Meet Monday with Lilee's Gram Knits

It's Meet Monday time with Teresa and her Etsy shop Lilee's Gram Knits

Such a fun shop to explore through with every knitters dreams of supplies!

Teresa is also offering a giveaway...please see the details after the interview.

Rainbow hand dyed roving wool

What is the first creative memory you have?

Making stationary for presents with my watercolors. I was a kid and i would spend my allowance on a box of envelopes and a pad of lined stationary and I would paint balloons and flowers on the corners of the paper and the envelopes and make stationary sets for people.

What or whom began your creative journey on Etsy?

Hmm....I don't really recall....I am always making things and I think it was someone at the local yarn shop mentioned to me that I should try selling my stuff. I have had a store a long time, with only an few things. I have really only just started working it this year.

How did you come up with your shop name?

My Granddaughter's name is Lilee. Whenever I am knitting something, no matter the shape or color, she will ask me what I am knitting for her, she gets disappointed if the item is not for her. She is one of my most precious inspirations and I wanted to include her in my creative life too.

Fairytale Themed Stitch Markers

Describe what creations you have in your shop?

I have hand spun, hand dyed and other yarns, I have stitch markers and other things to help knitters. I also have a line of up-cycled clothing I am working on. Pretty much if it has something to do with fiber and is brightly colored I am drawn to it.

What inspires you?

Life, Color, My Family

What do you listen to or watch while creating?

I have an I pod and I love to listen to books on it. I don't even have any music on it, just books. I love fantasy and Stephen King. If I am not listening to a book, I like to have the TV on for the noise.....The show doesn't really matter, I think I just like the noise.

Wool Yarn, Sock Yarn

Please share a favorite recipe

My husband is allergic to corn. So there are many things we cannot use around my home, or eat, so I have had to learn to be very resourceful. This is probably one of my favorite recipes. And the most money saving also.







Homemade Laundry Detergent:

1 c borax
1 c washing soda
1 bar of soap (ivory or fels naptha)

First, grate your soap.
Then, combine all ingredients in your jar and shake until well mixed.
Use 1 tbs per load

It doesn't bubble up, but it does get your clothes clean and we save so much money, and Hubby doesn't break out from his allergy.

Where else can we find you?

www.lileesgramknits.com goes to my Etsy shop
lileesgram.blogspot.com/ is where I blog
twitter.com/lileesgramknits is my twitter
www.facebook.com/LileesGramKnits is me on Facebook
lileesgramknits@gmail.com is where you can email me.

NOW LET'S SEE WHAT YOU CAN WIN!!!

***Please remember you do not have to do all of the entries, but the more you do the more chances you have to win!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Hand dyed wool hanging out to dry

Tribute Tuesday with Stockannette

Shout out your tributes for Annette and her Etsy shop Stockannette



Hand knit items for the children, adults and the kitty cats in your life!

Annette has offered a 15% off coupon to my readers with coupon code: FAVERITTE

AND she is offering an item from her shop for a GIVEAWAY!!! Please see all of the details to enter below this interview.

Now let's discover Stockannette

What is the first creative memory you have?

I remember sitting beside my Grandpa while he was playing “Happy Trails to You” on the organ, and he let me hit the sound effect button that made horse-hoof-like clip-clop noises (he also let me clip-clop on “It’s a Small World” and “My Marie,” too).

What or whom began your creative journey on Etsy?

People saying, “You should SELL these!” or asking, “Where can I buy your knits?”

How did you come up with your shop name?

There is a stitch in knitting called "stockinette" (it’s the one that looks like tiny Vs). Since my name is Annette and I knit every day, Stockannette became the name of my Etsy shop!



Describe what creations you have in your shop? My original designs, including a pumpkin hat (for kids and grown-ups!), baby pom pom hats, scarves, and most recently, cat toys.

What inspires you?

There’s nothing quite like seeing someone smile when they put on something I made. Every time we get those cards with family photos on them and I spot someone wearing one of my creations, it brings me joy!

What do you listen to or watch while creating?

The Walking Dead, True Blood, Breaking Bad, Project Runway, John Hughes movies. I love rockabilly and 80s music.

Please share a favorite recipe

Chicken baseballs
3T light cream cheese (softened)
2 tsp. light butter (melted)
4T chopped onion
2T skim milk
a dash of salt and pepper
2 cups cooked cubed chicken
1 tube reduced-fat refrigerator crescent rolls

Combine top 5 ingredients.
Pour over chicken & stir.
Open crescent rolls - make 4 squares (by smushing the diagonal lines together).
Put 1/4 of chicken mixture in the middle of each square. Draw opposite corners together and press to seal ‘seams,’ making into a ball shape.
Bake 20 min at 350○. Makes four (each is 4 Weight Watchers Points, FYI).

Where else can we find you?

Facebook
Twitter
Blog
Pinterest
Handmade Movement Group - mission is to give new and undiscovered Etsy shops a boost of hearts and sales, via kindly “Sneak Attacks” twice a week. Some ‘Sneakers’ call me ‘the Reminder Bee’.

NOW LET'S SEE WHAT ONE LUCKY WINNER WILL GET!



Knit Toy for Cat or Kitten...please see other pics here

Measures approximately 68 inches long. Place in garment bag or knotted pillowcase and machine wash in warm water, tumble dry on low.

***THE WINNER MAY RECEIVE THEIR TOY IN A DIFFERENT COLOR THAN WHAT IS SHOWN IN THE PICTURE***

Now to enter...please keep in mind you do not need to do all of the entries for a chance to win...but the more entries you do, the better your chances are of winning :)

PLEASE refer back to "Where else can we find you?" for all of the links.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Salutations Sunday with Charmingknits

Shout out your salutations for Samantha and her Etsy shop Charmingknits

A shop filled with creative and "charming" handmade knit items, Samantha offers wonderful gift ideas for cooler weather and cute hand knit stuffed toys for the children in your life!

Now let's discover Samantha and Charmingknits

What is the first creative memory you have?

My first creative memory has to be around the age seven and eight. The "easter bunny" had brought me a scane of yarn and a pair of wooden needles. Thats when I learned how to knit. I never did create anything of substance out of that scane, the needles long since broken and forgotten...but thats when I started imagining all the things I wished to knit one day.

What or whom began your creative journey on Etsy?

My aunt mentioned to my mother about putting my creations on etsy. My family was up their ears in knitted items and I am sure my friends were tired of receiving them as gifts. So it seemed like a good outlet for me. Even if no one bought anything my projects had a place to go.

How did you come up with your shop name?

When I think of knitting images of comfort and warmth come to mind. I wrote a few names out with the synonms for comfort but none of them fit. Then I remembered what someone had called one of my items. They said that, "It was charming." Charmingknits was born from there.

Describe what creations you have in your shop?

90% of my shop is knitted items. Most of them are finished projects, but if someone has bought one of my projects I will relist is as a made to order item. This allows people to choose what to buy from a range of all things I can make. The other 10% of the items in my shop are random creative projects I make when I need a break from knitting.

What insprires you?

ALOT! Songs move me. Movies make my heartache. However, what inspires me the most are quotes. Because in a quote there is a whole range of emotions wrapped up in a small amount of sentences. It just leaves you awed.

What do you listen to or watch while creating?

I am addicted to watching HULU while I create. I catch up on my tv shows, watch oldies long since cancelled, and an odd movie here and there.

Please share a favorite recipe

Its so southern of me, but I love country gravy. Once you get the hang of it, making it from scratch is literally the easiest thing ever.

Take some grease (about 2 tablespoons) and put it in a skillet. (Now I prefer to use some butter and a little bit of olive oil. If you use grease make sure the meat was not burned in the pan otherwise your gravy will have a burnt taste to it.)
When the grease is heating up put in some flour. I eye ball it, but I believe its around two table spoons as well.
Once the flour has been absorbed by the grease add a cup of milk doesn't matter what kind (or half a cup of milk and half a cup of water if you are wanting to watch calories)
Bring to a boil
Then turn down to a simmer stirring the whole time.
The heat will activate the flour and within a few minutes the gravy should thicken up. Salt and pepper to taste.

Where else can we find you?

Facebook

Now please visit Charmingknits on Etsy and come back and tell us what your favorite item is!

Welcome Wednesday with KnitClickGo and a Giveaway

Please welcome Lauri and her Etsy shop, KnitClickGo

All knit items for sale are Lauri's own patterns created and made by her. Completely exclusive to Knit Click Go!
**FOR THE MONTH OF FEBRUARY**
To celebrate Valentine's Day and her Anniversary, use Coupon Code LOVE2U at checkout to enjoy 10% off of your purchase.

KnitClickGo has also offered one of her items from her shop for a giveaway...please see the details at the end of this post or check it out under the "Giveaways" tab under my blog header.

Let's meet Lauri and discover her Etsy shop, KnitClickGo

What is the first creative memory you have?

I remember writing oddly enough as a kid (maybe 5th grade). I got really into a project where we had to write a story. I had chapters, characters, everything. Probably a little overboard for the project but I remember thinking I had made a masterpiece!






What or whom began your creative journey on Etsy?
Knitting. When I learned to knit, I learned with a whole group of women at my church. I started making scarves and everyone would "ooh" and "ahh" over them and I thought it was crazy. Just the knit stitch, nothing fancy but my friend Kim Thomas said, "yes, but it's your creative eye and how you choose the yarns and colors and put them together". Just got me thinking, I suppose.

How did you come up with your shop name?
That's a crazy one. I had a shop before and after a bit I got bored with the name and felt it sounded like an Interior Design company or something, so I decided to change it. At the time, my merchandise was knit items and photo cards mostly. So, I thought of "knit" for my items "click" for the photos and "go" because my main knit seller were my sipper sweaters which you take on the go. Cheesy, yes. But, I thought it gave me versatility to make pretty much whatever.

Describe what creations you have in your shop?

I have knit coffee cup cozies (sipper sweaters), knit monsters (toy or pillow) and I knit scarves and other accessories. I've started making phone cozies and iPad cozies (coming soon). I also make cute hair clips (thanks to my 2 year old) and sometimes cards. I love my cards but they don't seem to sell online very well.



What insprires you?
So much! Color, texture, outdoors, lights, laughter. Beautiful photography,

cinematography and movies. Sky, my daughter, my family, God and life. A bit of everything.

What do you listen to or watch while creating?
Well, most of the time I'm in front of the tv while my daughter is sleeping. So, sadly, Parks and Recreation and 30 Rock? Netflix? That's awful, right? Sometimes, it's just nothing and I'm quiet upstairs.

Please share a favorite recipe
Fave recipe? I love this question. I have so many. But, I just finished making some brownies. It's a recipe from Martha Stewart's Baking Handbook. Fudgy Brownies.

Ingredients

1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, plus more for pan
8 ounces bittersweet chocolate, coarsely chopped
1 1/2 cups sugar
4 large eggs
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter an 8-inch square baking pan or heatproof glass dish. Line pan with parchment paper, leaving a 1-inch overhang on 2 sides. Set aside. Place butter and chocolate in a large heatproof bowl set over (but not touching) simmering water; stir frequently until chocolate and butter are melted, about 7 minutes. Remove bowl from heat; let cool to room temperature, 10 to 15 minutes.
Stir sugar into cooled chocolate mixture until combined. Whisk in eggs one at a time, whisking until smooth after each addition. Whisk in vanilla. Gently fold in flour and salt.
Pour batter into prepared pan, and smooth top with an offset spatula. Bake until cake tester inserted in the center comes out with only a few moist crumbs attached, 40 to 45 minutes. Transfer pan to a wire rack to cool completely.
Run a knife or offset spatula around the edges of the pan. Using parchment, lift brownies out of pan and onto the rack. Transfer to a cutting board; cut into 2-inch squares.

Where else can we find you?
Well, I'm everywhere. Ha. Almost.
Twitter
Facebook
Pinterest
Blog: retromodmomma.blogspot.com
Ravelry: www.ravelry.com/people/KnitClickGo
Flickr

Now see what you can win!

I Heart You Pink Valentine Hand Knit Sipper Sweater, Coffee Cup Cozy, Sleeve
***You do not have to do all of the entry options...but keep in mind, the more you do the higher your chances are of winning!


a Rafflecopter giveaway


Share this code on your pages too so your friends, family, followers, fans etc...have a chance to enter as well!
http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/share-code/M2E5OTllNTI3ZTgxM2YxN2MyNGExODJjZGU0ZDc1OjE=/