I’ve been working on the small business aspects of Sunset Cat Designs – DBA filed, stuff for publishing the notice for that faxed in, etc — as well as working on this site via Dreamhost & Wordpress. Although I played a lot with my blogger template I’m learning a lot more about CSS etc now.
I’m debating between getting started with ads on Ravelry and selling directly through my website vs starting up on Etsy. I’m still considering putting together a package of samples, info etc and trying to sell through more LYS in Los Angeles.
So far I’ve sold one set of markers through Twist and two sets at my local SnB.
It seems the only knitting I’m getting done is when I’m at SnB (the South Bay group meets at Catalina Coffee in Redondo Beach, Thurs 6p to ?). At least I get a good couple hours of knitting done, though it’s on my easier projects (Pleated Scarf, Eyelet Cardi).
Gotta love Ravelry. Someone ‘favorited’ my felted cat bed. Given I have no picture of the knitted and felted item in question…..I’m assuming they find my cats adorable.
Goals
I feel like I could just re-post the March April goals, including the lack of any knitting progress.
What I did manage to do: finish the felted cat bed; spin a little; make more stitch markers; destash some yarn.
So…..May Goals
To finish: Dave’s Irish Moss Scarf, Pleated Scarf (yep, a new project, with Malabrigo’s luscious silk merino) AND the boucle Portrait Scarf.
Progress on other projects:
Finish the body of the Eyelet Cardi.
On Herbstlied: finish my swatch, adjust the sweater design as needed to fit my desired size and the gauge I’m obtaining (i.e. decide how many extra stitches are needed and where to put them) and get started on the back.
Monthly destash: Review books, mags and yarn for more destashing.
Here’s a taste!
Shade garden aka the secret garden. We really didn’t think anything would come of this spot and I have to say I’m so pleased with how it’s coming along!
Yarrow and poppies.
Desert verbena.
Monkey flower.
See the rest at flickr!
Rigel is an English Cocker Spaniel. He is small, about 30#, and short. He is sweet and loving.
He has, however, been seduced by the Dark Side yet once again. Notice the evil glowing green color of his eyes.
***
Dave bought a baker’s dozen of bagels Sunday morning. I had one and a half, and Dave, I later learned, had three. That leaves eight and half bagels.
We came home from dinner that night to discover an empty bag on the floor.
How does a short but food-oriented, very cunning dog get stuff off the counter? His nose barely clears the countertop when he’s stretching on his tippy-toes.
That’s where the Dark Side comes in. I know Rigel must’ve caused the bag to levitate, sorta like Luke on Dagobah with his spaceship, but on a smaller scale, of course.
Regardless, he didn’t look like he’d eaten 8+ bagels, so I went on a hunt. He tends to hide things in the couch cushions, and, sure enough, I found a bagel.
However, he didn’t look like he’d eaten 7+ bagels, either. I had Dave check outside but he saw nothing.
Hmph.
Because guess what I found today?
I first discovered an uprooted plant. I was puzzled til I looked at the adjacent pot.
Something had been digging.
Was that a bagel?
It was!
Then I checked the other pots.
I accounted for four more bagels.
He was very distressed once I’d uncovered them, and started searching for new hiding spots (or is that pots?).
I’m sure he could’ve eaten three that night. But there’s at least one more pot to check.
Hmm….not much on the knitting front. I’ve started the second ball of Malabrigo silky merino for the Pleated Scarf. It’s neat scarf, easy once you understand what’s going on, and it looks pretty nifty. The yarn is luscious. The sweaters have been on the back burner.
I spun a little, some of the merino/silk Chasing Rainbows roving. I can tell I’m getting more smooth and regular (good).
I’ve made several more stitch markers and sent some off to Rosemary — she’s volunteered to show some to her LYS, Wool and Company. At least per their website they don’t carry any handcrafted markers.
Stick and Stone Fiberarts is closing. Heading to their sale today. I’m bummed they’re closing. I’ve bought things from them before, both on sale and not, and I haven’t even come close to using what I’ve bought (so why go to the sale? too good of prices to ignore, even though I shouldn’t be buying more fiber). I’ll probably pick up some dyes, too.
For sale at Twist Yarns in Manhattan Beach.
I drew the logo from a pic of my cat Tonka. The fonts (Chelsea Studio and True Golden) are from the Scriptorium.
The front has my favorite Arts & Crafts Movement quote:
Have nothing in your house which you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful. –William Morris
On the back I’ve placed various quotes that I like, too. I’ll post a pic of the card, front and back, in another post.
Apple Tree Bed
Festuca idahoensis “Stony Creek”
Malacothamnus fasciculatus chaparral mallow
Penstemon heterophyllus Margarita BOP
Erigonum parvifolium
Verbena gooddingii Mojave verbena
Achillea millifolium (dark pink flowers)
Plum/nectarine Bed
Achillea millifolium
Verbena lilacina
Diplacus aurantiacus australis Ramona
Fragaria chiloensis
Artemisia californica Calif Sagebrush
Erigonum giganteum St Cath Lace
Zauschneria californica Catalina
Sisyrinchium “Rocky Point” Blue Eyed Grass
Rosa minutifolia Baja mini Rose
Shade Garden
Asarum caudatum Wild Ginger
Rhamnus calif. “Bonita Linda” coffee berry
Heuchara
Pink wave
Rosada
Dainty bells
Maxima
Iris “Susie Knapp”
Other Iris
Carpenteria californica
Ribes malvaceum “Dancing Tassels”
Fragaria (?) chiloensis (woodland)
Parking Space
Baccharis pilularis
Festuca idahoensis “Warren Peak”
Ceanothus “frosty blue”
Arctostaphylos hookeri x pajaroensis “Sunset”
Festuca idahoensis “Stony Creek”
Diplacus longiflorus Topanga monkey flower
Diplacus puniceus Otay monkey flower
Bouteloua gracililus
Poss re-seeded Deschampsia?
Treeless Bed
Zauschneria californica Catalina (or) Zauschneria californica Ghostly Red
Rosa californica
Peach/Apricot Bed
Artemesia nesiotica Channel Island Sage
Sphaeralcea ambigua Apricot Mallow
Ceanothus “Joyce Coulter”
Rosa californica
Zauschneria californica Catalina
Zauschneria californica Ghostly Red
Achillea millefolium
Artemesia “David’s Choice”
Dry Wash
Fremontodendron “Ken Taylor”
Ceanothus “Julia Phelps”
Trichostema lanatum Wooly Blue Curls
Calliandra californica Baja/Red Fairyduster
Abutilon palmeri Indian Mallow
Leptodactylon calif.
Manzanita (unk?)
Sunny Slope
Galvezia “Firecracker”
Salvia apiana White Sage
Arctostaphylos silvicola Ghostly Manzanita
Penstemon spectabilis
Salvia clevelandii Alpine Cleveland sage
Salvia brandegee
Flat by Window
Arctostaphylos la panza
Heuchera Old La Rochette
Wendy
Salvia Pt. Sal
Shadier (Less Sunny?) Slope
Salvia mellifera Black Sage
Penstemon heterophyllus heterophyllus
Penstemon heterophyllus Margarita BOP
Penstemon spectabilis
Salvia Celestial Blue
Lupinus excubitus
Salvia Gracias
Flat by Porch
Arctostaphylos manzanita_x_densiflora Austin Griffiths Manzanita
Calystegia macrostegia
Heuchara
Pink wave
Blushing bells
Maxima
Achillea millefolium rosea Island Pink
Achillea millefolium arenicola
Achillea millefolium californica
….that indeedy the Tunis wool DIDN’T felt that well, that in trying to make it felt I felted the hell out of the rest of the bed, and that is therefore really only one or two cats’ worth of bed, not three: after staring at it suspiciously for awhile they all three tried to cram themselves into it.
At least it’s a FO for April.
Whenever I wonder if people read my blog, I find out they do!
Regarding Tunis sheep: I don’t blame the entire breed for my bad experience — I do think it was the particular roving I had (purchased off of eBay*). I would certainly try Tunis wool again.
*Like any brand new spinner, especially one with an interest in heritage and rare breeds, I bought an inordinate amount of roving and fleeces sight unseen last fall (breaking all the rules about buying fleeces (though I did think I’d be safer with prepared roving, oh well)).
