GieseDeseiGns' Blog

I want a spinning wheel and a loom
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Made to order

Published: 12-21-2012 04:30pm
In my shop sections now is a "Made to Order" category. I was seeing views coming in of items that I had sold. If I were looking for something and it would still be showing up in google or bing, I wouldn't be too happy to not find it when I clicked on it. You are taken to my studio, but not the item. Now you have the option of getting the item made to order.... » Read More

Buying Locally

Published: 10-15-2012 02:41pm
Its harder for us to say buy local or buy in the USA, because we want to sell in other countries as well. But being an American, and seeing the economy hurting here, I will say we all should do our part and help our friends and neighbors who are crafters and artists stay employed. This can be done no matter where we live. I know so many  people who now do art and crafts as a second job. They either have less take home pay or know if they are getting ready to retire, it is not going to be quite enough. Others can't find work so have started a small business hoping to keep the wolf from the door. So this fall when you are shopping remember that kni... » Read More

I have a spinning wheel

Published: 10-05-2012 10:52pm
Today, my husband and I went to our churches fall rummage sale. As I walked up I saw something that gave me a thrill, there sat a spinning wheel. As a knitter I have been caught up with the idea of doing my own yarn. Ooh yeah, spinning and dying it. Of course I don't know if it is even all there. From what I can tell, it is. Of course I am woefully uneducated in the art of spinning.  I decided it was just too good to pass up though. So it had to come home with me. It needs some work. There are a few pieces in  need of TLC. It is not strung so, I have to get some cotton cord. It needs cleaning. It has a dowel missing too. But, overall I think it ... » Read More

Great August

Published: 09-15-2012 09:30am
I entered a hat and booties in the Yolo County Fair. It is in Woodland Ca. the county seat of where we live. It was a strawberry hat, red with gold seeds knitted in with two shades of green around the edges. The booties had the red for the bottoms and the green for the tops. I got a first prize on it and a second in the best of show catagory. Needless to say I was very pleased. I also did something I hadn't done in years. I entered two paintings. I received a third prize on one and a first on the other. Now I don't know what to do. I have always loved art, but I haven't really done much for years. I knit because its portable and fast. I really wan... » Read More

pricing

Published: 07-28-2012 11:58pm
How to price your items? For me that is the elephant in the closet. I create I put a price and then I wait. How do I come up with my price. It is materials and what I want to make hourly? My overhead is low I would be home anyway so cost of heat and rent is moot to me. I have good quality tools so don't see cost changing there. So just yarn and ribbon are my only cost. I really don't figure gas, because unless its a special order. I pick up yarn when we make other errands, Yet to someone else that pricing is considered  wholesale so to get sales price it has to be doubled. To me that seems outrageous, why is that? Maybe I am still in country mo... » Read More

Old things become new again.

Published: 07-23-2012 04:56pm
See thes in the collection Nature Inspired-Flowrs and Animals by Shadow Dog Designs These butterflies are my new old creations. I started making these to sell at my last crafts fair, again. I made these first back in about 1979. Someone gave me a fridge magnet of a crocheted yarn butterfly with pipecleaner antenna. It was about 4". I said thanks and thought it wasn't me. I did think they would be cute smaller. I took size 20 thread a '5 steel hook and looked at how it was made. Making a chain of 6  I made a circle. An then an  eight sided grannie square. (3 double crochet with chain 3 eight times) came next. The next row had 3dc with ... » Read More

Who is Giese DeseiGns

Published: 07-21-2012 07:33pm
Hi, after being here for 2 years this month (July) I guess it is about time to tell you a little about my shop and me. I have always loved fiber; sewing, knitting and crocheting. When I was in high school I made and sold (can I say Barbie clothes well,clothes for 11 1/2" dolls). I did this around Christmas for 3 years and had a pretty good clientele, for a very small town. I even had the 4-H director come and do a video of me and it got put on our local television station.  I studied Art in college with a major in Art and a minor in Home Ec., which I later got a bachelors in also. So designing and color have always been passions of mine. I star... » Read More

I want a spinning wheel and a loom

Published: 06-14-2012 11:12am
Awhile back I went to a local winery they were having a display of "knitting looms". These were small table top looms that could use just knitting yarn (of which I have a plethora) or any spun yarn. The people with them  were making scarves and the width could be enough for making vests or jackets. Wow I want one I said. They weren't that expensive 250 I think for one I wanted. OK, could I make and sell woven scarves to pay for it. Ideas started forming. (not how long would it take to get a product made well enough to be deemed salable)A few weeks later we went to a "Wool In". People bring their fleeces to be cleaned, carded and spun into yarn.T... » Read More

My inspiration

Published: 05-14-2012 03:36pm
this was an inspiration by my neice who gives me ideas when she does my nails in her salon every two weeks, what shall I make next? maybe a fireman, maybe a sun hat, a pilgrim, leperchaun, red hat wait and see.... » Read More
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