I'm just peeking in

after a very long hiatus.

I thought it would be easier to work on patterns and projects after the beginning of the year.  the little guy still isn't willing to let my attention go anywhere else for very long.

for example.  I started to make a pair of mittens for myself before winter started.  the other day I got to pick them up again.

I still have to make a cuff on them.  and I'm still trying to decide if I want to try to make a pattern yet.

maybe sometime.  but I'll have to make another pair of mittens to take step by step photos

but it should be pretty simple since they are a really simple pair of mittens.

maybe I'll make a child's pair and then write instructions for children's to adult sizes.

I know I promised

and it looks like I am breaking that promise.  :(

I had every intention to work on patterns at the start of the year, but the little man is not yet ready to allow me the time required for me to put any new patterns together.  In fact I haven't even picked up a hook in about 2 months.

I have searched a couple of patterns to make for my kids and they are down right adorable, but I simply haven't got the time to even start on them.  I've really only had time enough to check the shop for pattern sales and haven't updated any of my physical items.

I hope I still have my hooky skills by the time my baby is through with me

HOLY COW! Has it really been that long?

I am stunned!  I can't believe that I haven't been over here since August!
time flies when you're having a baby

anyway....

this new year is going bring with it the desire to finally write down a couple of new patterns.

I'm thinking it's time to write out my mitten pattern.  I've been making mittens and more mittens for my kids that I'm getting more confident about writing it out.  it's really easy so beginners can make simple mittens and I think it will be a $3 pattern.

I am also thinking about writing out a pattern for a scarf that I have made a few times and have had requests for a written pattern a few times.  not quite sure if I want to free pattern this one yet.  we'll see how difficult it is to write out the pattern and then I'll decide if it should be for sale

Happy New Year

these ARE the droids you're looking for

my boys love the hats that I made for them two Winter's ago (find the link to a graph through this post).  I also have run across a nerd here and there who love these hats and I have now made two hats (and need more blue) and think I might make a couple more.

I've been working off a graph but I not exactly.  I've had to make several adjustments to the way they would be made if they had been knitted vs. crocheted (as I have done.)

perhaps I'll write out the method/pattern so it can be more precise and easy for others to make their own.

(it depends on how much energy I have left after the sale and my pregnancy)

but they're coming with me to the craft sale in 2.5 weeks.
I hope they sell quickly.  that would be a real joy for me

I've signed up for it

and I'm hoping it wasn't a mistake.

but I am tentatively on the list for sellers at the Amboy Art's N More craft sale.

I know that my daughter is going to want to share a booth again.  but I am hoping that I will have much more help this year.

I made some totally cute barefoot sandals for my youngest daughter and have yet to get a tie on them so she can wear them, but I will have them ready for the sale so she can model them.  but I feel that the timing might be a little off for our area being that the sale is in September and after summer vacations are done.

but I am still going to give them a try.
I am also going to have several snowflakes.  I have to pull out my old patterns from last year as well.... I want to make sure I have a nice wide selection
then I need to print a few pictures of items for my portfolio in case there are any orders for items I don't currently have made. though sadly my favorite pumpkin hat is now discontinued because my yarn for that item has been discontinued and I have not been able to find a suitable substitute.

so wish me luck.  it's going to be the last sale I do (apart from my shop) for a long while - perhaps an entire year - since I'll be having this baby only a month and a couple weeks after this sale.

and I just realized today that the sale is also my husband's and my anniversary.

my fiber foe

curse you, humidity!  you have foiled my plans again and again!

I have been making some plans for my annual craft sale in my husband's home town.  I've been somewhat on the fence about even attending this year because I am going to be 8 months pregnant at the time and I'm not really sure if I want to be out in the sun all day long with the possibility of hot weather and customers that really don't want to buy anything.  I'll be enormous and hormonal and people not wanting to buy will just hurt my feelings.... not to mention I'll be enormous

but on the chance that I do decide to go through with it I need to beef up the inventory a bit.  not a whole lot, but some.  I want a few new things for the town because it does me no good to take the same things every year.  people get bored of seeing the same old thing, not to mention I get bored of making the same old thing.

but the hot weather and humidity is again high (just like it is every summer) but in order for me to have anything  made I need dry hands and cool weather to I don't melt away and never crochet again.

I thought this year I would try some more lacy items.  spiderwebs for halloween and snowflakes for winter decorations or Christmas trees.

this woman is a wonderful person.  she has many many many snowflake designs that she shares for free and allows the sales of the finished product.  this link goes to her blog, Snowcatcher
just the thing to get my lacy juices flowing.  I can work a bit on them while the humidity and temperatures are a bit lower in the morning.  I wish it were completely gone so I could focus on making more than one snowflake in a 24 hr period of time...

turtles!

I've been making the most adorable key rings. 

originally I made them for the fund raiser but they didn't sell at all there.  I was kind of disappointed because they are the cutest darned things you will ever see - with, perhaps, the exception of your own children.

but since the fund raiser I have sold a few of them and continue to make more.  I have a craft sale coming up in September and I am debating attending that one this year.  I have been there the last three years, but this year I will be 8 months pregnant and I have yet to decide if I am going to want to be stationed for 6 + hours in the sun getting burned and thirsty hoping that my crafts sell.
maybe being so pregnant people will take pity on me and buy anyway?  but either way if I do go I need to build my inventory again.  but if I don't go, everything will make it's way to my etsy or to another craft sale after my baby is big enough to not need to eat every few hours.

if you are thinking you may have seen turtles similar to these, you might just have.  I adapted them from Wibit's adorable turtles (found at RomanSock)  You can get her pattern at her site.   I don't sell my adaptations of her turtle pattern out of respect for that amazing designer.