A little sneak preview...

As some of you know, most of the items in the SweetShop are on sale right now, making way for new and different designs as of February 1st.

Oh. You didn't know that? Well, now ya do. Head over to SweetShop Creations, take a peruse, pick up a few clearance priced items. Aside from a few signature items, they'll be gone come the first of February.

Meanwhile, I'm working hard(ly?) creating new designs for next month. I just finished one that I thought I'd give a little sneak preview of...please pardon the blurry, sickly-lit photos.

Haven't come up with a name for it yet, but it's basically a cozy, snuggly shawl...

With a handy drawstring! This way you can change the fit depending on how you wear it...looser for a shawl or cape, tighter for a cowl...the possibilities are endless!

Speaking of which, I think I got a little carried away playing with the drawstring...

Hey, I'm warm!

Look out for this original item and more by SweetShop Creations in February! And meanwhile, head over to the shop and get the (old) good stuff before it's gone! 

No-One on the corner has(crafty) swagger like us!

*peeks from under quilt* Is it over? The holiday season, I mean. SweetShoppers, I was not even remotely prepared for the maelstrom that was this past Christmas season. I did no decorating. No Christmas crafting. No Christmas cards. Precious little celebrating. No, beautiful people, what I did was Christmas cooking, and Christmas eating, and Christmas (night job) working, and Christmas studying. Bah humbug.

But, that is all past, and I have no problem reaping the benefits of January sale. See below...

I know it doesn't look like much, but there are 5 skeins of yarn in that plastic bag in the rear of the pic, courtesy of Abakhan's 10% off sale. It's mostly Robin Acrylic Double Knit, but there is a nice skein of black woolen worsted and some sparkly lavender double knit in there as well.

In the front of the pic you'll see a hilarious crochet hook that I got at Fred Aldous in Manchester city centre, simply because it is large and traffic cone orange. I think it's a sign of obsession(or worse) that I find that crochet hook as funny as I do. There's also a gorgeous wooden 6.50 mm hook that I splurged on at Purl City Yarns as a treat--it's a gorgeous bamboo hook. I've never really crocheted with wooden hooks before, but I've always wanted to try, and this one happens to be my favorite size AND tie-dyed.  Like I said. obsession. Maybe worse.

Rounding out my Purl City haul is a handful of checkered and spotted covered buttons that I got for a pound. I have no idea what I'm going to use them for. But they were cute, and I'm sure I'll figure something out.

Total cost for all this future crafty goodness; 13.70, or thereabouts. God bless the January sales.

Speaking of sales, I'd be amiss if I didn't mention that SweetShop Creations, my very own etsy shop, is having one RIGHT NOW! Like huge. Major percentages off of everything. Check it out. Help me pay for my next yarn haul. *g*

Peace!

P.S. Not pictured is a copy of Stitch N' Bitch knitting I scored on Amazon for 3.50 or something like that. I'm not picturing it because every time I try to learn to knit, I embarrass myself. I'm mentioning it because, hey, humility is good, right?

Pre-Christmas Sale at SweetShop Creations!!

Hello SweetShoppers! Hope you had a Happy Thanksgiving, those of you who celebrated.

Apologies for the lack of posts around here recently. My personal crafting time has gone by the wayside while I dive into the books and write essays and seminars and reviews, oh my.  Hopefully I'll get a chance to finish my winter sweater soon and I'll put a nifty post up about that...

Meanwhile, there's a sale going on over at SweetShop Creations (as usual...). Use the coupon code TURKEYSANDWICH to receive free worldwide shipping on any item! Now's the time to get those last minute little gifts and stocking stuffers for the funky fashionistas in your life! And if you can't think of anything immediately, may I suggest a pair of these...

..."these" being the SweetShop's signature Curly-Wurly earrings...find them and more at our shop, HERE!

Computer Love...(and occupational hazards...)

Hello SweetShoppers!

So lately I've been getting a lot of blog love, and I just wanted to share some of those links with you...

First up, Artistic Expressions By Elizabeth profiled me here, as part of an ongoing series. Every Monday Elizabeth profiles someone of color in the craftosphere, and this week it was lil' ol' me! Many thanks to Elizabeth, and to those of you who click over, check out her blog! Elizabeth is quite the elite crafter herself and one of the more positive people I've come across on the web.

Speaking of positive people, I've also been profiled by Knitella, who did a mini-interview on me here. Knitella's doing a similar series, profiling bloggers and crafters in the Greater Manchester area and I was fortunate enough to be asked some questions for a post. Make that TWO posts, actually...Knitella's got a jump start on the Christmas gift rush and also featured me in her Christmas gift guide here. Once again, check out the whole blog...some truly inspiring crafters have been featured on her site recently, as well as the work of Knitella herself!

Last thing...I'm keeping a close eye on the worldwide Occupy protests. They're of particular interest to me because I am, of course, part of the 99% (albeit a very fortunate segment of such) and also because at heart, they seem to be about one of my pet issues--the issue of paying people what they're worth for their work. This is part of why I started doing SweetShop Creations--it's one part supplementary income, one part charity donations, and one part sociopolitical statement. 

That said, I've long wanted to write eloquently on the subject but recently I stumbled across WhatTheCraft.com and discovered that resident seamstress/designer/DIY faerie Lex has already said what I wanted to say, far better than I ever could.

So, to end this post, I'd like to encourage you all to go over to THIS LINK and read about the creative process and cost balancing that goes into making a handmade item of clothing. Then come back here, comment, and let me know what you think.

Peace!

Work In Progress: Some Sort of Hat

Considering that I have the word "hats" liberally distributed through everything about SweetShop Creations, it has occurred to me that I should actually make some.

So here's what I'm working on right now...

...wonder what the finished product will look like...

Peace!

I Buy Handmade: ForgetRegretArt

There are a few things that I love; pretty things, getting parcels in the post, and supporting other wonderful artists. I'm happy to say that today, I got to do all three of those things thanks to Demi at ForgetRegret Art.

The contents of my parcel! A card and some cards..

So I first met the lovely Demi, at the Cherry Events Craft fair, which I blogged about HERE. I had a great time meeting lots of local artists and artisans at that fair but what really caught my eye was the ForgetRegretArt stall, with its selection of handmade paper journals, notepads, and blank business cards.

Business cards? I've needed some business cards for some time, but hadn't seen any that I really liked until then. I asked about the blank cards, and was pleasantly surprised when Demi told me that for a small extra fee, she'd hand write the cards for me in calligraphy.

Handmade, distinctive, classy cards written in calligraphy? Consider me sold. I e-trotted over to the ForgetRegretArt etsy shop HERE and placed an order. After about a week, I checked the post this morning and found these waiting for me!

That's my name. Please wear it out.

Aren't they gorgeous! They're exactly what I wanted--simple, clear, and handmade! I absolutely LOVE them and couldn't resist doing a post to show them off. I highly recommend checking out Demi's shop--in addition to business cards, she also does sketchbooks, jewelry, and a wide variety of original art prints as well. 

The best thing about buying handmade goods from the artist directly, though, isn't the quality of the product. (Although it's always excellent!) The best thing is the personal touch that artists often add to their orders when sending them out. Considering how many companies see fit to use large and impersonal communcation methods(call centres, anyone?), there's something really special about doing business with a personal flair.

The most charming part of buying from ForgetRegretArt, then, was finding this in the package with the cards;

Handmade thank you card by ForgetRegretArt!

Nothing to say to that except thank you too, Demi!

To check out ForgetRegretArt(and I really think you should), click HERE. Peace!

SweetShop Creations in Etsy Treasuries!

Okay, first things first! The giveaway is still happening, but we need a few more facebook likes before someone gets a brand new custom crocheted pair of Curly-Wurly Earrings! Click HERE to like SweetShop Creations on facebook and enter the contest, if you haven't already...

Next things next...on Etsy, you can do these great things called treasuries, which are collections of etsy seller's work organized around a theme. It's a great idea, a wonderful way of showcasing lots of different artists together, and a lot of fun to do!

I've been fortunate enough to have been included in a few of these collections and to have made a few, which I'd like to share with you all.

Orange Cowl by SweetShop Creations, on Etsy

So first, my features...the Orange Cowl, which I'm still waiting for the right stylish neo-urban hipster chic to snap up and fierce her way into fall with, was featured in a treasury by TeoMaeDesigns called Surrounded By Autumn. TeoMae herself designs lovely silver toned jewelry, which is worth taking a look at as well.  Pretty cool, huh?

Also Knitella(who by now you should all know and love) featured my flowered Multi-Way cowl/scarf in a treasury called floral festivity. Knitella is a fellow yarn artist--she knits and is starting to add crochet to her repertoire of skills as well. Check her out, check the treasury out, and check out that cowl!

Okay, now that I'm done giving orders(but you did check all those things out right? RIGHT!?) I'm going to provide a few links to some of the treasuries I've put together. All of them feature work by artists whose creativity and presentation I really respect and admire, so please do click the links and take a look at some truly fantastic work.

Also, I have it on good authority that there's only 81 shopping days until Christmas, so if you feel the need to get a jump start on your gift list this year with any one of these artists or myself--we'd all appreciate it.

Take a look at:

Craft Menagerie - a collection of animal-themed items
Purple Haze -all things purple, curated while listening to Jimi Hendrix, of course
Ooh! Sparkly! - pretty much what it says on the tin...sparkly things!
and last but not least...
Keys To the Kingdom - because apparently there are a LOT of nifty things you can do with a key.

Thanks for taking the time to look at some new things, y'all! Peace!

(Wait! Before you go...did you like me on Facebook? Did you? Please do. These earrings need a good home...*puppy-dog eyes*)