The Handmade Way

When I say Yummy Shoes, I really mean Yummy

2012-01-21T23:02:00.000-08:00

My mom always has her nose in her cake decorating books, coming up with new ideas. She never stops creating and I'm so thankful for that. She knows that I love shoes, and she brought me these today.

at first glance, these might look like Dorothy's magic slippers to take her to the land of Oz, but in reality, they are the tastiest cutest cupcakes you ever will experience. Home made Red Velvet cakes with a sweet cream cheese frosting top with red sparklies! Who could ask for anything more?

I showed these to my friends and they all asked the same questions. They wanted to know how these are made, and how they can be 100% edible. Well my faithful blog followers, I'm going to break it down for you. Grab your notebooks and pencils, because with the right tools, you'll be surprised at how super easy these are to construct.

Here's another view of the shoe to give you a better understanding.

The Obvious:

Take notice of the front platform. That's your cupcake. inside of a foil metalic wrapper

See that bow on the front? That's a stick of Big Red cinnamon bubble gum.

The Not so Obvious:

Take that slope leading to the heel for instance; you look, look, look some more, and you say "What the heck is that made from?" I'm here to tell you that is nothing other than an orginal Graham Cracker piece. That's right, just frost the center with whatever color you want the inside of the shoe to be, and then frost the edges to match the cupcake. Once that is done, you'll want to slide it diagnally into the edge of the cupcake.

That sure does look like a wooden high heel, doesnt it? That, my friends, is a Pepperidge Farm Piroutte cookie. Just cut it to the height you want your shoe to be, put some frosting at the top of it to use as a base to connect to the shoe.

Wouldnt these make sweet Valentines treats, or fun snacks for the next Girls Night out?

Happy Baking and Building !

Keep the Door Open

2011-12-29T14:54:00.000-08:00

Back in September, I told you about the friendship stones that I made using the pattern from Sascha at Love toKnit's blog, and Aunt Lydia's #10 cotton crochet thread. Well, don't laugh, but, I got to thinking that if I can dress up mini pebbles, than there's absolutely no reason why I can't pretty something up for inside the house too. I actually came up with this idea more out of necessity as opposed to a desire to just yarn bomb anything I could get my hands on.

You see, my front door would just slam shut every time even the slightest breeze traveled through. On a nice day I want that fresh air in my house, I want that door to stay open, I NEED to see the outside world. The annoying constant slam of the front door was becoming intolerable. So I ran out to my backyard where a perfectly oval shaped rock was waiting for me in the garden. I picked her up and washed her really good with Lavender aromatherapy soap.

A word of advice though.... if you plan on doing this, don't waste your good soaps or washes on a rock. Contrary to what I thought; the aroma therapy smell does NOT linger, a rock just smells plain and boring and no matter how much you wash it, it will never smell pretty or calming.

I began stitching a freeform style based on the idea from Sacha's blog and before long, I was left with a pretty door stop.

Please.... DO try this at home !!

I’m excited to officially be a Designer

2011-12-15T10:03:00.000-08:00

My yarn, crochet hooks, sketchbook and seamstress measuring tape are a regular part of my everyday life. I have so many of my original designs scribbled in note books and even of scraps of paper that I have shoved away in an envelope.

As my idea bank fills up, and my design collection continues to grow, I think to myself that I better find a better way to organize everything. Slowly, but surely, I have been transferring all of my notes to official patterns on pdf files. I posted a few patterns on my Ravelry.com page and was seriously surprised that others were also interested in my designs. For Real! My patterns actually mean something to others! YAY!

I do have to admit that I had no idea how much work it would be, but I want to be efficient and clear, so I’m taking the time to get it right.

I made this hooded scarf for my aunt’s Christmas present and it’s now become my most popular pattern. Interested in giving it a try? You still have time to make a few of them before Christmas ! Just look me up on Etsy or Ravelry.com , my ID and shop name is CharacterCrochet

Diary of a Wimpy Kid - Rodrick Rules

2011-11-21T21:33:00.000-08:00

It's getting closer to the holidays so that means it's time to make presents. I came across this pattern written by a very talented designer, SharonOjala at HomemadeObsessions.blogspot.com . Sharon was kind enough to provide this pattern for free on her blog. The pattern was easy to follow and it's going to make a great present to go along with the book.

Those of you familiar with the books and movies, will understand the mischevious look on Rodricks face. I used scraps of worsted weight yarn, polyfil to stuff the head, neck and torso, and pipe cleaners in the arms and legs allow for bending. Rodrick stands 11 inches ( 28cm) tall.

Below is my review and time line of the project:

Day 1 -
(1 hour)
Just starting the pattern, I’ve stuffed the head and the body, and everything is working up nicely. I’ve just got started on my first arm. Tricky making these because I have to be careful not to shove my hook through to the other side of the next stitch. This took about an hour to do. It’s late and I’m tired, so I will work on it some more tomorrow.
Day 2 -
(2.5 hours)
It’s the little details that take the longest to complete, but well worth it. I was able to complete the arms with pipe cleaners (I only had black pipe cleaners, but I would highly recommend using the same color pipe cleaners as your yarn). I finished and attached the nose, ears, hair and used a yarn needle and black yarn to sew on the facial expression. Just have to make the legs and feet now
Day 3 -
(1.5 hours)
Trust the pattern! Thank you to designers who not only write a good pattern, but also for providing helpful hints. Without the hint about the hair, I would have never known to apply clear drying glue to prevent from fraying. The glue also helped the hair stay in place. For some reason the legs and feet seemed to be easier to make than the arms. Maybe because I already got in some practice?
No doubt about it, I feel like this project was a success !

Textured Beanie Crochet Pattern with Real Hat-titude

2011-10-26T10:35:00.000-07:00

Just in time to make for Christmas gifts !

I’m getting ready for a boutique next month, and have been working on items to fill my booth. During the midst of all of this, I needed to get creative again. I wanted to have something that was my own personal design, so I sat, and brainstormed, and drew, and crocheted, and unraveled, and started over… again and again. After 4 days, here’s the end result of my mini quest.

I really like this hat, it gives a different look to the typical beanie, and even though the photo’s shown from a woman’s perspective, it would actually look great on a man too. It’s simple enough to make, and you can pretty much do it with only half a skein of yarn.

I've received so much response to this hat that I have decided to sell my pattern for others to use as well. You can purchase the Pattern Here at my Etsy Shop. It's available in PDF downloadable format and will be emailed to you within 24 hours of purchasing.

The pattern is written in English only, and the level is Easy. However, knowledge of the following terminology and stitches is needed to complete the project.

Terminology:
Ch: chain
Hdc: Half double crochet
Sc: single crochet
St: Stich
BLO: Back Loop Only
FLO: Front Loop Only

Fingerless gloves, how practical are they really?

2011-10-10T22:30:00.000-07:00

After browsing the Ravelry.com crochet library, I kept coming across these fingerless gloves. At first I would say to myself, If your hands are cold, wouldnt you want to keep everything warm? That would include your fingers too, right?

The more images I'd see of these, the more intrigued I became. Then, I came across this Kim Miller pattern and was suddenly interested. I wanted to give them a try, see what all the hubbub was about. So, for an extremely minimal price, $3.99 to be exact, I realy didnt have anything to lose. I did have to pay close attention to the pattern, but once I got the hang of it, it was a little fun to see my new wardrobe staple begin to take form.

Dare I say that I love this style? Well, I really do. Now I can still keep warm and stay functional. As soon as winter officially hits us, and my office feels like and ice box. I'll be wearing these to keep warm and still be able to use my computer keyboard.

Just an FYI, I used a size G crochet hook for this pattern with Caron Simply Soft Yarn. I also wanted to add my own personal touch to this, so I used a size H crochet hook, to create a half triple crochet row of 12 with a slip stitch border . I sewed 2 buttons onto the glove and then pushed the buttons through each side of my strap to create the look you see in the picture.

A scrumptious bowl of Amigurumi Strawberries

2011-10-10T22:06:00.000-07:00

So lately, I just cant seem to get into my typical jewelry making mode. I've been spending so much time with my yarn and crochet hooks. I guess because I can pretty much take them anywhere with me and, it is very soothing.

I found this very cute Strawberry pattern written by Julia Kelly on her blog. The pattern was super easy and fun. I did alter it just a wee bit though. The pattern calls for a size G hook for the strawberry and a F hook for the leaves. I used an F hook for both, and I was just a little too lazy for the intricate details of the seeds. If you have the time for the seeds, I say "Go For It", your strawberry will look cuter and more realistic.

I decided to create a bowl to put the berries in, so if you are interested, here is that pattern.
Materials:
Worsted Weight white yarn (Red Heart super saver)
size F crochet hook
stitch marker

Note: Bowl is worked in continuous circle

Begin with Magic Circle
Round 1: Single crochet 6
Round 2: Single crochet 2 in each stitch (12)
Round 3: *Single crochet, increase in next*, Repeat ** (18)
Round 4: *Single crochet in next 2, Increase in next*, Repeat ** (24)
Round 5: *Single crochet in next 3, increase in next*, Repeat ** (30)
Round 6: *Single crochet in next 4, increase in next*, Repeat ** (36)
Round 7: *Single crochet in next 5, increase in next*, Repeat ** (42)
Round 8 - 14: Single crochet 1 in each stitch (42)
Fasten off and roll top row outward

The strawberry pattern is also free, you can CLICK HERE to visit Julia Kellys blog

What if someone gave you a rock for your birthday

2011-09-08T11:46:00.000-07:00

Back in the 70’s as a kid I remember the Pet Rock, I’ve also seen artists paint rocks with lovely imagery, I even remember watching the old Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown cartoon each year and laughing when each house Charlie Brown goes to gives him a rock, when everyone else gets a chocolate bar.

But low and behold, while browsing through the crochet library on Ravelry.com, I found something I’d never seen before. I’m sure these have been around forever, but to me, this was golden.

They call them a variety of names, from crocheted pebbles, to rock cozies; but to me these were something elegant and beautiful. One Ravelry member was nice enough to share her pattern, so I bought some lace thread and brought out the crochet hook that used to belong to my Gramma. I followed the pattern for the first rock and free formed it for the other 2 rocks.

They turned out beautifully, I decided to call them my “Friendship Stones”, and gave them to 3 of my friends here at work..

If you’re interested in giving them a try, Sascha at Love toKnit on Blogspot has provided a nicely written free pattern for 3 different designs.

The Slouchy Beret, A one skein wonder that will forever be a hit

2011-08-29T09:45:00.000-07:00

I am, or I guess you can say, I WAS not ever a hat kind of person. So many of my friends love hats , and could get away with putting their hair up in a pony tail , throwing on a baseball cap and heading out for an AM jog, or to run errands. In all honesty, I always thought they looked perfectly fine doing that. But when it came to me, it just didn’t work. If I use a baseball cap, the only thing it would do is give me hat hair, and those cute little berets that you get at the store, well, for some reason, they just slide right off of my head.

While browsing through Ravelry, I came across an awesome designer by the name of Donna Rutledge-Okoro. She has this pattern available for free (very nice of her). I decided to make this for my friend who has a birthday coming up. The pattern calls for any worsted weight yarn and a size J crochet hook. I chose naturally Caron’s Country yarn because it’s soft and luxurious look and feel.

I am not kidding when I say that this project was both fun and easy. It also worked up in only about an hours time. I tried on the hat once I was finished, and it did not slide off of my head. I admired the comfortable feel and the style, and I loved this hat so much that I kept this one for myself. I was able to work up another one for my friend’s Birthday present. I can’t wait to give it to her.

If you are interested in making this hat as well, You can visit Donna’s link below to access the pattern.

http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/easy-slouchy-beret-hat-crochet-pattern

Ki-Yah! It’s a Yarn Scrap Attack by a Ninja!

2011-08-26T09:31:00.000-07:00

Well, I know a Ninja attack sound scary, but I promise you, this kind is not dangerous.

I made this little guy as a birthday present for friend. He’d been asking for a Ninja Amigurumi action figure (I’ll refrain from calling this tough looking little guy a doll), and I was ready for the challenge of finding the perfect pattern. I finally came across this Little Gamers Ninja pattern at Somewhere Between the Stitches.

The pattern calls for a size G hook. I accidentally grabbed my H hook and by the time I realized I was using the wrong one, I was already half way through the project. Rather than start over, I continued and was pleased that everything turned out just fine. The project took me a total of about 3 hours from start to finish, but I guess the time just depends on your expertise level. I’m 3 decades old to the crochet game, but have only about 6 months experience with reading patterns. This particular pattern happens to be easy to follow and good for even beginners.

But the time I was finished, Little Ninja stood just slightly over 6 inches tall, which is pretty much on scale with the instructions.

Thanks Julia for such a cute and fun pattern.

The Short Sleeved Crochet Shrug with the Denim Look

2011-08-12T11:08:00.000-07:00

Most of my projects lately have been for gifts, or cute little toys and knick knacks, so it was high time I make something that is a little more grown up.

I’m a true Etsy-holic, and some time ago, I found a cute pattern at Hectanooga on Etsy. Since I’m new to patterns, I was nervous about giving it a try, but I purchased it and soon realized that her patterns are the most user friendly I’ve come across so far. Seriously, Emi at Hectanooga on Etsy, knows how to speak, and write my language, the language of ease. That’s why I decided to buy her shrug pattern.

Here’s the deal: the pattern starts by stating that gauge is not important for this shrug. I’m thinking “RIGHT ON”, this is my kind of deal. I don’t even have to crochet a swatch before getting started (I hate having to do a beginning swatch, I’m so impatient). The pattern calls for a size P or 9mm hook so you can work this up in just a few hours. Being the rebel that I am, I decided to live on the edge and opted for a size J or 6mm hook instead with Bernat’s 100% cotton worsted weight yarn. I figure I’m looking at a little longer work time here.

Amazingly, I had no idea how versatile this pattern would be until I got started. I actually had the freedom to change things up a bit as I went along. I changed up the collar and the bottom just a tad, because that’s just what kind of mood I was in.

I finished this in a size medium (women’s size 6-8) in approximately 6 hours.

Thanks Emi, I loved the pattern, and cant wait to make more

A Upcycled Handbag and a Happy Birthday Wish

2011-07-14T09:35:00.000-07:00

A few posts ago, I made an up-cylced T-shirt hand bag out of old cotton T-shirts. Sabrina , Bree1978 on Ravelry.com was the first person to test out the pattern and post pictures. She made the handbag and embellished it with and awareness ribbon and pink around the bamboo handles.

Sabrina and I exchanged a few emails regarding the pattern , and she told me that this is a birthday present for her mother in law, Mel. I have to admit, I'm honored that it was my pattern that was chosen, and I'm in awe of how creatively beautiful her bag turned out. Thank you Sabrina.

♪ Happy Birthday to you ♫ Happy Birthday to you ♪ .

♫ Happy Birthday, dear Mel ♫

♪ ♫ Haaaaaaaaa-pppy Birthday tooooooo yooooooou !

I hope you enjoy your special day, your special present , and your terrific daughter in law !

A Tribute to Elmo

2011-07-07T08:51:00.000-07:00

I know I’m not the only one who knows this song. So everyone! Sing with me.!

♫ ♥ La la la la…. La la la la

Elmo’s world ♪

Elmo likes his goldfish

His Crayons too

♪ Thaaaaat’s ElmO’s Woooooorlllllld ♫

Although Elmo was introduced to Sesame Street in 1979, I really never took notice to him until 1983 when I was babysitting the neighbor’s little girl. I think the first thing that caught my attention about him was his sweet and gravelly voice, but the more I watched, the more I fell in love with his sweet nature and innocence. He’s always been my favorite, and when I became a mom, it was yet another reason to fall in love with Elmo all over again.

I found this awesome pattern at Donna’s crochet shoppe. Since I worked on this in my “spare time”, this took me a few months to make, but look at how darn cute this little guy is.

Because I am having a heck of a time learning how to drop and carry colors with both single crochet , and Tunisian/afghan stitches (it’s definitely not my strongest skill……. yet) , I have to single crochet the entire blanket first. 110 rows of 95 sc’s . It’s not hard, but I get so impatient, because I want to see my characters take form. Once I complete the size of the blanket, I get to build Elmo. One X cross stitch at a time.

Watch him take form.

Here he is in the very beginning. After about 8 hours of cross stitching, his outline has fully formed.

Such a cute little face he has. Too bad I couldn't finish it all at one time.

His arm is almost there. Again, too bad I couldn't finish it all in one night. I'm tired, time for some rest.

Great! he's almost finished. I can already feel his personality and happy singing voice.

All Done ! Here I am world !

My promise to everyone.... Here is both the front and back side of the blanket. after it was finished, I single crocheted a small border, and the blanket measures 30 inches x 30 inches to form a perfect square

Fortune Cookie Amigurumi , a Free Crochet Pattern

2011-06-26T23:16:00.000-07:00

So Easy, even a beginner can make this

You'll need very little yarn, and very little time, perhaps about 30 minutes to complete this cute little project.

PLEASE NOTE: this is a free pattern that I have personally written, and is not intended for sale. This pattern shall not be copied or reproduced, re-posted, or sold. However, permission is granted to sell the completed project in any quantity.

Materials
Worsted weight Lt. Tan or beige yarn
Worsted weight white yarn
Size F crochet hook
Stitch marker or large coil-less safety pin
Large yarn needle
Scissors

Terminology
Magic circle
Sc = single crochet
Sl St = slip stitch

St = Stitch
Inc= increase (2 sc's in stitch)

Note:
piece is worked in continuous rounds. Move stitch marker/safety pin to mark beginning of each round
Guage is not important

Instructions:
Round 1: Work 14 Sc in magic circle
Round 2: Sc1, increase every other st (19 stitches)
Round 3: sc1, increase every other st (28 stitches)
Round 4: sc1, increase every other stitch (40 stitches)
Round 5: sc1, do not increase (40 stitches)

Fortune strip:
Using white yarn, Ch 7
Row 1: Insert In 2nd Ch from hook, Sc in next 5 (6 stitches) ch1, turn
Row 2: insert in 2nd St, Sc in next 5 (6 stitches)
Fasten off

Fold fortune Cooke disc in half, insert fortune strip into side so that it sticks out about an inch. Using beige yarn, stitch cookie shut along outer edge
To make cookie keep form, I used a small piece of yarn to tie cookie together in inner section.

Finished cookie will measure approximately 2.25 inches (5.5 cm) across (not including fortune strip)

The DIY Cafe Curtain experiment, and my new friend the Grommet

2011-06-05T23:40:00.000-07:00

For the last year or so, I've been looking for nice kitchen curtains and could never find what I thought I had in mind. I've been watching those Home improvement shows on HGTV, so I decided on making my own cafe curtains. You know, those shows make all of the DIY projects so easy, and for sure I could dress my drab kitchen window in no time at all, right?

Oh, silly silly me, I let the power of TV shows, producers and good editing pull the wool over my

eyes yet once again. My DIY cafe curtains took a full weekend to complete. It wasn't a difficult task, but, since I was only working with measurements and not an actual pattern, (I have a hard time following somene elses' patterns; and, do they even make patterns for curtains? ).

I'm blogging about this for two reasons, one being that I like the outcome of the curtains, but the other, to let you in on a cool find. The "No Tools Required" Curtain Grommets by Dritz Home.

Have you seen or used these? I've never seen them until now, so I don't know if they are new, but I do know that they are genious.

I was sold on the fact that no tools are required, and I envisioned them looking nice on my linen cafe valance.

I got the 1 inch Grommet packages at my local Joann store. I'm guessing they must be a hot item, because there weren't many left on the shelves, and the other stores in the area had, either none left, or limited supply. A bit pricey at $10.99 for each package containing 8 of the 1 inch Grommets, but you'll find that the ease of using them is worth the price. They are also re-useable, so if you decide after some time that you want to get rid of your curtains and make a purse out of them instead, you can just use a screwdriver (or in my case, a butter knife) to pop apart the grommet and apply it to something else.

I want to show you how easy (and fun) these are. I used this only on the valance part of my linen curtains to give a rich colored contrast. You get this neat little plastic template that gets rid of any guesswork for you. Just place it on your fabric where you want your first grommet to be located, mark it , and then cut the circle out of the fabric.

I wasn't sure if there were any rules to how far apart the spacing should be, and the package didn't have any specifications for that, so I just went with every 6 inches. Notice how I didn't cut the full circle that I traced from the template? I was scared that I was going to mess something up, so, for the first few, to be on the safe side, I went slightly smaller and stretched my fabric over the inside Grommet lip. After a while, I realized that the only way you can mess up is to cut a circle larger than the template.

Each Grommet comes with a front part and a back part. The front part has the circular lip that acts as a guide for the fabric and holds it in place while you snap the other part onto the back side. I don't think installation could be any easier.

If you're interested in purchasing these for a project, you can click here to order from Joann.com.

Would love to hear some of the great ideas and projects that anyone else has used these for.

Ponchos

2011-05-17T21:40:00.000-07:00

I love Ponchos, they are functional and stylish, and I swear , I could kick myself everytime I buy one. I throw it over my head for the first time, fall in love, and then ask myself "Why do you spend your money on this, why not make one?"

So last month, I gave it a try. I failed my first few attempts miserably, and for a minute, well, okay, maybe for a few days, I seriously considered giving up. Really, you look at these things and can tell there's really nothing to it. They are simple, therefore, they should be simple to make. Ughhhh, if it were that easy.

I tried to make panels, and the neckline was uneven and large enough to fit a beach ball through. I can't tell you how many times I stitched and unraveled until I finally came up with a design that worked and was pretty too. Orginally this was supposed to be for me, but as it was in progress, my niece tried it on and said it was so soft that she wanted it. I altered the neckline so it would stay on her shoulders, and added a textured trim. I'm so excited, because now that I have a pattern for kids sizes, I have lots of ideas for collars, and other change ups on this. I'm also ready for the adult sized patterns and hope to make it availble on Ravelry.com soon. Check back, I'm working on modified verisons of this same pattern.
Just a small hint. If you're working on Ponchos for Spring and Summer, use sport weight yarn. I used Sensations cuddle yarn. You'll still keep warm on breezy nights, but you can get away with wearing them throughout the warmer seasons.

Upcycled T-Shirt handbag, a FREE pattern

2011-04-30T00:40:00.000-07:00

Give old T-shirts new life, go Green, and be stylish all at the same time. Here's how to crochet a really cute bag.

My finished bag measures 12.5 inches (32 cm) wide, by 8.75 inches (22 cm) deep. Or 13.5 inches (34 cm) tall from top of handle to bottom of bag.

Please note that this pattern is not to be copied, redistributed, sold or re-posted on another blog. You may link to this blog as a resource to obtain the pattern for free. Permission is also granted to sell your finished project.

Materials Needed:

•Size J crochet hook

•Yarn Needle with large eye

•Large stitch markers

•Scissors

•5 T-shirts. Adult size large. If you are looking at using the same colors I have used in my pattern. (2 adult large Navy Blue for 9 Rounds / 2 Mens large white for 11 rounds / 1 Mens Large Grey for topper and handle straps)

•12” wide bamboo handles or something similar to what is picture ( I bought mine at Joanne Fabric Stores)

Terminology:

CH = Chain

Sl St = Slip Stitch

SC = Single Crochet

DC = Double Crochet

TC = Treble Crochet

FO = Fasten off

Getting Started:

Best NOT to use T-shirts with seams at the sides. Remove the hem from your shirts, and remove from the armholes upwards. You should have a clean tube now. Cut your T-Shirt in approximately 1 inch (2.5cm) strips. Make sure you do this in a spiral motion to keep the length of your strips as long as possible. Once your Strips are cut, tug at them so they resemble yarn. (I'd tried forever to get this right, and it wasnt until I came across the PolkaDotPineapple blog that it all made sense. For a great detailed tutorial, you may want to CLICK HERE)

************

This bag is worked in continuous rounds. Use your stitch markers to identify the beginning of each round.

Ch 31, insert second chain from hook (counts as 1st SC)

Round 1: SC 59 in the round (60 stitches)

Rounds 2-20: Repeat above

FO at the end of round 20

************

Using your stitch markers, count 29 stitches on each side of bag and mark so that there is one lone chain in between each stitch marker

Row 1: Insert hook into 1st stitch where marker is, Ch 2 (counts as 1st SC), SC 28 (total 29 stitches)

Row 2: Ch 1, turn, SC 28 (29 stitches

Repeat for Rows 3 and 4

Repeat the above steps on the opposite side of the bag.

***********************

Making your Handle straps:

Follow these instructions for each side of your bag

Working on each side of the bag separately

Row 1: Insert hook into 29th Loop, Ch 2, SC 5 (total of 6 stitches)

Row 2: Ch 1, turn, SC 5 (6 stitches)

Rows 3-7: repeat row 2

Row 8: Ch 1, turn, SC 1, DC next 2, SC 1, Sl St 1, FO

In same row of 29, Insert hook into 6th Loop, Ch 2, SC 5 (total of 6 stitches)

Repeat instructions for Rows 2-8 above

To make the center strap, Insert hook into 13th stitch from end of left handle

Row 1: CH 2, counts as first SC , SC 8 (for total of 9 stitches)

Row 2: Ch 1, turn, SC8 (for total of 9 stitches)

Rows 3-5: Repeat instructions for row 2

Row 6: CH 1, turn, SC2, DC 1, TC 1, DC 1, SC 2, Sl St 1, FO (9 stitches)

*******************

Place bamboo handles in front of handle straps, fold over, use large safety pins with no coils to hold in place and use large yarn needle to stitch against flat panel

Because the bag is very durable, it will not lose its shape , and nothing will fall through. Lining the bag is not necessary. However, if you prefer inside pockets to keep yourself organized, I’d suggest a simple liner with pockets and a magnetic closure.

Unless you have a heavy duty sewing machine, I would suggest stitching the liner on your machine, but attaching the liner to the bag by hand

~Happy Stitching

Remembering the Hacky Sack

2011-04-18T23:08:00.000-07:00

When I think about the Hacky Sack, I remember my junior high school days in the 80's, there was always a group of kids, usually all boys, gathered in a circle kicking this little mesh ball around. They seemed to get so much enjoyment from this display of skill, instead of eating the junk food at the school snack bar for lunch.

I haven't even heard the words Hacky Sack in such a long time, until my son recently asked me for one. As it turns out, he seen one of an episode of the Jonas Brothers.

Of course, I was able to find a free pattern to make this on Ravelry.com (my new resource for everything crochet). This is a free pattern design by Amber Linn Designs, and you can access it by CLICKING HERE. Keep in mind, you may be required to sign up for a Ravelry membership for access, but Ravelry is FREE.

I was able to make this using 4 small skeins of DMC embroidery thread that I picked up at Joanne's fabric. I seriously thought I could whip this up in no time at all, because it's small in size, but it took me about 2 hours because I had to concentrate on the counting. I'd like to make some in other colors, and suspect that once I get the hang of this, I will be able to cut my time in half.

The pattern says to fill the bag with uncooked Lentils or "whatever else floats your boat". Uncooked Lentils? I have no idea what the heck those are, so lucky for me I still had some popcorn kernels in my Orville Reddenbacker jar left over after my popcorn maker broke. So my bag is filled with uncooked popcorn kernels.

Shoes Shoes, and more Shoes

2011-04-10T23:14:00.000-07:00

Before I became a mom, I'd see so many babies without shoes (or socks sometimes), I know that at such a young age, shoes are not an actual necessity the way it is for us adults, but I used to feel sorry for some of these babies and toddlers who were out and about with mom during winter time cold snaps and rain storms. Those poor little toes had to be cold right? Either way, once I became a mom, I made it my priority to always have shoes on my baby when I went out. Guess what though...... most baby shoes ARE NOT easy to put on, and they fall off. No wonder I was seeing so many little bare freezing toes at grocery stores and malls.

Now it's become my mission to make shoes that go on as easy as socks , are just as comfy, and stretchable too.

I started out making cute little summertime sandals. They're really more for decoration and not so practical for keeping warm. Fair warning though, these were my first attempts at sandals. I've come a long way and plan to create patterns and revise these to look much more appealing

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My Gramma used to make these cute little converse look alike baby shoes, and I've tried so many times through the years to make them, but didnt have much luck. Not much luck that is, until I came across this free pattern on Ravelry by Suzanne Resaul / LoopySueDesigns I beleive the pattern is marked public, but if not, you will need to join Ravelry to access. Ravelry is free and it's a wonderland of information, ideas and resources for knitting and crocheting. P.S. , If you're on Ravelry, check out my designs, my "Ravatar" is CharacterCrochet. I didnt follow the actual pattern , although it's easy to understand with diagrams and pictures. I just used it as a guide because I could never figure out how to make the tongue and toe part of the shoe. Thanks to this pattern, I have had an easy time making the sneakers. Before long I will have them in all sizes and colors. I do sell them in my Etsy store, and keep the price really low, because there's nothing worse than having to pay a small fortune for something that your baby will grow out of.

Here's some of the different variations and personality choices for the same shoes.

THE CLASSIC CONVERSE INSPIRED HIGH TOP SHOE

A TRADITIONAL TYPE , LIKE THIS OXFORD STYLE IN BABY BLUE WITH A BIEGE TRIM

PRINCESS PINK WITH ANKLE SOCKS FOR THE GIRLY GIRL

OR, SOMETHING FUNKY, LIKE THIS CHERRY RED COLOR THAT STANDS OUT AND SAY'S "HERE I AM!"

Crochet Stylish earrings? Yes you can!

2011-04-10T22:58:00.000-07:00

When you hear about someone having a love for crochet, what do you think of? Over the years, I've had many people chuckle when I tell them that I enjoy sitting down in front of the TV with a crochet hook and yarn. They picture a little old lady making doilies and top hats to cover your spare toilet paper roll. Not that those items are'nt cute or important; I mean, I love my doiles, they protect my furniture, and well, toilet paper, you gotta keep that clean , ya know.
When I "grow up", I'm sure my priorities and my focus will shift, but for now, this is where I'm at.

Gotta just love my accessories; and yes, that means my hoop earrings too.

These are very simple to make. I used metal hoops to crochet around, but you can pretty much use just about anything circular. These are a little small, maybe about 2 1/2" in diameter. I used Omega No.2 Nylon crochet thread (color is grape) that I purchased online from Annies Attic and a 1.65mm crochet hook. I just did a single crochet all the way around the metal hoops until they were covered, I poked a small jump ring through one of the single crochets and into an ear post that I got at my local Joannes Fabric Store, and It was done.

If you've never worked with nylon thread before, something that you might notice is that after fastening off with your finished project, the thread is hard to keep in place and it unravels. Nylon thread has a luxurious sheen and feel to it, and a knot is difficult to keep in place. I've tried just about everything to keep my ends in place, including using beading cement/glue. Take it from me... DO NOT use glue, it leaves an awful smell behind that is hard to get rid of. What I have learned to do is very carefully clip the end of the yarn and use a lighter flame to melt the ends and hold them in place. This seems to work well, but I am by no means an expert in this subject. So if anyone out there can give any helpful suggestions, I'm welcoming you to PLEASE share.

I finally did it !

2011-03-20T22:27:00.000-07:00

I feel like those people on the Dunkin Donuts commercials that want to shout from the roof tops, only I'm not talking donuts here; I'm talking about patterns.

Since I've started blogging, I've been whining about how I can't follow a crochet pattern (or a sewing pattern for that matter). I know I still have a lot to learn, and a long way to go, but I finally found a pattern that I was able to follow, understand, and enjoy.

I was browsing my favorite handmade venue, Etsy some time ago and seen this adorable pattern by Hectanooga. If you're interested in purchasing this pattern, CLICK HERE. I ordered, paid, and got my pattern emailed to me in about an hour. The pattern had lots of pictures, and easy to follow instructions. It also has additional patterns and instructions in case you want to add crochet flowers, or make this in numerous styles and sizes. I can make this hat in newborn, all the way up to adult sizes if I want to.

I had the pattern sitting in my in box for a while. I think I was a little nervous to give this a try, because I've pretty much got frustrated and screwed up every other pattern I've attempted, but this time was different. Cousin Lisa is having a new baby soon and I want to wow her with something special, so I HAD to try this. I worked on it last night and finished in only about an hour. [Roof top shout] "An Hour ! Only An Hour!".

I'm feeling a little confident and brave now, so this morning I found another pattern to make baby booties, and I bought it. You know what sold me? The description on the listing says they wont fall off of babies feet. If I can pull this next one off, then I'll have the hat and shoes set to give as part of the baby shower gift.

I'll keep you all posted on my progress. Wish me luck.

DIY Quick and Easy Necklace Tutorial

2011-03-12T00:08:00.000-08:00

You can make this, or one similar in less than 15 minutes!

If you're just getting started, or want to get started making your own jewelry, Here's the perfect tutorial for you. Just remember, chunky and busy doesn't always mean better. Something simple like this necklace is pretty, and a good way to get your practice in. Since I have a large stash of supplies here at home, I just worked with what I had, but you can use any pendant and chain to do this.

I picked up my materials and tools at Joanne Fabric and Craft store. My local store has a nice selection, and sometimes I get my hands on some good finds in their clearance bin. You can pick up materials at almost any craft store, or specialty bead shop. There are also some terrific online retailers as well. Fire Mountain Gems has a huge selection if you are interested.

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Now that you have your materials and tools, your ready to get started.

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Now you have a beautiful necklace for yourself or to give as a gift.

Handbag-ology, the study of handbags

2011-03-11T11:43:00.000-08:00

My crafter's brain has been working overtime lately, and I have diligently been working on new projects. If there is such a thing as " handbag-ology" , the study of handbags, I think I'm doing it every day. My love for purses, totes, handbags, and wallets has sucked me right in.

I just finished this Coffee House Hobo bag and snapped some pictures of it yesterday.

During my hand bag studies, I've learned that it's important to line the inside of the bag and add pockets.... many pockets. B'cuz after all, a girls gotta be able to reach into her bag and know exactly where to find her cell phone, lipstick and keys in an instant.

I lined the bag with this beautiful antiquity script imprinted fabric that I bought from one of the awesome Etsy Sellers in my previous post. Love the side pockets though, they're the best because of the large size.

The handles, are reinforced so the bag won't stretch out if you put something like a laptop inside. This is definitely a casual bag, but I'm glad that there are so many more things we can do with crochet.

I think my handbag-ology learning sessions are helping me to learn that bags are not just about the style, it's about the quality and functionality that should come along with each one of them.

I can't wait to get started on my next bag.

Music to my Ears, an Etsy Treasury

2011-03-07T15:18:00.000-08:00

I'm really liking the new Etsy. Especially the treasury feature because it's so non discriminatory now. It used to be that you'd have to get in at just the right time to create a list of favorites for all to see. However, I'm guessing that the Etsy Admins may have really been listening and watching the forums over the last year or so, because it's much easier now.

I guess maybe because I'm in such a good mood, that I chose a musical theme. Feel free to check out these items and artists.

All things Amigurumi

2011-03-05T21:04:00.000-08:00

I'm having fun with the self teaching of Amigurumi. If someone had told me long ago how much fun this was, I'm sure I'd have crocheted an entire toy store by now.

The thing I enjoy the most from this art is that I can start a project and finish something small in a hour, as opposed to other projects that take weeks or months. The reward for Amigurumi arrives much faster than that of blankets and other accessories.

Last night I wanted to try something new. I've been getting lots of email from people on my Ravelry.com profile, asking about patterns for some of my items. I have to say that I honestly dont know how to read/follow or write a pattern. But, you know something? I think it's about darn time I learned. So I sat down with my notebook and sketched this simple candy, I knew how I wanted it to look, and what size it should be, so I wrote down my recipe. My guess is that to anyone else, these notes and sketches might appear to look like some kind of foreign unknown chicken scratch, but to me, it's the start of something beautiful. I know I still need work, but one day soon, I hope to perfect this skill so I can share with others.

I'll have to keep you all postd on my progress. When I figure it out, I promise to write up a simple pattern to share will all of you right here on my blog.

Awesome Etsy Sellers

2011-03-04T00:05:00.000-08:00

If I never was able to craft again, I think I'd lose my mind. Etsy has also become a huge part of my handmade world. For those of you who are not familiar, It's one of the largest venues for buying and selling Handmade, Vintage, and crafting supplies.

Because of two wonderful sellers of supplies on Etsy, I was able to put the finishing touches on this coin purse. I'd already purchased my large wooden buttons, but had just put in my order for this cool script fabric. It arrived in the mail today and I couldnt wait to grab the sewing machine and get to crafting.

I used Omega nylon crochet thread to create the coin purse form. It measures 3 1/2" wide by 2 1/2" tall. The zipper came from the inside pocket of an old purse that was so beat up, there was no hope in saving it, so I decided that would by my "spare parts" purse. My coin purse would have been completely plain had it not been for these wonderful Etsians.

I found the Awesome shop called OruAka. This gentleman makes the most gorgeous wooden buttons, cufflinks, and jewelry, and he's very affordable. That's where the button on the coin purse came from. Check him out, but dont be surprised if you end up making a purchase before leaving his shop.

The other shop that I couldnt have finished this project without is called Once Upon A Stitch Inc. The fabric selections are amazing. I was able to purchase this script print fabric and used it to line the coin purse.

Thanks a bunch Etsy sellers, I couldnt have done this without you.

When Life gives you yarn scraps... Make Cookies

2011-03-01T23:02:00.000-08:00

A problem with left over yarn, a sweet tooth, and an over active imagination inspired me to crochet round discs and hand stitch them together to resemble Oreo Double Stuff cookies.

After I finished making these, I wanted to put them to the test so see if they'd pass as authentic at first glance.

Sure, this might be a dirty little trick to play on a child, but I decided my 6 year old, who is the ultimate cookie connoisseur, would be perfect for the testing job. I mean, after all, he gets regular doses of his favorite reality show, Top Chef, so he knows a thing or two about judging food.

I handed him the plate of "cookies" and his eyes lit up. In my mind, I'm thinking, "Score 1 for mom !". Once he picked up the novelty; realizing they were fake, he started laughing. He said "MOM! You fooled me!". I'm glad he was a good sport about it, so I stood back and shouted "food fight!", and we began "tossing our cookies" (pardon the pun) back and forth at each other.

After our fake food fight, my son thought it would be cool to play the same trick on his dad, so he walked into the living room with the plate of cookies and asked him if he'd like one. He wasn't able to fool his dad, but he did play along and act surprised to find out they weren't real.

You can find more of these in my Character Crochet Etsy Shop.

Sugar, Magic Fairy Dust, and Tinkerbell

2011-02-27T22:23:00.000-08:00

My niece just had a birthday party, and Tinkerbell was there to celebrate with us. There she is, sitting pretty on top of the 3rd tier.

Okay, so if you're like me, the closest you get to making a cake is going to the local supermarket, and throwing a box of cake mix into your cart. Instead of making frosting from scratch, Duncan Hines (did I even spell that right?) makes things oh so much easier for you, so you just grab that already made batch for the finishing touches on your culinary masterpiece, right?

Well, now that my mom makes these cakes, I can honestly say I'm feeling a little guilty about complaining how long my store bought junk takes to make. In all reality, I've discoverd that I'm lazy and untalented in the baking department. Keep reading and you'll understand.

Just like any other artist who is passionate about their work, a real cake designer spends much time planning and prepping for their grande finale. Sometimes the most intricate of details can sometimes take weeks prior just designing and crafting.

These candied flowers were made a week prior by combining key ingrediants, which I can not even remember what they were , but I think it was sugar and something else to make what is called Royal icing. The concoction is placed into an icing bag, and these flowers are created. Once the flowers dry, they harden and become candies that will be placed on the cake.

XXX - Oh my! The naked Cake

Just kidding.... kind of. This Is how the take begins to take form. If you look closely, you can see lettering indented on the sides. Plastic stencils are used to create the imprints, and provide a guide for the real letters that will be applied with an icing bag.

The 2nd layer is resting on top of the bottom layer very carefully. Now if I didnt know any better, I'd say , "Piece of cake. You just drop one cake right on top of the other" ooooooohhhh, How wrong I'd be. Did you know that there are cake dowels and a small round disc holding this in place? This makes it possible for the cakes to stay intact, free from shifting, and free from collapse. Whew! Glad I know that.

Ahhh... now the decorating begins. the flowers and butterflies are now added. Oh yeah, sorry, I forgot to mention that the butterflies, but no garden would be complete without them.

Before the Purple letters are applied, there's one more thing that needs to be done. My photog skills arent exactly up to par, and it's not very evident, but lavendar colored airbrushing is subtly sprayed on to the cake to give a magical effect. Dont worry folks , it's not spray paint, it's an edible cake spray...yummmm

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The 3rd and smallest tier was actually added to the cake at the location of the party. The cake was more than enough to feed all of the guests, the entire bottom cake was left over and was taken home. Lemme tell you though, it didnt last long. We all gathered at my sisters house after the party, and had more cake. I also heard a rumor that my brother-in-law polished off the rest of it for breakfast the next morning.

Gift Card Holders Galore

2011-02-24T09:39:00.000-08:00

♪ A needle and some thread, ♪ ♫ A hook and some yarn ==♫ A bead and some wire

C’mon everybody sing with me…

Okay, so maybe I’m not much of a singer or song writer, and that jingle might not even relate to this post, but I’m in a good mood today and I do have a reason to celebrate.

During the holidays, I gave quite a few gift cards to friends and family. I know people appreciate it that they can use the gift cards to get something they really want. The only problem for me was that I hated giving those little cards in a plain paper sleeve. It just felt so impersonal.

After much brainstorming and looking at a pile of left over yarn from previous projects, I decided to put that yarn to good use. Why not make my own gift card holders? I do sell these in my newly reopened CharacterCrochet Etsy shop. It’s the perfect size for gift cards, credit cards, business cards, or your ID, or any small trinket.

MWAH! Another Etsy Treasury Feature

2011-02-13T23:00:00.000-08:00

I'm totally feeling the love! Remember how I mentioned that I've been working on building up my CharacterCrochet Etsy shop? Well, I was featured in another treasury today! I'm really feeling the love right now.

I've been making gift card holders that I think would appeal to all kinds of people. My froggie one just so happend to be featured in the Treasury titled MWAH!, because sometimes you have to kiss lots of frogs before you find your prince. There's lots of cute things on the treasury, and if your a frog fan, you definitely dont want to miss this. Click here to check it out.

I have Tea Bax Collections on Etsy to thank for this one. Thanks Tea !

Crazy for Daisies Etsy Treasury

2011-02-11T22:24:00.000-08:00

Recently I've decided to take a break from making jewelry and revert back to my real passion, which is crochet. I've just re-opened my other Etsy shop, CharacterCrochet and am slowly (and I mean sloooooowwwwly) working on increasing my inventory.

Imagine my surprise to have just received a lovely email from Moon Eyes Designs , my fellow Etsian, letting me know that my Purple Wristlet clutch embelished with Daisies has been featured in her treasury!

After looking at the Treasury, I've noticed some really beautiful items. Feel free to take a peek and see what I mean.
CLICK HERE to view the Treasury

Thanks Moon Eyes Design, I'm honored to be featured.

New Babys are so cute

2011-02-10T08:37:00.000-08:00

I got an invite for my cousin's baby shower, unfortunately I had other things going on that same day and wasn't able to attend. I wanted to make something special for cousin Michele's new baby so I found the perfect graph pattern at donnas crochet shoppe. Everytime I start a new project I always set such an unrealistic goal of finishing time. I swore that I could finish this in a week. I was 100% wrong. It took me almost a month, but it's finally finished.

I'm happy with everything about this blanket. The size is perfect for a baby. I did this with 116 rows of 110 single crochets and then cross stitched the baby girl image. Now that I think about it, I probably should have taken a photo of myself holding the blanket so you can get an idea of the actual size. It does measure a nice size though, 31" inches tall by 30" wide. A Good size to take along in the car, for the stroller, tummy time, and for the crib too.

As promised, I am now including photos of the blankets back side too. The blankets are special and I want the back to look just as nicely as the front, so I take special care in weaving the loose threads of yarn back through the blanket so that they stay in place even after machine washing and drying.

here's a few more images of what the blanket looked like during the process of stitching.

If you are interested in more information about this pattern, including the yarn and colors used, you can CLICK HERE to see this on Ravelry.

Paper and Pencil Amigurimi

2011-01-30T00:58:00.000-08:00

I've been wanting so badly for years to complete an Amigurumi project. I've seen so many others create beautiful dolls and teddy bears, and to be honest, I knew I couldnt pull something like that off for my first try at this.

I had to keep this fun and 100% unique. It had to be something I hadn't seen before. Maybe I'm a bit of a sissy too, because I didn't want to deal with any intricate details. (can you blame me? I didn't want to mess up my first project and be scarred for life.) I needed something easy.....err, I mean, not so challenging.

The pencil measures 8" in length and 1 1/2" in diameter. Even though this took me hours to make, I am please with the outcome and the fact that it wasnt difficult to make. I'm also surprised at how much it realy does look like a pencil.

The piece of paper was made with 48 rows of 36 single crochet stitches. I applied the lines by slip stitching light blue yarn from the bottom through the top, and used the same method with the red double margin.

The paper measures 12 1/2" tall by 10 3/4" wide.

Overall, this is a nice little project to use your yarn scraps. If you dont have children, you can consider giving this as a little gift, or even donating to a preschool.

Crochet with a Copper twist

2011-01-22T16:53:00.000-08:00

I've enjoyed browsing through sites like Etsy and seeing some of the amazing things that can be done with age old arts. Since I both crochet and do wire working, I wanted to combine the both and give a fair shake at something that is entirely new to me. I thought a ring would be the perfect pet project because it is small, and I wouldnt waste too much wire.

To start, I crochetted a chain of 16, using a 2mm crochet hook and 24 gauge copper wire. Just like any other small crochet project, I inserted my hook into the second chain and made a row of 15 single crochets.

I fastened off, and viola.... The ring was completed.

It's my first try at this and it's nothing fancy, but I am already imagining a matching bracelet with imbedded small fresh water pearls.

One thing about the ring is that it is much more comfortable than you would think. I'ts soft and flexible and can be adjusted to just about any size by shaping it according to a sizing bar.

Anyone else out there familiar with any cool techniques that a beginner like me can apply? It would be great to get some pointers.

My Pillow Case Project to kick off the New Year

2011-01-10T22:15:00.000-08:00

I thought I'd celebrate the end of the Christmas Holiday rush by starting a smaller scale project just for "fun and relaxation". In my head I was thinking I could knock this one out in a week. Boy oh boy; was I wrong. I am super pleased with the final outcome though. It just turned out to be one of the cutest pillow case shams.

I crocheted this pillow case using a tight single crochet stitch, and then cross stitching this darling little girl image onto it. I added a ruffled border, and the backing is a crochet net stitching that will allow a standard sized bed pillow (approx 20" x 26")to be easily inserted.

Because yarn lasts longer and is much softer than regular buttons, I attached flowers and made loops to go around the flowers and keep the case closed so the pillow doesnt fall out.

Each side of the pillow case is equally appealing. The front side is a cute girl image with flowers, and the back side has crocheted floral "buttons".

I've recently decided to make it a rule to show the back side of the stitched image now. I do this to show that the edges are clean and precise and there are no loose threads in the image design. This is done by weaving the finished yarn peices back and forth through the back of the crochet stitches. As long as it's done properly, the yarn will never fall out, even after regular washings.

Overall, this was a great project to work on. It took me about 15 days (or 38-42 hours) to complete.

Click Here to see This little lady on Etsy

Happy New Year Everyone!

I ♥ MY ATTITUDE PROBLEM

2010-12-18T23:29:00.000-08:00

I think that pretty much sums it up. Seriously folks, I am so happy I could cry right now. The reason why, you ask? I've been hanging out with Maxine since Mid October, and now I can finally move on and let her be on her way. Don't get me wrong though. We're friends, and she's real cool, as far as silver haired, outspoken gals go; but, she really is a lot of work. A bit on the high-maintenance side, demanding hours and hours of my days. Keep reading and you'll see what I mean.

I began this project in mid October. I wanted to make a blanket to give as the perfect Christmas gift for one of my sisters. She loves Maxine. I think it's because they both have so much in common. It's that attitude thing before the first cup of coffee in the morning. I guess I can say that , because its one of those tidbits of information that sis is more than willing to tell you about herself. I just love her honesty.

I posted this on my Ravelry space, and had received some comments and private messages. One of the questions that sometimes comes up is; "What does the back side of the blanket look like?" Well, I've decided to take away from that mystery and will now take pictures of the back sides of my projects. The image below should answer that question.

I keep the back side of the blanket looking clean by weaving ends of yarn back and forth to keep in place. Even after washer and dryer cycles, everything stays put. I stitched the "blank canvas" first, that's what took the longest amount of time.

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Once it was time to create my image, I jumped in with both feet and never looked back. I knew I was working against a deadline, so night after night, and all day on rainy weekends, I made my X stitches. one by one, row by row, color by color. I stitched for 15 days, here's how that looked.

After 15 days, I'm finished with blanket. I made it to fit a full sized/double bed. measuring 63" long by 53" wide. My sis will be happy on Christmas day with this gift, I can now get a normal night's sleep without worrying now that this is done, and Maxine and I are still friends. This is just one of those Win-Win situations. I'm now ready for my next project.

DIY Holiday Gift Idea #6 ~ The Gift of Comfort

2010-12-12T22:30:00.000-08:00

Everyone needs to de-stress every now and then. How about making these super easy Hot or Cold wraps.

You do not have to be a veteran seamstress to make this. As long as you can cut and sew a straight line.... you're in business!  The best thing is that there are no rules here, so you can make any size you'd like.   Here's how:

1.  Using cotton fabric, Fold your fabric in half, pin together and cut the size you prefer.

2. Make sure that the fabric is folded in half with the wrong sides facing outward. Stitch each side end together to create a pouch.

3. Turn your fabric right side out, and fold a half inch flap facing downward towards the inside of the pouch. (you'll need that for a clean edge before you stitch the bag shut). Iron the flap down so it doesn't pop back open during the rest of the construction.

4. using the sewing machine, stitch segments into the pouch to make what look like "pockets". This is done so that the material in your wrap always is distributed evenly.

5. Insert equal amounts of RICE into each of the pouches. Filling each pocket half full of rice will be sufficient. It is important to not overfill.

If you want a subtle fragrance, you can add something like Lavender with the rice. It smells nice when it's heated up. I must say that these wraps are very comfortable. I have one that I use often and it is scented with Lavender.

NOTE: some people will tell you that flax seed is what should go into these. I have to say that it is total preference on what you decide to use.  However; there are a couple of advantages to using Rice.

Rice is cheaper than Flax Seed
Rice holds in longer than Flax Seed

6. Once your rice has been inserted, carefully pin the top part of the bag to close it shut. Run this through the sewing machine to permanently stitch close. Be careful not to stitch through any rice kernels to avoid breaking your needle.

7. You can heat these up in the microwave for 2-3 minutes for lasting warmth, or you can actually put them in the freezer and use as a cold wrap.

I made this basket to show as a gift suggestion. I picked up a small basket from the dollar store, and included the following items:

Large "Coffee" themed wrap. Rolled up with a bow around it

a package of Starbucks flavored coffee

a Starbucks gift Card

a Starbucks "Tall" commuter cup

I used a cellophane shrink wrap bag , tied a ribbon to close the bag and used my hair dryer to shrink the plastic, forming a tight seal around the basket.

Holiday Gift Idea #5

2010-12-12T09:36:00.000-08:00

I know I just did a recent post with another clutch purse, but I want to show you how much you can do with resources that you may already have in your home to make something new that others would love to receive as a gift. I was able to whip up this project in 2 hours.

Using left over yarn from a previous project (less than 1/4 of a regular sized skein). and a size H crochet hook, I created my own pattern using a slip stitch to make a flat panel. The body of the purse is tight and will not get stretched out. To make the neck of the purse, I folded the crochet panel in half, and used a series of double, and single crochets as well as a few more rows of slip stitches to narrow the purse and give it a nicer looking shape. The top is finished off with a ruffle (because I love ruffles). using a yarn needle, I stitched the sides of the panel together to close up the purse.

I have a big jar of old vintage buttons that used to belong to my grandmother, who was the ultimate Queen of Crochet. I found this awesome button and new it would look perfect for the center of the sash.

Oh, speaking of that lovely sash you see. I'll let you in on a little secret. It's actually a silk tie back that I never used. It belongs to a set of beautiful drapes.

Once I had everything looking all pretty, I used a peice of printer paper, measured and cut out a piece that is just slightly larger than the size of the purse. I used this as a pattern to line the inside. After my fabric liner was cut, I sewed the sides together, attached a zipper, and then sewed the liner to the inside.

Winner of the Lariat Necklace

2010-12-10T21:26:00.000-08:00

Thank you to all who entered the Giveaway for the Lariat necklace. As the contest came to an end today, I chose a winner the good old fashioned way. I wrote everyone's name on a piece of paper, folded each entry into tiny squares, and shook them up in a bowl.

The winner is Camille from MY TURQUOISE UMBRELLA blog. Feel free to pay her a visit and welcome her to the blogging world. Congratulation Camille, your necklace is on the way!

Thanks again everyone, and check back again, because there is another giveaway coming up Real Soon, and if you blink, you might miss it.

Holiday Gift Idea #4 - Holiday Wreath

2010-12-10T10:53:00.000-08:00

Yvonne has come up with a fabulous idea. As my sister, and fellow artisan, I have decided to include her as my Guest Crafter. So, you will begin to see often bouts of her Royal Craftiness going forward.

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Those of us who are moms are very familiar with the plush animals and characters that our kids have, which seem to multiply faster than rabbits. If you're households are anything like mine, you know that your kids have no idea what stuffed animals they have at the bottom of their toy box.................. until you're ready to send them off to the goodwill. So, here's a perfect way to recycle those little toys so that everyone in the house is happy.

Make a holiday wreath to give as a gift or keep for yourself to enjoy. Remember, you can do this for any occasion, not just Christmas.

Tools & Supplies you will need:
Scissors
Wire Cutters
Floral wire (26 gauge preferred because it's easiest to work with)
Christmas Ribbon or Large Bow
Wreath (naked)

Directions:

Using your wire cutters, cut strips of your floral wire and use just like you would a "twist tie" to attach your bow at the top and then attach all of the other decorations by using the floral wire in the same manner.

So easy and inexpensive! You can even do this for any occasion.

Holiday Gift Idea #3 - Award Winning Chocolate Pumpkin Frozen Pie

2010-12-08T21:41:00.000-08:00

Home made goodness right from your kitchen. What about this Award Winning Chocolate Pumpkin frozen pie. When I say this is award-winning, I really mean it. Your guests or the hostess of your holiday celebrations will love this one.

Meet Yvonne, she is not only the winner of the pie competition, she is also my twin sister.

Q: Congratulations on your annual pie contest winnings. I hear that this much anticipated event takes place each year at in your office. How many pies would you say were entered? And who does the judging?

A: We had a much smaller turnout this year compared to years past, but still ended up with about 10 pies. Judging is TOP SECRET! This is a competitive bunch! The judges are chosen by an impartial party (not sure who), and their identity is never revealed. We don't want anyone of the contestants bribing them with goodies!

Q: Your entry is not only beautiful, it’s unique too. Typically we think of pies as being made in the oven. What was your inspiration for this frozen holiday treat?

A: I have to admit, I still don't know how to make a traditional pie crust so I went for what was easiest (homemade pie crust is a requirement for this contest). The original recipe called for only Chocolate Ice Cream, but since it was close to Thanksgiving, I thought it only appropriate to do a combo of chocolate and pumpkin and the two together are YUMMY! And of course, the crafter in me just had to embellish the top and make it "pretty" thats why I drizzled chocolate fudge sauce, dolloped whip cream, all topped off with chocolate sprinkles.

Q: It’s my understanding that this is not an easy contest to win. What was your reaction when you found out you’d one 1^st place?

A: I work with some good bakers, so needless to say, we've always had some stiff competition. I totally didn't expect to have a chance..... UNTIL... I found out that our 3 time champ did not submit an entry, so with those circumstances, it really was anyone's game. There were still some pretty yummy pies, so I was so happy to have won. It's such a compliment when someone likes your recipes.

Q: Would you like to share your recipe with us?

A: I found the recipe online, but can't remember what website. I did tweak it a bit to suit my taste so here it is.

Ingredients
24 crisp chocolate chip cookies (the chewy ones will not work)
1/3 c unsalted butter
Chocolate Ice Cream
Pumpkin Ice Cream
Chocolate Fudge Sauce
Whipped Topping
Chocolate Sprinkle Candies

Directions:
1. Melt the butter. Crush all the cookies into crumbs, pour in butter, mix and then transfer mixture into a pie pan to make your pie crust. Put in freezer for at least 10 minutes

2. Spread chocolate ice cream into bottom of pie dish. Then add the pumpkin layer. Hint: Ice cream is easiest to work with when it is really soft. Leave out of freezer for about 30 - 40 minutes to soften before pouring into pie crust.
Cover with plastic wrap and freeze overnight or for about 6 hours.

3. Just before serving, drizzle on the chocolate fudge sauce, add whipped topping and sprinkle with chocolate.

ENJOY!

Holiday Gift Idea #2 - WIN ME!

2010-11-29T19:08:00.000-08:00

Giving is just as fun as receiving, so that's why I've decided to GIVE AWAY Gift Idea #2.

A beautiful lariat necklace with rich purple colored morther of pearl nuggets at each end. The chain measures a total of 22" is worn by simply hanging around the back side of the neck with the pearls in front, criss crossing the chain and pulling the other side through to the front.

CONTEST RULES:
this is probably the easiest blog contest that you will ever come across. I am NOT , and I repeat "NOT" going to make you work for this, or jump through hoops for an entry.

To Enter, simply leave a comment on this post so I know you are interested. Make sure that you include your email address so I know how to reach you in case you are the winner.

Contest ends Friday, December 10th, at which time a winner will be chosen, and notified via email. Winner will have 72 hours to respond to email notification or another winner will be chosen. Contest is open to U.S. Residents.

GOOD LUCK! and Happy Holidays!

DIY Holiday Gift Idea #1

2010-11-28T22:15:00.000-08:00

Christmas will be arriving very soon. With so many of you on a budget, I am making it my mission to throw out as many handmade holiday gift and decorating ideas as possible. I think I'll call this my "Making Something Out Of Nothing" series.

I'll kick this off with Gift Suggestion #1
Satin Lined Clutch purse with front pocket and Diva zipper charm.

A friend of mine gave me a fabric scrap that was previously her living room drapes. I dont know what she'd tried to use the drapes for, since the fabric was just a remnant when I received it. It's a heavy slice of material, and has a nice silver shimmer to it, so I just knew it would come in handy one day soon. I also had some grey satin fabric tucked away. Here's what I did with it.

1. Cut 2 rectangular pieces of the shimmer fabric in the size of 9" wide by 5 1/4" high.
2. Cut a thin piece of the grey satin about 1" wide by 19" in length.
3. Cut a smaller peice of fabric 5" long by 3" high. This will be your front pocket. fold and sew a small piece of satin over the top portion of the pocket. Center and pin the pocket onto the right side of the purse.
4. Fold 19" Grey satin strip, and insert folded edge between the two cut peices of fabric (with the correct sides facing each other / inside out). Pin, and sew edges together to create a pouch.
5. Fold a half inch of the top of the pouch inward and iron flat.
6. Cut a piece of the grey satin in the size of 9" wide by 10 1/2" high. Fold in half (inside out) and stitch the sides together making a pouch. Turn pouch rightside out and iron a fold outward for a clean edge. Stich the edge to create a hem. This will be the lining for your purse. Place your liner inside of your purse.
7. Pin a 9" zipper between your liner and the purse and sew to close.
8. Attach any kind of stylish charm to the zipper to add character.

How Sweet it is

2010-11-28T21:41:00.000-08:00

You know how most of us read People magazine, or regular tabloid gossip? Well, my mom is a little different in that regard, her leisure reading is usually spent studying designs and what's new with Wilton Cake decorating and other magazines of that sort. She'd seen this cake and wanted to put her skills to work, but just didnt have an occasion to apply this too....... UNTIL NOW.

This cake was made for a special little Princess, and I can proudly say that she was thrilled by her birthday cake. It's a double decker cake complete with towers covered in lavender gum paste and edible cake sparkles for the fairytale effect. There are over 300 hand made sugar flowers that surround each layer of the castle as well as outlining the windows and the door frame. No castle would be complete without a princess, this one actually has 7 princesses waiting for their Prince Charming.

A Christmas Tree to Remember

2010-11-25T21:18:00.000-08:00

When you're in the San Francisco Bay Area, pretty much anything is possible. Just when you think you have seen it all, something awesome like this catches your eye.

I know what you're thinking. Thanksgiving is officially not over for a few more house yet, and already there are Christmas decorations everywhere you look. I'm kind of diggin' it though. While I was out the other day, I seen this Christmas tree all setup in a shopping center. Take a REAL CLOSE LOOK. It's crafted out of real shopping carts!

I don't know what the inspiration was, or who the artist is, but I think it's brilliant. A real work of art in my opinion. It's crafty, artistic, hand made, and it's ECO Friendly.

Vendors at Holiday Craft Boutiques

2010-11-22T08:49:00.000-08:00

I participated in a local holiday craft boutique over the weekend. Although I can’t say that I did particularly well, It wasn’t a total waste of time either. After reading through some articles and Etsy forums, I gathered a lot of helpful ideas about craft boutiques and how each type of venue comes with it’s own style and success stories. Even though I participate every year in at least one or two venues; this year I observed much more closely, and wanted to share with the rest of you

Choose your display setup wisely. Do not clutter your space. Make sure prices are visibly clear.
Network with other vendors, make friends, be social. These events are what you make of them. These other vendors are not only your competition; most will also be your customers.
Many of the venues will ask you to donate an item from your table to be used as a raffle prize. If you are asked, PLEASE take extra care in the selection of the item you will be donating. Remember, your donation is a direct reflection on you as an artist and the quality of your work. Include your business card so the winner knows who you are.
I’ve saved this one for last because its MOST IMPORTANT. Be available to answer questions, but don’t smother your potential customer.

Since we are at these events all day long, it’s only natural to want to get up, stretch, browse and shop amongst the other artists/crafters/vendors. I can’t tell you how many times I’d walk up to a table (or watch someone else walk up to a table) to admire the work of others, only to be bombarded by a vendor desperate for a sale. I'd look at something and say “this is nice”. Before you know it, the vendor is getting up and wanting to pull other stuff out, explaining what it is, how you can use it, what kind of a deal she can give me if I buy more than one, etc. Well, you get the picture right? I know a lot of hard work goes into each item that is crafted; I enjoy a compliment when someone appreciates my work, so naturally, I let others know when I like something. If I have questions, I will ask. If you really think someone will not know the identity of the item you are selling, then find a way to display so it is obvious. Have you ever gone into a small retail shop where you are not only greeted at the front door, but you are followed around the store and told what everything is, what specials are going on right now, and much more information that you never wanted to know? It makes you want to get the heck out of that place and not be bothered; right? After all, you just want to shop and browse peacefully.

That’s how your “customers” will feel if they feel pressured, they’ll want to run and try to avoid your shop.

…. Just saying.

Bejeweled by Sapphire blue and violet

2010-11-15T19:18:00.000-08:00

Over the last weekend I created a super versatile necklace to be worn numerous ways, even doubling as a hipster chain for a fancy look.

Before I show you pictures, let me start by saying that I've had a trying time with pictures because I am both, photographer and model. Do you know how hard that is? Especially since I am neither photogenic, nor comfortable in front of a camera. Only being 5 feet 1 inch tall, I am not, never have been, and never will be supermodel material.

I setup my camera on a tripod, attach my external flash, and set the self timer. I extend my arm waaaay out in front of the camera holding a flattened Eggo Waffle box, hoping to mark the spot where I will eventually stand. I do this because it's the only way I know how to make the camera go into focus for this type of situation. If anyone has helpful tips for me, please don't be shy, I need all of the help and pointers I can possible get.

Now for the hard part. The camera's self timed red light is on, and I have 12 seconds for the shot. I say to myself , "Stand tall, Shoulders back, Chin out". Aughh, so many things to remember. Thank goodness for photo cropping, because if you seen my face in any of these shots, you'd laugh and can totally tell how hard I was concentrating on what to do while holding still for 12 seconds.

I did the best I could. Bottom line being that here is the beautiful Rondelle necklace with violets placed in between every 3rd sapphire blue.

Wear it Long

Double it up

Doubled it up with a feminine cascading drop

Wear it as a Beautiful hip chain

GUESS What's up for grabs?!

2010-11-12T13:12:00.000-08:00

Our fellow blogger over at Shabby Chic Mom had taken a small hiatus, but now she’s back at blogging in full force. And let me tell you, she really knows how to make a Grand Entrance.

This Guess necklace is up for grabs at her site, and a lucky winner will have this before Christmas!

Encrusted with a mixture of 63 blue, pink & purple rhinestones. It is attached to a 16" inch dark gun metal ball chain, and is going to look great with your holiday outfit.

CLICK HERE TO ENTER

Handmade Holidays Part I

2010-11-09T22:50:00.000-08:00

I'm super excited about the holidays this year. I've taken an official oath to not let the holidays sneak up on me another year in a row, but, instead, I will embrace Thanksgiving, look forward to Christmas and Relax to ring in the new year.

For me, Holidays are about being with my family. Every year, my family and close friends gather to celebrate. Besides being with loved ones, my favorite part about Thanksgiving is cooking the big bird. I almost lost this years Chef title to my mom, but I convinced her that It is quite okay , and I love doing the cooking. I think she was secretly happy to have a break from hosting family gatherings and instead, just attend and relax.

I am vowing to have as much of a Handmade Holiday season as possible. I'm starting with these terrific Turkey Napkin rings that I was lucky enough to snatch up the best deal ever when I visited Brenda's Hand Made on Etsy. Click Here to visit her shop and see what I mean. These little guys just jumped out and caught my attention.   I just had to have them. I placed my order, and within only a few days, they were already at my doorstep.   I might also add, that the craftsmanship is superb. I sent Brenda a convo when I received my package and let her know that in all of the years of home economics, there is absolutely no way that I could ever imagine creating this.

My turkeys are so cute that I couldn't wait for the holiday to display them. They are patiently sitting on my kitchen table for Thanksgiving dinner to be served. If you hurry over to Brenda's Etsy Shop, she still has another set of 6 available for sale. For this is another reason yet to be Thankfull.

I Cheated

2010-11-09T12:38:00.000-08:00

Okay, there, I admit it. I totally cheated when I made theses hats. I’m a knitting wannabe. I learned to crochet when I was 9 years old, but never learned to knit, so a few years ago for Christmas, my mom bought me one of those hand crank knitting machines (NSI International Innovations Knitting machine). It says it can knit in tubular patterns or change the setting to knit flat panels. I’m still having a hard time knitting the flat panels, but I totally kicked butt and mastered the tubular pattern in minutes.

The hats were the only thing I was able to make with this little machine, hopefully I can figure out how to make other things soon, but for now, this is all I have.

My good friend, over at ShabbyChicMom.com, had just had a baby boy. She was having a hard time finding hats for him during the winter time that would keep him warm, as well as hitting the high mark on her “Fashionably Cool meter”. I took this as a challenge.

Using my new knitting machine, I loaded up Caron’s simply soft yarn. I turned the side handle until I completed 24 full rounds. Once I was done, I carefully (putting emphasis on the word carefully) removed my yarn from the machine. I tied off the top end, and then crocheted the bottom border with a contrasting stripe. I wanted to give this the look of a skull cap. I did it! After lots of compliments, the “Fashionably Cool Meter exploded”.

Okay, now on to my own personal challenge. I figured if I could make a cool cap for the boys, what could I possibly imagine for the girls? It would have to be something Super Sassy. Something that screams “Sophisti-brat”. Hmmmmm, I think I got it. A cap with built in Ponytails! An un-be-weaveable fashion accessory for the mini diva in training.

If anyone else has this same knitting machine and can give me any helpful tips or pointers on how to do the flat panels or make other things (besides baby hats) I’d love to hear your comments.

If you need directions for this machine, I was able to find a pdf download on line. I notice that it has way more details than the instructions that came with the machine. CLICK HERE FOR INSTRUCTION MANUAL

Take Me Out To The Ball Game

2010-11-04T22:45:00.000-07:00

Okay, so today I'm a little sentimental. I was going through some old things to send off to the Goodwill. I guess you can kind of call it "Spring cleaning", only I'm doing it in the wrong season, with winter lurking around the corner and all.

Look what I came across!

I made this baby sized blanket for my son when he was only 2 months old. My sister helped me to decorate his room with a Mickey Mouse Theme (she's good at decorating), and I wanted to have a small "Grab 'n Go" blanket that was handy to have with us everywhere we went, as well as at home.

I am not kidding you when I say that this blanket has been everywhere with us. I used to use it to cover my baby while he was in his car seat carrier, and when he grew out of that, we used it in the stroller. This blanket has been dragged all over the place, spit up on, stomped on, you name it. And wash, after wash, after wash; even after 6 years (the picture of this was just taken today), it still looks great. I guess that's why I like making my own blankets with the acrylic blend yarns. They tend to repell most stains, they never lose their color, and each time it goes through the washer and dryer, it's just gets softer.... and cleaner of course.

I'm not sending this off to the Goodwill though, I think I'll save it. Who knows, maybe one day I will have a grandchild that will use this too.

Calling all Crafters and Fashion Addicts

2010-11-03T09:08:00.000-07:00

Did I mention that I can also be an ebay junkie? It’s true, some of the best deals that I have been fortunate enough to find are right under our noses on eBay. One of my favorite shops belongs to “Mom-prenuer” at Susie’s Boutique. Mostly she’s got great deals on designer name handbags , and clothing , which is great for the upcoming Holiday shopping rush.

But, look what else she now has! Jewelery stamping supplies at sale prices. OMG, different fonts and other supplies. I’ve been giving some thought lately to getting into stamping. It happened while I was at the hardware store and seen some pretty looking copper washers. First thing I thought was, “Wow, those would look really nice with some initials or a name typeset into it and a chain to wear around my neck.”

I’d say her shop is worth visiting. Hmmm hmmmm….. especially if you have a handbag addiction. Ms. Susie is also an eBayTop Rated power seller with over 1,100 sales at 100% positive feedback. Even though I plan on making most of my Christmas gifts this season, I still know where I am going to do the rest of my shopping.

CLICK HERE to enter Susiesboutique02

Holy Mother of Pearl

2010-11-01T22:26:00.000-07:00

I'm getting ready to participate in a holiday craft boutique. This year, I am particularly looking forward to it, because I will be displaying some of my crochet accessories, as well as a lot of my mother of pearl and pearl jewelry.

I guess it's just been my mood, or maybe I was a mermaid in a previous life; but lately I've been working almost only with mother of pearl, fresh water pearls, potatoe pearls, rice pearls, abalone, paua shells, painted shells. I just think that the finds from the sea are beautiful and romantic.

I just hope that the shoppers and browers at the holiday boutique feel the same way I do about pearls.

The cake that every little Ghoul dreams of

2010-10-25T09:11:00.000-07:00

My mom designed this bewitching awesome cake for Halloween. Not exactly the best lighting on the picture, but the cake is so cute that I just had to share it.

Of course, every time mom comes up with a new design, I have to ask her all about it. She said she used the same cake pan to make this one as she did to make the Teddy Bear cake a few months ago. Really? Now that’s what I call thinking outside the bakery box.

Okay fine, so then how did she get the with hat and the broom on there? I ask, and I shall receive. Mom says she made and decorated a sugar cookie for the witches hat, and then for the broom, she made and decorated another sugar cookie, then attached it to a pretzel stick to make the broom handle.

Such great ideas and talent.

My talent was sticking a fork in this and being the first one to finish my piece of the action. YUMMMM.

Happy Halloween Everyone. Have Fun and Be Safe

I’m Featured in Flowerleaf’s Etsy Treasury

2010-10-11T09:41:00.000-07:00

I’ve been a member of Etsy for over a year now, and I just received the best email from a fellow Etsian. She featured my Hot Cocoa Crochet Clutch purse in her Treasury! There is so much talent out there in the handcrafted world that I consider it a complete honor that another artisan chose me as one of her features.

THANKS Flowerleaf , I’m so happy right now that I’d jump up and click my heels together if I knew I wouldn’t fall and get hurt in the process. So instead, I’m smiling big and clapping my hands.

PLEASE CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE TREASURY

A New Kind of Market Bag

2010-10-10T13:32:00.000-07:00

Being the girly girl that I am, I recently made a new market bag and posted it on my Etsy shop. I did the usual by taking photos, posting and waiting for views. I asked my sisters opinion on the bag and she said she wasnt real crazy about it. Yesterday I had an idea. A bag so pretty and girly should be accented with something that is equally feminine. I made a pretty white daisy and applied it to the top center of the bag and it made a huge difference. Weather is nice today, so I did a retake on pictures by going outside in natural light and relisted to my Etsy Shop. I really hope I get some "hearts" on this now.

PS. Sis is also pleased with the transformation.

A Birthday, A Loose Tooth, and a Restaurant

2010-10-01T20:09:00.000-07:00

As a first time mom, I enjoy all the special events and milestones that have now become moments that I wait for and cherish. This story is the inspiration behind this “ little boys lost tooth pirate bag” that I made with a small drawstring pouch and attached a pirate charm that we made out of Shrinky Dinks. It helped our first tooth incident be less traumatic.

My recent birthday was filled with happiness and special surprises for me. I originally planned on a small dinner out to mark this special day. As it turns out, our whole entire family ended up going out to dinner together. It was great! We’re all enjoying a special evening and conversation, the kids are getting along perfectly, and we’ve just placed our food order.

>>>>>>;Fast forward about 20 minutes….

Food has arrived, and during the middle of our meal, my son, who has his first ever loose tooth (can you see where this is heading?) turns to me and says “Mom, I don’t think we should be eating, because my tooth hurts.” Now, every day I have been inspecting this wiggly tooth, because, when you’re a first time mom, it’s a big deal. So I say, “Well, let me take a look”. He opens his mouth and it’s gone! There’s now an open window where there use to be a shiny white door! Oops, where’s the tooth? Did he swallow it? Is it stuck in his food?

Lucky for me, my niece, who, at the tender age of 5 years old, is already an extreme veteran at the art of loose teeth, has the eyesight of a hawk. She looks over and announces “Here it is! I found it!”. I emptied the plastic crayon bag that comes with the kiddie menus in the restaurant and used it as a storage device.
Later in the evening, after the initial shock has worn off, and my son is no longer scared about missing a tooth. He asks for the plastic bag and states that he would like to make a speech. I had over the goods and he holds it up, stating that this was his first tooth that he lost. Unfortunately, in the process, he dropped the tooth out of the bag and our family spent the next 10 minutes searching underneath the table. I’m happy to say that we once again found it, and the tooth did make its way underneath the pillow for the tooth fairy that night.

We're now ready for our next "Falling out".

Another way to Recycle your plastic water bottles

2010-10-01T10:31:00.000-07:00

I must start by saying that I do not know the original source of this terrific idea. I received this in a forwarded email from my aunt, and knew that it was something I just had to pass on to others.

It’s a great way to be green.

Seal a bag and make it air tight!

Cut up a disposable water bottle and keep the neck and top, as in photo.

Insert the plastic bag through the neck and screw the top – to seal.

The bottle is made to be air-tight, such that water will not leak, the secret lies with the top and screw!

The New, The Big, The Bold, and The Beautiful

2010-09-28T22:48:00.000-07:00

I've been spending most of my crafting time lately working on crochet blankets, since they take such a long time to make, my wheels starting turning with new ideas for my jewelry designs.

Okay, so basically this is a little bit of shameless self promotion, but I guess if dont promote myself, nobody else is going to do it for me, and of course, I am overly proud everytime I design something new.

BIG, BOLD, and BEAUTIFUL is the look I'm going for right now.

I dug into my stash and made these cuff bracelets on remembrance wire. Very cool because they adjust to any size without loosing shape. The black one (Close to my heart) is glass beads separated by 4mm semiprecious blackstones and a dark metal locket. The pink bracelet is an oblong Cats eye , which I am a big fan of, and even better , is the 89 genuiune Amethyst stones intertwined with the Cats eye, and a delicate butterly floating nearby. I like to call that one my Cotton Candy and Butterfly kisses bracelet.

Now that I've finished the bracelets, I promised myself I wouldnt buy anymore supplies until I exhausted my stash. I broke that promise within 2 days when I found shells... my all time favorite. That's when I designed these Mother of Pearl Necklaces. The one on the left is a gorgeous Golden Honey, and the one on the right is a very light powder blue, almost gray.

New Shops at Etsy

2010-09-21T10:08:00.000-07:00

It’s been a while since I hit the spotlight on some nice Etsy finds. I’m dedicating this post to the new Etsy shops that have just opened up and are awaiting their first sale. I browsed items, and this is just a handful of the greatness that really stood out and caught my attention.

This Black Clutch purse from VBoriginals is to die for. It’s very classy and is just perfect for an evening out. I like it because it’s a wristlet, just perfect to hold your essentials when going out dancing.

I’m also a big fan of Paisley, so this Kaufmann Pink & Green pillow cover immediately caught my eye. This comes from the shop of TrendyPillows and after browsing and clicking on the items , you can absolutely see the quality in the craftsmanship

Beautifully created is this Unique notepad in deep purple with gold accents and the bookmark is made using a vintage button. Soooooo Pretty, I love it. Visit Idlewildgarden to see more like this

And last but not least….Drum roll please….. I don’t think it gets any prettier than this. I personally could totally imagine this on a bride walking down the aisle in a strapless gown. I spotted this lovely bridal bouquet necklace at bludawgdesigns

Minnie Mouse

2010-09-20T10:00:00.000-07:00

The original Disney Princess; The Queen Princess; The one, the only... Minnie Mouse! I've said it before, and I stick to my words. No other Disney character can come close. Minnie was created/born in the year 1928 by Walt Disney, and has been a loving favorite ever since.

Look at her, still beautiful at 82 years old.

Minnie was the focus of my most recent "Big Project" A cross stitched on crochet blanket that will keep a special little girl warm for years and years and years to come. I like to make these crochet blankets because they are special and super durable. I especially like the fact that you can throw them in the washer and dryer and not have to worry about shrinkage, color bleeding, or fading.

Read on... I'll show you how this was made

START DATE: August 18th

END DATE: September 12th

24 days to complete

It all started with an idea, an old Leisure Arts pattern book, and 2 lbs of white yarn.

After about a week, I was ready to create art on my canvas. X after X after X, Minnie's face began to take form.

..........

Her signature hair bow accessory is affixed, her eyes are looking bright, and I see a smile coming through, it's time to get dressed. Instead of the purple dress we see in the pattern, whadda' you say we give her something even more feminine, like a dress in soft pink with white polka dots?

...........

Oh my! A girl's gotta have her shoes, right?

Next we'll give her black stockings and pink shoes to match her hair bow.....

Looking good Minnie !

For the Love of Jewelry

2010-09-13T22:15:00.000-07:00

My cousin emailed me a photo of a necklace very similar to this one, and she said "can you make one like this for me?"

"Oh cousin Lisa, But of course I can, and I will be thrilled, because not only is it a cute little number, but now I have another little project to blog about".

This necklace was kind of extra fun, because it's one of those that can be done with your left over yarn from other projects, and you can whip it up in under 2 hours.

Here's how it all played out.
Step 1:
Using a size G crochet hook, I made 5 chains of 180 with black yarn. Then stitched them together at the ends to make a large circle

Step 2:
Using a size J crochet hook , and dark pink yarn, I made a chain of 15, then slip stitched rows of 15 until I formed a perfect square. I then used a large piece of the pink yarn and wrapped it around the center many times to form my bow tie.

Step 3:
Using the J crochet hook again, I used white yarn to slip stitch from the bottom to the top piece of the bow tie and form polka dots.

Step 4:
I attached my bow to the formed chain stitches and ... presto... all done.

Commitment to Creativity

2010-09-02T09:44:00.000-07:00

It's been a while since I done a post, so I'm making a "New Month's Resolution". I will call it my "Commitment to Creativity". Lately, I've been working on crochet blankets which have taken most of my free time, but every now and then, to avoid getting a little burned out, I need a simple project in between to keep my mind going. In case you haven't noticed, I LOVE purses and handbags.

Months ago, I was in Joanne Fabric and I picked up the cutest remnant in Grey Paisley. I'd debated on what to actually make with it, and last night the light bulb went on over my head. I decided to make a purse. I began by cutting out my pieces. The solid color fabric is for my lining.

Anyone who has ever received a purse from me, knows that I am all about the functionality and quality. I need compartments and pockets to organize and let me easily find my items. This lining provides 2 separate compartments and a small holder for my cell phone.

Ladies... You never ever ever want to lose your valuables by having the seam of a purse give out on you. That's why it's always a good idea to double or triple stitch your seams together.

The fabric loops on each side of the purse hold the decorative circles that keep the long purse strap in place. I positioned them to allow a 4 inch flap (for privacy and security) which can be folded down, or , depending on how filled the purse is, can look like a fashionable tote bag. The strap is long enough to wear over the shoulder or sideways across the body. Looks FAB with jeans!

Lunch and dessert all wrapped into one

2010-08-18T19:57:00.000-07:00

Seriously, does it get any better than this? I have a couple of birthdays happening at the office on the same day. I've been looking for a reason to have mom make the coolest cheeseburger cake, and now seemed like the perfect opportunity. I like these, because it's a personal sized cake, and, according to mom;
"It's the size of the big burgers they show you in the commercial advertisements, and not the small size that you actually end up with at the drive through window"

Using a small dome shape cake pan, she was abe to create the bun and the burger. I wish I could explain how she did the rest, but unfortunately, I wasn't present when this was made, and I understand zilch about cake decorating. I'll tell what I do know though, is that her cakes tastes AMAZING.

Teddy Bears can be Diva's too

2010-08-16T23:09:00.000-07:00

It's never too soon to get a head start on style. Recently I was approached by a friend who was planning her daughter's 1st birthday party. They were having a Hawaiin theme and she was having difficulty coming up with a cake that would be tasty, fit in with the theme and still be cute enough for a pint-sized Fashionista.

This is what my mom, my cake hero came up with. She used the Wilton Teady bear (ballerina) pan to make the cake. Instead of the tu-tu, she created a grass skirt, and designed a candied floral crown. The bodice, and the outer edges of the cake are also decorated with the same candied flowers.

The Evolution of a Sock Monkey

2010-08-03T10:14:00.000-07:00

TIME LINE:

41 days , and complete !

My Sock Monkey has been born.

How it all began:

JULY 5th

I was ready for my next big project and I knew I wanted to make another character blanket. Typically, most of the patterns I get call for the standard size of 200 rows of 150 single crochets (in other words, 3.5 lbs of yarn). I went to Joann's and got my yarn (aughhhh, forgot my coupon AGAIN), got started on my repititions and went in search of a pattern. It's my opinion that Cozy Concepts is by far, one of the best on line resources for these kinds of patterns. Not only does she include instructions, but her graphs give you the option of printing out much larger to make this easier on the eyes.
You can pay the store a visit by clicking this url http://CozyConcepts.artfire.com

JULY 22nd !

X Marks the spot. Here's where the fun begins:
I begin stitching X's over each single crochet to create my image. It seems pretty darn easy. Well, I'll let you in on a little secret. The stitches are all very basic, so it is easy. However, look at my date stamps and time line. From that, you can tell that it is also extremely time consuming. There is so much work that goes into each blanket, but the work is rewarding.

JULY 29th!

His hat is now sitting on top of his head, his face and ears are outlined and colored in, and his mouth is now a work in progress.

JULY 31st !

His face is complete! I've now stitched part of the body which still needs to be colored in grey. I just love the little heart on the rear end.

August 5th !

He's making progress....
Okay, so I went about 3 days without working on this blanket. It was a nice break, but now back to the work at hand.Most of the body is colored in, I still need to stitch the feet and tail.

August 8th !

I'm 90% there. Just a few more rows of grey to cross stitch, then it's time to add his tail

August 11th !

Finally got the entire Sock Monkey stitched and colored in. Just have to work on the length of the blanket a little more and add a top and bottom border

August 16th !

All finished. I decided to make this larger than originally anticipated. I made a total of 260 rows of 150 single crochets. Perfect, because it made the blanket size 60 inches tall by 42 inches wide.

You know those old jeans you have in the back of your closet?

2010-07-18T23:41:00.000-07:00

Today I went through my closet and decided to "give in" and "fight back" at the same time. Those old pre-pregnancy jeans that I keep overlooking, and hanging onto, because, well, you know; one day , just one day I'm going to fit back into them.

I've faced reality. I will never be a size .... uhhh hmmmm... let's just say, I will never be that small again. I WILL however, gracefully wear those jeans again! Just not in the way I would have expected.

I got out the scissors, the sewing machine, and some scrap material. I tore those babies up and made a small shoulder bag, fully lined with inside pockets and everything.

The back pocket is still in the same place as it was when the jeans were fully intact, I cut around it, lined the inside with some scrap fabric I had left over from another project, and double stitched all the way around to make my bag. Notice the back side of the bag has the Levi's signature tag? I didnt want to leave anything out, so I stitched that tag right on the backside of the bag. I used the pant leg to make the long shoulder strap.

In case you're wondering, here's what the inside of the bag looks like. Not too shabby, eh?

Bye Bye old Blue Jeans.... Momma's got a new purse.

Sassy Postal Greetings

2010-07-14T20:45:00.000-07:00

If you've been reading my blog even just a little bit, you'll know that I am a die hard Etsian. Not only do I have my own Etsy Shop, but I browse daily, heart my favorite items, heart my favorite sellers, and I shop Etsy.   My love and appreciation for unique handmade goods will never end.

I want to brag about my most recent purchase. I bought this Sassy quilted postcard from Linda's Sew Upscale Etsy Shop. I bought this because it honestly was just the darn cutest postcard I think I've ever seen.

So, get this.....
♥ July 9th (a Friday), I place my order and pay.   I then receive an email the same day thanking me for my purchase and letting me know the item will be in the mail that very day.
♥ July 12th (Monday) I come home from work, check my mail, expecting only a dreaded stack of bills.... and whadddda-ya-know !!!  My Sassy Postcard has arrived, wrapped all pretty and everything.

I have to tell you that not only is this is such a clever item, and looks even cuter in person. The craftsmanship and quality are excellent. Oh, did I mention that the cost was less than you would pay for a card at Hallmark or even Target?    THANKS Linda at Sew Upscale !

DIY Tutorial ~ Make Beautiful Beaded Hairpins

2010-07-07T22:10:00.000-07:00

Whether you're trying to grow out stubborn bangs, or want something with a flash of original style; I think I'd have to say this is one of the easiest and quickest projects, and it's perfect for Beginners.

Recently, I've began to notice that I have an over abundance of miscellaneous beads in my craft stash. There is not enough for a larger scale project, but too many to just let go to waste. I decided to get practical and put my supplies to good use, and this is what I came up with.

♦♦♦♦♦

What you'll need:

A Hair Pin

20 gauge wire (best to use the same color wire as the hairpin)

Wire Cutters

Any Beads of Choice
(get creative, use gemstones, glass beads, pearls. even charms or buttons will work)

♦♦♦♦

Using wire cutters, cut about a 6" (15.24 cm) of wire. wrap one end around the inside of the hairpin about 2 times. This will secure the starting point of your project.

Once you have the wire secured to the hairpin, insert the first bead and tightly wrap the wire around the straight side of the hairpin.

Insert next bead, tightly wrap again around the straight side of the hairpin.

Repeat this until you are near the end.

When you are close to the end, wrap your wire around the base about 2 or 3 times.

♦♦♦♦♦

Once you have completed this step, your project should look a little like the photo below. Using your wire cutters, clip the extra wire as close as possible to the hairpin at each end.

** Notice how the wire looks kind of like a coil on the inside of the hairpin? This was not intentional, but it actually turned out to be a good thing. Those coils actually act as a comb and grasp the hair so the pin stays in place.

♦♦♦♦♦

You're now done and have a beautiful hair pin to wear or give as a gift. When I made mine, I was very surprised to see that this fit snug and securely on my very fine hair. Just goes to show that it's perfect for all hair types. ENJOY!

I only have one thing to say today

2010-06-29T12:57:00.000-07:00

Summer is officially here,
I should be at the beach right now!

I have decided to declare myself Couture

2010-06-25T13:13:00.001-07:00

What constitutes Couture?

Everywhere I look, people are declaring their handcrafted items as Couture. I am not kidding, I have seen everything from nice hand made clothing to baby toys sporting this descriptive.

According to Fashionista.com, In order to become a Coutier, one must be certified by Chambre Syndicale de la Haute Couture and follow a list of rules. However, on Wikepedia, Couture is French for “high-sewing” or “high dress making” and is made of the highest quality materials especially for the client.

It seems that these days, each person has kind of set their own standards as to what they consider this to be. So if everyone else can do it, then I am feeling a bit obliged as well.

Today I am customizing my mood to be of high quality with a beautifully bright sparkle in my eyes. So what if my outfit has come from JC Penny, it’s one that looks and fits nicely, makes me walk proud, makes me look pretty, and feel confident. My Payless shoes show off my manicured feet with a silver toe ring that I made myself, and my jewelry is that of my own design and creation.

I AM unique, I AM of highest quality, I AM one of a kind…. Therefore; I AM COUTURE.

My latest Etsy Picks - Knives , Forks and Spoons aren’t just for eating, they are fashion accessories

2010-06-22T21:52:00.000-07:00

I’ve seen a lot of stuff on Etsy, some of it I admit is pretty darn creative. I did an Etsy search with the word “spoon” and picked some winning pieces.
Today while in the office eating my lunch. I kept looking at my own fork wondering how these artists create thier designs. I even tried to bend the handle of my fork to see if I could shape it. Of course, it wasn't possible for me, I just hurt my finger in the process, but these Etsians can.

I am showing this one first, because I was so intrigued that I just purchased a ring from this shop today. I’m so excited for it to arrive.

Revisions has a wide selection of beautifully crafted rings… for the last 2 days I've been checking these out because I just couldn’t believe that they were made from spoons! This is something that you just have to see to appreciate, what’s even better is that the price range is super affordable and shipping is low.

I borrowed this image from Revisions Etsy shop.
CLICK HERE to visit Revisions Ring Department

Can you believe this is a fork?. This fork is twisted into a heart and then curved to fit your wrist. This belongs to MarchelloArt on Etsy, and it’s only $14
CLICK HERE for a direct link to this fabulous bracelet
This image was borrowed from MarchelloArt's Etsy shop

And last but not least. I thought this up cycled silverware turned keychain by Ogdenarthaus on Etsy is a beautiful bargain at only $12. I like this because anyone can use it.
CLICK HERE for a direct link to this item
This image was borrowed from Ogdenarthaus Etsy Shop

Each one of these would make a great gift. Stop on by these shops and pay a visit. You might find something for yourself or a friend.

In honor of Fathers Day ~ Fashion Focus from a male point of view

2010-06-19T23:56:00.000-07:00

In honor of fathers day, here is a post all about neck ties

I've been hanging on to this for a few weeks, just waiting for the right time to post. So in honor of Fathers day, I thought I'd let you in on what I consider to be a cool blog. I was recently contacted by a gentleman named Matt. He'd seen my blog and suggested that I might want to write about him. Well Matt, I did check out your blog, and I do think it's a fabulous idea.

Ladies and Gentleman, meet Matt, all around neck tie enthusiast, and author of Tipedia.com I must say it is refreshing to know that men also have "Fashion Passion". Even more so, that there is actual documentation from the male perspective. Ladies, this is good and fun reading, I would bet that your significant others would also find his blog to be useful. Seriously, it's worth paying a visit to learn things like:

What the color of your neck tie says about you
How to get rid of those little fuzzies that show up on your tie
How to tie a tie

My personal favorite listed under the crafts section:

Not your Ordinary Fathers Day Tie

For all of you crafters and culinary fans, this section has some amazing cakes that Matt has searched the web for to bring you the "best of the best" images. I'm attaching a sample of a few cakes that he has referenced.

Matt, I'd like to sincerely thank you for contacting me. Your blog is fascinating and enlightening. I wish you much success and look forward to reading more posts.

The Winner of the Most Embarassing Fashion Disaster Contest is......

2010-06-16T20:48:00.000-07:00

Thank you to everyone who participated in the most recent giveaway contest.

I have to honestly say that everyone's stories were very funny, and I could relate to each one of your situations. It just goes to show that we are all alike in so many ways.

The one story that made me laugh and I could completely visualize each step of the way was Missy's story. So congratulations Missy, you are the winner of the Giveaway for the Aqua bracelet. Missy has a very cool blog that any cross stitch fan would be happy to browse around in. You can pay her a visit at http://dorkstitch.blogspot.com/ . I promise, you'll also love her humor.

I cant let this post go unfinished without sharing Missy's story. Here it is, in her own words. ENJOY!

~ missy-tannenbaum said...

"I'm not sure if this is the sort of fashion disaster you're looking for, but last summer, it was a really, really hot and nasty day, and I was laying around the house in a really comfortable outfit- a gray and lavender plaid sundress and jeans- that I planned to change out of for a job interview later that day.

Before I could do that, though, my neighborhood got evacuated in a gas leak, so, in a panic, I threw on a pair of brown dress pants with the gray dress, hoping it would look like a tunic, tossed on my sneakers without thinking, and ran out the door. Unluckily enough, I didn't realize that not only did my outfit not match at all, but I still had sneakers on, so, before the job interview, I ended up running to the dollar store and buying the most reasonable shoes they had in my price range- an awful pair of sandals that were brown suede on the bottom with huge black, fake leather looking straps with some floral type design stamped into them on top, ditched my sneakers for them, and then drove to the job interview.

By the time I got in, however, I not only had the gray dress and brown pants on with the weird sandals, but the sandals were also of such a low quality that the straps had cut a hole in my foot, leaving a noticeable open wound for my interviewer to see.

It wasn't the most ideal situation, but I have to say, at least my hair looked good that day"

Free Crochet Pattern for a Chic Expandable Tote

2010-06-14T00:18:00.000-07:00

As promised, I'm posting how I create my expandable crochet tote bags.

I do need to warn you that I am not great with patterns, (which is why I dont sell patterns, because I'd probably have a lot of people asking for their money back). I mostly do my projects based on measurements and my own little crochet language that very few might actually understand. I'll try my best to be as clear as possible.

For starters, you will need

** 2 skeins of yarn. I like Red Heart acrylic yarns for totes because it is durable. You will only need almost 2 skeins. The picture shows 3 because I wanted to use the pink for a contrasting trim.

** size G crochet hook
** Scissors

**Yarn Needle

*****************

Chain 123
SL ST (slip stitch) into 5th CH (chain)
Continue to CH (chain) 3 and SL ST (slip stitch) into every other chain loop until you reach the end of the row
At end of row, CH 3, turn and SL ST (slip stitch) through loop.

Continue this for 52 rows, or, until your panel meaures approximately 14" tall. The picture below is what this should look like (your flat panel almost looks like a tightly stitched net).

************
Using a yarn needle, stitch the edges closed. Make sure that the edges are stiched together evenly. A good way to keep them even is to stitch from the top towards the middle, and then the bottom towards the middle, tying off when both ends of yarn meet.

*******************

After edges are stitched together (creating a cylinder form), fold the sides inward, so that there is a 2" fold on both the top and bottom layers as shown in the photo.

*****************

You'll want to stitch the bottom portion of the bag together now. With a new shade of yarn, SC (single crochet) 1 row through all layers of the bottom portion of the bag, as shown below

******************

now you are ready to make the carry handles. Start by marking (I just used pink yarn for my markers). Where your first marker is, insert your hook and CH (chain) 3,

insert into next loop and repeat. Do this 6 times, across. Continue until you finish 18 rows

Do this for all 4 spots where your markets are located. Your project should now look like the image below

Your final steps will be to SC (single crochet) the tops of the carry handles to close them. SC through the tops of them in the same manner that you did with the previous step to close the bottom of the bag. (example is shown in the image above.)

******************

Your completed project should now look like the image shown below. You can mix and match colors to create vibrant patterns, or you can have a simple bag like this. Personaly I like to embellish, so I created a cute little flower and attached it. Cute, huh?

I bought the As Seen on TV Shake Weight

2010-06-12T17:02:00.000-07:00

I'm going to let you inside of my head for a few minutes so you can get an idea of what my personal and short lived Shake Weight challenge was like.

DAY ONE

I'm so glad I just bought this Shake Weight, I cant wait to use it, it's all the rage, and will tone and transform my arms in only 6 minutes a day. (hind sight: there's nothing wrong with my arms. Allthough, they are not perfect, they are also not in need of any serious work or transformation either. My current routine is working just fine)

Yay, I just got it out of the box and am reading the directions (okay, fine, I'm not really reading, I'm just looking at the pictures instead) I'm using as directed, shaking back and forth vigorously. Oh man, this feels stupid and embarrassing, I hope nobody sees me. More embarassing is that I wasted $19.99 plus tax on this. Okay, my six minutes for today are complete.

DAY TWO
I wake up, my arms a little sore. Okay, maybe, just maybe I might keep the weight, I guess $19.99 plus tax isn't so bad after all. But I'm still keeping the box... just in case. Whewwww...good, i just finished my 6 required minutes for today

DAY THREE
Arms a little sore still, but I'm guessing that it was from my kick boxing class, and not actually from the shake weight. Operation 6 minute shake weight committment..... Check.

DAY FOUR
Trying to convince and sell myself on this. In all fairness I havent watched the DVD yet so I should give it a try. Okay, I'm inserting the DVD right now. Pressing "Play" now and following along. What?! This is nothing special, I've been doing it the right way all along. Lindsey, the model in the video with the painted on smile, is probably all of 80 lbs, and I'm guessing that 90% of that weight is solid muscle. Oh give me a break you marketing people over there at ShakeWeight, I would bet my life that Lindsey didn't get all that muscle and toning from your 2.5 lb weight. Pleeeeeeaaaaase, if you want to appeal to a wider market, use realistic models. The average woman is NOT a size zero. If she were,do you think she'd be after this product?

DAY FIVE
Feeling a little guilty that I am packing this back up, and returning it. Ummmmm, wait, maybe not so guilty; most of the "burn" that I feel is in my forearms and not the upper arms. I'm afraid if I continue, my arms may look like Popeye the Sailor man. So, on the second thought, I guess I feel justified instead.
*******************
I'm going back to using my regular 3 lb free weights, they give me much more control and flexibility with my toning. There you are my free weights... I missed you.

MY CONCLUSION:

Just remember , There is never a quick fix for anything. People have been using free weights forever without any problems
Disclaimer: The above are my personal thoughts and opinions. I am not in any way promoting or discrediting the Shakeweight, and I have not/will not receive any monetary or promotional compensation for this review.

Summer Shoes and Pretty toes

2010-06-07T23:19:00.000-07:00

You may be getting sick of hearing me talk about gussied up feet, sorry, it's just one of those things that I find so shallowly important. You know what they say; "your crown is your glory", and we all spend so much time making sure our hair is pretty and perfect, that I am now so pleased to see that we all want to make our toes look just as pretty too. Over the last few days, I've received numerous emails regarding my toe rings. One lovely lady suggested that it's not always practical to wear toe rings that have beads on them, because some of us like to wear them even when we dont have sandals on.

Yay! Thank you Miss Lovely for the feedback. I'm listening , and your email inspired me to create these two new designs. They're great so I feel the need to blog about them and tell the World Wide Web.
What's so great about these you might ask? Well, I'm pleased to say, that because there is no bead that needs to run through the wire, I was able to use a thicker gauge of copper. This means, they are still comfy, but it's the most durable you can have and still be able to adjust and not loose shape.

The double swirled ring closes in the front and has a romantic flow to it. The cuff ring is made up of many loops and then hammered and shaped for a sleek effect. Oh, I'm so ready for the beach. Can you tell?

Going Green with Stylish Reusable Grocery Bags

2010-06-06T21:41:00.000-07:00

I know everyone wants to go "green", and some "green" goals are easier to achieve than others. The other day on the news, I heard that the senate will introduce a bill to ban the use of plastic grocery bags in the entire state of California. Part of me thought..."are you kidding? I actually re-use those bags until their death". However, the other part of me wonders if I am in the minority, and mose people might just throw them out without further use. Either way, I decided to stay ahead of the curve with this one. It was just more reason to start some new projects.

Here's my solution to the problem. EVERYONE should use these kind of bags. Okay, so the guys probably wont want ones with sunflowers, but they can be made in any color. Yes, that's right, even cool masculine colors.

Calling all Crocheters! Hear Ye! Hear Ye! It's time consuming, but making this bag is well worth it. Using a chain stitch, I copied the design of the actual plastic bags you get at your grocery store. These are better though, because I used acrylic yarn (one of my favorites for durability), it wont fade or shrink, and can go from the washer to the dryer. Talk about low-maintenance.

Did I also mention that the bag can expand to almost 4 times it's original size? You can pretty much use it for just about anything.
♥ Use it to tote your groceries home. You would probably need only about 3 of these as opposed to the entire shopping cart full when you go to the store.
♥ Use it as a beach tote.
♥ Apartment or dorm living? Use it for your laundry.

I'm thinking about posting a tutorial for this one soon. Anyone interested?

If Vanessa Hudgens can alter her own clothes, than so can I

2010-06-04T20:30:00.000-07:00

I love a little Hollywood Glam Gossip every now and then, (okay. Always), and OMG on yahoo always seems to pop up and distract me when I am in the middle of trying to get something done. I can’t help but stop to see what the buzz is always about. Yesterday's feature was about one of Disney's sweethearts, Vanessa Hudgens.

As it turns out, she’s more than just a glamour girl. She’s a DIY Diva. This photo which I borrowed from OMG (click here for original article) shows that Hollywood ’s talent doesn’t just stop at acting, singing and dancing.

According to to the story, she found this MaxMara dress to be too formal, so she cut the underneath of the dress , showing some leg, and left the shear outer fabric at original length. I do hope that she stitched a hem on the part she cut. Personally, I think this is a fun and flirty look, and age appropriate. Way to go Vanessa... get down with your bad self !
***********
Alright, so I am now inspired to transform something I own. It’s not quite as glamorous, and kind of the opposite concept, because I am adding instead of taking away; but it’s quick and easy.

I used an old cotton tank that was still in good shape, but just slightly a little too short for my post baby body. I went to Joann fabric, and bought stretchable satin (darn… I forgot my 40% off coupon again). I came home, and measured the bottom of the tank. Then I used a large piece of tissue paper as a pattern to cut the satin to fit around the bottom of the tank. I sewed it together, stitched a hem, and PRESTO! Now, instead of wearing the tank strictly for gardening, I’m going out to dinner in it.

D.I.Y. Project. Make this crochet belt

2010-06-01T23:03:00.000-07:00

Accessories really can make or break an outfit. With summer coming up, I had this plain tank that I wanted to dress up, so I made this belt. Here's how you can make one too.

Project time: be patient, this took me about 4-5 hours

Skill level: EASY BREEZY. A beginner can do this

This belt is very simple, and made entirely using a Single Crochet [SC] stitch. Of course, if you prefer, you can realy use any stitch. Click on any of the pictures to enlarge and see more details.

♦ ♦ ♦ ♦

What you will need: A belt slide, Omega Nylon Thread (Omega nylon thread is not easy to find. Neither Michaels or Joann Fabric carrys it. Beverly Craft store and other retailers will charge around $7 for each spool. I got mine for $3.23 at Walmart) and a size G crochet hook.

♦ ♦ ♦ ♦

Begin with a loop and wrap your thread around the backside of the belt slide. Single crochet a row of 10 around the mid section of the slide.

turn the slide around and continue to Single Crochet [SC] rows of 10 until you reach the length you need. Personally, I'd like to say I still have that 24" waist, but that went away along with my high school days, I'll just keep my belt size to myself for now. You thin gals... you'll be able to finish this much quicker than I did. You should see your belt start to take form and look like the image shown below

♦ ♦ ♦ ♦

Once you reach the necessary length for the belt, this next part is totaly optional, but it does help. Start about 2 or 3 inches in from the belt slide and begin to Single Crochet [SC] 2. Continue to [SC] 10 rows, and then connect to the bottom portion with a Slip Stich [SS]. Fasten off , and you're done.

Tell me about your most embarassing Fashion Disaster for an entry to Win this Aqua Bracelet

2010-05-24T18:51:00.000-07:00

We've all been there. Imagine going out thinking we're looking great and then later saying to yourself, "YIKES! What the heck was I thinking". Who can forget the times we've either seen this happen to someone else, or ..... gulp..... it's actually happend to us. You walk out of the little girls room to discover 10 minutes later that your skirt is caught up in your underpants..... OH NO !!! You've worn two different shoes to the office in a mad rush out the door, or you wonder why all of a sudden plaid and florals just dont mesh well together.

The only strings attached to this giveaway/contest are the ones that make up this pretty little bracelet from my Etsy Shop. This is a one size fits all glass beaded stretch bracelet.

It's Easy to Enter. The only requirement is that you need to have fun!

Just tell me your funniest or most embarssing Fashion Disaster and your automatically entered for a chance to win. I will need your email address in case you are the winner. You can add your email address to your entry, or send me a separate email to SophisticateStyle@yahoo.com . Contest is open to U.S. Residents.

The funniest entry will be selected on June 14th, and winner will be notified via email. Winner will have 72hrs to respond and claim prize, or another winner will be chosen.

I'll get this started. Here's just one of my many fashion disasters.

I was at a restaurant with my sister and some friends. I went to the ladies room and a man was trying very hard to get my attention as I was strutting back to the table. I sauntered on by and confidently sat down at the table (knowing he was still watching me). He comes right up to my table and says "excuse me......" I was sure he was going to ask my name; but instead he pointed right to my foot. I had stepped on about 10 squares of toilet tissue on my way out of the ladies room and was wearing it right on the bottom of my shoe.

Aughhhhhhh... gross and embarassing

Okay, now I want to hear from you.

Review of the Darice Battery Operated Bead Spinner

2010-05-24T09:50:00.000-07:00

After my last beaded bracelet project notched out 3 hours of my day, I thought it would be cool to get a bead spinner. I picked this one up at Joann fabric and craft store for $24.99.

I made a pretty bracelet (which will be my next giveaway) using this spinner.

Keep in mind, I have never used a bead spinner before, so I have nothing to compare this experience to. I can say that it is a nifty little gadget. Operating on 2 AA batteries, it’s motor is a little loud, but that was to be expected. It comes with 3 bowls for your seed beads which is nice. It can spin in either a clockwise or counter clockwise position which is great for left or right handers.

I’m pretty good at getting the hang of things (except for reading patterns), but this little guy took A LOT of practice. It comes with a needle that looks kind of like an oversized fish hook, good for capturing the beads.

THE PROBLEM: The images on the box are very misleading (I know, it’s all about marketing and selling the product). If you take a close look, it shows a model holding the needle from the bottom and the beads have fed all the way up to the top. I admit, this picture is actually what sold me on the product.

THE TRUTH: It is NOT possible to accomplish this by holding the needle at the position shown. The spinner is very fast and the needle will flip backwards. In reality, you will need to hold the needle as close to the top of the hook as possible to be successful. Using the needle, you might be able to grab about 6 beads every 1-2 seconds. If you use memory wire or other thin wires, you will be able to round up many more beads in less time.

MY CONCLUSION: Not exactly what I was expecting, but I do LOVE this machine, I am very pleased that I purchased it. I will get much use out of it, and can say that it cut my project time in half. I would definitely recommend this to others.

MY SUGGESTION: use your 40% off Joann coupon to purchase. With the money you save, you can buy more beads.