Spring is coming...I hope

After weeks of temperatures below 20 degrees (and sometimes below zero), it's finally been in the 30's this week. And despite the fact that we're getting heavy snow tonight, the days are getting longer and daylight savings time begins in 2 weeks. I'm ready for winter to be over!

To get myself in the mood for spring, I've been working on some play foods to give as gifts in Easter baskets. I've made three sets of Easter eggs as well as some cupcakes and strawberries. I'm having a small play food stocking this week in my store and, if you're looking for something different, you can always purchase a custom spot and choose from my extensive list of play foods.

So here's to spring!

1 sock down, 1 to go

So over the last ten months I've been working on a pair of socks. Or, I should say, just one sock. I finally finished one this weekend and I'm so excited that it fits. I was really expecting to try it on and have it be too small or way too big.



It's Monkey from Knitty and it was a very easy pattern for me to follow for my first sock. I haven't washed and blocked it yet, because I'm waiting to finish the second one. I'm hoping to get the second sock done by Valentine's Day!

Making a Slow Comeback

I just realized that it's been 3 months since my last post. This Fall I decided to take a break from knitting. Between getting ready for the holidays and some changes to our family, and wanting to spend more time with my kids, I took a step back from stocking my store for a while. I didn't stop crafting entirely. I crocheted a star afghan for my beautiful niece Sophia (with Debbie Bliss cashmerino that I found on sale at my LYS for 40% off!). I had wanted to make her a blanket since she was born over a year ago, but all the knitting I did for my store never enabled me to do that.

So in the past three months I've made some things for my family and friends, read more, played more with my kids, taught my youngest to use the potty (saying goodbye to cloth diapers for now), and I had a relatively low stress holiday.

But I do miss knitting and crocheting (and the creativity that comes along with that) and so I'm wanting to get back into stocking woolies and play food at Pumpkin Pie Baby. I've got a custom spot for play food available in my store, and a week from today I'll put up a custom spot or two for shorts, longies, or skirts.

With my third child on the way this spring, I don't anticipate I'll be stocking as much as I used to, but I do hope to reconnect with my customers and connect with new ones and provide beautifully knit woolies for their children.

soy silk scarf and playfood

I'm stocking two items tomorrow at Wonderland. The first is a 3 piece play food set including a lemon, lime and orange. It's a great gift for any child looking to start or expand their set of play foods.



The second is a scarf that I knit with SoySilk, a soybean based yarn that feels like silk. SoySilk is created from the by-products of tofu manufacturing. I bought this yarn a couple of years ago at a local yarn store because the colors were beautiful and the yarn was so soft. I finally found a perfect use for it. It'll make a wonderful gift for any woman or girl who values environmentally friendly, hand made items.



Visit my store at Wonderland by following this link: http://hyenacart.com/onestore.php?vid=2260&category=36

Charity Auction for Domestic and Sexual Violence

Last year when I won the charity raffle hosted by Elliebelly for 8oz. of organic merino wool, I knew I wanted to create something to continue to raise money for charity. Two issues that are very close to my heart are domestic and sexual violence. Having volunteered and worked for a rape crisis center in the past, I've worked first hand with survivors of sexual violence and know how important these agencies are.

I've knit these medium longies and am selling them by auction to raise money for 2 non-profit agencies. The auction begins on Tuesday, October 14th and runs for 1 week. I will split the sale price between the two agencies and donate 100% of the sale price between the two. You can find the auction here: http://hyenacart.com/pumpkinpiebaby/index.php?c=9&p=17482

The two non-profit agencies I've chosen--the Women's Rape Crisis Center and Caring Unlimited--offer much needed crisis intervention as well as longer term support for survivors of domestic and sexual violence. You can visit their websites to learn more about their specific programs. They are both registered 501(c)(3) non profits who serve their communities and are often the only place survivors have to turn for assistance.

From personal experience, I know how important these centers can be to people who are reaching out for help. They may be just looking for a listening and sympathetic ear, finally talking about the abuse they've experienced, or they may be looking for someone to accompany them to the hospital to seek medical care. They may be seeking help with safety planning and finding a safe place to live, or they may be seeking longer term support through support groups and counseling. No matter what the reason, these agencies assist survivors in meeting their needs and beginning the healing process.

Thank you for helping me to raise money for these two important agencies!

Hand knit toddler sweater

After a vacation to Disney and a busy month of knitting customs, I've finally finished this toddler sweater I've been working on since mid summer! I'm in love with this rolled edge sweater that I knit with "Woodland Tale" on Targhee by Mosaic Moon. It should fit most children who wear sizes 2T through 4T.



I'm listing this sweater for sale in the new Wonderland Congo which has its grand opening on Friday, October 3rd. The listing for the sweater is here: http://hyenacart.com/prod_details.php?id=74427&vid=2260. I've also got a free for shipping lottery running for a piece of wool play food.

completely immersed in customs!

Since early August, I've been almost completely immersed in custom orders. While I'm enjoying all of the wonderful yarns I'm getting to work with, I haven't had time to stock my store in a while. I'm hoping to have my next stocking on Tuesday, September 30th. Maybe if I write it down I'll stick to it!

I'm also joining a brand new congo--Wonderland--and our first stocking is in early October. I'll be writing more about that soon.

In the meantime, here are a few recent customs I've finished up. Thanks for looking!

The first is "Tropical Parrot" by Selah.


These longies are knit with "Stacey" by Bugsnugger.


And these longies are "Blue Hot" by Purewool.