Winemakerssister

The new Vogue Knitting is here! The new Vogue Knitting is here!

2011-06-07T17:27:00.003-04:00

Earlier this year, a staff member from Vogue Knitting requested samples of my knitting mugs. I hoped one would end up on the pages of the magazine, but didn't want to get my hopes too high.

But Vogue Knitting didn't let me down -- my mug is pretty much right in the center of the "What's New, What's Now, What's Next in Knitting" article. The page, called "Mug Shots," is filled with all sorts of cute knitting-themed mugs.

I love you Vogue Knitting! And, of course, the amazing wit of Stephanie Pearl-McPhee.

Front Page

2010-10-19T09:13:00.003-04:00

It's been quite a while since any of my items were on Etsy's Front Page. Getting something into a front page treasury is the best free advertising you can get!

This week I broke the no-front-page streak with two FP treasuries!

If you have an Etsy shop and would like to be notified when one of your items is on the FP, visit Statsy, click on "Featurator," and sign up.

Tour de Fleece

2010-07-26T08:18:00.002-04:00

I participated the Tour de Fleece this year -- you spin every day during the Tour de France. I was able to complete 6 yarns and do a lot of practice spinning. In addition, I tried two new techniques: corespinning and beehives.

I was hoping to accomplish more and was frustrated by the little time I had available to spin. But my job is always busy and there were a number of days when I got home really late and spun for 15 minutes, just so I could say that I spun every day....

linen, again...

2010-03-14T09:38:00.003-04:00

linen, again..., originally uploaded by * a n i t a *.

I love the look of linen with hints of soft color. I was searching for something like this on Flickr, and was thrilled to find it -- and that it included my linen bulletin board (bottom right).

Don't you love linen?

Recession Swap - Questions 2 & 3

2009-10-29T08:33:00.003-04:00

I'm late posting my "Recession Swap" blog questions so I'm combining two...

Question 2: Are you attending any Fiber Festivals this autumn? If so, which ones and why?
Autumn is too crazy for me to try to go out of town to a big fiber festival. Luckily, the Spinner's Flock in Chelsea (about 15 minutes away) has a very nice festival.

They held their fall festival on a Sunday (much better for me than a Saturday) and I was able to get over there. It was terrific! And quite a bit larger than I expected. I bought a few things (some hand-dyed roving, a "second" fleece at an incredible discount) and lusted after lots more!

I haven't gotten involved in their group -- mostly because they meet on Saturdays. But I'm going to try to attend the November meeting. I want to get back into spinning!

Question 3: What is your favorite cool weather recipe?
I love soups in cold weather! My favorite is easy and really yummy.

Heather's Crockpot Bean Soup
Put the following into a crockpot:
1 large jar (48 oz.) cooked Great Northern beans
1-2 cups chopped celery
1 cup chopped onions
1 cup chopped carrots
1 quart canned tomatoes
1/4 cup dried parsley
2-3 cubes vegetable boullion

Turn the crockpot on low and cook all day. Shortly before serving stir in 1-2 cups of julienned fresh spinach. Cook just until wilted. Serve. Easy and warming!

You've Got Mail!

2009-10-21T12:20:00.006-04:00

This time of the year is so crazy at work, but I've managed to slip in a few swaps (mostly knitting-related). Look at all the lovely loot I've been finding in my mailbox lately!*

I've narrowed down my swaps on Ravelry to a few favorite groups, and the ones run by Amy (DeathbyYarn) are some of the best. The "Recession Special" swap runs for 3 months. You are to send your spoilee one package per month, and at least one package needs to include a handknitted item.

The package to the left is the first installment. It's adorable! My spoiler found a cute pouch -- originally intended as a makeup bag, but perfect for knitting supplies. She filled it with little treats. And the best part is the yarn -- 100% baby llama in a gorgeous bittersweet chocolate color. And sooooo soft. Lovely!

A wonderful little swapping group on Flickr ("Just for You FQs") is currently holding a swap for fat quarters. This time we're looking "Beyond Cotton" at other natural fibers. Marilyn sent me the most wonderful collection of linen, bamboo, and wool (a vintage kimono fabric) along with two skeins of Elsebeth Lavold's Silky Wool in a lovely autumn orange. Marilyn knows me so well! It's all quite perfect!

I just received a third wonderful package -- this one was for the "Knitter's Holiday - Novel" swap. My partner really looked at my profile and selected very carefully. As a result, it's all absolutely perfect. "Boutique Knits," a great book with lots of knitting patterns for vintage-looking scarves, hats, bags, and gloves. Two skeins of Manos wool (yum!), handmade stitch markers and tags, and notecards and a reusable shopping bag. Thank you so much!

*In the order of when they were received...

Recession Swap - Question 1

2009-09-10T20:02:00.003-04:00

Here's the first question (and answer) for the Recession Special swap on Ravelry. It's fun to read everyone's answers to learn more about them...

“If you won the lottery, what would you do with the money?”

On the eve of my birthday (when I'm having trouble telling Bob what I'd like as a gift), I have to say I feel really content with my life. And those things that I'd really like (less stress at work...) cannot be purchased. That being said, if I won the lottery, I'm sure there are many great uses I could find for the money!

Off the top of my head....

Pay off our loans, including the house
Help my sister (and other family members) financially
Donate to favorite charities
Do some traveling
Hire a house cleaner :)
Buy yarn!
Buy a really good computer chair (I'm thinking Herman Miller Aeron chair)*

Sounds like fun!

*my butt's a little numb right now...

"Recession Special" Swap Questionnaire

2009-08-17T10:04:00.003-04:00

Sorry to be hibernating for so long! I'm joining a swap that will force me to post to my blog again -- it's a good thing.

Do you knit or crochet, or both? How long have you been at the craft?

Knit. I learned as a child and then took it up again when my son was a baby.

Do you spin?

Yes. I did it a lot in college and am just getting back to doing it again.

What yarns/fibers are your favorites?

Soft, natural fibers: alpaca, soft wools, silk, cashmere...

What yarns/fibers do you not like?

I really don't use synthetics or blends that include synthetics. I don't really work with anything lighter than dk weight. I'm not a sock knitter.

What yarns/fibers would you like to try but haven’t?

Lots of indie dyers/spinners. I think it's fun to try local yarns and/or favorites of my partner.

What are your favorite colors? Colors that you don’t like?

I like most colors. I especially like them in interesting combinations. I guess my favorites are red, burgundy, sage/avocado green, evergreen, teal, periwinkle blue, cobalt blue...

What are your favorite types of projects to knit/crochet?

I knit to relax and don't have a lot of time to do it, so I tend to stay with relatively short, simple projects. Hats, scarves, (I love) bags, capes & ponchos, some sweaters. I also love to felt.

What are you currently working on?

Just finished a vest for Warm Woolies and a baby sweater for a friend who just had a baby. Trying to finish the Hogwarts sweater for my very tall son.

What is your favorite FO? (Please post a picture if you have one.)

Since Ravelry (where I actually have pictures of my FOs), I think this child's Einstein sweater for Warm Woolies is my favorite. I used up lots and lots of bits of Mission Falls wool and it made a really colorful sweater. When my son was that age I think he would've really liked such a colorful sweater.

Are there any techniques that you want to learn?

Nothing that I can think of offhand.

Do you have a yarn winder and/or swift?

I got a yarn winder as a gift a few years ago. I found a swift for $1 at a church sale -- the ladies there didn't know what it was. I have to hold it together with a clamp, but it works just fine.

How do you store your needles/hooks?

I store like needles in some vintage needle holders. Then everything ends up in a large tupperware container.

Do you collect anything?

Cookbooks, vintage kitchen stuff, vintage linens (and of course, yarn, fiber, and fabric!).

Do you like sweets?

Dark chocolate and maple are my favorite sweets.

What are your favorite scents?

Green tea is my favorite. I also like light citrusy scents, herbals, and lavender.

Are you having a birthday during this swap?

Yes! The day after partners are assigned! (Sept. 11)

Do you have any online wish lists? (Amazon, Loopy Ewe, etc.) Please include a link for your pal.

Amazon wish list

Etsy favorites

What is your living situation (Are you married? Do you have kids, pets, or both?)

Husband, a mostly-grown-up kid and his girlfriend currently at home, 1 Golden Retriever, our six cats, and son's two cats.

Are you allergic to anything?

Nothing that applies to this swap.

Is there anything else that you would like your pal to know?

I love surprises!

Black Raspberries

2009-07-13T22:18:00.007-04:00

I've been an extremely neglectful blogger. So sorry! But here's a little summertime treat...

This year we've had a lovely crop of wild black raspberries along our fence line. For the past week or so, we've been picking some for cereal, yogurt, and just snacking.

Last night there were enough to pick 3 quarts at one time. Time for pie (and some left over for snacking)!

I'm not sure I've ever made a wild black raspberry pie before. The flavor is extremely intense. It pretty much needs something like ice cream or cream to cut the intensity. But, yum!

Attack!

2009-05-25T18:15:00.003-04:00

It's time to attack! The following shops have been chosen for today's attack:

RoseHips - http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5922732

artrepublik - http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5056766

Don't forget that the attack runs all night. So if you don't get to the website right away, you can still participate. Visit the Handmade Movement website for more information on Sneak Attacks.

For Today Only: Sneak Attack Central

2009-05-25T09:40:00.004-04:00

Phippsart, the papa of Sneak Attacks, will be away today for the holiday. Since I'm hosting the attack today, I'll be posting the shops here at 7:00 pm EDT.

For more information visit The Handmade Movement website, chat on the Etsy forum beforehand, and stay tuned....

RAK-a-Day

2009-05-25T08:43:00.003-04:00

I'm taking part in a very fun swap -- perform one or more RAKs (Random Act of Kindness) per day for a week then write to your partner to let her know about your week.

Most of the RAKs will be quiet ones. You don't need to know. It's more fun that way.

But one of the things I'll be doing this week is listing one or more PIF items in my Etsy shop per day. PIF stands for Pay It Forward. Sellers list an item for 20 cents (the cost of the listing). The buyer is supposted to continue the movement -- list something in their shop as a PIF or perform sort other sort of RAK.

I did a seach for PIFs yesterday and discovered that (as is the case with most things) some sellers are using the PIF listing as a selling tool. They tag something PIF but charge a huge shipping charge (often the actual price of the item plus shipping). Really bad karma, I'd say.

These PIFs are real. The cost is 20 cents (because Etsy won't let you list something for free). I'm paying the shipping charges.

Be on the lookout this week!

EtsyBlogger of the Month: CreateAThought

2009-05-17T09:12:00.002-04:00

"There are thousands of thoughts lying within a man that he does not know till he takes up the pen and writes. ~William Makepeace Thackeray"

This quote, in the Shop Annoucement of CREATEaTHOUGHT's shop, is a wonderful invitation the world of journaling and creative writing. The artist behind CREATEaTHOUGHT offers journals and journal kits in all sorts of designs to spur your creativity.

In her profile, she writes, "everyday you are creating thoughts. Thoughts that are interesting and beautiful, profound and deep, silly and funny. Whatever your thought style is, they should be recorded. CREATEaTHOUGHT's mission is to help you do just that."

In addition to journals, she also sells handmade buttons, rings, magnets, and cards. Check it out!

EtsyBloggers Blog Carnival: Summer Shop Show & Tell

2009-05-17T08:45:00.004-04:00

The current Blog Carnival theme for EtsyBloggers*:
Show & tell: Summer line - what you will be making/showing in your shop this summer...

I've been wanting to introduce some new items to my shop for a while now. But RL work has been keeping me very, very busy. And sales in the shop have picked up just enough (during this otherwise busy time) to give me pretty much no spare time.

Here's to hoping I can get to some new things soon!

I want to add a line of decorated cotton twill tape (similar to the commercial tapes you can get from Japan). The materials are sitting in my studio waiting for me. Look for them soon (I hope!).

And my hand-carved rubber stamps are doing well in the shop. I want to continue to expand my offerings. As you can see, I've got a sketch of a gnome ready to go.

Look for the new offerings soon. I hope. :)

*EtsyBloggers, I apologize for not fulfilling my April blog obligations. So sorry!

Bad Blogger

2009-05-17T08:30:00.003-04:00

I should probably realize that every year at this time, things (like this blog) suffer because work gets so busy. You wouldn't think the winery biz would be so busy in April and May, but the public/PR side is just as busy now as we are in September and October.

April is "Michigan Wine Month" so there are lots of events planned to coincide. I've been running all over the state for the past 6 weeks or so, attending various winetasting fundraisers and other events.

It's great for the business, but I'm hoping my life will calm down a little bit at this point....

Plurk-Along

2009-04-12T20:19:00.004-04:00

You know what a Knit-Along (KAL) is, correct?

For those non-knitters out there, a KAL is a group of knitters who knit a specific pattern together. The KAL can be physically together or it can take place on the Internet. My recent Yoga swap partner, velostricken/Larissa wrote the definitive book on KALs, Knitalong: Celebrating the Tradition of Knitting Together.

I'm taking part in a fun Knit-Along on Plurk. Don't know Plurk? It's a new fun social networking site -- I like it better than Twitter. My friend Tamsie (otherwise know as my spoiler, Ruby Colorway) invited me to take part.

We're beginning tomorrow night. The pattern in the Todos Scarf from The Unique Sheep. My yarn collection from them is in their "shadow dance" colorway -- a lovely mixture of blue, violet, and turquoise.

It should be fun!

Giveaway on the PhatFiber blog!

2009-03-27T08:21:00.002-04:00

Head on over to the PhatFiber blog right n0w! They're running a giveaway for one of my celtic heart rubber stamps.

All you need to do to enter is to visit my shop and then post a comment about your favorite item(s). If you blog, twitter, etc about it, you're entered twice!

Good luck... and keep your eyes on the PhatFiber blog, there's always lots of great giveaways.

Warm Ewe Up: Blog Question #5

2009-03-18T08:58:00.005-04:00

I've been slacking on my blog entries for the "Warm Ewe Up" swap. Here's the current topic: What knitting/crochet pattern have you worked that you could see yourself making over and over and never get tired of?

I'm someone who doesn't tire of doing things over and over if I enjoy them. I find them comforting, I guess.

I'm happy to eat the same thing for several days in a row. I can make a big pan of veggie lasagne and eat it for days.

When I used to do the Ann Arbor Art Fair, I always read Pride and Prejudice while I sat in my booth. Every year.

So I think I could handle making one pattern over and over. Probably a felted bag. When I participated in The Big Bag swap, I made the first bag and then right away made another for a swapper who didn't get her package. I didn't mind it, but I wasn't in love with the pattern so I probably won't make more. But if I found a pattern I absolutely loved, I suspect I could make many of the same bags.

And then there's the Kringle hat from Hip Knit Hats. I've made 7 -- 5 for nieces, 1 for a swap partner, and 1 for Warm Woolies. I could make more if I had more victims. :) They're easy, colorful, and awfully adorable!

PhatFiber

2009-03-17T17:08:00.016-04:00

Have you heard about PhatFiber?

It's a new venture begun by partners Jessie and Marcus. Each month they solicit samples from independent fiber shops, then package those samples into PhatFiber boxes. Each box contains a minimum of 20 samples.

The first round of PhatFiber packages was sold in January. I heard about it shortly after they were sold and decided to take part in the February boxes. If the sample contributors send a minimum number of samples, they receive a box for themselves!

The photos you're looking at are my sampler box from February. What a wonderful array of goodies! Raw fiber, roving, handspun, hand dyed yarn, stitch markers, patterns.... Enough to make me want to purchase indie fibers from a whole lot of sellers! And I suspect it'll be the reason I start spinning again (I haven't spun since I was in my mid-20s).

For March, I made up samples with a Celtic knot and a kelly green Czech glass stitch marker. And I was able to finish the April samples and send them with the March ones. Little gift tags suitable for fiber artists -- stamped with a leaping lamb on paper embedded with wildflower seeds and packaged in a woven box made with recycled materials.

Are you interested in purchasing a PhatFiber box? They've grown to be such a phenomenon that the March boxes sold out in less than 2 minutes. How to get one? Register with the PhatFiber folks -- they'll send you an email letting you know when the boxes go on sale in April. Then visit the Etsy shop and start refreshing your browser as quickly as you can to catch a box as it's listed. Good luck!

Sheepshape

2009-03-07T23:34:00.004-05:00

Meet my new Etsy Shop Buddy, Sheepshape!

Elizabeth, a fiber artist from London, has a wonderful shop filled with hand-dyed roving and handspun yarn, along with the most adorable, huggable knitted animal friends.

We both recently took the Stone Soup Challenge, decided that our shops compliment each other well, and declared ourselves Shop Buddies. What a great way to extend the Stone Soup idea even further.... to promote each other's shops!

Take a look at Eliz abeth's shop. Luscious colors, gorgeous textures... traditional crafts with innovative techniques.

Everything in the shop is lovely (and highly covet-able) but the items that stand out from other Etsy sellers are her glow-in-the-dark fibers. Do you know a child who would love to see his or her blankie or stuffed animal in the dark? What an amazing idea! You can purchase handspun yarn made with glow-in-the-dark fibers to knit or crochet a very special blanket for a very special child. Or lovely huggable animals knitted with glow-in-the-dark yarn.

EtsyBloggers Blog Carnival: The 3rd Month

2009-03-06T18:44:00.005-05:00

Here's the current topic for EtsyBloggers Blog Carnival:
Month 3 - We are already on March!! What have you accomplished this year in real life or on Etsy?? Have you followed your New Year's resolutions? What are your plans for the rest of 2009?

I've been thinking about this topic and planned to blog about it on my own. Even better that it's a Blog Carnival topic.

Ok. Let's go back and look at what I promised two months ago (how soon I forget!):

*Make more stuff.
I've been doing pretty well with this. Keep on going.

*Expand the line of items I make for knitters.
Good so far. I created a line of knitting-related rubber stamps. Still need to do more. What's on the drawing board? Covered tape measures, circular needle holders, more stitch markers, a few more rubber stamps.

*Once I have the knitting items added to the shop, maybe do a little advertising on Ravelry?
Not yet for Ravelry. However I did a different kind of advertising to knitters. I contributed to the PhatFibers boxes for February and will send in my March & April contributions on Monday. So I guess I've done this... or a variation of this.

*Oh, and start donating $1 from each set of stitch markers that I sell to Susan G. Komen For the Cure.
Done. Haven't sent out my first donation but I'm planning to do it at the end of each quarter.

*Keep expanding the line of hand-carved rubber stamps.
I have made more in addition to the knitting stamps. And I need to keep on going. They're very popular and fun to make!

*Now that Etsy has finally connected up with Google Analytics, I need to take advantage of that information.
I've been checking it regularly.

*Try to add more items made with upcycled materials.
I've made a few. I want to make more.

*I'm making a limited-edition 'zine for a swap and will have some for sale in the shop.
This is almost done. I expect to list it sometime next week or maybe the week after.
*Redo my "Categories."
I added a "Goods for Knitters" category but decided not to mix it up more than that. I took an informal survey and discovered that folks like straight-forward categories and are irked by squishy ones. So no squishy categories for me!

*Change up my banner and avatar regularly.
I've been doing this.
*Keep up with LinkReferral.
I've not been doing this on a regular basis. Bad Etsian.

*I'm thinking of trying 1000Markets, ArtFire, and FunkyFinds.
I haven't gotten very far except to buy a shop on ArtFire. Perhaps my biggest failing on the resolution list.

*My art/craft room desperately needs cleaning and reorganization.
Also not done. But needed. Sometime soon, I promise.

EtsyBlogger of the Month: Design by Nora

2009-03-06T18:31:00.002-05:00

It's a Family Affair.

Nora's shop features not only her cute little polymer clay earrings but also a big selection of handbags designed by her Uncle Naz. It's a fun combination of goodies from an obviously creative family.

According to Nora's profile, she recently graduated with a B.A. in Art/Graphic Design. She says, "Besides my love for graphic design, I love making cards, jewelry, playing around with polymer clay, reading and geeking around on the computer."

It's been fun to poke around her shop to learn more about her. Check out her shop! Don't you need a little pair of flower earrings for spring?

Ruby Does It Again!

2009-02-19T21:19:00.005-05:00

Miz Ruby Colorway (the nom de swap of my secret pal) has done it again! Last month she sent me the most amazing package... and this month's package was just as terrific. She obviously has been stalking me quite thoroughly, for everything is absolutely perfect.

Gorgeous yarns -- soft merinos in luscious colors, 4 skeins of Noro for felting, books & a magazine (I accidentally left two out of the photo), beautiful handmade goodies from Etsy shops (a lovely felted bag, entrelac scarf, collaged notecard), the cutest wine-cat poster, light-up needles... and on and on. Oh, and a sweet little felted bowl (did you make it?).

Thank you so much, Ruby. You're the best!

You may have already won....

2009-02-13T19:12:00.005-05:00

I got notice yesterday from the Singer Sewing Machine Company that my bulletin board won their "Sewing With Nature" contest.

I made the bulletin board earlier this month so it was fun to have almost immediate gratification. The "Sewing With Nature" contest, run jointly by Singer and CRAFT Magazine, asked for a single submission per person through their Flickr group. The rules were easy but written loosely for individual interpretation. The project needed to include machine sewing and "integrate organic elements."

I'd been wanting to make some bulletin boards for a long time. They're a great way to use beautiful little bits of fabric. This particular bulletin board (my first), entitled "Promise of Spring," was made with a patchwork of linen and some cotton fabrics stretched over a magnetized corkboard. I sewed several dried salal leaves on as decoration. And then made two magnets by sewing more leaves between layers of Tyvek and then gluing to a magnet.

I love the combination of fabrics. Several were from SpicedCoffee for a recent swap. They give a sense of winter with a hint of spring to come. And, of course, I'm always a fan of natural linen paired with other beautiful fabrics.

What do I get for winning, you ask? A Singer Confidence 7467 sewing machine and a set of Singer sewing books. Quite fun, eh?

Handmade Help: 2009 Victoria Bushfire Relief

2009-02-12T00:11:00.002-05:00

I am donating 50% of all sales from my Etsy shop from now through the end of February to 2009 Victoria Bushfire relief.

For more information on other "handmade help" or what you can do to help out, visit their website.

Warm Ewe Up: Blog Question #4

2009-02-09T21:45:00.003-05:00

What am I doing for Valentine's Day?

Working of course!

We always hold an Open House on the Saturday before Valentine's Day, and this year the holiday falls directly on the Saturday.

We'll have some wine-friendly Valentine treats to try, live jazz guitar, and a great party atmosphere.

If you're in southern Michigan this weekend, stop on by!

The Stone Soup Challenge: February

2009-02-08T08:42:00.005-05:00

My pledge to The Stone Soup Challenge is easy to fulfill. One of the main reasons for setting up my Etsy shop was to make spending money to purchase goodies from other online vendors.

I pledged more than the recommended amount because I knew I was already spending more and wanted to push myself a little. My pledge was to spend at least 50% of the profits from my Etsy shop with independent online vendors, including the of purchase one item per month from another shop participating in The Stone Soup Challeng e.

The earrings pictured above are my first purchase from a SSC participant, christinececelia. I love images of bees, so these sweet little earrings were a natural choice.

This month I've also sold an item to another SSC participant, my8kidsmom. She ordered a custom stamp with her shop name. What a fun purchase! And The Stone Soup Challenge is working already.

EtsyBloggers Blog Carnival: My Etsy Shop

2009-02-07T22:46:00.004-05:00

For the February 27 EtsyBloggers Blog Carnival (yes, I know I'm early), the topic is:

What made you open a shop on Etsy? What do you like about being a seller on Etsy? What don't you like?

For many years (before Tommy was born and when he was little) I had a booth in the Ann Arbor Art Fair. One of the largest art fairs in the country, the A2 fair sees over a half-million visitors in four days in July. I enjoyed being a part of the crazy art fair scene, but it started taking over my summers, and I eventually dropped my booth.

I never really missed the fair, but I did miss making things to sell.

For the past few years I've been swapping through Swap-Bot and Flickr (and more recently, Ravelry). And I made lots and lots of items to include in these swaps. Several of the items -- especially the Harry Potter charm bracelets -- had lots of requests (through Flickr primarily) from folks who were interested in buying them.

I had been an Etsy buyer for a while and decided to give it a try as a seller as well. That was a little over a year and 217 sold items ago.

What do I like about it? Lots of things:
* The ease and low cost of running the shop and adding new items
* The sense of community
* The warmth of the other members
* The great things Etsy sellers and buyers do for each other
* [Generally] The look of the site
* The wide variety of gorgeous and wonderful items for sale

What don't I like?
* The way I feel like a needle in a very, very large haystack. It's very difficult to get noticed
* The exclusive attitude of the Etsy admin. There are many, many instances where I feel excluded rather than included
* The emphasis on opening new shops and relisting items, rather than helping us make sales
* Communication - it's often non-existent or mishandled
* The lack of flexibility in setting up (both organizationally and graphically) my shop

EtsyBlogger of the Month: donnapool

2009-02-07T22:29:00.002-05:00

One of the original members of EtsyBloggers, donnapool has a fun, eclectic shop filled with buttons, photography, and toys.

Her buttons made with vintage images are some of my favorites. I'm such a fan of old advertising graphics and they make very fun buttons!

According to her Etsy profile, donnapool is a stay-at-home mom who used to work as a photographer. In addition to EtsyBloggers, she's also a member of three other Etsy street teams: EtsyMoms, EtsyCREST, CafeMom Etsy Moms.

To learn more about her, visit her blog, "Donna Says..."

February Thaw

2009-02-01T11:34:00.005-05:00

The icicles are melting.

For the first time in probably 6 weeks or so, the temperatures are above 32 F. The sun is out, the temperature is about 37 F, and it feels positively balmy.

Let's hope it doesn't melt too much. I'd much rather have uber-cold and beautiful than somewhat-cold and grey and slushy.

Happy February!

Warm Ewe Up: Blog Question #3

2009-01-30T19:44:00.007-05:00

Time for the new "Warm Ewe Up" swap question:
What is your favorite way to keep warm when it’s snowing outside? (And if you live in a warm weather climate, what would you do to stay warm and cozy while it’s snowing?)

This winter has been has been the coldest and snowiest that I can remember for a very long time. Southern Michigan usually has grey winters -- lots of snow-less days or partially melted slush. But we've probably had a full month of below freezing weather. So every time we get snow, it stays on the ground. At this point, it's up to your knees. And, as much as it's a really cold winter, I've been enjoying the beauty of it. It's like living in a Christmas card.

I love to be inside when it's snowing like mad outside. On those days where they're predicting 6-10 inches (or more) and it just snows and snows for hours.

What do I like to do on those days? Well, I'm such a lover of creature comforts, everything has to do with that. Knitting. A pot of hot tea (or a mug of cocoa). Movies. Wearing my wooly slippers with soft, warm sweatpants and several layers of sweaters. Warming up by the woodstove when I get chilled. Making soup. Kitties on my lap.

There's something so seductively comforting about being warm and snug indoors when it's snowing outside.

Aretha's Hat

2009-01-25T13:47:00.008-05:00

One of the stars of Tuesday's inauguration was Aretha Franklin's wonderful hat. I'm a fan of hats, and this one is magnificent.

I want it.

A number of years ago (5? 6? 7?) in my other life, the museum where I worked hosted an exhibition based on the book, "Crowns: Portraits of Black Women in Church Hats." That's what I immediately thought of when I saw this terrific hat. It's a known fact that church hats for African-American women are the best. And Aretha's hat is a prime example.

The Stone Soup Challenge

2009-01-23T22:35:00.004-05:00

Every year when I was a Cubmaster (when Tommy was younger), the pack and I would retell the story of Stone Soup and make a big pot of soup. And, of course, it would always begin with a stone.

The boys and their families loved the tradition of it. They enjoyed hearing the story of a town that worked together to produce something bigger than their individual parts. And they loved the great soup we made!

Now Laura of Katydiddy has issued a challenge to the art community based on the story of Stone Soup. The idea is to commit to purchase from other independent artists. She is asking folks to pledge a certain percentage of their shop's profits each month to purchase something from another artist's shop.

Since the main reason I opened my shop was to support my art/craft supplies habit and to allow me to purchase an occasional item from Etsy, this is not difficult for me at all! Basically it's just asking me to formalize this commitment. And with the amount that I spend on Sneak Attacks, I'm already there!

So here's my commitment:
I pledge to spend a minimum of 50% of my profits with other independent artists/shops. And further, I pledge to purchase a minimum of one item per month from one of the other shop owners who have taken The Stone Soup Challenge.

How about you?

Here's what you need to do to participate:
* Decide how much you will commit to spending each month. Laura suggests 10% to 25% of your shop's profits. I'm pledging more because I know I already spend more!
* Visit The Stone Soup Challenge website and leave a comment regarding your pledge
* Blog about the challenge

That's it!

When we work together, everyone benefits.

The Colors of Flickr

2009-01-20T13:09:00.006-05:00

I just learned of this website where you can search Flickr's most "interesting" photos by color. You create a mosaic with your color choices. Check it out!

Yep, more ways to waste time on the 'net....

Manic Monday #151

2009-01-19T17:38:00.004-05:00

Today's questions from Manic Monday:

What do you do to make yourself feel better when you are sick?
Wear soft, comfy clothing. My wooly slippers. A pot of hot tea. Watch old movies. Sit in a comfortable chair. Knit.

What is the most amazing weather you've ever seen?
We're having interesting weather right now -- lots of snow and very cold temperatures. We live in a tornado area and I've seen edges of a tornado -- amazing and scary in its power and randomness.

Do you listen to music or talk radio in the car?
I mostly listen to NPR, but just got a new car* (a few months ago) with a CD player. So I'm really enjoying listening to CDs too!

*a cute little red (the color of our Staccato wine) 2009 Saturn Vue hybrid. I love it!

Ruby Goes Overboard

2009-01-17T20:27:00.005-05:00

My spoiler from the Warm Ewe Up swap, Ruby Colorway,* sent me a note today suggesting that she might've gone overboard with my first swap package. Yep, she did. And I just love it all!

Her package contained several goodies from my various wish lists. But best of all, she bought lots of wonderful surprises based on what she's learned about me. And I love surprises!

First photo: all sorts of vintage goodies. Smart Knitting magazine from Summer 1947, The Budget Cook Book (ca. 1935), a cute notecard made with a vintage illustration, and a gorgeous selection of the softest silk ribbons I've ever felt...

Second photo: a vintage basket, reusable shopping bag from Whole Foods, and three skeins of Mulberry Merino in a beautiful dark blueberry and two skeins of Noro Cashmere Island in purples, pinks, and aqua.

Third photo: The Prairie Girl's Guide to Life (I've been wanting it for a while), striped ribbon, and two sets of handmade earrings (both of the sort that I'll wear a lot).

Thanks Ruby. What a wonderful treat to warm me up!

*best nom de knit ever!

Universal Letter Writing Week

2009-01-14T20:52:00.006-05:00

We're at the tag end of Universal Letter Writing Week. The 2nd week in January is a great time to catch up with a letter or two to a friend.

When is the last time you wrote a letter? How about receiving one?

We tend to write a lot nowadays but so much of it is in an email. Instant gratification. But what about the physical pleasures of a handwritten letter? Lovely, smooth paper. A great pen. A special envelope. Your own handwriting (how many of your friends have never even seen your handwriting?). The time you took to sit down and write the note. A beautiful commemorative stamp or two.

Take the time soon and write a letter. The recipient will be thrilled.

Warm Ewe Up: Blog Question #2

2009-01-10T11:55:00.005-05:00

The current blogging question for the Warm Ewe Up swap:
If you could only knit or crochet with one brand of yarn for the rest of the year, what would it be and why?

I thought about this a bit. Do I pick my favorite yarn? And what, in fact, is that? But I decided to go with my first instinct...

This is not my favorite yarn, but it is my favorite overall yarn. It's the most versatile yarn I've ever used, and comes in a huge range of colors. I could use it for an entire year and pretty much make anything I wanted to make (I couldn't do without felting for a whole year!)....

My choice? Cascade 220. 'Nuf said.

EtsyBloggers Blog Carnival: New Year Goals for My Shop

2009-01-10T09:36:00.007-05:00

Rather than making monumental goals for the New Year, I try to come up with lots of smaller, more do-able goals.

This is the case with my Etsy shop as much as it is with me personally.

The goals tend to be ideas I'd like to implement. Here are a bunch that have been rolling around in my head. Take a look, and we'll look back in a few months and see how many actually got implemented.

*Make more stuff. That's easy to understand why. It's great to have some old favorites, but shops always need NEW stuff to keep them fresh and interesting.

*Expand the line of items I make for knitters. It's a natural connection -- off Etsy, I'm a pretty passionate knitter. I don't know if I'll ever sell any knitted items (possibly), but I love the idea of a whole line of goodies that cater to knitters. So in addition to the current ones (notecards made with recycled knitting catalogs and stitch markers), I'm think of more stitch markers, cute covered tape measures, knitting-related rubber stamps, and possibly some needle holders for circular needle sets. I recently received the Harmony circular set from KnitPicks (love them!) and would like to develop a holder specifically for them.

*Once I have the knitting items added to the shop, maybe do a little advertising on Ravelry? I've never actually paid for an ad, but this is probably the best way to start. They certainly are the perfect targeted audience.

*Oh, and start donating $1 from each set of stitch markers that I sell to Susan G. Komen For the Cure.

*Keep expanding the line of hand-carved rubber stamps. I enjoy making them and they sell well. They're a natural for expansion.

*Now that Etsy has finally connected up with Google Analytics, I need to take advantage of that information.

*Try to add more items made with upcycled materials.

*I'm making a limited-edition 'zine for a swap and will have some for sale in the shop. The subject? Currently a secret. Check back at the end of the month for more details.

*Redo my "Categories." Right now, they're sorted by media. I'm gonna try sorting by subject matter to see if it's more interesting. But if it's less useful, I'll go back to the traditional way of sorting.

*Change up my banner and avatar regularly. Of course, stick with a recognizable look. But keep it interesting by highlighting different items, holidays, etc. So far, I've done this (see the banner at the top of this post), but need to keep it up.

*Keep up with LinkReferral. I'm not sure that I've seen any specific sales from it, but it sure gets a lot of folks to view my shop. Since that's my main problem with Etsy -- the needle-in-a-haystack syndrome -- anything that gets eyes into my shop is a good thing.

*Speaking of problems with Etsy, the painfully-hip-twentysomethings-in-Brooklyn thing is starting to get on my nerves. They're so horribly exclusive in so much of what they do. But they do have the traffic -- so I need to keep playing their game. However, I also need to put some energy into trying one or more of the alternative sites. So I'm thinking of trying 1000Markets, ArtFire, and FunkyFinds. Will you visit me there?

*This is not part of my shop, but it's certainly related. My art/craft room desperately needs cleaning and reorganization. It's overflowing and needs some rethinking (along with a whole lot of cleaning). I'm too skeered to show you a "before" picture, but will show an "after" one if there ever is an "after..."

Whew! Is that it? Well, check back later and see how much I actually accomplish....

EtsyBlogger of the Month: Roseworks Jewelry

2009-01-08T09:14:00.003-05:00

Another active and enthusiastic member of the EtsyBloggers team, Ruthie of Roseworks Jewelry is the featured blogger of the month for January.

Ruthie's shop is filled with fun, affordable little bobbles made with beads and wire or hemp. I love how she shows some of the off by draping them on a frosted glass hand mannequin... great presentation!

You can tell she has a good time creating her treasures -- everything just looks like it was made with love.

To find out more about her, visit her blog: Roseworks Jewelry.

And it you're looking for a cute little affordable gift (even if it's for yourself!), her shop is the perfect place!

Have You Sent Out Your 'Thank You' Notes?

2009-01-06T14:59:00.003-05:00

We just finished a month filled with holidays. Have you sent out 'thank you' cards for the gifts you received?

The EtsyGreetings team is currently running a special promotion on 'thank you' cards. Buy from any of the featured sellers and get free postage on any packs of 'thank you' cards! The promotion runs from January 5 through 15.

There are oodles of cards available -- the right design and feel for just about everyone. And doesn't a handmade card say "thank you" even better than one from a big impersonal corporation?

Shouldn't you order some right now? Go on, do it!

Giveaway at Funky Finds

2009-01-05T08:52:00.002-05:00

So Jess @ Funky Finds and I have been conspiring... and this is the result!

We are offering a $25 gift certificate to my shop for the winner of the current giveaway on the Funky Finds site. Visit the Funky Finds site for details. All you have to do to qualify is to visit my Etsy shop and return to Funky Finds where you leave a comment about your favorite item in my shop.

The giveaway runs from now through January 8 (midnight CST). At the end of that time, Jessica will draw a winner.

Good luck!

Front Page!

2008-12-29T09:42:00.002-05:00

SplishySplashCraft was kind enough to include me in her current treasury as an alternate. It just made the front page and one of the items sold, so I'm in the lower right hand corner. Yay!

Why Did I Learn to Knit?

2008-12-27T14:26:00.003-05:00

Blogging topic #1 for the "Warm Ewe Up" swap is "Why did you learn to knit?"

That's a pretty difficult question to answer because it was long, long (long, long) ago and I was quite young -- probably 8 or 9. I pretty much taught myself to knit with a little help from my aunt.

I can't remember what was in my mind at the time. I do remember very clearly that I wanted to earn all the Girl Scout badges (I did get all the Junior badges, but not all the Cadette ones) and that might have had something to do with it. Perhaps I needed to learn to knit (or learn a new skill like that) for a badge? It's quite possible.

I knit a few scarves as a girl and then didn't get back to knitting until I was an adult. My next big project was a sweater and stocking hat for Tommy when he was a baby. And I've been knitting ever since, especially for the last 8 years or so, since the knitting world has exploded with gorgeous yarns, patterns, and supplies.

A Knitted Holiday

2008-12-26T21:08:00.008-05:00

Now that Christmas is over, and my last-minute crafting craziness is almost* finished, I can look back on the gifts I made.

As usual, many of the gifts were knitted. Warm knitted things just seem like a natural gift in December... However, I did make some necklaces for the 5 nieces and earrings for some of the women in my family.

On to the knitting...

Ribbed Hat and Scarf Set - "Vogue Knitting: Accessorize"
I decided to use the skeins of Manos of Uruguay wool I had on hand. It was a blend of brown, red, yellow, and certainly manly enough for my dad. I went with a simple pattern that would knit up quickly and show off the beauty of the yarn.

Felted Tote Bag - Two Old Bags
The nicest thing about this project was that I used yarn I bought last summer at Belle Valee' Woolen Mill in northern Ontario (near our family cabin). That made it pretty special. I was not completely happy with the pattern -- it ended up deeper than I thought a tote bag should be, and the straps didn't felt quite as well as I hoped so they were a little long. But it's still a nice, useful tote bag for my aunt.

Felted iPod Cozy - Bonnie Sennott
When I found out that my sister was getting a pink iPod for Christmas, I knew I needed to make her a cozy to keep it safe in her purse. This knitted up really quickly -- it took much longer for it to dry after felting than it did to make it. I used two vintage buttons to pick up the colors in the yarn.

*Weasley Sweater - "Charmed Knits" by Alison Hansel
This one is still in progress. Yes, it was completely unreasonable for me to think I could knit a sweater for a 6'3" teenager in one weekend. Sheesh! So I'm currently working on it. The boy has been wanting a Weasley sweater for a while now -- I hope to get it done soon.

The yarn is Andean Silk from KnitPicks. Lovely stuff: 55% superfine alpaca, 23% silk, and 22% Merino wool. Soft, silky, and strong. I'm really enjoying working with it. I promise to let you know when it's finally finished and off to its new home....

Creating Clouds with Words

2008-12-23T22:17:00.007-05:00

Playing with Wordle.... when I should be wrapping Christmas gifts.

You create word clouds by plugging in text or sending it to a URL. This word cloud was a result of wordle visiting this blog. Fun, yes? It's a snapshot of my blog today... just a very different sort of snapshot.

In the Depth of Winter....

2008-12-21T09:39:00.004-05:00

....I finally learned that there was in me an invincible summer...

I used this Camus quotation as the springboard for an Etsy treasury celebrating the Winter Solstice. Glimmers of light and color on the darkest, frostiest day of the year....

ETA: It made the front page Sunday evening. Yay!

Questionnaire: Warm Ewe Up Winter Yarn Swap

2008-12-20T21:12:00.003-05:00

I held off joining any knitting swaps during the autumn to focus on making Christmas gifts and items for the Etsy shop along with trying to keep within my budget (for once...). But I've been itching to join another. This one is perfect -- it doesn't start until after the holidays and it's run by Amy, a terrific hostess.

Here are my answers to the swap questionnaire. I hope this helps my swap partner get to know me better!

Do you knit or crochet, or both? How long have you been at the craft?

Knit. I pretty much taught myself to knit as a child, but have really only been knitting consistently since Tommy was a baby. I only crochet enough to finish garments...

Do you spin?

I used to. I'd like to get back to it sometime.

What yarns/fibers are your favorites?

Natural fibers, especially soft ones: alpaca, wool, silk, cashmere, and I like linen (even thought it's not especially soft)

What yarns/fibers do you not like?

Please, no synthetics, even just as part of a blend. No novelty yarns... eeek!

What yarns/fibers would you like to try but haven’t?

A swap partner sent me a skein of Handmaiden Big Sea Silk but I haven't had a chance to knit with it yet. It feels heavenly.

What are your favorite colors?

Greens (but not kelly green), reds, most blues. I like most colors.

Colors that you don’t like?

Kelly green, mustard yellows, wimpy pastels.

What are your favorite types of projects to knit/crochet?

I don't really have enough time to work on really complicated stuff. I tend to like bags, hats, some sweaters, that sort of thing. I love felting.

What are you currently working on?

Eeeek! How many hours are left before Christmas? Eeeek! I'm in the early stages of a Hogwarts (Weasley) sweater for Tommy. I must get it done by Christmas! And I was hoping to do more, but fear I'm pretty much out of time.

What is your favorite FO? (Please post a picture if you have one.)

I did a big felted tote in lots of stripes for my sister about 4 years ago (pre-Ravelry, so I don't have photos). I liked how it turned out. And I made an Albert Jacket to donate to Warm Woolies this fall. I used lots of bits and pieces of Mission Falls 1824 wool. It's fun and very colorful.

Are there any techniques that you want to learn?

Nothing that I can think of right at the moment.

Do you have a yarn winder and/or swift? Yes.

How do you store your needles/hooks?

Various ways. Needle holders, a big Tupperware container.

Do you collect anything?

Yes. Cookbooks. Depression era kitchen stuff. Old linens (especially Depression era). Yarn! Fabric.

Do you like sweets?

Yes, but I'm trying to eat them in moderation. Dark chocolate and maple are my favorites.

What are your favorite scents?

Green tea, lemon, Lily of the Valley.

Are you having a birthday during this swap? Nope (September).

Do you have any online wish lists? (Amazon, Loopy Ewe, etc.) Please include a link for your pal.

There's a link to my amazon wish list on the right side of the blog. I don't know about Loopy Ewe -- will have to investigate.

What is your living situation (Are you married? Do you have kids, pets, or both?)

I'm married. My son is going to college and has his own apartment about 45 minutes away. We have one dog (Winston - Golden Retriever) and 6 cats.

Are you allergic to anything?

Nothing that has to do with the swap.

Is there anything else that you would like your pal to know?

Here's my Swap-bot profile -- it'll tell you more about me (if you're curious). Also there are lots of other questionnaires listed on the lower right side of this blog. Feel free to ask any questions you'd like!

Plarn???!

2008-12-19T13:52:00.005-05:00

I recently ordered some PLARN (recycled plastic yarn) from JesSpins. You send her the raw materials -- I sent plastic grocery bags; plastic mesh from clementines, avocados, and onions; an old cassette tape; etc -- and she spins them up. You pay by the yard -- mine worked out to be 99 yards.

I should receive it next week sometime. I'm looking forward to playing with it... and I promise to have Show & Tell once I've got something completed.

EtsyBloggers Blog Carnival: Christmas Spotlight

2008-12-18T21:17:00.011-05:00

The current Blog Carnival topic for the EtsyBloggers street team is "Christmas Spotlight - Show & tell of a Christmas item in your shop or your favorite gift idea in someone else's shop."

Somehow it seems more fun to highlight items in other shops.... so here's a little glimpse into Heather's Gift Showcase:

My friend Kelli just opened her own Etsy shop (Willowdale) and is featuring "Tasmanian Monsters." (She lives in Tasmania, Australia.) Her monsters are brightly colored, happy, creative beasts. This little guy's name is Abacus. The perfect antidote to the winter blahs, don't you think?

I'm completely fascinated by this shop filled with handmade caramels (Caramel Jubilee). Pomegranate. Chocolate. Licorice. Pumpkin pie. What a lovely little decadent gift!

I love the photographs of Val Cox. Each just glows with color and light. She takes her photographs using a vintage Ansco Rediflex twin reflex camera and her digital Nikon. I have no idea as to how she creates the effects she gets, but I am haunted by this photo of figs in a bowl.

I've gotten to know mercyming through Ravelry and Etsy Sneak Attacks. Her photograph of eggs in a bowl is very different from the photograph above, and just as beautiful. It's the essence of spring.

LizzyClara is another Sneak Attack buddy. Her graphic illustrations are friendly, colorful, and just plain fun! They feature tuxedo'ed cats, spotty dogs, loving birds, and sweet little villages. She offers tags, cards, and prints.

Of course, we've pretty much gone past the time to order gifts to get here by Christmas, but these are great ideas for the future!

ArtFire

2008-12-16T22:39:00.003-05:00

I just signed up for a shop on ArtFire. It's a new site like Etsy -- with shops for handmade items -- but much, much smaller.

Now before you rush over there to shop :) I haven't set up my store yet. Not much time right now with work, Etsy orders, and trying to make pretty much all my Christmas gifts. However, I plan to do it soon, and will let you know as soon as I get it up and running.

In the meantime, I'd like to let everyone know about a special offer. Set up a shop right now, get 10 others to set up shops, and you get free shop fees for life!

So if you've been thinking about trying an ArtFire shop, this might be the right time. The deal only runs through the end of the year.

Follow this link and you'll be on my referral list. And thanks!

Calligraphy Meets Craft

2008-12-13T13:12:00.004-05:00

I'm a calligraphy snob. I've seen a lot of bad calligraphy in my life and don't care to see any more. 'Nuff said.

However, I adore Katy's calligraphy! Her Etsy shop, KisforCalligraphy is filled with wonderful little bits of gorgeous calligraphy... tags, envelopes, ornaments, envelope seals, some very funny zipper pulls... Her shop changes every time I visit -- and I love to see all the new things she's created. She has a very distinctive style that's casual, easy, fun, and graceful.

Here's more about her (from her profile):
I have a Bachelor of Science in Accounting and a minor in French from the University of Montana. I never expected to be a self-employed professional calligrapher. However, my mom had a sneaking suspicion that I would love calligraphy. She nagged me to take a class as soon as I learned how to write. A couple of decades later I followed her hunch and enrolled myself into a calligraphy class, I am proud to say that I have created a career for myself as a professional calligrapher. Handmade is my creative choice. Whether it is a handmade birthday card or an original place card, it is my belief that giving is best when you are giving handmade. I cannot imagine a day without doing calligraphy or creating something new. And my props to Etsy for making it possible for artists and artisans around the world to share and sell their creations!

Katy and I are EtsyPaper pals this month, and I'm so pleased to be paired up with her. I heartily encourage you to visit her shop -- I guarantee you'll find some goodies you must have in your life!

EtsyBlogger of the Month: Spotted Cow Soaps

2008-12-07T07:21:00.008-05:00

I first met Ms. Moo of Spotted Cow Soaps a month or so ago while participating in a Sneak Attack. She's always so positive and energetic -- perfect for Sneak Attacks! ...and now she's the EtsyBloggers Team Blogger of the Month. A terrific choice.

She was one of the reasons I decided to join EtsyBloggers. I was incredibly impressed by how active and encouraging she (and other team members) were.

Spotted Cow Soaps is located deep in the heart of Vermont amongst the mountain views and dairy farms. Ms. Moo has been formulating and selling homemade natural soaps for over 8 years. She started by making soaps for herself, to cure some personal skin issues and ended up with a business that has "grown into an obsession and love for handcrafting great smelling soaps."

Her Etsy shop is filled with lovely handmade soaps, including the gorgeous [limited edition] Christmas Candy Cane soap (pictured), super-fatted with coconut oil, palm oil, shea butter, olive oil, sunflower oil AND soybean oil! In addition to the soaps, she also sells body lotion, bubble bath, bath salts, hand-crocheted organic cotton bath accessories, and soy candles.

I'm sure you know of someone who deserves a little pampering. Yourself, perhaps?

My Favorite Brownies!

2008-12-02T09:34:00.006-05:00

To help you prepare for National Brownie Day on December 8, here is my favorite recipe for Triple Chocolate Brownies:

Brownies
4 ounces (4 squares) unsweetened chocolate
1/4 pound (1 stick) butter
3 eggs
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
pinch of salt
3/4 cup sifted flour
1 cup chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Butter a 9-inch square pan.

Melt chocolate and butter in a double boiler over moderate heat. Set aside to cool.

Beat eggs in an electric mixer until foamy and increased in volume. On low speed, gradually add the sugar, vanilla, salt, and chocolate mixture. Beat until just barely mixed. Add flour and beat just to blend. Fold in chocolate chips.

Pour mixture into the prepared pan. Bake approximately 35 minutes -- until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out barely clean. Cool.

Bittersweet Chocolate Ganache
1/2 cup whipping cream
5 ounces milk chocolate, coarsely chopped
3 ounces unsweetened chocolate, coarsely chopped

Place the cream in a small saucepan over moderate heat and cook, uncovered, until there is a skin on top and small bubbles around the edge. Add the chocolate and stir lightly until melted.

Transfer the mixture to the bowl (must be cool) of an electric mixer. Beat at medium speed until mixture becomes smooth, shiny, and thick. Spread on cooled brownies. Cut into small squares. And enjoy!

Flowers in the Snow

2008-12-02T08:56:00.003-05:00

Frances of Homemade Originals is the host of the current EtsyBloggers Blog Carnival topics. The topics? December 8 is "National Brownie Day" and "Winter Flowers Day." I love both topics -- so I'll blog about both of them (look for the 2nd one soon).

There's something particularly magical about flowers that bloom when winter is raging outside.

Years ago I worked at a wonderful old general store in Ann Arbor. We carried amaryllis and paperwhite bulbs and taught lots and lots of folks how to pot them up for indoor blooms.

Those are the easy blooms -- the ones that normally grow outdoors (like hyacinths and tulips) are the difficult ones. You must force them, basically make them believe they've gone through a winter.

Paperwhites, a type of daffodil/jonquil are beautiful but quite aromatic. Their scent is heavy and not always pleasant -- especially when enclosed in a small room. My preference is for the amaryllis, a strikingly beautiful flower.

What do you do with an amaryllis bulb? I remember it all quite clearly. Use a pot about 1 inch larger than the bulb. We used 6" pots because the bulbs we sold were very large. The size of the bulb will relate to the size of the bloom.

Pot them up with about 1/4 to 1/3 of the bulb showing above the soil. Water them sparingly. And wait... simple as that. Very soon a shoot of bud and leaves will emerge and grow quite quickly. You may have to support the stem if it gets too tall. ...and enjoy your beautiful, bloom as the snow falls outdoors!

Manic Monday #144

2008-12-01T10:57:00.002-05:00

It's "Cyber Monday" today, the ceremonial kick-off of the holiday online shopping season in the United States. Do you do much online shopping, holiday or otherwise?

I'm completely addicted to online shopping. I'm such a fan of creature comforts -- I'd much rather do my shopping in my slippers (my favorites are pictured) with a cup of tea. And, honestly, I'm not a fan of crowds... or that nasty lighting you find in many stores. The exception, of course, is local and/or fresh stuff.

Are you a Mac or a PC user? Why?

PC. I really haven't had a choice. I've always had PCs at work (mostly not my decision) and needed to move work back and forth. And years ago, there wasn't an easy way to do it between a Mac and a PC.

What website do you spend more time on than you care to admit?

Etsy. Flickr. Ravelry. Between those three I've spent waaaay too many hours of my life!

Get Ready... Get Set....

2008-11-26T21:38:00.007-05:00

...Shop!

Starting Friday, November 28 ("Black Friday") through Monday, December 1 ("Cyber Monday") I am running a store-wide sale in my Etsy shop. The sale is part of a large promotion headed by EtsyBloggers. There are over 50 Etsy shops taking part in one way or another. Visit here for a list of the shops.

So here's the lowdown on the sale:

Buy 1 item - get 10% off
Buy 2 items - get 15% off
Buy 3 or more items - get 20% off
In addition, I am offering free shipping for all orders of $75 or more

Have you been looking at something special in my shop? Now's the time to buy!

Time for a Winner!

2008-11-25T19:27:00.003-05:00

I'm a day late in selecting and publishing a winner for my EtsyGreetings Blog Carnival Giveaway, but I know you're aware that there have been other things on my mind.

Anyway, I'd like to thank everyone who commented -- I had the best time reading your comments! They were very interesting.... and educational. I had thought there might be more of a "favorite" item in the shop, but your interests and choices were pretty varied.

I often wonder if my shop is too disjointed -- that I have too many different sorts of things for sale. And I really love it when a shop has a cohesive look to it. But, unfortunately, that's just not how I work. I need to make lots of different things -- it's what makes me happy. And, in the long run, that's one of the main reasons I have the shop. It funds my art/craft addiction, but even more than that, it gives me an outlet for the artwork that something inside of me compels me to produce. And makes me happy.

I've been thinking about opening a new shop, probably to house the hand carved rubber stamps that I make. And that would help a bit. But it wouldn't solve the problem. I can't open 4 or 6 or 8 different shops!

I have hopes that Etsy will someday (soon?) offer more options on how to organize a shop. At this point you can put items in "Sections," but the initial view of the shop shows everything in basically a hodge-podge fashion. You have the option of sorting by price or when the item was posted, but no other way. I'd love to be able to move the items around to make the shop make sense organizationally and to be more pleasing to the eye.

Anyway.... back to the giveaway! I let random.org make the decision.......

..... and the winner is..... #11! (Lana) Congratulations, Lana! I'll be contacting you to get your address. And thanks to everyone who took the time to enter!

Here is your sequence:

Timestamp: 2008-11-26 00:49:38 UTC

Manic Monday #143

2008-11-25T16:42:00.002-05:00

Do you ever talk to yourself out loud? What do you talk about?
Sadly, all the time. I talk to myself in the car and occasionally find that I'm talking to myself in shops. Generally I just make observations out loud rather than keeping them in my head... (although I usually say them quietly)

What stresses you out?
Problems that I can't fix. Things that aren't working properly that I can't control. Short deadlines for something that won't be done in time. Lately I find that I get stress headaches quite easily. If I'm under deep stress, you can be guaranteed that I'll have a stress headache. It's quite different from my usual headaches (sinus related). It feels like a clamp tightening around my head, and sometimes at the back of my neck. What a lovely thing to develop.... sheesh!

What are your secret talents?
Cooking. Organization. Taking charge of things and seeing them through to completion.

I'm not sure these are secrets. I guess it depends on what part of my life you know me from whether they're a secret or not.

R.I.P. Ella Mae

2008-11-24T16:00:00.004-05:00

My dear mother-in-law passed away last night after a long battle with cancer.

Born into a large Norwegian farm family in a small town in North Dakota, she was was one of the strongest women I've ever known. Smart and independent, she had a wicked dry sense of humor that I see (and enjoy) in her son and her grandson.

At these times you want to look at the good side of things, and right now they're pretty easy to find. She was a lovely woman, gracious and considerate, raising my husband to be silly and tender and loving.

Cancer can be horribly nasty, but blessedly she was spared from some of its nastiest parts. It certainly wasn't an easy time, but she was able to stay in her home (by herself) until just a few weeks ago. Once she moved out, we planned to share her between Bob's sister's home and ours. She never got that far. She started declining pretty much right away until she finally slipped away last night. It was exactly what she wanted -- quick and without pain and barely a burden on anyone around her.

My New Favorite Shopping Bag

2008-11-20T17:55:00.006-05:00

A few weeks ago I was pleased to find out that I had won a giveaway through Funky Finds. The prize? A made-to-order shopping bag from InkaFinland. She has shops with Funky Finds and Etsy.

Some of you may know that I'm a huge fan of reusable shopping bags. My lifetime total of morsbags is currently 31 (although I've given almost all of them away). So, yep, I know my shopping bags. And this one is exceptional.

The fabric is lovely, cotton probably, and fine, strong, and smooth. The "shopping list" that is stamped on the outside of the bag is made to order. Mine reads:
eggs
soy milk
oranges
bananas
bread
ice cream
chocolate
juice
shoes
kiwis
cheese
positive thinking
tomatoes
buttons
pizza
cucumber
yogurt
dreams
salad
popcorn
more chocolate

I mostly went with the list she had on the bag shown in her Funky Finds shop, but with a few individual changes. And I opted "in" for her to add a string of vintage-looking black buttons along the top.

I gave it a test-drive today. It was perfect. Useful and stylish. What more could I ask for? Thanks InkaFinland!

EtsyBloggers: Blog Carnival

2008-11-19T09:25:00.002-05:00

As part of my membership in EtsyBloggers (an Etsy street team), I am asked to blog twice a month about specific topics. The current topic is:

How are you going to prepare your business for the holiday rush?

Honestly, I'm not sure how much "rush" I'll see. :) Sales in my Etsy shop have gone up a bit lately and I hope to see them continue like this. However, I probably won't ever really feel rushed. (It would be very fun to have that problem.)

That being said, here's what I've been doing in preparation for the holiday season....

* Adding more merchandise to the shop. I'm currently up to 83 items for sale. And I'll like to make (and then add) a few more each week as we get closer to Christmas/Hanukkah/Solstice.

* I added another colorway for one of my favorite items -- the "Gather 'Round The Aluminum Tree" Christmas/winter cards. I love this combination of aqua and lime/chartreuse.

* I'll be participating in a big sale through the EtsyBloggers team. So if you've been thinking about making a purchase, you might want to wait a week or so. The sale will run from Black Friday (the day after Thanksgiving) through Cyber Monday (December 1). Stay tuned for more details!

It's Carnival Time!

2008-11-17T20:18:00.002-05:00

The EtsyGreetings street team is holding a Blog Carnival this week. Visit their blog to find out about 15 (or more) giveaways. Sign up to win!

Winemakerssister Giveaway

To participate in my giveaway, just take a look at my Etsy shop. Pick an item that you'd like to add to your own gift list, or one that would be perfect for someone on your list. Comment on it below.

Simple as that. I'll run this through Monday, November 24. At that time, I'll put all the names in a hat and draw out the winner.

The winner gets a 4-pack of my Gnome notecards.

One entry per person. Spread the word!

Manic Monday #142

2008-11-17T19:51:00.007-05:00

Do you believe people are basically good?
Yes. Although, sadly, I do believe that there are a few people who are fundamentally evil.

If you could change the custom of shaking hands, what would you replace it with?Hugs. I grew up in a household without much hugging. I wish I was better at hugging without having to think about it. ........Or how about spontaneous homemade cookie exchanges? :) (The world would probably be a much happier place!)

What is something that you enjoy that is a chore for most other people? Weeding. I love to weed the garden... although I often don't have enough time to keep it up-to-date. I love the look of a freshly weeded bed.

"With A Little Help From My Friends..."

2008-11-16T13:57:00.007-05:00

I created this treasury last night with art from some friends on Etsy. It's always interesting to see how it evolves. I generally start out with a general idea of color and style, but it often takes on a life of its own.

It was amazing to see this treasury take shape. I started with an idea of light blue and red (after choosing thelittlereddoor's piece) and that ended up being perfect. The nice thing was that it also took on a nice whimsical feel to it.

The only sad thing was that I didn't have enough room for everyone that I wanted to include.

I just love the look of this... and each individual component!

To visit the shops:
thelittlereddoor
Ikyoto
KisforCalligraphy
goddessofhellfire
artforcures
craftsy
HomemadeOriginals
coyotecraft
Renmeleon
SacredSnatch
racheanilyse
stuffbysteph77

Not shown:
BettyTurbo
wiccked
namolio
kayork

500 Hearts

2008-11-16T11:10:00.003-05:00

I hadn't checked my "hearts" (a listing of people who have added my shop to their Favorites) in a little while... and yet something made me do it just now. I'm currently at 503 hearts -- I hit the 500 mark yesterday!

I know it's not a lot compared with some sellers, but it's very fun to hit this milestone. Thanks, everyone!

Just Listed in the Etsy Shop

2008-11-12T08:59:00.006-05:00

I spend a good chunk of time yesterday making these rubber stamps and listing everything in the Etsy shop. Listing things takes quite a bit of time -- taking photographs, tweaking them in Photoshop, writing the description, writing the listing.... I often wonder how some shops can do so many one-of-a-kind items.

I love the rubber stamps! It seems like they'd be great used on correspondence, packages, recipe cards.... wherever. A fun way to state your priorities. :)

The new drawstring bag is also celebrating cupcakes. I made one to angel someone in the Starbucks & Yarn Swap -- she loves cupcakes, aqua, pink. So it seemed logical to make another for the shop. It's lovely cotton fabric designed by Martha Neigly and then lined with turquoise linen. It would make a fun handbag or a great knitting bag.

I did these journals years ago for an art fair -- probably one of the last times I did the Ann Arbor Art Fair. I did a whole bunch of them and recently found the ones that were left. Thought I'd put them in the shop and get them out to folks who would use them.

So that's what's new in winemakerssister.etsy.com!

I've Been Tagged

2008-11-10T22:43:00.003-05:00

I was just tagged by throughtherainbow. Here's the lowdown:

THE RULES: *Link to your tagger and list these rules on your blog. *Share 7 facts about yourself on your blog, some random, some weird.*Tag 7 people at the end of your post by leaving their name as well as links to their blog. *Let them know they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.

1. I'm supposed to be on vacation this week, but have worked part of the day on Saturday, Sunday, and today. They're starting to make jokes at work about me flying back and forth to the Caribbean.
2. I never had a cat as a child but now I can't live without them.
3. One of the things I had to have when we built our house was a soaking bathtub. You can fill it with water almost up to your neck.
4. I'm currently felting a totebag I knit as a Christmas gift for my sister. It's agitating in the washer as I type.
5. I've been a vegetarian all my adult life (since I was in college).
6. My two favorite sweet flavors are chocolate and maple.
7. My goal this week is to clean my art room. It hasn't happened yet.

Time to tag some others.... I think I'll visit some blogs owned by my new EtsyBloggers comrades:

Lucky Ladybug Designs
Beaded Tail
RoseWorks Jewelry
Homemade Originals
Mies Mama
Dorset Hill Beads
Unique Commodities

My Secret Pal Revealed

2008-11-04T09:30:00.004-05:00

After spending much of the summer receiving fabulous packages from my SP12 Secret Pal, her final package arrived on Saturday. Since it was such an insane day (5 buses totaling about 260 people in addition to the usual customers), it's taken me a little while to get a photo to share.

But take a look at the great loot! You can tell she had fun gathering goodies for me.

My Secret Pal, Lynda, drives a truck with her husband. She spends most of the time on the road. (What a great opportunity to knit, knit, knit!) I suspect she picked things up for me along the way. Isn't that wonderful?

I had a great time unpacking everything. She had wrapped all the goodies so it was like Christmas In a Box. She did a great job! The yarn is a gorgeous brick red. She suggests I use it to knit a Lucy Bag, a bag I've wanted to knit for a while. Sounds like a good idea!

I'm drinking tea from the big, gorgeous Starbucks mug right now. And look at all the other goodies: a handknit wine cozy, a cute sheep ornament, a candle holder and votives, lots of pretty little bits of paper..... thanks so much, Lynda. You've been a wonderful spoiler!

storybeader

2008-11-03T19:27:00.004-05:00

Often when you make a purchase from an Etsy seller, they send you a little extra something to thank you for your patronage. Perhaps the most creative langniappe* comes from storybeader. With every purchase from her shop, Deb promises to send a haiku written specifically for that piece. How wonderful and creative is that?

Deb, and her Etsy shop, storybeader, is the focus of November's EtsyBloggers' Featured Artist.

Deb's work has a lush, Southwest flavor. Lots of turquoise. Fetishes. Native American images. It's not surprising to find that she lives in Oklahoma. Her work speaks of the land and people of the Great Plains.

About her haikus, she writes:
"I'm a frustrated writer who likes to put words and colors together to make wearable art. How do you wear words, you ask? I suppose my haiki poems can float around in your brain as you sashay down the lane, wearing one of my necklaces."

What a great idea for a gift! A beautiful necklace and a one-of-a-kind haiku written especially for it.

*langniappe: from the Louisiana French for a little something extra. The idea behind a baker's dozen.

EtsyBlogging

2008-11-02T15:03:00.009-05:00

I just joined EtsyBloggers. It's a very active Etsy Street Team -- I've encountered their members all over the place lately. There are a number of members involved with the Sneak Attack, etc.

I also figured it would help me (um, make that "make me") blog regularly. I'm one of those people who does better with structure.

They require that you participate several times per month. First with a bi-monthly topic (see below), and second with a post on their featured member (soon to come).

So... plunging in... the current topic is: What Am I Working On?

I'm always working on a lot of things. When I was a child it drove my mother crazy that I would focus on one thing then dart off to another leaving the first thing hanging. Now that I'm an adult, it's called "creative" (well, when it's not being called "messy"). I eventually get most things completed, and I have a much better time doing them if I'm not forced to stick with them non-stop from beginning to end.

That being said, one of the things I want to create very soon is a line of one-of-a-kind gnome stuffies. I really like little gnomes and don't know of anyone else on Etsy doing something like this.

I'd like to make them pretty much completely from felt I've made from recycled wool. So I've been felting skirts and coats and blankets and sweaters that I've picked up at jumble sales. The beard is knitted from eyelash yarn. I never thought I'd touch the stuff again but it makes the perfect beard.

I made one a few months ago as a swap gift. It took a while to make it, but I loved it when it was done. And, honestly, that's the main reason I make things -- to have fun doing it.

Funky Finds

2008-10-29T10:58:00.003-04:00

I met Jess quite a while ago through Flickr and Swap-Bot. We chatted for a while and then decided to set up a private swap. She's one of my favorite people that I've never actually "met."

Jess' day job is a graphic designer. She runs her wonderful website, Funky Finds on her own time.

Funky Finds is a collection of great finds -- well designed, creative products that add a little extra to your life. Jess has a great eye for beautiful, unique items. In a world of big boxes, Funky Finds is a little haven of the individual and the handmade.

Unlike me, Jess is extremely vigilant about posting daily. Every time I visit the site there's lots of new and wonderful finds. She also runs frequent contests to win treats from shops that she's featured.

Take a minute to visit. I guarantee you'll find several things you can't possibly live without. And gifts.... well, it's a great place for gift ideas.

Sneak Attack

2008-10-27T12:56:00.003-04:00

I love this idea -- a group of folks get together and plot an "attack" on a new Etsy seller. They set a specific time and at that time, they all purchase something from the new shop.

What a great way to give a boost to a new shop! Can't you imagine how thrilled you'd be to find out you were under that kind of Attack?

Well, Michael Phipps of PhippsArt Etsy shop has come up with a way to make this happen over and over on a regular schedule. He is hosting a site called The Handmade Movement.

Volunteer hosts take care of a specific Attack. They choose a new shop based on specific criteria (0 or only a few sales, some items under $10, the shop has been open for at least several weeks, etc). At a specified time, the name of the shop is announced and the buying begins!

So... tonight I'm hosting the Attack. I've been stalking all sorts of new Etsy shops and have come up with a candidate. It'll be announced on The Handmade Movement website at 7:00 pm EDT.

I hope you'll join us in making October 27 a day this seller will never forget!

Pictured above: the cute little pitcher I purchased in a Sneak Attack about 10 days ago.

New in the Shop

2008-10-26T09:21:00.010-04:00

I've been working to add more items to the Etsy shop as the gift giving (and buying) season gets into full swing.

Here are some of the new goodies...

Rubber Stamps
I love carving rubber stamps. I tend to work tightly and a little too precisely and the medium forces a looser approach. Last week I added a little acorn and leaf stamp to the Etsy shop. I need to make more -- I think there's a good demand for them and not that many Etsy sellers making them. Maybe some more new ones today?

Stamped Notecards
I originally carved these stamps for a Swap-Bot swap with a Chair theme. I just love chairs -- the design of them, how homey and welcome they make you feel. So I made large stamps of four of my favorite chairs: an Eames chair, an Adirondack (Muskoka, if you're in Ontario) chair, a nice simple straight chair, and a comfy armchair for reading or knitting or just relaxing.

Retro Potholders
These potholders also started life as a swap project. The of the reason I do swaps (other than the fact that I love making them and getting mail!) is for the inspiration. Almost everytime I do a swap, I get an idea for something to make and add to the shop.

The fabrics for these potholders have been accumulating in my stash -- many folks know that I love these colors and the Depression era. The go perfectly in my kitchen with the Fiestaware, bakelite flatware, and Hall china. Aren't they fun?

Patchwork Notecards
Ah... the staple of my Etsy shop. I love sewing on paper and the look I get from mixing all sorts of gorgeous papers together into a little paper quilt.

The newest patchwork cards celebrate coffee and take a design from last year and add a new colorway. The papers for the coffee cards make me think of deep, rich espresso, the creamy swirl of milk in a latte, the steam from a delicious cappuccino...

The Christmas (or solstice) cards are a new color version of a design I made last year. The original cards (which I call, "Gather 'Round the Aluminum Christmas Tree") were in pink and green. I love these new colors. They still fit the design well, but give an even more modern look to them (along with the retro/mid-century look I love).

The good news is that the original pink and green card is included on the cover of a new book coming out soon. "1000 Handmade Cards" will be available in January 2009. What fun!

Will Art for Cures

2008-10-24T19:37:00.003-04:00

I'm a part of a terrific group of artists entitled Art For Cures who make art to raise money for a number of causes.

Last year the group produced "inchies" (1 inch x 1 inch art) based on the theme, Woman as Goddess. A selection of the inchies have been beautifully framed and are now up for auction on eBay. Sales will benefit Susan G. Komen For the Cure.

The group is based at www.willartforcures.org.

They also operate an Etsy shop with art by the group members. Currently it features adorable little crocheted Pop Tart creatures (below left) by Kate. There is lots more merchandise to come soon...

Wouldn't some of these goodies be great as gifts?!

Tag, I'm "It"

2008-10-07T21:35:00.003-04:00

I was recently tagged by Home Made Originals, a friend from Flickr and Etsy. I love watching her blog to keep up with all the goodies she creates.

The idea is to tell 6 things that people may not know about me, then tag 5 other bloggers to do the same. So here goes:

1. I collect cookbooks and own (and display and use) over 500.

2. Some of the jobs I've held in my life are: art teacher, buyer for old general store, artist at a magazine, baker, waitress, and museum vice president.

3. I never had a cat until I was an adult. But, as an adult, I have had as many as 15 cats at a time (I'm not so insane as I was when I was younger... only 6 cats now).

4. When I was a child I organized my books according to the Dewey decimal system.

5. About 95% of the time I basically wear one of two pairs of shoes. Merrill sandals in the summer, Birkenstock clogs in the winter.

6. Bob and I are currently trying to recover from Empty Nest shock. The boy got himself a good job (at a well know natural foods grocery chain that treats its employees well), is taking a full load of college classes, and has an apartment with his wonderful girlfriend. We miss him!

That was difficult to think of six!

Now it's time for me to tag. I'm going to pick 5 folks from the EtsyGreetings Street Team:

A Punkin Card Company

Fubabee

Jill Hannah

K is for Calligraphy

Macaroni and Glue

Now it's up to you. Play if you wish. Ignore it if you wish. :)

Manic Monday #137

2008-10-07T21:18:00.004-04:00

What is one thing you admire about each of your parents?
I admire my mother's energy and my father's passion for things he enjoys.

Which parts of your home do you like best?
I absolutely adore my home. But my kitchen is probably my favorite part. It is centered around a wonderful stove -- rescued by my builder from a restaurant that went out of business. The backsplash above it is patchworked with tiles from Pewabic Pottery. The cabinets are solid cherry, Amish-made in Shipshewanna (and less expensive than ones from a big box retailer). The floors are cork -- great on your feet. The countertops around the outside are lovely green/grey/black granite. The countertop on the island is locally made maple butcher block. And I collected the knobs on the drawers for years before I had this kitchen. They're all vintage bakelite knobs and drawer pulls.

My collection of Fiestaware peeks out from behind glass-fronted cabinets and adds my favorite colors to the kitchen.

Can you tell how much I love it all?

Which would you prefer and why? To have every stoplight turn green upon your arrival for the rest of your life or to have one week of the best sex any person ever had?
Hmmmm, I'm going to have to think about that for a while... :)

Manic Monday (I finally got the day right!)

2008-09-29T08:16:00.005-04:00

Manic Monday #136

What is the most useful gift you’ve ever been given?

The year Santa Claus brought me a piccolo was certainly the highlight of my gift-getting. Useful? I guess so. If I were to pick a gift solely on the "useful" criteria, I would probably pick knitting needles. Completely useful!

Name the most terrifying moment of your life so far.

This is difficult because I tend to forget unpleasant things once they're behind me.

1) The day Bob and I found our next-door apartment neighbor in a drug/alcohol-induced coma. Calling 911 was just like in a dream -- my voice didn't work well and it all seemed to be in slow motion. The trickiest part was the blizzard raging outside. It took 6 people to raise the stretcher above the 18 inches or so of snow on the ground.

2) Ok, I'm a wuss. Millennium Force at Cedar Point. This roller coaster goes 310 feet in the air with speeds up to 92 mph. 92mph in a little car with no protection! The teenagers I was with wanted everyone to ride it together. I figured I'd be a good sport.

I though perhaps I might die of a heart attack while riding...

One hot summer afternoon, while walking through a parking lot at a large shopping center, you notice a dog suffering badly from the heat inside a locked car. What would you do?

1) See if the car was locked.

2) Stay with the car while someone else alerted mall officials to get them to page the owner over the loudspeaker.

3) Call 911 if the owner wasn't found quickly.

New on the Catwalk

2008-09-14T18:30:00.008-04:00

Yesterday I received a very fun package for the "Golden Lovers" swap. Gorgeous yarn, lots fun little pampering items, knitting magazines, treats for Winston and the kitties.... and this fun shrug for Winston.

It's his first clothing item ever. And it's lovely -- a blue, cabled sweater to keep him warm this winter.

Now he loves the cold, and doesn't really need the extra warmth very often. But he likes to have long walks in the snow. We'll have to get him some insulated booties -- his feet are always the first things to get cold. But armed with those and this sweater -- he'll be Winston of the Arctic!

After Another Birthday

2008-09-12T21:56:00.005-04:00

Like all other babies born on September 11, my birthday will never be the same.

Lately I've awoken on my birthday morning with a sense of melancholy and tears just waiting to flow. Yesterday was no exception.

What do you do when your birthday is a national day of mourning? You feel like you can't fully celebrate without also remembering that horrible day in 2001. All day long you hear sad stories on the radio.

Should I celebrate on a different day? Somehow it doesn't seem right to arbitrarily pick another birth date.

As I get older, I find myself less and less of a party girl. I'm just such a homebody. Yesterday I told Bob that I was thinking of taking my birthday off work from now on and booking myself into a spa. I seem to need to do something soothing. But the more that I think about it, the more I think I'd just like to stay home. Turn off the phones. Brew myself a pot of good tea. Put on my soft slippers. And knit. Yep, that would be my perfect day.

Remind me next year to do that on my birthday, ok?

Catching Up

2008-09-10T23:12:00.003-04:00

When I returned from vacation last month, several wonderful packages were waiting for me. One was this wonderful package o' goodies from my SP12 spoiler.

I posted a photo to the Ravelry SP12 discussion group but never managed to post it here.

Many of the goodies were accumulated by my spoiler while she was on vacation in Portland, Oregon. I just love how she thought about everything she picked. And you can tell she had fun shopping!

I am always touched the most when someone really takes the time to get to know me and send things they know I'd like. What an amazing gift that is.

One of the highlights is two cones of yarn she "made" herself. She picked colors I love and plied them together for me at yarnia in Portland. There's about 1,000 yards between the two skeins -- enough for a pretty ambitious project. What should I make, do you think?

What else was in the package? Tea, chocolate, sheepy soap, gingerbread mix, Honey Mead.... and more. All sorts of wonderful treasures.

Thanks so much, Secret Pal!

Show & Tell

2008-09-09T16:09:00.010-04:00

It's been a while since I posted photos of some of the things I've been making. So I guess it's time for a little Show & Tell.

As you can see, my love affair with sewing on paper continues. The new paper patchwork cards are themed: tea, knitting (made from recycled yarn/knitting catalogs), and Halloween/autumn. I made prototypes of them for various swaps and extras to sell in the shop.

What else? Several little rubber stamps with a Snail Mail theme. I'm hoping to do more stamps to sell as I have time.

I made a sister of the bag pictured for my swap partner in the "Starbucks and Yarn" swap. The fabric is coffee cups and coffee beans. This one's up for sale. Great for small knitting projects (like socks) or as a handbag!

Brilliante Blog

2008-09-09T15:05:00.003-04:00

A few days ago, Frances at homemadeoriginals nominated this blog for the Brilliante Blog award! I'm especially pleased because she has over 60 blogs listed as her favorites. I read her blog often -- she does a wonderful job of posting on a regular basis and making gorgeous knitted and sewn items for her Etsy shop.

Now it's my turn to nominate (tag) some of my favorites. This is a fun way to get recommendations of new blogs to watch....

Willowdale - visit Kelli's farm in Tasmania, complete with Billy the Goat, their new pig Juliet, and two cherubic toddlers

CoyoteCraft - Bean's wonderfully creative blog filled with sewing and such. Check out her recent tutorial on making kitchen hot pads.

Funky Finds - Jess has incredible taste. Let her help you find new places to spend your $$!

APL Creations - Amy is so talented and creative...

Polka Dot Cottage - Lisa is one of the most gifted colorists I've ever seen!

Orangette - Don't read this while hungry...

Planting and Purling - Country girl, Pamela, was my amazing "spoiler" for the SP11 swap. I love checking in with her blog to see what she's baking and what's currently on the needles.

So, if I listed your blog and you'd like to pass the award along to some of your favorites, here's what you need to do:

1) Add the logo of the award to your blog
2) Add a link to the person who awarded it to you
3) Nominate at least 7 other blogs
4) Add links to those blogs on your blog
5) Leave a message for your nominees on their blogs

Thanks, everyone!

Manic, And Belated, Monday

2008-09-09T11:46:00.006-04:00

If you could choose only two movies to watch ever again, what would they be?
Difficult question. "Love Actually," for sure. Charming, funny, sad... great actors. A second one, hmmmmm.... it's hard to pin down the last movie I'll ever see. Will I get tired of it? "Young Frankenstein," perhaps?

What have you found to be the best way to relieve tension?
Time alone. Hot tea. A hot bath. Knitting. Sitting with a cat on my lap. Hugging Winston.

If you went to a beach and it turned out to be a nude beach, would you stay and go swimming? Would you swim nude?
I would stay. I don't always swim when I go to the beach, but might. But, no, I would not go nude. Eeeek!

Manic Monday #132

2008-09-03T08:08:00.002-04:00

I know it's Wednesday... but isn't it better that I post than not? :)

If you were to name the one thing you have the most compassion for, what would it be?
Animals. Just to let you know, it's really hard to pick just one thing.

It's been said that, "The best things in life are free." Do you think this is true?
Yes. It certainly helps to have some money for basics and a few luxuries, but love, friendship, nature... all those things are free.

What is the most valuable thing you own?
My home.

Elk Lake

2008-08-25T08:56:00.007-04:00

I was doing so well... 11 posts in July, 17 in June.... then life got in the way. It started with Spa Day at the winery -- certainly the most labor-intensive thing we do. That spun almost directly into vacation.

Well, I'm back and ready to report on What I Did on My Summer Vacation.

Because of our trip along Route 66 in 2006 and finances and various other things, we hadn't gotten to the family cabin in Elk Lake, Ontario since 2005. That's crazy for us -- Tommy had been there every summer of his life up until then.

When you have a family business, it's hard to get a lot of family members together for vacation. But we were able to pack our car with my sister Holly and her two girls, Bob, me, Winston, and Holly's new mixed-Beagle puppy, Snoopy. 5 people, 2 dogs, and all the luggage.... whew!

Normally a 10 to 12 hour trip, with dogs that needed to be walked, this turned into 14 hours each way.

Elk Lake is a tiny logging town in northern Ontario, about 45 minutes west of the Quebec border. My grandmother and her sisters and parents homesteaded there in the early 20th century. The family still has the land where their house stood near Wabun Creek along the Montreal River, land across the street where they found silver, and the tiny log cabin in town where my great aunt Hazel lived right after she was married.

We all stay at the cabin -- it's cozy and part of our family's tradition. My great aunt Isabelle purchased it in the 1960s and added a small back addition with bathroom, laundry, and another tiny bedroom/alcove.

What do you do while you're there? Other than watching the Montreal River go by, we swim at the little town beach just below our cabin, pick wild blueberries, canoe, and visit various local attractions.

One of our favorites is Kap-Kig-Iwan, a little Provincial Park along the Englehart River with two gorgeous falls. You can hike to see the lower and upper falls, and as beautiful as it is, there's rarely anyone else there.

It was a lovely week. Gorgeous weather. Yummy blueberries.

And now we're back.... and I'll try to do better posting to my blog.

Blogaversary

2008-08-05T19:52:00.004-04:00

I just realized that I missed my Blogaversary (I know it's not a real word, but is this how you spell the made-up-word?), July 31.

A smidge over a year ago I started this blog. Yes, I was forced to do so (it was a requirement to join Secret Pal 11), but I've had fun with it over the year.

Here's to Year Two!

(Gorgeous cake by PinkCakeBox)

Manic Monday (er, Tuesday)

2008-08-05T19:37:00.004-04:00

I know -- it's not Monday. But I liked these questions and figured I'd post anyway.

Manic Monday #128

Using no more than 10 nouns, and ONLY nouns, describe yourself.
Mother, nurturer, artist, leader, female, cook, gardener, sister, friend...
(That was more difficult than I thought it would be -- I kept wanting to use adjectives.)

If you owned your own store, what would you sell?
I already do... I sell my sister's wonderful wine.

If you were to name the most comforting thing for you to hold in your hands, what would it be?
A hot cup of tea.

Knitting Dreams

2008-08-03T23:17:00.006-04:00

My SP12 spoiler asked for my thoughts about what I'm dying to knit -- a specific pattern, technique, etc. It's really an interesting and complicated question.

I never get as much time to knit as I'd wish, what with working more than full time, compulsively signing up for swaps, and trying to make new things for the Etsy shop. Not to mention the other aspects of real life... I love knitting -- I find it stimulating and relaxing at the same time. So my wish list seems to just get longer and longer and I don't have much time to get to it.

I also tend to do much of my knitting for gifts so that clouds the dreams a bit. But my family is usually happy to get whatever I give them...

Also, because I'm so busy, I tend to gravitate to simpler projects. They're easier to pick up and put down, and I can finish them pretty quickly. (I like to finish things because I have so many UFOs lying around right now!) But that doesn't mean that I only want to do quick and easy projects -- I'd love to do some larger, more complicated pieces as well.

In terms of patterns and project ideas:

I want to knit a sweater for Tommy. The last one I made for him was quite a few years ago when he was a little guy. Now that he's moved out (wah!) I don't have to worry about keeping it secret. He's interested in a Mrs. Weasley Christmas sweater, but I'm thinking about one that would be a bit more classic (while still young) in styling.
I'm working on a diet right now, and would love to make myself some sort of special sweater/jacket as a reward when I reach my goal. Right now I'm thinking about a 1950s style vintage trapeze/swing jacket, but I'll wait until I get close before I make a decision.
I'd also like to make some sort of intricate felted bag (see photo above)

Techniques:

I've been thinking about learning to knit cables for a long time. I thought it would be easier to take a class, but have never been able to find one that fits my schedule. My Summer of Yarn Love spoiler just sent me cable needles and a how-to book. I'm hoping to take them on vacation with me in a few weeks (one of my favorite places to knit).

Yarns:

Every day it seems like there are more and more gorgeous yarns available. I very much enjoy working with wool, but the softer or more out-of-the-ordinary natural fibers are the ones that really speak to me. I keep hearing about certain luxury fibers and would love to try anything like that. Especially if someone has experience with them and recommends them...

A few yarns I've heard about that I'd like to try someday:

Great Big Sea Silk (50% silk, 30% wool, 20% seacell)
There's lots of gorgeous hand-dyed yarn available nowadays. I bought a skein of Yarn Love's Marianne Dashwood for a swap partner recently. The colors were rich and complex and lovely. I'd like to try anything similar.
Any natural blends with cashmere and/or silk

I love gorgeous combinations of color! And, as much as I always list reds, sophisticated greens and blues as my favorites, I really like most colors. I'm not as interested in neons and blah pastels, but like pretty much everything else. I'd love some knock-your-socks-off-gorgeous colors...

Needles:

I very much prefer to work with circular needles. I'm hoping for a set of Knit Picks Harmony circulars for my birthday, but would love one or two of their singular circulars.

Does that help?

Time for the winner!

2008-08-01T22:39:00.003-04:00

And the winner is.....

Random Sequence Generator
Here is your sequence:

Timestamp: 2008-08-02 02:37:38 UTC

#20 - annasand22
Thanks to everyone who visited The Vintage Jewelry Box and took the time to comment! Now go buy something from her fabulous shop! :)

Friday Fill-In (#83)

2008-08-01T08:35:00.004-04:00

Friday Fill-In. I haven't done any in a few weeks...

*If I could travel back in time, I'd go to the "random" button on the time machine -- I love surprises.

*I am listening to "Morning Edition" on NPR.

*Somewhere, someone is thinking "Yay, I get a day off" (and it's me!).

*I'll always be someone who must produce artful things with my hands.

*And as for the weekend, tonight I’m looking forward to Tommie & Cortney visiting for dinner, tomorrow my plans include working and a birthday party in the evening for my parents and Sunday, I want to relax!

A Belated "Thank You"

2008-07-28T11:04:00.005-04:00

I received a wonderful package from Knit Picks right before I left on a business trip last week and didn't get a chance to acknowledge it.

The package was from my SP12 spoiler. She had it sent directly from the shop so I wouldn't see her return address... very tricky! (I like it!)

The box contained the book Shibori Knitted Felt, and six very feltable skeins of Knit Picks kettle-dyed Wool of the Andes. I took the book on the plane with me and loved pouring over the great ideas and photos. The yarn is in colors I love: Wine (dark red), Ivy (dark green), and Timber (rich chocolate brown).

What a great package.... thank so much!

Visit My Business Buddy & Enter to Win!

2008-07-17T23:45:00.004-04:00

During the month of July, the EtsyGreetings street team is working together with the JET (Etsy Jewelry) street team in a joint promotion. To celebrate, I'm running a contest!

To enter, you must visit The Vintage Jewelry Box, my creative and talented Business Buddy. Pick one of her gorgeous creations as your favorite and post about it here.

I will run the contest through July 31. On August 1, I will draw a winner from all the folks who commented and the winner will receive a selection of 4 of my notecards.

Tempted to purchase a pair of earrings or that fabulous "Green" Stamp bracelet? Well, now's the time to do it! We are running a Business Buddy special -- purchase an item from one of us and receive a 20% discount on an item from the other. Just message "Great things can happen" when you make your purchase!

Late breaking news: In addition to the 4 notecards, the winner will also receive a 50% off coupon from Jen @ The Vintage Jewelry Box/The Automat! It's good for either of her Etsy shops. Good luck!

SP12: Question of the Week #6

2008-07-16T23:15:00.003-04:00

What is your favorite type of project to take along on holiday/vacation?

I love to knit while on vacation, but figuring out what to bring is a real art. You want a project that's interesting, can be picked up and put down often, and lasts the right amount of time for the trip.

In terms of how much to bring, I've done it all -- brought way too much and way too little.

In the fall of 2006 Bob, Tommy, Winston, and I drove the length of Route 66 as our vacation. We drove to downtown Chicago and officially started at its beginning -- right across the street from the Art Institute. I brought lots and lots of knitting supplies with me. Gosh, two weeks on the road, I figured I'd knit and knit and knit.

But navigating along the old road required that I constantly study several Route 66 guides. It twists and turns constantly. I couldn't knit. So I carried all that yarn the length of Route 66 and back home again.

We try to visit my family's cabin in northern Ontario every summer. We all love it up there -- the air smells wonderful, we pick wild blueberries, canoe, bake bread, and relax. The perfect place to knit. But the first few times I brought knitting with me, I didn't bring enough. And there aren't a lot of yarn shops anywhere nearby. I need to bring more with me this year!

Friday's Feast

2008-07-11T22:33:00.004-04:00

Time for another Friday get-to-know-me post. This one is from Friday's Feast:

Appetizer

When was the last time you had your hair cut/trimmed? A couple of months ago. It's very much time again... I need to call for an appointment tomorrow!

Soup

Name one thing you miss about being a child. A summer filled with free time.

Salad

Pick one: butter, margarine, olive oil. 1) olive oil, 2) butter, never) margarine

Main Course

If you could learn another language, which one would you pick, and why? French, because we live so close to Canada.

Dessert

Finish this sentence: In 5 years I expect to be… I suspect my life will be pretty similar to what it is right now. But it'll be interesting to see!

A Mosaic of Me

2008-07-09T21:43:00.005-04:00

This game is making the rounds of various blogs. It's at its most entertaining when you're supposed to be doing something (like laundry) and do this instead...

Create your own by inputting your answers into the Search feature on Flickr and then copying and pasting the URLs into Big Huge Lab's Mosaic Maker.

The Questions:
1. What is your first name? Heather
2. What is your favorite food? chocolate
3. What high school did you go to? Redford High School
4. What is your favorite color? Sage green
5. Who is your celebrity crush? Colin Firth
6. Favorite drink? Earl Grey tea
7. Dream vacation? Scotland
8. Favorite dessert? Coffee ice cream
9. What you want to be when you grow up? Happy and loved
10. What do you love most in life? My family
11. One Word to describe you. Complex
12. Your flickr name: Winemakerssister

I think (looking at this) that it actually gives you a pretty good picture of me.

My Favorite Summertime Memories

2008-07-07T22:40:00.008-04:00

A current contest for the Summer of Yarn Love swap....

My favorite summertime memory spanned ages 8 or 9 through about 14. Girl Scout camp.

Each summer I'd spend two weeks at Girl Scout camp. Camp Metamora, near Metamora, Michigan.

I was one of those kids who lived year to year with camp as the highlight of my year. I completely understand all the camp movies where the kids were obsessed with summer camp.

But Girl Scout camp doesn't last all summer like the ones in the movies. It lasts just two weeks. But for 5 or 6 years, they were the best two weeks of my year.

I was the only girl from my troop to go to camp. No one else seemed interested. But I've always been pretty independent, and I never remember it bothering me to be there and not know anyone else. When I was littler I'd attach myself to one of the counselors. I think that was my way of handling being on my own.

Each summer we'd do basically the same things: swimming, boating, hiking, arts & crafts. As I got older, the "units" tended to concentrate on a big trip of some sort. One year we backpacked along the AuSable. Another year we canoed the Pere Marquette River.

Looking back, I'm not sure if I can pinpoint exactly why I loved summer camp so much. Maybe part of it was being on my own. And I just loved Girl Scouts -- learning the skills, earning badges, cooking over the open fire, making new "best" friends. Lovely memories of summers long ago.

Fred & George

2008-07-06T10:22:00.007-04:00

No they're not redheads. But otherwise they could pass for smaller, fuzzier versions of the Weasley twins.

They look so cute and harmless in this photo. But when you get this many littermates together -- and they feel comfortable and safe -- they become quite the home terrorists.

The kittens been with us for exactly two weeks today. When I found out that my friend Kate had two male kittens available for adoption, we put them on order and waited until they were old enough to leave mama safely.

I'd been wanting a little boy kitten to keep Henry company ever since his brother Alex died from FIP earlier this year. He's been so lonely ever since -- wanting a playmate. None of the other cats will play with him.

And, of course, when you get one kitten I believe you should always get two. Thus Fred (far right) and George (far left).

You noticed that there's three? Yep. Tommy claimed the third from Kate. He and Cortney are taking him with them when they move to their apartment (near school and work) in a few weeks. Tucker. He's the lightest one... in the middle.

So, back to Fred and George (and Tucker, currently on loan). They attack my dinner, constantly sit on the power button of my laptop and turn it off, climb my bare legs to get into my lap, and are amazing little purring balls of fluff. Tiny fluffy balls of joy.... with sharp edges.

Business Buddies

2008-07-04T22:30:00.004-04:00

During the month of July, the EtsyGreetings team is working together with JET (the Etsy Jewelry team) to promote each other's businesses.

I approached Jen at thevintagejewelrybox because I loved her shop. I really wanted to work with someone whose work I admired (and lusted after).

Her work is original, creative, and very, very wearable. I just love this series she's created with beautifully conditioned vintage Lucite beads. She pairs them with simple satin finish ear wires and describes them as "simply modern." I find them classic and creative with a wonderful Mid-Century feel. And, of course, I love Mid-Century!

In her profile, she says "Handmade Jewelry Inspired by Vintage Modern Design, Art Inspired Jewelry, Artist made Jewelry and Art Jewelry. What is old was once new. Modern design of the 20th century, i.e. Minimalism, The Machine Age, Bauhaus and Art Deco periods are the inspiration. My hope is to design a visually pleasing piece inspired by one of these eras. Jewelry is the vehicle which expresses what inspires me and it is quite satisfying when my work becomes inspiring to the wearer."

Stop by soon and enjoy the eye candy.

SP12: Question of the Week #4

2008-07-03T10:06:00.005-04:00

1) What yarn (that you don’t have/haven’t used) would make your stash “complete”?
My stash is a constant work in progress. Unfortunately I'm a collector (that's a nice term for it... perhaps "pack rat" is more appropriate) and building a yarn stash really taps into that. So the answer to the question is... my stash will never be "complete."

2) What yarn do you never want to be without?
A good basic 100% wool (or wool + other feltable fibers) that felts well. Brown Sheep Lamb's Pride. Cascade 220. Anything like that. And, of course, in a range of colors....