Crochet Muscle Strain Remedies, Anyone?

Since February, I've been beginning to work with worsted weight cotton again in earnest.  I have to get my inventory up for the summer market and events!  And boy, do my fingers hurt.  It's not only my digits - I'm finding that my elbows and shoulders are taking a beating, too.

What to do?  I am alternating the heavier items with lace scarves and berets in lighter weight organic cotton, bamboo and acrylic blends to relieve some of the strain.  My boys give really good neck and shoulder massages, for which I am immensely grateful.  A parafin dip machine may be in my near future.  Yoga stretches help, too.

What do you do to maintain your crochet muscles and relieve overwork?  Suggestions welcome!

What's in a Name?

I've been thinking a lot about names over the past few months, particulary business names, because I have wanted to change my business name to reflect my vision for its future.  Names are so important! Did I want to be jingly or catchy, or use my own name as the business identity? Did I want to incorporate crochet in the name or other descriptive words?  I certainly didn't want to sack my "baby" with a name that others might make find insulting, flippant or amateurish, or, dear me, easy to convolute into some derogatory variation.  Being primarily a hooker, the possibilities were endless!

I tried out a lot of ideas before making a final decision, but it's a new year and time for a change, so I've chosen Linda Gibbs Handmade (no more crafty nature lady, although the moniker will always fit :D).  The new business name will allow me to continue to evolve with handmade items in many directions, continuing with crochet and possibly expanding to include beading, sewing or other fun pursuits that catch my fancy.  As the business grows and my need to employ other handcrafters and designers emerges, I can still keep this name and be true to my passion.  So Linda Gibbs Handmade I am!  Now to change all those links... 

Have you run across any interesting shop names lately?

Happy Holidays!

I am feeling so very blessed to have had so much support this year, from customers, fellow artisans, friends and family.  I wish each and every one of you a fun, safe, rejuvenating and enriching holiday season!

New Designs and Changing Seasons

I've just designed my own wrist cuffs for Captain America and Spiderman fans! I'm very excited about them. My farmer's market face painting neighbor paints incredible renditions of these superheroes on kids' faces each week, so I thought I'd try something to complement her work. Making some pretty wrist cuffs, too, because I just can't resist the girly.

I've been working all summer to create cool designs for hotter weather, so I'm finding it difficult to start working on hats, scarves, gloves and holiday items.  As a customer, I always find it annoying that retailers rush the seasons so - with Halloween and Christmas already on the shelves!  But as a crafter, I'm finding I really need to start way ahead of time to make sure I have enough inventory for the busy season of online buying and craft shows. 

What makes you crazy about or lights you up in anticipation of the changing seasons?!

OMG My Market Bags Are Selling!

OK, so all of you who follow me or check my past posts know of my struggle with selling my market bags.  This summer at the weekly farmer's market I decided to hang them more prominently in my booth.  I bought two shepherd's hooks that clamp onto a table and hung the bags between them on an old expandable curtain rod I had laying around.  The first week, nada.

Then I decided to give away a paperback book with any purchase of a market bag, addressing two challenges I face:  1) selling the market bags and 2)getting rid of paperback books I've read that are cluttering up my home (good reads, though, in good condition).  Well - that did the trick to bring a little attention to the bags.  I don't think the book giveaway necessarily was the biggest incentive, but the "today's special" sign and the reference to the beach is what I think got people looking more closely.  I sold 4 bags that day!  Success :D!

Last week I did not offer a free book, but turned the display so that the end of the display faced the sidewalk, allowing passersby to see the front of the end bag.  And I sold 3 more bags!  What a relief!  One woman could not decide between two of the bags, and said she could only afford one (good feedback on price).  She returned later in the day saying the vendor further down didn't have the produce she needed, so she spent that money on the second bag!

These bags being the inspiration for my going into business, I am vindicated at last!  Now to restock...

Making New Friends

This week I explored some commercial store sites looking for employment/career opportunity tips and ended up making some great new friends!  I opened an account in the JoAnn Fabrics community portion of their website, requested joining a few groups, and sent a hello message to all members in one of them: Crochet Addicts Anonymous.  So far I've gotten very friendly greetings back from so many great folks who I feel will become wonderful people to know.  And they totally understand my crochet fetish - the best part!!

Have you explored any other places to make friends on the web who also crochet and understand the compulsion?  Do share!

There's A Lot of Gray in Being Green - Part Two

More questions to consider when trying to be environmentally friendly with crochet:

If I order fiber from places too far for me to drive to, is it shipped separately, or can I have it delivered to my local store combined with a regulary delivery?
Some yarns I can only find online where I live.  Take Caron's Simply Soft Eco or Red Heart EcoWays.  None of my local craft stores (Michael's, Walmart and JoAnn's Fabrics - all big box stores) carry acrylic yarns with  recycled content.  My Michael's does carry two lines of organic cottons in limited colors, and non-organic USA-made Lily worsted weight cotton yarn, but no other yarns with recycled, repurposed, recovered or organic content.  Thankfully, more stores are now offering to ship individual product orders to the nearest store instead of directly to my home.  This way, it can be combined with shipments that would be going to the store anyway, requiring no separate truck use to get it to my house specifically.  Then, I can pick it up when it is convenient for me, and when I'm combining my own trips around town. 

Does the yarn producer incorporate ecofriendly practices and materials into its labeling and packaging?
I look for yarns that have simple labeling and low-impact packaging. More and more frequently, I'm noticing labels produced with a high percentage of post-consumer recycled paper content, as well as labels that indicate the paper is made from sustainably managed forest resources. I truly appreciate that producers are doing this, and letting me know by printing it on their labels! I'd love for them to tell me they're using soy/veggie ink for printing, too...

to be continued...