Category Archives: Swapping

And The Winner Is….

Drumroll please….(insert drumroll in your mind here)…..!

: Program Open

: Numbers Submitted

: WINNER!!!!

whatimuptotoday Congratulations! Please PM me and we will work out the details on how you would like to receive your wicked awesome mystery box!

**** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** ****

As promised, here are the list of applicants and their stores, their favorite stores and of course their favorite craft!

Before you dive in there are a few things you should know:

All the links to the bloggers are listed at the bottom.
All the links to their stores and their favorite stores are at the bottom.
That each and every on of you are freaking awesome.
That I am so thankful to all the people who took the time to share their love of small businesses. You are a community of amazingly talented people and to share what we know only spreads the word. The more we try to promote the lil guys trying to make a go of what they love the better the world will be! (in my ever so humble opinion!)

♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣

Musical Butterfly
1. My passions – at the moment, all things DIY wedding planning! Usually its knitting and sewing, and I’ve just started with a bit of crochet
2. I had an Etsy page a while ago, but its not active at the moment, maybe next year when I have more time to make up stock!
3. My favourite small business is Stiletto Studio (www.stilettostudio.co.nz) but I’m rather biased because my sister runs it! As for online stores, it would have to be Felt.co.nz, and Vintage Loft in particular – http://felt.co.nz/shop/tasha
4. I’ve already bought a few things from Vintage Loft and I have my eye on several more – she has great creativity, and I love that many of her things are matching! She’s also pretty flexible with regards to changing settings if needed.

♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣

Christen Mattix

1. My passions – knitting a half mile line to the ocean and blogging about it!
2. My etsy page – christenmattix.etsy.com
3. I most admire mooreaseal.com.
4. Simple design with a bohemian twist supporting compassionate causes.

♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣

Sara Crafts

1. My passion is most definitely knitting.2. I’m don’t have a shop.

3. I love the shops JewelryMORIAH and knitshearbliss

4. MORIAH’S jewelry is sweet and simple. I especially love her sparrow pieces. Knitshearbliss makes fabulous little wristlet project bags- perfect for on the go knitting!

♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣

Polka-Dots & Sparkles

Favourite etsy shop???
Oh that is difficult. Not too much effort but difficult to narrow down.
I love yarnvszombies – kiki’s colour combinations and inspirations are always just too awesome for words

I have 4 bracelets and 3 more on the way and 2 rings from sugar pop boutique.

Hungry Designs has the most awesome brooches.

And…. And… And….

I am an etsy addict. Here are more of my favourite things. http://etsy.me/15DLP2x

♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣

Nadine CreatesMy passion is crocheting. I keep a hook and yarn with me at all times.
My shop is in my blog nadinecreates.wordpress.com I have decided to let people email me if they are interested in a piece I have in my gallery.
My favorite shop isn’t a shop. It is http://www.crochetconcupiscence.com/ She does sell her book Crochet Saved My Life there.
What i love about her shop or book is that she promotes crochet in a positive way. She also explores crochet that is outside of the ordinary and give me inspiration.

♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣

A Tangled Yarn1. Knitting all the things is my passion (ok maybe obsession…)
2. My etsy shop is small but mighty, A Tangled Yarn https://www.etsy.com/shop/ATangledYarn
3. My fav drool worthy shop right now is Knitcircus https://www.etsy.com/shop/knitcircus
4. This shop has some beautiful gradient yarn that makes my heart skip a beat!

♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣

vuchickens

My passion is knitting… and chickens… and sometimes knitting chickens. I don’t have a shop, but I may someday if I start coming up with more original designs.

My blog is http://vuchickens.wordpress.com/ (I just published my 100th post as well!)

My favorite Etsy shop is Claire Garland’s:http://www.etsy.com/shop/knittedbabe. She inspired me to starting knitting toys, which I’ve become obsessed with, and I think she’s a brilliant designer. I’ve bought quite a few of her patterns, and she even inspired me to learn to sew! (But I still prefer knitting… the needles aren’t as dangerous.)

♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣

A World Created

1. First and foremost, CROCHET. I’m in love with it and its endless possibilities. And I love that it can be used in my second passion, which is making jewelry. I may eventually fall equally in love with knitting, if I can ever completely master it.

2. https://www.etsy.com/shop/AWorldCreated

3. LoveFuzz https://www.etsy.com/shop/LoveFuzz
I love this shop because the owner takes simple crochet beanies, hats, etc, and embellishes them with unique and beautiful embroidery. I love the look of just about everything in this shop.

♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣

The Knitterly Hooker

1. My passion is knitting and photography. I’m aspiring to design knitwear and I have ideas I just have to start.
2. My shop is relatively new and small; it’s called WoolSeamToMe (www.woolseamtome.etsy.com). It’s more of a hobby right now… We all have to start somewhere right?
3. My favorite Etsy shop is Remember Wynn (www.rememberwynn.etsy.com).
4. I like the shop because of the personalized labels for handmade crafts to give it that special and professional touch.

♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣

Craftmaniac Mommy1. I’m passionate about so many things! It’s hard to narrow down…Yarn (knitting and crocheting), pretty packaging and soap
2. I have 2 shops (is that greedy? lol)
http://www.etsy.com/shop/MaitriDsigns and http://www.etsy.com/shop/sidedoorsoaps
3. My fave etsy shop??? sooo hard but right now is http://www.etsy.com/shop/legoods.
4. I’m a sucker for washi tape, cute packaging materials and have been building my shopping list to upgrade both my companys’ packaging. I window swoon at this shop almost daily!

♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣

feelgoodknitting

1, My passion: Primarily knitting. I also can and do crochet, spin, and dye, but mostly knitting.
2. My patterns: Feel Good Knitting, http://www.ravelry.com/stores/feel-good-knitting
3. My favorite Etsy shop: Tough call. Probably Butterfly Girl spindles.http://www.etsy.com/shop/butterflygirldesigns
4. WHY you love this store: They’re just so pretty! Droooool.

♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣

whatimuptotoday

1 Knitting first, crocheting second.but really card making is 1.5. Sewing comes after crocheting.
2 no biz of my own.
3. my favorite Etsy shop is the quirky One Woman Studio – Julia makes lots of fun things, but I love her recycled feed bags. She doesn’t do them on the cheap, they are well constructed and creative. Many copy her, so I try to support her.
4.) Oops – answered above. Never could follow instructions.

♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣

Musings and MotionI love knitting, sewing, running, and teaching.

I don’t have a shop,

but my cousin doeshttp://www.etsy.com/shop/BlissfulThinking09?ref=ss_profile She makes beautiful leather and silver jewelry and her profits go to mission work.

♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣

Superfox Rocks

1. Passion? Knitting and staring at yarn
2. My Etsy store is http://www.etsy.com/shop/superfoxrocks
3. My favorite Etsy store? http://www.etsy.com/shop/theberrypatch I love her use of color, quality, and I’ve ordered a lot from her and it’s always been beautiful and well done. The customer service is top notch as well!

♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣

Awesome Sauce & Asshattery– I am a pattern-allergic sewing geek & my weapons of choice are a retro machine & upcycled/thrifted fabrics. I shan’t clutter up your comments with my insane amount of business-y links – they’re all on the sidebar of my blog =O)- I have 2 lurvly lassies that I’d like to introduce: Bekka of http://bellemonde.storenvy.com/ – her crochet is simply divine! & Anna of http://riusocreativo.blogspot.de/p/le-mie-creazioni.html– funky accessories all created from upcycled & recycled materials!

♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣

littleblackdogsa

I love to knit, crochet, make beaded jewellery and toys. I love my family, I also love my cats and dog.
I make goodies for other people, but only when asked.
My fav. Etsy shop is Skermunkil – currently not very busy on Etsy, but we have a monthly “neighbor-goods” market, where she sells her goodies.
Why I love her? she makes awesome jewellery, that is the perfect gift for any of my friends.

♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣

Darlene

My Bliss is Knitting and finding 1 store that I love on etsy is hard but for today I picked Papercatz (http://www.etsy.com/shop/papercatz?ref=l2-shopheader-name) she has great stuff and very friendly packaging.

♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣

Pam

My passion: all things fiber…knitting, spinning, weaving

My Etsy page:http://www.etsy.com/shop/PimlaOriginals?ref=si_shop

My favorite Etsy store:http://www.etsy.com/shop/SmartGirlBookPurses?ref=l2-shopheader-name Why I like this store: I love how she takes beautiful books and makes them into cute, clever purses! She even sends the text of the book with your new book purse so you can read the book, too!

♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣

El Petit Taller

My biggest passion is sewing and quilting (followed by knitting, embroidery, crochet…)

My Etsy page is http://www.etsy.com/shop/ElPetitTaller

And this is so difficult now… there are so many lovely shops I like!
I’d go for one of my first purchases and also because she’s become kind of special. Berry encouraged me and helped me with a few tips to open my shop back in October 2012, and ever since we’ve kept in touch. Her shop is https://www.etsy.com/shop/moxiebscloset

and she makes really (but really really) well made lovely handbags. Her choice of fabrics is really nice and she will always accommodate your personal requests.

♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣

Rainbow Junkie Corner1) I suppose my greatest passion of all is designing things because my head works so much better than my hands but I also like turning my designs into objects and these days that mostly means crochet.
2) N/A
3) I think my favourite small business site would be http://www.woolhogs.co.za
4) I like it best of all because of all the lovely yarns they sell but they have loads of other items and bring together a lot of other small business designers.

♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣

Lolly Knits

1. My passions are many! But in relation to my online persona, knitting, spinning, and writing!
2. I don’t have a shop because I don’t have time
3. My current favorite online shop is Mad Color Fiber Arts, http://madcolorfiberarts.com/
4. I particularly adore their spinning fiber, because it’s soft and wonderful and dyed beautifully. I got some at a fiber festival that looks like a pretty watermelon!

♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣

JSletto Designs

1. I love to crochet the most and sew / quilt, making jewelry and art using acrylic paint, and I love to take pictures and blog about them all. haha.
2. http://jslettodesigns.wordpress.com is my small business website.
3. http://www.etsy.com/shop/preciouscraftz is one of my friends etsy business
4. I have known this friend since 2008 and she has always been a wonderful example of her hard work and dedication to her craft and I look up to her. Besides, she makes really cute stuff!

♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣

Moby Knit

I am a knitter through and through. I daresay it’s an addiction.

I don’t have an Etsy shop, but I’d totally love to. It’s on my to-do list.

My favorite Etsy store is Pantera Pens. (Can’t figure out how to link on my phone. Sorry! )

I love this shop because I have this thing for fountain pens, and his pens are just gorgeous. Plus they’re really well made.

♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣

Rogue Threads

1. Tatting and Crochet
2. Have my facebook page but not really a business page yet.http://www.facebook.com/RogueThreads
3. Fave Etsy is TotusMel
4. I absolutley love seeing all the new tatted items she does. I love seeing tatting as more than doilies and edgings.

♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣

Spynner51. My passion(s): fiber play (spinning, dyeing, weaving, knitting, crochet, macrame, in any and all combinations); making music (mountain dulcimer, bodrhan, bowed psaltery), writing poetry, with occasional dives into paper art and other experiments.
2. No business website (yet; plan to do Etsy in a bit) but you can find out more about me athttp://thetuneweaversweb.weebly.com/
3. For yummy soaps and other surprises I love http://www.goodiesunlimited.com/
4. Great customer service and wonderful products: yummy soaps, “miracle goo” (aka Everything Balm) and Wood Beams (furniture cream) are my faves but there’s lots more to like. Everything is hand made from her own recipes.

♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣

knitrun4sanityGosh. Looking at the number of replies you are going to be one very busy person over the next few days. I have yet to list anything in my shop so will not share that with you. My main craft is hard to declare …can i cheat and say crochet jewellery? I have to be honest …I spend more time on blogs and tend to by from them but I would like to mention claireabellmakes as she is very supportive to me, has built her shop and blog up over the same ti

♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣

**** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** ****

Quick Links to All the Fabulous Bloggers!

**** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** ****

Quick Links to All the Fabulous Stores!

Too Funny Not to Share

33 Replies

A little giggle is good for your health! 😉

Oh – and don’t forget to PARTICIPATE IN THE GIVEAWAY!!

I’ve Been Real Busy – Promise!

64 Replies

When I think that I haven’t even gotten to read so many of your blog posts the last few days I have to sit and think…why? Well, my needles are steaming so I guess that means I have been keeping pretty busy!

Also, just before we get to picture-y goodness, I have also:

Redone my About Page for the Blog.
Am getting all the Stitch Patterns into their own drop-down menu on the blog – hopefully I will finish that tonight.
Major amounts of photo editing.
Updating my Etsy Store with things that most likely won’t sell – I still have hope.

Okay friends and neighbors, now to the pictures!!!

** THE LINK HAT – LONG STRIPED STOCKING HAT **

THE LINK LIKE HAT!

So I have made two of these in the past week, one for Sheri whose package never arrive on our swap (UPDATE: I just got an email that her package has finally arrived in Germany!! It only took one and a half months – God Bless the United States Postal Service). So now both hats need to be put up on the store.

Full Frontal Heavy Goodness.

For Gloria

The Back

So Heavy I Had to Hold It.

Covering the Face in Shame.

Right Side

** BOBBLES AND LACE AND SLOUCHY HAT GOODNESS **

So after starting down the road of super adventurous (and time-consuming) knitting, I needed a quick fix. This hat knit up very quickly and has all sorts of yummy bobbles, lace, ribbing, dimension and super fun stuff. I highly recommend it!

Top of the Hat

Face Left

Face Left – Up Close

Flat

Face Right

Another Face Left

** SWEET AS HONEY RIBBED HAT **

I forgot that I had started making another one of these after the first one – because I gave the first one to a friend. This may be the biggest hurdle in running a business for me, I love giving things away! So when I saw it all lonely at the bottom of my knitting bag I went ahead and finished it.

Face Left

Face Right Up Close

Full Frontal

Profile

Back of Hat

Nice and Flat

** THE RUFFLE SCARF FROM HELL – WELL… TWO RUFFLE SCARVES FROM HELL **

Okay, this baby was born from the very sweet gift from a friend. It is Patons Pirouette Yarn and it is pretty when it is finished. Working with it though made me want to punch a wall and pull out my hair. Oh well, the two skeins are gone and I have two scarves to show for it.

I Hate You Ruffle Scarf Yarn….Even Though You Are Beautiful

** MY NEW ADVENTURE IN LACE KNITTING!! **

This has been the project taking up the majority of my time here lately, my very first attempt into lace knitting! I am so excited….like a kid at Christmas. The lace yarn (Patons again) was found at the bottom of my yarn stash so I just dug in. Size 3US circular needles and a nice, simple pattern for a beginner. I cannot wait to finish my precious!

Humble Beginnings

At About 120 Stitches

It Keeps Growing!

Close Up of the Lace. LACE

Alrighty, that about catches me up I think. I need to go work on my store, organize the pages for the Stitch Patterns a week, need to do the stitch patterns for this week and last week, work on my lace….

Sorry, I got distracted there.

Okay, plan B. I am going to knit then I am going to catch up with all my delicious blogging friends. I’ve missed you and cannot wait to see what you’ve been up to!

Oh SO Many Goodies

19 Replies

Sitting here with my Sweet Tea and contemplating how to go about all this information, I have come to conclusions that I will do it in quick bursts. Otherwise I am going to be here all night and bore you to tears with a post resembling an epic tome.

So let’s get to the goodies!

˜ The Sweet As Honey Hat ˜

Frannie in the Bar

This is where the Sweet As Honey Hat got placed today to my utter amusement, there is nothing quite like seeing a Styrofoam head in your liquor cabinet. Also, Gloria and I have named her Frannie – in case you are curious the male head is Stu and the dressmaker dummy is Beverly. That’s just how we roll in the Folk Household.

The slouchy beehive hat was so much fun to work up with super shiny aqua yarn, this hat is begging me to wear it, although I know I can not. It should be posted on the Etsy store within the week, as soon as I get the okay from the designer on Ravelry.

: Frannie in the Bar

: Face Right Please

: Back of the Hat – Distance

: Full Frontal

: Back of the Hat – Up Close and Personal

: Face Left Please

: Sweet as Honey Beanie

: Top of the Hat

˜ I Am Making Socks…..No Really….I AM TOO!! ˜

This is a very condensed version of the conversations T and I had this morning as I pulled out size 2 needles and very, very fine yarn. I know it was out of concern that he questioned my choice of knitting but I will sooner eat my fingers off than deem them worthless.

Before the accident I was one of those super scary-fast knitters, and I could handle any size or any type of needle with ease. I took it for granted of course, now with a hand that is absolutely stubborn I have to go much slower and it still turns purple when overused. I remind myself to laugh at this, as if I had consumed forbidden candy from Willy Wonka’s Factory instead of intense swelling – otherwise I would pull my hair out.

The process is slow but I will keep all of you updated on the progress. I am really quite excited!

Cast On – CHECK!

Finish Cuff Ribbing – CHECK!

Sidebar: I may be sending out desperate requests at some point. So far I have frogged one row, and dropped….oh dear me….14 stitches. This is something I haven’t done in years, I actually had to go on Knitting Help’s website to figure out how to use a crochet hook to fix my goofs. I remain undeterred.

˜ Knitting Bucket List & Facing Reality ˜

A long time ago (this morning) I thought I was a pretty advanced knitter, until I sat down and thought about it. I have mastered the basics and even some of the higher skills, but there are so many things I have not done that keep me from claiming what is rightfully mine…damn it.

There are only so many times I can complain about my hand before it gets annoying, so I will just skip it. Anyway, a lack of confidence has kept me from trying the more advanced techniques and skills that I am now currently lusting after, thus starting a pair of socks that scare me more than a centipede in my shower. So here is my “by the end of 2013” to-learn/try bucket list:

Socks.
Double Knitting.
Lace Work.
A Garment – probably a cardigan – and assembling the pieces.
A Shawl.
Looming – My uncle wants to make me one he saw on a retreat, God love him!
Weaving.
Spinning.
Dying yarn.
DUH DUH DUH….Try to learn how to crochet…again.

Okay, HUMONGOUS list of things to learn knitting wise but I am ready to branch out from my comfort zone. I am going to need to return to those things occasionally to retain my sanity anyway. I just feel like life is too short to say I haven’t tried all I can try.

RECOMMENDATIONS ARE LOVELY IF YOU CARE TO SHARE!

˜ My Mom and Dad’s 30th Wedding Anniversary ˜

Here is the a few pics of the progress thus far. There is way more going on but this is what I have stopped and taken pics of – more to come!

First Trail Vase…Needs Work.

: Assembly Line.

: Loads of Flower Stems.

: First Attempt at Construction.

I currently have around 60 stems done and the pom-poms are very easy to make. Another 40 and I should be done.

** Thank You for Hanging In There…How About Some Pictures? **

Truthfully I should have spread this out a bit but I wanted to share it all so badly, plus my mind is busting with all sorts of new things I want to write about. Thanks for hanging in there friends and neighbors, until tomorrow!

Holy Crap Batman! I Need a Swap Re-do….STAT!

24 Replies

Oh Sheri, I feel you are about to get majorly screwed by my swapping inexperience!

I was approached by Sheri over at Confessions of a Refashionista: Life on the Zig Zag a few weeks ago with the idea of a swap. I was thrilled, especially since she wanted the Link-like hat that I had so worried over. Her boisterous spirit and enthusiasm for the swap was so infectious – not to mention the fact that I would be sending something I made to Germany! Everything about this sounded like an amazing idea!

The Link-Like Hat for Sheri!

Too bad I have never done a swap before. I was woefully unprepared.

I received my package today and was floored by the enormity of the gifts and goodies inside this unassuming package. I will lay it out for you:

: My Lovely Signed Book.

: My SIGNED Copy!

: Family Eggy-Nestlace for Me and the Hubby, and Max!

: Gorgeous Rosette Earrings

: Tassen Teppich-Mug Rug2

: Tassen Teppich – Mug Rug – Back of Mug Rug.

My very own copy of Confessions of a Refashionista: Life on the Zig Zag
Oh Yeah – My Copy is SIGNED!
My family eggy-nestlace where each egg represents a member of my little family (Me, The Hubby and Maxwell)
An incredible pair of rosette earrings
A “tassen teppich” – or Mug Rug – for both me and the hubby to stylishly enjoy or coffee.

I was blown away by the kindness and thoughtfulness of this gift – I also feel SO GUILTY my head is about to explode. Do you know what I sent Sheri?

A Hat.

Yup, ladies and gentleman I have epic-ly failed my first swap. I am ohhing and ahhing all over my goodies and poor Sheri is just getting a hat – I even forget to post the damn thank you card! So what is there to do? Do I send more things? I am definitely not at talented as Sheri – knitting is my main creative outlet besides painting and they are ridiculously hard to get through customs.

Here. Let’s look at bigger pictures of all this awesomesauce before I pose my question:

My Lovely Signed Book.

My SIGNED Copy!

Family Eggy-Nestlace for Me and the Hubby, and Max!

Gorgeous Rosette Earrings

Tassen Teppich-Mug Rug – Front

Tassen Teppich – Mug Rug – Back of Mug Rug.

I want to thank Sheri from the bottom of my heart, this package was amazing! I have learned an invaluable lesson from this swap – if you’re going to do it, do it up right!

I want to do this up right…so friends and neighbors…what the hell do I do?