And no, I don't mean with fireworks. I'm already done 2 orders, got 2 more on the way that I just need to get the yarn for, looking for craft shows that I can do in the spring, and trying to stock up for them before I even consider signing up for them. Not to mention, I got a banner in the mail last week not even 24 hours after I ordered it. Say what? With that being said, I'm starting to get my things for my New Year's resolution crossed off, one by one. What is it, you may ask? To take my business more seriously... Because that is what The Crochetaholic now is... A business. I've started making some things for spring craft shows that I am looking into and different patterns that I think will sell super well during the spring craft shows. I just recently made a bunny and a water bottle holder just to see how quickly they can be worked up. They can be made up super quick by the way! Like 2 hours kind of quick, both considering it was my first time making them. Over the next little while, I will be testing different patterns to see if things can work out in time for any of the craft shows that I am thinking of doing. I know that what I sell during the spring and summer months will be completely different than what I would sell during the fall and winter months. I'm trying to build up my inventory as time goes on. I seriously can't wait to see what sells and what doesn't during the spring and summer shows! I am feeling really hopeful for this new year. Seriously... Really hopeful! That is a feeling that I rarely have for new years in the past. Party because I never really had anything worth while to be hopeful for. But now, with this new business taking off, things.... and times.... have changed. I am hopeful. I am feeling like a new version of myself. I am starting a new chapter in my life.... with some changes (like the obvious name change). I am glad to be embarking this new chapter of my life! I am really excited for this. New and better things are coming my way this year. I can feel it. 2018 will be my year!
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So this year, business wise, has been a great year. Personal wise too. I have learned many lessons on customer service and when to actually pick up payment. I am still learning on how to say NO to orders. Especially if the first order didn't follow through for one way or another. I am working on a few orders at the moment and can't wait to get more orders in during the new year! I have learned new stitches this year and posted three patterns on Ravelry. One of them is over 100 download! I guess I know what people want out of the three patterns that I have up for download. Scarves! I guess I will be trying to make more wearable patterns on ravelry in 2018. I can't wait for 2018 to start. With all the things that I am hoping to do in the new year is remarkable! I want to try to make more of a name for myself as a crocheter. I want to build my business more and more and see what sells and what doesn't. I know what cowls people have been asking for this past season and I can't wait to make a constant stock on that cowl. I am hoping to get a banner soon for future craft shows. I am hoping to design more and more patterns this year too. I am hoping to have a pile of orders on the go and have some kind of consistency with my income with this business that I have started. I am trying to take my business more seriously as it is no longer a hobby. It is now a business. A business that I thoroughly enjoy doing. If I am able to do this full time at some point, I'd be extremely happy. I know I will never be a millionaire with this craft. But I know that people want handcrafted items as they know where they are made and feel comfortable that the item that they purchased is not made in a sweat shop in China and/or uses child labour as so many things use both methods to make profit (I can use Nike as an example. Just look up Swoosh on youtube!). I am still figuring out prices for my stock and can't wait to learn more about the business woman that I am. Wow... it feels good to actually type that out.... Business woman. I really hope that 2018 is going to be my year for my business to grow and flourish! I am always on the look out for new patterns that I can work on and craft shows that I can do. I think 2018 will be the year of the learning my business for me. I'm going to try to keep my receipts together all in one place and to keep track of my sales. I really want to try to expand my business in the upcoming year. For those who use crocheting or knitting as a business, is there any recommendations that you can offer for me who is starting to seriously treat this business AS a business? Anything at all will be helpful!
All the best in the new year! Natalie So a few months ago, I got a $100 Walmart gift card from work. So the obvious choice for a yarnaholic would be the basic necessities of life, right? Food, clothes, stuff for the house? What are these things? Seriously..... who am I kidding? These things aren't our necessities! Yarn. Lots and lots of yarn. That's what I've bought. Lots of yarn to use for the craft show that I'm going to do in December. Different choices and colours. Life is great when I'm not the one that's paying for my not-so-secret addiction.... IF we are to call it as such..... But we're not.... Since saying that I have an addiction would imply that I would have a problem..... to yarn and crocheting..... which I won't..... Because it's not an addiction. Some people may beg to differ (*ahem* mom..... dad..... rest of the family), but I say otherwise. I also got some yarn for a project that I'm doing for someone that I care about that just got some big news in the mail. I can't wait to start the project and HOPEFULLY, I can at least take a picture of it before it's sent off to the person that it will belong to after so that I can share it with all of you. Can't say too much about it now, since I haven't given it to the person yet. However. In other news.... I've been working really hard on some of the stuff that I'm going to be making for the craft show and I've been working on some orders as well! One of them is completed and the other one is just about ready to go! Both will be picked up by the time I'm doing the craft show! Super excited about finishing the order that I'm working on. I'm already done about half of the order (a hat, scarf, and a headband) and I'm currently working on the ornaments! As soon as I'm done the ornaments, I will share them with all of you. In my next post, I will hopefully show you some of the stuff that I've already made for the craft show and some progress pictures as well on what I'm making next!
Some of the things I've been working on lately have been Christmas presents and some things for the Christmas craft show that I mentioned in my previous post. I've also been working on a new amigurumi pattern! I can't wait to show it all to everyone! There is one thing that I have to work on before sending it off to my testers and publishing it onto my Ravelry store. Unlike my previous pattern (Twisted Tornado Cowl. It can be downloaded here), it will be a paid pattern. I hope you all will enjoy it if you so choose to buy the pattern. I seriously can't wait to show all of you the new pattern! There *may* be a promo code when I let everyone know when the pattern is released. So keep a watchful eye out. It could come at anytime.
I've been working on somethings for the craft show off and on since I'm also working on Christmas gifts for the family..... Shhhh..... Don't tell them that I'm working on them..... Although some of them do know that I'm working on presents for other family members. I can't wait to see their faces on Christmas morning. I would feel bad the Christmas morning that I don't make them anything. It would almost be a naked feeling..... That and I'm sure they at least expect it now. I mean, after all, the blanket that I made my brother last year...... He didn't take off his blanket until we had to get changed to go to Christmas dinner at 12:00.... So he spent his morning until 11:00am in his blanket...... Which is now on his couch for all to see. I'm sure that he is getting all cozy in it when he watches tv on those cold winter nights. So this year, I've decided to try out some new patterns from Red Heart for my presents this year. I'm glad that so far, that all the patterns that I have worked on have worked out rather nicely. I'm also compiling a bunch of those patterns on a page that I'm going to post within the upcoming months from Red Heart. I am hoping that these can be a reference to you for possible patterns in the future. I have also put a disclaimer stating that the patterns are copyrighted and do not belong to me on the page. Just in case if there is anyone that works at Red Heart or knows someone that does sees that page so that they are aware that I am not posting them as my own. The other day, I actually got a gift card from work for Walmart..... for $100! When I told my parents what I had gotten, my dad had to ask me to repeat the amount. $100 for Walmart! My mom was half joking and half kidding when she had said "Imagine all the yarn possibilities!" I laughed and replied "I know! I am!" Now the question is, what colours to get when I go. So I'm starting to make stuff for Christmas presents. So far, I've made a hat and making a scarf to go with it. I'll take a picture of it once I'm done. I'm also hoping to make some more hats and scarves among other things as well. I'm looking into patterns that I can use for some of the presents this year. I'm not sure if I'm going to do what I did a few years ago where I made something for everyone in my family again or not. But if I do, I better get started on it soon. I've also printed off a few patterns from one of my favourite yarn brands website (Red Heart Yarns for those who are wondering).... And by a few.... I mean around 60 patterns... Some of which are actually Christmas patterns. So I'll probably make some of those patterns as Christmas gifts. I've also have quite the stash going for donations as well. It's funny to think about preparing for Christmas. For people who knit and/or crochet, we spend the summer months preparing for Christmas and the winter months. Then when the winter months come around, we prepare for the summer months and summer weddings.
On a side note, I've been requested to start a youtube channel sharing tutorials from one of my followers on Instagram. I have agreed to create a channel and will post the link as soon as I have a video or two on it. Until next time, fellow crochetaholics, Natalie A few weeks back, my aunt sent me, her sister, and one of her friends this link on the science behind why crocheting and knitting are good for you. Yes. I did say science. Who knew that this craft was scientific? I knew we needed to know how to do math. But science? Who knew! The article goes in depth about several reasons why it's healthy for people to crochet and knit. For one, it helps lower your heart rate and blood pressure. So if you need to relief some stress, just pick up your hook or needles. Another reason why it's healthy for you. It improves your math skills! Why? It's because you have to count and multiply when you knit and crochet. You also need to know how to read patterns. Which all uses math! So if you absolutely suck at math.... Pick knitting or crocheting! It also calms down your anxiety. This helps sooth your mind and helps you refocus. And that's not the only mental thing that knitting and crocheting can help with! It helps with your memory because you have to remember where you are in a pattern and what to do during each row. All these things are really interesting! There are more reasons why knitting and crocheting are good for you. So why don't you take a look at the article and let me know what you think! Why do you crochet and/or knit?
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AuthorNatalie lives in southern Ontario in the GTA (Greater Toronto Area). She loves to crochet, read, and spend time with friends and family. Archives
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