Pictures

I took some pictures today. Hats. Again, some came ok and some not. I guess I'll have to rinse and repeat ;) And it was a particularly hot day today. I'm imagining myself wearing those 7 capes for another photo-shoot, yikes! It's hard to take pictures when you are doing it alone. But today I was lucky to have a neighbor help me. Although the pictures are not all good. I guess I'm a perfectionist so that is why I do it myself. I really don't like taking pictures, that is why I don't do it the second I make something but wait sometimes even for years to make them (one scarf in particular).
I'll see what pictures I can save and as for the others I'll have to repeat them again. Third time is a charm, right? ;)

Working

Another pattern is written, one crochet cape. I've done all pictures needed to explain the crocheting.
I also filmed another video on how to finish the cape. And I started to write another pattern for a knitted cape. I wrote all the materials and sizing in EU and US ways.
Tomorrow I am going to my friend's dad funeral, so I probably won't be able to work. Maybe in the afternoon.
I would love to be able to write all patterns that are finished by the 15th of April. I keep putting myself under a stress, but I want to work on some summer items which I want to finish before the end of May. I want to bring them to the sea with me so I can make some outdoor pictures in Greece.
And I want to work on some new designs. Right now it feels I don't have much patterns to offer when in fact I do. :)
I bought a notebook to draw some of the ideas I have. I don't draw that good but it's good enough to know what I want to make. And beside each design I write little notes that help me make the designs better :)

Closet done!

I finished cleaning the closet today, yay! It wasn't that hard as usual. I keep throwing things out soon I won't have anything to wear, lol. What's not logical is that I have too many summer shirts and not enough winter sweaters. Knitwear/crocheter doesn't have sweaters??? :)))
That's because for the last 5 years I've been knitting gloves and smaller things. And those are mostly sold. I will have to make myself a few sweaters. Although I am always warm, maybe that's why I don't have a need for bulky sweaters and the thinner ones take time to knit/crochet. I did start one thinner a few months ago and I reached the waist. I couldn't decide if I'd like a waistline or not. Probably not, because I'll offer the pattern and I don't want to adjust it to all the sizes.
But first I want to write patterns for items I already made. Which I did for one pattern. I wrote the complete pattern for The House of Capelet and I also filmed the video today that explains how to connect the beginning to the end. The cape is done sideways. It's one of the 7 I'll offer.
Last night I thought of 3 names for 3 capes, all I need is to think of the names for 4 of them. And the worst thing about the designing process (for me at least) is coming up with the right name for the item. I am not good at that. Usually I give the item the name that just pops to my head and I can't shake it no matter what! :)

Day 1

I started a big clean today. First I want to clean my closet. I do that before every big weather change. Although I did it last summer ;) I also cleaned my yarn stash last summer and it was gruesome but I finally did it. I need to clean some more now because it accumulated during winter. And I was so busy on my website and other things for the past three months that I need to clean the mess.
It will start with my closet and things and then I'll once again visit the yarn stash. Also, my table is filled with so much paper and stuff, I need to clean that too. So, cleaning for this week ;)

Weekly summary

Last week I went to a physiotherapist so I didn't work as much as usual. People keep telling me to relax more, but I don't know how :) I keep making new things and the old ones are not yet finished. Yesterday I tried to take some pictures but it didn't quite worked as I thought. I do have some good ones of one hat, so it wasn't all lost. But I just want the pictures now and I can be impatient when I want something now. So I will see if the weather will be nice tomorrow and maybe I'll repeat the photo shoot. And if one day someone helps me with the pictures, it would be nice.
As for the list from last week, I filmed another video. It is the video of the finishing technique on the last cape. It's not as long so the editing won't be that hard. Other than that I haven't done anything that I set up to do, so I will repeat the same list for next week or even change some things.

List for next week:
-Write a few patterns.
-Edit one video at least.
-Take pictures of some items.
-Sort out everything I've done so far.

Photos

I was taking some photos today. It was a sunny but extremely windy day. It was so windy that my curls which I did previously straightened, lol! And it seems it will be windy all next week. In fact, according to a weather forecast today was the least windy of all days next week. How unfortunate. I was so hopeful. Previous weeks it was raining now it's sunny but windy. It puts a strain on me taking photos of my designs. Either it's cold or it's hot and I can't really wear wooly designs then.
I might have to take some indoor pictures, although the designs are all for wearing outdoors and I really love taking pictures outdoors. And taking pictures in my room is a mess. I don't have a good background, all my walls need good painting. So I have to put a cloth of a kind behind me which is difficult since I don't have anywhere to attach it to. So I came up with kind of a solution tonight. I might pin the material onto some styrofoam or wooden tiles which I'll put on top of my wardrobe. That way I can have a straightened material as a background behind me. I'll see if I can try that tomorrow morning. At least a few pictures from today's photo shoot are workable, which is good.

Resting

Well, not resting per se, but it was the last day of physio. I was in physio for 5 days only, but this week it seemed I had a regular business because I went at the same time. And weekend now seems as a small vacation :)))
If I can do that with my business somehow, maybe I'll have a different view of things. But for that to happen I would have to go out of house and I really don't know where I could go and work. I may find some solution in summer (if it's not too hot), but I don't know how to do it in winter. Something to think about.
Anyway, I am taking a rest today. Watching Miss Marple and crocheting a shirt. One of the future projects. I would love to get up early tomorrow and take some photos of my other work. It's high time to start working on the older patterns since I have some new design ideas.

Sunny

Today was a sunny yet cold day. I was out as usual, going to a physiotherapy. When I came home I decided to finish the last cape. I wanted to film it one way but it didn't seem possible. Then I decided to add a few more rows to it and tried the ending in a different way and it was a success! I even filmed the ending and I did it in a lightbox. Hopefully it will look all right when I see it on my laptop.
Now I am working on the loopy vest again. I want to use all the yarn till Tuesday so I can see how much more I need to buy. I would also like to finish the hooded scarf and Victoria set. But on the other hand, the most important thing for me is to write patterns for all 7 capes. The patterns are actually written, but I need to add pictures during the work and measurements. Hopefully I'll complete them by the end of next week. Fingers crossed! ♥

Crocheting

I continue crocheting the vest. I even want to call it Jelek vest, it's kind of a joke, but I will see if I'll call it that. I went to the supply shop to order some more yarn because I know I won't have enough. It should arrive next Tuesday. No matter, I have enough to work on till Tuesday.
The weather should be nice on weekend, so I hope I'll "persuade" myself to take some pictures outside. It's tedious to do it alone, but what else can I do. I can't wait for others to help me, so once more I will have to do it myself.
I took some photos for some patterns, step by step photos.

Yarn change

Yesterday I started the new design with one yarn and after I reached nearly the end of the 100g. skein I decided I don't like the look of it. So today I went to a nearby store and bought another yarn. Unfortunately they didn't have enough of it, but the shop owner was polite and said he will order some more if I need it. Luckily I will be getting the same lot since it's the same distributor. And it's a fine light beige color too. The project comes nicely. And the stitch can be done in crochet and knitting, which is great! I even have the name for the collection, Loopsies! :) Although I still don't know how many designs I will make for the collection. I only envisioned 3 for now, well it's more like 6, but 3 in crochet and 3 in knit.
I keep adding new designs and the old ones aren't finished yet. Well, classic me ;)

Monday

It was a relaxing day of sorts. I went to my first appointment with the physiotherapist and it went well. I will probably go there every day this week, maybe more, I'll have to see. After that I went for coffee with a friend. I also bought one skein of yarn to try a project I've been thinking of lately. I tried it already with some yarn I already have but after a bit of crocheting (yes, it's a crochet garment), I realized I won't have enough. And that yarn I bough out of country so no chance of buying more. The project looks quite well, but since it's a double loop stitch I won't know how much I'll need until I use at least that 100g. I bought.

Weekly summary

This one is a record. I finished all tasks I set last time very quickly. Video channel is opened and I posted one video. I also finished newsletter linking and I sent email to my previous subscribers and some of them signed up. It's not a huge number, but to me this is not a numbers game. I always start slowly which is ok with me. Slow and steady wins the race ;)
And tonight I'm going to the movies. So everything is finished and I feel weird. This is the first time, lol!
It feels there are no tasks left, but of course there is. I do better when I have tasks, even if I don't complete them in time. I always have something to do, even if it's only designing. But now all that is really left that's important is writing new patterns.

What I'd like to do next week:
-Write one complete new pattern.
-Make one new video (see the list).
-Take out all knit/crochet designs I want to take pictures of, block them and take pictures.
-Edit pictures and upload them to my tablet.
-Edit one more video.
-Write one more blog post.

Relaxing saturday

Today is my relaxing day. I am watching TV, sitting with my friend, relaxing ;)

Finished!

I am the kind of person that runs faster when she sees the finish line. That said, I stayed to wee mornings to finish my membership access. Good thing that I did, because a few minutes ago someone registered with me, even though I don't have any free patterns just yet. I am making them yes, and I actually wrote one completely, but I want to edit videos for that one. Why not, when I already filmed it ;)
So... I finished the website and and satisfied. Today I exported all my newsletter contacts from my previous list. Most of them were very, very old, more than 15 years. So I grouped them in sections and sent emails to 9 groups. There were about 20% non-deliveries, but there was one subscriber, yay! Actually, I am yet to see how many there will be. This was about hour or two after I sent the emails.
And it was lucky that I managed to finish my membership access, because there was one website subscriber also. I actually don't like how WP is handling those registrations, that is why I was up so late. I wanted to make sure everyone will get how the registering works. And I explained it on a separate page. But I am always here for help, so I expect there won't be problems at least not at the beginning :)
Now I can concentrate on relaxation for a few days and to get back to designing.

"Just a little bit"

I'm reminded of a line from HIMYM, when a doctor says to Lilly "Just a little bit" to anything "bad" she wants to try while pregnant :)))
And in my case, I'm nearing the end of my current website process. I will let my friend know what to do with my site in the future. But for now I am satisfied with my website. Everything should be functional soon. I am just adding some membership access, so I can focus on my new patterns.
I already have 2 free patterns so I would love to space them out till I go to the sea in June :)

Feeling the day

Yay, I went out of my room :))))
I went to the doctor to reschedule an appointment I missed because I overslept :P And then I had to finish some smaller things and everything went so smoothly that a friend suggested I played the lottery, because it seemed it was my lucky day. We met with another friend which we accidentally bumped into and went for a coffee. So it was a very nice day, although the wind was not much helpful ;) A friend even offer to help me with my website, but I will leave it for later in the year. Right now I want to make this one functional and if everything goes well, then I'll accept his help to make me another website which won't be in Wordpress. I only made it in WP because it's user friendly and I didn't need to learn much. But if it all goes well with my friend, I'll choose another platform, which I really wanted back in 2014 when I bought the hosting. The best thing is that I won't loose anything :)
Now I am ready to begin my membership process, and after I finish with that I can set all up completely. And more important, I can get back to my real job and that is designing which I very much miss. Especially since I still need to write at least 12 patterns, take pictures and start new projects. So fingers crossed that I finish everything about my website by Monday, especially since I start my physio and I want to be able to do exercises without too much time spent on my laptop.

New patterns uploaded

It was a tedious job, but I did it completely! I uploaded all my patterns to 3 marketplaces and I also uploaded them to my website. It took some hours.
I have them on my new site here: http://www.aimarro.com/shop/
And I also have a free knitting pattern for Newsletter sign up here: http://www.aimarro.com/offer/
Now on to another thing. There are so many things I still need to do, but I would first like to create a membership option for my website. That would be extremely helpful for my free patterns. I first need to install plug ins for that and then work on my next free pattern. I would love to publish it soon. It is a crochet pattern for fingerless gloves. So now I'm looking into some tutorials that will help me make my site for members. Hopefully it won't take me long, because then I would have to make some other pages, like the Info page to tell people how they can access my patterns. And that should not be complicated, because people love simple things :)
I miss crocheting and knitting, because for days I am doing everything else but that. And the new ideas keep popping in my head no matter what I do. I am really overtired. And just to add, this is the way I do it, it doesn't mean everyone else have to do the same. The reason is that I don't have anyone else to ask for help. Well, I do, but that would take a long time, they have their own commitments. And I don't have money to invest in paying someone to do it. So this is the only way I can do it right now. Hopefully, that won't be an issue in the future. At least this way I'll learn the ropes and when one day I can invest more money in my business by hiring someone to do these things for me, I can keep an eye on the process and tell them exactly what I want because I experienced it this way.

Done and done!

I just saw my weekly summary, otherwise known as yesterday's post and I see that most of my tasks are done!
I opened a video channel. Although I didn't know that it was already opened when the account on google was created and that was 5 years ago. But I uploaded my video and added a few things, like a subscribe button to the video. I first set the video to private, but since I wanted to make a blog post about it and link the video, I had to finish everything about the video first so I can share it publicly.
So I did just that. And now the video is public.
I also wrote my first blog post on my new website which I connected to the video. That will be the first tutorial video. I also included a link to Tutorials on my web site. I wish I could make as many videos right now! But that is not possible. So I will have to organize myself, but I leave that after I publish my website completely.
Last night I finished the newsletter linking also. I tested it and it works fine. I downloaded some plug ins that will help me with my future free patterns. I need to examine them, but I currently have no free patterns other the one that is linked to my Newsletter. So that is my current goal. However, I do have one crochet pattern completely done. I just need to edit a video that will show how I crochet the gloves (only major parts, not the whole gloves). So after I do that, I can post a free pattern.
The only thing left to do from my tasks list is go to the movies :)

Weekly summary

I'm a bit tired to write, so I'll try to be quick this time.
It was a productive week. I've set some tasks and added some more during the week and put lists on my board.
The main thing is that I finished my first video. I did voice over and everything looks good. Not great, because my equipment is not so high, but it all seems watchable and that was the main thing.
However, I haven't set up my video channel yet.

I also completed my 6 capes, all buttons are sewed and everything. I haven't done the last one yet. I need daytime for that and last week I woke up pretty late, because I do most of my work at nights. So I need more time to sleep. I am tired but a goodnight (or day in my case) sleep is a must!
I organized my patterns, the ones that needs to be written. I made a list and I already wrote 3 of them. Those are the three easiest to write, but still.
I also finished re-writing all my published patterns. These two (video and re-writing) were the major successes for this last week! Because some patterns need a link to this one video. And all patterns have links to my website and newsletter at the last page. So this was my main focus till now.
I also contacted a friend to suggest me how to link my future free patterns to my newsletter. He helped and I installed some plug-ins on my wp site and I will now focus on that. Hopefully, that will be my main focus next week. After that is done, I can finally open my site for business! :)

What I want to do next week:
-Open a video channel.
-Post an I-cord video.
-Finish the newsletter linking.
-GO TO THE MOVIES! :)))

First video done

Yes, I finally made the whole video, yay! I recorded the voice over and added some music. I also did some smaller editing in addition. It took me 3 rendering tries, because I forgot to write additional info and finally the video is complete! Now I have to open a channel and upload the video and see what else I have to do to it before I publish it.
And afterwards I want to put the link to it in my patterns and also write a blog post about it on my website. I also want to finish all other things involving my newsletter, which includes me researching some plug-ins a friend sent me the links to.
Meanwhile, I am working on my friend's hooded scarf, which is done in garter stitch and also I will offer it one day as a free pattern. I already have 4 patterns I want to offer for free (not including sets for some of them, which I'll work on later in the year). Two of those are crocheted and two are knitted.
Sweeping declaration (Marshal's influence, lol), I will open my website for public by the end of next week!

Editing

Today is an editing video day. I recorded my voice over, but it was like I was talking out of the barrel. I am doing it on laptop, so it has it's own mic. Not only that, but my headphones also have mic. And I have a separate mic. So I was sure I recorded with my stand alone mic, but I actually recorded it with either laptop's or headphones' mic. I had to make sure I am recording with my stand alone mic, although I know it's not a professional one, it's a very cheap mic, but nevertheless it's better than those other two put together. So I was going through my sound settings and finally after a few hours I was able to set it up. Windows - user friendly my ass! I found my mic as some device that hasn't got mic in the name as a disabled device. Luckily I pressed my left mouse button and enabled all devices under mic settings.
That's it. I'm not inspired to write today.

Barefoot sandals pattern finished

I finished another pattern today. It's for barefoot sandals. Crocheted pattern. So that is 3 patterns in 3 days. Not bad, but expected. From now on it won't be like that, because with these sandals I finished the 3 most easiest patterns that already had pictures of them in work. So everything was prepared, all I had to do is write them and check them.
Other 4 patterns I need to write are for 4 already photographed sweaters/shirts. One of them is easy, it requires only 2 sizes because it's a very wide shirt. Also 7 patterns for capes. That's 11 patterns in total. And beside those, there are 2 more patterns for things I started but never finished. Although one of those is a set, but I will probably make it into an e-book, so I counted it as one.
Now I would like to finish the video for crochet I-cord. I've procrastinated on that for too long. I should have done it at a time when I made an editing the first time. But I was so into re-writing patterns I couldn't stop. I knew if I stop I would not get back to it soon, because it was a very tedious job, much of copying and pasting.
Also, a friend gave me some solutions to my newsletter conundrum, so I would love to finish that too. Actually, all these things: re-writing, videos, newsletter; are connected. When I complete them, I would be able to finally publish my website. And then I can get back to pattern writing and designing new things.

Another one done

I wrote another pattern today. It is for the hat and it wasn't that hard to write. In fact, all my patterns are written for at least one size and I've put some notes about other sizes. Only clothing items take much time, others not so much. Well, depending on an item. For instance, knitted capes need pictures for short rows explanation. I haven't done them during making, so I need to do it afterwards.
I also bought some cotton yarn today. I couldn't resist :) I woke up, not even drank coffee and run out to buy the yarn. Yes, silly me :) I couldn't decide on the color. It is for a dress/tunic that I plan to make for this summer and I wanted some bright colors. But I couldn't decide between variegated colors and single color yarn. So I went with beautiful yellow color! I love yellow and it was a toss up between turquoise and yellow. And since I already made something in cotton turquoise yarn, it wasn't hard to decide to buy yellow cotton. I could just imagine the dress/tunic on me when I get tanned in June on a beautiful Greek beach :)
That's why I need to write these patterns quick, so I can start making new things. Not to say that I haven't started yet, because I have, but I do them only when I finish the work I set for that day.

Nice day

It was a nice day today considering I got food poisoning yesterday. But all went well.
I wrote down what patterns I need to write. I don't know if I will write them all this month, but I would love to, because I have new designs that want to get out of my head :)
And I wrote one pattern today already. It is a knitting pattern for hat that is a part of the set Inverted Cable set. I put it as a "similar pattern" at the end of some other patterns without even having it done. So I had to write it first. I only took one photo of it, not on me, but I hope I can take pictures of my hats this week. The weather is nice, and all I have to do is wake up early so I can take pictures outside.
I also sewed buttons to all capes. So now all capes are done except that last one. Those patterns should be easy to write, I just need to decide how many sizes to write. I want 2 sizes for adults, but I don't know if I want kids sizes. That would need some researching which I am not up to right now. Too much other things I need to do. So, I will decide in time. Maybe I'll write only adult sizes now and if the demand for kids sizes is high, then I'll make those patterns separately.
That's it for today. ♥

Finally finished

I finally finished re-writing all patterns, yay! It was a long and very tedious process but it had to be done. I only need to re-write the pattern that is currently in testing, but I will do it tomorrow, since all testers are satisfied with the layout and no errors were found.
Tomorrow I will organize all patterns that need to be written, so I can start writing them, because I have some new designs in mind and I already started on one yesterday while I was resting from pattern re-writing. If I clog my laptop more than it already is, I will make myself another chaos :)
It's better to finish designs that are already made. I don't need to take pictures right now, I will do that later. Although 4 more designs already have pictures. But the capes don't, nor some hats, scarves and gloves.
All I can think right now are new designs, so I have to finish this before I continue with them :)

Weekly summary

So for this week I've done the landing page, but I still have to test it. And that's it for the main goals I set myself to do :))) When I started re-writing my old patterns I was determined to finish them all. Otherwise I wouldn't be able to post them all on my site. And I am almost done. I could have finished them today, but I've decided to relax, knit and watch Castle instead :) There are 14 slippers pattern waiting to be re-written and I hope that I'll be up to it tomorrow.
It funny how I think I can done all that I list for next week :) It seems there is enough time for everything. But most of the last week I was getting up very late and couldn't do things I can only during day. That's why I chose to re-write the patterns instead, I can do that anytime. But I underestimated how much time it would take me to do that, because no matter that the patterns are already written I needed to concentrate quite a bit on over 50 patterns! And they look the same, only the colors differ from pattern to pattern, so some things are routinely done which always makes it difficult, because I keep the routine in my head instead of writing it on a piece of paper.
So now I will copy the things I've planned for last week and haven't done for the following week, knowing quite well that I'll think of something else in between and completely dismiss what I'm about to write, lol. Well, at least I started writing these tasks on paper (quite a number of them) and attaching them on the board next to me.

Tasks to do next week:
-Finish editing my video (voice overs in particular).
-Complete all capes.
-Open a video channel.
-Post at least one video.
-Finish re-writing all published patterns.
-Organize patterns that aren't published and start the process of writing them.
-Make a video about finishing the last cape.
-Edit both videos for crochet gloves

Working all the time

I am still working on patterns. I am finishing up with gloves right now. It is a tough one, but I will succeed it. After that, the only patterns that are left are slippers, which I think will be easy since they are most completed pattern. So just copy and paste.
After that I will get back to finishing the video so I can post it and link everything.
Re-writing patterns took all my last week, so I am shifting all my other responsibilities for next week.

Friday

I woke up very late today. I was re-writing patterns till noon and then went to bed. I re-wrote most of them. Slippers, 2 hats, socks and 2-3 gloves are all that I need to re-write. I may finish everything but slippers for now and then work on my landing page and that video. This is tiring me very, very much and I don't want to make mistakes since I am re-writing patterns to make them better. I need a small vacation :))) I wish I could sleep it off somehow ;)
I also picked today to quit with some of my bad habits. I will see how that will go ;) I'm determined to make this year my turnaround point. The problem with me has always been procrastination, but I have a strong goal in front of me and when I'm in this state, I am determined to get there asap. So either I do nothing or do everything, hehe ;)

And yet...

I've re-written the easier patterns first. Now I have to do the hardest ones. I am already overtired, but I am driven to the point of breaking (which I won't). So from now on the posts will be about me writing the patterns again.

Still re-writing

And I'm very tired. I might make a short break tomorrow. Maybe I'll rewrite only a few patterns, I'll see.
For now I did some gloves and barefoot sandals, cuffs and such. I am going to re-write bags next because they have I-cord stitch which I want to release a video of. So those patterns need to be released soon.
That's it for today. I currently am very tired and will go to bed soon. Zzzzzz.... ;)

More re-writing

I'm determined to re-write most patterns first before I move to something else. I need to input some links into patterns so that is the most sensible solution for me now.
I already filmed one video, it's only left to record a voice over and input and render it all. After that I have to open a channel and upload the video and do everything else to connect it to my site. That is why I want to finish with patterns first. At least that is my own logic :)
I already re-written all jewelry patterns, so Yay for me! And the knitted boot cuffs are also done. But I made myself a slight "problem". I inserted one link that doesn't exist yet into one of my boot cuffs patterns. It is a link to a hat that is made, but not written nor do I have a picture while wearing it. And since it is a hat pattern, I at least have to look presentable in the picture :) I have taken a picture of the hat on a white background and inserted that picture into the pattern (with the link to a non existent pattern), but I want the wearing-hat-one too!
So I usually solve one problem and make myself another one, lol. Well, I'll see what I can do. ;)
This time I wrote my short and long term goals on post-its and pinned them on the board above my working area. And I already crossed some smaller things :) Now onto re-writing more patterns. I think my tomorrow's post title would be the same :)