lazy weeks and busy weekends!

I don't know that I have much to talk about... I spent last week just trying to stay awake in the evenings until 9pm, (which means crocheting didn't really happen), then I had a pretty great weekend, did lots of crocheting including making this cute set! (I think I might make a few sets if I do a show next winter, but I think I would switch out the hat for my granny hat).

Made with Vanna's Charcoal Grey
mittens, noose scarf, slouchy cable hat

I also have a few more items I need to get online, I tried last week but my light bulb exploded out of the old lamp I was using... there was smoke, the glass popped off... TERRIFYING! As I no longer trust this lamp, J and I picked up 2 new ones last week. I'm still working on getting the lighting perfect though, so I can quickly photograph items... More items (another cowl, and 3 or 4 hats) will probably be up this weekend :)

In other news I  finally got my yarn swift!! (which I haven't photographed yet) I ordered my swift from ScottsMountainCrafts and it arrived in 8 days! Crazy fast mailing! It's really pretty and nice and compact and I'm excited to ball up the two looped skeins I have at home, and that I can now purchase more Berroco Weekend because I LOVE THIS YARN!

That's about all the report for now! I'm hoping to make some more heart cowls this week. They are so cute, and totally appropriate all winter/fall not just for Valentine's Day!

Lots happening on Etsy!

Go check out my Etsy shop for some ready made hats, scarves and cowls! More to come (including custom options!!!)

Yarn stash...

Over the weekend, J was awesome enough to help me out cleaning up my office. During the frenzy of Xmas, it became a total disaster once again, but now it's mostly clean! I also decided during the cleaning spree to reorganize my yarn! My yarn until recent has been stored in various storage bins, an old cd rack and sometimes plastic bags from Michaels... But now my yarn is contained mostly (that darn word again) to 4 48-quart storage bins! I do need another bin, as the 4th bin is kind of overflowing and I still have some cotton yarn that hasn't been organized, so hopefully Walmart will get another ones of these bins soon!! (I bought them out the other night)

In the end, my yarn will be sorted like this:

1: Acrylic yarn, thin worsted weight

(Red Heart Soft Touch, Red Heart Soft, Bernat Mosaic etc)

2: Acrylic yarn, thick worsted weight/aran weight
brown, beige, white, grey & black
(Lion Brand Vanna's Choice, Red Heart With Love & Bernat Waverly)

3: Acrylic yarn, thick worsted weight/aran weight
pink, red, orange, yellow, green, blue & purple
(Lion Brand Vanna's Choice, Red Heart With Love & Bernat Waverly)

4: Various specialty yarns
(Lion Brand Homespun, Zumberball, etc)
5: Cotton yarn and acrylic baby yarn
(Bernat Handicrafter, Bernat Softee, Beehive Baby etc)

Scraps... so many scraps...

Etsy Relaunch in the Works

 Last year, I threw up a few items and some patterns for sale on Etsy, and quickly realized I DON'T like selling patterns there! I'm a cheap person, therefore out of sympathy for other cheap people, I like to try to keep my pattern costs down, and selling on Etsy for $3-5, just doesn't leave me with any profit... but I do want to offer items for sale of Etsy... so I'm working hard on my 2013 Etsy relaunch! (you can check Ravelry or StoreEnvy for my patterns)

The relaunch is going to include 6 items: my classic Bomber Hat, my newly designed Cupcake Hat, my most requested Mohawk Hat, my Not Your Granny's Hat, my Noose Scarf, and my Heart Cowl. There's going to be some ready to ship items and the option to order a custom version of any of these items. I will eventually be adding more items, but for right now, that's what I can quickly get crocheted, photographed and online! I currently have 4 items for the relaunch made, 2 more started and 6 more that I need to crochet before I'm comfortable launching! I'm also hoping to finish up patterns for the Bomber Hat, Cupcake Hat, and Mohawk Hat for those crocheters out there who would rather make it themselves either for the relaunch or shortly thereafter!

At this rate launch should be happening in another week or so! I've been crocheting like a mad woman since January 1st!

Happy New Years!

I've never really been one for New Year's Resolutions. I've probably made the typical "I'm going to lose weight this year" resolution a few times in the past and judging by how tight my skirt is I should probably make that resolution again... but that one never seems to work... So I don't really have any "resolutions" so to speak for 2013, but I do have plans!

But first, here's what I accomplished in 2012!

• I worked my first convention
• I worked my first farmer's market
• I was commissioned to make 36 custom items
• I released 3 paid patterns and 2 free patterns
• I blogged 48 times in 2012
• I learnt to do basic tunisian crochet, entrelac, double-ended crochet and to use a loom

2012 turned out way better than I realized! I'm hoping my plans for 2013 make it just as awesome of a year!

• I want to finalize 10 base products/designs that I can make and sell and be known for. I'll probably add more items as I go, and stop some, but I need some consistency. I love making commissions for people, and will definitely be open to commissions of those 10 designs, but it takes me too long to make any new item that people throw my way too keep doing that as much as I have.
• I want to try to blog once a week minimum.
• I want to finally get my etsy shop really up and running with plenty of items.
• I want to get at least 4 more patterns for sale.

So I hope 2013 is a great year for all of us!