Having a "Black Friday Sale" in my etsy shop

(gratuitous kitten shot)

Stay tuned, I plan on making it just as fun as getting up at 3am and waiting in a long line in the freezing cold. Even better than wading through crowds of people to get that ONE item. How about sittin at home in your jammies with your coffee and scoring some huge sales? Free shipping?? Discounts?? Giveaways?? All will be revealed later!

Buy Eastern Washington for Christmas!

I am part of the fabulous Eastern Washington team on etsy. We have joined together to offer a sampler box, and the first one will be ready for Christmas!

Once every two months we will team up with local artists to fill the Washington State Friendship Box which will be ready for purchase here, on this website. These boxes are hand packaged with love and mailed right to your door. Each box will be filled with a variety of handmade items such as stationary, accessories, treats, decorative items and much more! You'll love the items so much, that you'll definitely want more!

The first ever Washington State Friendship Box will be available for purchase on October 1st, 2008. Each box will be filled with approximately a dozen to-die-for items! There will be a mix of full-size and sample items - something to satisfy everyone's needs.

Everything in the Washington Friendship Box is 100% handmade by talented artists living in Washington. Or by our talented Etsy Friends. They have put their time and heart into every product.

Check it out HERE!
http://www.washingtonstatefriendshipbox.com/servlet/StoreFront

So Busy No Time to Blog!

The beginning of September was very busy, with sales and custom orders. Here is my first felt hat with no set pattern. I just love Noro yarn, and my local LYS had a big sale. Lucky me! Here's the link to it!
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=15420334

The results of the first spin!

My cat helped me take a picture of the new scarf I made from my first attempt at spinning. I spun it with a drop spindle and fiber from http://silversunalpacas.etsy.com. I did singles of wool and alpaca and then plied them to make the yarn. I knitted it up in garter stitch on size 35's. It was very thick and thin, but it gives the scarf a really handmade look. Thanks to all who helped, especially the Spinners group on Ravelry.

Off to make more!

Learning to spin

Well, I ordered a drop spindle kit from http://www.silversunalpacas.etsy.com this weekend. What an adventure! My first attempt was really fat and overspun, so I got some suggestions from the etsy forums and a group of spinners on ravelry. My second came out much better. I could tell it wasn't overspun because it kept falling apart! It went really well until I stopped using the roving and started to use a batt. Apparently they are really different to spin. The batt is really thick and thin, I figured out I had to predraft it thinner than the roving and stretch it a bit to make it thinner. I am such a beginner, but it is fun, with a little swearing involved. I really know why handspun yarn can be really expensive, it is very time consuming! I hope to make something out of my new yarn. Pictures are coming!

Shop Statistics

I have been enjoying my first, but not last, purchase from Lance at SimpleSolutions.etsy.com . http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5903349
His wonderful tool tracks and graphs my Item heart and shop views. I can see what gets viewed most. It really allows me to see what happens to my shop after I chat in the forums, add new items, relist, or anything that helps me promote my etsy store. That way I can see what is most effective for marketing. It is so user friendly it just takes one click to update the numbers so you can do it whenever you want, and as many times a day as you want. I only wish I had had this when I started! He has many other products for us statistics-loving etsians. He'll help you find out what's going on in your shop. Excellent customer service too!

Found myself on the gift guides!

Do you google yourself?? I do and today I found out I was chosen to be in the gift guide for "him" by esty admin! I am super excited that they liked my work enough to feature it. The funny thing was, they chose an item that I wouldn't have thought men would wear. This lovely hat which has a matching scarf. I am thrilled to reach another market!

New Blog

Hello! I am really new to blogging. This is my first one. I am currently setting it up so please bear with me while I build. I am going to blog about my new etsy shop, the things I learn, and the adventures I have while crafting! Much more later....