Rebecca Danger

Happy New Year!

I know, I know, I am a little late in my New Year wishes. I came down with the awful flu bug that is going around Saturday before New Year's and ran a fever from Saturday to Friday and finally started feeling better yesterday. So, I sort of missed the New Year, since I was in a sick-y induced fog, and am just now getting my new year's resolutions, goals and plans figured out. Actually I was filing some papers and getting my office in this house all organized over the weekend, since it hadn't happened yet since our move, and realized as I was sorting I missed an entire year and thought last year was 2011. Scary, right?

So anyway, Happy New Year every one! I hope 2013 turns into an awesome year for you all. 

More blogging soon, I mean it this time.

600 Monsters Strong

I am sure you have all been as overwhelmed by the news of the school shooting in Connecticut on Friday as Mr Danger and I have been. Though I am trying to listen to the news as little as possible since I end up in tears every time I hear anything, from what little I do hear it sounds like every one in this country and beyond has been feeling like we do.

I was contacted over the weekend by a group on Ravelry that has started the 600 Monsters Strong project. Their goal is to get at least 600 monsters made to give to the kids affected by the shooting in Connecticut. You guys, this is amazing. They asked if I would be willing to do something to help their group by either giving away patterns or discounting a couple of my patterns. I let them pick which they wanted and they decided on a $4 discount on both my Penelope and Daphne and Delilah patterns, which makes them $2 each. So, I set up a coupon code for Ravelry, and holy cupcakes if I have not had over 600 downloads just on my 2 patterns (2 of the many, many approved options) since then. I tell you what, knitters are just the most amazing group of people. From my guess they are going to have many, many times more than 600 monsters for these kids.

If you are feeling like me and want to feel like you can do something to help out these kids and families, go check out the 600 Monsters group and get involved. You can get the discount code there (it only works on Ravelry, I am not doing it on etsy since I would have to refund each order and with so many coming in I am completely overwhelmed just with Ravelry downloads which I don't have to do anything for. Pretty much any and all questions have been asked and answered in the 600 Monsters group so go dig around there if you need something answered). Seriously, this is so amazing I can't get over it. I have pulled out my needles to get started on a couple monsters. I don't do this very often, but please if you knit, go make a monster or two to give to this amazing project. It doesn't have to be one of my patterns either, there are many free options on the approved list.

Thanks guys, you are the best!

A Gift For You!

I had big plans to have this out for you as soon as Knit a Monster Nursery was out, but, here we are.

So, you all have your copy of Knit a Monster Nursery now, right? Since you do, you have noticed the fun embroidery patterns in the front that I said are a free download on my blog, haven't you. Well here they are! I have 2 different ones, so I am going to do one this week and one next week. Woo! 

Download Dangercraftsmonsterembroidery1

All you need to do is download it (see the link above. I will be putting it in my Free Patterns thing on the side there ----->, but that means I have to remember how to do that...), print it out, then transfer to your piece of fabric by tracing it with a light pencil or dissappearing fabric marker. Then get your stitch on and embroider it on up! If you are not super comfortable with embroidery, here is a great set of tutorials to get you going from Jenny Hart.For colors, I say green for monsters is always right. You can look in my book for some color ideas, if you are stumped though.

Awesomesauce, right?! Now, go get stitching! 

SALE!!!

Hey guys! Long time no blog, right? I know. Moving and book writing and event doing and teaching and Mama-ing and business running and blogging and life in general has been a bit much for me recently. I just couldn't do it all and blogging was the first thing that had to bend. Mr Danger has been working a ton too, but he was home for 4 days this last holiday weekend which meant I got 5 minutes to think and relax. I love thinking, it is so nice.

So anyway, after having a few minutes to think and having just finished my book I find myself putting a lot of things into perspective and planning the next chapter of my life. This kiddo is almost 19 months old and I find I still haven't figured this new life with a little one out yet. I am still trying to do as much as I did before he was born and I just have signifigantly less time to do those things now since I want to spend as much time with my munchkin as I can.

Long story short, it is time for me to stop selling yarn, eyes, and kits in my etsy shop. I have actually been out of eyes for a while now, but I still have a little bit of yarn and kits left. I have less space in our new house for my office and stock storage, and less time in general than I did, and I just have to put my sanity as my top priority. I have been selling just enough of these things to keep me selling them, but not enough to say hire help with shipping. So I am done.

Guess what that means for you.....I am selling the last of what I have got at 50% in my etsy shop. Yes, 50%, amazing deal, right?! Hop on over to the sale section now to see what is left!

In other news I have lots of fun things planned for you. Some free stuff, a giveaway (it is time right?!) and check ins with our new house and what I have been up to. The plan is to get back into blogging again, but it may take me a week or two to get back in it since I am out of the habit now.

Stay tuned though! And thanks for your continued business support and blow readership while I was away. You guys are the best.

Pre-Order Knit A Monster Nursery

Oh my good gracious you guys, I don't know if I am going to make it to November 5th (which is Monday). So we moved three weeks ago tomorrow (thursday), my child is 18 months old next week (which means he is a wild monkey interested in climbing furniture), Mr Danger has a new job that takes lots of time, I have a book due to my publisher on monday (the 5th), and I am teaching, vending, and doing a book signing at Knit Fit this weekend. Plus, being in a new house I haven't had a chance to unpack and organize much so I can find nothing. And I haven't had a good home-cooked meal in several weeks now. Like I said, I think my head might explode before monday. But, more on all that later.

Guess what!!!! Knit a Monster Nursery comes out in just under 2 weeks, huzzah!!!!!!! I can't believe it is here already, wowza time flies these days (although many days seem like an eternity right now, how does that work?).

But back to the book. I know you are all excited, so here's the deal...you can pre-order, signed, through me here. I will ship it to you as soon as it comes out. Signed. Which makes it better.

You can pre-order it through Amazon.com. They will ship it to you when it comes out. Not signed. (I am an amazon affiliate so I do get a couple bucks still if you click this link or the one down to the left in the "My Books" widget on the side of the blog here to order).

OR, if you are in the Seattle area, I will have a few copies to sell this weekend at Knit Fit. That's right! You can get a copy before it comes out AND you can come meet me. So amazing your head might explode.

Or, you can find a copy at your LYS after it comes out on November 13th!.

So there it is. I am not promising much blogging too soon, I am so beat I just haven't had a free minute and now I am behind on a pile of things I will need to catch up on. So I will be back when I have things a little more under control! Sorry, I am attempting to do more things at once than anyone should be, so the blog is where I can cut corners at the moment. But I will be back!

What We're Up To This Week

Being a single parent for the last month (while writing a book due in a month) has been quite hard for me. Let's just say I am counting down to move day. So, in order to attempt to cut down on watching Sesame Street, since I feel like I have been turning it on way more than I would like, I gave Peanut a new toy on Monday (A Little People School Bus).

Oh my goodness, he is in love with this things. It is all he has done since Monday (notice the outfit changes in the photos). I have never seen him so taken with a toy before. Thankfully my Sesame Street guilt is subsiding and I am feeling like an awesome Mama for picking the new beloved toy (and for entertaining him for a good chunk of time so I can get a little more work in).

Hope you all are having a great week!

HUGE-o!

Oh my goodness, I found this amazing GIGANTIC Hugo a long while ago and have been meaning to post it here ever since:

 All images from Ravelry

HOW MUCH DO YOU LOVE HIM?! Sorry for the yelling there, I just think this is my favorite rendition I have seen of any of my patterns.

Kristydavenport used 5 strands of leftover yarns held together on Us Size 15 needles to make this monster of a monster. You can find out all the details on her Ravelry project page. And her reason for knitting him is so sweet, too. Here's what she has to say about Huge-o:

"I made him for my Daughter Gillian who’s 5. She been having night terrors. crying as she sleeps. and I have made her smaller monsters and they have work well for scaring away bad dream monsters. But she needed a larger one to protect her as she slept. Plus mommy and Daddy need a good night slept “alone” hint, hint. LOL.

This monster is big enough to kick any bad dream/closet /under the bed monster Butts. Perfect for snuggling. I was hoping to make him bean bag size but he’s a bit smaller than a bean bag.. However I am happy with his size he does not take over her bed room.

He can be washed. he is stuffed with small pillows made form old flour sacks filled with poly fill and two retired pillows. The pillows can come out and be washed also.

She has large pink sheep a friend gave her when she was born and it’s a pain to wash him. so I learned my lesson make them wash able. The eye are 30 mm purchase from 6060."

I hope this inspires you to do some giant monster knitting. No, I mean it. Get off the computer and go check what the biggest pair of needles you own are and cast on now!

Cuteness!

Some days my email inbox is filled with so much cuteness that I can't help but share:

This is 5 month old baby Moxon with his Mama-made monsters! How adorable is this?

Happy Monday! Hope you are all having a good start to your week.

Free Glasses? Wohoo!

I am approached quite frequently by companies to advertise products and what-have-yous on the blog here. I really only want to offer content that is appropriate to you, my readers and because I am such a niche subject, the majority of items don't really feel "right" to me. But, recently someone from Firmoo.com emailed me to see if they could send me a pair of free glasses. Since it seems like the majority of knitters I know wear glasses (4 of 5 of my knit girls) AND because Firmoo offers free glasses to all first time buyers (you just pay shipping) I decided to say yes. And not only do they offer the first pair free, they have prescription glasses for as little as 8 bucks. Awesome right? I know all glasses wearers I know have always complained about how expensive glasses are. At 8 bucks, I decided I could have a whole glasses wardrobe (which is excellent when you have a 16 month old, since he thinks glasses are toys).

I am sure glad I said yes to this one! I started wearing glasses in the last year (thank you baby hormones), and since I got my glasses last August, I have been complaining that I need prescription sunglasses. So I used the nifty "virtual try on" thingie Firmoo has, and sunglasses are what I got:

I love them! I was very impressed with the whole experience too. They came quick, in a padded hard shell case, plus a soft case, a cleaning rag, and a hinge repair kit. Awesome! I can definitely say I highly recommend Firmoo if you are in the market for new glasses.

So, go check out Firmoo, and go check out their free glasses offer! Then you too can get a free (or cheap) pair of prescription glasses not in the summer, but as fall starts.....

Presley's 15 & 16 Month Photo

Yup. I missed a month. I didn't missing the taking the picture part, but the posting part. I don't know why, it is not like I have had anything else going on.

Wow, how amazing is it looking at the 2 pictures in the same post how different he looks? I just can't get over how fast they change at this stage. And it is amazing how plain old fast they are, too....