Snow, but no snow day….

Yes, snow is unusual enough here in the Willamette Valley that we take pictures of it! And we got quite a bit over winter break, and it all stopped right in time for the kids to go back to school. Also DH the teacher. So now I have quiet foggy days to get my fiber business in order.

So some of the handpainted yarns are on ebay:

and

and others as I get photos done.

How do you decide when to let go off fiber stuff? I love buying tools, that’s why I have two looms and two spinning wheels, but other than selling a loom when forced to by a move I just can’t let it go. Even when they are barely used – or just not used. My knees aren’t letting me weave much anymore, but I love my looms. And I hate to admit how little spinning I get done. What should I do, bite the bullet and sell something, or let it sit there nagging me?

At least I am showing some discipline with smaller tools, I have listed quite a few on ebay and will be putting up more this week. Also some yarns from my personal stash, although every time I go through it I find some I just love and dream of new projects.

My newest obsession is fingerless mitts, particularly these so lots of yarn I find that I plan to get rid of, I end up setting aside for these. I hope to have some fun ones for chilly mornings at Saturday Market in April.

Holiday overload antidote

Breathe the fresh air, watch the waves, breathe again…repeat as necessary.

Energized and refreshed, I will be reopening my ebay store very shortly. I also spent lots of time counting yarn and beginning the Great Studio Cleanup!

I’m working on some projects, and trying to organize getting them up on Ravelry. If you haven’t checked it out yet, put yourself on the waiting list. Then be prepared to spend way too much time looking at knit and crochet patterns, reading forums on every fiber related interest, checking out patterns, etc. Tons of inspiration, sort of like getting everybody’s knitting blogs in one place.

Do something for yourself in the new year.

Potential Holiday Overload

This week is the last big push for the holidays, so I am trying to take deep breaths……

At the end of the week I will close my ebay store until after New Years. This will give me a chance to do a full inventory and get organized before reopening for winter project sales after Jan. 3. I am also going to do a big studio cleanout and will be selling some extra yarn from my own stash, extra equipment (like a ball winder, squirrel cage swift and maybe more) in addition to my regular inventory.

Our family will pause Friday night and have a big dinner to observe Solstice, which as an important physical event in our world also seems the right time to reflect on the past year and look forward to the new one. Hooray for longer days returning!

After that I have one final weekend left of Holiday Market, which has been reallygood to me this year. In addition to good sales and lots of new fiber friends, I have been in a really sweet little neighborhood. If you get a chance, you should visit Snow Lane before it disappears. All of the booths are lovely, and the neighbors all look out for each other. I’ll miss it, but am really ready for some quiet time to replenish my stock and my reflective spirit.

Back to wrapping and packing, and trying to remember to go outside and smell the fresh winter air. Take care of yourselves.

Those Holiday Sweaters

Here’s a great link to create your own glittery, gaudy, blinking wonder, the CHRISTMAS SWEATER: http://weloveholidaysweaters.wehatesheep.com/

I shudder when I see these, I wouldn’t be caught dead in one – yet sometimes I think that that is all some folks think knitters make. Along with crocheted toilet paper covers.

Holiday Market has dress-up days, and this Saturday’s theme is Costume Party. I seriously considered finding a Christmas sweater at the local thrift store, but I was seriously concerned that folks might think I was serious about reindeer on my chest.

Hello world!

Well, like everybody else I started blogging awhile back, then sort of faded away…..But I was inspired reading Kim’s Saturday Market blog http://eugenesaturdaymarket.blogspot.com/ and looking at all her gorgeous images on Flickr and realized I wanted to chat with the world again.

Mainly I wanted to brag, because if you look at the market photos, under her favs is some of my work! And more under product images, and I am just all puffed up with pride. My stuff looks darned good when someone else is promoting it!

Holiday market has been good to me, all the felted crocheted hats went like crazy, and all my dyed yarns and wools keep leaving with happy owners. It is just a lot of fun talking with all the folks who love to knit, spin, crochet, etc. and just watching them pet the wool in my booth. I’ll be sad to pack up on Christmas eve and not have that interaction again until we reopen in April. It’s a lot of fun talking with my online customers, but just not the same, yaknow?

The downside of the good sales is that I am desperately trying to dye up at least a few more items to get me through the last two weekends. This is a challenge this time of year as my workspace is unheated, and our high temp was 36 yesterday. Now, I have lived in the frozen north, and know that isn’t really cold — heck a 20 degree day is a nice winter day, but now I live here and for us it is FREEZING. My little space heater doesn’t do much and I am trying to mix dyes with numb fingers. What we do for ART.