My crafty friend Anna speaks {{and gives you a handknit}}

I love interviewing my friends. It is one of the many joys of having a blog. To blab about my gal pals!

Anna and I met when she and Jacqui came to the parish mom group I started a few years back. They came in with their adorable baby boys and immediately I thought oh these ladies are cool. And it’s true.

She is giving away an item from her recently launched knit goods shoppe on Etsy! And has a coupon for you holiday shoppers! {20DEC for 20% through end of Dec}

But first, I give you, Anna {blog is called The Heart’s Overflow}:

you’re a mama, wife, musician, blogger, and yarn artisan. Can you tell me a little about your new etsy shoppe, how you chose the name, what your offerings are, and what your inspiration is?

I’ve been knitting and crocheting since I was in 8th grade. Over the years people have suggested to me that I should sell my wares, but I had no platform from which to do so and thought only really professional knitters could sell their stuff. So I just kept making things for myself and friends and family. I heard about Etsy a couple years ago and after meeting a couple people (Nell included) who run shops EVEN THOUGH they have babies to take care of I became inspired to start my own. After thinking about it and planning for almost a year I finally opened my shop this fall.

Middle West Knitting Co is all about the heartland. The knits in my shop are representative of where I’m from and the life I live. Here in Minnesota, right in the middle of the mid-west, our winters are long, dark and cold. We wear knits because, yes they are cute and stylish, but also because they are a necessity. I combine style with functionality in hearty knits that are meant to be worn and lived in throughout your everyday life. Most of the items in my shop are for babies. I do some different hats and super soft knit baby pants. I take inspiration from my own little boy and knit things that I would like to see him wear and things that I think would be functional. I also knit women’s accessories, paying attention to the current trends, but knitting things that I think will be timeless as well.

I love the hats. I gotta say–they are SO CUTE! is knitting them difficult? it looks terrible hard.

This is a pattern I came up with myself, and it’s actually pretty easy to knit. I do have trouble producing items that are exactly the same size. No matter how carefully I take notes while I’m knitting, no two garments come out looking exactly the same. Maybe this is a poor reflection on my knitting capabilities, but I’d rather think of every piece as being totally one of a kind!

when you’re sourcing your yarn, how do you select color? what do you have in mind for an overall look & feel of your brand?

I go back and forth between favoring neutrals and being in love with bright colors. So you will see a combination of both in my shop. I do try pick colors that will go well with many other colors. I would like the overall look and feel to be sort of rustic and whimsical, but most of all unique. I don’t want my stuff to look like anything you could find at Target.

as a busy lady who does all those things I listed in an earlier question, how do you find time to also hand create such lovely numbers?

All of my knitting is done while my baby naps. I always look forward to that quiet time to create with my hands. Even if I didn’t have an Etsy shop I would probably spend nap time knitting. It’s my favorite past time I could knit for hours on end if life would allow. As it is I usually only get an hour or so done each day. That’s why it took so long to get my shop opened!

{these baby pants!!!!!}

what are you offering as a giveaway for my readers today? why is is special to you and why do you think they’d love it too?

I am giving away a Little Elf Hood in your choice of size and color. On a personal note, my son was born with a hearing loss and wears hearing aids in both ears. As you might guess, keeping hearings aids on a baby is no easy feat. He is constantly pulling them out and putting them in his mouth or in the trash. Hats like this, that cover the ears and tie under the chin, help keep his hearing aids on, and that is in part why I make this particular design. They’re also just super fun! These hats are 100% cotton and are so soft and comfy. They’re absolutely brimming with personality that is everything from cute to mischievous. You and your baby are sure so love it!

thanks, Anna!! Raffle on! Or use code 20DEC for 20% off through end of December.

a Rafflecopter giveaway