Hello friends! Today I talk about the 5 step decluttering process from Dana K White at A Slob Comes Clean (podcast and books available!).

My studio is a mess, and I need to spend a good amount of time cleaning and decluttering. My creativity TANKS when my space is practically unusable because of TOO MUCH STUFF. I feel a lot of guilt and shame when my home is messy, like I don't deserve to be creative and take time for myself. My goal is to spend 25 minutes each day decluttering and cleaning to get my studio back in working order. 

If you are struggling with this as well, come sit by me! We will work together and encourage each other to declutter and claim our creativity back.

Resources for this episode:

A Slob Comes Clean: Podcast     YouTube     Books

Clutterbug: Podcast     YouTube     Books

The Minimal Mom: Podcast     YouTube     Books

Take Your House Back course

Savannah Children's Museum

Georgia State Railroad Museum

Unwind Yarn and Gifts

The Frayed Knot

Moss Fibers

THE shirt from Target

Nocturne Pajama Pattern from Sew Liberated

The Essentials Expanded list for the Dark Tower series by Stephen King

Today I talk about my experiences with two different, and back to back Saturdays, craft shows. 

The first was alright, I made a few sales, including a custom doll! Yay! I have completed it, and it will be on the way to it's new owner later today! Amanda had a better day than I did, and I'm so happy for her! We made coordinating pieces; I made a gnome inspired by an embroidery piece she had sketched out but hadn't completed yet. I sent Amanda a photo of the completed gnome, and she took the colors I used and created an embroidery to go with it. They found a new home with a friend of mine! Amanda also sold her "Beard Bae" embroidery (I'm jealous of his new owner!).

The second show was rough. It was cold and very windy. We were outside on a packed dirt floor, with no heat. There were no signs indicating that there were additional vendors in the arena, and I overheard customers talking in the building that 1) they didn't know there were more vendors; and 2) they didn't want to shop outside because it was too cold. It wasn't a great show, and it was mostly a non-positive experience. 

I was signed up for a show this weekend that I thought was inside, but turns out they have a few outside vendors as well. With a 50% chance of snow on Saturday, I'm going to cancel. That means I forfeit my fee, but I'm just not interested in another cold weekend outside with low sales. I'm going to the beach instead!

With two disappointing shows, my mental health took a hit. I have been feeling a lot of imposter syndrome, and wondering whether I can or should actually try to make a business of the things that I make. It's been a rough couple of weeks, for sure. I'm hoping that I can use some ACT exercises to help pull myself back up into a better state of mind, and continue doing was I was called to do.

Today I talk with Moira Asheland of Atomic Baby Cosplay.

Not only is she a wonderful friend, she is also an amazing and active cosplay designer and seamstress. You can find her on Instagram and Facebook at Atomic Baby Cosplay.

I talk about a couple books that I suggested to Moira. The first is The Worn Archive, a selection of articles from the anti-fashion fashion magazine, Worn, out of Canada. I also found Women in Clothes at a local used bookstore! 

Today I'm sick :-(

I give an update on a custom order, talk about Zoomigurumi 5, and the differences in my work from the time I started until now. 

LInks: Zoomigurumi 5, KnitSewCraft Blog

Ravelry: Kaan the Crocodile, Maury the Cat, Sockhead Slouch Hat

Today we talk about the two biggest fiber events in my area, the WNC Yarn Crawl in May, and SAFF in October.

"The WNC Yarn Crawl is an opportunity to explore the WNC area's many unique local yarn stores and fiber locations. You create your own self-guided tour during the days of the yarn crawl. Visit as many locations as you like; all participating stores have daily prize giveaways as well as many great deals and specials for the weekend." The yarn crawl will be from Tuesday, May 3-Saturday, May 7. Mother's Day is Sunday the 8th, so be sure to buy something fibery for your mom, too! There is no fee to go on the yarn crawl, but please consider purchasing from the shops to help support their business. Each one offers sales through the crawl, and most (if not all) have giveaways each day.

Some of the closest fiber stores near me:

Purl's Yarn Emporium

Sun Dragon Art & Fiber

Friends and Fiberworks

Black Mountain Yarn Shop

My other favorite time of the year to buy yarn is during SAFF, the Southeastern Animal Fiber Fair. This year, SAFF will be from October 21-23. The cost is $5 per person/per day, or a 3 day pass is $10. From the SAFF website, "See spinning, knitting, weaving, felting, and much more! Join a workshop class to improve your skills, or just enjoy browsing and hipping the beautiful and unique apparel and wearables." There are a TON of vendors there, as well as classes, workshops, and competitions. This is honestly where I spend most of my fiber money, and 2021 was no different. There were a few new vendors this year, as well as the ones that I shop with each year. 

Whimzee Stitches

Black Cat Fibers

Brick House Fiber Arts

Canon Hand Dyes

Please consider purchasing yarn or books or notions from your local yarn store or ordering from independent dyers and authors and makers. We all love and appreciate the support, more than you know!

I'm still looking for pattern testers! The pattern is free to testers, but will be a paid pattern after testing is complete. If you'd like to be a pattern tester, please email me at [email protected], or message me on Instagram!

So my dear ones, make sure that you take a few minutes each day to take care of your SELF.