Here’s a sneak peek at the newest table runner I’m working on. I switched up the stitch pattern this time and decided to do a chevron lace design, which has turned out really cool. It seems like I finally cut the “yarn” thin enough, and on top of everything, I’m loving this color (which came from one of J’s old t-shirts, pictured below). What do you think?
Lately, I’ve been spending my time cutting old t-shirts into thin, continuous strips, to the point where I think I’m getting a blister from the scissors on the knuckle of my right middle finger. Yow. The “yarn” I’m making, though, I’ve used to create some new homewares for the shop. Here are two of my latest creations, lacy knitted table runners that I think turned out well. Thoughts? Suggestions?
I’ve made a couple of Etsy sales lately, so I’m doing a lot of packaging today for a trip to the post office later. This usually involves lining a tag with pencil, writing the relevant info with Sharpie, and then erasing the lines. But today I decided to do a little something different. Why waste time with lines when I can just eyeball it? My first try at a new, non-lined, time-saving tag also included a sparrow doodle, which I think I like. What do you think?
(Subtitled: I’ll scratch your back if you scratch mine.)
One of my favorite things about Etsy is the way sellers will come together to promote each other and get the word out about each other’s work. This is the whole principle behind Etsy treasuries, which individual members can curate in order to display items that they find particularly beautiful or interesting. Sometimes, featuring someone or saying a kind word about his or her creations will even result in the pleasant surprise of a thank-you gift. I was lucky enough to receive two such surprises this past week.
In my last entry, I mentioned that one of the Etsy treasuries I curated made it to the front page of the website. Well! The lovely lady who alerted me to that fact, Melissa of NewFashionedWhispers, was one of the artists in said treasury and wanted to send me a little something to thank me for featuring her. My special somethings arrived a few days ago. Aren’t these adorned bobby pins beautiful?
Hair pins from NewFashionedWhispers
She also sent these pretty earrings. Thank you, Melissa!
Earrings from NewFashionedWhispers
Go check out Melissa’s shop for more of her gorgeous jewelry and accessories. Everything has such a romantic, dreamy, almost vintage feeling to it. You won’t be disappointed!
I also found in my mailbox a little thank-you gift from Kathleen of BusPaintings, whom I featured in a treasury a while back. She sent me a nice set of her Live Oak or a Shade Tree Notecards, and if you know anything about my slight obsession with birds and trees, you know I love them. Look how green and cheerful!
Notecards from BusPaintings
The notecards arrived in a package with the story of Kathleen’s paintings, which came out of her views from Capital Metro Bus #983 on her commutes from the urban part of Austin, Texas to the more rural hill country of Leander, Texas.
The BusPaintings story
Thank you, Kathleen! Head over to her shop and take a look at her other work, which includes original oil and watercolor paintings, art trading cards and supplies, and of course, notecards.
Yesterday, one of the artists that I featured in my “Someday I’ll fly away…” treasury alerted me to the fact that we made the front page! I didn’t get the message in time to see it in real time, but Craft Cult is amazing and keeps screenshots of past front pages. Cool, huh?
Someday I'll fly away...
Plus, with Etsy‘s new Treasury East feature, this and the other collections I’ve been curating recently will never expire. Awesome.
I just need to stop saying I’ll post more often, because it never works out and I always end up just looking like an idiot. So yeah. I’ll post when I post.
I’ve been working on some new stuff for my Etsy shop this summer. Right now, I’m getting a line of recycled cotton coasters up, in lots of different reversible designs and color combinations. For example, here are the Love Coasters:
Love Coasters in Almond Marl & Chocolate
Other designs include peace signs, the recycle logo, and a modification of my autumn tree pattern (that I originally created for this scarf). So far, I’ve sold a set of these:
Tree Coasters in Blueberry & Chocolate
I’m also generating some new ideas for other household and decor type projects that might sell better in the warm months than my standard fare of scarves and hats. As I’m currently unemployed for the summer, I’ve been able to treat Etsy as a full-time job; it’s been great. Now if I can just generate some sales, I’ll be right…
So, I was featured in a couple of treasuries this week, and I’m really digging on both of them. The first is from KisforCalligraphy and the second is from SolDelSur. Thanks!
Both of these sellers have amazing shops of their own, so make sure to check them out. (I’m especially loving KisforCalligraphy’s Vintage Atlas Thank You Envelope Seals and SolDelSur’s Environmentally Friendly Christmas Tree Decorations).
Les bons onguents (KisforCalligraphy)
Featured artists:
sparrownestknits
slidesideways
johnnyandstacie
anagrampress
NaturesCabinet
porterness
ME2Designs
leandogpottery
beehivekitchenware
twogreenchickens
somethingshidinghere
ButlerandMaid
My latest favorites in black (SolDelSur)
Featured artists:
sparrownestknits
FirebirdJewellery
fiberstory
urbandesign
heiditheartist
rosamurillo
iheartfink
fieldofroses
morewarped
soradesigns
NiuTaller
agmode
I know SolDelSur‘s treasury uses black and red instead of black and orange, but it still puts me in the Halloween mood for some reason. Speaking of which, Happy Halloween to everyone!
So, I realize that this probably sounds like I’m tooting my own horn here, but… screw it. I’m going to toot my own horn for a hot minute.
I was featured in the Etsy Storque yesterday!
Translation for those of you who are all, “what’s that?” — The Storque is the blog section of Etsy, which posts daily with sweet finds centered around a certain theme. This post is also sent out as an email to everyone on Etsy’s mailing list (read: a lot of people), so if you’re in it, it’s amazing (free) publicity. So, yes. Awesome. Yesterday’s post, Baby, It’s Cold Outside, was all about warm, fuzzy, knitted and crocheted accessories, and it featured my Modern Stripes Scarf. Clearly, I’m beyond excited. Thanks, Etsy admins. You rule.
Also, I’m currently in this gorgeous treasury by Etsy seller EfiaFair (who, incidentally, does some great stuff herself: “spats, scarves, and other funsies,” in her words; check her out). Thank you, Efia!!
Screenshot links to actual treasury
Featured artists:
phydeaux
soradesigns
brightpirate
sparrownestknits
khphillips
simplydoodles
honeytree
tlwoldc
2dy4
Bellota26
KisforCalligraphy
hollystalder
[/tooting of own horn]
Thanks for bearing with me, friends. I’m hoping to post again soon with my vegetarian chili recipe. It’s seriously delicious, so stay tuned!
Here’s a collection I just put together and posted on Etsy’s Treasury West. It’s been a while since I curated a treasury, so it’s nice to be back. Aren’t these items lovely?
October Orchid
Featured artists:
lauratrevey
katarinakri
spiralstone
beadediris
Nomsa
ThePaperAddict
OrkydDesigns
findingfabulous
mariiam
2BellesBeads
SpringtreeRoad
elletrain
Okay, so cowls. I know that (a) they’re probably a bit over-rated and (b) I’m way late jumping on this train, but damn. They’re like fatty knitted necklaces that keep your neck parts warm, make your head look kinda small, and don’t require extra energy expenditure through wrapping. How can you not love this??
If you’re not convinced, just look at these. Just look! Bad. Ass.
Photos link to item listings. These are all from Etsy (duh).
Large Bubble Cowl in Pink Ice (ohashleylove)
Textured Cowl in Kelly Green (YesJess)
Meaford XL Moss Cowl in Creme (yarnovermovement)
The Ultimate Combo in Barley (Yokoo)
Large Warmer in Charcoal Gray (ozetta)
Chenille Black Elegance Cowl (swakdesigns)
Kaleidoscope Circle Scarf in Olive & Lime (MoshiMoshiDesigns)
And finally, an extra thumbs-up for the man cowl. Yes.
Crunchy Cowl in Light Blue (Urbanknit)
Cowl Neck Warmer in Navy & Citron (trucksandpearls)
For me, the bigger the better. I like them in ridiculous sizes that make you look like you’re in a Tim Burton movie, all out of proportion. What about you?
