While trying to plan ahead for the Winter Wine & Wool Fest on January 25th (more info here!), I rounded up all the random undyed yarn and fiber I had tucked away. It was actually more than I thought I had squirreled away in random bins and shoved behind personal yarn/fiber.

I have a couple full bags of yarn but only bits and ends of fiber. I actually have a two Shetland fleeces waiting to be cleaned, but I'm finding it hard to get motivation with this overcast winter. In an effort to make it more appealing to dye up these last bits, I spent some time organizing a shelf we recently moved into the dining room.

On the very top is bags that need to go to Goodwill and the microwave. The kitchen doorway is just to the right of this picture. The next shelf down holds my dye pots, powder dyes, and lastly mixed dyes in the green tote. The bottom currently has dyed fiber that doesn't have another home, some empty buckets for soaking, and then in the black tote is the random bits still needing to be dyed. 

Also I guess I need to take bottles back...funny that I don't see the can overflowing until I look at the pictures. Ah, well.

 

The holidays are upon us, and instead of studying for finals, I thought it would be a good idea to do a mini Etsy update. 6 new scrumptious yarns, ready to be shipped out as last minute gifts. I'll be posting shipping cut offs on my etsy page quite soon.

I must admit I've been a pretty bad knitter lately. I don't think I've knit more than 20 minutes in the past 2 months, and I'm not exaggerating (much). I blame this largely on school taking up a good chunk of time, but also the prep for the Fiber Expo. Now that the Expo is over, I feel a bit of a craft let down.
I only have one project languishing on the needles currently, a pair of socks that are stuck at the gusset of sock #1. I think what I need is a quick little instant gratification project, particularly a small toy of some sort. A quick search of ravelry led me to some super cute stuffies that I might take a stab at:

• http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/owl-puffs These little owl puffs only take a few yards of worsted, and I have tons of colors of acrylics already in my stash to choose from.
• http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/tiny-baby-bunnies Tiny little bunnies! I feel like these could potentially be super fiddly, but super instant gratification.
• http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/henri-the-knitted-bear Just too cute. Calls for aran weight, but I think worsted should work fine too. Again, stash acrylic.
• http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/bunny-nuggets Bunny nuggets. Need I say more?
• http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/henrys-bunny So maybe I have a thing for knit bunnies? Who knew!

I think the beauty of this will be that when I'm done, I'll have a little knit toy that I can gift to one of the several children I know for the holidays (age appropriate, of course!). So we'll see- planning is only half the battle.

One week before the Ann Arbor Fiber Expo and I'm in full prep mode. Which of course means I'm stressing out, mainly about if I'll have enough yarn to sell. Which led me to buying about 10lbs more yarn for dyeing. Which is actually a good thing, because now besides just hand dyed sock yarn for sale, I'll also have hand dyed worsted weight as well. This means hats, mittens, and scarves (and possibly sweaters??) to knit with my hand dyed, oh my!
On the downside, I tend to stress myself sick. This time it manifested itself as hives. Thankfully they aren't very itchy, which means I can still get work done without having to take too much benadryl. I'm so sensitive to benadryl it's not even funny - I took ONE benadryl today and was out cold for about four hours. I went to a redi-care to see a doctor and hopefully the hives will subside within 24 hours.
(I'd show you a picture of my hives, but, ew. Nobody needs to see that!)

Now just to remind myself that relaxation is a big part of show prep!!

Sometimes life is like a bin of wool

I'm not sure I've shared this yet, but I actually have some pretty big news! I'll be vending at the Ann Arbor Fiber Expo on October 26th-27th, at the Washtenaw County Fair Grounds. Here's a link for some more info: http://www.fiberexpo.com/page/page/4831882.htm

I've been finding time to dye here and there, but no full on dye days yet. I'm trying some new techniques and will have a swath of new repeatable(!) colorways. My favorite so far is called "Pony Up!" and is very pink with some other colors reminiscent of those plastic pony toys that we all know and love. I've got a little sneak peek of the new colorways, can you guess which one is "Pony Up!"?

Apologies for the cell phone pic, but can't be giving all my secrets away, right? ;)

Many apologies for leaving you hanging... Vacation and then starting school again has sort of left me dizzy. It's been a few years since I've taken classes and I'm feeling quite overwhelmed, even though I only enrolled in three classes this fall. 

So needless to say, any giveaways and my grand re-opening is postponed for the time being. 

I did, however, buy myself a new toy:

Latte maker, oohhhh boy. Let the over caffienation commence!

I've been getting some new spinning batt sets around today. Mostly merino with other little lovelies blended in, and of course sparkle.  

My goal is to fill the bin, but that will have to wait for tomorrow. These will be listed in my shop as part of my grand re-opening bash, set for later this month. I'll announce the date in a few days, and maybe even a have a giveaway of one of these new batt sets... I guess you'll just have to wait and see!

The Wine & Wool Festival was amazing. I met so many new fiber friends and had a blast hanging out with everyone in my booth. Even though at first the weather wasn't being kind to everyone setting up in the morning, it soon gave way to a nice breeze and sunlight. The forcasted rain held out until the event was over, 4pm on the nose. I was very thankful I was able to get most things packed away before we had to take down the canopy.

Wine, wool, and treats. What could be better?

That's my mom and her boyfriend in my booth, about to get in trouble for messing with my spinning wheel!

After such a positive experience at the fest, I decided to take a closer look at what I was doing with Icemelon's Stash. Even though I've been selling on Etsy for the past 5 years (seriously has it been that long?) and doing craft shows here and there for almost as long, my business has just been what seems to me an afterthought. I've been scared to take the next step with my business, and that's exactly what I've decided to do.
All I have left to do is tidy up some loose ends, and I'm going to have have a grand re-opening bash for Icemelon's Stash. (Catchy rhyme, how fancy!) Keep your eyes peeled for more updates from me about upcoming shows and more info about my grand re-opening bash! I tend to post more frequently on twitter (sometimes with secret coupon codes!) so if you haven't already, go ahead and follow me over there.

I just wanted to let everyone know that I'll be participating in the Wine & Wool fest in Jackson, MI on July 27th. It's held at Sandhill Crane Vineyards from 10am-4pm. There will be free wine tastings and lots of yarn and fiber! I'm super excited. Also freaking out a bit, since this will be a show with my peers, instead about just your average craft show with many different types of crafts for sale. I'm also going to be trying out a new booth set up, so come check it out!

Here's more info from Sandhill Crane's website.

This is a list of most of the vendors: (Sorry if i'm missing someone, but different vendors are listed at different websites and it's a little confusing!)
Colorbug Yarns (http://www.etsy.com/shop/colorbugyarns)
CJ Koho Designs (https://www.etsy.com/shop/cjkoho)
Froebe Fibers (http://www.k2p2.net/store)
The Dropped Stitch
Twisted Fiber Art (http://www.twistedfiberart.com/)
Wooly Women of Mid-Michigan
Wonder Why Alpaca Farm (http://www.wonderwhyalpacafarm.com/)
Icemelon's Stash (http://www.etsy.com/shop/icemelon)

Etsy sale time!

I'm saving up for a new spinning wheel! Not just any wheel, but the king of all art yarn spinning wheels... the Majacraft Aura. I've pined over this wheel since the day it was released. The possibilities with this wheel are endless. Plastic toys spun in your yarn? Ok! Giant coils? Super! Super crazy chunky yarn? No problem!

And to help me save, I'm helping you save! Use the code AURA15 at checkout and save 15% off your purchase from my Etsy shop, through Saturday, October 6th!

So what do you say? Help me bring you more awesome hand spun yarn from a truly magnificent hand crafted spinning wheel! Go now!!

Help a sister out!

PS: This is the wheel I'm using now (bottom of post). I'd say it was high time for an upgrade!

Sparklier on the Inside

I'll admit I haven't watched much Dr. Who (only here and there since childhood), but the idea of the TARDIS being "bigger on the inside" really resonated with me. Everyone is something on the inside. We are made of ideas and dreams and fears, and strangers on the street would have no idea unless you were advertising that fact in some way.
Me, for example: I am enamored with sparkle. Sparkle in fiber, specifically. I am slowly amassing all of the angelina sparkle and fibery glitz my money can buy. Which brings me to my next sentence- Sparklier on the inside. I feel like it really brings my thought process together regarding my love of yarn and fiber arts. I'll be trying to integrate this tag line into my Etsy shop over the next few months, and most certainly as a philosophy for my every growing love of fiber and spinning.

Things I am not good at:

• blogging
• taking pictures of finished things
• tidying up after myself

Things I am good at:

• wasting time online
• knitting
• spinning
• making a mess
• petting cats

Yup, that's all for now.

The craft show has come and gone... and even though I was ridiculously sick and exhausted I think still it went well! All the vendors had a good time talking and getting to know each other in the breaks from shoppers. Lots of networking to be had, that's for sure! At the end of the day almost everyone expressed interest in doing another show at the clubhouse. We are thinking some time late August, as it may not be available to us after September 1st.
I learned a lot from this show. It was my first time organizing anything more than a simple birthday party! Here's a few bits of wisdom that would have probably been super helpful to me before embarking on this: Find volunteers and line them up with specific jobs, and start on signs the minute you have the date and time set. Seriously. I think this is why the day before the show I woke up with a terrible sore throat and a mild fever that just got worse as the day went on. Oh, another bit of advice? Stock up on lots of cold medicine if you are the type of person that stresses themselves sick.

Me at my booth with a fever. I think I had to sit down after that, smiling takes lots of energy when sick!

Announcing...

A craft show! I can finally share with you what I've been working on! I decided to try my hand at creating my own craft show with local artists. I always felt like Lansing was lacking in this area. Sure, East Lansing has their annual summer art fair and of course the big holiday show at the MSU union - but I feel like Lansing just hasn't gotten as much attention when it comes to crafts. So even though we're starting out small with this show, my plan is to grow the community and eventually have an annual show or two in a space large enough to accommodate 30+ vendors!
Here are the details so you can stop by and say hello and check out the local talent!
  
Last-Minute Mother's Day Craft Show
Saturday, May 12th
11am-4pm
Ramblewood Apartments Clubhouse
6300 W. Michigan Ave, Lansing MI 48917
(Corner of Creyts Rd and Michigan Ave)
Map here


Local area crafters and vendors will be here to help you finish your last minute Mother’s Day shopping! Lots of gifts to choose from including but certainly not limited to:
Handmade jewelry with all semi precious stones, hand crocheted hats and accessories, hand spun yarn and hand dyed roving, AVON products, fine watercolor art, hand sewn baby burp cloths and kindle covers. Also there will be a psychic reader available, and Rubie's Paradise Salon will be celebrating a new location and grand opening!
There is free parking around building. Please do not park in carports.


I hope you see you there! Also, I have a secret coupon for you! At my booth ONLY, I will be giving 10% off your purchase that day! Just mention that you saw this blog post and the 10% off. My name is Danna, don't be shy! And so you know what you are looking for, this is what my booth sometimes looks like!

Again?

Well, my birthday has come and passed this year (Again? When can I stop having these and just stay the same age?) and I was planning on some awesome Etsy coupon code for my shop but that didn't happen. I have to say though, it wasn't entirely my fault... I happened to be visiting NYC at the time. It was a good time, even with the miles of walking each day. Yes, we used the subway too but it certainly wasn't always the best way to get somewhere. I visited the mecca of all yarn stores (in my opinion, anyway) Purl Soho, along with Lion Brand Studio and The Yarn Co. So many amazing yarns I finally got to see in person! Not that my LYS doesn't have unique and exotic yarn brands, but of course they can't carry everything at once.

Besides my lovely vacation, I've been putting some work into my Etsy shop. I've listed at least 15 new rovings and have been working on new items to join the shop soon. I even have some duplicate colorways, a new thing for me. Right now I only have 5 colorways that I have more than 4oz available,  but I plan for more in the future. Also I will be working on colorways that I can repeat - I will indicate in my listings which ones are repeatable and which ones are one of a kind.

And yes, I even have another thing up my sleeve... I'm planning a craft show. My very first! Not a super large one, but there will be 6-7 vendors participating. If you are going to be in the Mid Michigan area on May 12th, take note! I will have more information soon including items for sale, address and time. Keep your eyes peeled!

updates

I will be participating in two more craft shows before the end of the year! If you are in the greater Lansing area please come check it out, and not just for me! I was part of the second show last year and I can tell you there is just tons and tons of awesome stuff people make and sell there. I think I actually finished up all of my Christmas shopping there last year!

Woman's Day Craft Show
What: Holiday Shopping
Where: Charlar PLace
4230 Charlar Drive
Holt, MI 48842
When: Sunday, Nov 29th 2011, 1pm-5pm
Who: Food and Beverage, Pantry to the Linen Closet, Kitchen to Bath, Health and Beauty, Fashion and Design... And More!
Also, each booth will be donating an item for the Relay for Life Auction Tent.

9th Annual Hometown Christmas Bazaar, Sponsored by The Friendship Guild
Saturday, Dec 3rd 2011, 9am-4pm
First Congregational Church
300 S. Main St.
Eaton Rapids, MI 48827
Tons of holiday crafts, food, jewelry, knit and crochet goods, handspun yarn and roving, health and beauty goods, accessories, and just so much more!

In other news, i've somehow started listening to podcasts. Knitting and Spinning podcasts, to be precise. I enjoy it because it's like i'm at knitting group and part of the conversation but i don't actually have to talk or stop knitting/spinning to gesture wildly with my hands while talking...
I started listening to the Stash and Burn podcast from the very first episode and I was totally hooked. Listen while knitting, listen while cleaning, listen at work (only when i'm allowed i promise!). And because of them, i found out about Just One More Row Podcast. And now i'm listening to them from episode one. I love it. I almost like Just One More Row better because I feel like we are in the same time of our life- I'm not married, I don't have kids, I spin, have an Etsy store and do craft shows (you're coming to those two, right?)

Sigh, i'm terrible at this thing.
A few things that happened since my last post:

• My birthday! it was a low key thing with friends and i enjoyed it very much.
• I finished a crochet blanket that i had started very shortly i had started crocheting, perhaps 5 years ago? Here it is on my full size bed.
  
  
  
• I got overwhelmed with work, but still had time to dye things for a craft show with Flint Handmade on May 7th (pictures of the event here! {also a picture of me at my booth- i'm on the right})
• I heard about many more craft shows in Flint and got overwhelmed with work again that I didn't respond in time for most of them. Boo.
• I finished a pair of socks!
  
  
  
• And I did a multitude of other things i have since forgotten.

As far as the future goes, I do have some exciting news. I'm moving to a new apartment in exactly 30 days, and i'll have my very own dedicated craft room! Well, that's not entirely true... I'll still have to share- but at least it wont have to fight for space in my bedroom or living room any more! In an attempt to make my life easier, I decided that i needed to organize and get rid of things before i could even think of packing. And in this spirit i've started uploading pictures of my stash on ravelry. I do have some yarn that I have for sale/trade if you're interested. Also in an effort to organize and reduce the stash i have more that i'm willing to trade, but i think i'll let my friends have first dibs of it.

Just a quick little update to let you know i've posted some brand new handspun yarn into my etsy shop. I have to say it's pretty darn awesome. http://www.etsy.com/shop/icemelon

In just under two weeks is my birthday... i might also have a little present in the form of a coupon code for my etsy shop!

I’ve only ever been half organized when it came to my yarn and spinning stuff. When I moved into my new apartment over the summer I had set up some of the wire mesh cubes I had in my old room, but they just were too… blah. I had been eyeing a shelving unit from IKEA for who knows how many years now, and I finally had enough money and a big enough car to tote it home in. I put it together all by myself one night and dragged it into my bedroom where the old cubes had been. I sort of haphazardly transferred everything over and there it sat like that for a few months. Finally I decided to re-organize it and clean off the top which had accumulated lots of odds and ends.

It’s kind of a tight fit at the end of my bed but it was the only spot there was enough wall space. This shelf is sort of gigantic, and I absolutely love it! There are plants that live on top because they are my cats favorite plants to eat, (Oh yeah, I acquired two cats recently too, but I suppose that’s another blog post!) and it’s easier to close the bedroom door when I’m not home rather then come home to a plant knocked over dirt everywhere. This happened once.

There are bins that fit oh-so-perfectly that had originally been bought for the old cubes. I think I would have been totally heart broken if they didn’t fit, because I wouldn’t have gone ahead and bought the new shelf. Only buy what works with what you have, right?

The contents of the cubes are as follows (from upper left zigzagging down): The green half bin has thank you cards, extra business cards, and random paper goods for my etsy. Next are pattern books, magazines, and buttons. Also there is some fiber that’s been recently dyed I just shoved in there. The next cube is my Dream in Color yarn stash, which doesn’t fit into the next bin: the brown bin is full of my “nice” yarn. Pretty much anything that isn’t acrylic and also my sock yarn. The green bin directly under is full of fiber to spin. The dotted bin has my own handspun yarn I just can’t bring myself to sell. The next cube has a divider in it that actually makes four little cubby holes, and right now there is random yarn, FOs, and a WIP. Next to that is cotton in a plastic container and crochet hooks and knitting needles. Below that is my ball winder, swift, a cd spindle I made years ago, and leftover handspun bits. The wicker bin has odds and ends. The next brown bin has undyed fiber. The cube with the Amazon box sticking out has some etsy items that are listed, along with shipping materials. The bottom row is pretty much random yarn/odds and ends. As you can see I keep my laundry detergent down there... but it’s right next to the laundry basket so that makes sense, right?

Whew, that was a lot of explaining! How does everyone else keep their hobbies organized? Oh, and here’s a close-up of that Dream in Color cube, how could I resist?

Between getting more hours at work and then changing jobs (and working even more at the new one) and moving into a new apartment (and never bothering to get internet), I've sort of let things get pushed into the background. Since I started knitting last year I've never really looked back. I still haven't tackled any very large projects, but I did sort of stumble into sock knitting.

These are socks I made for the boyfriend for Christmas. It sort of took me a year to finish these, because they were meant for his birthday earlier last year. I'd like to think that because he had to wait so long to get them it made him appreciate them more!

I think for the future if i'm going to knit something for a present, I should just assume it wont be done at the nearest holiday. I say this because i'm still trying to finish projects meant for this past xmas.. nearing two months ago.