2008 Blue Plate Special (round one)

Happy Halloween!

Happy Holidays Club members- you Thanksgiving packages are shipping today, and you should get them in the next few days.

I'm pleased to announce the sign ups for the next Blue Plate Special Sock Club. The spots are limited, and will be up in my etsy shop tomorrow- Nov 1. This next round will run February-April 2008. Each month you will receive a package that will include a hand dyed skein of Chewy Spaghetti in a *new* base yarn and new colorway, a sock pattern designed specifically for the yarn, and goodies! The cost will be $35 per month (which includes Priority Mail shipping) and $105 total.
Get you holiday shopping done early- buy a "gift" club membership for your favorite knitter.

Saturday October 27, 2007

Just want to let all the Blue Plate Special members know that the expiration date on your BathLife coupon is a mistake- those coupons are good until the end of the year (and thanks to Kimberlee for those!).

I finished two pair of socks on Friday. Both were supposed to be for The Boy Wonder, but one pair ended up being too small. It's nice to have another child who can wear them when that happens. The Vesper was knit on 000 needles, and so got a little tiresome toward the end. The Spunky Eclectic Super Nova I did on size 1, and they were super fast. I really loved knitting those- the color is so gorgeous. I've already cast on for another pair in the Gunsmoke colorway, and I am already down to the heel.

I haven't really blogged about the fires. I am in Southern California, and although we are not close enough to any fires to be in danger, they have still affected us. There have been freeway closures that have kept many people from being able to get to work (or home from it), the air quality has been so bad that schools have been closed and it's miserable to be outdoors, and everywhere you look you hear another horror story. I have been unable to dye yarn because of the air, and what I have will have to be aired well, but it's a minor inconvenience when you think about what other families have lost. I guess the good news is that this may turn our housing slump around (glass half full?). Fire Season is just a fact of life here, as unfortunate as that is.

Wednesday October 24, 2007

I am finally able to post some pictures. Here's my green front door that I painted this weekend. Now I want to frame out the door with some white wood, and paint the wall in front of the front porch this same green color.

The berries on our bushes outside are in all of their fall glory, and I did a little bit of fall decorating inside too.

I haven't heard if anyone has gotten their last Blue Plate Special yet, but they were mailed Monday. I have been sick with a wierd flu all week, and I am just starting to get back into the swing of things.

The kids are really suffering from cabin fever, but I don't know yet if we'll be able to go to parkday tomorrow.

We got a new sofa-bed this weekend. It'll be handy for visitors who don't want to drive all the way back home at night, and out of town guests. I haven't taken any pictures of that yet, or of my Spunky Eclectic socks. I've also been slowly accumulating things for my next sock club. This club will run three months, starting in February. Each package will contain a new type of base yarn that I am trying out, a pattern written specifically for the yarn, and goodies. The price will be $105, payable through Paypal in one payment or three monthly payments. I am planning on listing this in my etsy shop on November 1, and spaces will be limited.

Monday October 22, 2007

Blogger is not currently letting me post pictures :(

But, the last Blue Plate Specials were mailed off today, and my computer problems are under control for the moment. I'm hoping to have the Thanksgiving packages mailed out next week so that you can have time to knit and wear your socks for Thanksgiving.

I'm knitting some socks from Spunky Ecclectic yarn, and hopefully I can post pictures soon to show you.

Tuesday, October 16, 2007

I'm experiencing some computer problems which may hold up the last Blue Plate Specials (which are dyed, and I was planning on mailing this week). Don't worry if you don't hear from me for a few more days- I'm working on things!

Wednesday October 10, 2007

Here is my lovely order from Blue Moon Fiber Arts. I ordered three skeins of medium weight, and a pattern. When I finish my current sock in progress (which, oddly enough, are both Vesper sockyarn for the kids) I will may start the Central Air pattern with Amber. She is my favorite of the bunch. I cast on for Cherie Amour the other day, but row two I messed up and need to rip back. It's a simple pattern, so I'm not sure what happened- just wasn't watching I guess.

I'm not ready to post a listing for it yet, but I am getting together my next sock club. Sign ups will be in November. This will be a three month club running from Feb-April. One package a month, containing a skein of sockyarn (different base yarn each month), a pattern, and goodies!

You will be able to pay in monthly installments, or all at once ($35 per month). I'll post here before I put the listing up to give you notice. Let me just say that this club will be awesome- I have some great things in store!

Oh- someone had asked about the itch factor of the Elsebeth Lavold Chunky AL. It's very soft, but it does have a little itch factor when you wear it. I don't think I would want it right next to my skin, except for a hat- but I am also sensitive that way. I think it's just the halo, but there it is.

Thursday October 4, 2007

I finished Juliet!

I chose some leather buttons for it, and I wore it to knitting the other night. The cashier at Starbucks complimented me on it, and was surprised to hear that I'd knitted it myself. It's really cute, and cozy. I was afraid I would be warm, but I put it over a long sleeved button down shirt with the sleeves rolled up a bit, and it was perfect. It's a great alternative to a vest for a chilly day. (Well, mine is out of wool/alpaca, so it makes it toasty)

I am finishing up my Tilted Duster. I thought the collar was done, but I tried it on and I think that I want it a little bit wider. So, I am going to rip out the bind off and work it a bit more. That should be finished soon, and then I can start Cherie Amour. The posts about the shaping for this pattern on Ravelry have been really interesting, and I am sure that I will go back and read them before I decide how to deal with that section.

I got my gorgeous yarn for this- straight from Uruguay. It's really nice, and I can't wait to start using it. Every time that I get yarn from Handpaintedyarn.com, it makes me want to buy more (and more!) I already have enough yarn for three projects from them, but I'll be back soon.

I finished my first knitted Christmas gift of the year. I can't post it here, because some sneaky Pete's like to read my blog and see what they are getting. It's in my Ravelry notebook, though, if you're lucky enough to be on Ravelry. I'm chewyspaghetti there- feel free to add me as a friend.