Two more days left!

Hey everyone! 

So there is only two more days left to enter into this week's giveaway from Passionate Knitting.  We are offering a 50% off discount, which has no expiration!  We need a minimum of 20 participants so spread the word.  Entry details can be found in the post below ;-)

Check out the store as well as we are preparing for our Spring 2013 collection release on April 1st.  

Good luck! 

Nykisha

Weekly Giveaway!

Here we are at the beginning of another week, which means another giveaway!  This week's giveaway is a 50% off discount off of ANY order at Passionate Knitting.  And the great thing about this, is that there is no expiration date for this discount!

However, I can't just give this away that easy! lol In order to be entered into this week's drawing, all that you need to do is the following three things:

(1) Subscribe to Passionate Knitting's blog through email (there is a box to the right where you can enter your email address);
(2) Like Passionate Knitting's page on facebook; AND,
(3) Follow and favorite Passionate Knitting on Etsy.

Is that it? That's it! But there is one caveat to make this interesting :-)  This week's giveaway will only take place if there are more than 20 people that participate.  So once you complete items 1-3 above, comment below stating you've done it.  As soon as we have 20 or more participants, we can go ahead with the drawing at the end of the week!

So check back here often, and if we aren't up to 20 by 30 Mar, start spreading the word.  I'll come in every day and let everyone know where we're at.  Finally, on 31 March the winner will be chosen anonymously and will be notified on the same day.

I would love to continually increase my customer base, and one of the ways in which to do that is through social media.  And I can only cater to those who can view my page and follow me, so lets have fun with this one!

Good luck everyone :-)
Nykisha

Such a Productive Weekend!

Happy Monday everyone :-)

So to follow up with what's been going on this weekend, I got a lot accomplished despite the fact that I was busy all day Saturday for a family function. I'm finally starting to get the hang of prioritizing orders and getting them out, even before their ship date!  Every day seems to be getting that much easier, and I feel like Passionate Knitting and everything about it, is falling right into place. 

For everyone who is interested, this weekend I worked on pink bunny slippers and some more Easter eggs. I finally was able to take the time out and chronicle the steps that I took to create my slippers, so that you can see first hand, what goes into making my products! So here goes lol 

The first step was to create the sole of the slippers and attach my tags. As you can see I doubled up on the sole to make sure that they were nice and comfy! The pink one is 100% cotton just so that the kids' feet can breathe :-) 

Then I attached both the inner cotton sole and the bottom ... 

So really that was the hardest part, believe it or not!  The upper body, as well as attaching the pom pom tail and ears was a piece of cake.  Here is the finished product from a few angles ... 

I can honestly say, that these slippers were probably the easiest accessory that I've made to date.  They are so quick to make and are absolutely adorable.  If you're interested in these slippers, they are still available at Passionate Knitting, where our Easter sale is still going on until this Sunday, March 31st.  If you aren't aware, just use coupon code EASTER during checkout.  

Now my Easter eggs are still in the works, but I fully intend upon sharing with you all once I get some complete! 

On another note, if you have any suggestions on what you would like me to write or what you would like to see, please don't hesitate to comment, I love hearing from my readers! :-) 

Nykisha .... 

The Weekend is Here!

Hi everyone, and Happy Thursday!

To catch everyone up, this entire week I've spent working on branding my items that I sell, and feel that I have truly found my niche market.  I had to ask myself, "How can I be different from the other knitters and crocheters that are all doing their best to sell their handcrafted items?"  "How can I reach a market that isn't being touched right now?", and "What market isn't really being reached by us handcrafters?"  After working through the night for the past few days, it dawned on me that creating items that can be considered family heirlooms, something that can be passed down generation to generation, is something that I wanted to delve into. 

And it worked!  I am getting so much more traffic to my store and am always receiving new ideas and suggestions on what the customers would like to see offered by me.  From wedding blankets/afghans that can be personalized with the bride and groom's name (along with the date of the wedding), to a customized NFL NY Giants afghan, I feel like I have truly found my niche!  I am so happy!  So even though, the sales and customers may not be there (compared to some of the older and more well known Etsy stores), I finally feel like I have found my little corner of the knitting/crochet world that I fit into :-)

Ok .... so since tomorrow officially starts my weekend, I wanted to also share with all of you, what I plan on working on for the next few days.  I have a few orders in the works, to include the Giants blanket shown above, but am also working on another set of Easter eggs and these adorable bunny slippers! 

Stay tuned throughout the weekend, as I'll be updating to show the various steps that I'll be going throught to get these projects finished. 

Until then ...
Nykisha :-)

Etsy Blog Aggregator!

Hi everyone :-)

So today is a great day ... I have been placed on the Etsy Blog Aggregator, which is a site that compiles all of the 'IT' blogs posting about Etsy and handcrafted items.  Such an ingenious idea!  Marketing, networking and doing my research is really helping Passionate Knitting hit it's niche market and get my produuct out there.  I'm so excited, as I'm one step closer to being a successful business owner and gaining more clients and sales!

Here's more info on the Etsy Blog Aggregator:
"Etsy Blogs Unite: The Best Blogs Talking about Etsy and Handcraft"
 http://etsyblogs.fanchimp.com/

If you scroll down to the bottom, you'll see a drop down menu of all of the authors that are being featured on this aggregator.  Look around and show your appreciation to not just me, but to all of the talented creators out there!

Seeya!
Nykisha

Phew!

Could anyone have told me that promoting your own business is such hard work? ;-)

From getting my  business cards delivered, to establishing my brand, I've now focused on reaching out to my social media sites these past few days.  And, I can honestly say that I'm mentally exhausted after all of this!!! But guess what?  It's all worth it in the end, and I know that I will be successful. 

But I need to ask each of you: what do you think is the most visited or seen social media site out there today?  Is it still facebook?  Twitter?  Google+?  Any input would be appreciated, as I'm still 'learning' how to actually advertise (and not socialize) on social media! 

Thanks!!

Weekly Giveaway! DOUBLE FEATURE!

So another week is upon us, and what better way to start it, than to enter into yet another free giveaway?  However, this week's giveaway is a double feature!  You not only get a hand crocheted Easter basket perfect for this season, but also a $10 credit towards any purchase made at Passionate Knitting (www.etsy.com/shop/passionateknitting)!  For details on the Easter egg basket, please visit the following link that will  bring you directly to the listing in my shop: https://www.etsy.com/listing/126266662/hand-crocheted-easter-egg-bunny-basket?. 

For this week's giveaway, all you need to do to enter is respond to this post with why the item/s being given away will make someone smile.  Will your daughter light up because she loves Easter egg hunting?  Will your son love the blue color of his Easter egg basket?  Will your wife or mother love the uniqueness of this hand crocheted item? Or, will this $10 credit help you get that cowl you've been eyeing for weeks now?

Be creative, and share your stories ... this is ultimately what will link us all in some way shape or form.  The internet is such an amazing thing, and we can all reach out to one another, and create long lasting friendships around the world! 

Names for this particular drawing can be provided between March 18th 2013 and March 23rd, and the drawing will be held on March 24th! 

Once the drawing has been completed on March 24th, I will then contact the winner on personalization options and shipping instructions. 
Good luck!! :-)

Happy Monday!

Good morning everyone ;-) Happy Monday !

So today begins another work week, and as many of you know, that's always a hard thing to face especially since the weekend always seems to fly by so fast (I know mine did)!  But I can honestly say that even though my weekend flew by, it was definitely well spent at home crocheting.

You're probably wondering, "Did I just read that right?  Did she say crocheting?  I thought she was a knitter!?", but yes, you read right.  I was actually crocheting this weekend!  Crocheting for me has been something that I was taught at a very young age, by my grandmother, and stuck with me like riding a bike through the years.  I never really picked it up again, but instead took up knitting as something new to learn and experiment with.  However, I picked up my hooks this weekend, and I fell right back  into the swing of things. 
The project that I have been working on, and completed was a set of 12 Easter eggs for my Etsy shop.  They came out absolutely adorable and were so easy to make!  From start to finish, I can say it took me a little over two days for everything ... They are worked in the round, and the oddments like ears, beaks, wings and pom pom tail are all sewed on with a yarn needle.  So simple!  :-)

They're bigger than they look, and actually came out to be about 4 in tall (excluding the bunny ears)!  If you're interested in these, I offer them in my shop in sets of three, where you can customize which three you receive with your order (stripes, bunny, chick or any combination of three).  Check it out at: www.etsy.com/shop/passionateknitting!

Also, because the Easter season is upon us, I am offering 25% off all orders in my store starting today March 18th through March 31st.  Use coupon code EASTER during checkout, and always remember that not only are new items added daily, each of the items are 100% customizable!  You can't beat that!

Take care, and happy knitting/crocheting!
~ Nykisha ~

Weekly Giveaway!

Good morning :-)

So another week is upon us, and what better way to start it, than to enter into a free giveaway?  For this week's giveaway, all you need to do to enter is respond to this post and explain why or how knitting/crochething has impacted your life.  I know not everyone knits or crochets, but it's really interesting to see how one has been touched by such a simplistic, yet long lasting hobby.  Do you have an afghan that was given to you by your grandmother?  Did you receive a baby blanket from a friend?  Be creative, and share your stories ... this is ultimately what will link us all in some way shape or form.  We can really realize that knitting and crocheting is not just a stereotypical hobby that you would expect "older" (for lack of a better word) members of our community to do.  Times have changed, and everyone (and I really do mean everyone) from all walks of life, have indulged in this timeless hobby. 

Names for this particular drawing can be provided between March 12th 2013 and March 16th, and the drawing will be held on March 17th! 

This week's item that will be given away is a set of cute Mickey and Minnie mouse can cozies!! For details on this cozy, please visit my shop, Passionate Knitting on Etsy: www.etsy.com/shop/PassionateKnitting.

Once the drawing has been completed on March 17th, I will then contact the winner on personalization options and shipping instructions. 

Good luck!
~ Nykisha ~

Weekly Giveaway!

Hi my fellow knitters!

So to start off everyone's week right and hopefully brighten your day with a little bit of excitement, I will be offering a free giveaway this week!  Each giveaway can range from something small like a mug cozy to even a larger item like a baby blanket, so keep checking back!  All you need to do to enter into each sweepstake is to respond to this post with your name and how knitting is or will be impacting your life, and I will enter it into a drawing.  Names for this particular drawing can be given between March 4th 2013 and March 9th, and the drawing will be held on March 10th! 

This week's item that will be given away is a cute mug cozy!! For details on this cozy, please visit my shop, Passionate Knitting on Etsy: www.etsy.com/shop/PassionateKnitting.

Once the drawing has been completed on March 10th, I will then contact the winner on personalization options and shipping instructions. 

Good luck!
~ Nykisha ~

One Day at a Time ...

Hi everyone!

I woke up this morning with the deep down feeling that I needed to reach more people, and have an impact on people's lives in some way shape or form.  Fiscal issues with the government and just an overall sense of how to make it ONE DAY AT A TIME, is greatly impacting the general sense of a person's well being.  What truly makes a person happy, when there is so much anger and confusion in the world? 

Ultimately this question is what encouraged me to start a blog... What is it in my life that makes me happy and keeps me going one day at a time?  What is it that I can share with others that will allow them to escape the daily pressures and stresses, and be happy for at least a little while?   I guess the answer to this would be my passion for knitting.  Knitting has truly allowed me to let my mind wander and create unique pieces that I can be proud of.  And to top it all off, knitting doesn't have to be an expensive hobby at all!!

So with that being said, welcome to my blog on "Passionate Knitting"!  Here is a place of comfort, where you can read conversations on knitting and how it impacts my daily life, as well as chat and mingle with others that share the same interests.  Feel free to comment on all of my posts, and let me know how my blog is doing or just to suggest any topic that you would like me to cover! 

Also, please feel free to browse me Etsy shop: www.etsy.com/shop/PassionateKnitting, where you'll find items that I have created for your pleasure!

Happy Knitting!
~ Nykisha ~