Not Quite a Resolution

Every year, about this time of year, I get this idea that I should do something meaningful. Maybe a lot of people do that. New year, new ideas. I don’t really make resolutions. This is more of a PLAN for the year. More precisely, projects I hope to complete.

CHESAPEAKE BAY CROCHET

Overriding everything is getting my online business, Chesapeake Bay Crochet, really moving along. I actually sell more items on eBay, but I don’t plan to close my Etsy Store. Also, I am selling items on my other blog, Karen Writes AND Karen Crochets, by listing my latest projects.

A Corner of My Desk. A Large Part of My LIfe

This will involve creating patterns to sell as well as finished items. I have spent time researching key words and updating my SEO knowledge to be relevant to today.

KEEPING A DIARY

No, I am not thirteen. What I mean is, I have a little pocket size notebook that I intend to take with me everywhere I go. You can get them at Amazon. They are inexpensive and small enough to fit in a purse, backpack or whatever else you carry on a regular basis. This little notebook will the the place where I write down everything: ideas, grocery lists, interesting things, funny things, sketches, things I am thankful for, reminders. One notebook for everything instead of having several location for all of my stuff. Don’t you just love organization?

READ THE BIBLE EVERYDAY

This is not a new idea for me. This is a plan I make every year. Even if my Bible reading consists on just one or two verses, I will read a portion of the Bible daily. Yes, I am a religious person and I believe in what I read. The Bible is my source of comfort, intelligence, wisdom, ideas, knowledge and belonging. I do not read it just for the sake of running a race or for a sense of accomplishment. Over the years, I feel as if I have read the entire Bible. It doesn’t go like a novel, where you begin on page one and carry on until completion. Depending on the day, I will carefully choose what to read: a song, a prayer, practical wisdom, history, an individual’s story.

One Year Ago

One year ago, I was worried about so many things that I cannot even remember, now.  That is, not until I got the email from FutureMe. 

FutureMe is an email service, where you can send an email to yourself, or anyone else, at some point in the future-a day, a week, a year, longer.  I used to think it was a cool idea, but now, it is a reminder of what I did not accomplish.

I didn't:

• Lose a bunch of weight
• Read the Bible every day
• Pray every day
• Get my finances on a better track
• Exercise regularly

Maybe, I don't have to accomplish anything at this stage of my life.  Maybe, my life is good enough right now. Maybe, some of those goals are unrealistic. Truth is, I am pretty satisfied with the way things are. The major change I would make is lowering my stress level, which is, I am very sad to say, sky high. There is a single person responsible for that.  Or rather I should say that the person I stress about is not going to change what he is doing and in reality, I am responsible for my own level of stress. 

So why do I worry about him so much?  He has no one else to worry about him.  Not really.  I worry that he will die and I certainly don't want that. I worry that he will not get better from his sickness that has been going on for nearly 3 months and he refuses to go to a doctor.  Why? Because he says that anyone on earth can look at his medical records and there is a "libatard" (the term he stole from someone else for a liberal retard)--likely the janitor at the doctor's office--that will take that information and use it against him to have him declared a menace to society and they will take away his right to buy a gun or own a knife.

I say, "That is the craziest thing I have heard in my life..."

"Just you wait and see!  It will happen," says he, interrupting.

I respond, "Like it or not, you are not that important in the grand scheme of things.  Neither am I.  We are both merely drops in the ocean of nearly 8 billion people. No one is going to look at your medical records to see if you went to the doctor to cure nausea."

"That kind of thinking will get you in trouble with it all goes down.  Stick your head in the sand like everyone else."  He walks away to end the discussion.

I went on vacation to see new faces and to talk to new people and to get a fresh presepctive.  I took the problem with me.  It seems as if all I could talk about was him, my brother. I realized that I cannot hide from stress.  So, a new year and a new resolution:  REDUCE STRESS

My Next Project

I am still very busy making new items to sell here, on Facebook and on my ETSY Page. Everyday, I crochet, update blogs and websites and think about what I will work on next.

I have perfected my fingerless mitten pattern. For now, this image is of my fingerless mittens Mirasol Sisa Yarn in Stardust which is 60% lambs wool and 40% alpaca in the first stage: The Basic Mitten.

Fingerless Gloves

My creation is completed. As with any new crochet project, there are issues that must be resolved before I can offer the pattern for sale: Tweaks in wording and verifying that I didn’t miss a step.

These gloves were made with scrap yarn, so I am working on the real thing now, with real yarn purchased for the specific purpose of creating a pair of PERFECT fingerless glove. Well, as near perfect as I can make them.

I am not a machine. There may always be variations in stitches, or tiny imperfections that add to the overall beauty of the project. Anyway, enjoy the next step in my crochet creation project.

I used Red Heart Soft Yarn in cherry red, Patons Beehive Baby Sport Weight Yarn in Angel White and Susan Bates Silvalume crochet hooks size G and H

The Next Step

Work is progressing on my new creation: Fingerless Mittens.  They are starting to look like what they are!

Now the fun part begins.  They will have a lacy crocheted trim and have a couple of buttons added to each one.  They should be finished today.

Creativity

I have wasted many, many hours scouring the Internet for crochet patterns to match the vision I have in my head of items I want to produce.  What a load of rubbish!  What I mean is, I am working really hard to reinvent the wheel.  Why would anyone want to do that?

I have created my own patterns for crocheted items previously. Click here and here for examples of patterns available for digital download through my Etsy Store.

So, I am now working on a pattern for fingerless gloves, or more precisely, fingerless mittens because there is a thumb hole, but not individual holes for fingers.  I have ripped out stitch after stitch in an effort to create my patterns.

This it the first half of a pair of mittens:

Fingerless Mitten

Yeah, I know what you're saying.  It doesn't look like a glove or a mitten or anything else recognizable.  Well, maybe half of an orangutan mitten, but why would anyone want to put mittens on an orangutan?

I agree.  Stay tuned of the next iteration of my invention!

I Have Been Busy

I have been working feverishly to create items for my online store that can be found here and here.  I have sold several items on ebay recently and have even sold some items directly to interested individuals.

The key was finding what people wanted to buy and not concentrating on what I wanted to make.

Also, price control has become an issue for me.  If it is priced too high, no one wants it, even if the item is hand-made.  If it is priced too low, then the entire market for hand-made crafts is diluted.

Fingerless Gloves/Wrist Warmer Steampunk or Boho Style: Red with black ruffle trim and large vintage buttons

Fingerless Gloves/Wrist Warmer Steampunk or Boho Style: Blue chenille, lace trimmed with vintage white/rhinestone buttons

Fingerless Gloves/Wrist Warmer Steampunk or Boho Style:  Blue chenille, lace trimmed with vintage white/rhinestone buttons

Fingerless Gloves/Wrist Warmer Steampunk or Boho Style: Red with black ruffle trim and large vintage buttons