You guys!  This past weekend was soooo AWESOME!! I went to something that until recently I had not heard of, and maybe you have not either...The Stitches Knitting Convention (this one being in Texas).  Don't worry, they had crochet stuff there too, that's why I went!  I wasn't sure how it would be, but I signed up for 2 days of classes and went in with an open mind.  They didn't have a ton of crochet classes to choose from, so I worried I might already know the stuff they were going to teach, but I actually learned a ton!  Even in the one class where I already knew the technique I still learned a lot just by meeting the teachers!

I met a lot of really cool people too!  Of course I met some fellow students, but for me the most exciting part was getting to take classes from and meet people who are really icons in the industry and people that I respect a lot.  I got to take two classes from Marly Bird and she is just the living embodiment of making it work as a knitter and crocheter.  I also got to talk to StevenBe who has this great store in Minneapolis and is just a really neat guy...I may have overspent a bit as his booth!  Finally I had a class with a couple known as the Shibaguyz who are really elevating crochet design...I bought 2 books I can't wait to try designs from!

Here's something I didn't realize would happen at this thing...So.Much.Free.Yarn!  Many of the teachers are sponsored by yarn companies and have a lot given to them to give to students..and boy did I ever rake it in!  I could hardly close my suitcase!  I am not complaining...but I'd have brought a bigger one if I had known! haha!

I came away from this inspired, enthused, reinvigorated, and brimming with ideas!  I've been placing so much focus on branding and marketing of my finished goods (not to mention being a one woman sweatshop of production) that I haven't taken much time to challenge myself and work on my skills. Going forward I am going to try to have more balance in that department.  I'm also going to start working on pattern design and sharing of that in various ways.  I can't wait to get all the new ideas out of my head and on to paper, or into yarn, so I can share them with you!

 One last note!  I'm trying out a new thing where there is a pop up encouraging people to sign up for my email list!  Is that pop up too annoying (comment below)?  I made it easily closable but I don't want to run anyone off with something so silly as that! (Also let me know if it didn't pop up for you, we're all just muddling through then new technology together!)

First things first!  If you are in the KC area come see me this Saturday at the Swift Mile Street Festival in North Kansas City!  North Kansas City is a really neat area and I think this festival is going to be super fun!  Music, beer, food, arts and crafts...what's not to love!  I'll be in booth 29 between 13th and 14th streets (the whole thing is on Swift Street...get it?) and I'll be right between the Shorticorn Studios and Bamaram and Sam booths!  It looks like it should be a cool and lovely day to get your Autumn on!  I'm right out front of a coffee shop too so I may be all hopped up on the pumpkin spice lattes!

Next bit of excitement: My Etsy shop if officially up to date!  All 3 color lines are up for sale (mixed in together because as far as I can tell there's no real way to separate such things on Etsy)!  I could not be more proud of this new stuff, I hope you'll find somethings that you like!

My fall is starting to fill out with craft shows but I'm always interested if you hear of anything you think I might have fun and make a few dollars at!  I don't mind a bit of a drive if its not in KC even!  I just like to get out there and talk to you guys...for real!  You can find my fall schedule on my Where To Find Me page but also I made this cute flyer to have out at shows so all the shows currently scheduled are on this guy as well:

That's a whole lot of self taught photoshop right there!  And that's all I got this week!  I hope to see some of your smiling faces on Saturday, but I'll take lots of photos for you if you can't be there!

Hey! Check it out!  Its September!  The blog is back to weekly...I'm sure you are very excited!  Fall is on its way and it is finally the season for people to buy winter wear...or so I hope.  My sale is still going on through Labor Day 9/5, check out this picture for info and go to my Etsy store!!

I'll be honest, this sale is going nowhere, its making me a little sad.  If you are so inclined to tell your friends about it I'd sure appreciate it.  I hate to pack away all this stuff for forever if someone out there could be getting something cute for a good price!  Its making me super apprehensive about the fall shows...like no one cares level apprehensive. 

Lets bring things back out of the sad dark basement shall we??  I finally got everything photographed, edited, up on the "See My Work" page, and ready to click publish on etsy!  Next week at this time I'll be unveiling the whole shebang here on my blog!  I'm also working on setting up a shoot with a friend where I get some photos of my stuff on real live people!! 

Most important...why did I put this last...my first craft show of the season is next Saturday, September 10th!  This will be the Swift Mile Festival in North Kansas City!  I'm really excited about it!!  A lot of my buddies are going to be doing it as well so I know there will be lots of neat stuff there!!  You should be there too, you're neat!!