Post 015 Building Inventory

 Another week flown by! I blinked and Sunday is here, yet again. This week has been fairly productive. I've managed to get two new reclaimed yarn listings up on etsy. The first being a vibrant Shamrock Green 100% cotton listing and another a reclaimed and bulky Lambs wool-Angora blend which is just a beautiful golden ecru color. I'm a complete sucker for natural fibers!!!

This weekend I've been researching ways to increase viewability and get sales. While I know that these yarns are great quality, it doesn't do a bit of good if I can't get it viewed and sold. One thing I am in the process of doing is calculating yardage to break up the bulk listings into one listing that features the individual cake or skein sizes. Right now, each listing is basically for the full amount of yarn salvaged. I wasn't aware of how to calculate yardage based on size, so I've now learned to do so. I've calculated the quantities of each cake and skein for each of my postings based on WPI and bulkiness if the yarn. I suppose my mind needed the workout, but once I figured out the approximate yardage per ounce, it's easy now. I will be creating a master yards per ounce template for each type of yarn bulkiness from dk/sport to extra bulky. I intend to share that for free here on the blog to save others the time. If you find my calculations to be off, please correct me, though I feel confident in the approximates. 

Long story short, this makes the listings a little more customizable to the needs of the buyer. I'm also price checking competitors and similar items so I can create my own master formula for price per yard, per yarn quality. I'd like my prices to be comparable, and also not short change myself or the buyer. Reclaiming yarn certainly is not a huge money maker in consideration of time and being unable to manufacture the process. It is very much a one woman operation here, lovingly spending hours deconstructing sweaters for yarn on the sheer principles of being consumer conscience, Earth healthy, and eco-friendly.  Ok, ok, yes...I'm on over-doer....but once I set my formulas, pricing will be a breeze. ;)

Otherwise I'm working on a new listing of this acrylic yarn. I thought it was a self striping yarn of the green, blue and purple range. Turns out to be two seperate self striping yarns. I crocheted a small swatch to show the colors in seperate rows, and then combined. I may do two seperate listings, not certain yet.

The colors were just too beautiful to pass up, despite being an acrylic. What do you think?

Well, it's off to one more episode of "The Last Alaskans" on Hulu. Something about remote living in COVID19 days is soothing to me as an escape from the negativity on social media. Have a great week and stay crafty!

Post 014 Freeform and Rainbows

Hello everyone!  Sitting here in the living room after a relaxing weekend.  We didn't get out much due to schedules, but there was plenty of time to crochet.  The downside is that the project I'm working on is for a swap so I can't share anything but a teaser!  I've been exploring the wonderful world of freeform crochet.  It's incredibly relaxing and great for a crafter like me who changes her mind often.  I like the freedom that comes with adding or subtracting stitches on a whim or creating loops, zig zags, ridges, or floral patterns.  It's truly customizable and very liberating to deviate from the normal pattern approach.  That being said, I hate not being able to share the work, so here is a teaser pic of the beginning of the project.  It's not enough to give away what it will become.

Isn't it beautiful?  I added beads to create the effects that I need.  I can't wait to show you the finished work in October (yes, OCTOBER!!!)..I can say that I"m half way done with the base of this project...what I can share though are some links to some beautiful works of art by other crafty artists.  Please pay them a visit, and let it inspire you to create your own masterpieces!

Firstly, about freeform crochet:

Freeform Crochet Craft as Art

...And a quick little tutorial to get those creative juices flowing:  freeform tutorial

 Let loose you crazy crochet wildlings :)

 

Moving onto other things, here's another picture of the rainbow gradient pillow that has made it into my living room.  It's perfect for curling under my neck while playing video games.  I love it so much, and can attest that the only thing I don't like is how easily it makes me fall asleep!  It looks a little lumpy here, but only because it's well loved and often utilized.  What a great way to turn an accident (the backing did not work, I tried three times and was not happy with any of the options) into a work of art that fits into our home.

 

In other news, the fiance purchased a dehydrator for me for my birthday.  I had been eye-balling one for a while and was surprised when he walked in the door carrying one for me :) I've made dried cucumbers, dried gypsy peppers, dried oranges, and just recently dove right in with making my first batch of beef jerky.  It was amazing!

That's an awfully classy paper plate there isn't it?  :) I didn't have time to photograph well as it didn't last long in this house.  It was delicious though!  I marinaded it in worchestershire sauce, soy sauce, and liquid smoke.  I also added some garlic powder, onion powder, and a little grill seasonings mix.  Turned out better than anticipated, and much better than store bought jerky.  It may look a little burned, but each piece was bursting with flavor.  It's an amazing snack also as it lasts a long time as it rehydrates in your mouth--which sounds odd, but if something tastes that good, you want it to last as long as possible!

 

Anyhow, just wanted to remind you all that there are still some reclaimed yarns in my etsy shop for your crafting pleasure, and I wish you all very crafty days.  I might even start on one of those pocket shawls that everyone seems to be jumping on the bandwagon for.  Have a happy week everyone!

Post 013: Crafts, the Heat, Geocaching and a COVID19 Scare

 Hello everyone! Another week in the history books. It's been hot and miserable outside, however that hasn't stopped us from having fun. We have cleared our garden of the remainder of our tomatoes and added the vines to the brush pile. Most of the plants had already produced their full capacity for the growing season and the remainder had began to dry out. We harvested what we could and cleared the container gardens. 

We had a COVID19 exposure scare in which the fiance had been exposed (with heavy PPE). Luckily both of our COVID19 tests came back negative, but we are still monitoring for symptoms. My workplace is very conservative due to the work we do (which I appreciate!) so I am working from home for one more week as a precaution.

We did get out this past weekend to do the annual geocaching day for the stamp and to work on the 7 wonders event. We've made progress in the first set and are eager to plan for the next 7.

It was a great time--lots of exercise, humidity, and hydrating!

I was also able to finish the tablerunner. It took an odd turn when I tried to line the backing. I tried three options before deciding to just stuff it and turn it into a couch pillow (excuse the peeling leather, real talk 😆). I'm sure I would have enjoyed selling as a tablerunner, but I'm happy for the home addition to our living room.

This week I begin a pretty large swap which I am excited for. I won't be sharing the progress, so I can still surprise my swap partner...but I will do my best to make some other cool things for content here and on the Facebook page.

So..how do the new business cards look? :) Have a wonderful week everyone!

 

Post 012: Birthdays, veggies, and more reclaimed yarn

 If you have Salubrious Studios on facebook, you may notice that it has been another fun weekend. Saturday morning I picked the last of the peppers from the garden and pulled up the plants that were done bearing fruit for the growing season. I strung up the rest of the hot banana peppers to dry and cleaned up the back patio a bit.

Later that evening we threw a birthday party for a family member, which was great fun!

It was Lego themed and quite a good time was spent catching up with everyone over pizza for dinner and birthday cake. Family is everything, even more so in times like we face in 2020.  It was a great mood booster to celebrate!

Sunday was pretty much our normal. The fiance prepared his now very routine and traditional Sunday breakfast for our family and I settled in to finish a sweater deconstruction. Admitedly, the photo needs a little work, but 20 little balls were created from this sweater.

 It will hit my etsy store tomorrow when I can get the colors just right. It's less of an olive green and more of a sage-gray. It's beautiful, so stay tuned if it catches your eye.

How are you beating the "rinse and repeat" of social distancing that is COVID19? For me, it's emersing in hobbies, throwing myself in (too many) work projects, and watching YouTube crochet podcasts as I craft. Tonight I watched a favorite--Lottie and Albert, which is always a great to watch. I love the creator's energy and her colorful projects. I think her blogs and projects have helped me get through the coronavirus social distancing a bit now that I'm leaving the house less and not able to participate in local craft groups and events. I also watch a few other podcasts, but hers are my favorite.  Maybe I'm nuts, but seeing someone passionate about crochet and crafts is inspiring and relaxing to craft to.

What new routines do you have during social distancing? 

Stay safe my lovlies!

Post 011: Peace sign applique now for sale!

The time has come! My peace sign crochet applique pattern has hit my store! Check it out here:

Peace Applique Pattern

❤

Post 10: Streaky tomatoes, PDF creation and a Sunburn

Hello everyone! It's late into the weekend as I cling to the last few hours of Sunday evening. We have had a few days spent mostly outdoors, so I find myself with a Sunburn on my neck, shoulders and face. I also picked a few tomatoes early from the garden after noticing some striations and lines on these late tomatoes. I've harvested the majority already, but those that held on until now, they seem to have been affected by the rapidly changing weather of the Midwest. 

We have had heat indexes over 100, but with the recent rains, it has been cooler in the evenings. This kind of weather makes me wish that we had a back porch with a screened in sleeping area. Someday! :)

I've been working here and there on the rainbow table runner. It has taken hours due to the joins, but it is still coming along.

I have been able to start the green section :)

I also intend to begin on my first PDF for my Etsy shop, a pattern for my peace sign decals. I've enjoyed making these for others in the past. It's about time the pattern debuts! :) Stay tuned!