Getting Ready for Saturday~!

Calgary West Country Market Booth: April 28th, 8:30 am - 1 pm, D79

On the Needles: Felted Rose Bags
In the plans: needle felt mittens, felted bags, ribbon scarf

That's right! The countdown is on. I'm all done school, and now my living room looks like a craft explosion has occurred, since almost every available surface is covered in craft goodies! Between making more things and packaging/pricing, I am a very busy girl. I also have two job interview coming up, so we'll see how that goes. I wish I could just stay home and craft, but right now I need to help pay off some debt from my schooling.

Speaking of which, I did awesome on my final honours project (the 40-page paper): I got an A! Whoot! Other grades are coming in for other classes as well, and they look pretty positive as well. Convocation date is all set for June 5, and I'm super excited!

This Saturday is the Calgary West Country Market! Super stoked. Especially since I have my table placement for this weekend. I'll be at Table D79. I'll post a map to the "Pages" tab for all future use! I hope that you can come join me! The event runs from 8:30 am - 1 pm.

All right, now I'm going to run off and work on the last of the pricing and try this whole needle felting thing to see how it goes.

Take care, and I hope to see you all at the market!

Katie =^..^=

Fulling - AKA Wet Felted Mitten

On the needles: Untalkative Bunny scarf, blanket
In the plans: Mitten, needle felting mitten, and wet felted items of all kinds!

Here's the felted mitten~! So cool. It was MASSIVE before I put it in the wash. I was kind of scared that it was going to still be too big. But, no! It turned out as the perfect size, in this gorgeous magenta/fuchsia colour. I'll make sure to take before pictures next time.

What's silly about this, though, is that I may not be able to wear these until next fall/winter! But, knowing the weather around here, that's actually probably too optimistic. I still need to decorate this one (I'm going to experiment with needle felting) and make the next one. 

The other project I'm finally getting finished is the custom order Untalkative Bunny scarf, pictured here: 

This hasn't been blocked yet, which I'll need to do once it's finished to get all the edges nice for the colour blocks and so that it doesn't curl too much. But I'm really happy with how it's turning out! And I'm really glad that I'm finally able to finish this project.

Other than that, this is the final push for my undergrad. I'll be finished by the latest of April 23. And then it's the last few days to get together my things for the market! Fingers crossed that I sell enough to recoup my table cost! Which means, all Calgary peeps, you should come visit me! My appearance schedule is under the tab for "schedule at Calgary West Country Market." Check it out! On the grand opening day, they're planning a shoot out and everything! So excited.

I made a checklist for all the things I need to do, and I think I'm just about set. One more 12 page paper to research and write, and I just need to finish my honours paper! (Which means four more intense edits in just over a week. Eep!)

Anyway, I wanted to share what I've been up to! I'll make sure to put pictures of the finished scarf once I have it done.

Happy Easter, by the way!

Katie =^..^=

One Thing Down, One Bajillion to Go

On the Needles: "Untalkative Bunny" scarf, garter stitch scarf, cabled scarf
In the plans: Things. haha Mostly craft sale items. Maybe a Legend of Zelda Link hat...

Well, not quite one bajillion. Although, there are three papers (including the 40 page honours; one due April 3/5; April 12; and honours April 16), a presentation (on Wednesday), a proposal (for Thursday) one final exam (April 19), and one take home (due by April 23). But, I survived my 20 min presentation, so there is definitely some progress! Needless to say (but I will anyway), I'm going to be super busy over the next few weeks. This week is kind of a breather week, but I need to start work on my paper due next week (mostly because I haven't finished Wuthering Heights yet, which is what I'm writing on).

However, there is a light at the end of the tunnel. For example, the fact that these are the last papers, proposals, and presentations for awhile! And the other light at the end of the tunnel? The fact that I got accepted to the Calgary West Country Market! I'm only a casual vendor, so my appearance dates are listed on the blog:  http://neko-nekoyarns.blogspot.ca/p/my-schedule-for-calgary-west-country.html For those familiar with the Calgary area, this is taking place beside Calaway Park, just west of Calgary on the Trans-Canada Highway (the #1).

This means that I'm knitting up a storm. Although I'm taking a break to try fulling a pair of mittens for myself, which are the experiment pair (I'll likely try felting a design onto them, too, which means I'm going to need to invest in a felting kit...)!

This weekend was our anniversary! Three whole years, and he stuck with me through Japan. He's awesome. Particularly so since he not only took me to the mountains (we went to Lake Minnewanka and Canmore), we went to Knit n' Caboodle in Canmore! And, he even bought me yarn...And a pin that says "I knit so I don't kill people" (to true?)! (This is how I got the yarn for felting...And since he bought it, I have to make at least one thing for myself, so it may as well be an experiment piece.) They yarn is the gorgeous "Cascade Yarn Eco+," a 100% Peruvian Highland Wool. I can't wait to see how it fulls! Apparently, he also got some birthday/Christmas gift ideas, too. Vwee hee hee!

Also, the lady that was behind the counter was amazing! Very friendly, and some of the best customer service I've received in a long time. She even had my best interests at heart, telling me that the yardage on the ball was probably enough for the two mittens (which I figured, but I also like having excess, since then if I screw up, I have more in the same lot). So, instead, I got a second colour! My boyfriend is awesome. If you ever get a chance, definitely visit Knit n' Caboodle in Canmore, too! They are amazing.

In the plans, after this last few crazy weeks are done (only three until I have my last class in my undergrad degree): I'm taking May off, unless I get a super awesome job offer. These means that I can craft, building up my stock for the craft fair and Etsy. It also means I can take that time to look for a job and interview, and relax in general from the five years I've spent in school. haha Taking the whole month off seems too luxurious, though, so I'm going to still pick up some shifts at the theatres. Although it does also mean that we can hopefully make it out to Victoria. Which means, another yarn shop trip to Beehive Wool Shop! hehe I've already warned by boyfriend that anywhere we travel means visiting craft and yarn shops. When I told him that, he was like, yeah, I figured as much. Hehe

Anyway. Instead of procrastinating on the blog, I should actually be working on my proposal. haha

Just think of this, though: once I'm finished classes, I'll have more time to craft and post things on Etsy and post blog posts, so I'll be way more active, and you can look forward to more work-in-progress information.

Take care, all!

Katie =^..^=

And Now, for Something Completely Different!

On the Needles: "Untalkative Bunny" Scarf

So, you're wondering...What is this "completely different" thing that you're talking about?

Well, my 3rd year anniversary with my boyfriend is March 24 (approx. 3 weeks), and to help celebrate, I am doing a trivia game giveaway!

Here's the low down:

How to enter: "Like" my Facebook page: www.facebook.com/NekozukiYarns.

Answer the trivia question: What does Nekozuki Yarns mean, and what language is it from? Post all answers as a comment to this post. (I'll provide links on it as I post more.)

The answer is somewhere in my sites!

Everyone who enters the contest will be put into a hat on March 25, and I will draw a winner from there! Only one correct entry per person is valid.

When the contest is over, I will contact the individual with my e-mail address for shipping information. No purchase necessary

So, what's the prize, you may now be wondering. Well, it's this awesomely pink crocheted scarf:

Good? Ready? Go! :)

Take care,

Katie =^..^=

Honours Symposium, Crafting, and Light Box, Oh My!

On the Needles: "Untalkative Bunny" scarf
To knit this week: Above scarf and a pair of baby booties!

So, we're gearing up for our Honours symposium for March 16 and 17th! The title is (Re)Scriptae, and the blog is here: http://ucalgaryenglishhonours.blogspot.com/ We'll be adding more information as we get it, like posters, and there might be individual paper information going up. We're just trying to get everything sorted out.

It's going to be awesome, though, no matter what!

It's now reading week, which means that I need to get a 40 page draft of my paper done by next Thursday/Friday. My boyfriend and I were supposed to go to Victoria this week, but excitingly, he got an interview with Husky! So, we're staying in town. Which will work out better, considering the fact that I have a a group presentation the week after the break, and I have more work to do than normal. Still somewhat disappointing. Coincidentally, my horoscope two days later said that I would be invited to something wonderful, but something marvelous might have to be cancelled. Which is what happened!

But, staying home, also lets me do a lot of work on the Etsy shop, which is fun, too. And we'll go out to Banff/Lake Louise on Tuesday for (as my boyfriend's termed it) "Valentine's and a Half." hehe Which also means, we're going to go "Knit 'n Caboodle" in Canmore, which I'm excited for. I haven't been there before, but it looks awesome!

Yesterdah, I made a light box. So, my photos are going to be coming out a lot better, and it means that I can also take pictures at night, which is a big advantage for me! Not that I won't take natural light photos, especially of my knitting projects, but there's a big (good) difference between the two:

The one on the left is the edited version of natural light; the one on the right is the "point and click" version from my light box.

It's going to be lots of work, but fun, to replace all the listings that I have already.

Other than that, just trying to keep afloat with school work!

And now, I run away~! (I'll post after Banff. I'm sure I'll have more yarn to add to my stash and to show you guys!)

Take care!

Katie =^..^=

Clever Photos are Clever

On the Needles: "Untalkative Bunny" Scarf; Sashay scarf in Salsa

In the Plans: Knit cat from the logo; cabled scarf

Oh yes, I'm quite proud of this picture, actually: 

I was having a very creative moment, and ended up being able to take this picture. 

And this was an experiment to try out the "Changes" yarn by Red Heart.

And this is another chunky knit hand muff! I love how this one turned out. I have done one before, in a faux fur sort of yarn, but I like how this one is curled at each end!

Otherwise, just plugging through school. Super happy that I have less than four months left! Then time for the terrifying job search. 

All right! Just a quick update, and now of to study again! 

Katie =^..^=

And the Super Busy Time Begins Again

On the Needles: Seafoam Stitch Shawl
Waiting: "Untalkative Bunny" scarf; felted rose bag
Planning: Mittens; shrug/bolero (for myself)

That's right! I'm now officially back at school. Which means that the crazy reading and paper writing schedule resumes after a (fairly) leisurely winter break! Well, who am I kidding? The last two weeks of Christmas break were just as crazy as term work, except that the craziness that ensued with my Honours research and writing is now spread over three classes AND Honours. (Oh, Joy.) And, if it sounds like I'm sarcastically excited, I am. This term is going to leave me with hardly any time to pursue anything outside of school or my job at the theatres. And that includes time with my boyfriend.

However, there are some very exciting things about this term! First, I get to go present a portion of my Honours paper at a conference in Edmonton in the first part of February. Second, I get to present a longer portion of my Honours paper to students, friends, family professors, and community members, at the University of Calgary, as part of my Honours work. And then, June 5, I will graduate and be a proud holder of an Honours BA in English. That is going to be the best day that I can foresee this term. haha And my boyfriend and I are going to go on a vacation to Victoria (also in February!), which I am also super excited for.

(It may sound glamorous and exciting right now, but all of it has me swamped. haha)

Once we get back from that vacation, though, it'll be full steam ahead for the rest of term. (Note to self: make sure to pick up cold medication for exam week/week after exams.) And I'll be looking for a job at that point, which is terrifyingly exciting.

At the same time that I'm really glad I'll be graduating, I'm also kind of sad. I've been so immersed in student life for the past five years that it's going to be very strange to hold a full time job . . . year-round! But, I can't wait. I'm ready to start doing other things (i.e. travelling). Although the plan for this summer is to work, buy a hammock, and have my stack of books beside me so that all I do when I get home is eat and then lay on the hammock and read and/or craft. Hopefully the weather is nicer in Calgary than last summer!

Other than that, not much has changed in the last week. haha I got my paper draft into my professor, and we've discussed what I need to edit/change about it. I finally got a thesis statement, so I should be able to get away from the phrases that keep annoying my supervisor. :)

And right now, I'm enjoying the view out of the new library on campus, because from the fifth floor on the west side, you can sit by the windows and look straight out to the Rocky Mountains. Best view I've found on campus.

Now, after all that complaining, I will say something about Etsy. I've made two sales in the past week to people that I don't know! One item is currently making it's way to Michigan, and one item will be in the mail today to Australia! What I think I'm going to start doing is take the map my brother gave me for Christmas and put a pin in the places that I send orders, as I get them. (hint, hint! Order from me, and I can put a pin in a different place! hehe) I have lots of new items that I will post here soon (in fact, some of them are in draft stage as we speak, so I should be able to post a few over the weekend), and I have lost more to make!

I've also joined a really cool Team, called the Handmade Circle! You can find them here: http://www.etsy.com/teams/11451/handmade-circle They are who I got my second sale through! :) Super friendly and awesome team. ^^ You can find them on Facebook, too, if that's more your style.

Anyway, I should head out. It's almost class time, and I kind of want coffee. haha

Take care!

Katie =^..^=