Thank you’s with a sprinkle of randomness

     First, thank you to everyone who forwarded suggestions on alternate ‘jobs’ for extra income.  Times are tight for all of us and I am checking into the different ideas.  In the meantime, I have continued to create my Etsy shop, think I have it the way I want it and will post my first item tonite – a beret!  Woohoo.  The peacock at the bottom of the right column will take you to the store front – if you go, please critique.  This is my first endeavor.

     Last night Ronnie and I went next store to see the Todd wood cook stove that we are going to buy for $300!  Thought I was going to fall on the floor as I thought this was a great price.  Glad I saved up that christmas $$!  Our stove looks similar to this one; it solves the problems of heat in the winter (kitchen is unheated) and will help reduce the electric bill.  It also fits into our homesteading plans.

     As some of you have already guessed, I ramble here about what is going on in our lives, brainstorming and listing posts I do not want to forget.  I found some amazing patterns last night and spent a few pennies on patterns from Stitch Diva, Ashley is crocheting her first pair of cottage socks, pattern from Lionbrand.com, and I found this on Carries blog.  Other things to remember are from Rhonda’s post about reducing what we use, mentration pads and an amazing waffle pattern for knit dishcloth.  Rhonda makes a statement that I need to remember,

Throwing it “away” doesn’t make it not exist, it simple removes the used product from your environment.

     A coworker and I were talking about crafting projects and how frustrating it is to try to find yarn or wait for it to come in on order.  Wouldn’t it be nice if we could just open a store locally and have knitting/crochet classes, quilting circles, etc?  If I were to open such a store I would call it In Stitches or Hooked.  The graphic to go along would be like crossed swords only one would be a crochet hook and the other a knitting needle.  =P

Projects

Projects I want to try/work on this weekend: 

• cloth napkins.  Which makes me wonder, when you have a pet that gets sick on the floor, do you use one of your all purpose rags to clean it up and then wash? 
• sewing an apron.  I have one from my grandmother and she was a short, petite woman.  I am 5’6″ and not really petite (130 lbs).  Her apron makes a great 1/2 apron, which is often how I wear it.  Being on the messy side, I need an apron that covers more of my torso.  =)  Perhaps I can check Good Will for some fabric or an old apron to remake.
• Finish my crochet dishcloth.  I posted earlier about starting dishcloth, including a picture, but it did not ‘feel’ like a dishcloth.  The yarn I was using did not feel like a dishcloth.  I have started a new one, just a basic dbl stitch using peaches & cream, 100% cotton and this looks and feels like a dishcloth.
• Complete the research for the next article for the Preserve’s Recycling newsletter.  I also need to include this link to CFL recycling.
• Make some jewelry for Yule gifts using info here.

Even though holidays are not something our family goes boinkers over, we do exchange a few gifts with each other; preferably something that each of us needs or has made.  Now the need list usually contains ‘large’ items like boots, winter coats, etc. Terry is, thankfully, usually able to buy these for the girls early on in the year so Yule.  I also like to be able to give the girls a little bling (a pair of earrings, or a necklace) and for that I think I will support my fellow crafters on Etsy.

Etsy and income generation

Hours are non existant at the restuarant, so I am short a few hundred a month.  I can make it if there are no unexpected expenses; how often does that happen!  I am now looking at what I can do to generate a little extra income.  Some of my ideas include:

• open an Etsy store – not sure what I would/could sell (crochet, cross stitch?)
• sell homemade laundry detergent to the Grist Mill – save them some $$ and make me a little $$

I think that is it for my brainstorming atm.  I did hear back from the Grist Mill manager and he thinks he can drum up a few hours for me, which will be a big help.  Did I mention, I’d like to generate this additional income while staying at the house?  Ashley is cracking the black walnuts we collected to sell to her culinary arts teacher at the highschool and then some to the Grist Mill – she is looking to fun the dance pants and shoes she needs for the dance troupe at the highschool (thank you for helping out Ashley!).  Hopefully she will save some for us to use at the house.  =)

In other news, the new entryway to the back bedroom (Katies) is almost done.  At lunch today I helped to unload the drywall that is necessary so that the new door can be cut and framed.  That will happen this weekend.  Yeah!  I love watching and participating in the transformation.