I had a lot of fun putting together a set of embroidery designs this week! I started out with this illustration and decided it would be really fun to do a set of embroidery patterns. They are now available in the Kro Studio shop! I’m looking for printer that will make some high quality prints of the Crafty Buddies series. I think they would be so much fun hung in a sewing studio or just around

And here is a freebie pattern to get you started stitching!

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Two great things today! First, was the first class of a three part class on making a sun hat out of raffia – working with raffia being the primary focus of the class. It’s a challenge, but it’s fun and I love the way it looks crocheted up.

Second is that for the very first time I’m offering a pattern for sale in the Green Prairie Fibers Shop – That same crocheted sun hat. It has instructions for working with raffia and of couse, the pattern for the hat pictured above. The pattern is just $3 too. It works up in about 8-10 hours depending on how quickly the raffia will work for you.

Take a look at all the details and some extra photos in the shop.

I can’t wait for my Thursday volunteer day at the garden, I’m sure my hat will be the envy of everyone – well, not really, but that’s okay, Jason told me it looks really cute so that’s good enough for me.

You can see what other classes I’m teaching here, on the Classes Page of the site. And you can sign up for any of them by calling the Rose Tree Fiber Shop or emailing me at kristinmroach [at] gmail [dot] com .

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Tomorrow my friend Christina is coming over to paint. I can’t wait! We are going to do some still life paintings and just hang out. It’s going to be such fun!

-K

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Oh and another thing I’m working on for the shop is a selection of handmade papers that are made from recycled, collected, found materials – things like plants, junk mail, fiber scraps. And that will be release in June I think.

So you should all go check it out.

Oh and another shop related thing:

I added a ton of new stitch markers in the Green Prairie Fibers shop! And I refreshed the stock of hemp fabrics with the colors I have left – purple, gold, and lime green.

Well, I’m off to finish up the Craft Leftovers post for today – I’m rereleasing the perfect dish cloth duo – knit and crochet – as one pattern!

See you soon!
Kristin

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Some great lace weight superwash merino. It’s great for socks, shawls, any lace really. It blocks beautifully!

I added some really pretty pink merino yarn, it’s dk and wonderfully soft. It’s a semi solid and ranges from deeper pinks to pale pinks.

I have these two yarns left to add, but I can’t find their original tags and I think they are superwash, but I’m not sure. I’m going to dig around some more and try to figure it out. From now on I’m just dyeing one type of yarn at a time because this is the third time I’ve had a hard time locating the yarn info after dyeing. Geesh. I’m hoping to find it tonight, so they’ll be up tomorrow.

It took me way to long to pull out the light box and get these shots taken, but tonight was the night. I was supposed to go out tonight, but *cough* I am too sore to do hardly anything, haha.

I’m going to do another post about some other random things. Make sure to go check out the shop. Oh and if you want some fabric, it’s going pretty quickly. I’ve already sold 7 yards this week (thank you!).

Kristin

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But, I think this might actually good for me. I really like having handwoven fabrics in the shop and by selling this fabric I’ve kind of built up a business for that – handwoven fabrics. So I’m going to transition into selling some of my own handwoven fabrics. I have some linen done. It’s for embroidery and will be sold by the half yard. It’s about 8″ from salvage to salvage and is a pretty even plain weave. And it’s something like 20+ warps per inch.

I’m also working on dressing my loom for a twill structured fabric. I’m going to do a 5 yard length and each yard will be a different twill pattern. It’s 100% wool and is green and gray.

Oh and I have some hand spun finished (finally) and I’m going to test knit it all and see what it’s like and if I like it, then I’m going to spin some more and start selling that too. I’m hoping to start working with some local shepards and spin with their fibers exclusively. I might dye some of their roving and sell that too. I haven’t decided yet. Either way, many fun plans and projects in the mix.

I added two more skeins of yarn/colorways to the shop today too, so make sure to take a look. They are both a semi solid kettle dye like the yarn I added on Friday. But pink and rusty red.

Anyway, that’s all for right now. The loom is calling my name very loudly today and I need to get a few more things done before I can play.

On a random note, I totally lost access to my computer on Friday and was unable to use it until Saturday. It was really scary and I thought it was broken/I was locked out for good. (my user account was deleted somehow when my computer died and I was unable to log in). Jason came to the resuce and all was saved. We are still going to take a trip to the apple store tomorrow though. For some reason we can’t get it to charge – so I’m plugged in at all time.  But between that and server issues I was unable to get a post up on Craft Leftovers (I was starting work on it right as I lost my computer on Friday night). So lame. I’ve given up for the Friday post and will just start anew on Monday.

Have a good Sunday!
Kristin

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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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I’m really happy to announce that after too long of a time, I have completely moved Kro Postal to etsy and I added everything back into the shop that I had over at Big Cartel. I’m taking pictures tomorrow so I should have never before seen items in the shop this week! A big “Hooray, Post!” all around!

And on top of that, I added the Holiday Issue of the Craft Leftovers Monthly zine to Kro Postal. It’s the perfect thing to send to a crafty buddy in a far away place!

And in other good news fashion, a independent book shop in Colorado is going to start carrying the Craft Leftovers Monthly zine!

Oh and tonight I’m working on dressing my loom. I have it counted out above the castle and need to get some rope to lash it to the bar. The last time I used the loom, my rope snapped. I don’t want that to happen again. I’m working on some fabric to put into Green Prairie Fibers. I think it would be nice to sell some handwoven fabric that I have made.  

I actually just dyed some yarn last Tuesday and it’s dry and I’ve reskiened it, so I’ll be taking pictures of it tomorrow along with the stationary and adding it throughout next week. Many good things going on.

I’m going to try to start posting more often, mini posts, but posts non the less. 

See you soon!
Kristin

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I just sent off my application for an artist residency program. It was so hard to make the commitment to apply. To drop that package in the mail was a complete struggle. All the doubt and worry, the what if I don’t get in type crap. Well, I dropped it in the mail anyway, so off it goes. I’m applying to this residency in Omaha, NE. It would be ideal for many reasons. Mainly amazing facilities, a stipend, a wonderful community, and I can’t deny it; it was easier to apply knowing I would only be 2 hours away from Jason instead of say in New Mexico or something.

Going back a week, because this week has been to crazy to post during, some amazing things happened. Mainly, I learned to spin on a drop spindle AND got my hot little hands on a FREE 10 harness, 56″ wide loom! Okay, so it only has 4 of the 10, but it can hold up to 10, so I can make them or acquire it somehow.

Check it.

Yarn:

Loom!:

As you can see, it barely fits into my van. It was such a crazy set of random events. I’m going to say it’s all that good karma I’ve been saving up my whole life

I was at the spinning class with my two friends, Jess and Mary, at Esther’s Place in Big Rock, IL last saturday. They were checking out and the woman who was checking them out says “does anyone weave? does anyone need a loom?” and I was like “yes! yes!!!!!” and she said “well I just got off the phone with a woman who wants to donate her loom to someone who will appreciate it.” I was like “I will appreciate it! I’ve been looking for looms lately.” and she gave me the lady’s info. And I called her as soon as I got home. And set up a “let’s see if it will fit in my van” trip. Oh, which, normally I don’t have the van, and Jason isn’t normally in town either. So we went and picked it up. I still can’t believe that the only thing that she wanted from me was to know that I would use it and that if I ever stopped, to not resell it, but give it to someone who needs it. How wonderfully generous.

I don’t have enough time to mess with it here over the next three months, so I’m going to move it straight to Ames during spring break. It will be my first major project when I move there in May. I can’t wait. I’m going to refinish all the wood and then strip and oil all the rusty metal on the reeds and harnesses. Actually, the harnesses are in pretty good shape, mainly it’s the reeds and some water damage around the base. Oh plus lots of spider eggs (another good reason to keep it in the sub zero in my van and not in my studio). I’m pretty much going to take it apart, give some love to each piece, and put it back together. Another reason I can’t wait to graduate and move.

There is also a slight chance I will have an office in Ames…. I will have an out of the house office! (maybe) All of my stuff for shipping as well as finished products will go there. Possibly it will be my fibers studio to where I would keep all of my pattern writing materials (sans dyeing which is really messy). I would also teach classes there! I’m actually all set to teach my first one on one class for dyeing 101 this Thursday! I’m going to teach this woman I know about the different types of dyes, the properties of fibers (cellulose and protein), dyeing for the two types of fiber, then a simple batik handkerchief.
Once I’m in Ames I want to teach classes for weaving, dyeing, knitting and crochet, and maybe some other fun stuff like drawing, painting, and print making. Oddly enough, I would love to teach kids’ drawing classes. I guess not so oddly, I remember my parents paying the neighbor kid, who was only 16 at the time, to give me art lessons. I loved it so much. He pretty much taught me what he was learning in high school classes. When I went to high school I was disappointed that it wasn’t any more advanced than what I had learned when I was 8 years old. I think kids, especially those who have a keen interest in art, can understand a lot more than adults give them credit for. I would also like to teach anyone else for that matter. I love teaching when I get to set the parameters and not have to file a crap load of paper work just to get some stupid colored pencils. Oh or it consuming your life so much that you can’t actually get in the studio for yourself. That’s another story though.

I’m really hoping that between free lance writing (I’m assembling a list and starting to contact a variety of magazines about how to submit work and when deadlines are), shop sales, sales in galleries and handmade markets, and classes I will be able to keep working at home. I’m going to start looking for something part time, just to guarantee some money for rent and food and bills. Just something that will pay the bills, but not stress me out. A job I can leave at my job so I can focus on My job of art and craft. It’s going to be amazingly easy to graduate. I feel really ready.

Which that leads me to the next point of order. I sold out of yarn for dyeing, so I put some more sock yarn up, more of the yak fleece will be on order soon, and I’m going to add some new yarns for dyeing as well as some more hand dyed sock yarn from the last dye session tomorrow morning. So be on the look out for that in the shop.

Next week I’m also going to add some new kits to the Craft Leftovers shop. Finally, I know. It’s just so crazy around here.

I feel so proud of myself that I already have the pattern finished and ready to go for tomorrow morning. I do need to update the archive on craft leftovers. Hmmm. On the to do list, promise.

I do have crit on Monday, so lots of weaving on Sunday for sure. I’m taking it easy tonight. I’m beat. Lots of potato chips, thin mints, and tea, what a combo! I am experimenting with polymer clay after this. I’ll take pictures and post them soon.

And that’s it for now. With the mention of polymer clay I’m going to go, well, play with polymer clay.

Have a good night!

++ Kristin Roach ++

ps – I signed up on delightful blogs, hooray! You can see my little profile here and rate it and leave comments and such.

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Aloo Market Bag, I finallllly finished it after so many months. I am going to finish writing the pattern soon (hopefully) and it will be $1 in the gpf shop and free with purchase of aloo yarn (i’m adding it back into the shop soon).

The start of Jason’s mom’s wrap around shawl. I’m going to start working on it again soon.

This is the everything veggie chili I made yesterday, so delicious! I’m eating some right now.

I’ve added most of my projects to my project page on Ravelry. You can see my organizing work here.

I also did a whole lot of organizing on flickr too, and added a ton of new pictures. You can see all the collections here.

Oh I also added more yarn to the shop today. I’m having a really hard time not keeping it for myself. I love the bulky and the new sock yarn so much, oh and the worsted… can I just hoard it all? No! You need to buy it so I can buy more craft stuff, oh and pay bills and buy groceries.

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First off, I wanted to let you know that I decided to go with Etsy for my shop. It’s sooo easy. So its up and you can check it out here: Kristin Roach: Shop.

I’m going to be adding some handmade note cards and other drawings over the next 3 days and then I will update the shop twice a week or more.

The new pattern is up over on Craft Leftovers and I must say, I really like it! It’s to help keep my tea warmer than it is already kept.

I’ve also been updating the Craft Leftovers Shop, so you should check that out too.

Well, I’m going to draw for a bit and then play wii!

++Kristin Roach++

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