The Rainbow Rug

Crafters build relationships with their handiwork. It sounds odd, but it is true. Take the Rainbow Rug, for example. This was one of my first T-shirt Rug creations. I chose the colours to be bright, fun and happy! Working on it made me feel that way, even when it wouldn't lie flat and I had to rip it out and re-work it a bit. When it was finished people smiled when they saw it on my table at the market, it was marked "favourite" with a little heart on my Etsy Store and it was even included in a treasury list. It's a nice rug. I liked it, others liked it, and my daughter had her eye on it (she was angling to beg for it if it didn't sell!).

But sell, it did! It was on display at Access Fitness during the weeks approaching the holidays, and it happened to sell on a day that I was not at the club. Cash sale. Great! I was glad someone chose it. Someone, somewhere. Maybe a member of the club? Man, woman? I didn't know. I was glad it sold, but it was one of the first things I've ever sold and NOT known to whom I sold it!

Crafters build relationships with their customers too! One of the things I really enjoy about selling BusyLizzy Boutique items at markets, craft fairs and festivals is the contact I have with the shoppers. I love to chat with the patrons as they select a unique gift for a special person, hear their comments as they linger over the table, and watch their excitement as they pick up something that "spoke to them" from my table as a little treat for themselves. Perhaps it is a little easier to "let go" of my unique handmade creations when I meet the people who will enjoy them.  Even with online sales, I often have a chance to have some dialogue with the buyer via email, and I know where my creation is going to live. I am thrilled to know that refashioned T-shirt Tank is being sported in Dublin Ireland, those Barefoot Sandals are being enjoyed in Brooklyn New York, and that slashed up Zumba® T-shirt is "joining the party" in Texas. I always send a hand-written thank you along with their package when I send it, and quite often receive an email back with thanks and comments; the personal touch means a lot to me.

Back to the Rainbow Rug.... A few months have passed and I've often wondered where it is and who is enjoying it. In fact, we were chatting about that very subject during our recent "Hooking up to Crochet" meeting at a local coffee shop. As the meeting disbanded, I turned to notice a woman I know from the gym sitting with another lady, who was not familiar to me. We had a quick chat about the crochet crowd and the new friend asked for my card. She might join us to learn to crochet next time we meet. I was floored when she took one look at my card and said, "Oh, BusyLizzy Boutique... I bought your Rainbow Rug!"

There she was, sitting right there in the coffee shop while we discussed that very item! (Insert "Twilight Zone" theme music). I learned that the rug was a gift for her son, and is sitting by his woodstove, brightening up his first apartment.

<Sigh> I feel better now!

Cheers!

P.S. If you'd like a rug, there are a few more of my rugs on ETSY or I can make you one in your colour selection... just be sure to say "hi" when you purchase it! :o)

Hooking up to Crochet - February 2012

Working on a Barefoot Sandal

I just realized with some embarrassment that my last post regarding our Hooking up to Crochet (January 2012) gathering was still sitting in the "draft" folder unpublished! It has a great list of online resources for yarns and patterns, so do check it out! Better late than never, right?

Here are the highlights of February's Hooking up to Crochet ...
We met Monday, February 13th at Mochaberry 11:00 am.

Stash-busting with Granny Squares!

In attendance for this month's gathering were: Beckie M, Sarah L, Sarah S, Elizabeth G (me), and Sheila, who joined us by chance. Sheila knits and crochets, and often enjoys stitching away at the coffee shop (or wherever she is). In fact, we've spoken casually several times but today our crafting brought us together further... a chance to exchange names and welcome her to the group. That is what it is all about, right!

Sarah and Sheila

Sarah S - knotting a shopping bag.

As a group, we bounced around several topics over our coffee including the 'street art' known as "yarn bombing" or "guerrilla crochet." It is essentially a public act of covering a natural or man made item in crochet or knitting - here are some photos for reference). Of course I can neither confirm nor deny whether we actually hatched our own plan for a local bombing.

PUBlic Crochet - the evening chapter! 
Winchester Arms, Orangeville, 7 pm Wednesday February 15th
This was the first attempt at an evening gathering of Hooking up to Crochet. As it turned out, the date and time fell off the radar for some, and others had last minute duties that prevented them coming. I spent about an hour in the local pub feeling a bit like I'd been stood up... until Virginia arrived! Virginia is actually a knitter, but I wasn't about to be picky about my company considering hanging out at the local watering-hole by myself is not exactly my usual Wednesday night activity! We chatted away while Virginia worked on a long-term project -- a tunic that she's hoping will be done in time to wear this season! Tiny yarn, tiny needles... I was certainly impressed! I have a bit of a commitment issue with my projects. I tend to favour those projects that can be tucked in a purse, and completed in a few sittings. I sometimes venture into those that could last a week or even a month or two (afghans and the like) but that is much more rare! Joining us about a half hour later was Kat A. She was sporting a new "baby bump" so with all of us being moms, the conversation turned to plans for baby and our 'war stories' about birthin'... and we won't get into the details in this forum! Despite a slow and low-key start, I believe the PUB-lic Crochet nights will also become popular over time. Again we'll aim for a monthly gathering and see where it takes us!

Bottle Tags: available on ETSY

Upcoming Events:
(Just a few shifts in "regular" days and times to avoid "March Break" and to adjust for some less busy times at our coffee shop... let me know how these work for you! Please RSVP by adding yourself to the group on Facebook. Just follow the links below!
Hooking up to Crochet (PUBlic Crochet) - MON MARCH 5th 8pm at Winchester Arms 171 Broadway, Orangeville
Hooking up to Crochet (Coffee Club) - WED MARCH 7th 9-11am, at Mochaberry 177b Broadway, Orangeville

We'll talk soon!

Jelly Bean Jar Game... sort of!

What a FUN project! I used up a ton of those tiny little skeins of yarn in my stash that were, well, to good to throw away... but isn't ALL yarn too good to throw away? In a lot of cases, I hang onto bits and pieces that would never make a full project. Finally some validation for my pack-rat yarn habit!

Here is the pattern I used for inspiration! Scrappy Steps Afghan. I sometimes have commitment issues with a newer technique or pattern, so I decided to create a scarf for starters.

When I was nearly finished creating the scarf I realized I had not yet repeated any colour! Game on! I hunted, scrounged and dug into old-forgotten project bags, and even my daughter's craft bin to find just a few more yarns to complete the scarf. I had to use 2-strands of a lighter weight yarn a few times, but I did it. No two stripes were the same!

I love wearing this scarf, and it is a great conversation starter:


Stranger in coffee shop line up: "Wow, did you knit that?" (I know, it's crochet, but I'm usually too polite to correct them. I'll sneak that information in later in the conversation!)
Me: "Yes, this is my own work!"
A-bit-less-strange Stranger, smiling: "Cool! It's so colourful!"
Me: "Can you guess how many different colour yarns are in it? It's like the jelly bean jar game at the fair... if you guess right, I'll buy your coffee!"

It sure beats discussing the weather! And nobody has guessed right yet... usually too low! ;o)

Sooooo?.... How many different colours (verigated yarns count as one colour) are there represented in this Scrappy Scarf? Drop me a comment or Facebook post and have a guess!

Cheers,

BusyLizzy