Two months have passed already!

Hey, all!

I last posted here in November, telling you I'd reopened the shops and that there was a lot of updating, reorganizing and such to do. I accomplished (at least) some of that, but I know that I hurt my online presence and business by being closed for such a long while.

Now it's closing in on February, and I made a couple decisions regarding the shops, AND the postal rates were increased last week. So, both these things required MORE updating and shifting, rewriting, rechecking quotes and estimates ... and I'm still in the progress of updating all the shipping prices on listed items. Heaven only knows when I'll ever get to listing the mountains of waiting-to-be-listed things!

At any rate, my decision regarding the shops was to all but shut down two of them. It's been difficult jumping here and there, keeping the stock straight as to where it's listed, etc., plus one was charging a monthly fee that was (essentially) an investment in the future in the hopes that the venue would "take off". I gave that long enough to show even a little action and, seeing none, I decided to concentrate on other areas and not devote time and money to something that isn't doing anything at all for me right now. So I all but closed my shop on Zibbet, leaving only three pattern listings there, i.e., a no-charge shop. The second shop I decided to empty was the original one I'd opened on eCrater, The Knitwit's Hues. I will still keep the second shop there on eCrater, The Knitwit's Hues' Little House; but the knitted and crocheted items have been moved to the two main shops at which I'll concentrate my time (The Knitwit's Hues on Etsy and The Knitwit's Hues on Artfire.)

I must say that all the venues in which I've worked and had shops each has attributes that I really like and miss in the others. They are all unique in their own way, but I had to decide where my efforts were bringing the most notice.

I will be posting on my Facebook page some of the items I moved from one venue to another as it's very possible that you've not seen them.

Hoping that this New Year is being kind to all of us!

I send you smiles!

The Knitwit

Hey, all! I'm back!

Back, at least for the most part. I reopened my shops today, and though there's a ton of reorganizing, updating and such to do; I'm hoping that I'll be able to keep up and not find I need some more time off.

While the shops were closed, it seems that USPS, PayPal and the other shipping services I use changed their options and prices. So I think I will need to go through everything and update my shipping estimates ... not my fave chore. :P

Just prior to closing the shops, I started using Twitter. I met the most amazing people there and was amazed at the openness and support of the community. Though I enjoyed it immensely, I think I will do little or nothing there ongoing because it requires too much time for me to keep "in the swing" along with everything else. Some friends have told me ways to better manage Twitter (like Hootsuite, etc.), but I don't seem to get the hang of them and feel that (at least for the present) I should concentrate on the shops, Facebook, my website, and (of course!) the shops.

While those were closed, I continued producing, and given that there was already a stash of things to list; that stash is now overflowing the space I've allotted for it. So I definitely need to "get busy" and take pictures, figure the shipping and write up the descriptions for those so I can get them listed. Heaven knows that they're not going anywhere if nobody gets to see them!

If you're familiar with my work, you might notice that I go on "binges" either with a particular pattern or a particular yarn; so if you see something somewhere (in one of the shops, on my website or on Flickr) that you might like in a different color or yarn, give me a shout-out 'cause it's actually possible that I've already got it made and just sitting here waiting to be listed. !! :P

Cheer me on while I attempt to get back up to speed, K?

As always, I send you smiles!

The Knitwit 

Hey, all!

Since I've been so inactive here for such a long time, I thought I'd show you some of the things I've listed or moved from one venue to another recently. (If you click on the titles, you can go to where they are.)

Lace Scarf, Chunky Style, in Deep Rose Faux Suede

Lace Scarf, Chunky Style, in Tri-Color Acrylic

Eyelet Lace Shawl/Stole/Wrap in Soft Pastels

Pinocchio Figures, Set of 5 from the 1940's

Small Lace Moebius in Ebony Faux Suede

Moebius (Scarf/Hood/Wrap) in Rose and Multi-Colored Acrylic

Shawl/Wrap/Stole in Rainbow Ladder Ribbon

~~~

I send you smiles!

The Knitwit,

Diane Eve

I've ignored the blog too long!

Hey, all!

I've gotten into Facebook over the last several months, enjoying the quickness and ease of posting a comment there complete with links and pics .... and I've let the blog slide to oblivion. I've got to check out the connection between the two 'cause I'm thinking that perhaps I can make those quick little posts here and then link them to Facebook too. That way, those of you not on Facebook will at least know that I haven't fallen off the face of the earth!

Here's a link I shared yesterday because it really caught my eye and imagination. So I'll post it here now and see what happens, i.e., how it comes through here. Even tho I can compose a post here using wysiwyg, posts really don't look the same after going through the conversion to html.

Here's the link:

http://www.etsy.com/listing/63393925/mandala-spider-web-vest-dress-yarn-and

I send you smiles!

The Knitwit

PS - I've forgotten totally how to post pics without them landing at the top of the page. I can't seem to drag and drop to reposition, and I can't remember what it was that I "learned" before to place them where I wanted. So, sorry I haven't got pics to show you from the link!

IT'S ON!!! YAY!

Hey, all!

Couldn't wait to tell you!  The $5.95/month Group Deal at Artfire IS ON!!!!  

There are now 20,000 people signed on ... the number required to activate the deal ... but it will remain open and available until 50,000 have signed on.
  
DON'T MISS OUT!  

ARTFIRE GROUP DEAL CONFIRMATION ANNOUNCEMENT!!!

CLICK TO SIGN ON TO THE DEAL!!!

I send you smiles!

The Knitwit 

Note: My current extra prayer/support list is:
- Kate
- Gloria
- Jeanie
- Lovlee

Not so helpless after all!

Hey, all! So here I am again in the same evening, this time with the second link I want to tell you about.  

I think all of us have experienced someone near and dear being on the transplant list.  And while all attention and energy is placed on hope and prayers for a viable organ becoming available and then being accepted by the recipient's body, the rest of life still marches on whether we are paying any attention to it or not.  

And part of that life that's still marching on while we're stunned to motionlessness is finance and the growing mountain of debt accumulating at a wreckless pace due to all the medical expenses not covered by insurance and such.  

Nothing we can do about it, right?  WRONG!  We now CAN do something. IGive.com is striving to help ease this problem at least a little. Each time someone goes to the over 700 sites via IGive, a penny goes to the transplant fund of the designated recipient.  Any purchase also gives a percentage to the fund.  Linked sites include Sears, JCPenney's, Target, QVC, HSN, EBay and Barnes & Noble.  There are also lots of coupons and offers.  It's truly a win-win. 

The link I'm providing is targeted for the son-in-law of a friend, and I'd appreciate it so much if you'd go there, install the toolbar and then click on at least one of the links each day.  

IGive to help Matt!  Thank you!

I send you smiles!

The Knitwit 

Note: My current extra prayer/support list is:
- Lovlee
- Gloria
- Jeanie
- Kate

Group Deal at Artfire!

Hey, all! 

Shock! While it being my "normal routine" to post once in a great long while, I think tonight I will post twice!  There are two links I want to pass on to you.  Both have time constraints, and I want to get both to you without delay.  They are so far removed in subject matter, however, that I will post them separately.  

This first is of lesser importance from the standpoint of making a change in the world.  It can, however, make a chance in your life (and mine) if enough people sign up for the offer.  

I'm assuming that y'all are familiar with Artfire.  It's a venue much like Etsy, concentrating on handmade goods, artwork and artistry as well as vintage goods.  It's newer than Etsy (although older than Zibbet), and it's soon to come out of Beta.  Corresponding with that and a desire to make a great splash in the marketplace, lifetime Pro Memberships are being offered at an incredible price ($5.95/month) if 20,000 sign up for them to comprise a "group."  Once the 20,000 requests have been reached, the memberships for all will be activated.  It's really too good an offer to pass if you are selling these goods online or even if you've been thinking about giving it a try.  Here's a link to check it out and sign up.  I encourage you to do so!  

Group Deal at Artfire! 

I send you smiles!

The Knitwit 

Note: My current extra prayer/support list is:
- Lovlee
- Gloria
- Jeanie
- Kate