Hello everyone!
It's been just over a year since I relaunched my shop on etsy. It was a soft opening, but things have picked up over time and everything is going rather well right now. I'm not super busy, which is good because I am not swamped and I have time to get all my orders done, but I wouldn't say no to a few more customers.
The holiday season is slowly closing in, and I thought now might be a good time to shake things up a bit and try to get some social networking going on. I'm still working out the specifics of how to set this up in etsy, but I am planning a few promotions:
First Time Customer
If it is your first time ordering from Handmade by Caitlin, you will receive free shipping.
Referrals
If you follow me on etsy, Facebook, twitter, or Google+ and refer a friend, you will both get a 10% discount on your next order! Network user name will be needed for confirmation of course, and your friend need only enter your name in notes to seller upon their first order. You will both then receive a code to use on your next order.
Free Holiday Plush
If you spend $30 or more at my shop, you will receive a small holiday plush for free. (I am still working out which one(s)...if multiple you may have choices!)
Other Ideas?
If you have suggestions on offers or promotions you would like to see, products you want available, or if you just have fun ways of sharing my shop, post them here! Remember, my shop is all about YOU! I wouldn't be here without you, so I want to know what you want and what makes you happy n_n
Showing posts with label etsy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label etsy. Show all posts
Wednesday, October 9, 2013
Wednesday, August 28, 2013
New Custom Orders
I'm back in action! Well, I always have been working on orders, but we are expanding the one building at my day job and relocating most of our 450 employees and I have been enlisted to help facilitate the relocations. Unfortunately, this leaves very little time for blogging. I usually get Mondays blogged due to the weekend, but even this week that got overlooked.
Anyway, I did some rearranging of my schedule and pushed the Train Gift Set to the end of this month and worked on the First Grandson Set and Penguin Plush first. I did this because work has been crazy and these two orders had hard due dates, whereas the other was a request from a friend for no particular date.
So, the Penguin Plush is finished and posted for the buyer. He turned out pretty cute. I was a little sad that the girl it was for didn't want any different colors (she looked at her aunt like she was crazy when asked what color her penguin should be...obviously its black! oh little girls...), but he is still adorable.
The First Grandson Set is also finished and posted. I happened to work with the buyer and have already given it to her due to her daughter being induced Monday night! (Her due date was September 16th). I finished up adding the name to the blanket Monday night and brought it in Tuesday to show the buyer and verify that she was happy with it, and she just popped over to give me the news so I gave it to her. That was very lucky timing!
Tonight I will get moving on the Train Gift Set. It will consist of a conductor style hat, train plush, and train blanket. This is a mock-up from the chart I improvised for the blanket, and the plush will look like the engine from the blanket. I'm very excited to get going on it n_n
NEXT WEEK be prepared for another baby hat and some peeks at a few other projects. My friend's son turns 2 next month and his party is Curious George themed, so I wanted to make him a Curious George and maybe a sweater or yellow hat. I also need to start designing my items for Three Strikes for Sean. If you have suggestions please comment; I am aiming for 4 pairs of footwear (2 for girls and 2 for boys).
AFTER ALL OF THAT I will be getting back to designing items for the shop: customizeable roller skate booties, Minion hats and outfits, an Eve cocoon, and a Wall-E plush just to name a few. Remember I will fulfill any request and I love general suggestions for my shop. I want to make the items you want to buy, so your opinions are very important to me.
See you Friday with a new free pattern!
Wednesday, July 31, 2013
Custom Order Updates
Well things are getting a bit slow on the Product Info front...questions have stopped rolling in and I am getting writers block, so I think we are going to start switching things up and calling Wednesdays "Shop Info Wednesday" instead. This way I can post custom orders, shop updates, FAQS, answer your questions, and at least once per month (although I am being ambitious and hoping for every other week) you will still get an in-depth article about a product or shop policy.
So, for this week I thought I would share the custom orders I worked on last month. Usually orders like this only show up as a small blip on my shop's radar as the customer purchases them pretty quickly after posting. I have also been so busy that I neglected to make small posts on Twitter or Facebook so you could all check them out.
Order #1 was for a stuffed animal of the Pokemon Growlithe. He was a lot of fun to make, and since he was for an adult I had some extra fun taking pictures of him "in his natural habitat."
Order #2 came in while I was working on Growlithe. It was for a rebel alliance beanie for the customer's newborn nephew.
Upon delivering it (as this was a local order) I was asked if I can do one in adult sizes too. The answer is yes! but prices will go up a bit...so you may see an adult rebel alliance beanie in the near future n_n
This month I will be working on 3 projects and hopefully you will get another update by the end of the month to see those. In order of due date, they are 1.) Train gift set consisting of an afghan, train plush,and conductor's hat; 2.) First Grandson gift set consisting of a blanket with the little boy's name and matching cap; and 3.) Penguin plushie.
So, for this week I thought I would share the custom orders I worked on last month. Usually orders like this only show up as a small blip on my shop's radar as the customer purchases them pretty quickly after posting. I have also been so busy that I neglected to make small posts on Twitter or Facebook so you could all check them out.
Order #1 was for a stuffed animal of the Pokemon Growlithe. He was a lot of fun to make, and since he was for an adult I had some extra fun taking pictures of him "in his natural habitat."
Order #2 came in while I was working on Growlithe. It was for a rebel alliance beanie for the customer's newborn nephew.
This month I will be working on 3 projects and hopefully you will get another update by the end of the month to see those. In order of due date, they are 1.) Train gift set consisting of an afghan, train plush,and conductor's hat; 2.) First Grandson gift set consisting of a blanket with the little boy's name and matching cap; and 3.) Penguin plushie.
Monday, July 8, 2013
Customizable Barefoot Sandals are Available!
I've mentioned these a few times in the past week or two, and now they are finally available for sale! Etsy allows us sellers to give buyers options. Now if you go to any of my new listings, you can choose the color combination you want (example pictures provided for reference) and the size you need. I make all sandals from the customizeable listings to order, but luckily 1 pair goes fast so turn around is about 1 day. Orders should ship within 24 hours, except for Sundays when there is no post or if you place your order after 9 pm central time, as I likely won't see the notice until the following morning.
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Click on the pictures to be taken to the listings and see all the options n_n
Thursday, June 27, 2013
Coming Soon: Customizable Barefoot Sandals
I am working up samples for my new barefoot sandals listings. Etsy has newly added an options feature to listings, so now you can pick your color combo and size! This is a rough sneak peek (like very rough*..I used paint!) at the new combinations. If you think of a combo I should be adding, please let me know and I can whip it up.
Size Options:
Color Options: after the jump
Size Options:
Color Options: after the jump
Wednesday, June 5, 2013
Why Barefoot Sandals?
It's a fair question. Why do you want to decorate the top of your foot, but leave the bottom of you foot uncovered? This seems like the exact opposite idea off what shoes are supposed to be. However, there are times when barefoot sandals do make sense:
1. Dressing up on the beach
Do you ever want to look nice (or cute, fancy, etc) while on the beach? Shoes can be a hassle in the sand, even flip-flops. They drag, your feet still get dirty, and now you are tracking sand everywhere. Barefoot sandals allow your feet to look cute while still making it easier for you to walk in the sand.
2. Little ones that won't keep anything on their feet
Have a little one that just keeps pulling off her shoes, socks, and whatever else you try to put on her feet? It can be so frustrating, especially when you just want her to look cute for 30 seconds while you snap this picture. Barefoot sandals loop or tie around the ankle and loop over the toe, making removal by your little one difficult.
Barefoot sandals also leave the bottom of your little one's foot uncovered, which for some stops that frustrating behavior of pulling everything off. Toes are also free this way, and we know little ones just love to play with their feet and toes.
3. Engaging and stimulating your little one
One of the first feedback pictures I received of my barefoot sandals were of the customer's daughter using them as toys. She had ordered the Pink Bow pair, and her little one loved to reach for and pull at the bows on her sandals. Playing with barefoot sandals also helps expose your little one to new textures. High contrast combinations will also help stimulate (you can order in any color combination you want).
Playing with her feet also stimulates baby to pick her head up, and learn to roll up.
4. They are just plain cute
Ok, this may not be the most compelling of reasons to get barefoot sandals for your little ones.They may not be practical in all situations, but they are darned adorable. Since I provide ready-made as well as custom orders, this also gives you the chance to have some unique footwear for your little one.
So...now the question is:
Why order from Handmade by Caitlin?
Please let me know if you have any more questions about this item and I will happily update this post!
1. Dressing up on the beach
Do you ever want to look nice (or cute, fancy, etc) while on the beach? Shoes can be a hassle in the sand, even flip-flops. They drag, your feet still get dirty, and now you are tracking sand everywhere. Barefoot sandals allow your feet to look cute while still making it easier for you to walk in the sand.
2. Little ones that won't keep anything on their feet
Have a little one that just keeps pulling off her shoes, socks, and whatever else you try to put on her feet? It can be so frustrating, especially when you just want her to look cute for 30 seconds while you snap this picture. Barefoot sandals loop or tie around the ankle and loop over the toe, making removal by your little one difficult.
Barefoot sandals also leave the bottom of your little one's foot uncovered, which for some stops that frustrating behavior of pulling everything off. Toes are also free this way, and we know little ones just love to play with their feet and toes.
3. Engaging and stimulating your little one
One of the first feedback pictures I received of my barefoot sandals were of the customer's daughter using them as toys. She had ordered the Pink Bow pair, and her little one loved to reach for and pull at the bows on her sandals. Playing with barefoot sandals also helps expose your little one to new textures. High contrast combinations will also help stimulate (you can order in any color combination you want).
Playing with her feet also stimulates baby to pick her head up, and learn to roll up.
4. They are just plain cute
Ok, this may not be the most compelling of reasons to get barefoot sandals for your little ones.They may not be practical in all situations, but they are darned adorable. Since I provide ready-made as well as custom orders, this also gives you the chance to have some unique footwear for your little one.
So...now the question is:
Why order from Handmade by Caitlin?
- My barefoot sandals are crocheted, which means no ribbons to wrap around your baby's foot and leg, and no beads that could become choking hazards if the thread breaks.
- By default I make all of my items out of acrylic yarn. This is a synthetic fiber that can easily be machine washed and dried, making care for your items simple.
- I also make my barefoot sandals with a loop for the ankle, making them stay in place better.
- I will work with you to make a pair to match that special outfit or with a specific look you are looking for.
Please let me know if you have any more questions about this item and I will happily update this post!
Wednesday, May 29, 2013
A Little Info on Tunisian Blankets
I recently made a tunisian blanket for a customer. The blanket was ordered as part of a gift for a newborn living in Texas, however this kind of blanket tends to be heavier than a normal knit or crocheted blanket. Luckily it was a local order so we got together so I could provide her with a few swatches of varying thicknesses in order to make sure the little girl would not be overly warm this summer.
That being said, I thought I could provide a little more information about this style of blanket to my online customers. I did not want to clutter up my swatch gallery with this information, so I am making a separate post.
Tunisian style crochet (or afghan crochet) is a style of crochet that is often compared to a mixture of knitting and crochet, technically and visually. The process itself involves picking up a row of live stitches along a long hook, much as you would pick up stitches along a knitting needle, and then crocheting across these stitches one by one until the end of the row. This means that I am essentially working each row twice. Also, if you look at my swatches, you will notice what appear to be columns of Vs (which are characteristic of knitting)
The fabric created using tunisian crochet is considerably less elastic and substantially thicker than a typical knit or crocheted item. I do want to point out that while this means the fabric is dense, the blanket itself will not be stiff. This may affect your decision in a few ways:
Now, I did mention the large stitch option, so let's get into that a little bit...
Typically I make tunisian blankets using a thin yarn and an average hook (for those of you that are fiber crafters, this means baby/fine weight and H/5mm hook). This creates a pretty sturdy fabric that holds up very well to travel and washing machines. I live in the Chicago area, and this blanket was perfect for our winters.
For the blanket that would be winging it's way to Texas, I played around with different options. I used a much larger hook, but to avoid making the blanket very lacey/holey I also had to use a thicker yarn (again for you fiber crafters, this means worsted weight and L/8mm hook). This created a fabric that was a little less dense. Due to the increase of yarn thickness, it was about as thick as the regular tunisian blanket, but the increase of hook size made it a little airier (the stitches were not as tight together, making the blanket less dense and also providing a slightly lacey texture and appearance allowing for more air flow through the blanket).
You can choose either option, depending on your needs. I would like to point out some key differences in terms of time and cost however:
The regular tunisian blanket took me about 6-8 weeks to complete, whereas the large stitch took about 4 weeks. A typical knit/crochet blanket takes about 2 weeks, sometimes I can rush these and complete them in 1 week (if they are of a smaller/newborn size). I can make accommodations on occasion and finish your item faster than quoted, but it all depends on my other orders, my day job, and my homework load.
Due to the fact that I am using almost twice the amount of materials, and working at least twice as long on a tunisian blanket, the costs are going to be a bit higher. Do not be surprised to see your blanket priced $15-20 higher than a non-tunisian blanket of the same size. If you order a gift set, I will offer a large stitch discount (usually $5-10, depending on the set).
That being said, I thought I could provide a little more information about this style of blanket to my online customers. I did not want to clutter up my swatch gallery with this information, so I am making a separate post.
Tunisian style crochet (or afghan crochet) is a style of crochet that is often compared to a mixture of knitting and crochet, technically and visually. The process itself involves picking up a row of live stitches along a long hook, much as you would pick up stitches along a knitting needle, and then crocheting across these stitches one by one until the end of the row. This means that I am essentially working each row twice. Also, if you look at my swatches, you will notice what appear to be columns of Vs (which are characteristic of knitting)
The fabric created using tunisian crochet is considerably less elastic and substantially thicker than a typical knit or crocheted item. I do want to point out that while this means the fabric is dense, the blanket itself will not be stiff. This may affect your decision in a few ways:
- The blanket will not stretch out much, so you may want to consider this when choosing your size (particularly if you want it to be used into the toddler years)
- This means no little holes for fingers and toes to poke out, which is ideal for harsh winters
- Dense fabric may not be ideal for warmer locales, particularly during summer
- If you do want a tunisian blanket for someone in a warmer locale, consider the large stitch option
- The extra thickness may be ideal for travel or changing tables, due to the cushioning
- Due to the extra time and materials, these blankets will cost a bit more than a regular knit or crocheted blanket of the same size. These blankets also take about twice as long to make.
Now, I did mention the large stitch option, so let's get into that a little bit...
Typically I make tunisian blankets using a thin yarn and an average hook (for those of you that are fiber crafters, this means baby/fine weight and H/5mm hook). This creates a pretty sturdy fabric that holds up very well to travel and washing machines. I live in the Chicago area, and this blanket was perfect for our winters.
For the blanket that would be winging it's way to Texas, I played around with different options. I used a much larger hook, but to avoid making the blanket very lacey/holey I also had to use a thicker yarn (again for you fiber crafters, this means worsted weight and L/8mm hook). This created a fabric that was a little less dense. Due to the increase of yarn thickness, it was about as thick as the regular tunisian blanket, but the increase of hook size made it a little airier (the stitches were not as tight together, making the blanket less dense and also providing a slightly lacey texture and appearance allowing for more air flow through the blanket).
You can choose either option, depending on your needs. I would like to point out some key differences in terms of time and cost however:
The regular tunisian blanket took me about 6-8 weeks to complete, whereas the large stitch took about 4 weeks. A typical knit/crochet blanket takes about 2 weeks, sometimes I can rush these and complete them in 1 week (if they are of a smaller/newborn size). I can make accommodations on occasion and finish your item faster than quoted, but it all depends on my other orders, my day job, and my homework load.
Due to the fact that I am using almost twice the amount of materials, and working at least twice as long on a tunisian blanket, the costs are going to be a bit higher. Do not be surprised to see your blanket priced $15-20 higher than a non-tunisian blanket of the same size. If you order a gift set, I will offer a large stitch discount (usually $5-10, depending on the set).
I hope you have found this information helpful. If you have further questions please feel free to ask and I will update the information to reflect them.
I will not sticky this post, but I am going through and updating my tags for easy searching. You should be able to type in the item you want info on (e.g. blanket or tunisian blanket), or you can do a general search for product info. I will also try to find a simpler way to provide you this information in the future, as I begin making more posts about other products.
As always, feel free to contact me if you have any questions or requests. I regularly check my blog for comments, my etsy shop, facebook, and my email n_n
Monday, May 27, 2013
Recent Baby Gift Sets
This past month I had 2 custom orders, one of which was rather large, and two baby gifts for coworkers to work on. Now that they are all complete and my real life has settled down, I finally have the time to make a post about them.
My first custom order was a Stars & Stripes baby cocoon and hat. The customer's husband is an ex-marine and she had seen a picture of something similar online and thought it would be a wonderful idea for their newborn pictures. Knowing me from work, she contacted me and asked me to make one. How cute and sweet is that?!
If you have any great stories to go with your purchase, please feel free to share. I really love hearing them, plus I get to know you better and the items feel more special once they are made n_n
Another great story, although on an order from February, was the one behind the twin dragonfly booties. The customer was having twin boys, but really wanted to do a dragonfly theme because she had a chest painted by her late mother that she wanted to put in the boys' room (it was painted with dragonflies). She saw my original yellow dragonfly booties and contacted me. The two of us worked together to get her two pairs that would fit the bill.
Anyway...going back on track. My large order this past month was a doozy! The customer wanted a Tunisian blanket, and while beautiful they take a lot of work and time to make. The gift was for her boyfriend's niece who was having her first baby (a girl!). The customer wanted to go all out, so she ordered the blanket, a pair of mary janes, a sun bonnet, and a fairy plush.
Since the deadline for my large order got pushed up 2 months (after making all arrangements, the customer found out about the baby shower! so I rushed to get it done early), I hit a bit of a time crunch the last two weeks and was knitting and crocheting away like made to finish some gifts for two of my coworkers, both of whom are having their first baby (and they are both having boys).
~*~
As always, if you see something you would like duplicated (or changed), please contact me. It doesn't matter if I sold it in my shop or just shared it here as a personal project--I want to make you the perfect gift!
Thursday, March 28, 2013
Designs in the Works
After the next week or so, things should finally be settling down... I'll be done with all big orders and personal gift sets, the meetings at work will stop for a while, and I will be done with my next batch of exams at school. I can't wait! Once things settle down, I can catch up on my backlog of personal and family projects, get some reading in, and start designing new products.
I really enjoyed making the special order cocoon, and they go by rather quickly, so I am planning on designing a few and putting them in my shop as ready-to-order items. The list of ideas is a mile long, but the ones I really want to see come alive are The Very Hungry Caterpillar, Batman, Chicago Cubs uniform, pea pod, and flower. The last two I need to hash out a bit more, but if they work out the way I imagine them I think you will be quite pleased. Of course there are plenty of cocoons out there, and I would be more than happy to make any kind by request, but I am aiming for something a little more unique to start with and get my name out there.
I also want to expand my footwear selections. It's starting to get warmer in my neck of the woods, but I have a few different boot ideas that I think would be adorable once worked up.I also want to play around with loafers and full sandals.If you have any other footwear selections, please send them my way (either via comments, email, or etsy convo). I want to provide the items you are looking for n_n
On top of that, there is the list of items in my New & Upcoming section that I want to finish as well. I really am excited to get those going, create some new items, and provide all of you with new ready-to-order options.
I really enjoyed making the special order cocoon, and they go by rather quickly, so I am planning on designing a few and putting them in my shop as ready-to-order items. The list of ideas is a mile long, but the ones I really want to see come alive are The Very Hungry Caterpillar, Batman, Chicago Cubs uniform, pea pod, and flower. The last two I need to hash out a bit more, but if they work out the way I imagine them I think you will be quite pleased. Of course there are plenty of cocoons out there, and I would be more than happy to make any kind by request, but I am aiming for something a little more unique to start with and get my name out there.
I also want to expand my footwear selections. It's starting to get warmer in my neck of the woods, but I have a few different boot ideas that I think would be adorable once worked up.I also want to play around with loafers and full sandals.If you have any other footwear selections, please send them my way (either via comments, email, or etsy convo). I want to provide the items you are looking for n_n
On top of that, there is the list of items in my New & Upcoming section that I want to finish as well. I really am excited to get those going, create some new items, and provide all of you with new ready-to-order options.
Monday, March 11, 2013
International Shipping for Handmade by Caitlin
Well I have finally made progress and have done the basic footwork of getting international shipping prices. Currently it is all in the form of a giant list/spreadsheet with prices by region and packaging type.
Etsy gives me 3 ways to choose non-US shipping profiles: by individual country, by EU/non-EU region, or everywhere else. Unfortunately there are 4 regions I would need to set up for international shipping profiles which etsy doesn't allow, or I do each country which would be ridiculous. So to make things easier, I just ask that if you are not from the US please send me a convo (on the item you want preferably, but if you want multiple items or send a general convo that is fine too). I will reply to you within 24 hours with a quote and if you approve I will update the listing(s) with an "Everywhere Else" shipping price.
If you want a general idea of what your shipping could cost, I have no problem sharing my pdf with you. It is broken down by location, packaging type, and weight. There are some examples of what would fit into each packaging type, although I don't have weights for individual items so that part is not as helpful to you at the moment. I am going to start keeping a list of weights and eventually post an update to help with this. For reference though, 2 pairs of booties (which I usually ship stuffed) packed in a box with some additional tissue paper weighed in at 8oz.
My basic price list can be found here, which may help you decide if it is worth it to you, but upon contacting me you will get an exact shipping price.
I like to check up on my customer base so I know some of you are not from the US, but are favoriting my items. Granted I know this could just be for inspiration or ideas (I certainly do that), but in the event it is an item you want but thought you could not purchase due to lack of international shipping I want you to know that these items are definitely available to you :)
Etsy gives me 3 ways to choose non-US shipping profiles: by individual country, by EU/non-EU region, or everywhere else. Unfortunately there are 4 regions I would need to set up for international shipping profiles which etsy doesn't allow, or I do each country which would be ridiculous. So to make things easier, I just ask that if you are not from the US please send me a convo (on the item you want preferably, but if you want multiple items or send a general convo that is fine too). I will reply to you within 24 hours with a quote and if you approve I will update the listing(s) with an "Everywhere Else" shipping price.
If you want a general idea of what your shipping could cost, I have no problem sharing my pdf with you. It is broken down by location, packaging type, and weight. There are some examples of what would fit into each packaging type, although I don't have weights for individual items so that part is not as helpful to you at the moment. I am going to start keeping a list of weights and eventually post an update to help with this. For reference though, 2 pairs of booties (which I usually ship stuffed) packed in a box with some additional tissue paper weighed in at 8oz.
My basic price list can be found here, which may help you decide if it is worth it to you, but upon contacting me you will get an exact shipping price.
I like to check up on my customer base so I know some of you are not from the US, but are favoriting my items. Granted I know this could just be for inspiration or ideas (I certainly do that), but in the event it is an item you want but thought you could not purchase due to lack of international shipping I want you to know that these items are definitely available to you :)
Friday, March 8, 2013
Networking and other things..
Well I am trying to get my shop out there in the massive world that is the internet. While I make enough to merit continuing with the shop, it's not enough to pay for advertising through etsy and other sources. I've decided to try and expand my social media footprint instead, and I hope between that and word of mouth my business will grow!
Twitter
I have a twitter account. My username is @caitinc.
I am not very good at Twitter. This account is both my personal and shop account. Now I've done some research (yes...I get nerdy about weird things) and it says not to blast my feed with self-promotion, so I think the mix is ok. I just have a tendency to go in spurts of one or the other, so I should probably work on that.
Follow me though for shop updates, sneak peaks at current projects (for my shop as well as not), links to web comics, and whatever other random things I feel like sharing.
Facebook
I actually have two Facebook pages...my personal page (which I do link to on my sidebar, but I only accept friends of people I actually know...I've been the victim of too many hacking attempts to just accept random strangers), and my shop page which I am sharing with you here.
Like my page for shop updates, blog updates, and sneak peeks at current orders! I've been a little quite on the Facebook front professionally, but that's because I've been crafting away like crazy. If you like my shop and my work, please share my page with your friends! I do ship internationally (but I need to quote you on a price, so its not listed) so everyone is welcome.
Google+
I have both personal and shop pages on Google+ as well. I will be honest with you--I don't use these too often (I am trying to change that though). I started my personal page because I had friends who wanted to use it, but they've all sort of stopped. However, I know there are some people who are die-hard Google+ fans and I want to reach you. Please leave a comment to let me know you are there and I will be more diligent about my updates :)
Other Sites...
There are a few other places you can find me, should you feel up to it. These sites aren't really shop related, but most are full of craftiness.
Ravelry You do need an account to access this site--it's free, but if you don't do fiber arts it might not be your thing. I keep a log of all my non-shop fiber projects here, so if you are a fellow yarnie feel free to visit my page or friend me!
DeviantArt This is where I am supposed to post my non-fiber crafts, but I have been a bit slack in doing so. I need to update with more of my sewn projects and jewelry, as well as some of my photography. There are some shirts and claywork (mostly stitch markers) as well. I know you can do poetry and such on DeviantArt, but I reserve that for my blog (tab up top).
Flickr I used to use PhotoBucket, but that was more for personal things. Eventually I may migrate everything over to Flickr though. In the meantime you can find all of my recent crafts and products catalogued here (in-process, multiple angles, etc). I am in the process of migrating all of my Ravelry projects over as well.
GoodReads The only non-crafty social site thus far (unless you count my personal Facebook and Google+ pages). I am really bad at updating this. I make big updates in random spurts. I am trying to use it though as a way to track what I like and find similar things. Feel free to friend me, comment on a book I have read/am reading (no spoilers though! then I have to set it down for a looooong time), or suggest something new to me.
I have a twitter account. My username is @caitinc.
I am not very good at Twitter. This account is both my personal and shop account. Now I've done some research (yes...I get nerdy about weird things) and it says not to blast my feed with self-promotion, so I think the mix is ok. I just have a tendency to go in spurts of one or the other, so I should probably work on that.
Follow me though for shop updates, sneak peaks at current projects (for my shop as well as not), links to web comics, and whatever other random things I feel like sharing.
I actually have two Facebook pages...my personal page (which I do link to on my sidebar, but I only accept friends of people I actually know...I've been the victim of too many hacking attempts to just accept random strangers), and my shop page which I am sharing with you here.
Like my page for shop updates, blog updates, and sneak peeks at current orders! I've been a little quite on the Facebook front professionally, but that's because I've been crafting away like crazy. If you like my shop and my work, please share my page with your friends! I do ship internationally (but I need to quote you on a price, so its not listed) so everyone is welcome.
Google+
I have both personal and shop pages on Google+ as well. I will be honest with you--I don't use these too often (I am trying to change that though). I started my personal page because I had friends who wanted to use it, but they've all sort of stopped. However, I know there are some people who are die-hard Google+ fans and I want to reach you. Please leave a comment to let me know you are there and I will be more diligent about my updates :)
Other Sites...
There are a few other places you can find me, should you feel up to it. These sites aren't really shop related, but most are full of craftiness.
Ravelry You do need an account to access this site--it's free, but if you don't do fiber arts it might not be your thing. I keep a log of all my non-shop fiber projects here, so if you are a fellow yarnie feel free to visit my page or friend me!
DeviantArt This is where I am supposed to post my non-fiber crafts, but I have been a bit slack in doing so. I need to update with more of my sewn projects and jewelry, as well as some of my photography. There are some shirts and claywork (mostly stitch markers) as well. I know you can do poetry and such on DeviantArt, but I reserve that for my blog (tab up top).
Flickr I used to use PhotoBucket, but that was more for personal things. Eventually I may migrate everything over to Flickr though. In the meantime you can find all of my recent crafts and products catalogued here (in-process, multiple angles, etc). I am in the process of migrating all of my Ravelry projects over as well.
GoodReads The only non-crafty social site thus far (unless you count my personal Facebook and Google+ pages). I am really bad at updating this. I make big updates in random spurts. I am trying to use it though as a way to track what I like and find similar things. Feel free to friend me, comment on a book I have read/am reading (no spoilers though! then I have to set it down for a looooong time), or suggest something new to me.
Thank-you for visiting my pages, liking them, and sharing them with friends. To my already loyal followers, thank-you for your support and for plugging me to friends and family.I appreciate everyone's support and love connecting with customers. I also really love doing this, so more incentive to keep myself knitting is always a plus :)
Here's to a successful year!
Friday, February 22, 2013
Busy Busy Bee
Just finished two small custom orders: baby boy/baby girl chucks, peach sun hat/mary janes. One of those customers also later requested a hanging towel in pink and white (for a new mommy).
I finally have all the materials I need for my swap, so I need to get moving on that. Don't want to give away details yet, but there will be an amigurumi, knit wearables, clay work, glass etching, and some embroidery going on n_n.
I actually need two more large skeins of white (I only have the one right now), but the store was out! I could have gone with "antique white" but it looked dirty in comparison, and I do not want baby things to look dirty!
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I finally have all the materials I need for my swap, so I need to get moving on that. Don't want to give away details yet, but there will be an amigurumi, knit wearables, clay work, glass etching, and some embroidery going on n_n.
I've also acquired most of the supplies needed for my 2 big custom orders and 2 gifts.
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Once orders slow down and I finish these gifts, I have to catch up on all my family gifts (they always suffer...my poor family! Luckily my sister is also a knitter so is pretty understanding of the time it takes and of the fact that my business comes first, and my mom keeps sending people to me for orders so she can deal n_~). After all of that (I dream big, people!) I have a ton of socks I want to make myself, and maybe a sweater...
Saturday, February 16, 2013
Swatching and Prepping
One of my orders is supposed to include a tunisian blanket, but due to my customer upping her original deadline by two months, I am unable to do the blanket as I usually would (light/fingering yarn and a size H hook). I am testing out two larger hook sizes (K and L) with heavier yarn (Aran).
I personally prefer the L hook (top of swatch). The stitches are a tad larger, but not so much that it looks loose or sloppy. This difference does make the fabric more pliable. The K hook (bottom of swatch) is a little tighter, but not so much that I think it particularly looks neater, plus this tightness makes the fabric rather stiff. Tunisian blankets tend to feel a bit dense, but I don't want it feeling solid.
I am really hoping she picks the L hook fabric as it is about 2 stitches wider and 1 row taller than the K swatch (both sections are 10 stitches wide by 9 rows tall...K produces a fabric 3x2.5 inches and L produces a fabric 3.375x2.75 inches) Over the course of the entire blanket this cuts down quite a bit of time.
We will see what the client thinks. Either way I need to order a new hook, so hopefully she chooses soon so that my hooks arrive in time to ship this out for a March 16 delivery.
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I am really hoping she picks the L hook fabric as it is about 2 stitches wider and 1 row taller than the K swatch (both sections are 10 stitches wide by 9 rows tall...K produces a fabric 3x2.5 inches and L produces a fabric 3.375x2.75 inches) Over the course of the entire blanket this cuts down quite a bit of time.
| 36x36 inch blanket on K: 120 stitches x 130 rows 15600 stitches total Difference: 2974 stitches Equivalent of 25 L rows (work/time I could save using L) | 36x36 inch blanket on L: 107 stitches x 118 rows 12626 stitches total Difference: 2974 stitches Equivalent of 28 L rows (work/time I would add using K) |
We will see what the client thinks. Either way I need to order a new hook, so hopefully she chooses soon so that my hooks arrive in time to ship this out for a March 16 delivery.
Thursday, February 14, 2013
Small Shop Update
Well, you all have been keeping me rather busy this past month, as well as these next two upcoming months. Not that I'm complaining--I love doing custom items, but the constant orders are keeping me from getting very far on ready-made items. I did add a few pairs of sandals, all in 12-18 month sizes.
I will always try to make a small post for shop updates. Big updates will get a notice, but smaller ones like these may sneak past on occasion. You can also find newly posted items, as well as planned items for future updates, in the New & Upcoming section of my website.
As always you can request anything you see in my shop, previous sales, and gallery (in same or different sizes, colors, etc) or contact me for your own custom item.
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I will always try to make a small post for shop updates. Big updates will get a notice, but smaller ones like these may sneak past on occasion. You can also find newly posted items, as well as planned items for future updates, in the New & Upcoming section of my website.
As always you can request anything you see in my shop, previous sales, and gallery (in same or different sizes, colors, etc) or contact me for your own custom item.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
I have been working on towels and washcloths as gift items, and they have been getting some attention from my local customers. I even got a request for a towel, so I am considering expanding my Skin Care shop section into a Bath & Kitchen section. This new section will still house my lotion, soap, and lip balm; but it will also house new products such as hand towels, wash cloths, scrubbies, and soap sachets. Other items may include hanging towels, potholders, and TP covers (although at this point I debate if Kitchen and Bath should be separate sections, except for the overlap of towels, scrubbies, and washcloths).
I am also toying with the idea of creating a Facebook or Google+ page for my shop. Things are still fairly small scale though, so those may be a bit further on the horizon. Regardless, changes are coming and I am excited for them!
Saturday, February 9, 2013
My Latest Projects
Phew! It's be a busy last few weeks. Getting sick put me a little behind on orders (I don't like handling materials when I'm all germy...even though I wash everything before sending out anyway). However, I have completed two custom orders and a baby gift!
Recent Custom Orders
Last Month's Custom Orders
Maggie's 1st Birthday Baby Gift
Now to get moving on two larger custom orders (cocoon/hat set and blanket/booties/hat/plush set), and another baby gift for my coworker! Soon after that I'll need to start a second baby gift for another coworker--it seems everyone is expecting this spring n_n
I still haven't decided what the gifts should be yet though...they are both for little boys. For the one, I am thinking blanket/booties, and for the other who I am much closer with I am thinking overalls/booties/plush. We shall see what time allows and how busy my shop makes me, I suppose.
Recent Custom Orders
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Last Month's Custom Orders
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Maggie's 1st Birthday Baby Gift
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Now to get moving on two larger custom orders (cocoon/hat set and blanket/booties/hat/plush set), and another baby gift for my coworker! Soon after that I'll need to start a second baby gift for another coworker--it seems everyone is expecting this spring n_n
I still haven't decided what the gifts should be yet though...they are both for little boys. For the one, I am thinking blanket/booties, and for the other who I am much closer with I am thinking overalls/booties/plush. We shall see what time allows and how busy my shop makes me, I suppose.
Tuesday, January 15, 2013
Projects on the horizon for Handmade by Caitlin
Well it has been a busy past coupled of months. Lots of Christmas knitting (I still have to finish up two shawls actually, but they are close to being done). Then I sprained my wrist which has lead to slow-going on the knitting front. Still recovering, but I'm picking up speed again. I've just decided to give myself some designated rest time, so I am working minimally at night and you will notice my weekends are open on my calendar. There have also been a nice handful of orders coming in, two of which are very large, so I've definitely been kept busy. I recently signed up for a swap too that I should get working on soon >.> <.<
Once all my orders are completed, I have some plans for items that I want to make for my shop. I have a few pairs of toddler (18 month) sandals that are complete that I want to post soon. I also want to get some ice skates (hockey, figure, and a pair of toddler Chicago Blackhawks skates) made and posted. I am currently working on some Texas Longhorn cleats, and if you've been keeping up I already have Chicago Bears sandals and booties, so I want to get some cleats going soon too. The customizable roller skate listings are still in the works too. Beyond that, I just have some fun ideas for "regular" booties, like a pink bootie with a snowflake, and some pale blue and white conductor stripe booties.
Building up to that, I have been designing a "product catalog" for all my knit/crochet baby items. If you know me in person, please feel free to ask to take a look. Otherwise, I am also planning to convert it to a fancy pdf (or possibly an online viewer), so convo me on etsy or pm here and I can email you the digital version. The catalog contains items you can find in the galleries on my blog, but they are better organized by type and price points.
I also have a collection of jewelry I had made for some craft shows, so they were never posted on my shop. I need to photograph and measure these and then my jewelry selection should increase. I am hoping to find some downtime come spring for some hair pieces as well.
Once all my orders are completed, I have some plans for items that I want to make for my shop. I have a few pairs of toddler (18 month) sandals that are complete that I want to post soon. I also want to get some ice skates (hockey, figure, and a pair of toddler Chicago Blackhawks skates) made and posted. I am currently working on some Texas Longhorn cleats, and if you've been keeping up I already have Chicago Bears sandals and booties, so I want to get some cleats going soon too. The customizable roller skate listings are still in the works too. Beyond that, I just have some fun ideas for "regular" booties, like a pink bootie with a snowflake, and some pale blue and white conductor stripe booties.
Building up to that, I have been designing a "product catalog" for all my knit/crochet baby items. If you know me in person, please feel free to ask to take a look. Otherwise, I am also planning to convert it to a fancy pdf (or possibly an online viewer), so convo me on etsy or pm here and I can email you the digital version. The catalog contains items you can find in the galleries on my blog, but they are better organized by type and price points.
I also have a collection of jewelry I had made for some craft shows, so they were never posted on my shop. I need to photograph and measure these and then my jewelry selection should increase. I am hoping to find some downtime come spring for some hair pieces as well.
Monday, January 7, 2013
January Custom Orders
Even with my injured wrist, turn around time is still fairly low. I thought my customers might like to see what orders I have on the horizon to help them plan. So far January isn't too busy. Besides these custom orders, I am designing some snowflake booties and plan to get some conductor stripe booties worked up. A few pairs of toddler sandals will also be posted this month, as soon as I get my camera back from my sister so I can upload photos for the listings n_~
Tuesday, October 2, 2007
Welcome to Caiti Scarlet!
 | Hi. My name is Caiti and this is my blog. Here you can find my poetry, pictures, and various knitting endeavors--I even design some of my own patterns. I'm a huge game nerd as well, so you will probably hear alot about my current game/anime/comic obsessions. |
I have a few other sites which may be of interest to you located on my sidebar: Ravelry, Facebook, Myspace.
I also have an etsy shops that I run with my mom and sell handmade swarovski crystal jewelry for Weddings, Proms, and any other special occassion. We also carry handmade hana kanzashi hair pins. You can purchase already made items or make special requests. I also intend to begin carrying knitting accessories, but you may also find other random projects of mine ranging from screen printing to hemp to anything else, so keep an eye open n_n
I also have an etsy shops that I run with my mom and sell handmade swarovski crystal jewelry for Weddings, Proms, and any other special occassion. We also carry handmade hana kanzashi hair pins. You can purchase already made items or make special requests. I also intend to begin carrying knitting accessories, but you may also find other random projects of mine ranging from screen printing to hemp to anything else, so keep an eye open n_n
| Etsy Buy Handmade caitinc |
Soon I will have some links posted for your ease of navigation. I'm working on compiling the list now. Look for a link to a post with a list of my poems, photos, and projects to help you find your way through this large jumble of a journal much better (and hopefully without imploding ^_^). Until then, feel free to use the tags on the sidebar to find what you are looking for. I try to keep them pretty detailed.
Feeling: 
inviting
inviting
Listening to: Hey Monday--Homecoming
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