WooHoo!

We are back in action folks! Check out the shop for new additions!

Shop of The Week: NutNut

NutNut:lovely little things for family & home

This is a lovely little shop that I came across on Etsy. If you're familiar with Etsy, you know how it is - you cannot stop looking. If you're not familiar with Etsy, QUICK go there now!

Nut Nut is a great shop with a variety of items to suit any one's taste. This little mushroom zippy pouch with coordinating liner and the little tie on the zipper is so unbelievably sweet. Also in their shop is a to die for Hobo bag. If you're a bag person I suggest you check it out. It even has great pockets so that you don't lose your keys and cell phone in your bag [I hate when that happens].

Got little ones in your life? This 4 pack of pins is on my "purchase list" for Christmas. I love all the sweet little faces and I know a few lads and lasses that would love to pin these right on their backpacks. I of course will be needing a set for myself as well - I adore that bunny face!

I hope you have as much fun perusing NutNut as I did!

-Sarah

Almost back in action.

Well, after a solid week of not being able to get on the internet, downloading other internet providers (firefox) and wiping out the main computer on the network - we've found our problem. It is Verizon Fios. Apparently the installation of the Fios network has caused a few glitches along the way and most likely we'll need a new modem.

So, while we know where the problem lies, it will not be "fixed" until Thursday (tomorrow).

As we wait for Verizon to get us back in working order, we continue to process orders between 8:00am and 5:00pm Monday through Friday and are shipping the day after you order (i.e if you order Monday, we'll ship Tuesday).

We can't wait to be up and running again as we've got SO MUCH great stuff to show you guys and we are getting increasingly more excited everyday!

Happy Wednesday!

**Shop Update**

As a product of still having access problems, any orders received over the weekend will be processed on Monday and shipped on Tuesday.

Hopefully we'll have this resolved and we'll be up and running 24/7 by Monday.

We appreciate you hanging in there with us through this!

Happy Friday!

Faith&Sarah

Designs, the internets and an update.

"The internets," as we have so fondly begun calling it, is still not working. Thank goodness for "The internets" access here at work!

As a product of still having access problems, any orders received over the weekend will be processed on Monday and shipped on Tuesday.

We have officially hired Briana from BennyandRoo to design a logo, banner & avatar for us. I am so excited about this endeavor. Her work is so amazing and I think fits really well with what we are looking for in a design. I cannot wait to see what she has in mind for us! This is such an exhilarating time. It is really great to see something you love and care about flourish! While our Etsy shop doesn't show many 'sold' items, this week we have completed two custom orders and have 4 more custom orders in the works. Things are busy here and that is such a great feeling.

Here is *some* of the fabric that we've picked up in the last few weeks. As mentioned before, Mom is working on Carriage Quits for the shop and let me tell you the fabric is oh so sweet. We have some serious love for Michael Miller. It is soft and sweet and just, well, perfect! The coordinating fabrics are just as sweet and I cannot wait for the finished product - I know you guys are going to be in love too!

I have been on a serious quest for a great baby bootie pattern and I have not found anything that I am completely in love with. The snuggly booties in the shop are the best yet but I am not a fan of seams. I don't really like seams in anything I knit. I try to avoid them if at all possible. Seamless to me has that ease of fit that you don't seem to get when you sew a sweater or hat or booties together. Last night, after knitting a bootie with a new pattern and not really liking it, I decided to create my own pattern using inspiration from the parts of patterns that I really like. So far, so good. [Knitters - this is where I need your help] The pattern is knit in the round using the Magic Loop method so that it is completely seamless (YAY!) well...except for the sole of the bootie which will need to be sewn BUT I think I can avoid this by using the Provisional Cast-on [what are your thoughts on this?]. If I use the provisional cast-on I am thinking I can go back at the very end and graft the cast on edges together forming one seamless, bump free bootie. Also, I've set the pattern up so that you only need one stitch marker to mark the beginning of the round - the other increases, decreases are either at the beginning or the end of the needle so it reads *knit until the last 2 stitches, M1L, knit 2*. [Thoughts?] I am going to keep the roll brim on the bootie as I really do like it - it reminds me of chubby baby ankes and who doesn't love chubby baby ankles?! Also, if ya'll have not noticed yet, I am a fiber freak. This makes me super picky about what I knit with. I am not a huge fan of pure wool but give me some soft merino and I am in heaven. Sugar & Cream? Heck no, bring on the Blue Sky Alpacas and Cotton Tots. Acrylic? I can't do it. For easy washing I'll use a wool/acrylic blend - its soft, it has some give and you can toss it in the washer without worry. Cashmere blends...those are my favorite. I am using Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino with size 3 needles for these booties and it is a DREAM. I plan on finishing up the first bootie tonight on the train ride home and if all goes well, a pattern should be in place by next week. Any thoughts on pattern writing are welcome and accepted - I am a newbie at this! [Is the protocol to add 2 stitches for each increasing size??]

Lots to look forward to in the coming weeks and I hope that we'll be seeing more of you all. This weekend is shaping up to be a busy one with quality time with friends, football games and craft fairs. I will try to post when I can from where I can and hopefully we'll have the internets up and running by Monday. We appreciate you guys hanging in there with us.

xo

Sarah

Things that make you go hmmm.

We're having some soon to be resolved internet "issues" over here at chez lux risa.

Orders can still be processed between the hours of 8:00am - 4:30pm EST and will be shipped, as usual, within 24 hours.

Unfortunately, we are unable to upload new pictures.

While we are not able to share with you the goodies we picked up over the holiday weekend, what we can tell you is this:

• Lots of new yarn;
• Lots of new fabric;
• New items for the store; and
• You're going to fall in love.

We should be back up and running within the next 48 hours.

Until then....

Faith&Sarah

Coming along.

I should totally be asleep right now. In fact, I have to be awake in oh, about 5 hours. So it goes. I am 100% a night owl - as is Mom. She's still awake too. As I type, she is calling me into the other room to look at other Etsy shops. We just cannot get enough!

So exciting - I got my first Treasury tonight! You can view it here. It is called "Childhood Memories" and is full of sweet little things that remind me of yesteryears. Things like unicorns and tea parties and jumping on the bed. I hope you have as much fun looking as I did!

Before I call it a day I wanted to share what I started this morning on the train ride into work. It is the beginnings of the "Little Miss Muffet" hat. So far, I am in complete love with it. I think I say that about everything - what is the point of creating it if you're not in love with it?!

Happy Friday everyone!

In the works.

The color way on the left is the girl version of the yarn I used to knit the "Little Boy Blue" set. Within the next week you will see a "Little Miss Muffett" listing for this new girls set! As always, even if the size you want is not listed in the shop, we can always get you the size you need.

Cotton yarn is by far one of my most favorite materials to work with. My two favorites are Cotton Tots and Blue Sky Alpacas. Both are high quality cotton and an absolute joy to knit with. Cotton Tots comes in a bright array of colors perfect for those baby/child knits that make people say "ooooh" when they see it. Blue Sky Alpacas is a little bit softer and is not plied as tight, making anything knit with it very very snuggly. Blue Sky Alpacas also uses organically grown cotton which means that there are no pesticides, herbicides or agro-chemicals used in the growing or harvesting of the fiber. The yarn I typically use has been dyed after harvesting. I use both yarns a fair amount.

If you are looking for something that is specifically organic cotton, go to the materials section in the description and look for "organic cotton." Also, if you see something you like that is not knit using organic cotton, and you would like it to be, please let me know and we can do a custom order for you.

I am really excited about the new items being created here and even more excited to be involved in something so great with my Mom!

Mom: I can't wait to see that new fabric you got!

Sarah

We have a new banner! Head on over to the shop and check it out.

Also...coming soon are "carriage quilts." Our stroller blankets are guaranteed not to drag along walks through the park or shopping at the mall. As always, hand sewn finishing on the back and luxturious hand tied ties as if grandma herself had a needle and thread! These will make excellent one of a kind shower gifts and are perfect for visits to the hospital to greet the new arrival.

Keep your eyes peeled here for the sneak preview!

Happy Monday!

Faith&Sarah