Church photo shoot!!!!!!

Check out this great article on Church. My wrap was used in the 4th picture!!!!

Spun Out

I have been working with an Australian company for the past few months. The owner of the Wool Shack contacted me interested in my batts for a new site she is launching. Spun Out finally launched this last week.

Happy Halloween

Can you guess who I am????? I will give you a hint....I am just a waitress! HAPPY HALLOWEEN EVERYONE!

Curse You Lisa Shawl!

The chunky cowl craze has definitely not come to an end, however I am taking on a challenge. My dear knitting/spinning friend Lisa had to have a good laugh at how different our knitting styles are as she just finished a very finely knit cowl. I took that laugh as a challenge and got into the stash and cast on the Boneyard Shawl.
I am using Possum Lace from Cherry Tree Hill yarns. Yep I said possum. It is 70% superwash merino and 30% possum. I haven't decided if I think it is totally gross or not that I will be wearing the ugly, creepy little animal fiber around my neck, but it is oh so soft. I have never made a shawl before and don't particularly think of myself as a shawl person. Once again Lisa is to blame for this. She has been on a major lace and shawl kick lately, which has sparked my interest. I originally thought I would go for more of a rectangular wrap style shawl so I could wrap up in it at home on those cold winter days. When I came across the Boneyard Shawl though and saw how it was warn as a scarf I just couldn't resist.

I also finished seaming up Riley's birthday CSJ. I got it done in time for her to wear it for her school pictures. I am really glad that I ended up doing this sweater for her. It has made me decide that I have no desire to make the ASJ for myself. I am really disappointed in how this sweater finished up. I have made the BSJ and found that enjoyable to knit but everything was all done by the time you put it together. With the CSJ you have to add length to the sleeves as well as the button band after you are done knitting. I chose not to put a button band on Riley's jacket and just did a crochet trim around it and the collar.



On the fiber front I have been busy filling orders for Paradise Fibers and Spun Out. Spun Out should have their site launched by the end of the month! I do have a couple of new colorways in the Etsy store. Still loving the fall weather, which still remains a big influence in my batts.

We are desperately trying to stay healthy. The swine flu has hit our elementary school. There was a point last week that over 70 kids were sick, so Tyler and I decided to keep the kids home for a couple of days. Chapin ended up coming down with a touch of the stomach flu, but other then that we seem to be hanging in there. Chapin's skin is in really good shape right now, so his immune system actually has a fighting chance.

You may have noticed from the picture that I drastically changed my hair. I have been bleach blonde for over 15 years and it was finally time for a change. My natural color is still a light blonde, which is what I am going for. The red/brown was a bit of an accident, but I am slowly getting used to it.

Chunky Cowl Craze!

Lots of changes going on here at Hanks. I launched a new website. This time around I had a graphic designer do it for me. We are still fine tuning some things and changing around the pictures, but feel free to check it out. If you are in the market for a new site I would highly recommend Sandra Busta. She was great to work with and reasonably priced. I have also launched a new Etsy site that I will be selling some of my handknit goods at. At the moment Church is still working on their website, so in the meantime my knitted goods will be available on Etsy.

I have been knitting cowls like crazy lately. With the weather change right around the corner I am ready to be cozy and warm. These chunky cowls are fun to wear and very versatile. Many are large enough to wear over your shoulders or to use as a hood, or if you are like me and enjoy having the big huge chunky mass of fiber around your neck.

Is it October already?

I always get so excited for school to start so we can get on a routine and not be so busy. I always seem to forget that once school starts we tend to be non-stop busy through January. Of course the Andersen family has been blessed with the back to school bug. It started with Riley the first week back at school and went through all of us. We even continued to pass the joy onto my parents who visited last week for Riley's birthday.

Lots to catch up on though. Church's opening went really well and they are continuing to get a lot of press and celebrity clients.



I am still knitting like crazy for them. I am on a scarf and cowl kick right now.
In between knitting for Church I have managed to make a few pairs of socks for myself, a sweater for Riley (CSJ), and casted on another sweater for me.

I attended the Oregon Flock and Fiber Festival last Sunday with my friend Carla. We had a great time and I am happy to report that I kept myself in control and only spent $35! This was an all time festival record for yours truly! I managed to buy 2 fleeces and 1/2oz of angelina fiber for that $35, not too shabby. I bought a beautiful 4lb Jacob fleece that I am working on processing. Carla and I also bought a 6lb Churro fleece that we are going to split.

I am also working on a new website. I finally decided to pay a professional to put one together for me. We have been working on it for a good month now and I am hoping to have it up by the end of October. I am also in the works of opening another Etsy store for my hand knit goods. Church is still working on their website, so in the meantime I will be selling my items on Etsy. I am hoping to have some stuff listed in the next few weeks.

If you are interested in some alpaca I have the last of it listed on Ebay. You can find me under the user name chapinandrew.

Sootie's birthday joy ride!

I have been forbidden the last 2 years we have owned our Mustang to allow dogs in it. Beings my husband wasn't home and today is Sootie's 4th birthday I saw no harm in letting her go for a short ride down to the store.


I think it's safe to say I made her day!