The Gift Within the Gift

This Christmas, my lovely sister-in-law, Ruthie, sent me a delicious skein of yarn, made with fine merino wool, cashmere and silk, and dyed a deep, rich, garnet red.  This yarn is just dreamy.  Soooo soft and warm.  She stipulated that it was to be made into something for me - a treat!

You'd think that I would know exactly what I would want to make.  Well, no.  Especially lately.  I've been having these creative voids these days - a combination of burnout after the busy holiday crafting season and cabin fever, I think.  Mostly I've spent a lot of time groping this yarn, trying to get a feel (literally) for what it might want to be.

One thing I know:  I want this yarn next to my skin a lot, for sure.  Hat, scarf, cowl, mitts, socks, some kind of shoulder wrap?  Lacey or solid?  What stitch pattern(s)?  Dimensions?  Use a pattern already written or create my own?  Use the yarn alone or add in other yarns?  Add beading?  Fringe?  Ribbon?  Oh, the possibilities!!

The design process can be overwhelming. And yet...

It strikes me that the real gift I have received here isn't just a skein of beautiful yarn.  I've been given the gift of endless possibility and the opportunity to uniquely express myself.  I've been given the gift of another's confidence in my creative ability.  Best of all, I've been given the gift of having people in my life who understand that, for me, a simple skein of yarn means so much.  

Experimenting with Fair Isle Using Tapestry Crochet

This winter I'm determined to try at least a few of the techniques I have on my "to do" list, amassed over the past three years.  January 2013 has been Fair Isle month for me, having found a book called 200 Fair Isle Motifs: A Knitter's Directory by Mary Jane Mucklestone while browsing the bookstore at the end of last year.  The book contains wonderful instruction about all aspects of Fair Isle knitting, plus color photos and graph diagrams of 200 patterns, which can be easily transfered to crochet.

This type of color designing has also allowed me to try tapestry crochet - a method of carrying the unused color thread inside the stitches of the color being used, so that the back of the fabric contains no loose threads.  A two-fer!!

Fair Isle knitting is said to have originated in the Shetland Islands of Scotland, which are actually located closer to Norway than Scotland.  Traditional Fair Isle knitting patterns were made with various shades of fine wool spun from Shetland sheep.  Alternating multi-color patterns typify the Fair Isle design.  Usually, a smaller border-like pattern is alternated with a larger multi-color pattern. 

I started simply with a base and accent color, trying out tapestry crochet as I went along and keeping the color changes straightforward (see the teal and white pattern below).  Crocheting this way requires a lot of patience and untwisting of yarns as you progress!  Then I began working in border patterns with shapes.

So far, I'm proud to show you what I've done - please tell me what you think and feel free to share your own attempts, if you've tried this, too!

My First Model and Print Ad!

Sometimes I forget to get the word out about what I'm trying to do.  Thankfully, I have good friends who remember me!  Recently, one of these friends worked out a rather complex barter deal that led to her daughter modeling my work for a print ad in a regional business magazine!  I'm very grateful, and excited for me, the model and my friend - a triumph of collaboration :D. 

Now... to flesh out that marketing plan...

Historic Venue Great for A Market

This is my second fall as a craft vendor on Wednesdays in the historic Paddock Arcade in downtown Watertown, New York.  If you haven't stopped in to take a look at the inside of this building, not to mention the market on Wednesdays, you really should.  I so look forward each week to working with such a great group of people in this beautful place.

As I understand it, the Paddock Arcade is the nation's first and oldest continuously operating indoor shopping mall.  Its condition has suffered ups and downs over the years, but it is definitely in an up cycle right now, and it is decorated beautifully for the holidays!  Businesses in the Arcade include a newly opened gourmet sandwich shop, a beauty salon combined with a bar (genius idea, IMHO!), an art and antiques shop, a bike repair shop, a media marketing business, an all-faiths emporium, a casual sit-down lunch restaurant (serving dinner now Thursday, Friday and Saturday), and a tavern with a seemingly endless martini menu!  Next month, a cake and coffee shop will open that features European cake recipes and decorating.

Every Wednesday, mid-October to just before Christmas, even more is offered to customers when vendors set up for the weekly market in the center hallway.  On these days customers can also find homemade baked goods, original artwork, handpainted note cards, tie-dyed clothing and footwear, recycled sweater mittens, wine, flavored popcorn, jewelry made from antique solid silver forks, knives and spoons, Amish baskets, executive pens, my hand crocheted accessories (of course), and more at the Arcade!

Being a part of the Paddock Arcade's vendor community has been such a pleasure, and I hope you'll stop in to say hello sometime :D.

http://www.facebook.com/PaddockArcadeFallMarket

Linda Grows A Craft Business

This summer sure flew by!  With little to no rainy market days here (drought), I found myself mighty busy on a regular basis.  In August, I expanded my enterprise from one steady market day a week to three.  This meant three 10 hour days in a row, counting driving, setup, selling, takedown and followup administration.  It nearly killed me, but it was also lots of fun meeting all those new kindred spirits selling their wares and making new customer friends!

On 'at home' days I worked on my online shop, researched marketing and business stuff, crocheted like crazy to make new inventory and restock, and worked my other job as resident house tidier, taxi driver for teens, and minder for my resident elderly and very spry mother-in-law.  OK, I also spent a bit of time on Facebook, but maintaining and cultivating those relationships and keeping an all-important presence online are important business tasks, people!

Now we're in the middle of the holiday craft fair schedule and I can hardly believe it's here already!  I'm out there every Wednesday at a historic indoor market in my small city until just before Christmas, and have set up at two one-day weekend events so far.  Three more events and six Wednesdays to go before the after-holiday lull, when I'll have time to breath and test out all the new designs I've been wanting to try!

Iced Tea In Many Forms

What's your favorite summer drink?  Mine is a nice, tall, unsweetened very cold iced tea.  I try to have at least one of these every day - it's my morning coffee, if you will.  My son gave me a reusable insulated cup from Starbucks that I take there every day to fill with this marvelous refreshing beverage.  Sometimes  I sit inside or on the outside patio and sketch, read, or work out new product ideas in my head.  Or watch the clouds and people.  In any case, savoring that iced tea and a little "me" time usually sets me up for a good, productive day.

Here's a treasury on Etsy I made - an ode to my favorite drink:

http://www.etsy.com/treasury/NTMzNzkwMXwyNzIyODQzNTky/iced-tea-party?index=7

Red Fox Inspirations

Last evening, my family and I went to a favorite vantage point to see the supermoon come into view.  Getting out of the car, we noticed a rare and wondrous sight:  a mother red fox nursing her six kits!!  Enthralled, delighted and blessed was how I felt.  The kits stuck around and played while keeping a wary eye on us.  What a treat! I was able to get off a few shots with my nifty camera extended to its maximum zoom:

I'm thinking of designing something with the incredibly rich color combinations of red fox fur.  Maybe a capelet or hat...  or a set!