It’s been a bit quite here on the site lately, but I wanted to let you know that I have 4 new patterns for you all!
First off…
Frankenstein’s Monster!
Halloween Witch…
and a sweet Candy Corn
How cute are these kids together!?
And today I’m releasing another animal pattern, this adorable cow!!
All patterns are available on Etsy, Craftsy and Ravelry
Years ago my Grandma made my mom a beautiful doily. My mom had it professionally framed and it still hangs in her bedroom:
I have always loved this doily and was overjoyed when my Grandma made me 2 of my own doilies for Christmas in 2011. I was very excited to get them framed and hung up on my own wall until I found out what custom framing costs! I couldn’t afford the $400 that Joann’s was going to charge (yes, that’s WITH the 60% off custom framing!) and so I carefully, and sadly, packed the doilies up for safe keeping until I could decide how to display them.
I saw some ideas on Pinterest, and while they looked good, nothing was exactly what I wanted…
My doily is made of thread, and wouldn’t really work on a couch. And it’s not this big!
I’m not a huge fan of shadow boxes, and wasn’t sure if I would even be able to find one big enough.
And then I saw this on ‘The Nester‘
And I thought, ‘Not only can I do that, I can afford that!’ and it was off to Hobby Lobby I went. My doilies are about 19.5″ in diameter, so I bought a 23″ embroidery hoop, a yard of blue broadcloth, some white size 10 crochet thread (or any color or type of thread that matches your doily) and a needle.
To start, make sure that your doily is starched. Mine already was, so I don’t have a tutorial on it, but you can find on here.
Iron out your fabric and mount it on your embroidery hoop.
I had a lot of extra fabric all the way around.
DON’T cut off the excess fabric at this point. In fact, you’ll want a couple of inches of excess fabric all the way around so that you can center the doily later if you need to!
Roughly center your doily and then move it into place. This is where the extra fabric comes in! If you have extra fabric around your hoop then the doily does not need to be centered exactly. Once it is sewn on you can move the fabric around until the placement is how you like it.
Now take your needle and thread (I used the same thread that the doily was made with) and simple stitch over the doily to hold it in place. I use VERY small stitches and just did them over the little spikes on the edges.
These spikes are already stitched on. If you use VERY small stitches you won’t even be able to see them. $5 to anyone who can see my stitches here. Kidding, I’m not gonna give you $5.
This is what the back of my embroidery hoop looks like after the doily is stitched on:
At this point I took my hoop where I was going to hang it and held it up to make sure that I couldn’t see the stitching through the fabric. It was very clear when I held it up against a window or even a light, but when held up against a wall you couldn’t see it anymore. If you are able to see your stitching you may want to consider getting another piece of fabric and inserting it into the hoop as well, behind the piece with the stitching, so that you hide the stitching.
As this point you can tug and play with the fabric until you are satisfied with your doily placement. Once you are, take some scissors to that fabric!
As you can see, I cut pretty close to the hoop all the way around.
I followed the same process with my 2nd doily, and voila!
Then I hung them up and was done!
The best part is that I know that if I ever have the money to professionally frame them I can easily get them off the fabric and out of the hoop without damaging them. Until then, I can enjoy them in these great hoops!
Oh man, I am SO excited to share this interview! I couldn’t believe it when Liz agreed to this interview, and she was so great! I don’t think I need to introduce her much more then to say she is the genius behind Playin’ Hooky Designs.
Welcome Liz!
Hi! My name is Liz and I’ll be your hooker for the evening 😉 I’m originally from Texas, but I now live in the mountains of Colorado with my husband and kids. My sister-in-law taught me the basics of crochet 6 ½ years ago when I was pregnant with my oldest daughter.
I soon started creating my own style of beanies and other apres-ski headwear. I like designing for men, women, and kids alike; accessories that can be worn by everyone whether they ski every day, or want to look like they do.
Playin’ Hooky is my business and my passion. I work crazy hours, when my kids let me! Come to think about it, that’s part of the reason why I make beanies & discs; they’re small and I can finish them in less than a day (most of the time)!
What is a typical day in your life?
Balancing family life and working at home is hard, but awesome. I get lots of interruptions, but I don’t mind. I feel so lucky that I can work at home with lots of playtime with my amazing kids.
My days aren’t always the same, but no matter what, I spend a lot of time answering emails and posting on my social media sites to engage my fans. All but one of my shops now have instant downloads of patterns so that freed up some of the time I used to spend emailing patterns (YAY!). I try to get all my messages sent in the morning so I can spend the afternoon on house chores and hanging out with my kids. Then I pick my hooks up in the evening to work on my orders and new designs.
Where do you get your work done?
I tend to be a little OCD, so I like things organized. Most of my time is spent at my desk, working on the computer and crocheting while I hold my 1-year old. I have a yarn cabinet made by my husband to keep my stash in check. But, I work pretty long hours which means I usually end up crocheting in my living room chair while we’re watching movies.
What is your favorite thing about running your own business?
My hands down favorite thing is being able to stay at home with my kids! I also love being able to share myself with other crocheters through my designs and personal style.
What is the hardest thing for you in running your business?
The day-to-day operations aren’t always fun, but it’s the little things that have to get done. I don’t love accounting or trying to streamline my listings in all my shops, but it’s what keeps Playin’ Hooky going!
What surprised you the most when you started your business?
I have to use my high school math skills more that I thought I would! And I’m not even talking about keeping my books balanced. For anyone who has never designed a crochet pattern, it involves a lot of math to get the stitch counts, increases and decreases, and general design just right. I fought it for as long as I could, but since I love designing, I resigned to the fact that I was going to have to become friendly with math.
What advice would you give to other business owners out there?
In the words of a very wise fish, “Just keep swimming”! Sometimes things don’t go how you want them to, sales slow down, you’ll get in a rut, but stay positive and you will get out of it. I think about those times as God making me take a break. And I usually need it! Take time to slow down and spend time with your family, but keep your eyes out for your next source of inspiration.
Where do you get your inspiration?
The best inspiration comes naturally. In the past, I’ve tried to force designs or concepts and it never comes ends well. My best ideas come to me when the time is right. Those designs are the ones that flow off my hook and make the pattern easy to write. As for a mentor, it would be nice to have someone who has created brand recognition and a loyal fan base to help with some guidance now and then. Operating your own business is hard, and it’s not always clear what the next step should be. I don’t have anyone specific in mind though.
What do you do when you’re NOT working?
Now that summer is here (finally!) I like watching my kids play outside, going camping, and getting my townie bike back out of the garage.
If you won the lottery today what is the first thing you would do?
It’s not exciting, but I would pay off my student loans and mortgage first. Then I would definitely take a vacation somewhere warm and exotic.
What did you want to be when you were little and do you think you ever will be?
I’ve always been a science nerd, so I wanted to be a paleontologist, a vet, and a teacher. I have a teacher license, but I love staying at home with my kids and doing what I love as my job!
You can find Playin’ Hooky Designs on her Website, Facebook, Ravelry and Etsy.
I’d like to thank Liz for letting me spotlight her today! Be sure to check out her great designs and like her on Facebook.
Do you know a business I should consider interviewing for an upcoming Small Business Spotlight? Leave a comment or email me with a link to their information and let me know! Wish I would have asked a different question? I will be changing up some of the questions in the future, so if you have something in particular you would like to know be sure to let me know!
Thanks everyone, Happy Tuesday!
Today we have an interview with the woman behind one of my favorite crochet websites, Tangled Happy.
Welcome Sara!
Hey there… I’m Sara, a wife to a wonderful husband and a mama to three lovely girls. These four are my favorite people in the whole wide world. I love my family to pieces!
I learned to crochet in 2010 and fell head over heals in love with crochet. Soon after this little love affair started Tangled Happy was born. There you will find hundreds of free crochet patterns and a few of my original designs.
What is a typical day in your life?
A typical day is pretty full! In addition to wife, mama and blogger I also own and operate a house cleaning business locally. A typical day looks something like this… Drop my girls at school, clean a clients home, blog/design or crochet in the afternoon, pick up my girls from school, help with homework, make dinner, hang out with the family, put the little girls to bed, blog/design/crochet or hang with the husband and then bed.
My husband and I share a work space in our home. We turned one tiny bedroom into an office for the two of us. This seemed like a great idea at the time… This arrangement quickly became quite distracting! So, although my pretty little desk is still stashed away in the office I find myself blogging from the kitchen table and crocheting in random places around the house.
What is your favorite thing about running your own business?
When my youngest daughter was born (7 years ago) I quite my 8 to 5 and started a house cleaning business. Sending another baby to day care was not an option! I wanted to be with my girls. What I love most about running my own business is having the freedom to choose when I work and having more control over how much income I can make. Self employment has been a huge blessing in my role as a wife and mama.
What is the hardest thing for you in running your business?
Running a business is hard work. My biggest struggle… Time management! Finding the perfect balance is nearly impossible. I do my best to balance all the roles I have been given and although I don’t do it perfectly I’m much happier working for myself than I ever was punching the time clock for someone else.
What surprised you the most when you started your business?
How quickly things can get going. Quitting my 8 to 5 was scary but I knew I had to go all in if I wanted to be with my girls full time. I hit the pavement and passed out flyers daily until I had enough cleaning clients to make up the income I needed. It didn’t take long to fill my schedule and things have remained pretty steady since then.
Tangled Happy has a similar story. Just like most blogs Tangled Happy started out getting a handful of pageviews per day and within a few months grew to thousands. That was definitely a pleasant surprise!
What advice would you give to other business owners out there?
If you’re just getting started or thinking about starting your own business consistency is key. Make a plan and work the plan.
Where do you get your inspiration?
Creative blogger inspire me! Tangled Happy was created was initially created as a way to keep track of patterns and inspiring people I came across online. Have a quick browse around my blog and it won’t take long to see what and who inpires me.
If you were invisible, where would you go?
Inside my teenage daughters head so I could figure out what’s going on in there…?
If you could live anywhere in the world where would you live?
Hmm… I really love Kansas! I think I would stay right here for now.
What is something people would be surprised to learn about you?
I make the best baked potato soup on the planet.
You can find Sara on her website, www.tangledhappy.com, Facebook, Etsy and Pinterest.
I’d like to thank Sara for being willing to talk to me today and share her business with us!
Do you know a business I should consider interviewing for an upcoming Small Business Spotlight? Leave a comment or email me with a link to their information and let me know! Wish I would have asked a different question? I will be changing up some of the questions in the future, so if you have something in particular you would like to know be sure to let me know!
Thanks everyone, Happy Tuesday!
Today’s interview is pretty awesome! Stephanie from Hookaholics seems to do it all, she crochets, she knits, she writes patterns AND she spins her own yarn! Lets get started!
HI! I’m Stephanie, a 30-something wife and work-at-home mom to five kids aged 2 – 9. We live in the foothills of the Pocono Mountains right outside of Scranton, PA. I started crocheting when my son was a baby. My friends urged me to open an Etsy shop after my second daughter was born. After baby number 4 arrived, I decided to quit my day job and focus on my crochet business. I eventually started to write out some of my patterns and offer them for sale. Most recently, I’ve taken up spinning my own yarn. I love taking fiber and turning it into something amazing. Spinning is so soothing, almost meditative.
What is a typical day in your life?
Life with five kids is CRAZY. Life with five kids and three Etsy shops is INSANITY, but I love, love, LOVE being busy. My typical day starts bright and early, getting kids dressed fed and the two oldest out the door for school. Once that settles down, I answer emails and re-list sold orders. I hang out with the little ones and then after lunch, they take a nap and I get to work! The hook or needles or spinning wheel comes out and I get down to business. I package up orders and hand them off to my husband to take to the post office while I start putting together dinner. The big kids get home and we sit down for dinner and homework and then we rush off to taekwondo. Then it’s back home for baths and bedtime. Once everyone is tucked in, I settle down with my yarn again and off I go! I do my best work after the kids are in bed. Did I mention the copious amounts of coffee I’m drinking all day?!
Where do you get most of your work done?
I have a dedicated dyeing studio in our detached garage. My husband was kind enough to sacrifice a corner of it after he saw the potential mess dye could make in the kitchen. I also have a craft room upstairs but that serves mostly as a yarn and fiber storage area. Honestly, the majority of my work happens from the couch. My guilty pleasure is crocheting or spinning while catching up on episodes of the Maury show.
As a side note, I, Kandice, am in LOVE with this blanket and need a baby to make it for!
What is your favorite thing about running your own business?
I love the freedom to create what I want, when I want and how I want. There’s an immense amount of satisfaction that comes from being able to stay home with my kids while also contributing to the family income.
What is the hardest thing for you in running your business?
I am my own worst boss and critic. Any “free” time I have is spent nurturing new ideas, testing out new dye recipes, spinning a funky yarn, or letting my imagination run wild with my crochet hook. It never stops.
What surprised you the most when you started your business?
Honestly? The biggest surprise has been how successful it’s been. I never would have dreamed that I could quit my job and make money doing what I love.
What advice would you give to other business owners out there?
Get fabulous photos of your products. I love working with photographers for pictures. They give your shop a much more polished and professional look. I struggle with photographing my own items, but I’m getting there.
I’ve heard the expression “Follow your Dreams”. Don’t follow them. Chase them. Stalk them. Hunt them down, throw them to the ground, hog tie them and make them yours. Be prepared for a struggle. I promise it’s worth it.
Where do you get your inspiration?
Inspiration comes from everywhere. I’ve had ideas pop into my head at the strangest and most random times. I keep a list on my phone and jot down new ideas as they come to me. When I’m dyeing wool to spin, I find inspiration from the colors of the season I’m in. And Pinterest has some fabulous boards with color palettes.
What do you do when you’re NOT working?
When I’m not working, I’m juggling the needs of three kids. My husband and I and our three oldest kids all practice taekwondo. Sparring with my husband is better than marriage counseling. I love that we all have a common sport that we can all talk about and relate to, and it’s much easier to shuttle everyone to the same place rather than split up for dance/hockey/t-ball, etc.
What did you want to be when you were little and do you think you ever will be?
I’m still not sure what I want to be when I grow up, but I’m having a blast right now!
If you were invisible, where would you go?
If I were invisible, I’d follow my kids to school and see if they really do act like the angels that they claim to be.
What is something people would be surprised to learn about you?
I said before I was married that I never wanted kids.
You can find Hookaholic Yarn here , patterns here and finished products here. You can also find here on Facebook.
I’d like to thank Stephanie for a very entertaining interview, and some of the best business advice yet!
Do you know a business I should consider interviewing for an upcoming Small Business Spotlight? Leave a comment or email me with a link to their information and let me know! Wish I would have asked a different question? I will be changing up some of the questions in the future, so if you have something in particular you would like to know be sure to let me know!
Thanks everyone, Happy Tuesday!
Last week someone asked me some questions about getting ready for a craft show, so today I thought I would talk about that! A lot of places the Farmers Market season has just started and people are already starting to think about Christmas! If you’re thinking about selling at any Christmas shows you should start looking now, a lot of applications for November and December shows are due in July and August.
This question came at a good time, as I am doing my first shows of 2013 the next 2 weekends! The main question I get asked about getting ready for a show is how many hats I take with me. The answer to this question has changed over the years, so I thought it would be best if I walked you through my evolution, and you can see which part is most in line with your situation and see what I did there!
In 2010, when Sweet Kiwi Crochet first started I began selling at my local Farmers Market. When I started I would pick an animal and I wanted to try and sell and then make 1 or 2 of each size hat (I do 5 sizes, 0-6 months, 6-12 months, 1-2 years, 3-9 years and 10-adult). When I first started my booth was a mish-mash of hats, scarves, slippers and purses. The first time I tried animal hats I just took 1 animal and though I’d see how it went. Because I was selling at this market every week I was able to slowly introduce things and see how they sold before I made a whole bunch of something. By the end of that first market season I had 5 different animals that I would take with me, and I would take 2-4 hats in each size in each style. So I would take 15 owl hats (3 of each size) and 15 giraffes, etc.
That Christmas I did 2 shows and I took a lot more hats. I had 9 different animals that I was making, and I made 4-6 of each size. After the first show was over I made as many hats as I could in 2 weeks to replenish the hats that I’d already sold, and when I ran out of hats in a particular size or style I took orders.
In 2011 I did the Farmers Market again, but because I still had hats left from the Christmas shows I was able to add 6 new animals to my line and increase my numbers by having 6-8 of each size in each style. I was selling at the Gardners Market every weekend, and also sold at another show a couple of times that summer, so having a lot of hats in stock relieved a lot of stress!! That Christmas I did 2 more Christmas shows and was able to secure a booth space at a Boutique in a mall where I could sell hats all year.
Since 2012 I’ve been doing things pretty much the same. I try to have at least 2-3 hats in each size at the Boutique all the time, and I spend the spring making hats for the summer and Christmas shows. I’ve been able to figure out which styles and sizes are the most popular at the shows I go to (it’s different for different shows) and I make sure that I have 10-12 of the most popular styles and sizes before a show. For the less popular hats I try to have 2-3 of each size. I have the advantage of knowing that anything I don’t sell at a show can be taken to the boutique.
My numbers might sound crazy, and even a little bit daunting to someone just doing 1 show. My recommendation is to find a small show and try to take a variety of things. Take all different sizes an a lot of different styles and then keep a good inventory!! Pay attention to what sizes get tried on the most, what sizes get purchased the most, and what styles are the most popular. You can adjust the number of hats you bring and the kinds you bring as you figure out what people buy. You don’t want to spend 100 hours making 1 style of hat only to find out that no one wants it.
To find out more about what I do to get ready for my craft shows you can refer back to my Selling At A Craft Show series from last summer:
What suggestions do you have for those just starting out at craft shows!? How do you decide what to take with you?
This week’s Small Business Spotlight is with the designer behind one of my FAVORITE websites on the internet! I’ve been obsessed with Carina from Polka & Bloom since I found her blog, Carina’s Craftblog. When I found out she crochets, knits and embroiders I was in awe! I am SO excited that she agreed this this interview, so let’s get to it!
Hi, my name is Carina – I’m Danish but live just outside London (in the UK) with my English husband. I’m an embroidery designer, author and craft blogger.
I design hand embroidery patterns which I sell in my shop, Polka & Bloom. I also teach online classes, write eBooks and content for printed books. This autumn my first book, Stitched Blooms, will be published by Lark Crafts.
I got started by accident, actually. The company I worked for went belly up and I was laid off along with several thousand others! It wasn’t a great job, so I wasn’t that sorry about not working there anymore. But obviously I missed the regular income! While I was looking for another job, I started selling a few patterns and I thought it might be worth pursuing. It’s not made me rich, but I’m doing something I absolutely love. And that is something I’m really grateful for. 🙂
What is a typical day in your life?
Week days usually look like this:
8 or 9am to 12pm: writing/replying to emails, doing research for pattern designs, sketching and embroidering.
12-1pm: I have lunch while reading blogs. And do a few quick chores around the house.
1-3pm: Taking photographs, embroidering, preparing pattern files.
3-6pm: More household tasks, preparing and eating dinner, spending time with the husband.
6-8pm: Writing blog posts, editing photos, writing a few more emails if necessary. Updating my website/shop etc.
I try to stop working on the computer by 8pm – But I may still be on the computer for a bit longer if I get lost in the blog-link rabbit hole! 😉
8-10pm: I’ll be doing some more embroidery or maybe playing in my sketchbook. And writing my to-do list for the following day! Very important!
I usually do some work on the weekends too, but nowhere near as much!
Where do you work?
At the moment we live in a one-bedroom flat, so my computer and desk are in the living room – it’s not ideal, but at least it means I’m in the same room as my husband when I’m working in the evening! When I’m embroidering I take a seat on the sofa. My fabric and thread usually spread onto the coffee table and the floor.
What is your favorite thing about running your own business?
My awesome customers! Every time I get a message from someone telling me they enjoyed stitching one of my patterns, I get SO happy!
And I love that I can set my own hours. I work a lot but at least I can spread my working hours throughout the day (and evening). Or I can take the day off and go check out a museum in London if I feel like it.
What is the hardest thing for you in running your business?
Doing it alone. There’s just never quite enough time for all the ideas I have or tasks that need to get done. Learning to prioritize is something I am still working on.
What surprised you the most when you started your business?
The fact that I actually did start a business. I’d never really imagined myself doing that.
What advice would you give to other business owners out there?
Always do your work to the best of your ability, continue improving and learning new things. And make sure you get paid properly. If you let others underpay you, it’s not treating yourself or your business with respect. And it will hurt your bottom line – there’s enough hobby makers devaluing the work of creatives already.
If you could choose anyone as your mentor, who would you choose?
I think Oprah would make a pretty great mentor. She’s a really savvy business woman!
Where do you get your inspiration?
I get inspired by so many different things. The colours of a sunset, the sleeve pattern in a 15th century painting. Buildings, a particular stitch or certain colours… Folk art from all corners of the world are a big source of inspiration for me.
What do you do when you’re NOT working?
I’m still embroidering! But I also crochet, sew, paint and draw. And recently I’ve also got a bit more ambitious with knitting.
If you won the lottery today what is the first thing you would do?
Depends on how much I won! If I won enough I’d pay off our mortgage and go visit my sister who lives in California.
What did you want to be when you were little and do you think you ever will be?
I wanted to be an astronomer – I doubt that’s going to happen now!
You can find Carina on her Blog, Twitter (@carinacraftblog), Instagram (@polkaandbloom), and in her Shop.
I’d like to thank Carina for answering my questions and sharing her awesome talent with us today!
Do you know a business I should consider interviewing for an upcoming Small Business Spotlight? Leave a comment or email me with a link to their information and let me know! Wish I would have asked a different question? I will be changing up some of the questions in the future, so if you have something in particular you would like to know be sure to let me know!
Thanks Everyone! Happy Tuesday!
I’m not creative enough to come up with any Someecards myself, but these are some of my favorites I’ve seen lately…
Crochet jokes are fun 🙂
“How Do You Keep Your Hats & Yarn Organized?”
I wish I had a great answer, but I have to admit that I don’t have a super creative or attractive solution.
I used to have a pretty decent hoard of yarn, but last summer we moved to a new state and I had to de-stash a bit. This week is the perfect time to do this post, as I moved all of my yarn from our garage inside our 1-bedroom apartment with less than 1,000 square feet of space. We are lucky enough to have a big walk-in closet, and I have a very understanding husband who lets me fill it with yarn!
I brought all my yarn in and just put it in the bedroom:
No, this is not a child’s bedroom. The Lego’s on the shelf are my husbands. I have my hobbies and he has his 🙂
Our beautiful closest, sans yarn:
After 2 hours of color-sorting and organizing I got everything into the closet:
That’s 6 bins of boxes on top and 3 on bottom.
As for hats, I have 3 more of those large pink totes from above. They’re each 45 gallons and they hold a lot of hats! I love these totes as they’re very stack-able and keep the hats clean! I store them in the totes until I need to take them somewhere, and then I usually put them in the big blue Ikea bags for easier transport.
This summer I am taking these totes up to Utah with me for some shows that I will be selling at. Once those shows are over I will be leaving the left-over hats at my parents house until I go back for more shows in the fall. Once all my shows are over I take anything that is left to a store that I sell them at.
Since that wasn’t a very cool answer I thought I would share some really cool yarn storage ideas I’ve seen online. Hopefully someday I will have the space to do something like these!
How cool is that wall of spooled yarn by the couch!? Lorna from http://www.knitsforlife.com is able to knit with the yarn still on the wall, which I’m sure makes her space a lot cleaner than mine!
Can you imagine going to bed each night and waking up every morning and having this be the first thing you ever see?? So jealous of Amber over at http://makingahome-pa.blogspot.com/
Tara from Mamachee and http://easymakesmehappy.blogspot.com/ has one of the best work spaces I’ve ever seen! I LOVE those yarn cubbies!
And if you are super ambitious and you can use these awesome plans from Ana White to make your own storage cubbies. This is much like the Ikea Expedit cubbies I used to store yarn at my old place.
If you have any great yarn storage ideas I would love to see pictures!
Any Me Anything will be back next Friday, so if you have something you’d like to know leave a comment!
Sweet Kiwi Crochet 