Seriously Reconsidering Shop Theme

Hey, it is a cruel fact of life that we are not good at everything we try. And ya know what? Practice doesn't always make perfect!! OMG!? I know.
I am refering specifically to my sewing, and a little to my attitude towards my Etsy store, KloseKnit.
Oh, and another thing, just because you enjoy doing something doesn't mean that you are necessarily good at it either.  Wow, i am a bitter (old) woman today!
I am spread too thin, and things are suffering. I have also realized that you get what you put into your shop/hobby. So instead of knitting anything that strikes my fancy, I need to stop the ADD knitting and FOCUS.
So the shop will be stocked with things I like to knit, and am Good at knittng! I hope to offer more colors of same things. And have them ready to ship this time, instead of knitting frantically when I get an order. I can do this! I can manage my time! I can offer a great product that I am excited about!
It will be better for me and better for my customers.
Oh, well that is all I have time for today.
Back to work.
~ Eileen  ♥

Blog Follower Friends!!!!

Hi, I want to let everybody who checked out Shepherdscross.etsy.com and liked their alpaca/llama blend that the price is getting ready to go back up, from its sale price $10.75 to $16 a skein.
Just FYI.
I have a hat knitted with the dark brown alpaca. I will finish it tonight and post the picture here tomorrow.
Stay tuned!
Eileen

Mother was right..

My mother always stressed for me to have good posture. But your shoulders back, Eileen. Stand up straight.
I attended a Parochial school from K-8th grade, and I thought that would "keep me straight" but it hasn't. I am a computer drafter, and we drafters have a bad habit of slouching. The Drafter's Slouch it's called. Its baaaaad. Lemme tell you how to do it... scoot your butt all of the way to the front of your chair, spread your feet out (past shoulder width) and lean back. Now scooch even more forward, till your shoulder blades are against the back, and you can rest your head at the top of your chair. Don't worry, your feet will keep you balanced. Your arms are just about parallel with the top of your desk, now you can mouse, liten to music, and type all you want.

Yes, not one of my prouder moments. But in my defense, the program was just loading. As you can see, it popped up and then I got right to work. The picture before this one has me flipping off the photog. I will not publish that one, although it has the unloaded screen.


So now I sit on a balance ball. It is big and orange, and my co-workers ask me when its gonna hatch. Lol! It has improved my desk posture, but not my walking posture. They say it takes five pounds off of you if you stand up straight. I need like 30!!! but I will take 5. So lets stand up straight today. Suck your stomach in, and put your shoulders back! You are somebody, gosh darn it! Plus you dont want to get one of those humps on the back of your neck. And your boobs will look better. Who needs more excuses than that?
I hope I made you smile today!
Eileen ♥

Mucho Busy Time!

Hey, all. Wow where to start? I have sooooo much going on, but I want to start off with the good stuff, and maybe I will forget about the not-good stuff!
First of... I GOT MY KNITTING PATTERNS OFF OF MY CRASHED HARD DRIVE!!!!!  Thank you, JT! I had scanned and threw away......over half of my patterns. My cat had decided to "mark" them. Lucky me. So hence the scanning. Then a week later, the computer checked out. Bllahhh. Mayday! But JT restored my files, and I am so thankful!
Second of.... I found an awesome radio channel on Rhapsody. It is New Dawn Fades-Post punk. They played one of my favorite songs EVER -Nemisis by Shreikback. The song brings me back to my B.C. days (Before Children) when my not yet hubby and I would go dancing. Awww, the memories. Now, not all of the songs are good, but it is great background music for around the house. That will be streaming thru my house on weekends from now on. They also played some Morrisey, who's voice is not paralleled by any male singer I know of.  All of this music is free, just go to Rhapsody Radio and pick a station, they have plenty!
Third- my good friend Sandy is making aprons on her sewing machine!! We are going to sell them along with my knitted things at local craft fairs this fall. And one will be given away as November's Blog Contest prize!!
Fourth- I am almost ready to open my new shop, Bamboo Springs. I have a test pilot on BigCartel right now. I like that site because customers don't have to sign in. And they take PayPal, and Visa right there!! How sweet? I have the free package right now.

Ok, now onto more of my favorite things:
I saw a lady at the Farm this weekend that has a blog- ~Mypurlsofwisdom.wordpress.com ~She is such a sweet young lady, and I am inspired by her knitting philosophy.
~ Hyperboleandahalf.blogspot.com~ optimum hilarity, Allie, your humble adorers await more of your sun-shiney verses!
~My little boy who was born legally blind (he can see fine with glasses) got some new specs! He is too cute with his little wire frames. He looks so grown up. What a big boy!

Ok, well that is all for now. I am thinking about next month's contest. I have a couple of ideas, we shall see.  Have A Good Day!!
Eileen

Insomniatic Ramblings

Got up at 5:30. Its SUNDAY. Arrgh
Will nap later.
Anywho, I picked up my fingerless gloves-turned-mitten. I accidentally finished the thumb gusset. So instead of ripping out (or frogging) I decided to finish off the opening. And while doing that on my Etsy-bamboo dpns (double pointed needles), remembered that I wanted size 13 bamboo dpns. So I got on Etsy and bought them. Then I hopped around, looking at pin cushions, and clothing. Then I realized why I gravitated towards knitting patterns with scematics. I think I can take those knitting schematics and sew them! I feel pretty clever, but not 100% convinced that is ethical. Maybe after some sleep it will be clearer.
I have already made up three navy jersey shrugs, I tried a French seam on the latest one, and it was not perfect. So I guess I have a navy jersey shrug! yay!! I refuse to rip out seams. Absolutely. I draw the line. My sewing machine has such sturdy stitches, and I don't know how to space them out (Mom??) and the fabric doesn't really lend itself to that, with the stretchy and all that. If it was a "regular" fabric, I would rip it. But it isnt.
Off tomorrow (today!) to get maroon fabric for my second custom order for the same customer! A repeat customer! Jump for joy! My first to my immediate knowledge.
K, tired now. Sleepy time...
Have A Good Day!
Eileen

August Contest- Win a Beret Pattern!! Or the Beret if you don't knit

Here is this month's contest!! It runs from now until Aug 31st.

I am in a Natural  mood. I will be opening a new Etsy shop called Bamboo Springs which will include only clothing made from natural fibers. The fibers will be wool, cotton, angora, alpaca, and bamboo or a combination of them. And not just knitted things, but sewn clothing too!! No synthetics at all! Whoo, lets go green! All renewable, all natural, all good!
So that leads me to this month's contest! My inspiration is Shepherd's Cross.  They employ 100% natural sustainable techniques for maintaining the flock, and the wool is washed and prepared in a chemical-free manner! Wrap your mind around that! Then check out this: 

It is a sheep's pelt, but it is felt! The sheep was not harmed from this process. It was simply sheared by hand, and the wool was gathered, washed, and pressed into this piece. It is just like a sheep's pelt. More economical, and makes a great seat cushion, mat, or what ever else you can think of. It is flame resistant, organic, chemical free, humane and lovely!
If you spin, they have a dreamy alpaca-llama blend batt, and if you knit that batt is turned into really nice yarn. They have a sport weight, and a lopi style yarn that is made from this fiber. There is a dark, and a light version of both. I have some of each!! I couldn't resist. Please check out their shop http://www.etsy.com/shop/shepherdscross  and comment back here to be entered to win a beret pattern that I came up with. And if you don't knit, well I will whip one up for you!! Just tell me the color! The pattern will be emailed in PDF format, or I can just email it to you. 

Have A Great Day!Eileen

Discovered a great pattern!

One of my co-workers has developed breast cancer and is under going chemo. Last week her hair started to fall out, and I can only imagine how that would affect a woman (or man). I promised Peggy a hat. And after two attempts at it with my suuuuper soft cotton yarn (one was tooooo big, and the second one was just too big. I am going to turn it into a purse.) I started fresh on a beret made out of another cotton I have. I whipped it up in two evenings and lay it on her desk. She was out this week, due to her recent treatment. I hope she likes the hat.

Well I liked the result so much, I am knitting up another one right away. I wrote the pattern down too, which is rare. The best thing is, you can get two of these berets out of one skein. This cotton knit up so smoothly, it is a dream. You can wear it during all seasons, I am sure. I will be knitting these up is spades for a spring craft fair.
I can't wait to knit one for myself! I can't believe it came out so nice WITH NO PATTERN!!! (I'm starting to believe you, Sandy!)
But I am toying with the idea of  a "Pink For Peggy" campaign and donating part of the sales to breast cancer. I think these berets will be in that category. I am still formulating all of that, and welcome any ideas or donations if you craft.  Other items I am thinking of adding are arm warmers because they knit up fast too. 
I will add pictures of the hat I have on the needles as soon as I finish it, but this weekend is looking pretty busy- two orders this week!! WOW!! One is sewing.....more on that in future post...
Have a Great Day!
Eileen