Ok, I know its been six months since my last post, but once you read and see what I've been doing, you'll understand. Just to refresh from my last post (end of January), myself and a wonderful woman I met at church have been trying to start a knitting group. Our goal was and still is to make knitted items that we can sell with all proceeds going to the church foundation for the various groups that they are involved in.
With that in the back of my mind I saw a really cute pattern at The Skien for knitted rabbits which would be perfect for Easter. So I knit a pair.
I put them on the table at Church where we have all the "Cards for a Cause". They weren't on the table for 10 minutes before the sold.
I knit this little bunny for a guy at work.
Bunny work shop.
I knit these two little bunnies with sock weight yarn. Quite a bit smaller than the ones knit in worsted weight. I gave them to my nieces, Kaitlin and Allison for Easter.
I knit the big bunny in the center for Rick's Dad. He was in the hospital for a while and I thought it would cheer him up.
I knit twenty two rabbits total, 19 of which sold at the church. I loved knitting them, when you put the face on they just come alive. So I started exploring other knitted toys and came upon a englishman by the name of Alan Dart. He designs and knits the most awesome toys. He has a web site where you can download his patterns at a very resonable prices.
The first toy I knit was called Star Spangled Chicken.
All the parts knit up. Dosen't look like much now.
Shaping up pretty well. I work alot outside at our picinic table. My Dad and Rick make this project together out of redwood and all bronze fasteners that cost way more than the wood. But honestly it looks so nice and it is my favorite place to be. In our backyard under the shade of the lemon tree, listening to the zebra finches and morning dove in our avary. We also have a resident pair of blue jays that hang out in our yard taking advantage of the bird bath and the few left over kibbles from Tucker and Trolly's bowls.
Chicken leg in progress.
Cock-a-doodle-doo. He is finished. It was more time consuming putting him together than knitting the parts, but well worth it.
With project finished and under my belt, I thought I would try another one of his patterns. Furry Fairies.
These little creature are about 3". All of Alan Darts patterns are knit in DK weight yarn with #2 needles. I knit another one with a purple skirt but forgot to take a picture.
Only other knitty thing to share is a knit-a-long from Super Bowl Sunday in conjuction with Interweave Knits. If memory serves me correctly its called Seafoam cardigan.
I bought the yarn two years ago at sock summit. The project is almost finished, working on the ribbing band, k4 - p2, for 4 inches on over 300 stitches. Its gotten to hot to work on it, will take up again soon.
NOW FOR SOMETHING SUPER COOL. Rick, my Dad and I took a soap making class in mid May at Pasadena City College. We really enjoyed it at Rick fell in love with making soap. We decided to start a little company. Rick would make the soap, I would package it and knit cotton washclothes, and Pop would make little wooden boxes and also knit washclothes.
Our company was born and we names it MERLIN'S MAGICAL SOAPS AND CRAFTS. Rick did alot of research on the net and found a source for high quality soap bases, essential oils and coloring. After a very short learning curve, he started churning out the most beautiful soaps.
Our soap bases are vegtable base gylcerin, available in clear, shea, and goats milk. We have made some sales so far, mostly friends of mine.
My friend Judith ordered a bunch of mini soaps for a party she had at her house.
My friend Bill's wife has ordered afew things and just yesterday Bill left a message that a friend of his wifes wanted to order a large bar of African Musk and a 3-pack of mini soaps in Rose.
My boss ordered to gift baskets for his wife and mother. Each basket contained a bath salt, large bar, 2 mini bars and a hand knit washcloth. Both soaps were done in purple and white and the scents were bamboo lily and hawaiin plumeria.
Rick has been talking with people all over the place and the reception has been a little overwelming. Our first wholesale basket is going up the street to a barbershop where Rick knows the owner. Can't wait to get the feedback from the owner and his customers.
Its kind of funny how everything is evolving. Our dining room and kitchen has turned into a soap factory and our tiny garage has turned into the packing, basket making area.
So now I have three jobs, my full-time employment at Llewellyn, my knitting business and last but not least, Merlin's Magical Soaps and Crafts.
One last cool item, I'm going to Sock Summit at the end of July.
Until next time.........
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