Rain or Shine?

Well, do I even have to tell you!  It was RAIN again, as we do live in the Maritimes and it is our typical spring weather.

Not sure though if our sales today reflect the rain or the time of year...
We will probably not be able to pinpoint that until we have done another year to see the comparisons,  and track the weather, to see if it is actually the weather influencing the market flow and actual buyers.

It was a slow day indeed for us today!  But it was also a very slow day today for many of the other vendors.  So this tells us it may be the weather!  From today onward we have decided to track the weather with our tracking that we are doing with sales, sizes, colours etc.  We only had one other day slow like today and on that day it was a very miserable day with pouring rain.  Rain seems to be a big factor in our sales and was a topic amongst many vendors saying they have tracked the days of rain occurring and their sales... so this is what prompted us to do the same.

We will be at the market again in two weeks time.  And then we will be there again June 29th!  This will be a BIG day for the vendors and also for the market goers.  Big Changes happening June 29th,  to bring our vendors closer together in a more even flow, occupying less space.  The vendors are very excited and look forward with much anticipation of things happening in a very positive way.

Just a reminder that we will be attending the market after June 29th, once a month for the next 3 months, July, August and September. The dates will be the 4th Saturday of each of those months, being:
July 27, 2013
August 24, 2013
September 28, 2013
Look for us to frequent twice a month again in October, 2013.  That's the plan, Stan!

The market schedule is always posted on our website and updated regularly which can be found at:
http://sockson88.wix.com/socks-made-on-88 
So you can always bounce on over there to check it out at any time...
Thanks, MrB and MsB

posted by MsB of Socks Made On 88         

Ribbed Where's Waldo?

Pretty in pinks and purples!

Reproduction of first Pair of Socks sold at our very first market!

Just adding this picture to have on record on my blog!

We can be twins, twice over!

Both MrB and I have a pair of socks that are gold and also a pair that are orange!  Won't we just look ducky as twins if and when we decide to wear them the same time!  They are bright, they are cheery, they definitely make a colourful statement!

These are the latest ones, that I just kitchenered this morning, washed them and they are now drying.  Note they are not drying this close to the fire, that was only staged for the photo for this post of the blog!  But when they are dry, they will be going into MrB's sock drawer!  I am betting that these socks will get lots of wear this spring, summer, fall and even winter months.  MrB now loves bright socks decked out on his feet!


MsB from Socks Made On 88

Yes it is Spring in Nova Scotia, but...

...you may want to have on your wool socks today! Yes May 15th and we still need a wood fire occasionally, and that is why Nova Scotia is a great place to have your drawer full of wool socks, just like MrB and I do!  :-)  Do you?

It's cool and damp, and we needed to put on a fire this morning to take off the chill in the house today.  These are three of our latest cranked sock pairs, all featuring Opal yarn, which is one of our favourite yarns to use.  MrB just loves Opal yarn!

 

But I must put in a plug for the Shelridge Yarn today too.  I kitchenered a pair socks from that yarn this morning while sitting by the fire.  They feel so good on the hands while grafting the toes, I can only imagine how they feel on your feet!  Oh, I don't have to imagine, I know, because I have a pair.  Shelridge Yarn is also a favourite yarn of MrB's and is probably a close 2nd or 3rd to the Opal yarn we use mostly in production.

MsB from Socks Made On 88

And for the Woodsy Outdoorsman

MrB calls these his Forgot socks!  For anyone who is cranker may realize why he says that.  He forgot to change colours having doing the heel.  But that is OK by me, just makes another unique pair of socks for a special someone.  A someone I think will be a woodsy outdoorsman, and really enjoy the feel of these on his feet inside boots.  It's the Canadian Merino Yarn we use from Shelridge Farms! 

MsB from Socks Made On 88

These are some DANDY!

These are some DANDY!  They are Men's sizes that also cross-over to larger Women's sizes.  We have had more requests for Women's size 11 and 12, so these will be on our show and sell rack soon!

MsB from Socks Made On 88

Market and Open City this Saturday!

Some of our older stock sock pairs will be selling at a reduced price for Open City event on Saturday.

Some new sock pairs that will be for sale just in time for Mother's Day!

Out with some old and in with some new...
MsB from Socks Made On 88

Kitchenering outdoors!

Trying a new needle, I like the feel of it but I am so used to a larger head and eye!

I don't need my glasses to kitchener, so they hang around my neck!  Neat pic though   :-)

All my necessities right at hand , my case that holds my needle tin and scissors, and socks ready to have the toes grafted!

I don't think I sat outdoors too long today, but I did manage to get a bit of a sunburn.  MrB did some cranking outdoors today also.  I never even thought to get his picture or set-up in action this time round.

MsB from Socks Made On 88

SOCKS ON THE LINE!

Yesterday these were our own personal socks out on the line, flapping in the Atlantic breeze!

 I think our line must have been the most colourful in our neighbourhood. 


MsB from Socks Made On 88

May 3, 2013

Well the month of May has arrived! Whew, where did the month of April go?
It is a month ago today that we left for a vacation south.  We have had some sunny weather here, bbq'ing, clothesline washed, and some yard work done.  It will soon be time to hang out socks on the line instead of letting them dry by the fire.  Our wood stove fires are slowly diminishing and will be back in the swing of things come FALL again.  We will be off to the market next Saturday, not this Saturday. To be honest we have not spent a great deal of time within Socks Made On 88 this past week, but I did get 4 pairs of socks kitchenered, washed, dried and tagged, so at least I have accomplished something!  This is our slower time of year.  Our minds wander to the outdoors, and the sunshine takes our bodies there too. 

We are starting to relish the anticipations of driving to Maine next month to the Good Karma Crank-in.  This will be, year #2.  It will be awesome to see all the crankers we met last year at sock-school and renew and strengthen those friendships, we made. We always look forward to making new ones too this year, and learning new things also. I think it may be a good time to go shopping again afterwards, but this time just head into Bangor and see what we can find.  I think some baby looking maybe on the agenda for future baby-to-be junior, Granna miles well check out possibilities for Christmas while I am there.

I hope MrB, sees someone cranking little socks on a small cylinder while at Good Karma, and gets that itch!  I think it would be a great way to use up some  more of our left-overs and junior 's parents would appreciate the little tike socks that can be created.  His little feet will surely always be toasty warm once he comes into this world early September 2013.  That seems so far away, being 4 more months and all, but gives us all time to prepare for his arrival.  He already has booties, and a hat waiting for him.

As I am writing this blog post, something reminded me that I need to type out some more intended appearance dates on small slips of paper for the next market.  We do not frequent every week, so it has proven to be very convenient to show potential and returning customers the dates we do intend to be there each month.  I must go do that right now so I do not forget.  When I open my small storage box that I keep in the drawer in the Cranking Cave, I am sure that other little to-dos will also jolt my mind.

MsB from Socks Made On 88