Know Yourself.

I go in spurts when it comes to creative projects and I will [sometimes literally] get hooked on something and will obsess with it until the next tempting project comes along.  (Do you ever do that?)  Lately it has been a return to my knitting looms.

I had a request from one of the fabulous galleries I partner with for baby blankets.  That's all I need to set the wheels in motion.  I'll do the flannel/chenille and fleece blankets, of course; but I also wanted to try my hand at a knit blanket. (I knit on knitting looms.)

I found some super soft chenille yarn and started with the only two skeins my craft store had.  I fell in love with the yarn immediately and ~ of course ~ needed at least two more skeins to finish it and couldn't find more anywhere!  So I turned to the trusty ol' Internet and YAY - found some.  The yarn arrived today in some beautiful colors.  So now I can finish my blanket and start another.  :)  And another.  And another.

{See what I mean about the slight obsession problem?}

But while waiting for the yarn to arrive I needed to feed my knitting loom obsession in some other way.  So I brought out another smaller loom and decided to make a scarf.  I started one with ordinary yarn and it was fine, but it wasn't really anything special.  I felt like experimenting ~ I wanted to work with something unique.

Then I remembered I had picked up two skeins of what I can only think to call "ribbon yarn" on sale at Hobby Lobby a couple of years ago.  I remember thinking ~ I have no idea what (if anything) I will do with these, but I like them.  They are funky and different.  So I popped them into a storage bin and promptly forgot about them. (Do you ever do that?)

What possessed me to remember them the other night ~ and even more surprisingly ~ remember where I had stashed them, I will never know.  I was pretty excited to find them and dove right in making a scarf.  It kind of looks like one hot mess, but that's the idea.  I stayed up till midnight last night knitting and I'm having a blast.

I am (of course) already thinking two things:
*1 - This would  look so funky and cute with a black outfit.  (Spoken as someone who's primary wardrobe color is black.)  I've got a special occasion coming up soon and thank you to Pinterest for the pin I found on 40 ways to tie/wear a scarf, this may just be the accent I'm looking for!

And
*2 - I wonder if I could sell these...
I am always looking for something fun and different to add to my product line and if I perfect these funky scarves and my fabulous shops show an interest, I may give it a whirl.
And I'm already scouring the Internet for more ribbon yarn....

I am reminded once more why when thinking and thinking of what to name my business, I kept coming back to something simple and somewhat generic ~ because I know me.  And I knew that my little business would be ever-changing, ever-evolving.  I thrive on new ideas so I didn't want to limit myself.

So cmh design was born.  And it continues to grow and change and - at times - look like one funky, hot mess.  But that is the fun part.  My advice to anyone starting a business?

Know yourself.

All Pink ~ All Month!

Squeeeee!!  Etsy Peeps!!  Thank you so much!!

As many Etsy sellers and followers do, I receive an email with featured themes on Etsy every day.  They are always so cleverly put together and feature incredible products ~ I am usually tempted to buy at least a couple of things!  So today when I received the October Shopping Guide and scrolled down thru the delicious temptations, I was thrilled to see my knit hat featured!

Breast Cancer Awareness has long been a cause near and dear to me.  Two maternal aunts suffered for years with the disease and the miserable, painful side effects from treatment (they have both since passed).  A few years ago my Mom (who luckily has remained disease-free) volunteered to be part of a clinical study for some experimental drugs ~ hoping to help her sisters.  I've had my own scares (and scars) over the years and I'm one of the lucky ones ~ so far I've dodged the bullet.

So when I started my Etsy shop 2.5 years ago, I knew I wanted to do something to support the cause.  The main focus of my shop are my Wee Ones and Liten Venns - little stuffed animals.  So every September and October a lot of pink pops up in my shop with my BC Buddies.  I also do consignment with seven stores across the country and am so happy that five of them partner with me in this effort every year.

Last year I discovered knitting looms and got slightly addicted.  So, although I have yet to figure out how to fashion a stuffed animal on one, I do enjoy making knit hats.  It's a perfect pastime for those long winter nights by the fire.  I decided to add a few BC Beanies to my shop, with a focus on breast cancer patients who often need something warm for their sweet heads.  (I plan to add more in just a few days.)

10% of the sale of each BC Beanie and BC Buddy goes to Susan G Komen for the Cure.  I look forward to the day when that organization will no longer be needed... because we've found a cure.