In which nicky does a happy dance!

Okay yeah I know I missed a few days writing, we’re going to blame the holidays okay? 

Or the fact that I’ve been banging my head trying to get this rabbit done, and no I’m not talking about the chocolate one… that’s already in pieces next to me as I crochet.

Though I did get a nice Easter surprise, a necklace that I was really debating keeping for myself because I didn’t think anyone else would like it… Sold in the shop, just shows me that I shouldn’t be so hard on myself when it comes to my designs.  The more out there the more people seem to like it.

Tomorrow I’m walking to the post office since it’s not far and I really need to start working out more, So figure this will only help with that goal right.  Nicky wants a slimmer tummy!  It’s probably not going to happen before my birthday (yeah two weeks HAH)  But maybe by midsummer?  Well that’s the goal at least.

Well, I’m going to go package this necklace for shipping, and see about grabbing a snack that isn’t all sugar while I work out this bunny.  I think I know how I’m going to do the ears at least, and thinking I’m doing one with braids, only because I want to play around with the idea.  I don’t think she’ll be good for little kids, but I’m hoping she’s going to be cute. 

And while I’m talking shop today, let’s see we have Hammond up, he’s a pig that Liz made that personally if she’d let me keep him I would.  He’d so be going to my little stockpile of cute toys that is slowly overtaking my work area.  Most of them will be sent out as soon as I can get pictures taken and get them up on line.  Yes that’s my goal for next week, getting at least 60 more items into the shop.

Website updates YAY

Well that needed to be done, nIIz Designs web page has now been updated with almost everything from the shop. We have some more photos to get up, but I’m tired of coding now, I’ll get them up with in the next few days.

It’s something I’ve meant to do a while, but I kept putting it off, something I shouldn’t have done, but with me doing most of the promotional stuff (Okay so my partner’s been on creative streak so I’ll give her that credit) I just haven’t really wanted to work on the site. Though I’m thinking I should change the coloring on the main page to match the awesome banner one of our clients gave me.

 I think that will be a project for another day, right now as I said I’m sick of coding so I’m going to be lying out in the sun taking pictures of the products we still need to get into the shop.

While I was working on things I did put up a link page, I’m going to offer a link exchange for anyone who has a handmade crafts shop. If you want me to post a link in my shop drop a line here, or over on my Zibbet and I’ll get your banner up in the shop as soon as I can. Usually it’ll be one or two days from when you ask, all I ask is a link somewhere back to my shop.

And ooh! My partner in crime (Well friends have said the stuffed animals are criminally cute) just told me lunch is ready so I have to get going, Hoping my next update will have some of the shop stuff I’ve been working on.

Laters!
 Nicky

I'm alive, I think.

Well I know I said I’d blog more often, got tied up in the shop, literally, I’m surrounded by a mountain of projects in various stages of incompleteness.  Though I think today I’m putting on shorts and taking the box of things we have made out to the yard for some shots.  Hopefully I can get some time to edit them and pop them up on-line.  Though I have to admit I think we need a bigger box, because right now we have about 100 items we need jewelry boxes for sending, and need to photograph, I’ve just been waiting for a few nice days where I can lie out on the lawn going trigger happy.

And rereading that last sentence, I sound like I’m psycho or something.  I’m going to blame it on my fondness for survival horror games okay?  Good. 

I’ll leave you today with the newest item up in the shop, just in time for Summer!  Bring on the slushie fruity drinks!  Bonus with the umbrellas okay, yeah it’s been one of those weeks, and it’s only Wednesday, and really I don’t drink that much! 

 

This necklace and earring set, made of pearls, shell and a brass finding, is great for the summer.

The pooka shells mixed with pieces of other shell and pearls just screams going to the beach or boardwalk. Pair it up with a tank and shorts to give a more classy look, or a simple black dress at night for a romantic walk in the sand.

My writing page

I've been rereading some of my older writing and I've been toying with that the last few days.  All my stories (Well one's I'm willing to share with the world) are going to be going over here.  This includes any little stories about the Blonks.  I found a few that I haven't posted here yet, I'm going to edit them then post them there.  I will keep you updated on that!

I know I need to get more images up in the shop soon.  Might start trying to do my Shopping Saturday Features here.  Might do a few other features I did too.  We'll see how it goes.

In which Nicky rambles. Yay

Okay yeah I totally fail at keeping blogs okay? Though I’m trying I really am! Doesn’t help that when I’m at the computer I’m usually listening to the radio crocheting, which reminds me I need to get some better images of some of my blonks to share with my readers. Maybe I’ll do that Monday morning when it’s a little more quiet around here. I know I have some items I have to get up in the Zibbet shop. The unholidays that the housemate and I had ended up being a work frenzy.

And yes I said unholidays, we were so busy until just last week helping her son get things ready for going back to school that we kind of forgot to take time for ourselves. When we weren’t helping him we were crocheting. She made a few tops that I’m tempted to buy from her because they’re so pretty. I just don’t know what I’d wear them with yet. Hm… Black jeans, need to invest in another pair of those anyway and black jeans look good with EVERYTHING in my opinion.

And I’m slowly making a dent in the mountain of yarn around me. I might actually be able to reclaim my wicker basket for the purpose I bought it for which is storing the finished items, not all my yarn! Yeah, that’s a wishful thought okay? I’m allowed them now and then. I have some pretty yarns though that I’m planning to turn into stuffed animals. I want to perfect my monster pattern because really he’s become an awesome buddy to keep around when I’m watching a horror movie, and he doesn’t squirm as much as the cat does.

Once I finish this muffler and gloves set as well as these dish cloths I started like a month ago, that’s the plan make another monster. And this time write down the pattern in notes. I can’t remember what I did to make the original one! Total fail on my part.

Link goes to shop

On that note I'll leave you with one of my favorite jewelry creations.  I love how the colors melded together for this one.  Something about bronze and watery hues that just feel warm and comforting to me.

Gee I'm doing great at keeping up aren't I?

Well since November I've been working my little hands to the nubs on crochet items.  I need to take more pictures of what I have to get it up on line. 

Also been trying to tame my muses so that I can focus on working on a book.  I have the idea stuck in my head for it, actually been mulling it over for the last two weeks, just need a moment or two to actually write.  Half tempted to just work on programing my voice to text program for my computer.  That way I can actually do some hands free writing.

And sorry this is such a short post.  I have some things I want to get done today while the kid's still out.  Abusing the silence today sounds like a plan.

survived! I think

Well I managed to get the blonk packaged away for my stepmother, it's currently on it's way to Michigan.  Now I just have photos to take of the rest of the stuff we have to get up on line.  Then it'll just be a matter of continuing to keep it stocked.  Shouldn't be too hard really we have a stock pile already and I'm so going to be re-organizing things so that I can get them in a better packaging production mode.

Reminds me I have to get more jewelry boxes.  Yay what fun.

But yeah, I'm planning on using this blog more.  Hopefully I will remember to.  Time for me to actually get off my rear to get the stuff I need done.  the rate I'm going... I'll have everything done by next New Years!  Yeah... I'm a little slow at it okay?

Gah! FRANTIC Mad scientist here!

I have a little over a week to finish up some presents for family and hardly time to do it in.  Though I'm about an 8th of the way done with the blanket I'm making for my dad.  Hoping I can snag some photos before giving it to him for the blog.  I can't show it off obviously before hand not sure if he's reading this one.

Also want to make a decent sized Blonk for Teri, maybe two, though pretty sure the blanket will be shared if I can finish it.  If not the housemate wants me to give them the one she made and I'll put mine in the shop.  I'm just hoping I have enough yarn for it.

And yeah I know I need to put more items up in the Zibbet account to get that fully up and running.  Ugh, if I survive the Holidays this year it'll be a miracle.  They're not even in full swing yet and I'm frazzled.

Might be because I have so many things to do and feels like absolutely no time to do it.  Wonder if this is how other shop owners feel their first year of having a shop?

I really need to post here more often...

I’ve been hanging out too much on Tejinas Toybox lately though I’m slowly trying to get everything organized better so that I have all the blogs tied into one.

Let’s see, the last… few months have actually been a blur, I’ve been busy trying to get things done, and we got the housemate’s son to college, with all the quiet time in the house you’d think I’d spend more time writing… Yeah, not really, I’ve been working on so many crochet projects lately that my hands want to hack themselves off and run away. 

Doesn’t help that Toes is being clingy lately.  I think he misses his sister, she passed away back in February, and since then I’ve been in my little funk.  Hoping to pop out of it soon. 

Yeah I know a eh post, about to go get some things done so I can start figuring out what I’m going to do with the store of items I have to get into the shops.

Oops.

Yeah I've been so busy lately trying to get a bunch of new blonks made and today I'll be photographing them.

Doesn't exactly help that my computer's been crashing on me the last few days so I'm scrambling to save up money to fix that problem too, with luck I'll get that problem situated, because it's hard to run a business or even write when the only other computer I have access to is the housemate's who's I can't use because my programs aren't on it (She refuses to upgrade her software and sorry but I will not be writing out blog posts on a computer that doesn't have a decent word processor. as for last Friday's post…

Well I could lie about it and say I just forgot, but I usually set those so they'll post on the day they're supposed to, just proves how busy I've been lately. Learning how to make a new Amigurumi (Need to finish the legs of this first doll then play with it to see how I like it. Which means my Chinese New Years blonks won't happen this year. Holiday blonks and monthly zodiac will, if all goes well, start next month.

I'm hoping to make enough money with these so that I can save up for two costumes for when I go to visit Dad and my step mom in Michigan, which is where most of the money from the sales of the blonks will be going for right now. Well that and I need to add new stuff to my wardrobe so I can get another job. I want to be able to get my own car because sorry, the one that I have access to now is so not me. I'd rather have something that's a little more adventurous. Hard to take a 4 door coupe on dirt roads, I'd like something I don't care if it gets dirty.

Reminds me, I should price organic local yarns soon, I like the stuff I use, but I want to see if I would like that a little more. I like the idea of organic or eco friendly materials for these.

Okay I have to go finish some of these blonks so I can go play with the camera. Next shop update will have some of my Jewelry too I think. The housemate's too, since she's helping me with getting my laptop fixed.

Hopefully I'll have time to get a story post up too. I need to type up all my notes that I have for the shop too.



Yeah Rambling away cause I'm overwhelmed at the moment.

Nicky

WIP Box show and tell (AKA why I'm so silent)

Yeah I haven’t been writing here in a while I’m so sorry about that I really am trying to be better at that!

Well I figured I’d do a show and tell to show you that the blonky lab’s in full swing!  I’ve been working my little fingers to the nubs trying to get these done so I can pop them up for sale.  

I’m also trying to plot out a little story for them.  They’re whole creation story because really, they are supposed to be monkeys, but tend to want to be mice and other little critters, so figure I’d write something to explain what they are other than really loud and Gods they multiply worse than bunnies!  My WIP box has about sixty of them waiting to be born and I plan on making at least another forty of them before I start working on some actual dolls.

I’m really thinking that I should have something up for their creation by Christmas, my little gift to you, a nice story post. 

Maybe there’ll be a post with a WIP doll in it too.  I found a pattern that I really want to try.  Thinking if it works I’ll be adding actual dolls to my collection of items to sell.  I was going to make some coffee slips, still might knowing how much I drink coffee, I’ll play with the pattern with scrap yarn.  I think after this rush I’ll have some extra.  I need to start making a list of the colors I use too, that way when I run out I can get more.  I think that’s one reason I’m using red heart.  No dye lot is becoming a life saver.  I’ve already run out of one color and had to go back to get more at the store a few times, you wouldn’t think that little blonks, only a few inches tall would take up so much yarn.  I average ten blonks per ball with a little left over for the ears and tails.  They’re a great stash buster project though.  

Now for the show and tell one craft drawer of blonks (And one pencil oops): 

 That was at about 3 am this morning.  I'm slowly trying to get at least ten different colors done so I can do some mix and matching.  Still have 2 pairs of gloves to make as Christmas gifts. 

Warms scarves, gloves and really what am I doing?

Sorry I've been quiet lately, trying to get Blonks made, work on some gifts for the holidays and well pretty much trying to get things done before my mad writing attack starting the first of the month. Yeah I'm going to try to run both at the same time, the shop and NANO. I'm only shooting for 60k words this year, not doing something insane like the double book I pulled last year (120k words in one month is a PAIN to edit at the end of the month, I still can't make out most my caffeine induced writing for one of the books, so it's probably a loss). Hoping to get this one scarf finished tonight and get a few Blonks up tomorrow. If not I will have more items in my shop by Friday, before my two hours of TV, because I need my Sci-Fi fix weekly.

Right now that comes in the form of Supernatural (Monsters every week so WIN!) and Sanctuary. When the next season of Dr. Who comes on I'll probably be watching it if BBC actually behaves on or cable network. For some reason I can't really get into other shows. Occasionally I'll watch CSI and NCIS, but I'm not as much of a fan as I used to be. I know Kate so sorry!

Well back to work, that way I can hurry get the gifts done hopefully in time to send them out with the shop orders. Yes this means that Dad might actually get the blanket I started making for him this time last year. I have it mostly done, just have to figure out how I'm linking the panels together. Might go for a leaf motif…

Reminds me I should also work on the gloves I want for the faire made. Might just end up making them bracers instead, I'll have to find the right boots too. Looks like I may be making a trip to the mall. Maybe I'll be lucky to find the right ones because I need another pair of good soft leather boots. My black ones, which would have been perfect for a costume, fell apart on me after five years of constant wear, and the other pair I have… I'm not killing myself to walk around in three inch heels thanks.

Okay, okay so I really suck at blogging.

I know I haven't used this account as much as I wanted to lately. Been working on a few things; EDL and now my Amigurumi and Jewelry site, which also has a blog on it, as well as plotting out my writing project for November. I think I may actually start that writing project early and totally shine off doing NaNoWriMo this year. I know I can hit the word count in a month, though the story that I have brewing in my head's one that I want to get down without the time restraint. Besides, might be fun to write.

And the idea's a little better than the steam punk one that I was writing about last time. We'll see how it goes after all, I have so much going on at the moment I don't even know where to start. Other than the beginning, right now that's as far away from crochet hooks as I can get for a few hours. Totally blame it on the fact that the little demons I made aren't as cute as I thought they would be so I don't want to even attempt Jack o lanterns at the moment. Ugh, I should go get my drink and plug in the laptop. Sitting out on the porch for a bit, just because it's one of those days where it's a little cool, but comfortable. The day made for apple cider, and a nice happy little story.

Guess it looks like I'm writing for a bit. I should see about getting back into a few writing groups. I haven't been in any for a while, mostly because the writer's block lately. One good thing about the Amigurumi I'm making. The monkeys I've made have started to take on a life of their own and have been forcing me to create little stories for them. One of these days I'll end up typing them all up and posting them. Probably in the little description of them on the new site, just so that readers will see who I'm talking about.

Until next time (Which won't be forever I promise!)

Nick

I know it's been a while since I've written anything.

Mostly because I've been doing a lot of writing and working on amigurumi.  OMG I did the cutest little Sack doll (LittleBigPlanet: Game of the Year Edition) using Moon's pattern.  I'm thinking I may have to make another one add the first to my key chain.

I'm also working on my 'totem' stackers (Working title for them)  I have twelve lists of twelve animals to try to make, think building blocks for more 'grown up' kids.  Though if they work well with the amigurumi, I might make little kid ones too out of fleece.  Yes these will be sold in the shop once me and the house mate actually get things done for that.  Right now we're still playing with patterns and beads to figure out just what we want to sell. 

I'll try to get some more pictures up soon.  It's too icky outside right now for them, and I don't want to move things around to take them inside.