The Payoff

It's close at hand, finally. After two months of planning, tomorrow is finally the big stocking I'd mentioned in my last post. It's taken every bit of my spare time and weekends the last month to have it completely ready, but I'm happy to report that I actually accomplished all that I wanted to! I have over 20 other vendors stocking with me, I was blown away by the response I got when I started inviting the people who I wanted to stock with me. That's one of the best perks of this job, I have made so many friends online who share the WAHM title and have the most amazing talents. If you'd like to check it out, feel free to click the banner below!


In the middle of getting the listings up, organizing everyone's contributions and of course, dyeing, knitting and spinning to my little hearts over-content, I've also been slowly working on the main site and working out the details of some wholesale arrangements. The main site, helped along by my old friend Dustin, my go-to man for all my tech and site issues, is getting re-worked a bit so that the four different sites I'm on now are being streamlined and linked together by the main site. That includes, actually, this blog, which will be being moved onto my own server. I believe I will leave this blogger one up instead of transferring everything over there, but from now on I'll be using the one on my main site once it's up. I think. I'll have to wait for the finished product to completely decide what will happen. As for the wholesale deals being worked out, most are just products that I want to carry in my store, but there is one that is a partnership of sorts as well that I'm truly excited about. I can't reveal it quite yet, but as soon as the last little details are hammered out I'll be posting, you can be sure of that.

So forgive the dreadful way I've neglected this little corner of my online world, soon I will be back with the usual pictures of fiber and stories of munchkins. And for those of you who have emailed me to let me know you miss my posts or ask where I have been, thank you. I'm sorry I've been away, but I'm rather touched by just how many people apparently find this blog amusing enough to return to. Cheers!

What's Going On?

And why haven't I been blogging? Short, sweet and to the point - I've been busy. I have a huge stocking coming up with a ton of great guest vendors that I've been organizing, and in the meantime this blog, my home site and my Hyena cart are all getting a much needed face lift on the old design and some new features that will help them all flow together a little better. I plan on slowly moving more and more into my home site, so this will help with that change.

Then of course there's the day to day general business of raising a family, a huge amount of yard work as we redo the backyard (still a little torn up from last year's garage raising) and put in a huge garden, and some settling in as I continue to adjust to life with food intolerances. It's kind of touch and go with that last one right now.

Today I'm taking a much needed break to hang out with some fiber homies and get some knitting and spinning out of my system. I'll have to post pictures of the projects that I've been filling my spare time with soon.

In the meantime, bear with me and watch for some changes around here!

A few little highlights...

A WIP, a pair of Shorties for Holly.



My Elliebelly yarn that arrived today, a OOAK paintbrush colorway called 'Michelangelo'.





The newest additions to my roving/yarn stash. The yarn is MM 'Turning Leaves', the top roving is 'Woodland in Spring' and the pink toned one is 'Lorelei'. They're from Aimee, the yarn is payment for the roving, which I will spin up for her, and the other will be sold once it's spun up.





A detail of the bolero that I finished for Heather, the flat version just looks wonky, so just look at the post that has me wearing it, and imagine it in this lovely red!

Shakin' it Up

You're going to be seeing a few changes on here. I've come to the conclusion that the reason I spend less time blogging these days is because I'm spending more time with my knitting and spinning and business in general. So I'm combining the two!

I could, of course, open an entirely seperate blog for the business aspect, but I imagine that would make my absences even more obscene. Therefore, I plan to make this my record of craft business-y things as well, so that even if it's not my usual witty banter on my kids, dog, house, husband, and life in general...at least I will be here! And who doesn't like seeing an awesome knit or rocking handspun from time to time?

The truth is, fiber is my life at this point. It seems to be always in my hands, whether I'm knitting away at a custom or relaxing to the steady whir of my wheel. My front room has become my getaway, my dojo. While the kids quietly (and sometimes not) build their puzzles at my feet, I'm content to fold into my big leather chair and meditate on how the stitches come together, how the colors blend, and how art grows from humble beginnings.

And I see things differently from that chair. The light seems softer, turning my yarn different shades, and life seems better, slower, more refined. I love those moments. Is it any wonder I spend more and more time seeing things from that view?

Um, right, back on point. I didn't mean to wax poetic on you.

Anyway, don't be surprised if you start finding my love of fiber creeping into this blog more and more often. I'm sure when summer hits I'll be back to posts of family fun and my garden and friends, but for now, I am content to share the simple joys of my life with you.

Yes, Mom.

Alright, so here's the deal...

2 seperate webstores(2 rambunctious kids + 1 bulldog + 1 mama cat and her 4 crazy babies)+ 24 different knits/the general bustle of the holiday season = (one busy tawny)X

X = Too busy to blog

Literally I have been so busy in the last month and a half that I was lucky to get any time to myself...and when I did, blogging was the last thing on my mind.

However, I did manage to complete my Christmas shopping (all handmade either by myself or the lovely artisans of Etsy and Hyena Cart), get out all custom orders in a timely manner, and still find some time to make some Christmas crafts with my little ones. Am I still sane? Barely. Still happy? Definitely.

And so, in the custom of my usual bloggy catchup, a photo montage!

:bella not enjoying her new sweater:

:waiting patiently for tree decorating:

:plenty of tree decorating shots, taken by evan:
















:ely showing off a Very Hungry Caterpillar set I dyed and knitted:

:new glasses for mommy:



:a corner of my studio:

:evan unhappily modeling a pattern a tested:

:aidyn's first snowman:

:beautiful and silly ely modeling a custom set:







:and a christmas present hat:

:bella loves my yarn:

:paparrazzi shots by ely:

Hello....Is Anyone Still Out There?

Hello old friend. Yes, I know it has been awhile. Where have I been?

Well, knitting my fingers off, getting ready for several big events like the Latah Variety Market and the congo opening, coding and stocking products on the home site until my eyes go blurry, and generally staying a little too busy. It is paying off, however. The day of the variety fair was gloomy with a steady drizzle of rain all day, but our supportive community braved it and we had a good time anyway. The congo is really coming along, and I think our opening on the 15th will prove to be an awesome collaboration between some of my favorite local mamas. And the knitting? Well, I've knitted up three pairs of longies, a soaker, a nursing necklace, and two newborn sleepsacks in the last three weeks. One more soaker and one more nursing necklace and my part in the congo will be fulfilled.

To fill you in completely on our whereabouts and activities and life would take me the better part of the afternoon, so I'm giving you a photo montage instead, with some of the fun and creative and best times of the past few weeks. Enjoy.

:the projects:








:some things i'm especially excited about:
:a sneaky peek at our congo design:

:the pink is back in my hair:

:my new ridiculously cute a.girl bag:




:the family fun times at the fair:
:daddy participating in the logging show:

:aidyn enjoying the rides:



:my blue eyes, so beautiful she takes my breath away:

:watching brother:


:ely modeling for the fall stocking:






:relaxing at home:






:enjoying fall: