All of the auctions can be found HERE.
When we began, the decisions seemed difficult.
Some of you may know that I also do book reviews for Freshfiction.com
I am so happy! Stacy of Knit Picks published an interview with me on the site!
My Corydalis Cowl is available on Knit Picks as of today! The Kiva bag is also listed and perhaps the Dragontail Shawl will follow soon. but for now....
I'm 47, and I am still learning new things about myself, some good, some bad, some just useful.
Oscar and I are fighting off a cold or something, multiple symptoms, but the worst for me is the sore throat and bone-deep ache. I feel a little better today, though. I plan to take naps whenever get I sleepy enough, to help fight this sucker off.
I am working on one knitted item due April 1st, and another without a definite due date that will finish up my old-pattern obligation to Knit Picks. I have submitted a swatch and sketch to a yarn company, arranged to submit a Tunisian crochet pattern to another company (when I get it worked out) and have submitted a request for Knit Picks yarn support for a cool idea my friend Absinthia sparked a month or so ago.
I have also spent some time this week getting used to having a business, and thinking about things like taxes (and tax deductions) establishing a better system of record keeping, and deciding how elaborately and minutely I want to track the spending for Otterwise. Its a lot more fun doing this for myself than it was when I held accounting positions in other companies. :-}
For my business model, traveling isn't really a part of it at all at this point, although I heard a rumor Sock Summit might be in Toronto next year, which isn't that far away..
Tracking income is also something I've been pondering.
So far there is:
-bread-and-butter downloads via my website and Ravelry,
-Monthly income from Knit Picks, Patternfish and the like
-Income from individual patterns to various magazine publications
-Direct sale of patterns without reversion of rights to me
-Sale of pattern directly to yarn companies with eventual reversion of rights to me.
-eventually, a book or seventeen perhaps :-}
Oscar's laptop has become more and more unreliable (blue screen of death, anyone?), and he came across a sale on minis. The desktop he is currently using for studying is slow as molasses and just about as useful.
My laptop has been a workhorse, but has everything on it; games and work and photos and writing, etc. and I have been toying with the idea of eventually (some time this year) having a business-only system. I have ADHD and extra distractions are NOT what I need when I am working. Plus my current laptop, relatively light though it is (about 4-5 pounds with the extra fan and lap desk) is still a strain on my abdomen when I try and lift it into place while taking my normal reclining work position.
The new minis weigh just over 2 pounds, and are on sale this week. Oscar had a brilliant idea. We get a mini (less than $300!) for me, transfer my work files and programs (for Otterwise and my writing) to it, then he can have my laptop. When I feel like playing games, I can still use the old laptop when Os isn't. The mini is tax deductible. Cool Beans.
So I have a Mini 10v on the way, loaded with Windows 7. Oscar is pretty happy about having Little Red, too, and doesn't even mind the moon and Yoda stickers (very much).
Late last year I learned one of my favorite charities, Warm Woolies, was no longer able to transport knitted items to where they could do the most good and had to make the difficult decision to cease operation.Our mission is to provide the very neediest children with wool socks,sweaters, vests, mittens, and hats, as well as wool baby blankets for newborns.
We work with organizations that have a focus on helping children and that are not religion-based. These organizations distribute the warm woolen garments handcrafted by Wool-Aid volunteers to children who would otherwise suffer from extreme cold.
Wool-Aid is launching a new campaign – a Tribute to Warm Woolies and Kimberly Turnbow to knit warm and wooly socks that will be sent to Mittens for Akkol for their annual Sock Challenge. Mittens for Akkol serves children in orphanages in Kazakhstan, where it is often 40 degrees below zero in mid-winter.
Let’s show our appreciation for Warm Woolies’ mission and for all that it has done for children since it began in 2003. This is a great opportunity for you to knit the pattern for children’s socks designed by Kimberly for Warm Woolies and know that the socks will benefit children who really need them!
...
Guidelines for Sock Knitters for this campaign:
You may use any pattern that you enjoy knitting, as long as the finished socks meet the guidelines above.
Campaign ends April 30th.
My Knit Picks version of the Dragontail shawl is made from their Cotlin yarn in Glacier. (70% Tanguis Cotton, 30% Linen, Machine Wash, Tumble Dry Low)
I learned some catastrophic news yesterday. Ok, only catastrophic for me. I discovered COFFEE has citric acid in it. And contrary to what your logic might tell you, the darker the roast, the less citric acid (and more of other acids) it contains. My perfect cup of coffee is a light roast. It does explain why I have had troublesome days when having more than a single cup. It is impossible to avoid all citric acid. Heck, a human body produces quite a bit of it during the course of the day, but it is almost instantly metabolized thus doesn't create a problem for those of us with hyper sensitivity. It is only when I encounter more than a certain level of citric acid that the results are life-altering. But to be as healthy as I can be, I need to avoid it in foods and topical substances when I can. Which means, for my health, I need to give up one of my most beloved morning rituals; my cup of coffee. Low acid substitutes (like Kona brand) will not get rid of the citric acid, and wouldn't be as satisfying anyway. (It only alters the pH, and doesn't remove the ingredients)
The sun has been glorious the past few days. Temperatures are still cold, but the sun streaming in does wonders for fighting the winter doldrums. The drier air is accelerating the evaporation of the snow, too. I can see several feet around the outside edges of the back yard now, and I expect to spot a crocus nose soon.
I had a nice photo session with Amanda on Sunday.
I have posted here before about Librivox and Project Gutenberg, and the services they provide, but here are a few quotes from the sites:For four-and-a-half years, LibriVox volunteers have been making audiobooks for the world to enjoy, and giving them away for free. We’ve made thousands of free audiobooks that have been downloaded by millions of people; our site gets 400,000 visitors every month. To date, all our costs have been borne by a few individuals, with some generous donations from partners. However, these costs have become too big.
Go here to help: LIBRIVOX NEEDS YOUR HELP
and Project Gutenberg says on their Wiki:
Project Gutenberg's success is due to the hard work of thousands of volunteers over more than 30 years. Your donations make it possible to support these volunteers, and pay our few employees to continue the creation of free electronic texts.
Donations are made to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation (PGLAF), a corporation registered in the US State of Mississippi. PGLAF is approved as a charitable 501(c)(3) organization by the US Internal Revenue Service, and has the Federal Employee Information Number (EIN) 64-6221541.
Go here to help: PROJECT GUTENBERG NEEDS YOUR DONATION
Even a few dollars from each of us can make such a huge difference!
There were a lot of choices I could have made.
