I have been wanting one for almost a year now, and for the first time, I have been able to buy the one I want.  I have been researching sewing machines almost as long, and I can say from a place of a great deal of information, I have one of the best quilting machines on the market today.

Of course, I could not go get said sewing machine without the whole posse in tow.  Mom had to come, I mean, it is my first sewing machine.  David had to come, it is a huge purchase, and I couldn’t very well leave my little man Hank behind for so long, so he had to come meet his new buddy.

Hank got a new friend yesterday.  He was very excited to go meet her.

We went to the nearest Viking Authorized dealer which is, I know you are shocked, inside my favorite crafting store, Jo-Ann’s.

It wasn’t a hard decision, however, I was planning on getting a different model.  However, they had sold the last one the day before.

The lady called the Cool Springs Store,  and they had the very machine I wanted, but it was way more than I wanted to spend.  But, to make the sale, the Cool Springs store sweetened the pot, she offered to throw in a $200 dual feed pressure foot for FREE!

It was tempting, but still out of my price range.  So I turned back to the sewing machine they had at my local shop.

Hank had made a new friend.  He liked the sewing machine in the store. The sales person I was talking to made a deal to try to close the sale.  It was a good deal too.  She offered the same pressure foot OR a custom acrylic sewing table that fits around the sewing arm that makes the sewing machine feel like it is in a cabinet (that allows you to have endless table space without your project falling off the machine.)

This thing is so amazing because it gives you the sewing cabinet feeling without having to buy a sewing cabinet!  It is a $150 item that is custom made that she was willing to give me free with this machine.  Needless to say, SOLD!

I got it home, and promptly started un-packing and playing.

This is me and total elation.

and the control…And we are all happy together…

And finally me playing with the new family member.  This was the coolest thing ever.

It was an amazing night of discovering lots of things my machine can do.  I am super excited.  Many presents will made and many things will be sewn and listed on Etsy. Keep an eye out for sales on first production runs..

Go, go Sewing machine, AWAY!  I am off to play…I mean sew…

My friend bought me my first skein of Socks that Rock as a trade for making her some baby shower invitations.  I didn’t expect payment, but it is Socks that Rock, so who’s going to argue.

She bought this yarn with the agreement that I would knit them into Leyburns a toe up sock.  So that she could teach me several new techniques.  I have had this yarn for what seems like forever.  (It is probably only about 5 months, but considering how pretty it is, that is WAY too long.)

I sent a message on Ravelry and we made plans to get together the Monday after the 4th of July.

We went to lunch, and then to Centennial Park to knit under a large shade tree.  The heat was even manageable!

So here is how it went.  By the way toe-up socks are so A-MAZ-ING!  They are so quick to knit and the heel is just magic.

That is my first non-grafted toe.  Did I mention it is magic?

And it fits perfectly!

After knitting in the park for several hours, Hank needed to cool off, so we all went to Taste-de-lite in Nashville.  Yes, there is one in Nashville.  It is next to the Rite-Aid on the corner across from Vanderbilt.   Super Yummy.

Later that night, I got this far on my sock.  Did I mention that Toe-up socks are now my obsesssion.  I want to knit them all the time because they are so fast?!

Happiness is knitting that much in one day!  Happiness is sitting in a park with a good friend and not having to worry about working, or listing on Etsy, or any of that other stuff.  Happiness is simplicity.

Hank and I visited Knitch.  There we meet lovely women who have some very, very rad tattoos.  They were also super impressed with all of the Erin.Lane products that I showed them.  And, since I didn’t see a knitting tote or needle case in the store, I am hoping they are in the market for a bag company.  That would be me, please.  Them maybe Hank can have some more playmates.

Next, Hank wanted to ride a scooter.  However, his legs wouldn’t reach.  He was upset, so I consoled him with lunch.

Next we went to Bloomingdales to return a dress my sister had purchased.  It was a lovely dress, but it just did nothing for her figure.  So sadly we had to take it back.  It was there that Hank met a lovely Furla bag.  I think she was totally into him and wanted to go out, but Hank already has a lady friend–Harriet.

Finally, we had to stop by Sam Flax for a few art supplies for the studio and for some retailers.  It was a nice place and Hank had a good time looking at all the pretty colors.  He even met some of his kin, in the Jacquard Acid Dyes section.  We waved and chatted for a little bit, but we had to head on to the task at hand.

After the long day we went home to Tracy’s and waited for the A/C repair man.  Hank was very warm and therefore refused to have his picture taken.  He didn’t want anyone to see him “un-done.”

He was a great travel companion.  He helped us pack the trunk.

Then he made a new friend.  I think he is sweet on my little, red, zippy, car, Harriet. Our next stop was at Sew-Bee-It.  The best quilting store I think I have ever been in.  He was a huge hit and all the ladies cooed over how cute he was.

When we got to my sister’s, he made fast friends with her puppies.  Proof he is a good skein.  He is so sweet.

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It was a great trip to see her.  More adventures will be posted soon.  Hank is definitely on the move.

I want a puppy.  I want the sweet little ears and little growl, and soft, puffy fur.  I want a puppy.  However, since, I am broke, and a puppy is expensive, I don’t have one.

Instead, I have yarn.

I have decided since I can’t have a puppy to train, I will instead take one skein of yarn and make it my little puppy-like pal.  I am even going to be one of those people who carries my pet around in my purse.  However, I don’t have to walk him or teach him not to beg.  He is already very social, and polite to everyone he meets.  He is very adventurous and loves to travel.  He is very colorful and never, ever, snaps at new people.

Meet Hank.

Hank is a 4 ounce skein of Pagewood Farms Hand dyed sock yarn.  He was born in San Pedro, California, and 80% Merino, 10% Cashmere, and 10% nylon.  His coloring is called Spring Bright.  He is a lovely companion.

I love him.  He is a perfect little pet skein.  He even lets me pet him when I am sad.

Hank for the win.

We are in the studio fighting unbearable heat and making KNITPacks like crazy people.

My Aunt Jan has a friend who saw my mom’s KNITPACK Ultimate and she immediately wanted one.  (All of Aunt Jan’s friends have great taste, what can I say?!)  She also works in a yarn store in Michigan and wants the owner to see one.

Ummm, let me think, YES!

So off to JoAnn’s and then to the studio to cut and plan and sew.

I know most of you out there love a handmake product, but many time, and I am guilty of this, I forget how much effort goes into each piece.

The Ultimate reminds me of that EVERY TIME I MAKE ONE!

I love the Ultimate, but sometimes it seems never ending.

Here is the first stage, after of course cutting.  This is where we decide which fabrics lay where and how to best match the canvas for the Interchangeable pocket.

Stage two is sewing all the Interchangeable pockets.  I will spare you the tedium…

Here is stage three: We lay out the ribbons and decide which ones look the best.

Stage four is where we cut each ribbon for all the different pockets and fold lines.

Stage 5 is where we START sewing.

I think you are probably getting my point, but I have to say, when we are done, it is totally worth it in every way.

Check this out.

After several messages sent and received, while cleaning up the studio, I found the exact fabric already cut into the product she wanted, the KNITPack Crossover.

I informed her, mad the KNITPack, and rushed to the post office!

In no time, there it was going over land, not sea, to get to our northern neighbors in Canada.

I couldn’t think of a better way to start the summer, than shipping a KNITPack to another country.

HOORAY!

After all the field trips, assemblies, play performances, and movie parties, I survived and have all my hair!  It’s a miracle.

To celebrate the end of the school year and the beginning of summer, I have decided to have a little Etsy sale.  Starting today and going until the 1st of July, everything in the shop will be 10% off the listed price.

This would be a great opportunity to stop shoving your knitting needles in a drawer and start getting them organized.

This will help you stop spending money on needles and allow you to put that 18 dollars for that pair of Addi’s into your next project!

Check the shop regularly.  Since I am out of school the sewing machine never gets a day off.  There will be a lot of new things listed everyday!  I hope there is something for everyone, and like always, if you have a specific request, let us know.  We will do what we can to make it a reality…

I know it sounds ridiculous, but I have only 1 more day where I have all of my classes and all of my students in those classes.  The end of the year is filled with talent shows, play performances, field trips, and everything in between.

I am already tired of taking up field trip money and I have at least one more field trip on the horizon.  Thank God that my students did well on their writing assessment, but I really don’t want to take them to the park.  Can’t we just watch a movie.  I mean really.  I don’t want to monitor the couples on the trip to make sure they aren’t making out.  And I know from the other teachers who are going, that responsibility will fall solely on me.  UGH.  I know it is not much longer, but I really can’t wait until it is over and I can sleep in and knit and sew without having screaming eighth graders in my day, at least for a little while.