New Collection Sophie's Choice

We have been getting a lot of snow here lately which means snow days for my oldest one. The other day while she was home I was packaging up some shipments like a do everyday when Sophia said to the little one "Baby, look Mommy has sold a bunch of yarn to a store!" I replied, "Well honey Mommy kind of IS the store I don't sell my yarn to stores." She said, "Someday I want to have my own store too." That got me thinking that even though she is too young to sign up for an etsy store she's not to young to come up with things for me to sell for her in my etsy store. So I asked if she would like to design her own collection of yarn and spinning fiber to which I received a very enthusiastic "YES!" So during her snow days last week she spent her time coming up with the names of all her designs based on her favorite things and telling me what colors to use. Then we spent the afternoon working together in the dye room. I didn't let her work with any of the dyes, she mostly just ran around the basement while I asked her what to dye up next, what yarn of fiber to use and then what colors we needed. She had such a good time though she kept telling me how much she loved working with Mommy. After we were finished we came upstairs and I overheard her tell her sister, "Baby guess what?! I am going to have my own store and sells things on my own internet!" When everything was dry she helped me reskein all the yarn, and then set up everything to photograph. The entire time we were working she kept saying things like, "I just love this day! Don't you just love working together with me Mommy? We are having so much fun, you are the best Mommy in the whole world! This is the best day ever!" She's very animated. I just listed her collection a little bit ago and I can't wait to see the look on her face when I tell her that she sold something for the first time. She will be helping me package up all the things she sells too! Please stop by my etsy store and take a look!

All of the profits made from her collection will go to her college fund that we set up in her name. I will let her spend a little sometimes but this will be a good way to teach her responsibility and instill a sense of pride and accomplishment.

Happy Holidays!

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"Just the Doctor"

"Who are you, if not human? Who's not human? He's not human. He's not human? But he's got a Northern accent! Lots of planets have a North."

You know it! Dr Who yarn and fiber! I was asked by a customer in Australia to come up with some yarn based on two of the characters in the new episodes of Dr. Who which got me thinking about creating an entire collection. I had never watched the new episodes so I checked the netflix instant que, found all the seasons, and then started watching. My husband and I LOVE Sci Fi TV shows and movies and we were having such a good time watching the show that I really almost forgot to get the collection together! I unveiled the new stuff a couple weeks ago but I updated the shop recently with more colorways added. I have even more ideas that I'm planning to dye up so there will be lots more to come!

Fall is here!

Fall is finally here and I have lots of fall and Halloween colorways that I have been dyeing up. As always if you see anything that I am sold out of but you want to order you can send me an email and I can make up a custom order. I am in the process of working on a new colorway line (teaser it's Sci Fi based big surprise!) that I hope to unveil in about 2 weeks. I am also looking into adding a new spinning fiber to the line up but I haven't made any decisions yet and if there is something you would like to see send me an email.

Now that it is cooling off I have been planning to spend more time sitting out on the patio with my wheel. I love to sit outside to spin but during the summer it's too hot to do that. I have a few projects that I am planning to get started on for fall and winter. I recently finished a tea cozy that I started knitting while laying out at the pool for that last time this season. The water at the pool that day was freezing so it was a perfect time to get some sun and knit. I can't tell you how many funny looks I got this summer because I like to take my knitting to the pool! I just started The Lacey Hug-Me-Tight pattern out of "Knit 2 Together" today using some black alpaca DK weight that I got from my supplier. I have noticed those circular cardigans more and more when I'm out shopping so I figured knitting one of those up was in order. The next project after the cardigan I finally want to get started on is a pair of the mermaid gloves based on the sock pattern Pomatomus by Cookie A. I was given a skein of Wollmeise in a swap (because I'm one of the luckiest girls in the world) about a year ago but I have been afraid to touch it. Since I'm finally ready to knit it up I was looking for the perfect pattern to show it off and remembered how I wanted to knit those gloves and I think the Wollmeise would be perfect! Life has been entertaining to say the least this summer but now that I will be able to be inside more I am hoping to remember to blog more and yes I will be doing a new podcast soon. I would have done one before but laziness prevailed. Happy Knitting and Happy Spinning!

Podcast Interview with Kim Werker

Last week I was able to interview Kim Werker about her time with Interweave Crochet, all things Sci Fi and what she is doing now. We had a wonderful time talking and I think you will really enjoy our interview. So pick up your needles and sit down for a listen!

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Links to the wonderful websites Kim talked about!
http://lexpubli.ca
http://crochetme.com/blogs/kim_werker/archive/2008/12/6/joss-whedon-on-crafts-and-craftiness-interview-transcript.aspx

Alice In Wonderland!

Everything is listed and ready to purchase! Alice In Wonderland was my inspiration for this fabulous collection. I am planning on adding more colorways after I get to see the movie but for now this is what my inspiration drove to produce. I am so excited about this collection and I have to say that my personal favorites are Mad Hatter Cheshire Cat and Alice in the Garden. I am planning on dying fiber based on the same colorways so if you are a spinner at heart there will be plenty of goods for you too! Happy Knitting!

New Collection Coming Out Today!

It is time for another new collection! This one I have been working on and thinking about for a few weeks. I am really excited that I was able to get it together this early and when you see what it is you will know what I mean by early. I was flying a bit blind with this one because so far I have only had internet photos for reference but I am planning on adding more colorways later (again when I reveal what the collection actually is in my next post you will understand) Don't forget to check back for more podcasts I am planning on doing interviews with lots of my favorite people!

Very First Podcast!

FINALLY! After a lot of planning and work and editing my very first podcast is ready! I had so much fun putting it together and I hope everyone enjoys it. I interviewed my friend and customer Jennifer Pace of Pipps Purses. She and I had so much fun talking and laughing that I am really happy to share our conversation with everyone. So take a listen and let me know what you think.

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6 Month Spinning Fiber Club

Today I posted up my first ever Spinning Fiber Club on etsy. Since I recently started carrying a bunch of new fiber blends I thought a fiber club was in order. The way it works is each month 4oz. of a different fiber is shipped. I left the colorway choices up to the purchaser they can either be purprised or they can choose all 6 color combos. The various fibers that will be shipped are:

Superwash Merino Tencel
Superfine Merino
Corriedale
Superwash Merino
Merino Bamboo Tussah Silk
Superwash Blue Faced Leicester

This would make a great gift for the spinner in your life or of course yourself!
www.christinamariepotter.etsy.com

New Spinning Fiber!

I am so excited! I recently picked up a new supplier and I have some new fiber blends on their way! They have some many fibery goodness options that I can't wait to try out. So far I've ordered bamboo, hemp, merino bamboo tussah silk, and superwash merino tencel. I've also decided to discontinue carrying my Belle yarn base so I bought some superwash merino tencel sock yarn blend to replace it. If it doesn't sell well I'll try something different but I loved the feel of it from the sample. So stay tuned for lots of new fibery goodness!!!

Lord of the Rings Yarn and Fiber

I love sending samples in for the Phat Fiber sample boxes each month. Not only because it's a good way to get my name out there but also because I love getting a free box for being a contributor. This month I sent in some Lord of the Rings themed stuff because the monthly theme is "Fantasy Fairytales and Folklore." I was so inspired thinking up color combos that I decided to make up a new collection based on LOTR. I have my stuff drying right now and it will be posted for sale on Friday. I will add photos to this blog post after I have everything listed for sale. In the mean time there are lots of good things for sale in my etsy shop!

Awesome New Bag and Needle Case

A few weeks ago I began searching for a new case to keep my Addi Clicks in. The case that Addi provides is nice but so bulky that it's impossible to take anywhere. So I decided I would buy myself something new. I had thought about sewing one up myself but then I remembered how much I HATE sewing. I know how to sew but I just HATE it. I started looking on Etsy because I would rather support other Etsy sellers like myself when I came across this really nice store called Babylove Designs by Rose Evans. I liked her stuff and her prices but at the time I didn't see anything made in a fabric that I liked. I favorited her store and then continued the check it from time to time to see what she had posted. Then about a week ago I saw this awsome bag in this asian print fabric that I loved. I looked to see if she also had the same fabric sewn into an interchangable needle case but she didn't. The other thing that I loved about the bag was that it was, wait for it, $10!!!!!!!! And it wasn't a little unlined bag it was a good sized bag, fully lined, with this awsome magnetic closure and this cool little handle. I decided that I had to have that bag and a needle case to match so I sent her a convo. and asked if she could make me a case in the same fabric. She said she could and within like 2 days she had the case finished and ready for me to purchase. The price of the case was $18 and the bag was $10 so for $28 I have this amazingly awsome little set! She even threw in a couple stitch markers; I couldn't be happier with my new set and would highly recommend her store, here's the link www.rosevans.etsy.com

Blog Facelift

If you follow my blog at all you will notice that everything looks different. A friend of mine redid all my backgrounds for me recently. I had been using one of the blogger backgrounds which I thought was alright. It's not the most original but I was okay with it. Then a couple weeks ago at Bunco my friend made fun of how boring my blog was. She has a really funny blog that you can find here, so she's all about messin' with the backgrounds and making everything look all cute. The next day I was thinking about how she made fun of my blog for being so boring and not having any cute buttons and stuff so I wrote her an email that went like this:

"I don't know if she told you but I asked/made Casey come over and help me pick paint colors for the kitchen on Sunday. I wanted her help because you and her made for of me for still having white walls in the house. I figured that if she wanted to make fun of me then she could just come over and help me pick paint.

Well, I was thinking today that since you made fun of my blog last night at Bunco that maybe you would be so kind as to come over and help me improve it since I am doing so many things wrong. So why don't you just walk your happy little self over here and show me how to add fun stuff like photos and junk.

Thanks!"

I figured she would probably help me but I didn't think she would have so much fun with it or do such a nice job. I think it turned out just lovely and I have no idea how she did any of it.

(She also takes really nice photos and was inspired to open an etsy store to sell them in. She doesn't have anything listed yet but I will mention it on here when she does.)

Anyway if you like how everything looks you can thank her because I couldn't even get one of those free premade templates to work.

Welcome to My Nightmare,

I think you're gonna like it, I think you're gonna feel you belong.

Alright that's enough Alice Cooper.

I just listed my newest collection based on the movie "The Nightmare Before Christmas." I'm totally in the mood for Halloween, especially the way the weather is today. It's cloudy and cool here in STL and I've got the windows open even. I had so much fun dying up this particular colorway because I LOVE Halloween. I developed a respect for Halloween during my years in retail, it was the one holiday that was still fun yet not destroyed for me by the Christmas rush. I was so inspired by this collection, I think you're gonna like it, I think you're gonna feel you belong.

Twitter Event Panic

Today (August 25th) there is going to be a Twitter event to promote the new book put out by Interweave called Crocheted Gifts. I have a piece in the book so I'm going to be a part of the event. I got an email from Kim Werker (the editor) about a week and a half ago letting the designers know she was planning this. I had signed up for Twitter and never posted anything so I said I would participate even though I'm not really a Twitterer (is that the right word?) and I knew it was coming up around the 23th 24th 25th-ish.

Well, yesterday around 2:30 while I was reskeining a bunch of yarn that was finally dry I remembered that the event was soon. Here's how my thoughts went,

"That Twitter event is soon, wait, is that tonight? I have Bunco tonight and I don't know how to find a Bunco sub on this short of notice, no, the Twitter thing is in the afternoon. WAIT, what time is it, this IS afternoon! Is it going on now?! OMG I need the computer!"

At this point I raced from the dining room where I had been winding yarn into the family room and then kicked the baby gate with my toe REALLY hard while trying to climb over it. I get on the computer and search for the original email to discover that it was not yesterday but today, at 4PM eastern, 3:00 where I am. So if you are interested in being a part of the Twitter event today here's my ID ChristinMPotter I will be prepared this time.

I'm in the Mood for Fall

I'm getting tired of summer and I'm totally ready for Fall. Fall is the best time of year to knit and spin and with my new wheel arriving the other day I'm so ready for Fall. It's been cool here today and I have the windows open through which this wonderful breeze has been blowing. It's nice to open the house and let the air conditioner have a rest. Because I'm so ready for Fall I dyed up some Fall and Halloween spinning fiber and listed it today. Take a look:
www.christinamariepotter.etsy.com

Kromski Symphony is here!

I'm taking a break from getting my Phat Fiber samples ready to write this. I'm so excited! My Symphony Spinning Wheel I bought off Ebay came in the mail today, well, I had to go pick it up from the post office but it's here! I had been tracking it for about a week when yesterday the info. said that they had attempted to deliver it but weren't able to so they I had to go get it. What I don't understand is when did they try to deliver it because I was home all day yesterday. I wouldn't even know it was here if it hadn't been for the fact that I had been tracking it. No note was left in the mailbox or on the door letting me know it was at the post office. Oh well, whatever, it's finally here.














I picked it up from the post office this morning and as soon as I got it home I opened it to make sure all the pieces were there and not broken. Everything seemed to be alright so I pulled myself away from it to get some work done since I had custom orders to fill. My oldest was at school and the baby was alseep so it was the perfect time for me to get my orders filled but it was hard to keep myself from going in and putting the wheel together. After I had everything on the stove I went it to put the wheel together, I got it up and running without any problems and then oiled it up to try it out. It's whisper quiet spins like a dream! I love it!

The color is more red than I thought it would be, it matches the decor of the house though. It's almost the same color as our carpet which is kind of weird. I sold my Ashford Traditional about a week ago and I left the spot where it had been sitting up and waiting for the new wheel to get here. I put it between my other two wheels (yes I have 3 wheels again) in the front room and it fits in just perfectly.

The oil painting above the wheels is my wedding portrait.

The one on the left is my Minstrel and the other one is my Ashford Country Spinner.

Old Spinning Wheel New Spinning Wheel

My addiction to spinning wheels continues. I sold my old spinning wheel, the first I ever purchased, and all it's extras to a friend of mine. I decided one day that I had too many spinning wheels and that instead of using the Ashford for plying and the Kromski for spinning I would sell the Ashford and buy a jumbo flyer for my Kromski. So I put the Ashford up for sale and then while I had it listed I found another spinning wheel that I decided I had to have on Ebay. Another Kromski and this time a Symphony. It was a decent price so I decided to go ahead and buy it even though I hadn't sold the Ashford yet. Then a few days later I sold the Ashford to my friend Connie. It was difficult for me to sell the Ashford since it was the first wheel I ever purchased but I am glad that I was able to sell it to a friend so I know it will be well taken care of and loved. I'll post photos of the Symphony after it gets here, I can't wait!

Interweave Presents Crocheted Gifts: Irresistable Projects to Make & Give

Interweave Crochet has a new book coming out soon that is all about crocheted gifts. I have a jewelry pattern in the book and got my advance copy about a week ago. It has lots of nice patterns that would be wonderful to work up for Christmas or Hanukkah gifts. Amazon has a nice preview of the book and the pattern I designed is on the index page. Here's a link:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1596681071

Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy

My new colorways are listed for sale in my etsy shop! All of them are based on Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy. That is one of my husband's favorite books which is why I got the idea to dye up some yarn based on the book. Next week I'm planning to list a bunch of Twilight stuff so be sure to check back if you're a Twilight fan!