I've moved!

Thank you  so much for stopping by here - looks a bit ignored, doesn't it?  That's because I've FINALLY gone live on my very own website!  All of my patterns, custom items, and my blog are now in the same place and I'd love to have you stop by and say hello over there.

PamDaleyDesigns.com

Just click the link above to go directly to the new blog page - see you there!!

Back to civilization...sort of...

Well.  That last entry was about the last time I had decent internet access.  What a month!  I don’t regret at all our trip through British Columbia and the Yukon Territory, but I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t frustrating at times.  We found that most of the campgrounds we stayed at did not have wifi – even if their ads in the guidebooks said they would.  And the further north you get, the less you see places like Starbucks or McDonald’s to stop at and get online.  I’ll be better prepared for our return trip in September!

Now that we are settled in Fairbanks for the summer and will (hopefully) have reliable internet access, I’m busy trying to finish up my website.  I have most of my patterns added and am working on configuring the whole shopping cart setup.  Each time I think I’ve got it figured out, I find out there is another step.  Eesh.  

But I DID finish some more patterns/projects.  One pattern is currently being tested for me - it should be listed by the end of the week.  And I also finished the prototype for another hat - 

I'm trying to decide whether to offer the pattern for this design or just sell the finished hats.  I may test the waters a bit by offering it both ways for a limited time and see what the response is.  One of my most popular patterns - the apple hat - has always sold even better as a finished item on Etsy, but who knows what this one will do!

I finished a set of soda or beer can cozies made with worsted weight cotton yarn - that pattern is free to download on my NEW website.  Check out the Freebie Patterns page for that one as well as others - with more to come.  


Over the next few weeks I will be transitioning to my own website - PamDaleyDesigns.com (that address links to my Etsy shop right now).  I will have my blog located there as well as patterns & finished crochet items for sale.   I'll also be offering free patterns for immediate downloading - I'm excited about the possibilities!  My designs will still be available on Etsy, Ravelry and a select few also on KnitPicks; but a stand-alone website has been a dream of mine for a while.  I will continue to post both here and there for a bit, but I hope you'll stop by the new place.  For a sneak peek, click here! 

Friday projects!

Well, we made it across the border - even though a certain piece of paper we were told we needed is missing somewhere in this motorhome.  (Insurance proof)  We lucked out and weren't asked for it so here we are in Clinton, British Columbia. 

We decided to stay an extra day here today - and we even have internet!! - so I'm catching up on a few to-do's.  A lot of them have to do with regular 'business maintenance' stuff, but I did manage to actually finish a WIP that's been in the back of my closet *forever*.

Behold - my new felted Kindle case /slash/ crochet "to-go" kit!!

 I went through a phase of making and felting lots and lots of cozies, gadget cases, even a purse or two.  I love felting, but it's something I just can't do on the road very easily since you really need your own washer.  It takes at least 2 or 3 restarts of the hot water wash cycle to felt something and that gets REALLY pricey at a coin laundry.   (Although I could do some felting this summer since we'll be staying near our daughter in Fairbanks...hmmm)

Anyway, this particular pouch thing was created & felted before we left Colorado Springs over a year ago.  I just couldn't find a way to finish it that seemed 'right'.  This morning I spotted it behind my jeans in the closet and pulled it out once again.

I got out my button box and tried all kind of buttons to see if anything spoke to me.  Nada. I was about to give up when I saw these wooden beads in the bottom of the box - perfect!!!  Sewed those puppies on, cut the buttonhole and ta da!  A finished WIP!!

Now I have another baby shoes pattern just about completed that I'd really like to finish today as well.  I just need to do the math for the additional sizes, take some better pictures and then I'll add it to my Ravelry store.  I think I'm going to call these Japanese House Slippers for baby.  So far the pattern goes up to about 18 months; maybe I'll play with a slightly different version of it for bigger feet (adding to my list!)

Oh Canada!

Tomorrow is the day!  We'll be crossing the border into Canada on our way up the Alcan Highway to Fairbanks, Alaska.  I'll be deactivating all listings in my Etsy shop tomorrow morning, BUT you can still purchase my patterns in my Ravelry shop (easier there anyway - instant download link when you purchase!)  Just click on the link below  - there are a few freebie patterns listed there that aren't anywhere else. 

Pam Daley Designs on Ravelry

I've received quite a few new pictures this week from the modeling agencies I use - check them out!  I especially love this one -

 

How cute are those little feet??  The pattern for those ballerina booties is available on Ravelry; it comes with directions to make the booties in sizes newborn-3 months, 3-6 months & 6-12 months. 

There are other new patterns & photos too - fingerless gloves, chunky yarn infinity scarf and baby boat shoes booties!  More to come soon!

Living on the edge

The edge of the United States - the northwestern edge - that's where we've been the past few days.  And later this week we'll be crossing the US/Canada border on our way to Fairbanks!

I'm beyond excited - not just for getting to see Canada and explore Alaska, but also because we'll be spending the summer with my oldest daughter and my adorable grandsons Aiden & Jack.  And my middle daughter and adorable granddaughter will be coming up for a few weeks too!  I mean, seriously, what could be better?? (Well, my son-in-law home from Afghanistan would make it better...)

But it does mean that things will be even more quiet here on my blog as well as my shop for the next month.  Traveling through Canada means we won't be able to use our cell phones for getting online (international roaming costs!!).  And since I've heard everything from "you'll never find wifi along that route!" to "we had no problems finding internet cafes", I've decided to play it safe and put my shop on vacation for the month of May.  I'm just not into stressing about receiving orders and not knowing when I'll be online to send them.

Since my hubby is doing all the driving on this trip, I've found myself with several extra hours each day to crochet as I relax in the passenger seat of the motorhome.  Bonus!!  I'm working on a pattern set of soda (or beer!) can cozies as well as a set of coffee cup sweaters.  And, as usual, I have a few other ideas for some new patterns that I'll work on as we make our way through the British Columbia and the Yukon Territory this month.  Hopefully that will translate into a few new patterns ready to list when I'm back online.

June will also find me beginning to work on building inventory of the Santa diaper sets that sold so well last year.  And since we will be right near THE North Pole in Alaska, I've *got* to find some way to tie that in this year.  Just think - a Santa diaper set made in the North Pole; perfect for those first Christmas photos.  (I've even found a professional photographer to take some modeled pictures for me - can't wait to make that happen!)

So until next time (whenever that may be) - keep on dreaming.  :-)

Back to reality!

Tonight is the last evening of my week-long retreat.  As expected, the time flew by and I didn't finish everything I had hoped to - but I'm still feeling very accomplished with what I did manage to complete!

New patterns in my Etsy shop:

1. Teddy Bear Hat & Diaper Cover set
2. Chunky Yarn Cowl/Infinity Scarf
3. Lacy Mesh Fingerless Gloves
4. Sock Yarn Basic Fingerless Gloves
5. Sport Weight Fingerless Gloves 
6. Baby Boat Shoes
7. Duck Bath Mitt & Toddler Bath Puff

I also arranged for modeled pictures of all of the patterns listed above as well as a couple of other finished crochet items I'll be selling.

I made significant progress on my new stand-alone website.  And even though - due to some <cough cough> user error <cough cough> - I'll be redoing some of that work, I'm still excited to be getting closer to a grand opening over there.

I also had a chance to visit with a few long-time friends and I'm looking forward to coming back to this area this coming winter.  I have missed the Pacific Coast the past few years - there is just nothing like the beach.  Warm, cold, rainy, sunny; doesn't matter.  I love the beach.

Before heading back to Mike & Sarah tomorrow, I will take a quick run up to Gold Beach and meet the owners of the RV resort we'll be working at when we return from Alaska.  Then it's back to Medford for a few days of final preparations before we take off for the trip of a lifetime - the Alcan Highway and Fairbanks, Alaska! 

I've been waiting for over 4 months for this week to get here!  I'm 'retreating' away at a condo on the beach in Brookings, Oregon until  next Thursday!  My goal is to finish as many of my "PIPs" (patterns in progress) as possible and maybe even get started on building up some inventory of finished items (can you say Christmas??).

I love the Pacific coast - even when it's foggy and rainy, but this first 24 hours has been glorious weather-wise.  The sort of days that those who live here (or used to live here) try to keep secret because then everyone would relocate to this area. I have a few 'dates' with friends planned, but my focus this week is work.

And here is the first completed pattern - in honor of my darling little granddaughter who LOVES all things quack, I made a duck bath mitt & little bath puff.  Also on the project list for this week is a froggy bath set, some little girl purses, plus a pair or two of baby shoes.  And since I never know when inspiration will strike - or *how* it will strike - there could be some other pattern not even on my radar at this point.  You just never know. 

And now I believe it's time to fix myself something for dinner.  Like steamed asparagus & a piece of pie.  :-)