Blue Mountain Handcrafts

 

 

Sunday, March 28, 2010

This Week.........

Lots going on this week! It's rainy and yucky out today which means it's a good day to get stuff done inside........I really didn't feel like cleaning out the flower beds anyway ;) Here's a quick run down of life on the mountain:

* Eric is making a set of basic 2 pitch handcombs that could conceivabley be clamped to a table. They are not as fancy as the other 2 pitch handcombs but will be good for busting up and fluffing out washed fleece. They will run about $78 on the website and $85.80 in the etsy shop. Of course, I have to test them first to make sure they'll stand up to a good beating........I'm the perfect "crash test dummy"

*I'm now an Ashford dealer (sorry, not wheels, looms, or drum carders) and will be carrying crystal metallic fiber in 10 colors to start with in the etsy shop....5 more to come in the future. I now have access to all the Ashford parts for the wheels, looms, etc and accessories like bobbins and fly wheels as well as all the books and fibers they carry. If you need something Ashford let me know.......I can do bulk fiber and give you a good deal on anything else.

*I got my April Phat Fiber samples sent out on Wednesday and am in the planning stages of the samples for the May box. It's going to be something special with prizes involved! No, I'm not telling now........only one other person knows and she's been pinky sworn to secrecy ;)

*Alex is starting to act like a teenager........I wondered when it would happen. I think that child talks on the phone to his friend Kevin about 2 or 3 times a day and on the weekends who knows how many times. Kevin is cool though....he likes to be on speaker phone sometimes and talks to the whole family. Alex has been playing Monopoly in one of his classes at school to teach the kids about money, real estate, etc. We use to call him "Mr. Burns" (from the Simpsons) when we played Monopoly with him because he always had tons of property and piles of money. Apparently, this has not changed and he's cleaned everyone out every game they've played at school........to the point kids are getting tired of playing because they keep losing. He's always been lucky at games and cards and when you throw "smarticles" in with it, well, he's dangerous. I need to take that boy to Vegas.

*Katie Bug is still making super cute clay figures.......she loves chubby cute animals and has enough for a zoo. She's been getting A's on her tests in school (history, science, reading comprehension) and even B's in math........not her best subject but she gets that honest, if I don't have a calculator or my shoes off I'm lost. I've managed to get her to make me a few super cute sheep pins to go in my batt subscription packages and she's got ideas for more. Bless her heart, she's just like me.........so many ideas you hardly know where to start!

Okay, back to work........there are bags to sew, fiber to weigh, and pancakes to make!

 

 

 

 

Sunday, March 21, 2010

Check this out!!! I'm soooo excited!!!!!

 A friend emailed and told me she got her subscription and my bags were in the magazine!!! Wahooo!!!

I did some serious cleaning today........it was way overdue trust me. I spent almost 7 hours cleaning out and organizing my computer/fiber/sewing/shipping/inventory area also known as Area 54. I'm thrilled with it!! I desperately need to get some clear plastic totes to put the washed fleece in on the shelves....the bags keep  falling off driving me nuts. Eric, the kids, and I also managed to clean the house.........I mean CLEAN the house, not the usual kiss and a promise. The van is full of trash for the dump and I have another van load of trash as well as a van load of Salvation Army stuff. We are actually going to have some room in this tiny house!! It was nice to get everything vacumed, dusted , swept, mopped, laundry done (6 or 8 loads!!), etc. I'm exhaused and I think this is worth celebrating so I'm going to go have a little cocktail and relax. It's a rare and wonderful thing when I can not only get the kids to help clean the house but Eric as well ;) Here's photos of my new and improved Area 54!

 

 

Friday, March 19, 2010

BMH Ravelry Group Secret 100's Special

Okay, I’m going to try this as a special “thanks” to my Ravelry group members. I’m just so glad I’m not talking to myself….me, myself, and I don’t always get along and sometimes things get ugly ;) If you're not a member join us!!

Blue Mtn Handcrafts Secret 100’s Special 

                               

  Blue Mtn. Handcrafts Ravelry Group

*the person who places the 100th sale in my shop will receive a $10 gift certificate good toward a future order on ANYTHING in the ETSY OR WEB shop (includes tools, dye, shipping, everything). Custom/Special orders are the only exception

*must be a member of the Blue Mtn. Handcrafts Ravelry group……..when checking out please write BMH Rav with your Rav name

*we are currently at 610 sales…….so there are quite a few to go (no need to stalk the shop yet Aimee ;)…#700 will be the next in line for the gift certificate

 March 9, 2010

Wow! I didn't realize it had been so long since I last posted..........yep, super busy at my house! Well I don't have time for a real post so here's a quick run down of the madness going on here:

February 25, 2010

Eric and I are still working our hindquarters off and super busy but at least it's in a mostly good way. Still no word from Interweave Crochet and I haven't gotten my magazine yet........I'm almost bald from pulling my hair out! The kids are totally sick of snow and winter but are doing well. I got some new "special listings" up in the shop....I had to share this pictured, it's one of my favorites! Okay, back to the grindstone.

Wednesday, February 17, 2010

Fun Mail!

I got fun mail yesterday!! I love getting stuff in the mail....well, except for bills but who likes getting bills? Anyhow, I got my Greener Shades dye order (finally) and managed to get it up in the Etsy shop and on the Website. I just dyed a batch of Ruby Red with a bunch of different fibers....product testing, right! Next I'm doing purple. Basically, I'm going to try out all 9 colors and then geez what am I going to do with 36oz of gorgeous dyed fiber.......guess I'll be carding some awesome batts that's what!!! I felt like a mad scientist testing the ph of the water and actually keeping track of the temperature. Eric suggested I follow the directions for at least the 1st batch of each color. I know, super boring but he's right.......I can do my "granny style" thing after I get the test batches done.

My super duper fun package was from Anita aka yarndemon from our Fancy Kitty Ravelry group swap. There was alot of squealing and ooohhing and aaaahhing going on as I unwrapped each fantastic item. I got some beautiful batts that I'm in the process of spinning, a super cute tape measure that Katie tried to steal, some of Anita's awesome fimo clay stitch markers (she's got lots more at www.yarndemon.etsy.com ), incredibly soft faux angora, dyed firestar, lotion, a beautiful soap bag with some almond and oatmeal soap, lots of edible treats, and Poo Poo Paper. It's absolutely hysterical...........it is actually made from recycled elephant poop. Apparently, they only digest 60% of the vegetable matter they eat so there's alot of fiber in their poop and this company recycles it into paper. Don't worry, it doesn't smell like poop. I love the company's tag line "We're Number One At Number Two!" You can get your own poo poo paper at www.poopoopaper.com   I've got it bookmarked ;)

Sunday, February 14, 2010

Happy Valentine's Day!

Wednesday, February 10, 2010

HOLY CRAP!

We have gotten a ton of snow here on the mountain. Over 3 feet, no kidding. It took 2 days to shovel the driveway and they finally plowed our road yesterday. This, however, does not mean we can get down the mountain. The main road on the mountain is, well, treacherously covered with snow and ice. The lady at the post office told me when I called that if we didn't have 4 wheel drive and chains not to even attempt it.....she said even with 4 wheel drive and chains it was dicey. So, we're still stuck and everyone here is sick of snow and wants to move to Mexico.

I have managed to get alot of sewing done when we have electricity......it was intermittent for 2 days and no internet access for 2 1/2 days. Have you ever tried to heat your house with candles? It can be done......it's times like this that make me glad I'm a pack rat. I don't really mind being stuck since I never go anywhere anyway but I REALLY don't like not being able to get the mail and mail my packages. Right now we have blizzard like conditions with wind and blowing snow so I'm waiting for the power to go out again. Thank the gods for manual fiber tools......I would have gone absolutely bonkers days ago if not for my spinning wheels and drum carder. I still haven't heard from Interweave so now I'm waiting (not very patiently) for the magazine to come out and keeping my fingers crossed. I guess I better go sew and take pictures in case we loose power again. I hope everyone is warm and safe and not getting this damned snow!!

Friday, February 5, 2010

My Carding Katie

I had to share this. Katie wanted to card some batts while I was working on the computer so I gave her a tub full of wool and lots of sparkly add ins and told her to have at it. Rest assured, she has been trained in the proper and safe use of the drum carder.....I would not let just any child use a drum carder unsupervised. Anyhow, Katie carded up 3 gorgeous batts with a total weight of 5 oz.  I was thrilled and was looking forward to spinning them tonight. So, what does the little bugger do.....she wraps them up and packs them in a box so she can give them to me for my birthday in 2 weeks. Cripes!! I think she just likes torturing me............

 February 2, 2010

Well, we've gotten more snow and there's lots more expected this week and weekend. Joy. Everyone here is sick of snow. I've been sewing, carding, and spinning like there's no tomorrow to keep the shop stocked and I must say I am very pleased with the batts I'm getting! I've totally rearranged my "area" where I do my crafting. It's gone from a cluttered mess to a well organized work space........wonder how long that will last. I was approved to be a dealer for Greener Shades dye which I'm thrilled about!! I've added a page to order the dyes to the new Store on the website. Oh, Eric's fiber tools are about 10% less expensive if you get them through the website versus Etsy. I'm about to crawl out of my skin waiting for the Interweave Crochet magazine to come out........still not sure if my bag will be in it or not since I haven't gotten any responses to emails sent. I know they're busy and I should just be patient but it's killing me.

Eric is somewhat incapacitated at the moment. He managed to get bitten by spiders and poison ivy at the same time both of which is he very allergic to. So, to say the least this past week was more fun that humans should be allowed. This week will be just as much fun because he can't drive with the "incapacitated foot" and our roads are snowy and icy. I hate driving in that junk and I can't get the chains on the van which makes for a hair raising ride. Somebody shoot me now. The kids are hanging in there and Katie is making super cute clay animals and Alex usually has his nose stuck in the computer only coming up for air when there's food involved. I think I may have to hide that thing for awhile before he forgets there are other people living in the house with him. Teenagers, you've got to love 'em because it's against the law to shoot them.

Oh! I'm having a big sale in the jewelry shop....35% off your item total feb. 2 thru feb 14th. I'd like to close it down and totally concentrate on the fiber shop so I'm getting rid of as much as I can . If you want a good deal on vintage costume and fine jewelry check it out....lots of designer pieces. Beth1818 Vintage Costume & Fine Jewelry