Tug of War

Remember that game from the playground?!  You'd be pulling with all of your might, just to be upended by someone pulling harder from the opposite direction.  Welcome to my world :-)  I've been in a neverending tug of war with myself the last few days, trying to get everything done and struggling with which project takes priority.  The Yarn Club shipments went out, but at the expense of not taking pix to post like last time.  But, no worries, I'll be posting information on this month's shipment and listing the patterns on Ravelry soon.

The other major pull has been working on my 101 Crochet Tips in 101 Days.  I'm still on target, but I could use everyone's help, and I do have a great giveaway!  Here's the deal:  send me your trickiest crochet problem, and if I use it for a tip, I will send you the pattern of your choice for FREE!  Please either leave a comment here (with a way for me to contact you) or send me an email at contact@manycreativegifts.com

Alrightee, back to work for me!

Today's Thought:  I just became aware of Jessica Swanson, the Shoestring Marketer.  She's got a great website, blog, and twitter comments that convey useful information and actionable items for approaching small business marketing on a shoestring (i.e., zero) budget.  Check her out at http://www.jessicaswanson.com/

So Tired...

This has been such a slow moving week in many ways, but at least it is finally Thursday.  I just need to make it to Saturday :-)

I did get the Easter project done!  I was in the hardware store last weekend and saw this really cool nylon twine in all sorts of bright colors.  I'd say it's probably DK weight (about 11-12 wpi), and I bought a spool of hot pink.  Here are the results!

The pattern is available on my designer page on Ravelry and hopefully soon on FaveCrafts.

This weekend, the plan is to regroup, get mom's vest finally done, and design the pattern for the upcoming Yarn Club shipment!

Today's Thought:  Food Rule # 33 -- Eat some foods that have been predigested by bacteria or fungi.  Ok, that just sounds too funky, but the point really is to add some fermented foods to your diet, like yogurt, soy sauce, and sour dough bread (for those of you with more exotic tastes, sauerkraut and kimchi count too).  These foods are good sources of B12 vitamins, which you can't get from plants, and probiotics that improve digestion and the immune system.  We've been adding a scoop of plain nonfat yogurt to our plates at dinner time and have been using it instead of sour cream.

First Yarn Club Shipment!

The first shipment for the Crocheters' Yarn Club is ready to go!  I love this month's yarn -- it's Shi Bui's Baby Alpaca DK yarn made of 100 percent baby alpaca.  The company is based in Portland, Oregon, and I liked the fact that "shi bui" in Japanese means "elegant with a touch of bitterness".  It works up into such a soft fabric with a nice light spring to it.  The color tones and variations in the Spruce are subtle, ranging from a dark blue to a slightly lighter dark blue.  The pattern I fashioned to take advantage of these qualities is a Rippled Beret with an accent flower (available separately in my Ravelry and Lulu shops for those not in the club). 

The other goodies in the shipment include a Bamboo crochet hook, some Japanese Cherry loose tea (sticking with the Japanese theme :-) and a MCG nylon project bag.

Ok, so stay tuned for what surprises will be in store for the April shipment!

Today's Thought:  Food Rule # 14 -- Eat foods made from ingredients that you can picture in their raw state or growing in nature.  So, implementing this rule hasn't been too hard, it really just means eating as many raw fruits and vegetables as possible.  Last night, we made beet greens sauted with olive oil, garlic, ginger, and a little bit of harissa sauce. Mmm, mmm!

Creativity

So, I was posting today's promo link on Etsy for the Etsy Hookers (I know, I know, referring to crocheters as "hookers" is a whole topic of its own!) and came across some really interesting articles geared towards those creative people who want to sell their creative works.  One article's title really caught my eye:  "Free is Not a Marketing Tool."  http://makeandmeaning.com/2010/02/04/free-is-not-a-marketing-tool/  It's a short, good read for anyone navigating the challenging waters of online presence and market establishment.  It highlights a message I've been trying to get out there regarding all facets of life:  don't ever do something you wouldn't otherwise do just because you're hoping to get something in return for it (unless that return you're expecting is making the other person happy for the sake of adding happiness and joy to the world).  Call it karma, call it whatever you want, but be pure and sincere in what you are doing, and believe me, your rewards will come!

Ok, enough philosophy for today :-)  I'm finishing up the pattern that will be included in this month's Yarn Club shipment!  Despite all the crazy weather, I'm thinking this month's shipment will still be relatively on time, and I will post all the details and pictures early next week.

Today's Thought:  Food Rule # 19 -- If it came from a plant, eat it; if it was made in a plant, don't.  So, how to live by this rule?  For starters, try going for a week, or even just a few days, without eating anything from a package.  It'll be come easier when the Farmers' Markets start opening again :-)

Last Day for Joining Yarn Club!

If you want in on the Yarn Club, order before midnight EST tomorrow February 1st!  I'll need to shut down subscriptions then in order to know how many packages to prepare by mid-February, the first shipment.

Wow, hard to believe it's almost February!  Mom's vest is coming along nicely (one side done, now on the back panel) and I've got a couple of other projects in the works.  I actually broke out the sewing machine yesterday to come up with some linings for 2 crocheted handbags I just finished, but now, I think I need to hand sew them into place, so that still awaits.  Tonight, my plan is to add some tips to http://www.crochet.lifetips.com/, then work on Mom's Vest while watching the Pro Bowl :-)

Today's Thought:  Food Rule # 56:  limit your snacks to unprocessed plant foods.  Thanks to my husband, he came up with a delicious and satisfying snack yesterday -- slices of green peppers with a little bit of cottage cheese and blueberries.  He seasoned each one with a little bit of pepper as well.   Mmmm, mmmmm!

Only a Few Days Left...

Prices go up on the Yarn Club for Crocheters on the 15th, so sign up now for your full or half membership!  Thanks to those of you who have already let us know that you're in; the rest of you, jump on the yarnie bandwagon :-)

I got my yarn shipment yesterday from Yarn Love and am looking forward to starting the little girl's sweater project.  But, first, I must start my mom's vest.  Thank goodness that's what she wants!  A few years ago (yes, years), she asked me to make her a sweater.  She had found a pattern that she liked, we went to the store to buy the yarn that she wanted, I crocheted all of the pieces (front, back, arms), and then, poof.  Nothing, nada, never finished.  I just have never been able to make myself put the pieces together!  Ayeeeee, I've lived in shame and guilt over this for a couple of years, though I discovered over the weekend that Mom forgot all about it!  I will redeem myself with the vest -- it is going to be my own design (so not too many pieces), I'll use the yarn that she's already picked out, and no arms to attach!  I really do think it was the fear of attaching arms that led to my downfall (because you know, if everything's not the right size, it's not going to fit together properly).  Anyway, now that I've confessed my past debacle and my redemption project, I'm hopeful this vest will get whipped out in no time.

Ok, speaking of starting a redemption project, that's tonight's task :-)

Today's Thought:  For great management tips and insights, check out http://www.strategicserendipity.blogspot.com/ and sign up for the daily tweets, they're great motivators!

Too Soon?

Well, I've already got  a free Valentine's heart pattern posted on my Ravelry designer page and on FaveCrafts (http://www.favecrafts.com/Valentines-Day/Pink-and-Red-Crocheted-Hearts)!  It's probably too soon, but it's nice to be thinking about Valentine's Day, mainly because it means that we will be half way through winter by then!  Though I did just see candy heart boxes in Macy's today, so I guess I've got to go with the flow :-)

Also, I am extending the special pricing on the Yarn Club for Crocheters until January 15, 2010, because I've been having some technical difficulties in advertising the discount.  But that's it, so sign up soon ;-)

Today's Thought:  Having trouble keeping the sides of your crocheted blankets straight and even?  Hope this newly-posted tip on http://www.crochet.lifetips.com/ helps!  Check under the category "starting a project".

The 2010 Yarn Club for Crocheters!

Well, here's my latest venture -- a Yarn Club designed for Crocheters!  I've belonged to yarn clubs before, and I loved getting a surprise package in the mail, full of yarn and sometimes other goodies.  But, some clubs weren't reliable in the timing of their shipments, and often, the patterns included with the yarn were for knitters.  I haven't been able to find a yarn club that had the features that I wanted, so I decided to create my own!

Now, this club is not intended in any way to interfere with your yarn shopping at your local yarn store (like the wonderful FibreSpace!), but is meant to supplement your regular projects with some unexpected goodies and surprises. 

The plan is that you will receive a package of yarn and other goodies every other month starting in February 2010 (then in April, June, August, October, and December). I'm partnering with local and/or small fiber producers to provide you with exclusive and unique yarns that, frankly, are too hard and not cost-effective to stock in stores. Enough yarn will be included in each shipment to complete that month's featured crochet pattern for men, women, baby or the home. Special surprise treats will also be included in each shipment (perhaps a special hook for a Tunisian crochet project or a handmade stitch marker for an amigurumi pattern or a specialty tea packet to keep you warm while you work!)

And the most important parts?
- Timely and Reliable Delivery by Priority Mail by the 15th of the month
- Yarn Selections and Patterns chosen with the Crocheter in mind
- Reasonably Priced for the Quality and Value Received

I really tried to keep the price down as much as possible, but to make it a quality program, a year's subscription to the Yarn Club for Crocheters will be $210.  I am offering preferred pricing of $195 for a full subscription until January 1, 2010.  I think it would make a great holiday gift for yourself or other crocheters in your life!  We can mail or email a certificate to your gift recipient letting them know about your thoughtfulness and the goodies they will be receiving throughout 2010.

If you don't want to commit to 6 shipments and just want a "taste" of what the club has to offer, then we are offering a half-share membership of 3 shipments (February, June, and October 2010) for $125 (or $115 if you order by January 1, 2010).

Please click on the tabs at the top left of the blog and place your order today before prices go up!!  If you've got any questions, just send an email to contact@manycreativegifts.com