Insta what??

Instagram!!  I have recently discovered this lovely app and and downloaded it to my phone a few days ago.  I am so totally hooked!  I want to take pictures of everything now! I play with it all the time - so addicting.  It's amazing how it takes your boring blah photos and makes them look so lovely.

See!   I love it!  It makes even the most mundane photos of pigeons on a wire look hauntingly beautiful:

A yukky backyard tool shed in looks magical:

I am totally hooked.  Of course I am now having to charge my phone every 5 minutes because my battery runs down really quick.  But I am having so much fun!  

Summer is

almost gone - where did the days go?  It's almost the end of July, my kids start school at the end of next month and it seems like I'm still waiting for the 4th of July to come around.  *sigh*

Well, I've been busy - working and hanging at home with the kiddos.  Here's the blanket and sock monkey hat I made for my nephew and his wife's first baby:

They're having a boy and they were thrilled with the set.  They love monkeys so the hat was a hit.

I also did a set in a pink colorway:

I've also completed a Missioni inspired blanket - my first zig-zag creation:

It's baby sized and I used a pattern from sheilalikestoknit on Etsy.  I love the color scheme.  I want to eventually make a larger sized one for my bed.

More shawls:

And of course, more bracelets:

I've started using nylon cord instead of the crochet thread and I like it better.  Both work equally well, I just like the more finished, polished look of the nylon.  I'm hoping to make more to sell not only in my Etsy shop, but at local craft fairs this fall.

I'm also working on some orders for shawls. I do want to get to adding more colors, just haven't had the time (as usual).  Want to take the kids to the zoo again sometime next month before school starts.  And of course school shopping will begin.  Before I know it Christmas will be here and I'll still be waiting for the summer to start.  Where does the time go?

Long Time . . .

Yes, I know.  Been a while.  Um hmm.  Sorry about that.  I really am.  It's hard for me to keep up posts with everything else going on - work, family, home, work.  Usually in my free time I create or read or spend time with the kiddos or sleep.  Seems there's not enough hours in the day.  *sigh*  I'll try to do better.  I promise. 

Now for updates:  Summer's here and the kids are off school. I have a shortened work week with Fridays off giving me three day weekends - yay!  I've gone ahead and opened an Etsy shop.  I was reluctant to do so.  I have misgivings about Etsy and the *cough* resellers *cough*.  But I seem to generate more sales and more exposure than on Artfire.  So we'll see how it goes.  I've added many new items.  I've fallen in love recently with crocheted beaded bracelets.  Seems I've made a ton!  They are so addicting!  And so pretty!  I wear mine and always get compliments.  Here's a peek:

They are glass beads crocheted onto mercerized cotton thread - I've yet to find linen cord in a shop here and I may have to order some just to try it out.  The closures are loops and vintage buttons from my extensive stash.  They are so lightweight and versatile - you can wrap them as a bracelet or use them as a necklace.  I've sold a couple already.  I have plenty of vintage buttons, I just need to go get more beads!

I've also done and sold some of my celebrity shawls:

I would like to do some more in different colors but haven't had time yet.  I am currently working on several afghans.  I am completing one soon that I will be giving to my nephew and his wife for their first baby.  I'll post pics of that when it's done.

Thanks for being patient and I will try to keep up here a little more often.

Have a great day!



Coloring Fun

I really like the crayon wallets and rolls that are out on the web.  They look like such fun and practical items to have.  So I bought a pattern from ginia18 on Etsy.  And I went through my huge stash and pulled out some cute fabrics.  This is the result.

Of course my kids immediately appropriated the cases and now I have to make more.  They are fun and easy to do and I look forward to fabric shopping this weekend.  Like I need more fabric.  Of course I do.  I did list them as custom items in my shop and I plan on having a bunch for my local craft shows which I will be doing starting in May.

This weekend was great however, as always, went by way too fast.  Hope you all are having a great one too.  Talk to you soon!

Warm Weather Crochet

The weather has been warming up here.  We had a terrible dust storm, rain and cold earlier this week - like the final gasp of winter (hopefully).  Now the weather is sunny and warm and wonderful! 

Here are some things I've been working on but haven't gotten around to posting here yet.

This is a sweet little baby blanket and hat done in soft tea green. I used a shell design for the blanket and used a picot edging.  The hat is standard double crochet with a front and back post dc for the brim.  I found a pretty wood button in my stash and added it to the hat.

I think they came out very sweet.

Been on a bit of a hair clip frenzy.  I have some craft shows coming up in May and June and wanted to add some smaller non-crochet items to my stock.  Since the weather's warmer I think they'll sell better than my crochet hats and blankets lol!  I added them to my Artfire shop.



I also have about three or four blankets that I am working on.  As soon as I get pictures of those I will post.

Have a lovely week and hope the weather is good and beautiful wherever you are!

Use Your Own!

This seller on Etsy is using my photo of my Owl e-reader case and presenting it as her own.
http://www.etsy.com/listing/90470831/kindle-ereader-owl-case-holder-pouch?ref=sc_4

Yep.  That's my photo.  See my sold listing on Artfire. Same shadow, same shape of the beak and wings.
http://www.artfire.com/ext/shop/product_view/2884338

She even has it listed a promoted item so it shows at the top of the item pages.  Does she not think I look through the crochet on Etsy?  That I won't recognize my photo?  For shame. 

I created this pattern.  Yes, I realize people will copy the design; I have no control over that.  BUT do not be lazy and take my photo too.  Use your own. 

I have reported the item to Etsy.  Fat lot that will do.  But there it is.

Brrrr!

It's cold here today!  It's cloudy and rainy too which is a little unusual for our area this time of year.  But it's a good reason to stay in and craft and catch up on my DVRd shows.  Here's some more completed projects for you:

Snowman (person?) hats!  I made some for my kids this winter and they adore them.  I also have them posted in my Artfire shop.

I'm continuing this post from yesterday since my pictures link didn't want to work.  I completed these yesterday:

Aren't they cute?  And so soft and warm too.  They are quick and easy and now my kids want pairs too!  I used a pattern by Holland Designs on Etsy.

That's all for now!  I'll be back soon.