Creating and Pondering

It's been an exciting couple of weeks on the yarn island. The amount of custom pieces is growing, along with my exposure. And, so lovely, as of Tuesday, Signed & Numbered in Salt Lake carries some of my yarny goodness. A big thanks to Shauna, the manager, for that one!

I'm still waiting- and by waiting, I mean checking my email every ten minutes- to hear if I have a spot at Craft Lake City for a second year. I already have a list of what I'm bringing. Yes, there will be gnomes...

Today is the first day of my mini-vacation, but I'm having trouble relaxing. It feels very strange to just sit here. I've poked around the intertubes, thought about teaching lessons again, and almost made a second, prettier list of what is going to Craft Lake. I seem to have forgotten how to do nothing.

Sigh...

For those of you (imaginary) readers who don't live around Salt Lake, there's a pretty good arts and crafts scene evolving here. I've been very surprised and humbled by some of the things I've seen. It makes me want to try harder. That being said, I'm bumping up against that big question that all artists and crafters come upon at some point- should I make this my main form of income? I can kind of see how it would look, what I would have to do, but I don't want to take that plunge on a "kind of."

I should come up with a business plan. Hey, isn't that kind of like a list? I like lists...

While you ponder my addiction to lists, turn your attention to today's picture- a blue and white baby owl, who you can pick up at Signed & Numbered on 21st and 21st!

The Wire

I can't stop playing with wire. Cancel that, I don't want to stop playing with wire. It's so easy! My fingers itch to make something with it every day. Want a good tutorial?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QZMh1YqX8GE

Carla will show you how, and if you're like me, also make you slap yourself for not trying it sooner. Soon, your fingers will be tarnished and your yarn will miss you. No foolin'. Last night's project was this beaded bracelet, which turned out so cute that I may have to keep it for myself.

Happy hooking!

Wire Day

I figured out how to crochet with wire today. And beads, obviously. I should say, I figured it out this afternoon, and I have spent the last six hours making bracelets. I think I may need an intervention. How did I not do this before?

I've had a slew of new ideas lately, and it seems that this has overtaken everything.

Seriously. Intervention. Get this wire out of my hands.

Etsy Update-o-rama

My husband, who is a computer genius-type, helped me create a new banner for my Etsy page today. Well, I should say, I told him what I wanted, and he made it. Until you can crochet intertube stuff, I will need help. I also took a slew of new pictures, like the one above, which may be my favorite, and listed some new dolls.

Let's sit back now and see what happens, shall we? What do you think- does it look good? I think it does.

New Directions

I've been applying for the next round of craft shows, and one in particular is sticking in my craw. This one has turned me down, saying my stuff isn't unique enough. That really bugs me. Who got to decide what was unique? If it was something a bit more constructive, like "we already have seven crocheters" or "we're not into jellyfish" that I could understand. The way I was turned down just makes me cross-eyed. Uniqueness, or lack thereof, has been decided by a committee.

So, on that note, I'm shifting gears in my crochet journey. I've been working on and off on a book, I've FINALLY discovered how to take better pictures for my Etsy shop, and I have some delicious ideas for some new patterns. In short, I'm realizing I need to stop gauging my success by whether or not I get into craft shows.

So I sat down and made a unicorn. Unicorns make everything better, right?

The Funk Is Over

I've been spinning my wheels with crocheting this year, and I think the funk is ending.

WOOOOO!!!!

I've had a slew of ideas and inspiration overtake me, and now, as soon as I'm finished bloggety-blogging, I may be flipping some coins to decide the next project. I finished my latest project today, and I will also be finishing the elusive dragon today as well.

There have been quite a few articles making the rounds about afghans lately, and I have heard the call and delved into the yarn stash to make a few stacks of granny squares for an afghan. I think making an afghan is the very best way to clean out your yarn when all those bits and half skeins start to take over. It doesn't cost much (hardly anything, really), and it's a good gift or a nice profit if you decide to sell it.

On that note, I present to you my chameleon!

Arts & Crafts Season is Upon Us!

The winter funk is leaving me, and now it's time to apply for some craft show goodness.

Spent the morning applying for things, squaring things away, and now....I wait. For those of you who don't know me, I missed the part of growing up where you develop patience. There is a more than likely chance that I will vibrate out of my skin with anticipation before I find out if I got into any shows.

I tend to equate getting into shows with being accepted as a crafter/artist type. Seeing as how I've only been in a handful, my feelings of acceptance are still a bit shaky. I shouldn't feel that way, but it's like..applying for school, but I don't want to jump off anything if I don't get in. I occassionally want to lay down my hooks and find a new hobby...I heard stamp collecting is still a thing...

So, I will be making a concerted effort to not worry myself sick, drive myself nuts, and every time the waiting starts to get the better of me, I'll go ride my bike somewhere.

While I wait? Makin' a dragon...