Wow. I can’t believe this is TOMORROW. I’m giddy, nervous, skeered, excited… And do I have everything ready? Gee, of course not. Not yet. So close, yet SO far away. Thankfully it’s a four day event, whatever I forget/don’t complete for tomorrow’s set up and preview, I’ll make darn sure I have ready for Thursday morning.

Dahara Dreaming’s FaceBook Events has this all set up, but here are the awesome details:

Columbus Convention Center
400 N. High Street
Columbus, Ohio

Hours:
Wednesday: 4 - 6pm
Thursday: 11am - 6pm
Friday: 11am - 6pm
Saturday: 10am - 4pm

And since you’ll be looking for us (hehe), here’s what to look for - COLOR.  Sort of like this (our setup from last Saturday at Yellow Springs Street Fair) - main difference here is that there will be yarn. Lots. Of. Delicious. Yarn. It’ll be everywhere. All the products of Dahara Dreaming, Wildflower Skin Care, I Dye Yarn, KaeBrook Kreations and Angel Squares will also be there - Knitters Connection said to just bring everything. Gotta love that!

Shout out to the hubster too, our tent braces snapped. On three sides. With duct tape and extra bags of sand that poor baby stayed up the entire time. Thanks too, to Yellow Springs who told us just to leave the busted equipment for street cleanup.

So, Knitters Connection 2009 starts tomoorrow, yo!  I so hope to see y’all there, whether you knit, crochet, spin, or just want to see something new.

Oh - and side note, my harvest bag that I previewed in my prior post debuted at Yellow Springs — sold three of them. I am one proud pattern creator. Since each one is unique, here they are.

I must  be crazy because I’m seriously trying to churn out 4 more by Thursday. Crazy. Yep. And lovin it.

Keep dreaming, friends. It’s like hope, it’s eternal, it’s strength, and it’s beautiful.

Wow, that is tomorrow morning! I’m so excited! Sad thing is that my brother, who I believe reads this blog, asked me if I was going to be there tomorrow. I just thought, well, suck. I didn’t get the word out.  I’m lagging in my blog - though I do have it on FaceBook.  You can find me on Corey Street, next to the general store.  I’m the booth with tons and tons and tons of color.

There’ll be lots of new stuff - but as I’m inventorying right now, I can’t even photo to sneak peak ya. I know, I’d be bummed too.

Hmmm - I do have a photo or two of some things I’ve been working on. One sec…

Here’s first ever pattern design all by yours truly - the Harvest Bag. This is just the mock up, and is unpressed. Be gentle with her. She was through a lot.  Her progeny, though there are only five, will be at Yellow Springs with me.

I will have Wildflower Skin Care’s new Body/Rescue Balm - oh man is it ever amazing. The beeswax makes those awful dry/scaly spots feel all normal again.

My hand dyed ruanas (aka wraps) in cotton / bamboo velour - some with shibori stitching. Here’s one that I still have yet to finish the edges. Still cute as hella!  Like that picnic table in the background dontcha.

Bunches of other things, but more importantly, I need to get it all together to take with me. See ya there — and keep dreaming.

This has been one of those great weeks. With the exception of Sunday through Wednesday night having giant golf balls covered in shards of glass going at breakneck speed through my head, it was fan-tas-tic.  Even days of migraines can’t mitigate the goodness that was this week.

Why? Well, figured out I am super-duper sensitive to the sun and heat. Got myself some excellent electrolyte supplements to put in my water so I don’t have the whole hellish headache gig going on again  - thanks to Chuck from Raisin Rack.  Why else? I finished re-skeining all my currently dyed yarn.  I wrote a pattern for baby/toddler booties out of bulky yarn (it will be free here - I’ll post it either tomorrow or Monday).

The daughter and I went to JoAnn’s and she had so much fun looking through the pattern books. Sigh.  A girl after my own heart.

I went to Creekside with daughter and hubster (which is incredible considering his work schedule of late).

Went to the Franklin Conservatory Butterfly Exhibit with my daughter.

We played the final chapter in Changeling last night with our friends (Julia of the Goblin Toybox was the GM, Jenise from Happy Squash Toys was a terrific brain-eating Redcap).  I just got all the laundry folded (six loads, no less).  My father’s trip to the emergency room was manageable and he’s doing fine.  We planted our flower and strawberry plants Thursday evening.

And today, today, is good. Finishing up some jewelry, getting some yarn in the soak for dyeing, writing this blog, working on a custom order form for my shows, drinking a cup of tea, the hubs and daughter are napping, and I’m about to start cutting into tons of fabric. What have y’all been up to lately? For good or bad, it’s worth a telling.

Keep dreamin’, I’ll be back in twenty-four or forty-eight. With or without sleep remains to be seen.  I leave you with a photo taken by the daughter:

Most often, I just have an attitude - whether it be grumpy, smarmy, happy, excited, angry, disappointed, thrilled, cheery. I bring it all with ‘tude.  Just ask my loved ones [insert mocking grimace and slight eye roll]. Anyway, I’m sitting here making jewelry and thinking, wow, I’m really, really grateful. For A Lot.

The past couple of days have been hard, with looming deadlines, migraine warning signals, a delicious child who won’t.stop.asking.questions. (I know, I know), and just not enough time in the day to finish all the things that need to be done. So I shall take some time to just be grateful. For stuff. And list it. Here. Randomly. (you’ll see).

My husband. Has begun to really start giving me the time to work on this business. He’s always been for it, but just these past two weekends has given me time to work, in a steady stream. Which has done wonders for me, my mothering, and my wifeing.

These measuring cups by Preserve. Brand new from Drugstore.com - I was missing the 1/4 cup in my old set… can’t fathom how that might of happened (hey little girl, why are you cooking crayons in my measuring cups?). Anywho… I’m grateful because they’re made from recycled plastic and are 100% recyclable. That’s the way to do it. And adding those to my cart got me a free goodie bag from Seventh Generation. And now I have a 1/4 cup measuring cup. Even though it’s not pictured. It was just used in tandem with the next item. Good thing.

This waffle maker from Eliza. I was borrowing my friend Julia’s, so I’m twofold grateful to Eliza. We have good waffles, I don’t have to bug Julia, and well, Eliza is just awesome.

My eight new colorways went from looking like tangled skeins to pretty wound balls.  And yes the photos are full of suck, I just wanted to show them off a bit.  When they’re all skeined up and in the shops, they’ll look tons better!

Moonlit Dusk    ////    Fiery Fall

Herb Garden    ////    Sunrise

Forest Moss    ////    Giggling Gnome (no photo of the wound ball I gave away for sample knitting)

Spring Breeze    ////    Pixie Dance

My friends Val, Heidi, Kim, Brandy, and Ez (who dyes her own amazing yarn!) who are knitting samples for me in trade for the remainder of the skein of yarn.  Because I am so thoroughly neurotic about knitting my own colorways. Perhaps terrified is more apt?! That what I envision in my head is not as beautiful as *I* think, you know!  I’ve got four samples in my hands that I’m staring lovingly at. I have 16 coming and I’m all itchy antsy about it.

I have my first show of the year this May 9th, Oddmall ~ Emporium of the Weird. Won’t be taking the oodles of yarn I’ve been dying - but will be able to take lots of the funky other things I’ve been working on. Y’all will see come next week!

These shoes from Land’s End. My first new shoes in years. They’re so freaking comfortable. And the green ones are like tennis shoe comfortable, but pretty. Which is something I haven’t had in a long while.

My daughter. Who even while this past week I have had to tell her I needed 5 minutes of No Questions Being Asked, and the resulting meltdown of not being able to ask said questions for five minutes, I love wholly.

My nephew E had his tonsils taken out today, and is doing well. I’m grateful that it was an “easy” operation and that he’s going to be the better for it.

My jewelry is looking awesome.

I have tons of fabric cut and ready for the serger and sewing machine.

Last but not least, thankfulness, for being grumpy. Because when ya come out of the funk, your perspective is just that much brighter and full.

Keep on dreaming y’all, it’s what keeps us alive.

… these things appear. Damn fabric designers.  And by fabric diet, I mean, use everything I have. Unless something new and amazing appears. Y’all understand me, right!

First up is Patricia’s Art Gallery new Girly Girl line. And it goes beyond just being girly girl in my opinion - it’s just beautiful, light and airy. Great for girls, women, home accessories - and some prints are just un-girly enough to not freak a dude out.

Then, then there’s Paula Prass’s Summer Soiree. Whoowhee. Lots of stuff on the feminine side, but some prints can totally be put to use for a boy. Not to mention, pillows, quilts, backpacks. I really, really like diversity of it. Tons. And guys, GREEN. ZEBRA. That’s all.

Let’s not forget Tula Pink - Neptune was gorgeous ***  (if you look closely at the damasks, there are precious turtles in there), and coming soon - Hushabye. Drool.  The way she places the animals in her prints nearly always makes me smile.

And, last but not least, Studio E’s Springtime Nature*ology.  I’m a total fan of batiks, leaves, water prints, animal prints - well, nearly anything nature related. So it’s no surprise that I love this line.

When will we have 36 hour days, no need to sleep, and an unlimited budget to buy fabric with (though in my case, it’d also be jewelry supplies and yarn)?  Until that day comes, note to fabric designers: STOP MAKING AWESOME FABRIC PRINTS.

*** I mistakenly noted that Tula Pink had contract issues. I meant another designer (Far Far Away anyone?!) and I sincerely apologize to Jen of Tula Pink for my error.  Though the fact that she read this blog and contacted me about my error has made my absolute year. The fact that they are both two of my alltime designers hopefully will save my collective karma fabric bottom.

Got some nice dm’s on twitter and FB letting me know that, hey, some folks couldn’t enter. Nice to know that I’m a complete idiot when it comes to the internets Anyway, one more week on the contest - making that a new end date of Thursday, April 9th. Okay, technically, that’s only 4 days from now.

And, so this isn’t some boring update on how I don’t know anything about how my own blog works, here’s what I’ve been working on:

Skeining (and gods my arms and shoulders hurt). Pictured below is approximately 90 skeins of yarn. With more on the way. But I totally need a break. Everything dyeable is now skeined for dyeing. Should have been ready over a week ago. But, whatevs. Thank goodness for roving/top. You weigh it and cut it. Done.

By the way, after my trifecta of June Shows (a post coming later in the week), I’m buying an electric skeiner. My body deserves it. Here’s my current low-tech, high-energy setup:

And currently, prepping craft and wool felt. Yep, I wash even that stuff. And iron it. Because I’m OCD.

(This is also why it’s 2:25am and I haven’t updated until 3 days after the original end of the contest. Ugh. Oh, besides totally rearranging the house <again> and a sick child [which will forever trump all].)  Enter the contest. Win something for yourself or to give. Until then, keep dreaming, and keep creating.

ps: welcome back home, Dad!

Welcome to week two of the relaunch! The site is getting cleaned up, product is being listed at a phenomenal rate - and many, many more surprises are on the way!

Mondays are becoming magical days for me - the things I can make progress on or get finished/started in the space of a week amaze me.  And as I typed that - a thought occurred to me to do something to start of the wonder of each week… next week I’ll be starting a little something something for Mondays. No longer the dreary day of ‘back to work’… let’s give Monday a new perpsective, and thus, give us power over what many think of a sucky day!

But I digress.  Last week, one product I noted in my last post did not get listed - it’s being done tonight! I remind myself that I do this so I can be flexible in hours and spend time raising my daughter - which is far more important than anything I do here.

So tonight - the hand dyed silk handkerchiefs are being listed. They’re gorgeous and I cannot wait to do more to present to all of you!

Coming up this week, the week of September 1st:

* Brandywine Designs has two new products coming

• Fabulous Tulle Fairy Skirts for your little ones. They’re absolutely stinking adorable.  I can’t wait for her to make me one for Halloween… (Brandy, consider this your formal request).
• Ribbon Hair clippies - to keep even the wispiest of hairs at bay. Or, in my case, some of the thickest hair in the cosmos.
• Many of Brandywine Designs products from HyenaCart will also be transferred to Etsy and DaharaDreaming.com.

* Dahara Dreaming will have five items for the mama fairy and her little one

• Cute fairy-inspired handbags (yes, you read that right).  They’re not sensible, but sheesh are they fun.
• Pixie wrap tulle skirts - it’s an apron! No, it’s a skirt! No, it’s a cape! No…. it’s whatever your little one wishes it to be… and they’ll be in adult sizes soon, too.
• Hand dyed cotton scarves, wait, it’s a belt, wait, it’s a head wrap. Whatever the hell it is, they’re cute and wearable. Oh! And washable.
• Hand dye silk scarves… see the hand-dyed cotton scarf bit (I could only type that once without feeling absolutely ridiculous).
• Hand dyed play silks - 3 different sizes, all colors and in the shibori and watercolor style. All are magical and delightful. Yes, I’m biased. But only a bit.

* The Goblin Toybox has some new goodies

• Two cute little stuffed critters (you’re going to have to wait and see bwahahahaa)
• Two amazing felt hand puppets (again, I’m such a tease!).

So there it is. The enchanting products coming up for the week. And next week brings even more wonderful goodies!  It’s like Christmas in July. Wait, the Equinox in September.  Or a September Solstice just for the heck of it! Okay. Going to maybe drink some chamomile tea to calm the excited jitters down. But just a bit.

Busy busy busy! It’s been a hectic two days, but lovely nonetheless. I’ve been working on two new products off and on as time permits and I had to decide if I would show a completed item, or the materials of the product and let folks surmise it for themselves? I liked the latter.

First off, in the land of tulle… is tulle!! Now, most of you know what tulle is used for, but how I decided to use it is fun and fantastic. Not the most creative, I’ll admit, but it fits in the new theme of Dahara Dreaming’s products. So, the mountain of tulle that I’ve been working in:

In the land of Tulle

There are other colors: orange, green, yellow, an even hotter pink (yes it’s possible). I adore this project. What I’m making are for little ones. But I like the design enough that I’m thinking about making it wearable for the larger folk too.

Next up, what does this:

What does this have to do...

Have to do with this?

...with this?

Yarn and glittery things. Hmmmm. If only I had a winky emoticon. Mixing the two loves of knitting and beads is something that I have a good many sample of, and have been wanting to get to a good enough point to offer as wearable goods. And that time is now! What I do with the two is, without giving too much away… fey.

Busy busy busy! It’s been a hectic two days, but lovely nonetheless. I’ve been working on two new products off and on as time permits and I had to decide if I would show a completed item, or the materials of the product and let folks surmise it for themselves? I liked the latter.

First off, in the land of tulle… is tulle!! Now, most of you know what tulle is used for, but how I decided to use it is fun and fantastic. Not the most creative, I’ll admit, but it fits in the new theme of Dahara Dreaming’s products. So, the mountain of tulle that I’ve been working in:

There are other colors: orange, green, yellow, an even hotter pink (yes it’s possible). I adore this project. What I’m making are for little ones. But I like the design enough that I’m thinking about making it wearable for the larger folk too.

Next up, what does this:

Have to do with this?

Yarn and glittery things. Hmmmm. If only I had a winky emoticon. Mixing the two loves of knitting and beads is something that I have a good many sample of, and have been wanting to get to a good enough point to offer as wearable goods. And that time is now! What I do with the two is, without giving too much away… fey.

So, the reason for the relaunch is clear - I was making products that were all over the board and had no cohesive vision. I wasn’t enjoying what I was doing, and I was only selling a few of the items I was making upon request from folks. Not a lot of common sense or pleasure in all of that.

But now, my heart is hammering, I can’t stop getting things cut, beaded, dyed, I’m excited. I try to find time to do something every. single. day. It’s that feeling of rightness. It’s cohesive, it’s fun, it makes sense in my head. And I think it’ll make sense to everyone else - and it’s very, very pretty. Also, I’m scared shitless, which just proves to me that it’s the best leap I’ve ever taken in my business. I’ve only been doing this since Oct. ‘07, so to be going anew in less than a year is crazy but smart all at once.

I know, I know. It doesn’t make a lot of sense just yet. Especially when you don’t know what I know (wink wink). To be fair, only my husband knows. The new launch is like a precious little baby to me that I’ve been quite, quite selfish with it and refuse to share with anyone. However, tomorrow shall bring forth the first sneak peek! I’m beyond excited. (can I say excited enough? let me know if it gets to the retching point).

I currently have 16 products that are in this relaunch, there will be more after the new site (same look, different feel and different products). Most are new. Some simply redesigned. All the old stuff is going for cheap. I want it to be used and enjoyed, that’s for sure, but it doesn’t fit anymore.

I’m making progress - in hindsight, 35 days or so is not that much time to redesign an entire product line. But hell, I figure, go forth with full force. Even if I only get 1 or 2 items done in each product category, y’all will see what I see in my head. Well, sans the scary stuff. The progress killer right now is our new adorable furball kitty. His name is Miles Vorkosigan. He’s about 4 months old. He’s crazy. And likes to get my knitting needles, beads, and thread with gusto I though reserved for potential porch kill.

My friend Cheryl also got in a car accident, broke her wrist and ankle, and has two little boys. I’ve been there a lot this week already. My father also comes home from Iraq tomorrow and I’ll be going to visit him and Mom on Sunday, so after that I think I’ll have to declare a serious moratorium on activities unless my daughter threatens mutiny.

Now, I’m off to work. I’m learning the blogging ropes, but will be typing something each day now. Keeps me on track and hopefully you folks [somewhat] informed. Okay, scratch the informed. Hopefully I’ll at the very least entertain you.