Russell Yarn

New Bags...

Project Squirrel marches onward...but with the the dying of our refrigerator and the pieces of our two-and-a-half-car garage roof that continue to fall off into the backyard, finances were getting a little tight.  Nothing unmanageable, y'know, but tight.  Running your own business definitely teaches you the continuing benefit of doing without.

But then I found myself in need of the services of an attorney.  Not a divorce attorney, and I'm not being sued or anything, so don't worry.  But those don't come cheap, so I find myself now in search of a part-time job.  Le sigh.  So goes being a grown-up, I guess.
(Before anyone asks, I don't really want to say too much more on my public blog about this issue right now, but I had to get it off my chest.  Because the fact that I need it REALLY PISSES ME OFF.)

How about some happier news?  Members of the Julip Bags Rav group get all the details first, but I'll give you a little snippet here:

Ooh la la!  A new Julip Bag on the sexy side, in the shop tomorrow!

And for those of you who are headed to Sock Summit in a week or so...go here.  Pics aren't mine and I haven't been given the okay to post deets on a public blog, but go here anyway.  Why?  Because there lie pictures and details about Sock-Summit-specific Julip Bags!

And two last notes in Julip Bags news...there's a 20% off sale going on RIGHT NOW UNTIL MIDNIGHT THURSDAY!  I knew when a stack of sock bags started crowding out my laptop that I really needed to make some room for new stuff, so I'm pushing out the old inventory as fast as I can!  Especially getting ready for this:

I would strongly suggest coming back here or checking out the website or the store first thing Saturday morning to see what could put a smile like that on a knitter's face!
(Ok, yeah, that's Charlie Bucket, but I bet he knit!)

A Little Something for Everyone...

So, I'm starting to think that when I go to see New Moon in November (JP has reluctantly agreed to come along, with the condition that we catch an early matinee showing several days after the premiere to avoid the rabid screaming fangirl set) I may have to wear a bag over my head.  It's starting to get embarrassing to admit to being a TWILIGHT FAN, what with the crazy bitches stalking poor hot Robert Pattinson, pushing him into traffic, etc., and now this:

A Coast Guard helicopter crew plucked a fan of the book series "Twilight" from a cliff 150-feet above the rocky shoreline near La Push Tuesday.  A statement from the Quileute Nation says the 22-year-old man from Georgia was visiting the spot he believed was the location where a character in the second "Twilight" book goes cliff diving.

I feel like I need to wear a sign around my neck that says "I Am a Twilight Fan Who Recognizes It Is A Work of Fiction, I Swear!"  I wonder if that fan thought that Bella or Victoria or shoot, maybe the wolf pack was going to come rescue him after he jumped?  I dunno.

Julip Bags: there are not one, not two, but THREE new designs coming to the store soon!  One is named after my mom, one is named after Lynn, who officially owns more Julip Bags than anyone else in the world, and one I'm still waffling on a name for, but I'm really excited about the concept behind that one.  I've been asked a few times lately how I name my bags: obviously, most of them are named after females, and of those, they're either named after the person who inspired them, or after a person who is dear to me.  Gabrielle, Lily, and Hannah are my nieces, Dana and Amanda are two of my best friends, the Bunny Spindle Bag is named after its muse, Kelli.  If you're a friend/family of mine that doesn't have a bag named after you yet, fear not, there are plenty of Julip Bags yet to come. 

On a related note, August 2nd is the official Julip Bags two-year anniversary!  I have a month-long "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory"-themed promotion to celebrate, with the highlight being five golden tickets sent out in random purchases.  There will be one sent out each week in August with a discount attached, and then the fifth will be sent out at the end of the month with a $50 Julip Bags shopping spree attached!  Anyone who makes a Julip Bags purchase online in the month of August will be eligible for that one!  I started a thread about it in the Ravelry group, and more details will be forthcoming over the next few days!

Next, one of the things that I'm the most happy about regarding starting a Rav group, is the first-hand feedback and suggestions I'm receiving from JB buyers and fans!  Keep it up you guys!  As a direct result of some of the suggestions I've received, there is now a larger version of the original Gabrielle Lace Keeper, and all Keepers made from now on include a simple loop handle for easier on-the-go knitting! 

Stack of pretties-in-progress...

Finished product!  The first batch sold out, the second batch is in the store now!

Finally, as a handcraft-small-business owner, I am a HUGE fan of the Modish Business Blog, it is packed full of practical advice, inspiration, and all around goodness!  Their very best tips were just featured in Etsy's Storque blog, check it out if you get a chance!

Aaaaand...She's Free

Today was the last day at the EDJ.  I am elated, I am excited, and yeah there's some fear mixed in there too.  Cutting the tie to the EDJ means cutting a tie to what I went to school for, what I'm licensed for, what I've been doing for the past nine years, a very large part of my identity.  NO I'm not having regret, just reflection on what I've done and what I will do.  But as the wise and wonderful Dana pointed out to me today, "You're moving forward.  All of that education, experience, and life changes will determine who you become in the next chapter of your career.  No sadness, just be grateful for all you get to take with you."  Yes, that is a verbatim quote.  Doesn't she rock?  I'm thinking about printing that out and framing it, myself.

We won't go into how much COBRA will cost us, that little factoid was just casually sprung on me during the exit interview.  Suffice to say, we're looking at other options.

Today as I was listening to my "Bubblegum Oldies" station on Pandora, "5 O'Clock World" by The Vogues came on, and for some bizarre reason the lyrics really struck me as Prophetic and Appropriate ("But its a five oclock world when the whistle blows/No one owns a piece of my time/And theres a five oclock me inside my clothes/Thinkin that the world looks fine, yeah") so I ended up singing/howling it very loudly.  My belated apologies to my (former) coworkers. 

Finally, for those of you who've been around since then, remember this?  (Oh, and I had to check my archives to get the exact post, which reminded me that I've been blogging since August '05!  Damn!)  Well, let me just say this.  Screw me, you will face my wrath.  Screw someone I love, and I will quite seriously cut your balls off whilst smiling and singing Bubblegum Oldies.  And although I may not have more "free time" after today, I do have a more "flexible schedule."  Consider yourself forewarned, I still have many many pointy needles.

What Do You Get...

...when you have Sock Summit + Julip Bags?

A letter of resignation from the EDJ on my boss's desk today.

Deets to come.

Here Be the Big Reveal...

Okey-doke, I can finally tell you all what the big secret has been for the past few months...although I have to warn you that if you are a member of a yarn kit club...one that you know just shipped...one that has to do with lace...and you think this may spoil the surprise for you if you haven't received your package yet...don't read past the ninja pic (at least until you get your kit in the mail).

Actually, this is my EDJ officemate Jess, and she'd kill me if she knew this pic was up here, so I'll be nice and just not tell her!

K, if you're a member of Ravelry you can just head over to this thread, but here's the long and short of it...a little while back, Jen from Woolgirl contacted me about contributing to her Embrace the Lace club.  This is a year-long lace club that involves getting fabulous kits in the mail every other month...yarn from talented indie dyers, patterns from incredible designers, and other fun miscellaneous knitting items.  Jen asked if I'd like to make Gabrielle Lace Keepers for May's kit.  My response (after asking myself if I could honestly do it) was HECK YEAH!

Since I was so wrapped up in keeping this UNDER wraps, I completed neglected to take pics of the stacks (and stacks and stacks and stacks) of bags (this club has about 260 members! which means I made 260 bags! while still running Julip Bags and showing up at the EDJ!), but this is the fabric:

...Amy Butler's Clematis in Forest, which perfectly matches the GORGEOUS aqua Mama Llama cashmere yarn and doesn't look too shabby next to the SIVIA HARDING PATTERN that was part of the kit.  I'm in a kit with Sivia Harding!  Many thanks to one of my favorite customers, Lynn, who let me know that members had started receiving their kits, so I knew it was okay to blab here now! 

So Big Step #2 in Project Secret Squirrel is complete, I'm thismuchcloser to quitting the EDJ!  Much like a car nearing the end of its warranty period, I'm getting "tune-ups" at the eye doctor and dentist while I've still got full insurance, I'm squirrelling away money like it's going out of print, and stocking up on the luxury items while I've got a regular paycheck.  Here's to hoarding Maker's Mark, y'all!

Resurfacing...

In which I remember how to breathe again.

So I've been MIA for a little while now...no blog updates, no Facebook status updates, no Plurk updates, no store updates, no e-mails or phone calls...no, I'm not in the witness protection program, I was finishing up Part II of Project Squirrel (more on Part I in a minute).  I can't tell you YET what Part II is exactly was (since that would fall into the realm of "spoilers," I think), but I can tell you:

• It took around a grand total of ninety working hours.  And even one bona fide all-nighter.
• I have blisters on my fingertips that have finally worked their way to the surface.
• Said fingertips are numb.  Seriously.
• Wow that's a big shipping box.  (ETA: $300-to-ship-it big)
• I was kinda scared I wouldn't be able to do it, but I did.
• My husband has the patience of a saint.
• And so do the Russells, to a lesser degree.

GAWD I can't wait to give you guys the details!  But since I can't (yet), how about a Big Reveal about what Project Squirrel Part I was?  Well, if you go check out this blog post on J. Knits Bits (the blog for J. Knits), look closely at pictures two and three.  Specifically the cubby to the left of the knitted camisole, directly underneath the blue top on the mannequin.  Can't really tell what's there?  (I know, I had to go to super-zoom view on my monitor).  Ok, instead, go here...and scroll down to the Knitty Kits To Go. 

Pic courtesy of www.j-knits.com

I was approached by the fabulous Julie of J. Knits a while back to design a bag specifically for her yarn company, to be packaged and sold as a kit with J. Knits yarn and patterns.  Since it debuted at the New England Needlework Association tradeshow a couple of weeks ago, I'm now FREE to scream (publicly) with excitement about this collaboration!!!  If they really take off (and Julie just e-mailed me with my first "real" order!) they'll become a regular item, with new fabrics each season!  YAAAAAAAAAAY!!!!!!

The deets:

1. You can find J. Knits yarn and products in LYSs across the country (although none in Metro Detroit, ironically enough).
2. There will be an online store opening soon that carries J. Knits products, I'll share the address as soon as I find out.
3. J. Knits has a Ravelry group, and also a podcast which really is awesome (and I'm not just saying that!).

Which leads me to the final stage of Project Squirrel...quitting the EDJ.  I'm a-thinkin' that I won't be holding out until August...I've reached the point that I can't do the EDJ and Julip Bags both, with the way the latter is growing.  So I'm currently looking for a part-time job that will at the very least cover my car payment and health insurance each month, so I can jettison the EDJ sooner rather than later!!!

(P.S. - to all of you who have called and e-mailed and probably assumed I was ignoring you...I swear I wasn't and will be re-establishing contact this week.  Love you!)

My Dogs Poop Gold!

Ok, well kinda not really, please do not come kidnap my Russells.  But I will say these dogs seem to have a nose for valuable stuff...they've found cash in the park a couple of times.  And you've heard of truffle-sniffing pigs, right?  Well apparently we have morel-sniffing dogs!  On their walk this morning, Jerry and Mickey led JP to a patch of morel mushrooms!  In Metro Detroit suburbia!  Who knew?

He picked about $60 worth, took some to work to share with the other chef, and we'll be having these with dinner tomorrow night!  Yum!  I figure with a little training, we'll have the dogs sniffing out gold bars in no time!

Today was also the first day of my two-week vacation from the EDJ, aka Julip Bags full-time, aka Project Secret Squirrel Test Drive!  It felt so wonderful, following my own schedule, crossing items off my to-do list, and making bags without feeling exhausted, rushed, or stressed!  Of course, in honor of my morel-sniffing dogs, I made poop bags!

Maybe I should start marketing these for 'shroom hunters too?  Ok, maybe not.

Secret Squirrels, and Russells

Not much to report, since I've been been busy every darn waking second for the past two weeks...my boss at the EDJ was on vacation so I got to do my job AND hers, plus I was finishing up the first shipment of one of my Project Secret Squirrel jobs...wanna see a picture????

Hee hee, sorry folks, that's all I can show you for now!  But please accept this as proof that my Squirrelly doings are moving right along!  (And speaking of another Secret Squirrel project, Kristi has gone public with hers!)

Luckily I had Mickey to keep me company while I worked...

After he figured out how to jump up on my comfy computer chair without it spinning around and throwing him off, he was a happy camper! 

He watched Goodfellas while I worked, lucky dog!

Ikea Madness, Scraps, and New Bags...

Ok, so I've never ever been the type to participate in "Black Friday" madness or any other kind of "you have to wait in line 'cuz it's a popular item" hysteria.  Today, all I wanted was to trot off to my local Ikea (in Canton) to purchase a kitchen-island-cart/new-workstation-area combo.  I was even willing to get there at 10:30 on a Sunday morning, just so I could scoop my ready-to-assemble furniture and head on out.  Maybe even check out the new Hobby Lobby down the street (since I've never been in one).  Sounds simple enough, right? 

Ikea evidently had other plans, and issued these:

Which evidently threw a large portion of Metro Detroit into a seizure, resulting in them renting moving vans, starting to line up at 6am, and waiting in a line that started outside then wound through the upstairs AND downstairs of the Ikea to get this stock pot.

Um, can someone tell me, was there a million dollars in one of the stock pots, that resulted in this kind of frenzy?

I asked the tired-looking Ikea employee who stamped my hand and handed me the above ticket if I could skip the line and go on in, since I have no need of the much-desired stock pot.  He said no, since they'd BEEN AT STORE CAPACITY FOR 45 MINUTES.  Say it with me, WTF?!?!?

After waiting in line just to get into the store (and trust me, if it hadn't been a forty-minute drive, I would have said SCREW Y'ALL and left), I plowed through the line and scooped my kitchen-island-cart thingy and split.  Good thing that I was still happy with it after the illustration-only Ikea assembly guide...

(Please ignore the fabric waterfall to the right.  There is much reorganization going on.)

That indigo blue monster on the right side of the cart is my new eyelet punch/home-defense system.  It weighs in at about fourteen (!) pounds.

In other news...today's Project Squirrel update involves my "sharing the love" with you...I'm now ordering fabric by the bolt, but right now I don't NEED fabric by the bolt.  Hence, Julip Scraps.  Guaranteed to bring you only fabrics that I have used/will use/recommend myself.  Another Project Squirrel update came into Julip Bags Central tonight, but it's another SUPER-SECRET item (gawd, you guys have got to be sick of hearing about all this SUPER-SECRET stuff I'm doing) that is HUGE.  Details will be here as soon as I'm allowed.  Kickin' the day job to the curb draws ever closer!

And finally, for all you sock knitters who were all so patiently waiting for a DPN version of the Amanda Bag...well, they're listed in both the Etsy store and Julip store now, and may or may not have something to do with these scurvy-lookin' duckies...

Weekend Roundup

I took this picture of Jerry over the weekend.  He LOVES snoozing snuggled up against an article of our clothing, in this case, it was JP's pajamas.  Jerry went to the vet today and we found out he has a collapsed trachea...which explains a lot of the scary and bizarre symptoms he's been having.  So he got quite a bit of extra cuddling and love tonight.

(And yes, Mickey is pretty darn cute whilst snoozing too, although he always manages to give the camera some kind of stink-eye...)

Have been spinning, believe it or not, and worked on some Spunky Eclectic roving...LOVE the colors!

And Project Squirrel task for the weekend...make sure to stock up on stuff before kicking the regular paycheck to the curb!  This time I bought a bunch of organizational-type stuff, which will be especially useful when a refrigerator-sized box of fabric from Westminster Fiber arrives on my doorstep this week. 

And arriving today...a new eyelet tool that seems to have been forged in hell with the tags "heavy" and "blunt instrument."  Seriously...woe to the dumbass who tries to break into our house through my office, as I could easily bludgeon him to death with this sucker. 

And more Spinners' Sailors Bags were put in both shops today.  And another new fabric order is due this week.  I love it when a plan comes together!*

*Quick...who can name that 80's reference first?!?