reflections and musings

I simply cannot believe that 2011 is nearly over. I just looked back over my blogfeed as I've not had time to catch up and got so caught up at all the excellent Christmas ideas everyone had until I remembered that it had already passed. This year has felt a bit like a dream. So many amazing things have happened, bad things too but I don't care to dwell on those any longer... I guess that is the good thing about a new year starting. Really nothing changes when that ball drops but we all feel like we have a bit of a fresh start. 

Proudly standing in my booth at SOAR! :D

In 2012, I'm not going to have a fresh start, I'm going to continue growing and changing along with Bricolage Studios.

I've been putting my house in order bit by bit after all the neglect during first my busy early spring while still working two teaching jobs, the store, and juggling the shop. Then show season began with lots of travel from May through the end of October. Then the holidays had slammed me before I knew what happened. I've even already hung a few of my Christmas presents in their new homes.

Awesome vintage finds from Mom

Most awesome clock EVER! Also from Mom :D

After quitting my day job this past May I was apprehensive about whether I could make it. I'm still not sure, but things are starting to look up and become more clear to me. Putting the house in order gives me time to think and be out of the studio (unless I'm sewing new curtains of course...) The absence of guilt for being out of the studio is erased by doing something around the house that NEEDS to be done and helps put things in perspective. Ever notice how much more efficient and happier you can be when your space reflects the same characteristics? 

I've always loved the personal aspect of doing shows far more than the grind of impersonal  photographing and listing on etsy and with the addition of wholesale accounts (I love that people can pick up my fibers from a REAL brick and mortar shop :D), I have decided to back off from online business a bit. For those of you who follow me, you've probably noticed more than once that I've tried to set up an update and cancelled at the last second. I'm making a promise right now that it will not happen again.

By this I mean I will not be actually announcing updates, at least not for a while. (never fear, they WILL STILL HAPPEN!) Scheduled updates were not how I started on etsy, and looking back, that is what worked better for me. I used to card and list at my leisure for the shop out of necessity because of working around my job and when that BECAME my job, I hated it. Not the making mind you, just the photographing. Funny thing is, I listed about once a week then so if all goes well, I won't be back off so much as just changing back to what worked best for me. I do plan on eventually starting a email newsletter though! :D

I accomplished a great deal of the goals I had set for myself last year about this time, and most of them were nothing to sneeze at. I'm hoping to continue that trend this year. I know with the amazing connections I have made and with the support of those I love that I can accomplish anything. Thank you all, I feel so blessed.

One picture, two very exciting things :D

So I've been waiting to announce this for some time now (mostly cause I can't believe it happened!) but, you can now find select Bricolage Studios goodies at The Spinning Loft!!!! Thanks to owner, Beth Smith, for taking a chance on my goods, I'm very excited to be a part of her lovely shop! She snapped a photo of me today after we stuffed a shelf (my very own shelf! ... yes I'm a dork, :D) and I realized that it is the first time that another exciting thing got photographed.

You see, I get asked all the time if I knit my yarn into anything to which my normal reply is, "Well... I'm really not a knitter. I crochet it sometimes!" Well, after lusting after a particular pattern from Tiny Owl Knits, the Orchids and Fairylights hat pattern to be specific, trying to convince actual knitters to make it for me, (yea I bought the pattern and the yarn and was too chicken...) I finally jumped in with the help of my friend Michelle and made myself that damn hat. You can't see it very well in the photo, but I'm pretty pleased with myself. It only took about a week and a half of absolute obsession with it but I did it, baubles, cables, dpns, and all (ask anyone, until a few weeks ago, I had a serious fear of dpns!)

I'm working on another one already. :D

Emmett Otter's Jugband Christmas Update

What's that you say? Maybe only die hard Muppet fans are familiar with this movie but it has always been one of my favorites.

 Next week on Thursday evening I will be having a very special themed update capturing the essence of the holiday spirit according to all the magical characters from Frogtown Hollow.  Emmett's jugband, his Ma, and even the River Bottom Nightmare Band (though technically not from Frogtown Hollow :D)

Just curls, batts, fleece mixes, and some hand pulled roving. yaaaaaaaaay!!!!!! (if you're really into it that was a kermit yay. :D)

Speaking of those amazing Muppets. Thank you Jason Segel for setting Disney back on track with perhaps one of the most beloved things from my childhood (and still to this day.) After the turd that was Muppet Wizard of Oz I was reluctant but could not have been happier leaving that movie theater the other night. If you are a Muppet fan, please go see that movie. I giggled a lot and fought off tears more than once at the perfect amount of sentiment and from laughing too hard in a few parts.

Pure awesome.