Happy Anniversary!!

It's hard to believe that it's been a year already since I first started Fresh From the Cauldron! April 7th was the official one-year anniversary on Etsy ^_^ A lot has transpired since then; I've seen the successful conclusion of my first two clubs; Socks of the Bard, and Time Machine. I've also calculated that  I've made an average of 150+ colorways in just one year. Craaaaazy! I think the Cauldron's greatest success has been the recent additions of the vampire-inspired colorways for the True Blood and Twilight Series. Now it's time to get ready for the launch of two new clubs; The OZ yarn club and Vamp Sock Club both launch next month. It's going to be exciting and challenging pulling everything together and seeing what everyone thinks of/makes with their new colorways. This picture was taken by a Ravelry friend and client named Ani. She brought two hanks of my Forks colorway to the actual town. How cool is that!! All photo credits belong to her. I'm just borrowing her pic. ^_^

Cripes! Where Have I been?!

       So yeah, I have been very naughty (busy really) and have neglected my blog... :( Bad Squib!!! >:P But in an effort to recap the last couple months here are some updates. The holidays were very busy with the swappin. Not only did I do a Christmas swap with Skeinqueen7 (see previous post), but I also did Christmas swaps with Dreamsinfiber, Maylin, and Emil. Of course I'm a dunce and did not get pics of all my swaps. ::sigh:: But here are a few that I did. 

   In addition to Xmas swaps, I also helped moderate and participate in the Love Bites Valentines Vampire Swap 2009 on Ravelry. We had over 50 members sign up internationally!! All in all, I think it was a success :) There are also pics listed here of the parcel I sent to my swap recipient, and the one I received in turn. 

This pic is of the amazing package I received from Maylin in France, yo! For our Xmas swap/True Blood  vamp swap. There were so many amazing goodies inside!!! And since we are both hardcore Twilight fans as well, She was sure to include some also Twilight items, too! Here's what I got: 

• 2 hanks of the Opal Harry Potter sock yarn in the Ron (luv ron!!) and Dumbledore colorways,
• two super soft and squooshy hanks of Malabrigo worsted (hooray! My first Malabrigo!)
• Lavender wands that Maylin made herself, that when you rub in your hands, releases the scent (I stuck them in with my stash!)
• audio books
• music
• the pattern for the Bella Mittens by Subliminal Rabbit
• friggin espresso from Italy!! no, srsly!!! (ZOMG!!!!)
• Freesia scented soap and honey/olive scented soap from Greece 
• Russian Earl Grey tea
• dried mango yummies
• and three hanks of her own hand-dyed colorways!! Friggin' gorgeous and luxurious I might add; "Claudine", "Bill", and her amazing lace in her vampire blood colorway.... LOVE
• Dood yo, I so gots spoiledz!!!! ^_^

 

I also got a phat package from Erica that had the most amazing collection of books. I have already used the Creepy Cute Crochet book to make the Nosferatu!! ^_^ She also sent 2 hanks of malabrigo sock yarn in the most gorgeous red that are destined to become the "Hoor Hose" using the "Zum Dirndl" pattern by yarnissima. There was a lavender sachet, as well, and another hank of pretty variegated sock yarn, and some stitch markers. Oh! and she also knitted me a set of the most adorable HP house colors Xmas ornaments!! There was more, but I can't remember right now. Bottom line; she spoiled me too!! :D

And then Emil sent me a lovely package from Finland that included samples of Finnish yarn, a cute little owl purse, the most beautiful pair of fair isle fingerless mitts, and some Finnish candy!!! Oh, and an adorable lil Santa ornament!! ^_^

And here is  pic of all the cool goodies I received from my swap sender in the Love Bites Swap. :) I got a hank of Maylin's gorgeous Merino tencel in the "Forks" colorways!! Yay!!, the most delish whole bean coffee, the most awesomest lip gloss that I LURVE, some rad tunage, some yummies, and necklaces, and other little bits and bobs of cool! 

And Finally, here is a pic of the package I sent to my swap recipient in Finland for the Love Bites swap. I was a doofus and forgot to take pics before sending everything out, so photo  credits go to my recipient!! ^_^ I think it's so cute, too--she named the dragon, "Lars" and the Nosferatu "Bruce" hehe... I also made her some nice thick "Bella Mittens" --and FYI: "Lohikåårme" is Finnish for dragon. ;)

shop update

AS POSTED ON RAVELRY:

Ok, hi everybody-- sorry about the product hiatus of late; things have been busy (and continue to be) on both a personal and business level. My DH had been on a business trip since July 18th and has returned home recently for a brief 2-3 weeks. So unfortunately, I do not foresee many shop updates 

in the immediate future. 

I can say with some certainty that it appears that the "All Hallows 

Eve" sock kits were a success. I look forward very much to seeing what everyone makes with them. It was also a treat for me to make the little notion pouches; I had been an avid quilter before starting FFtC, and it was a "warm fuzzy" to revisit my sewing machine. ;) 

Here's a look at the upcoming events for FFtC:

• I have invoiced the "Socks of the Bard" and "Time Machine" club members today for their October shipments. It's time to get the ball rolling on the next set of colorways, already! :)
• I have recently filled all outstanding custom order requests, so if you have made a custom order please check my Etsy shop or convo me with further questions. 
• I have 4 more colorways to release for the limited series: "Horrors of History: Torture Through the Ages." I want to get these out fairly soon in time for October, so keep an eye out if you are interested. Again, these colorways are 1 hank, OOAKs and they'll be listed unannounced, first-come-first-serve. Still to be released are: "Scold's Bridel," "Brazen Bull," Heretic's Fork," and "Judas Pyramid."

• I will be adding two new original colorways to the shop soon. These are "Cherry Streusel" (gearing up for fall yummies!), and "Hagrid's Pumpkin Patch." The latter will be a primary/complimentary combo so that there will be a majority of yardage in the rich pumpkin colors, and a mini hank in the contrasting dark greens used for contrasting heels and toes, or whatever. Please convo me if you are interested in either colorway as I only plan to make one of each as I normally do. :)
• And for the big announcement-- I have TWO NEW ORIGINAL LIMITED SERIES TO DEBUT!!!

1. "The Feminine Mystique" will be a set of nine self-striping colorways based on female traits/wiles. ;) Colorways will be "Flirtatious," "Virtuous," Dignified," "Romantic," etc. Unless I receive requests for theses, I only plan to make one of each, so grab them quick! ;) I will post again when they are ready.
2. "True Blood"--this one I'm over the moon about! :) I've recently started watching the new HBO series based on the "Southern Vampire" series by Charlaine Harris, and reading the "Sookie Stackhouse" books, too, and I am HOOKED! I actually read both of the first two books in a 30 hour marathon read last week!! I will be releasing colorways inspired by the characters from this mythology in the merino/silk base and lace weights. So there will be approximately 440 yds of fingering weight yarn per character in the merino silk. I'm still working on the lace weight stats. I, myself, am planning to make a "Shetland Triangle" shawl in the "Sookie Stackhouse" colorway in the merino/silk as a knit-along with my friend Chrissy, who is also test knitting the colorway. I also want to make an "Icarus Shawl" with the "Bill Compton" colorway in lace weight. Again, I will base yarn production on interest for these colorways. Here's a picture collage of the first colorway, "Sookie Stackhouse":

One down, one to go

I'm 75% done with this project. After Bellatrix, I still need to finish Kim's Uzume socks and then I will be working on some projects for my Ravelry groups. Luckily, some of the projects will fill requirements for multiple groups. I want to make Anna Peck's "Simply Ginny!" socks in either Sweet Sheep Sweet Sock "Pink Cherries" or Claudia Hand-painted's "Peppermint Mocha", and from there, probably Monkey Toes' "Nagini" socks in Knit Pick's "Leprechaun."

Dude, check out my stash...

Haha! --Actually, this is only my sock yarn to date. I have a ton of heavier weights in my craft room, and 9 new sock weight hanks on the way! 

In the pic:

• Cherry Tree Hill: "Orange Marmalade" (dk wt), Earth, Water, Blueberry Hill
• sport weight lime and lavender; can't remember the manufacturer
• Bernat Baby fingering pink, yellow, and white.
• Fingering weight orange
• Dale Babby Ull: green, gold, burgundy
• Grignasco Seiutilla in lavender/yellow
• Austerman Step: "Whiskey"
• Red Heart Luster Sheen: Autumn
• Lion brand magic stipes: 3
• Sockotta
• Lorna's Laces: Bee Stripe
• Woolgirl
• Fleece Artist
• Blue Moon Fiber Arts
• Union Center knits
• Zen String
• Knit Picks: SHimmer, Gossamer, Alpaca Cloud
• Fortissima Socka
• Sweet Sheep Sweet Sock
• Sunshine Yarns: Weasley's Wizarding Wheezes
  

Coming Soon:

• Knit Picks Essential Tweed in Russet (2)
• Claudia Hand Painted in Pink Posies (2)
• Ruby Saphire (1)
• Koigu (1)
• Faery Fiber in "The Boy Who Lived" (1)
• Faery Fiber in "Ron" (1)
• Cosmic Fiber's "The Dark Defender" (1)

Fawkes Socks and new arrivals

   I cast on some Fawkes socks yesterday and I'm about ready to start the heel on the first sock already! Woo-hoo! The colorway is a lot prettier in person; photos don't do it justice. At first I wasn't crazy about the texture, (it's no supersock merino, thats for sure), but I'm warming up to it. The stitch definition is a little better in this sock. 

   Additionally, I received 2 of my recent Ravelry yarn orders. I have 2 hanks of Lorna's Laces in the Bee Stripe colorway for making some rad Hufflepuff socks, and a hank of CTH supersock merino in the water colorway, because I just can't get enough of this amazing yarn and it was a killer-sweet deal! 

*update: I have finished all but the toe of the first Fawkes sock and am half-way done with the leg of the second. I hope to turn the heel first thing tomorrow :)