Library Grrl’s blog

So, I've been struggling with an issue and I thought I would post about it.  Maybe some of you knitters, spinners, crocheters, yarn addicts out there could weigh in and help me . . .

My dilemma is this: what do I call my bulky handspun yarns?

"Art" Yarns = This one, well, I just feel like my yarns aren't quite the same as the true "art" yarns out there (see Yarn Wench, Luxe, Pluckyfluff, etc.), so I feel like I am doing a disservice by also attaching this label to my yarns.  It's not that I don't think my yarns aren't "artistic" at ALL, I just try and make them more "functional" and just "different" than the yarns you would find in a "regular" yarn store.  Mine are "simplified" versions of "true" art yarns so that they come across as a little bit more "functional" -- at least, this is my goal.

"Novelty" Yarns or "Novelty Art" Yarns = My problem with this might just be the negative association I have with the word "novelty".  When I hear "novelty" (especially in regards to yarn) I think of the fun yarns I try and pick up at Joanns for $3 or less . . . I *don't* usually think of really amazing, soft, wonderful, handspun yarns.  I've probably been using this the most, but I am starting to question it . . . do buyers connect "novelty" with "cheap"??

"Specialty" Yarn = I've been playing with this idea, but don't think it *means* anything to the yarn consumer?!  I don't know.

"Designer" Yarn = see "specialty" yarn.  Would this mean anything?  Does it seem a little pretentious?

I really just want to have a way to describe it that is accurate, but also means something to the buyer, but how do you say "great handspun yarn unlike what you'll find at Joanns or even your LYS, amazing and functional" in one word?!?!?

Any suggestions/ideas would be *very* helpful/appreciated! :)

(for an idea of my yarns, you can look at my pics here on vox, or check out kittygrrlz.com or flickr.com/photos/kittygrrlz

So, I'm now listed on bust.com's Girl Wide Web! Please check it out!

KITTY GRRLZ ON GIRL WIDE WEB!

Just got word that my feature is up on the EclecticStudio blog!

Check it out here:
http://www.theeclecticstudio.blogspot.com/

And make sure to check out all the other great featured artists there, too!

Thank you, Sandy!!

I'm being featured on marymusic.etsy.com 's blog!  You can check it out HERE!

Make sure you check out her shop, too!

Just some cute kitty pics taken recently of my cat, Bug Juice!

Bug in the Suitcase!

Bug in the Bin!

Bug wants to be mailed!

Bug Sleeping on Broken Heart Hat

so, this weekend was kindof a bust.  i was supposed to leave early on friday to go up north to see my dad (it was his birthday on friday) but i ended up not leaving until 4pm . . . which meant i was driving in crappy weather for about half the trip and had to drive in the dark (i do NOT like driving at night anymore!  my eyes just can't take the glare of headlights!) the other half.  i finally got up there and . . . he was already out at dinner (well, i didn't know that until they came home around 11pm.)  so . . . kinda sucked and what a waste of a day . . .

then, saturday was a craft show in rhinelander (more driving!).  it was a beautiful day and i had the slight hope that maybe that would bring people out.  but, no.  the show sucked.  hardly any people and my only sales were to other (very cool) sellers.  the only reason i'm not more upset about this crappy show is that 1.  the people were NICE and FRIENDLY.  it is so much easier to deal with lack of sales when at least the people are pleasant and interested in what you are doing . . .there were several great sellers and i learned alot about "northwoods" shows talking with them and the few customers that did come through seemed nice as well!  talked to a few people about knitting and spinning and i always enjoy that part of a show.  and 2.  I really wasn't expecting much.  I figured that *maybe* i'd sell a thing or two, IF there were enough people coming through, and well, when hardly any customers are coming in, it's a little hard to sell anything!

i did further the crafty-karma by buying some notecards from the photographer next to me and a necklace that is just gorgeous . . .i'll post a pic eventually . . . i just have to make sure i wear it (I tend to buy/make jewelry and then never wear it because i always wear the same locket every day and just don't take the time in the morning to get all coordinated with my jewelry!)

saturday night was actually okay as we went out to eat and i had a really really good grasshopper as my after-dinner drink/dessert!  hmmm. . . . very yummy!

then drive back home sunday.  i have to say i am so sick of driving!  i drive almost 300 miles every week as it is and now within 2 days i drove probably around 700?  blah!  my neck and back were getting so sore . . .

when i got home yesterday, though, there was pie . . . strawberry cream from MarketDay . . . it was only $5, and between that and my leftover steak from saturday night, i ended up with a great meal . . .

and spinning!  even though i had other things i should have done (laundry, grocery shopping), i just sat down and spun up a single ply yarn!  will have pics over at kittygrrlz.vox.com tomorrow!  very relaxing . . .

it was also nice that my yarn auctions on ebay had done pretty well . . . so that made up for the lack of $$ from show sales . . .

but, overall, i kinda wish i would have just stayed home! :(

(though, it WAS good i saw my dad--he claims i hadn't been up to seem him since 2005!  i can't believe that!  but, i KNOW i need to get up there more . . . )

so, I have officially joined the dark side.  why?  well, because, i now, finally, have a CELL PHONE!

now, you've got to know this about me for this to make sense--i HATE cell phones!!  I have avoided getting one for quite awhile . . . but . . .

Friday I was home sick from work and my boyfriend says, "good, that way you can come with me and we can get you a cell phone."  i'm like, umm why??

BUT, since he was paying and putting me on his plan, i figured what the heck.  It actually WILL be useful for certain things (like when we are in vegas and need to stay in touch, like when i go to craft shows and am on the road, like commuting to work--good to have in case of emergency) . . . so we went and I got a pretty pink RAZR!  Woohoo!  And, of course, what was the first thing I did?  Download dorky ringtones, of course!  So, I've got the Buffy the Vampire Slayer tv theme song, Talk Dirty to Me by Poison (that's my boyfriend's ring, of course!), Bad Reputation, and We're Not Gonna Take it by Twisted Sister (that's for my dad, if he ever calls me on the cell.)!  :)  THEN, I took a picture of my kitty and put that as my wall paper . . .

so, umm, yeah.  i have a cell phone now.  woohoo!

March is National Craft Month!

Celebrate by doing something . . . crafty!

:)

i have been in a knitting mode this week as i try to get some "spring" things done for my march shows, but I just had to knit up some of MY handspun yarn, so I knit this hat with two small skeins (36 & 34 yards) of my "Green Dream" Hello Kitty yarn!  It is merino wool, so super soft!

Green Dream Hello Kitty Grrlz Hand Knit Hat (handspun yarn by me, too!)

so, yesterday was my birthday.  i thought it would kinda suck since i've been sick since last week and all weekend plans were put on hold until next weekend . . . i though that meant a lot of spinning or knitting but mostly it involved my laying around in a nyquil haze . . .

BUT, I got very cool presents from my boyfriend for my birthday!!  he actually gave them to me early, but i keep forgetting to post . . .

Here is the haul from him:

My Birthday haul from scott! he rocks!

I knew he got me at least one t-shirt because he was asking me about sizes . . . but I had NO idea which ones . . . you can see he discovered cafepress!  I LOVE LOVE LOVE the bag because it is big and seems pretty sturdy.  I've been using it ever since he gave it to me . . . AND!!  the Kurt Cobain figures were a surprise, too!  i have wanted them since i heard about them but just kept putting off buying them, then they seemed to be hard to find . . . but . . . now i don't have to worry about that!!

AND, then, yesterday, i felt like crap in the morning so i stayed home from work.  more nyquil.  but around early afternoon i started to feel better and started to spin like crazy!  i spun up THREE sparklefluff spinning batts and made lots of fun, cool yarn!  you can go here or here for more of that, if you're interested!

AND, then TODAY!! it was a GREAT mail day!  i got my commissioned dyed wool from the yarnwench!!  plus some others i had bought from her site last week . . . here it all is:

Yarn Wench Birthday haul--what I bought myself for my birthday!

Oh wow, my commission from the Yarn Wench IS DONE!!!  You can see it HERE, I think!!!  All that fiber . . . I can't wait to get it . .  of course I've got soo much to spin i'm not even sure when i'll be able to spin it . . . i wanted some larger amounts so as to maybe do a larger project with it . . . but who knows . . . i know the dark stuff (purple/black in the corner of the pic) was *maybe* going to be for something for my boyfriend (if it's dark enough) . . . but now i don't know!

woohoo!!
:)