Year In Etsy 2011

I can't believe it's already time for the Second Annual Year In Etsy.  As you can see, this year I did my part to support Etsy artists.  I was delighted with each and every purchase.  I've said it before and I'll say it again: I believe in small businesses.  Please help these and other similar endeavors continue to offer unique, handmade, high-quality items.

Happy 2012!

Row 1:
Zebra makeup bags from Lucy Blaire hand*made
Bronze earrings from Kim Pipes Designs
Bundle hoop earrings from Kathi Roussel Jewelry
Overalls with daisies and sunflowers from Overall Baby

Row 2:
Blizzard pearl necklace from Simple Elements Design
Twirl skirt and top from Laken and Lila
Cuff bracelet from Lapis Beach
Lemon wreath from Two Inspire You

Row 3:
Kitty crayons from Kitty Baby Love
Purple and yellow necklace from Informal Elegance
Pearl hoop earrings from Linda Trent Jewelry
Geometry bracelet from Simple Elements Design

Row 4:
Quartz and pearl earrings from Simple Elements Design
Felt alphabet letters from MiChiMa L.A.N.D.
Purple earrings from Informal Elegance
Personalized big sis T shirt from Smitten and Company

Row 5:
Honey quartz earringsfrom Linda Trent Jewelry
Black jumper with ruffles from Simplicity Couture
Silver raindrop earrings from Linda Trent Jewelry
Ruffled leggings from Simplicity Couture

Row 6:
Personalized dinner plates from Simply Stella Studio
Pinafore dress from Noah and Lilah
Map necklace from Sherry Truit Studios
Personalized ladybug towel from Rub A Dub Buddies

Row 7:
Personalized frog towel from Rub A Dub Buddies
Personalized piggy bank from Faith-N-Bugs Boutique
Personalized bowls from Simply Stella Studio
Leather necklace from Vintage Rhino

In December I . . .

When I started this blog, my hope was that it would have two primary functions. First, it would be a way for me to share my sweater designs and ideas (as well as special offers and other happenings) with all of you. Second, it would be a way for you to get to know me personally—to learn more about the person behind the sweaters.

But as I’ve gotten busier with sweater orders (and life has gotten in the way), I think I’ve lost some of the second piece. The focus has become much more about the sweaters and less about me. That’s obviously GREAT from a business perspective, but I don’t want to lose sight of why I created the blog.

So, I’ve decided to introduce a new feature called “This Month, I . . . .” This new feature will highlight a handful of the things I was up to—big and small—that month. I hope to publish it toward the end of every month. Tomorrow is already slated for the annual Year In Etsy, so I’m going to kick things off today.

And so, without further ado:

In December, I . . .

--Went to see the Miniature Railroad and Village at the Carnegie Science Center in Pittsburgh. Even though the exhibit is now available year round, checking out this amazing miniature replica of Western Pennsylvania (circa the last turn of the century) is still one of my favorite holiday traditions.

--Ran in the Run with Santa 5K in Rockville. There was one heck of a hill toward the end!

--Went to the What’s Cooking Uncle Sam exhibit at the National Archives and learned all about “vitamin donuts.” The exhibit was a super interesting look at the government’s effect on what Amercians eat. Right after, we had a delicious lunch at America Eats Tavern, a coordinating pop-up restaurant that specializes in “American” food. Mmm . . . hush puppies and mac & cheese and pecan pie.

--Played elf as I delivered more than 500 cookies to my family and friends, another of my annual holiday traditions. This year, the favorites seem to have been the gingerbread men, the key lime shortbreads, the carrot cake whoopie pies, and the rocky road bars.

--Tried the Pioneer Woman’s recipe for crash hot potatoes and fell in love. (I’m not a huge rosemary fan, so I used thyme instead.)

Tangerine Tango for 2012

I'm so excited about Pantone's 2012 Color of the Year.  It's Tangerine Tango.  Pantone describes it as "a bit exotic, but in a very friendly, non-threatening way."

One needs to take only a quick look at the Yellow House Knits collection to know that I love orange.  It shows up in at least half a dozen different sweaters.  It's such a great color for little kids--so vibrant and happy, great for boys and girls alike.   So I was delighted to see that orange is finally getting some recognition.

In honor of Tangerine Tango as Color of the Year, I'm offering 10 percent off of any custom sweater that includes tangerine as one of the colors.  The offer is good for all of 2012.  To take advantage of this deal, email yellowhouseknits[at]gmail.com and mention this offer.  I'm excited to create some gorgeous sweaters in tangerine!

Warm Wishes from Yellow House Knits

Beach Drive Beauties

I got an early Christmas present this morning!  The talented Stephanie Piscitelli of Bellini Portraits, from my old stomping grounds of Boston, sent me these stunning pictures of the Beach Drive sweater.  Merry Christmas to me!  Just spectacular!  Thanks Stephanie!

Sisters!

I just had to post this picture of Miss L and Miss H in their coordinating sweaters.  (Miss H is only about a month old--so tiny!)  Such holiday cheer!  Wonder what Santa will be bringing them--I can tell they've both been very good!

Color Inspiration: Animal Wrappers

Here's proof that color inspiration can come from anywhere.  This is wrapping paper that I spotted at PaperSource.  I love how the little bit of taupe keeps it from looking too much like Romper Room.  If I were turning these colors into a sweater, I might even throw some white into the mix.  So playful and vibrant! 

The Knit Menagerie

Further to a previous post about how kids don't really want clothes for Christmas--but recognizing how cool and beautiful knitting is, I thought I'd feature a few Etsy sellers whose items feature the best of both worlds.  These talented folks create beautiful, hand-knit toys for kids.  This post focuses on knit creatures.  Look for a subsequent post to feature other types of toys.

While these fellows are clearly heirlooms in their own right, they are probably even more precious once they've been loved (and loved and loved) by their little caretakers.

Clockwise from top left, with links to the item on Etsy:

Turquoise Elephant by Precious Knits
White Rabbit by Yarn Miracle
Maroon Teddy Bear by My Loose Threads
Yellow Chicks by Beaded Wire

It's a Happy Day

(Anyone else sing a song at camp when you were little called "It's a Happy Day"?)

Maybe it's the infectious smiles on the little models, maybe it's what was obviously a beautiful day, maybe it's that huge yellow flower, or maybe it's the cheerful colors of the sweater, but these pictures of the Klingle Road sweater from photographer Stacey Clack just make me happy!  

Thanks Stacey for the gorgeous sweaters!  If you live in Western Michigan or thereabouts, you owe it to yourself to check out her beautiful work.

Back to the Future

Let's face it: Kids look adorable in baby sweaters, but getting a pile of clothes on Christmas morning is not what every kid wants.  If you're looking for the perfect gift for the special little one in your life, look no further than your own childhood.  Babble has a list of the top 35 vintage toys (and tells you where to get them).  These are all toys that were sold in the 60s, 70s, 80s, and 90s and are still on the market now (although sometimes in a slightly different form--my beloved Strawberry Shortcake is much sexier than I remember her). 

I had so much fun looking at Babble's selection.  I remembered every single one--and think I actually had most of them.  Lite Brite?  Check.  Cabbage Patch Kid?  Her name was "Kerrie Merrie."  Care Bear?  Several.  Pogo Ball?  Loved it!  Snoopy Sno Cone Machine?  Perfect for hot summers. 

November Special Offer

In honor of Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, and Cyber Monday--and to help you get ready for the holidays, save 20% on gift certificates this weekend.  Gift certificates are available in the Etsy shop in $50, $75, and $100 denominations, but shoot me an email (yellowhouseknits(at)gmail.com) if you want a different amount. 

Use coupon code NOVEMBER11 at checkout to save 20% on gift certificates.  The code is valid Friday, November 25 through Monday, November 28 only and is valid on gift certificates only.  

FAQ on 10% Photo Offer

I get a fair number of questions about the 10% Photo Offer (that’s where you can save 10% on a future order if you send a picture of a little one in a YHK sweater), so I thought I would put together a little FAQ. If you have other questions, feel free to email me at yellowhouseknits[at]gmail.com.

Q: Do I have to have purchased the sweater? Does it have to be my child?
A: Nope. The only requirement is that it be a picture of a child wearing a YHK sweater. You don’t have to own the sweater, and it doesn’t have to be your kid.

Q: Does it need to be a professional picture?
A: Definitely not. Snapshots are great.

Q: How many pictures can I send?
A: Well, you can send me as many pictures as you like—more is always better! But you’ll get a discount for each unique sweater/child combination you send. So if you photograph the same sweater on your kid and the kid next door, you’ll get two discounts of 10% off (see below on combining them). If you have three sweaters and photograph all three on the same child, you’ll get three discounts. But if you send four pictures of the same kid wearing the same sweater, I’ll love you for sending so many pictures, but that’s still only one discount.

Q: How do I redeem the offer?
A: When you send the picture, I’ll send you a discount code, which you enter when you check out on Etsy. Super easy.

Q: Can the discounts be combined? Can they be transferred?
A: The discounts can be used separately or stacked. So if you get three discounts, you can combine them for 30% off a single sweater. Or you can save 10% now and save the others for later. Or you can use one yourself and give the other two to friends. (That would make you a very nice friend.)

Q: Can the discounts be used with other offers?
A: In general yes, they can be used with other offers, like the Semi-Annual Sale and the monthly special offers. But read the offers carefully—occasionally I may say that the offer can’t be used with other offers, which includes the 10% Photo Offer.

Q: What will you do with the picture?
A: I’ll post it on the Inside the Yellow House blog and on Facebook so the rest of the world can see how cute it is. But I won’t use it in any other marketing materials without your permission. And I don’t have to use your name or your child’s name if you don’t want me to.

One for ME and One for My Baby (Sister or Brother)

I finished up these sibling sweaters last week and think they turned out adorably (although the color in the pictures below isn't quite right--those red buttons look downright orange).  The sweaters are a gift for a little girl and her little brother or sister, who is due to arrive any day now. 

Since we didn't know the gender of the new baby, we opted to make both sweaters gender-neutral. I love that they coordinate without being too matchy-matchy. 

Because the new baby is a November baby, and sweater season is already here, the sweater had to be really, really tiny. I had such fun making a miniature little sweater (and it knit up so fast!).


Fingers crossed that Mom and Dad send pictures!

Happy 15th Anniversary Mr. Bullet!

Today is my 15th anniversary with my beloved Mr. Bullet (my best friend and trusted knitting assistant (of sorts)). I can't believe it's been 15 years since he first came home with me from a shelter in Elgin, Illinois.  I was a senior in college back then (and I drove across Chicago to adopt him because the local shelters wouldn't adopt to students).  So much has changed in those 15 years.  He's been such a steady rock for me in those years. 

The picture below reminds me of one of my favorite times with Bullet.  (Do you see him about half a block ahead of me?)  It was during the Snowpocalypse last year.  We were shut in the house for days but managed to sneak out of a few hours for a walk through the streets (literally) of Capitol Hill.  He had such fun romping in the snow, and the whole world felt so peaceful. 

This Little Piggy

Sent this custom sweater off to California this morning.  The client's daughter is going to wear the sweater for Halloween as part of a Piglet costume.  Then, after Halloween, she can keep wearing the sweater.  I think that's such a creative idea.  

You may recognize the sweater as a variation on the Somerset Place sweater.  I think it turned out really well.  I especially think the bright pink and brown combination is really fresh and vibrant.  I like it so much that I'm thinking about adding a sweater in a similar color combination to the regular line.  What do you think?

Woodley Road on Etsy Kids

I was so excited to see the Woodley Road sweater on the Etsy Kids page today.  What a fun collection of fall items for kids! 

YHK Sighting!

Trish must have heard my pleas for your pictures of your little ones in Yellow House Knits sweaters because she posted these pictures of her son in his custom sweater.  Isn't he so handsome?!  And he already knows his way around a tractor!

Guessing Game

I'm trying to resist the urge to post a picture of every Etsy treasury that features a Yellow House Knits sweater (gorgeous though they all are!).  But this one posted by La Bella Joya was just too clever to pass up. 

This collection of a collection of seemingly unrelated items does have a theme.  Can you guess what it is?  I had to think about it for a while, but I finally got it--only to discover that someone else already had the same idea.  If you think you know (or you're stumped), click on the treasury to see what we guessed. 

Peppermint Twists

I picked up these red and white buttons when I was stocking up on some other buttons.   I saw them peeking out of their box at me, and I couldn't resist them.  I love how bold and graphic they are--a little bit of 70s mod on today's baby.  And the holes are on the back, so the design of the button isn't interupted by the yarn used to secure the button to the sweater.

These would obviously look great on a red and white sweater.  But they'd also look terrific on a solid red sweater or as an accent to a sweater in a totally different color.  I'm thinking purple or turquoise.  The buttons are about an inch in diameter.

I have FIVE of these buttons only.  All five could go on a single cardigan, or fewer buttons could be used on several sweaters (at the shoulders, on a pocket in front, etc.).  But I don't know if I'll be able to get more.  So speak up now if these buttons are speaking to you! 

Color Inspiration: Fall Wedding

This picture is from a 2000 issue of Martha Stewart Weddings, and--like all things Martha--the colors are amazing.  White pumpkins are my favorite, but I love them paired with the orange and yellows in the flowers.  Gorgeous.  And perfect for a snuggly fall sweater--maybe to wear on a hayride or to eat caramel apples!

Semi-Annual Sale Starts Today!

The Yellow House Knits Semi-Annual Sale is on!  The sale will run until October 23.  All sweaters are 40% off (see the fine print below).  Use coupon code  OCTOBER11 at checkout to take advantage of the discount.

Don't forget the additional special offer for bloggers: and Facebook-ers.  Blog or post on Facebook about the sale before October 16 and receive free shipping on your sale items (in addition to the 40% off) or save 15% on a future order. Postings must include at least one picture of a Yellow House Knits sweater. Email yellowhouseknits(at)gmail.com to let me know where to find your posting, and I will send information about redeeming these offers.

THE FINE PRINT:  Sale applies to in-stock, knit-to-order, and custom sweaters up to size 2 only.  Prices shown apply to the styles and sizes listed; changes may result in additional charges.  Please see the shop policies on the Yellow House Knits Etsy site for the current turnaround time on knit-to-order sweaters, including holiday deadlines and shipping dates.  

Swing Higher!

These photographs of the Potomac Avenue sweater from Amy Tripple in Chicago literally took my breath away.  I think this one is my favorite:

It looks like such an idyllic moment.  Beautiful day.  Beautiful scenery.  Beautiful child.  (Beautiful sweater.)  And there's something about being on a swing that just speaks to me. 

As much as I love that one, all of Amy's pictures are fabulous.  Check out these as well.  Thanks to Amy for the amazing pictures!

Fa La La La La La La La La

Well, the halls may not be decked just yet, and there are no boughs of holly to be seen anywhere in D.C.  But it's officially the holiday season at Yellow House Knits.

If you are thinking about a Yellow House Knits sweater for a little one in your life this holiday season, I encourage you to order sooner rather than later.  The absolute last day to order sweaters will be November 15 (November 1 for international orders, including Canada).  HOWEVER, I will close the holiday queue early if it fills up.  So please don't wait until November 14!

All U.S. holiday orders will ship FedEx Ground by December 18.  International orders will be sent U.S. First class mail and will ship by December 4.  If you want expedited delivery, delivery tracking, or Priority Mail, let me know and I'll send you a quote for the additional charges.

Of course, in-stock sweaters and gift certificates may be ordered until the bitter end.

As always, email me (yellowhouseknits[at]gmail.com) with questions.  Happy Holidays!

So Many Sweaters!

I just got an extra large monitor, which I have positioned vertically.  It's perfect for browsing Etsy!  I love seeing so many products (esepcially sweaters!) at once. 

Park Road Cardigan

I just put this variation of the Park Road sweater in the mail.  Katya loved the colors of the Park Road sweater, but she wanted a cardigan rather than a V-neck pullover.  So we changed the neckline and added some buttons--and look how great it turned out!  The pop of turquoise in the buttons is an especially fun touch. 

I think this sweater is a great example of how existing sweater designs can be tweaked to fit your needs.  You're limited only by your imagination!

Semi-Annual Sale Dates

Hard to believe that the Semi-Annual Sale is almost upon us again.  The Yellow House Knits Semi-Annual Sale will run from October 9 to October 23. The Semi-Annual Sale is your chance to get gorgeous handknit baby sweaters at a significantly reduced cost. Order a few for holiday gifts!

All sweaters will be 40% OFF. Please be aware that the queue fills up very quickly during the sale, so the wait for knit-to-order sweaters may be longer for sweaters ordered during the sale.  If timing is an issue--especially with the holidays coming up--plan to order early during the sale.  The turnaround time will be regularly updated on the Etsy site. 

As usual, there will also be an additional special offer for bloggers and Facebookers: Blog about the sale (or post on Facebook) between October 9 and October 16 and receive free shipping on your sale items (in addition to the 40% off) or save 15% on a future order. Blog postings must include at least one picture of a Yellow House Knits sweater. Email yellowhouseknits(at)gmail.com to let me know where to find your posting, and I will email information about redeeming these offers. So schedule your blog postings now!

Quincy Street Cuties

(I couldn't bring myself to title this post "Quincy Street QTs!)

Either way: Cute! Cute! Cute! These pictures of the Quincy Street sweater, from photographer Jennifer Tibbetts are so darn cute! Love those crossed feet on the little boy, and the rosy cheeks on the little girl! And doesn't that chair look so fabulous with the sweater! Perfect, as usual!

The pictures just went up on Etsy--be sure to check them out! Thanks to Jennifer for another set of amazing pictures!

September Special Offer

Today and tomorrow only!  Save 25% off any sweater ordered through the Etsy site.  (Custom orders are not included.)  All sweater orders must be received by midnight EDT on Tuesday, September 20.  Enter code SEPT11 at checkout to redeem. 

Have fun!

Macomb Street Revisited

The buttons on the original Macomb Street sweater aren't available anymore, so I had to swap in some different ones for a two-sweater order I just finished up.  I love the spherical shape and the slight funky texture.  Actually, I think may even like these new ones better than the originals--good thing I stocked up!

A Dog and His Hydrant

These dalmatian/hydrant buttons crack me up every time I look at them.  I think they'll be such a fun addition to a little sweater.  They would work well in pairs--maybe one at each shoulder or on two pockets in front.  Or, how about a cardigan with a series of dogs and one hydrant in the middle?  Charming!

They'd look great with red, obviously.  But for those of you who can tolerate color only in small doses, these would also be perfect on a charcoal gray sweater.

Email yellowhouseknits@gmail.com if you'd like to talk about a custom sweater with these clever buttons.

Fall is in the Air

I'm delinquent in not posting these fantastic pictures of the Woodley Road sweater from photographer Rachel Mazzaferro sooner, but today seems like the perfect day to do it because it's the first day that it feels like fall outside. (I actually saw someone wearing gloves this morning, which seemed like a bit of overkill to me!) And, this sweater just screams "fall" to me. I can almost see the leaves turning colors and floating to the ground against a bright blue sky, with the smell of camp fires and apple cider in the air.

I guess I'm getting ahead of myself.  Well, whatever the season, these little cuties are just adorable! Thanks to Rachel for the amazing pictures!

Ontario Place Beauty

Photographer Alexi Killmer sent me these beautiful pictures of Amelia in the Ontario Place sweater.  Isn't she beautiful!?!

Color Inspiration: Arietta

I love the strong colors and quilt-like look of this oil painting by Yoko.  There are a lot of colors in the painting, and I played around with a bunch of different combinations, before settling on this one.  I think it's so fun and fresh.  Great colors for a girl without being over-the-top girly. 

Breaking Up Is Hard to Do

I almost broke up with Target this weekend. We’ve been teetering on the brink for a while now. When I first started shopping at Target, I was in love with the innovative products, the clean stores, the wide aisles lined with neatly arranged merchandise, and—perhaps most of all—the smiling, happy people sales associates, who were eager to walk to the other side of the store to show me where to find the obscure brand of whatever I happened to be looking for.

But lately, the fairy tale has been much darker. Particularly in the D.C. area, the stores are always a mess, the lines are long, and the people who work there are apathetic at best and more often outright surly. Yesterday, as I tried to maneuver a cart with a broken wheel through a store that looked like a tornado had just blown thrown, I was ready to throw in the towel for good. “If I can’t get it online,” I thought to myself, “it’s not worth having.”

Then . . . I wheeled the cart around the corner and came face to face with the vintage-esque Mountain Dew T shirt I’ve been looking for forever. (Yes, I admit to having an unhealthy relationship with Mountain Dew.) As I snatched up the T shirt, I was suddenly back in love with Target. And as I waited patiently, ninth in line to check out, I admired my new find, and all of the crowds and noise and confusion faded into the background.

It wasn’t until much later that I paused to ask myself: “Am I really that fickle?” Guess so!  Should I be ashamed of myself?

Junior Junior Varsity

Just finished up this custom order for Trish's son.  I love the way it looks a little like a varsity sweater with the stripes on the sleeves.  I continued the sports theme with the baseball buttons at the shoulders, and I'm just so pleased with how it turned out.  

(Speaking of varsity, I can't help but notice that the colors call to mind the blue and maize of my alma mater, the University of Michigan.  Go Blue!)

The Bus Stops Here

I love the old-timeiness of these bus scrolls from Transit Design and think they would be such a clever way to memoralize one's past "bus stops," so to speak. 

Here's where I've stopped:

Sewickley

Evanston

Pittsburgh

Cambridge

Ann Arbor

Memphis

Washington, DC

It's been quite a trip.  What would your scroll say?