Yarncoture!

It's HIS Loss....My Unfortunate Dealings With Thomas Kvist

2011-10-24T08:07:00.000-07:00

As some of you may know over the last several months I have been creating some new designs for yarn retailer Thomas Kvist Yarns, aka TK Yarns. I put production of my own designs on hold to create some wonderful new pieces especially for him. Shortly after completing the work I had to have major surgery to which I am happy to say that I have fully recovered. Thomas Kvist was very pleased with my work but for some strange reason would not come up with the funds that we had agreed upon as compenstion for the designs. I sent him several emails but received vague responses from him. Mr. Kvist has posted pictures of the designs on his website and refuses to respond to my emails as to why he has not paid me. Some people have said to me that it's a learning experience...and that I should be careful next time. Personally I think that this whole knit designing thing is a huge labrynth of ups and downs with scheisty individuals to block your heading. As I told Mr. Kvist in one email "I aim to be taken very seriously as a knit designer"...my color, race or religion should NOT have anything to do with the pieces that I produce/create/design.
Here are a couple of the designs that I made for Thomas Kvist that I am PROUD to say, are available for sale in my store :)
The Granny Square Knit Poncho

The Southern Belle

The Ascot Capelet

For Mr. Thomas Kvist...it's your loss...if handled appropiately our relationship could have been very advantageous for the both of us. Defrauding individuals is something that is not a part of my character...and I pray to God that it never will be. For all those out there who have been cheated by those who think they are "getting over" on you..I say STAND UP for yourselves! As long as they think that they have the upper hand then these types of things will continue to happen. I'm still walking through this amazing labrynth hopefully a lot smarter and aware of the obstacles that can somewhat leave me running around in circles.

Till next time,
Yarnie

My New Project Bag!

2011-06-18T08:06:00.000-07:00

Hello my lovelies! I've got a secret...I've been dabbling with embroidery a bit lately and well...I've been having a ball! Feeling pretty confident about my slowly developing skills I decided to embroider a simple vine with some flowers on a cut out portion of a leg section from a pair of old jeans. I really liked how the embroidery came out and since the shape of the denim was already in a tube I decided to add a bottom, a lining and make a bag out of it!

I kept on adding little touches to the bag here and there...

Embroidered vines and a crocheted lotus flower

Cotton striped lining inside the bag as well as inside the pockets!

>

Here's the bag!

Oh, and I made myself a couple of "extras" to go along with....a knitting accessories roll and a matching coin purse!

And there you have it...my very own coordinating project bag! Hmmm....I just might have to make more of these and sell them....what do you think?

Another Surprise...Shhhhh....

2011-06-08T09:47:00.000-07:00

Ok so it's really not a surprise...I'm having another incredible sale!! Starting June 10, enjoy 20% off everything in my shop when you enter the code YARNIE20 !!(excluding custom made items) If you are on Facebook you can sign up and read all the details HERE The best thing about this sale is that all you have to do is go to my website and shop...no crowds, pushy salespeople or long lines at the checkout counter! :-) You'll have to hurry because the sale ends June 25, 2011 so if there's something that you have your eye on now's the time to claim it! See ya there!

Project # 2!!

2011-05-13T10:10:00.000-07:00

Yep! I have moved on to project #2 and I can't wait to see how this one turns out. I still have 2 and a half balls left over of TK Yarn in Delicious Tweed, so I'm going to see if I can combine two of my designs and make either a capelet or a sweater...hmmm...this is going to be interesting! :-)

Randomness.....

2011-04-19T05:18:00.000-07:00

It's 7:18 a.m. this Tuesday morning and my mind is experiencing a lot of random thoughts. Thoughts of excitement, wondering....sometimes these thoughts can get so "loud" that just one moment of peace becomes more precious than every jewel on earth, yet this one moment of peace seems to only be a distant wish that may never come true.

Thoughts of excitement can often be overwhelming. Imagine a person who has had nothing but hardships in their life. Homelessness, divorce, deaths of loved ones, financial bankruptcy, mental abuse, illness, marriage problems, victimization of every kind and such. Imagine this same person finally getting a break...let's say that they received a check in the mail for one million dollars (AND NO, IT'S NOT ME HA HA!!) which seems to be the solution to all their problems. Imagine the feeling of finally being liberated from the chains of mishap...the person will be totally overwhelmed...but can it be another burden? When a person has experienced such hardships and turmoil in their life, a break like that can either help the person or can bring so many new problems that the person will be left scratching their head...often penniless(again) and disenchanted. Enemies quickly become friends and some friends will discover that they too have that green monster living inside them that will cause them to disassociate themselves with you completely. Hmmmm...maybe I don't want a million dollars after all...now, 10 MILLION...well... ;)

We all experience this randomness...sometimes it's a waste of thought...other times it can bring some valuable insight about ourselves, people who we have voluntarily or involuntarily pulled into our lives, and about how they see us... When you look in the mirror, do you see the same person that they see? Definitely a question that everyone should ask themselves..

Until next time,
~Yarnie~

Introducing...~~The Southern Belle~~

2011-04-11T07:35:00.005-07:00

A thousand thanks to Thomas Kvist Yarns for providing the yarn for this wonderful piece! I started with a basic eyelet knit design for the body and then added a pretty crocheted floral lace collar. Feeling that the piece was "missing" something, I fashioned together a pretty wildflower brooch accented with a touch of greenery. I don't "name" my pieces until I have finished with them...it's kind of interesting...when I pick up a ball of yarn, I don't know what it will become. The textures of the different yarns give me subtle hints as to what it wants to be. In this case, I loved the linen/rustic feel of this yarn. It screamed to be something southern and rustic, yet feminine. I appropriately named it Southern Belle because I can see a beautiful young lady wearing a southern flared/ruffled denim skirt or jeans and a cowboy hat attending a summer barbeque or a fall harvest festival wearing this capelet. The weight and texture of the yarn is perfect for protecting against a cool breeze while providing a light warmth. I really like this capelet and am really excited about what I want to do with the next piece that I make!

BIG SECRET!!

2011-04-08T09:39:00.000-07:00

Yep! There's a HUGE secret that I am announcing at 12 noon on April 8, but you can only see what the fuss is all about on my Facebook Fan Page! Loyal fans will receive a special "incentive" for all their support! Hope to see you there!

Progress...

2011-04-04T15:50:00.000-07:00

Working with Thomas Kvist Yarns has been such a treat! My first project is with the Delicious Tweed yarn pictured here in a nice stone-wash denim blue color.
The flecks of white and navy throughout the yarn delightfully kept my interest in this luxurious yarn as it felt like butter gliding across my aluminum needles. I have chosen a simple beginning border of seed stitches and then a base pattern of the half daisy lace stitch.
I really like the way the pattern came out!
Once this is completely finished and blocked, I think the stitch pattern will show through much better. The seed stitch border adds a very nice contrast to the lace...I'm thinking of finishing off the piece with a pretty lacy border...hmmm...

Could this be another gorgeous capelet in the works? A shawl?? Only time will tell!

until next time...
~Yarnie~

Tinkering Around...

2011-03-25T07:41:00.000-07:00

Was tinkering around yesterday and made this cool video showcasing my products for men and boys..

Until next time..
*Yarnie*

Beautiful Discoveries

2011-03-24T05:31:00.000-07:00

I discovered something wonderful...I LOVE COOKING WITH MY GIRLS!!! My daughters wanted to make some donuts from scratch, so I went looking on my 'trusty' YouTube channel for some videos on how to do so. I came across this pleasant woman's video on How To Make Cake Donuts ! We followed the recipe as best as we could and came out with these delicious looking donuts!

The glazed ones we made weren't bad either...we used confectioner's sugar, a few drops of vanilla extract(non alcoholic) and a few tablespoons of milk for the icing. They were very tasty...although next time we won't knead the dough as much to produce a lighter, fluffier doughnut. Can you believe that they disappeared in like 30 minutes?!? We had a wonderful time making these..it was a pleasant experience for me...to do some baking with my pre-teen and teenage daughter...BONDING!! Now they want to open up a donut shop! WHY me....???

OH, ONE MORE THING...
Last night while surfing Facebook I came across this wonderful page called Knitspot !! I was blown AWAY by her wonderfully orchestrated knit designs and patterns!
I moseyed on over to the Knitspot Blog where I found a treasure chest of patterns, photographs, and interesting blogs about the simple things that people enjoy in life such as flowers blooming, kitting, cooking...etc. I am hoping that I get a chance to chat with this wonderful knit designer in the near future to discuss knit design, yarn and just becoming a better knit designer. It was truly a treat for me discovering her site and I am hoping to try out some of her patterns very soon!

Until next time,
~Yarnie~

P.S...saw these amazing pictures of swans...they almost look unreal!

The feathers look so fluffy!

My BIG Surprise! :-D Thomas Kvist Yarns!!

2011-03-20T09:09:00.001-07:00

BEFORE YOU READ THIS ARTICLE PLEASE READ THE UNFORTUNATE UPDATE TO THIS EVENT and PLEASE TAKE NOTE...and be AWARE of people like this!!! PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING HIGHLIGHTED ARTICLE FIRST! UPDATE TO THE THOMAS KVIST FIASCO I've been keeping a secret...and I'm about to BURST!! A few months ago I received an email from a very nice man named Thomas Kvist. He explained that he saw my designs on my Facebook Fan Page , was very impressed with my designs and wanted me to make something with his yarns. He went on to say that he wanted to send me some samples of his yarns to "play around with" and come up with something unique. All I would have to do was make something from each of the samples and photograph the results. OK LET'S STOP HERE Now, if you're a knitter...a yarn oogler/lover like me, that's like saying to a person, "hey, I've got these fabulous diamond earrings, rings and necklaces for you to try out and I would like for you to wear them and come up with some great outfits with them and tell me what you think!" OF COURSE I WOULD!!! I tell you, when I received this email from Thomas my heart was beating so wildly...that a yarn manufacturer/broker thought my designs were beautiful and worthy enough to say that they were made with his yarns...truly a blessing. SO for weeks I waited with anticipation as the yarns were coming from Sweden. When the mailman was standing at the door holding a large box, I knew that Thomas didn't just send me a few skeins...20 total...enough of each color to do something really nice! I thought to myself...hmmm...this is my chance to really make some couture pieces! Each yarn has different fiber contents such such as cashmere, cotton, alpaca, and silk...truly a scrumptious assortment! They also have different textures..rustic, silky, soft, and a couple have a sort of urban 'feel'. It was really difficult to decide which one to start with, as they all are so yummy! I have decided to start with the Delicious Tweed yarn, which is the blue yarn in the bunch.
Fiber content includes lambswool, angora, cashmere, and a small amount of poliamide. I will be keeping you all abreast as to how my projects are coming along with lots of pictures. I am just thrilled about all this and would like to thank Mr. Thomas Kvist from the bottom of my heart for believing in me and giving me this wonderful opportunity! Be sure to check out Thomas Kvist Yarns to view his complete collection and information on where you can purchase his wonderful yarns.

Until next time..
"Yarn"

Feeling BLAH...

2011-01-30T09:45:00.000-08:00

Trapped in the realm of boredom today I am feeling blah...in a funk...etc. I have so many ideas of what I want to do...what I want to create with my yarns. I have so much emotion that I want to convey with my pieces. Many times I'm afraid that if I pour all my emotions into one piece it will be frightening or that the message won't be clear and may turn folks away from me or my designs. I just need a muse to bring out the voice of my spirit through my hooks and needles. Freeform crochet and knitting has crossed my mind....it allows me to express myself without any commitment, in a sense that I won't have to re-create the piece again...it will be unique. I have been spinning yarn lately. I purchased a Fat Fiber sample box a year ago and a spindle and began experimenting with different yarns. I have to say that my favorites are alpaca, merino top and tussah silk. Here's a few of goodies I have spun so far:

Maybe I'll create something spectacular!!! Or maybe my new handspun will just sit and keep the rest of my stash company...who knows. I tell ya, if I don't get out of this funk I may just resort to making something simple using an ordinary pattern...perish the thought!

Some Socks For ME!!

2011-01-08T05:46:00.000-08:00

When I began learning how to knit, I had this horrendous fear of knitting socks. Here's a well known fact about knitters in general: some can knit socks, and some cannot. It's a pretty accurate generalization and for a while I was quickly falling in the category of the folks that don't knit socks. But there were all those pretty sock patterns that I had come across over the years and the sock yarns were so beautiful...too beautiful to pass up SO... I learned to knit in the round but there were several things about sock knitting that just didn't cut it for me. For instance, the size of the needles...they were really small....I mean really small and when looking at them I thought to myself, "dang, that's going to take FOREVER to knit up something!" Then there was the fingering/sock yarn...it also was very small...but oh so pretty! Sock yarns can be quite beautiful...I mean REALLY gorgeous....definitely just looking at some really pretty sock yarns with vibrant colors will lure you in to at least try to knit some socks, right? It seemed to be that the biggest fear of knitting socks for a lot of people is making the heel flap, turning the heel and then forming the gussets. I began learning to knit socks last winter and started out with a pattern that I found on for bulky weight socks. I then looked on my favorite place for visual assistance...YOUTUBE! Btw, if you are a visual learner like me then definitely search youtube for learning all sorts of techniques...it really helps. Along the way I learned different techniques for making my socks look and feel like real socks. For instance, after picking up your stitches and forming the gussets, try picking up and extra stitch and then knitting that stitch together with the stitch on the needle that holds the instep stitches. That one little step closes the annoying holes that seem to appear at the base of the gusset (triangle part at the heel), and gives the sock a more finished look. I learned how to make socks from the toe up, and from the cuff down...grafting the toe for a seamless finish and a few other goodies...

OK ENOUGH TALK ...

Here's the socks I made! :)

Annnnnd here's a pair I'm working on...hopefully I'll finish these within the next day or so..

If you're a knitter and haven't experienced the "joy" of sock knitting, definitely give it a try. I have to say that since learning how to make my own socks I've become very spoiled and prefer hand knit socks over store bought ones. They feel wonderful on your feet and if you use wool yarn, will keep your feet warm and toasty without overheating your feet. So go and grab your needles and give it a try...you'll be glad you did!

SALE TIME!!

2010-12-04T07:51:00.000-08:00

***THIS WEEKEND ONLY DECEMBER 4 & 5*** Save an additional 20% off ANY item in my shop! SPECIAL IN-STORE PROMOTION Enter The Code "YARNIE20" in the code box when placing your order! THIS WEEKEND ONLY! Now's the time to grab all those goodies that you've been eyeing...but don't dawdle! Many of the items in my shop are OOAK One-Of-A-Kind and are very unique. All of my items come nicely wrapped in tissue and ribbons, ready for gift giving! Ok...ready...set...Shop Yarncoture NOW!

Bloopers And A Word Of Thanks....

2010-11-27T08:06:00.000-08:00

Every time I do a photo session I require the assistance of either my oldest son or daughter...sometimes both. They pretty much are familiar with my demands: having to pose in one position until I feel the lighting is just right, setting up my mannequin "Helga" or holding a white trash bag up to the window to filter the light when it's too sunny....sometimes we get pretty goofy and somehow I usually manage to capture it on my camera.

I would like to extend my warmest "thanks" to my wonderful staff...aka my kids.
They are incredibly talented...and are the loves of my life.

Oh Where Oh Where Has Yarnie Been???

2010-11-19T05:21:00.000-08:00

I know EVERYONE has been wondering...WHERE HAVE I BEEN??? To sum it all up....LIFE HAPPENS!! :-) I learned some good things along the way and found out some pretty disturbing things as well....heck, the whole darn thing would surely be the makings of a pretty good novel...hmmm...maybe in the future.

ANYWHOO...

I've been really busy learning how to make socks using both the toe up and cuff down methoods and I have to say that I really don't know why I was so afraid to knit them before! Hand knit socks are so comfortable and are a wonderful treat for your feet...I think that they are what I will be wearing this winter. Oh, and yes....I'll be posting some pics so stay tuned!

Through all the crazy stuff that went on in the past couple of months in my life I have managed to knit up some wonderful new items that are available for sale in my shop.

This Chunky OVERSIZED Cable knit scarf will definitely keep you warm and toasty!

If you want to stand out...check out this colorful Fall Harvest Neck Warmer/Ear Warmer and Scarf Set!

These Credit Card Holders/Coin Purse sets make great inexpensive gifts!

So many more new goodies in my shop!

See ya soon!

"Yarn"

Etsy Twitter Team SHOP OF THE WEEK!

2010-11-19T04:50:00.000-08:00

Every week the Etsy Twitter Team focuses on a particular team within the group. This week HuayruroPeru is the Shop Of The Week and I have to say that the shop boasts some interesting jewelry pieces as well as a quick lesson on Peruvian culture.

The wonderful shop owner makes beautiful jewelry out of the Huayruro seed which interestingly appears to be red and black.
To find out more about this wonderful jewelry designer, do visit her blog at:

http://huayruroperu.blogspot.com http://peruvianfood-comidaperuana.blogspot.com/

Or Follow her on Twitter at: http://twitter.com/Huayruro

Artist Of The Month!

2010-08-08T05:57:00.000-07:00

Get ready for a little whimsy! I came across this adorably fun Etsy shop called Chunky Chooky. This artist creates the most adorable rattles and plushies for toddlers and children made from recycled fabric...just take a look!

Chunky Chooky also makes the most adorable plushies!

ROCK-A-BILITY!

2010-08-04T10:26:00.000-07:00

Summer is almost over and that means it's time to start thinking about getting your Fall/Winter wardrobe in gear. A common question that many of us ask ourselves is where do I start? What accessories will best suit my style? Will everyone be seen wearing the SAME scarf or hat as me? Here are some great ideas from my shop that will give maximum "Rock-a-bility" to any outfit you choose to wear!

HEAD GEAR
This hand embroidered and crocheted newsboy hat raises the cuteness factor while giving you a sense of style.

Rock this brown and tan colored newsboy hat complete with vintage button accents...

NECKWEAR
Look confident at your next business meeting with this vintage inspired ascot in navy blue and turquoise!

Paired with a gray business suit or a pair of jeans this Knit Ascot In Gothic Gray with an enormous lotus flower will get you noticed!

Available in a wide range of colors, the Amazing Chunky Skinny Scarf will definitely draw attention to your femininity and will bring a whole new meaning of Rock-a-bility to your wardrobe!

HANDS
These made-to-order arm warmers can be made in a wide range of colors...just contact me at my Etsy Store for more details on how to place an order.

These Extraordinary Fingerless Gloves are a smart popular choice for the fashion-conscious and are available in almost every color of the rainbow!

These Retro-Victorian Ruffled Knit Cuffs are made from luxurious merino wool and silk yarn...definitely a rock-a-bility treat!

These are just a few of the goodies that I have in store for you to aid you in your Rock-A-Bility quest...for more great ideas, visit Yarncoture!

Excitement Is BREWING!!

2010-07-31T08:13:00.000-07:00

Recently I was featured in the Etsy Storque Blog Handmade Weddings: A Simple Fairytale where my Winter Shawl was featured. Dorana Hernandez of Dorana.etsy.com put together an incredible handmade wedding featuring talented Etsy shop owners.

THEN....

On Monday August 2, tune in to Jahzara Bradley's Blog Talk Radio Show where I will be a special guest! This is definitely a MAJOR event for me as I will share a little bit of myself with the rest of the world. Don't miss it!!

I'm BAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAACK!!

2010-07-22T07:17:00.000-07:00

Returning from a long vacation is never easy...getting back into the daily grind of the ole routine...homeschooling, running a business, being a wife and mother. It became very overwhelming as I thought about my upcoming BlogTalk Radio interview on August 2 with Jahzara Bradley, and the new video that I had to work on for my store, along with developing new strategies to promote my new website Yarncoture.Com AND work on a custom order that one of my dearest childhood friends placed while I was on vacation. Nevertheless I have decided to grab the reins and keep on bucking! Bessie is kicking up a lot of dust but hey, the only way I know is to keep on riding, so giddy-up Bessie....we've got things to DO! :-)

Indie Artist Spotlight of The Month!

2010-07-07T09:58:00.000-07:00

In an effort to help promote and support the ever-growing independent artist community I have decided to feature one Indie Artist per month! Indie Artists are being born every day due to the growing unfair practices of the over-bearing corporate world and due to the emerging needs of the individual to express themselves as individuals while making an honest living at doing what they love. This month's spotlight is on Quwwa Artworks a enormous and very insightful project started by Quwwa Davis. When you look at his artwork a level of extreme consciousness alerts the human soul as it gives the individual a good dose of reality that is expressed in his "Lifestyles Of The Ignored" series. Each piece presents a view of many people who go about their daily routines but are ignored by society as a whole. Homeless people, call center workers, struggling single parents...their experiences are captured in the incredible pastel drawings, paintings and mixed media pieces produced by this artist. Quwwa uses his artwork to be the unheard voice of the ignored population of society as a whole. Currently Quwwa Artworks is conducting a fund raising event to help support the Lifestyles of the Ignored Project. For more information on how to donate please visit Quwwa Artwork's Page At Indie GoGo You can also purchase some of his wonderful art at Quwwaart.etsy.com
or visit his page at Daughter Nature.Com to snag some fantastic deals on some of his original pieces!

Decisions...Decisions...

2010-06-01T09:27:00.000-07:00

It's funny how we make plans...we have everything planned out so perfectly and then here comes "Mr. Monkey Wrench" to spoil everything... Well nevertheless, I have decided to kick Mr. Monkey Wrench in the butt and come up with a new set of plans! In my last blog post I announced that my Etsy Shop would be closed for a month due to my upcoming vacation. I have decided to keep my shop open and just make the items while on vacation. I know that it sounds crazy but I would hate for anyone to wait an entire month to receive something from my shop. Working on Vacation...hmmm...I hope this doesn't start a nationwide trend!

SPRING - SUMMER ☺☺☺SALE☺☺☺

2010-05-25T05:16:00.000-07:00

Anticipating that Summer is just around the corner, I've decided to have a SALE!! In three weeks I'll be doing some re-arranging and planning and as a result, my ETSY SHOP will be closed for a month! Now thru May 30 shoppers will enjoy an additional 30% off every regular priced item in my shop!

Now's your chance to grab that special item that you've had your eye on or stock up for your special gift lists! The 30% discounts will be refunded through paypal, so be sure to spread the word and get ready to shop till you drop!

HAPPY SHOPPING!

Expectations..Thoughts FROM THE SOUL...

2010-05-19T06:28:00.001-07:00

Have you ever expected something wonderful to happen from someone or something,
BUT didn't quite get what you were expecting..

Or expected a person to behave in a certain way...
to say or do a certain thing...

Expecting to be amazed by the world around you..
to explore the four corners of this vast Earth that you have heard so much about.

ONLY TO FIND CLOSED EYES and EARS
to sincere efforts of comfort, compassion and love;
to the efforts of others,
to the expressions of emotion that the closed eyes would only see as you trying to destroy them...

ONLY TO FIND OPPRESSION..
Men, women and children sleeping in cardboard houses under highway bridges;
who have lost their homes that they thought was the "American Dream".
OR
People afraid to speak out against injustice for fear of abandonment by their friends, their families, or society as a whole.

ONLY TO FIND DESPAIR..
People going to jobs that they hate..slavery is alive and kicking again in America, and if you are thinking "well not for ME it isn't" THINK AGAIN.. If you are working for someone else...working their hours...only able to go to the bathroom or eat when THEY allow...paying a 30 year mortgage for 30 YEARS .. or hiding out from the "repo man"... then my friends, YOU are a slave to these things whether you like it or not.

ONLY TO FIND HATRED..
hatred of the inner-self;
from others wanting what you have;
towards you due to the color of your skin or lack of;
hatred for decency and display of good character;
hatred towards the poor;

ONLY TO FIND ABUSE
Mental..
Verbal..
Sexual..
Domestic..
Child...
Physical...

My EXPECTATIONS are HIGH..

I will say it again, and again, and again...

My EXPECTATIONS are HIGH!!
For myself, those I love and those who say that they love me...for me.

Someone once told me that people will ALWAYS fall short of your expectations.
We are human after all. This same person told me to put my trust in The Almighty, The Watcher, The Disposer of Affairs...for He will NEVER fall short of your expectations and will always come through for you.

So I Expect that
HE will be there for me to guide me,
HE will HEAR me when I complain,
HE will SEE me..and not turn me away,
HE will comfort me..

My expectations are high...My Expectations Are High....
MY
EXPECTATIONS
ARE
HIGH!!!

~Yarncoture Maryum~
©Copyright 2010 Yarncoture Maryum

New Look For The Bloggy!

2010-05-17T04:55:00.000-07:00

Crisp and fresh...that's the look I was going for and this time I think it fits! I was told that the previous layout that I had for my blog was better but to tell you the truth, the black background was causing problems with my vision as I would look away and still see lines of letters imprinted in my eyes. I wondered if any of my readers were experiencing the same thing, so I opted to change things around a bit and make things a little more crisp. I hope that you all like the new layout, as I am hoping that it will make the photographs 'pop' and give you a warm and fuzzy feeling inside! :-D

Please Show Your Support

2010-05-16T11:19:00.000-07:00

There is a war going on...a war against Hijab around the world. The islamic Hijab is a covering ordained by God in the Quran and designed to protect the believing woman from harassment and molestation. It is seen as a symbol of opression by many westerners but on the contrary, it is far from oppressing the woman..it liberates her! Society dictates that women must appear beautiful in public...her worth is determined by how she looks, if she is fat, skinny..etc. However through Islamic teachings, a woman is regarded as a jewel. For instance, when you go to a very expensive jewelery store i.e., Cartier, Harry-Winston, etc..they have jewelry that sits atop of the counter..it can be touched and viewed up close and obviously isn't worth a lot because you can grasp it. They then have jewelry that is behind the counter that you can cannot touch but you can still see...in order to see it you have to ask for assistance. Finally, they have the most precious and exquisite jewelry that is kept in a safe. Only those who are worthy are allowed to see it! In Islam, Muslim women are valued for their minds and what is in their hearts and her beauty both inside and out is viewed as precious...only to be seen by those who deserve it! So the next time you see a Muslim woman..don't feel sorry for her but instead, applaud her for she has the courage to protect herself and stand up against the frowns of disapproving folk.

Till next time..
~Yarn~

Time For FLOWERS! (Part 2)

2010-04-24T21:59:00.000-07:00

Hello my dear friends! It's 11:59 p.m. and I can't sleep so I thought I'd finish my blog on what types of flowers that I've come up with in my quest to find beautiful knit and crochet flowers! I ended up a few really nice patterns that I had purchased in the past as well as some new designs of my own. First up: The Bella's Garden Floral Art Scarf which was inspired by my wonderful fellow Etsian and dear friend Bella of BellaCosaArt.Etsy.Com She requested that I make a scarf for her full of interesting flowers that could be detachable if she so desired to wear them alone. I went to work and created this very special art scarf that bears her name: Bella's Enchanted Garden! The scarf is very versatile and can be made with a wide array of flower choices, enabling the customer personalize the scarf to suit their tastes.

Next up it the most recent version of the Bella's Garden Scarf: Bella's Little Garden in which only one brooch is used...very simple in design and easy to wear!

Lastly and in addition to some of my own designs that I have used in the Bella scarf series, I have developed my own pattern for a daisy knit flower YAY!! I really like it and it is quite simple in design but the finished look is very nice! Here it is on one of my latest creations , which is a knit neckband/headband called The Daisy! I've got so many more ideas bursting inside me...keep watching because I'm as much on pins and needles to see what I make next as much as you are! :-D

Time For FLOWERS! (Part 1)

2010-04-16T21:51:00.000-07:00

Spring is my FAVORITE time of year! All the new bright green buds, the baby bunnies taking a first peek from their burrow to all the new things that I want to create...it can be quite overwhelming, but in a supercalifragilisticexpialidocious sort of way! My mission this year so far has been for me to learn to KNIT flowers and I've found a few books to get me going that I would like to share:

The first book, 100 Flowers to Knit & Crochet: A Collection of Beautiful Blooms for Embellishing Garments, Accessories, and More by Lesley Stanfield has got me literally jumping out of my chair! It's packed with wonderful patterns of different flowers that are not so ordinary and will definitely make your projects extraordinary!

Next up is Crochet Bouquet: Easy Designs For Dozens Of Flowers by Suzann Thompson

This book will definitely be a staple in your crochet library if you're just starting out exploring different crocheting techniques as the instructions are very easy to follow and offers simple designs with room for personalization.

And last but certainly not least is Nicky Epstein's Crocheted Flowers..aaahh a wonderful book packed with everything you need to create beautiful bouquets, dainty and even felted flowers!

There are also patterns inside the book that show you what you can do with your lovely creations such as an adorable ear flap hat or a gorgeous fiesta flowered handbag!

Later this week look out for part 2 where I will show you what I've come up with in my quest to knit gorgeous flowers!

Till next time,
~Yarn~

The Wedding Shawl....

2010-04-01T10:09:00.000-07:00

Back in December I got a message all the way from the Netherlands from this wonderfully delightful woman who wanted me to make her a pink shawl for her wedding. After we got all the particulars in place, I ordered the yarn and as soon as it arrived I began to work on the shawl. We decided on using super soft baby alpaca yarn by Cascade and I have to tell you, this yarn is so INCREDIBLY soft...truly amazing! I finished making the shawl in a few days and packaged everything with ribbons tissue and then carefully sealed it for shipping. I thought to myself, "I really hope this makes it there safely!" WELL....I got a message from the buyer A MONTH LATER...NO PACKAGE!! My heart sank.. After diligently harassing the post office about the whereabouts of the package, I went ahead and ordered more yarn and proceeded to make another shawl for my customer. I kept checking with the buyer to see if the shawl had arrived. After I had completed the second shawl I proceeded to ship by FedEX but heck, they wanted $84!! I informed the buyer that I would look into shipping by another method the following Monday. On Monday, I got a very uplifting message from the buyer...the postman tried to deliver a package to her but due to the fact that she wasn't home they would try again the next day. I was on pins and needles and excited to know that the package I mailed would finally get to my customer! I was pleased to find out the next day that YES!! SHE GOT IT!! Here's what she had to say in the feedback she left:
Maryum really is the best! It took way too long for my package to arrive (I live in the Netherlands). When I contacted Maryum she started calling the post office right away. When she heard nothing she ordered the yarn and made a new shawl for me without a doubt! Thankfully the package arrived but her effort to help me was wonderful. And the shawl is the prettiest ever. Thanks!

After everything was over, I was delighted to have met such a wonderful customer..and simply grateful to have had the experience. These types of things CAN happen, but I am glad to know that the outcome was good and not disastrous!

Where Have I BEEN???

2010-03-26T17:51:00.000-07:00

Yep, I know you're all wondering...where has Yarncoture Maryum gone to?? Well to tell you the truth, I have been in sort of a funk... Over the last two months so many things have been going on... First, the wierd winter weather in Texas threw everyone for a loop. We received about 13 inches of snow in a two day period..something that is unheard of in this part of the United States. We were totally unprepared and I thought it to be the perfect time to learn to knit socks! After much trial and error I managed to make a few pair... I also went through a really emotionally draining episode with a gorgeous shawl that I completed and mailed to the Netherlands, but I'll save that one for another blog post. (Yeah I know...I like to keep ya in suspense!)

I'm slowly pulling out of my funk though...I've been really busy working on some new designs and for me, that's a beautiful thing!

Till next time...

~Yarn~

Welll...What Do Ya Know??

2010-02-20T05:18:00.000-08:00

My Vintage Inspired Ascot Necktie in Gothic Gray was featured on Etsy's front page yesterday!!! YES!!!

I just loved the color combination of the gray and turquoise...very unique!

I have to give a very special "Thank You" to CallMeMiMi for selecting all the wonderful items in the list! Here's a sample of some of the goodies in her Etsy store:

Momentum....Keeping It Up

2010-01-28T05:26:00.000-08:00

Well I finally got some more things listed this week in my Etsy Shop *YAY* and I have to tell you I am very excited! I made a couple more of my Retro-Victorian Knit Cuffs...the funny thing about the cream pair is that I didn't think to make them in cream/ivory until I saw the buttons which I had purchased waaaay before I made the cuffs. By the way, they're featured here on The Sassy Crafter's Blog! I thought to myself "oh wow..these would be perfect for some cream colored cuffs!" After I finished both pairs of cuffs I then shifted gears and completed my *first* all knit shrug/sweater!

This one was knit from 100% alpaca yarn by cascade and I have to tell you, this was the first time that I had the pleasure of knitting with alpaca yarn and I am in LOVE! It's not itchy WHATSOEVER and is an excellent choice for knitted items that are worn next to the skin. Oh, and the brooch...I handspun my own yarn from some tussah silk and merino wool roving that I purchased a while ago and crocheted a beautiful flower that I made into a brooch...the colors in the flowers compliment the sweater nicely and adds a touch of class. I have a few more goodies up my sleeves as I prepare for the unveiling of my spring line...stay tuned!

Etsy Twitter Team Shop Of The Week!

2010-01-21T04:59:00.000-08:00

This weeks featured shop is Sweet Water Inspirations!

In this wonderful shop , owner and designer Wendy Hamilton offers her customers distinctive hand-crafted jewelry of exceptional quality and value. Within her shop you can find gifts for men, women, brides, and teens. You can see that in every piece that Wendy makes she takes pride and is very meticulous with her workmanship to ensure a special pieces for each of her customers.
Wendy admits that "I love to work with metal wire (sterling, copper, brass) and love the sparkle and unique qualities found in glass, stone, and semi-precious beads. I choose materials of quality and pride myself on representing my materials and jewelry with integrity. I purchase my materials in small quantities, so I sell limited production or one of a kind pieces." And it shows! Great job Wendy!!

Please see her shop for international shipping details and convo her if you need more information.

FREE US SHIPPING on all items in her Etsy shop
- PLUS a 10% discount on purchases totaling $50 or more* ·
Discount will be refunded to PayPal after payment or you may convo her before payment for a revised invoice. Texas residents - applicable purchase of $50 is calculated before sales tax. International shipping is not included in applicable minimum purchase and discount does not apply to shipping.

Cabled Fingerless Mitts In Denim Blue

2010-01-10T06:36:00.000-08:00

Fingerless gloves are here to stay! Hand knit in luxurious wool yarn, these gloves will be your hottest fashion accessory this fall/winter season. The unique ribbed design makes these gloves an easy fit for small to larger sized hands. The pretty cabled detail prevent the gloves from slipping off your wrists while adding a sense of style! You will definitely find yourself reaching for these gloves again and again to finish off all your favorite ensembles! Hand knit with lots of love from a 97% wool 3% polyester yarn.

Size - One size fits most
Care - Hand wash in cool water, lay flat to dry.

PRICE $35

E M E R G E N C E........Poetry From The Soul

2010-01-05T11:46:00.000-08:00

This is a the newest poem that I wrote for my continuing series "Poetry From The Soul"...read...absorb...reflect...and enjoy!

E M E R G E N C E

Deep within the darkness of the depths of my inner soul...
through the weariness...the worry..
I finally see my enemy;
The one who I have been battling, fearing, hating....
that enemy is ME.

An enemy to myself...locked in the darkness of fear and jealousy..
in the darkness of selfishness and cowardice and over-contemplation.

Unaware that I was my enemy;
stifling my heart of expression,
preventing friendships to blossom...

Unaware that I was the one
who didn't speak up for myself,though I wanted to..
who didn't speak against oppression though I thought of doing so...

Unaware that I was the one who kept others from loving me..seeing me..hearing me..and comforting me.

FEAR was my enemy and I had allowed FEAR to become ME.

I ran through the endless fields of darkness looking for a way out.
I searched countless corners only to find no openings...no cracks..no scent of comfort.

My mind was overcome by the prison of fear yet I walked this Earth in a path that seemed to be diminishing....I was unaware that I was walking...at all.

I needed to hold someone's hand, yet no hands were extended to me.
So I thought...

My soul screamed so loud that no one could hear it..the sound had blended in with the everyday sounds of the hustle and bustle of the world. I knew then that I could no longer sit in the darkness...in fear.

With one leap I was able to find an opening..some peace...some comfort..

I...AM...EMERGING

Little by little I started to gain confidence...courage...slowly dispelling my fears..my enemy..what had become ME.

I started to walk with my feet firmly taking every confident step..all the while fighting and ripping away the ME that I had become;
like walking against 200mph winds,

I...AM...EMERGING

You will see me smile, and in my smile you will see the depths of my soul, but you will see no darkness there;

I...AM...EMERGING

My voice will command respect and instill hope while it comforts and encourages you;

I...AM...EMERGING

YOU will SEE ME..YOU will not be able to avoid me..NO LONGER will I be invisible to you;

I...AM...EMERGING

When I walk by...the scent of triumph, endurance, positive thinking, courage, trust, and that of a blissful soul will penetrate your nostrils and invade your bloodstream and become so much a part of your inner being that you will not be able to survive without it.

I...AM...EMERGING...

You will see me...

You will hear me...

I'm coming for you...I'm not stopping...not stopping..

THIS IS MY E M E R G E N C E

By Yarncoture Maryum
©Copyright 2010 Yarncoture Maryum All Rights Reserved

It's A Long..LONG..Race..

2009-12-27T09:45:00.000-08:00

It's funny...the words of the Bruce Hornsby And The Range song are echoing in my mind "It's a long...long..race; If I tried, I will surely finish (or win it..I forget the words lol..) I remember the rest of the words mainly flows into a love song, but the main chorus of the long race always sticks and is a reminder to me on how to deal with the difficulties and hardships that this big test called life will bring. Each situation is tailored to each individual and is extraordinarily a manifestation of the Creator's Awesomeness. I decided to start reading How Allah Provides by Muhammad M. al-Sha'rawi and was so comforted and at the same time amazed at how every living creature's provisions and needs are met.

I used to fret every time I put hours of work into my Etsy Shop and still have a sparse amount of views and sales. It is soooo easy to forget that without God's permission/help NOTHING can happen. Some people say, "well what about people who don't believe in God?" The book addresses that issue very clearly and profoundly ( if you wanna know then purchase a copy for yourself :-D ) I was dumbfounded as I slowly began to receive inquiries and sales from people all over the world about my designs and how they can purchase them. I knew that only Allah (God) could be sending these customers to me, thus my provision was arriving right on time from all over the world. It is truly amazing to see this happen and I am so grateful to Him for blessing me with this extraordinary talent!

I'm Finally A KNITTER !!!

2009-12-22T07:51:00.000-08:00

Okay so I have been knitting for like 3+ years now and when I began learning, I would never consider myself as a "knitter". In my mind, a knitter was someone who could knit cables, lace, haute couture designs that you would see in Vogue Magazine, etc. To me, knitting took WAAAY TOO LONG but the beautiful results were well worth it. The first thing that I knitted was a purse for my daughter....basically 2 rectangles that were knitted in stockinette with a few garter rows in between. She loved it and still uses it today.. I began to knit lots of things and slippers were my number one choice to knit. It still seemed to take a long time to knit though, as being a self-taught knitter I first taught myself using the 'throwing' method. I thought to myself, "there has got to be a better way" and I then discovered the continental knitting method. It literally cut my knitting time in half! Since then I have overcome my fears of knitting in the round, cabling and textured knitting. I'm slowly entering the designing phase and am realizing that I can actually be a knitter...heck I AM A KNITTER!! :)

Etsy Twitter Team Shop Of The Week!

2009-12-21T05:35:00.000-08:00

This week Noadi's Art takes the center stage as the Etsy Twitter Team's shop of the week! There's a genuine love and passion behind the sculpture and jewelry that you find swimming at Noadi's. Cephalopods, fossils, crabs, and other denizens of the sea fill this shop and artist Sheryl Westleigh wouldn't have it any other way. A 27 year old Maine native, Sheryl's love for science and these unique and intelligent creatures inspires every one of her original, polymer clay creations.

From intricately tentacled steampunk cephalopods bristling with gears to quirky specimen jar pendants and platypus ornaments, you can find the perfect gift for the science lover in your life, or for yourself, in this unique shop.

Sheryl says, " I really do love the subjects I base my creations on.It's really wonderful that I've found an outlet for it that sells, and that allows me to bring in my other interests."
In addition to the Etsy Twitter Team, Sheryl is also a member of Seller Helping Sellers on Etsy, and has plenty of tips for those wanting to use Twitter as a means of promoting work and building your business.
"Make strategic use of autoposting of new items and deals. No more than 3 new items at a time. When I have deals that are scheduled to autopost, I do it no more than once every 4 hours. That seems to be a frequency that gets enough attention from my followers without becoming annoying. I also network with others who share my interests in science, etc, outside of the Etsy community, and that has led to sales. "

Sheryl's favorite thing about her art? "That I can do it for a living. And working with polymer clay is a joy, too. I love the stuff! Its so versatile." But marine animals and polymer clay aren't her only loves- she has a beautiful llama named Lauren, as well.

Noadi ships internationally to the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and all of Europe. Visit Noadi's Art at http://noadi.etsy.com/ or find her on:

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/noadi
Blog: http://noadi.blogspot.com/
Website: http://www.noadi.net/

Free stamped octopus cards with every order, no code needed.

Craft Fair Recap...

2009-12-20T07:08:00.000-08:00

Well, another craft fair has come and gone. The North Haven Garden center hosted its Holiday Show on December 5th and 6th and the turnout was yet again sparse. We arrived Saturday morning at about 9:15 a.m. and got a spot right at the door. It was pretty chilly outdoors but because the fair was held inside the greenhouse we kept warm and cozy.

I set up my table rather quickly as I had arranged all of my items in packing containers the day before. With all of the rushing I didn't have time to make a banner for my table, so I made sure that every item had a Yarncoture tag with pricing/sizing information. One small table held all of my spa/kitchen related items as well as my daughters' famous keychains (to which they sold quite a few), while the larger table held my hats, scarves, shawls and other miscellaneous items.

I had a quite few new items that were on display that I had not yet listed in my Etsy Shop and to my surprise, I sold a couple of them! My new head mannequin "Helga II" made her debut and definitely helped me to sell a couple of hats, one of which was a custom order that I whipped up and sold the very next day!

My daughters were with me again and they were as usual the social butterflies that they are! They hit every table and sold about 7 keychains between them. It was a wonderful experience for them as future businesswomen!

Overall, this craft fair proved to be yet again another wonderful learning experience. I got loads of helpful pointers and tips from other attending sellers and met a few new friends! Some of the wonderful shops in attendance were:

Haster's Toffee
Enchanted Frog Soap

Natures Images Photography
Karma Crochet
Hats By Millinerium
Beautiful Crochet by Modest Ambition
Alicia Colina-Ashby Designs
EBRAUNNAGEL
Cut Out And Collect Designs
Three Yellow Starfish
Eye On The Sparrow Designs
Scentsy
The Pig And The Peacock
Yoga In The Pines
Fis For Frank
JMargot Jewelry Designs
Tefi Designs
and Emma Allison Designs (who by the way, made some gorgeous earrings for my daughters!)

A great time was had by all...here's to the next show!

Disturbing News...

2009-12-19T20:04:00.000-08:00

One of the most diverse street teams on Etsy is about to be no more: The Etsy Artists Of Color street team will cease to exist at the end of 2009. This news is very disturbing to me and I can only hope that the team can pull itself back together. I have met many great artisans through EAOC and hope that those relationships can continue. My only hope is that each and every artisan of EAOC has continued success throughout the years with their businesses.

So long Team EAOC,
~Yarn~

Etsy Twitter Team Shop Of The Week!

2009-12-08T14:36:00.000-08:00

This week Jusshar Designs takes the spotlight as the Etsy Twitter Team's featured shop of the week! This fellow crocheter has the cutest designs in her Etsy shop and is an accomplished knitter as well "I absolutely adore making the sweater shrugs that I have listed as a custom item in my shop! I was surprised at how popular they are with brides."

Jusshar has the cutest accessories from newsboy hats to scarves to coffee cup cozies and right now she's offering 10%Off For Fans Of Jusshar On Facebook With
Free Shipping in the US and Discounted Rates for Those Outside
The US.

OverWHELMED!!

2009-12-02T06:12:00.000-08:00

That's how I feel right now... This Saturday and Sunday Dec. 5th and 6th I will be participating in the NHG Holiday Show where I will be selling my knitted and crocheted items. I've been knitting like crazy to prepare for it, and as always it seems as if there will never be enough time to knit and crochet everything that I would like to! My two daughters will be attending the show to help keep me company as well as assist in sales. During the last month I had a wonderful custom request by my dear thread mate Dorana from the MMG BNR thread. She was in need of a wrap to wear at her upcoming wedding that would take place outdoors. I was able to create this very special wrap for her. This beautiful wrap was crocheted with a luxurious alpaca, silk and wool yarn that is extremely warm yet elegantly delicate. I then received another request from a returning customer for another Vintage Inspired Ascot Necktie in a beautiful cherry red silk-alpaca-wool I also had a couple of requests for a uniquely knitted and felted hat designed by Terri Barr in which the top is left open to let dreadlocks or braids spill out and hang down.

These hats were felted by me BY HAND! No washing machine was used because the hat felts up rather quickly and doing it by hand allows me to control the shrinkage for a perfect fit. I definitely will be adding more of these to my shop after the NHG show!

I've Been Featured!!

2009-11-20T12:43:00.000-08:00

A while ago I started listing items on US Trendy just to see if my designs would be noticed... Well, I received an email today that I've been featured! Click here to see!

A Calm Moment In All The Madness..

2009-10-29T08:32:00.000-07:00

For the last two days I have been totally stressed out...work, deadlines, family...it can definitely take its toll on a soul (hey, that rhymes!)..
I just received this email from my aunt in New York..attached was this rare photo that was taken a few days ago at the North Pole of the sun setting with the moon above it. As soon as I looked at this photo I began to feel some calmness again Alhamdolillah...it is truly amazing how the Creator's gifts can be so awesome and can provide so much comfort to a soul.

100 Sales GIVEAWAY!!!

2009-10-15T03:48:00.000-07:00

Yarncoture will hopefully soon be hitting the 100 sales mark!! This is definitely a momentous occasion for me and I want to celebrate with you in a very special way!

HERE'S THE DEAL....

To the customer who purchases the 100th ITEM in MY ETSY SHOP I will be giving away the following items:

These gorgeous "Give Me The Moon" earrings from Designs By LaShelle

This BEAUTIFULLY lettered calligraphy card by Jerise

These fun to wear earrings by Kimikal!

ANNNNND
A Pair of My QUICK MITTS Fingerless Gloves!!!

So far, I have sold 94 ITEMS!!! YAY!!!!!...SO only 6 more items need to be sold! This is a wonderful chance for anyone to stock up on gifts for any occasion AND win a few extra goodies! I will notify the winner and the prizes will be shipped to the winner, free of charge! Now, GO SHOP! :)

Etsy Twitter Team Shop Of The Week!

2009-10-15T03:18:00.000-07:00

This week's spotlight is on MindyG's Shop! I can already see that MindyG's jewelry boutique will by one of my favorites! When you look around her shop you will find many breathtaking pieces with gems like quartz, abalone, and pearls! Her craftsmanship is second to none and I can't wait until I get to own one of her original designs!

Temporarily HOMELESS...

2009-10-14T05:38:00.000-07:00

It's been raining like crazy here in Dallas....so much to where there are many stationary puddles in the backyard, forcing many underground creatures to evacuate their homes. My kids noticed this foot long earthworm on the patio and I was simply amazed at how long that thing was! Back in Chicago, I remember walking to grade school in the rain and trying not to step on the many worms that were on the wet sidewalks. None of them were this long! Here in Texas I really haven't noticed any worms until recently.

Hopefully this big guy made it safely to a new home!

Introducing.....RIJAAL

2009-10-12T06:25:00.000-07:00

What is RIJAAL you say? It's simply an arabic word for 'men' and it utterly describes my new line of accessories (and hopefully clothing) for men!

When you visit my Etsy Shop there's a section called "RIJAAL" that holds items that cater to men! Currently the selection includes gloves, hats and scarves/neckwarmers for men...I've gotten a pretty good response on my men's items so far so hopefully I can keep up the momentum and continue adding at least one item per week. Keep an eye out for this one, because it's gonna get SPICY!!

Etsy Twitter Team Shop Of The Week!

2009-10-07T06:44:00.000-07:00

This week's feature is on Pretty Whimsical's Shop!
Scrabble tile pendants are growing very popular and this shop offers a wide variety of pendants affixed to a scrabble tile!
You'll find whimsical quotations, pretty prints of flowers and even cool retro designs! Do check out her shop!

THE JEWEL..Thoughts From The Soul..

2009-10-04T06:11:00.000-07:00

My Thought Of The Day...
" A jewel is like a star....it is only considered precious if it can be thought of, admired and hoped for from afar...only attainable by one special soul to enjoy. HOWEVER if it is brought close and totally revealed of all its splendor and numerous eyes have seen it and several hands have touched it and many hearts lust for it, it is no longer precious to that one special person who it was truly meant for.....it becomes a common, ordinary, cheap adornment...and the one who attains it feels cheated...they no longer have something precious....they settled for less.."
~Yarncoture Maryum~

©Yarncoture Maryum All Rights Reserved
P.S. There's a message in this to the wise...

Etsy Twitter Team Shop Of The Week!

2009-09-29T06:30:00.000-07:00

Ambient Lights takes the spotlight this week with its wonderful spa products, handmade scented soy candles and goodies! A real eye opener in this shop is the Aromatic Sink Freshener which is a wonderful cure for a stinky sink! The Wildberry Tea handmade soy candle looks like it smells scrumptious and definitely ignites my curiousness about the shop! Do stop by and sniff for yourself!

Etsy Twitter Team Shop Of The Week!

2009-09-16T06:33:00.000-07:00

Made For You By Sandi is a wonderful shop filled with crocheted items, beautiful jewelry items and wonderful items for the kitchen! Sandi's felted bowls are especially cute and provide a wonderful place to put your keys, potpourri or just about anything! Visit her Etsy Shop and discover a wonderful place to shop!

!!!BIG SALE THIS WEEKEND!!!!

2009-09-03T06:29:00.000-07:00

So I decided to have a hoot of a sale this weekend in my Yarncoture.Etsy.Com store.....

Starts MIDNIGHT **TONIGHT 9-03-09 And Ends Sunday Night 9-06-09**

15% OFF Your ENTIRE Purchase

Annnd **FREE SHIPPING** On Most Scarves!

Just enter the code "WEEKEND DEALS" at the checkout and your 15% difference will be refunded by paypal!

You May NEVER See A Sale Like This Again This Year!!

Fetching Fingerless Gloves!!!

2009-09-01T10:44:00.000-07:00

I Made My FIRST Pair Of Earrings!!!

2009-08-24T08:18:00.000-07:00

I am so pleased at how these turned out!! I purchased some earring findings from one of my favorite sellers on Etsy CharmingWren originally to use the beads for some of my yarn creations. When I got the beads in the mail, I was like..."hmmm..I just might have to make some earrings for myself!" Well, here they are! They measure about 2 inches long with the earwires and all the beads are copper.
I went on youtube to find out how to wrap the wires and found a cool video that was quick and to the point. Now I am really excited because I can now make the earrings and pendants that I always wanted but could never find. I am wearing these babies TODAY!

Etsy Twitter Team Shop Of The Week!

2009-08-17T07:39:00.001-07:00

This week the Etsy Twitter Team is featuring Fire Bird House Designs and I must say that this shop definitely has some wonderful items! Her shop features exotic pieces that boast moorish, chinese and moroccan influence while adding her own style to each piece.

Definitely give her shop a look if you like stylish, exotic jewelry that you won't see anywhere else!

Time's Running OUT!!

2009-08-10T04:04:00.000-07:00

For what you ask? I entered my Vintage Inspired Ascot Necktie in the DIY Wedding Crafts contest hosted by The Martha Stewart Show in conjunction with Etsy! The more views and comments I get, the better my chances so please click on THIS LINK to view my ascot along with all the other wonderful entrants! The grand prize is the winning item being shown on the Martha Stewart Show! The contest ends on Sept 1, so please go and take a look at some of the cool entries, totaling 2000+ so far!

I Got Some YARN In The Mail!!!

2009-08-07T06:34:00.000-07:00

Yep! Here's a pic of my gorgeous yarn that I won from KittyGrrlz !!!! Here are the specs:

~ 58 Yards
~ 2.4 oz.
~ 70 grams
~ 80% merino
~ 20% silk

Overall the yarn has a nice feel to it..the colors are beautiful..reminds me of my dream granite counter tops that I hope to own someday! Flecks of teal, muave, blue,and wine are evenly distributed through out the skein. Also included in the package was a lovely bookmark that is actually a photo print of some of her beautiful yarn...thank you KittyGrrlz for this wonderful yarn and cool bookmark! I have some ideas as to what I want to make from this but until then...MY LIPS ARE SEALED! :)

Annnd..

I bought some gorgeous destash yarn from My Mix Mix that I've had my eye on for quite some time. This yarn is a really beautiful colorway from Gedifra Yarns. This yarn is super soft, not itchy (I ran it across my neck to be sure!) and will be just perfect for a neckwarmer for the Fall/Winter season.

I know EXACTLY what I'm making from this yarn, as most of my yarn projects are born from the texture and quality of the yarn...trust me, it's going to be fabulous!
;)

Summer SALE

2009-08-06T08:49:00.000-07:00

As many of you may already know, Yarncoture has been having an incredible sale this summer! Free Worldwide Shipping is offered on most of my Scarves, Scarflettes, and Neckwarmers AND my SUMMER SALE SECTION has many new items as well. You can choose free shipping on my scarves or save up to %70 on many items in my sale section. So, what are you waiting for?? Stop on by and $$SAVE$$ !

Etsy Twitter Team Shop Of The Week!

2009-08-04T12:08:00.000-07:00

Uber Art's Shop is in the spotlight this week bringing to you beautiful designs for unique handmade journals, guest books and polymer clay pendants. The beautiful selection of journals takes you from rustic styles with sea glass embellishments to beautiful guest books for your next special party! Do stop by her shop and tell her that "Yarn" sent ya!

Fabulous Saturday!

2009-08-02T09:38:00.000-07:00

Have you ever had a day that when so many incredible things happen to you, it's overwhelming? Well yesterday I got an email from Kitty Grrlz Handspun Yarns saying that I was their giveaway winner! I won a free skein of yarn of my choosing! I have always admired Kitty Grrlz yarns but I can be quite the penny pincher so I have never had the opportunity to purchase her yarns. I'll post pictures just as soon as it arrives!

On to thriller #2!!!

I got an Etsy Conversation from Gillstrap Designs that I'm on the FRONT PAGE of Etsy!!
I frantically clicked the link to see if it was still there and VOILA!! This was my very first time seeing one of my items on the front page of Etsy!!! It was a thrill that I'll never forget....

I'm speechless!!

Annnnd....

I have just completed my 101st post on this blog! I HAVE to celebrate! Maybe a super cool giveaway, huh? Hmmm...STAY TUNED!!!!!

My Daughter Made The Etsy GIFT GUIDES!!

2009-08-01T12:17:00.000-07:00

Remember the neckwarmer and cuffs set that my daughter made?? Well, it made the Shades Of Peridot Gift Guides!! Take a look!

Mitts For My Sis!

2009-07-28T11:37:00.000-07:00

I came across these mitts today while packing an order for a recent customer. I knitted these gloves for my older sister...*ahem* last year, but never gave them to her.. Fingerless gloves have been on my mind a lot lately which means that I've got to get cracking so that my shop will be well stocked for the upcoming winter season. These particular gloves were knit using soft acrylic yarn and will be available in my store soon!

Etsy Twitter Team Shop Of The Week!

2009-07-17T07:38:00.000-07:00

This week's spotlight is on Beadwork By Amanda whose Etsy shop is filled with beautiful bead weavings, bezel resin pendant & kits! Check out her shop if you want to be pleasantly surprised!

I'm So Happy!!

2009-07-14T05:13:00.000-07:00

Wow, another front page appearance on Etsy!! I am so happy and grateful!
The only thing is..I always miss it...I never get to see it while it's there, lol!

Vote For Me Pleeeeeease!!

2009-07-09T10:50:00.000-07:00

I entered my Vintage Inspired Ascot Necktie in the DIY Wedding Crafts contest hosted by The Martha Stewart Show in conjunction with Etsy! The more views and comments I get, the better my chances so please click on THIS LINK to view my ascot along with all the other wonderful entrants! The grand prize is the winning item being shown on the Martha Stewart Show!

Oh... My BABY!!

2009-07-09T10:33:00.000-07:00

Recently I opened a section in my shop entitled Made By My Kids that showcases items that my daughters and sons made. Well today I listed this beautiful Flower Petals Neckwarmer and Cuffs Set !! My 10 year old daughter made this set all by herself (with the exception of me sewing on the bow) and I couldn't be more proud! Pretty soon, she's going to put me out of business, lol!!

Ok, This Is Incredible!

2009-07-07T04:23:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I noticed a huge jump in hearts for a particular item...I checked out www.craftcult.com to see what was going on. I found out that I was featured in the Etsy Gift Guides along with ANOTHER FRONT PAGE APPEARANCE featuring my Vintage Inspired Ascot Necktie!!! I am so humbled right now that I am speechless!

Another Beautiful Front Page Feature!!

2009-07-05T21:56:00.000-07:00

I was pleasantly surprised last night when I found out that one of my Vintage Inspired Ascot Neckties was featured on the front page of Etsy Sunday evening!

I hope that this is the beginning of many more to come!

ICING On The CAKE!!!

2009-07-03T20:05:00.000-07:00

One more surprise for my store anniversary today....

I WAS ON THE FRONT PAGE OF ETSY TODAY!!!!!

My ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY !!!

2009-07-01T13:32:00.000-07:00

Well it has been quite a ride, and it will be one year this Friday July 3, 2009 that Yarncoture will be celebrating its first anniversary!! All my success that I have experienced my abilities/skills are all due to Almighty God...through rough times and good, I have to always remember that nothing happens without His permission! I've learned so many things...experienced many types of customers and I have to give a special thanks to my Australian supporters who have purchased things from my shop! It really means a lot when someone halfway across the world is moved enough to want to buy something without even seeing it in person...and the icing on the cake is when they leave wonderful feedback expressing how much they love my knitted and crocheted items!

I've got so many new and exciting things planned for the upcoming year...more items for the home and more women's and men's clothing. Childrens items will still be up in the air due to the CPSIA rulings. But don't worry: I'm still watching as to what the final rulings/laws will be so keep watching!

To celebrate my anniversary, I will be offering FREE WORLDWIDE SHIPPING on many of my scarves! I also have quite a few items ON SALE with reductions up to 60% off so be sure to stop by and check those out..you won't be disappointed!

To my bloggy friends/supporters (((HUGS))!!!! This blog couldn't have kept on going if there was no one to read my rants, jokes, and share my triumphs with. A warm Thank You goes out to all of you!

Until the next time..
~Yarn~
:)

BLAZING...Hot...WEATHER/How-To-Cope

2009-06-28T07:47:00.001-07:00

Yep, it's blazing HOT outdoors and this is just the beginning of Summer! Always known for its dry heat, the Texas weather can be treacherous. Here are some important facts and tips on how to deal with extremely hot weather:
Periods of extremely hot weather--heat waves--can cause serious health problems for everyone. In fact, among weather-related events, heat waves are a leading cause of death. Illinois experienced this firsthand in July 1995, when extreme heat contributed to the deaths of more than 700 people in the Chicago area. The following are commonly asked questions about heat-related conditions and how to safely cope with them.

Why do high air temperatures affect the body?

Normally, the body cools itself by sweating. If temperatures and humidity are extremely high, however, sweating is not effective in maintaining the body's normal temperature. When this happens, blood chemistry can change and internal organs--including the brain and kidneys--can be damaged. Heat also can be stressful if the temperature changes suddenly, since it usually takes several days for the body to adjust to heat.

What are some of the most common heat-related conditions?

The most common heat-related conditions are heatstroke, heat exhaustion, heat cramps, sunburn and heat rash. Heatstroke and heat exhaustion are the most serious conditions.

What is heatstroke?

Heatstroke occurs when the body becomes unable to control its temperature: the body's temperature rises rapidly, the sweating mechanism fails and the body is unable to cool down. Body temperature may rise to 106 degrees F or higher within 10 to 15 minutes. Heatstroke can result from overexposure to direct sunlight, with or without physical activity, or to very high indoor temperatures. It can cause death or permanent disability if emergency treatment is not given.

What are the symptoms of heatstroke and how are they treated?

Symptoms of heatstroke include an extremely high body temperature (above 103 degrees F, orally); red, hot and dry skin; rapid pulse; throbbing headache; dizziness; nausea; confusion; and unconsciousness.

If symptoms of heatstroke are present, find a cool place, preferably an air-conditioned indoor setting. Outside, find a spot in the shade. Put the person in a semi-sitting position. Loosen his or her clothing and bathe the head and body with COLD water. Seek medical attention immediately.

What is heat exhaustion?

Heat exhaustion can result when too much time is spent in a very warm environment, resulting in excessive sweating without adequate fluid and electrolyte (salt and minerals) replacement. This can occur either indoors or outdoors, with or without exercise.

What are the symptoms of heat exhaustion and how are they treated?

Symptoms of heat exhaustion may include dizziness, headache, nausea, abdominal cramps, shallow breathing, cool and clammy skin, muscle tremors and heavy perspiration.

A person suffering from heat exhaustion should be moved to an air-conditioned environment if possible. If outside, move the person to a shady spot. Loosen the person's clothing and encourage him or her to drink cool, non-alcoholic, decaffeinated beverages. Keep the person quiet. It may be necessary to seek medical attention if symptoms worsen or last longer than one hour or if the person has heart problems or high blood pressure. If left untreated, heat exhaustion may progress to heatstroke.

How can I avoid heat exhaustion and heatstroke?

Try to keep cool during extremely hot weather. Stay in a cool environment (preferably air conditioned), drink plenty of fluids--such as water, fruit juices or fruit drinks--and use common sense. Heat injury may develop with or without feelings of discomfort.

What if I do not have an air conditioner?

Seek out the nearest facility that is air conditioned, such as a cooling shelter, a senior citizen center, a church, the local YMCA or a center designated by your community. Even short periods of time in a cool environment will lessen the risk of heat injury. Fans alone will not effectively cool an overheated person when air temperatures are above 100 degrees F.

In the wake of the 1995 heat wave in Chicago, many older persons reported being afraid to open windows or to venture out of their homes to go to cooling centers. In these situations, people may want to contact the local police, their church or a community group about being escorted to the nearest cooling center.

What is "plenty of fluids"?

"Plenty of fluids" means at least 1-1/2 to 2 quarts of fluids daily. This can be water, fruit juice, or fruit-flavored or carbonated drinks. Since aging can cause a decreased thirst sensation, elderly persons should drink water, fruit juices or other fruit drinks at regular intervals during the day, even if they do not feel thirsty. Avoid alcoholic beverages and those containing caffeine. Salt tablets are not substitutes for fluids.

What are some good tips on how to avoid heat-related problems?

Use a buddy system. If you are working in the heat, check on coworkers and have someone else do the same for you. If you are at home and are 65 years of age or older or have a chronic health problem, ask a friend, relative or neighbor check on you at least twice a day, even if you have air conditioning. If you know someone who is 65 years of age or older or who has a chronic health problem, check on them at least twice a day.

Limit outdoor activities. Try to plan activities for the coolest times of the day--before noon and in the evening. When physically active, rest frequently in the shade.

Drink plenty of fluids. During hot weather, you will need to drink more liquid than your thirst indicates. Even if you remain indoors and limit your activity, your body still needs to replace lost fluids, salt and minerals. Make an extra effort to drink a minimum of six to eight 8 oz. glasses of cool fluids daily. During heavy exercise in a hot environment, drink two to four glasses of cool fluids each hour. Parents should be sure young children get sufficient fluids. If you are on a special fluid-restricted diet or if you take diuretics, ask your physician about fluid intake during hot weather.

Protect your body. Wear as little clothing as possible when indoors, and wear light colored, loose fitting clothing outdoors. When spending time outdoors, avoid direct sunlight, wear a hat and use a sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) greater than 15 to protect yourself against sunburn.

Never leave children, the elderly or pets in a parked car, not even for just a few minutes.The air temperature inside a car rises rapidly during hot weather and can lead to brain damage or death.

A final reminder--take care of your pets. In many ways, dogs and cats react to hot weather as humans do. Offer pets extra water and be sure to place the water dish in a shaded area if outdoors. Make sure pets have a protected place where they can get away from the sun.

Wordless Wednesday....

2009-06-24T09:17:00.000-07:00

Here's my first Wordless Wednesday!

~Bedspread...~

2009-06-24T08:32:00.000-07:00

On one of my beds right now....it took about a month to complete!

Etsy Twitter Team Shop Of The Week!

2009-06-15T05:59:00.000-07:00

Rose Bush Designs takes the spotlight as this week's featured Twitter Team member! Rose Bush Designs' shop is filled with wonderful handmade cards for all occasions. This Thank You Card is just one of the many wonderful designs that this shop has to offer. Stop on by and see just what else is waiting for you!

Etsy Twitter Team Shop Of The Week!

2009-06-10T06:44:00.000-07:00

Hello all,
When I was notified that NdnChick.etsy.com was the shop of the week, I was thrilled because this shop has just about EVERYTHING!! From beaded ink pens, to bookmarks to handmade cards...NdnChick's shop doesn't skimp on quality and offers beautiful and fresh designs! Go and check out her shop, and tell her "Yarn" sent ya!

2ND ANNUAL ETSY YART SALE!!

2009-06-09T11:42:00.000-07:00

What is "Yart" you ask?
Yard Sale + Art = YART!!

That's right! Starting tomorrow, June 10 thru Sunday June 14 Etsy will be having it's annual YART sale, so dust off those listings that haven't sold yet, destash and vintage items and join in the fun! Here's a link to my section in my shop for MY YART SALE ITEMS Regular prices will resume 12 midnight central standard time June 15, so take advantage of the special LOW prices and shop till you drop!

The ~Lovely Blog~ Award

2009-06-08T09:30:00.000-07:00

Gloria's Jewelry Box has awarded Yarncoture's Blog with the "Lovely Blog Award"!! This is such an honor! Gloria's Jewelry Box has the most beautiful jewelry in her Etsy Shop . Thank you so much for this wonderful honor and hopefully soon I will post my Lovely Blog Award choices...hey, it could be YOU!

TREASURE HUNT!!!

2009-06-08T09:16:00.000-07:00

Yep you read it right...I will be participating in my first team treasure hunt!!! Team EAOC (The Etsy Artists Of Color) will be having a spectacular summer themed treasure hunt starting on June 18!! Details will be posted soon, so keep watching for your chance to win some fabulous prizes!!

Ok.....DON'T Laugh...

2009-06-04T05:35:00.000-07:00

I thought I'd try my hand at art...my oldest son and daughter are both good at it. My hubby, who is an artist (darn good one too, imho) and when I showed him this ACEO (art cards, editions and originals) he was like, "it's good".

Anyways, with all the creative juices constantly flowing throughout my family, this is what I came up with. It's an original drawing/sketching using charcoal and colored pencils on matte paper measuring 3.5 x 2.5 inches. My oldest son saw it and was like, "is that an expression of how you are feeling?" Wow, kids can pick up on everything! I dunno about that, but if I get a lot of positive feedback on this I may have a new "art section" in my shop!

Etsy Twitter Team Shop Of The Week!

2009-06-01T08:56:00.000-07:00

Check it out read all about it on the Etsy Twitter Team Blog! Don't miss it!

We have a WINNER!!

2009-05-29T12:52:00.000-07:00

I woke up this morning to my 50TH SALE!!!!! Congratulations to Nicole Varrenti!!! Thank you so much for being my 50th customer! Nikki has a wonderful shop on Etsy called Nicole's Handmade Treats! Everyone raves about her handmade chocolate confections, so do give her shop a look...you'll be pleasantly surprised!

Knitting BLING!!

2009-05-26T10:16:00.001-07:00

I just can't stop finding all of this wonderful bling on Etsy! I came across Max's World, a wonderful shop that specializes in miniature jewelry made from yarn balls!

This pendant is a wonderful gift idea for a fashionable knitter, or anyone obsessed with yarn (like me! :-) ) Max's World also offers earrings and complete earring, necklace and brooch sets! If you love yarn and knitting, do give her shop a look...oh, and tell her "Yarn" sent ya!

APPROACHING 50 SALES ~ GIVEAWAY~

2009-05-21T11:16:00.000-07:00

It's almost here....Yarncoture will be celebrating it's 50 sale(hopefully soon!)!!!
To the customer who purchases the 50th item in my shop will receive this Tropical Blue Spa Set From my LUXE SPA COLLECTION!

You will receive:

1 double sided sponge 4.5 inches square
2 mini spa washclothss 6.5 inches square each
Total luxury!

Whoever purchases the 50th item in my shop wins the entire set!

Now, GO SHOP! Yarncoture.Etsy.Com

Blog CANDY!!!

2009-05-21T08:17:00.000-07:00

I was surfing the blogosphere this morning when I came across A Place To Be Me and I was wonderfully impressed with all the warmth, and comfort that this blog has to offer! Joy Kanehoe makes the cutest cards and she is currently celebrating and amazing 36,000 hits on her blog by giving away this killer awesome pack of scrapbooking goodies!

To enter, just go to A Place To Be Me and follow the instructions! It's that easy!

Super BLING

2009-05-20T06:57:00.000-07:00

Ok, I was just browsing around Etsy and I came across this lovely shop owned by iBeautiful when all of a sudden I saw this SUPER BLING necklace!! Dang!! Talk about your red carpet, going to the opera, maybe I'll wear it to the Academy Awards, simply fabulous necklace!! Hey, if you're not bold enough to wear it in public, you can definitely sport this baby at your next dinner party! This necklace is HOT!!

Fiddling Around.........

2009-05-18T22:15:00.000-07:00

Well I was fiddling around in my shop last night trying to figure out how in the world I could get more buyers in my shop...then it dawned on me...

LOWER YOUR INTERNATIONAL SHIPPING RATES....DUH!

I can't believe how many people may have passed my shop by due to the high shipping rates! I know when I see something that I would like to purchase and then I see that the shipping is outrageous, I run FAR away! So I just finished spending the last 2 hours reducing the shipping rates for potential international customers. I have had 3 sales from overseas in the past, and I thought that if I reduced the international shipping rates I might have new buyers and hopefully new potential 'fans' of Yarncoture to visit! Only time will tell...aahh..running a business....mamma never told me there'd be days like this!

Can U Believe It???

2009-05-17T08:43:00.000-07:00

I'm in ANOTHER Treasury!! I just listed these cute pink crocheted booties last night and lo and behold! They're featured in This treasury!! H20 Works featured my booties in her famous BNR treasury! What is a BNR, you ask? Well, it's a list of items from different shops. If you have an etsy shop and you want your item to be featured, just buy from one of the shops listed and your shop will replace that particular shop. It's that simple, and a great way to get others to notice your shop and what you have to offer!

My Spotlight!!

2009-05-14T07:10:00.000-07:00

Check it OOOOOOUUUUT!!! Yarncoture was recently featured in and Etsy Treasury!! My Hot Pink Anemone Scarf was featured in an Etsy Twitter Team Treasury created by I'm With Sully!(who has beautiful jewelry,btw!) It's always a thrill for me to be featured in an Etsy Treasury because it's a great opportunity to bring more viewers into your shop. Treasuries are basically favorite items that can be arranged by color theme or subject matter. Etsy members create these treasuries to show off their teams, their favorites or popular holiday items for example. Treasuries are very hard to get because when the number of treasuries drops below 333, the treasury spots open up and are snatched up in the blinking of an eye, so if you want one you have to be quick. I KNOW THE SECRET to snatching up a treasury.....and I'm NOT TELLING!! Well....I might...

The Creativity BUG!!!!

2009-05-12T06:59:00.000-07:00

After catching my breath from my recent craft fair, and coming home to a yarn closet that's literally BURSTING at the seams, I decided to try and put some of my crafting skills to the test and use the yarn that I had without purchasing more yarn. Lariats are a great way to use up yarns that might be too warm for spring and summer wear. They also allow you to get those creative juices bubbling as you can use practically ANY type of yarn or fabrics that you may have lying around.

After racking her brain as to what to make, my 10 year old daughter made this lovely but simple pink and white lariat from a couple of different acrylic yarns that I had stashed.

I designed this cute lariat from four different yarns!
It was quite fun as we both sat and crocheted these lariats....the creativity bug has definitely bitten us both!

Etsy Twitter Team Shop Of The Week!!

2009-05-12T06:44:00.000-07:00

I love jewelry! And when I clicked on South Paw Studios's Shop on Etsy I was amazed at the variety of jewelry items that this shop offers!
These Light Sage Green Crystal Drop Earrings are just an example of the beautiful quality items that she makes
and there's literally tons more of items to choose from. Pricing is very competitive and the wonderful photography of each item makes it clear as to exactly what you'll be receiving. It's a great Etsy find and definitely one that I'll keep my eye on!

Etsy Twitter Team Shop Of The Week!

2009-05-04T11:54:00.000-07:00

Etsy Twitter Team's Shop of the week is Bell Flower Textiles. Take a look at this shop because you will find whimsical coffe cup sleeves to adorable t-shirts for children. Her art pencil holders are great for keeping all your top notch drawing pencils organized. Check it out!

Craft Fair Success!!

2009-05-03T05:41:00.000-07:00

Wow what an interesting day! We arrived at Northaven Gardens at around 9:15 a.m. to set up. Many of the other vendors had already set up their booths, so we picked a spot next to GilstrapDesigns who had some exquisite jewelry, artwork and woodwork and KarmaCrochet with her beautiful crocheted items and scrabble pendants! I began to set up my table and my 2 daughters were eager to get started. My daughters mingled a bit while I added the finishing touches to my booth.

The weather yesterday was really rough as it rained like cats and dogs for the most part of the day. There were tornado warnings in the area (gotta love that Texas weather!) so the turnout was sparse. I think my booth looked okay for a first attempt.. I learned so much from observing the other vendors there.
Quwwaart designed this wonderful t-shirt for my shop!

The day turned out pretty wonderful! My first sale was made by my youngest daughter who crocheted a cute keychain for the event.

My ascot neckties were a hit and I handed out lots of flyers to passers by. My oldest daughter even sold one of her hand crocheted keychains that she brought and whe was just thrilled! As the hours passed by, I mingled with the other vendors and was thrilled to meet JaneJoss who has beautiful fabric leaf creations, ReallyBadKitty gorgeous flower bouquets made from buttons! Emma Allison Designs beautiful jewelry! Sydney's Designs was there with her cool upcycled knits! There were other vendors there that displayed some fantastic talent and designs. I would like to give a special thanks to Nikki Crain from the Northaven Garden Center for inviting me to attend as a vendor! It was a wonderful day for me that I couldn't have gotten through without the Almighty's help and my family's love and support. Thanks guys!

Spinning Yarn Made Easy!

2009-04-30T09:17:00.000-07:00

I have to admit, the thought of spinning my own yarn has been very intriguing lately. Every time I see beautiful roving I drool and have the desire to spin it into my very own yarn. I found this wonderful how to spin video on youtube and just had to share! If you're thinking about spinning your own yarn, this helpful video provides all the information to get you started!

I've Been FEATURED!!

2009-04-29T05:26:00.000-07:00

I woke up this morning to check my emails and whaddayaknow? I got an email informing me that the talented Lucky Girl Trading has featured me on her blog!! About a week ago, she purchased some washcloths from me and liked them so much, she featured them on the Lucky Girl Trading Blog! In her Etsy Shop, you'll find everything from vintage sewing patterns from the 70's to beautiful art glass pendants. Do make it a point to check out her Etsy Shop, and don't forget to tell her "Yarn" sent ya!

Craft Showwwww!!!!

2009-04-24T12:22:00.000-07:00

I am sooo excited!! I met with the show director at the Northaven Garden Center in Dallas this morning to show her some samples of my work and confirm my standing as a vendor at the upcoming craft show on May 2! She loved my work and I am just tickled pink! Now the adrenaline is really flowing through my veins as I try to make final preparations for the show. If you are in or near the Dallas area, do stop by and offer your support! The craft show is being held to benefit the Susan G. Komen Foundation for breast cancer awareness. Show hours are from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. ! The Northaven Garden Center is located at 7700 Northaven Road, Dallas Texas 75230. Don't miss it!

Blasts From The Past II

2009-04-22T09:27:00.000-07:00

Here's a picture of me and my baby sister when I was a young girl... I was about 8 years old when that photo was taken by my dad. He was always known for his photography! I even remember taking this picture! It was a weekend, possibly on a Saturday morning..aah the memories!

Etsy Twitter Team Shop Of The Week!!

2009-04-22T08:00:00.000-07:00

Talk about multi-talented! RhodesAnnalsDesigns.etsy.com has fallen into the spotlight as a wonderful shop that offers knits, crochet, jewelry and more! It's sometimes hard to find a person that can knit AND crochet, but when you find someone who makes jewelry and hair accessories, you know that you've got something special. Check out her shop...I'm sure that you'll be pleasantly surprised!

More Meaningful Gifts...Sieze A Shop !!!!!!

2009-04-21T11:45:00.000-07:00

That's the title of a thread in the Etsy forums of a wonderful BNR that I am a part of! Being a part of MMG has meant a lot to me. When I joined the list a few months ago I had no idea that I would receive all the love and support that I have gotten from all the members! It is definitely very special and a one-of-a-kind thread! When I won the Sieze A Shop on 3/25 I had no idea that I won until I checked my email the next morning and saw that I had multiple "notification of payment' emails! I was sooo excited ( and after a dry spell in sales, it's a real pick me up!) The Sieze A Shop is a wonderful way to get your product out there for others to see it and experience it for themselves. Each week, a thread member's shop is randomly chosen to "sieze"...all the members on the thread try and make a purchase from your shop. It helps sellers build up their confidence as a business owner in saying, "yes, I can actually sell my stuff!, lol!" But it's not just about selling your product...these folks offer so much support and helpful information to help you grow as a seller and as an individual. I feel so blessed to be a part of it! Everyone is sooo friendly, warm, and welcoming!! Check it out and see what we're all about!
Oh, and tell 'em ~Yarn~ sent ya!

Yarncoture!

It's HIS Loss....My Unfortunate Dealings With Thomas Kvist

My New Project Bag!

Another Surprise...Shhhhh....

Project # 2!!

Randomness.....

Introducing...~*~The Southern Belle~*~

BIG SECRET!!

Progress...

Tinkering Around...

Beautiful Discoveries

My BIG Surprise! :-D Thomas Kvist Yarns!!

Feeling BLAH...

Some Socks For ME!!

SALE TIME!!

Bloopers And A Word Of Thanks....

Oh Where Oh Where Has Yarnie Been???

Etsy Twitter Team SHOP OF THE WEEK!

Artist Of The Month!

ROCK-A-BILITY!

Excitement Is BREWING!!

I'm BAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAACK!!

Indie Artist Spotlight of The Month!

Decisions...Decisions...

SPRING - SUMMER ☺☺☺SALE☺☺☺

Expectations..Thoughts FROM THE SOUL...

New Look For The Bloggy!

Please Show Your Support

Time For FLOWERS! (Part 2)

Time For FLOWERS! (Part 1)

The Wedding Shawl....

Where Have I BEEN???

Welll...What Do Ya Know??

Momentum....Keeping It Up

Etsy Twitter Team Shop Of The Week!

Cabled Fingerless Mitts In Denim Blue

E M E R G E N C E........Poetry From The Soul

It's A Long..LONG..Race..

I'm Finally A KNITTER !!!

Etsy Twitter Team Shop Of The Week!

Craft Fair Recap...

Disturbing News...

Etsy Twitter Team Shop Of The Week!

OverWHELMED!!

I've Been Featured!!

A Calm Moment In All The Madness..

100 Sales GIVEAWAY!!!

Etsy Twitter Team Shop Of The Week!

Temporarily HOMELESS...

Introducing.....RIJAAL

Etsy Twitter Team Shop Of The Week!

THE JEWEL..Thoughts From The Soul..

Etsy Twitter Team Shop Of The Week!

Etsy Twitter Team Shop Of The Week!

!!!BIG SALE THIS WEEKEND!!!!

Fetching Fingerless Gloves!!!

I Made My FIRST Pair Of Earrings!!!

Etsy Twitter Team Shop Of The Week!

Time's Running OUT!!

I Got Some YARN In The Mail!!!

**Summer SALE**

Etsy Twitter Team Shop Of The Week!

Fabulous Saturday!

My Daughter Made The Etsy GIFT GUIDES!!

Mitts For My Sis!

Etsy Twitter Team Shop Of The Week!

I'm So Happy!!

Vote For Me Pleeeeeease!!

Oh... My BABY!!

Ok, This Is Incredible!

Another Beautiful Front Page Feature!!

ICING On The CAKE!!!

My ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY !!!

BLAZING...Hot...WEATHER/How-To-Cope

Wordless Wednesday....

~Bedspread...~

Etsy Twitter Team Shop Of The Week!

Etsy Twitter Team Shop Of The Week!

2ND ANNUAL ETSY **YART** SALE!!

The ~Lovely Blog~ Award

Introducing...~~The Southern Belle~~

Summer SALE

2ND ANNUAL ETSY YART SALE!!

Super BLING