Author: beverly

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Don’t Stop

Don’t stop. It is what I have to tell myself every once in a while when I am feeling like I’m feeling now. It’s not quite bored but it’s not enthusiastic about my work, either.

I am finding when I leave the house to do something – like go get a blood test orget a teeth cleaning, even when the appointments are in the morning, I can’t get into my schedule. Today, I didn’t have anything to do outside and I still had some trouble getting something done. Things that usually go fast, like these mittens, are taking longer than they should.

 I find myself staring off into space – not thinking anything in particular – well, I’m thinking I should be working and not staring into space. I am working towards 14 finished objects to go into the shop. Why 14? Because I want to follow a tip I heard in a podcast and I want to see if it will make a difference in my shop.

What’s the tip: 

1. List something new

2. Renew a listing

3. Tweek a listing

4. Do three social media things a day – it doesn’t say if it has to be the same  platform – like three tweets.

I have a feeling this mike work because I’ve been doing something like it. This is more deliverate and intentional. I like that and it’r right up my alley has something I could do every morning. I think the podcast where I heard the tip is here. It’s going to take me a little bit to finish up 14 things but once I get them going, I’ll devise something to let you know how it’s going.

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The Circle of Life

It’s the circle of life that leads us on….yeah, nice song, but that isn’t the circle that’s on my mind. The one that’s on my mind is the circle of life that is our wedding bands. We had new ones made for our 25th anniversary. These are they:

We are thinking of doing a Zoom vow renewal. We could do it and then get them resized at our leisure.

Something to think about as I think about how to do a Zoom vow renewal.

On mainstreet in Knitsville, there’s plenty of work going on from the restart of a crochet afghan using the colors of the rainbow plus black, to the creation of scarf and hat combos, it looks like yarn has exploded around the studio. This is not going to get better as I just ordered 3 sets of Zing double points and 2 of the Lion Brand santa bags which has 9 skeins each, an order from Premier that has 15 balls and yet another from Lion Brand that has 13 skeins – all told about $170. I spent that from the money I got from being an election judge. I still have some left over. Money and yarn.

I know I am going on a yarn diet. There’s more than enough to get things done. I am using the older yarn in the stash as well as some of the new yarns. I broke out the Yarn Bee Sugarwheel and made a scarf/hat combo. It turned out well. Did mention I also ordered a new wig for Naomi? She needs some hair as an option. I have five packages coming. It’s gonna be like Christmas.

 

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Wanting Memories

My folks would be married 71 years this year and I am wanting memories of what that would be like. My father liked taking pictures but where all those photos are – no one can say. We are completely devoid of images. There’s dad with most of the grandkids and with my brother and sisters – which I must have taken since I’m not in the photo.

I think the next generation is so lucky because they have instant imagery. I had to take a full roll of photos, drop or send them off to be developed, wait for them to come back and hope they were all in focus and usable. There was nothing if not patience for the entire process.

I think about their 71 years and Mr. Honey and I about to celebrate our 25th. We are not going to make it to 71 years Don’t think we’ll make it to 47. we married late. I was in my 30s and he was about to say hello to his fifties. I am wanting memories of that. Desire but no regrets. Life is good.

 

In the rest of Knitsville, I had a recent order where someone asked to make these: they are going to be given away at a high school prom. The theme is Narnia (you know, The Lion, Witch and the Wardobe…see here. The scarf is a Mr. Tumnus scarf. He’s the faun in the story and in the movie, he wears a fringed scarf.

I really like how they came out and I was so pleased, I decided to make some more for the ready to ship section in my shop. I think they will look great in purple and an emerald green.

There are other things on the needles and hooks which I will share at a later date. Im about to settle in for a few hours of knitting before we go out on our date.

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Tell You What I Want

Our anniversary is coming? Know what I want? I’ll tell you what I want. Nothing material. 

Thanks to a nice end of the year and beginning of the year and the Covid relief aid, I want for nothing material. I have yarn in weights from 2-6 and I recently went on a splurge of hooks and needles – so I’m all good there. (I went crazy for Zing are hooks, double points and circulars.) Then I went a little crazy for Susan Bates Silverlume hooks with the black handle. Bummed I couldn’t get the hook in J. It will come in stock again and I shall try and snare it.

I didn’t forget that last post I talked about making a tank top and even showed you a square I was doing for it. I finished it. Turned out pretty nicely, too, if I say so myself. Turns out if is a pretty forgiving pattern as the four squares did not come out the same size.  I’m looking forward to making it in the dk weight cotton yarn I bought just for that purpose.

There are also some headbands that have been made. But there will be a little bit of a delay as I have had 2 orders (4 sales) and I have to get them out. Two of my bamboo cable scarves – which I will tell you about. The story is so cute. And a repeat customer who likes the lace slouchy hat. She ordered it in two more colors.

How could I want for something? Life is really good right now. The headbands and the tanks will go in the shop – and some hats, too. No, I’ll tell you what iI want. I want to express how grateful I am. For I am. Thank you God.

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A New Adventure

I am off on a new adventure. A new crochet adventure. A new crochet garment adventure. I blame my sisters because it is their fault. It was my fault for showing it to them so I own up to my part.

This is on my hook: Kanata Kerchief TankIt is the Kanata Kerchief Tank – free on Ravelry. I had told them I might make this instead of making the halter top.

My elder sister wanted to know if I would make both. I said I didn’t think so. I didn’t want to get into garments that deep so I would probably make the halter since I sold almost every one I made.

She then wanted to know why I would discriminate against ‘hefty girls’ when the tank would accommodate more diverse body styles. May I note that neither my elder or eldest sisters would wear either of these. Not the one who isn’t hefty and not the one that thinks she is. I wouldn’t wear them either. I think they’re as cute as can be and it is an enjoyable knit and crochet, but I don’t have the body for them. Looking at it, I could probably pull off the tank but I’m a little short in the torso and we must recognize our limitations.

Regardless, I went out and purchased some Caron Skinny Cakes because the tank is a yarn eater. I’m on the second of four. Though I purchased 3 weight yarn, I am using the Caron One Pound that feels like someone was supposed to make one pound and made simply soft but without that yucky simply soft feel. I think it’s a great fiber to use. It feels great and drapes well. I also have an order for a lace slouchy I have to get out. 

That’s also a new adventure – getting orders year round. I like it.

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And Just Like That

And just like that, I find myself back in order mode. I got two orders in today for crochet slouchy beanies. I had the yarn for one and not for the other so Mr. Honey had to drive over to JoAnn to pick it up for me. (Because we are down to one car – I told him it wouldn’t work. I don’t think he’s going to want to pick up my supplies for me very often.)

This is one of them. I like it. As of this writing, three more folk have this in their cart. If you want to join them, find the listing here.

Of course order mode comes when I have three items on the needles. Design and stock mode means having more than one thing going on. It is about to become four because I am going to have to put in some of the summer beanies in the shop along with the headband, basic beanie and the hooded scarf.

 I did buy more than two dozen skeins of cotton yarn. I had some in the stash already and it should be used for something. What’s one more thing to add to the pile? I will be in order mode for just a couple of days – unless this summer beanie begins to take off. That would something to hope for.

Cotton yarn is going to be my friend for the next few days. I am feeling hopeful and I want to strike while the iron may be warming up. A few summer sales is the goal. Just like that I would be a four season shop!

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After Seventeen Years

We have donated the Corolla. After seventeen years of faithful service, Mr. Honey walked in the house and said it was time to donate it. The brakes gave out. Luckily, he was on a side street. It was easy to get the car to stop using the emergency brake.

We donated it to Willow Creek CARS Ministry. They take cars, repair them and give them away to folks who need transportation. If the car can be repaired and can get at least two years of use, then it will go to someone who has no means of transport.

One of my friends owns a service garage and he used to give a  car away every year. I was thinking of giving the car to him but he suggested Willow Creek. I submitted the application on line and they were in touch with me immediately. They made arrangements, arrived when they said they would and, hopefully, they will make the repairs and the car will continue to be of use.

Mr. Honey bought it for me as a birthday present but he took it for himself after he purchased a van. I didn’t think I would drive the van. I prefer it to the car. He’s talking of getting a pickup truck. I’ve always wanted one. There could be another switch.

I am reminded of how blessed we are. We are not wealthy but we are good. We have enough. There is room for generosity. I am proud and happy he thought of donating the car and I’m glad there’s a service that may be able to help someone. If the car can’t be repaired, they will junk it and the funds will go the ministry. That’s fine. But I’m hoping it can be used. It’s a selfish wish.

 

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Sigh

Sigh

I would like to do a blog post. That I can do.

I would like to do a blog post with pictures. That I cannot do.

I cannot add pictures. I cannot edit pictures. I can delete pictures and can’t add them back.

This makes a visual blog such as this very hard to work with. I’m going for help.

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Hello There

Hello there –

I know. It’s hasn’t even been a week and I’m back. That’s because being on a regular schedule means getting through the calendar to do list faster and that means blog posts will be more frequent. 

Getting back to this kind of normal has been a little disconcerting. I have knitting on the schedule and there will be days when it seems I will be knitting many hours of the day but for now, the sessions have been far and few between and I’ve been catching up on other things.

For instance, my workouts are back. I’ve worked out five times this week. I’m not sure I’ve worked out five times during January let along in a week. 

I don’t even have anything new to show you. I’ve been working on some new stuff. Oh, wait. I do have something:I finished the Basketweave Shawl. The pattern is done and up in designbcb. 

I think I should add more fringe to it and that may yet happen though it is put away and I’m not selling the finished product – so it could all be more of an idea rather than something that actually happens.

I am working on a headband and I’ve tried it on different yarns that have yielded not the best results but I am back to cotton and I think it’s going to stick. The problem is the first and last stitches are somewhat loose and it leaves a messy edge. I’m trying different techniques to get it cleaned up. Cotton is the preferred fiber because these are warm weather headbands. I’m sure if I take it to the YouTube, I will find a solution.

I also did some yarn shopping – which I have now stopped until August and I purchased some Zing crochet hooks – nice but a little disappointing and some Zing double points – looks promising but won’t know until I make a hat. There will be things to show in the future. Right now, be impressed that I did two posts in the same month!

 

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Goodness Gracious

Goodness gracious, all my orders from the 2020 season are finished and off in the mail. That means 2021 is now calling. It’s March first and that means I have about 6 months to catch up with this normal part of life. 

When the season is over, I usually take a day off before I start to worry I will never get another sale again. That won’t happen now because I already have a sale for March. So now, I have two days off before I start to worry.

Last year was good but this year has started even better for designbcb. Really nice sales for January/February. The thing is to make warm weather items, planner pages and patterns that will boost sales during the spring and summer months and get things ready for the fall. That six months will go fairly quickly.

I asked this question on my Instagram page. I am not self-conscious at all about not having may followers anywhere except Pinterest. People have to start somewhere. But this is an important question to know the answer to if I am to ever get some readership and followers. I have to know why I decided to spend my finite time doing this as a way to sustain myself. I believe the question can be answered by stating a simple fact:

A bad day working for myself is better than a good day working for someone else.

That’s what it all boils down to and even when I have more days behind me than ahead, I would rather spend them doing this. Taking something I feel passionate about and making it a passion to perform.

Have you turned your hobby into a business? How goes it?