Etsy is my go-to marketplace to find small shops with unique products, and as an added bonus, I feel good supporting! I’ve started searching Etsy for holiday gifts for loved ones and a few special treats for myself as the close of the year nears.
Read MoreWelcome to my latest venture, Bellchase Ruby - an intentional curation of goods that are intended to fill your home with joy using eco-friendly materials by supporting my fellow small businesses.
Read MoreBellchase Ruby will encompass two specific elements. First it will feature small businesses that I am excited about and believe in. These include businesses with ethical, small, local and/or environmentally friendly products and missions and I'm excited to introduce you to their stories along with their products in the new shop for you to purchase. Secondly, I want to leave behind the pressure of creating and the pressure to profit off of my passions. Instead, I will value my projects for what they are worth, while at the same time, making an impact in causes and organizations I care about in a more selective manner.
Read MoreWith the transition from EB Knits to Bellchase Ruby, I can enjoy knitting and my other passions for me, with no pressure to produce for anyone or anything else. And, yet, I will be able to share my love of certain small businesses, share their products in my shop. And every once in a while, I might feel the urge to offer handmade items made by me, as well!
Read More2021 has been the year of exploring adjusting my routine, trying new products and implementing new habits. Including experimenting with more environmentally-friendly household products! I just updated by last post in which I recommended certain eco-friendly adjustments with my thoughts now that I’ve been using (or not using) each for almost 6+ months. And now I wanted to share a few more of my simple household adjustments and products that I just purchased from Earth Hero!
Read MoreHave you seen hand-dyed or handspun yarn??? *Heart eyes emoji* Hand-dyed yarn is a stunning combination of colors by professional independent yarn dyers. These are luxury yarns so they’re more conducive to personal projects than items for EB Knits, but wow, are there tons of stunning yarns out there! I’ve only purchased a few skeins of hand-dyed yarn as of June 2020, but I can’t wait to support other yarn dyers as I grow in my knitting journey and find more time for personal projects!
Read MoreIt’s time for another small business round-up of my favorite items! This time, specifically in the Spring spirit I think, I’m drawn to all of the flowers and lots of jewelry (which is abnormal for me!) I discovered all of these on Etsy and I’ve checked to make sure each shop is rated well. I’ve also created several lists on my favorites page to organize my top picks.
Read MoreAll, well, most of, the links, references, yarns, patterns and more linked from the latest EB Knits podcast episode!
Read MoreOver the last few months, I’ve delved into exploring watercolor and I’m loving it! I’ve never been the most creative person in the room, but within the past few years I have enjoyed working on some DIY projects and crafting more and more. In December 2020, I made my sister and grandma some birthday cards then I just kept going.
Read MoreI want to share some changes that I’ve made in 2021 and plan to take throughout the remainder of the year along with some of the products and brands I’ve discovered that make these changes even easier! Of course feel free to pick and choose any of these switches, but I wanted to share some relatively easy eco-friendly changes to make to help the planet because even the smallest of changes make a big difference if a score of people take part!
Read MoreThis year I'm adding purposeful and eco-friendly products from companies that I believe in into the shop and up first are a variety of bags from Eco Bags! Eco Bags prioritizes fair living and wage practices for their workers and their products are made from cotton, often organic or recycled, which aligns well with my focus on ethical and eco-friendly accessories. Eco Bags bring unique products that are environmentally-conscious. I love writing blog posts about the latest simple eco-friendly tips that I've discovered and now tested out a variety of bags, found ones I love and you can grab these plastic-free products here in the shop now!
Read MoreAll, well, most of, the links, references, yarns, patterns and more linked from the latest EB Knits podcast episode!
Read MoreI’ve learned many of the differences between man-made synthetic fibers versus natural ones. Everyone has different values, lifestyles and opinions so nothing will always please everyone, but I wanted to provide a look into the environmental impact of certain fibers. Reusing and/or repurposing is often better than purchasing new pieces!
Read MoreAll, well, most of, the links, references, yarns, patterns and more linked from the latest EB Knits podcast episode!
Read MoreI’m going to keep this short and sweet because you can find all the info on my YouTube channel and Instagram highlights, but I figured I’d add it to the blog as well to store all the info in one place! But truly, Anna Joyce’s tutorial on Creative Bug is the best resource for a step-by-step tutorial on how to ice dye. My biggest takeaway from my ice dying adventures is that there are countless color combos, techniques, materials and more to try and there is practically no way you can go wrong - the ice does all the work and it makes magic! Below is my guide on how I completed my first ever ice dying experiment!
Read MoreWow, I talked a lot this episode! I’m not sure if the follow-up podcasts will be as long - it is a lot. Spoiler, the redo was just as long! And if you watched the entire episode, you’re a real trouper/EB Knits fan and THANK YOU! Please let me know what you think in regards to length, format and content; I would love to hear.
Read MoreI’ve never been a huge fan of celebrating Valentine’s Day, probably because I was perpetually single until my mid-20’s, but I figured in 2021, if anything, it’s another excuse to support small businesses and decorate our homes with festive decor! So I went ahead and put together some of the cutest finds I saw on Etsy from small shops that are mostly U.S.-based. I also tried to single out shops with less than 1,000 sales to find the extra-small shops like mine. I’d love to hear how you like to decorate your home for Valentine’s Day.
Read MoreI take a look back on 2020, including my most popular posts on social media, the bestselling items in the EB Knits shop and a few special milestones. 2020 was my most successful year yet and I can’t wait to continue growing in 2021!
Read MoreI never thought I was an animal person - in fact, growing up we never had a pet. But then we met an adorable recently-abandoned cat and just had to take her in and she’s been the most sweet kitty ever since. Needless to say, now I’m researching cat supplies and necessities lately and I came across some extra cute pet accessories from small shops I wanted to show you!
Read MoreI’m a HUGE fan of supporting small business. I know, as a small business owner myself, how wonderful it feels to receive an order, to feel so proud and excited that someone invested their dollars in my talent and time. Etsy is a favorite of mine to discover new small shops so I’ve rounded up some selections directly from Etsy for ideas when gifting or to treat yourself this holiday season!
Read More
