What do all of these items have in common other than the fact that they are crocheted? There’s something unique about them, but it won’t be disclosed just yet.
I’ve been working on this pattern for awhile now, and just when I think I’m ready to write it all out (all 6 versions), I come up with another one. I hope to get the pattern(s) written up soon and sent out for testing so I can add them to my Artfire Studio and Etsy Shop. I also plan to make some to sell at an upcoming craft fair, as well as in my shops.
I have about a dozen other pattern ideas floating around in my head and in my sketch book, so stay tuned!
What have I been up to? The past year has been one full of research as I worked on a special project that has now been put to rest for a short period. More info will be available when the project is ready to be talked about once again. In the meantime, I plan to bring this blog back to life. There’s too much wonderful crocheting going on out there, and it would be a shame to miss talking about it all! So this short post is the beginning of what I hope to be many, many more for the remainder of the year.
Happy Crocheting!
~Tracie
Recently, I decided to open an Etsy shop to sell my patterns and other crochet-related crafted items. I did so because in an attempt to get rid of the middle man–ie: those who get a percentage of my sales–I learned that there’s not a way around this, not that I found anyway. I tried a program through my site host but it was still going to route me through PayPal for payment, so not only was PP going to get a percentage, I was going to have to pay the host a monthly fee whether I sold anything or not. I was also mislead into believing that I could accept credit cards through this hosted store front. Okay, that information wasn’t misleading because I would have been able to accept forms of payment like that BUT it wasn’t until I read the fine print that an SSL certificate would be needed, as well as a gateway. More money to spend to make money. In the end, I realized it was just cheaper to use the middle man and continue to post my patterns here on my web site with a link to PayPal, as well as through Ravelry, whom I don’t mind receiving a percentage of my sales because they are an awesome marketing tool to say the least, and now Etsy, because it gives me the ability to sell more than just the patterns. The main thing I don’t like about Etsy is their search engine, as well as the fact that a person has to continually post items on a daily basis to stay on top enough to be seen on the Etsy site. I just figure I can market my stuff on my own through my blog and such. It sure beats paying for a lot of stuff I don’t need, like an SSL, a monthly store front fee, and a gateway.
If you want to visit the store, you can: The Crochet Studio’s Patterns & More Store. There’s not much there right now, but as things get added, I’ll advertise here on the blog. You can always favorite the store, too. Hint.
Happy Shopping!
I finally found a blog template that I really liked and was able to tweak it enough to suit me. If you check it out, let me know what you think.
Personally, I think things are easier to find and the sidebar isn’t so run-on-ish. The layout just seems a lot cleaner. And of course, it has some pinks and greys since they’re my site colors. But one of the things I like most about it is that it’s totally compatible with the latest version of WP, which my old layout was not.
Now to make up for all that blog time with crochet time!
I should have mentioned in my last post about the Baa Little Sheep pattern that it was tested by Deb over at Neatly Tangled. She’s been helping me out a lot lately with my testing needs. She and I seem to make a good team.
Thanks for all your help, Deb!
I had to do some switching around of hosting accounts today to accomplish something I needed for this site (more info to come on that), and I ended up losing the blog for a bit. Finally, I have it restored! Woot. I lost a few pictures, but other than that, everything else seems to be in tact. I need to work on my sidebar widgets some, which I’ll do tomorrow. Other than that, I’m off and running once again.
If anyone sees a technical problem with this blog, please let me know. Thanks!
As of now, I do. I’d heard about Twitter on our local news channel because they’re always saying we can find them on FriendFeed (which I haven’t looked up yet) and Twitter, so I thought I’d checked them out. Especially since I’m not busy enough as it is. *cough* One more application won’t hurt, right? And since I can text from my cell phone, it might be a little easier to update sometimes. We’ll see.
I set up a widget in my sidebar for my Twitter entries, but if you’re in Twitter already or set up an account in the future, look me up there as MsCrochetS.
Happy Twittering!
First off, let me say: Thank you to all those who congratulated me on my last news about the certification. I haven’t had a chance to respond to each of you through email just yet, but know that your comments were totally appreciated.
And now, as if becoming a certified crochet instructor isn’t enough to bring a smile to an aspiring professional crocheters face, try adding the news that you are accepted as an Associate Professional with the CGOA. I just got the email congratulating me on my newly found status. Now I just have to wait for the Guild to hook me up with a mentor and I’m on my way. I’m absolutely doing the happy dance at this very moment.
This is all so much more than I ever expected when I first started crocheting about two-and-a-half years ago. It just seems to get better and better. Let’s just hope that the rain will stay at bay and not come down on my happy crochet parade!
Cheers!
I heard from my teacher today, and I passed part one of the Certified Instructors Program I’ve been taking through the CYCA. Woot! She said everything looked beautiful and I did very well. I’m stoked. Now I just have to get my hours turned in to the council so I can get my certificate and pin. This certifies me to teach students on a beginner level. I’m still working on Part 2, which is for the intermediate certification. It’ll take me a little while because it has some tedious assignments in it.
This is a great course, which has taught me a thing or two already. It has also encouraged me to do things I haven’t done before, like write a pattern from start to finish and learn a new technique like broomstick lace. I recommend it to anyone who wants to teach or just wants to enhance what they do know and learn what they don’t.
I’m so looking forward to finishing this and seeing where this crocheted path takes me next!
In an attempt to get all of my ducks in a row, I’ve made one more change, which is my name on Ravelry. If you previously knew me as ShadeTreeTracie, please make note that my name has changed to MsCrochetS. It’s amazing how much a hook and yarn can become part of someone, huh?
announcements, original patterns | Tracie | 
September 5, 2009 7:56 am | 
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