My week in photos

You can see what I'm up to during the week on Instagram (as long as you don't mind a cute baby or dog or cat thrown in there occasionally.)

 

I finished the words on my Hypnotoad cross stitch.

  

I started the "black work" I decided to do last minute as well. Not convinced I like the color scheme so far.

 

I really, really finished my sweater, for reals. That's it blocking.

 

You can't really tell here, but it is FRUMPY. My groodness, so much frump! I'm hoping it will shrink a bit with blocking, but I'm not holding my breath. :/

 

I'm in the process of getting some new items ready for my shop... I'm kinda excited for it! I hope people like them as much as me!

 

I made some brooches! I have some fine tuning, but I'm hoping to have them in the shop by next friday. :)

What have you done this week?

Late Night Updates

I'm sure you don't know this, but lately most of my posts are written in the middle of the night. Something to do while the wee one eats, and since it's about the only time I have free to blog anyway it just works out.

I have two new items in my shop:

A pokeball phone cosie and:

A soot sprite one!

They're both designed for IPhones, but there is some give so they would easily fit over another similar device. I am working on a few other ideas rolling around in my head, so hopefully I can get those out and onto paper then into yarn/fabric! :)

edit: I've been having issues updating my listings on Etsy, so they should be up soon!

WIPs

It's been a rough week of the little lady not taking naps unless she is on me… so I haven't gotten a ton done like is like too. But here is an update on some things I'm working on:

Paper piecing for my sewing machine cover:

 

The running joke with my good pal Robin is that I cant start a new-to-me craft like a normal person who picks a pattern and follows directions.  I don't tip-toe, I run full speed into it by making my own patterns and ignoring any and all directions! Lucky for me it usually isn't a total disaster (usually). This is definitely wasn't one of my disasters! I am pretty proud of myself. While I cannot claim these as my own ideas/patterns, I didn't use the patterns available and drafted my own instead! I used Pinterest to gather ideas and use what others had done to make it myself! (I used this, this, this and this as my inspiration/spring board for my own patterns) There has been a bit of hand sewing involved due to my lack of forethought in some instances, but overall I'm pretty pleased! I can't wait to get it all put together and sewn up for I can leave my new sewing machine out full time!

Mystery Sock KAL:

 

So I kinda messed this one up. I didn't switch to the smaller needles like the pattern says 

because they're being used on another project and I'm too lazy to make notes to remember what I'm using) So I haven't decided if I like them enough to rip it and re-knit it to the cuff and do them properly, knit the second sock the same and deal with it or just frog it all together and use the yarn for a different pattern (because I LOVE this yarn color! Glorious!!!) So we'll see what ends up happening.

And something I'm working out that will eventually make it into my shop:

Can you guess what it is? :)

June Up-date: Resolutions!!!

Updates!
 (PST! Don't forget I would love to hear from you about your own goals (resolution or not) and your progress as well, so that we can help each other stick to it!)
So here it is, my list of things I want to accomplish this year and how I am going about it. Here is how I'm doing so far:

• Knit a sweater

Soooo...... I'm trying. I really am. But I am into that part of a project where you just can't stand it any more! The rows take forever!! (no not really, but with my attention span lately it seems like it...) I am getting a bit in here and there, I just cant seem to sit down and plow through it like I was when I started. 

• Get this blog consistent traffic

HA! This seems like a joke to me now.... with all the things going on in my life at the moment this blog just isn't a priority. I really want it to be, but alas, I have a lot of wants. I'm not looking at it as giving up just quite yet, but putting it on hold until other things are smoothed out.

• Sell 6 projects on Esty or elsewhere  DONE!

Yay! And I managed another sale! And with what little effort I've put in it makes me happy that the store is doing fine without my constant supervision. (Although it would probably do better if I ever introduced the new items I keep promising myself I will make...)

• Learn to cross stitch

Sooo.... that stitch-a-long turned out to be uninteresting. Boo. Not to despair! That friend I mentioned last month is still trying to wine and dine me into her fold. So we shall see.

• Buy a car

Instead we're going to play musical chairs with my parents. The chairs being the drivers seat in our cars. And no, we don't know how it's going to play out yet because the music hasn't started.

• Help patrons in Spanish

FAIL. I haven't touched it in months.... but now that I am back in a predominantly Spanish speaking area again (did I mention I got quasi-promoted?) I have a renewed sense of urgency in this department.

• Schedule my time effectively 

Hilarious! I wish I could laugh in my face when I wrote that in February!

• Get back in "working order"

Not in my future. We can't even seem to keep on our dishes let alone in 'working order.' Alas, this has been relegated to me 'wants' list.

Not so impressive. It seems the year is catching up to me... I haven't given up on any of them yet, I'm going to call it 'prioritizing' that way it sounds like I'm being efficient. :)

How are you doing on your goals? Are you 'prioritizing' like me?

Playing catch-up

Yup. I finished some coasters! These suckers took me over a month… I know, I know. This pregnancy hit me like a train! But I'm feeling more like myself these days. :) I've also managed to fix two pairs of shorts, do two loads of laundry AND check out my personal shark towel to see what I need to finish up! Whew! That's a lot for me, but I'm more than happy to be keeping busy while my pool is closed rather that laying around feeling sick all day!

What do you think?

So what's the deal?

A fair question seeing as I've been MIA for the past month, only sporadically posting. Well, the truth is I've been feeling gross and terrible. I have had no energy, whatsoever, and on top of it I've been feeling sickly too. Why you ask? Well, there is a very good explanation for all of this.

The truth is, I'm about 2 mo pregnant, and the first trimester is hitting me kinda hard! Whenever I think I'm getting some energy back or feeling not quite as icky, it strikes me again! Yuck. And I thought that I was entering the home stretch this weekend, but, well, nope. Guess not. So, while I have not given up on this blog or my etsy store, but for now it seems I'm taking an unintentioned break! I can't promise the summer will be better, since it's busy season for my job (did I mention they transferred me to a much, MUCH busier location?) But I should be back online at least regularly, but probably not as often as before. But the good news? Once I have some energy, I'll probably be knitting up a storm for this sucker! :) So, I wont promise anything for now, but expect to see me a bit more in the coming weeks or months, depending on how this whole pregnancy thing plays out!

New Years Resolutions- May update!

Updates!
 (PST! Don't forget I would love to hear from you about your own goals (resolution or not) and your progress as well, so that we can help each other stick to it!)
So here it is, my list of things I want to accomplish this year and how I am going about it. Here is how I'm doing so far:

• Knit a sweater

I'm into the shaping portion of my sweater, and while I've had a difficult time lately knitting it (or knitting in general for that matter) I am having a great time knitting it! I really like the way it is coming out. I cannot wait to wear it!

• Get this blog consistent traffic

Last post I told you that I opened a Facebook page, twitter account, flickr specific to my blog and informed you of my personal Pinterest and Instagram accounts. And since then I have decided that it was too much to fast, I don't know what I'm doing. I don't even like twitter. :/ So I am stepping back, and while Pinterest and Instagram will be updated still (since they are personal not necessarily related to the blog or shop)

• Sell 6 projects on Esty or elsewhere  DONE!

I did it! But to be fair, looking back, that wasn't much of a goal. I haven't yet decided what to replace this goal with, seeing as I don't have a great grasp of what is a realistic yet challenging goal to reach for, I will need some time to think about it.

• Learn to cross stitch

A friend of mine who cross stitches has plans to drag me into a stitch-a-long with her, so whenever that happens (I think it's in June) I will begin to conquer this resolution!

• Buy a car

We aren't really any closer, however we are slowly but surely saving money for it. Our goal is to try by September or October to apply for a loan. Fingers crossed!

• Help patrons in Spanish

Since the last update I am sad to say that my time on Rosetta has dwindled significantly. Work and life has been getting in the way, so hopefully once all these trainings and moving and such has occurred I will be able to get back to it!

• Schedule my time effectively 

Put on hold for the time being.

• Get back in "working order"

Put on hold for the time being.

So that's how I did last month, not super impressive, but I'm sticking to my big one, mostly. How have you done?

New Years Resolutions- April Update

Updates!
Here is how I'm doing so far:  (PST! Don't forget I would love to hear from you about your own goals (resolution or not) and your progress as well, so that we can help each other stick to it!) So here it is, my list of things I want to accomplish this year and how I am going about it:

• Knit a sweater

I bought this pattern, bought my yarn (I chose Lilac) 

 

I am almost done with the top shaping! (I know it's not the best photo, but I was halfway through a row when I had to run out the door this morning!)

 

I am so happy with how it's turning out so far! I like the yarn a lot, so soft and it glides on my needled effortlessly! 

 

You may see more sweaters in the future if this is how the whole thing goes, but we will see where I am in a month!

 

I am almost onto the 3rd of 11 skeins of yarn. Never have I ever used so many in one project!

• Get this blog consistent traffic

This is a work in progress. As you know I opened the Facebook page. I've also set up accounts on twitter and flickr,  and I plan on using my personal accounts for Pinterest and Instagram too.I am having a bit of trouble remembering to use some of those places for more than browsing and personal use... but at least I got them started. I'm starting to believe I'm trying to do too much too fast, so I might actually hold off on trying to push those other venues and focus on this here blog and shop. I mean, I haven't even added links over on the side bar yet!

• Sell 6 projects on Esty or elsewhere 

Adding to the 1 sale in January, I have another Shark Towel in the works and I made my first ever Etsy sale last month! Totally stoked! I need to update that store with more stuff, but I've been working on birthdays and such... it's a busy time of year for me! At least I'm killing 2 birds with one stone, some of the presents I'm making are prototypes for items I will eventually sell in my shop!

• Learn to cross stitch

Still working on it. I am no closer than last time.

• Buy a car

We had an interesting turn of events in this vein... and they happened this morning! Turns out my parents might be buy a new car too, making John and I the beneficiaries of their used vehicle. SCORE! We need to hash out the details, but lets just say my parents take good care of their vehicles and do not want any of them out of the family anytime soon...

• Help patrons in Spanish

I've now been using Rosetta Stone for a few weeks and I love it so far! Yes it's expensive, but my mom want halvsies with me (It's a goal for her as well) so it wasn't as bad. And I got it on sale. :) I am having a hard time remember to sign on and do the lessons, but the few i have are helping immensely. Bilinguality, here I come!

• Schedule my time effectively

 Being your own boss? Way harder than it sounds. I'm used to have a defined job description or a supervisor that it is a continuing struggle to keep myself on task and motivated. And I do not supervise myself well. Work in progress.

• Get back in working order

This is in line with scheduling my time effectively, I am not good at being my own boss. Due to some personal stuff I've gone easy on this section, but I feel I am doing better. My goal for this next month is to make sure all dishes are done on time, and when I do laundry it gets put away immediately and not sit in the hamper getting covered in kitty fur. (Someone thinks it's his hammock.)

• Start saving for a home

Another one that has had some interested changes. While we are still not currently looking at homes to buy my dad has agreed to look into some first time home buyer incentives and see if we are a good match for any of them. So who knows? Maybe we will get a house this year, anything can happen!

There is the laundry list of goals for myself... I am actually quite happy with the progress! What do you think? How are your goals coming?

Huzzah!

I completed and posted my first order off etsy ever!! (And it was a customer one to boot!) I'm seriously stoked over this!

That is all! :)

The Adventure Thus Far

So since this blog is supposed to be about my adventure into the murky waters of selling my makings, I thought it was high time to tell you what I've done so far. I mean, I'm sure looking at all my projects that I post to Etsy are nice and all, but I want to put a little depth in here for posterity. :)

So far I have opened an Etsy shop, put some projects in there, set up multiple social media accounts (even though I don't know what I'm doing in that arena, at all!) and created a notebook full of ideas, some of which have 'prototypes' most of which don't. I need to link up most of my  social media to this blog still, but I am in a learning curve.

My next steps I plan to take are to load my shop with things that I actually feel represent me as a crafter (as cute as my geekery is, I know why it's going nowhere. I know, my shops only been open a month! But I'm smarter than that, so I plan on pushing some things that I think people will actually pay for.) What will those products be you ask? Well, I'm not 100% there. I have some patterns in the works, some sewing projects I'm fine tuning. This is also a birthday spectacular month for me, so this next week will be devoted to getting presents out of the way. So hopefully, by the end of the month I plan to have at least 1-2 new things in my shop. I hope it takes me somewhere!

Totoro and Soot Sprites!

These cute little dudes are now available in my shop! I'm very proud of them!

 I love the little candies I gave them! adorable! :)

 Then my sweet collection of Totoro's! I love them!

What do you think?

Grand Opening!

Today is the day! MegaWench Workshop Etsy store is now open for business! I am nervous and excited and all sorts of mixed up emotions! This adventure's going to be a big one, I can't wait to see where it takes me!!!