Game Playing, Flowery Orders, and Blue Herons, Oh my!

On the last blog post I was so busy showing you how to make a hoop that I forgot to show you two recent purchases I was very happy with!  I went out to McHenry, IL with my friend, and we checked out two shops we've never been to before. 

The first was A Peek Into the Past Vintage.  The owner was super friendly, and this antique shop had tons of items in it!  I felt like I could have been there for hours and still not see everything.  The shop was immaculately clean, and everything was organized and displayed so nicely.  I'm thinking of going back before the holidays and getting my sister-in-law a few things, as she's been into vintage quite a bit lately.  Let me show you my great find...

An old cribbage board... with wooden pegs!  Only $8!  SCORE! (Do you like my bad pun?)

My husband loves cribbage, but dislikes the board I bought at some discount store years ago.  When I saw this, I knew I couldn't wait until November to give it to him.  We've already used it, and he was impressed with the fact it had wooden pegs.  So, if you're in McHenry, I really suggest stopping by A Peek Into The Past Vintage... it's a really neat store.  I can't wait to go back. 

While out and about, across the street was White River Junction.  What a neat shop.  Spacious, clean, organized!  There were tons of items I wanted to buy here.  Plenty of home decor and jewelry.  Local artists selling their handmade products, too - which is right up my alley.  My day of shopping in downtown McHenry closed with me purchasing this little guy from them shop:

He can hold a little business card or sign!

I haven't had much time to do any other shopping because this week I had some orders roll in... 
Let me share them with you!

20 large pink crochet flowers!  Interested in some of your own?  Click HERE!

Every time I make these little booties, I smile.  So small and sweet!

A mouse hat made with peach!  You can get one of your own by clicking HERE!

Other than that, I've taken up the sport of long-distance cycling.  It's not very crafty, but I wanted to leave you in this blog post with a picture I took just yesterday on the trail.  Until next time...

Great Blue Heron on the Des Plaines River

Spring Break!

I hope your spring break was an amazing one!  I was able to head out to an awesome spot in Indiana to celebrate my anniversary, I was able to sleep a bit more than I had in the past... and I also was able to create to my heart's content!  I have been very busy...  Let me get to the show and tell!

First I made a pig hat for a co-worker...

Interested in one of your own?  You can get it here!

Then Easter was on the way. I made egg cozies for each person who would be at dinner.  I didn't get a good photo of them beforehand, though.  This is all I got:

I also decided to take some extra fabric I had and stitch up easter bags instead of buying plastic ones.  This was one of the two I made for my nephews:

I even managed to make a little bunny stuffed animal on my sewing machine, too!

While the machine was out, I decided to try something I had been toying with in the back of my mind for a while now.  The banner I have in the works for future craft shows!

As spring break went on...  my coffee consumption increased.  This inspired me to create quite a few coffee cozies!  I made so many, I am only going to put up a few pictures here:

Interested in a coffee sleeve!?  You can find a plethora of them here in my shop!

I am going to be posting more throughout the week...  not all of them are up yet.

The last two that you see above have fabric flowers attached.  I was able to make some and attach them to some hats, too!

And finally...  I made a couple of fabric flower pins, too!  Good news:  They are part of a 

GIVEAWAY!

You have a few ways to win/earn entries:

1. Comment on this post
2. Comment on this wall update on facebook
3. Share the wall update on facebook - and let me know you did!
4. Like the wall update on facebook

I will select a random entry next weekend and send it out in the mail.  The winner will be able to choose which pin they would like.  


WHEW!  I think that's it for now...  I hope you enjoyed all the pictures, and I want to thank all of you for keeping me going when it comes to creating!  Taking a little break has helped me quite a bit, and I plan to do it sporadically throughout the year.  Welcome to April!

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!