With the Coming of Spring

I enjoy the gradual shift my knitting takes into softer work as Winter dies away once again and Springtime comes gently into bloom around us. While the air outside becomes warmer, the fiber I work with is lighter to keep pace. I love this time of year because it brings back to us bright blue skies streaked with white puffy clouds that float around on breezy days and all the earth returns to green with colorful flowers and trees full of white or pink blossoms.

One of my favorite things to do is walk around town

underneath the canopy of these trees as they sway back and forth,

sprinkling the sidewalks and lawns with a profusion of petals.

I wait for these moments

  and see them in my dreams all through the cold barren months.

When Spring finally appears, I rejoice in the fact I can gather my knitting and cup of tea and sit on my porch swing again to revel in this glorious time of rebirth.

It's funny how every single Spring is so fresh that it feels like it must be the very first Springtime ever.  I'm as happy as the birds singing in the trees and all the little creatures running merrily around the yards,

as I emerge from another long Winter of hibernation.

 I have always known this about myself:

when the days get warmer I feel more alive.

 I am also at my calmest with my knitting close by.

 During the Springtime my knitting needles are usually busy at work

on bunnies of some fashion.

These are a couple of Floppy Eared Bunny Hats

I recently made for a custom order using the same

Knit Picks Organic Cotton I used to make the Bunny Hat with the stand up ears.

The hats are worked in the round on circular needles but the moss stitch ears are done flat on straight needles. I love these needles! They are from Knit Picks also. They're the 10" Straight Sunstruck.

I love the whole Organic/Vintage vibe they have going on.

And as I've said before,

I can't get enough of the Organic Cotton,

especially this time of year.

I never get tired of working with it and it makes perfect baby items.

It's absolutely beautiful as it glides along those blonde knitting needles.

 There's just something about having a whole stack of soft cottony goodness

all piled up together straight off the needles too...

I always like to let it rest for a bit so I can stand back and admire

the entire heap before I construct it into the final project.

But then it's time to sew it all up and ship it off

because there's a customer waiting and more things to be made.

Sometimes more bunnies around the corner.

Miss Bunny was actually already on my Shop but I had a customer contact me last weekend and ask if I would change her eye color to match her nursery.

Her eyes were green before.

I said, "Yes, of course, I would be happy to do that for you!"

So I did and Miss Bunny found herself a new home early this week.

I pray this Easter weekend finds you all happy and healthy,

enjoying your loved ones and Praising God

for the many blessings of another new Spring

and the glorious work of our

Risen Savior.

"With the coming of Spring,

I am calm again."

Gustav Mahler

(1860-1911)

Vacation... You're Kidding Me, Right?!

The last couple weeks have been spent in a fluffy flurry

of bunny making busyness around here.

Scott was on vacation last week, 

which means he didn't go to work

but I continued to knit and knit and knit 

and when I wasn't knitting ...

I was crocheting...

Because in the midst of my bunny making madness

I had a custom order for these.

They're Vintage Dress Potholders

that I crocheted large enough to be used as placemats or trivets

as the customer requested.

I actually had one already on my Esty Shop

in Raspberry Pink & Ivory, that she purchased.

She wanted three more.

They were so much fun to make!

But getting back to those bunnies...

I have another customer in Chicago who orders things from time to time.

Last year her first grandchild was four months old at Easter time.

So she ordered a Flop Ear Bunny Hat.

This year she contacted me again.

Her daughter, once again, is in need of ... not one but TWO 

Flop Ear Bunny Hats

She has a set of Twin Girls who, once again, are four months old at

 Easter time.

Can you even imagine?!

It would be like having three little triplet girls really.

God Bless that Mommy... and Daddy... and whoever else helps that household out!

These hats are made from Knit Picks Organic Cotton, which I absolutely LOVE.

This particular customer loves this organic cotton as well.

Last year I made hats, bibs, shoes... all sorts of baby goodies for her,

 using this same fiber.

If you've never used it, you have to give it a try.

It' so soft and has great yardage and, of course, has never been dyed or processed in any way,

 making it perfect for delicate baby skin or anyone with sensitivities.

There is, however, some slight shrinkage that you have to factor in when you are working with it.

And with all that being said...

Once more ...

I am back to MORE bunnies...

I still have one more bunny to make in time for Easter.

Remember the bunnies I started making for my grandchildren?

Well I got two finished then had to set them aside to fill orders,

plus I've been quite busy teaching private crochet lessons the last few weeks.

{not that I'm complaining about the work :-))) }

But...

Now...

I have another whole bunny to make.

This is what it looks like this very moment...

This is what it has to look like by the time I go to bed 

Saturday night.

I have a ways to go.

So you know what I will be doing.

If I don't check back in here until next week, 

I wish you all 

a 

Very

Happy Easter

With Love

Danette

It's Bunny Making Time Again...

Just a few days ago, while looking through the calendar,

I realized that Easter comes early this year...

as in March instead of April.

Who knew?!!

Not ME!

Which means it's time to kick it into high gear 

for my usual bunny hop,

not only for my Etsy Shop

but local customers as well.

So a couple of nights ago, as you can see,

 I began to gather some supplies.

Because I love making bunnies 

So Much

I keep a particular basket well stocked

with nothing but 

bunny making paraphernalia.

In the Springtime my LYS owner

places a huge order for me of all the colors I need of

Jeannee 

made by Plymouth Yarn.

It's a fiber blend of 51% Cotton & 49% Acrylic.

I love it!

It has beautiful stitch definition.

It's soft and it's machine washable and dryable.

Just perfect for baby items.

Here's my first born bunny for this Spring.

Straight off the needles today.

This one is already sitting pretty on my

Etsy Shop

I like to leave the ribbons off for one picture

in case someone out there

prefers a little less frill.

I can't help myself...

I just love that little pom pom tail.

Another tiny little bunny has already hopped 

onto my needles this afternoon.

He'll grow up to be a 

Pocket Bunny

like this one from last Spring

{who is long gone...}.

I knit countless amounts of these every Spring.

Not only do they go online

but I have so many local customers who order them

that I can barely make them fast enough.

Surprisingly, they even sell in the Fall

when I take them to the Craft Fair

at the Pumpkin Festival.

Guess I'm not the only 

Bunny Lover

out there ;-)

XO,

   XO,

Danette

Dreaming in Color

Okay~

Snow is beautiful

fluffy

sparkly

&

white

and I DO love it

but...

I am practically gasping for some 

Color

in  my world,

as I am anxiously awaiting 

Spring!!!

So I have grabbed every bit of colorful yarn 

I can get my hands on and crocheted 

some pretty doilies out of  my beautiful new book

by

Nicki Trench.

They are crocheted using 

dk weight yarn to make them

a bit heavier than a typical doily

{part of the overall charm}.

The pattern name is 

Vintage-style Vase Coaster.

They are so much fun to make!

Playing around with all of the color choices

is absolutely addictive :)))

I went from

Bright & Cheery

to 

 Springtime Soft

to

Jewel Tone.

I'm loving it!

I always love projects by Nicki Trench!

And one more 

Color Pop

before I say 

Toot~a~Loo

to all of you for now

My next post will have bunnies running amuck!

This one will grow up to be 

an Easter gift 

for my sweet little

Gabby.

I will give you the details of where

you can find the pattern 

when I show it all done up

{with a happy little face and backside}.

Have a lovely day!

And sneak in as much

Color

as you possibly can!

With Love,

Danette

Hoppy Easter!

Just a quick hello to say ~

HOPPY EASTER

to

all my

Peeps!

You all make me

happy

&

put a

Spring

in my step :)))

In short ~

you are just

my cup of tea!

 

I hope you all have a

Blessed Easter Weekend

filled with the

Joy of our Risen Saviour

&

the love of

Family

&

Friends!

A Basket of Wee Bunnies

I am still knitting up wee little bunnies!

And, once again, as I am thinking

Spring

there is

snow

falling down all around me.

We are expecting upto 6 inches in my area.

Ahhh well.....

it's a good day to stay tucked up inside

wearing my soft & snuggly chenille sweater

and watch the snow come down

as I knit and sip hot tea.

Oh!

And a little sweet treat is always

a must at such a time as this :)

The house is so much cozier when the oven is fired up

&

the aroma of fresh baked

Pie Crust Cinnamon Rolls

permeates every nook and cranny!

 

The yarn being used in the Bunny Hatchery

is

Jeannee

by

Plymouth Yarn

It's 51% cotton and 49% acrylic

making it easy to work with

machine washable

& 

kid friendly.

{It's safe for adults too!}

 

And because I can never have

 just one project on the needles at a time ~

I am also working on a larger bunny

to give to my granddaughter

Gabby

for Easter.

Bunny Love

Though I am in the midst of a big snow today,

my mind is filled with

~ Bunnies ~

I suffer from serious

Bunny Love!

Whether they be the actual furry little creature

hopping around my yard

or

stuffed with fluff,

I just

LOVE BUNNIES!

So ~

over the weekend I started knitting these darling fellas.

I made them last year for Easter too.

The pattern is in one of my favorite books:

VINTAGE KNITS

for

Modern Babies

by

Hadley Fierlinger

I gathered all my supplies on Friday

and put them in a basket

and started knitting.

Don't you just love that fluffy pom~pom tail ?!!

They really are

too

darn

cute!

And where there's a  

bunny

there has to be a

carrot

This is a

Lion Brand pattern

I put three little jingle bells in the center of the stuffing

and

Voila'

a

baby rattle

was born!

 

If you are in the path of

 Winter's Last Stand

as I am

I hope you are

staying warm and snuggly and safe inside

where you are surrounded by

 your loved ones

hot drinks

good food

&

as much

yarn

as it takes to ride it out!

White Coca ~ Cola Easter Cake

My sister, Bridget, is here from Milwaukee and knowing that Coca ~ Cola cake was my childhood favorite but that I am allergic to chocolate and have not been able to have any for many years now, she made me this wonderful White Coca ~ Cola Cake for Easter. It's so darn cute I just had to show it off before we cut into it. I haven't tasted it yet, but I can hardly wait! I'll share the recipe soon if anyone is interested.

HAPPY EASTER!

A Basket Full Of Bunnies

Thought I'd show you a basket full of little bunnies before I take them downtown tomorrow and place them on the shelf at Lulu's Gift Shop where they will be anxiously awaiting new homes. They are in high hopes that Mommy's or Grammy's will buy them to place in Easter baskets for little ones to love on them! I know you've seen them before but I couldn't resist showing them off in their different colored suits all huddled together in the same nest.

I will take a break from blogging the rest of this week. I got a call from a friend in Kentucky last night who wants to come spend the week with me! She will be here this evening so we will fill the days with lots of laughter as we catch up with each other. Hope you all have a great week!