Monday, June 12, 2017

Getting Tricked by the Business

Hello, twisted friends!

Can I get a shout from all of you creative types who just can't get the hang of managing your business?   I need to take a remedial class, I think.  I'm accepting suggestions.  Truly.
I have to do something besides just play with pretty yarn?

I got pretty excited about recording some crochet tutorials this summer!  I had a whole plan.  They were going to be geared toward kids, I was going to have my daughter with me in them.
Not pictured: myself or my daughter

You're reading the past tense.  You can see where this is going.  It wasn't that my daughter wasn't as starry-eyed about it as I thought she'd be, although if the plan had gotten that far, I'm sure we would've reached that revelation, as well.  

No, as it turns out, video recording equipment isn't all up to the task of recording a tutorial.

And all of YouTube said...
So, unless I want to drop some dollahs on a better camera, that's on hold.  I guess that will give me time to work on my level of comfort on camera.

Actual footage from my Crochet Basics video

I hope you're all having a lovely summer, and doing something that keeps the madness at bay.  I'm about to start an order for Troll hats, and I'm working on a shirt for myself.

Until next time!
XOXO







Wednesday, January 4, 2017

Happy New Year!!

Hello, twisted friends, and happy New Year!

Things are still trucking along here at Anna Twist! The hooks and yarn are still flying.  My great wish for Anna Twist would be a business partner who either prods me to keep up with the business side of things, or just throws their hands up and does it for me. I don't like pausing long enough to update Facebook or The Workshop, but rest assured, all is still up and running!

Since Anna Twist crawled from the soup, it has evolved into an effort largely based on amigurumi figures - the dolls, babies, the dolls.  This was mainly owed to the fact that that's what was being ordered. I have loved making them, and don't plan to stop, but I decided a few months back to brave a new frontier: clothing. Or to borrow a word from the magazines, wearables.

Don't knock the granny square vest. It clearly didn't hurt Eastwood's game. Photo courtesy of Playboy. 


I've made hats, scarves, socks, and hand warmers, but adventure is calling - it's time for shirts and skirts. (I was just kidding about that granny square vest, thing, by the way.  I think I was, anyway.) Because of the learning curve with which this presents me, I have fallen off of the more public side of Anna Twist to focus on education and practice.  No craft fair booths, and very little social media.  Still taking orders!  Just not seeking them out.

That's where we are, loves!  I hope you all enjoyed your holidays, and I wish you all the best in the new year!

XOXO

Tuesday, November 24, 2015

Workshop Update 11/24/2015

Off the Hook
0032 - hats






On The Hook
0028 - Jack and Sally - about 50% or so complete.


Have questions about why I work on multiple orders at once, or why I work on the ones I do? Find out here!



Queue
0030  - Hat/cocoon set
0031 - 12" doll
0033 - 12"doll
gifts

Wednesday, November 18, 2015

Juggling Projects

Hello, Twisted friends!

December orders are coming along, but I thought I'd pause this morning to shine a task light on the Anna Twist process.  

The focusing chair
Usually, I like to work on one thing at a time.  I invest in it, and live and breathe it for as many hours in a row as I can. I hunker down in my chair in a quiet corner of the house, headphones on so I'm not distracted by cars or phone alerts or a restless dog's nails clicking across the floor, and pour over yarn and stitches until the last detail is set.  This process is plum necessary for details like doll hands, faces, dresses - focus is important.  

When I have multiple orders in queue at once, though, every moment counts!   And life just won't let me spend hours on end in my quiet corner.  Silly life.  I do spend time every day waiting, though - waiting for kids to walk out of school, waiting at the doctor.   And I do things every day that don't require my hands the whole time - helping with homework, watching my family's current favorite show (right now, it's The Goldbergs).  And I have a job that occasionally has some down time.  During this busy order season, those moments are, as often as possible, also spent working on parts of Anna Twist orders that aren't as detailed - the body of a hat, for instance.  I usually keep that order in a project bag that I can grab when I need to scoot. 

Go bags
So, in order to make every moment count, I switch between orders, working on whatever life will allow me to right then, as much as possible.  And I love it!  I pour over doll details in my chair while I can, and when I have to divide my attention, I grab the bag and work on something else until I can get back to my chair.

That said...the chair is calling.  

I hope this shed some light on how orders progress, and answered any questions you had, kind readers.  All two of you.  

Workshop Update 11/18/15

On The Hook
0028 - Jack and Sally - about 50% or so complete.
0032 - 2 hats

Have questions about why I work on multiple orders at once, or why I work on the ones I do? Find out here!



Queue
0030  - Hat/cocoon set
0031 - 12" doll
0033 - 12"doll
gifts

Friday, November 13, 2015

Workshop Update 11/13/15

On The Hook
0028 - Jack and Sally - about 50% or so complete.
Sorry, no image today due to some restraints, technologically speaking!



Queue
0030  - Hat/cocoon set
0031 - 12" doll
0032 - 2 hats
0033 - 12"doll
gifts

Tuesday, November 3, 2015

Workshop Update 11/3/15



Off the Hook
0019 - Leg warmers




On The Hook
0028 - Jack and Sally



Queue
0030  - Hat/cocoon set
0031 - 12" doll
0032 - 2 hats
gifts