Pinch Me, I'm Dreaming

We made a trip to Brown Sheep Company this past weekend to visit with Peggy and to discuss my purses. She was kind enough to take precious time to show me and my family around the mill. It was as cool as you'd imagine! What an interesting place and a great company. I was really impressed with the company's principles. When you buy a Brown Sheep yarn, you can be proud that it is 100% American made and that is really a priority they hold high. I could also tell that it is a real family-oriented and family-friendly company, which is so awesome. Peggy had no problem with my entire family hanging out while we talked.

The really great and encouraging news is that she likes my work and was really supportive! I'm truly humbled that Peggy, who has seen a lot of knitting and patterns and designers, really genuinely seemed to like my work. My next goal is to organize my designs to get ready for Peggy to take on the road. I've got a lot of work to do! Luckily I have a lot sketched out! I guess those sleepless nights have come in handy afterall!

The part of the visit that was the most fun was when Peggy handed me a swatch card and told me to pick out colors I'd like to test with! Um, does this kind of stuff really happen to me ever? No! She was serious though. I could pick out yarn--for free. You should have seen my face. Heck, I should have seen my face! I can imagine it was funny. You have to remember the name of my blog is I HEART YARN. And what's better than I heart yarn? I heart free yarn. Of course my little guy picked that exact moment to need a nursing. ARE YOU KIDDING ME??? The kid can wait I thought. Uh, no Carolyn, he can't--as my husband hands him off to me. I try to explain to him that it would be like pulling him out of the World Poker Tour and he reminds me that he has been pulled away from such events for our kids. Oh. Yeah. If I knew a genie in a bottle I'd wish to be spontaneously able to make Brian lactate in situations such as these. I'd be very careful with not taking advantage of him. But this would have been one of those situations I'd have used up. So, off I go to nurse. I still got to look at the swatch while nursing and then Bri wrote down numbers for Peggy.

Anyway, it was a really fun trip. I had never been to Nebraska. It was a cute town with nice people. If you've never knit with Brown Sheep, the next time you are choosing felting yarn remember Brown Sheep. And I'm not just saying that to get more free yarn. Seriously. They're a really great company.

New Purse and Preschool

Here is a picture of the newest purse I've created. This is before any of the embellishments or handles or fabric have gone on. I made this specific purse to be featured in the next issue of Yarn Forward magazine. I'll post more when the issue comes out. Since I was commissioned to create the purse for the magazine, I can't post the pattern to my site. But I have two other purse patterns I'll be posting soon enough.

Things are going well with Stripes-N-Polka Dots. I've been sending my patterns to various yarn stores that inquire. And individuals are also buying the patterns. More exciting than selling the patterns is seeing people complete my patterns and post pictures on their own blogs. Please do send me to your site if you've purchased a pattern and post your finished product online.



On the home front, MiniMe started preschool on Monday. She was a trooper. I'm the one who fell apart. Her teacher sent a photo of her playing outside happily to my cell phone because she could tell I was really worried and sad. It was my birthday but do you think I could enjoy myself? My stomach was in knots. I'm not even sure why. When your children are suddenly no longer in your control or care it is a really uneasy feeling. Turns out I was worried for nothing. Her teacher said she is the most social girl she's ever met. She said she went to introduce herself and stuck out her hand and MiniMe gave her a hug instead. I still can't help but worry. I drove by the preschool that first morning and slowed down to see if she was in the playground and if she was happy. I felt like a stalker.Watching children play from my car isn't the best idea I guess.

Most recently my feelings got so hurt (yes, I was still hormonal from the pregnancy) when we were at a function with other kiddos and a little girl was so mean to MiniMe. In front of me no less! It was so painful to watch and not be able to explain to my girl that not everybody is kind. It is those type of situations I want to protect her from. But I can't. So, I take her to preschool knowing that she could get hurt both emotionally and physically, she could catch a sickness, she could learn a bad habit, she could learn to curse, she could get a sunburn because she doesn't get lathered as much as if I were doing it, and countless other things "could" happen. I just can't live like that. It is so true when people tell you that cliche that having a child is like having your heart on the outside, isn't it? This is only the beginning........

Miter Madness

Iblame Cara. I'm a bit late on the miter bandwagon but I've officially joined the craze. It is fun to knit these little squares! Who would have believed it could be so addicting?

Does your knitting slow down once summer comes? I always look forward to nap time so I can just be by myself and knit but definitely when summer is here I find myself wanting to be outside.

I'm getting a bit more sleep since the last post but not that much more. I guess I'm just resolved to it now. All it takes is a smile from my little guy and it is all worth it. I melt. I keep telling myself it is such a small window of time. I am trying to cherish his littleness. I want to remember this really sweet time. It helps me to think this way and alter my attitude. I *get* to wake up and spend sweet moments with my son! Thanks for all the encouraging email messages. It is good to know I'm not alone!

One thing that is getting to me is the darn weight isn't coming off as fast as it did with my girl. I have 15 lbs. to go. I made the mistake of going to the pool the other day. I remember the days where I never thought twice about walking from my chair to the pool. Now I book it as fast as I can to hide in the water. I just don't feel good at this weight at all. I know it is shallow but what can I say? Shopping just isn't fun. I refuse to buy clothes to fit my current size and I just look longingly at the clothes I wore last summer. I did go to Old Navy and is it just me or do the non-pregnancy clothes all look like preggo clothes now? There are so many shirts with baggy stomachs. Not flattering but I'm secretly grateful for this new fashion.

Ok, and here is the other thing I noticed at the pool. I'm getting older. Yes, this realization shouldn't be a surprise but it is. Am I out of style? Do I have "mom" style now? I find that I can't quite figure out people's ages anymore. I used to classify people as either older or younger than me. I find that when I hear a person's age now that they seem to be younger than me. Or I'm amazed when someone who seems older than me for whatever reason (more kids, in a professional position workwise, has a minivan, etc.) is actually my age! Or I turn up a song in my car and find myself thinking it's "an oldie but a goodie" (i.e., Roxanne, Red Red Wine, Everybody Wants to Rule the World to name a recent few). And how long have people known what badonkadonk means and I'm just now in the know? My husband had a good laugh when I told him I liked the "new" song, "I'm Bringing Sexy Back." Not so new.

On a tangent, my daughter is learning to potty and wanted privacy in a stall at a restaurant. I'm Bringing Sexy Back was on the overhead stereo in the restroom. I could hear her humming to it. It was too funny. Even she is more hip than I am.