Tuesday, January 11, 2011

Going to Blog... Going to Blog....

                                                                            
           That is what I have been saying for a month....
I was excited this year, to dazzle you with my Christmas decor... My Dept. 56 village.. I have lots of houses & they are lovely. They just never got put up this year.... (:      
   My Christmas tree... we own a Christmas tree farm, so I get the pick.... got put up, but never got many decorations....
        I have been so terribly busy, I can't see straight...

  I have a mitten business..... & this year it was ridiculous.... I thought I would quit. You see, everybody & thier aunt makes mittens out of wool sweaters.... there are enough out there....
  BUT.... this year I had so many orders, I could not keep up. Just between Thanksgiving & Christmas I had 2, yes 2 orders for around $1000....
 I could not say no... I worked until 2 in the morning, got back up at 6 & did some more.... ( besides working in the beauty shop : )
   I turned down so many calls, that it makes me sick to think about it....
Why was I not sewing all year long???  Again, thought that I would quit.


      
                                       A bag ready to go
                                                    


  I have been making them for more than 15 years. I used to make them for all the high school girls in my small group from Church, for Christmas, then I had a few ask me to make them for gifts. I went on an Alaskan cruise, gave them to my friends on the cruise, a store in Sitka saw them & asked me to make some for them. I gave them to some friends in New York as a gift, had a store there ask for some.... & it goes on.... so my business was born.
    I have never done an art show... never wanted to, this fall a friend asked me to join her in a booth.... orders, orders, orders....
   
            
   
              I delivered an order Christmas Eve.... I was so sick of it....
  My facebook status said..... "Done, Done, Done..... Don't even ask" : )
      Our kids came home for Christmas & I was not ready.......
                  But I am not finished.... folks are still calling

    
        






                                                                        
            I get some special orders for  both in the pair to match exactly, but most want them to be whimisical & some-what match...
  I had one order, for 4 pair, from a mom for her kids from the sweater that thier dad wore, before he died...
      
                                                


                                  
             
          A pair for a Hope College soccer mom....   Orange & Navy..

   I want to quit.... I want to do something else fun for a while.... but no one wants mittens in July.... I have a big upholstery job, 2 chairs & an ottoman that I said would be done by Christmas.... not done yet.... My house is a mess... husband is going to Arizona next week & I am not going....too far behind.... ( I have the ticket...agh!!! )
           
            So for now I am sewing, sewing, sewing......
                                               
       Linking up this week with Pam over at Becolorful
                       for Motivated Mondays

22 comments:

  1. Hi Kathy, your mittens are adorable! Thanks so much for your interest on being featured. I am asking another blog friend of mine who is very tech savvy if she is interested on the tutorial....she is really good and even shows you pictures as you go along. I would say YES, get down some basics first, then move full speed ahead. As far as etiquette.....If someone visits your blog, it is always nice to do the same. I made lots of visits when I first started to blog, and just put my name out there, with a face helps, they get familiar with you. It really is getting more difficult for me to make my rounds and visit all that visit me...I am still doing OK, but there may come a time, I just can't do it all. I hope when and if that time comes, everyone understands that...So bottom line, VISIT, pay a comment back, and Visit some more, sooner or later the circle will turn and you will get visits back more often.

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  2. Your mittens are so cute, and what a success. I would love to have a home based business like that...How fortunate you are...
    good to see you...you knew I had a different address, did'nt you..formerly Serendipity Cottage, Now I am House on rt3 on blogspot.
    http://houseonroute3.blogspot.com/
    hugs, and good success...
    glenda

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  3. I've never seen such cute mittens in my life. No wonder you stay snowed under. I had no idea you sewed like that. Just beautiful and I would LOVE to be able to create something so precious.
    Can you hire someone to help? Surely there's a stage or two in making the mittens that someone else could do to help things.
    Bless your heart..I can feel the stress you are under.

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  4. Kathy....I hear you...BUT...they are wonderful!
    I bought two pair in Glen Arbor this fall @ the big craft show @ the town hall for the daughters for Christmas...now I wish I would have bought a pair for myself.
    I walk in the mornings and mittens keep the fingers warmer then gloves do.
    Your work is beautiful and I love the whimsical ones...not both the same.
    I used to do craft shows with my dad...I understand wanting to do something different after a while!
    Sounds like you should just keep building your inventory ALL year long.
    Hugs, Kathy @
    Sweet Up-North Mornings...

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  5. MITTENS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    I would love YOUR MITTENS!!!!!
    But your sick of making MITTENS!!!!!!!
    I don't want to make you sick!

    Oh well if you MUST!!!!! Lol!
    Bright and happy...the happier the better!
    We need to meet sometime...have lunch and do a little goodwill-ing!
    Would love that!
    Hugs, Kathy @
    Sweet Up-North Mornings...

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  6. Thanks for stopping by my blog today and for your sweet comment! I love meeting new blog friends.

    And those mittens are amazing. No wonder people won't let you stop making them. Adorable.

    Blessings,
    Sandy
    God Speaks Today

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  7. Love your mittens, very creative:)

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  8. Kathy, Thank you for the comment and prayers. You are very talented! Love the mittens. Do you ever make hats to match? Ann (tinned sparkle) my sister is making one out of an old wool skirt can wait to see it. Blessings, Debbie

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  9. Hi Kathy~ You don't know me-YET..But I just got an award for blogging and decided I would pass the award along to the first 7 people that asked Debbie to feature them. So, if you get a chance, pop by my blog tomorrow and pick up your award. I have a link going to your blog there. I am signing up here as your newest follower. I am still growing so I am not a "big blog" but I do have a good solid following of people that respond so you might get some new followers. And, please sign up as a follower for me too. I am looking forward to following you and getting to know you- Hugs- Diana

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  10. Hey Kathy ~ Well, I can SEE why you've been so dang busy, girl! Those mittens are just adorable!!!! I love them! The whimsical ones are so cute! They are one of a kind and very unique, and I can see why you are selling so many of them. People know a good thing when they see it. lol!

    Thank you for your comments on my blog and for asking about Debbie. I failed ask her hubby what hospital she's in. But I believe it's in Cadillac? Not quite sure. I will find out when I talk to her hubby next.

    Keep up the great work on those cute mittens! You've got a great business going there! :)

    xoxo laurie

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  11. Oh Kathy, what a blessing and a curse. I have never seen anything like your mittens. They are just the best I have ever seen. Honey, you can't quit this, but you do need to hire some help. It's time to expand, even if you just have one or two coming in to cut everything out for you. Some big company is going to get ahold of you to buy your designs- to mass produce. Amazing work!
    Hugs- Tete

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  12. The mittens are precious, Kathy and I can see why they are in such high demand...I want a pair now, too! We definitely need them in this weather. Believe it or not, we don't know if our house is buried or what in Michigan. May daughter was going to go up last weekend but it was snowing the whole route there. We have gone up in the winter before and walked through waist high snow to get to the door. I hope it isn't this bad for you now.

    Thanks so much for popping in. I hope you decide what you are going to do with the mitten business...it sounds very stressful.

    XO,
    Jane

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  13. You are amazing. I am exhausted just reading and thinking about all that you have done. They really are so cool though. No, I won't ask you now. Maybe in July. :) Take a break now. Breathe. Put your feet up. You deserve it. So glad, though, for how successful this venture has been for you.
    Thanks for sharing on Motivated Monday at BeColorful
    Pam

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  14. Your mittens are so cute! And, I would love to have your "problem". I am still commuting to a job that I don't like and am trying soooo hard to start something from home. keep up the good work

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  15. thanks for your comments, I will check out the link that you sent. I am actually hitting some storage auctions today to see about finding some good resale stuff.....

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  16. Hi Kathy...your mittens are amazing! You need a break lady! I say, go with your hubby...everything will still be there when you get back. Enjoy some time away from the stress.
    Thank you for your prayers!
    Hugs,
    Debbie@lakehouse

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  17. Kathy....
    The mittens came and are wonderful...
    fit perfectly and will break them in tomorrow when the big snowfall comes.
    Your sewing skills are perfect and I couldn't love the colors more.
    Thank You my friend...we must touch base at some time,
    xoxo~kathy @
    Sweet Up-North Mornings...

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  18. I love these ... and I just found your blog! Thanks for sharing.

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  19. I just wondered if you use wool or acrylic in your mittens, and do you line them??? Gotta bunch of grandkids that would love these...
    btw..
    I need your address, so I can send your GLADRAGS to ya...please do a blog about them if you like them..
    congrats...glenda

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  20. I can see why everyone and their brother would want mittens.... They are ADORABLE!

    Warm blessings,
    Spencer

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