r-anne-dom : a place for me (anne) to leave random blog posts.
Such as:
..knitting, sewing, and other random activities pursued
..Girl Guides of Canada : yep, Guiding Lives Here
..the 4 shops on Etsy : one features quality handmade items; the second has lots of patterns, & crafting supplies; the third is stocked with Vintage; and the fourth is guiding flowers.
Enjoy the r-anne-domness!

July 30, 2013

Teams on Tuesday - Etsyknitters - Zibeline Knits

Teams on Tuesday - Etsyknitters - Zibeline Knits

Today, meet Keya of Zibeline Knits!

What is your shop name?
Zibeline Knits  (or www.zibelineknits.com)

What is your blog name?
Zibeline Knits

When did you learn to knit?
around age 9

Who taught you to knit?
My grandmother taught me, but my mother should get a great deal of credit for fixing my mistakes as time went on. (I've been knitting, then, for 32 years.)

What or who inspires your projects?
I really don't know. I think I'm more inspired by a pattern of stitch than an external experience. I tend to look at a stitch pattern and just get a visual of what it should be used to knit in my mind.


What is your favourite thing to knit?
Ahhhh. That would be socks.

Are there yarns/wools you love?
I am absolutely a wool snob. I prefer to knit and to wear merino and pure wool over every other fiber type.

Are there yarns/wools you don't like to work with?
I don't like acrylic or to really work with any yarn that contains acrylic; I'm just not into knitting with plastic. I also have a considerable allergy to angora rabbit, which is completely unfortunate!

What would you like to say about your creations?
My yarn is unique. I dye in small (two or three hanks at a time) batches and no two organic hanks are exactly the same. My yarns are completely organic and hand painted or hand dyed. Nearly all of my yarns are a product of the U.S.--originating in Oregon, plied in Peru--with the exception being the BFL that I import directly from England. Someone once made the comment that, since I have so many hanks to choose from, I must just "cook" them in the microwave. I was deeply put off by that comment! I use non-toxic acid dyes and NO microwave or oven at any point in the process. My yarns are usually dyed and dried outdoors, so there's no issue with animal hair or allergens. There is also no smoking allowed in my dye works or my home, so there's no cigarette smoke aroma, either.
What other fiber arts do you enjoy?
I do a good bit of spinning when I can, as well as having begun my exploration of the triangle loom. Is there another fiber art you'd like to learn? I would like to someday own and operate a traditional treadle loom, but that's years down the road for me right now.

July 23, 2013

Teams on Tuesday - Etsyknitters - Babywear by Babs


Teams on Tuesday - Etsyknitters - Babywear by Babs

This week I'm pleased to introduce you to Babs of "Babywear by Babs".


What is your shop name?
Babywear by Babs

When did you learn to knit?
I learned to knit from my Mother about 100 years ago - well maybe only 40 years ago. I still have the buttons from my first project which was a cardigan sweater with a simply cable up the side of each placket. From there I went to knitting for my dolls and gifts for my friends. In fact, I saw a high school friend a few years ago and she told me she still owned the scarf I knit her for Christmas one year!

What is your favourite thing to knit?

My favorite thing to knit are the fisherman knit sweaters. It is so challenging to figure out the combination of cable patterns and make it all work together aesthetically and proportionately. The different cable patterns are all selected by me to arrive at a unified and interesting sweater design. Each one I knit is different. It is so much fun to see the sweater go from my brain, to paper, to the finished knitted sweater.

Are there yarns/wools you love?
Since I knit for babies I really like to knit with blended yarns that have some acrylic in them so they are soft to the touch. I also love to use washable wool. It makes for easy care but still has the warmth of the wool - especially for the fisherman sweaters since wool is the traditional yarn to use on this kind of sweater.

Are there yarns/wools you don't like to work with?
I really do not like to knit with cotton. It doesn't have much elasticity and I don't like the way the finished product feels.

What would you like to say about your creations?
My creations come from my head and my heart. I do much of my designing while falling asleep at night or in the early hours of the morning after I wake up. It helps me calm my mind and is a time of great inspiration for me.

What other fiber arts do you enjoy?
I also: sew, needlepoint, crewel embroidery, quilt, macramé. But mostly I just knit now.

Is there another fiber art you'd like to learn?
My grandmother and one of my mom's sisters was a weaver. I really wish I was 20 years younger and lived in a big house so I could have a loom and learn how to weave. Well, perhaps in my next life!

July 20, 2013

Make Your Own Paper Medallions

Make Your Own Paper Medallions


We used 8.5 x 11 paper, and we used 7-8 sheets glued together along the short side.

Don't they look great!!

July 16, 2013

Teams on Tuesday - EtsyKnitters - Funky Girls Handmade Shop






Today, meet Freda of Funky Girls Working Shop on Etsy!

What is your shop name?
Funky Girls Working Shop

How did you come up with your shop name?
I am the Funky Girl who makes Funky Items

What is your blog name?
Funky Girls Handmade Shop

How did you come up with your blog name?
I am the Funky Girl who has funky handmade items

When did you learn to knit?
I was 10 years old

Who taught you to knit?
My grandmother

What or who inspires your projects?
Different and one of a kind projects.

What is your favourite thing to knit?
My favourite items are big items such as sweaters, cardigans.

Are there yarns/wools you love?
I love yarns that are soft and the smell of it.

Are there yarns/wools you don't like to work with?
Those are very itchy and smells very strong.

What would you like to say about your creations?
I love to see them on my customer’s.

What other fiber arts do you enjoy?
Dying, spinning the yarn and creating them

What other hobbies or activities do you have? Taking pictures  
What country are you in?
I live in Canada, Penticton British Columbia

Are you able to access yarns/wools easily in your country?
Unfortunately, no.

If not, how do you cope?
I buy my yarn online.

What are your goals for your shop?
My goal is to promote my shop consistently.

Do you have any tips for someone considering opening an Etsy shop?
Promote promote promote.

Do you have any knitting tips?
My knitting tips are on my YouTube channel,

When did you join the EtsyKnitters team?
2009

What are your current projects?
I am knitting the Big Lebowski The Dude Wool Cardigan

Do you teach others to knit? who?
Yes, I do and I do not charge.
Adults, kids.

--
Freda


Thanks Freda!  I am definitely going to check our your YouTube channel - I'm always needing visual help for knitting tips!

July 09, 2013

Teams on Tuesday - EtsyKnitters - Mountain Street Arts

Teams on Tuesday - EtsyKnitters - Mountain Street Arts

Let me introduce you to Pam, another member of the Etsy Knitters Team!!

What is your shop name?
MountainStreetArts


What is your blog name?
mountainstreetarts.com

When did you learn to knit? When I was 7 years old
 
Who taught you to knit?
My mother
 
What or who inspires your projects? The Home and Garden TV Channel

What is your favourite thing to knit?
Home decor

Are there yarns/wools you love?
I love to knit with silk, tencel, baby alpaca and other soft wools

Are there yarns/wools you don't like to work with?
Acrylic

What would you like to say about your creations?
I am happy that I was able to fill a much needed niche in the fiber marketplace. I enjoy making people happy and doing custom orders. Knitters and Crocheters spend a lot of time making and designing their project so it's important for them to put a label on it advertising their work.

What other fiber arts do you enjoy?
Crocheting, rug hooking and needlepoint

Here are some links to my products:
Personalized Knitting Labels - Sheep
Personalized Knitting Labels - Hearts
Personalized Knitting Labels - Needles


These are our most popular labels:
because they offer versatility. Customers don't have to choose just one design since it's hard to decide just one out of 80+ different designs.


Thanks so much, Pam! It was great to "meet" you and see the great labels you sell in your Etsy shop, MountainStreetArts

July 06, 2013

Vintage Love Saturday - Gramma's Linens

Vintage Love Saturday - Gramma's Linens

What to do with Gramma's hand embroidered table cloth?

Especially that it is not in the best of shape - holes and such.

I saw this idea, and love it! 

I'll cut the hand embroidered pieces from the table cloth and can do a set of 4 frames, adding a touch of lace or ribbon here and there for accents.

This will be added to my ongoing list of ideas and projects of course!

July 05, 2013

500! woo hoo!

A milestone!

500 sales in my PatternsAndSuch etsy shop.

It took over 5 years and I am grateful for every single sale.

I still get excited when something is sold - that feeling will never get old - and I still love to see where in the world I'll be sending mail!

Remember, the Christmas In July sale is still on! 
Until the end of next week! 
Use Coupon Code CIJ20 to save 20% on your purchase!

Friday Fun - Google Streetview

Friday Fun

This is me.

On Google Streetview.


July 02, 2013

Christmas in July SALE Continues!! 2 weeks ONLY!!

Christmas in July SALE Continues!!
At PatternsAndSuch on Etsy!


2 weeks ONLY!!

Use Coupon Code CIJ20 at checkout to SAVE 20% off!


Shop NOW at PatternsAndSuch on Etsy to SAVE 20% off!!


Sale ENDS SUNDAY JULY 14

Teams on Tuesday - Etsy Yarn-A-Holics

Etsy Yarn-A-Holics

This looks like an Etsy team I should join!

Here is what Pam has to say!

I'm the team captain for Etsy Yarn-A-Holics

I also manage the blog: yarnaholicconfessions.wordpress.com.

It contains a lot of yarn news articles, some tech stuff, yarn bombing photos, free patterns, and the occasional team shop feature (another leader handles these).

Essentially, when I see something yarny/geeky/cool I do a bit of research, and pass it on to our followers.

The blog is a place where knitters, hookers, and spinners unite. We will share favorite sale items, crafting tips, and hold contests in which you can participate.

ETSY YARN-A-HOLICS (eyah) is a moderated team on Etsy.com. It’s members are yarn-lovers from all over the world, with three main goals: trading from their stashes, participating in block exchanges, and creating for charity. If you’re interested in the same things, you can apply for membership by visiting http://www.etsy.com/teams/6293/etsy-yarn-a-holics

Thanks Pam!  I'm going to be visiting that blog quite often!

Pam has an Etsy shop too!  Find MyFavoriteAunt here



July 01, 2013

Happy Canada Day!!

(it's kind of a tradition now for me to post these each Canada Day!)

Happy Canada Day!!

TWO videos for your enjoyment!!