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. ^_^

johnny sex hair hat for the win! ^_^

so yeah, here is one of my latest favoritest FOs. :) This is my "Johnny Sex Hair Hat." I wear it ridiculously often especially for living in a putrid hot climate.... N-E-wayz I digress.... It was inspired by the pretteh pictured here:

 

mmm.... RPattz.... ;) In the Twi-fanfic "I Love L.A." by feathersmmm, her character Grace refers to her character Rob as Johnny Sex Hair... oh the lulz... So when it came time to name this WIP, (and cuz it's a hat too, yo...) I thought this quirky name would so work ;) 

The yarn is the bomb diggidy! This is the single ply merinocean handspun from Gherkin's Bucket in the "Supermassive Black Hole" colorway... SQUEE!  XD My first time working with handspun too, and it was so loverly ^_^ I made the Verity Hat by Ysolda Teague. It's a  slouchy beret pattern that is a fun, fast and easy knit. I found the most adorable pewter filigree button to accent it, as well! 

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. ;)

Yay, vampy awesome yarnie goodness!!! :D

So.... Today I got my package from the amazing Miss Chrissy and it was chuck full of awesome! :D She was able to score a luscious custom OOAK skein of The Fabulous Miss Krysten's (aka Gherkin) 2-ply handspun in a sinfully vicious vampy red, called "Velvet Pulse." Srsly you guys, this is some gorgeous stuff, and sooooooo soft!! It's my very first handspun too, so it's that much more special! ^_^ And since it was a joint effort from two buds, I'm beyond squeeness! ;) I also got some sinfully yum lip gloss with a Twilight theme-- Edward! ;) and an adorable handmade bracelet that her sister made for me in Edward colors!!! LOVE! --hasn't left my wrist folks, I plan to be buried with it! ;) I got a vampire stitch marker, and bookmark, some soaks, and a Twilight magnet, too! The magnet and stitch marker were hidden in a mystery ball. I'd never heard of this concept before, and it is frickin adoramous! ^_^ (unwind, unwind, unwind, SURPRISE! ) I'm so excited about all my new goodies, now!! :D Thanks so much, Chrissy!