Geez I didn't realize how long it has been since I posted a new blog! I have been so caught up in Holiday Prep at our Thrift Shop and home, as well as crocheting as many gifts as I could squeeze in, time just got away from me. I hope your Christmas was blessed and filled with happy memories. Truthfully I was kind of dreading this Christmas (which I NEVER do since it is my fav holiday!) but it ended up being a wonderful time with my family! 

Christmas Eve was filled with love and was very relaxing. We spent it with the majority of my husband's family and all of our kids were there but 2 :(. Lots of laughing, some tears and hearts full of love! Also got to spend lots of coveted time with our youngest grandchild which was so much fun! Christmas day was just as nice- I just have to say how much I love my boys! 

I finally was able to make the Tea Set I have been trying to get to for my niece and I am so excited both with how it turned out and that I will be adding it to my Etsy Shop for purchase. Perfect gift for even the youngest child and definitely Keepsake worthy!

Would love to see pics of other handmade gifts so please share!

Babies + Christmas = Bliss!

What is better than two of the things you love most uniting?? I love babies and I adore making anything and everything for them! AND I love Christmas-- The sights, smells, decorations, baking, shopping, and hand picking/ hand making gifts! Combining the two is just almost too much! :)
So I have been in Heaven working on some very cute and super sweet little Christmas Gift Items for the babies in your life (or those coming just in time :)) Hope you like them!

Thank Heaven.....

for little girls :) In our family it is singular-that is "girl" since in the last 25 years my sister and I managed to have 7 boys before my sister finally had a girl. Needless to say with 4 older cousins and 3 older brothers she has everyone wrapped around her little finger. She is definitely a handful- so independent and hard headed yet super sweet and loving. Despite all these boys she is SUPER feminine and at the ripe age of 4 she already adores new dresses, shoes, hats, headbands etc.

Willow has provided us with a perfect excuse reason to buy and /or make girly things :) So for her recent Birthday I made her a little dress and matching headband. It has a crocheted bodice with a cotton skirt in a delicate purple floral print on an ivory background. I added a crocheted flower to the dress and a similar one on the headband. She was kind enough to pose for some pictures ham good-natured child that she is ;)

 

Time Is Flying By!!!!

   Just realized how long since I posted anything-- with Summer ending so quickly and all the back to school preparations and the regular day to day chaos that makes up our lives I simply lost track of the time. 

   I have been spending my time "crochet" time on a few different Etsy orders and a Birthday gift for a dear friend. I just love making things and if I could do it full time boy would that be awesome! Alas that is not to be (for now) ;)

   The other day I realized that with the school year back in session the Holidays are upon us! Stores are already full of Halloween Costumes with Thanksgiving and Christmas right behind. Truly this is my favorite time of the year! Making lists and deciding on the perfect gifts for the people I love brings me much joy. So I grabbed a pencil and my box of patterns and had the best hour and half looking thru and deciding on some things I am planning to make. I also went thru a few online places I had bookmarked because they had some awesomely cute things to make as gifts. My only hope now is I will not run out of time before I am finished especially since I have found that time really seem to be flying by faster than I can keep up!

The internet is a treasure trove of gift ideas for Do-it-your-selfers like me! No matter your gift you can find a multitude of both free ideas and those for sale.  I wanted to share a couple of links I found with some really neat gift ideas:

101-simple-handmade-gift-tutorials

how-to-and-diy

crafty

Would love to look at any other places for inspiration so if you have some please post away!

Drool Drool Drool......

  I have been working on my Ebay and Etsy shops recently listing some amazing vintage purses and sweaters. The work put into them never ceases to amaze me! The quality just can't be compared to anything manufactured nowadays. Some of these bags have to be 40 plus years old and not a bead missing nor anything loose. Hinges still work and hardware is intact! The only problem I have found with the clothing is improper storing of the items which has nothing to do with the person who made them.

  I have to piggy back off my dear friend who blogs Sweet Lavender Bake Shoppe and rave about the level of skill and absolutely wonderful, beautiful, artistic, amazing items that are made by the people on Etsy!!!! Browse around and see for yourself. It won't take but a few seconds to see the creativity that overflows throughout the entire website. 

   I do truly believe that when the Lord says he created us in His image it included His creativity as well. Just look around the planet for a minute and you can see the magnitude of His artistry. It is so evident that we all share that ability in some way or another. If you haven't discovered your artistic gifts yet I encourage you to take some time to peruse the Etsy website or any pictorial (Pinterest is another) and see what moves you. What do you love? What do you see that inspires you? Moves you to think.."I could do that" or "I want to try that" If you think you have no talent I challenge your thinking! Think large and be open to trying things- you have something you are good at- it's a God-given attribute. 

   There is nothing so wonderful a feeling as creating something- writing a poem, a story, a song, painting, embroidery, sewing, yarn arts, woodworking, metal art, jewelry, card making etc etc etc..We are made to create! 

AND we are made to marvel at creations!! Take time for both

Christening Outfit

    Well Elijah has officially been baptized and so now I am willing to share some pictures of the outfit. I was very happy with how it came out and plan on offering some similar sets on my Etsy shop (can't be identical cause his is special). 

   Making things like this, knowing they are for very meaningful moments in our lives, brings me such joy. I want it to be perfect and unique and look amazing! As I was crocheting it I also was filled with thoughts and prayers for both Elijah and his wonderful parents!

  My hope is that if I am blessed to be able to make more items in this genre I would be able to pour out heartfelt prayers as I work, whether it be for a family member or a stranger. Something similar to the old time "Prayer Shawls" which I humbly admit I used to think meant a shawl you wore when you prayed. I discovered that it was actually a shawl (or any item) that the entire time you were making it you prayed for the person that it was for! What an amazing thing to do! Looking forward to more opportunities like this one.

Sneak Peek

  So I have finished the Christening Set for the newest grandchild, Elijah, but until I show the proud parents I will have to wait to share the pics online. I do, however, have some pictures of a few of my newest designs that I am eager to share. I am very happy with the results so far and soooo eager to work on the rest of the ideas in my head. 

  I am making some changes in the focus of my handmade items. I have been a long time lover of Antique patterns and the idea of Heirloom items worthy of being saved and passed down thru the generations. With that in mind, the majority of my new items will be for Special Occasions-- i.e Weddings,Brides, Proms, Baptisms, Christenings etc. 

  I have a million ideas in my head which, of course, come faster than my hands can crochet them. The first few items are for the Bride- both the traditional and those who follow their unique ideas. They were inspired by Vintage patterns. My desire is to create unique one of a kind pieces with the exception of Custom orders for Bridal Parties (of which I am always open and willing to customize to any ideas).

   The first Headpiece was crocheted out of a baby fine yarn with a hint of a sheen to it. It is called a Flower Bandeau Hat. It has white roses on each end with tiny beads handsewn into the center of each bud. Rayon thread leaves were crocheted and handsewn onto both sides with the edges hanging free for a special look. I hand sewed seed beads to both edges of the hat and threaded a thin wire through the edges to give it a bit of shape that can be fitted to the individual head.

      This next design is a Juliet Style Lace Hat with dangling beads hand sewn to each point around the edge of the Cap. It is a champagne colored mohair yarn which gives it a bit of a halo effect when crocheted. I added hand sewn champagne colored beads to each picot stitch all over the cap. The overall effect is quite beautiful.

This last one is still a work in progress.. it was crochet in a white rayon thread in a Vintage Headband/Hat style and then I hand sewed a fine mesh gathered Tulle across the front. It will have tiny rhinestones added to the short veil and two Vintage rhinestone adorned hat pins to hold it in place. It has a bit of a mod feel with the short veil. 

As usual my pictures aren't the greatest but hope to remedy that soon :)

Fun Stuff

   Sooo I am finally finished with the orders that all came in at once and am back to working on the Christening Outfit for the newest Holland :) Thought I would share some photos of what has been occupying my free time (is there really such a thing??)
Custom Orders for a newborn photo shoot :
Newsboy Style Cap and Fun Elf Hat

 

Chihuahua Coats:

Having a great time but seriously dying to start on my newest brainstorms!