New…

• …Year, of course. Everyone is having that.
• …Blogiversary – though I’m not sure it’s kosher for me to celebrate that, considering my absentee record during the past year. Still… it is my fourth.
• …Place. Long story, not all of which I can go into right now, especially since the new place is also an old place and I’m not fully there yet. But there will be more about this, as Tsarskoe Tsocko changes its spots in more ways than one.
• …Plans. Aha. This is where it gets interesting. Because in a sense it’s also a new…
• …Business. And as with the place, the new business is also the old business – old wine in new bottles, as they say, but with some new flavors added.

I should get to the point, shouldn’t I. Yes, I should. And here it is:

Big changes are afoot. After an extraordinary four-year journey together on the same path, the Tsarina of Tsocks and Holiday Yarns have reached a fork in the road; this is where our destinations diverge. It’s been an amazing ride; now it’s going to be two amazing rides. Jen, I trust, will go on to be a mogul in the wholesale yarn world; I meanwhile am preparing to take over all aspects of the Tsock empire and bring them together under one roof – my own.

In order to do this, I will need to take a brief hiatus to retool and to organize the new Tsock Team – so this means there will not be a 2011 Tseason for the Tsock Club. There will, however, be a Tsock Club in 2012 (possibly preceded by a short teaser-season in 2011, depending on how quickly we get our tsocks in a row); it will be bright and shiny and bristling with fascinating new features, and it will welcome all its old friends (as well as many new ones, I hope) with open arms.

This retooling period will also constitute a temporary lull in the availability of all tsock kits, a lull during which we’ll be working to redevelop yarns and colorways and packaging. After which Art for your Feet will be back on the scene, bigger and better than ever before, offering all the old favorites and plenty of new ones, with one Absolute Monarch at the helm.

The Tsock Flock Group on Ravelry will continue as before, KALs and FAQs and random chat, with yours truly hanging out as always and dispensing advice, support, and/or nonsense, as the situation may warrant.

I also have many grand intentions about the blog – as regards both my blogging habits in general and my frequent reports on the progress of the new Tsarskoe Tsocko. (And you know where good intentions lead, don’t you?)

No, but seriously. Seriously. Seriously, this is going to be an exciting time for the world of tsocks, and I’m really looking forward to telling you all about it as it comes together.

And looking forward even more to throwing open the gates of the sparkly new incarnation of Tsarskoe Tsocko and welcoming you in.

Meanwhile, here’s wishing you a happy New Year. And me a productive one.

See you soon, in the grand ballroom in the new wing.