"When the muse is with you, work with it."
Needless to say, looking at the date of my last post, my writing muse went away for a while. In one respect, I am almost glad that it did, as it created time for new discoveries.
After meeting Sarah Mutrix at the Vermont Crafts Council spring marketing event, I visited her at The Art House in Craftsbury. I had gone with the intent of finding out more about their new fiber studio. I left with an opportunity to teach a class on Etsy!
The crochet muse struck hard shortly after that. I became so obsessed with a pattern I was working on, I even special ordered the yarn! It was well worth the effort, as Mary Maxim purchased the pattern.
I also started working tech editing for a couple of new clients. The crochet muse helped immensely there, especially with patterns that did not have pictures to reference. It is amazing how many talented designers there are out there!
On the crochet design front, I have had more ideas and subsequently made more submissions in the past couple of months than I ever have before. All of this hard work paid off when the CGOA approved my application for professional membership!
Now I have to dedicate some serious time to creating product for Open Studio Weekend in October. This will be my first year participating, and I want it to go well! Come visit me if you are in the area!
Showing posts with label completing projects. Show all posts
Showing posts with label completing projects. Show all posts
Tuesday, July 30, 2013
Wednesday, September 26, 2012
Time Management - Again
I know I've written quite a bit about time management. Perhaps this is due to the fact that I am still trying to figure it out. It's one of those things, I've determined, that the experts in such things can provide guidelines for, but one size does not fit all. Everyone has their own set of distractions that need to be kept in check in order to get your work done, especially if you work at home.
One of the best guidelines for me was so simple, my jaw dropped when I read it. Shut the door. Three simple words. Whereas I was working in the living room at the time, this proved to be impossible. I began to notice how many times a member of my family would enter the room to ask a question, turn on the television, argue over what channel to watch, etc.
This led to this summer's main project - build a studio. I have been wanting to join in the Vermont Crafts Council's Open Studio Weekend, but needed a studio. Now was the time. Unfortunately for me, the studio was completed too late to join in the fall Open Studio Weekend, but it will be open for the spring. The studio itself is heated, so I can work in there all winter long.
Hopefully, this will bring an end to the little distractions that make it difficult to work. I had a sketch/swatch accepted by a major magazine this summer that included a zipper. I had a good idea of how I was going to work up the sample, but it still had to be reworked a few times to get it right. I did not get to the zipper until the day before I had to mail it back to them to be received by the deadline. Wouldn't you know, I could not get that zipper in the way it was supposed to be? Once I had the whole thing together, I discovered other issues that should be reworked as well. I mailed it in, as I was out of time, only to receive a letter from the editor a week later that it could not be used due to various design issues (including the zipper). The editor was kind enough to send it back to me.
I am still reworking that design. I figured it I had that much trouble putting in that zipper, other people would as well, so I am trying to make it easier to do. The next time I submit it, it will be right!
One of the best guidelines for me was so simple, my jaw dropped when I read it. Shut the door. Three simple words. Whereas I was working in the living room at the time, this proved to be impossible. I began to notice how many times a member of my family would enter the room to ask a question, turn on the television, argue over what channel to watch, etc.
This led to this summer's main project - build a studio. I have been wanting to join in the Vermont Crafts Council's Open Studio Weekend, but needed a studio. Now was the time. Unfortunately for me, the studio was completed too late to join in the fall Open Studio Weekend, but it will be open for the spring. The studio itself is heated, so I can work in there all winter long.
Hopefully, this will bring an end to the little distractions that make it difficult to work. I had a sketch/swatch accepted by a major magazine this summer that included a zipper. I had a good idea of how I was going to work up the sample, but it still had to be reworked a few times to get it right. I did not get to the zipper until the day before I had to mail it back to them to be received by the deadline. Wouldn't you know, I could not get that zipper in the way it was supposed to be? Once I had the whole thing together, I discovered other issues that should be reworked as well. I mailed it in, as I was out of time, only to receive a letter from the editor a week later that it could not be used due to various design issues (including the zipper). The editor was kind enough to send it back to me.
I am still reworking that design. I figured it I had that much trouble putting in that zipper, other people would as well, so I am trying to make it easier to do. The next time I submit it, it will be right!
Sunday, December 4, 2011
Crochet Christmas Gifts
Crocheting Christmas gifts is a great way to show the recipient you care enough to devote your time and talent to them. At this point, with Christmas a mere 3 weeks away, what can you start now and realistically complete in time? Lots of things!
I like to crochet snowflakes out of size 10 thread to put in cards as teacher gifts. A set of 6 crochet snowflake ornaments can be made in less than a week, as each takes a little over an hour to make. Set aside an evening when all your snowflakes have been crocheted to soak in starch and pin out on a blocking board (wax paper over cardboard works great!) Allow to dry overnight, and you pack them up the next day!
Hats and mittens only take a few hours to make as well, and a set is a wonderful gift. If you don't know what the recipient's favorite color is, you can always pick the colors of the school they attend, or go with neutrals if they are out in the working world.
Kitchen and bath sets work up quickly as well. Choose a color scheme and make dishcloths and pot holders - there are lots of free patterns on the web for these! You can also find quick, easy crochet patterns for bath puffs, soap covers, baskets - almost anything you can think of for a gift of a bath set.
Open work shawls also can be crocheted relatively quickly. For the man who has everything, crochet a scarf and hat set. Electronic cozies for such things as cell phones and computer tablets can be made in a single evening.
Use up your stash and work on your gifts during lunch hour, riding the commuter bus, or waiting to see the dentist. You will be amazed at how much you can get done in a such a small amount of time. Crochet your holiday gifts, save money, and enjoy yourself!
I like to crochet snowflakes out of size 10 thread to put in cards as teacher gifts. A set of 6 crochet snowflake ornaments can be made in less than a week, as each takes a little over an hour to make. Set aside an evening when all your snowflakes have been crocheted to soak in starch and pin out on a blocking board (wax paper over cardboard works great!) Allow to dry overnight, and you pack them up the next day!
Hats and mittens only take a few hours to make as well, and a set is a wonderful gift. If you don't know what the recipient's favorite color is, you can always pick the colors of the school they attend, or go with neutrals if they are out in the working world.
Kitchen and bath sets work up quickly as well. Choose a color scheme and make dishcloths and pot holders - there are lots of free patterns on the web for these! You can also find quick, easy crochet patterns for bath puffs, soap covers, baskets - almost anything you can think of for a gift of a bath set.
Open work shawls also can be crocheted relatively quickly. For the man who has everything, crochet a scarf and hat set. Electronic cozies for such things as cell phones and computer tablets can be made in a single evening.
Use up your stash and work on your gifts during lunch hour, riding the commuter bus, or waiting to see the dentist. You will be amazed at how much you can get done in a such a small amount of time. Crochet your holiday gifts, save money, and enjoy yourself!
Sunday, November 20, 2011
What a Project!
I had an idea for a booklet with about 10 patterns in it. I pitched it to a publisher, who 5 weeks later sent the dreaded "thanks but no thanks" letter. I then sent it to my CGOA mentor, who encouraged me to self publish it.
What a wonderful idea! I thought. I was clueless about the amount of work I was putting on myself for this. I didn't know the first thing about self publishing. This began a great deal of research, which I am still doing.
It turns out that you can sell crochet patterns on Ravelry, Amazon, and Kindle. Apparently there is a market out there for various ebooks. You can also sell on Etsy and your own website. This has opened up an entirely new world for me to explore!
As I have written and sold patterns before, I think I have that part of the process down. It takes time - a LOT of time. I have to jot down pattern notes while I crochet what's in my head. Then, once the item is complete, I have to translate those notes into a readable pattern. Then comes the dreaded photo session. If a good picture is worth a thousand words, then my photos are worth about 3. Usually someone in my family will take pity on me and get a few good shots of the item for me.
Formatting is taking me a little bit of time to learn. As is setting up my own website and Etsy store. The process is slow, but once done, I won't have to do it again. This is keeping me motivated, even when frustrated!
Each of the 10 patterns needs to be completed, not just a sketch. Each pattern needs to be written, each item photographed, introduction text needs to be written, table of contents and cover pages need to be decided upon, online shops need to be set up, formatting needs to be done, and then, once the booklet is finished, it needs to be marketed. Sheesh!
My goal is to have it all done by March 2012. I still have to make time to work on Christmas presents!
What a wonderful idea! I thought. I was clueless about the amount of work I was putting on myself for this. I didn't know the first thing about self publishing. This began a great deal of research, which I am still doing.
It turns out that you can sell crochet patterns on Ravelry, Amazon, and Kindle. Apparently there is a market out there for various ebooks. You can also sell on Etsy and your own website. This has opened up an entirely new world for me to explore!
As I have written and sold patterns before, I think I have that part of the process down. It takes time - a LOT of time. I have to jot down pattern notes while I crochet what's in my head. Then, once the item is complete, I have to translate those notes into a readable pattern. Then comes the dreaded photo session. If a good picture is worth a thousand words, then my photos are worth about 3. Usually someone in my family will take pity on me and get a few good shots of the item for me.
Formatting is taking me a little bit of time to learn. As is setting up my own website and Etsy store. The process is slow, but once done, I won't have to do it again. This is keeping me motivated, even when frustrated!
Each of the 10 patterns needs to be completed, not just a sketch. Each pattern needs to be written, each item photographed, introduction text needs to be written, table of contents and cover pages need to be decided upon, online shops need to be set up, formatting needs to be done, and then, once the booklet is finished, it needs to be marketed. Sheesh!
My goal is to have it all done by March 2012. I still have to make time to work on Christmas presents!
Monday, August 22, 2011
Sometimes the Strangest Things Happen
After the fire at our house caused by a window fan, everything ended up "in a box somewhere." This included all of the projects I had been working on for Christmas gifts. It didn't matter that the fire had been contained to one room; the entire house had to be packed up so it could be "binned" to get rid of any residual smell.
All of those Christmas projects for last year were finally found this past weekend! Thankfully, they were all together and in perfect condition. I now have a little bit of a head start on the holiday season, as most of the projects had been started. All of them are in various stages of completion.
What astounded me is one project in particular, a pair of slipper boots. The first boot was complete, the second only needed a couple of dozen rows on the cuff. For whatever reason, the instructions were not in with the project. Yet it only took a couple of minutes before I was completing them. The human brain is amazing in its capacity to remember the smallest of details! The stitch pattern wasn't difficult, but it wasn't one of the more common ones used either.
This reinforced my belief that even year old unfinished items can be completed without instructions. Take just a few moments to study what has already been worked, measure your hook (if it's not with the project) to the last few stitches, and see where it leads to. You just might finish that project after all! I know I did!
All of those Christmas projects for last year were finally found this past weekend! Thankfully, they were all together and in perfect condition. I now have a little bit of a head start on the holiday season, as most of the projects had been started. All of them are in various stages of completion.
What astounded me is one project in particular, a pair of slipper boots. The first boot was complete, the second only needed a couple of dozen rows on the cuff. For whatever reason, the instructions were not in with the project. Yet it only took a couple of minutes before I was completing them. The human brain is amazing in its capacity to remember the smallest of details! The stitch pattern wasn't difficult, but it wasn't one of the more common ones used either.
This reinforced my belief that even year old unfinished items can be completed without instructions. Take just a few moments to study what has already been worked, measure your hook (if it's not with the project) to the last few stitches, and see where it leads to. You just might finish that project after all! I know I did!
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