Keeping Busy!

I've been keeping busy! Today I started out taking care of the little man. We went to the store where he decided he needed a new movie. He saw one he has had his eye on for some time now, Backyardagains Sing Along. So, we got it. It came with an inflatable microphone. He decided to give me a show...

This next one is a tad scary...

And he's back to normal...

I've been busy with school and got a few assignments done. I'm now working on some more orders. I'm officially caught up with the Etsy ones and I've moved to presents and orders from people at work. Here's one I've done for a friend of mine who is having a girl.

Of course I've listed it on my Etsy shop as well :)

My Busy Life!

Wow! This week almost feels like it didn't exist.

Work has been my main priority. I've started training and it has been an eye opening experience. There's a lot to do in regards to making the work conditions better and get in compliance with new initiatives. I'm overwhelmed but really excited about what's to come. I'm happy to be part of the change...lets put it that way.

My first school week came and went. I did pretty well and my second week has started. Honestly, with my new 12 hour work days I've not done very well at starting but I'm hoping to get on it this afternoon while grandpa and grandma take Nathan for some fishing and an overnight stay.

Nathan is doing well. He's just moving along until preschool starts in 2 weeks. He's very excited and I know he's going to do just fine. They seperate the kids by ages (Nate is in the oldest class) and he's going to be a Frog. He tells this to everyone he meets. It's pretty cute.

Today is my husband's 29th birthday! We'll be hanging out with a friend of his later this afternoon and we're all supposed to go camping. I might just forgo the camping (reaching the low 40s tonight) and catch up on school work. I could really use some fun adult time though. It has just been an insane week.

The shop has been busy and I'm behind again in orders. I feel bad. I need to spend some time this morning with the admin part of everything and then get my booty on the couch and start making hats! I've been thinking of taking a small vacation to catch up on orders...lets see how much I get done this weekend.

I think that's it for now. It has just been a crazy life, but I love it. Hopefully I'll get some more blog time this week and can show you what I've been working on!

Bad, Bad, Blogger!

I have been a horrible blogger this week!!! I've been so busy with work, starting school and this wholesale order (pictured below) that I haven't had a chance to do anything but crochet in my free time.

I was so excited about this order! I love these beanies and being able to make many of them was awesome. I love the bright colors!

My shop has been super busy! I've been very blessed lately. Rarely does a day go by where someone isn't at least asking about a custom order or ordering something. I've been loving every minute of it but is getting overwhelming, especially now that school has started. I'm just going to keep plugging away!

Have a great weekend everyone!

WE HAVE A WINNER!

At 6pm this evening I wrote down everyone's name who entered and gave them a number. People who entered more than once got more than one number. Then I put all the numbers in a bowl and asked my son to draw one with his eyes closed.

Congrats to JRollings for her winning entry on the Pumpkin Earflap hat!



Thank you to everyone who entered! I'll be sure to have another one in the near future!

**BONUS**
Those who entered the giveaway will have FREE SHIPPING for the next week on any crochet baby hat in my shop (beanie, earflap, or flat top). Just leave a message in the note to seller section and I'll refund you the shopping cost. Bonus ends next Sunday!

Thanks again! Have a great week!

Julie Lewis Portraits

Julie Lewis contacted me about a trade a few weeks ago...hats for photographs. I asked her if she would photograph my standard $5 beanie. Here's a few that she did with some more on the way!



OMG I love the bubbles in her mouth!!
Newborn Listing: http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=26710515

4-6 Month Listing:http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=25882461

6-12 Month Listing:http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=28168132

JUST $5 EACH!!!
She's so cute! Here's more.



Here are some of her son and a visor beanie I made for him. I can make this visor beanie for a girl or boy in any size, including adult!! Seeing this on this cutie made me positive I'm making one for my own dude.





Isn't he adorable? I am so happy with how these turned out and there's more coming. Thanks Julie! You can find her at www.julielewisportraits.com

2 Days left on the giveaway! Be sure to enter to win! Scroll down two blogs to find the contest blog!

I Got A Promotion!!!

Though I love to crochet and sell baby hats and scarves on Etsy and would LOVE it to be my full time job one day; I do have another job. My other job is a 9-5 desk job where I do get to use some creativity to come up with innovative ways to do processes a little differently, collect data, hold multi functional group discussions, and interview potential new employees for various positions. My official title was Lean Initiatives Coordinator (Lean refers to a process methodology of continuous improvements and non-value added waste removal not weight loss). I love my job. LOVE IT. But something was missing...getting into the process and getting dirty.

I applied for the Production Supervisor position once it was posted because I knew instead of training people on what they should be doing I could actually implement the things that would improve production and quality. GOOD NEWS! I got the job!!!

I start in a week and a half in my new position. I'm very excited and can't wait to get in there and get aquainted with the new staff. It will be different from what I've been doing and that's a good thing. I love change.

Just wanted to share the news. In other news my shop is roaring with orders and people asking questions. I am on cloud nine and working hard to keep up with the orders! With a giveaway in process too (see last blog) this has been an amazing week and I am so thankful for everything that's going on.

Comment on the Giveaway if you haven't done so!!!

GIVEAWAY TIME!!!

Alright, I've been promising a giveaway for a while now so it's time I kept my promise.

I'm giving away one of my Pumpkin Ear Flap Hats in any of these sizes; 0-6 month, 6- 12 month, or 12mo -2T!!

In order to win you must go to my shop and leave a comment here about your favorite item in my shop with your email address so I can contact you if you win. YOU MUST DO THIS STEP TO BE ENTERED TO WIN.

Then, extra entries can be earned by the following:
*Blog about the giveaway (please leave link in a comment on this blog)
*Tweet about the giveaway (please leave link in a comment on this blog)
*Buy an item in my shop and get an additional 5 entries!!!

Thank you for playing! I cannot wait to see who will win or how many will be interested in playing. WINNER WILL BE ANNOUNCED NEXT SUNDAY 8/16/09

Have a Lovely Sunday!

Mississippi Fun!!!

Today we took out Mike's stand up paddle board and put it to good use on the Mississippi. Mike decided to attach a handle to a rope and the rope to his dad's boat. Then he let the boat pull him, kinda like water skiing. You should have seen the looks we got from people! LOL.

There was some falling in the water...but it's all in good fun :) Eventually we got my son on the board with his daddy and they went slow behind the boat.

I even got a turn on the board but wasn't brave enough to stand...just follow behind on my knees. It was a blast and I can't wait to get better so I can stand behind the boat and play in the wake.

I love living in Minnesota and playing in the Mississippi! This is one of the reasons I could never see myself leaving the midwest and going back to California. I love where I grew up and I do miss it from time to time...but it's a different lifestyle. This is exactly where I am supposed to be :)

Blog Follower Referral Program

Hello!

I've always heard the best form of advertisement is word of mouth. In order to get my blog followers, friends, and family to tell people about my Etsy store I am starting a referral program.

So, if someone buys from my shop and leaves a message in the "note to seller" box that YOU referred them then you get a 20% certificate good for any of the crochet items in my store! Get 5 people to buy from my store and that 100% off the item of your choice, including shipping and handling!

Thanks for passing along my store to those that you know! Be sure to tell them about my blog for more giveaways and special deals!

Loads of New Listings

I have a ton of new listings on my Etsy site right now...

Suzanne Hunt from Something Me Photography really out did herself with amazing photography and even a selection of new banners for me! I'm having fun listing new items and updating my shop. I recommend checking her out at www.somethingmephotography.com.

I'm really hoping for sales. Funny story - I have a coworker who asked me to do a hat and scarf for her daughter's American Girl doll. Well, it looked so cute that I'm doing two more sets for her daughter's friend's dolls and matching hats for the girls! Perfect! Who knew I'd be doing doll clothes as a side business? I'll take it! Though I'm hoping for BIG SALES in the fall and winter season I would be happy with some sales now too! LOL!
Be sure to stop by the Etsy store and check out the new listings! Let me know what you like and what you don't! I want to make sure I'm in tune with my buyers!

What I've Been Working On

I feel like I haven't listed anything new in such a long time but the truth is I'm doing a lot of orders for photography studios who have asked for trades or have orders in. I've finally finished my last one and I'm anxious to start working on stuff for my Etsy site again to get my sales rolling.

Here's some pics of my own for what I'm shipping out tomorrow.

This one might not look like much in this picture but it's adorible on. It's made of acrylic yarns in white and rainbow. Perfect for a little girl keeping the sun off her face. This is in a size for a three year old to teen.

I adore this little boy visor beanie. It's made in a size to fit a 12month - 2 year old. The colors were actually inspired by my husband who loves this combination. I'm pretty sure I'll be making one of these for my son once I get a moment.

I'm thinking of featuring Mommy & Daughter combos. This pic shows an adult visor beanie and newborn - 4 month baby beanie. It's quite adorible together and of course my pics don't do it justice.

And here are the girl beanies all together. The chocolate mint one is a new favorite color combo of mine. I also like the pink flower with it. You'll be seeing more of these colors in the near future!

Other then being busy with this project I've done an adorible earflap hat in rainbow. It actually looks tie dyed and it's awesome. I just keep thinking of the perfect hippy baby to wear it. I'll get it photographed sometime here shortly :)

Thanks for looking! Expect much more on Etsy in the next few weeks!