Trying Something New!

FO (finished object): Gingko Shoulderette Shawlette (woohoo!) I just need to block it, and then it will be COMPLETELY finished in time for Victoria, even!
WIPs (Works-in-progress): baby blanket, wedding blanket (car knitting for Victoria trip)
In the plans (ITP): dinos, dishcloths

Hello everybody,

So I'm trying something new (right before vacation, I know!). I want to try to write, if not everyday on this blog, than at least every other day. This will take a lot of commitment on my part, but I think that it'll be good for me. I've always wanted to be an author, so I think that blogging here will help to work that out, especially since I'll be able to blog about knitting!

Now, I'm not guaranteeing pages and pages of glorious knitting goodies, etc. (Like the Yarn Harlot did in the early days.) But I am guaranteeing at least a few paragraphs to update you where I am in my knitting progress that day. Also, please understand that normally all of my activity has to take place outside of a 9-5 Monday-Friday job, unless I'm writing a quick snippet on my lunch break/when it's super slow. This does mean that any actual publishing of the blog will take place after 6 from Monday-Friday, but anytime during the day on weekends or stat days that I have off. Notifications of new posts can be gotten if you "follow" me, or I will be posting links on Twitter and Facebook!

Also, I don't normally ask for this, but I would absolutely love it if you guys can leave comments; I try to respond to all the ones that I get now, and I it would be spectacular if I got more to help bump me up. Or, if you can share any of my posts. I really want to grow my Etsy business to be able to share with more people, and this blog is an excellent introduction to myself and everything that I do to be able to improve my shop and product.

Speaking of improvement, did you notice that the pictures are getting better? AND I have a paper tag on everything now so that you can what the fibre content is and care instructions are. And they're made with the totally adorable cat that my friend drew for me.

Speaking of which, the cat has been named Lucinda. :)

Let's see...Not much is happening. Super happy that I finished my shawl, and I hope to be able to finish the baby blanket before Victoria!

Oh yeah, tonight I dye my hair again...My roots are showing already! 

Have a lovely day, my dears! I hope to have another post tomorrow. :)

Moving Forward

On the Needles: Gingko Shoulderette Shawlette
In the plans: dishcloths, baby mittens and hats, dinosuars


Hello from a cold and snowy Calgary! (At least it's sunny today!)

That's right! We've had about 8-10" of snow in the city itself, with more falling in the outlying areas.

So, that's led to the wonderful weekend of staying in here at Nekozuki Yarns! Which is a good thing, considering that I'm trying to get the huge shop update done for Sunday.

I know I promised a video podcast, but I'm actually sick, and I don't feel like hacking up a lung on camera today. So the first video podcast will take place the weekend of the 24th. Just after my vacation!

And yes, that is correct, I will be doing the update on Sunday. However, it will not be until after 11, considering that it is Remembrance Day.

Moving forward, update days for the shop will be every two weeks on the Sunday, with a break around Christmas.

However, anything purchased between November 16 and 23 will be shipped following those dates, as I will be on an actual vacation (instead of catching up on life) in Victoria, BC, with my boyfriend! So excited~!

So, be prepared for lots of non-item photos in a few weeks!

The Crestmont Christmas fair was awesome! There was lots of traffic, and pretty successful for me.

In the plans? I have another market with Mommylicious here in Calgary on January 20. However, until them I'm lying low and getting Etsy updated/working on more new stock (notice the note about "knitted dinosaurs"? That's part of the "more new stock).

This time around, I have sparkly rainbow mittens, owly looking mittens, and a bunch of old favourites, too!

There are some pictures of the new items for your viewing pleasure below (I wanted to have an epic amount...But my camera battery died just as I stared! Sorry.):

Aren't these gorgeous? I love how the colours blended together in the felting process.

I have more of these in the future!

Not quite what you are looking for? There are also some grey/white ones that will be posted in tomorrow's update. You can also always talk to me about custom orders~!

Have an amazing weekend, my lovelies! I'm off to knit and watch Disney movies and get over this cold. -_-

Katie =^..^=

Sneak a Peek at the Goodies!!

Hey all! Just a super quick post!

You need to go by my Facebook page: NekozukiYarns
I will be posting some more pictures tonight, hopefully, before bed and heading out tomorrow!

Super excited for the Crestmont Christmas Fair!

Make sure to come out and support local handmade for your Christmas and holiday gift-season! We're in Crestmont 3-8 on Friday and 10-4 on Saturday!

I'll have mittens, fingerless mitts, felted bags, and headbands, plus a whole bunch of cute hair accessories just waiting to go with you to your Christmas parties!!

Hope everyone had an awesome Halloween!


Take care!

Katie =^..^=

In a Retail Store Near You!

Boot Cuffs are in The Shoe Closet in Cochrane, AB! (By the way, they have super cute shoes. Definitely go check them out if you're in the area!)

On the needles: Boot cuffs, scarf, mittens, and one more wedding blanket!

In the plans for Crestmont Christmas Fair: Felted mittens, slippers, bags; also some regular knit mittens (full and fingerless).

In the plans for personal: Ginko Shoulderette Shawl available for free on Ravelry! (I want this for Victoria in November!) Yarn to use: Yummy Yarn Studios (from Calgary, AB) in their Ruby Colourway, with sparkle.

Yes, the title and the link are correct! I'm now in a retail store near Calgary, AB. The Shoe Closet is a locally owned and operated store in Cocrhane, AB. They were looking for someone to commission boot cuffs from, and I was the one that they chose! I'm still super stoked about it. They've been so popular that I'm making another small batch for her to deliver Friday for this weekend, and then I'll restock the rest next Thursday. Definitely go check it out! They're awesome. And Danielle is super nice. So happy about it all.


Otherwise, that is a super long list on the top. I'm looking to have quite a bit of winter stock for the Crestmont Christmas fair, and I have my fingers crossed to get at least two bags done in that time (I've got some Scottie-dog appliques that just NEED to have felted plaid bags to go on~!).

So, that's what I've been busy with.

News: I'll be at the Crestmont Christmas fair November 2 and 3. I'll give you more details in week, and I can give you a sneak peek at the items I'll have! 

I've also come to a decision about my Etsy shop. I am reopening it the weekend of November 10. I don't know if it'll be the Saturday or Sunday, but I'll let you know the closer we get. Which day mostly depends on how much I have to photograph!

Also, I am going to start having a systematic update of every couple of weekends. So, the update after that will be the weekend of November 24, and I'm going to set that update for November 25. This follow my boyfriend's schedule of week-in/week-out, leaving me time to work on stuff and to photograph it.

Now the only thing is is that I will be out of town from November 16-21. So anything ordered between that point will not be shipped until November 23-25. So if you want custom order mitts or anything like that, now's actually the time to order them!

Otherwise, keep an eye on the Facebook page and Twitter; I'll be posting some pictures on there leading up to November 2.

What I have also been considering is doing a video podcast. What would you all think of that? I would be talking about what I'll be putting up, what I've got in the plans, and etc.This would likely be put up the day before I do shop updates (so Friday/Saturday). Just a thought. Then I can give you a tour of my new craft room! This is still brewing in the back of my mind, though, so we'll see. :)

Other than that, just been super busy at work and with commissions. And I have my fingers crossed that the Crestmont Market is super busy!

So, message me on Facebook, contact me in the comments section, or however you want to find out about custom orders, or come see me either at the last Calgary West Country Market I'm doing (October 27, ~8-2), or the Crestmont Christmas Fair, November 2 and 3 (Google search to find)!

Type at you later!

Katie =^..^=

And Now, A Review! Cariboo Butterfly's "Little Hoot" Needle Felting Kit

On the Needles: Blankets

In the plans: Socks; shawl; sweater; felted goodness.

So, a couple months back (unfortunately! I've been slow on this process) I told Jen over at Cariboo Butterfly  that I would review her new needle felting kit! I've been looking to learn how to needle felt 3-D objects, so this was a perfect opportunity for me, and Jen has been super patient in waiting for me to actually review her kit. 

The kit was packaged up super cute, and it includes all the supplies you need for one owl, including a twig to perch him on when all's said and done! 

I tried to take process pictures to show you folks what all is included in this kit, and how my owl turned out. The instructions included on the CD were super easy, with lots and lots of instructional pictures. Jen has done a really good job putting this kit together for everyone who has never needle felted before, or whoever wants to learn how to do more shapes and etc.

This kit is an excellent craft kit to do with older children. Because of the sharpness of the needles (I even poked myself a number of times, and it hurts!) I wouldn't suggest that young children participate in this craft. But that's OK. Older kids (and kids at heart) need crafts, too!

 

By the way, love the foam; I've 2-D needle felted purses before with a brush, but the foam is much more forgiving!

This is the fibre (which is 100% Corriedale wool). The main body colour was a gorgeous dark brown, and sooooo soft! 

I just wanted to squish it all night. haha

Jen is awesome, and includes two felting needles!  This is super important, since the needles can break easily; I broke one as I was finishing my owl body.

Fibre! There's just over an ounce included here. Which makes this little owl body:

Now, I was bad. I didn't follow Jen's instructions to the tee. I more took to heart her blessing to be creative with her kit. So, instead of a rounded owl that was pictured on her kits, I went with a more modern, squared off owl:

Square owl body! So cute. I love it!

And this is the front of my finished owl:

And the back!


 If the kit isn't enough, then she also has a video tutorial.








Jen was very thorough in putting this kit together. I would recommend it for anyone and everyone (from older kids up) that wishes to learn how to 3-D needle felt. It taught me how to do it! And I have enough left over fibre that I'll be making a kitty-cat face and putting together a pussy-cat and owl mobile. Super excited about it, so keep your eyes open for pictures of that soon!

If this review has piqued your interest in needle felting, or Jen's other work (she makes amazing hand-felted soap!), check out here site here at Cariboo Butterfly.

Take care, everyone! And stay way from the tips of those felting needles! haha

Katie =^..^=

Blanket Burnout

On the Needles: Change purses
In the Plans: Socks; more blankets
Miscellaneous Crafts in the Plans: Painted glass ornaments, button Christmas trees
In the Life Plans: Hiking and reading

Hey all!

So, it's been a long time, as you may have noticed. Life has been hectic around here. My boyfriend and I moved July 31/August 1, so we've been setting up and settling in. The new place is gorgeous, and I've actually got a craft/library room, which is awesome!

We're through the wedding craziness for this summer. They were both amazing! My boyfriend was in the wedding party for the wedding on the 11th, and I was in the wedding party for the wedding on the 18th. Both went off without a hitch, and both had amazing weather! (Particularly important for the outdoor wedding on the 18th!)

These weddings mean blankets, though, neither of which are finished. So that's what I've been working on to pass my time recently. The blanket for the 11th wedding is nearly finished! (So stoked!) And the other I'm going to have to finish sometime after they get back from their honeymoon. Oh well. It's been fairly warm recently, so there won't be much use for these blankets for about three weeks to a month! :) And I did try my hardest to get them finished beforehand. Once I'm finished these, though, I'm taking a break from blankets for awhile. haha

We officially booked vacation time for November, which I'm super excited for! Finally going out to Victoria! Which means I get to visit the Beehive Wool Shop! And I'm definitely taking a copy of the KnitMap for Victoria! I'm super excited to go see the coast; it's been 15 years since I was last out in Vancouver, although my family and I did spend about a week in Chilliwack in 2000.

In other news, I actually have a new full time job. I'm working for an online projector lamp company. It's been really good, and I'm happy to be on a way better schedule (well, actually on a schedule), compared to the Home Depot. Here now it's Monday to Friday, 9-5, which leaves me with time in the evenings and on the weekend to actually spend with my boyfriend, instead of having a shift until 10 the nights he comes home from his week on, and then being up again for a 9 or earlier shift the day afterwards. Much better for the control of my diabetes, too.

And, for a shop announcement, I have put the shop into vacation mode until the late fall/early winter. I need to focus on getting some new stock together for a Christmas fair November 2-3, and I want to revamp what I'm actually carrying at Nekozuki Yarns on Etsy. I think I'm going to shift more towards felted handbags and change purses, and some slippers, and then some regular knit things as well (scarves, mittens (felted and non-felted), etc.). I'm still going to carry baby blankets and I'm also going to add some newborn booties and hats, because I love making those. So, keep your eyes peeled for those changes coming! I'll post teaser pictures as I go here. And I will still be here, if there's something you absolutely want from my shop. Just contact me either through the blog here, Etsy, Facebook, or Twitter. The shop vacation is mostly so I don't feel bad that I don't have a full store front. :) When I come back, as well, my prices will likely be revamped. So if you know of something that you've had your eye on, feel free to talk to me beforehand, and we can work out a deal.

We had another busy but awesome weekend. We had a BBQ Saturday night, and then Sunday we drove out to Canmore, which was really nice. Gorgeous weather and everything! And I finally found a yarn guide, so I won't totally wear out my fingers on the rest of these two blankets.

Anyway, not much more is going on (although I think there's been enough)! My boyfriend is going to be starting the full time, week-on/week-off schedule on the 14th, so there will be some adjustment there. But it'll give me lots of alone time to craft! I have to get lots done so that I have stock for the Crestmont Christmas Fair! I'm super stoked for this one, because it always sells out, and seems like it draws a huge crowd. Look for lot of goodies there. I would love for people to come visit!

Now, off I go to try to conquer at least 1 out of the 2 blankets. And work.

Take care!

Katie =^..^=

Convocation!

On the needles: Mittens
In the works: Cabled Cowl, mug cozies

That's right, folks! I graduated! I am now officially a recipient of an Honours BA in English! And here's a picture to prove it (well, actually, a few. haha):

In front of the Olympic Torch on campus

With my degree!

In my awesome Mickey ears and grad dress at the Calgary Tower.

It was an absolutely spectacular day. The ceremony was really good, and our dinner at the Calgary Tower was superb. I graduated with my honours group, before the rest of the English department, which was kind of cool. I don't remember much once I was up on stage. Mostly reminding myself not to fall, making sure that they pronounced my name right, smiling for the camera, and then walking to the side. The first person I shook hands with told me that graduating "looked good on me" (yay!), which I guess is true, seeing as how most of the people crossing the stage couldn't even muster up a smile. A lot of them looked downright disgruntled to even be going through the process. Anyway.

The Friday before, Dallas and I finally went to see The Avengers, which was sooooo good! One of the best movies I've seen in about a year. Then, Saturday, we went for a drive all the way up to the Columbia Icefield/Athabasca Glacier, in Jasper National Park. I haven't been up there for about ten years, and it was a good day. We just kept missing the rain, so it was perfect.

Yay, Peyto Lake! (You can see the rain cloud in the upper right.)

Otherwise, I've been super bus. Started going to the gym, and I'm working close to a full 40 hour week. In crafting news, I have buttons on the way to start making bobby pins with, I'm going to start knitting some cabled mug cozies (I'll hopefully have a few for Saturday!), and I'm working with Kool-Aid to dye some more yarn. 

Basically, keeping busy and out of trouble. Hope you are too, and I'll blog at you all later!

Katie =^..^=