Happy 2011

***Joyful News***

God was great to me in 2010. Second only to the Love of God is the Love of my Family which is the most important thing in my Life. I don't make New Year's resolutions.  Changes happen for me at Springtime.  When you see my Spring e-blast you will see all the changes I plan to carry out for that new and refreshing seasons ahead.

My beautiful family: l-r sis Karen, Mom Elva, son Amir, Me, niece Diana, sis Lyn, bro Ian and daughter Gill.

Here we go Congoline, lol

Dressed up in our Jags shirts with our Belize flag

Firstly, I want to say I had an amazing time with my family in Florida.  My sister had our entire week fully booked with fun and family events.  The main reason for being in St. Augustine was for my niece Diana Paola's graduation from the University of North Florida, our other fun stuff included: pedicure, shopped til we dropped, ran/walked a 5k marathon, went to see the Jaguars beat Raiders, played games, eat and most importantly danced.

Secondly, I want to thank everyone who made an effort to come out to my open houses over the holiday season.  It is always great to catch up with old friends, new friends and clients. Don't despair, if you ever want to come out and see me, please feel free to do so anytime.

Coming up with cool nifty ways to take my Etsy Shops to the next level will be my challenge for the new year.  Feel free to pass me on ideas and I will incorporate into my plans for this new year.  I am starting off the new year with a bang by completing orders. On my list is six pairs of slippers, three shawls and an afghan. Dresses are on my radar for this year, I plan to design and make a few of dresses and as usual feel free to contact me at anytime to talk about a design or style you would like to turn into something wearable and I will be happy to work with you one-on-one.

For each month starting in January and continuing to December 2011, there will be sales and markdowns on items. Already implemented is shipping savings, anything ordered in Toronto and surrounding areas will be shipped/deliverd free of cost.

****Joyful Tips****

Frequently Asked Questions...
Q. Do you make Men's stuff?
A. I make any and everything, if you do not see something in my Etsy shop that does not mean I do not have it in stock or cannot make it.  It's impossible to add every single thing I make to Etsy.  I make hats, scarves, mitts, gloves, neckties, sweaters for men.  Look under Hats, Handwarmers, etc. http://etsy.me/9nF1Hl Most of my hats are unisex. Check out this latest men's set that was added to my Etsy shop recently. http://www.etsy.com/listing/64922859/mens-hat-and-scarf-set

Q. Where does your yarn come from?
A. I have three suppliers I mainly use that are all in the Toronto area. Their yarns are mostly from Italy, Germany, England, Spain and Canada. Occasionally when travelling I pick up yarn from that area that are unique and to my taste.
Diamond Yarn http://www.diamondyarn.com/
Kertzer http://www.kertzer.com/
Estelle Designs http://www.estelledesigns.ca/

Thank you friends and family for supporting me and buying my items and ordering customized items over the 2010 Year, your business is much appreciated!

Please do not delete this email, share the JOY with someone you Love...

Thank you for Reliving the JOY!

Blessings!

Lady Dylana
The Joy of Knitting
Etsy: www.etsy.com/shop/DylanaDesigns and www.etsy.com/shop/TheJoyofKnitting
Twitter: @LadyDylana
Like me on Facebook: http://on.fb.me/TheJoyofKnittingonFB
Blog: http://ladydylanabelize.blogspot.com/

Open House - Dec 19 - 31

Winter is just starting when Christmas is over. Due to the success of my Open Houses I will continue them until December 31st. Please email or call me at 416-828-5895 to R.S.V.P.

Gift Giving Made Easy!!!

***Pre-Christmas and Early Winter Sale at My Place***

***Come and Shop for those last minute Winter items and Enjoy Coffee, Tea and Dessert with Me***

***Incredible Sales***

***Find the Perfect Gift or place Custom Orders for your own Winter Wear ***There is also a Yarn Sale***

***Bring Your Friends and Come***

Please remember to pass this along and share the *JOY* with someone you *LOVE*

Lady Dylana

The Joy of Knitting

Etsy: www.etsy.com/shop/DylanaDesigns and www.etsy.com/shop/TheJoyofKnitting

Twitter: http://twitter.com/LadyDylana

Blog: http://ladydylanabelize.blogspot.com/

There is an amazing sale at The Purple Thumb, starting today and continuing until Dec. 31, 2010.

Merry Christmas & A Happy New Year

We wish you a Merry Christmas, we wish you a Merry Christmas, we wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year...

Christmas to me mean pure JOY *Celebrating the birth of The Lord Jesus Christ *Enjoying Family, Friends and Food. It's does not matter how you celebrate make it something special with the people that you LOVE and be SAFE for the Holidays!!!

*Joyful News*

Short Break

I will be taking a break to hang out with my family in Florida Yeah!!! for my niece Diana Paola's graduation. I will be back on December 15th. For all my Toronto friends and clients, please feel free to call me and visit anytime after I'm back 416-828-5895.

Boxing Day Sales

Please look out for my Etsy 15% OFF EVERYTHING Boxing Day Sale that will start on December 25th at midnight and continue until January 1st at midnight. www.etsy.com/shop/dylanadesigns and www.etsy.com/shop/thejoyofknitting

Events Update

Now until end of January 2011 - The Purple Thumb, location in the Beaches located at 1887 Queen Street East @ Woodbine is now housing my knit and crochet items.

A Christmas Showcase at Retirement Suites by the Lake went amazing. I invited my friend Dawn to accompany me and bring along her own knitting and crochet items. It was a beautiful day and spending time with seniors made the day very pleasant. I was invited back to do a Valentine Showcase and an Easter Showcase.

A Christmas Shopping Spree was more a networking event than an actual shopping spree. I did very well and got some amazing contacts and a few custom orders. Most of my neighbours walked away disappointed with little or no sales.

Knit Denise Kits

2 Kits remaining!!!! This will make a perfect Christmas Gift for the Knitter in your life!
Denise Interchangeable Knitting Needle Kit http://bit.ly/90k1ZW

Facebook

The Joy of Knitting is on Facebook and now has 54 friends and 62 likes, please feel free to join or share with your friends http://on.fb.me/TheJoyofKnittingonFB let me know if you like?

*Joyful Tips*

This is a huge pet peeve for most people that love to wear knitted garments and accessories.

How to Reduce Pilling on a Knitted Garment

****Drop 2 or 3 drops of glycerine in the water for a complete cycle in the washing machine, if it's wash by hand, only 1 drop, no more because it's greasy!

****Glycerine gives back softness to the yarn and you can use in with fabrics too but! NEVER DRY BY MACHINE!!! It will stick and make all your efforts useless.

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Thank you friends and family for supporting me and buying my items and for ordering customized items over the month of November, your business is much appreciated!

Please do not delete this email, share the JOY with someone you Love...

Thank you for Reliving the JOY!

Blessings!

Lady Dylana

November is HERE!!!

November is already here! Frost on the ground, freezing rain, my oh my, we sure are prepping for Winter.

It is unbelievable that there is only a little over a month left to Christmas and then we will soon be celebrating 2011.

Tonight we fall back and get a wonderful, glorious extra hour of sleep, woot woot!

Lots going on for The Joy of Knitting this month....

*Joyful News*

Knit Denise Kit
This will make a perfect Christmas Gift for the Knitter in your life!
Denise Interchangeable Knitting Needle Kit http://bit.ly/90k1ZW

Just Listed
...in my Etsy shop, unisex crochet mittens, just in time for Winter or as a Christmas gift, feel free to order in what colour you prefer http://bit.ly/9nF1Hl

Facebook
The Joy of Knitting is on Facebook and now has 47 friends and 51 likes, please feel free to join or share with your friends http://on.fb.me/TheJoyofKnittingonFB let me know if you like?

Custom Orders
I have extended my custom order service and will now be taking orders for Christmas gifts up until December 3rd.

Upcoming Shopping & Events

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Date: Now until November 30
Location: The Purple Thumb (in Toronto's Fashion District)
652 Queen Street West
Toronto, Ontario M6J 1E5
My knitted and crochet items - hats, scarves, shawls, mittens, fingerless gloves, headbands!

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Date & Time: November 20 - 2:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Event: A Christmas Shopping Spree
Location: CG`s Hideaway - Restaurant and Banquet Facilities. A place where everyone knows your name!
(It's the Police Association Building. Entrance is at the back through glass doors)
180 Yorkland Blvd (Sheppard & 404)
Toronto, Ontario M2J 1R5

Please contact me if you would like free passes, will mail out if we cannot connect before this date.
Tickets will be $10.00 at the door.
Visit the website for more information: > http://achristmasshoppingspree.webs.com/about.htm

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Date & Time: November 24 - 10:00 am - 2:00 pm
Event: A Christmas Showcase
Location: Retirement Suites by the Lake
2121 Kingston Road (Danforth and Kingston Rd)
Toronto, Ontario M1N 1T5

I will be showcasing and selling my knit and crochet items at Retirement Suites by the Lake.

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*Joyful Tips*

- Use a high quality liquid detergent, specially designed for knitwear.
- 100% Wool should always be dry cleaned.
- Only wash wool blends, and wash by hand or choose handwash on your machine settings.
- To remove excess water roll in a fluffy towel and squeeze gently, or you can do a gentlle short spin.
- Dry flat on a towel away from direct heat and sunlight, this will ensure it does not lose its shape. Never hang your sweaters on hangers.
- Wash separately, never wash knits with other material this will make your knits pill.
- Once you remove the sweater from the spin cycle, it is important to reshape it while it is still damp.

Thank you friends and family for all the custom orders over the October month, your business is much appreciated!

Please do not delete this email, share the JOY with someone you Love...

Thank you for Reliving the JOY!

October is Breast Cancer Month

October is Breast Cancer Month... In order to honour all the people that mean so much to me who have been affected by breast cancer I have added a new section permanently to my shop. I will add new items regularly. My hope is that I can give back by donating 50% of all sales from this section to The Canadian Cancer Society which is a community-based organization, with volunteers and staff working to make cancer history at the grassroots level in our local community, they are near and dear to my heart. Feel free to custom order anything PINK at anytime.http://bit.ly/HelpforCancer

NEW! Just in time for Breast Cancer Awareness Month! Great to knit all your projects!
$65.00 with $5.00 being donated to the fight against breast cancer,

Sizes #5-15 US (3.75-10mm)
Makes circular lengths from 17” to 58”
Makes flexible straight needles as well
Any cord easily becomes a stitch holder
Compact 7” x 8.5” case for easy organization
Airline safe and travel friendly
Entirely made in the USA
All knitting parts guaranteed for life
Extra long cords and size #17 & #19 needles are now available separately
Call me to order: 416-828-5895


Fall Workshops

Beginner's Knitting: Oct 19 - Nov 9 - 7pm - 9pm - class limited to 10 ppl

Beginner's Crochet: Oct 21 - Nov 11 - 7pm - 9pm - class limited to 10 ppl

Learn to Knit Mom and Child: Oct 23 - Nov 6 - 1pm - 3pm - class limited to 8 ppl (child 9 - 15 years)

Workshops are being held at The Purple Thumb 1887 Queen Street East @ Woodbine in the Beaches.

Tel: 416-828-5895 for the workshop outline, registration and more information about private and semi-private classes.

Facebook

The Joy of Knitting is now in Facebook, please join http://on.fb.me/TheJoyofKnittingonFB let me know if you like?

Christmas

Please be reminded that I will be taking custom orders for Christmas gifts up until November 15th.

Check out all the new items in my shops at:

www.etsy.com/shop/dylanadesigns

www.etsy.com/shop/thejoyofknitting

Thanks for Reliving the JOY!

busy day today....

...ramping up my job search and my business. It's like I have my feet in both places and cannot take it out of one. I am looking for a full-time job for sure but at the same time I am not about to give up on my knitting business. What can I say, I live to fight another day...

Back to School time...

Good Day and Welcome... Thanks for Reliving The Joy!!!

(feel free to pass on to your friends and family)

I had a wonderful summer reconnecting with old relatives and new and old friends via facebook, twitter and in-person. My summer was also spent going down to the lake, running, walking and just totally enjoying the outdoors. Fall is just around the corner and there are two things to think about "Back to School" and "Christmas", yes I said CHRISTMAS! unbelievable that it's less than 4 months to Christmas. Start thinking about gifts for your loved ones and place your custom orders. Remember almost everything in my shop can be customized. Design your own Style and I will be happy to make it. On another note I know that most of my clients are family and friends and I am trying to decide whether or not to do a monthly newsletter or just stick with a more personal email, what do you think?

Dylana Designs www.etsy.com/shop/DylanaDesigns

http://bit.ly/GreatGrannyAfghans

http://bit.ly/bikinsetc

NEW! http://bit.ly/girlyaccessories more to come, check out the stylish flapper hats!

NEW! http://bit.ly/hatsetc

http://bit.ly/pursetotesclutch

NEW! http://bit.ly/scarvesandshawls

http://bit.ly/TheChildrenCollection

NEW! http://bit.ly/vintageredone

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The Joy of Knitting www.etsy.com/shop/TheJoyofKnitting

***FREE GIFT with every purchase***
***FREE SHIPPING to USA and Canada with the purchase of 3 or more items***

NEW! http://bit.ly/TheJoyofKnittingCotton

NEW! http://bit.ly/TheJoyofKnittingAcrylic

NEW! http://bit.ly/TheJoyofKnittingNylon

NEW! http://bit.ly/TheJoyofKnittingMixedBlends

NEW! http://bit.ly/TheJoyofKnittingBooksPatternsMags

NEW! http://bit.ly/TheJoyofKnittingNeedles

NEW! http://bit.ly/TheJoyofKnittingCrossStitchKits

I update my inventory weekly, check back often.

To find out more about Lady Dylana visit: www.thejoyofknitting.com

Follow me on TWITTER http://twitter.com/LadyDylana

and Check out my Blog http://ladydylanabelize.blogspot.com/

Live Your Best Life Now!!!

Lady D

Crochet Dress - Part III

I did promise to blog about my progress of my first ever crochet dress. It's coming along slowly but surely and I am actually enjoying making it. So I have completed all the pieces necessary and I am currently stitching it together. It is a lot of work, still so rewarding. I am working on this between all the other work I have to do so this is why it is not completed as yet. Lets just say it is a work in progress.






Check our my Etsy store at: www.etsy.com/shop/dylanadesigns
Website: www.thejoyofknitting.com

Crochet Dress - Part II

I will show snippets of my work as I am going along, remember this is my first ever crochet dress. At the end I will reveal my sketch and you can tell me how well I did. Check it out.

Designing A Crochet Dress

I have decided to take the plunge and design and crochet my first dress. I spent most of today sketching to see what my head will produce. I am currently working on a pastel yellow cotton dress and a black halter dress. I will post pictures of my progress with the black dress for everyone to see.

New project....

Today I started a market bag in country green. After crocheting out the first ball I realized that it was too boring so I added another colour called warm brown. I must say it is quite nice. I will post the pics so you can see what I mean. I will need to take the new pic tomorrow for you all to see what it looks like now. It's too late and too dark.

Check out finish bag at http://www.etsy.com/listing/48151574/bag-market-or-shopping-bag

Summer is almost here...

...and I have started to create my bikinis and halters, check me out at http://www.etsy.com/shop/dylanadesigns

As always I will be happy to take custom orders and create anything your heart desires.

Have a great day!

Lady D

Ange's Afghan

What a difference a week make, I think I have about 20 more rows to go and then I'm done. I am knitting a kids hat and doing my daily crosswordsalong with this afghan in order to get breaks.

Ange's Afghan

I'm currently working on an afghan for a very good friend of mine who is now a client as well. She is smart and amazing and really into her wines and run her own company in Toronto, check out her site and see for yourself: http://www.iyellowwineclub.com/. My girl Gill and I are planning on doing one of her special events in the near future.

Anyways, back to the afghan, I started it last night and so far have committed 6 hours and I must say im as please as punch with the way it's turning out. I plan to dedicated at least 2 hours every other day until completed. Look at it and tell me what you think? The colours are dark brown, khaki, cream and it will have a bit of wine induced into it every few rows.

OOOHHHHH it is so hard to keep up with this blog but I promised that for 2010 I will try harder.

xoxo D