December: update, news, and a question for you!

I've been busy getting ready for Christmas! Six days to go and I'm not done with all my gift shopping yet, but I will be! I'm looking forward to spending time with my family and celebrating the birth of Jesus, my Savior.

For those of you who follow my Facebook page, my sister-in-law's sale at the end of November went well. I sold a few things and got to see which of my items sold best. I had considered reopening my Etsy shop right away after we got back home--to try and sell the rest of my ready-made items so folks could give them as gifts--but it didn't work out due to my very busy homeschooling schedule.

Since then I've had an idea work its way into my brain...to do an "occasional sale" with my Etsy shop. {I got the idea from a little home decor shop I know of that is only open for a day or two every few months.}

How it might work: when I have ready-made items to sell, I send out advance notice on Facebook and here on the blog stating the dates for the sale. I would open shop for a weekend and sell what I can in that time. I'd ship all the items out on the Monday after the sale and close shop until the next sale. So instead of having to watch my shop like a hawk--which is a huge distraction to me, I could just take one weekend every so often to focus on selling the items I've made.


So....what do you think of the idea?
Is it pure genius? Or just plain crazy?

Leave me comment here or on my Facebook page to let me know...yay or nay?

ravellenic games 2012: 3rd event

Are you enjoying the London Summer Olympics as much as I am?  My favorite sport to watch has been fencing!  I also love watching gymnastics, swimming, diving, volleyball, track and field, and equestrian events!  Do you have a favorite Summer Olympics sport?  

Last night I finished another project. This time it was a crocheted baby hat.  And yes, this is one that will find itself in my Etsy shop someday soon!  I want to make some interchangeable/removable flowers for it first though.  

I also have been working on a knitted scarf the past few days. It's going to take me a bit longer to finish since 1) it's a scarf, 2) I'm using lace weight yarn (skinnier yarns tend to take longer to knit), and 3) I need to follow the lace pattern which takes a bit more concentration.

I have 5 days to finish!  Hopefully, I can get it done!  And I may take a few knitting breaks to make another baby hat or two as well.  

Well, that's my update for now...

Go Team USA!

taking a break

Hi there!  If you stop by my Etsy shop now, you'll see this message:

Thanks for stopping by my shop! I've decided I need a break from Etsy--there's just too much stress in my life right now and I need to focus on my family for a while. I don't know exactly how long this "vacation" will be, but I will probably reopen sometime in Late Winter/Early Spring 2012. I plan to use the time to add to my inventory too. Come back and check out my new items in 2012! Thank you!

I've come to the conclusion that right now I need to relieve as much stress from my life as I can.  I cannot control the stress of my Dad's cancer or the stresses my husband is under at work, but I can control the stress that comes from having an Etsy shop open.  So for the time being, perfectioKnits will be closed.  I really do need to focus on my family.  From a business standpoint it's probably not the smartest time to take a break, but this is what I feel is best for me and my family. 


I plan to be open for business again in just a few short months.  In the meantime, I may take the occasional special order, so contact me through my Etsy shop and I'll let you know if I'm able to make your requested item at that time.  Thank you for understanding and for all the support!

Have a very MERRY CHRISTMAS and a Happy New Year!  God Bless!

Help me, Obi-wan Kenobi...

...you're my only hope!

Ha! That's one of our favorite Star Wars quotes around here.  Anytime things don't go quite the way we want, someone's sure to say it. 

So what am I needing help with?  Why would I feel like quoting that today?  Well, my items just aren't selling.  I'm trying to figure out whether my Etsy store is just not getting enough exposure, or if my items aren't what folks are looking for.   Despite offering a sales coupon last week, I still have most of the same items left in my shop.  (Whereas I had really hoped to sell more.) 

Any thoughts, suggestions, ideas? Please let me know what you think! 
 
Anyways, now that my Thanksgiving Sale has ended, I'm trying to decide (besides wondering what I can do to make my Etsy experience better) whether I will leave my shop open for a while or if I need to take time off from checking Etsy daily and instead focus on making items for my shop.  I've read how it's important to list new items frequently--that alone will increase your shop's exposure.  But I just don't seem to have time to make new items to list all that often.  (Do I really knit that slowly?  I don't think so.  But I just don't have 8 or more hours a day to "work" like some Etsy shop owners.  In fact, I'm happy if I happen to have 1 hour of knitting time and that's definitely not every day!)

So, for now at least, my shop is open and I'll consider any good business advice that comes my way.

Thanksgiving SALE

Well, I don't have a ton of items in my shop, but I've decided to have a sale anyways.

My Dad was recently diagnosed with cancer and I may end up putting my shop on vacation mode for a while so I can help Mom and Dad out. But I'd like to sell as much of my ready-made items as I can first.  So if you make a purchase from my Etsy shop this week, be sure to use the coupon code THANKFUL15 to get 15% off!  Sale will go through Saturday the 26th!

Happy shopping!

And have a very HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Treasury Friday

Well, maybe that title doesn't roll off the tongue quite as nicely as Treasury Tuesday or even Treasury Thursday, but today I'm sharing my latest treasury collection with you.

Novem-brrr!!!
A November collection.

It's cold here in Northern Minnesota. So I've found some items that would warm a person up...or at least give you a warm fuzzy feeling!

Enjoy!

Independence Day

Happy Fourth of July!  Did you see the July treasury I put together?  If not, you'll want to check it out here. 

Or you can check out this fantastic blog right here where my treasury list and one of my items were featured today!  Sweet!  By the way, I LOVE the "Treasury Tuesday" idea...maybe I'll do that myself sometime too!

Today, I listed a couple of long-tailed patriotic newborn hats (photo props) that I had been fighting with working on for quite some time.  They knitted up just fine.  So what took me so long?  Well, the plan was to go back and stitch stars onto the blue to give them the U.S. flag look.  I thought it would be a ton easier to do than it actually was.  After many failed attempts (on a swatch of the blue yarn that I had knitted for testing my embroidery ideas), I finally had the solution.

Waste fabric.
 
I knew there was a reason I bought that waste canvas stuff ages ago. It was just sitting there, patiently waiting for the day when I realized what I needed it for. I'd never used waste fabric before, but I have done a bit of cross-stitch in the past.  The instructions on using the waste cloth were clear and so I tested it out on my knitted swatch to see how it would look.  Both my husband and eldest son agreed with me that it looked good, and so my cross-stitched stars came to be.  Although my initial design had multiple stars stitched on the blue background, I decided to just stitch one star on each hat since the cross-stitching technique is rather time-consuming and I really wanted to get these hats finished before the Fourth of July.  I'm pleased with the results and like the "lone star" look.

my cross-stitched star!

These hats will make a special addition to any photographer's newborn prop bag--especially considering that besides the Fourth of July holiday season, there are a lot of wonderful military families who would truly appreciate having a patriotic hat used for their newborn's first photos.

patriotic hat #1

patriotic hat #2

These two hats are basically the same, but I noticed they do have a few minor variances.  They're a couple inches different in overall length and the blue portions are just a row or two different in height as well.  I've listed them as the individuals that they are.

More hats are in the works!  I have two new long-tailed elf hats in bright summer colors--that are going to be listed either tomorrow or the next day!  And here are a couple sneak peeks of a newsboy set--I have plans to make more of these soon!

May Treasury

It's my goal to put together one treasury list every month.  For now, the months are giving me my themes.

Here's my May collection. 

I've joined an Etsy team--Schooling at Home Etsians (SHE). Every item included in this collection is from a SHEteam member.

And I've just gotta say--isn't that a really cool Treasury widget? Don't you just love that it's click-able? Me too.

Thanks to the wonderful folks at Craft Cult!

photo props

For a couple weeks there, I really felt like I was spinning my wheels and not getting anywhere with my knitting.  I did design a couple pairs of fingerless mitts, but I need more of the same yarn before I can make them to sell.  So I did an inventory of the yarns I have and realized that there were still a few items I had planned to make and sell that I hadn't gotten around to yet.

But I can finally say there are a couple new listings in my Etsy shop!

First, we have a newborn cocoon in a tweedy brown.  Great for keeping baby warm in between shots and makes a great prop too!

Next, we have a set of 2 newborn striped elf hats--one for a boy and one for a girl.  The long-tails on these could be a potential danger to a newborn, so these aren't for every day use.  But with adult supervision they make an adorable photo prop for baby's first photo shoot!  I decided to sell them together as a set.  That way a photographer could have one of each and since they're a near-perfect match, the set would be perfect for boy-girl twins.

I'll have to go over my to-do list again and see what I can make next.  It's nice to be working again.

seeking inspiration

We're getting close to Easter now.  I'm guessing that not very many more orders will come in for my bunny hats, but I still have a few ready-made and for sale on Etsy. It'll be nice if they find new homes before the season is over.

Although there are quite a few other baby props I could be making--cocoons, baby bowls or pods, jester hats, pompom hats, bomber hats--not very many of them are appropriate for spring and summer.  So I've started looking for ideas and inspiration for new items I can make that are better suited for spring & summer. 

I'd like to design some new fingerless mitts for spring.  I think using different color(s), length(s), and texture(s) would not only add variety but may interest a wider range of customers too.  I also think I might like to try making some lightweight scarves, cowls, or even shawls too.  I could use some ideas for baby or child items too.

I'd love your input, suggestions, ideas, inspiration.
Let me know what you think in the comments!
Thanks!

Giveaway results!

The winners that were chosen randomly are as follows:

The winner of the pair of Katelyn mitts is Megan Wold who left this comment on the perfectioKnits' Facebook wall "Glad we found you early because your going to be HUGE! Love all of your work!"  

{Thank you, Megan!}

Our second winner, who gets the newborn bunny hat, is Jana.  Jana is a Facebook fan (and a good friend of mine too)!  I'll get the hat to you soon, Jana!  

And the final winner is another new Facebook fan, Holly.  Holly wins the pair of brown newborn booties. 

Congratulations, winners!  I have sent each winner a private message on Facebook (instead of emailing as originally planned--Facebook was easier).  You have until 4pm (CST) Tuesday, April 12 to claim your prize or a new winner will be drawn.

Thanks to everyone who participated!  

Don't forget to check out my Etsy shop.  Not seeing the item(s) you really like in my shop at this time?  Send me a message and we will see if I can do a special order for you.

Giveaway Time!

Spring is in the air (sort of), Easter is right around the corner, and I'm thrilled to have my Etsy shop up and running!  I think it's a good time to hold a little contest/giveaway!  If you've already been following perfectioKnits, you know that I am very grateful to be able to work with an incredibly talented photographer, Sarah Homme. Beyond Ordinary Photography by Sarah is soon-to-be-open,  and she has decided to have her Grand Opening giveaway at the same time I'm doing mine!  So once you've finished leaving your entries here, go and check out Sarah's blog and enter her giveaway too! 

MY PRIZES
In honor of Spring, since it is officially that season now despite the snow still covering most of the ground here in northern Minnesota, I'm giving away a pair of my knitted Katelyn mitts, a perfectioKnits original design, in a Ladies' size Medium.  These mitts are the perfect accessory to keep your hands and wrists warm while walking and enjoying the reawakening of God's creation, driving your car, or just catching up on Facebook at your computer keyboard.

left mitt is completed!  right mitt is almost done too!

Next, to celebrate the upcoming Easter season, I'm giving away an adorable crocheted newborn bunny hat. This sweet little hat with bunny ears is perfect for a new baby's Spring or Easter photos!  Would make a wonderful photographer's prop or a really cute gift!  The main color is a lovely brown with cream highlights and for the inner ears I've used an equally lovely cream color to contrast.

newborn bunny hat in brown w/cream

And finally, just to celebrate the opening of my Etsy shop and the new beginning that it represents for me, a pair of crocheted newborn booties in brown.  These adorable little booties would be the perfect little "shoe" for a new little man, and could be equally cute on a little miss!  The buttoned flap keeps the "shoe" on baby's foot.  [Design by Cassi Ence at Polka Dot Posh]

newborn booties in my four year old's hands

HOW TO ENTER THE CONTEST 
{updated 4/06/2011to clarify}


MANDATORY ENTRY (do this first!!!)
"FOLLOW" this blog and then leave a comment describing which perfectioKnits item you like best!  (1 entry)

EXTRA ENTRIES
"Like" perfectioKnits on Facebook  (+1 entry)
Leave a message or comment on perfectioKnits's Facebook wall/photo (+1 entry)
{NEW!!} TAG perfectioKnits with a post to your Facebook wall  (i.e. you could post "I ♥ @perfectioKnits!") (+ 1 entry)
"Heart" your favorite item in perfectioKnits's Etsy shop  or "Heart" my shop!  (+1 entry)
Blog about this giveaway!  (+3 entries)

<<<< Don't forget to come back to this blog post and leave a new comment for each entry activity that you do! >>>>

Giveaway begins March 30, 2011 and ends at midnight CST on April 9, 2011. Entries must be in the comments of this post to be counted (i.e. don't leave your entry comments on any another posts I might write).  Three winners will be chosen by a random number generator.  Winners will be notified via email, and also posted here. Entries valid within the US. Each winner will have 48 hours to claim their prize or another winner will be drawn.

learning to use Etsy

I'm still learning how to use Etsy and all its features for sellers.

For example, they have options like Renew and Copy for re-listing items.  I didn't know what the difference was.  Until I finally took time to look it up this weekend.  Turns out I had used the Renew option incorrectly for at least one of my listings.  I wanted to sell another bunny hat in the same size, but it was a different color.  I now know that I should have used the Copy option instead to list a similar, but different, item.  So for those of you who may have put a brown baby bunny hat in your favorites and find that now it's suddenly white, that would explain why.  I inadvertently changed it when I re-listed with new photos.  Thankfully, I know the difference now and won't make the same mistake!

bunnies!!!

Wow!  My baby bunny hats are selling FAST!  I'm so happy to have a seasonal product that people like and are buying!  I just can't keep up!  {I'm not complaining!}  The other problem challenge is that I'm quickly running out of both the brown and the white yarn that I'm making these with.  I did place an order for more, but I don't expect it will get here until late this next week.  I'm working with the yarns I still have and will continue making bunny hats as long as they keep selling!

If you're a customer who has stopped by my Etsy shop and are sad to find the hat you loved and wanted has sold, don't worry!  More are being made!  You can even send me a message {conversation} to let me know what size/colors you're looking for.  Although I'm not officially doing custom orders, I am willing to if I have the yarns on hand.

bunny hats

I listed this adorable bunny hat this weekend (size 3 months).  I have a few more bunny hats "in process"--in different colors and sizes--that aren't quite done yet.  They will be finished soon and then I'll be listing them in my Etsy shop too.

Sarah (Beyond Ordinary Photography) and I are working out the details of a combined giveaway. We will both be posting about it as soon as we've got it all worked out and know what we're giving away, how you can enter, and for how long we want to run the contest.


Thanks for stopping by!  Hope you have a wonderful first week of Spring!

never enough time

I set a goal for myself last weekend to post something more on Etsy.  Somehow, it just never happened and here it's already Thursday again. 

I am still working.  Currently working on making more Bunny hats in both newborn and 3 month sizes {and a few color options too} with the hope of listing some VERY soon!

not limited to baby knits

Although I am primarily making baby items to sell at this time, I do love making (and wearing!) fingerless mitts. I currently have this pair listed on Etsy, with plans to make more very soon!

Katelyn Mitts (back of hand)

Katelyn Mitts (palm side)

Katelyn mitts (modeled by me!)

This design is a perfectioKnits original!  I used an off-center leaf motif to decorate the back of the hands and ribbing at both the cuff and top of mitt. I call these my Katelyn Mitts {named after my niece Katie} whom I originally designed them for. 

Fingerless mitts work wonderfully to keep your hands warm while driving, doing computer-work, knitting, crocheting, reading, watching tv--really just about any time you want warmer hands with your fingers free from the bulkiness of mittens or gloves.

In fact, I could use a pair right now.  Brrr!  I just realized my hands are freezing!  I guess I'd better go put on a pair of my own!