The Sun! The Sun!

As much as I enjoyed spending the past week with my family up north I have to admit that I am so very happy to be home and see the sun again. Oh sun, how I've missed you! It is supposed to be in the mid-60s today and while that probably signals some sort of further collapse of the ecosystem and certain doom, I'll take it. It is perfect timing, too, as one of my old friends from Ann Arbor is making her way into town as I type and I get to go downtown and play tour guide for a few hours while she and her husband are here. WooHoo! I always forget how cool Asheville is until I am showing it to someone else.

I am still considering myself on vacation, but there are a few things coming up later this week that are worth a mention.

Venus Vanguard will be doing a Baby New Year stocking on Thursday the first and I am working on a little something to put up at the last minute.

Also on the first I'll be doing the regular custom lottery from 10am-noon EST via email (info@crankypantshome.com). I'll be doing 3 slots via lottery this month so don't celebrate so much you can't make it to your computer in the morning! I'll also be stocking the few pairs of "girly" Classics I have left.

January custom auctions will be 10am-10pm on the 1st, 2nd and 3rd at the Hyena Cart shop as well.

Finally, check out what Henry got for Christmas from the coolest aunt and uncle ever:

The AT-AP LEGO set, 350+ pieces of LEGO Star Wars goodness that took us about 3 hours to put together yesterday morning. I helped find parts and tell him where some things went, but this is the first set her really put 80% together himself. He's pretty dern proud of himself. Thanks Uncle J and Auntie K!

Next Year's Holiday Card

Snowboarding!

My 2 year old nephew, Sam, getting his first snowboarding lesson:

Henry giving it a go:



Happy Christmas to everyone! We had an amazing morning of gift opening (Henry made out like a bandit-Bionicles, Bakagon, Star Wars, oh my!) and sledding at the neighborhood park. My nephew, Sam, got his fist snowboard for Christmas (when Daddy works for Burton you start early) and the kids each took turns sliding around on it. Now all the wee beasties are napping and those with cooking skillz are putting the finishing touches on the turkey. I have already eaten enough sugar to choke a small horse today and it isn't even 3pm. Viva la Christmas!

Winter Wonderland...

Two Down.

I went a little overboard and it ended up being more like 3 dozen.

Time to eat a quick lunch so I can do a taste quality check on them before heading out to finish the list.

One Down.

To Do Before 1:30.

Finish Henry's teacher's scarf ('Drop It, Yo' with Malabrigo single ply worsted merino in Peach Tree for those of you who to know that sort of thing)

Get Cinnebar (movie theater/restaurant) gift card for his teaching assistant

Dip a dozen or so pretzel rods for support staff/crossing guards.

Make a post office run.

Clean the bedrooms/upstairs bathroom (I did the downstairs yesterday).

Oh, and I should probably shower and get dressed somewhere in there, too.


Wish me luck...

Bees. Beavers. All Those Busy Animals...

Yeah, that's me.

Henry and I are in the middle of reading a Magic School Bus book about how protons and electrons in clouds attract and form lightning, and at one point the kids turn into electrons and ride a lightning bolt down to Earth. That's kind of how it feels around here! There are teacher gifts, holiday events at school, house cleaning and a million other things going on as we get ready to head out of town for the holidays. I'm looking forward to some down time, but I know I won't be able to sit with my hands still very long. Thankfully I'll have some personal knitting, the last two Twilight books and 3 little boy beasts to keep me jumping.

So here's a little show and tell...

This is my last custom of the year! This mama had them made to give her husband at/after the birth of their last baby (who is currently in ze belly). Their song is "Danny's Song" by Loggins and Messina ("Even though we ain't got money, I'm so in love with you honey..." [I originally typed that 'homey' instead of 'honey', which brings a whole new vibe to the song]) so she wanted something that had to do with the song, and two hearts and a chain. Here's what I came up with:


The first bars are the actual music for Danny's Song. I'm so glad she likes them and I wish them a super smooth birth!

Okay, now I'm going to post this super secret picture, but you can't tell Henry about it. I finally got some time to sit and knit him something for Christmas. As most of you know, he is the hugest Star Wars fan ever, so:


I know what you're thinking. I missed my calling as a super model. You are intimidated by my posing ability. I am expecting Janice Dickinson's phone call any minute now.

I also made some family gifts, which I probably shouldn't post since my family reads this thing.

Tomorrow there are TWO holiday events I can't miss up at Henry's school. He says he's doing the hokey pokey in the gym at 10 (a must see) and then the holiday party/Kindergarten presentation is at 1:30. Why they sceduled them so far apart so we have to go up and come back twice is beyond me. And yeah, I don't know what the hokey pokey has to do with the holidays, but I'm in.

Now I have to see if I can crank out his teacher's gift before 1:30 tomorrow afternoon...

Customs! Customs! Customs!

I finished up a few customs this past week, but my camera's memory card was indisposed for a bit. I have one more to go and am looking forward to finishing it up and spending the rest of the month crafting for and hanging out with my family.











Today is going to be the perfect picture of domesticity. I have a long list of household tasks that need to be done and errands to run and some crafting to do with Henry. We also have a birthday party for a little girl in Henry's class. This classmate birthday party thing is new to me, so it should be interesting.

T minus 8 days until we leave for CT. The countdown has begun!

Peru Snafu- WooHoo!

I got the long awaited box of Classic Crankypants today and have sent out balance invoices to everyone remaining on BOTH pre-order lists. If you are waiting PLEASE CHECK THE EMAIL TIED TO YOUR PAYPAL ACCOUNT! If you didn't get an invoice and think you should have, shoot me an email. If you are no longer interested, please write a quick note to let me know so I can pass them on to the next person on the list. If I receive your payment before 3pm tomorrow, your order will ship tomorrow.

I will also have some pairs left over. I'll be putting them up in reserved listings on the HC shop for wait list peeps as soon as the initial rush is over and I get a breath.

We're off to the book fair! Yay books!

Happy Happy! Joy Joy!

I just got my shipping notice from my Peruvian contact! This means that the box of Classic Crankys we've all been waiting for will be here tomorrow afternoon! Let the happy dancing commence!

I'm not sure what the exact contents of the box is, but if it is what it is supposed to be, I will be able to fill all outstanding orders with a bunch left over to continue down the list. I will start sending out balance invoices as soon as the box is in my hot little hands and I can see what I'm working with and start shipping Wednesday morning.

WooHoo!

Sickies.

Mr. Man is home with me today. He started feeling a little under the weather on Friday and, despite being a champ and helping to pick out and decorate the tree on Saturday, can't seem to shake this fever and stuffy head he has. No fun. We did get to do a few holiday crafts.

Here's our paper chain...

These are 2 of my favorite decorations. The one on the left is a ceramic ornament made by our friend Amy. She used Mexican wedding lace to give it texture, which I love. Henry and I made the one on the right by dipping a long strand of yarn in a glue solution, wrapping it around a small balloon and sprinkling it with silver glitter. We let it dry over night, popped the balloon and viola!

All done.


I also finished Shelley's black dog customs.


Woof Woof!

Also, Sage Skully Lounge Sets in size 4/5 are here! And Knit Pirate and Quilt Pirate Coaster Sets are also in stock and would make fabulous stocking stuffers for the crafty folks in your life!

Danger Mouse!

Do you guys remember Danger Mouse? Not Gnarls Barkley DangerMouse, the actual cartoon mouse Danger Mouse. Henry picked it out at the video store the other day and I didn't remember it until it came on and I heard the theme song. I think my brother and I used to watch it at my Memere's house when we were little. J? Is that true? I can't help but love it when Henry likes the same things we did when we were kids. I know marketing people love it too, but we won't taint my nostalgia thinking about that.

I've received an update from Peru and if everyone wouldn't mind sitting around with fingers crossed for a few days, I would be ever so appreciative. In theory, the box is scheduled to leave Lima tomorrow night, which would put it in Atlanta Monday and here sometime mid-week next week, with plenty of time for me to turn them around before I leave for the holidays. Like I said. Cross those fingers. If this thing gets delayed again I think I might go bananas.

Speaking of bananas (was that an awesome segue or what?)... Henry has mastered the fine art of the knock knock joke. I think I've heard "Orange you glad I didn't say banana" about 170 times this week already. And the interrupting cow one is always a crowd pleaser. I'm sure he'll whip that out when we see family over the holidays.

I am hoping that we can go get our tree and start decorating the house tonight. I am ready to start getting all festive and whatnot. I tried to get Henry to accompany me in making dozens of terribly complicated paper snowflakes to hang all over the place but it turns out that neither of us has that kind of attention span. Go figure. I AM looking forward to stringing cranberries and Kix cereal, though. That was a hit last year and it is so simple and pretty. Pictures to follow...

Summer in December!

Don't let the dark and dreary lighting fool you- surf's up at Crankypants World HQ!





I also put these little coaster sets in the HC shop.

Impatience is an imvirtue..

OKay, so I can't wait any longer. It hasn't been set to default anymore, but here is a linkydoo to the new Crankypants on HC shop. It is stocked with the new lounge sets, monster bibs, BooBoo Beasties, some sock monster friends and a few odds and ends that aren't available anywhere else right now. I am going to keep adding things as time permits all the way up to showtime (aka: the holidays), so keep checking back.

Click Me.

Oh No Not I...I Will Survive!

There are 54 shoppers in my old, empty Hyena Cart right now and I have a fully stocked new cart just waiting to be activated. Gah! It seems today is trying it's hardest to kick my butt, but oh no! Me and my peanut butter filled, chocolate covered pretzels (Henry and I made them yesterday) are determined to stay jolly!

My lone little custom for this month is Christy Lynn H. Congrats mama!

And just in case any of you are out there having a day like I am:

Take one bag of Snyder's waffle snap pretzels.

Empty about 1/3 contents of bag on cookie sheet.

Spread each pretzel with peanut butter.

Melt 1 bag chocolate chips.

Dip each PB-ed pretzel into chocolate.

Leave plain or decorate with sprinkles.

Stick in freezer 30 minutes.

Peru Snafu Redeux

Alright guys. I just spoke with Peru.

The box is still stuck in Lima. I am at a complete loss. My contact said they are doing everything humanly possible to get it here, but they cannot find space on the flights they usually use (I'm assuming because of the holidays). They said there are a few more things they are looking at and they may be able to get a reservation on a flight December 17. He sounded quite desperate, and I believe that he is doing everything he can.

I'm feeling a bit broken by this right now and can only continue to offer deposit refunds for those that want them. I am so very sorry. I wish there was something more I could do.

I do have a stocked Etsy store and am opening a new Hyena Cart today. If anyone would like to convert their deposit into store credit at either place, please let me know. I also do have a few extra size 18-24 Monster Booty longies here. If you are in EITHER pre-order whose deposits I have taken for a different size/design and would like to switch to one of these pairs, I can get them out today (until they run out).