Little things

I change by not changin'
at all
small town predicts my fate
perhaps that's what no one wants to see

~lyrics from "Elderly Woman Behind the Counter in a Small Town" by Pearl Jam

I felt like this today, when finally even the dialup internet connection failed us after the storm last night. Like the world changes around me and all I can do is watch. Yet I've thrust myself right in the middle of it without the means to truly participate, with this shop, this blog, a real business. Two more weeks says Comcast. It's been since February. I won't belabor the point, just know that this extremely patient girl is now finally out of patience. It has happened.

Feeling defeated, I started to once again look on the bright side, find the silver lining, see the glass half full and make some lemonade. It started with the apple that fell prematurely from the tree in the backyard, placed delicately atop the picnic table by our dog, Sunny. Nice.

Then I noticed the dried bits of gardening along with some gloves and a pile of dirt left by the girls.

And I was taken with the green of the zucchini, the little ones that are picked on time and the ones that hide under humongous leaves only to be found later and treated like buried treasure by the kids. "Look, mom! Look what Allie found! It's huge!" A smile spread across my face.

I slowed down, I took deep breaths, I participated in the day set before me. But, I wish I didn't have to say this, my frustration didn't completely go away. I'll work on it again tomorrow.

I had time to make some jewelry and some hats and booties, even with the 2-day sleepover that was still in play and 4 extremely tired and delirious kids, the pool, craziness, all of it. I promised to show you some so please enjoy.






Even a self-portrait of sorts. I think that's enough.

What's new

Two new baby bootie combinations have come to life. The one above is inspired by my middle daughter who seeks out the pairing in her clothes whenever she gets the chance.

The one below was actually a special request from a friend a while back and I really like it.

They'll both be appearing at the market tomorrow, hope to see some of you there!

The baby bootie factory

...new style just added to the shop today...

I picked up some knitting needles the other night to take a break from the personal baby bootie assembly line I have going and it felt so foreign, making my blog title and Etsy shop name misnomers indeed. Things have been going really well this winter and spring, but with an increase in business there is also a greater chance for things to go awry as I found out they had on Saturday. It seems that one of the wholesale orders I sent a couple of weeks ago made it about 95% of the way to their destination and then vanished. 12 pairs of handmade booties, all organic, so much hard work, poof!, gone. I really hope the post office can find them but I don't really have my hopes up.

But as one yucky thing happens, other good things happen too, it's a secret right now but when/if it happens I'll be sure to tell you. So I'm trying to condition my brain to accept the bad just as freely as I do the good, because that's life. Yin/yang, light/dark, good/bad, happy/sad, it's all part of being here, right?

So that's where...

I decided to investigate where a rash of sales and shop views came from this past week that have kept me on my toes and crocheting away like crazy. I often wonder, where do these people come from and how do they find my shop? Is it something I'm doing or some wonderful outside source? Thanks to the new Google Analytics function Etsy has added to our shops I can now see that this last week's sales have largely come from the latter. A huge thanks to the curator of this wonderful blog who wrote this lovely post about her new little one who just so happens to be wearing a pair of the booties above.

What a gorgeous blog--one day I aspire to such greatness; sponsors, giveaways, a general knack for knowing what people like and how to make it all look. Which brings me to my next tease, I'm conspiring with a friend, cooking up a little contest of sorts, complete with free stuff, a fun experience and maybe I'll have some giveaways of my own to kick it all off. Stay tuned...I'm branching out and it's all new territory...

Can I just take a minute?

When the customer who purchased my booties a while back told me what she was planning on doing with them I thought, now that is a great idea for a baby shower cake topper! While I thought it would be cute I certainly wasn't expecting this! How great is that cake?

Thank you Etsy for opening up my little business to the world and thank you to my wonderful customers (this one in particular!) who make my creating extra enjoyable and sometimes elevate it to a whole other level. Literally!

As far as the eye can see

I'm drowning in booties and hats here, working my fingers to death putting together a wholesale order--my biggest one to date. I'm so excited about the whole thing and the prospect of being an ongoing supplier to my new client that I want to have everything finished immediately. But I keep envisioning the tortoise and the hair, (no kidding, I really am) and have to picture myself lumbering along like the tortoise in order to stay on track.

Last night out of the blue Kevin asked me what my plan was when my fingers were too arthritic to keep working this way. I said I didn't know and that I didn't have a plan. This was before he went to sleep and could see me with my hands wrapped in ice packs. Needless to say, it really helped.

It's at times like these when I picture smiling, rugged, wrinkled women in Peru or Chile, let's say, with numerous kids and a baby strapped to their backs, working away with the bright, cheery yarn and patterns they use to make all sorts of things. You can picture it, right? They work all day with their hands and probably never complain and I'm not about to start. But I will say that I've been thinking more and more about recruiting them to help me!

Short on words

Enjoy some of my new handmade "buttons" for the booties. They really aren't as tedious as I thought they'd be!

The colors of Valentine's Day

When I think of Valentine's Day I don't only think of red, I actually prefer pink and as I was listing the hat above in my Etsy shop yesterday I was struck by how much it made me think of food, or candy, or better yet chocolate with some scrumptious pink sort of filling inside.

So with the holiday fast approaching I thought I'd show you a little knitting (it's long overdue!) and share a personal credo: there is nothing wrong with having a little chocolate every day. And for those of you who won't let yourself go there, might as well wear some, or maybe just put it on your baby.

Sidelined

It's February and things are brown, all except for the sky which has been an incredible blue and putting on a spectacular show. It has been warm too, I love warm. In response to the blue and brown, I'll be listing this new little pair of organic booties in my shop.

There is a blue and brown pair already there, but I thought I'd provide the organic option as I know how some folks are partial. These are also a little more interesting in my opinion because the yarn has little flecks of cream in it making it look oh so earthy.

We are sidelined therefore not because of weather, or lack of yarn and fun things to make. Not because it's February or Groundhog Day or a school holiday or what have you, but rather because that brave little boy I spoke of yesterday now has a fever and an unrelenting headache. And the cycle begins again.

Little things

Above sits the next color combination for a pair of booties. I know, it may just look like two piles of string to some, but I'll soon make them disappear. Those particular colors were actually a custom request, and one I'm grateful for. Sometimes the best ideas come from those inquiries and I'm not too proud to take them! The moss will be on the bottom, blue on the top.

Next is that cowl I was talking about which is still a wip in sumptuous Malabrigo. But then I saw this one and gasped, thinking an even simpler style may be what I'm looking for.

Here is the gorgeous project bag where it currently lives. My dear (and well-traveled) friend Pam knew I'd love it . Read about her recent escapades to Helsinki here if you want to pretend like you're taking a trip far far away while you're really just sitting at your desk, or in your house, or your car, or the bathroom or wherever you sneak in blog time.

Seriously though, the bag is the perfect size, made out of silk and is from Lantern Moon. Here's what the back of the tag reads: "Our products are produced by an education and income generation project and family owned enterprises which revive the traditional cultural handicrafts of Vietnam." I like it. I like it when people really start to think about what they're doing, unlike the driver I saw today heaving large chunks of trash out the window of her new BMW SUV. Really? I thought. Really?

I wish

I wish I had something wonderfully profound to say to you today, a beautiful revelation about life and love, or even a little wisdom to impart, but it seems every year I am resolution-less and in a state of flux. To make matters worse, our littlest is quite sick, keeping me home and in comfy clothes, doing lots of laundry, back rubbing and consoling. She feels so yucky and I just hate it. Besides wanting to help her feel better, my second priority is to keep everyone else away from her. If the bug goes through all 5 of us it could be a loooong week.

My plan of attack for 2009 (in business and life for that matter) is to keep plugging away, putting one foot gracefully in front of the other and making lots of the same goodness that 2008 had to offer with new twists, such as the strawberries and cream booties above. I'm still planning my sweater and if no one else gets sick I may have a chance to get some yarn at a favorite store before the weekend is over.

The other time occupier over the past 2 days has been the "knitters black hole" (a.k.a. Ravelry) and yesterday I decided to make a hat. I know I've said I don't wear hats but Kevin got us a gift to go skiing this winter and I'll have to wear something on my head. So I knitted Felicity and I like it although I don't like myself in hats. It's just a thing I need to get over.

It really does look like the picture on Ravelry now that I see it from this angle, all bulbous and big. I used some worsted weight wool I had in my stash, I'm rather partial to blue, always have been.

Now, rather than draging you through any more of my muddling around, I'll sign off and in parting I wish each of you a happy new year just the same, we've no where to go but forward!

Bits and pieces

I tried to think of one title for this post that would encompass everything but it was nearly impossible. This may be a bit list-y but here goes.

Above you see the chocolate dipped pink lilac booties I finally listed in the shop. And on the topic of booties, I've been seriously remiss in announcing my rekindled friendship and affiliation with an incredible website called Craftsbury Kids. I sold some dolls with her back almost a year ago, and now she's offering a nice selection of my baby booties too! The link above sends you directly to the "meet the artists" page where you can see me :) and while you're there if you click the picture of the baby bootie it will show you the whole selection. We've already had our first sale and I'm so excited for what is to come. Thank you, Cecelia!

Currently on the needles (between making booties) are a pair of hot pink mittens. The brown one is from my favorite personal pair, the ones I wear nearly every day and from the pattern I made up as I went last winter. They are so warm in wool and mohair so I decided to spread the love and there was this hot pink yarn just sitting there so I said, why not? I'm getting them ready for a show this weekend.

I much prefer making mittens on two needles rather than in the round, I think they're much quicker.

As for the last bit, I thought I'd share the story from last night's dinner preparation. One of my favorite things about my kitchen is the under the cabinet radio with CD player Kevin bought me for Christmas a few years ago. It makes cooking so much more fun, since we have an old house that doesn't have a great room with stereo or TV access or people access for that matter. The radio keeps me company. So last night I had one song on repeat (I love that feature), "Old Man" by Neil Young. Now I'm not a huge Neil Young fan, but I definitely have admiration for the guy, anyone who can write and sing a song like that has something special, no matter how off beat he may be as a person. So I was dancing and singing and cooking and repeating off in my own little world, with the strange need to hear that song over and over and over and Kevin walks in and says facetiously, "gonna listen to a little Neil, honey?", raises his eyebrows as if to say, "what has gotten into you?" and walks out.

I love being married, and comfortable, and secure, not having to worry about what he thinks about me, just knowing that I can be a little off beat myself and each day we do nothing but grow closer together. Anyway, he should be happy, it's his CD.

And the knitting goes on and on

A knit hat and crocheted booties to match, made with organic wool/cotton yarn,

along with the hat below were added to the shop today.

I sit here at my desk, on the computer, simultaneously making booties, with Allie on her art mat at my feet with her watercolors.


"You never let me paint!" she informed me, to which I answered, "I will if you can locate your art mat!" And wonder of wonders she did.

I've been knitting too much

You're right, these are crochet, but you get the idea. As painful as it is, I've given myself a mandatory restriction on said knitting/crochet. My shoulders are so sore I can hardly stand it so things just have to wait for now. All that pretty new yarn. Can wait.

So enjoy the new pics of my new line of dark chocolate crocheted booties. Any chocolate is good chocolate in my book.

the Cure

While I love the band and nothing will get me dancing around the kitchen faster than their song, "Just Like Heaven", that's not really what I'm talking about when I say "cure". What I mean is, when it's been a tough week, when Allie's on ear infection #2, when I'm feeling stressed, it sure is calming to walk into a beautiful, serene yarn shop with smiling, helpful (but not pushy) salespeople. I'm definitely not suggesting retail therapy to cure emotional ills, but it sure was fun to come home with a bag full of pretty yarn that I needed for the business anyway. The green and variegated yellow are Lamb's Pride worsted and the brown is O-wool balance which is an organic merino/cotton blend. I must say it was heavenly to knit with.


I'm thinking of carrying an all organic baby line in the shop. I frequently have people asking me if I carry organic options. So, I think I will. And that green? It's intended for a custom felted purse order for someone from the market. I love the color and just hope she does too. Speaking of the market, yes, I'll be there tomorrow!

The Cobbler's kids

So much to write, so little time. I can't believe what a huge internal change the office move has made. Going to sleep at night not feeling the pressure of my knitting falling off the shelves on me and taking up half the room is beyond relaxing it's pure peace. Magically, reorganizing the girls has given them a room with nothing on the floor--imagine that! And the new drawing space means never coming home to a mountain of crafting carnage all over the floor as well. Again, why did it take me so long to figure all this out?

You might wonder what this has to do with the cobbler and some booties. Well, the booties are just the latest color in the chocolate dipped line in the shop. They're shoes. I'm stretching here just to say that the unfinished porch for us is like the cobbler's kids never having shoes. You see, Kevin knows how to build and fix lots and lots of things. It's how he makes a living and yet if you were to step out of our kitchen door, you'd fall into a dirt pit about 2 1/2 feet down. I won't complain. It will be finished and if you saw the way he walked in the door every evening and watched him spend hours and hours mowing probably 5 acres of grass and fix the cars, the air conditioning, the well pump, etc. etc., you wouldn't pester him either.

15 Seconds

It happened. It really happened, just like she said it would. Those are my booties up there pictured in this month's installment of Skirt! magazine in Richmond. YAY! A HUGE thank you to Constance and Jennifer at Skirt for their generosity.

I'm so excited and thankful to have the publicity but the thought does cross my mind...now what? And the answer is simply more of the same.

I see clearly how much hard work it takes for people to become aware of my products and what I do in my "spare" time. I've never considered myself a salesperson at all and think it's funny that I ended up here. In fact, after my first few sales I had the strange feeling that I should give the money back and I had to close my mouth to keep myself from uttering, "Are you sure you want to give me money for that? Wouldn't you rather spend it on something else?" Used car salesman I ain't.

Luckily, that phase passed and I realize how much some people really value and enjoy things that are made lovingly by hand. I also know full well that the addage is true, if you want to be in business for yourself, you need to love what you do. There are so many long hours involved that if I didn't really love what I'm doing and it wasn't fulfilling in the deepest sense, then my products wouldn't be all that appealing and I wouldn't be having any fun.

The other thing that surprised me about starting this business, and this was a big one, was that it took all the courage I had (and even some I didn't) to lug my things out into the public that first day and have them sit on display for people to look at. I'm quite a private person, happy behind the scenes and not the center of attention. So to be out there TO be looked at was very uncomfortable indeed. Thankfully, that's another hurdle behind me. I believe in what I'm selling and I'm emotionally attached to it so much so that I'm now happy to show people what I do.

In fact, it's as if I've opened the first page of the book about me that I never knew existed. So exciting.

It is definitely the groundhog's fault

Yesterday afternoon I was on the front porch taking pictures of these cute new booties I'm calling "chocolate dipped" and I heard a rustling underneath me and the smell of skunk was increasingly pungent. Instantly my heartrate went up, the hair on my arms stood up and I was thinking, where are my husband and the gun at a time like this?!! But my thoughts quickly swirled to, "what if it's the skunk and not the groundhog?". I had visions of myself being sprayed, banned from my own house and society, and sitting in a tub of tomato juice or whatever it is that you do to get rid of skunk nastiness. Just then, the rustling and the stench increased and the groundhog stuck his nose and head up by the steps. I sat motionless, just watching him, wondering if he'd charge, bearing white teeth and chattering at me like in some bad movie. So I stomped on the porch, he saw me and terrified, darted back under the house.

I went inside, picked up the phone, do I call Kevin? I know he's in the middle of a meeting right now. I put the phone down and went back out to take more pictures. The same scenario played out again. That's it. Calling Kevin. "Where's the gun, how do I load it, he smells like roadkill, I'm gonna get that sucker, how do I shoot it once I get it loaded???" I got the I'm-in-the-middle-of-something-brushoff and an I'll be home soon, I'm leaving now.

But I'm a figure it out for myself kind of girl. I found the gun and put in the cartridge, kept the safety on and started lurking around my own yard looking quite suspicious, enough to bring a neighbor out of her house sipping wine for the full show. I crept from tree to tree trying to get in a good position and waited. As this all was happening, I turned around to see the other groundhog that lives under a huge mass of forsythia bushes, munching on the alfalfa the farmers just cut. I had a clear shot, I aimed, I started shaking and just as I was about to pull the trigger he ran. A minute later Kevin pulled up the drive, laughed at my sudden, out for blood kind of attitude, and showed me that I'd failed to put the first bullet in the chamber. Oh.

In case you're wondering, it's perfectly legal out here to shoot a gun on your own property. But since this is not always so reliable, especially when it's up to me, we've added another weapon to our arsenal. A live trap. So far she's empty. I just hope we don't trap a skunk.

p.s. the rest of the chocolate dipped booties should be up in the shop later this morning.

Not to beat a dead horse or anything...

It became readily apparent yesterday when I was on the phone with the editor from Skirt! Magazine that the unisex and even boy booties were lacking something with their naked toes. You see she realized the hot pink booties she purchased from me at the market weren't really appropriate for the baby BOY she was buying them for and so called me for a trade. She saw the new, plain-toed ones on the website but it was clear that what she was after was the TOE. That sealed the deal and they now all have toe embellishments and have been dubbed "bloomin' booties".

Let me know what you think.


The brown ones have blue toes and the blue ones have white. The matching hats will be bloom-less but edged at the bottom in the accent color so as to still be appropriate for boy or girl. When they will be changed in the shop I do not know. Seems the week has gotten away from me and the weekend has filled up so quickly it seems like it's gone already. Maybe Monday we can slow down and have a good, old-fashioned Memorial Day.

Because of the disappearance of time this week, the new mustard yellow bobble bag I've started will not debut at the market as intended. If you're familiar, it's going to be like the large green one I used to have in the shop. (I realize that only applies to like 3 of you.) It will have brown twisted rope handles, be fully lined and the body of the bag will be what you see below with brown sides (and maybe bottom, haven't yet decided).

Here's the tease...


...stay tuned.

Rolling right along

In an attempt to serve the moms who CAN wait (unlike me) until their babies are born to find out what they're having, I have some new unisex booties in the shop.

Here is milk chocolate:


and pistachio:


And what do you do on yet another rainy day in May with a four year old who's already done with preschool? Give her the circular punch you make product tags with and watch her go to town.