There’s been so much super secret book knitting going on lately that there is little to blog about. I’m used to recording every project here, so when I finish one and can’t share it, it’s like it’s not really finished. So sad! Blogging should be back to normal after the middle of February, thankfully. I’ve already got my next personal project floating in my head- stranded hand warmers in red and white with gnomes and pine trees and possibly mushrooms and stripes and tassels. My fingers are itching and COLD.

Yesterday was my day to order the pretty supplies used to pack orders. New colors of tissue (Dark brown! Orange!), boxes, and bags were all purchased, and then came an email that reminded me I was running out of the cards I write a thank you on for each order. The old cards were a bane, since the printer put a glossy coating on the back instead of the front, which meant my already poor handwriting was made worse by the slippery surface (if Mr. HelloYarn reads this, I’ll know because his laugh will ring out long and loud. My handwriting is a source of constant amusement for him). It’s not pretty, which you may have noticed if you’ve ever ordered from me. I was persistent, though, and used the better part of one thousand of those cards. Since I wanted to take an especially awesome photo for the new cards, I finally made the super amazing light box (heh) I’d gotten the supplies for ages ago.

Ikea Flaj box and tracing paper- total about $5

I take all of my product photos outside, out of direct sunlight, but at certain hours of the day, that perfect non-glare spot is hard to find. The frosting of the plastic of this box cuts the glare, and the paper provides a seamless, white, replaceable backdrop. It works pretty well! There’s hardly a shadow and no blinding shine on the yarn.

This is one of the darker photos I got from it yesterday, but I liked the way the little yarn tower was leaning, so out came Photoshop to rescue it.

A little lightening, a little contrast, a little erasing of any darkness around the edges, and it’s good to go.

And the postcard graphic:

*I made it into a desktop wallpaper.*

Oh, I should credit my helper, Shambles, resident yarn sniffer and wannabe photo stylist:

If I’m not blogging, I’m at least over at Flickr, so come visit!

There’s a wee shop update for you today.

handmade stuff:

Cloudless hand-dyed Sock
Pollen hand-dyed Sock
More Blue Please hand-dyed Corriedale top w/ optional spindle kit
Colorific hand-dyed BFL top w/ optional spindle kit
Dried Flowers hand-dyed Merino/silk top

If you aren’t shopping, you can see big, beautiful photos of it all in my Flickr set.

other new products:

I’ve got in new Peruvian wool yarn in worsted and chunky weights. This stuff is FANTASTIC. It’s so soft and squishy that I want to knit sweater after sweater out of it. I’ve ordered tons so I can do just that. Both weights are also available in acid dye kits. The best news about this yarn is that the price is only $10 for an 8 oz. skein.

I’ve also got in a new combed wool top- Corriedale- available by 8 oz. or full lb. and also in dye kits. This is a medium fine wool. It’s soft enough for next to skin wear by everyone but the most sensitive to wool, I’d say, but it’s a strong fiber. Use for items that will get a bit more wear, like mittens, sweaters, socks, etc. $8.50 for 8 oz. or $15.50 for a lb.

Lastly, I’ve added a natural Alpaca top sampler. You get 4 oz. of each of 4 natural colors of Alpaca top. 3 colors are superfine, and the darker brown is more of a medium fineness. This would be fantastic to spin up for colorwork.

Sadly, Sarah’s package didn’t arrive today, which is the first time the post has let us down. So, if it arrives by tomorrow morning, I’ll do another update with all the Maisy Day Handspun tomorrow.