March Special Offer

Free shipping on all orders received before the end of the month.  Mention coupon code ITHY-MAR11 in your convo or email to take advantage of this offer. Orders/emails must be received by 11:59 EDT on March 31.  Be sure to check my Etsy shop policies for the current turnaround time on knit-to-order sweaters.  Free shipping applies regardless of when the sweater actually ships.

Have fun! 

Back from Dallas . . .

. . . and had a great time!  The weather on Saturday was gorgeous.  High 80s, and sunny.  The hotel had a gorgeous roof top pool, so I hung out there all afternoon soaking in the sun.

Then came Sunday, which was everything Saturday was not, at least as far as the weather goes.  It was cold (at times really cold), cloudy, and even drizzling on and off.  But the race was still tons of fun.  The course was beautiful, and it was a fun way to see Dallas.  I was really sorry about running another half marathon so soon after New Orleans, but I think I did ok.  Somewhere around mile 8, I started to hurt a lot, but it actually passed, and I finished really strong.  So I was really pleased overall.  I'd definitely do this one again!

BTW, I stayed at the Joule in Dallas.  If you're ever in town and looking for a place to stay, it's one of my favorites.  Very boutique-y, which really appeals to me.  Plus there's that gorgeous pool.  Check out this AMAZING shot of it here.

Mad About Madison Street

I'm so delinquent in posting this gorgeous picture of the Madison Street sweater from South Carolina photographer Trish McCoy.  Isn't the little girl just lovely?  She kind of looks like she's been dropped into a Monet painting.  I love the effect, especially with the Uggs!

A Very Special Request

I've received a special request from a fellow member of Team EtsyBaby that I'm hoping all of you wonderful followers can help with.  Elaine of GrannysKnits, who also makes adorable handknit sweaters (check them out here), has been raising her grandson Jordan since his mother died unexpectedly in an accident when Jordan was only 2.  Jordan, who is autistic and suffers from bipolar disorder and OCD, turns 13 next week. 

Jordan really loves to receive mail--especially postcards from other parts of the country--so Elaine is trying to recruit a bunch of people to send Jordan a postcard wishing him a happy birthday.  If you're able to pop a postcard from your city, town, or state in the mail in the next few days, that would be wonderful.  Email me at yellowhouseknits[at]gmail.com for Jordan's mailing address.  It would be wonderful if he got a whole pile of birthday postcards! 

Thanks in advance for being willing to help!  Please be sure to read Elaine's whole story in this article in the Storque.  What an inspiration!

Rock 'n' Roll Dallas

Well, I'm officially running the Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon in Dallas one week from tomorrow.  I had been holding off registering because I wasn't sure I'd be ready to run another half so soon after New Orleans last month.  But if I don't do this one, I won't make my goal of three half marathons before my birthday in June, so Dallas it is!  I'm excited, but also wondering if I'm doing a really dumb thing.  Guess we'll know soon enough.  

It's going to be a really quick trip in and out of Dallas, which is a bummer.  One thing I like about these destination races is the excuse to spend a weekend in another city, but I just couldn't make it work this time. 

I have had a secret goal for a while of running one half marathon a month for a year.  This experience might be a good way to find out just how crazy that idea is.  Stay tuned for more. 

Warm and Yummy

I was so excited to see that the Somerset Place sweater was featured in last Thursday's issue of Fresh Baked, the newsletter published by the Australian blog KID Indepdendent.  The newsletter "features cool indie and handmade gear for kids, along with fun competitions and a few of our favourite new products."  If you're not familiar with the KID Independent blog, do take a good look--even if you don't live in Australia.  The editors have a real knack for picking out charming and unqiue products for babies, kids, and moms.

Announcing Semi-Annual Sale Dates

The Yellow House Knits Semi-Annual Sale will run from April 10 to April 24. The Semi-Annual Sale is your chance to get gorgeous handknit baby sweaters at a significantly reduced cost. Order a few for holiday gifts!

All sweaters will be 40% OFF. Please be aware that the queue fills up very quickly during the sale, so the wait for knit-to-order sweaters may be longer for sweaters ordered during the sale.  If timing is an issue, plan to order early during the sale.

As usual, there will also be an additional special offer for bloggers and Facebookers: Blog about the sale (or post on Facebook) between April 10 and April 17 and receive free shipping on your sale items (in addition to the 40% off) or save 15% on a future order. Blog postings must include at least one picture of a Yellow House Knits sweater. Email yellowhouseknits(at)gmail.com to let me know where to find your posting, and I will email information about redeeming these offers. So schedule your blog postings now!

Modern Easter Eggs

When I was little, my great uncle used to make Ukranian Easter eggs, also known as pysanky.  It was an art that he had learned from his grandmother, who came to this country from the part of Austria-Hungary that is now the Ukraine.  I remember being amazed at the beautiful, intricate eggs he created and at the vibrancy of the colors and patterns. 

Pysanky is a process similar to batik.  The egg is progressively covered in wax to mask certain areas and the  unmasked parts are dyed.  Each progressive dying creates a darker color on the unmasked areas.  Once the dying is complete, the layers of wax are melted away, revealing all of the colors protected underneath. 

My uncle gave many of those eggs to my grandparents as gifts over the years.  My grandmother, while a wonderful woman in so many ways, was entirely unsentimental and didn't save any of the eggs.  But I remember seeing them looking much like these (and I even remember her having a similar tablecloth!). 

So when I stumbled on the Pysanky Panky shop on Etsy, I was instantly transported back to my grandparents' living room at Easter.  Nicole makes lots of traditional and more modern eggs, but I particularly love these graphic, individually colored eggs.  I think they would look fantastic on a white, Easter "tree."  It would also be great to get a whole set in a single color (the lime green really speaks to me). 

For anyone creative, Pysanky Panky also sells a kit that you can use to try your own hand at egg decorating.

Snuggles and Cuddles

When I look at this great picture from photographer Trish McCoy, the first word that always comes to mind is "cuddly."  Don't you just want to grab this little guy and hug and snuggle him?  He's just perfect!

Thanks to Trish for another great, great shot!



Ask and You Shall Receive

Earlier today, I put a notice on the Yellow House Knits Facebook page reminding everyone that I offer 10% off a future order if you send me a picture of someone you know in a Yellow House Knits sweater.

Just hours later, look what I got!  Here's Javi in the Kennedy Street sweater.  Javi's mother received the sweater as a shower present in the fall, and Javi is finally big enough to fit into it.  Good thing too, since spring isn't so far away.  He is just the cutest.  Look at him mugging for the camera in that first picture!

March Already?

Where did February go?  Here's my latest update.  I'm not as far along as I'd hoped, but I'm still generally happy with my progress. 

35 Before 36 Update

1. Read 12 books.  Finished while I was in Mexico.  See my previous post for the report.
2. Go to New York City for a Broadway weekend.
3. Start saving regularly—even if modestly—for the addition to my house.  Making good--if modest--progress.  
4. Clean out my closet and give a lot to Goodwill.  I have a big pile of stuff ready to go--just need to get it out the door.
5. Finish my state streets project.  More good progress.
6. Donate to: Washington Humane Society, Legal Aid Society of the District of Columbia, and my various alma maters: Northwestern University, Carnegie Mellon University, the University of Michigan Law School, the University of Michigan School of Public Health.
7. Go to the U.S. Botanic Garden.
8. Get a massage and/or a facial each month.  9/12 complete.
9. Purge and replenish my underwear drawer.
10. See 12 movies in the theater.  Saw in February: "The Black Swan"
11. Spend a weekend the Omni Bedford Springs (my favorite).
12. Keep an inventory of food in the freezer.  Falling down on this one some.  I need to work harder to get a system in place.
13. Run three half marathons. 2/3 complete. Ran Rock 'n' Roll Mardi Gras in February; I think I'm going to run Dallas later this month (what am I thinking???)
14. Try yoga again.
15. Start to research the history of my house.
16. Reorganize my pantry.
17. Buy a nice piece of jewelry (pearls?).
18. Try 12 new (to me), local restaurants.  9/12 complete.
19. Improve my bread-baking skills.
20. Take Bullet on a weekend trip.
21. Get a new camera.
22. Take more pictures. Doing well!
23. Pay off my car.  Looking good!  I'm excited to have this one off my plate!

24. Master real push-ups.
25. Make at least two meals per month to freeze for later.  Doing well again!
26. Organize my knitting and needlepoint supplies.
27. Send more postcards when I travel with notes telling people I’m thinking of them.  I didn't send any from Mexico, but I thought about it.  Does that count for or against me??
28. Make a star tree-topper for my Christmas tree.  Canvas is purchased--need to start needlepointing.
29. Have a party.

30. Go to the renovated National Museum of American History. 
31. Go to the beach.
32. Buy fresh flowers more often.  This should be easier as spring comes around!
33. Paint my old patio furniture (or have it painted).

34. Take a crafting class.

35. Walk home from work at least once a week, weather permitting.  Same as #32