tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22933520259164969272024-02-20T02:43:42.256-08:00Tipsy Sheep YarnLizzyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03094916262048388124noreply@blogger.comBlogger84125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2293352025916496927.post-46943544196088128232013-12-20T00:03:00.000-08:002013-12-20T00:03:36.935-08:00WE'RE MOVING!<div style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.625; margin-bottom: 15px;">
I'm working on transferring the Tipsy Sheep Blog from Blogger to Wordpress, which allows for more customization and direct integration into the website, but it's kind of complicated. If you have <a href="http://tipsysheepyarn.blogspot.com/">http://tipsysheepyarn.blogspot.com</a> bookmarked, please change it to <a href="http://tipsysheepyarn.com/blog">http://tipsysheepyarn.com/blog</a> - that's where we live now :) </div>
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It will probably take a few days for me to get this place looking right, so please bear with me. In Internet years, I'm really old.</div>
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This blog is going to remain open for a while, but all updates will happen over at the new one on the main site. And if you notice weirdness with older posts that have been transferred to WordPress, please let me know, as not everything transfers correctly.</div>
Lizzyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03094916262048388124noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2293352025916496927.post-70129826172924634432013-12-18T16:21:00.001-08:002013-12-18T16:21:37.854-08:00First tutorial is up!Well, it's more of an introduction than a true tutorial, but you need to understand these basics and safety guidelines if you want to make pretty yarn.<br />
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<a href="http://tipsysheepyarn.com/tutorials/supplysafety.html">Check it out at the website!</a><br />
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I'm sorry it's not a video tutorial. This kind of information is much easier to deliver in written form (plus I looked REALLY WEIRD when I tried to film it).Lizzyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03094916262048388124noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2293352025916496927.post-24644202684371008272013-12-16T13:03:00.000-08:002013-12-16T13:03:16.751-08:00Pretty Rickey Previews!I'm still only halfway done winding the second kilo (curse you, fragile wrist!) but I just couldn't wait any longer to show off Pretty Rickey. This is one of my favorite colorways so far, and not just because I'm obsessed with the color peach and managed to mix very nearly my favorite shade for this yarn.<br />
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Seriously, I have several nail polishes, lipsticks, scarves, blouses, and dresses all in this color, and it was the main color for all the flowers of my wedding earlier this year. I <3 peach!<br />
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Click ahead to see previews!<br />
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<a name='more'></a><img alt="Close-up" class="" data-src="//i.imgur.com/y9o4oIvh.jpg" height="320" src="http://i.imgur.com/y9o4oIvh.jpg" width="240" /><br />
A nice close-up so you can see the subtle tones of peach, lime, and maraschino reddish-pink<br />
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<img alt="Naked!" class="" data-src="//i.imgur.com/2waT7Tkh.jpg" height="320" src="http://i.imgur.com/2waT7Tkh.jpg" width="240" /><br />
Naked!<br />
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<img alt="Front!" class="" data-src="//i.imgur.com/VzkqpSqh.jpg?1" height="320" src="http://i.imgur.com/VzkqpSqh.jpg?1" width="240" /><br />
From the front, showing off the new label design!<br />
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<img alt="The back" class="" data-src="//i.imgur.com/8S4pOLEh.jpg?1" height="320" src="http://i.imgur.com/8S4pOLEh.jpg?1" width="240" /><br />
From the back, because that drunken sheep makes me smile every time.<br />
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If these pics make you all warm and fuzzy inside, hit the button or <a href="http://tipsysheepyarn.com/shop">head to the shop</a> and order a skein to make you warm and fuzzy on the outside, too!<br />
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Order January's colorway, Pretty Rickey! Or sign up for two months of yarn!<br />
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<tr><td><select name="os0">
<option value="January (Pretty Rickey) Only">January (Pretty Rickey) Only $25.00 USD
</option><option value="2 months!">2 months! $50.00 USD
</option><option value="INTERNATIONAL January (Pretty Rickey) Only">INTERNATIONAL January (Pretty Rickey) Only $35.00 USD
</option><option value="INTERNATIONAL 2 months!">INTERNATIONAL 2 months! $70.00 USD
</option></select> </td>
<td><input name="currency_code" type="hidden" value="USD" />
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<img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="https://www.paypalobjects.com/en_US/i/scr/pixel.gif" width="1" /></td><td></td></tr>
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Lizzyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03094916262048388124noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2293352025916496927.post-20711560747507020332013-12-16T10:49:00.004-08:002013-12-16T10:49:41.646-08:00Holy crap!<a href="http://www.knitandtonic.net/knitandtonic/2013/12/tipsy-sheep.html">Knit and Tonic just did a post about Tipsy Sheep!</a> I had contacted Wendy, the awesome person who runs it, several weeks ago and sent her a ball of Mint Julep and yay, she liked it! I can't imagine a better cross-promotion than TSY and Knit and Tonic... it's just such a good match. If you haven't checked out her blog, please do - her work is absolutely gorgeous and she tells the best stories.Lizzyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03094916262048388124noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2293352025916496927.post-80827127048342976182013-12-11T12:29:00.001-08:002013-12-11T12:29:34.455-08:00State of Sheep: my wrist hurts :(I went to the doctor last Friday (thank you to my wonderful neighbor for driving me, because it snowed that morning and I was woefully unequipped to drive on icy roads) and he's got some ideas of what's wrong but nothing definitive. My original surgeon hadn't sent him my records yet, but based on a physical exam, he thinks the tendon is just angry. I do indeed have a bone cyst, but without my original x-rays it's hard to determine if it's new and the source of my pain, or if it's been there a while and the pain is from something else.There's also a chance that the internal sutures from the first surgery (which you can actually see and feel) might be part of the problem, but he is understandably hesitant to go back in and mess with them. He's recommended steroid treatment, first through <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iontophoresis">iontophoresis</a> and then through straight injection if that doesn't help. I go in this afternoon for my second round of iontophoresis and to get a new splint to wear while resting.<br />
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I was really hoping for a Terminator-style bionic replacement, but the steroid patch has blinking lights so I guess that's close enough.<br />
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Pretty Rickey is all dyed and half of it is wound into skeins. Winding is SUPER painful, even with my bitchin' new ball winder (post on that coming soon) so I can only do a little bit at a time. Tequila Sunrise will go forward as planned, but there may be a slight delay in starting TSP3: RotS after Part Deux is finished. I'm hoping to get the power base for the ball winder and replace my manual swift with an automatic one, which will reduce the amount of work my poor wrist has to do, but they're very expensive so it will have to wait... unless you guys want to Kickstarter a Tipsy Sheep Expansion or something.Lizzyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03094916262048388124noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2293352025916496927.post-78157407973967899782013-12-09T14:45:00.001-08:002013-12-09T20:28:57.500-08:00Vote for colors for TSP3:RotS<span style="font-size: x-small;">(I just love that acronym.)</span><br />
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This is the official announcement: Tipsy Sheep Part 3: Return of the Sheep IS ON LIKE DONKEY KONG!<br />
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It seems like most of you want this round of yarns to be worsted weight, so that's what we're going for. I've found a yarn that's just awesome - a superwash 100% merino that's about 218 yards per 100 grams. It's soft and springy and I just want to rub my face on it, so hopefully you will too. <br />
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Prices and schedule will follow shortly, but for now, I need your help picking out which cocktails will serve as the inspiration for these yarns. I've found, oh, about a million that look like they could work, so please help me narrow them down!<br />
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<a href="http://www.spiritdrinks.com/cocktails/Ditchhiker.asp#.Up6N_fmkpTI">Ditchhiker</a> - medium blue, light and lime greens, and a smidge of orange and peach.<br />
<a href="http://www.spiritdrinks.com/cocktails/2XT.asp#.Up6NzfmkpTI">2xT</a> - deep twilight blue, reddish purple, cactus green, and a splash of burgundy<br />
<a href="http://www.spiritdrinks.com/cocktails/NightBlack.asp#.Up6PSvmkpTI">Night Black</a> - a smooth gradient of blue-black, twillight blue, apple green, and burgundy<br />
<a href="http://www.spiritdrinks.com/cocktails/BlueberiAlias.asp#.Up6PvvmkpTI">Blueberry Alias</a> - shades of purple from deep indigo to lavender, with a pop of lime green<br />
<a href="http://www.redbubble.com/people/scotnamese/works/3777088-fruit-tingle">Fruit Tingle</a> - a smooth gradient from deep blue to reddish purple<br />
<a href="http://www.spiritdrinks.com/cocktails/GrasshopperShot.asp#.Up6OsPmkpTI">Grasshopper</a> - deep mint green, a softer bluish creme-de-menth green, white, and a hint of chocolate<br />
<a href="http://www.spiritdrinks.com/cocktails/Badminton.asp#.Up6OWfmkpTI">Badminton</a> - juniper berry blue, twilight blue, melon green, and a splash of lemon yellow<br />
<a href="http://www.makemeacocktail.com/blog/23/history-of-the-japanese-slipper/">Japanese Slipper</a> - lemon yellow, melon green, bright orange, and a pop of bright cherry red<br />
<a href="http://www.spiritdrinks.com/cocktails/PurpleBlossom.asp#.UqZGEPmkpTI">Purple Blossom</a> - juniper berry blue, shades of soft purple, and a hint of lime<br />
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I know that's a lot of choices, but I wanted to give a bit of variety here. Some of these colorways would be much darker than the ones I've made so far (particularly 2xT, Night Black, and Fruit Tingle), so bear that in mind. You may also notice that there is virtually no pink in any of these - it was recently pointed out to me how many colorways in parts 1 and 2 had pink them, and I don't want anybody out there to drown in pink!<br />
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You can select as many options as you like from the list below, but I'd prefer if you picked just your top 4...<br />
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<script type="text/javascript" src="http://www.easypolls.net/ext/scripts/emPoll.js?p=52a647afe4b0e67133e23975"></script><a class="OPP-powered-by" href="https://www.murvey.com" style="text-decoration:none;"><div style="font: 9px arial; color: gray;">survey tool</div></a>
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This poll will remain open for a few weeks, so please pass this post around!Lizzyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03094916262048388124noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2293352025916496927.post-37865478364437265992013-12-08T11:46:00.002-08:002013-12-08T11:46:40.687-08:00And the Yarnie goes to...Congratulations to Sarah Lynn Ross, the winner of the random design-your-own-socktails giveaway! I've sent you a message on Facebook so you can put me to work :)Lizzyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03094916262048388124noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2293352025916496927.post-91561715923644479582013-12-03T15:30:00.000-08:002013-12-03T15:31:15.868-08:00Pull up a chair. Got some stuff to talk about.First things first: you guys are all AWESOME. The <a href="http://tipsysheepyarn.com/">website</a> is doing so well, getting a lot of traffic and even a few orders, which makes me the happiest of pandas. The <a href="http://facebook.com/tipsysheepyarn">Facebook</a> page is doing well, too, with lots and lots of likes and views, contributing to the warm fuzzies currently welling in my heart.<br />
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Second, I'm kicking around the idea of doing a third round of subscriptions. Tipsy Sheep Part 3: Return of the Sheep. I've been wanting to branch out into worsted weight yarn, since it's by far the most versatile and often-used weight of yarn, so I'd like to know what you all would think about TSP3:RotS being a worsted weight yarn as opposed to the fingering weight yarn used so far.<br />
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<script type="text/javascript" src="http://www.easypolls.net/ext/scripts/emPoll.js?p=529e671ee4b0c1853dff2b0a"></script><a class="OPP-powered-by" href="http://www.objectplanet.com/opinio/" style="text-decoration:none;"><div style="font: 9px arial; color: gray;">survey solutions</div></a>
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If there's interest, voting for the next cocktail inspirations will start in a week or so.<br />
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Third, and finally, I'm having a bit of a problem. See, about 5 years ago, I tore a ligament in my right wrist (I'm right-handed) which required surgery to repair. Since then, whenever I do too much work (which is pretty often), I'll get a fair bit of pain in that wrist. It's been getting worse over the last month or so, and finally I went to my doctor and she had me get some x-rays. The original surgery had required the doc to file down part of my ulna, and now I have a bone cyst right where that happened and IT HURTS. There might also be a build-up of scar tissue around the surgery site, which can get inflamed and cause problems when I over-use the wrist. I have an appointment to see a hand/wrist specialist this week. (Strangely, this doctor's father was the one to repair my fingertip when it was severed when I was 7, and his brother was one of the doctors who initially evaluated the torn ligament... and I'm now living in a different city and state than the father and brother's practices and I STILL find a doc from the same family to help me out. The world is a shockingly tiny place.)<br />
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I should know soon what course of treatment will be necessary to get my wrist working properly again (personally, I'm hoping for a full-on Terminator-style bionic replacement) but there's a chance I'm going to need some help in the next few months to keep making yarn. If anyone in the Portland OR area would like to "volunteer" - and be paid in yarn and baked goods - please leave a comment.Lizzyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03094916262048388124noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2293352025916496927.post-66985986139778106132013-12-02T14:12:00.000-08:002013-12-10T11:46:30.172-08:00Info for January: Pretty Rickey!Now that Alaskan Ice Tea has begun its migration to freaking everywhere, it's time to look toward the new colorway mailing out January 1: Pretty Rickey!<br />
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The yarn is a soft blend of lush peach tones, from blush to light apricot, with pops of rich cherry red and bright lime green. Overall the colorway is very delicate and feminine, with the lime green providing a strong contrast that keeps the yarn from becoming too "girly" (think of the Pink Nightmare from A Christmas Story). The cocktail itself is a blend of tequila, elderflower liquer, lime juice, and muddled maraschino cherries, with a little bit of club soda to make it sparkle and fizz.<br />
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Within each shipment you will find: <br />
<ul>
<li>100g (approximately 463 yards) of soft, durable, and machine-washable fingering weight yarn in a blend of 75% superwash merino and 25% nylon. </li>
<li>A peek into the process with dyers notes about how the cocktail's ingredients translated into the colors used, and funny anecdotes ... and, yes, me drinking the inspiration.</li>
<li> Learn an interesting new technique (such as fun cast-ons and edge finishes). </li>
<li>Learn to make the signature cocktail yourself - the recipe is right inside the yarn label! </li>
<li>I am addicted to candy, and you should be, too. Allow me to enable you. </li>
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You can choose to receive just the current month, or sign up for 2 months and get one ball of new yarn each month until February! <br />
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If you go for the 2 month option, you will receive: <br />
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January: Pretty Rickey - pale peaches and pinks, rich cherry red, and flecks of lime <br />
February: Tequila Sunrise - a smooth gradient of sunny yellow to orange to pinkish red <br />
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Each month is $25 for US customers, with the 2-month option being $50 - it includes everything listed above plus shipping costs. International customers, please select the international option from the drop down menu. All yarn goes out on the first of each month! Sign up soon, as only a limited number of skeins are available! <br />
<form action="https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr" method="post" target="paypal">
<input name="cmd" type="hidden" value="_s-xclick" />
<input name="hosted_button_id" type="hidden" value="9ZY43X7SSG4JQ" />
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<table>
<tbody>
<tr><td><select name="os0">
<option value="January (Pretty Rickey) Only">January (Pretty Rickey) Only $25.00 USD</option>
<option value="2 months!">2 months! $50.00 USD</option>
<option value="INTERNATIONAL January (Pretty Rickey) Only">INTERNATIONAL January (Pretty Rickey) Only $35.00 USD</option>
<option value="INTERNATIONAL 2 months!">INTERNATIONAL 2 months! $70.00 USD</option>
</select> </td>
<td><input name="currency_code" type="hidden" value="USD" />
<input alt="PayPal - The safer, easier way to pay online!" border="0" name="submit" src="http://tipsysheepyarn.com/images/cart.png" type="image" />
<img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="https://www.paypalobjects.com/en_US/i/scr/pixel.gif" width="1" /></td><td></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Slots remaining for January: 10<br />
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As mentioned, shipping is included in the cost of the subscription. Should you choose to purchase other items from the <a href="http://www.tipsysheepyarn.com/shop/">Tipsy Sheep Shop</a>, additional shipping for those items will be added as they ship separately from the subscription mailings.</form>
Lizzyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03094916262048388124noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2293352025916496927.post-44712757732253532782013-12-02T13:58:00.001-08:002013-12-02T14:01:34.156-08:00Alaskan Ice Tea: Migrating everywhere for the winterI walked into the Post Office like a bag lady, dragging <b>3 enormous shopping bags</b> full of shipping boxes. I walked out of the Post Office like a goddamn ribbon dancer, trailing a receipt of tracking numbers well over a yard long.<br />
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Alaskan Ice Tea made for the best month yet, outselling even White Russian in its first month! Woohoo! White Russian does remain a favorite, though, as the best-selling yarn in stock. I guess you guys like cocktails reminiscent of cold places..?<br />
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US Customers should expect their yarn by Thursday or Friday; international customers should have theirs midway through next week.<br />
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Stay tuned for info on the January mailing of Pretty Rickey!Lizzyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03094916262048388124noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2293352025916496927.post-74632371753490233182013-11-30T21:09:00.001-08:002013-11-30T21:09:11.864-08:00Website is up!It's just past midnight on the East Coast and that can only mean one thing: <a href="http://tipsysheepyarn.com/">tipsysheepyarn.com</a> has officially launched!<br />
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The site is still a bit of a work in progress, but it's all shiny and pretty and yaaaaaaaay!<br />
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Also remember to <a href="http://facebook.com/tipsysheepyarn">like us on Facebook</a> for your chance to win bitchin' free yarn. Winner will be announced a week from RIGHT NOW!Lizzyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03094916262048388124noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2293352025916496927.post-88152966027073406392013-11-26T12:54:00.001-08:002013-11-26T12:54:05.333-08:00Taking this show on the road. Again.Hey all,<br />
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Just wanted to let you know that Dear Hubby and I will be traveling for Thanksgiving, so blog updates will be scattered. Yarn will still go out on schedule, and the website will launch on time, so don't fret about that. I hope you all have a happy and safe holiday (Americans) and/or a happy and safe Thursday (the rest of the world).<br />
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And don't forget - if you have "liked" the <a href="http://facebook.com/tipsysheepyarn">TSY Facebook Page</a>, you have until December 8 to do so for a chance to win a custom skein of Socktails!Lizzyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03094916262048388124noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2293352025916496927.post-17771080577076262402013-11-20T11:26:00.000-08:002013-11-20T11:26:03.644-08:00Futzing.Just wanted to let you know that I'm going to be futzing with the blog a bit as I try to integrate it into tipsysheepy.com. Things may get wonky or even disappear. But don't worry, I'm backing up everything so nothing should be lost... probably... heh.Lizzyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03094916262048388124noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2293352025916496927.post-39646111185502105712013-11-19T11:34:00.000-08:002013-11-19T11:34:00.688-08:00Blast from the Past: Dye Notes for Cosmopolitan!In a recent poll, many of you voted that you'd like to see the dye notes that were included in the yarn club packages. You speak, and I listen! So here you go, the first ever Tipsy Sheep Dye Notes: Cosmopolitan!<br />
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<i>Let's set the scene a bit, shall we? You've just come home, exhausted, from a long day at the office. That one coworker - you know which one - has completely screwed up that same simple task he always screws up, and you were once again forced to pick up the slack or else let the whole project fall to pieces. You really don't know why that guy hasn't been fired yet, but you're probably going to do a private happy-dance the day it finally happens. Then your train was late, and there was a freak summer rain storm so of course you didn't have your umbrella, and now your hair (that you spent so much time on this morning) has just gone completely flat. You can't wait to curl up on your couch with your good friends Ben and Jerry and veg out with a Supernatural Marathon. </i><br />
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<i>But wait, what's this? By your door, in a little box? Who's it that adorable sheep on the return label? OH YES! It's that yarn you ordered weeks ago and had totally forgotten about! You remember seeing a shipping notification in your inbox earlier this week, but Stupid Coworker Sucks-at-Life's repeated failures had pushed all thoughts of yarn and knitting out of your head. Until this moment. This glorious moment. </i><br />
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<i>You push open your door and fumble with your keys to slit open the packing tape on the little box. A few mini boxes of Nerds lie nestled in the warm woolly folds of a skein of beautiful magenta yarn. And tucked inside that box, folded the way you remember passing notes in middle school, are two little pieces of paper. The first is instructions for a new knitting technique - the i-cord bind-off, which you promptly memorize and vow to use on every stretchy edge for the rest of your life. The second is a note from the dyer herself...</i><br />
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Dear Awesome Human Being,<br />
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Thank you so much for signing up for a Tipsy Sheep subscription, whether it was just for this month or you’re along for the whole ride. This is the maiden voyage of Tipsy Sheep, and it has been more fun (and more difficult) than I could have imagined.<br />
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This month’s colorway was inspired by the classic Cosmopolitan cocktail. It’s been several years since I had one, and that was at my sister’s bachelorette party… Let’s just say it was a very long, rather scarring weekend! But I decided to put my negative associations aside for the sake of you wonderful knitters and give this drink another shot. Here’s the recipe I used:<br />
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1 ½ oz vodka<br />
½ oz Cointreau<br />
1 tsp lime juice<br />
1 ½ oz cranberry juice – NOT cranberry juice cocktail<br />
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Pour everything into a shaker with ice (or if you’re not fancy like I am, a glass with your hand held over it) and shake it up, baby. Then pour it into a cold cocktail glass (or a wine glass, whatever you have), and garnish with a wedge of lime or a twist of lime or orange skin.<br />
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It’s surprisingly hard to find straight cranberry juice at the grocery store these days. I saw tons of bottles of cranberry juice mixed with apple, blueberry, grape, pomegranate, raspberry, cherry… everything but straight cranberry juice without added sugar. The pure stuff was on the very bottom shelf in a tiny bottle, but it’s definitely worth it for this drink to get the pure 100% cranberry juice rather than something that’s been sweetened to within an inch of its life.<br />
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I must confess that I have a weakness for flavored vodkas, so when it came to mixing my Cosmo, I went with a blood orange flavor from Skyy that is absolutely delicious. I also used Rose’s Sweetened Lime Juice instead of fresh because (1) I had it already and (2) it helps to offset the tartness of the pure cranberry juice. Also, I don’t know if you know this, but Cointreau is just a brand name of triple sec (orange liqueur) so you don’t have to spring for the fancy stuff to achieve the same taste. Cointreau is the International Bartender Association’s listed liqueur for the Cosmo, though, so if you want to be all official about it, go with the one in the snazzy bottle.<br />
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Hubby was out of town for drink night, so I had a total old-lady-alcoholic night and drank alone with my cats. I spent the night marathoning the only proper show to watch while drinking a Cosmo… that one show about a 30-something successful Manhattan woman trying to have it all, stumbling through the misadventures of life, love, and career with the support and advice of her mismatched but awesome friends… by which of course I mean Liz Lemon on 30 Rock.<br />
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Seriously, if you haven’t seen that show, check it out. Pretty sure it’s on Netflix, and the DVDs are available for all but the latest (and sadly, last) season. Tina Fey and Alec Baldwin are hilarious in it, and I laughed my ass off… and not just because I accidentally mixed myself a double Cosmo due to a lack of normal-sized shot glasses in my house.<br />
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I was surprised when I mixed the drink at what a gorgeous, jewel-like magenta pink it was. That color became the main inspiration for the yarn, as did the lush purple-y burgundy of the cranberry juice. Because there was barely a hint of lime taste in the cocktail, I kept the lime in the yarn to a minimum, just a small bright pop nestled between sections of orange. I tested a few different orange dyes before finding one that was just right – not so bright as to overwhelm the magenta, but rich enough to hold its own in the colorway. During the sample runs, I noticed how easily the lime and the orange would muddy each other, so I decided to fade them out nearly to white as they approached each other, creating some nice pale areas in the yarn that help break up the otherwise very saturated colors. I created some variegation in the magenta and cranberry sections as well, producing some pretty, paler pinks and reddish purples to keep the yarn (and the final knitted piece) from getting too color blocked.<br />
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Dyeing two whole kilos of yarn is a very different experience than dyeing a few small sample skeins, I’ll tell you what. I ran out of dye three times and had to remix, and all told it took nearly three hours to achieve the effects I wanted. Then I couldn’t get the bundles into the steamer pot because they were so big, so I ran to the grocery store to buy the biggest pot I have ever seen. The dyed skeins wound up being super heavy, as they were saturated with a whole bunch of water and dye, so my hubby had to help me wrestle them into the steamer pot. There was also a rather large puddle of vaguely pinkish water all over the garage floor by the time I was done, but it cleaned up easily enough. My shoes took a good soaking, too, but they’re the same shoes I wear when painting so it just gave them more character.<br />
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Overall I’m extremely pleased with how this colorway came out. It’s as bright and fun as the cocktail itself, with vibrant jewel tones and darker berries. I’m in love with those little sections of brilliant lime, and the lush orange is just gorgeous. There is nothing boring or tame about this colorway, and I suspect it would look awesome in a lacy shawl or pair of socks.<br />
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I hope you have as much fun knitting with this yarn as I did making it, and thank you again for your support of this venture. Hopefully I’ll see you again next month!<br />
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Happy knitting,<br />
Lizzy<br />
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P.S. I’m sorry the shipping boxes for this month were so crammed. Office Depot has been completely sold out of the right size for a few weeks now, so I ordered them from another supplier and they hadn’t arrived in time for shipping. Next month the yarn should have more room to breathe. :)<br />
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<i>You clutch the note to your chest as you peer more closely at the yarn, flicking on the kitchen light to get a better look. Yes, you see it now - the subtle variations within each color, fading from pale to bold and back again. Visions of socks and shawls dance in your head as you inhale the warm, fuzzy scent of wool - with just a faint aroma of flowers, leftover from the dyer's soap. This is going to be a good night.</i><br />
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Lizzyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03094916262048388124noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2293352025916496927.post-41705281293397138632013-11-17T00:01:00.000-08:002013-11-17T13:41:43.716-08:00You know what's great? Free yarn. You know what's better? Free yarn you design yourself!Hello fellow fiber addicts.<br />
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I'm very excited to announce that TipsySheepYarn.com will be launching in just 2 weeks, on December 1 2013! The website will feature an integrated blog, dyeing and knitting tutorials, and a new-and-improved shop!<br />
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And who knows, maybe it will have more than just yarn...<br />
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To celebrate this momentous day, I'm hosting a little giveaway drawing. "Like" the <a href="http://facebook.com/tipsysheepyarn">Tipsy Sheep Yarn facebook page</a> and you'll be entered to win a skein of Socktails* that YOU get to design!<br />
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It doesn't have to be cocktail themed, either - just choose up to 5 colors that you like, or send me an inspiration photo, give me some rough guidelines on how much of each one to include in the yarn, and it will show up on your doorstep!<br />
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Entries will be accepted up until December 8 (one week after the shop opens) to give me plenty of time to get the yarn to you by <strike>Christmas</strike> whatever winter-time gift-giving celebration doesn't offend you.<br />
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And don't worry - if you "liked" the page before this giveaway was announced, you've already been entered :)<br />
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*Socktails: 75% superwash merino, 25% nylon, 100 grams / approx 463 yards of fingering weight yarn.Lizzyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03094916262048388124noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2293352025916496927.post-66523855423923550472013-11-15T17:48:00.000-08:002013-11-15T17:48:10.884-08:00Things I'm learning as I build the website.It has been a looooooooooong time since I last built a website (probably 2006, which is for.ev.er in internet years) and I've never tried building anything so complicated as a web store nor tried to integrate a blog into it. Here are some things I've discovered:<br />
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1. I don't remember jack about html, css, php, or any other acronyms used in making web stuff.<br />
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2. Pretty sure this shit's gotten a lot more complicated in the last 7 years.<br />
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3. ZenCart is really hard. I may give up on it altogether.<br />
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4. Blogger is mean. There's no longer a straight FTP publishing option, which is what you USED to use to integrate a blog into a website. Furthermore, it appears this change was quite recent since there are NO tutorials on how to do it without the FTP option. I'm going to try a workaround with the new custom URL option, so things might start looking a little funky around here for the next week or so.Lizzyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03094916262048388124noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2293352025916496927.post-91676249909424681592013-11-14T09:37:00.000-08:002013-11-14T09:37:00.633-08:00Good night, sweet prince. Helloooooooooooooooooo nurse!Well, it's finally happened. My KnitPicks ballwinder has died. I bought it for about $20 maybe 8 years ago and it has served me well. For Tipsy Sheep alone, it wound nearly 51,000 yards of yarn, and who knows how much more for personal projects.<br />
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But something inside it has stripped, its wibbly-wobbly base-bit is slipping, and it's making some truly horrifying clacking sounds that I'm going to interpret as its death rattle. I'm going to give it a proper <strike>Viking</strike> funeral <strike>in my bathtub</strike> to honor it for its many years of loyal service.<br />
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And yet something wonderful will arise from this tragedy, as I've just placed an order for a truly magnificent <a href="http://www.nancysknitknacks.com/ball_winder.htm">heavy-duty ball winder from Nancy's Knit Nacks</a>. It was shockingly expensive, but since Tipsy Sheep is now officially a business (I got my license, registered the name, and everything!) it counts as a business expense, which softens the blow a little. And she offers a wholesalers discount for licensed businesses with a Tax ID number, so that helped, too.<br />
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The best part about this winder is that, when Tipsy Sheep inevitably becomes an enormous success, I can purchase a power base for the winder that will make it fully automated, so I can wind up to 5.5 yards per second instead of the measly 1/2 yard MAX I can wind by hand.<br />
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It will be a few weeks yet before the winder gets here, and in the meantime I'll be winding the rest of Alaskan Ice Tea by hand. I'm sure the pins in my wrist will just love that, but that's how much I care about my amazing customers :)<br />
<br />Lizzyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03094916262048388124noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2293352025916496927.post-69204979959504157152013-11-13T13:13:00.000-08:002013-11-15T14:15:56.840-08:00Holy crap we have a Facebook page.I'm still getting the hang of this social media thing (which is ridiculous, because I'm not even 30 so it should still be instinctual), but figured Facebook would be a great way to connect with knitters who may not know of or use Ravelry, and for each of you to connect with me and with Tipsy Sheep in a more one-on-one kind of way.<br />
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The Facebook page will be used for things like announcements, GIVEAWAYS, fun promotions, and maybe even contests and whathaveyou.</div>
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<a href="http://www.facebook.com/tipsysheepyarn">Tipsy Sheep Yarn Facebook</a>!!!<br />
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Lizzyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03094916262048388124noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2293352025916496927.post-17158524499117276922013-11-12T15:46:00.000-08:002013-11-12T15:46:04.749-08:00Gallery Update :)After a painfully long drive up from SF to Portland yesterday, hubby and I arrived home to an extremely happy kitty. She followed us around all night, purring and demanding belly rubs, and meowed very loudly whenever one of us would leave the room. As I type, she is sitting next to me on hubby's computer chair, pretending to nap but really keeping one eye open to make sure I don't leave the house again.<br />
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While I'm being held hostage by kitty snuggles, I've updated the <a href="http://tipsysheepyarn.blogspot.com/p/gallery.html">gallery post</a> to include pictures of Blue!Lizzyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03094916262048388124noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2293352025916496927.post-47090760923302218762013-11-09T18:43:00.000-08:002013-11-09T18:44:38.575-08:00My my my... Whatever could this be, I wonder?<br />
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December 1, 2013. Stay tuned for more details... And maybe some sweet giveaways... </div>
<br />Lizzyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03094916262048388124noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2293352025916496927.post-42124917999932568052013-11-07T17:09:00.000-08:002013-11-07T17:09:17.273-08:00Preview photos: Alaskan Ice Tea!This is a first - posting photos of the yarn before giving a little summary of the dye experience. Truthfully, at this point, I'm not finding any major revelations with each dye any longer; mostly it's just small refinements of technique and resolving minor annoyances. For example, this month, one of the colors just did NOT want to go into the yarn and I wound up using twice as much dye as usual. My ball winder also committed suicide, resulting in some pretty horrific tangles that took up to five hours PER BALL to fix. But now I have an excuse to get a bitchin' new ball winder, a million times nicer than the dinky plastic one I've been using, so that's a plus at least.<div>
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Despite its resistance, this yarn turned out beautifully. The main blue is bright but cool, nearly a perfect match for the finished cocktail and reminiscent of a glacial lake. The darker blue provides a subtle lowlight, the color of an arctic sea, while the streak of lime-lemon-and-orange gradient creates an engaging highlight. </div>
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Words can't really describe it, so I'll quit wasting bandwidth and just show you some pictures. Click the cut to see more :)</div>
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Lizzyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03094916262048388124noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2293352025916496927.post-12917468638779466962013-11-04T13:59:00.000-08:002013-11-04T13:59:27.836-08:00On the road! Dear Hubby and I once again spent a whole day in the car, roadtripping from Portland to SF to spend a week in the fog with my family and his main office. I managed to finish dyeing Alaskan Ice Tea before we left and plan to make this a working vacation - I brought my swift, scale, winder, and labels so I can skein up these beauties!<br />
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Blog posts will be pretty sporadic this week since I won't have regular access to a computer, but I've got some sweet stuff in the works for Tipsy Sheep and will do my best to tease you with hints and previews. :)Lizzyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03094916262048388124noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2293352025916496927.post-20785016666700311092013-11-01T12:54:00.000-07:002013-11-04T15:54:56.016-08:00Details for December - Alaskan Ice Tea!<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 20px;">Now that those cute little hanks of Blue are winging their way across the globe to their new homes, it's time to look toward the next colorway: Alaskan Ice Tea!</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="line-height: 20px;">The yarn is mainly a cool, bright blue reminiscent of a glacial lake; a deep arctic ocean blue forms a small area of lowlight, while a streak of gradiated lime, lemon yellow, and bright orange creates a bright and lively contrast. It's like a Bob Ross winter seascape you can knit with. The cocktail itself is a variation on the classic Long Island Ice Tea, using blue curacao to give it its signature color and flavor, and a splash of lemon-lime soda to make it sparkle. </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="line-height: 20px;">Within each shipment you will find:</span></span></span><br />
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<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="line-height: 20px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">100g (approximately 463 yards) of soft, durable, and machine-washable fingering weight yarn in a blend of 75% superwash merino and 25% nylon.</span></span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="line-height: 20px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">A peek into the process with dyers notes about how the cocktail's ingredients translated into the colors used, and funny anecdotes ... and, yes, me drinking the inspiration.</span></span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="line-height: 20px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Learn an interesting new technique (such as fun cast-ons and edge finishes).</span></span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="line-height: 20px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Learn to make the signature cocktail yourself - the recipe is right inside the yarn label!</span></span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="line-height: 20px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I am addicted to candy, and you should be, too. Allow me to enable you.</span></span></span></span></li>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; line-height: 20px;">As with previous colorways, only 20 will be produced in the first run. You can choose to receive just the Alaskan Ice Tea, or sign up for 3 months and get one ball of new yarn each month until February! If you go for the 3 month option, you will receive:</span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="line-height: 20px;">December: Alaskan Ice Tea - see above.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 20px;">January: Pretty Rickey - pale peaches and pinks, rich cherry red, and flecks of lime</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 20px;">February: Tequila Sunrise - a smooth gradient of sunny yellow to orange to pinkish red</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="line-height: 20px;">Each month is $25 for US customers, with the 3-month option being $75 - it includes everything listed above plus shipping costs. International customers, please select the international option from the drop down menu. All yarn goes out on the first of each month!</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="line-height: 20px;"><br /></span></span><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="line-height: 20px;">Sign up soon, as only a limited number of skeins are available!</span></span></span><br />
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<option value="December (Alaskan Ice Tea) Only">December (Alaskan Ice Tea) Only $25.00 USD</option>
<option value="3 months!">3 months! $75.00 USD</option>
<option value="INTERNATIONAL December (Alaskan Ice Tea) Only">INTERNATIONAL December (Alaskan Ice Tea) Only $35.00 USD</option>
<option value="INTERNATIONAL 3 months!">INTERNATIONAL 3 months! $105.00 USD</option>
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</form>Lizzyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03094916262048388124noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2293352025916496927.post-57788086080260541952013-11-01T12:25:00.001-07:002013-11-01T12:25:45.029-07:00Blue has been released into the world.Fly, my beautiful fiber, fly free.<div>
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Everyone should be receiving an email shortly with your tracking information. If you don't get it by the end of the day, please leave a comment here and we'll figure out what went so horribly wrong.</div>
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Stay tuned for info on the December 1 mailing of Alaskan Ice Tea!</div>
Lizzyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03094916262048388124noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2293352025916496927.post-36258732593079017632013-10-31T21:03:00.000-07:002013-10-31T21:03:09.410-07:00Shop is go!<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://tipsysheepyarn.blogspot.com/p/shop.html"><img border="0" src="https://i.chzbgr.com/maxW500/2483937024/hAB1120E0"></a></div></p>
Lizzyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03094916262048388124noreply@blogger.com0