Following up on baby sleep schedule and new etsy items!

I finally got another chance to blog, something that I have been thinking about for weeks since my last post!  Since then, I have gotten a little more organized; I have been writing down Magnolia's schedule on a calender tool that I found, cozi.com, and she has been a little more regular with her sleep schedule, but nothing definitive.  She takes a morning nap, afternoon nap, and a bunch of catnaps in between.  While she doesn't go down for rest at the same time each day;  I am hoping that we can work toward that in the future so that I can have some predictable work time.
The calender tool that I found is called Cozi (www.cozi.com); it just so happens that it's the same tool that Josh and I have been using for our grocery list for the past 6 months, and I decided to try to use it for everything else too.  While its not ideal for what I need, it is the best that I can find so far.  I am able to use the calender tool to write down Magnolia's daily naps, feedings and other information; cozi also has a shopping list where I jot down groceries and other items that we need and it interfaces with Josh's email so that he logs in and sees what is on the list and can add his own items.  The calender also has a  "to do" list that we use for what needs to be done around the house and there is even a 'meal list' where you can save recipes that you enjoy.  The downfalls are that the recipes don't show up as images, just links, and the calender doesn't interface with other social media tools.  However, while its not perfect, its usable and that is what I am looking for right now.

Survival Belts and Wrist Bands made from paracord

Paracord survival belt, find them for sale here.

While I started this blog to be about hiking, I wanted it to encompass everything about hiking, including gear.  One thing that I am very passionate about is supporting independent artists and small businesses providing great products  made locally rather than running to get the cheapest item at Walmart.  Over the years I have shared my favorite hiking gear that I take when I hike, including handmade items for the trail made locally or by myself.  Now, I am very excited to offer these survival belts on my website; they are made by a small company located in Kalispell, Montana and are both useful and stylish; very Colorado!  The belts are made from 70+ yards of woven paracord that can unravel in seconds for use in any survival situation; you can also use the metal pieces of the belt.
Now, you might think; 'what if I need to use the belt; then its unraveled and gone.'  Fortunately, Survivor Geek will remake the belt at no charge if you share your story with them; and if you want to take it apart 'just because,' then they will remake it for half the amount of the belt.

New Years Resolution to loose weight? Take a Hike! Here's a list of Front Range trails.

Royal Arch, Boulder.  A great hike for any season!

Did you make a New Years Resolution to loose weight or become more healthy and active?  It's already 3 weeks into January, are you keeping up with your resolution?  I sure haven't been very good at it this year. I thought you might need some inspiration as well;  so here is a list of trails in the Front Range area that are great to hike in the winter; on many of these trails you can accomplish hiking to a peak, an arch, a rim and lots more.  Not only is hiking a great outdoor activity, it gets your heart pumping and makes you feel great; plus you get the change to see amazing Colorado scenery, especially in the winter. Here is a list of some of my favorite places to hike that are great during any season, but the winter season offers less crowded trails and a spectacular winter wonderland after a newly fallen snow; or this being Colorado it will often provide you with a sunny day in the 60s. The Front Range offers numerous place to hike year round, but I am the kind of person who would rather hike to a peak, point of interest, or at best I'd prefer to hike a loop trail rather than an out and back.  One of my favorite mountains on the Front Range is Bear Peak which is west of Boulder.  Standing on the summit provides you with incredible views of the Continental Divide Mountains to the west, Indian Peaks Wilderness, Rocky Mountain National Park, and James Peak Wilderness.

Green Mountain Summit, 6,800 ft, and a pack of coyotes

Bright Blue Colorado Sky; photo on etsy

On Friday, I really needed to get outside and hike; I had been cooped up in the house all week working on a new line of hats and hiking belts for my website, but what I really needed was to get outside and try them out.
It was a balmy day in January, but very windy, so I decided that I'd stay close to home and head over to Green Mountain.  North Green Mountain is visible from my front deck, and I can see numerous trails on the north side of the mountain, but I haven't driven through the neighborhoods to locate those trails on the mountainside before.  I decided Friday was the day, and I drove south across 6th Ave, and up into the neighborhoods on the North side of Green Mountain in search of the access to the Open Space.
After driving around for just a short time, my trail finding skills proved successful, I found the neighborhood access which connects with all of the trails visible on the north side of the mountain; stepped out of the car into the wind and decided that I'd hike to the top today!

Where will we go from here....

I started Hip-Threads.com back in 2003-2004 with the help of my good (saintly) friend Heather who created my website for me.  And before Hip-Threads.com came into light, I sold my handmade patchwork clothing at concerts, festivals and shows across the Midwest, and Colorado.  Once my website was up and running; I continued making patchwork clothing and accessories; eventually I started making jewelry, then soap, hats, knits, and more.   These new items kept getting added to Hip-Threads.com and with each new craft came new products until I started to feel like my website had a lot of stuff with no theme behind it.  My sales had dropped and I wasn't seeing quite as many hits to my site or inquiries.
Then last year, when Josh was offered a job that afforded me to quit my job and focus on my business and I was thrilled!  I had visions of sewing all day, cutting all night, cooking, gardening, blogging, and all the 'free' time I'd have.  But somehow, it didn't work out that way;  and even though I kept creating, my sales were slow and I wasn't succeeding as I had hoped, and it's really made me re-think this business and what I need to do to make it successful to me.

Busy week of vending!

The past couple of weeks have been really busy, I wish I was better at balancing my blog posts and work.  Somehow, I still can't figure the best way to structure my day to get everything done that I'd like.  But I am working on it.

This past week I was featured as an artist at Sports Optics, a really cool artsy optical shop on the strip of Tennyson for First Friday.  While I didn't sell anything, it was a lot of fun, and I was asked to come back in February.  I am also able to leave my artwork at the shop for 1 month, which would be a great way to get it on display all the time.  I am excited about that at least!  Then I had planned my Holiday Gift Sale yesterday, it was at our house and I had all of my items available, plus a new friend Marci from Barefoot Regalia came and joined me as well.  I had visions of lots of people coming to the homeshow, lots in my neighborhood, friends and acquaintances.

However, that was not the way it played out, unfortunately.  We could count the number of visitors easily, and while they did spend some money, it wasn't the turnout I had hoped.  I guess I know for next time, right?  Had to give it a shot, but I don't know if it was worth the time I put into it.
Now, I am working on finishing up Christmas gifts...I don't want to post too much about those until the family opens the gifts..but I love how they are turning out and wish I could post the pics!  This year we are going to be staying in Colorado, and won't be able to see all the items being opened up.  Speaking of those gifts, I should really get to work on them and I'll post pics soon!

New Crochet items great for Fall and winter!

Maroon hand warmers and hat, size small, youth

I have been busy crocheting this fall, and I am in LOVE with this craft!  I learned to crochet years ago from a gal I worked with in Ann Arbor at an Assisted Living home.  Her name was Elena, and we worked in the lock down Alzheimer's unit together.  Our female patients all used to know how to crochet or knit, but their dexterity and memory was so affected that they weren't able to craft anymore; but they sure loved to watch us crochet!  So, Elena taught me and I started a project to make a blanket; I brought that blanket in each day I worked and the elderly ladies "oo'd and aah'd" over it each time.  Even though the blanket was 7-8 feet long and only a few inches wide; what was I thinking?  To this day, I never finished that blanket; it's about 4 feet wide now and makes a comfy dog bed :)

I stopped crocheting after college for several years, and started knitting for a period in between, but didn't love the knitting.  Recently, I came back to crocheting and I am again 'hooked'!  Crocheting offers a lot of variety, you can modify patterns easily, if you mess up it's easy to take out, and it's just so, so, so fun!

My current line of handmade goodies are crochet items that you can use for the outdoors; hand warmers, neck warmers, ear warmers, hats with ear flaps and many of the items are lined with ORGANIC BAMBOO FLEECE!  One of my customers is quoted saying; "The fleece is so soft, I think this is what a cloud feels like."

Here are a few of the newest items, more to come!  Message me if you are interested!

Things to keep you cozy!

Rainbow Ear Flap Hat, available on my website. 

My crocheting habit hasn't stopped in weeks, and I have been hooking up a storm!  Crochet is so easy to create and shape items, I love it!  Here are some of my newest creations.  Ear Flap hats are great for winter activities, skiing, snowshoeing, etc and keep you oh, so warm.  
I have also been crocheting super thick neck warmers, or cowls, whatever you'd like to call them.   I love the cowl for hiking, it doesn't add too much bulk or weight, plus they are so tall and cozy that I can pull them up to cover my ears on a windy day!  Keeping warm with less bulk is always key on a hike, or snowshoe expedition. 

Pink hand warmers, great for that hard to shop for teen/tween in your life.  Available on etsy for just $20!

Hand warmers and hat and scarf set on etsy. 

Super thick and chunky neck warmer.  This is great for the hiker, or outdoorsey person this winter season.  Handmade buttons and a beautiful crochet edging gives versility and style. 

New crochet goods ~ hand warmers, ~ neck warmers ~ hats and more!

Maroon hand warmers and hat, size small, youth

I have been busy crocheting this fall, and I am in LOVE with this craft!  I learned to crochet years ago from a gal I worked with in Ann Arbor at an Assisted Living home.  Her name was Elena, and we worked in the lock down Alzheimer's unit together.  Our female patients all used to know how to crochet or knit, but their dexterity and memory was so affected that they weren't able to craft anymore; but they sure loved to watch us crochet!  So, Elena taught me and I started a project to make a blanket; I brought that blanket in each day I worked and the elderly ladies "oo'd and aah'd" over it each time.  Even though the blanket was 7-8 feet long and only a few inches wide; what was I thinking?  To this day, I never finished that blanket; it's about 4 feet wide now and makes a comfy dog bed :)

I stopped crocheting after college for several years, and started knitting for a period in between, but didn't love the knitting.  Recently, I came back to crocheting and I am again 'hooked'!  Crocheting offers a lot of variety, you can modify patterns easily, if you mess up it's easy to take out, and it's just so, so, so fun! 

My current line of handmade goodies are crochet items that you can use for the outdoors; hand warmers, neck warmers, ear warmers, hats with ear flaps and many of the items are lined with ORGANIC BAMBOO FLEECE!  One of my customers is quoted saying; "The fleece is so soft, I think this is what a cloud feels like."

Here are a few of the newest items, more to come!  Message me if you are interested!

Crochet Thru Hiker warmers in Mustard Jess; with fleece lined ear warmer.

Black unisex warmers with wooden button on etsy

Chunky grey hand warmers and headband, on etsy

Chunky grey hand warmers and headband, on etsy

  

Maroon fleece lined hat and Thru Hiker Maroon Warmers

Blue unisex warmers on etsy

Slouch hat, this hat rocks! 

New 2010 Collection, buy handmade and pass it on!

I am really excited to bring you my new winter/spring 2010 clothing collection.  Lots of new skirts in fun new styles inspired by Colorado.   I have been hard at work stitchin' these new skirts and this beautiful winter goddess hemp dress!  Plus, I have a couple pairs of pants and more items coming soon. 

My prices have been marked way down to accomidate the struggling economy.  My hope for this low pricing. is to allow people to buy beautiful handmade clothes from an independent artist, rather than going to a store and buying things cheaply made overseas.   Even though my items are slightly more expensive than storebought items, they are made with lots and lots of love and care :)  Buy handmade and support independent artists!!!  Pass this message on to your friends too! 

I am posting my items in my etsy shop while my friend Jim builds my new website for me.  It will still be hip-threads.com, but it will look very different.  After so many years with the same website, its definitely time for a change, even though I appreciate the hard work and love that went into my original site.  (thank you Heather)

I cannot wait for the new site to be up and ready...I hope it will happen soon! 

In the last couple of weeks, I have had lots of new ideas for appliques, maybe it was taking the trip to the zoo with Josh last week...but I have been really excited to applique some animals!  I love foxes, mostly because there are many that live near us, and they are so cute and their little babies are the cutest!  I am going to try to do a fox applique soon, I also want to do a deer or fawn...we'll see how they turn out :) 

The palm tree skirt above is my new style of skirt, called the Willow skirt.  This skirt is a wrap skirt with two buttons on either side of the wrap, making the skirt reversible.  The skirt above can be worn with the palm tree in front, or just plain fabric in front.  The skirt is super comfy and great to wear to work with a pair of tights or to your summer concerts! 

I love this style!  They are sooo comfy and I plan on wearing my reversible Willow wrap skirt this summer. 

Message me if you are interested in any of the above items!  

New 2010 Collection, buy handmade and pass it on!

I am really excited to bring you my new winter/spring 2010 clothing collection.  Lots of new skirts in fun new styles inspired by Colorado.   I have been hard at work stitchin' these new skirts and this beautiful winter goddess hemp dress!  Plus, I have a couple pairs of pants and more items coming soon. 

My prices have been marked way down to accomidate the struggling economy.  My hope for this low pricing. is to allow people to buy beautiful handmade clothes from an independent artist, rather than going to a store and buying things cheaply made overseas.   Even though my items are slightly more expensive than storebought items, they are made with lots and lots of love and care :)  Buy handmade and support independent artists!!!  Pass this message on to your friends too! 

I am posting my items in my etsy shop while my friend Jim builds my new website for me.  It will still be hip-threads.com, but it will look very different.  After so many years with the same website, its definitely time for a change, even though I appreciate the hard work and love that went into my original site.  (thank you Heather)

I cannot wait for the new site to be up and ready...I hope it will happen soon! 

In the last couple of weeks, I have had lots of new ideas for appliques, maybe it was taking the trip to the zoo with Josh last week...but I have been really excited to applique some animals!  I love foxes, mostly because there are many that live near us, and they are so cute and their little babies are the cutest!  I am going to try to do a fox applique soon, I also want to do a deer or fawn...we'll see how they turn out :) 

The palm tree skirt above is my new style of skirt, called the Willow skirt.  This skirt is a wrap skirt with two buttons on either side of the wrap, making the skirt reversible.  The skirt above can be worn with the palm tree in front, or just plain fabric in front.  The skirt is super comfy and great to wear to work with a pair of tights or to your summer concerts! 

I love this style!  They are sooo comfy and I plan on wearing my reversible Willow wrap skirt this summer. 

Message me if you are interested in any of the above items!  

Fabric Flower Hair Accessories

New Item at Hip-Threads.com! Fabric flowers hair accessories.
Ever since I decided to grow my hair out, I have been in the mood to create hair accessories and I *love* the way these turned out.
I comically learned the "right" way to make these hair accessories, when I had the idea one night to start hot gluing random items to bobby pins. But they didn't seem to stick on properly. I knew I had to be doing something wrong, there had to be a certain type of bobby pin I needed to use, right? Then I remembered one of my friends, Kelly of Kreated By Kelly (check out her awesome shop here!) makes hair accessories and I knew she would have the answer. I sent her an email and quickly received one back from her, I needed to use a bobby pin with a metal gluing pad on the black. Duh! I knew it was going to be something silly. I asked her for her recommendation and she suggested Thunder Rock Alley 21(find her shop here, and I bought lots of supplies all were great!). Quickly I ordered my supplies from her and received them last week.

Finally, this weekend I had the time to start creating my fabric flowers and hair accessories. I decided to google "how to make a fabric flower" for some ideas, even though I had some of my own on how to make them. I found an article (click here)which I thought was great despite the relatively low rating on eHow.com. It gave me some additional suggestions and I started cutting.

After several hours I had made 5 wearable and sell able sets of flowers. They all are attached to a nickel free metal bobby pin, and have a bead centerpiece. Very cute! I have several available in my etsy shop (here) and on my website (here).

Fabric Flower Hair Accessories

New Item at Hip-Threads.com! Fabric flowers hair accessories.
Ever since I decided to grow my hair out, I have been in the mood to create hair accessories and I *love* the way these turned out.
I comically learned the "right" way to make these hair accessories, when I had the idea one night to start hot gluing random items to bobby pins. But they didn't seem to stick on properly. I knew I had to be doing something wrong, there had to be a certain type of bobby pin I needed to use, right? Then I remembered one of my friends, Kelly of Kreated By Kelly (check out her awesome shop here!) makes hair accessories and I knew she would have the answer. I sent her an email and quickly received one back from her, I needed to use a bobby pin with a metal gluing pad on the black. Duh! I knew it was going to be something silly. I asked her for her recommendation and she suggested Thunder Rock Alley 21(find her shop here, and I bought lots of supplies all were great!). Quickly I ordered my supplies from her and received them last week.

Finally, this weekend I had the time to start creating my fabric flowers and hair accessories. I decided to google "how to make a fabric flower" for some ideas, even though I had some of my own on how to make them. I found an article (click here)which I thought was great despite the relatively low rating on eHow.com. It gave me some additional suggestions and I started cutting.

After several hours I had made 5 wearable and sell able sets of flowers. They all are attached to a nickel free metal bobby pin, and have a bead centerpiece. Very cute! I have several available in my etsy shop (here) and on my website (here).

Finally, some new items and good news!

It's been a while, but I finally have some new items up for grabs on Hip-Threads.com. With more to come soon :) Including three pairs of pants, two are made of some new hemp that I just got, the other pair are a patchwork sidepanel pair made from recycled jeans. I am excited to post them! But the next week is very busy for us....Josh FINALLY got a new job! This economy has been rough, but after nearly 1 year of searching, he has gotten a good, full time job! He starts next Monday!
Also next weekend our friends get married, and we have guests flying in from out of town. It should be fun! But I am not sure if I will get the pants done...we'll see.


New hats made by Christina! Awesome, fleece hats, great for the fall and winter weather and so cute and stylish!!! I love this brown hat with the ruffly flower. She also has this super cute purple fleece butterfly hat available, a striped corduroy hat and more!


Also, Saraa from Hemp Love is back making jewelry for the site! She makes awesome hemp necklaces and bracelets ~ they are unique and stylish.

She has several different styles of jewelry all made from hemp and they range in price from just $15 bucks to $35.


Check out all the new items at www.hip-threads.com

Finally, some new items and good news!

It's been a while, but I finally have some new items up for grabs on Hip-Threads.com. With more to come soon :) Including three pairs of pants, two are made of some new hemp that I just got, the other pair are a patchwork sidepanel pair made from recycled jeans. I am excited to post them! But the next week is very busy for us....Josh FINALLY got a new job! This economy has been rough, but after nearly 1 year of searching, he has gotten a good, full time job! He starts next Monday!
Also next weekend our friends get married, and we have guests flying in from out of town. It should be fun! But I am not sure if I will get the pants done...we'll see.


New hats made by Christina! Awesome, fleece hats, great for the fall and winter weather and so cute and stylish!!! I love this brown hat with the ruffly flower. She also has this super cute purple fleece butterfly hat available, a striped corduroy hat and more!


Also, Saraa from Hemp Love is back making jewelry for the site! She makes awesome hemp necklaces and bracelets ~ they are unique and stylish.

She has several different styles of jewelry all made from hemp and they range in price from just $15 bucks to $35.


Check out all the new items at www.hip-threads.com

Shopping! May 30, 2009

Today I had to go shopping to get some more beading supplies and some fabric for some custom orders.  I found this cool new bead shop called Red and Green Gems in Lakewood, CO.   They had tons of great stones, tumbled, semi precious, gems, etc, etc.  They drilled some holes in rocks for me, which was great, ...but it was kinda expensive. at $6 per hole!  But the stones were reasonably priced and they had a lot of variety.  
The last time I went to my regular gem shop, they were out of sterling silver earring hooks...and this new place didnt have any either!  Grrr.  I looked at another craft store for them and still didnt find any?!?  Why is that so hard.  I never did get the fabric I needed....I couldnt make a decision...geez.
Josh and I then went to JCPenneys, since I needed more work clothes.  I was able to get a few things...but the highlight of the day was noticing a pet store right outside of penneys, and we spent probably 1.5 hours in there looking at and holding puppies~!!  They had tons of puppies, probably about 50, I would say!  They are all purebred, which is not necessarially our taste, but they sure were cute!  though, I think going to the "pound" and getting a puppy is the better way to go   But they sure were cute!!!!
Rock would be so upset with us...lol

Shopping! May 30, 2009

Today I had to go shopping to get some more beading supplies and some fabric for some custom orders.  I found this cool new bead shop called Red and Green Gems in Lakewood, CO.   They had tons of great stones, tumbled, semi precious, gems, etc, etc.  They drilled some holes in rocks for me, which was great, ...but it was kinda expensive. at $6 per hole!  But the stones were reasonably priced and they had a lot of variety.  
The last time I went to my regular gem shop, they were out of sterling silver earring hooks...and this new place didnt have any either!  Grrr.  I looked at another craft store for them and still didnt find any?!?  Why is that so hard.  I never did get the fabric I needed....I couldnt make a decision...geez.
Josh and I then went to JCPenneys, since I needed more work clothes.  I was able to get a few things...but the highlight of the day was noticing a pet store right outside of penneys, and we spent probably 1.5 hours in there looking at and holding puppies~!!  They had tons of puppies, probably about 50, I would say!  They are all purebred, which is not necessarially our taste, but they sure were cute!  though, I think going to the "pound" and getting a puppy is the better way to go   But they sure were cute!!!!
Rock would be so upset with us...lol

New Artfire shop and rapid cart

(unfortunatley neither of these codes are working, and I dont know why???????)

Visit HipThreads's ArtFire Shop

 

HipThreads

Buy Handmade

New Artfire shop and rapid cart

(unfortunatley neither of these codes are working, and I dont know why???????)

Visit HipThreads's ArtFire Shop

 

HipThreads

Buy Handmade

Christmas Gifts I made 12/1/08

Here are some Christmas gifts I can post on here.  I am pretty sure the people they are for will not check out this blog :)

I made 2 reversible table runners.  One side has Christmas holly with shiny gold thread appliqueing holly berries and leaves in the center of the runner.  The opposite side has snowmen (my godmother collects non-christmasy snowmen or snowwomen for the wintertime). 
I added beads to each end instead of tassels.  The beads are attached on a button, and can come off the button to put the runner in the wash!  I think they turned out pretty good! 

Large Table Runner Snow-people side


Large Table Runner Holly


Small Table Runner

Applique, much better in person

Side 2, sorry for the sideways pics