WiP Wednesday #19

Hello, everyone! Welcome to another Work In Progress Wednesday. I'm your host, Jerimi.

As a PSA, I wanted to pass on a little tip if you're a blogger. Many blogs are set up so that people can only comment if they have, for instance, a WordPress account, or Gmail account, or Blogger, or... you name it. If your blog isn't set up to allow people the option to comment with "Name/URL", then you're missing out on reader participation. Between my various jobs and everything else, I already have 5 (FIVE!) email accounts to look after. I'll bet I'm not alone in that. I'm unlikely to take the time to set up yet another account, even if I really, really want to leave a comment. It's just too much to keep track of.

So, if you want more participation on your blog, make sure your comments are set to allow "Name/URL" as an option. :) Ok, that's the end of my PSA for today. I promise.

I'm getting really close to having a batch of pet blankets done. The bindings need to be hand sewn on the back, and I still need to make and attach catnip pockets. So close!





I'm also creeping up on my 100-item goal for my Etsy shop. It's been a long haul, but I'm nearly there. :) Everything I've read says 100 is the magic number. Does anyone have any opinion to add to that assertion? Have you found it to be true? Please feel free to chime in!

Last week we were joined by Elizabeth, from Lizbeth's Garden. She's been working on some stinkin' cute keychains.



They look like hard work, and they're awfully cute. Here's a finished one from her Etsy shop.



Ready to join the linky party? It will be open from today through next Monday. You can join up at any time between now and then.

<a href=" http://idahoetsyteam.com/ " target="_blank"><img alt="Idaho Etsy Team" src=" http://sunflowermuse.com/files/2012/03/idaho-etsy-team-button.png "/></a>

Featured Seller - Needle Nosey!

Say hello to the Idaho Etsy Team's featured seller of the week, Needle Nosey! Read on to learn more about Susan and get a sneak peak into her shop!

(click on any photo to take you directly to the listing so you can learn more about the item!)

What is your shop name and what is the significance?

NeedleNosey is my name and stitchin is my game. :) I wanted a name that related to needlework and I also wanted a little bit of a snark factor to go with the slighly irreverent nature of the shop. I thought NeedleNosey fit.

What do you love about Idaho?

Boise reminds my husband and I so much of where we both grew up in Northern California. We love the people, the outdoors, and in the summer we especially love the farmer's market downtown. We love wandering around and eating ourselves silly while supporting local businesses.

Name one thing you would suggest people do when they come to visit the state?

Camp by a quiet lake, float the Boise River, and hit the farmer's market!

Tell us a random fact about yourself.

I started competitive swimming when I was 9 and continued until I was 17 when I had to stop because of injuries. I loved it but had green hair for a lot of years.

What do you do to relax?

I wish I had more time to read! There just aren't enough hours in the day. I tend to multitask though so I always have an audiobook (or 4) loaded on my iPod. If I'm on the move or my hands are busy, I love having somebody read to me. Libraries are a great resource for audiobooks.  :)

If you could travel anywhere in the world where would you go?

Universal in Florida. Harry Potter Theme Park. Yes. I'm a nerd.

Currently, what is your favorite shop item?

At the moment, my favorite is the Bad Spellers pillow. My day job requires perfect spelling and grammar. Hubby is....spelling impaired. The subject has been a running joke in our relationship for over 25 years.

How did you become interested in your craft?

My grandmother taught me to stitch when I was 8 years old. We started with Christmas ornaments. I still have those ornaments on my tree every year.

What do you enjoy about the creative process?

Needlework has always been an escape for me. It's something that allows me to slow down and tune the rest of the world out for a bit. I love being able to pass on to customers something that gives me so much pleasure. While most of the things in my shop are pretty basic, I'm always amazed that simple colored thread can produce such great things.

Any suggestions for those interested in selling their handmade items or vintage finds?

I've been giving my finished products away for years and was always surprised when the recipients would exclaim over them. I guess I didn't get what they were so excited about because I've been stitching since time out of mind. I finally started to look into Etsy as a venue to thin out my pile of finished Christmas ornaments. The pillows were an afterthought. I listed a few items with my knees knocking and convinced the whole idea of me selling anything to anybody was ridiculous. Stupid me. My biggest suggestion would be to go in with confidence. I've been amazed at the response. If there is something you love to do, then just do it and jump in with both feet. :)

Thank you Susan for taking the time to let us get to know you a bit better! I highly encourage you to check out Susan's shop HERE to see more!

This post was created by PhDstressrelief.

WiP Wednesday #18

Welcome back to another Work In Progress (WiP) Wednesday! I'm a little under the weather this week, so it's going to be a short post. I hope your week is going better than mine! :)

I'm still plugging away at pet quilts. Most of them are done through the quilt sandwich stage. Many are quilted. Some have binding pinned on. I know it doesn't look like much, but it definitely felt like a lot.



My office looks like someone turned squirrels loose in it. It's been impossible to work on this project and have a neat office. Oh well! I'll probably live. ;) I'd like to have at least 24 completely done, so that I have a full page of them in my Etsy shop.

Last week we were joined by Barb, from Mountain Quiltworks. She's making some gorgeous granny blocks using these fabrics. I would never in a million years have thought to put these colors together, but I LOVE them.



She also shared a cute story about a close encounter with a skunk! Click on the photo above to read more about it on her blog, or you can visit her Etsy shop here.

Ready to join the linky party? It will be open from today through next Monday. You can join up at any time between now and then.

Featured Seller - Russet Lodge Knits

Say hello to the Idaho Etsy Team's featured seller of the week, Russet Lodge Knits! Read on to learn more about Diane and get a sneak peak into her shop!

(click on any photo to take you directly to the listing so you can learn more about the item!)

What is your shop name and what is the significance?

Russet Lodge Knits is the name of my shop, it's actually taken from a British comedian named Catherine Tate. She's a redhead and redheads are subjects of a lot of discrimination in the UK, so she came up with a comedy sketch about a safe house for redheads called Russet Lodge. As a redhead myself I thought this was hilarious, but it's also a nice cozy sounding name and evokes Idaho potatoes too. So far nobody's ever asked me about the Catherine Tate connection.

What do you love about Idaho?

I love everything about Idaho! I love the beautiful sunny weather, the ease of getting out into nature, the amazing fly fishing, the interesting history... I've lived all over the place, but I keep coming back to Idaho.

Name one thing you would suggest people do when they come to visit the state?

Oh gosh, there are so many choices! I think one of my favorites in the Boise area is the Penitentary museum/botanical gardens. You can climb Table Rock with a picnic and it makes a great day out.  I also enjoy the historic town of Chesterfield (near Soda Springs), which my family lived in for a long time. My great-grandma's house is there and it's now a museum. It's a big brick house and there's a US Geological Survey marker in the wall right near the front door.

Tell us a random fact about yourself.

I have eight chickens at home, named for characters from books, history, or tv shows I like.

What do you do to relax?

I love getting out in my garden and pulling weeds. I also enjoy listening to podcasts and audio books, and I help teach a Scottish dance class. Dancing is one of my greatest pleasures.

If you could travel anywhere in the world where would you go?

I would love to go to Chile. The natural environment there is so beautiful. A backpacking trip would be my ideal way to visit.

Currently, what is your favorite shop item?

One that generates a lot of buzz is my listing for custom spinning your pet's fur into yarn and, if desired, knitting it into a keepsake. I use brushings from your pet and I've created some really lovely yarns in the past. It's a nice way to keep a little bit of your pet with you wherever you go. 

How did you become interested in your craft?

I've been interested in (and exposed to) the fiber arts since I was very young. My mom is a quilter, my grandma is a knitter, everyone in my family does something creative. I was always fascinated with folklore and fairy tales involving knitting, spinning, and weaving, and I was thrilled when I realized people still did these things and I could learn too! There's something about the history of these arts, the fact that they go back to the dawn of human civilization... it just thrills me and I feel like I have this connection with the past that is so profound.

What do you enjoy about the creative process?

I really enjoy the sense of having busy hands but a mind that is free to wander and think over whatever thoughts pop up. I especially enjoy the mathematical and technical challenges of knitting. The idea of taking something as simple as yarn and figuring out how to make it into a three-dimensional object that will fit on a body is really interesting.

Any suggestions for those interested in selling their handmade items or vintage finds?

Go for it! The more time you put into it, the better it gets. The best suggestion I've ever received was to have a routine for posting items and doing other things like tweeting, blogging, giving away prizes, working with groups, etc. It can get overwhelming to do everything at once, so just take it one bite at a time.

A huge thank-you to Idaho Etsy Team. This is a great community and you guys are doing a lot to help us have fun and make the most out of Etsy.

Thank you Diane for taking the time to let us get to know you a bit better! I highly encourage you to check out Daine's shop HERE to see more!

This post was created by PhDstressrelief/I Felt Fuzzy.

WiP Wednesday #17

Well, it's Wednesday again, and that means it's time for another WiP Wednesday! I'm your host, Jerimi. This is where we can share what we're all working on, whether it be crafty or otherwise.

I've been busily turning this:



Into this:


(Pet quilts.)

I've also got a lot of pieces cut for whole-cloth pet blankets, too. It feels really good to be using my fabric! My tendency is to buy it, then be too afraid to actually use it, because what if I mess up? Ridiculous, isn't it?

Last week Bonnie from STUFFellaneous shared some lovely book art projects, including this journal cover.



Doesn't she do beautiful work? Click on the photo above to read more on her blog, or you can visit her Etsy shop here.

Ready to join the linky party? It will be open from today through next Monday. You can join up at any time between now and then.

<a href=" http://idahoetsyteam.com/ " target="_blank"><img alt="Idaho Etsy Team" src=" http://sunflowermuse.com/files/2012/03/idaho-etsy-team-button.png "/></a>

Featured Shop of the Week - JMecham Collection

Say hello to the Idaho Etsy Team's featured shop of the week, JMecham Collection! Read on to learn more about Jamie and get a sneak peak into her shop!

(click on any photo to take you directly to the listing so you can learn more about the item!)

What is your shop name and what is the significance?

jmechamcollection...I decided to use my name mostly because I just love crocheting and have such a collection of patterns that I love to do almost any type of crochet work.

What do you love about Idaho?

I love the lifestyle. The farms in the area bring me such pride in my community and state.

Name one thing you would suggest people do when they come to visit the state?

Camping... Idaho has so many wonderful places to explore the great outdoors.

Tell us a random fact about yourself.

I just had a beautiful baby girl about one month ago.

What do you do to relax?

I love to go for walks outside.  I find the fresh air really rejuvinates me and clears my mind.

If you could travel anywhere in the world where would you go?

I would love to travel to see the giant red wood trees in northern California.

Currently, what is your favorite shop item?

My black and purple fringed scarf. I just love those colors.

How did you become interested in your craft?

I was taught crocheting when I was just a little girl. I find it really relaxes me and allows me to express myself creatively.

What do you enjoy about the creative process?

I love developing patterns, color combos, and just trying new techniques.

Any suggestions for those interested in selling their handmade items or vintage finds?

Just to keep on keeping on. You may not have success immediately but all good things come to those who wait and persevere. 

Jamie also loves to connect with all the local crafters we have in this wonderful state. You should leave her a comment and get in touch!

Thank you Jamie for taking the time to let us get to know you a bit better! I highly encourage you to check out Jammie's shop HERE to see more!

This post was created by PhDstressrelief.

WiP Wednesday #16

Welcome to another WiP Wednesday. I'm your host, Jerimi. This is where we can share what we're all working on, whether it be crafty or otherwise.

Ready to see what I've been working on? Here it is! Forty finished needle books, buttons and all. These were fun to make. I really like the pirate-themed one.





Here's one that makes me smile every time. You can click on it to see it in my shop.



On to the next project!

I have a jump start on making some pet blankies. Here are several of the bindings that are waiting on blankets/quilts.



Last week we were joined by Diane from Russet Lodge Knitting, who shared her progress on both spinning, and a set of kilt hose. How cool are these?



Click on the photo above to read more about Diane's work, or visit her Etsy shop by clicking here.

McKenzie from Girl Loves Glam also dropped by to share some summer beauty tips.



Click on the photo above to read her tips, or click here to visit her Etsy shop.

Ready to join the linky party? It will be open from today through next Monday. You can join up at any time between now and then.

<a href=" http://idahoetsyteam.com/ " target="_blank"><img alt="Idaho Etsy Team" src=" http://sunflowermuse.com/files/2012/03/idaho-etsy-team-button.png "/></a>