I Do It For Me

Last week has personally been a long and hard week between everything that life has to throw. I came through thanks to a great class held by Michelle Ward the "When I Grow Up Coach" about an Effective Escape to my dream ~ taking Innov8ive Knits as a full-time job. It couldn't have come to me at a better time! This is her website: www.whenIgrowUpCoach.com. She holds classes, writes helpful blogs and does all things amazing. I follow her religiously and it makes me all warm and fuzzy inside.


I'll share more about my new found Escapee goals but I wanted to give her a special shout out for being so "AMAZEBALLS" as she would say and putting a light at the end of the tunnel. Life doesn't have to be all about  8-5 desk jockeying if you don't want it to. 


One thing that I have decided to do as a result is wake up in the mornings for me. So now instead of getting up, getting dressed and going to work for someone else, I'm getting up earlier, getting dressed and doing whatever the heck I want until I go to work. Whether that be knit, blog, yoga, or catch up on some TiVo I start the day knowing that I started it for myself and no one else.  You may not be a morning person like I am but when you roll out of bed knowing good and well that you're doing it just because YOU want to and not because you have to does a world of difference to your attitude. 


It's been a wonderful, healthy change that I've made just last week. It has improved my morning, it's improved my self esteem, it's improved my entire day. 


If you have too much on your plate and dread the day or wake up with a sad face because you don't want to hit the daily grind this makes a huge difference and you should definitely try it.


Go visit my mentor!! :) Trust me you'll love her! www.WhenIGrowUpCoach.com

It's a scarf, it's a necklace, no it's BOTH

Today I am glad to announce that I added a new line to my Etsy store! The knitted cowl necklace. It's unique and several things in one: it's a necklace, it's a scarf, it's cowl, and its well... awesome! I'm super excited about it because it's not only super stylish but is so versatile and useful as well. Because it's so many things it has so many uses! 


This is perfect for this time of year when the weather is doing it's thing moving into the next season. It's just the perfect amount of warmth without overdoing it and making you hot. Here's a few pictures of it!

You can find it in my store HERE (CLICK ME)

I have high hopes that this will be popular this season with it getting a little warmer and have a few other colors up my sleeve. Which color would you like to see it in next???


Also this week I finished the blue flower clip that's listed in my store to change it from a custom made to order item to a ship at once item. I'll touch more on this later but I am going to make my entire store a ship at once store. No one wants to wait for goodies that they've already paid for. I know I don't and I don't expect anyone to have to do it either!

http://www.etsy.com/listing/89492154/crochet-flower-hair-clip-with-rhinestone 

I've been telling myself I'm going to do this for some time but this week I've officially decided that I am going to enter in at least one craft show this year. I have gotten a hand full of the local shows on my list to decide which is best for me and am digging through them now. I think this will be a great way to get my name out there further and generate some extra traffic for my knitwear! I've got a lot of work to do to make sure I have enough things made to make the fees and trip worth while so I will be one busy lady these next couple of months!


Last but not least I will be closing the store for vacation starting March 8th for my wedding and honeymoon!!! If you would like to purchase anything or had any questions please try to squeeze them in before then, otherwise I will get back to you when I am back (the 22nd).

Featured Etsian ~ BrooklynLoveDesigns

http://www.etsy.com/listing/82711106/heart-wallet-card-case-business-card

This month's featured Etsian is Megan from BrooklynLoveDesigns (click me). I originally found her while looking for a business card holder for my new Etsy business cards. Hers was the one I ended up purchasing after hours of looking (I bought the wallet above). I love her style and when I got it in the quality of work is incredible! I absolutely love it, and it's durable and VERY well made I would recommend anyone to purchase from her. She has plenty more in her store than business cards too if you aren't in need of one of those. She was so gracious to let me get in a little Q & A about her and her GREAT store! Here's what she had to share with me!

How long have you been sewing? I'm a self taught knitter & crocheter, are you self taught as well?

 I have been sewing about 3 years now.  I wanted to make a baby quilt for my sister's new baby so I purchased a sewing machine and a beginners quilting book and started from there.  It took a little time to learn but now i'm hooked! 

 

I see you live in Alaska! How did you end up in that state - born & raised, military, etc?

I am a born and raised alaskan girl and I absolutely love this place. My family still all lives around the state so it's nice being close to them.

I've noticed that a lot of your things including your banner have a fox on it. What's the story behind it?

I adore foxes, I love how they move with around with such grace and ease.  I think everyone has a fondness for foxes, they just make you smile.

What's the first thing you have ever sewn? Was it a hot mess like my first project?

LOL, yes a quilt I made for my sister's new baby.  It turned out great in the end but there was a lot of seam ripping along the way.

 

What has been your favorite experience as an Etsian?

Discovering all the amazing shops there are on Etsy.  I have never seen more creative and original handmade things.  I do all my gift shopping there, you can really get something unique and special.  I hope that others find that in my shop.  It is so great to be a stay at home mom and be able to make a living doing what I love.  Thank you Etsy!

 

When you go shopping for fabric for your store, what are you usually drawn to? style, colors, patterns, etc.

Bright happy colors and designs that are unique and fun.  I often just go there without a plan and let the fabrics inspire me.

Hand Made Key chain (click me) 

Congrats to being a new mommy! How do you juggle running a store, keeping house, and taking care of a baby?

I think im still figuring all that out... lol.. It's definitely a challenge, but I do all my sewing when he goes to bed at night so I get all day to play with him.  Balancing everything can get hectic sometimes but I am finding I can handle it all if i just plan a little.

 

What does your work space look like? Messy or OCD? 

I work in a extra room right now but I have plans to build a studio on our property this summer, maybe with a hammock out back? :) I am so excited to have a work space I can properly organize!

 

A lot of the stuff in your store is cases or holders of some type. What else do you make? 

I love to make quilts, I have plans to make Liam a new quilt out of this beautiful organic print fabric i found with sailboats, whales, and starfish. He is going to love it ! 

Pear Pincushion (click me)

What's your most popular item?

My business card holders and wallets are popular as well as all things fox. I also do alot of custom orders,  I love making personal one of a kind items for people.

 

What inspires you?

I'd say alot of what inspires me is right out my door.  I live in the middle of the woods so there is always a moose walking around or some other woodland animal scurrying about.  Nature is so full of colors and texture i can just go for a walk in the woods, clear my head, and get ideas for something new.

She has a ton of great things to offer from key chains to reader book covers, to wallets! Be sure to check out her whole store (click here) to see it all. Also don't forget that she takes custom orders so if there is something that you want that you don't see, she'll be happy to make it for you!!

Special thanks to BrooklynLoveDesigns for giving me the pleasure to feature & interview her!

Treasury Tuesday ~ Scarf Pins

As a knitter I have several scarves. Scarf pins are a great way to help spice up a basic scarf or to tie it up in a unique way. These pieces can really make a statement in your wardrobe and be a great conversation starter.


Treasury: Scarf Pin Galore (click me)




The other great thing about this is that they can be used as more than just a scarf pin. I've seen them used as hair pins to hold up buns or pony tails. They can also second as a broach too. 

Recent Featured Treasuries

This last month I have been included in a couple of treasuries and I am so flattered and excited about it! For those of you who aren't Etsy freaks like me and don't know what a treasury is here's the gist of it: ANYONE that is a member of Etsy can make a treasury (sellers or buyers). How it works is you pick a theme ~ any theme your heart desires (I always find this to be one of the most fun parts) and you choose  Etsy items -up to 16- to put in it. The things you choose are totally up to you but it's things that in your opinion are a good value, a beautiful product, and/or has great photography. So as you can imagine every time someone considers my work good enough to include in their treasury it I'm very flattered. 


Treasuries are a great way to help others discover products they would have never come across before and to help you keep track of things that you really like. As a goal this year I am trying to make at least 1 a week to spread the love and help all of you keep your thumb on the pulse of some great Etsy products. Ever since I have started my store, supporting small business, hand made, local, etc. business has been a huge deal to me. No one wants to see Wal-Mart run the world one day (as if they don't already) So try to keep these in mind when you go gifting next time.


Here are a couple of treasuries I have been featured in within the last 30 days!!


Treasury: Purple Rain, Purple Rain (click me)



Treasury: Waves of Color (click me)



Treasury: Is Elegance an Attitude? (click me)



Treasury: Cranberry Chocolate (click me)



I hope as well as sharing my excitement about having so many features that you have found a couple of other items that I've been featured with you want to add to your favorites.  I encourage all of you to make a treasury some time soon! If you do please share them with me, I would love to see them!!!

Little Bundle of Joy

My maid of honor is having a little boy and I couldn't be any more excited for her!!! As a new and growing tradition, all of my closest friends have gotten a special blanket for their little new ones for their baby gifts.  As I've mentioned in previous posts we have picked out a pattern: it consists of small squares, each row a different color. Here's my inspiration:

http://www.ravelry.com/projects/iHodge/tumbling-blocks-blankie-80661ad

Last weekend we picked out a yarn and color. I'll be using Vanna's Choice Baby yarn for this blanket. Generally as a rule of thumb I NEVER buy yarn that I can get at Michael's or Hobby Lobby because it's usually a low quality yarn made with low quality material but this yarn is actually pretty good, not to mention it's machine washable which is SO important with a baby blanket.

So here it is, the color combo and yarn! I'm also going to use the brown as a border for the whole thing. I think this is an excellent color choice by the future mommy! 


I won't be able to get started on it until at least after the wedding, but I can't wait to get it started for him. I think it's going to be beautiful. I'm so blessed to have such a wonderful friend & I'm so glad that I can do something this special for her and her first child.


The best thing about making your own baby blankets (or having someone make it for you) is that your can do just about ANYTHING you like. These colors will match his new room just perfect, and the colors are in the EXACT order she wanted them in. I'm always taking custom orders so if you are interested in having one for your next new bundle of joy message me for a quote!

Treasury Tuesday ~ Geometry is fun

Ok, I'll admit geometry was definitely not my favorite subject in school but I love the way it looks! I am really drawn to the sharp lines and dramatic points geometry brings to the table. Here's some great examples of what a good geometric shape can do to an item!

Treasury: Geometry is Fun (click me)
I'm having a fight with my usual way to display my treasury so here's a couple listings from it. Make sure to check out the link to get to see the whole thing!

http://www.etsy.com/listing/75345530/geometric-necklace-prism-triangles?ref=tre-2156268158-2

http://www.etsy.com/listing/90813428/the-giants-causeway-bib-necklace-in?ref=tre-2156268158-4

http://www.etsy.com/listing/91071691/earrings-geometric-diamond-shaped?ref=tre-2156268158-5

http://www.etsy.com/listing/91365665/cynara-table-lamp-geometric-wood?ref=tre-2156268158-8

There's a lot more where that came from. Make sure to check out the whole treasury(click me) to see all the great geometric goodies. Oh yeah and P.S. Happy Valentines day to all of you!!

Picture Sunday

Ok well I know I said that I was going to spend today taking pictures and learning to apply the new things I've learned in my photography class. It hasn't been cold at all here in Alabama all year and of course today of all days I wake up and it's basically under 40 degrees and windy as I'll get out ALL day! It's beautiful and sunny but I sure as heck don't have the urge to get a nasty cold a month out before my wedding. Needless to say, as tempting as it is I know I would be miserable out there in the cold so I'll have to post pone that to another day and spend the afternoon knitting instead (no complaints there). I did however do one of the class assignment because it requires me to be inside :)


The object of this assignment is all about lighting. Be inside a room, position your object/model near a window with the light raining in and capture the highlighting of the light on one side right next to the darkness on the other.  I've seen a lot of pictures done this way and it looks really neat when done right. Here's mine: 

In all of these if you can't already tell the light is coming in from the left (that's where the window is).  Usually at this point I would load them up into photoshop and mess around with the brightness and other settings but since this is for a photography class, I figure I should leave it alone so I can be shown where to most make my improvements from my un-altered images. 


On the other hand I did want to share with you a few blogs that I have recently been turned onto while learning more about photography, and even more so photoshop. I'm a little more handy with that program then I am with a camera (although I am by no means a pro at either). I have another blog I want to share with you, but I'll bust that out another time - Keep you on your toes!


The first blog I want to mention is The Coffee Shop Blog. She posts free photography tutorials, free actions for photoshop, and free scrapbooking designs. Did I mention it's all FREE. I have downloaded a few of her actions and used them myself and they are really great. All of the files come with the action and/or scrapbook design along with instructions on how to use them. This blog makes it almost impossible to screw it up- VERY user friendly and FREE. Did I mention it's FREE??  It is definitely worth checking out! Here's a link to a page of the site where all of the free goodies that they've ever posted are available- there's a ton of great stuff: The Coffee Shop Blog Freebies.


I hope you guys enjoy! Time to go spend the rest of my afternoon knitting.

I'm BACK

It seems like I haven't written a post in a MILLION years. Things have been so busy over the last few weekends with wedding showers!!! I've been so blessed to have all these special showers and wonderful people who wanted to come and spend these special moments with me. I never thought that I would enjoy blogging so much but I have really missed writing to all of you! Here's a picture of one of the coolest cakes I've ever seen and it was at my lingerie shower!

A friend of one of my bridesmaids made it and it was amazing! She does it for fun on the side and it was just as amazing in person as it is in this picture, not to mention it was DELICIOUS. 


I've officially started knitting up some jewelry. It's still winter now (according to the groundhog) so it's still chilly enough for scarves and hats and all those traditional knitted items but the warm season is right around the corner and I'm getting prepared for the season! It's not done yet so I can't show you yet but imagine a red cowl-like necklace with lots of texture and shape! I think many of you will be surprised with how this will look and I can't wait to share it with you guys.


Since I've written last I've also finished the bearded beanie and it's gotten over 100 views just this week. I'm very excited and wanted to give you guys a special thanks because ya'll are the people that make it happen! 

http://www.etsy.com/listing/92300743/bearded-beanie-hat-hand-knit-and-crochet

Now that I have all of my showers out of the way I should be back to blogging on the regular until it gets to my wedding! Speaking of my wedding I want to remind you guys again that the store will be closed a bit from March 8th -22nd for my wedding and honeymoon. 


I'll be taking some pictures to get some assignments done for my photography class tomorrow. I'll share the fun and pictures from it soon if not tomorrow as well! I started taking the class out of necessity to get good photos for my store and have started to really enjoy it as more of a hobby. Hopefully I will have some cool things to show you. If all else fails and they all suck (which is quite possible I'm a newbie) I have been turned onto some very cool people and blogs as I have been learning this thing called photography and will share them with you as well.