Another Spring Jaunt

Things are a lot warmer and prettier outside. Oscar and I are keepign cheerful and using the opportunity for some lovely long jaunts in the neighborhood.

Progress on the Mystery KAL

We have been having fun with the Mystery Stranded Knit Along (KAL) I have been running on Ravelry.
We are in week 3, after various health-related and life-event inturruptions delaying the release of the separate parts, but I am pleased with our progress so far.
This is what the mitt looks like at this point. (although less blurry in person.) Only one more week and the KAL will be finished! This will be transformed into a completed pattern/stranded knitting tutorial that I plan to sell for $3.00.
The pattern also includes directions for a matching hat.
The final pattern may only use two charted designs, I am still pondering.
(but the KAL folks will have a third chart next week).

Cute Patterns, Money for Japan Relief

My friend Leslie of the blog More with Les is making a wonderfully generous offer. She says:

"I’m so amazed that Kay Gardiner’s Mitered Crosses Blanket pattern has raised thousands of dollars for aid to Japan.  It’s so awesome.  While I don’t have any new pattern designs to offer for the same cause, I’m pledging that all pattern sales I earn in the next 10 days will go directly to The International Red Cross.  Because I don’t generally sell a lot of patterns, I am pledging to match any pattern sales.  That means for every $3 pattern I sell between April 20 and April 30, I will donate $6 to The International Red Cross.  You can find my patterns on Ravelry and on Patternfish. "
(Go to her site and all those links will work just fine. Plus you'll get to see her adorable patterns! I especially love 'Jake' with it's cunning basketball topper and 'Sarah' with it's subtle feminine detailing)

One Smart Dog

With thanks to Don for sharing this:

Ebay

Oscar and I are listing several auctions on Ebay over the next few weeks. This week's auctions include some dvds and blu-ray discs (The Princess Bride, Harvey, On the Town and several more) as well as books of various genres. If you are interested, the auctions can be found HERE

Changes

Oscar lost his job yesterday. Unemployment may not happen. His employer is gifted at firing for cause, no matter how slight, and keeping the lost employees from filing. We have had friends and former coworkers go through this process too often the past year. My only income comes from pattern sales and the occasional ebay auction of books (not the ARCs, but the books) I read for review. The government decided long ago that my particular concatenation of circumstance does not qualify me for social security benefits.

We are cheerful, though. We are exploring the assistance available to deal with the debts and the upside-down mortgage, we are streamlining our lives and preparing to move, if necessary. Oscar is a heck of a good worker, and we hope he will find a good job soon, but this is Michigan, all too near Detroit where unemployment is rampant.

Like I said, though, we are cheerful and optimistic as well. Making lists and prioritizing tasks, getting our ducks in a row, contacting Greenpath for advice, talking to creditors; all that not-so-fun stuff that may help us keep going long enough for Oscar to find that job.

There are a lot of positives that might happen because of this bad news. If we lose the house, it may mean we can move to a place that is handicap accessible which will mean I can do more in the house without injuring myself. It may mean we are free to move, and Oscar may find that job somewhere other than Michigan.
Oscar and I both have been in similar sticky situations and we have great survival skills. We both have been through enough to know how to take joy in small things, and celebrate anything and everything we can.
We also are blessed with the support of our families, which is HUGE. Not just a financial net to keep us from becoming homeless, but emotionally. This really empowers us to move forward.
So. Changes. But my heart tells me the final result of the bad day we had yesterday will be a life much better than the one we had.

Maple Flowers

I'll Fly Away

Back in September 2008 I designed a free pattern based on Clara Parkes' triangular shawl instructions. I used colors I knew my friend Faye would like and a combination of yarns that ended up in a snuggly, squooshy fabric.
I named it Faye's Cozy Shawl and sent it to her along with her husband, Ralph's scarf, the protoype for another free design the Easiest Farrow Rib Scarf.
One of the things I like to do every few days is look at a page on Ravelry that shows me any recent activity regarding any of my patterns. This can range from someone favoriting or queuing the pattern, a comment on someone's project or my favorite, photos of completed objects.
Not long ago I noticed a Faye shawl made by a user named Tayogini, titled 'My First Shawl' and one of her photos struck my heart. At Faye's memorial a few weeks ago, one of her friends mentioned whenever the old gospel song 'I'll Fly Away' was played, no matter where she was Faye would spread out her arms and dance back and forth, moving her arms like wings. I can remember Faye doing just that. What a wonderful memory.
And what a lovely joyful reminder Tayogini gave me by choosing Faye's pattern for her first shawl. (the photo above is used with the permission of Tayogini)
Another pattern I wrote in September 2007 was made expressly for my friend Deb Nickerson. (Affectionately called Nickers). Each time that pattern (Cloud on Her Head) is made it brings the memory of Deb close again.
Now I have Faye's shawl to do the same. I had no idea when I designed them they would provide such lasting comfort, not only to those who were gifted with a project made from the pattern, but to me, each time they are discovered and used anew. I am very thankful.

Spring!

Today the projected high was 78, and sunny. We hit 83 an hour ago. Last weekend we had a bit of snow.
Oscar and I went on a jaunt, and it felt like a miracle.

Then Liz and Tucker stopped by with Levi (they live near by) and all in all it has been a wonderful day :-}

Levi in the Dragon Butt hat

Squill near the front door

Expanding Income

I've been thinking about selling some of my pattern samples on Etsy. That got me thinking about creating some other things to sell there. For example, I am very particular about my stitch markers. I hate using anything that has any form of separation (like a traditional jump ring used in making jewelry) as it always seems to catch on my yarn no matter how careful I am. I am looking into what circular item would fit around a knitting needle that I could use. I already have a nice selection of gaskets, but they aren't very decorative. I am looking for solid metal rings. I can then use jewelry wire and sparkly beads to make them even more beautiful (hiding and securing the ends of the wire inside the beads, to keep the yarn safe).
I am also thinking about knitting some simple and funky things that people may want to buy on Etsy. Hats with interesting logos come to mind, perhaps knitted mitts with pithy sayings.. etc.
Perhaps the first step is to find out what other Etsy sellers' price points are, and see if it is worth the time, energy and materials. What do you think these items may be worth?

(photos include some of the samples I may list)