Lose The Winter Blues with Lenox Knits Giveaway!

I'm excited to be having my very first blog contest. I am giving away the year round set of knitted accessories worth $50 in the above picture. It includes the following:

1. A lace knitted scarf in a blue hemp/cotton blend yarn with clay beads, worth $18.
2. A knitted pouch in the blue hemp/cotton yarn with the same beads. It has a draw string closing with a long paper bead, worth $12.
3. A matching headband in lace, worth, $7.
4. A knitted wire wrist cuff with matching clay beads and some fun paper mache beads in matching colors, worth $11.

There will be one contest winner and there is free worldwide shipping! Contest closes on March 7, 2009.

Contest Rules:

1. For one easy entry just visit my Etsy shop, Lenox Knits, and tell me what your favorite item is.
2. For another easy entry follow me on Twitter and Tweet to all your followers about the Beating the Blues Contest.
3. Because it involves more effort on your part I will give you 2 entries for blogging about this Contest.
4. If you add my lovely new blog widget to your blog or myspace page, there is code for each, you will get an additional 2 entries.
5. And finally I would be thrilled if you signed up for my new newsletter and will give 3 entries for following through with the steps to submit your e-mail address. I promise not to spam you and you can unsubscribe any time. I will be e-mailing specials and deals seasonally.




Please leave a comment on this post for each step you complete. There are a total of 9 possible entries per person. I will print each eligible entry and put them in a basket, most likely wicker, and have my niece draw a name on March 7th in a secure location, probably my living room. The contest is open to everyone, even non-bloggers. If you don't have an active blog please leave me an e-mail address to contact you. If you have a blog you will be contacted directly through your blog.

Accomplishments and Goals

So here we are in 2009. Let me take a few minutes to think about what I've accomplished with my little knitting enterprise this year.

1. Had 3 successful craft shows that made at least 4 x's their booth fees.
2. Sold or traded 73 items on Etsy.
   
3. My pictures have drastically improved since getting the new camera and getting the table set up on the porch. (I'm really happy with how the above bracelet photographed today).
   
4. Started making knitted jewelry including the wire bracelets that have been going over well.
5. Got my first large custom order for bridal party jewelry.
6. Had several other custom orders, one coming from my blog.
7. Started and maintained this blog for promotion which turned into another fulfilling hobby.
8. Made some great blogger friends and gotten more readers than I expected this quickly.
   
9. Paid to have a logo designed and got a banner and business card design as well.
10. Turned spare bedroom into craft room and set up computer for my business.
11. Started a spread sheet of my inventory.

And now for the things I need to work on in the coming year:

1. Get the craft room re-organized and the yarn stash under control.
2. Re-itemize the spread sheet and keep it up to date.
3. Get a new button/avatar to use for advertising.
   
4. Look into advertising with Project Wonderful and other blogging outlets.
5. Learn more about my camera and possibly take a digital photography course at the community college.
6. Research craft and art shows in the area. Get at least 5 shows lined up for the Fall 2009.
7. Continue expanding my line, look into more jewelry designs.
   
8. Research different boutiques in the area and approach for wholesale/consignment possibilities.
9. Open another on-line venue, possibly 1000 Markets or Artfire.
10. Look into joining the Craft Mafia for networking and exposure.
11. Promote, Promote, Promote. Get my shop out there however I can by blogging and talking about it.

Thanks for joining me on this journey. Here's to a new year filled with knitting, lots of sales, and hopefully a better economy soon.

What's New Wednesday

I haven't taken the time to show off any of my new items lately so please indulge me for a moment while I share some new additions to the shop. It is actually easier for me to promote other etsy sellers than it is for me to toot my own horn. I don't really know why that it, but that is a topic for a whole other session.

Here is my latest listing. I bought a box of lace and buttons at a garage sale a few months back and had fun making some wrist cuffs out of the scraps. I'm calling this one the Bumblebee. I used 2 lace ribbons and knit them using a lace stitch to make lace out of lace.



I got on a kick where I was making what I called Art Scarves by using coordinating yarns in a wild mix of textures. I named this one after Gustaf Klimt since I think the vibrant colors are reminiscent of his work.


I have a number of my knitted necklaces listed now but I have a lot more to get up. I have a lot of fun making them and picking out the beads to use with the yarn. I call this one China Blue and I love the little beads that have a willow ware look to them like the plates I hang in my kitchen.



I have several of my knitted wire bracelets listed now. This is the first one I made with a gold colored wire and I used some lovely looking citrine beads.

I have also been listing a bunch of scarflettes like the Bamboo Blues one above which is a super soft bamboo yarn.