Etsy Reopening

Here are two new graduated colorways that will be debuting in October for my Etsy reopening:

Legion-For We Are Many (Inspired by the film "The Exorcist") and Jack O' Lantern

Also arriving in October:

* Aspen & Oak (self striping)

* Shunnnnnnn the Non-Believer

* various potlucks

* Indian Summer

* Malice (encore)

* Lemon Cookies (encore)

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. ;)

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":

Shop update: new colorways coming soon

Ginormous order has kept me a busy dyeing bee! I've got custome orders going out and some new colorways coming to the shop Thursday, July 3! Colorways to come:

• Tooms  (Inspired by the classic villain from the X-Files series) 
• St. Maarten
• St. Thomas
• Music Sets My Soul on Fire
• Scarlet O'Hara
• Fruit Basket
• Wicked

--coming soon: "Secret Garden" & "Tellico"

Squee!, Sweet...

I found this very exciting the other day. I received my first package from the UK! I had ordered this adorable little purse on Etsy from Saysie as a notions pouch. It's too cute. It was made with the cute Japanese fabric that is really popular now, in a folk-nursery theme. I was just all giddy to receive a package marked "Royal Mail!" Now all I need is to get another one with the Hogwarts Crest on the letterhead... ;)

Finally, I decided it was time to update pics of my sock stash. I think the last time I did this, I had maybe a fraction of fun fiber-goodness. ;) I probably should've waited a little longer-- I have STR "Chapman Springs", Purlsoup's "Thriller", and three hanks from Dreamsinfber on the way.

shop update: new colorways coming soon

Okay, 4 new colorways will be added to the shop, tomorrow. I've got new bases and wanted to give 'em a whirl. I have 2 merino/bamboo, and 2 Kona superwashes:

1. The Scooby Doobies, From the Laff-a-Lympics part of the Saturday Morning Cartoon Series. --Kona Superwash 2 ply fingering weight.
2. Thebes of Egypt from the Globe Trekker series --merino/bamboo 3 ply fingering wt.
3. The Burrow, (Harry Potter inspired) from the Flotsam & Jetsam series --Kona superwash 2 ply fingering wt.
4. Queen Mab from the Once Upon a Time series --merino/bamboo 3 ply fingering wt.

*All skeins are 400 yds/each. They'll be listed on my Etsy shop by 2 pm EDT 5-24-08

Swatch-tastic!

Here's a quick couple pics of the test swatches Erica whipped up for me of the "Wicked" and "Wallachia" colorways from my On Broadway series, and Globe Trekker series. Love it!!

 

I've got a big order coming, so I hope to post the All Roads Lead to Rome series in its entirety on the shop, soon! Also, sock club sign ups will start in the next couple weeks. More info on the details of the sock clubs in the next post. 

Update: I've also added a pic of the sock project Aquaknits is working on with the "Strawberry Shortcake" colorway. It's turning out super cute! :)

shop update

Well, things have been busy in the world of "selling yarn". I received 2300 yds of fingering weight yarn yesterday and dyed it all! :D I made 5 new colorways:

• Leigha: A custom colorway for a Raveler in shades of bright and pale pinks and springy grass greens.
• Poisoned Apple: Originally intended for the shop, but couldn't stand to part with it ;) It's a lot like wicked but with one color change-- It's Black, hot pink, cherry red, and lime It's from the Once Upon a Time Series and based on the tale of "Snow White."
• Boys of Summer: currently for sale at my Etsy shop. Surfer-themed with oceanic blue, and sunset colors.
• Hansel & Gretel: based on the Grimm Brothers' fairy tale. Dark forest greens, woodsy browns, bright golds and flecks of red. Sold today to Zyd! (She also bought Little Mermaid).
• Little Red Riding Hood: Also based on the macabre Grimm Brothers' tales. This one has dark forest greens and deep, rich, reds. Sold to Dreamsinfiber, and special order requested by Zyd. 

I will be adding new colorways soon as well, in varying weights this time. Here's the scoop on the future hues:

1. Odysseus Sails: From the "Globe Trekker" series. Based on the adventures of King Odysseus from Homer's "The Odyssey."
2. The Frog Prince: Brother's Grimm colorway from the "Once Upon a Time Series."
3. Snow Queen: Han's Christian Andersen tale from the "Once Upon a Time Series."
4. Pompeii: From the "Globe Trekker" series.
5. Atia of the Julii: first colorway in the new "All Roads Lead to Rome" series.
6. Rumpelstilzchen: Custom request for Zyd. 
7. Morgan Le Fey: From the "Once Upon a Time Series"

Good Grief, Charlie Brown!

Well, I just realized that I'd been so busy with dying yarn, test knitting and making swaps, that I haven't posted any of my recent WIPs or FOs! :/ So, here's the 411: I finished my "Weasley's Wizarding Wheezes" socks with my Sunshine Yarns in the corresponding colorway. I used the pattern "Mad Color Weave", by Tina Lorin. I also whipped up a pair of socks for little Zach with some scrap yarn today. It's the "Toddler Socks" pattern by Bonnie Franz. Additionally, I worked up a couple test knits (more info in May), and began the birthday swap for Dreamsinfiber. Above is a photo collage of the WWW socks and Zach's pair. 

Inspiration is a beautiful thing!

   So... I was flipping through the channels the other night trying to find something interesting to watch, when I happened to see that HBO was re-airing one of my favorite series-- ROME. I loved that show! Of course, when it originally aired, I had yet to discover the joy of hand-painting my own yarn. But this time... my eyes have been opened to a world of possibility. 

   The series' rich and vivid colors (and characters), have inspired me to introduce a new line of colorways: the "All Roads Lead to Rome" series. I have 10 exciting colorways in mind (so far) for what is sure to be a batch of bright, bold, and vibrant hues. I plan to only make 1 hank per colorway, so if there is a character that catches your eye or intrigue, grab it fast! In the event that there are requests prior to dying, for the same colorway, by more than one person, I can arrange to make accommodations to fill everyones needs. However, once the dying process has begun, and the yarns are posted for sale on my Etsy shop, that will be the only chance to acquire these colorways. These yarns will be Superwash Merino/nylon blend sock yarn at 462 yds per hank.

   I anticipate these new colorways to be ready by the middle/end of May. Please let me know if you have a favorite character, not listed, that you would like to see dyed up. Also, please let me know if you would like a different weight other than fingering. Here is the initial list of character colorways:

• Julius Caesar
• Gaius Octavian 
  
• Mark Antony
• Atia of the Julii
• Servilia of the Junii
• Lucius Vorenus
• Niobe
• Titus Pullo
• Eirene
• Gaia

Coming Soon: New Colorways

I have ordered more stock and I have some exciting new colorways coming soon to my Etsy shop! 

• From the Globe Trekker Series:

1. Pompeii
2. Odysseus Sails

• From the Once Upon a Time Series:

1. Little Red Riding Hood
2. Hansel and Gretel
3. The Poisoned Apple (Snow White)

• From the Saturday Morning Cartoon Series:

1. X-Men's Night Crawler
2. Fraggle Rock

• From the Flotsam & Jetsam Series:

1. Boys of Summer ( surf & sun in honor of the coming summer)

Etsy

I'm open! my shop is now open at Etsy.com! Come check it out-- Fresh From the Cauldron here are a few pics to give you an idea of what you'll find; the new colorways are ready!

Wallachia

Okay, so here's one for me! I wanted to try out a new base yarn of 70% Merino Wool and 30% Silk to compare textures. The other night I was watching the show "Cities of the Underworld," and they aired an episode on Wallachia. Wallachia is where Prince Vlad the Impaler made his home. This is an excerpt from Wikipedia:

Vladislav II (c. 1390--December 1447), known as Vlad Dracul ("Vlad the Dragon"), was a voivode (duke) of Wallachia. He reigned from 1436 to 1442, and again from 1443 to 1447. He was the father of ...Vlad Tepes.... All four of his sons at one time or the other would rule Wallachia. Vlad Tepes would go on to become one of the most notorious rulers in history, and the inspiration for the novel "Dracula," by Bram Stoker. 

So this colorway was inspired by the landscape and lore of the Dracula legend. I originally envisioned an earthy brown colorway with hints and flecks of blood red to only suggest the region's gruesome past, but the end result was a pleasant surprise. When I went to heat set the dye, the red "bled" over the yarn and created an entirely new color scheme. The final product is 462 yards of deep rich tones in varying shades of red and dark brown. 

One might say that this colorway is more of a depiction of a post-massacre Wallachia at the height of Tepes' rule, as opposed to the current, subtle, mountain terrain with a secret and vicious past... 

Maharaja test knit

here are a few pics that Bindifry graciously supplied to show the progress of her knitted work with the colorway "Maharaja." This colorway is from my exclusive line of hand dyed yarns called "Fresh From the Cauldron" and part of the colorway series: "Globe Trekker". All yarns in this series will showcase colorways inspired by the cultures and landscapes of various locales around the globe. "Maharaja" is based on the the rich colors of India, especially those found in the gorgeous Sari clothing worn by the women there. 

Fresh From the Cauldron--update:

Coming soon: 

I will be offering four new colorways for sale in the next couple weeks! These exciting new hand-dyed yarns are all 462 yds of fingering weight superwash wool, and are each a part of the various Fresh From the Cauldron original colorway series. I will be making the following yarns:

1. "Strawberry Shortcake" from the Saturday Morning Cartoon Series
2. "Hans Christian Andersen's Little Mermaid" from the Once Upon a Time Series
3. "Wicked" from the On Broadway series
4. "Ginger Kitties" from the Flotsam and Jetsam series, inspired by my three favorite fictional cats: Crookshanks, Garfield, and Azriel

*If multiple requests are received for the same colorway(s), I will make arrangements to make a "batch" of that/those colorway(s).  Yarns will be listed at $20 USD + shipping each 

To see things in a different light

The pun was definitely intended in this title. ;)   I wound the four "Fresh From the Cauldron" cakes today at Lambyknits' house, and she graciously offered to take some pictures with her wonderful camera. The natural lighting, and high resolution produced stunning results  that showcased each colorway beautifully! Thank you so much Shawna for all your help, and just for being a great friend! :)

New Colorways are ready!

Pygstitches introduces its new line of hand-dyed yarn called

 "Fresh From the Cauldron"!

Here are the new pics of the first four colorways of my hand-dyed yarn. I plan to open an Etsy store soon. Meanwhile, please send all requests and inquiries to Jenpyg@aol.com

I plan to make colorways based on various themes or series. Two of the series are featured here with these four colorways. These hanks were custom ordered by Bindifry and will ship out tomorrow! 

New original colorway series:

• "Globe Trekker" --colorways inspired by various locations and or cultures around the world
• "Raid the Fridge" --colorways inspired by food or beverage
• "Saturday Morning cartoons" --colorways inspired by famous cartoon characters
• "On Broadway"-- colorways inspired by famous plays and their characters and scenes
• "Once Upon a Time" --colorways inspired by whimsical fantasy and fairytales
• "Flotsam & Jetsam" --for the random, uncharacterized colorway.  i.e. semi-solids, custom requested, and HP colorways

Pictures:

"Dublin Black" from the "Globe Trekker" series

"Crazy Curry" from the "Raid the Fridge" Series
"Gooey, Caramel Fudge Sundae" from the "Raid the Fridge" Series
"Maharaja" from the "Globe Trekker" series

*All of these also fall under the "Flotsam & Jetsam" series, because they were custom requested colorways, as well.