sbs-blog

frozen...

Mon, 08 Feb 2010 14:30:44 +0100

I am cold... it has been a spastic winter here in Kentucky. A couple big snows (for my Chicago and Michigan family--we got a light dusting) and it has just stayed bitterly cold. We're all anxiously awaiting Spring. I give no credence to that silly vermin in Pennsylvania... I want Spring now Phil. Not in 6 more weeks.... NOW. I don't take my forecasts from a rodent.

Anyway. Besides being frozen by the winter... I'm also fighting off the atrophy of my mind. There are so many details both great and small surrounding this grand opening. There's a seemingly unending list of chores and to-do's... it exausts me to even think about listing them here for you. I'm also very close, in my estimation, to losing my ever-lovin' mind. I'm starting to lose things... and for those who know me well, you are asking how this is different from every other day... well. It just is. I'm losing small things and large things. I'm setting down an elephant and forgetting where I put it. So my list of to-do's gets longer with each 'find where you laid down so-and-so'. Uhg. I have heard this isn't that uncommon when starting a life-changing venture... so I've buckled in and just rely heavily on the Good Lord for helping me to find and bind my loose ends and for the grace to overcome the ones I won't remember until next month. But it will be great... I'm looking very forward to the 20th. It's going to be spectacular! :)

We had our first "preview" night. Our downtown held their semi-annual wine tasting event "Wine about Winter". It was wonderful. I had local wunderkind artist Desiree Rowe with iheartsmiles in my shop... if you need some amazing photographic design cards done right-- check her out! We had an amazing turn out and response from the town! I love it! It's an exciting time in downtown Winchester!

So off I go now... to fight the freeze... knock some more things off that ever growing list!

30 before 30...

Mon, 08 Feb 2010 14:31:40 +0100

30 things I'd like to do before I turn 30... some of these things have already been completed and as I only have 7 more months before i turn 30... I should get movin' on the others!!

Knit a sweater
Reach 100 Etsy Sales
Read Jane Austen's Collection (1/2 way through)
Memorize 30 Scriptures
Knit 5 pairs of socks
Lose 45 lbs (10 to go!!!)
Open my LYS (this is kinda a cheat--it opens next month)
Purchase my first spinning wheel
Learn to spin on a wheel
Become a better snail mail penpal
Learn to keep my house organized
Attempt to become a runner (note... attempt)
Learn to write my patterns in produceable form
Teach Lukas to tie his shoes
Learn better patience with my boys
Take a class at the Art Guild
Join the local Art Guild
Use twitter regularly (follow me @sarabeedesigns)
Learn to cook 5 classic southern dishes
Reduce my home's waste output
Participate in my local craft festival
Landscape my front yard and learn to garden
Begin a community knitting project
Learn to play my guitar
Learn to play a whole song on the piano
Crochet an afghan
Teach 50 people to knit (25 to go!)
Learn to eat healthier
Read 5 chapter books to the boys
Host a fondue party (including learning more about fondue!)

We'll take a cup o' kindness yet...

Mon, 08 Feb 2010 14:31:53 +0100

for Auld Lang Syne...

For "Old Long Since"... for the days past... oh 2009. farewell. I excitedly anticipate 2010. The bright horizon of a new year is within sight.

2009 has been a big year for my little family. We've found a church that we both really love and that our kids have found a place to be known. We've made wonderful new friends. We have seen friends move, become engaged, get married. We had quite a revolving door of guests this summer. Family from Michigan, friends from Chicago, friends from NC. We raised a good garden this year, we are still enjoying the fruits (or I should say) vegetables from that labor. I continue to pursue my fiber arts dreams and have grown my online business, have participated quite successfully in my first Pioneer Festival and sold my yarn in a local brick and mortar shop.

It has been a year of trust for me. Trust isn't easy for me... if it were then I wouldn't really be trusting, I'd be knowing. Trust for me has been pushing forward (leaping forward, crawling forward, sometimes just thinking forward) towards something bigger than myself. It has meant loving where I am, being thankful for the moments I am in. It has meant talking/praying myself out of a unnecessary panic attack. It has meant speaking truth into someone's life, that I needed to hear and believe as badly as they did. It has meant boldly entering new situations with vulnerability... something I haven't done in years. It has meant giving and asking forgiveness. It has meant working on my boldness...letting it not just be a defense mechanism, but something of character.

2010, I greet you with a cup o' kindness. I am excited about what will unfold in this new year. Happy New Year...

Dream On...

Sat, 23 Jan 2010 04:42:50 +0100

It is really happening. It is really happening!!

I love our downtown. Winchester Kentucky has a historic Main Street... storefronts, cafes and even our historic Leed's Theatre make it such a unique and inviting street. As a knitter, spinner and all around fiber artist, it has been my dream to own a shop downtown where not only could one buy yarns, but also learn and share their love of the craft. A gathering place to sit and knit, crack a book, enjoy a cup of tea, learn new techniques...

When we moved here it was just not the time, nor the season in our lives to start such a venture. So instead, I joined etsy.com, an online handmade marketplace and started dying and spinning my own line of yarns. After a year and a half building my business there, my desire and passion to have my own shop was just fueled even more.

Through an amazing series of events, I have secured by dream location downtown and will be getting all my i's dotted and t's crossed to make this dream a reality. I'm hoping for a Jan 30th grand opening... more details to come as we usher in 2010!

Christmas, Christmas Time is Here...

Sat, 23 Jan 2010 04:43:02 +0100

We've been singing along with the old school Chipmunks Christmas all week around my house. My little guys LOVE the chipmunks... I think that's b/c they see themselves as their counterparts... Lukas... so wise... is easily Simon... Liam... very very much my cute trouble maker... he's definitely Alvin. And Landon... well my little tub of love just loves to eat... so Theodore...definitely.

Christmas time is here in my shop as well! I've been trying to keep the yarns rotating between Dreaming Tree (the actual brick and mortar store I'm honored to be featured in) and Etsy.com. That way people can stay excited about fresh offerings in both locales. I've been a busy little elf filling custom orders for the holidays. Its been wonderful!

Also, on my dear husband's birthday I received a present! A spot on Etsy.com's Front Page!! It's a huge honor to catch the eye of other artists and to be chosen for the front page... well that just rocked my socks. Or rather rocked my roving... as that was what was chosen! Woo hoo! That's twice this year and once more than my goal! :) That's my Harvest Moon roving there on the bottom row, center.

Speaking of goals... one of my 2009 goals was to reach 100 sales. I am 5 shy. Just 5!! I just over two weeks to reach that goal and I think I can!! I have a special "extra"... some mini-skeins of luxury handspuns... some alpaca blend... some optim blend... it's going to be special! And it goes to my 100th sale! :) Just my way of saying THANKS! Will you be that special sale?? We'll see!

Anyway... Merry Christmas to all.... Happy New Year! May 2010 bring happiness and joy to you and your loved ones.

sb

Comments now readily accepted! :)

Sat, 23 Jan 2010 04:43:11 +0100

I have beat the system... or actually I have followed the detailed instructions correctly and now have enabled comments on my blog here. :) Yay!

So comment away my friends!

Lovely December

Wed, 02 Dec 2009 03:48:06 +0100

Yes… it is here… the culmination of the year 2009. December is upon us. I canhardly believe the year has flown by so fast! Today I will begin to play my Christmas playlist… starting off with a lovely medley of the Rat Pack… into some folky Sufjan Stevens…

My house is starting to get into the holiday season… I’ll be putting up our wreath tomorrow and beginning to put up decorations! I’ve had the apple spice oil fragrances going in the house for about a month now… I will take advantage of the orange peels my middlest boy keeps leaving in his wake and add them to a small pot of water, clove and cinnamon… you let that simmer for a couple hours on low and your whole house just fills with the smell of the holidays. It’s time to celebrate the blessings of the past year and delight in the memories made!

Now that the impending holiday gift giving looms I have to turn on a different part of my brain. Make one for the shop, make one for etsy and make one to give away. I need to make a list… haven’t done that yet… but need to.

Need a gift giving idea? What about a warm set of fingerless mitts? I have a few sets, both short and long available at Dreaming Tree in downtown Winchester. Coming soon to the etsy site in time for Christmas gift giving… new hand painted yarns! Merino, alpaca silk blends, & sock yarn galore! Since I’ve been such a busy knitter I’ve neglected the kick spindle… hoping to get back to that this week… I have quite a few rovings that are in need of some spinnin!

Happy December Everyone!