How’s about a little random? August 22, 2008
Posted by Laura in Acquisition, CommunKNITty, Shout Out, Yarn.4 comments
Since my mind is on the weekend, my thought-patterns are a little fractured. Question is, where will that take us? Let’s find out!
I’ve got mail!
When I got my last order of yarn blanks, Cheryl included a little easter egg hidden amongst the strands: 3 little bars of her amazing Diva Soaps. So far I’ve tried the Green Tea and Cucumber, and let me tell you…LOVE! She also sent me a caramel, which my ego thinks she made with me in specifically mind since everyone knows caramel is my favorite candy ever, and another whose name escapes me right now, but if memory serves, (and it hasn’t lately. I’d better hire a new one) it’s green and woodsy and a little floral. I’ve been using the soap for a week now, and I really like how my skin’s feeling. She uses all sorts of luscious oils and butters. SO soft! You should try it!
Wanna see what else came this week?
Gorgeous sock yarn from Cables and Lace. The Green Lizard Toes is “War” from his Apocolypse series, and has become a pick-me-up for a knitter friend whose going through a bit of a rough patch. The blue Dragon Feet is “Greed” from his Seven Deadly Sins series and is intended for Zoe, a design I’m working on. I may or may not have to go back for some Famine and some Sloth, because, face it, who couldn’t use a little sloth in their life? That merino-silk make me want to consider branching out into a second yarn line. We’ll see. I don’t have enough time to dye enough yarn to keep my current yarn hoars happy.
I won something!
And all I had to do was caption a picture of a cuddle-muffin over at Fickleknitter contest. Woohoo! Michelle’s turning out to be quite the designer. Some of her available patterns are for innovative, smart, eco-friendly items you can use every day, while others are for fun stuff. I can’t wait to see what she comes up with next! Go Green!!!!
Other Cool News!
On August 8…I remember that date because I was still reeling from the 6-hour sell out that was the Dizzy Blonde Studios’ launch…I got an email from Danielle of Knit-A-Gogo wanting to teach a class using my Serenity pattern…Lookie! That’s so exciting!
Also, I found out that I’ve recently been Wendy’d. Which isn’t quite the same as being Harlotted, (not sure I could survive that! I’m just one person with only 2 hands…) but close…and you know what that means! I’d better get my ass back in the kitchen and start dyeing like a madwoman. If anyone wants to volunteer to be slave labor, I’ll gladly accept the help. There’ll be free food, drink, good company, and probably some comedy and creative cursing. Good times! Who’s with me?
Ravelympics 2008 update August 14, 2008
Posted by Laura in Knitting, WIP.add a comment
We now go live to Wool E. Sheepleton at Ravelympic Village…
It’s a lovely day here at Ravelympic Village, and the games are in full-swing! Our story today is focused on one our two favorite plucky Ravtheletes. In the Ravelry circles, she’s known as KnottyLa, but here, where we know her best, she’s just plain La, and man, does she have a story.
Two years ago, La, suffered a crushing defeat, being unable to finish her baby sweater in the time allotted. But she persevered, and even after everyone else went home, she remained until that sweater was done. Was too inexperiences? Too ambitious? Not focussed enough? Who knows? All I know is that I hope she learned from her mistakes. Now, it’s two years later, La’s been knitting like the lean, mean knitting machine she is, and is hoping to take home the gold, for not one, but 2 teams! But she’s off to a rocky start.
In the beginning La suffered a self-imposed but not anticipated set-back. As you all know, La opened up the doors of her yarn store for the very first time on the same day as the start of the Ravelympics. Will this effect her outcome, or is it just a temporary set back? Are we in for the rally of the games, or yet another crushing defeat? We’ll find out. The unanticipated part of the set-back occurred when she sold all her inventory and then had to process the orders in a timely manner. But all her packages are shipped so she can now focus 100% on her events.
Let’s check in now with the voice behind the scenes…Lana Lamberg, Lana?
Hello Wool! And I must say, it’s like a zoo here! Knitters everywhere, bits of yarn flying, ball-bands being flung around like panties at an 80s rock concert…and the click-click-clackity-click of the needles is deafening. But you know what? I’m in heaven! I wouldn’t have it any other way!
I was finally able to catch up with La for a few minutes last night between the dinner relay and synchronized showering, where she was able to share her progress:
That, my friends, is an almost completed sock. I was able to talk with her very briefly this morning and she said she had made some progress since the last time we talked, she’s casted on for the second sock of this pair, and has worked all the increases, and now it’s just a matter of working her way up the foot. Oh! And I was supposed to remind her to print out the Cat Face Lace Sock pattern for her second pair, which she hopes to start some time this early next week, if all goes according to plan.
Back to you Wool!
Thank you Lana! That just about wraps things up for today, and I leave you with a replay of the hanging of the official Team Rubbernecker’s Banner. What a thing of beauty!
I am Wool E. Sheepleton and this has been a Ravelympics 2008 update!
Mama! August 13, 2008
Posted by Laura in Miscellaneous.4 comments
Psssst. Lookie over there. To the right. See those eggs? Thems baby dragons. Won’t you please help me hatch my darling eggs?
OMG! Thank you!!! August 13, 2008
Posted by Laura in Dyeing, Yarn.16 comments
For 3 nights prior I tossed and turned, fretting and worrying, and running up and down the endless litany of what ifs; wondering if the knit world will like my yarns…
- Did I have enough color variety?
- Are the colors too saturated?
- Are the skeins too tonally similar?
- Did I dye too many?
- Did I not dye enough?
And then the night before I decided to load my “shelves” with just 1 skein of each, so that I can just increase the number when I got to work. Before I was done inputting my last 3 skeins, the first 2 I put up sold! Let me tell you, the night of the 7th I slept so peacefully I was able to wake up early enough the next morning to head into work 50 minutes early just to make sure I could open up shop on time. See, me, in my infinite dumbassery chose 8:08 am. Yeah, usually I’m still on the road at that time driving the commute from hell. But, no. I had to be clever. 08:08 on 08/08/08. Yup, that’s sure thinking ahead, La.
At any rate, whether you all are shop-a-holics, yarn hoars, yarn collectors, yarn hoarders, or saving up for yarnaggedon, I totally sold out. In 1 day…well, 6 hours to be exact. So I guess all my concerns were unfounded…well, all except one: Did I not dye enough? Which I answered with a resounding, oh hell no! Not even in the remote vicinity of considering the possibility of being considered a fraction of what was needed.
My office counter before USPS came to claim it all…
…and now they’re all on their way to they’re new homes. And I can reclaim my office, at least for now.
I also included a little thank-you for making Dizzy Blonde Studios such a whomping success:
…and a note begging for Dizzy Blonde yarn project pictures, which I’ll put into a gallery and credit the sender and send them some web/blog love to boot.
So I’m back to dyeing again. I’m doubling the amount of the most of the colorways, and adding 2 or 3 new colorways as well. It’s going to take me a while, but I’m really enjoying the entire process. In the meantime, I have created a mailing list so that I can give everyone and early heads-up the next time I’ll be stock my shelves. So if you missed out on this go-’round, leave me a comment here, and I’ll put you on it. The only people who will have prior knowledge to new inventory are those on that list, and those who read Fibercrack’d. So, if you wanna be in the know, let me know, you know?
T-minus Holy Crap! and counting… August 6, 2008
Posted by Laura in Dyeing, Yarn.5 comments
Yes, that’s right, if all goes as I’ve planned and I don’t get trapped in ahem Plurk…again (still?)…Dizzy Blonde Studios will be open for business some time on 08/08/08…that’s Friday. That’s THIS FRIDAY!
In the meantime, check the yarn page from time to time as sneak previews (much better than the ones that are on there now, I promise) are bound to happen. Here’s a little taste:
Mae
With a smile as genuine as the faux topaz and amber adorning her neck; whiskey or bourbon (depending upon the depth of the pocket) loosens the lips and wallets at the gaming tables; pipe and cigar smoke haze the air as she deftly treads the boards. “Come up and see me…” Where’s home to this Frisco Doll? Why, The Corner Saloon.
If all goes according to plan, you’ll be able to click on the picture on the yarn page here at Fibercrack’d, and it’ll take you to the corresponding sale page at my etsy shop.
Keep your fingers crossed!
