it's snowing!!

It's snowing!!
This is the second time it' snowed this week- second snow of the year. it's so cool. after i took this picture, i put my hand on top of my hat and there was snow resting on it, just like in the movies!
last time it snowed, i got dominic to go out in it, but i think he's over it now because i couldn't drag him out of the house to take a picture for anything!
we went ad saw snow for the first time in feb. of this year, but it was all already there. it's exciting to see it drifting down and doing what i call flurrying. i'm so ready to start on my afghan [which i'm supposed to be a good ways into by now].
i may just grab a cup of tea or cocoa and plant myself on my bean bag and get to it.
but i have to make breakfast first =-\
it's 4pm... yes that means breakfast time in my mind lol.
we'll most likely have eggs and sausage with grits and toast. and then do pre cooked what evers that are in the freezer for lunch and dinner.

uggh, i just remembered that i need to put the tree up as well. it won't be heavily decorated because all of our christmas crap is scattered in the garage or in storage. i did find a small shoebox of bulbs, hopefully they aren't broken.

Because the snow makes me feel so cheery, i'm offering free shipping on everything in my artfire studio. my shop can be foung here at http://laneescrochet.artfire.com . i wasn't going to do free shipping for small items, but with no transaction fees on artfire, i think it's do-able for all items =-)

They're found!

If you look to the left of this post, you'll see 4 bars that say "DONE!" on them under my special olympics scarves section.

for THE longest time, my scarves were missing. i was afraid that i was being punished for my uncharacteristically early start and finish of these scarves. i for sure was going to have to do them over because, as always, the scarves were moved and no one knew to where and they probably wouldn't be found until after the january 15th deadline.

but alas, they've resurfaced and all is well. i'm going to get to work on tucking in the ends this after noon so that i can put them in the top of the closet- or even in their bubble mailer, all packed and ready to go out once i get money for shipping.

they're not super long, but they are warm and meet the specifications of the donation thing, so i'm happy with them. i was able to use my ever so lovely, ever so quick relatively brand new Q hook that i am just in love with.

it used to be that i could not stand plastic hooks, but now, i love them even moreso than i do the aluminum ones. [this is because the 'plastic' hooks i was using before are acrylic and wobbly-not the good stuff]

i loved my Q hook so much that when i got the chance, i went out and got a plastic N, which i am loving as well.

anyway, back to the scarves.
here is a picture of them as they are now.

Expect what I do

I want you to expect what I do as a buyer, from me, the seller.

There is something about the cold weather and the holiday season that has me buying up trinkets left and right.

In the excitement of having money to spend and embers in my pocket- I always forget to check a sellers feedback to see if I should expect professional (as far as things being handmade goes, this, for me would be a cute ribbon inside or a cute plastic baggie type thing with a couple business cards and-to my pleasure- not a smell to whiff.)

And how about that shipping thing? Will I be waiting around for weeks for something that should take days?
How many of their customers have boasted about their fast shipping, and about loving their purchase?

I must say that after buying a few things from [etsy], I'm a bit put off by the level of customer service I've gotten (which to me is what i mentioned above).

I'm finding myself trying to sniff out the mail man and pouncing on the mail once i know it's in the box.

This makes me feel kind of foolish. Perhaps it's because I've been doing unto others...
I'm trying not to be bitter and just wait patiently, as some people do actually have lives and a real number of orders to deal with.

There is just something about not having my item, while not having my monies either that makes me want to sock some one. =-)

SO
to turn this post around and avoid a total call out and bitch fest courtesy of me, I'd like to let you know what you, as my buyer can expect from Lanee's Crochet.

• Acknowledgment of your order.-I like to send convos (on etsy) letting you know that I see that you've ordered, payed promptly, and should be expecting your package to be mailed out soon.

• Fast and reasonably priced shipping.- When I get an order, it's like a rush! 'Some one's bought something from me! I can't wait until they get it-they'll love it! YAY - YAY!!!' And so, I may just package your order and sprint to the post office that same business day. If I'm unable to, it's definately going out the next day. (Post office doesn't close until 7 here, so it's do-able)

• Your item wrapped in tissue paper and tied with a yarn bow.- Not only is it fun to pull a bow loose, but I try to use a texture and fiber different from what you've ordered. Just so you'll have a small hint of what else I have to offer. The tissue paper is not frilly, but it keeps your item from touching the inside of the envelope. (Not that it's nasty or anything, lol)

• Care instructions.- For the things that may need to be laundered, I've included a content and care card. All of this info should be in the listing, but who wants to go dig that up whenever you need to wash something.

• I appreciate your order!- To show my appreciation, and in case you're buying for some one else, I include a thank you note with a personalized message on it and a pin or single coaster-depending on the season. Hand made gifts are great to give, but I'm all about keeping a little something for yourself too. You're not just an order to me, and I hope I've shown you such =-)

Along with these 5 things, and probably most important is quality. I do take time and care to make sure that the things I produce are the best. This sometimes means undo-ing a great portion of my work to make sure it all fits in with the quality I strive for. And if that makes for happy customers, I don't mind at all! (ok, maybe i do a little- being anal can get frustrating, but that's my issue and your benifit.)

and exhale...
---
So, please have a look around my shops which can be found here on etsy and here on artfire and hopefully, I'll be filling your order soon.

Speaking of quality customer service

One of my recent purchases on etsy has been an awesome one.
Shipping was fast, and the product is great!

Stumbling upon JacksblueJane in chat one night, i fell in love with her shop!
it totally helps that she's a nice person, but the colors of silk caps (for spinning and what not) that she offers just sucked me in.

Not even knowing how to spin or what to do with one, i hurried and swooped up this one
and let me tell ya, the colors are just as yummy as seen in the picture.
If i did not know where this silk came from(which i believe is a worm's butt) - packaged similarly to cotton candy, it's a wonder why i haven't! I'd definitely bite it while no one was looking.

my son couldn't resist the urge to pet it so i had to stash it in the top of the closet. but i can still reach it =->

She just so happened to be doing a give away on her blog that night too, so i got an extra one for free!
I'll definitely be going back for more. and Jane, you best look out once i get this spinning thing under my belt!

Some old Book Markers

I've decided not to make much else to sell online before the new year.
I've got a LOT of things over on etsy that need to be transferred to Artfire, and so i begin the slow process of doing so.
I had almost forgotten that i made a few book markers last year until i browsed my inactive listings to see what's buried in there.
I've reduced the price on this blue book marker with silver cross down from $5 to $4 because in the couple of years that it's been tucked away, the silver toned cross has tarnished. I like the way it looks, actually. kinda like it's an old traditional book marker that's gotten a lot of use.
Hopefully, one day it will be.

Another book marker - Also priced at $4 is this red book thong with white cross and beads.
I like this one because it's simple and fun.
A pre-teen, or teenaged girl who is dying to show individuality while still keeping her faith would love this one because it's bold-red with cute beads and a cross.

Baby Denim Recieving Blanket

I've had this one stashed away for about a year now.
It was intended for a boy, but looks more girly to me, i just set it aside before.

It's really soft and light, it would be perfect for layering or draping over a baby carrier to keep the sun/ wind off of baby's face.

You can find it here @ Lanees Crochet on Artfire, along with a few other lovely things.

i felt it

recently enough, some one asked me if i've ever felted anything.
i had not.
and they paid me many compliments on my work and suggested that i try it.
so, i will!
but, pure wool is so damned expensive, that i've avoided it, and put the thought of every having enough to do anything with out of my head.
until i went to walmart and found some marked down to $2.50, so i got 2 balls.
yeah, only two balls, what was i thinking!!

i can't wait to make something with it. i'm not so adventurous as to make a hat or anything other than a scarf with it, so perhaps a purse or pouch at first.
i've done a test swatch and it shrunk some, but not much, and i love the way it looks.
it looks so yummy i just wanna bite it!!

The other yarn is caron simply soft eco.
i was worried about it pilling, because the yarn started to look odd after i was frogging a gauge swatch. the single strand of yarn was pilling!
so, i made a little block and threw it in the washer with the wool, with hot water, and dried it as you do.
it didn't pill, perhaps because it was only 1 wash, but it is a little fuzzier than the regular caron would be even after a couple of washes. i'm going ot over look it and still make my jacket using the caron eco and just call the fuzziness cozy.

another great stocking stuffer idea

to change modes a bit here..
i was browsing artfire, looking at how their categories were set up and where my things fell into the categories there, and i came across this necklace.
I love the simplicity of this necklace, which can be found in Beadz-N-Things shop on artfire.

It's under $20.00, which makes it even greater!

Stocking Stuffers on Etsy

ok, so, here's what iw as going to post in my last Stocking stuffers on etsy post.
A

Sterling silver Guitar pick

which can be found in SkinzNhydez's Shop on Etsy.

I wish i had some hot guitar playing guy to gift one of these picks too.
i can just see it now- him pulling it out of his stocking and his smile growing wider. of course i'd want him to test it out for me so he'd play and i'd swoon in front of the ole fire place on christmas night.

Aaah, i'm such a dreamer, lol

anyway, back to reality-
SkinzNhydez's shop is full of great looking leather stuff that is unique, funky, stylish, and a whole lot more.

Check it out!

One of the reasons why i love artfire

I almost never see the front page of artfire, because i have the login page bookmarked, so i go straight there.

i just so happened to click on the wrong thing and look what i saw!


I don't think i've ever been on the front page on etsy, well, perhaps for 1.3 seconds when i list something new.
i was VERY excited when i saw this and it just made my little day =-)