Kentucky Sheep Dreams

(photo provided by Dianne MacDonald of kysheepdreams.com)

Hi, Knitters,

I am so honored that Dianne MacDonald, my friend since I toured for Itty-Bitty Hats in 2006, has joined in the blog tour for Topsy-Turvy Inside Out Knit Toys. Since that 2006 book tour I have been to Lexington, Kentucky, where Dianne lives and farms, three more times. For each visit Dianne has been a gracious host, tour guide/driver (even picking me up at the airport at midnight) and meal provider for me. I think if I lived in Lexington, Dianne would be my best friend, if she'd have me. I'd be bugging her all of the time. 

The last time I was in Kentucky was for the Sheep and Fiber Festival where once again Dianne was an incredible hostess with the most-est. She invited me to come down and teach at the event. She is easy, kind, friendly and most of all extremely talented with all things fiber. Dianne does everything from raising beautiful sheep and other farm animals (you have to read her blog to believe it!), to creating fleece from her animals for her gorgeous spinning (it's like none-other I've seen), to knitting fantastic creations from her own wool (and commercials wools, too). Oh, and she used to co-own a beautiful yarn shop and she cooks and bakes up a storm and her friends love her! I am sure there is much more that this adorable mother and grandmother is able to do brilliantly. I have just yet to stumble upon her other talents as Dianne is also sweetly humble. That's the best part about her. 

Please visit and follow Dianne's Kentucky Sheep Dreams blog! kysheepdreams.com If you are interested in farm life, beautiful farm scenery, sheep and other farm and domestic animals, knitting, spinning, cooking, baking, watching lambing on her lamb-cam, book reviews, retreat adventures, living with a veterinarian (her husband), mothering, grandmothering..... etc., please read this blog. You will love it!

Dianne knit up the Bunny and Lamb topsy-turvy toy from my newest book in her own gorgeous handspun. It is waaaaay better than my own version and the yarn is simply dreamy and perfect. She is incredibly talented, a treasure. Dianne reviewed the book, Topsy-Turvy, and is hosting a giveaway for a copy of the book!

Click here to see the review and the other side of the bunny and to enter the giveaway!

Thank you, Dianne, for taking the time to be a part of the book/blog tour for me. You are always much appreciated.

Secondly, let me take a grateful bow and shout thank you to everyone who took the time to vote for my hat in the My Mountain Hat Design Contest! I just made it to 5th place by the skin of my teeth which means I won an iPad Mini. I am so excited about this fact! Thank you times a million-billion! I have wanted an iPad for my travels for.... well, since they came out and I have never bought one. I am thrilled. I know that it took a lot of combined effort and I appreciate everyone who voted.

The hat pattern will be released as a free pattern. I will link the pattern when it is available. You need two skeins of the Lova yarn to make the hat. I am not sure of the release date for the pattern.

Take care! Wish me luck for my first trip to Canada this weekend. I'm excited about that one, too. There is so much good going on this fall.

best, susie