Kristen’s Chickens and Farming Ventures

[Kris5902]

All of the wood work in this house was us. I designed the kitchen too. https://www.redfin.com/VA/West-Springfield/7706-Harwood-Pl-22152/home/9773380 We did all of the cabinets, vanities and counter tops, except those that are stone. The baker's nook is a white maple butcher block and I inlaid dark walnut pie rings for working dough's and breads.

Wow! So if you’re looking to take a northern Vacation anytime after the walls are up... you really should get yourself a sawmill, i’d Love to see what you could do with some nice slabs, maybe some live edge work? That’s awesome!

 

[Kris5902]

I'm just getting started with making friendship bracelets. Do you have a place that you get patterns or any pointers? The girls wanted to try something new and I thought this would be a good thing to do over the winter and maybe even sell a few or something.

I like to do the smaller 6 strand ones in three colors or six and find that If you do three colors of alternating single lines they get a little busy looking, especially with contrasting colors. The pinks purples and blues sold the best for us, and from a marketing standpoint the six strands are good because they only take me 1-1&1/2hrs, so I can do a lot of stock. We priced these ones at $3CAD.

I started out working from memory (brain still works? How many years (decades!!!) has it been since I did this last?) then turned to YouTube for inspiration and more complicated patterns. For the 12 strand I really like 3 or 5 colors, and prefer the black or white bordered chevron pattern. I even remembered this one too!

They take me about 3&1/2 hrs and we priced them at $5. I’ve got some more diamond patterns I’m going to try from you tube in the 12 strand size. I also like to finish the loops on these ones with a simple edge binding they stitch. A clipboard, embroidery needle and some scrap denim (from the hen saddles) keeps things neat and flat, and I loosely slip knot the excess threads out of the way when I stop for dinner, bed or chores; because well, CATS! This diamond pattern, from you tube, took closer to 6 hrs, and I don’t really like how it turned out... it was the only large bracelet that didn’t sell.

Because I bought the inexpensive multi packs of threads (highly recommend this!) I’ve got some funky colors left over I’m trying to figure out, and “tie dye” multi colored threads as well. And I am sadly out of the more popular colors until the craft or dollar stores get more in (at $.73 per skein I’m not planning on buying the higher quality single threads for these projects!). That’s ok though, because once I’m done with this batch of shiny Christmas themed ones, (because the dollar store had a $1.25 8 pack of glitter thread) and a few more 12 strands I’m going to focus on some Christmas colored crochet coasters for the Nov 30th market.

 

[CrazyChookChookLady]

I like to do the smaller 6 strand ones in three colors or six and find that If you do three colors of alternating single lines they get a little busy looking, especially with contrasting colors. The pinks purples and blues sold the best for us, and from a marketing standpoint the six strands are good because they only take me 1-1&1/2hrs, so I can do a lot of stock. We priced these ones at $3CAD. View attachment 1937017

I started out working from memory (brain still works? How many years (decades!!!) has it been since I did this last?) then turned to YouTube for inspiration and more complicated patterns. For the 12 strand I really like 3 or 5 colors, and prefer the black or white bordered chevron pattern. I even remembered this one too!View attachment 1937018View attachment 1937020

They take me about 3&1/2 hrs and we priced them at $5. I’ve got some more diamond patterns I’m going to try from you tube in the 12 strand size. I also like to finish the loops on these ones with a simple edge binding they stitch. A clipboard, embroidery needle and some scrap denim (from the hen saddles) keeps things neat and flat, and I loosely slip knot the excess threads out of the way when I stop for dinner, bed or chores; because well, CATS! This diamond pattern, from you tube, took closer to 6 hrs, and I don’t really like how it turned out... it was the only large bracelet that didn’t sell. View attachment 1937022View attachment 1937032

Because I bought the inexpensive multi packs of threads (highly recommend this!) I’ve got some funky colors left over I’m trying to figure out, and “tie dye” multi colored threads as well. And I am sadly out of the more popular colors until the craft or dollar stores get more in (at $.73 per skein I’m not planning on buying the higher quality single threads for these projects!). That’s ok though, because once I’m done with this batch of shiny Christmas themed ones, (because the dollar store had a $1.25 8 pack of glitter thread) and a few more 12 strands I’m going to focus on some Christmas colored crochet coasters for the Nov 30th market.

View attachment 1937046

Oh wow those are beautiful! I'll have to YouTube it myself. I think that is something the girls and I can do. I also pulled out my cross-stitch from over 9 years ago to start up again. I'm trying to do more with my hands and brain and less scrolling on my phone.

 

[aart]

How many years (decades!!!) has it been since I did this last?)

My kids and I used to make these for hours....yes, decades ago!

 

[Ribh]

All of the wood work in this house was us.

You are an artist! That is absolutely lovely.

I like to do the smaller 6 strand ones in three colors or six and find that If you do three colors of alternating single lines they get a little busy looking, especially with contrasting colors.

Kris, these are all lovely. I'm glad they are such a good seller for you. YD used to do anklets, which I had to wear. Apparently I was her model. I also modeled the tennis shoes she painted. Do your markets go all year or stop over winter?

 

[rjohns39]

How's everyone doing this evening/morning?

 

[BlueBaby]

How's everyone doing this evening/morning?

I'm doing pretty good. I have 11 egg's from my flock in the incubator right now, and my 25 shipped egg's arrived this morning. So, I have 36 egg's for my last hatch for this year.

 

[Kris5902]

You are an artist! That is absolutely lovely.



Kris, these are all lovely. I'm glad they are such a good seller for you. YD used to do anklets, which I had to wear. Apparently I was her model. I also modeled the tennis shoes she painted. Do your markets go all year or stop over winter?

We have at least one more market before Christmas, then I think the next one is the Easter Market, which pales in comparison to the Easter bake sale. People literally line up early and it’s like a Black Friday or Boxing Day sale at Walmart with the shoving and elbowing to get the “best” pies, cakes, cookies, and brownies. Last year’s Easter market wasn’t really advertised at all though, and we did a paltry $80 in sausage sales at it.

 

[Kris5902]

I'm doing pretty good. I have 11 egg's from my flock in the incubator right now, and my 25 shipped egg's arrived this morning. So, I have 36 egg's for my last hatch for this year.

Yay! Can’t wait to hear how it goes for the shipped eggs... I have had much better luck with my own eggs so far

 

[BlueBaby]

Yay! Can’t wait to hear how it goes for the shipped eggs... I have had much better luck with my own eggs so far

Me too, but I want some new blood and dna added to my NN flock. These shipped egg's are from @Compost King and his NN mixes.