I’m happy to tell you that despite an ice storm, Craft Leftovers Monthly is in the shop!

You can get this months issue here or sign up for a subscription here.

This month is full of great tutorials, articles, and of course, illustrations! Fanie of Art vs Craft is now a regular contributor of Craft Leftovers Monthly. Check out her great Crafty Life comic in this month’s issue! It made Jason and I laugh out loud.

Craft Leftovers Monthly is printed on 100% recycled paper. It is 36 pages of crafty goodness. Two guests grace each issue’s pages and the Crafty Life Comic is a regular feature. Craft Leftovers Monthly is all about making with what you have on hand. Living life creatively!

Happy Crafting!
Kristin

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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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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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Here is a shot of what my new store front looks like! You can visit by heading over to www.craftleftovers.com/shop!

Oh and I’m having a 10% off sale all this week, just enter the coupon code: GrandAdventure to get 10% off your entire order! The sale will end Sunday night at midnight, which means that Craft Leftovers Monthly will be 10% off the first day it’s on sale! Hooray!

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I have had such a good last week! It’s been surprisingly busy, but wonderful all at the same time.

Last post I mentioned how I was going to share some tips I have been learning about working from home and so I will. Have to admit, I’ve been reading this blog a lot lately and it has helped a lot with both working and saving money, you should go check it out if you are interested in either. So what have I learned?

Budgeting Time
Just like budgeting money, budgeting time is huge to staying on track. What’s the first step everyone tells you to making an effective budget? Track alllllll of your spending by saving all your receipts and writing it all down, this helps you to see where you can save money, what your impulses are, where you tend to get sidetracked from your budget… for me, that latte, those little random things, a fancy pack of crackers at the grocery store. In the same way, track your time religiously for the first couple of weeks that you are working at home, in the same way that receipts work, this time keeping will help you to find when you are getting side tracked, how long tasks really take (3 hours instead of an estimated two is a huge difference!), when you break for lunch. Long in and out for bathroom breaks. When I get up to go to the bathroom I have found I often get side tracked for 10 mins by walking to the kitchen and grabbing a snack, cleaning up a little bit, playing with the ferrets, etc. It’s not a huge deal, but it’s just good to be aware of where your time is going.

To do lists
I’ve talked about this one before. To do lists are wonderful for me. I try to never make them the day of, I always make them the day before, usually right before bed. It helps me feel settled. Also, it keeps me realistic about what I can do. If you make a to do list as you go along, it’s kind of like making your grocery list while in the store, you add things on that aren’t real priorities.

I write down each thing I need to do, not just the project. So for today’s to do list I had not just “open shop for business”, but “add last products to shop”, “finish shipping policy”, “post to cl blog”. It helps me to remember each task I need to do as well as help me feel more productive by being able to check more things off. I know it’s psychological, but if it helps me to feel better about what I’m accomplishing, why not do it?

Since I’m working at home, I add my house stuff to the same list “dishes, fold laundry, bring hammock in for ferrets”. It’s not just a list of the big things I want to get done, but also a reminder to say walk out into the garage and grab the bigger hammock from the travel cage for my little guys; something I have forgotten to do for the last week. Now that it’s on the list I’ll make sure to get it done.

If I need to buy anything, I make a To Buy list and take that with me when I go out. It helps me from buying randomly and also from having to go out several times because I forgot the potatoes or the potting soil or whatever it was that I needed. It saves me time and money by just making a list of things.

Well that’s all for now. I have a lot of fun stuff that I want to show and tell, but, I need to break for lunch. See you all later!

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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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This fine little number was only $20 from Target, inadvertently, thanks mom and dad!

The local quilt shop was having a huge sale and I just couldn’t resist. These fabrics will be going into market and temari ball bags that I will be putting into my shop under Handmade Goods, that will take a couple weeks at least though, I’ll keep you updated.

And here is where I am on Jason’s scarf:

I just posted this week’s midweek post for craft leftovers, so be sure to check that out. I made a little to-do list from mis-prints of patterns, a gift bag and some scrap book paper.

In other news, I’m just about set to put some drawings up for sale in the shop. I’m thinking they will be up by noon tomorrow if not sooner. I added a shop page with sub-links last night, took pictures today, and tomorrow I will post.

See you all then!

++Kristin Roach++

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Here is the first one all finished up:

And here is the starting of the next one:

I am really loving it and once I get it all down, I’m hoping to write out a few charts for Craft Leftovers. This would be such a great project for it. I’ve already blazed through a ton of yarn that was just laying in my stash. I love it! And there is something wonderfully calming and meditative about wrapping a ball in thread.

I’ve also been sewing a whole lot. Since doing this past week’s midweek post for craft leftovers I’ve been making bags like I don’t know what. I can’t show the christmas present ones, but I’ll show some of the stuff I was working on tonight.

This is the fabric that my friend Carolyn picked out for her bag:

And her little lady was with her when we were talking about it and so I told her she could pick out some fabric for a little reusable shopping bag that she could use when she goes to the grocery store with her mom. We had been out all day with her and she only got a case of the cranky pants once, and it only lasted for like 5 mins and was really her just not saying bye to anyone, which I think is amazing. Having worked in retail/coffee houses for the past 8 years, I am truly amazed at how well behaved Carolyn’s kids are. Even at their worst, they are better than most kids I come across on a daily basis.

Anyway, since it was pretty quick to whip together, I have it pretty much done, just one more crack at it with the sewing machine and it will be all set to go:

Speaking of Carolyn, check out this sweet Christmas present she got me off etsy:

Oh and somehow these remind me of another thing. This past fall I did a large series of drawings, 36 in fact, and I want to offer them up to you all and get them some homes. I’ll only being selling a selection of them as limited ed prints of 25. And a couple of the originals. I have added a “shop” link in the side bar under “about”. It will be here on the blog and each drawing will have its own “buy it now” button. I will also offer handmade note cards, hand bound sketchbooks and journals, and bookmarks. Those will come incrementally as I make them. Be looking for the first drawings and prints to show up in the first week of the new year.

I think that’s it. I’m off for more sewing! Goodnight!

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