L*K Charity Update!

Last November I told you about our L*K holiday charity project. We're so excited to share an update with all of you...our stitching and giving partners!

B55 I Am Only One Inspiration Boxer Kit

We introduced our "Charity" Boxer B55 just in time for Christmas 2016. But...it's not a holiday 2016 project only. The giving will continue all year, and for years to come.

How many stoves have you all funded so far? We sent a check at the end of 2016 that will fund 27 stoves. And that's just the first donation! How exciting is this?!

Why did we choose Stove Builders of Guatemala as our charity?

I was fortunate to visit Guatemala several years ago, and am hopeful to return again to build more stoves. Women typically cook on open fires inside their homes. The #1 killer of Guatemalan women is lung and eye diseases from open fires. Women's long skirts often catch fire and small children may fall into the fire. In addition, a lot of wood is burned, deforesting the countryside. Everywhere we traveled, we saw people carrying firewood...young and old...everyone carrying bits of wood.

Long story short...an American who had lived in Guatemala developed a fuel efficient stove that could be built using local materials. Besides being fuel efficient, the stove got the cooking fire off the ground and vented the smoke outdoors. It could be built for about $120.

Stove Builders Juan and Diego

Local "stove builders" have been trained (pic above), and they continue to build stoves and train more stove builders. Twice a year a group from our church returns to work alongside local stove builders and provide financial help. Can you believe Stove Builders have built over 850 stoves?!

$120 is a big price for a family where a good wage is $6 a day. Stove Builders provides $100 per stove through donations and the family pays $20. In addition, the family helps with construction of the stove.

Our hope is to provide a stove for every family who needs one. By purchasing this L*K design, you are partnering with us and stitchers around the world to provide safe, efficient stoves to Guatemalan families. ***Check out those tiny tortillas above. Tortillas are a staple food - breakfast, lunch and dinner.

I couldn't finish this post without sharing this pic of the beautiful women and their gorgeous handmade clothing. I fell in love with the traditional clothing of these Mayan descent women. These ladies aren't "dressing up" for tourists - this is their everyday wear. Every village has it's own "pattern" of embroidery, and you can identify a person's home from their clothing. I also thought the wrap skirts were genius! No matter what your current weight, you could wind these skirts to a comfortable, cozy fit. And the beautiful COLORS!!!

***If you have a special story to tell about how you are using B55 I Am Only One Inspiration Boxer in your life...maybe as a special gift, project or something other creative use...please leave a COMMENT. 

"I am only one. I cannot do everything, but I can do Something".

And with all of you...we can do so much MORE!

L*K holiday charity project!

Here's a preview of our final 2 releases for 2016. Scroll back to previous post for the 2 new kits coming to a shop near you in early December.

#178 Prayer of St. Francis

I've had a lot of (prayer) requests for this one over the years. I had planned on releasing this in 2017, but now seems like the perfect time. It's a big piece for L*K, but every word is important. I found that stitching these lovely words, one little cross at a time, was comforting and meaningful.

B55 I Am Only One Inspiration Boxer

It's our first Inspiration Boxer where the proceeds go to charity - yea! Just in time for the holiday gifting season, we're inviting you to be part of our L*K holiday giving. We used a classic inspirational saying and also included a BONUS design. Kit includes 30 ct. lambswool linen, embellishment and BONUS design.

We're donating to a favorite charity of ours - Stove Builders of Guatemala  We included an insert in kit so everyone can learn about this useful and environment project to improve the lives of Guatemalan women and families.

Why build stoves in Guatemala? Here's the short scoop:

I was fortunate to visit Guatemala several years ago, and am hopeful to return again to build more stoves. Women typically cook on open fires inside their homes. The #1 killer of Guatemalan women is lung and eye diseases from these fires. Women's long skirts often catch fire and small children often fall into the open fires. In addition, a lot of wood is burned, deforesting the countryside. Everywhere we traveled, we saw people carrying firewood.

Long story short...an American who had lived in Guatemala developed a fuel efficient stove that could be built using local materials. Besides being fuel efficient, the stove got the cooking fire off the ground and vented the smoke outdoors. It could be built for about $120.

Stove Builders Juan and Diego

Local "stove builders" have been trained (pic above), and they continue to build stoves and train more stove builders. Twice a year a group from our church returns to work alongside local stove builders and provide financial help. Can you believe Stove Builders have built over 850 stoves?!

$120 is a big price for a family where a good wage is $6 a day. Stove Builders provides $100 per stove through donations and the family pays $20. In addition, the family helps with construction of the stove.

Our hope is to provide a stove for every family who needs one. By purchasing this L*K design, you are partnering with us and stitchers around the world to provide safe, efficient stoves to Guatemalan families. ***Check out those tiny tortillas above. Tortillas are a staple food - breakfast, lunch and dinner. 

I couldn't finish this post without sharing this pic of the beautiful women and their gorgeous handmade clothing. I fell in love with the traditional clothing of these Mayan descent women. These ladies aren't "dressing up" for tourists - this is their everyday wear. Every village has it's own "pattern" of embroidery, and you can identify a person's home from their clothing. I also thought the wrap skirts were genius! No matter what your current weight, you could wind these skirts to a comfortable, cozy fit. And the COLORS!!!

BTW - this is "the gift that keeps on giving". We will continue to buy stoves - with your help - for years to come. This giving doesn't end with Christmas 2016! We really look forward to keeping you posted on our adventures in Guatemala.

"I am only one. I cannot do everything, but I can do Something".


****If you need any of these L*K newbies under your tree...or the 2 new kits previewed in previous post...let your favorite needlework supplier know NOW. We're shipping to shops right after Thanksgiving.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING, everyone!

What? Me? Change my mind???

Yes, it happens. And at work, it happens ALL The time. Designing new products at L*K is the best part of the biz - so fun, spontaneous and a real creative high (most of the time).

But the designing process doesn't stop when I finish the design on the computer. The real creative challenge begins when I stitch the model. And yes, I do stitch my own models. Sometimes a model goes together flawlessly. I choose the colors and fabric and whiz through my stitching. Honestly, I can't remember the last time this happened, though. Most of the time it's a trial and error process involving lots of stitching, taking out, restitching...maybe even starting the whole thing over again after the fabric is getting thin and tired.

My selected thread palette (above) always starts out beautifully organized, but rapidly descends into chaos!

My motto is "I only have to get it right ONCE, even if that takes forever!". And I've learned it's wise to keep on trying until I'm satisfied. If I'm not satisfied and proceed to publishing, every time I look at that design I think "Wow, I should have made more changes".

The past few weeks I've been working on the next set of Inspiration Boxers. These little kits have been phenomenally popular, and I am very grateful. I have pored over dozens and dozens of inspirational sayings, trying to choose the ones that speak to me, and hopefully to my customers. Last week I selected the sayings (a couple of them are frequently requested) and did the designs on the computer. Then the fun part started...or did it?

I had barely began stitching, when I realized I wasn't happy. So I chose some different threads, took out sections and restitched. And did that over and over until I was really pleased with the results. But it took me a couple days to be "happy" and put me behind on my self-imposed schedule. Whatever...the design and it's matching BONUS designs are really "sweet and simple" (that's a clue to the saying I used!). Below is a pic of the BONUS designs that go with 2 of the new Inspiration Boxers. I found a beautiful little snippet of lace that I'll have my finisher add to one of the projects.

So armed with my recent success and more confidence, I started on the 2nd Inspiration Boxer, sure that I wouldn't encounter a similar color scheme problem. No, not a similar problem, a worse one! I stitched areas again and again, took sections out, laid out new threads and nearly drove myself crazy. So I decided a "consultation" was in order - maybe an intervention!!! I went to my local needlework shop to meet with 3 experts for their advice. And...WOW! Maybe I should consult more often. They had lots of helpful ideas, we traded some colors, even moved around some motifs. Several hours later...with lots of stitches removed and replaced...and more time making design adjustments on the computer...I was finally finished and HAPPY!

I am most grateful to Sherre, Debbie and Carol for their consultation/intervention that allowed me to finally finish this inspirational design. Ironically, the saying on this one is "LIFE isn't about waiting for the storm to pass, it's about learning to dance in the rain". How appropriate is that???

Cross Stitch Design 101 - Lesson 1

I promised some tips on the design process as part of my 20th Anniversary celebration. Not interested in designing? I hope you'll find the process interesting, and maybe you'll look at cross stitch designs with a different perspective when you've been "behind the scenes".

LESSON ONE
This class is just for FUN! No pop tests, no finals, no attendance-taking, not even any class projects, unless you're one of those over-achiever students (like I was in school) who wants to do some designing for extra credit. After 20 years, I just want to share a bit about my work with all of you. Grab a cup of coffee or tea and read on!

* I begin with an idea....duh. I may want to focus on a certain season, or maybe I have a phrase that speaks to me. If I'm looking for a new phrase, I usually Google something like "Halloween sayings" or "inspiration" and a zillion ideas pop up. Or an idea can begin with a motif I want to explore...maybe an elf, mermaid, or American flag. Another idea starter can be a theme I want to graph...like wedding, birth, scripture...you get the "idea".

Often I'm inspired by something a stitcher has suggested. Maybe they've sent a phrase or a request for something specific. I keep files of these on my computer. I also get ideas from everything around me...things on Pinterest, trends in home decor, pop culture...all that.

* I decide which L*K format I will be designing for (sorry...dangling participle). If it's a small stand alone design, it's a Snippet (L*K products beginning with S). If my idea involves a series of "smalls" that relate to each other, there's a new Flip-it or Double Flip series headed your way (products beginning with F). If it's a larger design, or maybe a couple small designs with the same theme, I will market them together as a chartpak (products beginning with C). Then there are kits (K), and Boxer kits (B)...so many formats, so many designs. My goal is to provide a variety of products so everyone can choose what they like...different strokes for different folks. 

It may seem odd to decide which format I'm working in before I've even done a sketch. A design doesn't always end up in the format I originally intend. Sometimes I decide to include a bunch of embellishments and something that began as a Snippet ends up being marketed as a kit. I may decide that those little goodies are essential to the finished product, and I want everyone to have them. But I begin with a "vision" of how that design will be presented to you, and proceed with that in mind.

In the same manner, sometimes I do a new design, and everyone wants to see more of the same/similar thing. An example would be the A Little Love kit I designed several years. ago. I got lots of positive comments on the "Little" kit idea and requests for MORE, so now there are lots more "Little" kits...A Little Christmas, A Little Boo, A Little Wedding, A Little Baby, A Little Luck, A Little Beach, A Little Snow...and more (whew!) and more to come, I'm sure. Your response really is noted and appreciated.

The most recent example of an "unintended series" are our pocket/purse kits. I had so much fun with Merry Little Santa Kit (K84) in December 2015, I decided to do a series in 2016. To date, we've released Hello Spring (K86), and (hot off the press) Love Summer (K88). You can guess what's coming in a few months...a fall/Halloween pocket/purse kit...I'm looking forward to this one.

* Time for a pencil sketch! I keep a spiral notebook beside my computer and refer to it once a month...maybe...if it's not buried too deeply on my desk. In theory, it's a good place to store ideas that I will refer to later. Honestly, I forget about this notebook a lot, but sometimes it's really valuable. See scribbly notebook below.

I tend to make lists of related sayings/themes in this notebook (pic above). I know it's messy, but if you look closely you can see the original sketch I did for Gratitude Boxer (B51). The sketch is that little box in the middle of the page. Some pages have more drawings, some have more ideas/sayings.

If I'm tackling our annual Tiny Tidings holiday designs, I'm going to need 5 Christmas ideas/sayings. I always list/sketch more ideas than make it to the computer. I can flip back through the notebook the following year and those little leftovers may be just what I need.

I also may begin a new design on a scrap of paper or Post-it that lands in the trash. My sketches are getting rougher and rougher as the years go by. I used to do a nice, detailed sketch before I began graphing on my computer. Now...not so much. Just a quick idea and I'm off crazily clicking on the keyboard.

* On to the computer! I use a really old design program. It's 20 years old - the same age as L*K! So whenever anyone asks about it, I tell them to find something more current. It works for me, so I don't see a need to update/upgrade. L*K designs are quite simple, and my program already has tons of features that I don't access.

Here's my big screen, filled with the Things Unseen Mystery Sampler and the accompanying bonus projects. In the lower left corner you can see the color palette. 

The most essential things in a design program for me are the colors and the ability to move stuff around. I did my original 25 or more designs on old-fashioned graph paper, with a pencil and busy eraser. Working on a computer is SO much easier for me. If I want to move a whole tree over one space, I can just lasso it and scoot it wherever I want. I can also copy and paste motifs when I want to repeat something. It's also a snap to try out different thread colors as well as background colors.

Clicking out a new design is an acquired skill and I'm still working on it. It sure is easier to sketch curvy shapes on paper, than to create them with a series of little boxes on the computer. Just saying...there is a small amount of skill and practice involved. Clearly it helps to be "artistic".

Speaking of "artistic", before I began L*K, I worked in advertising. Back in the day, I did newspaper paste-ups. Those of you of a certain age will know what I am talking about. My younger readers will have no idea - read and learn. We manually cut and pasted (literally with hot wax) the type onto a page for newspaper reproduction. I went from paste-ups to illustrating for retail newspaper ads. I specialized in fashion, but when I worked for a discount store I drew everything...toys, blenders, rifles, cameras...anything that we didn't have manufacturer's art for. And whatever I did the day before greeted me when I opened the local paper the following morning. Here are a couple (vintage) ads I drew above. I found a huge stash of these beautifully tall, thin people when we recently moved.

Needless to say, I was working only in black and white - the 2 colors that often permanently stained my clothing those days. Adjusting to designing in color was HUGE for me, but ultimately so much more fun.

Hope this has been interesting!!
(If this is the most boring blog post you've ever read, you probably haven't made it to this point anyway.)

If you have questions or comments, please let me know!

I'll do another post soon with the next steps in the design process...hope to see you in class again for Lesson 2. 

Class dismissed...go stitch!

Official L*K forecast for 2017!

I'm forecasting a year full of cross stitch fun for 2017!!!

****If you don't read about "how I plan a year in advance", scroll on down to the SNEAK PEEKS later in post. If you want more L*K behind-the-scenes, read the whole thing!

Seriously, I'm working this week on my tentative design schedule for 2017. Believe it or not, I do plan ahead...sort of...subject to change, of course.

Here's how it works...kind of an L*K tradition. I tear out a piece of old-fashioned notebook paper (old school!), grab an (erasable!) pencil and get to work. I pencil in what months we will be releasing new designs. That's usually every other month. Unless we're doing a Mystery Sampler, unless market gets in the way, unless...whatever else pops up. In 2016, we had 8 product releases. With only 4 months without new product releases, it seemed like we were always doing major shipments...and we were!

As I pencil in my designs for the year ahead, I refer to the previous year's schedule. There are some designs that occur yearly, and I don't want to forget those. Every year we have Tiny Tidings (tiny holiday designs) and a yearly Snippet Santa.

Then I try to maintain a nice balance of our different product lines and scatter those throughout the year. The goal is to have a little something for everybody.

Chartpaks - usually a large design or group of small designs
Snippets - small designs
Flip-its - series of small design that can be stitched separately or together
Boxers - kits that include fabric, embellishments and BONUS design
"A Little" Kits - themed kits that include fabric and embellishments
Kits - seasonal kits, often Limited Edition
Embellishments - sometimes we have optional embellishment packs to accompany designs

I don't pencil in a whole year at once! But I do have an outline. There's always room for "sudden inspiration" when I find a theme or a quote that really speaks to me and I want to share it with all of you.

And sometimes things I plan on doing just don't materialize. That's why everything is in PENCIL. Then when the new product release is actually scheduled and announced to the needlework shops, I get out the eraser and finalize it in ink.

Sometimes a design that begins as a single design evolves into a series. A good example would be S106 Spring String Snippet. I have so much designing this little "string" that a wholes series followed. Buzzy String, Spooky String, Thankful String, Merry String, Snowy String, Doggy String and Kitty String. They aren't my best sellers, but I love them (sometimes that happens!).

S106 Spring String Snippet

S107 Buzzy String Snippet

NOW...HERE'S A SNEAK PEEK FOR 2017!

* Celebrate with Charm Flip-its. We just shipped the first 2 parts of this 7-part holiday series. They're quick, cute and each one comes with an antique gold charm. So many finishing possibilities on these! Easter Celebrate with Charm is coming in February.

* Chick Party! I just stitched 2 little Easter designs with lots of adorable chicks. I'm not sure whether to call it "Just Chicks" or "Chick Party". I'm leaning toward partying! Coming soon in February.

* She Believed She Could. Suddenly I'm seeing this saying everywhere..."she believed she could, so she did". I just designed and stitched this quote, along with another women-oriented saying that I love. This continues my theme for 2016 on self-care and empowerment and "just go girl!". Coming in February.

* Coffee designs! I just finished stitching a series of 3 coffee themed designs. I know we've "done coffee" before, but there's a real "thirst" for coffee stuff. It never goes out of style....

* A Little Stitch Kit. Several years ago I asked my blog readers to submit ideas for Little Kits. I went back through that list (still have it) and decided to do a cross-stitch themed kit. Can't wait to start stitching this model because it's fun. It says "Stitch every day", which is (of course), excellent advice!

* Snippet Sleds. These little buggers are so popular, and they're so fun to design. It's sorta like solving a puzzle...trying to figure out how to fill the allotted sled-size stitch count with a cute design. Each Sleds Snippet comes with 3 sled designs. Last year we released 2 Sled Snippets (6 designs), and hope to do that again in 2017. Each Snippet also includes little sled embellishments.

S129 Snowy Sleds

S128 Peppermint Sleds

* Santa and Tiny Tidings. Every year, these make an appearance. Our 2016 Old School Santa was a very popular guy. And Tiny Tidings XXI was the most popular Tiny Tidings in recent years. I adored the 5 little holiday characters. What should I do in 2017?

* Seasonal Smalls series. I just designed a group of 3 summery "smalls" and they are so cool, I'm planning a seasonal series. What are smalls? Just what you think...sweet little designs. The fun thing about smalls - you can do so many great finishes. Pin pillows, bowl fillers, tiny frames, boxes, easels, whatever you like and they look great. My favorite thing about smalls...they are satisfying, enjoyable, quick little projects. Smalls are FUN!

* Inspiration Boxer Kits. We've done almost 2 dozen Inspiration Boxers, and they're still popular. I think a little inspiration is always a good idea. A few years ago, we had a contest to submit sayings. I graphed the 3 winners, and I still have the long list of submissions. Want to submit your favorite inspirational saying? Leave a comment below.

B56 Be the Rainbow Inspiration Boxer - our most recent release

* Just Cross Stitch Annual Ornament Issue. L*K was MIA from the 2016 Annual Ornament Issue, but we'll be back in 2017. Would you believe we submit our designs in March? I decided, uncharacteristically, to tackle it as soon as I got the request from JCS last week. I designed it and am stitching on it now. The JCS ladies will be shocked when they receive my ornament issue project in February! Definitely a first for L*K.

What else? What would you like to see in 2017???

Please LEAVE A COMMENT below and let me know what is your "heart's desire" for 2017. I keep a file of suggestions from stitchers and refer to it often. I really love the input.

Here's to a great 2017 together...in stitches!

Meet me at the fair....

FYI - I live in the CITY!  But...the "country" is only a couple short miles away, and it is endless entertaining! For our Friday night activity, a group of friends drove to the county fair in Cheney, about 25 miles from Wichita. Somehow, in my 55 years of living, I have never been to the county fair.  To make up for that, my friends (many of them grew up on a farm) guided me through a variety of classic and quirky fair experiences and we had a blast!

First on our list...fair FOOD!  We chose the Cheney Methodist Church building because my friend Vicki's sister helps there every year, and because we know those church ladies can really cook! The building is permanent - read the sign - they've been serving fair food for 125 years.  But it isn't air-conditioned - more like a giant screened-in porch, but we happily worked our way through chicken and noodles, taco salads, and beautiful pieces of pie.  I can't imagine how hard these ladies (and men) work to serve food all day for 4 days - that's a marathon church dinner!

After dinner, we strolled past the "Fair Idol" contest and listened to a couple aspiring singers...country music, of course. Then we headed for the large animal barns, where my friend Marlys insisted I pet a cow.  Admittedly, I was a little nervous about this large animal, altho this one wasn't full grown. Marlys told me stories of her 4H youth days, when she showed cows and had to style their tails as part of their whole body grooming process.  What a hoot!  Yes, when cows come to the fair, they are unusually clean and well groomed! I'm not showing a dairy cow pic...I'll leave that sight to your lactose imagination!

On to the pigs, which were a mystery to me. They put 8-10 pigs in the ring at the same time, and their hapless owners (who are all dressed up!) try to herd them around with little sticks. It was hilarious, until a couple pigs decided they didn't like either other, and they had to break up a pig fight!

Then onto the goat pins, where one little goat decided he was "king" of the pin, and tried to rule from his bale of hay, keeping out challengers with his little horns.

In the small animal barns, we saw chickens of ALL varieties, ranging from classic chickens to the weird and wonderful. This little gal looked like she was having a bad hair day, or is it a good look for poultry? Whatever...she won a purple ribbon for her efforts!

And then the bunnies...again, all shapes, colors, sizes...all equally CUTE!  You really want to stick your fingers through the cages and pet them, but there are signs everywhere warning that the bunnies BITE!

Finally, we checked out all the fair rides.  Notice, I didn't say we rode the rides...we checked them out.  Our conversations went something like...

"WOW...I used to love that ride when I was young!"

 "Yea, but I think that would really upset my stomach now." 

"I used to be able to ride those things all day." 

"I think that would really make my back and neck hurt now."  

"Don't these portable rides that go from place to place make you a little nervous?"

"And look at that guy running the ride - he is so scary, can we trust him with our lives?"

We skipped the big grandstand event (you had to pay for this) which was bull riding. But I must mention one of the MOST entertaining events at the fair...watching the people...OH MY! 

Friday night at the fair was so much fun, we decided to return Saturday AM for breakfast with the church ladies. We got up early and rode our bikes and greeted all the unsuspecting church folk in our geeky bike gear.  My husband Alan was a happy camper with his biscuits and sausage gravy, homemade cinnamon rolls and watermelon.  Look out cows and random farm critters, I'm coming back next year!

"with a little help from my friends" (getting ready for market!)

We're headed to Nashville Needlework Market soon, but things have been in "high gear" around here since 2015 began. No matter how prepared I think I am, getting a batch of newbies ready for market, in addition to the regular release schedule, is HECTIC (7 days a week & evenings!). 

Here's what's coming SOON to your favorite needlework shop! Some of these projects are Limited Edition, so make sure to pre-order and add to your stash.

K77 Hip Hop Kit

Time for a little Easter fun! We've got lively chicks, lots of eggs, carrot and flowers, all done in cheerful spring colors. Kit includes 30 ct. creamy linen, JABC flower button, super AWESOME finishing fabric, polka dot ribbon and complete finishing instructions. This gorgeous finishing fabric inspired the whole project. There's enough included for front and back. Time to HOP!

K80 Farm Fob Kit (2 sided fob!)

This farm fresh design is our last minute addition to the market mix. Just last week, I was busy stitching and miraculously it came together (with the help of super-finisher, Mona). Kit includes stitching fabric (some assorted pale linens and evenweaves I discovered when we moved our office!), antique gold rick rack and a stash of little rusty beads. Mona wrote some easy-to-follow instructions so your fob can look farm fresh, too!

A Little Gray Hare Limited Edition Kit

This kit was featured in our previous blog post (scroll back for the whole story).  It's full of goodies...hand-dyed WDW seafoam linen, 8 colors of WDW overdyed threads, teeny pink beads, pale pink rick rack, finishing fabric for back, egg template and complete finishing instructions. Get this one now...it's hare today, gone tomorrow!

K78 BUZZ Kit

No, this chopped-off photo it's not a mistake! This one is a surprise - complete photo will be revealed at market (gotta keep some suspense!). I'm still obsessed with BEES, so it's a bee theme (you guessed it). 

I worked with Marilyn at Picture This Plus to design a custom linen for BUZZ. It's called Verdant (definition: green, leafy, luxuriant, lush), and it's an awesome shade of yellow green. Kit includes Verdant 28 ct. linen and 2 mother-of-pearl round buttons. It's bright and fun, yet has some vintage appeal... it's cross stitch fusion!

Marilyn just delivered our gorgeous Verdant linen last Thursday (she made a road trip to Wichita). We were in a time crunch to get this one ready, so we asked for "a little help from our friends". We buckled down and got all the fabric cut, folded and ironed, sacked the buttons and prepared the printing. 

Then last Sunday afternoon, we hosted an impromptu "Open House/Volunteer Day" at the new L*K office. Friends came and went all afternoon, toured our little office, enjoyed a few snacks, and tried their hands at putting together kits.

I meant to take lots of photos (sorry to those not pictured), but stayed busy giving tours, and keeping these talented new kitters busy. We set up a couple extra work tables and the rookies got going. Talking, laughing  and snacking while working were strongly encouraged.  

Before the afternoon was over, the entire batch of BUZZ kits were finished!  Several friends arrived later, and alas, didn't get to slide kits into zipper bags...darn (their loss). 

It was really fun to have my fabulous friends visit the L*K office and try something new. Maybe they'll want to change careers? I was fortunate to have a couple bankers, attorney, elementary librarian, school bus driver, legal secretary, medical receptionist, construction company owner, oil exec, insurance adjuster extraordinaire, college professor, children's author, accountant, retired teacher (and others) and even a wheat farmer helping me out!!! 

YIKES...hope they don't ask me to do their jobs. I told them the only qualification to be a kitter at L*K was to be able to close a zipper bag. Little did I know that sliding the kit contents IN the bags would be challenging for some.

Shout out to my fabulous church friends who keep me inspired (and help me in a pinch!). LOVE you all!

We'll get by...(and get to market)...with a little help from our friends!

A pig tail, or pig tale!

CAUTION: WARNING! Please read BEFORE proceeding!

This blog contains images of a real live PIG ROAST! If you don't want to see pics of our porcine friend - in his pre and post cooked condition - don't read on. If this offends your vegetarian/vegan sensibilities, please stop reading. But, if you want to smile and laugh at our hilarious, certifiable "Miracle of the Perfect Pig"...then read on and join the fun!

It all began innocently enough several months ago. I'm the "social chairman" for our Sunday school class at church. I was asking for some ideas on future events. The one thing we always agree on - events involve FOOD. We started with the idea of a luau, and some tasty grilled foods on sticks. Then the discussion leaped forward when Eddie suggested "let's roast a whole pig!".

Of course, no one in class had ever roasted a pig! A few had eaten at real pig roasts, but we had no documented pork experience. Fast forward to this weekend, after months of online pig roast research, we found ourselves on Friday evening at the Mack's rural home with a giant cooler in Eddie's pickup. Inside was our 90 lb. suckling party pig, very pink, hairless (shaved) and slightly deflated looking. I cautiously raised the cooler lid to get my first look at my new buddy, and he was.....EWWWWW!!!! (I have pics, but I'm not posting the cooler shots, in hopes that you will keep reading).

The first big job was digging the pig pit! Six manly men took up the challenge and got to work with shovels in the hard, drought-stricken Kansas soil. Thankfully it was a cool evening, and they dug and measured until the hole fit our pig's proportions. 

They lined the hole with a layer of bricks, and put large rocks in the corners to hold the pig away from the fire. My husband, Alan, (inexplicably dressed in his Gilligan's Island hat) tested the pig pit for size and comfort. Then they loaded the pit with wood for the fire later that night.

Meanwhile, in the garage, another crew was prepping the pig for his big night. He was lifted on his special (never to be used again) table cloth. Then he was (and we're not picturing this!), laid out flat, stuffed with seasonings, rubbed with olive oil, more seasonings, an apple in the mouth, and then wrapped "to go" in lots of aluminum foil. Turns out...it takes a lot of foil to fully wrap a pig!

We lifted him and slid a specially made (thanks, Eddie) metal pig roast grate underneath him. We wired him to the grate (in case he had a restless pre-pig roast night), packed him in ice, wrapped him securely in a tarp, and said goodnight. 

At 2 AM, the faithful homeowners, Linda and Stuart, went to the pig pit and started a roaring fire. Stuart had already OK'd this with the fire department. They enjoyed watching the blaze so much, they spent the night chatting around the campfire like kids, spinning tales of future pig roasts, while the rest of us slept. Later, at 6 AM, reinforcements arrived to escort the pig from his garage hotel to the pit in the pasture. The pig was carefully lowered into the pit, covered with wet burlap and cardboard, and sealed with a piece of corrugated tin, then more dirt and rocks. No turning back now!!!

Later in the afternoon, before the party goers began coming, we arrived to inspect the pig, still imprisoned in his underground pit. We cautiously peered and sniiffed. (That's our shadows, in above photo.) I ran through several scenarios in my head 1) the fire went out and pig is still raw,  2) pig is done beyond recognition, and is now crunchy pork toast, and 3) pig is edible, tender and delicious, and I am a social chairman "rock star"!

The guys uncovered the pit and pulled the hot critter out, using the chains and wires we had left exposed. 

The men cautiously smiled as they loaded the pig for the trip to the house and his date with his adoring, carnivorous fans.

Just like all those reality shows...it was time for the big pig REVEAL!  In front of all the guests, we slowly opened the foil. He definitely wasn't raw, and he wasn't crispy either. Our party pig appeared to be entirely edible!

While the party-goers waited, we recruited some extra hands to "pull the pork"! WOW...pork really is the "other white meat". After we pulled back the beautiful browned skin, there was a pile of tender, white meat just waiting for our forks. 

We lined up to fill our plates with pork and all the covered dish fixings....

and the verdict was in. Our great pig experiment/adventure got "thumbs up" all around!

After dinner we had a little added entertainment with some pig-related contests. I coaxed an appearance from the official Kansas Hog Queen Emeritus (also known as my sister-inlaw, Donna). Donna grew up on a hog farm, and she REALLY was the state hog queen, back in the day.  She found her sash (it still fits) and her tiara, and showed up looking very royal. Check out her pretty pig belt buckle!! Who knew my friend Suzanne (right) was a fabulous "pig caller"?! I'm sure her high school English students would love to hear a replay. Check out our pink piggy bank trophies!

The happy bunch above shared prizes for doing the best "pig sound" imitations. Finally, Alan found a use for his infamous 4H pig imitation! I've been enduring this questionable talent for years. Rewards (and pig trophies) come to those who wait. 

Alas, the fun was over, and we're left with our happy porcine memories. The whole thing was just such a crazy, fun adventure, that I'm still smiling. And so is our smoky, toothy, apple-eating pig, if only in my photos! I'm officially dubbing this "The Miracle of the Perfect Pig"!