As promised, here is a photo of what went into our Summer Edition of the Sock Club. I had to laugh about the Kool-Aid. Obviously I am not a hand-dyer, because a few of you emailed to say you were momentarily alarmed to see Kool-Aid in there, thinking you’d have to dye your own yarn! Kool-Aid means “dyeing” to many, but to me it means “summer” – especially in the lemonade variety. So that was just a fun “summer” type addition to a summer package – not meant to make you work on yarn dyeing! Heather, from All Things Heather, did all of the dyeing for us. A perfect summer colorway for the Sock Club – Skinny Dipping. (A few of you have mentioned not wanting to use the cute little sheep soap so that you can save it, but the gals over at The Soap Plantation promise that if you use it, you can always hop over to their website to get more. We will also have that same “Lemon Loopy Soap” available here at The Loopy Ewe, soon. It makes a fun tuck-in gift for secret pals and knitting friends.) Thanks for all of your wonderful comments about our first venture into the sock club. I’m so glad you liked it. I already have the fall yarn here and Lisa is already working on the pattern and …. well, the fun little extra gift is also being worked on. So we’re already busy with the next installment for you.

I keep getting emails asking for a spot in the club. Unfortunately, we’re completely full for this year. Of course we’ll do it again next year and I’ll keep you posted on sign-ups via the blog and monthly customer email. However, in the meantime, I’m working on something fun to celebrate our one year anniversary in August. It’s not a Sock Club, but it will be a special limited edition offering for you that I think is going to be a lot of fun. So, there are still special things that you can be a part of.

We put up the Claudia Hand-Painted Sport Shorts over the weekend, as well as re-stocking the Wildhorse Farm patterns, adding in more lace patterns from Heartstrings, and adding in Miriam Felton’s amazing lace patterns. Next week we have a lot of yarn to go up. A LOT. We’ll see how much of it can be photo-ed in time. (We’ll also see if my shipping boxes arrive from the Post Office. Suddenly we are short shipping boxes – aack!! I’m not quite sure how that happened. And it takes forever to get them in once I order them. That’s about all I want to say about the Post Office today. I’m still not happy with them over price increases this go-round. Jeez.)

College Guy/Web Guy loved reading all of your birthday greetings – thank you so much! (I told him he ought to put all of your wonderful comments as references on his resume – ha!) Someone suggested that he can’t be College Boy anymore, now that he’s 20 – and you’re right. But College Man sounds too formal. So he’ll have to be College Guy in addition to being Web Guy. It was funny to read that several of you have daughters that turned 20 on Saturday, too.

Off to unpack more boxes of yarn that arrived today. I will have to hide it from WH. His photo-list is already too long. (Psst – I just put up more Crystal Palace Cotton Panda – woohoo!  I have 2 more new colors to add in later tonight or tomorrow – Circus and Fruit Salad.  We also have the other 6 new colors and re-stocking of everything else due to arrive any minute as well. I’ll put it up as it comes in.  I’m hoping another case or two or three will arrive tomorrow. I love this yarn.)

Sheri KnittingDaughtergaveme4moviesforMother’sDay soguesswhatwedidallafternoonandeveningyesterday?

I had to look up how to spell idiosyncrasies – and it still doesn’t look right, but my Webster’s says it is. More on that in a moment…..

I’ve had a great time reading all of your knitting tips! I’m pulling out some of my pretty crystal vases and using them for needles. (And I loved the tip about using your first spinning bits for the bottom of it. Except that I’m avoiding spinning for as long as possible. I’m afraid that I will love it and there is no time in the day for it now.) I like that the tips ranged from actual technique tips, to organizing tips, to …. well, pretty much all over the board. Keep adding to them. And I would love for some of you to take photos of your storage/organizing systems for our “Knitting Nooks & Storage Ideas” gallery. That would be fun. Several of you commented on the fact that you write everything down in a notebook. That’s exactly where the idea for Loopy’s Knit Notes for Socks came from. I was writing things down and just wanted a nicer little book with fill-in-the-blanks on part of the page so that I wasn’t re-writing the same things over and over. Of course there is plenty of space that is blank as well, for adding any other details. Thank you for all of your great tips – I knew you’d rise to the challenge!

Today’s topic – Search Engines. I was perusing the list of things that people had typed into Search Engines (like G**gle) that brought them to The Loopy Ewe. It shows what the word or phrase was, and how many people, using that phrase, have then clicked on The Loopy Ewe and come for a visit to the website. So – there is something on the website or in the blog that makes the search engine think that THIS is a viable option for what they are looking for. Here are just a few that I jotted down. Some are understandable, and some just left me scratching my head:

- “how to put perm rods in your husband’s hair”

- “loopy people photos”

- “How much is too much front loading washing machines”

- “How many shots in a venti Starbucks”

- “Ugly foot contest”

- “Grey wool birkenstock clog”

- “Chocolate covered strawberies longevity”

- “Purchase 12 silver bed and bathroom door knobs”

- “What pan size do you use for St. Louis Gooey Butter Cake”

- “Vera Bradley recipes corn salad”

- “martha frank”

- “life with loopy”

- “college fun movie”

- “for what did they eat colonial peanut butter fudge”

Search Engines are handy, but they’re also a bit weird, aren’t they? Just makes you wonder. (And if any of the above have meanings that I don’t know, then I don’t want to know. Ok?)

In Loopy News – more yarn is expected this week and next (and we’ll put them up when we get them photo-ed). Yes, I have one more Sweet Georgia order coming in, but it’s small. About 1/3 the size of our regular Sweet Georgia orders. (The size and colors were up to Felicia this time, so I have no idea what colors we’re getting.) I don’t anticipate putting that up until the first or second week in March – it hasn’t arrived yet. I do have some fun accessories coming in that you’ll like, and I have two more indie-dyers that I made plans with this week, who will show up later in the spring. More Scarlet Fleece shipped yesterday, and more Apple Laine is on the way as well. We’re always watching out for you and your knitting needs!

Sheri Zoehasdecidedthatthecomputergivesoffwarmth&sheneedstositrightinfrontofit

I have had fun reading about all of your weird things. Although, I must say that I could totally relate to an alarming number of them. Should that worry me? Wonder Husband (WH) wanted me to add another weird habit of mine – talking to our cat and dog (and really – the squirrels in the yard, the birds on a walk, etc) as if they could totally understand what I was saying. (“I have told you before not to eat out of the cat’s bowl. Why do you keep doing that? Bad dog!” or “Why are you sitting up there in the window where it’s freezing cold?”) I just don’t think that’s weird. Just sayin. Want to know something weird about WH? He leaves 1/2 inch of liquid in his glass and comes back to finish it later. After meals, after snacks, etc. Every time I find a glass like that, I know it is his. And if I toss it, he asks “Where’s the rest of my milk?” I don’t get that at all. That’s just downright weird.

A Loopy Ewe update – I put Yarntini up on the website last week. I know I didn’t mention it in the blog. The reason for that is simple. I put it up around noon one day, and we were sold out of the entire lot by dinnertime. I thought I had better say something, because I know some of you are still wondering when it’s coming in. It has come and gone. I’m hoping for some variegated skeins from Yarntini later in the spring, but that’s not a promise, yet. Just keeping my fingers crossed that that will work out. I put up more new colors of Claudia over the weekend! You all are huge Claudia fans and I know you’ll have fun with some of these new colors. Many of them are “nearly solids” (with a dash of extra color for sass), perfect for those gorgeous lace patterns that everyone is making. That makes over 50 colors of Claudia Hand Painted Fingering Weight that we have in stock. (That even amazes ME!) We also received another shipment of Sock Blocker Keychains, so those are back in stock. I just love those little things! I may have another new line up by the end of the week (depending on the photo-taking skills and time of WH), and then one or two more next week as well. Ohhhh – and the talented Katie is working on more of our Loopy/Louise/Black Bart adorable stitchmarker sets for us! When she asked me how many I wanted, I told her as MANY as she is willing to do. So I’m not sure when they will come in, but I’ll keep you posted. Also – another fun new accessory addition that my friend Georgia (the Yarn Pirate) sent me for Christmas. Of course I immediately thought that all of you needed this, too – so I ordered it for The Loopy Ewe. Watch for it by the end of the week as well.

Want to see some socks knit up from one of our new incoming lines? These are the socks I knit up on the cruise, for my Sockret Pal. I used the Aspen Colorway, in Fiber Euphoria’s exclusive “Lotus Toes” yarn line. It’s loosely spun, but knits up nice and tight for socks. The pattern is Garland Lace from Wildhorse Farm Designs. Angelina is shipping our first Fiber Euphoria order out today, so that’s the one I’m hoping to have on the website by the end of the week.

I also stared another pair of fingerless gloves on our cruise. Here’s the first one, out of Lorna’s Laces Baltic Sea. Am I the only one addicted to fingerless gloves? Both knitting them and wearing them. I love them. I ought to start making some extra pairs for Christmas gifts for next year. (Since, you know, I’m going to be so much farther ahead this year and all.) (Glovelet pattern here.) 

I thought I ought to be welcoming new members of the Loopy Groupies every so often! This is a group that you are ushered into upon your sixth order from us. You know that we love sending out little gifts with your first five orders, and with your sixth one, you get our Loopy Groupie Gift Bag with some fun stuff inside. (And special Loopy Kisses in subsequent orders, as well as advance notice whenever I add new things to the website, and special sales and offers every so often.) So a big Loopy HUG to the following Loopy Groupie members who have been Loopies for awhile, as well as the brand new members added this week: Loren in WI, Kim in PA, Jane in MI, Isobel in PA, Michelle in AZ, Bev in IL, Wendy in VA, Kathy in TX, Michelle in IL, Deborah in MI, Sue in WI, Phyll in MI, L-B in VA, Lisa in OK, Sharon in CA, Patty in IN, and the latest additions this past week: Willi in OH, Laurie in NC, Sharon in TX and Kathleen in MA! It’s fun to be a Loopie – I hope you all join these wonderful gals, soon!

Sheri oh-IalsoaddedmoreSweetGeorgiaovertheweekend-yeehaa!

Ok, ok, ok. I have been tagged more than once for the “6 Weird Things About You” meme and so here they are. I did not open this up to discussion among family members, as this is SIX weird things about me, not SIXTY weird things.

1. I love rainy days and I don’t like bright and sunny days. In fact this morning it was raining, and I found myself saying “I need to open up the shades in here so that I can enjoy this great rainy day!” I need to move to Seattle. (And yes, that does happen to be a rainy day picture from this summer when the trees still had green on them. But I like winter rains, too.)

2. I like corn, all by itself. And only frozen corn, cooked. I don’t like corn in salsa, or corn in soup, or corn in cornbread, or corn in casseroles, or corn out of a can, or creamed corn. Just regular, plain corn.

3. I read magazines from the middle to the back, and then from the middle to the front. And I can’t stand all the little cards and cardboard paper ads in them. I tear them all out before I read it. (Did you know you can cut the Reader’s Digest almost in half by just removing cards and cardboard ad pages?)

4. I like to clean the house. Now, that certainly doesn’t mean I do it as often as it needs it, necessarily, but I like the satisfaction of having worked to get it clean, and then enjoying the results. However – most of the time I’d rather be knitting than cleaning the house.

5. I’m picky about how waiters/waitresses refill water glasses when we’re out to eat. I like the ones who know not to touch the water pitcher to each glass as they pour water. (Think about it. They touch the pitcher to your glass as they fill it, then they go to the next table and the pitcher rests on the edge of that water glass, then they go to the next table and the pitcher swaps germs on the edge of that water glass, etc.) Ick.

6. When I fill the car with gas, I always have to stop the pump on a “good” number. Not $38.79, but $38.80. Not $47.13, but $47.20. I always know which gas expenses were mine on our credit card bills. I’m sure there is a benefit in knowing that.

Who will I tag? Every single one of you! But you don’t have to do six. Just leave ONE weird thing about yourself in the comments section, if you dare.

Today’s recipe comes at the end of the first week in a new year, when most people are ready to give up on their diet/exercise resolution. (Or not. Maybe you’re good. If so, you’re weird. Hey – that can be your comment today – “I’m still losing weight this week!”) If and when you DO need something really good, try this Peanut Butter Fudge. It’s wonderful.

Peanut Butter Fudge

1/3 pound graham cracker crumbs (1 pck. About 1 1/2 cups)
1/2 pound margarine, melted
1 1/4 cup crunchy peanut butter
1 pound powdered sugar
10 oz. pkg. peanut butter chips (or butterscotch chips work, too)

Combine graham cracker crumbs, margarine, peanut butter and sugar.

Mix well until smooth and creamy. Press into 9×9 pan (although I used a 9×13 pan).

Melt peanut butter chips in microwave and spread on top. Let set at room temperature until firm. Cut before refrigerating.

Pictures of my latest completed socks on Monday – I promise!

Sheri don’tbeweird-leaveacomment

Well I must tell you that I’m feeling a need to enhance my sock yarn stash a bit. I thought having 25+ future socks (plus 5 on the needles that I neglected to tell you about, plus several yarns that are on order that I neglected to tell you about) was a lot. Clearly, there are many of you who have me beat and you just keep adding to your own stash. I like that about you. And I bow to you. I will think of you as I continue to shop….

I have been planning a Sock Photo Gallery for the blog and/or website since we opened. It’s on my “to do” list. After receiving marvelous “socks in the trees” photos from Loopy Customer Extraordinaire Sharon, I’m ready to do it. (These are her great photos!) You see, any website can have a “sock photo gallery”. But obviously The Loopy Ewe website needs to put a “loopy” spin on it.
So ours will be The Socks in Trees Photo

Gallery. So – take pictures of the socks you have made from purchases at The Loopy Ewe, put your socks on a bush or branch or tree, with or without sock blockers – and email your photos to us so that we can include them (and YOU!) in our gallery. Now isn’t that just a bit more fun than sticking them on your feet or laying them on the floor for a photo? Just sayin’. (And aren’t Sharon’s socks great? This is Sweet Georgia Kissed – more arriving any day here – and Claudia Hand-Painted Jungle Sport.)

It’s Field Trip Day. Today I have a knitting group of women coming over from Illinois to do a Loopy Field Trip. I also have another gal coming from mid-Missouri for the same thing. It will be a fun afternoon of sharing the Loopy Room. (You know, the “room” will soon be a misnomer. It is expanding out of its borders and will continue to grow because I have so many fun things on order for us. However, I’ll probably always call it The Loopy Room. It makes people wonder, when I say that I’ve been in The Loopy Room all day – and I like that….)

Did you see two new additions that I added last night? Well, some of you did because you have already ordered them! One customer told me she can “sense” when I put new things up on the website. Oh, she’s good. We have added Colonial Rosewood DPN’s (I love these) and the cutest sheep notecards from my new friend Kelly at Romney Ridge Farm. One day, she’s going to let me come and knit in the pasture with her adorable sheep. That seems like a pretty fitting “loopy” thing to do.

Sheri doesanyonehaveholidayshoppingdone?becauseIhaven’t&I’mstartingtoworry

Are my neighbors watching me behind the curtains? Because I’m wondering what they think when I line up a bunch of socks along the fence, or hang sock blockers and socks in the bushes. Not only that, but then I take photo evidence of that loopyness? Maybe I ought to go to the next neighborhood meeting and listen in…..

Remember this? It turned into these! Yes, I actually knit the second sock immediately after finishing the first sock. Why? Because I love knitting with this merino/tencel blend (which you can find in our Yarn Pirate line and our All Things Heather line), and because I love the colors in this colorway – blues and browns (with white thrown in for fun). I had plenty of yarn leftover from the skein – to add to all of my other leftover sock skeins. I’m thinking I might need to make a log cabin sock quilt. After I finish my other log cabin quilt. ahem.

Remember this? It turned into this. (Well no, it’s not really hanging in a bush. That’s just for the photo…) I had this Sock Blocker Keychain attached to my purse and it was just fine and dandy for several weeks (and brought up lots of good knitting conversations with people). Then one day last week, I went to reach for my purse in the backseat, and …. it came up like this. Empty. The cute sock is gone gone gone. On the one hand, I’m sad to have lost it. It was cute and I liked the colors. On the other hand, it was quick and easy to knit up, and maybe I ought to just knit it up again with the leftovers from Frost? On the third hand, I wish I could see the person who finds that miniature sock somewhere (who knows where). Don’t you bet they’ll just have a fun time trying to figure out who would be missing one teeny tiny sock? I’m going to hot glue the next sock on there.

College Boy has come and gone. We loved having him home. I said to Knitting Daughter, “What will I do when you BOTH leave after a weekend at home?” She said, “Don’t think about it.” So I said, “Yes, but you can imagine how lonely it will be here that Sunday afternoon?? I mean, your dad and I will just mope around. It’s going to be awful.” and she said, “MOM! Don’t THINK about it!!” So I’m not. I’m consoling myself with enhancing my sock yarn stash, instead. (When all else fails, buy more yarn.) Here is the current pile. There are 25 bags in there, representing 25 pairs of future socks, yet to be made. Some are yarns I’m testing for possible future additions to The Loopy Ewe, some are just yarns that I like, but all are waiting to be made into socks. And to be honest, there are at least 20 more “in stock” in the Loopy Room that I have pegged for my own stash. I’m just trying to leave as many as possible for you. Either that, or I just ran out of room in my stacking baskets…….

Sheri shareifyoudare-howmany”futuresocks”doyouhaveinyourstash?