oblinaknit

moving to wordpress

2010-08-29T09:54:00.001-04:00

Hi everyone - just a quick note to let you know I have moved over to wordpress and am continuing my blog over there. I just unveiled my knit wire line 'breathless' during my first wholesale trade show at The Buyers Market of American Craft - what a wonderful show filled with amazing artists - I was so excited to be a part of it and experience a trade show first hand!

Now that the show is over, I am working on a new design for my site/blog with the help of a wonderful designer (you'll meet her soon!) and hope to have the unveiling in the next month. Feel free to pop on over now and follow me at my new home - oblinaknit - I would love to know what you think of the change.

I currently have one of the wordpress freebie themes and am working with a designer to create my own blog theme with additional pages for wholesale, etc...hopefully by the end of September it will be complete - yay!

Any Plans For Saturday??????

2010-06-11T16:38:00.001-04:00

The Reston Market is the place to be this Saturday June 12th for some great music, local produce and shopping at the crafters' market - see you there!

oblinaknit hits the road for Independence Day!

2010-05-28T19:55:00.001-04:00

It's official - oblinaknit will be a vendor at Bazaar Bizarre in conjunction with the Larchmere Festival on Saturday July 3rd in the Cleveland Ohio so get your summer plans in gear and prepare to accessorize!

This is my second time doing a Bazaar Bizarre show in Cleveland and I am oh-so excited yet again - I had a blast when I was there this past winter and cannot wait to see more of the city this time - don't tell my work, but I plan to make a LOOONG weekend of it....after all, this may be my only chance at a vacation this summer!. So..... if anyone has suggestions on where to go and what to see...let me know!

See you in the Cleve!

The Reston Market Begins!

2010-04-30T21:36:00.000-04:00

oblinaknit will be at her regular spot beginning May 8th at the Reston Market - stop by for local produce and plants as well as a great crafter's market.

I am excited for market season to start and see everyone again -lake Anne has such a wonderful community and the shops and restaurants make for a fun day out - see you there!

PS - don't worry about the clown, he is quite harmless!

First Show of the Season - Road trip to Philly!

2010-03-09T16:39:00.000-05:00

I will be participating in a fantastic market in Philadelphia on April 17th - The Philadelphia Designer's Market - I am excited to get out of town for a mini-trip after this weather we have had in the DC area. A ton of new fabrics have arrived from my suppliers so expect to see some new totes and other accessories for spring - See you there!

bejeweled by oblinaknit

2009-11-19T20:26:00.003-05:00

I have finally opened a jewelry shop to showcase my creations - whew! Welcome to bejeweled by oblinaknit - I am in love with my new banner, cards, and logos from artinsomnia on etsy - she was fantastic to work with and I highly recommend her for your graphics projects.

The new shop is a bit empty while I prep for my upcoming show in Cleveland, but I am hoping to pop a new piece in from time to time so you all have something sparkly to peruse and enjoy!

See you soon!

It's Almost Here!

2009-10-27T07:59:00.003-04:00

Well, okay it's still 2 months away, but The Bazaar Bizarre in Clevelend is approaching fast! Yours truly is working hard on stock and new designs to bring to the Bazaar Bizarre West for the December 12-13th show. They have also added a second show in East Cleveland - so check out the dates and mark your calendars - see you there!

oh, and if you are a fellow facebook junkie - you can view the invite and more....

Have You Heard of the Lunch Bunch?

2009-10-05T07:27:00.005-04:00

I love facebook - I use it for my business but also to stay in touch with friends. I love discovering new shops as well as new artists and recently found Ana Bagayan. Her art has quickly become one of my favorites.

Ana is also one of the duo who make up the Lunch Bunch
- they pack and deliver lunch once a week to the homeless in Los Angeles, California. And, when there are funds left over, the Lunch Bunch reinvests it in the form of clothing and other supplies that the homeless community can use. I was more than impressed and decided to donate what I could for their lunches that week and future weeks.

I love to keep up with their blog and read about their progress - I hope you will too - its a great way to stay in touch with new friends!

I'm Baaaaack!

2009-10-04T10:11:00.007-04:00

Well its been another long break since my last post and I am still dealing with the parental units and their health issues but things are getting better - day by day - hopefully things are settling down and I can focus on these upcoming shows:

I will be at The Reston Market every Saturday through October 31st form 8AM - 2PM so come on out for a great day at Lake Anne - there is a farmer's market adjacent to the craft market so it makes for a fun day!

My big holiday show this year is The Cleveland Bazaar Bizarre - December 12 & 13th so I am looking froward to that road trip as its partially the only thing even close to a vacation for me this year - so we are hitting the Rock-n-Roll museum as well on this trip - woohoo!

I am working on some new designs and can't wait to share them with everyone!

Road Trip!

2009-08-13T18:07:00.005-04:00

The Pittsburgh Craft Collective is having a show at The Union Project over Labor Day weekend - Crafts-N'At - stop by and shop!

My Favorite Iced Coffee - A Tutorial!

2009-06-28T08:32:00.006-04:00

Well, it is finally warm and not raining, so what could be better than enjoying my favorite Vietnamese Iced Coffee! I had always ordered this yummy treat when out a local Vietnamese restaurants, and then, I discovered I could make it at home!

It is very simple, just gather the following ingredients and wares:
Cafe Du Monde ground coffee (it's the one in that bright mustard-color can) - you can use other coffee but I have found this is the most popular used by restaurants here in the area)
Condensed milk - I favor the 'black & white' brand from my local Thai grocery - but you can choose your fav!
Metal individual drip coffee maker - these can be found in restaurant supply stores and are easy to find in the Asian grocery stores here

Okay, so now we have everything! Grab a tall glass (check to make sure your metal coffee maker fits on top) and add about 1/4-1/2" of the condensed milk to the bottom (I prefer less as I do not like my coffee really sweet - but add it to your taste as you test out a few coffees yourself!)

Place the metal drip cup on top of the glass (leave the filter insert out) and spoon in 2 heaping teaspoons of coffee.

Add the filter on top (do not press down to compact) and add your hot water - I have a Japanese hot pot that keeps water at a high temperature all the time - I love it - great when you need water for tea, oatmeal, etc and you never have to deal with boiling it.(My cat Dahlia loves the hotpot too - she thinks it is her new hot date!)

I add enough water to the top of the rim, and then a bit more for some extra yummy coffee - once the water flows through the coffee grounds into you glass , carefully remove the metal drip container (it will be hot from the hot water - doh!).

Now, before you do anything else grab a spoon to mix the milk (which is layered on the bottom) and the coffee - stir and swirl til you get all the condensed milk mixed in,

Grab some ice (I like to buy the big bags of ice from the grocery since I go through so much ice during summer making these)and fill your glass, add a fun straw, and you have a yummy, Vietnamese Iced Coffee to enjoy!

Feel free to add any variations you enjoy in my comments section - this is the recipe that works for my taste and I would love to hear others!

2009-06-16T07:56:00.006-04:00

It has been a while since my last post - I got a phone call a few Saturdays ago that my mother was taken to the hospital - she is back home now and recovering, however the weekly trips are taking a toll on my creativity. I want to thank everyone on facebook for their support during these times! I was able to make some new earrings for my bejeweled collection - Enjoy!

Day 5 Da Vinci Mode Challenge

2009-05-28T21:17:00.004-04:00

Well, we are going strong with our 365 day challenge and have made it to DAY 5!

Da Vinci Mode 365 Challenge

2009-05-25T08:16:00.005-04:00

I am starting a new challenge with a group of friends I met on facebook - we just finished our 30 day challenge to create something every day and post about it - whether its a studio organization, a new project idea you started, or actual items you made - its all about having fun and creating every day. The first group started out as a 30 day challenge and some of us wanted to keep going - so we did!

Our group can be found on facebook and is described below:

"We are a fierce group of individuals seeking to live more creatively on a daily basis using Leonardo Da Vinci as our role model. We vow to hold each other accountable, to inspire and to push ourselves in new creative directions."

See you there!

Spring is Finally Here!

2009-04-27T15:56:00.007-04:00

This past month in northern Virginia we have had some pretty crappy weather days - but what a wonderful few days/weekend we are having! My plants are thriving and my cat Dahlia loves sunning herself on the window sill! As the weather gets nice, I am starting to make some things for myself in between sewing for markets - I am hoping to make at least one new thing for myself per week so check back for pics!

The Reston Market - Coming Soon!

2009-04-12T18:13:00.005-04:00

Hi all - just a reminder that market at Lake Anne in Reston, VA will be starting the first weekend in May! The adjacent farmer's market will begin the 2nd week so come on out for a beautiful day of great vendors - hope to see you there!

And for those of you who are not in the northern Virginia area, there is a great site to locate farmer's markets close to where you live - Local Harvest - they have info on local CSA as well - check it out!

Another Etsy Favorite

2009-03-31T07:58:00.009-04:00

Hi everyone - today's post is about one of my favorite shops on etsy - Skin Journey. I discovered this great shop last summer and have been buying my facial care products there ever since. Mika of Skin Journey recently revamped her line and it is even more fabulous than before! I use the facial cleanser and creams, and I love, love, love her facial scrub.

Skin Journey also offers an array of delicious smelling whipped body emulsions, a fab foot cream and scrub, and the best lip balm every - I buy these for gifts and get raves every time - try one for yourself!

City Paper's Best of DC 2009

2009-03-28T09:46:00.008-04:00

Congratulations to Beth Baldwin of tigerflight for winning top honors as best local crafter and tinaseamonster who came in second....and guess who came in third - oblinaknit - that's me!!!! My sincere thanks to everyone who voted - I truly am honored that I placed in the top 3!

Congratulations to everyone who was nominated - DC rocks!

Congratulations Julia !

2009-03-22T21:13:00.003-04:00

Julia was the winner of one of my Botanica Totes via The Wickedly Chic Sunday Night Giveaway. You can sign up for emails and receive future giveaway info at Wickedly Chic.

Congratulations Julia - your new tote is on the way to you!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

2009-03-17T09:43:00.004-04:00

oblinaknit is offering 17% off all items (not including shipping) in my shop in honor of today - just put "leprechaun' in your etsy checkout notes and I will send a revised invoice. if you want to go ahead and pay, I am happy to refund the 17% to your PayPal account

have a wonderful day!

This offer ends at midnight PST (that's 6AM Wednesday for us folks on the east coast!)

Emerald City - Here I Come!

2009-03-05T19:08:00.007-05:00

I have been adding to my wire wrapping skills and came across a wonderful seller/shop that is one of my newest favs on etsy - solivio. Not only does she offer great tutorials on more detailed wire-wrapping, she has some fabulous semi-precious beads! Her other site - make101 - has additional tutorials and a wealth of information for jewelery designers.

These are the emerald earrings I made using the techniques from one of her tutorials - I think I will be keeping these all for myself!

It's here, it's here!!!!!!

2009-03-01T18:58:00.012-05:00

Okay - maybe it's the coffee I have been drinking ALL DAY, but I am very excited to announce the first of my patterns available for sale in my etsy shop! I managed to get the PayPal widget onto this blog as well so people can purchase the pattern directly from here if they would like - the widget adds some time to the page loading - anyone have any thoughts?

The pattern is for my Sniffle Travel Tissue Holder and it would not have been possible without the graphics help of my friend from etsy - flashwithclass - she is the best and the first person I go to when I need banners, ad logos, web design help - absolutely wonderful to work with!

This is the first in a new line of patterns I am working on - it is perfect for beginners with a basic knowledge of sewing. You will need to know how to straight stitch and zig-zag stitch with your machine in order to complete the project.

This pattern can be a jumping off point for your creativity. You are welcome to make the tissue holders and sell them online and at craft shows. I encourage you to add your own embellishment to the pattern - there are all kinds of great trims and buttons out there!

The Sniffle pattern makes use of smaller pieces of fabric - you just need two (2) pieces of cotton fabric that are at least 7 x 7" (to lay out the pattern template), along with scissors, pins, thread, 1/2" double-fold bias tape, an iron and a sewing machine and you are good to go.

Breathless - Part Deux

2009-02-26T19:02:00.011-05:00

Introducing the Breathless Necklace - a stunning, airy creation in my 'oblinaknit bejeweled' line - this one incorporates sparkling Swarovski crystals with a sprinkling of black spinel and ripe red rubies for the glamor gal in you!

These knit wire pieces grace your neck and are custom made to the length you want - be it a choker or a collar necklace. Available exclusively at The Artisans of Mclean and in my etsy shop as a custom order - Contact me for details and pricing.

Breathless

2009-02-09T07:51:00.006-05:00

What a great weekend - the weather here was beautiful - I got alot of stuff done around the house and was able to work on some of my hand knit wire jewelry line - Breathless. Here is a peek at some of the bracelets I finished yesterday - They are available at The Artisans of McLean - more to come!

Weekend Deals at oblinaknit!

2009-02-07T07:08:00.000-05:00

oblinaknit has a weekend deal for you - February 7-8th - Purchase $25 or more (not including shipping)in my etsy shop and receive a free zip it (oblinaknit will choose but don't forget to mention your favorite styles as she will try and accomodate all requests). Use code 'groundhog day' in the checkout notes.

Have fun shopping and thanks for buying handmade!

I Love Google Picasa!

2009-02-05T09:21:00.000-05:00

Okay, I have been using Picasa for photo finishing for a few years now but I just discovered the collages and absolutely LOVE it! It is great for making one combined pic to show off all your stuff - I think this is a great tool and fun too! Feel free to post links to your own collages - I would love to see them!

Got the Sniffles?

2009-01-25T17:02:00.000-05:00

Well, its been awhile since my last post as I have been busy restocking my etsy shop and creating new goodies in the oblinaknit home studio to get ready for upcoming markets and orders.

I have a new product that you will soon see more of in my etsy shop - a luxe travel tissue holder called 'Sniffle'. Available in many fabric combos soon - Yay more fabric to buy!

Why I Buy Handmade

2008-12-14T20:06:00.000-05:00

I have always enjoyed making gifts for others - so it was an easy move to starting a business in making handmade items. I love the idea of buying and selling handmade - you get a handcrafted piece that typically is one of a kind, and was made with love.

The Buy Handmade website has a great list on the importance of supporting the handmade movement - check it out and take the handmade pledge yourself!

EtsyCREST Meets with Maria!

2008-11-23T21:28:00.000-05:00

Today I got to meet my fellow etsyCREST team - well some of them. We were able to have a meeting locally with Maria Thomas, CEO to discuss street teams as well as our favorite selling venue - etsy! It was a great meeting with plenty of discussion - plus, we all got to see the faces behind the shop names of the people who attended the meeting.

Of course I got home and Ken was a bit miffed he didn't get an invite - he is still acting a bit like Naomi Campbell on a bad day (see pics below from the dog collar photo shoot) - modeling has gone to his head!

Upcoming Show in Philly!

2008-11-06T07:11:00.000-05:00

My next show I have planned (aside from a few local venues) is in Philly at Theater 941 - The Philadelphia Independent Craft Market. There are bands and beer so it should be a fun day! I will be there on December 6th - check it out if you are in the area.

Facebook - finally!

2008-10-08T08:13:00.000-04:00

Okay - so I think I have finally got the hang of facebook - I set up my regular page and now have a shop page to 'show off' my goodies! I like facebook's cleaner format (vs. myspace) but all those little applications still confuse me - like when people send you veggies and other things..oh well....at least its up and running! My cat Dahlia like to help out as well:

oblinaknit's facebook page

Funky Utopia Opens!

2008-10-05T15:46:00.000-04:00

I am extremely excited to have some of my handbags in this cool new shop in Bradenton, Florida:

Shop Funky Utopia!

The grand opening was this past weekend and I wish I could have been there - Bradenton sounds like a great town! Perhaps a visit is in order once I save up some vacation time at work!

Blue Replaces Kenneth the Model - Part 2

2008-08-02T19:38:00.000-04:00

obm

Last week I wrote about my little man Ken who helped model the test collar for Blue - a very friendly greyhound.

This week, you get to meet Blue and see him model his very own collar - he is quite handsome and loves the camera! Blue is a lovely fellow with lots of energy and he is really enjoying his new life with the couple who adopted him from Greyhound Pets of America- Northern Virginia - now he gets treats and has his own toys! His parents wanted a 2" Martingale collar for him so after they choose some very cool Japanese kawaii fabric with little hippos on black canvas, I set out to make a collar for them.

First stop, Creative Designworks - they offer a great selection of hardware and instructions for dog collars. I was able to get a set of instructions to explain the Martingale construction as well as some extra hardware in the size I needed for Blue.

The pattern I got was very straightforward and has pictures to help with the adjuster buckle and d-ring placement. I had to change some of the pattern pieces sizes to accomodate the wider collar -plus this particular fabric is a cotton canvas and has a nubby texture...so a few additional tweaks and the collar was complete!

You can see Blue modeling his new collar at The Reston Market at Lake Anne in northern Virginia. This is a great farmer's and crafter's market occurring every Saturday thru November - it is worth the short trip if you are in the DC metro area.

Kenneth the Model (Part 1)

2008-07-24T21:25:00.000-04:00

Well, as most of you know, my cat Kenneth loves modeling hats and other accessories, but I think success has gone to his head. I found him napping when I had asked him to be ready for a photo shoot.

You see, I am making a Martingale collar for a lovely fellow - his name is Blue and he is a greyhound who was recently adopted/rescued by two wonderful people. You will meet Blue and see him try his hand at modeling in Part II, but for now, let me tell you about Ken the Diva. As you can see from the pics, he has picked up some bad modeling tips from watching those reality model shows on tv and has decided to become a diva - we are going to have to work on that...more to come......

Allium is Open!

2008-06-10T20:03:00.000-04:00

Hi all - I have been out of touch for a bit and busy making new goodies for my etsy shop and shows...but I couldn't resist telling you all about a great new shop in Beacon, NY.

The name of the shop is Allium and it is a wonderful new boutique that carries a bit of everything (including some of my goodies) along with a plethora of other handmade items. The shop owner, Lauren Whyte is quite the hostess - I have yet to meet her, but I love chatting with her about the shop through email - I can't wait for my next NYC visit so I can pop in to meet this absolutely fabulous person and see the shop!

I am including some pics so you can check it out if you aren't close enough to visit - Allium is located at 442 Main Street in Beacon NY - a short trip from the city on the Metro North Blue line - a great day trip for the summer!

Spring Blooms!

2008-04-02T17:20:00.001-04:00

Wow - my brilliant red Amaryllis looked to be growing as the days went by, and all of a sudden, this lovely bloom appears (well actually 2). I love getting up in the mornings to be greeted by these two marvy blooms - Enjoy everyone!

Featured!

2008-03-19T19:57:00.000-04:00

Hi everyone - I have been busy making some new goodies for my shop! Hope everyone is gearing up for spring - there are a lot of great fabrics out there for handbags and clothing this season.

My local DC etsy street team has a feature on me in the the blog today - so check it out!

http://etsycrest.blogspot.com/

Ginger Blossom is Here!!!

2008-03-01T16:24:00.001-05:00

I got another box of fabrics from my coop this week and was sooooo excited to see the new line by Sandi Henderson - Ginger Blossom - in my box. These are so fresh and colorful, I just had to start making stuff - here is my newest tote and zipper pouch - I can't wait to create more!

Face of Wisdom

2008-02-08T20:11:00.000-05:00

I took this picture of my silly friend Miss Dahlia - she is so curious about everything and is constantly learning new tricks around my apartment. She finds the little toys I hide from her when I want to go to bed at night (undisturbed) and has recently been practicing at opening the cupboards - I am pretty sure I will need to install child locks on them as she can almost open the doors herself and knows exactly where the treats are hiding. This photo definitley displays all of her wondrous wisdom!

woohoo - more fabric arrived!

2008-02-04T20:07:00.000-05:00

I came home in a crappy mood today - but not for long - I had a box of new fabrics waiting for me! Yay! I already have a bag cut out, and if I can get Miss Dilly out of my chair - I may be able to sew tonight. I love new stacks of fabric - so much to do!

Laminated!

2008-02-01T20:17:00.000-05:00

I love, love, love this new laminated fabric! It's fab for market totes, beach bags, knitting projects, or just about anything you want to put in it!

I have several new bags (big and small) listed in my etsy shop and had a custom order as well - Yay! The patterns are great and I have more on the way!!!

Dilly in a bag - The New Tote by oblinaknit

2008-01-19T20:00:00.001-05:00

Miss Dilly is up to her silly tricks again - this time I found her in one of my store-bought handbags, and so when I started to sew last week, I designed a little market tote in honor of Dilly Dahlia's love of bags and name it after her! These little beauties will add some style to your outfit and help you tote your groceries or whatever you want!

2008-01-09T20:26:00.001-05:00

Here is a new set I knit form one of my fav MCY yarns - hand-dyed wool and silk blend in beautiful jewel tone rusts and browns - I love the skullcap/flapper look of these hats I designed...I always try and add a different element but keep the same basic style - this one has a little flower at the brim - tres chic!

Ascocentrum Pumilum Blooms!

2008-01-06T14:01:00.004-05:00

woohoo! I was watering my pants this morning (to which I have been a bit neglectful) and look what I found - my little guy has blooms!

I got him from the lovely sapphirechild of etsy as just a little green guy on his piece of bark...and now he looks exactly like her pic of the bloom! I am so excited to see the little flowers - can you tell?

here are some specifics on him from her etsy listing:

"Ascocentrum pumilum is a miniature species in the vandaceous group that can be grown in intermediate-warm conditions in Phalaenopsis level light (East or West facing window)."

2008-01-05T22:11:00.001-05:00

Here are my two sillies - acting very nice for the camera, of course!

I did it!

2008-01-05T21:25:00.000-05:00

Well, I finally did it- I started a blog. It has been a busy holiday show season following a great summer at the outdoor market- I can't wait to start the market again this spring!

I have been adding new stuff to etsy daily (or trying to!) And, I am drooling over a ton of new fabrics ...and more on the way - yippee! And now, here is a bit more about me...

Creating stuff is my passion - I am a self-professed fabric whore (I think my fabric stash is going to take over the apartment any minute now). I love to sew and knit, and also do hand-created jewelry. I have 2 adorable cats who think they are people - Ken and Dahlia.

Ken (the one in the hat) wants to have his own column- being the diva that he is - so once a week, I may start an 'Ask Ken" column, of course now, he is going to want a new hat! So send in your questions to Ken....