Tomorrow night at The Lab

The Lab presents “The Boss of You” authors Emira Mears and Lauren Bacon

July 23rd from 6-8 at Velocity's store 251 Yale Ave N.

Please welcome Emira Mears and Lauren Bacon, veteran business women and authors of the new book,The Boss of You: Everything A Woman Needs to Know to Start, Run, and Maintain Her Own Business, to share knowledge and inspiration to help you start and run your own business. They’ve turned their hard-won experience from 8 years of running Raised Eyebrow Studios – a mission-based web design business –into an informative, easy to follow, and encouraging manual on what it takes for women to become successful entrepreneurs. Bring your questions, stories, and take notes - this should be a delightful, truly informative evening!

This is a great book! It should be a really good event. Perhaps I'll see some of you there.

For directions go here

The Yarn Lover's Guide to Hand Dyeing

Does anyone (reading this) have The Yarn Lover's Guide to Hand Dyeing: Beautiful Color and Simple Knits? I was flipping through it in the craft store on Sunday, and I keep thinking about it. I've never given much thought to hand-dyeing yarn, but it was really inspiring! It has so many photos and techniques and patterns and even interviews! I'd be curious to hear what people who actually hand-dye yarn think of this book. Maybe a google search is in order, hm?

Note to self

I have been in a slump. Perhaps I am feeling the pangs of the recession, feeling that summer is around the bend but not really "feelin' it" and honestly just scared Schmancy will be gone. I started this store because I always wanted to run my own shop but I didn't really sit down and hash it all out. In the end I think it was good not to because most likely I wouldn't have done it if I really thought about it. Last week I decided that I won't go out without a fight. I mean a kicking, screaming, fists in the air fight. And here are some helpful things I have found to keep that fire going that might also be useful to you.

#1 Get the latest issue of Bust Magazine! It is chalk full of inspiring articles that will make your girl power pride shine through...even if you aren't a big feminist or anything.



#2 Get a copy of The Boss of You: Everything A Woman Needs to Know to Start, Run, and Maintain Her Own Business. I just got a copy this morning. I already feel inspired and ready to get some new direction.



#3 Get a good support system. I am very lucky to have such a nice sister who has fed me several times and friends whom have also fed me over the last month. There is nothing nicer than that. I also am lucky to have such nice folks such as Designs By L who were in here today and mentioned she reads my blog daily. The kind words from strangers is amazing.



#4 Also get a copy of Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity. Not everything in this book will apply to your life but it has really helped me to figure out my next actions and to stay organized. I have not fully used it like I should but if I am feeling sluggish I will flip through a chapter or two and feel a bit of rejuvenation.

#5 Don't forget to make stuff! I have finally been sewing like a mad lady. I am really excited about the things I am making and it's really all I want to do. But to have that back in my life feels really good.

That's a start. Thanks for listening.

Ana Paula Rimoli

I just noticed that Ana Paula Rimoli has recently come out with Amigurumi World: Seriously Cute Crochet. Her stuff is seriously cute too. I have gotten several patterns from her etsy shop and she has a pattern in the Plush You! book. I'll have to get my hands on this one. It looks awesome.

Aranzi Aronzo Giveaway!

I know I have mentioned a million times already how much I LOVE Aranzi Aronzo. Vertical Books recently released the latest Aranzi Aronzo book, Cute Stuff, in English! I got this book awhile ago in Japanese so I was really excited to see it in English. It has some amazing projects such as the various bags, the keychains and envelopes. It's is full of cute projects with all of their amazing characters.

As an added bonus, Vertical books has made a nice donation to the Plush You site. We are having a giveaway! All you have to do is leave a comment here with your email address and we will choose three lucky winners! Two winners will receive a free copy of Cute Stuff and one lucky winner will get the WHOLE LINEUP of Aranzi Aronzo books thus far. We will choose the lucky winners on March 12th, it's my mom's birthday that day so we can honor her cuteness.

MMMFruit

I don't know if you could tell yet but I love amigurumi. This stuff is just too cute for words. Really I am at a loss.

*I have tried to upload some pics here of these cute guys for you and it's not working so click the link above to see what I am talking about.

You can get her patterns for the little birds in the book, Kooky Crochet: 30 Remarkably Wacky Projects which looks like a lot of fun!



Speaking of cute amigurumi books...Mr. Funky's Super Crochet Wonderful is well...wonderful.