Great news! I've been juried into the JingleBash at Sons of Hermann Hall on November 21, 1-7 p.m. I have lots of ideas for new things to make between now and then. I'm thinking hats! And scarves, shrugs, shawls, and more. I'm also thinking about how to change up my display and maybe even try to look a little less DIY, maybe. Last year was a blast.
It's going to be great.
I'm happy to say I have started posting my backlog of shawls and shrugs from this spring and summer. I've been so behind! I'm glad Fall is on its way. People might start to think about staying warm and cute little shrugs and shawls and hats. In addition to my general procrastination, I changed cameras and I needed time to learn the new one. I think it's working pretty well. I have more hats still to list and I'm working on some new items too, so there should more regular activity on my Etsy site to come.
Just got back from the EtsyDallas Spring Bash. It was fun to see friends and to see what everyone else is making. There is so much talent in Dallas! It was also great to see my Southside on Lamar resident friends and to listen to my friend DJ JuanSolo all day. It was still too warm to even think about wearing anything slightly warm, so not great for crochet, but a fun day nonetheless. I have more inventory to post coming up over the next few weeks to catch up. I'm also going to remake the black alpaca lace shrug that I've made twice now for custom orders and try to photograph it for the first time. I finished the off-white longer version with the mohair trim ruffles and I might keep it for myself. I love how the alpaca yarn keeps the structure of the loops in the crochet. Lots of things to play with and think about. Maybe I'll start making hats for winter! Hard to even think about with June just around the corner.
I'm still recovering from the Spring Fling in Fort Worth, but I'm getting excited about the Spring Bash in Dallas! Southside on Lamar is a great venue and I love being so close to home and seeing all my friends here.
I've been busy focusing on shrugs for the spring shows coming up in April and May. Etsy itself continues to be very slow for me right now, but I've rebuilt my inventory and I've started working with fusing plastic bags, sewing, and other experiments. I'm also playing with some new yarns, like this Alpaca Lace. It's a very fine soft alpaca without the bulk you usually see in this fiber. I'm very happy with the way the green shrug turned out and I'm working on a cream version. I'm planning to try longer sleeves. We'll see. Despite it's thinness, the fiber seems pretty easy to work with and loops up beautifully. I had trouble with the green tangling and making terrible knots. I had to cut it twice before I started pulling from the outside instead of the inside. Maybe it just can't take ANY friction? Usually a shrug takes an entire skein of yarn, but with this yarn, I could easily make at least two. Or, as I plan to, try to alter the garment into something more - perhaps adding tapered three quarter length sleeves or a longer back? We'll see.
Every once in a while you get the opportunity to have the freedom to make something truly special for someone and you know for sure that they will love it. THIS is one of those pieces. It is so over-the-top and was soooo much fun to make. This technicolor creation was blinding to work on. I'm so proud of it. I'm glad Regina likes it.
I just posted this yesterday. It's my fourth variation on the the Flutter Shawl. This time I tried a few new styles in the presentation. It's a substantial shawl! It has a nice weight to it. I find so much satisfaction in creating, finishing, and presenting these crocheted goods. My slogan for my Etsy shop and this blog is "yarn as a form of escapism" and let me tell you just how true that is. I came home today so stressed about work and restless and worried. I find myself forcing anxious thoughts out of my head and trying to calm my hands and challenge myself to create something all of my own. The process of designing and figuring things out is my favorite part, above all; but there is something to be said for having steady handwork to do. I was listening to a neuroscientist talking on a recent radio program. She was explaining why knitting can fight depression just like serotonin drugs. They produce a similar result. She said doctors used to prescribe knitting as a treatment for anxiety. (I've gone a bit loopy trying to remember the show or search for anything about this - I'll look again later.) The steady rhythm of the work is calming and there is a finished product as a reward at the end. For me, I appreciate that this thing (whatever it is that I've made) belongs to me and exists because of me. I'm proud of what I've made and I like that feeling. I've forgotten what I was upset about completely. Escape accomplished!
I'm happy to say I have started posting my backlog of shawls and shrugs from this spring and summer. I've been so behind! I'm glad Fall is on its way. People might start to think about staying warm and cute little shrugs and shawls and hats. In addition to my general procrastination, I changed cameras and I needed time to learn the new one. I think it's working pretty well. I have more hats still to list and I'm working on some new items too, so there should more regular activity on my Etsy site to come.
I'm still recovering from the Spring Fling in Fort Worth, but I'm getting excited about the Spring Bash in Dallas! Southside on Lamar is a great venue and I love being so close to home and seeing all my friends here.
I've been busy focusing on shrugs for the spring shows coming up in April and May. Etsy itself continues to be very slow for me right now, but I've rebuilt my inventory and I've started working with fusing plastic bags, sewing, and other experiments. I'm also playing with some new yarns, like this Alpaca Lace. It's a very fine soft alpaca without the bulk you usually see in this fiber. I'm very happy with the way the green shrug turned out and I'm working on a cream version. I'm planning to try longer sleeves. We'll see. Despite it's thinness, the fiber seems pretty easy to work with and loops up beautifully. I had trouble with the green tangling and making terrible knots. I had to cut it twice before I started pulling from the outside instead of the inside. Maybe it just can't take ANY friction? Usually a shrug takes an entire skein of yarn, but with this yarn, I could easily make at least two. Or, as I plan to, try to alter the garment into something more - perhaps adding tapered three quarter length sleeves or a longer back? We'll see.
Every once in a while you get the opportunity to have the freedom to make something truly special for someone and you know for sure that they will love it. THIS is one of those pieces. It is so over-the-top and was soooo much fun to make. This technicolor creation was blinding to work on. I'm so proud of it. I'm glad Regina likes it.
I just posted this yesterday. It's my fourth variation on the the Flutter Shawl. This time I tried a few new styles in the presentation. It's a substantial shawl! It has a nice weight to it. I find so much satisfaction in creating, finishing, and presenting these crocheted goods. My slogan for my Etsy shop and this blog is "yarn as a form of escapism" and let me tell you just how true that is. I came home today so stressed about work and restless and worried. I find myself forcing anxious thoughts out of my head and trying to calm my hands and challenge myself to create something all of my own. The process of designing and figuring things out is my favorite part, above all; but there is something to be said for having steady handwork to do. I was listening to a neuroscientist talking on a recent radio program. She was explaining why knitting can fight depression just like serotonin drugs. They produce a similar result. She said doctors used to prescribe knitting as a treatment for anxiety. (I've gone a bit loopy trying to remember the show or search for anything about this - I'll look again later.) The steady rhythm of the work is calming and there is a finished product as a reward at the end. For me, I appreciate that this thing (whatever it is that I've made) belongs to me and exists because of me. I'm proud of what I've made and I like that feeling. I've forgotten what I was upset about completely. Escape accomplished!
