The Frenchie & Flea Feature + Giveaway: The Urchiness

>> Monday, December 7, 2009

There are so many things to love about ETSY.
What is easy to KNOW about ETSY is that you can can buy handmade items from artists all around the world from one great spot.
What you may not know is that ETSY is also a place where you can buy supplies to make your own handmade goodies.

Today we are featuring Brie and her store The Urchiness
Brie creates hand spun & hand dyed textiles for you to create your handmade knit creations!What began as a way for Brie to pay for an expensive yarn and fiber addiction, turned into a great place to feed your own knitting addictions.

Now, if you're anything like us, the first thought you must be having is, "Wow! How doe she MAKE yarn?!"

From the fingertips of the creator herself,
"[Creating yarn takes] lots of dyeing, spinning, sitting, and dreaming. The nice thing about creating yarn is that it can travel with me to many different places. One can often find me on my porch with my drop spindle and a cup of tea, or posted on my momma's couch as she works on her quilting across the room. I do all of my spinning using a drop spindle, I haven't ventured into the world of spinning wheels, yet! As for the dyeing part... Let's just say my kitchen has changed many colors since I began this adventure!"{Copper Kettle Shetland Roving 4 oz ~ $17.00}

Naturally, our second question was, "Woah...and how long does that take?!"
And the answer that made our jaws drop,

"Dyeing one pound of roving (or four braids) takes me about an hour and a half, while yarn can take up to five hours per skein, depending on the techniques used."

{Whimsy Merino 2 ply Handspun Yarn Jumbo}

If you ask us, this is a lot of work, so we wanted to know what Brie's favorite part of creating the yarn was,

"Packing up orders to go to new homes, definitely!
I hand wrap each item and include a personalized card because I want my customers to feel special and loved when they receive their package in the mail.
Another favorite part is photographing and editing my product photos.
I also love the shopping for supplies part... But who doesn't love shopping?"

It Brie sold us on her passion and enthusiasm.
We're totally in awe of what she does and how she does it.
Being Etsy store owners ourselves, we're always wondering...

What's the best advice you have received and want to share about running an Etsy store?

"Stay organized from the beginning!
You never know when it will happen, but one day it will and you'll have so many orders it will make your head spin.
Staying organized and keeping positive has helped me immensely.
While my shop is still small, I have grand hopes for the future!
"

{Flounder Merino Roving 4 oz ~ $16.00}
Who wouldn't want to support Brie and her dream?!
Well to get you started, she's enticing you and she is giving away

1- $20.00 gift certificate to one lucky reader!


To Enter the Giveaway...


1. Visit Brie's Store. Tell us what your favorite item is!

2. Make sure you are a follower of F&F

3. Leave a comment here telling us what you dream of doing with your favorite item from her store if you win!


(*BONUS ENTRY for anyone who tweets, facebook's, or blogs this giveaway. Make sure to tell us in your comment what you did and how to see it!)

giveaway ends on thursday, December 10 at 5:00 pm, pst.
winner will be announced on Friday, December 11!

*Interested in Featuring your store on Frenchie & Flea? Email Us*


19 comments:

Ashley December 7, 2009 at 8:56 AM  

YAY! I love Brie's amazing yarn shop! I've had the pleasure of working with some of her handspun yarns and they're fantastic! I spread the love on my facebook. If I won, I'm not sure what I'd make. I'd wait to see which yarn I got and let the colors inspire me. Maybe a nice scarf or cowl.

Chantel December 7, 2009 at 12:34 PM  

I actually bought some of Brie's yummy yarn a while back and have made some fabulous fingerless mitts with them and have even chatted about her on my blog: www.handi-hummingbird.blogspot.com. I shared the giveaway info on my facebook (which you can see on my blog). If I won I think I would have to make a cozy scarf or beret.

Anonymous,  December 7, 2009 at 3:23 PM  

Oh wow! Beautiful!

I put it on my giveaway blog roll...
http://songskatesang.typepad.com/

If I won, I'd give it to my mother in law, so for her amazing scarf skills.

Desiree December 7, 2009 at 5:40 PM  

I shared this on facebook! If I won, I would knit myself some fingerless mitts or a new hat. It's cold outside and all of mine have holes!

JuliaA December 7, 2009 at 7:20 PM  

my blog post:

http://juliaas.wordpress.com/2009/12/07/yarnnnnn-2/

the yarn i like is 150 yards, perfect for knitting fingerless gloves. a friend of mine borrowed and lost my precious fetchings, and it's cold in chicago!

j_bdules at hotmail

Wanda December 7, 2009 at 9:11 PM  

I am Brie's biggest fan! I posted a link on my blog, and love love love her. If I was the lucky winner, I would make a lovely cowl for myself- something decadent to carry me into the New Year! :)

Anonymous,  December 8, 2009 at 8:50 AM  

I would get the Snap Dragon BFL handspun. The pictures of the colorway are so vivid I just want to touch them.

LipGlossAndLetDown678 December 8, 2009 at 9:07 AM  

I think my is the tea stained Merino roving, I love natural colors :) I'm just learning to spin so I just have some plain beginner roviings so a beautiful braid like this I would love :)

I also tweeted at http://www.twitter.com/Lipgloss_KAnne

lipglossandletdown678 at gmail.com

Melody December 8, 2009 at 11:30 AM  

I like Dapper Roving. I know I could find a project for it.

melodyj(at)gmail(dot)com

Leslie Ordal December 8, 2009 at 12:03 PM  

The Clear Water roving is my favorite--I'd love to spin sock yarn with it. Also, tweeted @mitoticspindle

Jennifer Lynn December 8, 2009 at 11:46 PM  

A few things: 1.) For some reason, I was not a follower of this blog. How is that possible?
2.) I am not a knitter, but if I were to win, I would use my newfound gift certificate for good (not evil) and buy some yarn (as a Christmas gift) for my dear friend Cindy, who is a knitting fiend.
3.) I would buy Cindy the tea stained yarn so that she could knit me a tea stained scarf.
That is all! =)

danalou December 9, 2009 at 8:36 AM  

I am loving the color blend - My Secret Garden!!

Anonymous,  December 9, 2009 at 9:07 AM  

I love Whimsy! though I would probably gift this certificate to my sister in law..she'd love it! and I follow...

Judith December 9, 2009 at 11:19 AM  

I'm in love with the Goldfish superwash! Oh, those colors know my heart!

Barbara December 9, 2009 at 12:55 PM  

Im so in love with Snap Dragons and Secret Garden, these are calling to me to be fingerless mitts or an awesome cowl! I am also in love with the Dapper Roving I can see spinning it up to a lovely Abby lace cowl!

I also put it up on my facebook!
Check here http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=757683679&ref=nf

or yarngoddess@roadrunner.com

Annie December 10, 2009 at 12:13 AM  

I love it all! But being forced to choose, it would be GOLDFISH. I love the mix of warm and cool colors.
If I won, I would be torn between baby booties (for a new baby RYDER!) or being selfish and making something warm for myself.

**I posted a link to your giveaway on my travel blog:
anniedoesisrael.wordpress.com

Happy holidays! Annie

myflsun December 10, 2009 at 6:36 AM  

My favorite items are the labradorite and the goldfish. I'm not sure yet what I'd make with the yarn, because I would want to make sure it was the perfect project!

Kathy

Anonymous,  December 10, 2009 at 9:10 AM  

Love the Copper Kettle! But I have to say if I was buying the yarn today I would choose the TEA STAINED! Wouldn't that make the dreamiest baby blanket to hold my grandson in!!!
Of course, my knitting skills are below elementary. As in zero, zip, nada, but I can learn! This yarn is so so beautiful!!! And the description of how she creates her craft is fantastic. THANK YOU FOR SHARING A NEW VISIONARY!!!

Jblanton December 10, 2009 at 5:09 PM  

I like the snap dragon yarn- pretty

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