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!

Hello, February.

What a busy week.  I am so very excited to show you what I was up to! Let's get right to it!

Some cute little baby booties!

Two mouse hats - for a pair of siblings.

I wish I could have seen them being worn.  I am sure the two kids were adorable!

I also had an order for a piggy hat!

Two cowl orders this week!  Here is one of them in pink...

...And I was so excited to get a custom order for a cowl made of fleece yarn.  Yummy softness!

And lastly...  the star of the week.  I know I showed it on my facebook earlier this week, but I have to show it again!

One of my proudest moments...  the Rainbow Boxy Cowl!  It was a custom order and it forced me to be creative.  I enjoyed every minute of it and I think it came out great!  It took a lot of time to create and plan, but I enjoyed the process. 


I just want to thank all of you out there for all the love and support - especially over the last month with starting the new blog.  Since it's almost Valentine's Day, I wanted to give you a special offer! 

Free shipping on all Heart Hat orders!

You must place your order by this Thursday, February 7th, please!

With that, I leave you with a picture I took this weekend of the beautiful snowfall.  Nothing makes me happier than when it snows on the weekend so I can fully enjoy it.  I'm on my way to continue doing that right now:  Looking out of the window at the fresh snow fall down with a cup of coffee and my hook and yarn.  Until next week...

Goodbye Winter Break

Here we are at the end of our first week in 2013.  I don't know about you, but I had a great week.  I usually don't travel this time of year, but I made my way to Austin, Texas to visit one of my friends.  It was a great trip... even if it decided to be cold.

I made my way to Country Hill Weavers before eating at Wurst-Tex food truck.  Of course, I broke my New Years Resolution of not buying more yarn.  However, I also made sure that this yarn was for me.  I wanted to make some items that would always make me think of my winter trip to Austin.  I'm thinking that one negates the other and I don't need to really be upset about breaking any resolutions, right? 

Here is a little cowl that I made with Mochi Plus.  Perfect for work!

I made this light scarf with Noro.  I am in love with the colors!

With leftover Noro I made a coffee can cover.  I usually save my change all year...  and I usually save the change in an ugly box.  I decided to switch to this coffee can.  I love the colors... but I am unsure how to finish this off?  I was thinking of maybe spray painting it one of those beautiful hues that I see in the yarn?  Or maybe I should crochet a huge flower and attach it to the top?  I'm unsure.  If you have suggestions, I am wide open to them!


I've also been busy in my etsy shop.  I've put back up all the hats I make, and I also added a few new cowls, a scarf... and a new hat!

Smiley Bear Hat

The Rainbow Scarf

The Easter-Pastel Cowl

The Violet-Purple Cowl

I've been a bit obsessed with making little flower pins like the one on the cowl above.  I have more to show you, but I'll unveil them a little later on, when they're all finished.  All of them were inspired by Attic24. 

Now the moment that some of you have been waiting for!

The winner of my little tree is...

Aimee H!

Thank you to everyone who commented, posted, and shared my new blog.  It was flattering and fun, and I can't wait until my next giveaway!  Thank you, thank you, thank you!  I'm very excited about these giveaways, and I have a bunch of items lined up.  I also have a few crafty friends that are thinking about participating in the giveaways, too.  I can't wait to share their creations!

It's been a good winter break, but I am also ready to get back into work and start teaching the students again.  With that, I leave you with a picture of my high-school friend, Bren, and I at the Capitol Building in Austin...

Cheers until next time!