By Tara, on December 31st, 2009% You know, the thing, the thing that’s really really wanting to be done.
For me, at the end of 2008, that was getting out of the office-world and more fully into the yarny, business-y, running my own ship-world.
And I did it. And the year was so hard.
But I did it!
And after listening to the call free Q+A call I did earlier this week (you can get it here), I realize so many of you have a thing to do in 2010 and aren’t sure where to start. Or you have lots of questions about how I did it, because you’re not sure it’ll work for you.
And the truth is, I don’t know if it’ll work for you. So there’s no point in giving you a bunch of do-this-and-this advice.
The best I can do is suggest that you ask yourself some questions and you figure out . . . → Read More: Do the Thing in 2010
By Tara, on December 28th, 2009% Confession: I’m scared. Worried. Unsure.
A lot of the time when it comes to business stuff.
Especially as I prepare for today’s Q+A call. Especially when I think about the new year and all the new stuff I’m planning to try. Especially when I think about biggifying (that’s Havi’s word).
Confession: I don’t know what I’m doing a lot of the time.
I have an idea, I put it into motion. Whether the Learn to Knit Kit or the Year of Yarn or today’s call.
An idea comes to me and I run with it, while I have the courage.
But often, during that sprint from new idea to finished product, I second-guess, doubt, wonder.
I wanted to share that today, as so many of us are thinking of the new year. You may be plotting to quit your dayjob or trying follow your big dream and I wanted to . . . → Read More: Business Confessional
By Tara, on December 22nd, 2009% Last January, I sat down to think about the upcoming year.
I’m not one for resolutions or promises or big change-your-life sort of goals. But I do like to figure out what I want out of the next year.
First on my list for 2009 was to quit my day job. But that goal had a lot of mini-goals that I wanted to happen before I quit:
get some press coverage make enough, by selling yarn, to replace my dayjob salary for 3 months in a row create new, not-strictly handspun yarn-related products
As I look back on 2009, despite all the other icky stuff this year brought, I’m really proud of myself for accomplishing those goals.
But what about YOU?
But my goal was two-fold: I want to crush it and share it. (I wrote about that here).
And while I’ve shared as much as I could as I . . . → Read More: Sharing It
By Tara, on December 16th, 2009% Making Christmas shopping easier for the non-knitters. . . . → Read More: Gift-Sanity for non-crafty friends
By Tara, on December 11th, 2009% I own a yarn shop.
A real-life, bricks and mortar, come-in-and-have-a-seat yarn store.
I signed the lease just 11 days ago and we’re opening tomorrow. Tomorrow!
I’ve been blogging our day by day progress on the website, you can read it here.
I’ve waited to announce it here, because I was still working out the details. What would the shop be like? What would it’s personality be? How would it affect Blonde Chicken Boutique?
Now that I know the answer, I’m ready to share it with you.
Blonde Chicken Boutique is going to continue on as it has. It’s my own company, my own line of yarn. I will keep posting new yarns weekly to the Boutique and talking about eco-friendly fiber and pattern ideas here, on the blog. Blonde Chciken Boutique is my creative outlet and it’s not going anywhere.
A Novel Yarn is in partnership with my mom. . . . → Read More: My real-life Yarn Shop
By Tara, on December 9th, 2009% Free shipping + $10 gift certificate = Learn to Knit Kit as a gift! . . . → Read More: Free Shipping on Learn to Knit Kit
By Tara, on December 8th, 2009% Wondering if the Learn to Knit Kit will *actually* teach you to knit? Read Diane’s review! . . . → Read More: Learn to Knit Kit Review
By Tara, on December 7th, 2009% I’ll confess, I am not a pattern-follower. And thus, I very rarely buy patterns.
But occaisionally there are patterns so suited to a specific person, so unique, unlike anything I could design on my own and so beautifully photographed that I know purchasing the pattern is the only way to make the great item.
The following patterns meet those standards and would be just the thing to shock your not-knitting gift recipients. (all of these links are to the Ravelry page, if you’re not on Ravelry, sign up, already! It’s free and fabulous!)
French Press Felted Slippers – I NEED these! Need!
Yarn Harlot’s Pretty Thing – such a pretty lacey cowl.
Smith – Squee! A tiny stuffed hedgehog. Adorableness!
Felted Clogs – Everyone in the world wants warm feet in winter. These clogs are the squooshiest!
What’s your favorite pattern to knit into gifts?
By Tara, on December 2nd, 2009% The holiday season has too many “shoulds”.
And, as knitters, we’re often overwhelmed with the “shoulds”: We should knit a gift. We should have handknit stockings. We should knit ornaments for the tree.
But I like to let go of the shoulds and focus on the wants.
What do I want out of the holiday season? Lots of time with my family. Knitting by the tree. Giving handmade gifts to the people who really appreciate and cherish them. Teaching young cousins to knit (with this kit).
In that spirit, I’ll be sharing some great ideas for patterns to knit for gifts, IF you want to knit gifts this year. If you don’t, then I bet you’ll enjoy making them for yourself!
To start with, I’ll share what my family really loved the past few years:
Handspun, handdyed crocheted mitts for my little brothers. Pattern: Basic Fingerless Mitts Similar yarn: any of . . . → Read More: Should-Free Knit gifts
By Tara, on November 27th, 2009% I usually love dyeing. (Note: that’s dyEing, not dying) Most mornings I get up, have a cup of tea and then put on a pot of dye. I add fiber or yarn, let it simmer, turn it off, let it cool, rinse it and then hang it out to dry on the porch.
But then the cold, wet weather came. And the porch wasn’t get the yarn dry fast enough.
And I wanted to get all the Organic Cotton dry for the Learn to Knit Kit. So I turned to my trusty washing machine. I’ve done this many times: Spin cycle for 2 minutes, take out the fiber, hang it out. It gets the drippy wetness out and it dries so much faster!
But…I stepped away.
And it got ugly. Agitation-cycle ugly. Here’s the proof: (avert your eyes, faint of heart!)
That’s 6 skeins of yarn, not just tangled, . . . → Read More: Fiber Friday – Confession
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