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!

Bunting Tutorial

A few weeks ago my sister-in-law asked if I could make a bunting for my nephew's first birthday.  I've been wanting to make a bunting for a long, long time... but I had no idea what I would make it for.  So when she asked, I was super excited!  Then I thought... why not make a tutorial?  So here it goes! 

Baby Bennett Bunting Tutorial

(The B cubed tutorial, if you're a math geek like me!)

 

Step One:  Get all your supplies.  I have felt, yarn, glue
gun and glue, scissors, and pom makers here.

Step Two:  Make a template in the shape you want for your bunting.
I thought about a triangle, but I decided on a curved rectangle instead.
You can chose to use a cardboard template if you're going to trace it on your
felt, or you can just use the paper template (like I did on the right), pin it
down, and cut it out.  I'm impatient, which made me think of just pinning!

Step Three:  I chose to go with a paper template.  I'm slightly lazy, so I
decided the picture on the left, tracing the cardboard, was too much work. 
NOTE:  I left a little extra at the top, because we will fold it down later.

Step Four:  Cut out as many pieces as you need.

Step Five:  Go on your computer and go to 1001 Free Fonts.  There, you can choose a font and preview it.
If you need your preview type to be larger, hit Ctrl and the + sign on your keyboard.
You will see I noticed I only needed 4 letters...  Oddly, they spelled BENT.  So weird.
Anyway, trace and cut out!  Presto!

Step Six:  Trace your letters onto felt, and cut them out.

Step Seven:  Glue your letters down.  You can sew them on...
Did I mention I am impatient?  The glue worked just fine.

Step Eight:  I used my pom pom maker to make some poms!

Step Nine:  You want to flip over each of your pieces, and
put your first piece all the way to the right.
In other words, flipped and backwards.

Step Ten:  Glue down your yarn and fold the top over.  Keep going until you have all your pieces glued down.
Make sure you try and space them evenly.
NOTE:  Make sure you leave a long tail at the end!

Step Eleven:  Feel so accomplished so far that you get yourself a soda.
(I know they are not good for you...  I usually keep it to one a week!)
Make sure you leave a long tail at the opposite end, too!

Step Twelve:  Tie on your poms!
I did small ones inside, but bigger ones on the outside.
Poor red pom was left out.

Step Thirteen:  Hang up your bunting and giggle with joy! 
(Excuse my mess in the background...  I didn't even notice there were things on the kitchen pass-thru!)

I have other things I wanted to talk about, but I am a busy little bee!  I have to get ready for a craft show.

If you're in the Antioch, IL area on September 7-8, please come visit my booth and tell me you've seen my blog or follow my facebook or Instagram!   

I'll be splitting my booth with my friend/co-worker Carrie, too! Click HERE to see her etsy shop.  She makes some really unique and wonderful items, including this piece that is one of my favorites:

You can find this listing HERE!
I have never seen anything like this before... but that is what Carrie
is all about.  She's very original!

Usually I try to leave you with a pic that isn't really crafty-related.  Today on my bike ride, I was able to see some Helmeted Guineafowl!  Seriously, these birds do not live here...  Like, in this country even.  So I am assuming someone lost their birds off their farm, because it seems they can be imported into the US.  After reading about them, I realized that they could be my favorite bird.  THEY EAT TICKS!  If you don't know this about me already, I am terrified of ticks.  If I ever have a yard and can have one of these birds, I would do it in an instant.  Ticks be gone!  So until next time...

Scroungin' on the trail.  So cute!

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...