It’s ready! We’ve had a lot of fun working out all of the details of our 2010 Sock Club. It takes a lot of planning to get everything in place, but we’re ready to share it with you. Here’s how it works:

The Loopy Ewe Sock Club runs for the entire year, with shipments coming every other month, beginning in March. If you sign up and get a spot, you can expect to receive your kits in March, May, July, September and November, for a total of 5 kits. The kits will ship by the 15th of the month.

This year, our theme is “Celebrations” and our first kit will celebrate Spring. (Spring in the U.S. I know not all of you experience it the same time that we do!) This year we’ve added something new. In addition to getting a sock pattern written especially for each kit, you’ll also receive a non-sock pattern written for that kit as well. That way, you can decide if you feel like socks in that colorway, or something else. Each kit will also include an exclusively dyed colorway just for our club (some months will be multi-colors, some will be semi-solids) and some fun extra that we have come up with to include for you as well. The retail value of our kits will vary between $44 and $50+ from month to month, but your cost is $39 plus shipping. (Remember, you also earn Frequent Shopper Benefits from all of your purchases here, including Sock Club Kits. That means that you get 10% back every time your orders accumulate to $250. Another benefit and value!)

We have five great yarn companies/dyers lined up and excited about providing you with a special colorway, as well as some amazing designers who are already going to town on their ideas. We’ve also added more spots for the 2010 club. We know that you prefer to be invoiced for each kit when it’s ready to ship, instead of paying for the whole year up front. We’ll continue to do that, and will trust that you realize that this is a year-long commitment, even though you pay as you go. If you prefer to make one payment up front, just send us an email after you get your Sock Club confirmation email, and we’ll work that out for you. (There’s not an additional discount for paying up front, since the kit is already such a great value. We just know that some of you would rather pay once and not have to worry about it.)

Signups will be open from today (January 15th) through next Friday (January 22nd). After signups close, we’ll run a lottery to assign the spots. If last year was your first year in the Sock Club, you get an automatic spot in the 2010 club, although you do need to officially sign up again so that we know you want to repeat. If you have been in for two or more years, we’d love to have you back again – please sign up and we’ll cross our fingers that the lottery assigns you a spot! You can expect an email from us the last week in January, letting you know the results, either way.

Thank you again for your support of our Sock Club. We answer emails all year long from people asking about it, and we look forward to a new year as much as you do! Here’s the link to sign up if you’re interested.

Note about this coming Monday: No shipping (due to a holiday here in the U.S.). But we will have new things going up Monday night, and I’ll be blogging about voting on 4th Qtr Challenge photos, plus filling you in on the new 1st Qtr ’10 Challenge! I have my yarn picked out – just need to settle on a pattern. I’ll share on Monday….

Sheri whoalreadyhasthefirsttwosockclubkitcolorwaysinheroffice
andisanxioustoknitthemup

Another TNNA Market come and gone. Here’s the morning view from my hotel window (with the Convention Center right there.) The winter one is always in January in CA, and the summer one is in June in OH. I have missed a couple, due to scheduling conflicts, but most of the time, I’m there. I think it’s important to stay up on what’s new in the industry and I know you want me there, scouting things out – right? I knew that I was on the right flight when I saw this person in the waiting area. Dreads with novelty yarn. How …. novel. (I kinneared it. Can you tell?) This must be an ongoing hairstyle for her, as I caught sight of this gal each day on the market floor. Interesting.

I took two great classes with Cat Bordhi, who has now inspired me to doodle up some patterns. I had the best burger ever with cute Marly from the Yarn Thing podcast. (This is Marly’s third burger from this place in two days. Lunch and dinner on Saturday, lunch on Sunday. That’s how good these burgers are.) Marly is also an amazing designer, and we met because I stopped her in the aisle to tell her how much I loved the vest she was wearing (which just happened to be one of her own designs. Available here on Ravelry, and we’ll also have them soon at The Loopy Ewe.) Actually, she is also a long time Loopy customer, so it was doubly fun to meet her in person.

Of course I ordered lots of fun things for all of us. Two new yarn lines from yarn companies that you already know and love. Two new yarn lines with non-wool bases – those will be fun. We’re also adding in Kollage’s square DPN’s and circs, which many of you have been asking for. I found a really fun new accessory line, but when I tried to describe it to a friend in an email, it didn’t work. How about if I just show you when they arrive? I also found three more lines that I will be ordering in the coming weeks. (Some of these things must be spread out a little, you know.) They’ll be perfect for spring and summer. I promise to keep you posted on these things, just as soon as they start arriving. We also have a lot of things arriving that I ordered before I went to TNNA, so the next weeks are going to be full!

The new Namaste bag and wallet were a big hit. I came home with it in …. red. You could’ve guessed that, right? (But I am sorely tempted by the Peacock and Eggplant, too.) Many of you have been asking for photos of the insides, as well as wondering how it compares to other Namaste bag sizes. Here is a photo with (L-R) the Hermosa, the Zuma, and the new Monroe. Also, the new wallet. (The red on the Monroe and the wallet is the same red as the Red Hermosa’s and Buddy Cases we’ve had all along. For some reason, it looks a little different on my computer screen in this photo, but it is the same red.) The Monroe has 3 roomy sections (2 sections snap closed, one zips closed). I had plenty of room for my wallet, my sock project bag, my Kindle, and other misc. things in there. There are also pockets for phone/camera/glasses in two of the sections, as well as zippered pockets in two of the sections. And a clip tab to keep both straps together, if you don’t like purses that let one strap flop off of your shoulder when you’re out and about. We already have the Monroe’s and the wallets enroute to us, and you can pre-order them by sending us an email (support@theloopyewe.com). They come in Peacock, Lime, Eggplant, Black, Red and Hollywood Pink. The Monroe is $75 and the wallet is $35. They have also just come out with Circular Needle Cases, which will start shipping to us in early February. I will get a photo of one to share with you later.

So that’s the quick synopsis of my time in Long Beach. I wish I could say that I sat outside and enjoyed the nice weather. The days were long and I found that I was over at the Convention Center for 10-12 hours a day, so that made for very little time to enjoy the weather. It was, however, a nice little walk there and back each day. And there was a Starbucks attached to the hotel, which carried me through those long days just fine. (Lest you start thinking that I was working too hard and didn’t enjoy my time there. I did.)

Sheri workingonanewsockinoneofthenewnon-woolyarns.
Ilikeit!

Amidst the blowing, bitter cold, we’ve had a lambing here at The Loopy Ewe. And the Fed Ex guy delivered all of them. Who knew that he had lambing skills, too? We didn’t expect this shipment until the Spring (because that’s when most little lambs arrive) but they’re here! It’s so fun to have these smiling Loopy Dudes back again. We tend to decorate with them, because they make us smile when they peer out from different spots and spaces here at Loopy Central. I think I told you awhile back that the company that we get these from had discontinued them without notice. After I sent a link to some of our Loopy’s Summer Vacation photos, they agreed that we could not do without them. (Well, it was the link PLUS the fact that I agreed to buy a whopping quantity of them.) So they’ve been made again, just for us. I hope they bring you a lot of smiles. We’re glad to have them back. Top photo note – the middle one was a little mischievous and wanted to imitate Wednesday’s blog photo. When you order one, you might leave us an order note and tell us if you want a mischievous Little Loopy or a complacent one. There is obviously a difference in personality (and trouble-making capacity).

Today’s recipe is one that my friend Monica jiggered up. We were out to lunch last spring and had something similar to this. She went home and found a similar recipe, then made it a few times to perfect her version. They are delicious!

Monica’s Asian Green Beans (or Asparagus)

2-3 lbs. green beans or asparagus
2 tsp. canola oil
4 garlic cloves, minced
6 Tbl. + 1 Tbl. low sodium Tamari soy sauce
3 Tbl. honey
1 1/2 Tbl. dry sherry
1/2 to 1 tsp. garlic chili sauce (or more for spicier)
2 tsp. sesame oil
1/2 tsp. fresh ginger, minced
1 Tbl. corn starch
2 Tbl. toasted sesame seeds

Steam green beans or asparagus until crisp tender and set aside.

In skillet, saute garlic and ginger in oil on med-high heat for 1 minute. Add to skillet 6 Tbl. Tamari, honey, sherry, garlic chili sauce and sesame oil and simmer on low for 10 minutes.

In small bowl, whisk together corn starch and 1 Tbl. Tamari. Add to skillet and stir and heat until thickened.  Toss green beans/asparagus with sauce, place on platter and sprinkle with sesame seeds. YUM!

I’m wondering whose idea it was to take a 6:45 am flight out of St. Louis this morning? That meant being at the airport at 5:45 am. That meant leaving my house at 5:00 am. That meant getting up at 4:15 am. And did I mention that I’m so not a morning person? FPS.

Sheri areyouamorningornightperson?Someofyouwould’velovedthisflight.

Wednesday Forecast: Snow. 5-6″, starting at dinnertime. Single digits, with windchills below zero. We’re going to get buried here in the Midwest. (Well – “buried” is relative. It’s considered buried for us.) I’m ready. I love snow. It does help that I’m only 3 blocks from Loopy and have few other places to go in this weather.

Thursday Forecast: Continued snow and cold temperatures. Many school closings already in the works. Loopy Elves are quickly pointing out that they may not be able to make it in to work. College Daughter may need to Elf tomorrow. Orders may take an extra day to get out, due to anticipated Elf Shortage.

Friday Forecast: Sunny, highs in the mid 70′s. A delightful day. (Granted, this is in California, not St. Louis. Seems like a really good time for me to be heading out to our twice-a-year TNNA Market, doesn’t it?)

Saturday/Sunday Forecast: Continued sunny and warm. Much yarn buying going on. Many decisions to make. Not much knitting going on.

Monday Forecast: Continued sunny and warm, turning to freezing and cold as the plane leaves CA and gets back to St. Louis on Monday night. No Sneak Up, no blog, but we’ll be sure to have new things up for you on Tuesday, and a blog full of TNNA info on Wednesday.

Or ….. this may all be a hoax. Sometimes the grocery stores bribe the weather people to make these things up. That way, there is a run on bread and milk, but then nothing ever happens. We’ll see. (And as a knitter, I’m much more concerned about whether or not I have enough projects to last me through the storm – the heck with the bread and milk.)

Sheri what’stheforecastinyourneckofthewoods?

Are you saying “two thousand and ten” or “twenty ten”? I like how Twenty Ten sounds. It sounds way more fun than the longer version. (How can words sound fun? Don’t ask me. I just call ‘em as I see ‘em.) I’m predicting that 2010 will be FUN, because it just sounds like it ought to be a cool year. Plus, after 2009, I think we could all use a fun year. Here are two ways to put some fun into this week:

1. Make some Oven S’Mores. (Or “Shmoes” as we call them. Rhymes with Joes. I don’t know where that name came from, but it stuck a long time ago. Maybe you need a Cuppa Joe and a Shmoe today? These four sure look like they’re enjoying them. I’m pretty sure they’ll be thrilled that I shared this photo with you … )

3 packs of graham crackers (one box, 3 individually wrapped packs inside)
1 pack of milk chocolate chips
1 bag of marshmallows

Line a 12 x 15 jelly roll pan with a single layer of crackers. Sprinkle chocolate chips over the crackers. Top with marshmallows. Place in 250 degree oven for 15-20 minutes (but watch carefully so they don’t overbrown). Enjoy while hot!

Variations: use different flavors of chips – mint chocolate chips are great. Also, you can officially call them Gourmet Shmoes if you top them with raspberries or strawberry slices when they come out of the oven. Seriously.  And if you have leftovers? Store in a container with a lid and zap them for 20 seconds in the microwave when you’re ready for another.

2. The second way to put some fun into your week? Check out today’s Sneak UPdate. We added in more Claudia Hand Painted, Hand Maiden Mini Maiden, Malabrigo Sock/Silk/Worsted, Perchance to Knit Lace, and 2 new Shibui colors – Juniper and Cranberry. Click on See What’s New on the homepage to keep up with new additions to the website. (Did you miss last week’s Sneak Up? Those items will still appear on later pages of What’s New. The new stuff goes up on the front end. You can usually see what has been new in the last 2-3 Weekly Sneak Ups by checking What’s New. As the list grows, the older “new” items drop off the back end in the order that they came in.)

I know that many of you worked hard on putting fun and love into other peoples’ lives during our Random Acts of Kindness contests in December. A big thank you to everyone who participated! The winner of the third and final contest was Susan in California, who won a $50 Loopy Ewe Gift Certificate. We’ll do this again in 2010. You might want to practice up all year long. (That’s my plan.)

Don’t forget to upload your shawl photos for the Fourth Quarter Challenge. They’re due in by 1/7. (Make sure you either link to the yarn you used in your shawl, or leave the information in the notes with your photo. Any shawls made with yarn that we carry at The Loopy Ewe are eligible.) I’ll announce the new First Quarter Challenge next week – and it will be fun!

Sheri whohastowavegoodbyetoWebGuyashefliesbacktoFLtoday.Sad.
MaybeIneedacuppajoeandashmoe…