Barnes & Noble Loves ME!

Hellooooo my lovely knitters!

After much frustration over my website blog (no one could leave comments! whaaaa?), I decided that I would just go back to my old friend, Blogger.

So...WELCOME!!!

There is so much that I would like to share with you. As you know, I LOVE lists, so I will start with that :D

1. I have almost finished all of my Kickstarter gift knitting (for those who donated to my Kickstarter project). I only have one more item to knit. Last week or so, I finished the "Ridgeway Pullover #302" by Cabin Fever for my friend, Chip. I loved using the Knit Picks Wool of the Andes Bulky yarn for this sweater (great color and nice to knit with). I really hope it fits him nicely.

2. I (if "I" means my hubby, Ian - lol) updated my SleepyEyes app (FREE on iTunes!) - so you can now purchase and download both the Wonderlace and Dreamscape books, as well as 4 other patterns (Mari Lace Cowl, Lisha Lace Scarf, Bobbi's Birthday Scarf, Lotus Heart Socks)...plus at least 15 free patterns, too :D

3. I've also started creating individual patterns from the Wonderlace book - the first being, The Loralee Cowl. It's available on my ETSY SHOP...yay!

4. I love Sparkle. Sparkle makes me very happy. With that in mind, I designed a very cute (and girly) scarf pattern called the "Princess Sparkle Scarf". I'm hoping to finish up the pattern tonight so I can add it to Ravelry :) You may not be able to tell how wonderfully sparkly it is from these pics, but it's soo great.

5. Keep checking back here and on my Sleepy Eyes Knits Facebook page in the next week or so for a new CONTEST! I'm trying to get more reviews on Amazon.com for my Wonderlace book (and Dreamscape) and I will be giving away a super awesome prize for the winner of the contest. PRIZE - a gift certificate to an online yarn store and PDF copy of both Wonderlace & Dreamscape (for you or for a friend).

6. I want to thank all of my supportive and loving friends for keeping me company at my trunk shows/book signings. Although it's incredibly wonderful to be in a yarn store all day to sell my book (especially when they store owners are friendly and helpful), it does get lonely and sad sometimes. There are issues of "When can I leave the table to go to the bathroom?", "Why does that lady look so irritated over my patterns?", "I wish someone would bring me lunch.", "Should I ask this person if they want to buy a book or not pressure her/him?" and, always, "Why does this person have to say that they dislike lace knitting (and give a million excuses why they don't want my book) while they are browsing through my book???".

When a friend comes to visit me, there's MUCH less of that and I have someone to talk to when the people working in the shop are busy. Usually, I stay all day at the shop, so even company for an hour or so means a lot to me. (PLUS, it gives the impression that my trunk show is awesome...lol) I want to thank Melissa W., Lora K., Heather H., Sarah S., Jessica L.W., Kerry P., Jackie W., Julie R., Patti V., Trudy & friends and Edith H. for visiting me, giving hugs and keeping me company. (I hope I didn't forget anyone!) You are wonderful friends!

When knitters come to yarn stores just to see ME and my book, it is AWESOME! I can't express how it makes me feel that someone cares about me and my work. It usually only happens once or less per trunk show but, when it does, my day is made. Seriously. It's like a huge hug - on the inside :D


7. I want to thank the incredibly talented (and super sweet) Joanna Johnson of Slate Falls Press for the interview on her blog last month - not only was it lots of fun, but it was such a thoughtful and helpful thing to do. I have all of her design books and I love them all. If only I had more time to knit every single thing from all of her books. I received my copy of the new "Green Gables Knits" and the book is really beautiful. I hope to do an interview of her on MY blog soon!

8. Last, but not least, I finally heard back from Barnes & Noble Bookstores and they are going to carry my Wonderlace book!!! I am THRILLED!!! Beyond the moon. After the rejection of my first book, I was discouraged, but my friends encouraged me to try one more time...and I'm very, very glad that I listened to them! Woo-hoo!

With love and many hugs,

Gina
xoxo


P.S. My Wonderlace book is available on my Etsy Shop, Amazon.com, Ravelry.com and Artfire.com...and, soon, Barnes & Noble! Yay!!

Support me! Wonderlace Kickstarter Project :D

Hello Knitters! Long time, no see :D I don't use this blog address anymore, but I wanted to post another link to my NEW blog (even though I haven't posted in a while) and also to tell you about my Kickstarter Project, in case you haven't been able to check out the new website. Since you probably haven't been keeping up with what's been going on with Sleepy Eyes Knits, I'm happy to tell you that my new book, Wonderlace, is almost finished and due to hit the printers in August 2013! Woo-hoo! The Kickstarter project is to raise funds for the printing of the book - watch the video on the page to see pictures and hear more about what the project is about. There are a number of pledge levels and most of them come with great prizes...including copies of the Wonderlace book...and even the Dreamscape book! Any help you can give towards my project would mean so much to me! Even if you can't afford a pledge of $5 or more, sharing this post or the link on your Facebook page or email would be wonderful. Thanking you in advance...knitters are AWESOME! Love, Gina :) P.S. You can find me here, as well: Facebook Twitter Pinterest Instagram Etsy Artfire (to be updated soon!) Ravelry YouTube and my Ravelry group page.

New Designs are Creeping Along...

My new book is slowly coming together...if I'd only be able to focus on it (and not be distracted by my hundreds of other hobbies), I think I'd be further along. Seeing the lovely Kelly from The Elegant Ewe at SOAR this past weekend really motivated me to work on my book more. She (and the amazing owners of the Elegant Ewe) has been super supportive of me and my Dreamscape books. And, of course, my knitting group...especially Sarah, Jackie, Judy and Hilary.

In the past couple of months, I've completed 2 lace shawl designs (The Beauty Shawl is shown at the top.)and 1 cowl design. I'm sketching out and making plans for 7 more designs. The way things are going right now, I think the book is going to be geared towards lace. (Don't moan!) It will be lace projects that are accessible, fun to knit and for all ages. I have a project for almost every age bracket. I'm shooting towards getting this book done for early spring 2012.

My intention was to have the book done by the end of December 2011, but I was freaking out with stress over Tim going into college, trying to refinance our mortgage and working on getting my Hoopnotica Teacher Training (to start my hooping/hoopdance classes this fall) that I just said, "Okay...you're your own boss. Just put it aside and get back to it when you're more happy and calm." I can just imagine the projects I'd be putting together for the book if I was stressed out and upset...like the Knitted Noose and the I-Cord Strangler (which is not to be confused with the Crochet Chain Choker).



(pic of me with my Hoopnotica Teacher Training group for Level 2)

Anyway, I'd also planned on blogging much more than I have been, but it seems like I'm somewhat addicted to Facebook and my knitting page on there. I keep forgetting about my poor blog :( It's so much easier to add daily updates, pics and new albums of photos on there...know what I mean?

So, while I work steadily (and knit faithfully) on my new designs, I'd love to hear from you about what aspects of a knitting pattern book that you like best. If I'm able to incorporate those aspects into my new book, I will. So far, I know I'll be including:

- Spiral Binding
- No-glare paper
- Paperback
- Lace charts on its pattern page
- Wraps per inch for yarns
- Specific yarn information and suggested type of yarn for projects
- Full color photographs (with close ups, as well)

Anything I might be missing?

Thanks again for all of your support of me and my designs. I wouldn't be able to do it without you!!!

Gina
xoxoxo

Just in case you don't already know, here are other places you will find me (more often than here on the blog):

Sleepy Eyes Knits on Facebook
SleepyEyes on Twitter
SleepyEyes on Ravelry
SleepyHeads Group on Ravelry


and, of course, my website stuff:

Yoga Garden
HoopGlow on Twitter
Yoga Garden/Hoop Glow on Facebook

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!!

(My family on Christmas Day)

Hello Knitting Friends!!

I wish I had more time to blog the past couple of months, but I at least wanted to write to say that I'm still "out there" in the knitting world and have missed sharing my posts with you.

Here's a quick update of what I've been up to:

* Due to popular demand (yay!), I've ordered a 4th set of 100 Dreamscape books to sell in 2011. Check out my Etsy shop for more copies - I sold 300 books in 10 months!

*I was able to complete 60 knitted projects this year (woo-hoo!) including a couple of new designs, more Amanda Hats, some lovely cabled items and some toys for the kids. (Will update with more info on this in January) You can check out pictures on my Ravelry 2010 page: click HERE.

*Three of my new designs - "The Bobbi Scarf" (on this Sleepy Eyes Knitting blog), "The Ericka Scarf" (in the new 101 Sock Skeins Wonders by Judith Durant) and "The Kimberly Shrug" (in the Classic Elite Webletter on Dec. 28. 2010) were all published this year - and a fourth, "The Winter Hiking Hat", will be written (but might not be up on my blog) by the end of 2010.

*My oldest son, Tim, got accepted to 2 colleges so far: Becker College (with a great scholarship!) and UNH Durham. Keep your fingers crossed for the other colleges. He's excited to start his career in Game Programming/Design : D

*I had many (over 20!) Amanda/Armando Hats featured in Annie Modesitt's book, "1000 Fabulous Knit Hats!" - it's a perfect knitter's gift and I love, love the photos and patterns ; )

I want to thank all of my family and friends for their amazing support this year through all of my trunk shows, book signings and pattern debuts. THANK YOU sooo much for test knitting, admiring and coming to visit me at these events. Love you!

I want to especially thank these yarn stores for hosting my Sleepy Eyes Knits trunk shows and selling my books in 2010:

Fresh Purls (Karen, you're wonderful!)
Windsor Button (Thanks so much!)
Yarn Sellar (You're always so welcoming, Patti and Julie!)
The Knitting Studio (Thanks to the very friendly group of Lee, Leslie and Bridgette!)
Elegant Ewe (Thanks so much, Kelly!)
The Yarn and Fiber Company (Thanks, Cyndi and Jerry!)
Slater Mill Guild Studio (Bernadette, you rock!)

Have a wonderful Holiday, Christmas and New Year and I'll be posting very soon!

With love, Gina ; )
xxoxoxo

Falling into Autumn with 2 NEW trunk shows!

Hey there! I know it's been over a month since I posted. Mostly, this summer, the kids and I were busy going in the pool (yay!) and keeping busy. It was harder to knit during those hot days (the past few here in NH have been brutal!), but I did manage to get some pretty great projects finished.

We also spent a good amount of time looking at colleges for Tim. We went to WPI (Worcester Polytechnic Institute...where Ian and I went to college), Daniel Webster College, Champlain College and Tim visited Clemson University with his grandpa (he's the head of the Graphics Department there, as well as a professor). So far, WPI is top choice for everyone, but it's a hard school to get into...so cross your fingers for him! He'll be taking his SAT's again in October and applying (early admission) to WPI before November. (please please please)

(It might help that he was actually born right off of campus and I was pregnant with him through almost my entire second year there - he took all of the classes I took! Do you think he can get college credits for that.....???? lol)

Ben is now in 2nd grade and I can't believe it! He's up to over my shoulder in height and he's only 7. I feel like the Incredibly Shrinking Woman in this house of tall boys/men!! He keeps cracking me up with all of the funny things he says and it's actually a little bit frustrating when he asks me something that I don't know the answer to. I always say, "Let's google it!"

Okay...enough family (for now)....here are some of the fantastic projects that I finished over the summer with pics. Also, at the end, I have a listing of the TWO (woo-hoo!) trunk shows that I have coming up this fall. Can't wait to go...they both seem like they're going to be lots of fun!

FINISHED PROJECTS SINCE LAST POST



October Frost Cardigan
From "A Fine Fleece"
Size: 43" bust
Needle size: US 6 and 8
Yarn: Queensland Kathmandu Aran in Burgandy
Yardage: 1600 yds
Time: May 8th-May 22nd, 2009 and then August 20-31, 2010 (about 4 weeks total)
Fun Level: B- Started off very fun (I knit the back in one week and one arm the next week), but then I lost interest (also having a hard time knitting all those cables during knitting group) and didn't pick it up until August 20, 2010. I finished the other arm, two fronts, collar and both button bands in 11 days. Woo-hoo! Love the way it looks, though I realized that I knit both arms in the wrong size, so they're like monkey arms. Besides that, it's a gorgeous and cozy sweater. The yarn is perfect for it!



Ben's Log Cabin Afghan
From Sarah Bradbury's "Log Cabin Square" instructions
Size: 54" square
Needle size: US 8
Yarn: Noro Kureyon (in many colorways for squares) and Cascade Eco+ in purple heather for the trim
Yardage: 1760 yds for squares and 956 for trim (2 skeins of Eco+)
Time: January 2010 - August 3rd, 2010
Fun Level: B. The Squares were super fast and fun to knit and I think I would've kept making squares all year. I stopped at 16 for a square blanket. The trim was very, very monotonous to knit and that was the worst part. I finished all the squares by the end of January and then didn't start knitting the trim and putting the squares together until the end of July. I finished by the first week in August. It's the prettiest blanket I've knit so far. Only wish I could give the piecing to someone else to do!





Baby Surprise Jacket 1 (& 2)
From EZ's "An Opinionated Knitter"
Size: Newborn (and 9 month)
Needle size: US 3 (and 6)
Yarn: My hand-dyed fingering weight merino (and Jojoland Rhythm)
Yardage: 276 yds (and 380 yards)
Time: 1 day (and 4 days)
Fun Level: A! This is a totally fun and addictive pattern to knit. As soon as I was done with one, I had to cast on immediately for another. I love how easy it is to knit and how creatively designed it is. To put it together is just magic. Highly recommended!




Ian's Woodsman Socks 1 & 2
From EZ's "An Opinionated Knitter"
Size: Men's large (size 10.5" shoe)
Needle size: US 6
Yarn: Harrisville Designs New England Highland in High Hemlock and High Evergreen
Yardage: 252 yds for each pair
Time: 9 days for 1 pair, 5 days for the second pair
Fun Level: A- Super easy to knit pair of worsted, hiking socks for the winter. My hubby loves the thick, slightly rustic yarn and how warm they are. I was able to knit a single sock in two days. I changed up the colors for the second pair so I was able to knit 2 full pairs of men's socks from 3 skeins of this yarn. Yay!

TRUNK SHOW & BOOK SIGNING #7:

September 25th (Saturday)
11 am - 3pm
Hub Mills Yarn Store
Lowell, MA
20% off all yarn, books and bags that day!

TRUNK SHOW & BOOK SIGNING #8:

October 3rd (Sunday)
12 pm - 5 pm
Slater Mill Guild Studio
Pawtucket, RI
Sign up to win a FREE gift basket including a Dreamscape book, yarn, chocolate and goodies!

There are literally only 40 Dreamscape books left in the world to buy (LOL!)...true, though. I have some listed on my Etsy shop and a few more one-of-a-kind stitch markers left, but they're going fast and, after these trunk shows, there may not be any left to put up in the shop. (Kind cool!)

As usual, I'll have the rest of my Dreamscape books, design samples and will offer a FREE pdf of the Dreamscape book to all who buy a book at the trunk show. Yay!

Hope to see some of you there and thanks SO much for your support and love! xoxoxxo

Dreamscape Reviewed in Spin-Off Magazine!!!

OMG - found out from my friend, knitting and spinning guru, Vicki (who taught me how to spin!), last night that she'd opened up her newest Spin-Off Magazine (Summer 2010) and saw a full page (page 18) review on my Dreamscape book!

How friggin' awesome is that??



I think the review was pretty great and the constructive criticism was definitely helpful concerning the photography. I mean, Ian and I aren't professional photographers (it's just a hobby, really) and I was going more for a certain artistic, vintage style and look...rather than close-ups of the stitches.

I thought we did have some stitch definition with the photos (especially since Ian tried to keep only the knitted item in color, with the rest of the photo "aged"), but I'm sure I could've added extra pictures with more focused details of the knitting - if I'd had the time and extra money, of course.

All in all, I was thrilled with the review and I want to thank Jean Lampe for taking the time to look at my book. Thanks so much!!

I was also super happy to find my Fireball Horseshoe Cap in this issue as well (must.buy.more.copies!) on page 88. Another full page description of the hat that I knitted out of my handspun, using Ivy Brambles' corriedale fiber in "Fireball" colorway (love it!). That was a quick, fun and adorable knit.



Whew - what a day!

I also wanted to share with you some pics of my Liquorice Shrug by Megan Marshall.

I needed a shrug to wear with my sleeveless black dress for a friend's wedding a couple of weekends ago and found this pattern - which I loved. You pretty much knit two of the same pieces (well, one goes the opposite way) and sew the seams. Great pattern and pretty easy to knit. The only thing I had trouble with was with trying to knit this in 2 weeks (just made it - finished it on the DAY of the wedding!) with size US 3 needles. I'd give it a little more time next time, I think. LOL!

Here are the details:

Yarn: Classic Elite Silky Alpaca Lace (used a little over 2 balls)
Color: Black
Needle: US 3, 24" circ
Weight: Fingering (I doubled the lace yarn)
Changes: I made my shrug with longer sleeves. Instead of the sleeves being 16" long, mine were 22" (8" of the sleeve actually goes over the back of your shoulders, so my sleeves were actually only 14" long) and I omitted the crochet trim. I liked the more "flowing" look of the ends of the sleeves - made them look more like bell sleeves that way.

Here's me in the shrug (in the hotel bathroom, of all places...jeez!):



and me with my sexy, handsome hubby, Ian in the reception hall at Stonewall Farm in Keene, NH: (Ian was one of the groomsmen...oh, the tux...the tux!)



I think that's all the news I have so far. Oh, Ian bought me an adorable Hello Kitty (Janome) sewing machine for my birthday on the 23rd (turned 37!!) and all of my friends got me the most amazing gift cards and sewing things so I can splurge on fabrics and such. I have the BEST and most thoughtful friends ever!!! : D

If any of you are looking for my Dreamscape book, please look on the right sidebar to my homepage (http://sleepyeyesknitting.blogspot.com) for 3 online shops to buy my book: My Etsy shop, The Yarn and Fiber Company and Willowgate Yarns. You can also download the pdf of Dreamscape off of my blog (sidebar, using Paypal) and/or on Ravelry.com here.

Would love it if you'd pass the word on! Hugs to you all and Happy Knitting!! xoxxo

Happy Easter/Spring Equinox!

I know that I haven't posted for a LONG time. I've got at least 3 FOs (a lace shawl and 2 knitted toys) to show you, which I'm excited about. But that'll have to wait until the weekend is over and I have more than a few minutes to spare.

Also, I've got some good news.

A new online yarn store, Willow Gate Yarns, will be selling my Dreamscape books! I just mailed 20 out on Friday and looking forward to seeing how they do. Thanks, Fran!!

You can also purchase a copy of my book at The Yarn and Fiber Company, as well. If you haven't visited either online shop, I'd totally recommend giving them a try.

So, until I have more than a few minutes to blog, I just wanted to share some family pics with you.

I was excited to actually get a pic my almost 17 year old, Tim...me...and my 7 year old, Ben...and there wasn't too much grumbling. (Check out the Felted Clogs that he's wearing!)



Another great pic which I hardly ever get...all the gals in my family - My sister, Kim...my mom, Karen...my grandmother, Catherine (90!) and me.



My dad, Tom...Ben...my hubby, Ian...and Tim. I can't believe that Tim is just about taller than his dad!



The loot that the kids got in their baskets - I'm trying to phase out lots and lots of candy in exchange for some cash and 1 Lindt chocolate bunny. Yummy.



Things have been busy around here and I'm excited that I've got another yoga class going at Berkana Massage and Bodywork Therapies. You can check out more information about the class HERE. I'm also still going to bellydance class (so much fun!) and trying to train myself in hooping so that I can do a teacher training session with HoopGirl. We'll see....

Hope you're all having a great week and I'll be back soon with lots of great pics of my finished knitted objects. Yay for knitting!!

The Elegant Ewe Trunk Show - Yay!

Well, I didn't know what to expect for my last trunk show of the Winter. I had hopes, but didn't dare to hope TOO much. Every trunk show since December has been wonderful and profitable...so, I thought one of them was bound to be a little disappointing.

But, NO!



I have been the luckiest girl EVER and ended my Winter "tour" with a bang. Thanks to Denise (who got in touch with the lovely people at The Elegant Ewe), to Marci (who gave the go ahead for the whole thing) and to Kelly (who quickly organized, advertised and planned out the entire event - and who was so friendly and helpful to me the entire time) - because of them, this last trunk show was an overwhelming SUCCESS!!!

I not only sold 24 books (even had less to leave in the store than I thought I'd have! woo-hoo!), but enjoyed every moment of my time there.

The Persephone Beret class was so much fun - the ladies that I worked with were funny and welcoming and I had a good time watching their berets slowly progress through the class.



Here is another pic of me and the ladies -



I was grateful to everyone who bought a book at the shop that day and to some wonderful friends that came to visit (and most of them already own my book, so they just came to support me!) -

Tracy, Denise and Sarah (below is Sarah with her little boy, me and Denise) from the Concord Knitting Group



Hilary and Caroline from our ManchVegas Knitting Group



How luck I am!

Kelly even made homemade cookies (yuummmmmm!) and had coffee for everyone, too. I completely forgot to take a pic with her (like I also forgot at the Yarn Sellar with Patti), but I'm sure I'll be going back to the Elegant Ewe again and again and I can snag her for a pic then.

I also had some time to shop after the trunk show and I bought 2 bars of the most luscious smelling soap, another Wallaby pattern (which I keep losing) and a skein of local Alpaca/Cashmere sportweight yarn in a chocolately brown to make Ian gloves with. (The pattern I bought was designed by Kelly!)

All in all, another FANTASTIC day and then, I went off with my hubby for a romantic weekend in Boston. We took the local bus and a couple of T trains to our hotel, saw a Damon Wayans comedy show (awesome!), visited the Musuem of Fine Arts (we were there for over 3 hours and only saw a fraction of the stuff we wanted), watched an Omni Theatre show "Arabia" at the Boston Museum of Science, visted the Brattle Book Shop (and bought many books), and finally walked around Chinatown and sat in the Bamboo Garden.

Oh, life was good this weekend.

I also finally gave my mom her Fudge Swirl Cabled Mock Turtleneck sweater (it's her birthday this weekend!) and it fit her PERFECTLY!!! I was so happy. Here she is wearing it:



and from the back:



Happy Birthday, Mom!

Will be back on Monday or Tuesday for the next post of my NETA Spa weekend and my finished Lego Man knitted toy. Yayyyy!

Yarn and Fiber Co. Trunk Show!

A very belated post about my lovely trunk show at the store I work at, The Yarn and Fiber Co. and, because I'm headed out to work very soon, this will be brief but, hopefully, exciting! LOL : )

Here are the highlights of the day-

My trunk show set up - very nice, I thought:



Picture with the owners (and my bosses), Cyndi and Jerry:



Wonderful knitters and designers (!) buying my book:
(L-R: Joan of Jocre Arts design fame, me and the fantastically fun, Dendrea)



Books waiting to be bought - 17 total sold for the day...Yay!



My always loyal and thoughtful friends from knitting group:

(L-R: Amy, Heather, Me (ugh...horrible pic of me) and Rebecca)



(L-R): Amy, Chris, Ericka and Heather



The day went by quickly and it was nice to be in my familiar surroundings (and not have to work...he he) while knitting with friends. I loved seeing people buying my book and then being able to help them find yarn to make some of the projects from it. AWE-SOME!!!

And, one of the BEST parts of the day was when Jerry took my picture to model one of Joan's newest, gorgeous lace shawl designs: The Seashell Silk Shawl:



Please support Joan of Jocre Arts and Ivy Brambles by buying this pattern and the lace, 100% silk yarn to go with it. Beautiful!

Thanks, Cyndi and Jerry for a fantastic day!!!

BTW, you can order my book, Dreamscape from the Yarn and Fiber Co. website. Check it out HERE!

Visit me at The Elegant Ewe this Saturday 2/20/10!!

Hi Everyone!

I know I'm WAY behind in blogging about the great trunk show I had at the Yarn and Fiber Co. last Saturday (will be up sometime today!), but I wanted you to know that I'm having one LAST trunk show for the winter THIS Saturday at the Elegant Ewe in Concord, NH.

From 10 am-12 pm, I'll be teaching a Peresphone Beret class and then the trunk show will be from 12 -2 pm. Feel free to come earlier, though to check out my book and try on some the lovely samples I have of my designs. (I LOVE when knitters come to visit and try lots of things on!)

Hope to see you and please pass the word on!!

PS. I also finished a really cute knitted toy that I'll have to share in the next post, too. He's sooo cute!!!

Visit me at Yarn and Fiber Company, Saturday 2/13!

Please visit me for my 5th trunk show (eeek!) at the Yarn and Fiber Company this Saturday, February 13th from 11 am to 3 pm!

I will have samples of all of my designs to try on and copies of my Dreamscape book to buy.

As always, if you buy a Dreamscape book from the store that day, you will receive a FREE PDF of Dreamscape as a gift from me.

I'd love to see you and please come to hang out and knit with me and my knitting group! It'll be a fun day and a great way to stay out of the freezing cold!

Hope to see you on Saturday! Happy Valentine's Day to all!

P.S. For those of you who came to the Yarn Sellar last Saturday and are waiting for your FREE pdf, don't worry. It's coming! I'd lost the page with all of your emails, but luckily I found it and I will email them out to you on Sunday or Monday at the latest. Thanks for being so patient!

Yarn Sellar Trunk Show -Yay!

I am SO lucky! Another fantastic trunk show at The Yarn Sellar for Dreamscape!

The day started off with a fun ride to York, Maine with my dear friend, Laurin - it was so relaxing and we laughed and laughed - even when we got lost (slightly) and couldn't find the yarn shop (which we've been to so many times-LOL!). We called out places that we wanted to visit on the way back home - like the When Pigs Fly bakery (yummy - I bought chocolate bread, 4 seed bread, sourdough and oat & honey, plus balsamic vinagrette and jellies) and Yummies candy store (omg - floor to ceiling candy - 10,000 pounds in the store!).



The fantastic and thoughtful, Julie, had opened the store early and had hot coffee, tons of water bottles, and sweet smelling munchkins ready for us. In a flash, we'd set up the trunk show on the table and the appendages (lol) and I was set to go!



Within 1 hour or so, I'd already sold 10 books! Wowza!

Not only did I have the BEST time meeting knitters (some of who came just to see ME! I just can't believe it...) and seeing them try on hats, scarves, shawls and mitts, but it was just so much fun sitting there and KNITTING. Laurin and I sat at the table and chat, knit and relaxed. Totally wonderful.


(A lovely Amanda Hat wearing knitter and me.)

There was one awesome knitter who came to see me, Amanda, who brought her family with her - and her beautiful teenage daughter (whose name I should I have asked) looked AMAZING in every single hat on the table. It was one of the best times of the day seeing her try things on and look fab-u-lous! She had her mom pick out yarn for every hat in my book! If only I'd gotten better pictures of her.....I did get a pic of her and her family at the table, though: (she's the one on the very left with the burgandy Amanda Hat on)



Some of my close knitting friends came to see me, too - Kerrie-Ann, Jackie, and Lora. Oh, it makes me feel incredibly special when friends are so supportive of me and my book. I love you guys!!!


(L-R: Kerrie-Ann, Jackie, Me)

All in all, another totally successful and super fun day - I sold 24 books by the end of the day. Laurin and I went shopping after the trunk show and out to dinner for yummy hamburgers at a restaurant on the way home. I got to finish the very last square to Ben's Log Cabin blanket. I'm sewing it up now. Yay!

I want to thank Patti and Roger (to whom I send many loving thoughts and hugs), Julie and Martha for all that they did for me for my trunk show - I can't tell how much it meant to me and you are all so wonderful. Thank you!!!!!

And, before I go, a pic of my mom's finished Fudge Swirl Cabled Mock Turtleneck - it's a birthday gift and I hope she likes it!!



And, also, on me:



What do you think?

Happy Knitting!!! ; )