The Baby Shoe Bug

When it comes to crafting, everyone has their "thing". Some people can't stop buying yarn (thank goodness!), some buy hundreds of sheets of scrapbooking paper and stickers, and others, like me, buy patterns. I'm too much in denial to go thumbing through my files and come up with an actual count, but I'm certain it's into the hundreds. Of all those patterns, well over half are various baby booties and shoes. There's something about a tiny shoe, destined for a tiny foot, that I find irresistable. I suppose that's what led me to design the Cherry Tart Mary Janes!

I discovered a designer recently who delights and inspires me with her adorable shoe patterns, and over the course of the past week or so I've already acquired five of them. Her name is Lisa van Klaveren of Holland Designs. She has an etsy shop, but I recommend downloading her patterns directly from ravelry.com so you can get them instantly. She allows crafters to sell shoes made from her patterns, so look for some new shoes in the store soon! I finished up a pair of 6-12 months watermelon mary janes last night, and they are too cute! Since they are 100% cotton they'll be great summer shoes. Pictures and more details coming soon! Side-button loafers for boys are next on my list :)

I <3 flickr

Every now and then while browsing flickr.com, I come across a picture of something that was knit from yarn that I spun. It's hard to explain, but it feels sort of like seeing your child do something adorable or extraordinary out of the corner of your eye. To make something, and to have really LOVED making it, and then to see it out in the world blossoming into something totally new and amazing is just heartwarming.

I happened upon this little guy today, wearing pants knit with stripes of Hidden Canyon. Isn't he just a doll? I'm so glad to see that the yarn found itself a good home :)

Let's try this again!

Wow...in all the excitement of having two kids under two and enduring the holidays, I seem to have let my blog fall by the wayside. I think it's time to jump back into things in full swing! I have lots of new and exciting things in the works, including a new etsy shop, and possibly a local yarn store carrying my line! New pictures and info (and yarn!) coming soon.

exciting new things!

The first two rovings are up! Right now I'm working on dyeing up the Falkland roving I have, but there is plenty of super fine Australian Merino coming as well. I started out with my most popular colorways of all time.

Forbidden Forest:here's an example of this colorway spun 2-ply:
and, here's Shabby Chic:
an example of this colorway spun into singles:

I also now have a facebook fan page! Become a fan, and get updated on all the latest happenings. Also, I'll have some special free drawings on hyenacart from time to time for facebook fans only. Thanks so much for your support! It really means a lot to me for people to still be buying my yarn in these tough economic times. I hope that means it's bringing you some comfort and relaxation while you're working with it :)

Rovings coming soon!

I'm happy to announce that Cherry Tart will soon start carrying handdyed rovings. Super fine Australian merino and beautiful Falkland roving will be available at the August 5th stocking of Growing Up Green. Now you can spin your favorite Cherry Tart colorway however you like :) Pictures coming soon!

I just wanted to share a pic of a few orders that shipped out recently :)

I'm busy working on a few things for the big Spring Fling stocking at the congo, where I'm really excited to be debuting my original maryjanes baby booties crochet pattern for sale. I'm also having a Free For Shipping lottery for a pair of pink camo maryjanes, so don't miss out! See you on Wednesday the 18th!

Isabelle custom yarn

Here are a few pics of the yarn that resulted from my latest custom slot...4oz of squishy goodness :)



There are three sets of roving dyed for the March 4th stocking, and one of them is already in progress. Two of them are completely new colorways! Also, I'm planning on stocking the pattern for my original maryjanes baby booties at the March 18th stocking in pdf format. I hope to see lots of little Cherry Tart booties on teeny feet soon!