Kickstarter Project

Sorry I've been kind of quiet as of late. It seems like time has started moving faster. I know that sounds cliche, but it is true--I never feel like I have enough time any more. There are less hours in the day now or something.

I've been working on a little project, which combined with keeping up with Spartickes Dyes and trying to get ready for another (hopefully more successful) craft fair, I hardly have time to breathe. I'm very excited about the project, though, so here goes: About a month ago, I looked into taking Spartickes Dyes to The Middle Tennessee Fiber Festival in Dickson, TN, which is at the end of May in Dickson, TN. This is the first fiber festival that I ever attended. I have fantastic memories of walking into one of the barns and seeing "my people."

 The thought of being able to sell at any fiber festival, let alone this one is uber exciting to me. The rental fee is quite reasonable, so I told Josh (handsome husband) that I would like to vend there. He is so supportive. But then he asked me how I was going to be able to buy enough yarn up front in order to stock a booth. (Why does he have to be so logical?)

 I'm confident that I would be successful selling my wares. (Does that sound pompous? I don't mean for it to sound too boastful, but I really like my yarn and bags.) However, much of the profit from my current sales goes back into buying more product to sell, and I have a hard enough time keeping the etsy shop stocked, let alone stocking a whole booth.

So, Josh and I talked about how we could make it happen, and we came up with the idea of doing a Kickstarter project. Kickstarter is website that connects people with creative ideas to people who would like to back those ideas monetarily. In return, the people who pledge money get various rewards if the project is fully funded by the end date. If the project is not funded, nobody pays anything, and the people who pledge do not receive anything.

My original idea of getting funding to go to my first fiber festival was initially denied by Kickstarter. They said that I needed to fund a project with a specified ending rather than an ongoing project. They said an example of an ending project would be developing a new clothing line. I don't quite understand why a new line of clothing IS a project and going to a fiber festival IS NOT, but who am I to argue?!

 I was planning on introducing two new series of yarns anyway, so I tweaked my project idea, and here it is: Kickstarter Project

 

I'm so excited to start my first yarn/bag club!! I was so excited that I decided I needed to do two--I couldn't pick which one I like best. Winnie the Pooh has so many fun colors and Firefly has so many cool and quirky things to reference!!

The Kickstarter's end date is on my 36th birthday, December 11, 2012.   I would be honored if you would consider helping to back this project. I promise not to disappoint!

Happy November!

No video podcast this week. No etsy update this week. I'm trying to get as much done for MY VERY FIRST CRAFT FAIR ever on Saturday. I do have a cool finished object to show y'all. I'll talk more about it next week when I podcast. It is called The Hand Warming Cup Cozy by Nicole Woltman, and I am in love.

Here is the Ravelry link for the free pattern download. Won't these be perfect for sitting on the football field?!

Episode 32 "It's My Knitti-Birthi-Versary"

Episode 31 "Wine in a Coffee Cup"

Episode 30 "Pinktober"

Lessons I'm Learning:
My Halloween Socks-Faux Heel Flap by Liat Gat in The Lock, Shock, and Barrel colorway, dyed by ME.

Slightly Twisted Baby Hat by Lara Neel

Scarf with no Name by Samantha Edgerly for my Mother in Law in the Sue Ickes colorway, dyed by ME.


Lemonade Stand:

My Yarn and Bag Shop
 I'm trying to raise money for the Nashville chapter of Susan G Koman.  10% of the sale (or at least $1) of Pinktober items will go to raise money for cancer research. 

My Cozy Shop

Kickin' Cancer to the Curb

I haven't had a chance to do a proper video podcast, but I have an important promotion running in my shop right now that I wanted y'all to know about.

October is breast cancer awareness month, otherwise known as pinktober.  I have dyed up six very special colorways in honor of pinktober.  They are available on 3 different bases-80/20 superwash merino, 80/10/10 (cashmere blend), and the sparkly liberace base.  10% of the sale price of these skeins will be donated to my Nashville Susan G Koman chapter. 

I also have some pink project bags and notions bags that I've been sewing up for this occasion. 

I don't know if you remember last year when I knit purple ribbon socks for my mother in law.  My mother in law is a breast cancer and lung cancer (purple) survivor, and this cause is near and dear to my family.  I named a colorway after her-Sue Ickes because she is one of the strongest women I know.

Please visit my etsy shop Spartickes Dyes and help me show my mother in law how important she is to me!  If you'd rather just donate, you can donate using the the "donate" button on this site and tell me it is for Susan G Koman.


Thank you!

Talk to y'all soon on a podcast hopefully!

Works In Progress Wednesday

I'm super late to the party. It is 11:48pm, so technically, this CAN be a Wednesday post!! Tami hosts Works in Progress Wednesdays. Stop by her blog and take a look at some wonderful knitting projects. I want to cast on EVERYTHING!!

I'm just going to post two pictures today. I'm working on my Tina's Skirt that I showed y'all last week, but since the pattern repeats the length of the skirt, it is hard to tell there is much progress, so I'll wait until I have a "wow" moment to show! My Halloween socks are coming along quite nicely! I've decided to switch patterns-Liat has a new faux short row heel pattern and a knit-a-long going on through her blog, so I'm participating with that-as well as the other two KALS I mentioned last week: Just One More Row and Knitabulls podcasts.

I started a new project too. One of my friends asked me to make a baby hat for a baby shower she will be attending. The due date isn't until February, but I was itching to cast it on! Slightly Twisted Baby Hat by Lara Neel has a unique cuff. It is has a twisted garter edge before you do the ribbing. Knit 5 rows of garter (or is that 2 and a half??) then twist every 4 stitches around the 5 rows as you are knitting a stockinette row. I'm not explaining it very well, but you can check out the tutorial here. (click to download the pdf--the audio of Math4Knitters is an oldie but goodie as well!) It is kind of fun, now that I understand what I was doing!

Thanks for stopping by! I'd love to read your comments. :)