"A lot of them were inspired by my own kids — what they used and what was practical. I've also been inspired by children's literature, and I follow the trends."

Among the items in the book that have attracted a lot of attention, she says, are the pacifier clips featuring elephant, frog and flower designs. Her funky chicken toys and sweet rabbits have also been popular. And people especially love her cupcake set. "I was really into cupcakes there for awhile," she says with a laugh. She not only did a hat, scarf and mittens set, but also has a complete little tea set that includes teapot, cups, saucers, sugar bowl (filled with cubes) and little cupcakes.

Another of her toy sets includes the three little pigs and the big bad wolf, all done as finger puppets, with houses and a cooking pot to complete the story. "The best finger puppets have a story to tell, I think. These are interactive and fun."

Knitting has become very popular in recent years. "It's been fun to see the changes," says Anderson. "Now you see it everywhere — in waiting rooms, at the pool, anywhere people have to wait."

Part of that she attributes to the fact that there are more knitting shops and a greater variety of yarns in all kinds of colors and textures. But a big part of it is also the Internet. "There are so many resources on the Internet, places to get patterns, help, information. The resources for new knitters are staggering. The knitting community on the Internet is amazing. If you're not a knitter, you would have no idea what goes on there every single day."

Knitting does seem to be cyclical, she says. "It becomes huge, then it goes away, then it comes back again. Three or four years ago, there was a huge scarf craze. A lot of young knitters were making scarves." Some of those have now dropped out, but the ones who have continued are now looking for ways to get better, for new things to knit.

For new knitters or those wanting to get into knitting, Anderson offers advice and encouragement: "You can do it. Learn the basic stitch and you're set to go. You can do it. Don't get frustrated."

For other knitters her advice is: "Don't be afraid of detail work; it can add so much to a project. Buy the best materials that you can afford. Find a friend/mentor to knit with, compare notes and share ideas."

And one more tip: "Finish what you've started. I know a lot of people who do the pieces, but then never sew them together. They never get the joy out of the finished project. For me, that's the motivation. I finish something and love it, and I run back to my needles to start again."

Not that she needs a lot of motivation. Not knitting is something that Anderson can't even imagine. "I couldn't even put into words what it means to me, what a mainstay it is in my life. I knit through thick and thin. It's a huge creative outlet for me. I can't imagine going a day without knitting. I love the process, and I love the finished project."

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E-mail: carma@desnews.com