thinking about the holiday season?

Soon, the Holiday 2009 season will be upon us and in full swing! It's so depressing to think of it now, while it's still Summer, that I usually don't until it's too late, and then I'm in a mad panic to get more stock in the shop, or I've missed the boat entirely. The problem is, I always think of it in real time, not in retail time, and as depressing as it is when the stores all seem to have Christmas stuff everywhere by the time it's back-to-school, you really do need to plan early!
I'm very excited to have an opportunity to sell my line from a real bricks-and-mortar shop, in a really cool art district in town, so I have been a crazy knitting machine trying to get enough stock for there, that will go in to the gallery/boutique by the end of August. So, if I continue knitting in every free moment, I might have enough to stock my Etsy shop also.
Luckily, for me, I don't make any items that can be Holiday season only wares, maybe only a different color palette, but that's more for the Fall/Winter seasons, so that takes the pressure of a little, but you can only sell what you have, so to make it a successful year the more the merrier definitely!

I thought I'd show a little before and after of the latest custom order I made for a customer. Above is the bag all knitted up, and sewn up, ready to be felted. And below is the bag after being felted, and it's signature applique added.

Since it was a custom bag, she had asked for a larger size, so here it is with the smaller usual size I make for that bag. I actually had not thought of making a larger size until I was asked, and it worked out beautifully, a really great size for carrying more in, or also for a laptop, since the wool is strong and soft it's great for that.

Well, I hope you have a happy Thursday, I'm going to be felting, and appliquing today, since I've run out of yarn! - I'll be off to the LYS tomorrow so I can continue in this productive period.

Oh, did I mention I have two youngsters who are enjoying their last days of summer vacation and getting ready for back to school too.........phew!