My Big News

Well, I have been working on a project for some time. I have had this fabulous idea that I could design and make felted bags, then sell them. My first thought had been to sell at a local shop for tourist season. This seemed perfectly reasonable and the shop owner actually agreed. So, for the past 6-7 weeks I have been trying to knit up enough bags to make a good showing of what I could do. Well, when I finally called her back, she hemmed and hawed and told me to call me back in the middle of June!!! I couldn't believe it, but on to plan B.

Thankfully I am always thinking of other options, just in case! So, I have been hearing a lot about Etsy lately and I thought that I would try it out. They are totally awesome and I love them. So, my big news being that I have opened a store! An Etsy Store. The address to it is lavendersheep.etsy.com. How cool is that? So, I am going to start featuring my bags here as well, with lovely background stories into each. To begin with here is my latest bag:


This bag is my own design. I am even contemplating selling the pattern, since it is 100% no sew. I really love this bag and might have to make one for myself. I just started thinking about how to make a bag that didn't require sewing in handles or the bottom or anything like that. I also thought that wouldn't it be cool if the flap wasn't square? I just think it looks so trendy and super cute. As for this specific one, I named it Thistle. It is named this because of the awesome button and the gorgeous purple/green combination. I just love this bag. Go and check out my other bags that I put up. I will be talking about them too in the next few days.

Sockaploooza: Socks Complete

I am sooo happy. I got both of my socks completely completed last night. Even down to tucking in all the little ends last night. I must say that was the most daunting part. I personally hate tucking in ends, but it must be done.


Here are my finished socks in all their glory.


Here they are with their tag and everything. I couldn't fit it around them folded over, so they are just going to have to be happy with being around the outside. I just love these socks. I am going to send off the rest of the yarn to my sock pal so that she can make something out of it. I just thought it was too hilarious because there is exactly 50 grams left of yarn. It isn't enough for socks, but it should be enough for some other project.

Now I am off to go find some other goodies for the package.

NIKOLAJ UDSTILLINGSBYGNING

NIKOLAJ UDSTILLINGSBYGNING

and

Tank Cosy on Flickr

and

Cast Off

Lavendersheep Buttons and Things

Well, I have decided that I actually need a blog button and such. So, I went to work and produced:


I think I will have some big news in the next couple of days, which has inspired me to make buttons and some changes to my blog. I think that it is about time that I use my logo, which is 100% my design. It is taken from a doodle that I did some time ago and now thanks to the power of computers can be rendered into a beautiful digital format. Maybe at some time I will get my much more computer literate brother to make me up an even prettier one. Here is a little icon for me to replace the pretty purple sheep above:


Knot Another Hat also seems to be in a button mood (she actually made hers before I did). So, this will be in the sidebar:

Spring Cleaning

Well, I have been running my legs off recently. Last week I decided that since it was so sunny that I would go and clean all of my rugs. There aren't a whole lot of them, but enough to keep myself busy. So, I got the help of my brothers (mainly one of them), and we took them out to the driveway rinsed them down and scrubbed them. It was a lot of fun because it was a great excuse to splash in puddles while being a grown-up.

Then I got this idea that we should continue with our spring cleaning. Bright sunny weather seems to have this effect on me. I was suppose to have a dye party with Sarah on Monday, but due to a family emergency it had to be cancelled. Still, it was a great excuse to get the place looking a little neater. I got my husband to mow all the grass around here and he cleaned the kitchen. I was quite impressed, he is such an awesome guy. At the same time I went out and fixed my banquet table which had lost an essential part to it when we moved last summer. I swept the porch and tried to do away with all the cobwebs, but I swear more appeared as I swept. Then I had class for a couple of hours, which nobody showed up for. It was quite sad, but I did get the best compliment ever. That being that a spinner, that had been spinning for years, came in and she had bought my yarn before, and told me that it was so beautiful that she couldn't take it out of the skein. I was very flattered. When I got back it was back to work. I went and fixed our long staircase, which we had put shingles on this past winter to keep from slipping. I went and trimmed all the shingles, with a box cutter, to the size of the stair they were on and nailed them down tight. It looks so much nicer, I am quite pleased.

I am still in this spring cleaning mode. I still need to organize the living room a bit better and I have a couple of other projects going. I am going to make a garden on my back porch with different pots and kinda cheer it up. Also, my husband and I have decided to turn that back room into a dining room, since we really don't get company all that much. I think that it will be really nice to have regular meals with him. So far we have gotten one chair 7/8 of the way done. There are just too many screws in the silly things, but they will be super sturdy when we are done. In the mean time we have been eating out on our deck and enjoying the sun.

Lavender Llama

Ok, for everyone out there that uses Internet Explorer I came to the realization that in order for my side bar to work properly I can't have my Lavender Llama there. So, he is going to live on this lovely post and I will link to him. Such a sweet llama, please come and visit him often

adopt your own virtual pet!

Funny Rabbit pattern

Ok, I was surfing my favorite blogs out there and JenLa had up the most adorable bunny. I think that it is going to go on my list of things to do. I doubt that it would use more than an ounce of yarn. Hmm...I'm wondering if I should just spin for it or hit my stash...decisions, decisions.

Midnight Tweed

I can't believe that I forgot to post this skein. I finished it about a week ago. It is a really nice merino yarn and is over at Knot Another Hat. I named it Midnight Tweed because it is pretty dark and tweedy.


As you can see from my sidebar I currently have beaded mohair on the wheel. I'm pretty proud of this yarn. I have about 2 oz spun and I need to do another 2 oz to ply with. This stuff is super pretty and the last time I put it down at the shop it sold 20 minutes after it was put out. I'm hoping for the same thing, but would be happy too if people just came and drooled over it for a couple of days.

Good News & Stash Cleaning

My husband is employed again, which makes me very happy. This is also a temp job, but it at least has the possibility of being hired permanently. Also, they are interested in his tech background, which is a major boon to him. *happy dance*

In other news, I have a ton of knitting things on my plate, but no significant updates. I did clean out and sort my stash. I've made some hard choices, but I think a bunch of it is going to go up on ebay. I mean how many cones of laceweight yarn do I really need? When I post it up I will make sure to put links here too and maybe photos. Also, any ideas for what to do with peaches & cream cotton other than washclothes? I apparently have at least half a dozen colors and 1-2 full skeins in each color. I originally bought them for washclothes or maybe hats. I'm not quite sure now, but there must be a use for them somewhere. Maybe when I get my one skein book I will be inspired =)

PS: Is anyone else disturbed that Tom Cruise and Katy Holmes named their daughter after an alpaca?

Jane Austen Quiz

You scored as Elizabeth Bennet. As one of Austen's most beloved characters, Elizabeth Bennet represents what most women would like to become: strong, independent, and loyal. Of course, she has her faults including a stubborn will of iron and a clinging to first impressions. Overall, Lizzie is bright and lovable...something to admire and aspire to. Elizabeth Bennet 78% Elinor Dashwood 69% Jane Bennet 56% Marianne Dashwood 44% Charlotte Lucas 41% Lady Catherine 34% Emma Woodhouse 34% Which Jane Austen Character are You? (For Females) Long Quiz!!! created with QuizFarm.com