Taking a Break

I've been on a bit of a break from blogging for the past week or so. I'm still here, I've just been really busy with school and everything else. And then a craft show snuck up on me, and I wasn't as ready as I thought I was. So I spent a week trying to prepare more items for the craft show, and I took a pause from personal knitting as I suddenly had a list of commissioned items.

6 new skeins of Homespun, plus one in Thick & Quick

A friend of my sister's ordered a pair of crocheted slipper-socks for his girlfriend-- luckily the picture he saw was attached to a pattern-- this one from Drops Design. My cousin asked for a frog hat for her youngest, to look like a tree frog with red-orange eyes and everything. My boyfriend wants a Viking hat for his godson, modelled after the characters in How to Train Your Dragon. Barb from my women's group saw a cool poncho in a yarn shop window 'Up North' and the woman at the shop gave her the pattern-- I was asked to make it. Anne, Barb's daughter (also in my women's group) found a cute child's tunic pattern (more like a hooded sweatshirt, but the pattern said tunic) that she would like made for her 2 youngest boys. One of my co-workers, Kelly, saw my Toothless hats and requested one for her goddaughter. She also keeps finding ideas on Pinterest-- I think she wants me to remake her entire wardrobe. Bri, a woman I worked with at summer camp, wants a sweater for her husband. Luckily, she understands the time and effort, and is willing to pay. So my list grows longer, and my personal time shrinks.

Due to that huge list of commissioned items, I simply *had to* buy more yarn. Well, actually, I did have to buy more yarn. Last week, I  purchased quite a bit of Lion Brand Homespun for craft show items-- if I haven't mentioned it before, it's my favorite yarn to use for scarves. It required a trip to JoAnn's, even though I currently hate our store because they are remodeling and everything is a mess, but the yarn was on sale, and I had a 20% off everything coupon. I also was able to buy a skein of the new Homespun super bulky, in Purple Haze, this beautiful purple/blue color that they don't make in regular Homespun. (Yes, none of this yarn actually has to do with commissioned items).

Bernat Super Value

My next stop was Meijer, oddly enough. It's the only store in my area that stocks Bernat Super Value yarn, which has a nice range of colors, and one of the nicer acrylic yarns that I've used. Their prices are also really decent, considering they only carry a small range of yarns. Even though I was only after Carrot orange for the "Crochet a Pumpkin Pin" class that I'm teaching next week, they also had a lovely green- "Lush"- that I thought would be good for the frog hat, and a rich red- "Berry"- that would work for the slippers. And because I apparently have no self control and wanted a few more color options for craft show items, I also bought a skein each of "Peacock", "Super Pink" and "Light Damson". I can probably get at least 2 child sized hats from each skein, along with numerous flowers. (I still have this thought in the back of my head of this epic scrap yarn afghan, but with everything else, I don't have time yet.)
And then, last week Friday, my Knit Picks order came. I had to order yarn for the sweater- she asked for natural fibers- and more yarn for the poncho. Barb and I discussed the yarn possibilities, and she wanted something in a natural color, and a bit finer, since it was lacy. I had on hand some Bare Superwash Fingering that fit the bill. But, since I did buy that yarn to dye for projects, I ordered 2 more skeins for Barb's poncho. I wound one skein so if I wanted to, I could start before the yarn came. (I didn't get to it). I also order 2 skeins of Stroll Tonal Sock for me, in Pearlscent. I want to knit this for a formal event in November, but I don't know if I will have the time.

Our booth

I keep seeing things that I want to make, and I keep noticing defiencies in my wardrobe-- you know "If only I had a scarf in x color..."-- but I don't really have time to craft for myself. And school is demanding a good portion of my time, leaving even less for crafts. I'm hoping to make good use of my time at work, being efficient and finishing my homework so that when I go home and relax in front of the TV, I can be knitting or crocheting. Well, and between craft shows and custom orders, I have my hands really full.

Speaking of craft show, I worked one this past weekend. It was only one day, but in that one day, things went really well. My aunt sold a lot of sweatshirts, and even got an invitation for another show at the end of November. We're still deciding about that show.

A closer look at my crochet table

Last show, I sold out of my infinity scarves, so I was determined to have a good supply for this show. I started with 9, and took home 2. Many people came back and wondered if I had more stock, but I was not prepared for the interest that I received. I hope to have more items available for the show at the beginning of November. I'm trying to better sort out my priorities, trying to evenly divide my time between this- my "second job"- my actual job, and my full-time schooling. My boyfriend's been pretty impressed with me so far, so I must be doing something right. I'm definitely buying more yarn this week, as I know if I load as much business crafting as I can in this first week or two, I will be able to move back to personal crafting sooner. This month will definitely be a busy one, though, as all the commissioned items that I mentioned before need to be started and finished in an efficient manner.

I did have more to talk about, but I'll spare you all right now. I'll try to be back on Wednesday, but my WIPs will be similar and boring for the next 2 weeks.