Gwendolyn's Gifts

Guess who's back?!?! Or is she?

2010-04-07T13:32:00.002-04:00

Does a blog still exist if there is no author to write it? Or no readers to view it?

Apparently this poor little blog still has a valid site...so I guess it still exists to some degree. I have recently been lamenting about how I miss blogging. Granted, I barely have time to take a deep breath so I'm not sure why blogging seems like a viable choice to commit time to but I wanted to get back into to it.

Since I don't even remember the last time I blogged I guess I will give a brief update...

-I will be graduating with my Bachelor's Degree in Marketing with a concentration in Information Management in May.

-I have been interning since October.

-I have not knit a single stitch in MONTHS.

So with these developments (particularly the last one), what can I blog about? I thought about sharing my job hunting adventures...but hopefully my job hunt will be short-lived. I thought about writing poetry again...but they've never been great and I like keeping them to myself. I thought about sharing family life...but that seems too personal. So...where does this leave me?

The truth is....I don't know. I am doing some brainstorming. I hope that I can come up with an idea that 1-is interesting to both myself and some readers and 2-is a commitment I can keep.

So here's to blogging again...Keep your fingers crossed!

Very Sad indeed...

2009-07-07T15:05:00.003-04:00

Wow....a blog post....from me??!?! This is a surprise isn't it!

Announcement:
The past several months have been filled with school and hope for the future. With this sense of hope, and perhaps some healthy ambition, it is with great sadness (and yet great excitement) that I announce the official closing of Gwendolyn's Gifts as a business.

In September of 2007, I was blessed to be able to take a leap of faith with the support of my amazing husband. I was able to start working on Gwendolyn's Gifts full-time. Gwendolyn's Gifts started as Gwendolyn's Goodies and Gifts where I randomly wanted to use all of my creative energy to turn my various passions into a career. When it originally started on a part-time moonlighting basis, I had absolutely no focus. I wanted to make cookies. I wanted to make baskets. I wanted to make jewelry. Clay beads. Knitted accessories. Quilts. The list continued as far as my random hobbies went! I made random sales (in the beginning, mainly to co-workers...knitted purses and name tag lanyards were the two things I was able to make a bit of a profit on). Even at this stage I was ambitious enough to create a webpage (and learn some rudimentary HTML!).

As my goals grew, my focus became clear. Hand-knit accessories (primarily for women). I wrote out a mission statement. I began dreaming of what could be possible. After working on Gwendolyn's Gifts full-time, I was able to achieve a few things that I still smile about. A shrug I made being worn on a national TV news program definitely tops the list. But many things such as making it through my first craft show alone, figuring out a new design, getting a random sale from a random location, memorable custom orders, etc. all are high points in my memory. I met many interesting people, and even made a true friend during this time of my life. All through the power of creating!

Now, as I stress (and moan and groan) about completing my bachelor's degree, I have realized that Gwendolyn's Gifts must once again return to a hobby that I love instead of what I thought would be my dream career. Fortunately for me, I believe that this is a stepping stone in a very exciting direction. I will forever be fond of my time as a full-time craft business owner, but I look forward to what the future holds for me.

Housekeeping:
Gwendolyn's Gifts "the blog" will remain intact at http://gwendolynsgifts.blogspot.com. I still intend to discuss my crafty experiences (if I am ever able to craft again! grr to school!) However, in approximately 3 months http://www.gwendolynsgifts.com will no longer exist under my ownership. So, depending on how you get to my blog and if you are still interested in reading the occasional post from me, please make any necessary changes.

Also, I may be selling some extra yarn in the next few weeks/months. I will most likely be de-stashing on Etsy at http://www.gwendolynsgifts.etsy.com. I will post when I have some listed.

Not Again...

2009-03-06T09:35:00.002-05:00

I hate when all of my blog posts end up sounding the same. I'm too busy...I'm too tired...School is rough...I don't have time to knit...I have a ton of unfinished projects...

This is what causes me to leave the blog silent. Fear of whining for yet another post.

Unfortunately, I have nothing else to say really. I am looking forward to Spring Break more than is humanly possible. I am especially excited because my hubby took the week off as well. So we are going to have a mini-vacation where we lounge around, eat out, and escape it all. It is going to be pure bliss! I might be able to sneak some knitting in there, but the truth is that I don't want to force myself to do anything. I want to go where my mood takes me.

My hope is that Spring Break will rejuvenate me (and thus resurrect this blog!) Until then, I hope everyone has a wonderful few weeks.

Temptation...

2009-02-22T14:46:00.004-05:00

Did I tell you that I gave in to the temptation of my Noro Scarf? No?...Well, since my last post I decided to just go for it. The colors were calling my name and I could not wait to see how it would turn out. And...I was so infatuated with it that I already finished! I absolutely love the way it turned out. I could definitely see many of these in my future if it weren't for the price of the Noro Silk Garden. Luckily, I only used about 1 and a half balls of two colors. But that is still a pretty pricey scarf in my book. I would love to give some of these as gifts though. Who wouldn't love one?

The last to noro?!?

2009-02-09T13:57:00.003-05:00

Has everyone in the knitting blog world made this except for me? How have a been so in the dark on something so beautiful and simple!?!

This weekend, thanks to a gift card to my LYS, I bought 4 balls of Noro Silk Garden in 2 different shades. (I know one of them is 84...I can't remember what the second colorway is. But I definitely tried to get two contrasting...but complimenting...colors.)

I also purchased a set of Brittany Birch needles US9. My obsession with Brittany Birch began long before I got married...and long before I ever even OWNED a pair! I'm not sure what it is about them, but I love everything about them (especially the way they look...what is it about the toppers on these that make me feel like a fabulous knitter?)

So now my dilemma is that I have 2 unfinished sweaters, 1 yet-to-be-started vest, and a hectic semester of school to fit this beauty into. My gut tells me to use this as motivation to finish the Leaf Drop Sweater I started at the end of last summer. (i.e. Don't start something new unless I finish what I have on my plate now.) But another part of me wants this simple project to bring to school to work on. Of course, this delays the sweaters indefinitely as I am sure that once these colors start to unfold I will have a hard time working on anything else. Oh well, I guess either way I will be inspired. Any opinions on this? (I don't promise to listen to you...but maybe you'll make me see the light! lol)

A year ago...

2009-02-05T14:55:00.003-05:00

I have nothing new to post, so here is a picture I took a year ago today. Seems like I was in the beginning stages of my flower pin knitting. This is one of my favorite flower pins to date. I will forever love the light pink with the black and white striped button center. So feminine, yet so punky!

Hopefully, I will have some new pictures this weekend. I have been taking photos with my cell phone, but I haven't figured out how to get them on my computer yet. (Note to self: Look at cell phone manual.) There is actually progress to be shown! And some late birthday things to post.

Turning 25 Today!

2009-01-27T07:18:00.002-05:00

I started this blog when I was 23. Today, I turn 25 (notice that I am not admitting that I am 25 until 9:38 a.m. when I was born...until then, I am holding onto my "early twenties"...LOL).

I look forward to a lot of things in life. I can't wait to grow old with my husband, have a family, and see what life had in store for me. There are so many things that I want to experience, and most of them just come with time.

For my birthday celebrations, my hubby is taking me to dinner and to Borders (I want to get the newest Mason Dixon Knitting book...I've been waiting on the opportunity to treat myself!). Other than that, it is business as usual. I'm already on campus waiting for class to begin.

Hope everyone is having a great week so far!

Refashioned Fashion...

2009-01-23T15:41:00.002-05:00

Yesterday, I was inspired to spend some time on quickie projects that were 100% for myself. I felt slightly selfish, but at the end of the day I realized that I truly needed that me time. After walking around JoAnn's with my awesome friend, I went home and spent hours in my craft room. It has been quite a while since I've had the time or the desire to work so diligently (I even forgot to eat...That is saying something!)

I've been somewhat unhappy with my wardrobe. I really want to have handmade items, but can't afford to revamp my entire closet. So, here are the results of some fat quarters/scraps and some older clothes that were in need of some TLC...

A fabric flower pin. This is made out of my all-time favorite fabric. I've had a single fat quarter of this fabric for well over a year, but never knew what to make with it. Now I have a flower pin that I will be able to wear with multiple things! YAY!

A cardigan with a red polka dot trim added...I don't think I'm done with this yet. I'm not quite sure what I think it needs....but it is missing something! I'll post pics when I have added whatever it is!

And my favorite (which I am currently wearing on campus)...A light pink cardigan with a pink and white polka dot ruffle...Super cute! (This idea was from some sewing magazine that we saw at JoAnn's...I just winged it based on the pic. The cardigan above is a slight variation of that idea.)

I also finished a throw quilt and made 2 pillows out of some shrunken sweaters! I was in quite the sewing mood. I've always considered sewing a bit of a break for my hands from knitting (not that I've been knitting much recently!) and I realized how relaxing I really find it. It has definitely motivated me to spend more time on these types of projects since I can get a big bang for my buck. Of course, I need to get back to the sweater knitting!! Maybe I'll give myself another day of projects for myself and my home...

Have a great weekend everyone!

Finished Project...

2009-01-18T21:29:00.004-05:00

I don't think I've even gotten around to mention this project on here, but here is a UT bag that I finished for my future sister-in-law...It has a fabric front pocket and quilted handles. I think it turned out really well. I hope she likes it!

In session...

2009-01-13T14:13:00.002-05:00

Unfortunately, school has started back a little sooner than I anticipated (I knew the date all along, but since when did the days get so short!?!?). So I am once again feeling as if I don't have time to do all of the things I want, including blogging about anything worth while (I will blog I'm sure...I just fear that it will be whining posts about how I am not able to accomplish anything crafty.)

So, before things get so hectic that I won't be able to help my whiney self...Here are some of the things I accomplished during the break:

1-Spun a practice yarn (I so turned roving into yarn! How cool is that!?!) The pic is in the previous post.
2-Finished a front for my cabled cardigan from Runway Knits. I don't have a pic and I am at school...Hopefully, I will post one soon.
3-Made a needle felted bracelet Also in the previous post...I'm repeating myself...
4-Rearranged my craft room to facilitate my new crafting expeditions. I really needed a table that I could keep stationary for my knitting machine, but also have room to lay out other things. So I now have "L" shaped table space thanks to 2 large tables that I usually use at craft shows. Have you all noticed that I rearrange my craft room every few months? It helps me feel like I am starting freshed and I feel inspired all over again.

My computer died in the middle of this post. Now that I am home...I don't have time to finish before the UT Men's Basketball game tonight. I'll edit this post later! Have a great night everyone! Go Vols!

Christmas

2009-01-06T09:00:00.008-05:00

Christmas for Others:

Twilight Felted Bag for my little Sister

Shrug and Ribbon Woven Purse for my Mother-in-law

Felted "Cat Mat" for my father-in-law's cat, Buster

Felted Bucket Bags with fabric pockets and quilted handles for my sisters-in-law

And the most elaborate gift. The "Tuscany" shawl from No Sheep for You in Karabella's SuperCashmere for my mother.

Christmas for Me:

Christmas is all about friends and family. But I did get some great crafty gifts that I had to tell you about.

The yarn to knit this vest. (The yarn is Knit Picks Wool of the Andes Bulky in Pewter. The pattern is from Fall 08 Interweave Knits.)

A new Jordana Paige knitting bag

A bottom whorl drop spindle kit so that I can learn to spin. Here is my first ever yarn! (it is so lumpy, but it is a start!)

A needle felting kit...I made myself a bracelet out of needle felted beads!

Other crafty gifts to note: An umbrella swift, electronic row counter, and some great knitting books!

I hope everyone had a great holiday season like I did....Coming soon...Goals for 2009!

Productivity Observed....

2008-12-09T14:21:00.003-05:00

Scene: UT Library, mere moments ago

Stranger: (Laughing) With you knitting and me
watching Heroes, we must be the most unproductive section of the library!

There are actually sections of this library where people are sleeping. Is knitting less productive? (I would argue that sleeping is productive too...It is quite necessary in life....But I think knitting is exponentially more productive.)

Me: (Smiling, trying to be polite) I actually
feel very productive.

Stranger: (Looking confused) What are you
doing?

Seriously??? What I wanted to say was that I was taking a ball of string and making a beautiful gift for a family member who will know how much I love them when they open it! Talk about productive!!

Me: (Meekly, Feeling Defeated) Christmas Gifts

Individuality Sold Here...

2008-11-23T21:24:00.002-05:00

This weekend, I vended at a rather large Christmas Fair here in Knoxville. I knew that there were going to be commercial vendors, but I was told that they would be kept separate. Unfortunately, this was not the case. There were very few true craftspeople (several people looked like their items were handmade, but after talking to them I found out that they were imported). There was an abundance of the same craft, which created too much competition (Sadly, many knitters/crocheters grossly underprice their items...which hurts us all. I would consider my items underpriced, but I am attempting to have penetration pricing (Look what I learned at school this year! LOL....Since I'm fairly new, I am trying to penetrate the market with lower prices.) And even my low prices are high compared to the casual seller that brings the price down for everyone.)

As you may be able to tell, this is a great pet peeve of mine. It hurts the entire market. That was not nearly the only problem with this show though. It was definitely not the place for my items. The show definitely had a "flea market" feel to it. With all of the commercial items, the people who attended the show were just looking for a deal. I know that I don't provide a deal. I know that you can buy the same items for cheaper at the Wal-Mart, Old Navy, etc. etc. What I provide is an opportunity to express yourself through your accessories. Granted, I know that most people cannot afford for everything in their lives to be handmade (myself included....but I'm working on that.) but I believe I am reasonably priced and I know that I do not create cookie cutter items. Personally, I am always trying to provide more and more unique items. I am by no means where I really want to be with my product line (Artistry is the beginning of where I want to go, but still not fully developed.) My ultimate goal is to sell one of a kind pieces (which is the case with the exception of scarves) that people truly feel show who they are.

I realize that this post is somewhat of a rant. I don't mean for it to sound preachy. Like I said, I am not always able to buy handmade. And I know that not everyone will feel like my particular style of products expresses their own personal style. But after watching so many people buy commercial products primarily because of the price, I just wonder what the future really holds for Gwendolyn's Gifts. I am constantly being told not to give up. I have lots of people who like what I make. But when do I stop being content with these "small successes" and face the music that making money with selling knitted items is unlikely? I've had posts similar to this in the past. I've always wanted to move into the realm of pattern writing and teaching people to knit. I have been sidetracked with Gwendolyn's Gifts because I truly do enjoy it so much (and those small successes have kept me going).

So what does this all add up to? That is what I have been asking myself. As it stands, I am planning on fulfilling my current commitments, but then focusing on school along with my TKGA Master Knitting Levels 2 and 3 plus the CYCA Knitting Teacher Certification for 2009. I'm sure that I will still do some Gwendolyn's Gifts activities. I love it too much to fully give it up (and I want to keep my finger on the pulse of the craft market to see if maybe it is all just bad timing with the economy). Of course, this is subject to change. LOL It has been a very taxing weekend and maybe I will have a better outlook by the end of the week (I'll have lots of family functions to rejuvenate me...or wear me out....depends on how you look at it!).

Thanks for listening to my whining! I have some pics of the show (and my new displays) that I will try to post soon (with holidays and finals coming up....it might be a long version of soon!) Have a great Thanksgiving!!!

Gone...

2008-11-13T07:48:00.002-05:00

I can't believe the amount of time that passes between my posts. This semester has me beyond frazzled. Not just because of school (though at times that wold be enough to make me wanna pull my hair out), but because of the never-ending list of things that need to be done!

I have 5 craft shows between now and Christmas. Preparation for this many craft shows is both scary and exciting. I've never been this booked before and I think it will be great for my business (as long as I have enough product to get me through....but in the back of my mind I know that if I run out I could at least have flyers/business cards and take custom orders.) Beginning on the 21st, I have a craft show every weekend (with the exception of Thanksgiving weekend) until December 20th.

During this crazy craft show time, I am also trying to find a way to have some handmade gifts for family (I have no idea how this is going to be done....My calculations show that I have to knit 24 hours a day to get things done....Obviously, this is not going to happen...I haven't even been able to devote an hour a day to Christmas gifts...and well, I value things like sleeping, eating, and bathing!)

Of course, I will also be juggling finals, responsibilities at home, Christmas shopping (if I can't make everything....I'll at least need to go get something), and family/friend holiday events.

I feel like I have done nothing but make excuses for not posting, but life is so hectic I don't have the energy to think of anything else! I have still been reading all of my favorite blogs (although I rarely have anything clever to say in the comments since my mind is so far gone!). So, maybe while I seem to be out of commission you could read some of the blogs I love in order to keep you satisified (and make me feel better for not commenting on everyone's great blogs)...Enjoy!

Anny Purls
The Yarn Harlot
Mason-Dixon Knitting
Knit and Tonic
Sunset Knitter
VeryPink
Find out what Jen Finds
Vickie Howell
Scout's Swag

Introducing...

2008-10-21T21:40:00.002-04:00

My new machine knit line....Or at least the beginning of it. "Artistry by Gwendolyn's Gifts". So named because I feel like by saving a little bit of time with machine-knitting I have more time to focus on the art portion of creating. Another reason for the focus on my craft being my art is that I have an opportunity to get my items in the Knoxville Museum of Art's gift shop. I have a meeting with them on Saturday. I would be so excited if this comes through. So keep your fingers crossed for me!

I only have 3 machine knit designs finished so far. To check out a few pics, go here. (Sorry, I'm too lazy to post them twice!) Let me know what ya think!

Updates...

2008-10-09T14:39:00.004-04:00

I still don't have pictures of our Townsend booth, but here's the scoop. It was really chilly on Friday (which was great for scarf sales). We had way more traffic than we expected (I thought gas prices would keep people at home). And I had my most successful show ever! It is quite possible that other people would not see it as a success, but I take my small successes where I can get them! I had such great compliments about my products, made sales, and even had people very interested in custom orders. (Still not heard from any of these people yet, but I am always happy to get my name out there!)

In contrast, the Maple Lane Farms show I did was a complete bust. Unfortunately, the coordinators did not advertise (which had all of the vendors wondering why the booth fee was so high...) and we were put in an area that people didn't even know about. We had such little traffic, and it was unsuccessful for all of the vendors. Very sad. I thought it might be a good location since families with lots of styles/personalities would be there (and they were....they just didn't see the craft booths). But as always, there is a silver lining. I got to meet other crafters, hear about other shows, and set up my first solo outdoor booth. (Until this show, I had only done 3 outdoor shows...All with Melissa.) I think my booth was somewhat empty, but I managed to fill the space. Here are some pics for ya!

Full Space (My little sis came and sat with me for a few hours....Such a sweetie!)

Dress Form with Shrug (and my "look book") & The Purse Section

Small Items Table (I need to get some stuff to change the height levels on this table...As you can see the best I could do was sit up one of the journals...Oh, and the frames with my signs in them kept falling down, so I just laid them flat.)

My new hanging dress form! (And the Scarf Section.) This dress form was made with one of those bust hangers that you get when you have something altered, some newspaper, and duct tape.

For the next month, I will be working on inventory for some upcoming winter/holiday shows. After that, it will be all Christmas gift knitting. Wish me luck!

Fall Shows

2008-09-29T08:33:00.003-04:00

I will be doing another show this weekend at Maple Lane Farms in Greenback, TN. It is a Saturday/Sunday show. Townsend went pretty well. My camera died, so I'm waiting for Melissa to send me pics of our tent and I'll post them here.

I'll be pretty swamped this week since I need to build back some inventory for this weekend, but I'll write more about Townsend soon.

Have a great week!

I'm back...Sort of!

2008-09-24T10:42:00.003-04:00

So I have my laptop back....But I haven't had time to take new pictures of my projects (some of which are Christmas gifts so I can't post those anyway...)

I am currently in the middle of "hell week"...I have 3 exams this week (completed 1/3 yesterday...2 more tomorrow!) Of course, Townsend is this weekend. So I've been trying to get ready for that. In the middle of this chaos, it occurred to me that I have a lot of Christmas gifts planned. So far, I have figured out that it will take approximately 206 HOURS to finish the ones I have planned right now. I need to knit over 2 hours a day. With school and Gwendolyn's Gifts, I have no idea how this is possible. I might have to scale down the plans I had. I'll make that decision a little down the road.

Okay, so quite a boring post...But here is a pic of a stocking I made last year. I plan on offering these (custom order of course) this Christmas season for $47. Send me an email at customorder@gwendolynsgifts.com if you would like to place an order. I can offer various colors and designs for your special keepsake. Please allow 4 to 6 weeks for me to complete your stocking and shipment/delivery.

Success Sunday...

2008-09-14T19:36:00.002-04:00

It takes a lot of courage to show your dreams to someone else.

-Erma Bombeck

Laptop Down!

2008-09-10T15:00:00.002-04:00

Mayday, Mayday, Mayday! This is Gwendolyn's Gifts, we've got a laptop down!

This morning, my laptop died. I had one of those scary blue screens that basically signify self-destruction is about to happen. Luckily, I am able to get it fixed free of charge...But it means that my internet use will be either on a library computer on campus or on my hubby's laptop. That means that posts for 2 weeks will be void of any pics. I know that blog entries that are text only aren't that exciting when your subject matter is a knitting project...but we'll manage...I do have some pics of older projects on a jump drive, so I might do some nostalgic blogging! I guess you'll have to wait and see what I manage to blog about now!

Thanks for your patience!

Success Sunday...

2008-09-07T10:30:00.006-04:00

Without goals, and plans to reach them, you are like a ship that has set sail with no destination.

-Fitzhugh Dodson

As I mentioned last week, I planned on having 20 scarves for Townsend. Not only did I meet that goal, but I surpassed it. I'm now well on my way to finishing a purse too. (This is a pic of just the scarves that I finished this past week and a half...So for any of you counting out there, it's 15 new scarves. I have 22 total for Townsend.)

SunsetKnitter likes to put pics of her cute kitty on her blog since she is a "Knitter with a cat"...Well, here I am showing my solidarity. This is my cat Clausen. He likes to eat yarn, but I love him anyway! (FYI, eating yarn is very bad for a cat...I do my best to prevent this from happening both for the sake of Clausen and my stash.)

Find out How to Post your own Success Sunday!

Have a great week!

Success Sunday...

2008-08-31T11:26:00.002-04:00

“I take rejection as someone blowing a bugle in my ear to wake me up and get going, rather than retreat.”
-Sylvester Stallone

Who would've thought that I would ever quote Sylvester Stallone? I recently got a rejection letter from the Foothills Fall Festival that I applied for. Basically, they already had to many vendors in my category. Although, deep down I know that this isn't a personal thing (in fact, they encouraged me to apply earlier next year....and since they take such care in providing the right dynamic between all of the vendors, it makes me appreciate this show and want to try again next year), I couldn't help but feel down about it. However, I am over the few hours of self-pity, and on to the next stage where I feel inspired to do bigger and better things.

Things that helped me get over it:

1-Sweet hubby telling me that it wasn't personal, and reminding me that I haven't even been doing this a full year yet (though it is getting close now). He has given me time and support to get this going. I just need to do the same for myself.

2-Made a sale to the west coast. Without even trying, I made an online sale. (By not trying, I mean I wasn't actively promoting...it was actually an older listing that sold.) It was a very happy surprise!

3-Townsend Heritage Festival. I can't exactly stay down when I have so much work to get done in less than a month. I want to have 20 accessory scarves done (I'm halfway there, and after this blog post I plan on getting to work.) Luckily, scarves are easy to take to work on while on campus during my break, so I should meet this goal. I also want to have a few more purses done. I really want to have one or two more ribbon woven purses, but this might be a stretch.

Have a great (and safe) Labor Day!! Go Vols!

Find out how to post your own Success Sunday!

Love/Hate Relationship with Yarn Bee

2008-08-27T17:00:00.002-04:00

I am posting this from a campus computer...Sorry I have no pics!

Today was a relatively easy day on campus. It is my study day, and I only have 2 "classes" (it is actually a lab and a discussion group...thus the quotes...). So I spent all morning working on assignments for class, went to "class" (lol...makes me giggle to put it in quotes), and then spent a couple hours relaxing in the library and knitting. Which brings me to my topic...

Hobby Lobby's Yarn Bee yarn...I love some of the yarns they offer. My favorite is called Aurora. It is a ribbon yarn with sparkly gold running through it. I think this type of yarn is perfect for an accessory scarf (which is all you really need in East TN....and is great for fall in colder weather locales). It is soft and pretty. It works up really fast. It is a bit pricey but you get a lot of yards. Then, disaster! I'm not sure if I've blogged about this before (you have my permission to stop reading this rant if I have) but this yarn almost ALWAYS has knots in the ball. I'm talking 6-7 KNOTS! Of course, this really hurts my productivity when I'm making a quickie scarf since I have to cut out the knot, re-join, and then weave in the ends. (Which of course hurts my bottom line.) I have experienced this problem with Yarn Bee in about 15 different balls of yarn (not all of them Aurora...) Yet, I still haven't learned my lesson. I keep going back to the pretty colors and feel of this yarn. Someone help me! I think I need an intervention!

Anyway, I digress...Whew...I may have gotten a little worked up while typing that...Hope no one is looking at me crazy!!

Success Sunday...

2008-08-24T11:26:00.002-04:00

That which does not kill you makes you stronger.
-Neitzsche

I started back to school this week. I am going back full-time for the first time in 2 years. This is exciting, but also a little scary. I am so excited to actually be making progress toward my degree. While I was going part-time, it felt like I was getting nowhere. But now, prioritization is going to be key in my success. Along with school work, I need to prepare for the Townsend Fall Festival, complete some custom orders (and hopefully get some more custom orders), and make a long list of Christmas gifts. All while keeping my sanity intact.

Unfortunately, this is another picture-less post. I am currently working on the Leaf-Drop Sweater from Runway Knits (not without my hang-ups on this one...I'm hoping to get back on track this afternoon). I also need to get on the ball making some fall/winter items for that craft show. Definitely need to get some scarves going. Luckily, I think I will be able to work on this while on breaks on campus. I just don't know how many I'll be able to make before the show (Sept. 26-27). I have quite a bit of inventory on other items, so I'm not going to push myself on them. (Even though, I desperately want to get back to the designs I made with ribbons...Seen here and here. I have lots of these in my head...Just need to make them a reality.)

Hope everyone has a great week!!

What? A Success Sunday....on SUNDAY!

2008-08-10T19:50:00.003-04:00

The quote that I really want to post today is:

"There are other worlds than these."
-Jake Chambers, from the Dark Tower Series by Stephen King

BUT...This isn't really a success quote. It just continues to show my current obsession for this series. Not to worry, I am about a fourth of the way through the very last book so I should be back to normal in no time. (Secretly, I don't want it to end...I haven't been this enthralled in a book since I was a teenager!)

So, to fulfill what I think defines a good Success Sunday quote, I give you:

The talent of success is nothing more than doing what you can do, well.
-Henry W. Longfellow

I think it is pretty amazing how talent and passion can truly drive a person's success. I personally feel that God (or whatever higher power you believe in) gives us the skills we need to fulfill our purpose in life. Many times, we don't know what that purpose is until we stumble across our own talents and uncover our passion. So to be successful, you just have to have faith in your God-given talents. (Granted, we all have to put in some effort...)

Many people say things to me like, "When you start trying to turn your passion into a career, you stop loving it." From my personal experience, this statement is false! I still get excited about knitting. I still knit on my free time. It is most definitely still my passion. In all fairness, I do get stressed about getting things done...and of course, trying to make this a successful business. There will always be tasks that you don't enjoy in a job (for me, finances/budget/weaving in yarn ends...lol), but that doesn't mean I don't still feel a great bit of passion for what I have the privilege to do on a daily basis! (...sorry about the rant...was this even related to my quote?...lol)

Hope everyone had a great weekend!

Disappearing Act....

2008-08-08T08:45:00.002-04:00

I have been a very bad blogger and podcaster. It seems that I have less and less time to do these types of things (as much as I enjoy them...there's nothing like connecting with strangers over combined interest!...gotta love the internet!)

I think my main problem for the lack of posting is a little something called "The Dark Tower Series" by Stephen King. I am on the 6th book (out of 7). My husband read this series a while ago, and since I love Stephen King he has been trying to convince me to read it ever since. My dilemma was that it is a pretty big undertaking. I always struggle to find time to read while working on any knitting project. I feel like I have to choose between the two. Usually, I want to choose knitting, but NOW I want to read!!! I finally gave in and started reading the series about 9 months ago. I went pretty slowly through the first 4 books because of the reason above, but then.....I couldn't stop....I've been reading and knitting simulateously (thanks to stockinette stitch and a ribbon tied around the book to keep it open on my lap). Speaking of....I better get back to it.

Gwendolyn's Gifts on National TV

2008-07-30T11:25:00.002-04:00

Andrea Jackson from the CW's Daily Buzz...More to come later, right now I'm just excited and needed to share!

Pics

2008-07-29T13:25:00.005-04:00

1-My sweater progress (Cabled Cardigan from Runway Knits): On my vacation, I finished the back, and started the left front. The fronts are curved so it has a lot of short rows. I probably would be further along if it weren't for that, since it requires more attention I didn't multi-task.

2-A quilt I started: I got several "charm packs" of fabric last year when I left my day job from some good friends/co-workers. I never started anything with them, so I decided to make myself a throw quilt to use while hanging out on the couch. I have one throw quilt that I made that matches the living room, but it isn't very cuddly so I am going to back this one with flannel! (Unfortunately, this doesn't match the living room...but oh well, I LOVE pink!)

3-My apple tree (okay, most people won't care about it...but I am tickled to death that I have apples growing in my backyard!): I am so excited about this apples! I didn't know for sure that they would fruit at all. We just planted the tree last year! At the time I didn't know that apple trees needed other trees around to pollinate, but I guess there must be one close by. It is a Macintosh Apple tree. There are about 8-10 apples on it!

4-New layout of my craft room (Yes, I moved it yet again!): I loved the office/store setup of my craft room, but it actually made the space feel much smaller. While working on that quilt, I realized that I didn't have space to lay large projects out. So, I hung up my peg boards to give myself some extra floor space. And by moving my extra folding table away from the desk, I'm hoping to keep it free from clutter so I can brainstorm/design there.

5-New Obsession with Ashley Paige: Bikini or Bust on TLC

Has anyone watched this show? I find it so inspiring, and yet disheartening. Basically, Ashley is a bikini designer. She does knitted bikinis. Her product is very high-end, and her name is definitely out there. Yet, she struggles to make a living and continue her business. She has orders coming in, but she can't meet the demand because she can't mass produce her line. I love watching her process. Obviously, I can find some similarities with what I am trying to achieve so I really enjoy the window into her world. (FYI, I'm not interested in making knitted swimwear...I just like seeing how she runs her high-end design business.)

I'm back...But not ready to post...

2008-07-28T11:55:00.002-04:00

This post is really just a tease! I am back to work this morning, but I haven't taken any pics of the things I actually want to blog about.

Coming Soon:
1-My sweater progress (Cabled Cardigan from Runway Knits)

2-A quilt I started

3-My apple tree (okay, most people won't care about it...but I am tickled to death that I have apples growing in my backyard!)

4-New layout of my craft room (Yes, I moved it yet again!)

5-New Obsession with Ashley Paige: Bikini or Bust on TLC

Vacation

2008-07-18T13:54:00.001-04:00

***Gwendolyn's Gifts will be on vacation 7/19 thru 7/27. Items purchased during this time will be shipped on 7/28.***

I obviously won't be posting during this time or responding to any communications.

Have a great week everyone!

Say Cheese!

2008-07-16T15:45:00.003-04:00

I am preparing an application for the Foothills Fall Festival, and they require a photo of the artisan actually working. So I set up my camera with the self timer, and got to work. It got me interested in actually doing some "blast" photos of my knitting (where the camera takes 600 pics in a row...it catches motion. "Blast" is the name for it on my camera, I'm not sure if that is the actual photography term.) I think it would be really cool to see!

Anyway, here's the pic I'm probably going to send in.

My last post was about starting my mom's Leaf Drop Sweater. Here is the progress on the back. Not as much as I would like, but I am very happy with how it is turning out. I'll be most interested with how the leaf section turns out (looks like it is worked separately and then sewn in...) Of course, the back doesn't have a leaf. Just the front and sleeves.

My current obsession...

2008-07-14T15:10:00.003-04:00

Yet again, I am slacking when it comes to blogging. And right now, I am too obsessed with the sweater I just started for my mom to blog about all that has been going on around here. It is the Leaf Drop Sweater from Runway Knits by Berta Karapetyan (one of my favorite pattern books...I would make almost everything in there if I had the time!) Per my mom's request, I am making this sweater in a dark, dark blue (KnitPicks Merino Style wool in "Dusk"). So far, I love the yarn and the pattern. I'll post pics soon!

Family...

2008-07-01T07:36:00.003-04:00

For the next few days, I have family in town. So I won't be working too diligently on any projects, even though I am super excited to get started on the next "ribbon woven" purse design. I hope everyone has a great 4th of July holiday!

Pride...Success Sunday!

2008-06-29T11:20:00.002-04:00

“Pride is a personal commitment. It is an attitude which separates excellence from mediocrity.”
-Unknown

I am so proud of my latest design. I basically knit a net of eyelets on the bottom, and wove ribbon through. (I did them on the diagonal...) The effect worked out just as I had imagined in my head...if not better! I have a whole line of purses based on this idea, and I am so excited. I can't wait to get started on the next one!!

(Detail pic...the color is slightly off because of the flash...)

New Banner and New Myspace Page

2008-06-26T09:13:00.003-04:00

So I may have gone a little crazy with the mosaic generator! But I am so happy with my new banner (seen above) and my new myspace background! I've been wasting quite a bit of time working on these and other new ideas for my internet presence. I have been enjoying splitting my day between the computer and knitting. (Only because these computer tasks still happen to be creative...I haven't updated my inventory spreadsheet in months because...well, it's boring!)

Anyway, I'm off to finish up my computer work and move on to finishing a shrug (fingers crossed...). Have a great day!

Since I've been gone...

2008-06-24T12:39:00.004-04:00

I've worked on lots of custom shrugs (and am still going strong...)

I've rearranged my craft room (once again) to have a "shop" portion and an "office" portion (yes, the office portion is a mess!).

I've made some new designs for evening bags...

And even knit a wristlet...

I conveniently screwed up a cap...and made it into a bowl to hold my business cards!

I've been on the hunt for Christmas gift ideas.

I made some new images to spread the word of Gwendolyn's Gifts. (So far, most of them have been for use on Myspace. This one is just a generic one that I like.)

I hope everyone has been doing well while I've been slacking on the blogging front (I'm pretty proud of my progress elsewhere though!) Hope to post again soon!

I know I've been slacking...

2008-06-15T20:10:00.002-04:00

I can't believe how time has completely gotten away from me when it comes to blogging. And unfortunately, this is not going to be a real post. Basically, I just wanted to say that I am still alive and plan on posting soon with pics of what I've been working on. Custom orders have been kicking my butt so as soon as I can get things under control I should be back to posting regularly.

Sorry, no success sunday quote...but Happy Father's Day to all the great dads out there!

Success Sunday

2008-06-01T19:35:00.003-04:00

"We need to decide to decide."
-Pastor of our church

Today's sermon at church was about indecision, and how that indecision can lead to instability and lack of growth. I feel like this sermon was directly aimed at me for many reasons, but one major reason is my inability to make a clear plan for my craft business future.

I know that selling finished hand-knit goods is never going to be as profitable as my family needs so it has always been my goal to work toward designing and teaching. Yet, after 9 months I have continued to talk myself into maintaining the finished goods part of the business instead of amping up the design and teaching portion. (As you may have noticed, my Gwendolyn's Designs shop is still empty...And at the moment will remain that way due to custom orders taking up all of my time.)

So why have I been paralyzed by indecision? I'm having a really hard time giving up the finished goods portion of the business (and although it isn't very profitable, I have been able to make enough money to continue to do this full-time for the time being). I do really enjoy making items for people to purchase. I love custom orders. I really like doing craft shows. But is it really worth the time taken away from pattern writing, designing, teaching, etc? I think I am also afraid that no one would buy my patterns. Selling finished hand-knit items versus selling knitting patterns is a completely different audience. Most of the things I design are very simple. Would other knitters really be interested?

Last week, I thought it might be a good idea to plan out my year based on seasons (such as spring/summer focus on designing/teaching, winter/fall focus on production of goods/craft shows). Unfortunately, I am already getting a late start on this plan since spring seemed to just fly by! And I know that it will be impacted by my going back to college come fall.

This seasonal plan still has me questioning whether or not I am just dragging my heels on taking the plunge to make a decision on what I truly want to do. I think I need to do some soul-searching.

Sorry for the boring post. I'm just whining trying to find my way. Hope everyone had a great weekend!

Clay, Needles, and Yarn...Oh My!

2008-05-21T12:06:00.003-04:00

As I mentioned in my last post, I was really excited about a project I did on Monday morning. I've been thinking about doing this for...well, at least a year, but it has been on my mind a lot the past month (anyone else have that problem? where your creative spirit forces you to do a particular project or you can't even sleep?). I have dabbled in polymer clay for a while...mainly beads for personal use, but I've always wanted to make knitting needle toppers. So, I finally got to play in clay on Monday morning. These are basically prototypes. I'm not 100% sure of the functionality (especially the flower ones!). After using them for a while and proving their durability, I'm thinking of making some to sell in my Gwendolyn's Designs shop (which is still empty...anyone interested in testing a pattern? send me an email!). I made these out of leftover clay and really focused on my favorite flower (the calla lily)...I've got other ideas if this pans out!

Here are all three sets that I made:

Single calla lily set:

Triple Calla Lily set...these might be too heavy to actually use!

Just decorative stoppers...These might be the most functional. I can definitely do some different things with just color/texture like this, but I'm loving the flowers!

I also wanted to share a pic of my souvenir from the Grove Park Inn. They have a little shop called "Gallery of the Mountains" that is filled with items handmade by local artists. (I'm going to see what it takes to get into it...that would be absolutely amazing!) While I was there, I spotted a small basket of yarn! Of course, it is handspun/hand-dyed by a local artist! There were also two sets of knitting needles that were handmade. I had to snatch a pair up! These are cherry with bacote stoppers. I don't know if I'll actually use these...But if I do, it will be for something for myself. (My hubby knows there is potential for this to just be "inspiration"...And never be used at all!...And he still wanted me to have them...Aren't I lucky?!)

Where has the time gone?

2008-05-19T16:11:00.002-04:00

Life has really gotten in the way of blogging! (But I guess if things were boring I wouldn't have a lot to blog about!)

I can't remember if I mentioned the custom orders I had for 2 shrugs. I didn't really plan to take as much time on Mother's Day gifts as I did (see post below) so I started the first custom shrug already behind schedule. Somehow, I managed to finish these 2 large shrugs (with extended sleeves) in about 4 days (granted, they were 4 twelve to fourteen hour days). I shipped the order on my way out of town for my 3 year wedding anniversary.

Being the lucky couple that we are, my hubby and I got a gift certificate to the Grove Park Inn in Asheville, NC. It is only a 2 hour drive from here, so we took a long weekend and were off on a mini-vacation. It was absolutely beautiful! We spent 2 nights, and we both thoroughly enjoyed the relaxation. I had a big realization. Knitting is still what I like to do to relax. I mistakenly thought that I would not want to knit while we were there. (I was pretty worn out after the shrugs.) But I still need that creative outlet (maybe more than ever....I was downright fidgety!).

Hopefully, I will be posting again mid-week. I've gotten some things done today that I am really excited about sharing with everyone. I have listed some new things in my Etsy shop, and I finally got my latest podcast working in iTunes. The other things will remain a surprise until I can get some pictures taken.

Happy Mother's Day!

2008-05-11T09:49:00.004-04:00

We have 3 moms to celebrate on Mother's Day. We are so blessed to have such an abundance of family nearby. To show our appreciation, I made 3 sets of nested felted boxes. (I actually used my knitting machine! That was the only way I could get this much done in a single week!) Each set has 3 boxes. They aren't perfectly square, but I love the way they turned out. They are each slightly different since I learned something each time. I hope that our moms love them and know how much they mean to us!

Happy Mother's Day to all of the moms out there!

Why Dorothy and Toto went over the rainbow....

2008-05-03T18:24:00.004-04:00

Well, I am somewhat at a loss for words regarding my Townsend adventure. So here it is....In pictures...

The day started out a little rough. With a big storm rolling in, the wind was really gusty (apparently up to 35 mph). We set up the canopy with our sandbags around all four legs and started getting our displays ready. We usually use tables, but the wind even blew tables over so after re-setting up four times, we made the decision to lose the tables and hang everything with clothespins. It looked pretty good as a last minute adjustment. But sadly, that was not the end of our troubles. The whole thing was a bit shaky in the wind so in addition to the sandbags we tied the canopy to Melissa's car and staked it down (thanks so much to our neighboring vendor and Melissa's grandpa!).

We were stressed, but still in good spirits.

Things went downhill from there. We both got sunburnt, and we were both exhausted from holding down the canopy when the wind blew suddenly and of course chasing our items when they would get caught in the wind. We made the (smart) decision to completely take down our setup since the wind would be even worse overnight.

And thank goodness we did, many people lost equipment and stock. The wind actually bent the frames of their canopies, rendering them completely useless. We tried to help where we could. (Melissa is a pretty fast runner!) A woman was actually knocked down by a flying canopy. It was dangerous.

After verifying that we would not be penalized for choosing not to set up today, Melissa and I decided that we deserved a little pick me up. Neither one of us made a sale and we were sore from fighting the weather. So, we drove through Cades Cove and saw 7 deer (or was it 8? Melissa was the one keeping count.)

And we ate a snack at the Apple Barn! Yum Yum! (That really cheered me up...I had an apple handpie. The gourmet chocolate/nut/caramel apple was for my hubby since I am a good wife. He is an equally good husband because he has been babying me since I got home!)

It was a crazy weekend. I am ready to completely collapse now! Hopefully, we'll have better luck at our next show!

Podcasting Problems

2008-04-30T14:03:00.002-04:00

So I finally have recorded a new episode of my podcast (Thanks to N.E.W. Knitter for lighting a fire under my butt.) However, after uploading my audio, things don't seem to be working. You can definitely listen to it on your computer by going here, but it isn't downloading correctly to the RSS feed (which means it isn't downloaded correctly to iTunes...) This has happened once before, and I ended up just uploading the same thing a 2nd time and it worked...This time I have not been so lucky. Unfortunately, I have lost my patience with it...so it might be a little while before I have the new episode working up to par.

In case you decide to listen anyway, here are the links pertaining to this podcast episode:

Gwendolyn's Designs
Ultimate Sweater Machine by Bond-America
Yarn Harlot's "Things I learned from knitting...Whether I wanted to or not"
The Knitting Guild Association Master's Program
Cast On Magazine

In other news, I am ready for Townsend with the exception of a couple loads of laundry and packing my toiletries. Yay!

21 items in 3 weeks...

2008-04-28T16:08:00.002-04:00

Sorry I haven't posted in a while. This week is the big Townsend festival, and I am finally feeling ready. In 3 weeks I made:

4 journal covers

7 purses

2 shrugs (1 medium, 1 large)

3 mini pouches

5 iPod socks

I will have 50 items for Townsend. I originally wanted 100, but I'm not sure what I was thinking. There was no way for me to make 70 items in 3 weeks! I am very pleased with what I have. I will be doing administrative tasks until Friday (updating inventory, making price tags, etc.)

I missed Success Sunday 2 weeks in a row. I've been listening to the musical Rent by Jonathan Larson this week and the main theme/line from the musical is No day but Today. Very inspirational!

The week in review...

2008-04-13T17:20:00.006-04:00

In preparation for my big Townsend craft show, I have made each week leading up to the show a themed week. This past week was purse week, next week is shrug week, etc. So I made 7 purses in 7 days (some took more than a day, some took less...somehow it all evened out!) I made my pics into a slide show to make this post less picture heavy, so just push play.

Success Sunday quote:

"Never bend your head. Always hold it high. Look the world right in the eye."

– Helen Keller

This pretty much sums it up...

2008-04-11T15:25:00.002-04:00

This is the chaos that I am currently working in. I am preparing for my big craft show (on May 2 and 3). This picture was not staged. Somehow, there is a stuffed animal in the mix (like I said, it is chaos!)

100th Post!!!

2008-04-06T16:22:00.003-04:00

Time goes, you say? Ah, no! alas, time stays, we go.
-Henry Austin Dobson

I can't believe this is my 100th post on this blog! My life has been turned upside down since my first post. I was working at a job that I didn't love hoping that one day I could find a way to make my passion my career. Granted, I am not there yet. I have a lot of work to do before I could call Gwendolyn's Gifts successful as a business, but I feel successful as a person right now and what more could I really ask for? Thanks to everyone who has given me encouragement through this virtual world of blogging and in the "real" world! I am so grateful!

Now on to other news, I have a lot to do so I am going to keep this short. My two shows on Friday and Saturday absolutely wore me out. I didn't even have to really work the Friday night one (They had a central cash register, so I basically set up and broke down. Everything else was handled. Big thanks to Tracey, Tami, Jennifer, and Annie!) I didn't make any sales on Friday night, and only one multiple item sale on Saturday. So it wasn't really all that worth while (and it was freezing and wet on Saturday...the show was outside! Which I'm sure impacted the turnout.) After just 4.5 hours of sleep on Friday night, when I got home on Saturday I fell asleep sitting up....for 3 hours!!! My sweet hubby just let me relax and we ate frozen burritos for dinner.

I have a lot to make before the big Townsend show May 2 and 3. So, I devised a knitting pouch for myself. (I know they sell these...I know they are probably a lot nicer...But I made this in about 30 minutes, and well, I'm proud darn it!) Basically, I have turned my money apron (made by Creepy Confections) into a craft tool apron. So it has scissors, DPN's, measuring tape, row counter, etc in these convenient pockets. So I made a pouch that snaps to the apron strings. Viola! I can knit anywhere (even standing up talking to my husband on the porch!...Just ask me how I know!) I'm hoping this keeps me organized as I knit from dusk til dawn.

Not quite as short as I originally intended...I guess it is my 100th post with 101 things to say! :) And look, I remembered Success Sunday on SUNDAY! Wow!

2 shows!

2008-04-04T09:45:00.003-04:00

I have two shows this weekend. (One tonight at Java in the Old City and one tomorrow in Lenior City) I am busy running around like a chicken with it's head cut off, but I wanted to go ahead and post some pictures of my table. (Especially now that I have added the dress form!) I'm sure I'll post more pictures on Sunday because we'll be using a canopy at the Lenior City show in preparation for our big Townsend show. (we=Melissa and myself)

Success!

2008-03-31T19:06:00.002-04:00

Once again, I am late on the "Success Sunday" post. Today, my husband (arguably the best husband in the world) surprised me with the Yarn Harlot's new book. I previously posted about my struggle to find this book in my area, and since that post I had continued my hunt to no avail. So, my surprise and delight were beyond words when he pulled it out of his work bag. (Okay, I literally screamed...I even got a little light headed...Why do I feel the need to be open and honest with the blog world? Couldn't I leave that part out!?!)

Not only did my hubby go out of his way to find and purchase this book for me, but after dinner he offered to do the dishes so that I could take a bath and start reading. While trying to get everything together for my upcoming shows, I could have cried at his extreme generosity. I really needed a few moments to rejuvenate so that I can continue to prepare for everything I have coming up.

While reading, I discovered the quote that I wanted to post today (Aren't you glad I waited an extra day for my quote!?).

"Knitting is still trying to teach me...That making big mistakes when you're learning is how it goes. It is why knitting can unravel (as many times as you need it to)."
-Stephanie Pearl-McPhee

Townsend Spring Festival

2008-03-27T23:08:00.003-04:00

I have been accepted into the 16th annual Townsend Spring Festival. I will be vending with Melissa from Creepy Confections. This is by far the largest show I have ever done. I'm very excited about it (and a little nervous). We've got a lot of planning and preparation to do. But I'm not really going to focus on it until after the 2 shows I have April 4th and April 5th. After that, I will be devoting my entire month to it!

The only reason I am awake right now is because it is halftime of the UT/Louisville Men's Sweet Sixteen basketball game (it isn't pretty at the moment). I finished two mini pouch, case type thinga-mabobs today. Unfortunately, I also hit the side of my thumb with a hammer (I was putting a snap on the pouch.) so I have a blood blister. I'm hoping it doesn't hinder the massive amount of knitting I need to get done in the next few days! (I don't think it will....It's small....I'm not as weak as I seem!)

Back to the game!

Failure!

2008-03-25T20:13:00.004-04:00

Yesterday, I read that the Yarn Harlot's new book was out in US stores. Since my husband knows how much I love the Yarn Harlot, he promised me that we could go after work and buy it today. I was looking forward to it all day. The last time I purchased a new Yarn Harlot book, I read it in about 2 hours. (actually, I devoured it! She cracks me up!) So, we set out to get the new book at about 5:30pm. Several book stores, a few websites, and an hour and a half later, I still do not have a copy of the new book nor do I have one ordered. None of the stores had it in yet (silly East TN!) and most of the websites aren't shipping it until April 1st or 19th...I don't really know why. (I'm hoping I'll find it in a store before then...I'm impatient...If I don't find it, I'll probably order it Monday and pay for 2 day shipping.) So MISSION Yarn Harlot: Failure!

I keep telling myself that I will remember Success Sunday posts. I keep forgetting. I also keep forgetting to record a new podcast...I think I'm feeling a little overwhelmed with the spring craft show season getting underway, but that can't be the cause (or excuse) for the past few months. I've been really inspired, but not in the normal way. I've been a scatterbrained sort of inspired that hasn't been extemely productive for me. Instead, I'm full of ideas with nothing tangible to show for it yet. MISSION Plan and Execute: Failure!

(But here's a good quote anyway: "A successful life is one that is lived through understanding and pursuing one's own path, not chasing after the dreams of others." -Chin-Ning Chu)

To end on a positive note, even though I am feeling overwhelmed, I am also feeling a sense of purpose. I want to make Gwendolyn's Gifts work for my family. I am dedicated to making it successful. I know that I will never get rich but that was never my intention. I am happy every single day to be able to pursue my dreams. MISSION Fulfillment: Success!

Stonewashed?

2008-03-19T19:31:00.007-04:00

Melissa helped me make a new duct tape dress form on Monday. (The first one was for her to display her aprons on. She and her husband made a really cool stand for it.) I needed one to sit on the table to display my shrugs for sale. I absolutely love the industrial look of just the duct tape, but I wanted something that would blend better with my other display items. So, I have devised yet another decoupage plan! I am decoupaging tissue paper onto the dress form. I have plans to do this in a couple of steps. Step 1 was to put white tissue paper as the background. I actually like the effect of just the white tissue. It looks like an old stonewashed statue. See?

The next step was to randomly put pink and green tissue paper (with raw, ripped edges) all over the form. I thought it would really work with my other displays (and the overall image of my business.) It turned out very funky, but I absolutely love it! I think it has become a dress form and art piece! See? (It is still a little wet, so it will be more glossy when it dries.)

Most of it won't be seen, except for the neck line, so I added a little something special! See?

I felt like a big kid tearing up and gluing tissue paper. It was so much fun! And luckily, I am pleased with the overall results.

What a pain! But great results!

2008-03-15T20:59:00.003-04:00

I made myself a new banner on Friday. First, I printed out a paper banner. Then, I laid it underneath the fabric I wanted to use and traced all of the letters in pencil. I painted the letters using acrylic paint (Black, and then outlined "Gwendolyn's Gifts" in green...I just love pink and green together!) Finally, I used clear plastic vinyl to cover the entire thing and hopefully protect it from the elements.

It was a very time consuming project. And the plastic vinyl nearly did my sewing machine in, but it is finished and I think it will be perfect for shows! (I was using a paper banner...I loved that the paper banner matched my website banner exactly, but it was not very durable.)

The other pics...

2008-03-13T09:37:00.002-04:00

Self-indulgence

2008-03-12T18:53:00.004-04:00

Yesterday, I decided to make myself a shrug to wear this spring. (I ended up making a gray one because A-That's the yarn I had available without having to shop and B-I figure it will be very versatile and I would wear it on top of colorful tank tops...even though I did not demonstrate that below! lol) I felt a little guilty about making something solely for myself, but after timing how long this took me, I actually think I might make a few for my next craft fair. My only concern is what sizes I should have available. I figure this might lead to custom orders since there is no way I could make a ton of sizes in every color, but I want to have a few on the table. I'm thinking one each of Small, Medium, and Large. If I have time to make more than that, I might need to research what sizes are most common.

Front of shrug. Blogger was not cooperating with my other pictures (of the back and a full-length shot of the entire effect.) Hopefully, I'll upload later!

So, I guess sometimes a little self-indulgence isn't so bad. Especially when it leads to new ideas!

I've also finished a 2nd pattern for Gwendolyn's Designs this week. I am still going over them with a fine-tooth comb to make sure they are as they should be. I'm hoping to get them into a new yarn shop that is opening up locally. (Which may mean that I need to re-design them to use yarn they carry at that shop. Most of my patterns currently use Paton's Classic Wool.) We'll see how that goes. I still have a lot of work to do to get Gwendolyn's Designs ready for launch. (Like copyrighting! I'm already confused reading through that stuff. Anyone familiar with copyrighting patterns?)

Success....

2008-03-10T12:39:00.004-04:00

Okay, I have been horrible about Success Sunday quotes. But I have definitely had a successful Monday, so here is a late quote:

Remember when life's path is steep to keep your mind even.
-People/horace.shtml Source: Alexandra Stoddard's Book of Days by Alexandra Stoddard

This is what I have accomplished today!

The first pattern for Gwendolyn's Designs. This pattern is for my teal cabled purse. It is still definitely in the development stages. I have already fixed a few things since I took this picture. Of course, there will also be a testing phase before I even think of offering this in my shop so I still have a lot of work to do. But I am super thrilled to have gotten the ball rolling. It is pretty exciting that this is becoming a reality instead of just a crazy dream!

Craft Show Table

2008-03-08T14:46:00.004-05:00

I promised some pics from the craft show today. Here ya go! The left side is Gwendolyn's Gifts and the right side is Creepy Confections.

I was pretty pleased with the setup. I was surprised that I probably could have managed to have my own table with the amount of stuff I had. But I'm glad that Melissa and I went into this together. This was technically the spring carnival for the elementary school that her son goes to. So I would never have even heard about it if it weren't for her, and to be honest several of the people who came to the table were people she knew. (Plus, it was much more bearable with someone to talk to during the slow times.)

Lessons learned from this show/carnival...It probably isn't the best venue for crafts. There was a mixture of things being sold. I'm not even sure that people understood that our items were handmade (Note to self: Make some sort of sign or banner indicating that items were hand-knit!) The biggest problem was probably that the school sold tickets and accepted them for popcorn/food/activities/games and many people wanted us to accept tickets (I don't think the bank would have accepted them!!..lol).

I did make 2 sales and a potential custom order. I also met another vendor who lives in the same subdivision as I do, which could potentially be a good resource for doing joint home parties (She does not currently have a website, so I steered her to Etsy).

So all-in-all, I think it was worth my time. I'm not sure if I would do it again next year, but I guess that will depend on where I am a year from now! :)

I hope everyone has a great weekend!

It's official!

2008-03-07T13:51:00.002-05:00

I officially passed the Level I Master Knitting course!! So I am now eligible to enroll in Level 2, but I'm not sure that I am going to do that until after I have completed the teaching certification course.

I have to admit that I am so proud of myself for investing in what I love (sorry, but I have to brag a little bit!). But seriously, it is so easy to give up on what you love and spend years (time, money, effort) on things that you are not passionate about. It is also easy to be satisfied staying the same. (I spent about 4 years trying to be brave enough to take my leap of faith...so I know first hand how you can talk yourself out of what's best for you). Anyway, the point of my soap box rant is that I am proud that I have invested in what I love, that I've stuck with it even when it's hard, and that I am making every effort to be the best I can be.

So here's to everyone pushing their own limits! You'll be happy you did!

Craft Fair Prep

2008-03-06T14:33:00.003-05:00

I recently bought some doll stands to use to hold some of my purses on the table. I really wanted to add a three-dimensional quality to my table so these are perfect! They are adjustable so I can put the purses at different heights.

I even jazzed them up a little bit with my shop name. Thank you, Decoupage! I've been a decoupage fan since I was a pre-teen. I use it almost weekly for business related tasks. Who would have thought that putting pictures all over my friend's nightstand would turn into a valuable skill!

Since I am selling flower pins for the first time at this upcoming fair, I decided to use a silver platter that I had around the house to display them. And of course, I made a sign that matches all of my other signs and price tags. (I'm a sucker for consistency.)

My day has mainly been filled with preparing for the craft fair on Saturday. Since I am sharing a table with Melissa, we are going to do a mock-up table tomorrow to make sure we are each pleased with the layout (I want it to look like 2 companies that complement each other.) I'm sure I'll post pics of the final table. I'm starting to worry that I have more stuff than room (that will be a first for me! Normally, I don't have enough stuff to fill the space.)

I also retook some pics and finished some purses the past couple of days (I've been knitting like mad. My goal was to finish 3 new purses for the fair...I started last Thursday with the teal cabled purse, and I finished up with the 2 below.) I am IN LOVE with the first one. I'm struggling not to keep it for myself! (See how perfectly it fits over my shoulder?!?! lol...I love the shape of it!) I really like the second one too. Very springy/summery (which was my hope.)

Big plans...

2008-03-05T10:25:00.002-05:00

So I've been thinking about opening up a new Etsy shop for patterns/kits. I have pretty much decided it's a go, and now I am in the very beginning planning stages. I have a few "big ideas" that I think will work well for this type of endeavor. I'm hoping to open up shop by mid-April to early May. My pattern shop will be at http://gwendolynsdesigns.etsy.com.

I have to thank Knitting Novice for an extra boost of confidence when she left me this message :

Very cute! How did your friend like the Mary Kay bag? That was too cute.Are you thinking about selling the pattern? I'm glad you chimed in on the DVR post. I love getting a glimpse of people's personalities.Have a great day

I've been wanting to write a knitting pattern book for a long time. And I think this will be a good place to start. I'm so excited about getting this going. I probably won't start to really work on it (other than brainstorming) until after my craft show on Saturday. I am so excited about it though!!! Keep your fingers crossed for me!

I've had a great day!

2008-03-01T21:25:00.003-05:00

First, I finished this bag!

Then, I read this comment from Cathie Filian about my craft show audition:

Loved your tape! Your pins are stunning . As soon as the trigger is pulled on the new show - I'll be in touch. Please don't hesitate to contact me in the event that your contact info changes.
Cathie

I'm trying not to get my hopes up too much, but I'm excited that I didn't suck completely! lol

After that, I got to go to my mom's to spend some quality time with my family (and eat some great food.)

Lastly, I came home and got to see the video of Rob from Etsy on The Martha Stewart Show. (Wanna see it? Go here!) Hopefully that will bring some new people to Etsy.

All in All...Great Saturday. I hope everyone is having the same!

Have you been to my website?

2008-02-27T15:54:00.002-05:00

I've been working on my website a lot recently, in an attempt at improvement, but I'm never 100% satisfied. I'm thinking of abandoning Etsy as my shop and going with a PayPal checkout system directly from my website. I'm afraid that by asking people to click multiple times (and register for Etsy) that I might be losing people along the way (we aren't a patient society! lol). My website is http://gwendolynsgifts.com. I'd love some insight!

In other news, my master knitting resubmissions are finished! I will be mailing them tomorrow. Whew...Big sigh of relief. However, I just realized that my upcoming craft fair is next weekend (3/8). I have so much to do for it. I should not have been dawdling these past few days. I think I probably have enough inventory, but my concern is that it isn't the right inventory for this market/season. Even though it is still cold, I think people will be looking forward to spring so I've been trying to design some warm weather friendly items. I have some, but are they enough? I guess I'll soon find out!

Off to work!

Creepy Confections Cupcake...

2008-02-26T17:25:00.013-05:00

I have been working on this cupcake pin for my friend Melissa from Creepy Confections. It is my representation of her cupcake logo. It is hand-knit and then felted. The cherry on top is a button.

Her logo:

The pin:

I'm pretty proud that I was able to get it this close to her logo. Of course, I took some creative liberties such as with the ruffle (I wanted it to be more 3 dimensional). I hope she likes it!

I was pretty productive today (and I'm not even done yet!). I completely re-arranged my craft room/office. I got a new filing cart, and I needed to make room. So my room is now completely functional (I have some issues with things staying the same for too long, I'm pretty sure it will change again before the year is out!). I had to take out the comfortable knitting chair to make the new layout work, but I rarely knit in here and if I do, I sit in my office chair in front of the computer! So the knitting chair is now in our sunroom, where I hope it will get more use (other than as the cat's bed!).

I also blocked my 3 re-do swatches for my Master Knitting so I will be mailing it this week! Yay! They look much better than my first submissions. Especially one of the cable swatches (I did a much better job beginning/ending the cable in the same place and binding off in pattern).

This evening, I hope to make another flower pin and then I think I am going to devote a week to new purses for the upcoming craft show. I need some nice springy colors in my inventory!

So much to say, So much to say...

2008-02-22T19:10:00.005-05:00

I am so excited about starting this program! Just the materials alone got me amped about teaching other people to knit (I've taught a lot of people, but this will help me hone those skills!). I've told myself that I won't start this until I finish my resubmissions for the Master Knitting Level I course. Technically, that should only take me about 5 or 6 hours to do, so I should really suck it up and get it done! I don't have time today, but I'm hoping to get started on that on Sunday. The instructors program has to be completed in 3 to 6 months or you must file an extension, which I don't intend to do. The actual lesson plans don't seem too difficult, especially after doing the MK Level I. The only part that has me somewhat anxious is that you must do a telephone evaluation to discuss the lessons with another teacher. I think this is probably the most valuable part of the course since you are responsible for being able to properly explain knitting.

This is my new toy. It is a Dell Axim 5, Pocket PC. (It is a hand-me-down from my hubby.) I am loving this thing! I was in desperate need of a small organizer, and this puppy does more than I expected. My favorite characteristic is that I have uploaded my entire inventory so that at craft fairs I know exactly what I have without a laptop (It also houses my custom order spreadsheet so I can keep track of orders better on the go!).

More things on my mind...

I forgot to mention that my custom labels were from fellow Etsy seller Custom Couture Label Co. She did a wonderful job perfecting the print for me and the quality turned out great!

I had an EMG done yesterday on my left arm. While knitting, my left thumb sporadically has a shooting tingle. I hadn't mentioned it before because I didn't really know how serious it was (and was afraid). I still don't know exactly what is causing it, but thankfully it is not nerve damage! Yay! So all you crafters out there...Take care of your hands!

UT and Memphis Men's basketball are playing tonight. I have never been a sports fan until I started betting with my hubby on NCAA tourney brackets. And then my fanhood intensified when Bruce Pearl became the head coach of the team. So tonight I will be eating good food, hanging out with great people, and holding my breath until it is over! Go Vols!

Sorry for the somewhat random post...I've been meaning to do separate posts on a few of these topics, but never got around to it! Have a great weekend everyone!

Proof of Productivity...

2008-02-21T11:52:00.003-05:00

I haven't been very motivated the past few days, so I am going to post pics to prove that I have indeed managed to get something done! And maybe by thinking that the blogging community will hold me responsible, I can get myself out of this negative space!

So here is a flower that I just listed in my shop:

Before Felting!

After felting! Boy, what a difference!

Off to lunch! I might do a second post today to talk about the CYCA knitting instructors course. (Two posts in one day! I must really be procrastinating!)

Has spring sprung?

2008-02-19T15:48:00.004-05:00

Maybe not outside, but flowers are blooming at my house! I made the felted flower pins below yesterday and today. They are part of my plans for spring. (Perfect Easter accessory or Mother's Day gift!)

Prior to Felting (they don't look like much here!):

After Felting and Embellishment:

I love them! I'm glad I already have one for myself or I might have to snatch up one of these!

In other news, I made a Gwendolyn's Gifts notecard. I have the supplies to make 50 right now. I plan on using them as thank you's in my orders (I'm also considering putting a promotional discount or something...but I don't have that planned out yet.) I think they are going to be super cute.

Lastly, I finally got my CYCA knitting instructor course materials in the mail today! I can't wait to get started (But I have to finish my Master Knitting resubmits first! I know, I know...I should have had that done last month, don't remind me!) That is definitely part of my plans for this weekend. Hopefully I won't be sick like this past weekend!

Pretty in Pink...

2008-02-16T11:32:00.004-05:00

It is finished! The Mary Kay tote bag is finally finished!!! Hopefully, Jennifer will like it! That is always the hardest part of custom orders, making sure that the vision of the customer and the vision of the artist match up. And that fact always makes me nervous about the customer seeing the final product. (Jennifer typically reads my blog, so here is a preview for you!)

As you can sort of see in the second picture, I got custom labels made!!! They are super cute! I love being able to "brand" my products by sewing in my business name.

I hope everyone had a fantastic Valentine's Day. My hubby returned home late Valentine's Day evening, so we are going to have a nice dinner tonight. (Unfortunately, I am as sick as a dog today! Bleh!) Have a great weekend everyone!

The abyss...

2008-02-14T12:50:00.004-05:00

I was working on the Mary Kay tote all week while my hubby was away (I knit approximately 10 to 16 hour days this week all on this bag!) And I entered the abyss during this time. Where I knit and knit, and then measured and measured...And there was no growth! Black yarn going into a black hole! But finally, this morning I broke through! So here are some before and after pics. I still have to do the lining and handles, but I am taking a break while the bag dries.

The magazine is to help show the scale. The binder clips are to help mold the shape of the bag while it dries. This is by far the largest felted bag I have ever done. I'm very pleased with the results. Just some finishing touches on this bag, and I am on to something new! (Not sure what yet! I love that feeling!)

The day I've had!

2008-02-11T16:10:00.001-05:00

Today has been a very interesting day! First, I could not get my hubby's Macbook to burn my DVD audition. (I am definitely not a Mac user.) I finally got it together, and I will be mailing off my DVD audition for an untitled craft show soon!

I went over to my friend Melissa's house to make a dress form. We found on the internet a way to make a dress form using only an old t-shirt and some duct tape. Behold! The cheapest, coolest dress form ever!

(Yes, that is me all duct-taped up! I felt like a super hero! Now all we have to do is decorate it and we will have a cool display for craft shows!)

The results are in...

2008-02-09T11:51:00.001-05:00

Here is my new hair! (Sorry about the blurry pic, I took it myself!) I love it!!!

What's the alternative?

2008-02-08T17:47:00.000-05:00

So I've been having a week filled with bold choices and exciting changes. I figure if you don't ask for what you want, you won't get it. The worst that could happen is that you are turned down, and then you move on to the next opportunity. No harm, No foul. (Okay, so in truth, there may be a little sting when your feelings get hurt, but I'm hoping I can handle that!) The alternative would be to stay in the same place forever never truly reaching your potential, right? (and by you, I mean me...lol) So I'm going for it, full throttle. See the evidence below:

Exhibit A: I wrote an essay about buying handmade and submitted it to a local women's publication. (I'm already on my second attempt. The first magazine I sent it to said "Thanks so much, but we don't have an upcoming issue this would fit."...Slight sting, but manageable!)

Exhibit B: Cathie Filian from "Creative Juice" on DIY posted a blog entry about a new untitled craft show that is looking for guests. It is geared toward teen to young adult. And well, I decided I'm going to send in an audition tape. It has always been my goal to break into the craft industry beyond making stuff to sell (as in moving toward patterns, books, tv, etc....what can I say? I dream big!). So that is my big project for next week (and the Mary Kay bag mentioned in a previous post.)

Exhibit C: I'm going to get my hair cut. Not just that...I'm going to get my hair cut like this:

Compare to picture of me on right sidebar (plus about 5 inches because I've let it grow out quit a bit). This is going to be a big change, but I'm really excited about it!

Before I go, one last pic (mainly for Jennifer ) :

Here is the flower pin for the Mary Kay tote bag I'm making Jennifer. (I completely forgot "before" pictures, but I promise I will get some of the bag before felting it. It is going to be the size of a child's sleeping bag before felting!!)

I hope everyone has a great weekend! Be bold!

Money Apron

2008-02-05T15:30:00.000-05:00

I am so excited about my new money apron, made by Creepy Confections. It has three pockets, which will be perfect to hold all of my craft fair essentials (money, business cards, pen/pencil, receipt book...). And it could NOT be cuter! (I seriously would wear it around the house if my hubby wouldn't give me weird looks! lol)

Yay for a "Gwendolyn's Gifts" hoodie!

2008-02-04T16:22:00.000-05:00

So today I went out shopping with Melissa from Creepy Confections (Check her out, she has awesome cake decorating skills and a lot more coming soon!) We went to check out a Crafter's Mall in our area, but it wasn't really our respective styles. It was also an antique mall, and we both felt that it was more appropriate for those types of items then our own. I still haven't completely crossed it off the list because they do have a consignment option (which doesn't cost until you sell). We also went to JoAnn's and Wally World in search of some fabric for some money aprons (That Melissa is going to make. They are perfect for craft shows because you can keep everything you need with you!). I'm sure I'll post pics when mine is finished so all can see. I also got some iron-on transfer paper and a white hoodie that was clearanced, so check out the Gwendolyn's Gifts hoodie!

Front:

Back/Bottom:

I can't wait to wear it out somewhere. I think I'm going to knit a pink flower to wear as a pin as well. (I'm sure I'll be sporting a scarf or purse as well, but just in case I am without any knitwear that day, the flower will be there.)

Speaking of flowers, I finished a really cute flower pin that I wanted to put in my shop today, but it is rainy here and the pictures were not coming out very well. So I think I'll save it til tomorrow. I'm feeling so drained!

A new podcast...and some Mary Kay!

2008-02-02T11:08:00.000-05:00

I just recorded a new podcast. It is short and sweet, mainly because I started a new medicine this morning and the more I talked the more nauseated I felt and partly because I am still working on how I want the format of the podcast to be. I am working on a more consistent layout. (Suggestions? Please let me know!) You can listen by accessing the link in the right sidebar or by searching in iTunes for "Gwendolyn's Gifts".

Last night, I met with Jennifer, my Mary Kay consultant. I am very excited because I am making a bag for her and in turn I am able to get some great Mary Kay products. Talk about win-win! (I figure that to be successful in any business you have to put your best face forward, and the Mary Kay stuff I am currently using definitely helps me do that! I'll get the products just in time for my first craft show of the year!!!) I can't wait to post pics of the bag I am making her. It is going to be so cute (and very functional since it is going to be a larger tote type bag).

Now I'm off to JoAnn's!!! I just hope I don't get sick while I'm out and about! Have a great weekend everyone!

What a week...And it's only Wednesday...

2008-01-30T16:18:00.000-05:00

It has been a tough week for me. I've been extremely stressed. The only upside is that I've been unable to sleep and therefore I have knit quite a bit! (Bad for health, Good for business!) Although, today I think I've hit the point where I am bound to fall asleep anywhere. I've not been very productive this afternoon because my brain isn't functioning at full capacity.

Here are the stages of stress-induced insomnia:

The Good:

This is a journal cover. I am very proud of it. It is one of those products that you have a hard time selling because you want it for yourself (It is safely in my shop now, so I won't be keeping it!)

The Bad:

These are the scatterbrained notes I made for my upcoming podcast. It is barely legible, and definitely not a thrilling episode in the making. (Not to worry. I still plan on getting a new (decent) episode in this week....right after I catch up on some sleep.)

The UGLY:

It is never good when you start hacking up your projects with a rotary cutter. (Yes, some of that is knitting. And while I *was* partly out of my mind, it was felted so it didn't unravel. Now I just have to figure out what I'm suppose to do with the little piece that is still usable!...Coaster, maybe?)

Birthday Post

2008-01-27T11:07:00.001-05:00

Today is my birthday...da na na na na nah...I'm going to have a good time...da na na na na nah!

I promised a pic of my super secret project, and I forgot to post it last night so here it is:

It is a baby sweater for my cousin who is pregnant with her first child. The baby shower was yesterday. I pretty much designed it myself using the shaping from this. As you can see, I changed it drastically. It is so sweet. The mommy-to-be LOVED it (there was talk of framing it after the baby wears it! Which made me feel so good. I love when handcrafted items become heirlooms.)

Now, I'm off to get ready for my birthday celebrations (I think we are going to go see Juno! I can't wait!)

Blast!

2008-01-25T15:37:00.000-05:00

Of Color... I finished my super secret project for the week! Yay! I will be posting pictures tomorrow evening. I also managed to do quite a bit of house work (which I've pretty much been neglecting since the holidays!) So as a treat to myself, I knit a new scarf out of some yarn I got for Christmas (It is Lion Brand Boucle in the Sorbet colorway. It took approximately 1.5 balls on size US 15 needles.) It is just garter stitch (I could only spare a couple hours to make something for me). But I love it. It is so cheery and perfect now that the weather is finally getting cold (as a knitter, this is somewhat of a good thing...). I made it pretty long (about 83 inches with fringe!)

Sorry it isn't a full shot of the scarf. I took this pic myself!

From the Past... I reconnected with my best friend from middle school/high school this morning. We stopped hanging out our sophomore year because my mom thought that she was a bad influence on me (perhaps we were a bad influence on each other...but I made my own mistakes.) Anyway, it was so cool to hear from someone that I was so close to for so many years. We had a very unfiltered friendship. I told her everything. We shared a lot of great (hilariously embarrassing) memories. (It was middle school and early high school afterall...aren't all kids ridiculous at that age?) It seems like her life is in a very positive place right now, and I've never been happier in my life. I hope that we can keep in touch this time around!

Into Action... This is my birthday weekend, so I'm hoping for a fun-filled few days. I share my birthday with my father-in-law, so I know that I can look forward to a family dinner. This year, I asked my hubby to write me a letter or poem for my birthday. I am so blessed to have everything I need right now, I really want something from the heart (not that his gifts from the past haven't been from the heart). I can't wait to see what he came up with!

By the way, I know that I am so behind on recording a new podcast. It is strange how I am completely comfortable with writing random blog entries about daily life, but when it comes to a podcast I feel like I need to have a great idea to get started (I'm lacking that idea right now!). I have a few things written down to talk about, but nothing too exciting. I hope to record one next week.

Have a great weekend everyone!

Success Sunday

2008-01-20T10:24:00.000-05:00

Everything has beauty, but not everyone sees it.
-Confucius

Flowers, Baby...

2008-01-16T15:33:00.000-05:00

I just finished this flower pin as a custom order. It was an unexpected project that the customer needed as soon as possible, so I shuffled a few other custom pieces to get this done (I'm more likely to do that with a small project since my other projects are larger right now).

It is a slightly modified version of this pattern. I only cast on 6 stitches (instead of 12), and instead of binding off 2 stitches at the beginning and end of each row at the end, I decreased by knitting two together at the beginning and end of every right side row. The finished diameter of this flower is 3.75".

There are a ton of things that I have not worked on this week that I intended to. My master knitting resubmissions and my sweater are two biggies on the list of unfinished business. It is killing me not to work on my sweater since I desperately wanted to finish it before my birthday (on the 27th of this month). But I can't focus on that right now. I also have a super secret project that I am working on. I can't reveal it until the end of this month when the recipient has opened it (or has opened an I.O.U. if I don't get going!)

Success Sunday...(lack of) Progress

2008-01-15T08:31:00.000-05:00

I completely missed Success Sunday. After doing so well last week, I thought I was going to get better but looks like I've already fallen into my 2007 ways again!

If you always do what interests you, at least one person is pleased.
-Katharine Hepburn

I worked a little bit on my tutorial project. I decided to do 2 flowers. 1 as a complete beginner's project where you simply learn to cast on, knit, and bind off. 1 as a step up from there where they learn 1 type of increase and 1 type of decrease. These would be super quick to make so they should be able to finish them in the class. (I made this complete beginner's one in about 15 minutes!) It looks super cute as a pin. This was my first attempt. I've got some more ideas that I'm going to try, and then I'll be deciding which one will be the best option for a class.

And since I have made no other progress on knitting (and I already divulged that this flower took only 15 minutes), I am going to include a shot of knitter's best friend:

He's on the back of my knitting chair. How was I suppose to get any work done with this cutie in my way? I did put together the wire shelves you see behind him. I'm really excited about them since my current yarn/inventory storage is bulging at the seams! (I haven't made the effort to actually organize yet. I just threw in the yarn that was on my work table.)

The Magic of Felting...

2008-01-12T11:38:00.001-05:00

I finished a custom purse this morning. (Barely!) I am always shocked and amazed at the results of felting. It is by far one of my favorite things to do, especially for purses and bags. This purse turned out exactly as I had pictured in my mind! Felting can sometimes be unpredictable, but I've used Paton's Classic wool for felting a few dozen times now, and have become better at gauging what the final product will look like. Here are some before and after shots:

Before Felting:

Pre-felting Measurements: 14.5" x 22" with 4.5" bottom panel

After Felting:

Post-felting Measurements: 8.5" x 13.5" with a 2" bottom panel

Sometimes it seems crazy to knit something so large to get this smaller creation, but it is worth every extra stitch for me.

Here are some more details of this purse:

Toggle buttom closure, Inner pocket with zipper , Swirly Twirly lining. I love it all!

This upcoming week, I plan to do my Master Knitting resubmissions and mail them off. I also need to design some flowers for the tutorial I am going to teach. (Which reminds me that I also need to enroll in the CYCA teaching certification course! I've been putting it off.)

Custom Washcloths...

2008-01-10T19:11:00.000-05:00

I finished a set of washcloths earlier this week. I am pretty pleased with the way I packaged the set. I was inspired by the "jelly rolls" of fabric in quilt stores nowadays. They are so cute, and I love the spiral of colors.

The actual roll would have looked better if I had more variation in the colors, but I think it is cute.

I shouldn't be blogging right now since I have to finish a custom felted tote bag by Saturday. I'm not even finished with the knitting portion, which means I need to get on the ball so that I can felt it, let it dry, and finish the lining. My goal is to have the knitting portion done by tomorrow at noon. (I haven't even started the bottom or handles yet...I'm not sure I'm going to make it.) At least once I've finished felting it I will be able to measure it and make the lining. Then, I will just have to sew the lining in once it is dry. Keep your fingers crossed for me!

Knitting Tutorial....And as an afterthought, Success Sunday

2008-01-06T20:47:00.000-05:00

I went to my monthly Knoxville Craft Mafia meeting this evening. We will be doing a tutorial as a way of fundraising. I will be doing the first tutorial. So, my blog friends, I am asking for your help. I would love to gather some feedback about the types of knitting classes you have taken and what worked and did not work for you.

What do you feel should be covered in a beginner to advanced beginner class?
What types of projects do you like to learn in a class?
Do you prefer the supplies be included in the class cost or to purchase your own supplies from a list?
How do you feel about projects that cannot be finished in the allotted class time (leaving you to finish at home?..I don't know if this is avoidable with knitting being a relatively slow craft.)
Any other words of widsom you would like to impart?

I've been wanting to teach knitting for a while (I have taught many people, but always for free). I am still contemplating the CYCA's teaching certification program, and I might enroll in that before this tutorial so that I can 1-Get the materials and 2-Count this toward my volunteer teaching.

Thanks for your opinions!!
___________________________________________________________________
Added Later: I almost forgot Success Sunday! I am actually going to post it on Sunday! What a novel idea!

...success and failure are like the two sides of the Mobius strip. They appear different, yet are fundamentally the same.

-Michael Gelb and Tony Buzan

Dinner and a Movie...A Knitting Bag and a Sweater Back

2008-01-05T13:34:00.000-05:00

My hubby and I are having a date night tonight. Thanks to my wonderful parents who gave us the gift of entertainment for Christmas. We are going to see Sweeney Todd and then dinner at Abuelo's. It is exciting to get out of the house for some quality time with my hubby since 1-we don't leave the house or 2-we leave the house for "events" with other people.

My Jordana Paige bag arrived on Friday! I ordered the Bella style in pearl (I figured I could wear it with black or brown...making it more versatile.). The inside is a knitter's dream. Very spacious with lots of pockets. It is extremely soft leather and even came with a nice dust bag for safe storage. The only problem I have with this bag right now is that the handles are a drawstring and it is really tight to draw it close (I'm hoping it loosens up).

My sweater is not progressing as I hoped it would, so instead of waiting until the back is finished (I've made no progress since my last post since I decided to work on a custom order and then take down Christmas decorations.) I am going to post a picture of the back now. I am about 8 inches away from being finished. I just finished the decreases for the arm holes.

No Podcast...A single pic...And a New Year!

2008-01-02T14:01:00.001-05:00

I'm glad that it is a new year! I can't wait to make something great happen in 2008!

I was going to record a podcast today, but my hubby made me sick! He started feeling bad on Christmas Day, and now that he is all better I have the bug. Mainly a sore throat/stuffy nose so instead of recording a scratchy sniffly podcast, I thought it best to wait.

When my little sister spent the night on Friday, I managed to remember to get a pic of her in the cap/scarf set that I made her for Christmas. I made her a cap last year using the same yarn in a different color. She loved the way it felt so much that she started to sleep in it! So this year I made her a set (she could still sleep in the old cap) out of the same yarn in white. I also folded up the end of the scarf to give her some pockets to keep her hands warm (pre-teens seem to forget gloves!)

Progress on my cabled cardigan is slow, but I'm finally almost finished with the back. Just a few more inches to go! I'll post more pictures when I have at least that part finished. Then it is on to the fronts, which are basically semi-circles (this is why the cardigan caught my eye, the front is beautifully curved!). The look is acheived with some short row shaping. I have limited experience with short rows (basically just turning a heel) so I am looking forward to seeing how it shapes up (no pun intended!).

Success Sunday

2007-12-31T12:07:00.000-05:00

"A dream is just a dream. A goal is a dream with a plan and a deadline."
-Harvey Mackay

I have no New Year's Resolutions because I always break them, but I have plenty of 2008 goals:

-Create a Press Kit and submit to magazines/newspapers
-Complete Master Knitting Level I resubmissions
-Create 3 original designs and submit to magazines (including online such as knitty.com) and/or yarn companies
-Begin CYCA professional knitting instructor course

Those are just the January/February goals!!!

Happy New Year's, everyone! Be safe!

Not Knitting...

2007-12-28T16:06:00.000-05:00

I stayed out too late last night with my friend Christy. This has made my day completely 100% non-productive on the knitting front (plus, obviously I didn't knit last night while we were out). I woke up at 9-ish, ate, cut the cat's claws, and then went back to sleep until 1-ish. When I woke up, I got ready to take the cat to the vet to get his poor ears checked out (he's been scratching them raw...this was also the reason for cutting his claws to prevent injury to the vet and further harm to his ears). He was a holy terror at the vet. Growling, hissing, and swiping at us and the vet. The vet suspects it is just an allergy that is causing some inflammation. She gave us some drops, and if it doesn't get better in 5 days or so he will have to go back (this time to get sedated so they could get a better look...that's how bad he was!).

Tonight is my little sister's 12th birthday. So she is coming to spend the night with us. I am happy to spend some quality time with her but this means I will not be knitting very much tonight (if at all). My sweater is so behind schedule. I was really hoping to get the back and 1 front done before New Year's. I need to clean in preparation for having people over on New Year's Eve so that will eliminate a few more hours that could be spent knitting.

I have a few pictures of handmade Christmas gifts to share (I'm still working on getting some of the others, these were the only ones that my camera didn't eat):

The first one is a "cuddly quilt" I made for our 3 year old niece. The second one is a body pillow and flannel throw quilt for my step-dad. I'm not sure why none of the knitted item pictures made it through. I guess I was just unlucky that day!

I must have been a very good girl...

2007-12-27T17:12:00.000-05:00

Our family had a great Christmas. I hope all of you did as well.

Everyone seemed very happy with their handmade gifts. We go from house to house to house each year, and I forgot my camera to take pictures. I think some other people took pictures though so I am going to see how many pics I can get of items I made from them.

I must have been a very good girl because I got a ton of wonderful gifts, many of them knitting related (my family knows me!).

Here is what I have started for myself! (When my hubby buys me yarn, it is normally with the caveat to make myself something.) He bought me the book "Runway Knits" by Berta Karapetyan and the yarn to make this awesome Cabled Cardigan.

He had me order the yarn myself since he isn't really yarn savvy! The book suggests Karabella Superyak, which is $15 to $20 a ball and I would've needed 10 balls. So I substituted yarn (even though it was a gift, there is no way I could justify spending that much money on myself considering our single salary situation). I am using KnitPicks Wool of the Andes Bulky in Taupe.

And in case you didn't notice in the first pic, my parents gave me the Harmony Options needle set from KnitPicks!!!

They are incredible! I plan on reviewing these needles in more detail as well as some of the other items I received on my next podcast (lots of books, magazines, and patterns...)

I will be working on this cardigan non-stop until New Year's. After that, I will be back to working on Gwendolyn's Gifts custom orders and inventory during the day and personal knitting at night. Of course, I also need to fit in my MK Level I resubmissions, but that should only take a few hours. (You would think that would make me go ahead and get it done, but in fact it makes me feel like I can procrastinate even longer!)

Anyone else want to share the knitting related Christmas gifts you received? I'd love to hear about them by leaving a comment. (I'm a junkie for knitting toys!)

Not a very good day...

2007-12-21T13:24:00.000-05:00

So my big plan for today was to clean house. I went to get some cleaning supplies from under the sink...and the nightmare begins!

We have a RainSoft Reverse Osmosis system. Typically, I am singing this systems praises because I truly do believe it is a quality system (and it has gotten me to drink water...and I attribute the curing of my persistent hives to the better water (even our shower is purified)). But not today. Today, my cabinet was flooded. Today, they are unable to make it out here (I actually understand since it IS the Friday before Christmas). It seems that one of the tubes has a leak. I spoke with one of the technicians and he walked me through what was going on. For right now, I have just turned off the water in our kitchen (which is not good...I haven't quite figured out how we are going to do dishes!). He promised he would try to make it out today, but if not it is going to be after Christmas before they can make it.

I was surprisingly okay with this. I figured we could manage for a few days. And getting upset about it wasn't going to fix it...But then I called my husband to tell him what went down. Typically, I am singing my husband's praises. He truly is a wonderful and supportive man, but today he was not happy with the situation (which I understand). I told him he could call RainSoft back and try to press them harder than I did, but since he wasn't interested in doing that...what else could I really say?

So now, I'm in a funk. I don't want to clean. I don't want to do anything but complain! ;)

In other news, I got my Master Knitting Level I submission back. I was expecting to have some resubmissions (this is normal from what I hear). I have 3 swatches and a question to send back in. I also have to revise the written pattern I submitted. Overall, my evaluation was really positive and uplifting. I expected much worse since I've never really had my knitting reviewed by anyone (especially another knitter!). I also taught myself to knit, which I figured would result in some bad habits! I am not at all discouraged by the resubmissions because, afterall, I enrolled to improve and to learn!

Okay, now I'll return to my sulking! Happy Holidays to everyone!

A new podcast!

2007-12-20T12:38:00.000-05:00

I just recorded a new podcast. To check it out, you can use the link in the side bar to access Odeo or you can search "Gwendolyn's Gifts" in iTunes. Enjoy!

Some links mentioned in my podcast:

http://knitnstyle.com/
http://yarnharlot.ca/blog/
http://teachknitting.com/

I just joined Technorati...

2007-12-20T10:20:00.000-05:00

Technorati Profile

Success Sunday (Maybe I should change the name to Success Monday!)

2007-12-19T09:17:00.000-05:00

Be like the turtle. If he didn't stick his neck out, he wouldn't get anywhere at all.

-Harvey Mackay

The camera ate my pictures...

2007-12-18T19:51:00.000-05:00

I am officially done making Christmas gifts!!! That's right! I finished them all and with time to spare! I took a lot of pics before wrapping, and guess what? I went to download them to my computer, but they aren't there. They are all wrapped up now, so my only hope is to try to remember to take pictures of the recipient with the item during all of the chaos of Christmas day.

In other news, I went to a crafty get together with the Knoxville Craft Mafia (of which I am a made member!). The plan was to gather and craft, but I ended up just talking. It was really good to get to know everyone better since I just joined a month ago. There is something so great about getting together with like-minded people. To be a member of the KCM, you have to be a woman who owns a crafty business so these are definitely my type of women!

Tag, I'm it...

2007-12-14T12:41:00.000-05:00

I got tagged on Jennifer's blog. So I am going to answer the questions below. My mind isn't working well enough to tag anyone else, but I'll at least play along. (Even though these are precious knitting moments...I think I'm going to finish on time!!!)

“When people say ‘Christmas’ you immediately think…”
Family. I'm so fortunate to have wonderful family. Christmas is such a great time to see everyone and show them how much you care.

“Favourite Christmas memory…”
This is a hard one. There are so many. One of my favorite traditions is that my mom always gives us pajamas as our first gift. When I lived at home, we immediately changed into our p.j.'s and then woke up Christmas morning in them to open stockings. She still gives pajamas to me and my hubby! Another great memory was when my husband had given me several small gifts, and each one had a little note as to why he bought certain gifts for me. For example, he bought me a leather satchel and the note said that he was proud of me and the work I was doing.

“Favourite Christmas song/carol…”
"O Holy Night" and "Mary, did you know?"

“Favourite Christmas movie…”
It's a Wonderful Life

“Favourite Christmas character…”
I don't know if this counts, but I collect Precious Moments ornaments. I love them all. This year's ornament was the Precious Moments bunny, and was titled "Jump for Joy on Christmas morning".

“Favourite Christmas ornament/object…”
I should have looked ahead before answering the last question. My Precious Moments ornaments are top on the list. My mom has bought me one every year since I was about 9 so there are a lot of good memories there. My very favorite of those ornaments would be the wedding bell ornament she got me when my hubby and I got married.

I also have to mention that I have a snow babies set where they snow babies are knitting and all tangled in yarn...It is super cute!

“Plans for this Christmas…”
Go all over town to all of our families houses.

“Is Christmas your favourite holiday?”
Yes, for so many reasons.

Christmas Knitting...

2007-12-11T16:46:00.001-05:00

I have finished 1.75 items out of about 13...I'm getting scared. (I also managed to forget to factor in wrapping time, and the fact that we open some of our gifts with family on Christmas Eve...So my confidence from a few posts ago is definitely waivering!)

I must knit. You may not hear from me for a while. I hope everyone has a wonderful holiday!

Success Sunday

2007-12-10T13:56:00.000-05:00

"Creativity is allowing yourself to make mistakes. Art is knowing which ones to keep."
-Scott Adams, The Dilbert Principle

Such a productive week!

2007-12-06T17:42:00.001-05:00

I love when I have weeks like this! I have finished so many things this week, I can hardly believe I did it all with my own two hands!

I completed the following:

Custom Scarf #1
Custom Washcloth
Custom Scarf #2
Custom Scarf #3
Custom Quilt
Custom Scarf #4

Whoa! I also got a running start on a Christmas gift (can't really divulge any details here, just in case!) Some of the custom items I finished are also gifts for people and even though I doubt they would be looking on my blog, I would rather be safe than sorry. So I guess after Christmas there will be a ton of pics for me to post to get everyone up to date on what I've been up to. Until then, you will have to wonder! :)

I have another home show this Saturday. I decided to do 2 dates to hopefully maximize the number of people who could make it. I'm excited to do it all over again, but I will be glad when I can focus on our Christmas gifts. I just have a few custom items that are due by 12/28 so I think I'll be able to get our gifts done. After this week, I feel like it is possible!

Nice Matters Awards...

2007-12-05T08:31:00.001-05:00

As I mentioned in a previous post, I was awarded a Nice Matters award on Jennifer's blog.

According to Jennifer, Here is what the Nice Matters Award is all about: “This award is for those bloggers who are nice people; good blog friends and those who inspire good feelings and inspiration. Also for those who are a positive influence on our blogging world. Once you’ve been awarded please pass on to seven others whom you feel are deserving of this award.”

Jennifer from What Jen Finds-What goes around comes around, and you have a TON of good coming your way. Your blog is inspiring in so many ways. Reading about your family is both a funny experience and an enlightening one.

Stephanie Pearl-Mcphee a.k.a. The Yarn Harlot-Although I do not have a personal relationship with Ms. Pearl-Mcphee, I have lurked around her blog for years. It was the first knitting blog I ever read, and the blog that inspired me to begin my own blog.

Knitting Novice-I love receiving comments on my blog. Your blog is so inspiring. Even though you consider yourself a "Knitting Novice", I am always taken back by your enthusiasm. You remind me to always be willing to learn something new.

Karen-I don't think Karen has a blog, but I'm going to count her as an important part of the blogging community. After I left my "day job", I was scared and full of doubt. I blogged about it, and Karen sent me an amazingly thoughtful email. You may never know how important that email was to me. It was one of the first communications I received from a stranger, and was so validating and inspiring. I re-read this email from time to time, and it still inspires me.

Here is a brief excerpt from this email so that it may inspire some of my other readers:

"...I guarantee you will attract the feeling of completeness and life will become full of support and those who want to share the love of your creations with you. It is your humanly duty to meet with your passions every day and to feel good and create what you love. Then you will be spending your time wisely and loving the ride as well."

Staci from Very Pink-This is another case where I am a lurker. I have read Staci's blog for several months. I really admire the way Staci puts herself out there in the blogging community. I admire the mix of personal and knitting life that she includes in her blog. She is inspiring on both fronts.

While I love blogs, I am going to go a little off the beaten path here and include some other non-bloggers.

The Etsy community-This is a community of art/craft lovers. Some are buyers, some are sellers but all are enthusiasts. I am inspired by all of the creations I see here. I am always amazed at how helpful everyone is to other sellers. Dottyral is an example of someone who immediately offered herself as a mentor to new members.

My hubby-I have to take this opportunity to say that I would not be where I am without him. Obviously, he has made sacrifices to support my decision to work on my business full-time. I am so fortunate to have a husband that believes in me.

Pics from my home show

2007-12-04T11:05:00.000-05:00

Here is a pic of the space I used for my home show. It was pretty successful, in my opinion. I took this pic before anyone came. I am having a second chance home show this coming Saturday. I'm not making anything else for it. I am focusing on custom orders this week so that I can start working on our Christmas gifts.

Success Sunday

2007-12-03T07:26:00.000-05:00

"It is not how much you do, but how much love you put in the doing."
- Mother Teresa

My friend, Jennifer, awarded me a Nice Matters award on her blog. Now, I need to award this award to 7 more bloggers. I am contemplating who this will be...I hope to post it by Wednesday! Thanks so much, Jennifer!