Blogging from an iPad

So I finally downloaded an app that's supposed to make blogging simpler from my iPad. The app is called BlogTouch. Yesterday's text only post seemed to work fine, so today I'll try adding a snap or two.

Here is a recent Zentangle tile:

I did this in response to the "It's a String Thing #114" challenge on CZT Adele Bruno's 

website. It was definitely a challenge - she gives you a string and the tangles to use, and you see what you can make from the combination. What's really interesting is when she posts all the tiles she receives. Each tile is completely different! Also, Adele adds notes about each submission, highlighting aspects of each. For example, she noted that mine used two variations of each of the three tangles included. Honestly, I don't even think I was truly aware of that myself when I was creating it! I am definitely planning on tackling more of these challenges!

Well, I think that's all for now. Hope you're all having a great day!

Can I have a Do-Over?

I'd like a do-over for the last month or so. Not that anything went wrong, it just seemed to go by so fast I feel like I'm missing a month. Actually, I started feeling like this last Christmas (which kind of snuck up on me). But it didn't get to feeling like a month or more until this summer. And September was a pretty good month, so I'd like to pick that one to do over.

So my reason for no blogging in September is that it just swept by too quickly to blog. (That's my story, and I'm sticking to it.)

This is always a busy time of year for us. The shop gets busier because everyone's thoughts turn to spinning and weaving and knitting and ..... Then there are the yarn reps who come up to tempt me with new yarns. And last (but not least) it is craft show season.

Our first show was this past weekend (Oct. 12-13). While we only do three heavy hitting shows, there's always some drama - like:

- "where did the leftover polymer clay pens from last year get packed?"

- "honey, I just designed something new. how much should we charge? no you can't sell these first two, or you'll have nothing to show people. you have to take orders"

- "what do you mean we ran out of tags? sure, I can print more tonight (I think I have the right labels)"

Now the big question that occurs is why, when I know it's coming, when I know we need more stock, when I know summer would be a great time to be baking polymer clay (because I could do it outside where there's more than enough ventilation), why do we leave it all to the last minute. OK, the DH gets a break on the first piece of drama (see above) - we both thought we knew what box those pens were in, so they were supposed to just be a "grab and go." Turns out we'd taken them over to one of the galleries to bulk out their existing stock of my polymer clay creations. Ooops!

But still, it would be nice to be more on top of this for a change. Well, maybe next year. (Yes, there are still shows left this year. But let's face it, I'm already behind, and I've added an "event" this year that's this coming Saturday, for which I have no prior framework so I'm winging it. The idea of just "catching up" is sounding pretty good. Getting in front of the curve - not likely.)

And before everyone screams about the lack of photos, I'm having downloading problems with the old camera. It's probably time to break down and get a new one, but the one I really want is an SLR digital in the $600-800 range. (sigh)

And August Gets One...

Well, at least there'll be one post for August . . .
OK, the fair did me in. Too many late nights, too many people, too much talking . . . and I came down with that bug. Yes, THAT bug. It knocked me out for a week, and left me coughing hard for another (still coughing, but not so bad now). You'd think that would have given me lots of time to blog. But that would have required the ability to think coherently. So, no blogging until now.

And now, I have a real bone to pick with one of my vendors. Names will not be revealed, but they'll know who they are. Yarn manufacturers hire representatives (reps) to take sample books and new patterns/products to yarn shops to convince the shop owner/buyer to stock their products. These are basically independent contractors who have to cover all their own travel expenses, and hope they make it back in commissions.

Now, in Alaska, we don't see many yarn reps. In fact, until just over two years ago, I hadn't seen one up here. But this really nice yarn rep told her manufacturers that she would love to rep them in Alaska because, basically, she likes Alaska, and this would give her a good reason to fly up twice a year. And except for the fall when she came down with pneumonia (poor dear), that's exactly what she's done - lugging lots of "excess" luggage filled with yarn, button, fiber and fabric samples, as well as copies of all the new patterns and such (only the airlines think the luggage is excessive, btw).

Well, we just got word that, as of Oct. 22, she will no longer rep products for a particular vendor (you know who you are). I'm not sure why they think they don't need her. I just e-mailed them this morning to find out what they have to say for themselves. (I'll let you know what, if any, response I get.)

Perhaps they have forgotten how much their sales depend on us shop owners actually seeing and feeling the yarns, etc. And not just a little cut strand, but a knitted swatch and a full skein of the yarn. Or perhaps they haven't realized just how expensive it is for Alaskan shop owners to travel to trade shows. Sure, I can spend $800 to fly to Long Beach (or Columbus, or San Diego), and fork over the same for a hotel room. But that really cuts into the yarn buying budget.

Now, the good news is that this particular rep, like most others, reps several other companies, so we'll still be seeing her at least this November. And hopefully, she'll still be able to meet expenses and keep coming up twice a year. Who knows? Maybe another company will contract her services, and we'll see some completely new yarns up here. Still, I'm kind of anxious to see what this particular vendor says about dropping this rep. I sure hope it isn't a trend.

**Update: Just heard back from the vendor. This is apparently "part of a periodic review we make of all territories." Let's hope the changes they announce "very soon" will be good ones.

Bad Blogger, Bad, Bad Blogger . . . with Links

OK, I've been horrible. I just realized it hasn't been ONE month since I posted, it's now been TWO months.

I don't have any really good excuses, though I could give you a string of bad ones.
Including the afternoon I spent at the ER (which should have been blogged about, but hasn't, and at this point probably won't be).
I could tell you about being sucked into an alternate universe where I'm a pirate sailing on the seven seas (well, actually one ocean, but you can see for yourselves).
I could tell you I've been too busy gardening, but those who've seen how much space there is for gardening here will call me out on that.

So, I've been a bad, bad blogger. And I won't make promises I can't keep, so I'm not going to tell you that I've changed and will now be blogging regularly. I'd like to tell you I'll blog at least once a week from here on out. That is now my goal, but not a promise.

In the meantime, I'd like to encourage anyone reading this blog to check out this post on the Yarn Harlot about blogging -- I think it's fabulous! Also, for those of you looking for great knitting pics, garden pics, and knitting patterns (not free, but worth every penny) check out knitspot -- Anne's a great blogger, and lovely person.

Hope you all got a good fix that can hold you for however long it takes until my next post. (Yeah, I know, no pictures. Got some to download, though, so there is hope.)