Presque Isle has launched!

Finally! After months of crocheting, writing, organizing, and picture taking the Presque Isle shop on Etsy.com is open for business.

I'm sure some people expect a ton of responses and loads of orders the moment their store opens, but honestly, I'm happy to have a slow start. I need to work out the kinks before people start ordering things.

The CIRRUS beanie in gray and teal.

My friend Andi ordered a CIRRUS beanie from me and I still need to sew the label in, make the hang tag, and craft my follow up emails. She also requested a pair of gloves to match the beanie, and gave me some great advice on promoting custom orders in my receipts and thank you messages.

I have so much to learn!

For example, I didn't think I'd really need a logo, but as I create the hang tags I realize a logo would be a nice sign-off. So now I'm figuring out if I want to design one on my own or get my designer BF to do it for me :)

Anyway, check out Presque Isle when you have a chance and let me know what you think!

Beanie Photos

The one thing holding me back from launching my etsy store: photos.

My "Nor'easter" beanie crocheted with camel hair
and bamboo yarn.

I'm still trying to figure out the best way to showcase my beanies.

I have some pics I took out at the San Francisco Botanical Gardens, but I don't think they show all the angles and details I want to focus on.

Plus there's no size reference. So I bought some mannequin heads and I ordered a photo lighting kit, complete with two photo light tents, eight backgrounds, two high output lights and a camera tripod.

I started to build my own light tent from cardboard and tracing paper, but I kept getting weird shadows from the frame.

The black, purple, and blue beanies are mine.
(The solid purple one isn't.)

So I'm thinking, unless I want to take pictures of my beanies on the heads of my rock climbing crew (like I did here), it's going to be the beginning of October before I get my store launched. **sigh**

Actually, using my friends as models isn't a bad idea. It's just that if I want to sell my beanies it's probably best if the hats aren't first on the heads of any "dirty little freaks" -- as we so affectionately call each other.