New merchandise coming

I am terrible at updating this blog-I have been updating my page at facebook, so please check that out and "like" it



So what's coming up? I'm working on WPI tools for knitters, crocheters, and spinners. This handy (and pretty) little tool will help you figure out how many wraps per inch your yarn, either store bought or handspun, is. This helps determine your gauge, although nothing beats that old swatch to show you if the fabric you are creating is what you intend. (Swatches can lie, designer Lily Chin has some excellent info on getting the story out of your swatch in her books "Knitting tips and tricks" and "Crochet tips and tricks."

Ok, so I am working on these new products:

1. Exotic wood buttons
2. woodburned buttons (both "regular" and shank style)
3. woodburned stitchmarkers
4. lazy kates for spindles (yes, finally!!)
5. Woodburned (minimal carving) lazy kates at a more affordable price. If you have longed for a kate but the price is just impossible in this economy, I hope you will enjoy the smaller (but still fabulous!) kates.
6. Hairpin lace looms

I'm also working on new carving/woodburning designs, for kates, eggs, and anything else to which I take a fancy! New designs include cthulhu (with slight celtic influence), a celtic weeping willow, and filigree butterflies. Of course there will also be another FSM kate!

I may be working on etched glass (celtic & other designs) yarn minder "bowls" for sock summit. I'll see how it goes. :-D


Finally I would like to invite you to contact me if you are interested in anything custom. My shop is continually expanding in capacity, and I am hopeful that it will continue in this fashion until I HAVE ALL THE TOOLS!! Hee. Um, until I have enough that I can make about anything I desire. Next on my list is a scroll saw, for beautiful filigree wood designs, but I do have other tools which can emulate that look...

Hoping to get crafting and blogging soon

I got a temporary writing gig (and don't get me wrong, I NEED it) but it's had a detrimental effect on my other-stuff-management. It's nearly tax time too and I need to get cracking.

I'm working on carved and/or woodburnt needle gauges... so hopefully that will work out soon. More to come.

Stitches West

I'm happy to announce that I will be sharing space with Rabbitworks Fibre Studio in space 1242 at Stitches West! Come by and say hi! More info soon.

Photography hold ups

Have prevented me listing the darning eggs, but fear not, I will get to it soon. I have 3 free weekends coming up (not totally free, but kid-free) and hopefully that will help. I have some new product ideas too, which is good because I am sad to announce yet another nearly-gone stitchmarker set. My skulls (none listed right now, but I think I have a few more sets to put up) will no longer be available.

I'm so sad, I love those!!!

Sigh.

More news hopefully coming soon.

All my eggs in one basket

It would be the unfinished basket... eggs will come soon, I promise

In the meantime, here are some terrible quality videos of a kate in action, from my archaic old cellphone. Whee! Hoping to get a flip camera in the future.

Alpaca lovers...

I will be spinning at Moonshadow Alpaca Ranch on Saturday, and I will have a couple of alpaca darning eggs for sale there. Hope to see you there!

Finally, the hooks are going up

Shop update going on now, not sure how long it will take to get some up, but there is one live now.

darning eggs

Darn! Darn egg!


Someone suggested I carve/burn darning eggs, and they are the new crack™

I am in love with this design. I am not sure whether subsequent ones will be burned and carved (as this was) or just burned--the 2nd degree burn on my finger is suggesting that maybe I ought to rethink. But look! Purdy!

Orifice hooks

Orifice hooks are a useful tool when spinning. Every so often (oftener if you combo or do long draw) your yarn pulls on the bobbin too fast and away from the fiber source, which makes you go on a hunt for the loose end. You use an orifice hook to pull it back through the orifice (I am not unconvinced that a 12 year old didn't think these were very funny names indeed).

So why not have a pretty one?

Most of the ones you get with wheels are pretty boring. I decided to make some at the urging of my friend snuffywump (rainy days and wooly dogs owner) and here they are (though not done yet).

These are henna-inspired. I believe they are birch handles, with copper hook ends. Copper is a soft metal but although I am toying with gauge, I think I may stick to what I have here despite the bending, because it is actually useful even if you have to bend your hook back out once in a while, to have some give to it.

I may have these at OFFF if I get in. We'll see :-)

Sock Summit!

Hi all, sorry for the radio silence. I am writing this in a hurry, still cranking out stuff for sock summit. Here's a look at what I am bringing, stop by booth 216 and say hello! All kates have been deactivated from the shop, you can buy one in person at sock summit or whatever I have left will be relisted when I get back.

Hope to see you there!

Mermaid is swimming along

Hoping to start finishing tomorrow.

Ok, finished the carving and burning. Here she is:

Bad, bad carver. Here's a pic of mermaid

got distracted by a friend. Heh.

Mermaids and pirates, oh my!

I'm working on some new designs, which will make their appearance at Sock Summit (I am in booth 216). I'll update with pics of the mermaid, she's coming along nicely and I am really excited about her!

Cuteable link

Busy day today but here's the link!

Cuteable!

Hi people from the cuteable blog! :-)

I just updated with several more sets of the terrified pickles. Enjoy!

Radio Silence

I apologize for the lack of information here, the local phone company had messed up my internet and my phone and I do not have access at my new residence.

In addition, my beloved family dog got out and was struck by a car and died yesterday. I appreciate your patience during this difficult time for my family. I will try to get orders shipped and items restocked as soon as I am able. Later last night, I was moving more of my shop to my new home when something fell from shelves and hit the bridge of my nose. I was not able to get looked at today but hopefully tomorrow I will find out if it is broken or not, but hopefully that will not delay anything by any additional amount. I thank you for your patience.



Tracy

get while the getting is good...

The sale will end tomorrow (but I am moving, so you may get lucky if I'm late). I will be making announcements in the next few months, seems the rules about what can and can't be sold with testing are going to hit me first and harder than anticipated. The federal rules have not yet changed, but the state rules in my state have... and my suppliers will be unable to pay for the expensive testing, so many beloved stitchmarkers will be unavailable.

What does this mean for you? Well first off, don't let a child have them. That is important--these are tools for knitters, not toys for small children, but you all know that anyway right?

Second, it means once my supplier's stock is down (and mine), those will be all that is left. I may have a teensy bit of a sale but I do not have a lot of wiggle room in pricing of the stitchmarkers anyhow.

Get them while you can, folks!

SALE!

Come celebrate with me! It's my birthday and it's earth day, and I am knocking prices down to celebrate.

This sale will be one day only (but I reserve the right to change my mind!) so don't miss out.

I will be listing a few things later today too (Hopefully). DPN holders especially!

All fiber/yarn is on sale and many other things too. Come take a look!

Crafting for the Peanutgallery

Three brand-spankin newly-finished kates!

One new design, three new kates... I do heart making these and hope they find good homes. :-)

I have some rectangular kates that I think I will do pirate kates on, and set them up for more than a 4 ply. Ever wanted to make your own 6 ply? I think that would be cool!

New Kate, nearly finished

So I have some finishing work to do but it is looking good. Hoping to get it listed by the weekend, but personal stuff will need to cooperate (and it totally, totally hasn't been thus far)

What do you think?