This topic is of enough import that I'm sure I have spoken of it before but I felt the need to revisit it tonight as now I have a bit of a migraine from "too much thinking".
As an artist and crafter my project to do list is often full and seems to be ever growing.  This has to do with me wanting to maximize my business of course, but also because I have a hard time turning anything down.  While that's all well and good, there is a certain limit to my abilities - there are only so many hours in the day.
Recently I took on another custom order, having finally caught up on a back order from June (that's what having a baby will do to you evidently...), for a scarf.  Being that Winter looms closer this is no surprise.
Now generally scarves are easy, it's just a long rectangle right?  Sure, if you don't take into account anything else, like size, color, pattern, and the troubleshooting of all of these things....
So currently from thinking and rehashing and trying to work out the pattern (there are several arithmetic dependent points to this) to suit everything buyer's expectations my head is throbbing...dammit.
Don't get me wrong though, I love taking custom orders.  The fulfillment of them is both a challenge and a frustration though.  The challenge to create with my own hands what the buyer is looking for with at the least a vague idea or a detailed one.  To translate what my artform is capable of in my hands to what they want.  But the troubleshooting, and hours of explanation of what can/can't be done, how things must be done, and checking back can be a pain in the butt at first.
Ce La Vie
...sew many things, sew little thyme for ewe and eye...

Scrap Afghan

It's funny how as an artist I'm ever making things for my store with some pro-bono work on the side, and yet I never seem to find time to make anything for myself or even my family.  And for the latter, even when I do, I always offer it up for sale "just in case".  On one hand I see this as a little horrible, I mean...shouldn't they come first?  But I am an artist by trade and I need to make money so I do what I do.
One such exception seems to be my stash work.  Generally I use the leftovers of yarn I have for scrap projects.  If it looks particularly good I will add it for sale but at least half the time it's so-so.  I have been working on a scrap afghan for awhile now.  Originally I was making an unending granny square, at one point though it just looked absolutely hideous and I opted to frog it and start over.  The newer version is comprised of four round granny squares that are linked in the "join as you go" fashion that I love - thanks Lucy for your wonderful tutorial!
When I first started this project I wasn't quite sure what I wanted to do with it but have since decided it will grace our queen size whenever I decide it's done.
Pictured below - squares at 6x6 stage

...sew many things, sew little thyme for ewe and eye...

Yarnophiliac...

Recently it came to my attention that I may have yarn stash problem.  While perusing LinkedIn I noted a question about having a stashohlism problem.  Of course I wouldn't admit to having the issue myself *chuckle* I cannot deny my love of adding to my stash.  Anytime I see a sale, clearance, or any discounted giveaway or donation my mouth waters at the prospect of new yarn.  Like a brain hungry zombie I find myself making a steady beeline towards the display or gleefully nodding as I accept my "new" yarn open armed.
However, even with my prolific amount of projects that seems ever growing I cannot actually use every skein that crosses over into my domain.  If nothing else there isn't enough time in the day given everything I do to use anything within a guaranteed amount of time.  Also I tend to stash indiscriminately, taking any and everything regardless of color, amount, or fiber type.  I will say that there have been a number of skeins that I in no way wanted to use - having some aversion to the color or fiber type.  But still neither fact stops me from adding to my stash whenever I can.
As I just the other day went to look at my stash and noted that my shelf had grown to two shelves, which had originally been a bag I decided that it would be time to start something new or part with some.  Enter a little bit of craftivism...a yarn care package.  Being an artist it's natural that I know others who enjoy my works on a personal level.  And it just so happens that both are like me and are SAHM.  Knowing how tight money is for one who doesn't personally work I decided to "spread the love" and gift a crocheter and knitter.
So do you have a large craft stash that you can't realistically use in a small amount of time?  Might clearing some cluttered supplies also clear the way for more creativity for you (or make your significant other happier)?  Consider how you can use your excess towards some craftivism and feel free to share!
...sew many things, sew little thyme for ewe and eye...

Vegan Yarn...

I haven't posted in awhile but I really feel the need to speak my mind on this subject.  I recently saw a mention of "vegan yarns" while browsing through some sharings on LinkedIn.  I thought at once to ask the person about it but decided instead to Google it.  As I supposed it is a non animal fiber.  Now I'm not saying that I have something against Vegans, but depending on why you are vegan I kind of do.
I'm all for the fair and proper treatment of everyone and everything.  I don't think you should willfully abuse anyone or anything.  That aside sometimes we do harm and don't mean it, but I'm disregarding that for now.  If you choose to be vegetarian or vegan, so be it I have no issue with that afterall it's your personal choice.  But if you're choosing it because you don't want to hurt that cute cuddly animal I can't say I think too highly of that.  First off (and this is likely a popular argument) if it came down to survival and you were evenly matched with an animal, were they starving they certain would eat you.  I'm not saying to eat Fluffy or Fido, but realize that it's natural to eat meat if you're a carnivore or omnivore.  And for point of fact if you look at your teeth you will see that you were biologically designed to eat that way.  If you don't want to eat it because you just don't want to fine whatever, as I feel that's another matter.  Also if you are choosing this path to get away from the chemicals and all that or because you disagree with the treatment of the animals okay, but that's still a little shaky.  There are farmers and such that do not mistreat their animals and allow them as much freedom as a kept animal will get, like free rangers.  There are also plenty of farmers who do not "zoop up" their meatstock.  So really if that is your only argument I suggest you look a little harder because it does exist.  Finally, if it's for health reasons that I won't fault.  There are a number of people who have specific dietary needs that suggest certain kinds of diet for their optimal health.
Now don't get me wrong, I eat meat as much as not.  In fact for myself I rarely buy it.  I'm not against eating meat, I just do so infrequently.  I have kept hens before just to have eggs, and as a gardener I love horse manure.  I believe if you keep such animals you should do so fairly and humanely.  Keep them as you would like to be treated.  Obviously when it comes to butchering, there are only so many "nice" (if you can call it that) ways to do that, but it is what it is.
My big problem with the whole vegan issue is that you are still harming something.  The fact that your banana doesn't have a face doesn't mean it wants to be eaten anymore than Bessie does.  As a gardener I have a much greater affinity for plants than animals or people.  And yes I love to eat fruit and vegetables, but just like animals were I to die they would take nutrients from the soil I was decomposing in.  To me the bottom line is that we're all connected, so there really is no way to truly never harm anything or anyone else.  In order for you to receive sometimes someone or something else doesn't get to.  Sometimes it's a drastic circumstance, other times not so much.  To try and thwart this natural order to me is wrong.  After all, you're not butchering the animals to use it's hair, you're not even hurting it.  So as long as you don't opt to shear them in a cruel fashion or when it's cold out (without adequately arranging for them to be warm otherwise) what does it really matter?
...sew many things, sew little thyme for ewe and eye...

Knit Wit - Part 1

Recently I received some donations of yarn and some other crafting supplies from a fellow artist.  She had been coming through my area for a funeral and received some leftover supplies from a relative who no longer had use for them.  The bulk of her donation was a lot of yarn - most of it not too much but ranging from half a skein to full skeins.  I made a collage (as she requested pictures of all the yarn) and posted it on my store's Facebook profile.  But as I went through the mass of yarn I came across a curious set of objects that I at first couldn't identify.  They were various squares and circles with a post sticking out from the middle on one side and a small top that turned.  When turned small metal pins spiraled out from the circle or square.  Not one to throw anything away I set the first aside and discovered more as I went along.  By the time I had finished sorting and winding yarn I had accumulated 3 square ones and 2 circle ones, as well as instructions (thankfully).

While I haven't tried it out yet it's on my to do list of projects.  There were a number of projects included with the instructions and I'm sure with a bit of practice I can get the hang of this odd object!

...sew many things, sew little thyme for ewe and eye...

Tradition VS Innovation...

As an artist I recognize the desire to innovate, to create something new and "never before seen" or at the very least unique.
For me while this is perfectly acceptable there is also an "issue" with it.  When an artist or other craftsperson does not take the time to understand the original art & technique and chooses to go their own way without regard for why something is done a certain way.  To me there is a reason why the technique is performed in a certain fashion and that should be honored and understood before one goes and "tears it all apart".  I feel that disregarding this is a bit of disrespect to the artform itself as well as those who brought it to be and various other people who may have contributed to the artform.
Am I 100% against paving a new way?  No, but I don't believe is disregarding something just because it's the way it's always been done.  This came out in a conversation with another artist while I was (much like now) working with a particular medium.  She commented on how she "never does things that way".  My reply was that that was, "how it's supposed to be done".  "Well I rarely do things like that, and I didn't learn that way."  So because you had incorrect instruction you choose to refuse to learn the correct way?  That seems like a bit of a copout to me and just plain lazy.
So if you innovate, good for you - but hear this artist's plea and take the time to educate yourself properly and see how things are done.  And if you always stick to "the way it's done" jump out of the box and experiment.
Thanks for tuning in!
...sew many things, sew little thyme for ewe and eye...

What's up in May???

We decided some time ago that for our store we'd post a blog update every first of the month.  This would allow us to recap the previous month and lay out some things to come for the new month.  With this new blog we're opting to do something similar but directed at the main expression of this blog - all things *not* business...
Afterall, what's the purpose of a blog if no one reads it???
We've made a few posts here and there, but mostly this blog focuses on thoughts that occur to us spur of the moment without any real planning.  While we like it that way we will share with you some of the regular goings on with the artist.
As we mentioned in the other blog we've instituted a new schedule.  It is comprised of everything we have to do in a day (getting ready, chores, and other household duties).  While that particular schedule isn't too cluttered, we only have seven hours (from the hour of six am to midnight) to do any "work".  As we have two businesses we opted to separate the two time frames (which are separated by our "Afternoon Routine") between the two so we're not stuck working on one thing/genre allllll day.  So far so good!
We're proud to say that yesterday we *finally* got to the local yarn store to pick up the remainder of what we needed for two orders, and even got a little something just for us (you can check out the "Spring Me Armwarmers" post for more details)
Currently in our queue are...

• Butterfly Mosaic Shawl (another just for us - made using Malabrigo's Merino Worsted):  it's been in our queue for awhile, but as a business owner it's our tendency to work on things we're getting paid for, or will be, first rather than "fun" or "personal" stuff.  We also lost the schematic we drew up for the LONGEST time and thankfully in some Spring cleaning last month found it.
• "Itchystitches' " Photography Website:  While we aren't sharing the link we will tell you all about our photography friend.  She expressed an interest in photography which has grown into an "I want to do this for a living" endeavor and we've been doing our best to support another artist.  (Plus we really love her stuff anyhow!)  In an effort to assist her in networking we introduced her to LinkedIn and are helping her set up a free website to get her started and showcase more of her work.
• Spring Me Armwarmers:  While these are for us, we're hoping that the sheer awesomeness of the design (thank you Coty) and the changes we're making will get some orders for these.  We even went so far as to prepare some color cards for the yarn we used (loads of fun there .... pffft).

While quite honestly there is more going on than those handful of projects we're also trying to keep an eye on our time and "not over do it" otherwise that lovely schedule we set up is useless now isn't it?

So here's to May and many things done!  See you soon, if not in June! :p

...sew many things, sew little thyme for ewe and eye...