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!

White, Blue and Cold

Hello everyone!  I hope that any of you (who have power) on the east coast who are reading this are braving the storm and doing okay.  We were lucky to get just the perfect amount of snow to cover everything with a good, thick coat.  We didn't have much wind, so the trees were lined with snow for the better part of the week.  Driving to and from work everyday was amazing and beautiful.

One reason I love the winter is because I can wear all my crochet items.  I was able to piece together an outfit to highlight my Noro scarf I made from my yarn in Austin.  So comfy!

Speaking of winter, it always makes me think of the colors blue and white.  It totally inspired me to make a cowl and a matching hat with a pin that can be removed that matches both pieces. Check out the result!

 

This is the combo of both pieces.  There is only one flower, but you can put it on either piece.

A collage of the hat - with and without the flower.

 

A collage of the cowl with the flower.

What do you think?  It's made of soft acrylic and then a very light white mohair wool that is mixed with the smallest of sequins.  I wish the photos could pick up the slight glittery-look of the sequins.  If you go back and look at the close up of the flower, you can see them.  I'm totally in love with it!

So this week, I am going to try something new...

Item of the Week!

*50% off!*

The Blue Topaz Sequin Cowl and Hat with Detachable Pin!

Once it's gone, it's gone.  No custom orders for the sale price can be accepted, but I can take them for the regular price.

I'd love to hear what you think!  Your comments here and/or on facebook are always welcome!  The feedback helps me improve my service to you.  Thank you again for all your support!

Speaking of support, I received a message on etsy this week regarding the piggy hat from next week and the customer was so happy that it totally made my day.  It is reprinted with permission from SSpillie1215:

I CANT... EVEN TELL YOU... HOW MUCH... I LOVE THE HAT!!!!!!!!!!!!
OOOOOOHHHH MYYYYYYYYY GOOOOOOOOODDDDDDD!!!!!!
IT IS AWESOMEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!
It will be a gift for my cousin's baby shower in a few weeks, and i can't WAIT for her to open it!!!!!! 

I am so beyond thrilled... THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!!

Speaking of, I have to run off of here to finish up some more orders... including next week's item of the week!  Thank you again everyone.  Have a great week and until then... stay warm!

Goodbye, January...

I hope your week has been warm.  It was very cold here this week... but on a good note, we finally got a small amount of snow.  I love snow.  I wish it snowed everyday in winter.  It always looks so peaceful and beautiful when everything is covered in the white glitter-like stuff.  These last two winters have been sparse on the snow.  Maybe it's payback after that crazy blizzard we had a few years back.

Speaking of the cold, I have pictures (made beautiful by Holly Briscoe) of the cowls I took to DreamScapes that will keep you nice and warm! 

What do you think?

In addition to taking my new pieces to the shop, I had a few orders. 

 Some cute little flowers! 

 Valentine's Day heart hat!

The one that stood out the most was a custom order.  It's a boxy cowl and I had a blast making it!  I want one for myself now!  I plan to show you the pictures next week.  It will be available for special order.  Here is a sneak peak...  See it on the bottom among the blue and pink cowls?

 Speaking of cowls, don't forget that until Feb 1st (only a few days left!), I am running a coupon code in my shop:

At checkout on etsy, use coupon code:

COWLSALE to get 20% off your cowl/scarf! 

Lastly, the moment many of you have been waiting for...  the winner of my handmade coffee cozy!

And the winner is...

Tony Melissa M! 

Thank you to everyone that shared and liked my posts on Facebook!  I am always so flattered when people enjoy my work...  and I can't wait for the next giveaway!  Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Until next time!  Happy February!  (Have you planned your Valentine's Day yet?)

Partying Pinterest-Style!

Sorry for the late post.  I had an idea to talk about on here, and then I changed my mind...  hence the delay! I completed about 10 cowls and 10 pinbacks to go with them for the little shop that sells my wares:  DreamScapes Boutique in Wauconda.  If you're ever in the area, I encourage you to check it out.  I can't seem to leave there without purchasing something unique.  Plus, they have an awesome little coffee shop a few doors down called Honey Hill.  My mouth is watering because I can't wait to have a regular coffee with a shot of almond and some heavy whipping cream.  YUM!  There are more shops and such to talk about there on Main Street, but I'll save that for another time, along with some pictures of the cowls that will be heading to the shop today.

Speaking of cowls...  I have a new one I put up in the shop!  I love the color, and it's made from very soft yarn.  Look!

The full listing can be found here!

So what do you think?  This one might be my favorite...  that felty flower really makes it pop!  Speaking of the felty flower, that was one of the two projects that we whipped up during a pinterest party at my house this weekend.  Look at Jamie and Naomi showing off their dahlias:

Want to learn it, too?  Here you go!

In the spirit of flowers, we also made cute little pendants, too!  I didn't get a chance to take a picture of everyone's, but I can show you a picture of mine.  My sister-in-law crafted me one for the holidays and I just had to figure out how to do it!

If you want to learn, too - have at it!

Lastly, I asked all of you what you would like to see as a giveaway...  I had various responses.  I think the biggest response I received was to give away a cowl.  I thought about it - and I would love to - but I don't have one on hand to just give away at the moment.  So I brainstormed...  what can I do with cowls...  And I remembered you can use a coupon on etsy if I set one up!  So that I did.  It will be up through February (10 more days) for you to use:  

 

At checkout on etsy, use coupon code:

COWLSALE to get 20% off your cowl/scarf!

But I can't just limit this post to a coupon.  I  promised you a giveaway!  And here it goes...

Warm and lovely!

This little coffee cozy doesn't have any pockets like the heart one from last week, but it is made of 100% cotton and wool felt and dmc floss.  Quality materials!  Here's how you can win:

You will receive an entry for each of the following:

1. Comment below on this blog and tell me something that you look forward to each year about Valentine's Day.
2. Like my blog post link on facebook.
3. Share my blog post link that is on facebook.

Three ways to win!  I will announce the winner next week!  

 

 

Until next time.... stay warm!  It's going to be insanely cold here this week.  It's a great week to stay in, drink a cup of cocoa, and craft!  I leave you with a picture of more of those felty flowers...