Sugar Bunny Boulevard

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