Welcome 2014!

So it's been more than awhile since I have posted.  I have just been so very busy.  I'm a high-school Math teacher and the fall is just crazy.  I also have all my craft shows during that time, too.  But enough with the excuses!  I have time to post now, so here we go!

First, I see I did not update everyone on my participation in scrappyblanket.com.  I was able to work with the lovely Rachele (BabyLoveBrandKids - Now CypressTextiles) on a site devoted to scrap blankets.  Of course... we both got busy and...  We're putting it on hold for now.  However, we have quite a few things up, and it's still a neat site to see other's work.

Secondly, I was featured on another talented artist's blog:  Spincushions.  I've been following Shelley on Instagram, and when I saw she was doing a tutorial on joining, I had to let her know about my favorite one!  The tight join!  You can see that post here.  Stop by and say hello to Shelley!

Even though I have been absent from the blog, I have certainly been crocheting away!  I would love to show you all a few highlights of what I have been up to...

Let's first start with the Wooden Button hat.  I bought all my buttons from Pymatuning Crafts.  

Great customer service.  I highly recommend them.  

I used to workout with Mary and Jamie.
Since they (as well as Mary's family) are so beautiful, I asked them to show off their hats!

Of course I worked on many, many cowls.  I just have a few pictured here...

I made a cute little hedgehog for my coworker.  She is sewing me a bag in exchange!  

I can't wait to see it...and hopefully show all of you!

By the way, I nabbed that pattern from a great etsy seller:  oneandtwocompany

I've also been into tag-making, too.  I don't know why... but it's small and fun!  

Finally, I made quite a few blankets...  

I think there may be some I am missing since it's been so long since I have talked with all of you.. but here are a few:

This one was made for my friend Jamie.
You can find the pattern from Nittybits here.
You can learn the continuous join-as-you-go from Rachele here.

This was just a traditional granny square made of scraps for my friend's mother.
It was also my first time using the continuous join-as-you-go method.

Again, Nittybits came up with the pattern of this blanket.  You can find it here.
I learned the pom pom border from Robin at Once Upon a Pink Moon here.
And because I love it so much, this is also the continuous join-as-you-go method.

This green and blue blanket was purchased by my friend Carrie.
It's called the Gumball and the pattern can be purchased from BabyLoveBrandKids/CypressTextiles here.
I really enjoyed doing the reverse single crochet on this blanket!

This little baby blanket was made up of some of my leftover yellows... Doesn't it make you happy?
If you're interested in the pattern, you can again find it at BabyLoveBrandKids/CypressTextiles here.
The edging was simply a hdc around with a fpdc, bpdc for a few rows.

Well, it's probably up to negative 5 degrees outside now that it's almost 1 PM here...  Hello Polar Vortex of 2014.  So I should shove off and finish up all my tasks I want to get knocked out on this cold day that I have off from school.  I hope that wherever you are that it's much warmer there!

Until next time, enjoy this goofy picture of me.  My friend Andrea... her daughter found a way to use my yarn scraps.  She's such a clever kid!

YARN NERD!

Slowly, but surely...

This week has been a little slower than usual for me.  I had just as many orders, but I had a bit more free time, too.  Let's get right into what I whipped up!

First, I had a good time sending out a few St. Patrick's Day Hat orders!  Since it's three weeks away, I am going to extend the sale offer for this week, too!  So here goes:

St. Patrick's Day Hat Sale!

Order by Saturday, March 2nd for an introductory pre-sale price of 

$12

and that includes shipping! 

You can order it with and without ear flaps, with or without ear flap braids...  whatever you'd like!

 

 

I also had a few baby bootie orders...

 Interested in purchasing some?

You can order them here in any color you would like!

 

And because the week was a little slower than usual, I was able to start working on a cuddly, soft baby blanket...

Of course, I have to give credit where it's due.
This etsy shop is amazing and I love and admire all the work that Rachele puts out.  Such talent!

Finally, I was looking at my pile of yarn ends that I had and I wondered what I could do with them...  In the past I have tried to use it as stuffing, but it just makes things lumpy.  Then I remembered someone saying that they put theirs outside and the birds will make nests out of them.  YES!  Perfect idea!  I found this link and went to the store and purchased a small suet holder.  I'm on my way to giving the birdies in my neighborhood a little nest-pizzaz this spring and summer.

   I wonder how long it will take for me to fill this small one? 

 

I am hoping for another wonderful week.  I have a three day weekend coming up, so I will have much needed time to keep making a few more of these guys (which I will have a pre-sale on starting next week!)...

  What do you think?  Would any of you be interested in this pre-sale?

Also, credit goes to Kandice for all her fine pattern-work!

  

So here's to hoping you have a wonderful week filled with friends, family and fun.  Stay warm and until next week...