Leaving this one...

I am changing to this blog because several people were getting me confused with fibermama.blogspot.com and she DID start her blog first. Because of backlinks such stuff I am keep this blog up but am going to be posting my new stuff on my other blog. Just letting readers know so they can update their readers.

Chuck E. Cheese coupons!

I don't know how long it will last but if you sign up to get emails from their website, you get 100 tokens for 10.00 dollars. Talk about a deal! You can also get cheap tokens by looking up the coupons on their site with having to sign up for emails!

A. C. Moore has a 50% off coupon for one non-sale item this upcoming weekend (Aug. 29, 2008 and Aug. 30, 2008)

They are also having a demo on how to make chocolate covered pretzels.

Coupon

Hobby Lobby printable coupon! (In store ONLY!)

25% off one item from August 25, 2008 to August 30, 2008.

Coupons

Joann printable coupons! (Can be used online too!)

40% off one item from August 24, 2008 to September 6, 2008.

10% off entire purchase August 29, 2008 to September 1, 2008.

A.C. Moore coupons

These A.C. Moore coupons are good until August, 30th, 2008.

A yarn contest!

Free yarn contest!

I tried to get her buttons to work but for some reason they won't. Oh well!

The winner!

Sorry for being late. Things have been pretty busy!

The winner of the headbands was Peculair! Congratulations!

Grocery Comparisons

Ok, so I am an a REALLY tight budget (though we have upped the food money to 300 a month from 200 a month). I am going to start comparing food prices in Fort Myers, FL so I can get the best deal. The places being compared are Sam's Club, Walmart, Publix, Albertsons and Sweet Bay. This will only of foods I use and be in alphabetical order by product and then best price. (this will also be edited and dated by each edit).

Bananas (per pound)
0.69 = Publix (Aug. 3, 2008)

Blueberries
5.87 = Sam's Club (2 pounds) (Aug. 2, 2008)

Children's Vitamins
13.34 = Sam's Club (Flintstones Brand) (exact price is 0.03335 per day for a 2 year old) (Aug. 2, 2008)
8.88 = Sam's Club (Member's Mark Gummy brand) (exact price is 0.03552 per day for a 2 year old) (Aug. 2, 2008)

Eggs
2.02 = Sam's Club (18 ct of x-large) (.001761116 cents per gram) (Aug. 2, 2008)

Milk 2% gallon
3.64 = Sam's Club (Aug. 2, 2008)
4.19 = Walmart (Aug. 1, 2008)

Onions
2.28 = Walmart (Yellow, 3 pound bag: 0.76 per pound) (Aug. 1, 2008)

Oranges (per pound)
1.99 = Publix (Aug. 3, 2008)

I am also blogging about what I am buying when on this blog.

Free makes me happy!

I found this while wasting time and HAD to share! It seems that facebook has a FREE advertising promo code! You want it? Take it and RUN! Here is the link!

A Giveaway!

I am happy to say that I am hosting a giveaway for Bargain Headbands, a super great shop on etsy. Each headband is handmade and super cute!

This is what you will win:
It may not be the *exact* ones pictured but will be of the same fabric.

How you can win:
Go to her shop, find a headband that strikes you and then write a Haiku about it and link it. (must be in English) One entry please.

Who can win:
Anyone that can be mailed to.

When the giveaway ends:
Aug. 8th at noonish Eastern Time and announced Aug. 10th sometime. Winner will be decided by random number generator. Winner will be posted on this post (or emailed if they provide an email) and must comment with their email addy or address (I have my comments monitored so I will make sure it doesn't post). If the winner does not claim the prize in 3 days of being posted the second runner up will be posted and so on until the prize is claimed.


I am also part of the giveaway carnival! Check The Bloggy Giveaway out!
photo is owned and copyrighted by Bargain Headbands.

Bubbles!

Like any 2 year old, my little lady is love with bubbles, so as a present for her we made bubble solution. The recipe we used was:

1 cup water
1/4th cup liquid dish soap
1 teaspoon sugar

(site I got the recipe from)

the bubbles are GREAT! My little one is going CRAZY for them.

Knitting Resources I Like

Knit Map: This site really is a yarn store locater from all over the world! Going on a trip and need a yarn shop? Visit this place!


Knit Pro: Takes images and makes them into patterns. Kinda cool!


Knitty: A website with FREE knitting patterns on it, very cool.


Random Stripe Generator: Need random stripes for a project, well here you go!


Ravelry: Great knitting, crocheting and spinning site. It is worth checking out. It is in BETA so expect a waiting list (but the wait is right now less than 24 hours so really is that a wait compared to the 3+ months I waited?). I am MamaMay if you want to look me up.


Wiknit: A knitting blog that keeps up with all the contest that are knitting, crotchet and even spinning related. If you want to check it out, please do!


Wilton's Colorant Mixing Page: Anyone that id going to try dyeing with Wilton's Icing would benefit from this pages recommendations.



Yarn Sizes and Substitutions: Good resource for finding the weight of recycled yarns.

Sorry...

I have been REALLY busy lately but here is a quick rundown of this month so you don't think I have died or something horrible (what with shootings and such at my apartment complex). Hubby is right now in Hawaii, but before you think he is lucky or something you need to know that he is waking up at "work" for 12 hours each day... sometimes more so he isn't enjoying the lovely beaches or anything. My mother in law is here and we are getting along great.

My car got broken into at McDonalds. I walked out as they were jimmying my car. I was carrying 2 kids at the time so I didn't get plates as they drove off. I have NO clue why they would break into my car. I have a blue POSH car (Piece Of Sh*t Hatchback) that doesn't have air or a radio and has the paint is peeling. I might have understood if we had just filled the tank, but the tank was on E.

We are completely out of the old apartment. I have to turn in the keys but that is it. I even sold the washer and dryer for 250. It feels good to make money!

We went to Chick-fil-A yesterday dressed as cows and got free food (the second Friday of July they have Cow Appreciation Day and they will give you free food for dressing like a cow). On top of that we found out that ever Monday in July all the Chick-fil-A's in our area are giving FREE breakfast! Talk about a deal! I know where we are going for breakfast!

Happy Fourth Everybody!

Have a safe and happy 4th of July!

What, it's FRIDAY!?!

Tomorrow We will have been in our new apartment for 7 days. We still have boxes EVERYWHERE and haven't even full packed the other apatment to move it over here. So horrible of me!

I really like the new place but it does have it's... lets call them highlights, just to be nice.

On the first night, there was a shooting in front of the building we live in. Seven shots fired and no one was hit that we know of (at least no blood). I didn't even know that someone was shooting, I though someone was just knocking on someone else's door very enthusiastically.

The next day we found out our washer didn't work (Well it worked but it didn't shut off the water so it overflowed...). Maintenance came and fixed that problem as well as the leaky basin. We also met a few neighbors and was asked if I smoke pot... I turned them down.

Day three was uneventful, but I was mostly at the old place packing.

Day four I just unpacked stuff.

Day five the washer broke again and they decided to just replace it. (the maintenance workers are super nice!)

Today I discovered that the bathtub in the back bathroom doesn't work (no hot water...). I am NOT calling it in until we are more settled though.

Advertising spots

So you want to advertise on my blog? I use Project Wonderful ads. My 125 by 125 pixel ad spot with them is the upper left box. I also have a footer ad which is standard banner size. I do reserve the right to not approve your ad for whatever reason.

Like the new look?

So I really revamped my blog today. I have been wanting another column for a while and so today I made one! Woot! It was REALLY easy too. Literally, anyone can do it. In fact they have A LOT of really cool stuff. So check them out.

I need a new header...

And a great friend of mine is doing a header contest. She is REALLY good at graphic design too so go check her out!

Brita coupons!!!

You might be wondering why I would even want a Brita water filter, well, having just moved we are now drinking WELL WATER. That is right, 3 miles in from the ocean and we have well water, meaning that it is SALTY to the taste. YUCK! Anyway, Brita here we come.


Ok, so it is really easy! You take the pledge and you get money off Brita stuff. Good stuff.

Sharing... 2 year old style

Well the little lady has decided to share her illness with the rest of the family. So she is better and Mommy, Daddy and little brother are now all sick. It is a virus. We ache all over.

Right now she is in her room crying (not real tears, the fake type, which is really more like loud whining) because *she* isn't tired (she slept a bunch while sick) and wants to play (even though all of her toys are IN her room) and mommy is sick and needs a nap. Will I get one, VERY unlikely because every 10 minutes or so she will open her door and peak out to see if I am awake. If I am not, she will destroy the house if I am awake she will go back into her room and "cry".

Well, that isn't fun...

Well, the little lady has an ear infection (what 2 year old doesn't get these?). So we have been having fun nights. Since hubby is a doc we are waiting the 2 weeks to see if she gets over it herself. We have also been popping her ears for her (A doctor trick, makes them SCREAM BLOODY MURDER when you do it, but completely drains the ears for 5 or 6 hours... making it so she can sleep).

Anyway, I have decided, 100% to let my esty shop die out. This blog will then just revert back to my mommy blog that tries to find time for knitting. I am actually excited to have the yarns expire. I really want to get my needles into them. (If you by chance like ANY of the yarns I have for sale and are hoping for a deal after expiration, tough! I didn't buy one sweater that I personally didn't want the yarn from, just in case I got stuck with it!) The washcloths will be sold, but I will most likely make it into one big ole set and sell for cheaper. I might go into soap making (I can make soaps out of the home a lot easier than trying to go to Goodwill and find sweaters to recycle with 2 little munchkins underfoot!). I don't know, we will see and do more research. (I have been making handmake soaps as gifts for a while... so soap making isn't a huge jump, just need to keep better records of what materials I use.)

I do intend to still advertise and promote Etsians (they are a nice group and usually on top of things).

Etsy?

I am thinking of just letting my etsy shop die out (meaning I will not be putting the items back up after they expire.) I might do something else with the shop, but give me a year or two.

Oh the Blessings come pouring in!

Blessings I have gotten recently:

*Got a call earlier today and we have the apartment I was hoping for! We sign on Saturday at 10 am and get the keys then. Oh-yea!

*This apartment needs a stackable washer and drier set and I got an Email for one in town for 200 dollars. Great!

*I have been really wanting an interchangeable knitting needle set and I got an incomplete Boye set from a Ravelry member for 5 dollars (shipping costs). AWESOME!

*I wanted to have a complete set of Boye needles so I Ebayed and got an unopened set for less than 13 dollars... and it included a Crochet Master as well! AMAZING!

Needless to say, I am dancing around the house and praising God. The little 2 year old is dancing too... and singing. At least she was before she went to bed a few hours ago.


... I just noticed that the knitting related blessing got all caps... Te he.

$200 a month feeds a family of 4

As I said before in some other post, I feed my family on 200 dollars a month. For those just googling and finding this, that includes, my hubby, me and 2 kids (one is 2 and a half with the other just being born early last May). I will also say that I use cash only to pay for food, this guarantees that I do not go over our budget.., ever. This 200 also covers diapers and personal care items. (wonder why my kids are in cloth diapers? Now you know. Same goes for why I don't shave my legs.)

I ALWAYS ask myself if something is a want or a need before I buy it (or eat it). Then I ask myself how can I get it cheaper. An example of this is milk. Having small kids makes milk mandatory, but you can drink dried milk, or at least cook with it. This can cut a huge chunk from you how much you spend. I also weigh my eggs and see which is the best price per ounce. I know that seems extreme, but those little bits do affect the way your family eats when on a tight budget.

I also don't buy foods we really don't need. Anything convenience is just a big NO. This goes for sodas, bottled water or even crackers and chips. In fact buying foods based on the vitamins and other nutritional need is good to do.

Over eating is seen in my house as wasting food. You don't need that food right now, you could wait until tomorrow to eat it. For small children that means making them beg for more. Kids under the age of 5 will not overeat unless urged to by an adult, so as the adult not wanting food wasted only put one piece of each type of food on the child's plate. when they eat what is there let them ask for more and only put one more piece on the child's plate. This goes on the whole meal and helps train the child to be healthier in not overeating or wasting food.

Another way to eat cheap is to make EVERYTHING from scratch. If you don't have a lot of time to cook this can be harder but still possible. You can make a casserole and freeze it for a few days down the road or you can go to allrecipes.com and do a search keeping times in mind.

If anyone has questions please post.

Aunt Kathy: Baby is sleeping a lot (and growing too). Makes me happy that I knit up small size soakers and not newborn! I am still tired but that is because my little 2 year old is an over flowing well of energy!

Well, there goes that...

The apartment we thought we were going to live is seems to be stringing us along. So I am now looking for somewhere else to live... and praying a lot... Yea.

Friday's thing

Well, military/military spouses won on the poll, so now to find them. If anyone knows of a mil/mil spouse that owns an online store tell me. I am going to want to look over the store...

Fun with soakers and other junk

Ok, so I cloth diaper (and love it too) but have always used diaper covers that one buys (with Velcro) instead of the knitted and wooly type. Since the little man has been born though, I have figured out that the Velcro on the diaper covers is just plain dieing so I am now knitting like crazy. (and dyeing wool too.) So anyway pics to come on this Mama's knitting. I still need to buy the lanolin wash and the snappis but that is why I shop online (unless someone that read this KNOWS of someone in Fort Myers, FL that sells that locally...).

We think we have found a place to live this next year. It is something like 10 dollars over budget but we can take that out of the 200 we have to food money each month (yes, we somehow feed 2 adults, a 2 year old and now a new born on 200 a month... if people are interested in how I do that I do intend to post about it sooner or later... the more interest the sooner so post.) It lacks a lanai but has a very little kid friendly playground.

We bought a binky

It seems that this little guy can't find his fingers like his older sister did (even though he sucked them all the time before being born...), so I broke down last night and bought a binky. I am so glad I did! I got 4 straight hours of sleep! So much better than the one hour increments I have been getting. Of course this means that I am going to have to break him of the binky some time down the road, but I can do that.

No more sleeping in...

Having a newborn and staying up until 1 or 2 am the night before, I let myself sleep in yesterday (sleeping in is 8 am to me). This is normally ok to do because my daughter who is 2 and a half can't turn doorknobs. Well, yesterday she figured out how to open doors with doorknobs (her bedroom) and basically wandered the house for a few hours before I came out of our bedroom. She had by then found all sorts of "fun" things to do in this time like get into our 50 pound bag of flour and cover herself and in about 5 pounds of it and then proceed to "plant" the potatoes in the flour. It basically took me all day to just clean up the mess she made (though I am very happy to say that she did get several wet wash cloths and mop up the floor all by herself). I am still finding things she got into but the flour was the real mess.

In other news, I am in charge of finding a new place to live in Fort Myers, FL. With the roomies leaving at the end of the month we can't afford to stay in our apartment for another year. The list of things we HAVE TO HAVE are 2 bedrooms, washer and dryer or washer and dryer hookups, centrally located to the hospitals in the area and it has to be under 700 dollars a month (actually we have 700 dollars a month for all housing costs like rent, power, water and anything else they might tack on...) so we are really praying for something to show up. I would really love a lanai, but it is not necessary.

Too much!

I had completely forgotten how much work a baby can be. Don't get me wrong, I love it but I now realize I have too much on my plate, esp. with the internet. So now I have to decide what I am going to cut. I am thinking that Etsy should be dropped (too much work to go out with a 2 year old and a new baby to look for sweaters to recycle, though I could so something like make cute soaps and sell those...) and so should Feature Friday's (I don't have the energy to watch 2 kids and edit it up).

NEW BABY!!!

The baby has arrived! I gave birth on May 1st at 11:06pm. We had a little boy and he was 7 pounds 3 ozs (I don't know how long he was though...) He is so cute. I will get the Friday feature up soon (maybe not today... but SOON!)

ashpags, tizz., and lobug: Thank you.

Aunt Kathy: Thank you. I don't post names, at least of family members. I know my name is all over the net, but I try to keep my kid's and hubby's name off of it.

Turtle: Thank you and you are right the real fun is now happening!

Ruth: I will give him a kiss for you.

knitsational: Thank you.

Plug Boards! The list!

I am linked to Works for me Wednesday on Rocks in my Dryer.

First of all a plug board is a place that you can put a little picture and link for free to whatever site you want. Most have rules like family friendly only, so if you are not family friendly or G rated then might want to read the plug boards rules... and these are not always on the site it is on but the host site so look there too!

Flashy is best, in my opinion because it helps get you noticed, but too flashy can get you deleted or banned so might want look at the site a little. Standard size is 88 pixels by 31 pixels (though I have seen 50 by 50, 80 by 15 and 468 by 60 sizes as well, though more rarely).


Alphabetical order of sites:

(88 by 31)
artistic-touches.com
athomeresources.com
beadshak.net
blog.tizzalicious.com
cabwjohnson.blogspot.com
crittersnackz.com
iamtheprincess.com
indigoblah.blogspot.com
jackkyllscraps.blogspot.com
jenhintz.blogspot.com
mamamays.blogspot.com
mysticalaromas.com
outofthepinksky.net
perfectpartybycody.com
plugme.net
readybanner.com
shopwithamom.com
spirited-lady-boutique.com
thecinnamonhollow.com
thewahmshack.com
uniquecharm.net
virtualfreedom4you.com
wahparents.com


(468 by 60)
mysticalaromas.com
thecinnamonhollow.com
thewahmshack.com
wahparents.com
workfromhomeontheinternet.com


(80 by 15)
thecinnamonhollow.com

Are we potty trained?

For the last 4 days we have been staying at home and little 2.5 year old has been in panties (and had only 3 accidents but one of those was when she tried to stand up and pee in the potty like a little boy at church). So today we went out and went grocery shopping in her nice new panties and she TOLD me she needed to go potty. I am so proud.

CatherineMarissa

Etsy Buy Handmade CatherineMarissa

*Why Etsy? Was Etsy your first online store? Do you sell elsewhere?

I had an online shop connected to my personal website for awhile, but it was incredibly time consuming without the desired results. At a show, another fabulous vendor pointed me in the direction of Etsy and I figured it was worth a shot since the listing is so reasonable and the template is easy to follow.

In addition to Etsy, I sell at a few craft shows and home parties each year and have my work in a gallery.

*How long have you been on Etsy as a seller?

I started an account in the late fall of 2006. I began listing jewelry in my shop in January of 2007. I had intended on opening sooner, but my second son showed up a couple months premature and knocked me off course.

I opened a destash shop "Jewelry Supplies" in January of 2007 and began listing pretty much immediately. "Avery Winslow" opened in September 2007.

*Why do you sell what you sell? What is your inspiration?

I sell jewelry because I enjoy designing and have gotten a good response to my work. I also sell my own line because I like having a creative outlet and, while it certainly isn't paying the mortgage each month, the income that I do have helps with medical bills and the occasional guilt free family trip.

I'm mostly inspired by people, as general as that sounds. I've always been the type of person who is content to sit and watch others go about their days. I'm inspired by the stories that I create for these strangers. I also find inspiration in fashion magazines, vintage clothing books, the supplies themselves, and that incredibly fascinating time each day where I drift between wakefulness and sleep.

*How long did it take to get your first sale?

It certainly felt like a lifetime! Even though I knew that wasn't the case, I really wanted to post and have that first item sell...as if to tell me "this is the place for you." In reality, I think it was around 3 weeks and I had around 30 items in my shop.

*What is the hardest thing about selling online for you and what have you done to help you do this?

No question, my biggest challenge online is photography and descriptions. When I sell in person, size is obvious (rather than struggling with a ruler when purchasing online) and the shoppers can see the sparkle and clarity of a piece with no question as to its quality. It's difficult for me to translate the beauty of each piece online. I'm working on it though. :) I've tried different styles of photography, different backgrounds, and experimented with ways to show scale. I'm still working on the best way to do descriptions that blends factual information with the fun details.

Additionally, I think selling in general is difficult for me since I'm so busy with other responsibilities and short on time. I feel like I have a million ideas for pieces, advertising, and marketing...I just need 48 hours in a day (or a full time nanny!).

* What do you think is the BEST most effective way to get your name out?

This is a question that I still struggle with. I think it's most important to first figure out who your market is and plan your advertising with that market in mind. Although I've heard a lot about MySpace working for other sellers, I know that my typical clients do not use MySpace so that isn't the best way to get my name out. I also know that many of the online features do not appeal to my customers. As more and more shopping takes place on line, I'm hoping that an online form of advertising will stand out as effective. At this point, I've received the most traffic following magazine publications or features. In my budget for 2008, I am planning to spend more advertising dollars on print ads.

Anyone selling should have business cards with them always and give those out to family and friends who are comfortable sharing information about the business. That's the easiest way to get your name out.

Please Visit her blog and website!

No computer time!

Well, I know it is Friday and I really want to post a feature but I didn't get that done. Hubby has been using the computer ever moment that I have been free (he is in school and his grades keep food on the table so it isn't really an issue other than I REALLY want to get this done!) I will do my best for Sat. but hubby is home tomorrow and I don't know what the schedule will be like. At worst my feature will but up on Monday. how bad is that... really?

Feature friday and a computer meltdown

Well, computer is going CRAZY (along with my body but hey what is pregnancy for... right?) and I hope to get the Friday's feature up, but It will have to wait until morning. So sorry!

No baby yet...

Well, I am (im)patently waiting this little ones arrival. I saw the midwife on Tuesday this week and haven't progressed at all. The baby has dropped but that is about it.

Labor?

Ok, so I might be taking a force hiatus very soon. The reason? Baby has dropped (meaning it has decided to get into position to get born) and I am having the beginning stages of labor.

Now the nitty gritty of it all:

Contractions are about 10 minutes apart and 1 to 2 minutes long. You don't need to call your doc/midwife and head to the birthing center/hospital until they are 5 minutes apart and 1 minute long (though I have been calling my midwife and she said call her if I start progressing anymore but just to relax until I do). Now the reason I say the beginning stages is because I could very well keep at this level for 2 weeks or I could just stay like this for 2 hours and then get on to full labor... who knows, though if I had my say It would be 2 hours. Anyway, we will see what happens.

Artisan Impact

Etsy Buy Handmade artisanimpact

Ilan, Oded and Ev are completely passionate about jewelry. They have been making and selling gold and silver jewelry for 16 years in galleries. Their designs are inspired by Spanish and other cultures.

They decided to start selling online on Ebay in the summer of 2007 but do not think it is as good a fit as Etsy is. They heard about Etsy in July of 2007 and started to sell there as well. Their first sale was a week after starting on Etsy with their second sale another week later. It took them two to three months to get regular sales on Etsy.

They have come up with a unique solution to advertising, printing a catalog called “Artisans of the World”. They print their designs and sell space to other etsyians trying to get their name out.

It is mandatory that you set aside money and time to promote your shop outside of Etsy. Posting on the boards will get people to look at your shop but isn't easily done on a daily basis.

Visit their other Etsy shop and their website.

An appointment...

I had an appointment today with my midwife and it turns out that I am 60% effaced and at 2 centimeters. Great news if you ask me, considering that I was safe to give birth as of April 8th or something like that. (Meaning that the lungs and everything else was fully developed and baby may be a little underweight but fine.) My midwife says that I am good to go whenever labor starts. I really want to give birth soon...

How to take GREAT photos!

These are some helpful hints on taking photos I have found and am sharing at Works for me Wednesday hosted by Rocks in my Dryer:

1. Take LOTS of photos! If it is grandkids, something you are trying to sell, or anything in between take a bunch of photos. I take about 100 photos for each of my yarns I have for sale and up towards 300 when doing a photo session for my little un. So glad I have a digital camera otherwise I am not sure what would happen to me!

2. Check out the background. It doesn't have to be Plain Jane but you don't want it to be too busy either. With children and pets this can not always be determined until after the photo is taken but in still life you can play a whole bunch.

3. Remember that you can crop! ok, so you don't like the weird person that is standing in the background of a photo. No problem, cut them out. Don't have a photo editing software? Look into getting The Gimp for free. And check out this tutorial page.

4. Look objectively at the photo. Look at the photo and ask yourself "how are my eyes traveling around the photo?" Are they centering in on what you want it to center in on? Do your eyes move around the photo? If so where? Are these places you want other peoples eyes to linger? Does the photo direct your eyes off the photo? If it does is that ok? And remember that a man's eyes move differently than a woman's eyes.

5. Color accuracy is important! Ok, not so much with people photos, but with something you are trying to sell online, you HAVE TO HAVE accurate colors, at least as accurate as possible.

24 hour shifts...

Hubby is working in Trauma Surgery this month so he can make is own schedule. He needs to work something like ten 24 hour shifts this month. Seeing as I am due in early May I am encouraging him to work as many as he can before the 18th of this month so if I go early I can keep him at home and not feel bad about it. Of course the munchkin daughter is NOT liking having her bedtime messed up (daddy puts her to bed every night), but she will survive.

Now on to unfamily like stuff.

I am starting something called Friday's Feature and right now am just featuring Etsy shops. That will be changing in June (the theme will be Baby Showers, so only shops that specialize in babies) when I will be willing to take ANY online shop, though I will most likely have about half be Etsy. Also vote in my poll for July's Features theme.

Jelly: I am surprised at how many people don't know considering the information is sitting in my profile. Of course I don't really talk about it either.

Little Bug Boutique

Etsy Buy Handmade littlebugsboutique

Little Bugs Boutiques is actually this mother's second shop, her first being opened in 2004. She didn't open shop on Etsy until December 2007. It took her a week to get her first sale on Etsy.

Charlene has always been creating and artistic. She got her degree in Interior Design and started working in an Architectural firm. She loved her job but then some things in her life changed.

In 2001, after the birth of her first child, she was searching for something that would allow her to spend more time at home, but still allow her to get out some creative energy. She tried and disliked scrap booking. One day she woke up and it dawned on her that she should make and sell jewelry and has had a passion for it ever since. In 2005, she started to focus on the jewelry business full time. She still does some Architectural work now and then, but children & jewelry are her primary passions and keep her quite busy.

The hardest thing for Charlene about selling online is that you can't actually see and hold the item. She states, "You have to sell the picture." This means practicing and experimentation. Try every angle, light, and prop you have.

She also things the BEST way to get ones name out is by word of mouth. "Good quality and service are essential," emphasizes Charlene. Have your items shipped promptly and packaged well.

Visit her blog, website or her supply shop on Etsy.

MAJOR toy give away!

Ok, so I am linking this because I just need to. It is such a sweet deal that I have to!

Contest ends May 7th and winners are chosen May 9th!

FREE things on the net that I like!

Ok. so I thought I would share some really great free (and almost free) deals on the internet that I visit almost daily.

Free silver jewelry: Ok, so you have to pay shipping ($5.99 USD) but really, who can resist! This is GREAT for a gift for mothers day or some other holiday! Warning: VERY ADDICTIVE!

Free samples from Wal*mart: I get these all the time. Toothpaste, shampoo, diapers, foods. They have it all and free, but it is all limited in supply so it changes often (like in daily!)

My points: Ok, so you sign up to basically be spammed in your email box but for every spam they send that you click through you get points (5 points usually but sometimes 25 or 50). Then you can "turn in" your points for gift cards (I got a 25 dollar gift card for Red Lobster so far so I know it works). you can also get more points faster if you buy stuff (right now it is 10 points per dollar with Target so if you need to buy from Target anyway... why not?) via their site or use their search bar. You also get points for referring people so if anyone wants to be nice and give me points for posting about it, please comment and let me have your email...

That is all for now, but If i can think of more I will post again.


shopinchic: Thanks for the freebie! I am now addicted!

Heart of Wisdom: Thank for the link to your site.

Spring Break is over!

This last week has been spring break for hubby (the last one he will ever get too) so I have been busy. We went out some, we reorganized the house, and we set up the crib for the new baby.

Our little 2 year old is doing some really cute things too. She had outgrown the "Pat The Bunny" book and now only want to be read "The Silver Slippers" book. We have a ballet work out video that is our roommates and she "exercises" to it almost all day. Very fun to watch. We also have a under dress that kinda looks like a tutu that she insists on wearing EVERYWHERE.

A little sad about etsy...

Well, have been posting on etsy for over a month. I followed different peoples advice and only posted every so often instead of all at once so as to keep my shop on the front page when I could (I would have posted more at first but I made myself promise that I wouldn't post unless I had the money to pay the etsy bill). I have posted on the forums, gotten treasuries, and even advertised to try and get my name out and sell something. Still have no sales. So I am asking for advice. What do YOU suggest so I can get a sale? or just do better? I am not begging for a sale, just advice.

Aunt Kathy: Thanks, I guess I kinda expected to have a sale by the end of the first month with all the advertising and such I was doing.

Anon.: I know what you mean.

Ashpags: Ok, I kinda agree that scrolling down is frustrating, so I moved the etsy link tot he top of the page (also note that I advertise the other blog in banners all over while I do not do so for this blog). I was going to do a donation with my first sale... If it doesn't happen in another few months (the first 6 of my shop) then i will donate. The dishcloths are more because I won't be teaching anymore once the baby comes in May and though I could use them, I would rather sell them. Knitter or no.

Dotty: Thanks for commenting! I do love PW so much. And thanks for the convos!

I got pics!

I got a lot done today for my etsy shop. I got all the washcloths photographed and am ready to post them. I am going to be doing that over the next few days instead of all at once so as to keep my shop active.

Aunt Kathy: I have put 3 up now and a new yarn. I intend on putting up the rest nxt month. I also have a new yarn up! yippie! Now if only someone will buy something... oh well it takes time.

Easter and baby shower

Easter and the baby shower went well. I got 4 bouncers which was kinda funny but I got all but one returned and now can buy what I need (storage for baby!). My little one had a good time Easter egg hunting, no pic though.

I am officially not going to have any more knitting classes until post birth so I am selling the washcloths on Etsy when I can get photos taken. I picked them up yesterday and found out that someone stole one of them. I am taking it a a complement that they liked it.

Aunt Kathy: LOL! The really funny part was that I have it on my registry but no one took it off. In fact it was still there when i took it off my registry about 5 minutes ago.

Really really busy!

Ok, so I need to post more. I have been noticing that this month I just haven't been. I have started a new blog that isn't really a blog, more of a big ad for my etsy shop. I am exclusively advertising for it and not for etsy so I can see what ads are working and which ads are flops. Don't want to waste my ad money needlessly!

In other news, I am having a baby shower tomorrow. My roommate is throwing it for me but it is my job to clean the house and bake the cupcakes for it. Fine by me.

Aunt Kathy: I did get lots of good stuff. We don't know the gender.

My first treasury!

I got a treasury on etsy today!!

The treasury is now expired but check out the other cool treasuries out there on either the treasury or treasury west.

working feverishly...

I have been working pretty hard to get more yarns up on my Etsy store and have discovered that my photos were too big to post (thanks MoonMothPress for helping me!). Now I will be able to post more, though I am thinking about one yarn every few days is good for now. I have major knitting to do because I am pregnant and in the nesting stage of it and really want to get a few more little things designed (again trying for knitty... at least until Ravelry stopped putting me on the waiting list for selling patterns...).

Ruth: I know so exciting! I am hoping to get more pics ready soon so i can post even more, but for now one a week seems good.

As Promised!

Ok, I finally got my little 2 year old to distracted long enough to not only take pictures of my swift but to download them. They yarn is a lace weight merino wool that I hand dyed (760 yards of it too) from a recycled sweater. I am going to sell it, or at least try if I can ever get a pic that actually shows how pretty it really is (the pic does NOT do it justice! but I tried!)




Ruth: Thanks the color is almost right in that pic, but I still need to get a pic that picks up the tonal subtleties. The swift goes out to 2 yards around.

Jodie: It is almost electric. Very bright to say the least.

Aunt Kathy: A swift is used to either make skeins or to break them down and ball them. Also very helpful if you are going to be dyeing a lot.

It has arrived!

I just got my swift and being the fiber obsessed mother that I am putting my little one to bed early (she feel asleep on the couch due to missing her nap today so I just get to move her...) and getting out some sweaters to unravel! Oh the excitement!


Aunt Kathy: She is 2 years old, I will be posting pics whenever she lets me download them from the camera (nap time)... same goes for pics that need to go in my Etsy shop... but that is a different story.

Ruth: Pics to come! Promise!

Gnat: Agian I will get pics up! Promise!

Me and My swift!

Ok, so because we got tax returns back, hubby and I am allowing for a splurge in our spending and each getting a "big" item. So last Sat. I ordered a swift from Ebay. (before I was useing the end of a table that measured 93 inches and just untangled the yarn when it needed to be reskeined...) It *should* come today! I am so waiting for it too! I am holding off on all sorts of yarn reskeining from dyeing until it shows up. Picutes to come as soon as it shows up!

Etsy and Me

Ok, so I am starting a Etsy shop! Don't have any thing actually posted just yet but will very soon (as in the next 2 days). I am really excited about it too! Anyway need to get more stuff ready for it!

And now doe something completely different!

Ok, so found this today and could NOT help posting it. It is funnily accurate!



See my brainscanner results

Even more business stuff

Well, I have started doing my money stuff on GnuCash business wise (though really we are only at hobby at this point). I am finding it really easy to work with which is great. Just need to remember to save often due to my little daughters hands seeming to close windows on me at the worse possible moment... I love free software, esp free software that works really well.

Boring Business Stuff

Ok, so I am actually working on a business plan. I intend to actually post the thing on this blog some time next month (hey I am taking a forced break from teaching so I figure I might do this instead.). Anyway found this GREAT site that has all these helps on them. I am going though it all (and my oh my does it take forever!) and have already done the financial stuff for that two months I have been teaching. I am kinda dreading the business plan part of it. I would rather be designing!

In other news, computer is back, or should I say my hubby has set up one of the other 5 computers we own to work with the internet. He still needs his computer fixed though because he has SO much school stuff saved to it.

The system is down!

Ok, that is a blatantly stolen from Strong Bad. But I am linking to him so I don’t feel so bad about it.

In other news, MY system is down, as in computer system. Hubbies computer died. This means all the money I have earned thus far is going to the “fix hubbies computer fund” so he doesn’t get behind in Medical School. The really bummer part of this is that because the computer was down I couldn’t schedule with A. C. Moore for classes next month. I am contemplating teaching at Hobby Lobby as well as Michael’s if they will have me.

In even more other news I made yet another free pattern. I don’t have time to post it right now (have to download photos from the camera to Flickr first).

Thank you to Jodie at Jelly Wares for proofing my Scalloped Washcloth pattern.

Knitting class and other business stuff

Well I had knitting class this Sunday and I think it went well. One of the students suggested that I have 2 classes: one for learning to cast on, knit and purl and another about 2 weeks later to learn to bind off. I like this idea and will try it upcoming months of teaching.

I am also working on getting all the crazy bookwork for a business under control. I have started to do double entry accounting on it and organizing the receipts and pay stubs. I hate this part. Love math but this just feels like busy work even though it is important. When I make enough I will invest in something like quicken but sadly that is not the highest on my list of things to obtain.

The Bible study I am in right now has a lot of bookwork in it and I am having issues balancing business and Bible study. On top of that my daughter has quit taking naps almost completely. So knitting and crochet is being pushed to the side yet again... oh well.

Scalloped Dishcloth/Washcloth and other stuff

It seems I have won a contest at Aunt Kathy's Place today. Yippie. I haven't even looked over the patterns yet but I will!


I have been needing to post this pattern for a while. Like a week... no more than a week. Anyway it is here now!



Gauge: Unimportant.

Yarn: I used Sugar N'Cream cotton yarn but acrylic seems to stand up better to my dishes while cotton feels better on my face. Basically use whatever yarn you think will work well.

Hook: I think I used a G but can't remember. Could have been an H. Just use what you are comfortable with.

Scalloped dishcloth/washcloth

ch21 loosely

Row 1: ch1, sc into second ch from hook and into next ch, ch3, *skip next 2 chs, sc in next 3 chs, ch 3*, until last 4 chs, skip 2 chs and sc in last 2 chs.

Row 2: ch 1, turn; sc in first sc, *dc5 in the next ch-3 sp, skip next sc, sc in next sc*, finish row

Row 3: ch 4 (this counts as a dc plus ch 1), turn, skip next dc, sc into next 3 dc, *ch 3, skip next 3 sts, sc in next 3 dc*, until last 2 sts, ch 1, skip next dc, dc in last sc.

Row 4: ch 3 (this counts as a dc), turn, 2 dc in same st, skip next sc, sc in next sc, *dc5 in the next ch-3 sp, skip next sc, sc in next sc*, until last 2 sts, skip next sc, 3 dc in last dc.

Row 5: ch 1, sc into the next dc, ch 3, * skip next 3 sts, sc in next 3 dc, ch 3*, until last 5 sts, skip 3 sts, sc in last 2 dc.

Row 6: ch 1, turn; sc in first sc, *dc5 in the next ch-3 sp, skip next sc, sc in next sc*, finish row

Repeat rows 3 through 6 until almost desired length.
Repeat rows 3 & 4.
Finishing row: ch 1, sc into the next dc, ch 3, * skip next 3 sts, sc in next 3 dc, ch 3*, until last 5 sts, skip 3 sts, sc in last 2 dc.

I have not yet had someone test the pattern (meaning if there is a mistake I don't know aboutr it.) So if something is wrong please tell me in a comment or something!

Copyright 2008; All rights reserved.

copyright info at bottom of page.

Kettle/Crockpot dyeing with Kool-aid

I started knitting a Quant today, mostly because I avoiding the sizing up and sizing down of a pattern I am making. Why avoid it? Because my temp is 101 to 102 right now with out meds and the meds I can take are putting me in a fog. (I think I have the flu that my daughter had about 2 weeks ago, which makes sense because it takes 2 to 3 weeks for the flu virus to gestate.) Anyway it is a no-go for pattern math because I am SURE I will make a mistake.

Ok so I am FINALLY getting this thing up! I have had the pictures up on Flickr for about a week but have been way too busy.



This is the yarn soaking in the crock-pot. I let it soak for about an half an hour.



These are the "kool-aids" I am using. For the record the exact colors I am using are Kool-aid Berry Blue and Wyler's Orange. Two packets of each. I pre-mixed this time in 1/2 cup of water.



Before adding the colors I moved the yarn to make a spiral from the bottom up. I added the colors with a turkey baster, making sure that the colors got to the bottom. I then turned it on low and left it alone for about an hour. The dye bath was not fully exhausted at that time so I stirred it around gently and it immediately exhausted.



The yarn is drying in this picture.




And here is is all reskeined. I still need to find a name for it... Can't think of anything.

In a quandary...

I have been thinking a lot about WHERE I want this blog to go and what I want this blog to be. I really don't want this blog to lose the fiber aspect, but I have also been wanting to write more about family and religion too. The reason for this is because I started a Bible Study at church (Beth Moores' Daniel Bible Study) that I want to blog about too, not to mention family stuff that comes up, but at the same time this is my business blog so should I blog about that elsewhere? I don't know.

Basic Crochet Dishcloth/Washcloth

Yarn: Lily's Sugar N'Cream is shown but can be made in any worsted weight or non-worsted weight. I just suggest that you change the hook size if you have trouble getting the hook into the stitches.

Gauge: Not important

Hook size: US G/4.00 mm

Ch20 loosely

Rows:
turn and ch2, dc into 3rd stitch and ever remaining stitch.

Repeat until desired size.

I made this pattern for a class I am teaching and since everyone seems to copyright their stuff so you have to ask permission and pay them to use their pattern in a class, I just made up my own!

copyright info at bottom of page.

A vacation and knitting

Hubby, daughter and I got a mini vacation this Sunday/Monday to Orlando. I got to knit the whole way which was nice of hubby for not making me drive. I got through with almost 1/3 of the knitting and writing of the pattern for one of my designs. I feel great for it.

I keep trying to make it to a knitting group meeting but so far no-go.

I did go to A.C. Moores charity knitting/crochet thing last Saturday, which was really nice. There were several people there for a while.

I have a list of things to do on this blog and I am going to list them here so I actually feel guilty enough to do them.

The List for my Blog:

Post photos of and the free pattern for my crochet dish cloths/wash cloths
Post about the yarns I have kool-aid dyed
Post tutorial for one of the kool-aid dyes

Now I also have a list business wise:

Finish all 3 patterns and the patterns for them.
Get one of those patterns emailed to Knitty (summer) and the another to MagKnits(any old time!)
Actually find a book that tells me how to WRITE a business plan and do it! (this is more of a priority but I have a strange feeling that it will be something that doesn't happen for a year!)
Figure out how to make a PDF so I can sell them via Ravelry (I don't intend to use Esty for pattern sales... ever)
Research advertisement stuff via the internet (choices I like so far are Ravelry ads and hopefully getting something printed on a big online knitting mag)

As promised the pics!

So here are the pictures of the projects I have finished:


The baby surprise jacket with matching dress. I made it for my little nieces X-mas gift considering that her mom gave me the dress when our little girl was about 6 months old I figured I could at least make something to match.


The hair currlers. I have actually done all the finishing on them, but hubby deleted that pic on accident... oh well. I have used them but really need about 4 to 6 more to really get it done. Feels like a never ending project!


My calorimetry. Sadly the button is too small but otherwise very nice.

So when do I sleep?

Looking back at the last week/week and a half, I am starting to wonder if I ever sleep. This is not good. Anyway I FINALLY got my digital camera and my computer to like one another and got the photos on flickr. They are now in my Ravelry stuff but will be posted here soon. It seems that my husband deleted a few of my pics but I still have the yarns and the projects so I am really ok (Thankfully, he didn't delete any of our daughter).

Been designing away. I have 3 designs I am working on for sale purposes. One is the diaper cover/soaker pattern I want to sell via Ravelry. The other 2 are surprises because I want to sell them to magazines and mag companies demand secrecy to the point of craziness!

Now that I know I can get the comp and camera to work together (though not really like one another) I am going to try another kool-aid dyeing thing some time next week. Only this time hand painted. We will see what becomes of it.

A business plan?

For those of you that don't know this, I am kinda trying to make a business of my knitting. I mean at least tax wise I am. So because of this I am trying to write a business plan even though I am not taking out loans or anything. Now you may be wondering why I NEED a business plan considering I am not looking for investors (I know my hubby is) and the reason is I need it to keep focused on WHAT I am trying to do in the business. I know myself too well and know I will diversify to the point of uselessness if I don't have one somewhere. Basically I am trying to make knitting and crochet patterns to eventually sell either independently or sell to knitting mags and I am teaching knitting and crochet. My dream is to make 200 dollars a month right now, though really think I can make 50 a month for the first year/year and a half.


In other news, our little one is all better now. She wouldn't eat for the whole week she was sick (not from lack of me and daddy trying though), and it was an absolute battle to get her to drink anything. She is kinda lethargic now and has a MASSIVE appetite though I am not letting her eat too much at once due to her having basically fasted for a week (don't want her to throw it up from eating too fast or we might get her fasting again!). It is amazing to me because her legs used to be... not big but normal toddler size, and now they are SOOO thin.

I am BACK!

Sorry for such a long hiatus but I was traveling and then my 2 year old daughter got a temp of 103F so blogging wasn't really high on the list of things to do. Anyway, now I am back and I picked up yarn to kool-aid dye so we will get pics of that whenever it gets done.