Wednesday, April 30, 2014
Logo
In order to sell yarn on Ravelry I need a logo. Before Dad printed out nice business cards for me I was using a fairly cute sketch that I figured I'd use for that (since it's *mine* unlike my avatar and business card picture) but hadn't really pursued it. Eldest Kidlet had an assignment in her Business & Marketing class to advertise an existing company so of course she chose the studio since she needs the practice. She has distinctly improved on my original sketch with this
Now I need to find out how to copyright it or whatever is necessary to make sure that we retain the rights to it since I think it's absolutely perfect.
Saturday, April 26, 2014
Now we wait.
I filled out and filed the paperwork for my DBA (Doing Business As) license on Thursday and am now the *official* owner of the Knit'n Kitten Fiberarts Studio name. The hardcopy of the license should show up in the mail in about a week.
Now that my Etsy storefront is open I'm also waiting on that lovely first purchaser. I get a fairly steady number of views every day (especially after a new listing) but suspect that many are from the same people. I have evidence that not *all* are though, so that's good I think.
In the meantime, it's been awhile since a post had a photo so I now present my spinning wheel.
Now that my Etsy storefront is open I'm also waiting on that lovely first purchaser. I get a fairly steady number of views every day (especially after a new listing) but suspect that many are from the same people. I have evidence that not *all* are though, so that's good I think.
In the meantime, it's been awhile since a post had a photo so I now present my spinning wheel.
Thursday, April 17, 2014
Shop open!
Knit'n Kitten Fiberarts is now open for business. Actually, it was officially opened on April 15th but I've been spending the last couple of days getting items posted. There are only a few items right now as Eldest Kidlet needs to get pictures of more but I plan on having about 25 items up by the end of the month.
Sorry about that
I'm afraid I get distracted by the minutia of life and details like blog posts end up getting skipped.
Most of the time not writing for the last few weeks was spent getting ready for a sale on the 5th of April. I sold several items and a couple of skeins of yarn as well as giving out a number of business cards. Although it didn't bring in very much money it was a chance to get the Knit'n Kitten name out and, really, I hadn't expected to have any craft sales until this coming fall and winter.
While sales weren't as brisk as I would have liked, I did get a lot of weaving done. I completed the first scarf on the warp I'd put on the night before and got a good distance into the second on the same warp. I learned from my somewhat-too-long grey scarf weaving and this time actually paid attention to the warp length so I could tell when in the warp to start the second scarf.
My spinning wheel is on the far side of the table (a tiny portion of the wheel itself is visible below the loom) but I got to spin for awhile in the afternoon and there was one little girl who kept coming back to watch and would bring over other kids each time. I even let her raise and lower the levers of the loom as I wove. Hopefully she will get a chance to learn more from someone if she continues to be interested.
Most of the time not writing for the last few weeks was spent getting ready for a sale on the 5th of April. I sold several items and a couple of skeins of yarn as well as giving out a number of business cards. Although it didn't bring in very much money it was a chance to get the Knit'n Kitten name out and, really, I hadn't expected to have any craft sales until this coming fall and winter.
While sales weren't as brisk as I would have liked, I did get a lot of weaving done. I completed the first scarf on the warp I'd put on the night before and got a good distance into the second on the same warp. I learned from my somewhat-too-long grey scarf weaving and this time actually paid attention to the warp length so I could tell when in the warp to start the second scarf.
My spinning wheel is on the far side of the table (a tiny portion of the wheel itself is visible below the loom) but I got to spin for awhile in the afternoon and there was one little girl who kept coming back to watch and would bring over other kids each time. I even let her raise and lower the levers of the loom as I wove. Hopefully she will get a chance to learn more from someone if she continues to be interested.
Saturday, March 29, 2014
Hobby Lobby buycott
Just got back from Hobby Lobby even though I hadn't intended to go back for awhile since I was there only a week ago. One of my online friends mentioned that there was a Freedom of Conscience buycott organized for today though and I certainly want to express my thanks for Hobby Lobby standing up for *all* business owner's right to follow their consciences.
I spoke to the manager and a couple of employees (all female) at our local store to express my support and thanks and they said they supported the company completely in the decision to fight. As a bonus, I got a couple of drawing books for the Kidlets and a pretty sketchbook for myself. I also found out about a doodling technique called "zentangle" that I'm looking forward to trying in that sketchbook.
Once again, as a person who wants to eventually own a business and employ people, I want to express my thanks to Hobby Lobby and their staff for choosing to be the "test case" on behalf of business owners who simply don't have the money to fight the weight of federal government.
I spoke to the manager and a couple of employees (all female) at our local store to express my support and thanks and they said they supported the company completely in the decision to fight. As a bonus, I got a couple of drawing books for the Kidlets and a pretty sketchbook for myself. I also found out about a doodling technique called "zentangle" that I'm looking forward to trying in that sketchbook.
Once again, as a person who wants to eventually own a business and employ people, I want to express my thanks to Hobby Lobby and their staff for choosing to be the "test case" on behalf of business owners who simply don't have the money to fight the weight of federal government.
Tuesday, March 18, 2014
Since I...
Showed my "not favorite" spindles recently I thought it only right to show my favorite
which is the green textured top whorl (the other is my first spindle that my dad made when I was about twelve). I purchased it at a yarn shop in a small town near State College, PA. A friend of the owner is a ceramic artist and made these beautifully designed and glazed whorls for her. It was originally a bottom whorl but the top of the shaft cracked meaning the hook had to be placed on the other side. Fortunately, the squirrel and vine pattern was on both sides so there was no harm done.
The reason I like it is that it's very heavy. This means that it spins a *very* long time unlike the tiny one that I showed in an earlier post. It is actually heavier than the much larger wooden one next to it which I usually use resting on the floor since it's so long. All in all, I still prefer my wheel but for overall beauty, ease of spin, and portability this one is by far my favorite.
which is the green textured top whorl (the other is my first spindle that my dad made when I was about twelve). I purchased it at a yarn shop in a small town near State College, PA. A friend of the owner is a ceramic artist and made these beautifully designed and glazed whorls for her. It was originally a bottom whorl but the top of the shaft cracked meaning the hook had to be placed on the other side. Fortunately, the squirrel and vine pattern was on both sides so there was no harm done.
The reason I like it is that it's very heavy. This means that it spins a *very* long time unlike the tiny one that I showed in an earlier post. It is actually heavier than the much larger wooden one next to it which I usually use resting on the floor since it's so long. All in all, I still prefer my wheel but for overall beauty, ease of spin, and portability this one is by far my favorite.
Saturday, March 1, 2014
Hey, I've been busy
Which is why I haven't posted in the last couple of days. I've even been busy doing Knit'n Kitten stuff, not just staring at the internet or having a Detective Conan YouTube marathon with the kids (although we did do that).
I finally have all my finished skeins attached to the cords I intend to hang them up on and just need to bring in the ladder and get them up. This frees up both a large surface space that they covered and the cord they were originally tied to so I can use it to wash and hang the last two years worth of spinning (two full bags). Fortunately the previous home owner put a couple of hooks up to hang planters on the covered patio and I figure that if the could hold wet soil they should be able to hold several pounds of yarn at a time pretty easily.
I've also been carding dyed fiber given to me by Tara Carr of Ewe-Topia Fiber Farms as well as a variety of wools, alpaca, and nylon that Eldest Kidlet and I have been dyeing using Kool-aid and *real* Jaquard dye.
and
are the photos we have so far.
I finally have all my finished skeins attached to the cords I intend to hang them up on and just need to bring in the ladder and get them up. This frees up both a large surface space that they covered and the cord they were originally tied to so I can use it to wash and hang the last two years worth of spinning (two full bags). Fortunately the previous home owner put a couple of hooks up to hang planters on the covered patio and I figure that if the could hold wet soil they should be able to hold several pounds of yarn at a time pretty easily.
I've also been carding dyed fiber given to me by Tara Carr of Ewe-Topia Fiber Farms as well as a variety of wools, alpaca, and nylon that Eldest Kidlet and I have been dyeing using Kool-aid and *real* Jaquard dye.
are the photos we have so far.
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