Last week I had nothing new to record for my maker's journal and this week, there seemed to be stacks going on – not least selling my 2,500th 'thing' in my Etsy shop!
It honestly doesn't seem like very long ago that I made my 100th thing, which felt amazing, so you can imagine how this feels! 😀 I tend to be quite demanding of myself, so I probably don't take the time to celebrate successes when they come along, but this one does feel very special. Each of those 2,500 pieces was made by my hands and was bought by someone who values that – wow. The best thing about running my little business these days, now that it feels a bit established, is how many lovely people keep coming back to me to make them more 'things' – that really does feel good and I'm so grateful that they do. When I think back to the last few years of my corporate working life and how utterly miserable I was, these days my work is a joy and it has all been built by me and lots of wonderful people who like what I do.
Now seems like a good time to talk about something new I've added to the shop:
How cute?! My own collection of stitch markers and progress keepers is very small, but I so enjoy using them that I spend time window shopping for charms and thinking about making some of my own. When I came across these enamel charms, I had to have them for myself and bought extra to make stitch markers for the shop. It turns out that lots of other people loved them, so I have ordered some more of these and a few others that caught my eye… One thing that irritates me a bit about stitch markers / progress keepers is that they tend to be one or the other and it seems to me that they could and should be both. They also tend to fit on up to 4mm needles only and as I'm a keen worsted in the round knitter, I often wish they were bigger. With these two points in mind, I've added a large size double split ring to mine and the usual size lobster clasp – that way, you can use them on larger needles and easily remove or re-add the lobster clasp as and when you like. It's like Transformers for knitting 😀
My new cowl design is also finished and I now just need to write up the pattern – see that word "just"? it's a big one that one – LOL! I am actually planning to put this pattern in a little booklet with a couple of other easy cowl patterns that I've been meaning to write up for a while. I always have very good intentions!
Another new make is this A5 notebook cover:
This was attempt number 1 and the fit is a little snugger than I'd like because I decided at the last minute to add puffy fleece to the outer as well as cotton interfacing and didn't allow for the extra headroom I'd need to have in the fabric. The great thing is that I love this polar bear fabric and as this first version isn't perfect, I get to keep it for myself and use it every day for my work notebook 😀
When I make the next one, I think I'd also like the inside pockets for the notebook flaps to be a little wider to hold the book better. I'm very glad that I added the snap closure to the side, it holds everything perfectly snug when it's closed.
There was also a 'last' thing made this week – this little polar bear purse:
I ran out of this fabric (except for one purse's worth) quite some time ago, which is a shame – it's so cute. I have a few little scraps so it should turn up in a bit of patchwork somewhere, sometime.
Just as I had an order for an unseasonal 'Hesketh' snowdrops project bag a few weeks ago, I had one for a 'Hubert' daffodils bag this week:
Although this one is actually seasonal for it's new owner as she's in Australia, where Spring is just springing!
In my mind, Christmas is the next season as this is the time that the shop starts to get busy with orders from people like me who like to start early and get organised. I spent a while yesterday cutting out fabric for some special Christmas pieces I have planned and I also sent out this bag, which although the print pattern is totally not Christmassy, makes me feel Christmassy!
I really do have to do more with this winter white Metallic Essex Linen and I have a particular plan for it, if I can find the time to make it. I only managed to get a small amount of this lovely Maureen Cracknell Moon Stories fabric in this white, although certainly enough for at least one more bag.
Reading wise, I continue to make my way through the Sevenwaters series and I'm about to finish book three, so more of that next time.
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