slowly) posted. The images are from what I managed to load into Etsy tonight.

Third is that I am working on a very exciting project involving my YarnPig yarns, my Bea Binney bags and some cute, teeny, tiny stitch markers...stay tuned in the next few weeks for that!

"Swamp Thing"

Fourth is that my friend Jessica is now working with me (in my everyday job - not dyeing yet, but maybe that later too??) Super excited to have her on board.

"Swamp Monster"

Fifth is that I am just this close to finishing Tuscan Sunrise socks. I have to have them finished by Thursday because I have the whole day available for knitting and I want to have a new pair to start that day so I don't get bored in my meeting (or have to pay too much attention to the socks that I can't pay attention to the meeting).

Well thats it... Have a great night everyone!

"Latex Gloves"

Oh, you're still here?? I bet you wanted to know who the 1000th commenter was? Will the Anonymous commenter Annabel please step forward. Please contact me in any of the ways listed in the Second section above. (No really, I mean it, do step forward, you didn't leave me any contact information other then your name...) In the event that I don't hear from Annabel by say, um, hmmm, let's give her until Friday late shall we?? (i.e. when I wake up on Saturday morning I'll announce that there is a new winner), I'll draw a name from all the people that left comments on the last post as of tonight and that person will win the little prize. Sound fair??

For those of you that didn't win this time around I'm going to announce an actual contest on 25 March. It was going to be earlier, but...this number was the correct post number I was wanting to celebrate, it is my sister's birthday and it is nicely spaced with my birthday (11 days apart). So there you go. I'm having my contest announced the 25th...its practically perfect (plus it means I give away yarn for her birthday and mine...how cool is that???!!!?)

Today

hmmm...why is it that my posts are always later and a bit less organized at the beginning of the week? Its almost 9PM here in Texas and I am just sitting down to do this. Usually I try to do it before dinner gets eaten.

Well the most important thing that happened today is that I made a fantastic purchase. A very IMPORTANT fantastic purchase off etsy.

Its not here yet obviously but this will be so helpful for reskeining the yarns I have left to reskein so I can get them posted into the shop sometime actually soon. Not to mention for winding the yarn for sewing the lizard ridge together. It currently resides in two skeins sitting on my work table. Its cascade 220 in a nice heathery color. I can't wait for this to get here!

I purchased it from Maine Woods Yarn and Fiber on etsy. They don't have another listed but it isn't the first they've sold so I'm sure they will have it again. They sell a lot of roving (I didn't get any, but the colors are pretty), as well as beginning spinning kits (drop spindles with instructions and roving), knitting needles, and yarns (both hand painted and hand spun I've seen posted).

Anyway that is the bulk of the craftyness for today. I did start the gusset for my tuscan sunrise sock but only 6 rows worth, pictures tomorrow or something because who knows there might be something else that comes up to talk about.

Henrietta and the hoot...

Henrietta is an WOL*... A very pretty goofy wol. She looks like this.

Henrietta is from StashHappy on etsy. She's got a huge variety of things in her store. Seems to be whatever suits her fancy.

Henrietta is a rather largish wol. She is at least 7 inches tall. I didn't measure her but my small bags are only just a bit taller then her.

She seems to be of the same basic construction as the owls that I made in November. Then happy eyes and a beak were added. However she is rather larger and her base is done differently. Overall I'd say she's rather cute. Isn't she?

Here she is in her new nest.

What??? What's that you say? Well yes I did buy some more Freckle Face Fiber roving. I think the colors in Henrietta's image are better, but here is another shot. This is 3.8 (I think) ounces of a colorway called Hoot. So appropriate that they arrived the same day!

So this is actually the fourth roving I've purchased and the third that you know about. I bought a braid for Bianca (my cocoa swap pal) that you can see in this post because I don't think I ever sent you over there! That also reminds me that I need to show you the birds. Tommorrow! I have to show you because I love them so and it was SO SO SO hard to send them to her!

I bought a braid for Micki to spin. I showed you that here on the blog the other day...

There is this roving which arrived yesterday.

And sitting on my work table in the studio is a pound of soft pretty roving. Undyed roving. Waiting for me to experiment and see what comes out of my dye pot. I may have caught some sort of roving bug. I'm sure someone, someday will be happy to make yarn out of Hoot for me. A lot of you are spinners after all.

Now for those of you that are just here for the socks. I have progress on the Tuscan Sunrise sock. I love how this looks.

Front...the paperclip in the middle is the end of yesterday's progress and the start of todays.

The back...looks like the front. This is a good thing I think.

Chris' socks are finally right in the toe. I've kitchenered the toe on the first and need to put the second back on the needles and finish it too. I wasn't in a place that was good for juggling two balls of yarn today (doctor office - routine no worries...) so I knit the sunrise sock instead.

* A WOL for those that don't know is how Owl from Pooh used to spell his name. "He knew that he was a WOL." It goes something like that. I've only just read it a week ago. I think I should remember exactly, but I'm just not sure.


***OH OH OH, I almost forgot. I have a stellar idea for a new bag that I'm hoping to have a chance to try out this weekend!!!***

the shop is updated

I've updated the shop. I've only posted the yarn that has been re-skeined. Since I've had so many knot issues I just want to make sure with each skein that they do or don't have a knot. So they are being loaded as they are done...probably into next week. I would say that there was a skien of each in the store, but I've sold a number of them this morning (Yay!) so that wouldn't be true now.

There are a few more bags and a few more stitch markers that need loading. I apparently didn't take pictures of everything last night like I thought I did. I have to wait now for my camera battery to recharge.

So that's that! I'm glad its done because loading stuff into the shop is cumbersome at best for me!

I'm already moving on to new projects. I have some dog beds to make because Abby has finished off a couple of them. I have an apron to make that was long ago promised to my sister. I wonder if I ever showed you her Christmas present?? hmm...I'll have to check. I have a quilt that needs finishing and another to get out of my head. I need to finally finish those bears and Chris' socks. I need to start seaming the blanket because I put that on hold for sewing projects.

Most importantly, I need to clean my house from top to bottom, because I feel a spring cleaning rush coming on. That starts tomorrow most likely because Chris kept the dogs up this morning and so they will need naps this afternoon and I always start with the bedroom. I don't know why, I just always do.

a first

We've had a first here tonight. Abby actually DEFENDED her toy from Gus. Not as in attacked him, but she growled fiercely and wouldn't let him have it. We got them bones today. Actual, real life, from a pig, bones today. Its not something we've ever done before and she wanted hers all for herself. We've had a bit of desire for Abby to start chewing again. Since most of you haven't been around a while you won't know that Abby has an auto-immune disease called Masticatory Myositis. I wrote about it in this post. Its down near the bottom. The long and short of it is that her immune system wants to turn her 4 large mouth muscles (the ones that close the mouth) into scar tissue. This means that she wouldn't be able to open her mouth at all. It took us a couple of months to figure this out. First was a lot of depression, screaming if we tried to open her mouth, pain when chewing (she was suctioning and swallowing rather then eating food). She was going and hiding under out bed most nights. Once we had a diagnosis and some meds (prednisone) though she was back to her normal self. Except that she won't chew on bones that are good for her and her teeth. She'll chew dolls like crazy and even her fabric frisbee, but not bones. This has always been one of her favorite activities. Just chewing away on a greenie or the like. Greenies are not hard at all, but that memory of pain is VERY strong in her mind. It took me forever to get her to try a carrot again because she remembered that the last time it hurt. Even now, hundreds of carrot bits later she'll still hesitate with each first bit of carrot. A real life bone was a last resort to entice her back into the world of chewing. It clearly worked since she wouldn't willingly let Gus have it. YAY! This makes me unbelievably happy. She needs to chew because its excellent for her teeth, but chewing on fabric doesn't have the same effects as chewing on something hard. I am so so happy right now.

A few pictures.

A bag inspired by Carolyn's blog colors. I apparently forgot to actually take a picture of the front of the bag. Must remedy this before I post it to the shop in the morning.

Some images for Amanda. I hope this is what you were looking for!

You have a couple of choices for a sixth marker. I usually have 5 the same and a marker that is the start of the round marker (plus there were only 5 of these bigger beads!). I'll let you pick which you like best.

Here they are with the bag. I think this is a really cute combo!

For Micki, because she asked

The roving.

Called Razzleberry Pie. From Freckleface Fibers.

She's got fabulous stuff in her shop. I love these colors, these colors, and these colors. Amoung others. I'm considering getting that last one just in case someone volunteers to spin me some yarn again. None of those were available when I ordered my Razzleberry or I might have had a harder time picking.

There is a lot of last minute, behind the scenes, stuff going on this evening for the shop update. Like sewing on buttons and attaching drawstrings. Its not exciting while doing it but I love seeing the finished product.

Whether you celebrate Valentine's or not (me) I hope you had a happy day today.

we have a problem

I posted maybe an hour ago that I was frustrated and would be back tomorrow with something more interesting? Did you read that post? It had Gus and some yarn and a plea to email me if you wanted me to reserve something in the shop for you? Go read that post so you get that message. In the mean time, I am back sooner then expected.

What is the problem??

If you aren't sure what that is...well...it used to look like this.

This is what happens when your swift goes from the counter to the floor without you catching it first.

Some of the yarn has been reskeined. So for your viewing pleasure. (the color is ever so slightly off, but these are close)

Sangria - Merino/Tencel from that last batch.

Painted Desert (Thanks Marj!) - Merino/Silk from that last batch (this is one of the last two skeins from yesterday's post). It turned out quite orange and rust and not so quite plum once reskeined.

And finally, The Lion's Mane (Chris named this one!) - Merino (thin weight, super tight twist). Its not quite so pink. Its much more yellow then this. This will be sold VERY cheap. I haven't decided on a price yet, but I'm sure it is underweight (it still has a good 440 or so yards though) and has at least one knot in it. It will of course be disclosed that its underweight and has a knot and that is why it is cheap. I'm thinking about making a section in the shop called Flawed where you can find good deals on stuff I am not 100% happy with, but someone else might like anyway. Like the bag I accidentally used the same fabric inside and outside. (Don't ask me how I did that because I'm still not sure.) It still looks cute and all, the quality is still there, but its not what I had intended as the finished product. Does that make sense? And of course everything in the flawed section will be cheap.

PS:: (technically my third post tonight!) Go see Javajem. Run don't walk. Read this post. This shawl is fabulous, gorgeous, all those *WOW* type words. AND it is her handspun. I am in awe, so I am sending all of you to go see it too!