Settin' Up Shop

Disclaimer: I totally didn't forget about posting the UPenn Museum of Anthropology and Archaeology pictures. I've been holding off blogging with the intention of posting said pictures, but the urge to blog usually hits me at work, and I cannot ignore it any longer. I should set a day. How about Saturday?

A while back I decided that I wanted to set up an Etsy shop. I might have mentioned it here. I can't remember. I want to sell accessories: scarves, hats, cowls, fingerless gloves, etc. Originally I thought I'd start working on my "products" immediately following Christmas, but stuff has come up, namely two owl sweaters, my grandmother's cardigan (Yes, I chose a different pattern), and my dad's chemo caps. Here are the reasons I've been set back:

-I'm participating in an owl sweater knit-a-long with my friend, Sara. I'm making one sweater for me and one for my mom.

-Due to time constraints, I ended up shifting my grandmother's cardigan to after Christmas.

-My dad will be undergoing chemotherapy for Multiple Myeloma sometime soon, hence the need for chemo caps.

After these things have been knit, I am not going to allow myself to knit ANYTHING else (save shop products) until I have enough items for my shop. I've put some thought into my "brand name." I think I'm going to go with Darby's Doodles, but that isn't final. In addition to a name, I'm going to need to come up with a cool banner and procure a model (and some photography skills). Tags are a must as well. I want my products to look professional. Oh, and I can't forget about my shop profile and policies! I'll have to come with something witty and entertaining.

I don't plan on making it "big," or becoming a famous designer. I just want to recoup some of the costs of knitting in general. If I make a little extra, good for me. I want this to be fun, not a job. I already have one of those.

Life: As I Know It

There's a reason I haven't been writing much. It's because there's nothing to write about. My life is pretty darn boring. Let's see...what have I done since I last posted?

-I attended a baby shower.
-Christmas "happened."
-I enjoyed a much needed (and deserved!) vacation.
-I begrudgingly returned to work.
-I went to the UPenn Museum of Anthropology and Archaeology. (I should probably post pictures of that outing here. Note to Self: Put up pictures in next post.)
-I started knitting a soul stealing sweater. (Believe me, it already did! I've spent more hours tweaking the pattern than sleeping.)
-...and I've been desperately trying to organize my teeny tiny apartment. There isn't enough space for all of my crafty stuff, which gives me agita, and makes me feel disheveled. I can't find a safe place to put my yarn. Darby ALWAYS ends up wrapped from head to tail in my yarn. She's such a weasel.

I've devised a plan to help me escape boredom: list making. Aside from the constant student loan budgeting that keeps me sane, I'm coming up with all kinds of things I'm going to do once I get a house. At the top of the list is sewing. I got a sewing machine for Christmas, but I haven't the slightest clue how to operate it. And while I'm confessing, I should add that I don't really know how to sew either. While I would love to pop that sucker out of its box and rip through a bunch of fabric, I know I shouldn't in such a tight space. I'm scared I'll lose some of the parts to either the vacuum cleaner or one of my dogs' voracious appetites.

Second on my list is gardening. Although I'm technically allowed to plant things in the space around my bedroom window, better judgement tells me that that's a no-no. I'm almost positive my completely rational neighbors will commit gardencide.

Third, I'm going to crochet a tablecloth. I've been admiring everyone's beautiful crocheted tablecloths, and I want one of my own. I picked out a pattern. All I need is a house with a dining room table (and space to safely store the tablecloth.)

Fourth, I'm going to get a Christmas tree. And make a tree skirt. And go all-out on decorating. I haven't had a Christmas tree (much to my despair) since I moved. There's just no room. And my dogs eat yarn and plastic bags. What do you think they'd do to a Christmas tree?

Fifth, I'm going to make Xerxes a bunch of diapers. One for every day of the week. He's got one at the moment. I don't bother making him wear it because I'm lazy...and I'm renting from the worst place on Earth. Yeah, I'm vindictive like that.

Of course, this list is open ended. Unfortunately, the wait is as well.