Monday, December 21, 2009

Hall of Fame {Knot Original}

I'm dreaming of a white Christmas. . .
Ok, ok. I won't start that again :) We got some snow here in NC this week. How about you? I'm hoping we get some more for Christmas!

Well, wherever you are, it's probably cold outside. So grab a cup of hot cocoa and keep reading. This is sure to warm you up!

Meet Sharon, the lovely lady behind the shop Knot Original. Her shop is filled with unconventional, handknit accessories which are sure to help you stand out of the crowd.

Sharon divulges a bit about herself below. You even get to meet her adorable dog, Francis! And of course, enter for a chance to win something to keep you warm and toasty this winter.

What inspires you?
I can't imagine anything that doesn't inspire me.

Where do you call home? Are you from there originally?
For the past 2 years home has been a small peninsula on the Puget Sound of Washington. I grew up in South Jersey, followed by detours through Boston, Florida, Cancun, Philadelphia, and then Arizona before arriving in Gig Harbor.

Name something unique to where you live.
Unusually clean clear air
Share an interesting fact about yourself.
I'm blind in one eye all thanks to following my neighbor Fred right through a sliding glass door. Boys were trouble even at 5 years old!

If you had to describe yourself in a word, what would that word be?
sarcastic

What made you decide to open up shop?
I don't remember coming to a decision, one day I had no shop and then I did.

How did you come up with your shop name? Any special significance?
I had a long list of about 20 names written out. Knot Original was the first one I came to that hadn't already been appropriated by the 12 other sellers/buyers who I have yet to run across and swear don't exist.
Who taught you to knit?
I taught myself with the help of Knitty Gritty on the DIY channel and the freeze frame feature on the dvr.

Name your favorite thing about selling handmade.
There's an appealing charm about objects that don't have to be, or aren't even supposed to be machine-looking perfect. I like the thought of on any given day there could be someone walking around different parts of the world wearing something that began as an idea in my head and was created with my hands.

Do you have a day job or sell on Etsy full-time?
Not a full time day job but I do freelance medical illustrations for law firms and paintings for fine art gallery shows.

Give us a little glimpse into what a typical day in your life looks like.
I no longer have anything resembling a typical day. We recently adopted a 180lb mastiff from the rescue shelter. After driving my husband to catch his bus at 5:30am, much of my time is spent teaching Francis (he came with the name) that I am not a squeaky toy, he needs to share the couch and that his new full time people aren't going to abandon him. I get spare blocks of time in to knit and do other things when the overgrown baby is napping!

Share with us a favorite Etsy purchase or shop.
I could spend days in christopherpines looking through all the pretty colored ribbons and trims and I just discovered the most delightful tea stained hand printed muslin ribbons from homesteadtreasures today. I can't wait until they arrive!

List a few of your most favorite pastimes.
playing volleyball, rockclimbing, and snapping the suspenders of strange men

Read any good books lately?
I just got the cutest 2010 calendar of baby pigs called Pretty in Pink, there is a bit of type involved
What is your most prized possession?
My husband, getting that clingy exgirlfriend to disappear was a lot of work!

What are three of your favorite foods?
bacon on the verge of being burnt, grilled mozzarella, tomato and basil sandwiches, and ruby grapefruits with honey

What would you like to learn to do?
Iron so that when I'm finished the wrinkles don't mockingly reappear in a matter of minutes
What are you listening to right now?
my ocd neighbor in yet another attempt to blow every last pine needle from his driveway

Name one place you must visit in your lifetime and why.
I would love to spend some time at the Karisoke Research Center in Rwanda to study the gorillas.

Anything else you'd like to share?
If you put a candycane in a ziplock bag and smash it to dust with a hammer it makes for an amazing taste sensation when added to chocolate chip cookie dough.

***

Sharon, thank you so much for stopping by to share with us. It was a pleasure getting to know you better.

Please stop by and give her shop a heart while perusing her lovely things!

Time for a Giveaway!
Sharon has so generously made a special pair of fingerless gloves for this contest! The winner will receive the colorful pair pictured over there to the right!

To enter, just leave a comment on this post with your favorite piece from Sharon's shop. Don't forget to include your name and email address or Etsy username!

Good luck!

For extra entries you can:
Tweet this giveaway: 2 additional entries
Follow my blog: 5 additional entries
Blog about this interview/contest: 7 additional entries
Purchase from Knot Original : 10 additional entries

(Please include this info, if applicable, with your comment for additional entries. You do not need to leave separate comments for additional entries. Important: Don't forget to include your name and contact info!)

Contest ends Sunday, December 27th at 11:59 pm EST. Winner will be chosen by traditional drawing and will be announced the following day.

100 comments:

Monica said...

I LOVE Knot Original! I'm so excited for a chance to win :)

One of my favorites in her shop is the Toasted Paprika Shrug and Scarf set. That color is amazing.

I tweeted about the giveaway here http://twitter.com/moonovermaize/status/6896585851

That is one massive mastiff, but he looks like a gentle giant :)

Amy said...

Super cute stuff! I love the Tropical Isle Hibiscus flower brooch.

laprochaine@gmail.com

Amy said...

I tweeted, http://twitter.com/laprochaine/status/6901193287
laprochaine@gmail.com

Angela said...

I love the glacier moon scarf
veniceangel@hotmail.com

NimiJewelry said...

I LOOOOOVE this: http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=35211543. The color, the name, the twisted cable in the back. It's fabulous--and looks SOOO warm and cozy!

Following your blog aaaand just tweeted (http://twitter.com/nimijewelry).

Kristen Laudick said...

I love the I Have Nothing to Wear handknit sweater in a rainbow of colors.
I follow your blog.
kristenlaudick at yahoo dot com

Anonymous said...

I am in love with the "Dreaming of the Carribbean Sea" scarf....beautiful!!

And I am a follower of your blog :)

Unknown said...

The weathered driftwood capelet is to die for!

mnewton1985(at)aol(dot)com

4smartmonkeys said...

I really like her stuff, buy I love the Dreaming of the Caribbean Sea scarf.
Great giveaway!

Rebecca
picklemadmanstinky@yahoo.com

4smartmonkeys said...

I follow your blog.
I tweeted about this great giveaway, I'm 4smartmonkeys.

Rebecca
picklemadmanstinky@yahoo.com

Gabriella said...

My favorite item in your shop is actually a sold item: http://www.etsy.com/view_transaction.php?transaction_id=19397164.


sully_fidelis@yahoo.com

ellaarts.etsy.com

Gabriella said...

I'm following this blog.

sully_fidelis@yahoo.com

Gabriella said...

I tweeted the giveaway (gabriella82890).

Elsie said...

I adore the colors in the giveaway fingerless gloves, as well as Dreaming of the Caribbean Sea, scarf!

Both items have a bit of the sea spirit I think! So pretty for this mermaid at heart, who loves the sea breeezes and seashells and dreaming in the gentle sun!

pumpkinlady430@yahoo.com

picnut1512 said...

Ohhh...my favorite item in the store is definately the Pure Decadence Creme Brulee arm warmers! How beautiful!

picnut1512@yahoo.com

picnut1512 said...

I follow your blog! Thanks :)

picnut1512@yahoo.com

marie said...

Get a Clue, Sherlock . Oyster gray tweeded scarf with vintage optical lens kilt pin ~ this is my favorite. I love the texture of this scarf!

Knot Original is a wonderful website...I mentioned it to my family as a great source for a toasty warm Christmas gift. Thank you for sharing her work!

I'm not sure how I happened upon your blog...but I am enjoying my visit very much...I'm also following!

Sherry Go Sharing said...

I like Enchanted Woodland Faerie scarf

sherrygo at hotmail dot com

Sherry Go Sharing said...

blogged http://namesherry.com/2009/12/fingerless-glove-giveaway.html

sherrygo at hotmail dot com

Sherry Go Sharing said...

tweet http://twitter.com/sherrygo/status/6916780243

sherrygo at hotmail dot com

Anonymous said...

I love the bohemian gypsy triangle scarf.

bloggeraway@gmail.com

Daph said...

The key to romance a delightfully femine scarf. But all of her work is delightful to me.
Daphne
earthdancedaph@yahoo.com
http://earthdancedaph.blogspot.com

Unknown said...

Toasted Paprika organic cotton shrug and scarf set is so pretty! Love the colour

shiki6210 at gmail dot com

Life's Simple Pleasures said...

The glacier moon scarf is so seriously cool! I've never seen anything like it before.

reviewsbyabby at gmail dot com

PerfectBlueMoon said...

I can't even say how much i adore the Enchanted Woodland Faerie scarf. simply gorgeous!

Anna- Perfectbluemoon@gmail[dot]com

LOVE ART WORKS by KRISTIN LOVE said...

Great Blog and wonderful interview!!
Sharon ROCKS!! AND she's funny, talented, beautiful, an incredible artist....and she lives just South of me in the gorgeous Pacific Northwest! I Love everything in Sharon's Shop, but my absolute favorite, that I would love for Santa to bring to me is the "Glacier Moon" scarf....absolutely stunning!

I follow your blog!
I tweeted and twittered about it too! https://twitter.com/loveartworks

Happy Wondrous Creative Holidays to All!!
:) Kristin

janetfaye said...

I like Falling Leaves Scarf.

Janet
janetfaye (at) gmail (dot) com

janetfaye said...

1. I follow your blog - janetfaye

Janet
janetfaye (at) gmail (dot) com

janetfaye said...

2. I follow your blog - janetfaye

Janet
janetfaye (at) gmail (dot) com

janetfaye said...

3. I follow your blog - janetfaye

Janet
janetfaye (at) gmail (dot) com

janetfaye said...

4. I follow your blog - janetfaye

Janet
janetfaye (at) gmail (dot) com

janetfaye said...

5. I follow your blog - janetfaye

Janet
janetfaye (at) gmail (dot) com

i-am-amazed said...

i love Blue Ombre Plaid Flannel top All Wrapped Up in a Pretty Bow

pozytywniej@gmail.com

Waterrose said...

Sharon...thanks for sharing...I'm going to try the crushed peppermint the next time I make cookies. So it's a difficult choice to pick a favorite, but the bohemian gypsy triangle caught my eye a while ago.

I will tweet this, although I prefer winning.
I follow your blog

waterrose at mac . com

Ginny Huber said...

I love KnotOriginal and her wonderful work..and now her big puppy dog!! And I live a wve a away across the Puget Sound; any extras for that!!? A favorite hard to choose-but Woodland scarf and Maraschino cowl are current faves. I follow your blog. My email is ginny@ginnyhuber.com same name as my etsy shop.

K said...

I love the nocturne snowfall . neckwarmer . cowl
busybbee05[at]yahoo[dot]com[dot]au

K said...

I follow blog #1

K said...

I follow blog #2

K said...

I follow blog #3

K said...

I follow blog #4

K said...

I follow blog #5

Ronnie said...

I LOVE the pure decadence creme brulee arm warmers (http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=29010277).My arms are usually so cold in comparison to the rest of my body so they would really help me out :)

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=29010277

Ronnie said...

I'm following your blog! (entry 4)

Ronit
internationalgiveaways[at]gmail[dot]com
http://internationalgiveaways.blogspot.com

Ronnie said...

I'm following your blog! (entry 5)

Ronit
internationalgiveaways[at]gmail[dot]com
http://internationalgiveaways.blogspot.com

Ronnie said...

I blogged about the contest! (entry 1)

http://internationalgiveaways.blogspot.com/2009/12/gloves-from-know-original.html

Ronit
internationalgiveaways[at]gmail[dot]com
http://internationalgiveaways.blogspot.com

Ronnie said...

I blogged about the contest! (entry 2)

http://internationalgiveaways.blogspot.com/2009/12/gloves-from-know-original.html

Ronit
internationalgiveaways[at]gmail[dot]com
http://internationalgiveaways.blogspot.com

Ronnie said...

I blogged about the contest! (entry 3)

http://internationalgiveaways.blogspot.com/2009/12/gloves-from-know-original.html

Ronit
internationalgiveaways[at]gmail[dot]com
http://internationalgiveaways.blogspot.com

Ronnie said...

I blogged about the contest! (entry 4)

http://internationalgiveaways.blogspot.com/2009/12/gloves-from-know-original.html

Ronit
internationalgiveaways[at]gmail[dot]com
http://internationalgiveaways.blogspot.com

Ronnie said...

I blogged about the contest! (entry 5)

http://internationalgiveaways.blogspot.com/2009/12/gloves-from-know-original.html

Ronit
internationalgiveaways[at]gmail[dot]com
http://internationalgiveaways.blogspot.com

Ronnie said...

I blogged about the contest! (entry 6)

http://internationalgiveaways.blogspot.com/2009/12/gloves-from-know-original.html

Ronit
internationalgiveaways[at]gmail[dot]com
http://internationalgiveaways.blogspot.com

Ronnie said...

I blogged about the contest! (entry 7)

http://internationalgiveaways.blogspot.com/2009/12/gloves-from-know-original.html

Ronit
internationalgiveaways[at]gmail[dot]com
http://internationalgiveaways.blogspot.com

shiri said...

There were so many beautiful things but one of the once I like is the wristwarmers navy blue beaded.
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=21924446

shiri
shiriepstein(at)gmail(dot)com

shiri said...

I am now following your awesome blog (5 entries)

shiri
shiriepstein(at)gmail(dot)com

jakiesmom said...

wow amazingly beautiful stuff..hard to pick one...but i definately loved the uniqueness of the enchanted woodland scarf!
nannypanpan@sbcglobal.net

Glo said...

I really like this one:
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=35211543
Do you have other colors?
contest82[@]gmail[.]com

Aik said...

I love the figgy plum pudding . handknit cabled neckwarmer

+2 Tweet:
http://twitter.com/aikchien/status/6996825585

+5 Follow: Aik

+7 Blog:
http://aik-friendsnfamily.blogspot.com/2009/08/list-of-worldwide-giveaways.html

aikychien at yahoo dot com

Anonymous said...

Wow, what amazing talent, I literaly loved it all. I think the Vanilla, Stawberry and Butterscotch Sundae Scarf is my fav. But I really need the fingerless gloves because I work in a freezing basement taking calls!
My ETSY username is glimmerfun!
thanks so much~
-Zildy

Mike said...

My girlfriend would love the Prickly Pear Margarita Eco Friendly scarf. Green and pink are two of her favorite colors.

happycamp23(at)hotmail(dot)com

Linda Kish said...

2 favorites..Bohemian gypsy triangle scarf, waist wrap and As You Like It convertible cowl wardrobe in Monet's waterlilies

lkish77123 at gmail dot com

Elizabeth W said...

My absolute favorite item from the shop is the Suspended in Time, Knot a Wristwatch.
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=33069879

So elegant looking! Beautiful!

And these fingeless gloves are lovely!

Elizabeth W
MIMIBUNNY11@aol.com

Elizabeth W said...

Following your blog! yahoo!


Elizabeth W
MIMIBUNNY11@aol.com

Kelly said...

I love the Dreaming of the Carribean Sea Scarf - gorgeous!
I'm now following your blog as well.
kelly_darrylduo@hotmail.com

linkeldesigns.etsy.com

Stephanie LaPlante said...

My favorite piece is her ultramarine fantasy . faux fur stole . etsy project embrace

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=33299278

Stephanie LaPlante

stephy905@hotmail.com

Stephanie LaPlante said...

Tweeted #1

http://twitter.com/stephy905/statuses/7048418242

stephy905@hotmail.com

Stephanie LaPlante said...

Tweeted #2

http://twitter.com/stephy905/statuses/7048418242

stephy905@hotmail.com

Stephanie LaPlante said...

I follow your blog #1

stephy905

stephy905@hotmail.com

Stephanie LaPlante said...

I follow your blog #2

stephy905

stephy905@hotmail.com

Stephanie LaPlante said...

I follow your blog #3

stephy905

stephy905@hotmail.com

Stephanie LaPlante said...

I follow your blog #4

stephy905

stephy905@hotmail.com

Stephanie LaPlante said...

I follow your blog #5

stephy905

stephy905@hotmail.com

Stephanie LaPlante said...

I blogged your giveaway #1

http://stephanie-laplante.blogspot.com/2009/12/sharons-shop-giveaway.html

stephy905@hotmail.com

Stephanie LaPlante said...

I blogged your giveaway #2

http://stephanie-laplante.blogspot.com/2009/12/sharons-shop-giveaway.html

stephy905@hotmail.com

Stephanie LaPlante said...

I blogged your giveaway #3

http://stephanie-laplante.blogspot.com/2009/12/sharons-shop-giveaway.html

stephy905@hotmail.com

Stephanie LaPlante said...

I blogged your giveaway #4

http://stephanie-laplante.blogspot.com/2009/12/sharons-shop-giveaway.html

stephy905@hotmail.com

Stephanie LaPlante said...

I blogged your giveaway #5

http://stephanie-laplante.blogspot.com/2009/12/sharons-shop-giveaway.html

stephy905@hotmail.com

Stephanie LaPlante said...

I blogged your giveaway #6

http://stephanie-laplante.blogspot.com/2009/12/sharons-shop-giveaway.html

stephy905@hotmail.com

Stephanie LaPlante said...

I blogged your giveaway #7

http://stephanie-laplante.blogspot.com/2009/12/sharons-shop-giveaway.html

stephy905@hotmail.com

Ľubaša said...

I like fresh squeezed. handknit tank top style sweater. thanks. Lubaska
lubaska dot k at gmail dot com

Ľubaša said...

blog follower 1
lubaska dot k at gmail dot com

Ľubaša said...

blog follower 2
lubaska dot k at gmail dot com

Ľubaša said...

blog follower 3
lubaska dot k at gmail dot com

Ľubaša said...

blog follower 4
lubaska dot k at gmail dot com

Ľubaša said...

blog follower 5
lubaska dot k at gmail dot com

Ľubaša said...

tweeted (2 entries)
http://twitter.com/Lubaska/status/7058559875
lubaska dot k at gmail dot com

Heather! said...

I love the Englishwoman Wore Tweed Skinny Scarf!
h4schaffer at gmail dot com

Heather! said...

I follow on Google Connect.
h4schaffer at gmail dot com

Heather! said...

I follow on Google Connect. #2
h4schaffer at gmail dot com

Heather! said...

I follow on Google Connect! #3
h4schaffer at gmail dot com

Heather! said...

I follow on Google Connect. #4
h4schaffer at gmail dot com

Heather! said...

I follow on Google connect! #5

Thanks for the great giveaway!
h4schaffer at gmail dot com

Annette Tait said...

It was wonderful to read about Sharon and meet Francis! thank you! and thanks for the generous giveaway too!

I love these gorgeous Pure Decadence Creme Brulee Arm Warmers - love the textures and colours and I can see myself wearing these all day and year long!

thank you and Happy New Year for 2010,
Annette
dragonhouseofyuen.etsy.com

ktkins said...

I love the weekend in the county neckwarmer!

orangegirl779@hotmail.com

Glo said...

I twitted: http://twitter.com/ContestAndCo/status/7087252596
contest82[@]gmail[.]com

Unknown said...

I love the Knot a Pearl necklace!
carrie.coffey@gmail.com

Unknown said...

I'm following your blog- #1
carrie.coffey@gmail.com

Unknown said...

I'm following your blog #2
carrie.coffey@gmail.com

Unknown said...

I'm following the blog #3
carrie.coffey@gmail.com

Unknown said...

I'm following your blog #4
carrie.coffey@gmail.com

Unknown said...

I'm following your blog #4
carrie.coffey@gmail.com

DonnaZ said...

glacier moon scarf
...love it