While I was Away :)

   Sheesh! I have had a few blogs in mind for a few weeks now and didn't realize how much time I let slip away since my last post. Think that pretty much some up my life in the past couple of years

So while I have been not posting I have been hard at work on

**several custom orders (loving it!) 

**a few items I have wanted to make for so long -YES!!!

**I also have finally finalized and posted my Octopus Hat Pattern for sale!

**Working on two original baby hat patterns that I am going to offer for free

   Pattern design is something I have wanted to do for so long and I am so excited and ecstatic that it is becoming a reality. I currently have 6 original patterns for sale and as soon as I take pictures I will be posting my first free patterns!! I have more projects in mind and can't wait to share them as well.

 

  

Old Loves On Etsy

  When I first started selling on Etsy I didn't know that the name you used to register was going to be your permanent shop name... so for over a year my shop was called "crugut777" :p Not very attractive is it??

During that time frame you could not change the name of your shop under any circumstances and because I was building feedback and my reputation I was hesitant to open a new shop. But after more than a year with such an ugly name I took the plunge and moved to my new "Crocheted In Love" shop. The complete transition took a few months and I am happy to say I have been fully moved for quite some time and my new feedback almost matches my original feedback.

  In the meantime two things were happening on Etsy: One was they had changed some rules and now you are allowed to change the name of your shop (just one time though) and second, I had begun adding many Vintage items to my crochet shop. Well it dawned on me that it would be much better in so many ways to move my Vintage items to their own shop where I could categorize them properly and feature the items so much better.

  So a couple of weeks ago I went back to my original stagnant little shop and renamed it "Old Loves" and have begun adding my Vintage listings (new ones and expired ones). I am very happy with the new categories, look and feel of it! The listings are growing weekly as I am adding to the shop. 

  I hope you will take a moment and check out the new shop and also be sure to check out the large number of  Vintage listings still on Crocheted In Love during this transition.

Busy Busy Busy

   With the Holidays having flown by at the usual breakneck speed and Valentine's Day rapidly approaching I have found my days filled with implementing ideas that have been in my head...trying to make them a reality. This often (always) proves harder and much more time consuming than I think it will be. 

I am trying anyway ;)

   So far I am pleased with my attempts. What have I done? Well I have posted my second original pattern for sale on Etsy - this is HUGE for me! The pattern is for Miniature Baby Shower Favors and includes patterns for both a sweater and booties. The pattern is super cute and fairly easy. 

   I have also made another original - Octopus Hat- and it is currently for sale. The best part (for me anyway) is that I will be offering the pattern for this hat for sale very soon as well! The hat is simply adorable and can be made in sizes from newborn to adult.

  Three other projects are all in various stages of completion but are temporarily on the back burner while I complete a good sized order for a special little boy! 

 Hope you are all busy with creative things as well- even if it is only in your head for now!

Some pics of my newest items:

Craftsy!!

   I have recently been loving a new site I found and wanted to share it with anyone who may not have heard of it. It's called "Craftsy" and it is so much fun!

   It is a website which offers patterns, projects and classes on any of the main crafts- Sewing, Quilting, Cooking, Paper Crafts, Knitting, Crocheting, Jewelry and even Gardening.

   They offer workshops and classes on any of these subjects at pretty reasonable rates so if you have a hankering to learn something and online teachers work for you this is a great place!

   Membership is free and for those already proficient in any crafting area there are pages of projects/ patterns! Members can post things they have made and link the pattern they used or sell so others can use it or purchase it. You can also "heart" any project/patterns you like and those items become eligible for contest the website runs. You can also "follow" any member whose items you really like.

My favorite part is that when you are signed in and looking thru patterns and see one you want to do you can save it in the "My Saved Projects" area of your account. When you are ready to start or purchase your next craft it's ready- no hunting thru trying to remember where you saw it. I don't know about you but that happens to me all the time :)

Check it out for yourself and ENJOY!

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.