Tag Archives: Almost a Business

Bazaar Recap

Posted on May 7, 2012 by | Comments Off on Bazaar Recap

The bazaar this weekend was a lot of fun. I love a good excuse to hang out in a room full of people working on fibery pursuits. There was a lot of knitting (I was mostly working on a sock, because I am sooo exciting that way), spinning, weaving, and needle felting. I needle felted for the first time! I was very proud of my flat square of wool. I will have to get some more direction on how to make something other than a rectangle from Anna the next time she offers classes.

I have been making subtle changes to my set up every week.

This time I hung my hand dyed tops on my drying rack, which gave me room to spread the worsted weight yarn out a bit.

The best seller of the weekend was definitely the sock yarn.

My sock yarn shelf is starting to look just a little bit sad. It doesn’t help that I am out of vinegar and have consistently forgotten to purchase any when out for the past week–and therefore I can’t dye. As soon as a gallon of vinegar makes it home with me there will be more sock yarn.

I made a really great score from the BlushingEwe booth.

Tarnish on the left, Fireflower on the right. I had in mind to find something at the bazaar that I could weave a fun scarf for myself out of, and these two lovely ladies just fit the bill. I love how elegant and understated tarnish is, and how loud and saturated fireflower is. They are about the same percentages of wool, silk, and firestar, and I can’t help but feel I am going to have a very luxurious woven scarf when I finish.


Here they are pulled into roving and ready to spin. I like to pull it out so I still get all of the layers ate one time for the color and texture variation, but so that it is still in an orderly strip. I find spinning directly from batt form a little difficult.

I seem to be on a bit of a neck warmer kick. First the Ebbtide, then all the luxurious woven scarf planning, and of course, the Daybreak I started a few days ago.


I am a little less than half way through the striped section for the largest size. It’s very easy and fun to knit–and I love how retro looking my colors are turning out.

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Flash Sale!

Posted on April 27, 2012 by | Comments Off on Flash Sale!

Take 10% off your entire order from the Tiny Dino Studios etsy site from now until midnight central standard time!

Use coupon code DINO10 at check out.

Hurry! That yarn you have your eye on might not be there come Monday.

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Real Life Intruding

Posted on April 17, 2012 by | Comments Off on Real Life Intruding

For about the last six months, I have been working from home, doing a bit of writing, and a lot of fibery stuff. In the past couple of weeks, the budget has made it mighty clear that’s it’s being stretched just a tad too thin. Of course, with farmers market prep and everything, I kept putting off the notion that I should start looking for a job, dreaming that I could make two week’s worth of wages at the market each week. That of course led to the last week of panicking that I wouldn’t have enough money to even make it to the farmers market. Now, the market last week went great. I had an awesome time and met so many great new folks and ran into some people I’ve seen at other craft shows. The point is, the farmers market is too new and unpredictable a source of income and the online sales have been less than inspiring lately, so I went and procured myself a job.

At a temp agency.

Right now I am working part-time, and will be for about the next month. After that, who the heck knows.

I still plan on writing, and dyeing and spinning up a storm, but I do expect it to take me a couple of weeks to figure out how to work outside of the home again and how to keep the home-based business going. I know I can do it. I mean, I started this business while going to school full-time and working 40+ hours a week at the coffee shop for goodness sake.

Frankly, I am a little relieved to get out of the house more often. Don’t get me wrong, I cherish and guard my alone time like a mama bear protects her cub, but I have been feeling a little lack luster of late, and the stress and strain of worrying about money really wasn’t helping.

While I am pretty tired from my first day on the job, I am also seeing the upside of being employed by someone else once again. For one, I get paid for the work I do. For another, the money my business makes can now go straight back into my business instead of to bills. (This includes finally purchasing my own loom. That is totally a business expense!)

Speaking of weaving, I am on my way to weaving class just now. Tonight we are working on texture, and that along with last week’s color extravaganza, I predict I will be a weaving maven by the time I order my own loom–so start thinking about what your custom scarf to look like now. May I suggest the hounds tooth?

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Farmers Market Booth Preview

Posted on April 13, 2012 by | Comments Off on Farmers Market Booth Preview

My friend Joanie and I have spent a lot of time this week putting together the Farmers Market booth. And I think it looks really great! Here a few photos of what you should be able to look forward to this summer.







The Topeka Farmers Market runs every Saturday from mid-April through mid-November. Tiny Dino Studios merchandise will be available there most every Saturday and online every week day at tiny dino studios etsy shop.

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Inventory Day

Posted on April 10, 2012 by | Comments Off on Inventory Day

No, I don’t usually keep my yarn in piles, but as I was collecting all my new work from their hidey holes this morning, a pile just kind of grew up out of it. This is just a portion of the yarn I have dyed/spun/knit since January. It’s easy to tell, because that’s the last show I did, and lazy me doesn’t like to make yarn labels until I do a show. (When I make a sale online, making up the label is part of my shipping process.) I know this is a very inconvenient way to do things, because not only do I spend a whole day make a new inventory list, but also writing out labels. It would be much easier to make out labels as I create new objects. I am hoping the Farmer’s Market breaks me of this bad habit.

Today I got through about 3/4 of my inventory before my labels ran out. I will make some more and label the rest tomorrow (I hope).

Just in case anyone had any doubts, I have a lot of yarn!

And it’s all for sale!

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In Progress

Posted on April 9, 2012 by | Comments Off on In Progress

So much to blog about, but so little time left to prepare for the opening day of the farmers market!

I give you a poorly lit picture of display in progress. Stay tuned for more original creations!

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Rolags

Posted on March 30, 2012 by | Comments Off on Rolags

I finally stopped to take some photographs of all the fiber processing I’ve been doing.

Alpaca first, since I’ve been talking about it so long.

This stuff is so fine, it’s difficult to photograph it in focus!

While the alpaca was fun, the Romney has been enlightening. I have never carded a fiber with so long a staple length. The result is HUGE rolags and increased muscle definition in my arms.

I think they’re gorgeous, and I’m saving 2 oz. to spin myself. The rest, however, you can find for sale at the etsy shop if you need to have a bit for yourself as well.

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Sharing

Posted on March 2, 2012 by | Comments Off on Sharing

I have some fun internet things to share with you today.

If you have read my blog for any amount of time and still don’t know much about Juniper Moon Farm, now’s the time to get acquainted. They are my favorite non-local farm. It’s a beautiful place that produces so many good things fibery and non. Their newest venture is starting a magazine, the kind of hand-made magazine I always look for but never quite find. They have a bunch of amazing people already involved, and a Kickstarter campaign going to help get the magazine off the ground. (Check it out, if only so you can see the “The Revolution Will be Hand Knit” t-shirt design.) I can’t wait to see the first issue.

Locally, the Potwin Fiber Artisans are planning lots of good stuff for the summer-time. On top of new classes, we have a website now! (http://potwinfiber.org) as well as plans to be out at the Farmer’s Market tempting new folks to the fiber arts with spinning wheels and gorgeous fiber. Check out the website for news and events, as well as local vendors and teachers.

I am so excited for this spring/summer season, especially when I look outside and see snowflakes the size of my face raining down (but not sticking, thankfully). I can’t wait to get in the garden, help out at the goat farm (yes, you read that right), finish the first draft of my novel, create new goods, make some new knitters, and see you all out at the farmers market.

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Six Weeks

Posted on March 1, 2012 by | Comments Off on Six Weeks

In my head I am panicking a little bit.

I only have six weeks until the Farmer’s Market.

I have so much to do.

So much to knit.

So much to dye.

So much to write, sew, reskein, design, package, and display.

It’s going to be a six week sprint. And I am kind of excited about it.

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Cotton and Cables

Posted on February 22, 2012 by | Comments Off on Cotton and Cables

A sample of the many things I have up my sleeve at the moment:

I spent my weekend swatching with cotton yarn (also known as making washcloths). I am particularly charmed by this lovely newly-hatched-chick yellow. The cabled swatch also makes me wish I knew how to / had time to make soap, because I think I bar of homemade soap and that cloth would make a very lovely gift.

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