Hats for Sale-Proceeds to the American Cancer Society

I'm selling these hats for Relay for Life. They are $15 and all proceeds go to The American Cancer Society. If you'd like one, leave me a message (with your email address) and I'll get back to you on size and colors!

I love having a way to combine my hobby with making money for Relay!

P.S. Box Elder Relay for Life is June 3 & 4 this year!!!!

Sad News...

So, I am designing some crocheted socks for my dad. I got him to measure his foot from various points since I don't have him here to try them on.

Well, I also measured my foot for a reference. My feet are only slightly smaller than his. This is not so say that he has small feet, but that I have large ones!

I wear a women's size 10 shoe. Wide width is usually not wide enough for me and I have never found a cute strappy pair that worked. It is a curse that I have sadly passed to my children.

At least so far, they haven't had trouble with it. Maybe they didn't get them SO wide.

Actually, when Doodle was born, rather than counting her toes, I made sure her feet were narrowish. She may have missed that bullet!

Recognized Obsession

I was sitting at the park with some friends and we started talking about the things that we just have to have and spend money on. I realized that mine is having a project, especially a crochet project. I spend a lot of my extra money on yarn, ribbon and other craft related items.

I finished another project on Wednesday and I found myself project-less. I felt wrong. I simply needed a project to feel okay with the world. I quickly started looking for something to crochet. It's a sickness, I know. I realized that I had an idea waiting for me. I'm now working on a pink crown for Princess. She is excited. I just hope it works out. And, all is well with the world, again!

Crafty

I've been able to get some projects finished, lately! I have been enjoying being crafty, especially crocheting with carpal tunnel gone!

I have been wanting to make a hanger for the headbands and hair bows that we have been collecting. I saw something similar to this online, but I thought a hook for the headbands would be nice.


I found this star at Wal-Mart, painted it and added the ribbon on the sides. I love how it turned out. It really makes it easier for doing little girls' hair to see what is available. Now I can go make more bows and have a great place to keep them!


I finished this doll. Her name is Molly. She has become a quick favorite, even before she had a face, hair or clothes! I found the pattern here. I used crochet thread rather than normal yarn, for a smaller doll. I want to make one for Doodle, too.


Now I am on to another project (or three)I finished the hat that I have been working on for a long time. I think it turned out pretty well!

Baby Daisy Hat

Here's a daisy hat for my baby. I took Krochet Krystal's pattern and after I got a complete circle, I turned it into a hat. I wanted it to be newborn size but I think it will get more use next summer.

Sorry for the not-so-great pictures. I don't have a proper model. The color is truer in the top-view.

Charity Crochet

A few days ago, I found Krochet Krystal. She created the pattern for this afghan square. I thought it was beautiful, and I'd like to use it. Well, she is a really neat woman who has created this interesting pattern and asks that if you download it, you send her at least one square that she can use to make afghans to donate to her local hospitals! They turn out beautifully! It is a fun pattern that isn't too hard to figure out if you just do exactly as she says. She also offers lots of pictures, a tutorial and email help if you need it.

(I didn't put the border on mine, since it was just to see if I could figure out her pattern. Now it is a potholder since it isn't the right colors to send to her.)

What to do you think?

I'm not going to bother with trying to commit to a new SMART habit this week or probably next, either. There is just too much going on. I did, though, want to report on last week's progress. This is the hunting mask that my Dad requested. I think my design turned out pretty well. We had fun trying it on. I also made the Mary Jane slippers that I have been wanting to try for Belle. She loves them. They still need some latex on the bottom. I still need to find some. I also made a hat for my niece and play snakes. This week I started mittens and a matching hat for Luke. I am really taking a chunk out of my list!! It feels really good to be able to catch up to myself once in a while!When I come up with a plan to accomplish everything we have planned this weekend, or when I recover from it, I'll have to post about it! If we survive as more than piles of goo!

Etsy

I created an etsy profile in February!! Well, I have barely even looked at it since then, until today. I was at the park with a friend and her kids and she reminded me of etsy.com. I hadn't thought of selling things there. So, today, I put three of my hats on my new etsy store!! (There's a link on the sidebar as well!) Wish me luck!

Thursday Night in Knots

I went to my first Thursday Night in Knots at my local yarn store. It was a lot of fun. I got a lot of my current hat project done and laughed a lot, too! There are some neat ladies that go. There were 21 people and one dog. I think I have finally been inspired enough by other peoples' knitting to try to learn how to knit socks! I just need to buy the stuff! I am excited. I haven't done socks and I think it will be fun as well as challenging.

Daisy Chains Crochet

I started a new blog for selling my crocheted kids' hats!! I was tired of clogging this one up with only pictures that really needed to go somewhere else. So, if you are interested, go over to Daisy Chains Crochet. I am still working on it, so it is a little rough! I'd welcome any suggestions you may have.

Cloche-ish Hat!

I finished another hat, today!! (And, yes I think I may be slightly obsessed with making hats at the moment!) This one is sort of a cloche and it is for a friend's daughter. She is turning two. We got to be pregnant together with our girls and our daughters have gotten to play together a lot during their first two years!!

I can't decide if I like the bow to be the front or the side, yet. I guess the wearer (or her mommy) can decide.

Boy's Hat and a Flower Hat

I finished two more hats!! I had a lot of fun with them and they were faster than the first one, since I had the pattern more defined. I want to get a mannequin head to show the way the hats would lay on a child, but until then, here they are! I could change the colors and size of the stripes any way. As for the flower hat, I think I want to change the design a little, but I like the idea.

I may have a chance to sell them in person, or just put them on eBay or something. I haven't fully decided what to do, yet.

I really want to work it out so that they are fully customizable. Any size, color and design. I am really excited!

I forgot to post about this hat!

I got the idea to make and sell crocheted hats for kids with fun colors and cute designs. This is my first one. I made it for Belle. What do you think?

Good Yarn Karma

I found a great new site!!


It is called Good Yarn Karma. They list yarn, accessories and books that people want to give away or trade! It is wonderful! All you have to do is find something you like and follow their directions! I got my package today!! The yarn is a gorgeous boucle blend! I wish the colors were more true on this picture!



It came from Chelsea!! It came super fast, too! I can't wait to get working with this yarn!

Thanks Chelsea!!!

I wish I had some yarn to offer, but my stash isn't really worth having! Someday, perhaps!

My Crochet Trick

I wanted to save up all my little tricks for crochet and have a post about them. I have been saving one for so long that I thought I'd just post about it and be done. I guess I don't really have any other tricks! (Other than organizing my stash in a big tote in the closet so that I can find everything when I need it. My craft books and other stuff are all in another container so I don't have to search through several boxes to find the one thing I need!)

So my tip is this: When you need to mark a stitch in a pattern, instead of using a spare piece of yarn, or buying stitch markers, I use a pin! You don't have to keep finding new pieces of yarn and tying them in, or buy something with only one purpose. I have tons of pins around. They are easy to pin on my crochet hook case for anytime I need them, too! Pins are also really easy to move when you have to keep track of the row you are on.

The picture is of my newest brilliance!! I can't wait to show you the finished product!

Smart Habit Sunday

I didn't read with the kids very many days like I wanted to and I only got exercise on two days. So, I am going to continue these goals. They are really important to me and I REALLY want them to become habits that I never break!! And, no new finished projects. I guess the things I have been working on need a lot more work than the previous ones. But, here are a couple of pictures from some I finished but didn't get blogged.

Here is a little pacifier caddy:



And Winnie the Pooh, no longer without clothing: (from this pattern)

Carseat Blanket

So, here is my newest finished project! The picture doesn't show the whole thing, but it is about 15X24 inches. I loved some of the really small light-weight blankets that I had and this is a warmer version. It was an idea I had for a more convenient way to cover a baby in a car seat. Usually, I had to fold or tuck a blanket a lot so that it covered the baby, but didn't drag all over the floor. I thought that if I had a smaller blanket that would be solved. I guess I'll have to wait until I have another baby to see. I think it would also be a nice way to help keep a baby warm in a sling or other carrier.

I crocheted it with a tunisian/afghan hook. It is a really neat stitch that crosses over itself to have a fun effect. I really like how it turned out.

Crochet Coral Reef

Okay, I'll admit this is pretty weird, but cool!! When I first started this blog, I found this site. Then, I made one of my own. I was wandering around the IFF site, this morning and found their crochet coral reef. It is so cool that people are using crochet in math & science. It is really neat! Go check out the projects that these people are/have worked on. It is a really interesting read. There are also some origami and other crochet projects.

Purse

I just finished the purse for a friend's daughter. I hope she likes it. I love that pattern and I added cute little flowers this time.

Big Weekend

Belle was sick last night, so I may have to postpone some of this post for later. She is happily watching Curious George, for now. Aaron had Spring Break Thursday through Monday and we had a great time! We went all over town to see what would be the best thing to do for his birthday. He wanted to either get his old bike fixed, or find a new one. After lots of research and LOTS of shopping around, we found the bike for him. He is really excited and has already taken the kids for a ride with him.
Then, there was Easter! We had a really nice time. We talked about the sacrifice Christ made for us and about his resurrection. We've already talked about resurrection with Luke since he was so worried about death. He is such a good little boy. Then, we went to my niece's baby blessing. We give our children a name and a blessing when they are young, in our church. I was able to give them the blanket!!!
I need to report that I have already finished two of my unfinished projects!!! Hoorah!!
Here is a bag to hold the cords that go with the portable DVD player.
...and a weird bag made from a Knifty Knitter
So, there you have it! It was a great weekend. I always like it when Aaron is home with us. It is really nice to have him around and he helps with chores a lot as well!! He cleaned the bathroom, vacuumed and went through a lot of clutter!!! Thanks, Aaron!!!