Feb 5
My Newest Batt, and my very first "art yarn" made from it's twin... "Deepest Ocean"
Progress on the craft room! New Shelves. (the thread stands will not be staying where they are, either.)
And... A MOSTLY clear desk. This will be the sewing/computer area, and likely the beading/photo area too for a while.
Happy Photo Friday!
Feb 3
Why, Yes, I can.
I am actually in the middle of 2 seperate “re-do” projects right now.
The first is online. I am re-doing my website for Crystal City Fibers, in an attempt to lower my bounce rate. (for those not web savvy, bounce rate is the percentage of people who click onto a site and right away close the window)
I worried that perhaps the links were not clear, or maybe people could not find that they were actually supposed to buy something… So, I added a nav bar across the top of the page for the links, moving them away from the side, and replaced the single photo with an etsy mini.
Now, I am trying to decide what to do to avoid that feeling that the page is “floating in space”. I tried an image in the background (here, if you want to see), but several people have told me they think that might be too busy… I used to have a border, but apparently it took away or distracted from the main text… So… I am still working on this one.
My other “re-do” project is much more solid based. I am re-doing my craft room. I want to totally overhaul it, organize into stations, and reduce the amount of non-crafty things in there to a minimum.
Want to see how badly this needs doing? I know you do… So here is what my craft room looked like a couple days ago:
My Craft room as of Feb. 1... and why yes, that IS an inflatable ball pit in the foreground...
You can see that I actually have a nice big space, with lots of potential. (this actually is the living room of our house… we moved our living room to the dining room, though, which used to be my craft room, since I can put a gate up on this room to cut off access better.)
I have no closets, and no hidden storage, though. And I have this little problem where the room keeps getting used as a dumping ground. Plus, its the first room you see on entering the house. (directly next to the entrance).
So I really need to work on this.
So far, I have removed at least 90% of the toys. not including DH’s (the dead computer). I have switched 2 tables (the one that the drum carder was on with the one under the window) allowing me to turn the drum carder out further into the room AND increasing my surface space because the table that is now under the window has a drop leaf that gives it an extra 2 feet of length. (it is technically my sewing desk, and, I am happy to say, my sewing machine is once again at home on it)
I have a long way to go though.
I’ve been spending hours everyday (the ones where I have been too sore to move after DOING other things, lol) searching online for inspirations and Ideas how to organize this room.
I am planning on those wire cube storage things or on top of the long dresser on the wall, and I found these cool Clip Rails on another blog… I want to put some up on the wall above my carding station to hang kid art and inspirational pictures.
I also want to buy or make a cool clock to hang on one wall, which would be so much nicer to glance up and look at than always looking to my watch or the computer…
I’d like to get some pegboard to mount above my sewing desk… to hold things like my thread racks (I have 3 full ones), scissors, and jewelry tools… not to mention small items like pins and needles (in small bins of some sort). I want these things to be within MY reach, but Out of the kids reach, and NOT ON the desk.
You see, this small station, I think, will be used for 3 stations. It is where my sewing machine lives, and the serger, underneath… it is where I have chosen as a docking station for my new little computer, and it is where I will likely do most of my beadwork.
I have moved all my carding supplies over to the other table (before, the carder and supplies were across the room from one another), so that table will be nothing but Fiber prep.
The round(ish) kitchen table in the center of the room is temporarily off to the side, and will be used as temporary workstation for anything that comes up… fabric cutting, ironing, or a place for the kids to do crafts.
I still have a long way to go. But I will continue to write about and update how the progress goes on. And if you have any ideas for me, any little craft room or website inspirations, or any words of advise, please feel free to post them in the comments.
Jan 29
Removing a new Batt from my Fancy Kitty Drum Carder this week. I use a shelf Liner to make it come off nice and neatly.
There, now isn't that a pretty batt? I call it, "Will you be mine?" and it will be up in my Etsy shop today hopefully.
And yes, that’s me in those photos. At nearly 24 weeks pregnant, I am not the most photogenic, but I tried.
Jan 27
…at least in term of my fibery schedule. I HAVE been productive though, and crafty too. Just not Fibery.
This weekend, I bought myself a netbook. you know, those cute little miniature laptops? We really were getting to a point where we needed to have 2 computers in the house again (after we replaced the old laptop last summer and the old desktop died a week later, we have just been sharing one), But we did not really need another suped up computer. The big Desktop we have is quite nice, complete with photoshop, and fast with a big screen to boot. But I had to stop using my cell phone as my regular browsing tool when DH was home.
So, when a little extra money appeared suddenly (really, a little, not much, lol) I did all sorts of research, and I found that in general, a good netbook was less expensive than a full sized laptop that would perform about the same… and the netbooks have a far longer battery life. Mine has up to 11 hours battery life, depending how I use it. Wowza! I got an Asus Eee 1005PED. In RED. Pretty.
So, of course, with a new computer, and a small one at that, I needed a case of some sort for it. Only, I absolutely hated the cases at the store, and no way did I want to spend $20 additional bucks on one, especially after spending all that money on the computer. I knew I could do better than that. plus, have you seen the cases they sell for these little guys? they are slipcovers, nothing more. and no place for accessories, like mouse, thumb drive, etc.
So Monday morning, I started thinking. I looked through my fabric drawer, and found the PERFECT fabric. It was origianlly meant to be used for a diaper bag, back when I was making those for sale, and when I destashed fabrics, I just could not bear to give it up. But it was much better suited for this. That afternoon, while the kids were sleeping, instead of spinning yarn, I pulled out the one sewing machine I kept when I destashed my others, and I spent the afternoon designing and creating a custom fit netbook case. (Incidently, this, I MIGHT be convinced to make for sale at some point… I realized that of the netbooks out there, the Asus is one of the bigger ones, because of its battery, so that means that any other netbook up to a 10.2″ screen should easily fit in it too. Or maybe I should just write up the pattern and sell that?)
My netbook case has a pocket on the front for accessories, and in future, I might put a seam in the center to divide to 2 pockets, but all in all, it is really very nice. it closes with a flap closure and a single poly resin snap.
yes, I will show pictures soon. Be patient.
So yesterday, I was still in a sewing mood. I have 2 purses I have been meaning to make. One for me, and one for my mom. (It will be her mothers day gift, but its not a surprise) I decided that the Fabric from the netbook case (of which I still had quite a bit… remember, it was originally to be a diaper bag) would make the absolute perfect purse for me. (I think I love purses, lol. DH says I have too many… I only have 3?)
The Purse, I made from the Run Mama Run Pattern by Ditty Pop. Unfortunately, their store is inactive for now, so you can’t run out and buy the pattern when you see this. I made only one modification… I added 2 additional pockets, one on the outside of the bag, and one on the inside, with a seam up the center of the inside pocket to divide further.
Now, would you like to see my creations? I know you would.
Both bags together... Don't you love the fabric?
The netbook Case fits right inside of the RMR bag! Coolness!
And the inside without the netbook case...
You know the best part of all this? My knitting project also fits right in the purse. (yup, the big baby blanket… This is a big purse)
Yes, I still need to make myself a new wallet. The one in there actually goes to my old purse. I still use that one sometimes too… it matches my baby carrier. but this purse is more grown up… and pretty. And it needs a matching wallet. maybe a glasses case, in case I ever get to ordering a pair of sunglasses…
Now… I am off to try and do something else productive… I still have a while before the kids will wake up. And later, I will get to show off my newest purse some more, when I bring it to my knitting night. So hey! Its a good day!
Jan 22
Friday again, so here are some new Photos for your viewing pleasure… :)
Progress on the Blanket I am making for the newest little Beeba, coming in may.
a new set of stitch markers, coming to the Etsy in the next week.
Evergreen Mountain, 3.7 ounces of merino and bamboo... so pretty... on Etsy now.
Another new set of stitch markers, also coming to the Etsy in the next week or so...
Maybe next week I will actually remember to take a picture of me… you know… a belly shot? It would be the first of this pregnancy if I Do remember.
