Etsy Monday: Neapolitan Hats

Happy Monday, gang! It's the first day of classes here in Chicago, and I've got my first day of school outfit on (oh yes, this is totally a thing), and I'm ready to head to campus for a full day of work and a nice, hard workout at the gym.  Before I go, though, I want to share a sneak peek of a new hat design I worked on this weekend that will soon be added to the shop.  Meet the Neapolitan hats:

I have lots of sketches and yarns for a dessert-inspired new line of items coming up for fall, and these are the first bits in brown, pink, and cream.

Gus is not sure what he thinks.

"Take a silly picture of me, will you?"

"I will stretch you to death!"

Etsy Monday: Perknitious News

It's been a long time since I've put together an Etsy Monday post, but this seems like a good reason to start up again. Next week, I'll be sharing some recent favorites from other shops.

In mid-summer, creative inspiration for new shop items and designs hit hard, and the Perknitious shop is now restocked with brand new items, including some great stripey mitts and cabled armwarmers as well as a few pairs of cozy socks, perfect for wearing with boots or a cute pair of mary janes this fall.

Neutral Lace handknit socks

Princess handknit stripey mitts

Heathered Purple cabled armwarmers

Most importantly, I'm extremely excited to be making a major change that will allow me to give back, and I'm hoping to kick off strong by starting in the busiest knitting-sales season of the year that begins in September.

From now on, I'll be donating 20% of all sales to MSF/Doctors without Borders.  This international humanitarian organization does so much good bringing medical care to under-served areas, especially during times of crisis caused by natural disaster, political oppression, or economic depression.  You can read more about their inspiring work by clicking the button below to go to the MSF site.

I hope you'll stop by the shop to take a look at the new additions, and keep your eyes open for new items being added over the course of the next week as I get photos taken and item descriptions composed.  

June Giveaway: Fantasticrafts!

Lovely readers, it's time for a 

These sweet yellow owl stitch markers are one of the most popular items in Nicole's Etsy shop, FantastiCrafts, and now a set of 5 cute owls can be yours! Read on for information about how to enter, and on Wednesday June 8th, one lucky winner will be selected to receive these little friends (and some other surprises) in the mail.

All you need to do is:

Leave a comment on this post telling me about your latest creative project 

(be sure to leave your e-mail so I can contact you if you win!)

Comments will be accepted until midnight CST on Tuesday, June 7th.  Good luck, everyone!

Etsy Monday: Change and Growth

Since I've taken on the challenge of pursuing joy wholeheartedly this year, I've been doing a lot of reflecting about aspects of my approach to life that are calling out for positive change.  I'd like to spend this week addressing a few of those, from spirituality and prayer life to friendships to school, but since it's Etsy Monday, I'll start with growth and change in my business.

Challenge #1: Taking myself seriously

As a full-time student, part-time teacher, and knitter on-the-side, I have a hard time taking myself seriously as a woman running a small business for profit.  Maintaining my shop up to this point has definitely been a hobby, and when I describe it to people, I tend to downplay the whole prospect of selling my wares.  I've found myself saying, "Well, it just makes me a little bit of money so that I can buy more yarn," and "I knit so that I can feel productive while I'm watching tv or movies, and then I need to get rid of the items somehow."  That second statement is a flat out lie! I love knitting things that I think people will wear, and I like to try out new designs because I hope that people will like them enough to buy them.  And the first statement might be true right now, but I have bigger aspirations for my knitting business than "making a little money to buy yarn."  Let's face it: a student income is just enough to live on, and my quality of life could really be improved if my shop actually helps me turn a profit.  I think that taking myself and my business seriously would go a long way towards turning Perknitious into a more cohesive, well-known brand.

Challenge #2: Quality of experience 

I'm not the kind of person who likes to half-*ss things.  That's not to say I don't do it regularly; I just don't like it :) I want my product photo shoots to result in well-lit, pretty pictures that allow customers to really see the items and how they're made and that also convey a little bit of the sweet and sassy spirit that goes into creating each item.  The details of the shop page and of my blog layout matter, because they contribute to the overall feeling a customer or a reader takes away from their visit.  One friend of mine is an excellent photographer, and he's agreed to give me some coaching for product shots.  Another friend, a graphic designer, is meeting with me this week to work on designing a logo for the blog and shop.  I'm really excited about working more intentionally on creating a quality experience for everyone who stops by my online space.

So what can I do to meet these two challenges?  This month I'm committing myself to growing my business, a process that I know will take a lot of thought and a lot of time, but which I think will be 100% worth it.  By setting aside time for learning new skills and solidifying my own business vision, I think I'll be pushed to take myself and my business seriously and to improve the way people feel when the visit the shop, read my blog, or buy and use a Perknitious item, whether it's a pattern or a knitted object.

And now my questions for you, dear readers!

• Do you have any advice?  
• Any books I should read or blog posts I should check out to learn more about running a business?  
• Any wisdom you've gained as a small business owner or someone who does a craft for profit?  
• Anything you'd like to read/see more of on the blog, or any thoughts about what kinds of products I ought to be making more of?  

This online community is a constant source of inspiration, so I'd like to harness your collective awesome brainpower! I really look forward to your feedback :)

Etsy Monday: Shop update :)

I finally managed to catch a bit of sun and capture photos of new items for the shop! Nicole and I had fun with our mini photo-shoot yesterday, taking a few pictures in front of my new poster (it's currently attached to the wall with push pins and binder clips, waiting until I get the right frame).  We also recruited some of Heidi Kenney's adorable plushes to help set the right mood.

Bloom Headband Earwarmers

this was my favorite photo of the day!

Spring Stripe Mitts

and a particularly goofy one!

Nicole also did a massive (and I mean seriously HUGE) set of updates in her shop FantastiCrafts!  Her owl stitch markers have been super popular lately - they're selling out as fast as she can stock them. I'm not surprised, because they are truly adorable.

I'm working on more armwarmers right now, since spring is my favorite season for wearing them. I hope by knitting them I can magically convince the weather to start changing and being just a tiny bit warmer...

I have lots of fun updates from this weekend to share with you (thrifted finds and a Project ReStyle makeover), plus a nearly finished sweater waiting to be modeled.  I hope you had a good weekend, too!

Mini shop update!

You guys, I am so excited to be offering my hand spun yarns in the Perknitious Etsy shop now! My tiny update this morning included these two:

So Sari

Sparkly Denim I

Cue the goofy dancing and happy smiles! This is a huge step for me, both because I'm fulfilling a long-standing creative dream of providing yarn AND yarny creations and because I am finally showing off my new skill to a larger group of consumers. It's so rewarding to think that my little one-of-a-kind skeins will be used in other people's fabulous projects. I can't wait to see what these knitters come up with!

Etsy Monday: FantastiCrafts!

Happy Monday! My Etsy finds this week are near and dear to my heart, because they come from the creative lady who is my best friend. Most of you readers have seen FantastiCrafts creations before, but Nicole did a huge update last night, and I like some of the new items so much that I think you need to see them.

First, my new favorite - this Birdhouse and Crystal Charm necklace

That little birdie on there reminds me of cuckoo clocks, the rustic look of the birdhouse brings to mind those craft birdhouses many of us painted and decorated when we were kids, and the crystals are all different shades of pink. It's such a small charm, but sure to invite many looks and questions. It also seems like it would be a great necklace for a little girl, something she might be really excited to show her school friends.

Next up, Let It Snow wine charms. With snow men!

I realize I made a huge seasonal jump between that last item and this one, and that we're very much mid-Fall (oh my gosh, I am not in the least suggesting that winter needs to begin in Chicago any time soon. Brrr.), but I am starting to get excited about holiday shopping, and these are just perfect.
Admittedly, I also feel a personal attachment to the little snowguys. Last weekend, when our friend Melissa was also in town, Nicole, Melissa, and I made a trip down to Indiana, and I had my first Hobby Lobby experience. Oh my gosh, that store is amazing! These snowmen, and many other Christmas-y charms came from that fun shopping trip, and it's exciting to see how she turned them into such a neat wine charm set.

Coming back to fall again, and the upcoming Thanksgiving feast (I just got my November Martha Stewart Living - it made me hungry!), check out this great Dinner Time Charm necklace.

Nicole has her own version of this, and people are always commenting on it (including me, every time I see it!). It's such a unique piece of jewelry, one of those things that can really make you smile and give you an extra boost of confidence if you wear it.

I hope, as always, that you'll take a minute to check out the other new listings in the FantastiCrafts shop!

Etsy Monday: Summer Sale!

Happy Memorial Day to US readers! I know quite a few current soldiers, and I appreciate today's reminder to take a moment and reflect with gratitude on those men and women who have given their lives for our country.
*****  *****  *****
It's also Etsy Monday, and I have a sale to share. My partner in crime is hosting a fantastic sale of summer-themed items over at Fantasticrafts!

At least in Chicago, summer seems to be upon us. We are having snowdrifts of pollen from some overzealous plant (anybody know what's going on?), but the sun and the humidity seem to be out to stay, and last night was our first big thunderstorm of the season. Get out your tank tops, skirts, and shorts, bare a little more skin, and slap on some summer jewels.
Summer can be a great time for adventure, whether that means exploring your own city or traveling to some new and exotic locale. I think exciting travel calls for exciting accessories. This safari necklace is my favorite:

Perhaps your summer is more focused on picnics at the beach and BBQs with friends? I know I'm having a potluck with some pals this afternoon. Try out these utensil-bearing bangles. You won't forget to buy the watermelon next time you go to the grocery store!

Yum! Go check out the sale from now to June 30th, and get ready to celebrate the arrival of this season in whatever way you like best :)
*As always, thanks to Nicole for permission to use the photos*

Giveaway winner!

Fantasticrafts would like to congratulate the winner of our very first giveaway. Random number generator says #8...

Elizabeth WH!!!

Photo from Flickr here

We wish we could give you this delicious looking cupcake as part of your prize :)

Please leave a comment to let us know which shop you would like to give you the $15 gift certificate!

Congratulations to Elizabeth and thank you thank you thank you to all of you who entered and who continually support our businesses. Have a wonderful Saturday!

Friday Crafternoon

**The giveaway ends tonight, but keep those entries coming all day! Check back tomorrow for the big announcement of our lucky winner.**

Ah, Friday.
I just reminded myself of the "French"-accented guy who does the intros for the Spongebob cartoon. I maybe shouldn't have admitted that. 

This quarter, I've been lucky enough to get a class schedule that leaves me with a free Friday. This rare and glorious condition means that if I accomplish enough work on Friday mornings, I feel justified in taking Friday afternoons off for fun. And so Friday Crafternoon was born. 

Today I'll be knitting (um, of course), but I'm also going to make one of these. I have a hairpin, and I have a pickle jar that's being used to hold markers, so I think it's time to fancy it up a bit. 

Here's your dishcloth for the day:

I'll be back tomorrow to announce the winner and show off some knitting!

Fantasticrafts Giveaway!

Lovely readers, today I am very excited to announce the first Fantasticrafts team giveaway!

Nicole and I have combined our crafty powers to offer you a brand new item. These handknitted leaves will become a pair of earrings, and one of you will be the lucky winner who gets to take these home - for yourself, for a friend, for your mom (Mother's Day is coming soon!), or simply to place on a shelf and admire :) This design will be added to the shops soon, but you can be the very first on your block to own knitted jewelry!!

The prize also includes a $15 gift certificate to the Fantasticrafts team shop of your choice:

Perknitious offers handknit goods for boys and girls of all ages

Fantasticrafts! has jewelry, bookmarks, magnets, and wine charms galore

Vibrant Vows will take care of your wedding jewelry needs

Official Rules:

The giveaway will run until Friday April 30, 11PM CST. The winner will be chosen from the comments on this post using a random number generator, and we will make the announcement on this blog on Saturday May 1.

You can enter multiple times by doing any or all of the following. Leave a comment on this post for each action, because every comment is one entry:

1. Become a follower of this blog (click on the "follow" link in the sidebar), and leave a comment letting us know you've done so. [1 entry]

2. Visit one of the three shops (links above) and leave a comment here telling us your favorite item from that shop. [up to 3 entries if you choose an item from each shop]

3. Link back to this giveaway on your blog, facebook page, or twitter, and leave us a comment to let us know. [up to 3 entries if you've told the world in three ways]

Enter once, enter seven times! We hope you win!