Changes In the Wind?

So I've been meaning to blog. But I've been thinking about doing some rebranding and changing the name of my business so I haven't, until I nail down the new name. Well I haven't done that yet but thought I'd pop in and post anyway.

It has been a busy summer. On the business front I've mostly been doing commission knitting in trade for lovely yarns.

I had a custom Etsy dye I did too that was fun, merino superwash in rainbow.

I've also expanded into fiber and have dyed up some roving and batts. I'm getting the fiber from a friend's farm in WI. I grew up visiting this farm so it's cool to be able to dye their wool now.

Serenity Tree stocked for the last time at the beginning of August. We couldn't find a new store "owner" and people weren't seeing sales, it's a bummer. I'm just at Made By Military Wives on HyenaCart and Etsy. But I haven't stocked at Etsy because I'm thinking about changing my business name and want to start getting feedback on that name. See the dilemma?

So stay tuned (but don't hold your breath) for new business info. Hopefully it'll be soon so I can get rocking and rolling on my new website. I have a friend who is going to help me with some of of the design so hopefully it'll be less lame than the current one is.

Maybe getting back to blogging will light a fire under my bum.

"Astro"

Meet my new friend, "Astro".

It's kind of bright and fun. Black, orange, blue, and bright (and I mean bright) green.

It's stocking today on Serenity Tree along with a matching long sleeved t-shirt. The shirt is 18mos Circo brand, my kids have a couple of these shirts and I like them.

I had a hard time photographing the colors, the green really didn't want to show up. I also had a hard time getting the colors to set like I wanted. It was pretty frustrating and my hands are tinted bluish-black. One of the skeins I think looks a little more washed out, but I've listed them as "seconds" so hopefully that can make up for my mishap. It's dyed on Sweet Grass Wool 3-ply, which is 4oz and 153yd per skein.

Veteran's Day shipping

In honor of Veteran's Day I am offerring free first class shipping to the lower 48 states tomorrow. All other shipping will be discounted. This is valid anywhere you can find me - my website, Etsy, Serenity Tree, or Made by Military Wives.

To those who have served, are serving, or will serve our country, and those that love them... thank you.

Happy Birthday Serenity Tree!

October 6 is our anniversary stocking over at Serenity Tree. I can't believe it has been a year already, but it has. We have lots of things planned, there *may* be some FFS lotteries (not sure yet), and we're having a couple collaborations, a mama one and a baby one - most stores are pitching in. It should be fun! So stop over October 6!

Camping

We are having a camping theme this month over at Serenity Tree. Here are the two yarns I dyed up this week, both on 3.5oz Uruguayan 1-ply merino. It was a fun yarn to work with, being so soft. The dye seemed to take a little more richly on the merino vs the peruvian highland wool I've been using.

Here's "Sunset":

It's a beautiful blend of pink, salmon, orange, and blue.

I just think it's beautiful and hope I get to see it knit up.

The other is "Sticks -n- Stones", it has sold already but is wonderful to look at anyway.

I mailed it today to Canada, so it's really out of here. I'm really pleased with the colors though.

And lastly, my "Woodland Pixie" shorties with a leafy ruffle.

They're 6 mos size, and really cute. Overall I'm pretty proud of the stocking. I do need to get some more yarns and bath products featured in my Etsy shop, but Serenity Tree is taking July off, so that might be a good time to focus over that way. So far most of my Etsy store is just things that haven't sold in a month on Serenity Tree.

Well, stay tuned! I'm sure the dyeing bug will hit me again in a couple days. Plus I still need to post the pattern for that blanket, don't I?!

Spring is here, time for a "Royal Rainbow"

Here's "Royal Rainbow". I'm quite pleased with how it turned out.

I wasn't sure whether I should continue with the rainbow or add the black in. I added black.

The colors are so rich and bright. I love it. It'll be listed on Tuesday.

Just Diapers

I have been waiting to post until I could take some good photos of my newest excitement around here. Maybe tomorrow.

Instead I'll just put up some diapers I have finished. I'll be listing them for Tuesday's stocking. I just think diapers are so stinkin cute! I also have one in a froggy print that I finished up today.

Apparently I only have the elephant one in the computer. I'll get more on. Here's an "old" one, one I sewed up several months ago:

Oh, and other news, I'm currently actually writing up the Tweets pattern. I hope to have it tested in a week or so and then have it available. I haven't decided whether I should offer it free or charge yet. I just can't get over how cute they are...

Introduce... "Retro"

This one was kind of fun. I used a new dyeing technique that I "made up" (which isn't to say other people don't dye yarn in pickle jars) and dyed this skein of yarn.

I am listing it tomorrow for our stocking at Serenity Tree. It is a semisolid yellow overdyed with blue and green. It reminded me of tie-dyeing, hence it's name, "Retro".

I will list this, "Engine 3", and probably a shirt I haven't made yet (which reminds me, I have to go throw those in the dryer, drat!). I'm going to save my diapers for the next stocking. A friend ordered 2 of 5 different prints, so I'm making 3 of each to have one to spare. I'll post pictures later, and leave you today with a swatch of Retro.

Book Feature

We are stocking specially this month, on March 2nd instead of the 3rd and we are doing a book theme. A lot of the ladies' listings are related somehow to a children's book. It should be fun. I admit, I don't have nearly as much together as I had hoped I would, but sick kids and lifechanging decisions will do that for you. :) I've been preoccupied.

HOWEVER, I do have this little guy all ready to go, he's been ready for a couple weeks and I don't think I've featured him yet. He's my little Rainbow Fish, knit out of some rainbow colored wool I dyed last summer. He has irish knot eyes that were knit right on so they won't fall off and pose a choking hazard... AND it rattles! It turned out smaller than the last fish I knit, I used smaller needles and like the result better. So... here you go!

Trading Talents

Lately I haven't been knitting much for the store but I have been working on some trades like a crazy girl. I've been looking around on DiaperSwappers for people who are in search of knits of some sort. So, I have knit a cat sweater:

The cat and owner seem to like it. I will say, I tried it on my mom's chihuahua twice and my own cat once. Max was less than excited about her clothing debut and had more than a few things to say about it. She hissed and clawed and I made my husband take it off her.

I also knit this hat to trade for some wetbags, which I am more than excited about. I am going to parade my new wetbags around in leiu of my plastic grocery bags.

And I traded this little guy:

for some things from Lil Outlaws. I haven't used any of it yet, but it smells great!

And lastly I *finally* finished this sling for a friend of mine (and I have one listed in the store). I bought the blue fabric something like 2 years ago to make a sling and realized I needed something on the other side because of the embroidery. I have looked and looked and didn't know what to use. Then a friend said the colors they were going with for things were teal/turquoise and brown and I had an epiphany. I think it was worth the wait, it really is pretty!

Other than that I have a few things in the pipeline, I'm going to get working on getting Tweets, Slither, and Intertwined written up. I also have another couple trades, 2 pairs of longies I'm sure I'll be showcasing here, and some slipper socks. I'm getting a Mei Tai and knitting bag out of those. I will say, this trading stuff is fun!

Oh, keep an eye out too, we're stocking a day early in March for Dr. Seuss' birthday and another reading thing. It'll be fun, we're all offerring some items having to do with some of our favorite children's books. Stay tuned!

Post Holiday Post

So a bit of an update...


Christmas was nice. I didn't even get close to finishing my projects, but that's okay. I got dh's family done and mine will have to wait. Let's see, I finished one pair of glittens, they turned out nicely.


I actually had to gift them before I got good pictures. I finished the second one up after we finished opening gifts so I don't have a photo of an actual pair. I got started on a second pair for my brother with some fair isle and didn't change the size from these ones, but because of the fair isle it was turning out way too small. So I ripped back to the cuff and have to redo the charts and haven't been motivated enough to do it. I really should though because my brother actually sounds excited to get them, and they don't take too long once you get going.


This is the scarf I made for my other brother, it's the Easiest Farrow Rib Scarf.



Turned out nicely too, I went down a needle size as it was just too loose to be a proper scarf with the yarn I was using, Cascade 220 doubled. The picture isn't that good, again it got gifted before proper photos were taken and I took this one at my mom's house yesterday with her iPhone. He likes it, and that's what matters.


We also had a stocking last Tuesday, which accounts for more of my time spent not blogging. I finished up a set of Tweets that are WAY cute if I do say so myself.



And a goldfish



I have some other things listed as well, including some baby leggings and a hat modeled here by my blue-eyed beauty (who is going to be 1 next week, I can't believe it!).



I have one more story for you, but my laptop is freezing up when I try to upload pictures, and it' just not the same without them.


To Be Continued...

Almost Out of the Woods

I haven't updated in too long. I waited to put up the Cyber Monday items until they were listed since it was supposed to be kind of an exciting surprise. I will put some pics of those things up later when I don't have to worry about ds spraying vinegar and Windex all over the bathroom.

As for the large order I have going on here... I have enough washcloths to be done but I grossly miscalculated (well, I didn't calculate, and that's where the problem came in) the amount of rosewater I would need so I had to rush ship it from Utah. It should come tomorrow. I have all the cold cream done, packaged, and ready. I just need the rosewater to make the astringent and then I think I have to make a few more lip balms and I'm good to go. Who'd believe it? Other than the freakout of not having enough rosewater (I'm talking I was more than a gallon short. BIG deal), it has gone rather well. Who would've thought I could pull this off?

Finally Ready... I Think.

We are having a big stocking at Serenity Tree tomorrow for "Cyber Monday". We will be having random listings all day and are having a bit of a "Treasure Hunt" as well. It should be fun.

Anyway, my husband was working on the addition this weekend and installed a door so he had to move the phone line and we didn't have internet for a few days. It was fine, except for this big stocking tomorrow. So I have spent the last couple hours working, but I think I'm finally ready. I have a bunch of stuff up, and a couple I wish I would've had time to finish. But I figure I can use those for the next stocking in 2 weeks.

Included in my "not quite done" list are my Tweets. I will have to get some pictures uploaded tomorrow. I made a cardinal and it even has the crest on it's head. When I showed my husband he even said it was cute, which is saying a lot since I never get a reaction out of him on the things I make. So I'm pleased. I have to put the beak on the yellow bird as well so they're maybe not ready yet, but I was really hoping to get them listed tomorrow. Ah well.

Oh, but I did get my Midnight Sky Longies finished, they turned out really great, I'm really pleased.

I was also hoping to have a goldfish done, but that isn't going to happen either. I got a good part of the tail done and then decided to rip out and do it a little differently. So hopefully I should have a good start on the next stocking. If only my washcloths were done... :) Just 11 to go, minus any my sister completed for me. I *heart* my sister.

Hats and a Sweater Shaver Workout

I started these hats last weekend and had a heck of a time getting the small one finished. I knit the adult one and my mom said it looked too short so I ripped back the crown and tried again. Then I knit a child sized hat and ran out of yarn. So I ripped out to make an infant hat. I knit that, ran out of yarn, reknit, ran out of yarn, reknit... you get the idea. I must have reknit the top of that infant hat a half dozen times before I got it. But alas, here you are...

They turned out really pretty. Susan from knits 'N bits spun the yarn, it's a superwash Merino wool and is soooooo beautiful. It reminded me of berries. I'd knit and the ball would look like a blueberry field, knit some more and the ball looked like strawberries. I'm just in love with it. They'll be going up for sale in the shop for our Cyber Monday stocking.

My other excitement (besides the growing pile of washcloths) is I shaved dd's pants yesterday. I have an Evercare sweater shaver that my sister bought for me at Target. It's amazing. Anyway, after pulling off the large pills I shaved for probably 20 minutes and had to empty the lint collector 3 times. But they look like a new pair of pants, it's amazing!

It's kind of hard to tell, but I had shaved the back of these but not the front yet. If you look at the part that's folded behind (right under the crotch / gusset) you can see the stitch definition that is clearly not there on the leg next to it. Amazing. I'm so excited about them again! So needless to say she has been wearing them the last couple days... which means I'll have to shave again. Oh well, they do need another dip in the lanolizing bath I do believe. But that means I have to take them off...

Current washcloth count: 15

New Stocking!

So Serenity Tree stocked again today. I was all wigged out because the pants I'm working on aren't done yet. They're gonna be cute - I'll post a picture when I get a good picture of the leg. It's cute. Anyway, our theme was stocking stuffers with Christmas coming up and I had NO idea what to stock. I didn't have time to knit anything... so I decided to sew. And here's what I came up with:




2 Treasure bags and a doll sling. I also have listed a bath bag and semi-custom longies in Peace Fleece "Ancient Fern". I'm super happy with how the "Cowboy" Treasure Satchel came out. I am a little uncertain if the bag should be a little shorter, and initially I thought the handle should've been longer. However, it fits ds perfectly over his head and is the perfect height for him to sling about and get into. It's roomy but not huge, I will say it could lose an inch or two in height, but other than that... perfecto! And my kid wants to keep it, that's a good sign. :) I have it priced at $15 so we'll see if it sells. I have a feeling my kids are going to end up with a bunch of unsold items. I have a feeling that's where the "Denim" longies are going... dd needs some pants in a BIG way! So hop on over to my store and pick up some cute stuff for your kids!

Growth and Growing Pains

Well, Serenity Tree has officially had it's second stocking... today. It has been a little disappointing as none of us have sold much, but I hear the economy is to blame and people just aren't spending much. It's a bummer because I was really hoping this would be a good opportunity for my business to grow. Well, we'll wait and see.

On another note, I made some bath products for a local woman who bought some for her and her mother-in-law and they both love it. Enough that the mother-in-law is ordering gift bags for all her nurses... all 38 of them. This is fabulous! Except... it also means I have to knit 38 washcloths between now and the beginning of December. Yikes! I have about 45 days in which to finish them. So... it'll be a sprint, but I can't complain. This really is an opportunity for growth.

And here is a pic of the pants I just finished for the STC stocking this week:

The Big Day

Well, tomorrow is the big day! Grand Opening of Serenity Tree! Am I ready? Well, I guess. I have all my listings up, though I'm not altogether thrilled with my selection: some diapers (including one free for shipping), a turtle butt, wrap, blankie, and a custom slot. I thought there was one more thing, but I guess not. I do have a pair of britches almost done, but I should wait to list them for next time or just keep them for dd. She's desperately in need of some pants. 17 hours and counting!

Grand Opening Preparations and Changes

Our store officially has it's first stocking on October 7. Hooray! But suddenly I feel under the gun. I have a Turtle Butt I'm almost done with and 3 diapers finished, of which one will be FFS.

So far I have been packaging all my bath products in glass bottles and jars for the reusability and recycling factors. I'm thinking of discontinuing anything in bottles and packaging the other things in plastic ziploc-type bags, or maybe find some type of biodegradable bag to use instead. The glass just makes so many more shipping headaches... they're fragile and heavy. I'm thinking to continue offerring jars and bottles locally but selling on the shop only things that can be packaged differently.

Reversible Cable Rib Scarf

I am writing up a pattern for a reversible scarf with mini cables on it. I am in need of a couple people to test it, any takers? I'm not at home so I can't post a photo, but it's really pretty easy.

I have a few patterns in my head I want to get out, but with the new congo opening up October 7 I am finding I have little time to knit. Plus I'm trying to finish up the Tilted Duster I started last fall. I'm only a couple repeats on the skirt away from starting the collar, and then I just need to sew on the sleeves. Hooray!

I've sewn 3 diapers already for stocking the store, I think one will be a FFS item and another may end up in a collab with One Bum at a Time. I would have another done probably had I not broken my needle sewing a bag for dh's trip to the Boundary Waters out of his old Carharts. I was doing well until I tried sewing in the drawstring so it didn't come out. That snapped it, and I can't find the ones I just bought, they're probably buried on my sewing desk underneath the fabric scraps I've got there. I'll try to post some pics if I can get my computer to stop freezing every time I try to upload.

Long Time...

Well I've been meaning to post...

I got some llama yarn in the mail the other day. Man, is this stuff soft!!! I'm excited to use it and want to use it on myself (since I never make anythng for myself) but am having a hard time committing to a pattern. Maybe I'll just hoard it for awhile. :)

What else, I'm just finishing up some projects, my Tilted Duster that I started last November and some Christmas gifts. I'm trying to be ahead of the game this year, I have my sil, fil, and mil done, just leaving my bil, mom, dad, 2 bros, and sister. So... I've got a ways to go yet. What I SHOULD be doing is getting some things prepped for Serenity Tree's Grand Opening on October 1. I am so excited and hope to start gaining a fan base. I do have to figure out what I'm going to do with my website, but that's another story.