Top 6 Apps I Use For My Business

Here's a quick list of apps that I use everyday for my business. I'll give a brief description of each and touch on what I like specifically. Some of these are pretty standard and some of these I've mentioned before in other blog posts. Some of these apps are available on both smartphones and tablets, some are not. For simplicity's sake, I use these apps on my Android phone exclusively therefore I will include links to each app from the Play Store.

6. Kies Air by Samsung Electronics

If you have an Android phone, then you'll need to have this app in order to share files on your phone and computer with each other. I like the Air version best because I don't have to connect my phone to the laptop and wait forever to be able to save pictures onto my laptop. Everything is organized as it is on your phone, so navigating is simple. I take most of my photos with my phone since the camera is really boss, so this makes things more convenient for me.

5. Pages Manager by Facebook

I run a business page on Facebook and a lot of the time I'm trying to share content from my phone. This allows me to keep track of how my page is doing when I'm not near my laptop. I can fulfill orders easier, communicate with customers easier, and post photos of WIPs and finished products directly.

4. USPS Mobile by the United States Postal Service

This is great for when people don't give their full nine digit zip code when placing an order. A lot of people aren't aware that they need the extra four digits when shipping something, but alas, you do. It makes things simpler for the post officers to organize the massive amounts of mail they receive daily and pin point the exact location of your address. It gets especially more necessary when shipping to a customer living in an apartment complex. Really, this is more for helping the post office than myself, but I do use this app a LOT!

Aside from finding the extra four digits, I calculate shipping rates very frequently. With the steady increase in international shipping, this helps me prepare for what I should expect when paying for the shipping.

3. Time Sheet by Florian Rauscha 

I love this app so much that I made a special blog post for it. Just to reiterate, I enjoy being able to keep track of my progress on how quickly I create an item. Also, it gives me an idea of how much I should charge for my time.

2. The Official Etsy App by Etsy, Inc

This one's a no-brainer. If you have an Etsy shop, you need the Etsy app. I can relist items, create new listings, look at other listings - the works. It has a very simple page setup that helps you keep track of new favorites and likes, sales, and how much money you've profited without having to swipe a lot or jump between pages. Plus, there is a very satisfying *cha-ching* sound every time you sell an item.

1. PayPal Here by PayPal Mobile

I sell at a lot of conventions and farmer's markets. More and more people are now coming to expect local artisans to accept credit cards at their booths and tables. Be prepared to have either the PayPal Here or the Squared Up apps. Both are relatively the same. They charge the same percentage from every transaction and have virtually identical accepted forms of payment and policies. The only main difference is that the PayPal credit card app accepts PayPal payments as far as I know.

Classes are now on Fridays!

I'm going to start doing knitting classes at Hobby Lobby off of Atlanta Hwy in Athens every Friday from 3 pm to 5 pm. I did a demo last Saturday to get the word out there. I got a lot of people to notice me since I was sitting at at a table knitting, but most of the people who talked to me thought that I worked there and asked me where things were. I tried really hard, but only got three people to actually sign the sign up sheet. Several people said that they weren't sure if they could make it, but would try their best. They legitimately seemed interested, but usually it's a nice way of saying "no thanks". I would much prefer it if people said what they really felt. Telling me your opinion won't hurt my feelings. Pretending you care and giving me hope will.

I made a cute flyer for my classes! These will be at the front of the store, so it doesn't have the location on it. I don't really plan on having these flyers anywhere besides the inside of the store that I'll be teaching in.

I've been preparing for the con season that is coming up. Hopefully I'll do as well as I did this past year. Momo Con is coming up and unfortunately I didn't get accepted into the artist alley. Sukoshi Con is next month and they haven't even opened applications for the artist alley yet, but it's pretty scary since the event itself is so close. I've been getting ready for it just in case. AWA is a really big event and it takes all year to get ready for that.

I got a lot of stuff done today. I finished a lime green and black elf hat, a Knives Chau scarf, and a Jayne hat. One of the things that I wish is to actually have a Jayne hat or two available for cons. They're my best seller on my Etsy shop so I know a few people would be interested in buying one at a con. It would be ideal to have a Dr. Who scarf available as well.

First knitting class!

My very first knitting class will be tonight from 5pm-7pm and I'm really nervous. I'm trying to think of ways to teach the class without losing control over everything. Hopefully I'll have a full classroom with really nice people in it. I was thinking of things to give to my students and really drew a blank. I can't give them a starter knitting kit because the whole point of having that class is to have people buy from the store. It's how they make their money. Also, I'm not sure when to collect their money. Before or after the class? If I teach them and then collect their money there's the chance that someone might not have the money and they just got a free class.

Again, I hope it's a bunch of really, really nice individuals. Maybe next week I'll have an idea of what to give my students. I was thinking of a charm bracelet and then adding a charm for each week they show up, but that would be way too expensive. Cute, but costly. I could try to make the bracelets. I'll have to see how much that would be.

Pixie Hat Tutorial

What materials you need:

* 7 double pointed needles (dpns) size 8

* Stitch holders

* Cable Needle

What skills you need:

Working in the rnd with dpns

C4b

C4f

C6f

C6b

T3

i-cord

K2tog

K3tog

P2tog

Tbl (through back loop)

Gauge:

22 sts and 26 rows = 4in/10cm worked in cable st in the rnd using US 8 (5mm) dpns

You will be working in the round. Start with three needles and as you increase more sts, add another dpn. Be sure to have even amounts of sts on the dpns.

CO 6 sts
Kfb al sts - 12 sts

(K1, kfb) 6x - 18 sts

(P3, kfb) 6x - 24 sts

(P2, k1, kfb) 6x - 30 sts

(P2, k2, kfb) 6x - 36 sts

(P2, k1, t2, kfb) 6x - 42 sts

(P2, k4, kfb) 6x - 48 sts

(P2, c4f, k1, kfb) 6x - 54 sts

(P2, k6, kfb) 6x - 60 sts

(P2, k7, kfb) 6x - 66 sts

(P2, k2, c6f, kfb) 6x - 72 sts

(P2, k9, kfb) 6x - 78 sts

(P2, k10, kfb) 6x - 84 sts

(P2, k12) 6x

(P2, c6f, c6b) 6x

(P2, k12) 6x

            Rep rnd 16 twice more

19. (P1, pfb, k12) 6x - 90 sts

20. (P3, k12) 6x

            Rep rnd 20 twice more

23. (P3, c6f, c6b) 6x

24. (P3, k12) 6x

            Rep rnd 24 twice more

27. (P2, pfb, k12) 6x - 96 sts

28. (P4, k12) 6x

            Rep rnd 28 twice more

31. (P4, c6f, c6b) 6x

32. (P4, k12) 6x

            Rep rnd 32 5 more times

            Rep rnds 20 - 32 3 more times

59. (P4, k12) 6x

            Rep rnd 59 3 more times

* Divide for ear flaps. You will stop working in the rnd at this point.

P2, place next 32 sts on a holder, turn.

Starting with last 2 sts worked, k2 (p12, k4) 3x, p12, k2

K14 (p4, k12) 2x, p4, k14

K2, p12, k4, p2, place rem 44 sts on a holder, turn.

(Working on first ear flap only) k2, p4, c6f, c6b, k2 - 20 sts

K2, p12, k6

K2, p4, k14

            Rep rows 6-7 twice more

12. K2, p12, k6

13. K2 (p2tog)2x, c6f, c6b, k2 - 18 sts

14. K2, p12, k2tog, k2 - 17 sts

15. K2, k2tog, k13 - 16 sts ****

16. K2, p12, k2

17. K2, k2tog, k8, k2 - 14 sts

18. K2, p10, k2

19. K2, k2tog, k6, k2tog, k2 - 12 sts

20. K2, p8, k2

21. K2, c4f, c4b, k2

22. K2, p8, k2

23. K2, k3tog tbl, k2, k3tog, k2 - 8 sts

24. K2, p4, k2

25. K2, k2tog tbl, k2tog, k2 - 6 sts

26. K2, p2, k2

27. K1, k2togtbl, k2tog, k1 - 4 sts

28. K1, p2tog, k1 - 3 sts

Continue on these 3 sts on one dpn to knit a 10in i-cord.

Cut yarn and draw through sts to secure.

Work second ear flap. Return to sts on holder and with WS facing, work across first 20sts as follows:

(WS) k6, p12, k2, turn, leaving rem 24 sts on holder.

K2, c6f, c6b, p4, k2

K6, p12, k2

K14, p4, k2

            Rep rows 3-4 twice more

9. K6, p12, k2

10. K2, c6f, c6b, (p2tog) 2x, k2 - 18 sts

11. K2, k2tog, p12, k2 - 17 sts

12. K13, k2tog, k2 - 16 sts

Work as first ear flap from **** to end, finishing with another 10in i-cord tie.

Return to 24 sts on holder; beg with a WS row, work 2 rows garter st. BO.

Slip rem 32 sts from first holder to needle. Beg with a WS row, work 2 rows garter st. BO

Sew down front and back loose edges to sides of ear flaps. Make a 2in diameter pompom for the top of the hat and two 4in tassels for the ends of the i-cords; sew on securely. Sew in all loose ends.