Pillows!

What a week it has been!  I managed to get a ton of stuff done like this pillow that I has started last week.  First pic is a front view, 2nd is the back side.  Its an envelope style cover.

I'm so pleased with the way this came out.  As I had hoped, I was able to get this done in time for the Maker Expo on Saturday and it featured prominently in my display.

This was really one of the first times I did a display like this and I was pretty pleased.  The response was pretty good.  From my point of view, getting the word out is almost as important as making a sale when you're this early in the game.   I think I was able to make some good connections with fairly local places that host classes too, which I hadn't expected.

Thanks to some extra time I put in earlier in the week, I had custom order listings live in my shop for Memory Pillows and T-shirt Memory Rugs.  I still need to make one for custom Memory Throw Quilts but that didn't stop me from putting together a flyer for those three items to give out at the Maker Expo.  The construction of this did not go smoothly, my printer and my laptop decided they hated each other.  My son saved the day without lecturing me about how I should have gotten this done sooner, a song I've sang to him many times.  I was very grateful.

The plan was to make two of the pillows and I am thrilled to report that the second pillow got finished yesterday.  So many people this weekend talked about how much they loved the pockets on the pillows and how they would store their remotes in them.  I honestly hadn't considered them for any practical use, I just liked the way they looked but it does seem like a great idea.

Looking to the week ahead, I'm not sure how much sewing I'll be able to get done for the shop.  I've got some very unglamorous mending projects to get done, including sewing new elastic on my son's bed sheet, fixing buttons that are falling off a sweater, fixing a button band on another sweater the way it should have been done in the first place and hemming a shower curtain.  My big shop goal for the week is to get the custom memory quilt listing live.  

Have a great week!

What Inspires Me

This past week was very productive.  I was able to get at least 8 bags and liners cut out.  If you've been following me on Instagram, you've already seen these but if not, enjoy!  The floral fabric and the owl fabric are the liners.



I was thinking a lot about what inspires me to create.  In the case of these bags, I love the way the lining fabric peeks out a bit.  I wanted to find a way to use these fabrics as liners, especially the owls.

Another project I started working on this week that I'm finding really inspiring is a set of throw pillows.  They are clearly a memory project as they are being made from strips of clothing.

I find that I really enjoy planning and creating projects like this.  I like the challenge of fitting the disparate pieces together in a way that celebrates memories.  This will become a simple envelope pillow case.  Here's how it's turning out so far.

I think this type of project will become a special order option in my shop.  I'm heading to the CCLD Maker Expo this weekend and I'll be bringing this pillow.  I'm curious to see how it is received. 

Mondays are Hard!

I confess, I could barely roll myself out of bed this morning to make coffee.  There was no way I could blog given that I could barely form a sentence.  We got in very late last night after a trip to the Adirondacks and it just took me forever to settle down and get to sleep.  As a result, I've spent the day operating in a bit of a daze.

This week my schedule is bit strange as I'm covering for a coworker.  As a result, I'm going into work late tomorrow, leaving early Wednesday and working Saturday.  I'm going to have to be super organized to get  everything done that I need to get done.

I'm really happy with the amount of t-shirt yarn I currently have in my shop so I think it is time to switch gears and start working on other things.  Project bags are next on my agenda along with some zipper pouches.  The plan is to use denim and upholstery fabric to create these.  I've got two very specific designs in mind.  Now if only I can avoid distractions!

Ultimately, I need a better answer when people ask "what can you make with your t-shirt yarn?"  Here's the interesting thing, I don't make much with the relatively thin, bulky weight t-shirt yarn that I sell.  This thickness of t-shirt yarn evolved out of two other makers' requests.  When I make rugs   I use yarn that is about 3 times thicker.  Rather than re-invent the wheel, I'm going to head over to Ravelry and do a little research.  I'd like to come up with some answers that are better than, "Let me show you what my friend Kristina made..."  (Not that I don't love showing off the beautiful things she makes.  In fact, you should stop reading this post and go visit her website.  She's amazing, right?)

So my plan ultimately centers around creating a list of patterns that work well with my t-shirt yarn.  I do have some test knitting that I had done on slippers that I was really pleased with.  Maybe it's almost time to create a Saved by Kate Ravelry group so we can share ideas or host knit alongs or look for test knitters?

Actually that brings me to an interesting thing I've noticed.  Blogs and Ravelry seem to be interactive in a more meaningful way than Instagram or Facebook.  I can't tell you how many times I've posed a question on both Instagram and Facebook and only been met with likes rather than responses.  I suspect people often don't get beyond the image to the words.  I must ponder this as I decide if I need another thing to keep track of.  Thoughts?

I leave you with this lovely picture of my latest entry into my shop, Desert Sun, a colorway hand dyed by me.

Better Late Than Never!

I confess that this past week very much matches my description of the prior week.  I'm just pushing through to get as much done as I possibly can.

I've enlisted the help of my husband with some of the t-shirt yarn making process.  This has added a rather comical element to things.  I confess, I'm a control freak.  Currently, he is only allowed to stretch the t-shirt yarn and hopefully, one day, he'll learn that it doesn't require Herculean strength.  A gentle tug will do the job nicely.  In the interim, you might see some smaller skeins in the shop every now and then.  Like this one.

I've also begun to schedule some events which is both gratifying, because people want to see my stuff, and terrifying, because people are going to see my stuff!!  It really seemed like it was time to take this next step.  The first event I will be attending is a Maker Expo at the end of May.  This is not a selling event, although you can take orders.  It is billed more as a demonstration event.  More on my plans for that next week.

I've completed cutting and almost completed stretching the dyed batch of t-shirt yarn thanks to some help from my hubby.  I'm hoping to have that in the shop by the end of the week.  Actually, I'm hoping to have it in the shop by Thursday but I'll settle for the end of the week.  Looking forward, I hope to transition to working on some bags in the near future but it might not happen before next week.  Also there's the rug recipe to finish working on.

In other news, the debacle that is my workspace is slowly evolving and I do mean slowly.  Its hard to find time to organize while you're busy making so instead I've been moving stuff from side to side, from flat surface to other flat surface.  Jim took pity on me this weekend and moved stuff out of the room to help me get a jumpstart.  It's much improved but much of it is still in the hallway.  At least now, as I make  things I can put them where they belong and there's several clear flat surfaces to rest my coffee mug on.

There's a really delicate balance going on in my world right now as I juggle teaching yoga, working at the sewing shop, running my Etsy shop and family life.  My hours at have increased which is great given my husband's current lack of a paycheck (thanks Verizon, you greedy bastards) but its also taking its toll a bit.  I'm working hard to set reasonable goals for myself.

So with that in mind, I'm going to step away from the computer and go hang out with my hubby, watch an old movie and knit on my Tanhouse Brook Shawl which I am loving!  It's hard to see shawl pics when they're still on the needles but here's a peek.

See you next week!