So why have a let my shops fall into disrepair? Well a few reasons. In the beginning it was simply the fact that I didn’t have enough time. I was stretching myself too thin. And now I’m not (at least not nearly as much) so what’s the hold up? Well, disorganization is a huge factor. Since it’s been awhile since the last update I’m not sure what I have, what needs to be added, what I could make, where all my supplies are. I mean, I know what I have in the shop right now, but when it came time to renew, I realized maybe somethings that were inactive listings had been given as gifts, while others just needed corrections in the listings.

I want to get back on the straight and narrow and start updating regularly again. It’s fun, I enjoy it. And now it’s officially part of my primary source of income so I better take myself and my business more seriously. Up until now it’s been a nice suplementary income, but now it’s more important than ever that I do (take it seriously and update regularly. Expenses keep piling up in general.

I’m starting with Green Prairie Fibers, then working on the Craft Leftovers shop, and then the Kro Studio shop.

My plan for Green Prairie Fibers:

1) Organize – inventory, policies, supplies

2) New Look – banner, tags, business cards, gift cards

3) Photograph new yarns and new photos of old yarns that need updating since my photo skills have improved.

4) Make more stitch markers – I’m finally getting the hang of it and can’t wait to get some better ones listed.

5) Green Prairie Fibers Patterns – socks, bags, shawls, hats, mittens, and scarves will be on the upcoming list to write and add.

6) Finish first woven fabrics and add to the shop – I had to put my weaving on hold because of only having access to a spinning wheel for a limited time and I’m ready to dress my loom and get started again.

7) Knit and crochet more with my own yarns.

The last one on the list is one I’m especially looking forward to, haha. But seriously, I think I lost sight of how important it is to work with the yarns that I dye. It allows quality control for one and creative process for another (it’s hard to know what a dyeing pattern will pool/varigate like when knit just by looking at a skein of it). And egotisticly, it’s one of my favorite yarn brands and is always in my favorite colors. And if I want to write patterns for the shop, well, it should be made from Green Prairie Fibers yarn don’t you think?

The market bag pattern that I’ve been going on about will be the first and then two simple sock patterns (free with purchase of sock yarn) – one is toe up and one is toe down.

So today I added a new yarn that I hadn’t listed yet, it’s a semi solid orange that I kettle dyed. Because it’s kettle dyed instead of hand painted and semi solid instead of multicolored it’s priced a little lower than my other yarns. You should take a look at it. This dk merino yarn has great yardage – 400 yards per skein.

And then I redid the banner to match the new tags (shown above):

And now I’m going to delve into making sure that what I have in my “in the shop” bin is actually in the shop.

In other news I finished the bella mittens for my friend Emily yesterday and they are now blocked and drying. I’ll take a picture of them on Sunday before I pack them up. And I did a big studio purge/clean up/organize (which is #1 on the list of the all the shops – getting my supplies and stock into easily acessible order). I’m feeling pretty good about these thing and am looking forward to more shop sucesses. It always seems like when I dedicate myself to it (etsy), I do really well. So I just need to be diligent and keep on top of things.

My folks are coming in to town tomorrow, so I won’t be posting, maybe on Sunday though.

See you all soon!
Kristin

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It’s taken me awhile, but I finally am working on changing around the blog. I’ve been playing with the style sheets last night and today and will most likely tomorrow too. So if you have stopped by and there is no styling or all the words are really big or really small or there is no banner, an old banner, or words running across things – well, that’s why.

I did get a new banner up today and I like it a lot more than the little holder logo that was in there before. What do you think? Do you like it? If you don’t, well, you can keep that to youself. I just want cookies today, no veggies that would actually help me improve myself (constructive crit).

My plan is that I will use the same style of the homepage of Kro Studio – linen, graph paper, pen and ink drawings. As well as business cards and fliers of the same style.

Which brings me to the next point. I updated my class list for the upcoming quarter (March – May). There are many new classes and exciting things, plus I put just about everything into google calender so you can click though that too! I don’t have all the specifics yet (cost and material fees for instance), but will add them as I get info verified. I know I told you this just two posts ago, but in case you missed it because the post was so long I’m annoucing it again.

Once I get all the details from the Octagon I’m going to make a flier with all my classes on it as a jpg for you here online and as a flier for those around town. I’m excited.

Alright, back to the woven project, then on to article outlines.

Tomorrow I’m going to get some new things listed in Green Prairie Fibers, so I’ll let you know when that gets up.

Oh and does anyone know how to change the horizontal menu bar in Thematic? Becuase I sure as heck can’t figure it out.

See you later!
Kristin

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Here is a quick list of new things (with quick pictures):

1. New self portrait that sucks a little less than the last one.

2. I cut my hair (and you can also see how bad the above self portait is by seeing what I really look like):

3. I got a hippo in a trade for yarn – it is so freaking awesome! – from Fun Is Always In Style.

4. I dyed yarn (it will go in the shop this week coming up) – I tried a new hand painting method and I really like how it turned out:

5. I’m knitting some mittens for my friend Emily:

6. I rearranged my studio:

7. I am making progress on my Scrap Quilt:

8. I started a new pair of socks:

9. I figured out what I want to do for my sweater and am making progress on it again.

10. I’ve been spinning.

11. I received this great zine/kit bundle and am now a member of the diy weavers club!

12. I organized my hooks and needles.

And that concludes the pictorial list of things. In other non picture news:

1. I worked my last day at the chocolate shop last week – I’m still on call so if they need me, I will if possible – but I’m not on the schedule anymore and that’s a big step in the right direction.

2. I’m now teaching fiber art classes at the octagon, knitting at the WorkSpace, and crochet at the RoseTree – hooray!

3. I’m working on a secret article project for one of my favorite magainzes.

4. I received a copy of the book I have a project in this past week – giveaway, preview, and more details coming soon

5. I’m working on my own book – I’m hoping to have a prototype to show around at the end of March if not sooner.

6. Kro Studio is well underway to get a good work over visually with business cards, newsletter, and fliers (for classes), so that is super exciting, I can’t wait.

7. The Sewing Rebellion is going to 2 times a month next month! the second and forth sunday of each month.

8. Food poisoning two weekend in a row! I need to get a little insulated bag for things I pick up while I’m out and about so I don’t let them spoil before eating – it’s not -20 anymore where they are okay after being in my bag all day! Hummus the first time and Brie the second.

9. I’m starting a garden in my friend’s yard and we are doing the first planning of it tonight.

10. I updated my class list for the upcoming quarter (March – May). There are many new classes and exciting things, plus I put just about everything into google calender so you can click though that too! I don’t have all the specifics yet (cost and material fees for instance), but will add them as I get info verified.

++++++++++++++++++++++

Ahhhhh, okay, big breath. I think that pretty much gets us up to speed on everything. Now I feel free to post little random updates each day. I don’t feel like there is so much to catch up on. I might extrapulate on some of the above topics too. Especially the process/story of the sweater, which is pretty funny I think and deserves a post all it’s on.

So I will see you soon and am happy to get back into blogging again. I sure was missing it while i was going through this crazy time of “exhilarating and exhausting”

See you soon!
Kristin

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