My first knitting pattern is live!

I'm so excited right now.  The pattern test went really well, only a few things needed to be changed. Ribbed Owl Mitts is now listed on my Ravelry page for sale.  I'm debating if I should list it on Etsy as well or not.  I haven't fully decided yet.

Back in the button game.

I forgot how much I like making pin-back buttons and playing with different materials to make them with.

I love the look of x-rays.  The way the light makes the pictures glow is kind of magical looking to me.  I took some lightly colored images of flower x-rays and made them into buttons.  I like the metallic effect lets it look like they are back-lit.

Hopefully there will be more buttons in the future.

I think I also forgot to mention that I made more flower earrings.  Spring brings out my love of flowers.  The rainbow also makes me super happy.

Some things have been falling through the cracks.

  I know I am horrible at time management.  Lately some things have been falling through the cracks.  One of the things that have been lacking lately has been real blogging.  I have been trying to keep the Facebook page updated, but often I have been choosing to work on items over talking about them.  It doesn't help that they have been giving me more hours at my day job.

  Owl stitch markers seem to be the most popular things in my shop this year.  So I decided to use the multi-colored ones and my black cotton cord to make some more.

  I have not listed these before, but this style of stitch marker were the first ones I have ever made.  I thought it would be fun to bring them back.


  I saw someone on YouTube make some super cute glass pebbles where they colored the back with nail polish.  The only problem is that then she didn't show what to do with them.  Most people make them into magnets, bit that idea didn't appeal to me.  Some more searching showed that a lot of people glued ring backs or flat-back bails to them, but I am a super paranoid person when it comes to trusting just glue on non-porous items.
  I had considered using a bezel, but the ones I have are from the craft store for floral decor, so they are all kinds of different sizes and shapes.  I even tried to make my own bezel out of polymer clay, but I ended up covering more of the front than I wanted to before I felt like they would really be safe in there.

  I then though of how I love making beaded netting, but how it usually takes too long to easily make something.  I combined that with the idea of a bezel and these are what I came up with.

Pink and Yellow Beaded Pebble Pendant

Pink, Green, and Yellow Dot Beaded Pebble Pendant

Blue, White, and Black Dot with Purple Beaded Pebble Pendant

Blue and Gold Beaded Pebble Pendant

I'm tired of winter!

I am tired of it being too cold out.  I like having the option to just decide to run around outside.  To combat the cold I have made some nice and cheery bracelets.

I think though I used black cording for the knots that they are all so happy and cheery.  We got about six more inches of snow yesterday.  While it was fun to watch while drinking hot chocolate, I'm excited for the flowers to come back.

Some new wintery items are up.

I am so excited that these are looking as cute as they are.  I know cold weather makes me excited to see all of the bright red poinsettias around.

 These are nice and puffy and to me look more like a poinsettia.

I was showing someone the two of them and though I personally like the wider earring more, she really liked the thinner one more.  I like giving people a lot of options.

There are some snowflakes in the works, so make sure to stay tuned for those!

It doesn't hurt so much when you just sit down and do it.

I kept putting off so many things that last night I just made something.  I didn't think about it too much to worry about that people might like or not like, I just made something and timed it.  I think I needed this because I tried to make a sample for the crochet bracelet and the beads are not taking up as much space as I had assumed.
This means that I can hold my arm to the side and drop the bracelet onto my wrist.  It usually twirls and falls right back off right after that.  I am hoping that it will fit someone's wrist since it have to push it halfway up my forearm to get it to stay on.  If I need to label some as 'large' and some as 'small' I think I will be alright with that.  I was really hoping for a more 'one size fits most' thing, but that isn't working out for me right now. 

Making knotted bracelets like this feel like they take longer than they really do.  I'm feeling there will be more of these made.  Once the awkward beginning part is done then it becomes pretty portable.

I am still on the hunt for good beads for the Poinsettia earrings and I still need to try out the fabric flower pattern to make some Poinsettia hair clips.  I mentioned that I'm not good working on things to match the season, right?  I think because it is cold out that I just want to head somewhere warm.

Slowly filling up the store.

While I have not met my goal of adding some things every few days, I am still adding new items to the store.  The one problem I seem to be running into now is finding things to list.  I made a ton of those earrings and listed a lot of them, but I don't want to have my shop be 90% very similar earrings, 10% random other things.  I want some sort of balance.  Right now I have about 4 card holders, 4 tissue covers, and 5 pairs of earrings.  I think that is pretty good and I should start adding new things.  I have made two sets of stitch markers and I have plans for more.

Yellow Owls with green beads.

Yellow Owls with blue beads.

Good news time!  Though the button thing I mention late last year seems to be on a hold, she is still interested.  I will have all the supply to make them once we both can get everything in order.  Not sure when this will be, but it is good to stay positive.  I also sold a pair of my cherry blossom earrings!  I am super happy about that.

This time I mean it!

Yesterday I noticed that on my schedule for my "day job" I only work 2 days next week.  I knew it was a sign!  It also snowed a ton last night and I got a snow-day today.  Another sign in my eyes.
Last night I spent some time and worked on a style I liked better for the pocket tissue covers.  I also made a style that takes a lot longer to make and is harder for people to get the tissues into and out of.  I think that one won't be made more than once.

Here is a picture of the original style on the top and the newer one on the bottom.  I like how the lining is showing.  What is the point of picking out a fun lining if it is kept a secret?  I think I am going to make that border a bit bigger on future ones.

 

This is the one that will be one of a kind.  It looks pretty cool and you wouldn't think it would be much harder to make, but for some reason it was a pain.  I don't know if it was just because it was the first time I made it or something else.  But like I said before, it also makes getting the tissues in and out a pain.  I don't think people want to work for them when they need a tissue.



Because people like cat pictures.  Here is my boss telling me I'm not doing it right and to work harder. 

Some finished things.

While I am not completely done with everything needed for The Accessory Lady (she needed to get some things for me and we have yet to meet again) but I have been able to work on some things of my own.

A few not very exciting, but still cute bottle-cap pendants.

Here are some fabric card holders.

 These are a few pocket tissue covers.

The fancy kanzashi pictured here was a birthday present to the person in the picture, but I Pam to make similar ones to sell.

 Like the other picture, this exact one was a birthday present, but I plan to make more of these in different colors.

I send a copy of a few of these pictures to a shop who I'm hoping to sell my things through.  I've seen their website and they have some really cute consignment items.  I'm hoping they like what they see!

Already heading in the right direction!

Right now I have some paint on the way to help make a back-drop for my product pictures.  I think I will try cutting the top and two sides off of a good sized cardboard box and paint the inside.
If there is not enough paint (a friend is being nice and giving me the paint for free) I will probably just buy some fabric and do the exact same thing.