Ohmygosh! I love Etsy! Take a look what came in today's mail:

Isn't that awesome? I know you want one, my ferret-loving readers (all three of you, I think!). So where did I find such style? Why, from APStitches! She makes them for babies, for dolls and for pets.

This will help me with both Horatio and our newest baby, Theodore who is still settling into our crowd. (Yes, those are pajamas. I intend to have "street clothes" pictures soon as well.)

It's been decided. I'm going to go through my six-plus tubs of yarn and start the culling process. I know I've got wool on cones, I've got Lion Brand Suede in several colors, I've got all kinds of novelty yarns. So far, my intention is to keep sock yarn and "dishcloth cotton". Everything else must pass some litmus test (what, I don't know yet).

I know there will be a knitting machine (your basic kind, not the uber-fancy professional kind) going up as well. And I'm seriously considering adding my cross-stitch to the mix. That means cross-stitch patterns, books, cloth, thread....the whole kaboodle. Once the destash starts, I'm going to put a meter up somewhere on the sides, probably the right side, to track my fund-raising progress.

Also up for potential destashing....my collection of beads and findings. That will take a little longer to photograph and post, so please comment if you are looking for anything in particular. When I was buying beads, I loved Czech glass, so I have that in a variety of colors. I also have Swarovski crystals in a few sizes, shapes and colors. I've got some semi-precious stones, abalone, hematite, jasper chips, lots of silver too....really too much to name, so I'll probably make group photos!

During this time, all purchases from my Etsy store will be added to my Fundraising totals.

My goal is to raise $500 for the purchase of my first wheel: a Louet S10 DT with a lazy kate and three bobbins! Yay! So, stay tuned for yarn---and if there's something you are looking for, please comment 'cause that could be part of my litmus test on what goes or stays!

Well, for those of you who've been impatiently waiting for my latest round of stitch markers, I've finally got a bunch put up on Etsy! Yes! With pictures (of course, but you know me and cameras!).

The link is on the left (hopefully to become an avatar or image once I decide on a commercial banner maker from Etsy. (Anyone wanna chime in with suggestions?)

For the terminally lazy (greetings, comrades!), the store is here.

I've been meaning to get some pictures up for a while now...I really don't know why I have so much trouble getting a decent picture.

First up, "what's on my needles?" Why, socks, of course! And at this current moment, all three pairs of my sock knitting needles are holding Perchance to Knit yarns! (One more thing: That really dark sock, Midnight Rainbow, just won'tphotograph to show off it's very subtle coloring.... *sigh* It really isn't all black!)

Those with elephantine memories will recall I cast on the Midnight Rainbow back in May! With some no-knitting periods and my sister's shawl, that's mostly the reason for the slow-down. Plus, with three socks in progress, any one sock will suffer for it. The Hedera Helix is probably going to move slowest of all as that is my experiment in Continental knitting.... eeks! It's hard to remind myself which way I should be moving.

But that's not all the pictures I have to share!

I finally got a couple more stitch marker sets completed. If there's any takers, I'll be glad to sell them here. Otherwise, they're going to my Etsy shop.

Millefiori bead row marker with Czech glass beads, and five Czech glass bead stitch markers. Fits up to US 10.5/ 6.50mm. Set: $8 + S/H	Millefiori bead row marker with Czech glass beads, and five Czech glass bead stitch markers. Fits up to US 17/ 12.00mm. Set: $8 + S/H

5 Amber-colored glass stitch markers with faceted amber-colored row marker bead. Fits up to US 10.5/ 6.50mm. Set: $10 + S/H. Moved to Etsy store.

Nope, I'm not having a contest (yet), but Holly is. Tell her I sent you and that gets you an extra entry, I believe. Post one on YOUR blog and you get ANOTHER entry.... What's the winnnings? Rumor has it: YARN! ;)

What do you have to do? Holly wants to know what patterns you've knit multiple times and why. (Hmm... I wonder if I actually answered the question correctly then...)

Meanwhile, I'm going to go play with my latest arrivals:

*sigh*

I love Etsy!

I found a really nifty store yesterday, over in Beaufort. It's mostly a scrapbooker's paradise (not my thing), but there's some beading supplies and a small selection of beads. I say small because I've been to Beads Galore in Tempe, Arizona. Still, this store was neat.

Nick acquired a turtle stamp (it's one of his favorite creatures and an off-and-on nickname for him) and an ink pad (in purple, of course!). Randy found some neat paper-distressing inks. Those will be great for the maps and other artifacts he creates for our roleplaying sessions---he's really good at that! He also got several sheets of vellum, probably for a similar purpose. Very cool.

Meanwhile, I found a nice selection of millifiori beads, plus some stunning colors of Swarovski crystals. I also found some inexpensive files---that will help clean up the ends of wires (and I might find them useful for cleaning up mini-figs as well). I picked up some copper-core silver wire for making some stitch markers with. Silver is so variable in price and I'm trying to keep the costs down, so I can keep my stitch marker sets at a reasonable price.

Randy treated me to a Beadsmith beading trap with a lap-pillow bottom. The tray comes off the bottom and can lay on my desk---which it did all night last night, while I played with beads.

I've sorted out beads into sets and just need to wire them up to complete them. I plan to get one of each style made and up on Etsy, then I can make the rest as I need them. The hardest part of listing each set is getting a good photo of them. I'm just not talented at all in that department.

I'll try to post some photos here as I get new sets made. I usually make them in sets of 5+1: five regular markers with one row marker. I can always make custom sets in any quantity desired. I'm also hoping to get some individual row markers up on Etsy as well. I've talked to Nick about learning to make the markers with me and earning a cut of the income---risky, if nothing sells, but potentially lucrative if my markers are popular. *grin*

After the stop at Carolina Stamper (on 203 Carteret Street in Beaufort, for those readers who might be within driving distance), we headed up to Tanger 2 outlets to hit "Le Gourmet Chef", for a tea-ball. I got one of the last two they had! It's made by Tovolo. We walked in for a $10.00 (wow, I didn't realize it was that pricey!) teaball and walked out with quite a bit more....and then returned with a 20% off coupon for a Cuisinart coffee maker!

After the first trip to "Le Gourmet Chef", we hit Harry and David. Randy got some sauce that can be combined with cream cheese to make a great dip. I went straight for the chocolate truffles, of course. *grin*

Then, a quick dinner at the Cornerstone Grill and onto the island to Barnes and Noble. I managed to get the July 2007 issues of Simply Knitting and three of the books that were on my wish lists.

Once we got home, I spent the remainder of my evening creating sets of markers---like I said before, they're bagged into sets, I just need actually make them now. Which is what I'm off to do....unless I get distracted with the socks I'm knitting with No Remorse!