Couldn't Wait

   Just a quick post to share the sweetest picture from one of my customers showing off her brand new baby boy wearing a custom order!! I am so blessed for her and her family on their new addition and adore the way the hat and booties look on him!! Thanks again Guiselle for sharing and can't wait to see him in the other items as he grows!!

Real Deal

   When I make items I often have to take the best photos I can (or if I am lucky my friend Christina takes them) and make them look as cute as they are WITHOUT them actually being on a real person or baby. It is not the easiest thing to accomplish. Occasionally I have worked with photographers who will take some great pictures of my photography props but it still leaves a substantial amount of my offerings without a real body attached.
   Recently I was blessed with some photos that combine an adorable little person with something I have made which = BLISS! Especially when they fit perfectly! So a few pictures to share...

                                                         Most Beautiful feet EVER!

                                          New Grand-daughter all ready for the runway

                                               Being gorgeous makes you tired :)

                               Can only take credit for the shoes but it's a sweet little dress too

              My son's long time friends' daughter-geez I remember when he was only 13

                                                             She's a doll isn't she?!?
 

Cowboys & Zelda Part 2

   So I covered "Cowboys" in Part 1 ~ now it's time for Zelda! I am a HUGE, I mean HUMONGOUS, seriously over the top Zelda Fan!!! There aren't enough exclamation points to emphasize how much I adore Zelda.
  It started way back in the 80's with the first Gold Cartridge and I was hooked! I beat the first game and found there was a code to get a whole new world to beat! Sheer Joy! Anyway fast forward to the present and many, many Zelda games since then--- I do have to mention last year on my 49th Birthday my boys got me the newest Zelda game complete with a gold Wii controller!! 
  So racking my brain a couple of weeks ago trying to think of a DIY gift for a dear friends' hubby who is not only male but 30ish which equates to the most difficult people to make something for. But then I remembered, inset light bulb over my head, that he was a Zelda Lover too! Instant happiness and brain storming. 
  Since he is wonderfully quirky, which runs in my family as well, (and is a superb quality to have) I decided a Link style hat would be ideal. I could just picture him wearing it while playing any number of games. I began to search the internet for patterns and pictures. I was surprised by the limited amount of patterns available. The few I did find were all lacking in one way or another so I decided to create my own pattern. I was pretty pleased with the hat but it needed something more...Elf ears! 
  It ended up being just AWESOME! If I do say so myself :) The gift was a hit and now is available to purchase on my Etsy shop. You can buy the hat already made in any size or color combination OR if you are so inclined, you can purchase the PDF Pattern and create your own. The pattern is only available in adult size at this time since I was in a such a hurry to post it but I will gladly offer advice on how to make it smaller. Here;s the big reveal ;)

Cowboys and Zelda!! Part 1

  I am super excited to share my recent experience with two hats! They were such fun and I am so happy with the results I just need to share. Today's post is longer than I figured so the "Zelda" will be shared in Part 2
  The first hat came into existence from a Custom Request--LOVE IT-- by a lady who had purchased quite a few items from my shop. One of the items was a pair of cowboy booties and she asked if I could make a Cowboy hat to match. 
  Well I had been contemplating adding a cowboy hat to my listings so it just made it a must do. I looked around quite a bit for a Cowboy hat pattern. ( I learned from my years teaching never to waste time re-inventing the wheel i.e. if someone else has done it already get it from them) But I was quite disappointed with the offerings. I tried one free pattern and was very unhappy with the hat so I unraveled the whole thing. Then I did some searching for patterns you have to buy and was quite shocked at some of the prices.
  Just when I was about to give up I FOUND IT!! And the pattern was not only very inexpensive but it was super cute and included a vest and chaps pattern as well. For those of you who would love a pattern of your own click here.
  The hat came out soo cute and my buyer was soo happy with it! What more can you ask! I am chomping at the bit to make a girly version--can't you see it in Pink and Brown or Lavender and White!

One extra pic of a recent Cowboy boot Order that I just have to share- the color combination is soo adorable!

Happy Weekend! 

Very Happy

  It's been far too long since I have used my Sewing Machine. I was raised by two avid sewers so of course, I became one too. While my boys were little I sewed so many things.. curtains, furniture covers, pillows, and more but mainly I sewed clothes. I made baby clothes for my own kids and for gifts. I made tons of summer shorts and uniform pants. I even made myself a few things over the years. I really enjoyed it and was not too bad if I do say so.

  Insert many years of College and working, working and working towards my Teaching Credential, Teaching and raising my boys. Between classes, homework, planning lessons, housework and trying to be a good mom sewing and pretty much any other type of crafting was impossible.

  It took a few years of being a stay at home -actually work at home mom- to start to feel that old desire creeping back. I started with crochet and have been avidly pursuing that for a few years now but the sewing machine beckons me. I tried a couple of years back but if you know my son there was no way to sew with him literally in my lap so curious about the machine and every item that sewing requires. So it has sat and sat and sat. 

 Not any more--I am happy to say I created an area for my machine. Not an easy task in our bursting at the seams home.

 It certainly doesn't compare to any of the craft areas/ rooms on some blogs but I really am quite happy with my little corner. Even better --I got to actually make something.

    I needed a gift for my son's lovely girlfriend and since I know she is quite fond of purses I found a super cute little bag to make.

   Of course though Steven no longer is under foot my Kitties were just too enthralled by the new machine to stay away. Stash had to be right in the midst of it all.

    Apples came to see too

   This is the purse and I am pretty pleased with how it came out. My son assured me it was well liked which is the best reward.

  So now my spare moments what are those have been joyously perusing sewing patterns and I have come across some really awesome Must Do's. Don't worry though Crochet will always be my first love

Loving Every Minute

 There are times when I love Crocheting even more than I normally do. It fluctuates based on what I am making and who it is for. I have noticed that gift items and Custom Orders increase my pleasure dramatically. Though I enjoy making items to add to my shop something changes when I know it is already spoken for.

  The last couple of months I have been in Crochet Heaven. A significant number of custom orders and a gorgeous dress are the cause. The dress was a gift for our soon to arrive grand-daughter and it took over 2 months to make. I loved it. 

  It started when I saw the pattern on Crochet Garden's Ad on the Crochet Pattern Directory Page. It was just beautiful and I knew I had to make it. The recipient was easy- Baby Emma due in August. So I begged  asked my Step-daughter if she would like it. She graciously said yes and I was on my way.

  I decided to go all out since I knew it would be quite an undertaking so instead of the regular Cotton Thread I would normally use I splurged on Bamboo Thread. Seriously the difference is amazing. The feel is super soft and the drape is just lovely. My only complaint is that the white isn't super white- almost has an off white look to it. I am attributing this to the nature of the material.

  Of course any well dressed girl must have the proper shoes for her outfit and so I needed something a bit more special to wear with this dress. I am an avid lover of Irish Crochet and so the idea to add an Irish Crocheted Rose to the top of Mary Jane style booties seemed perfect.

  I am very happy with the end result. As most creators, there are things I would change or do differently next time but overall I couldn't be more pleased. Most importantly Stephanie loved it.

Custom Orders and New Listing

   So the move feel thru -insert crying face here- and the reality that it takes just as much time to 'move back into' your original home as it would have to move to the new one sets in. We are probably 80 percent unpacked and continue to unpack every day. 

   In between boxes and cleaning I have had the joy of working on some neat projects... three pairs of custom ordered booties, a sweet pair of little girl booties newly listed for sale and a gorgeous dress/ gown that I have been working on for a couple of months for our soon to arrive Grand-daughter Emma. 

   Summer days are just perfect right now so we are off to the coast to check out the newly opened Crafted for a much needed break. If you live close by come check it out too. Hope your day is awesome

Custom Order and New Listing  

 

 

n

 

Quick Post and Share

We are currently up to our eyeballs in boxes, packing away for our move to Long Beach next week. Exciting but exhausting and very time consuming. Couple that with lots of custom orders- WHICH I LOVE- time is precious. 

So just a quick post till after the move where I wanted to share two amazing pattern shops for those of you who crochet or those who may want me or someone else to make you something dreamy from these. The patterns are simply wonderful. Enjoy

Mon Petit Violon

CROCHET GARDEN

It's Live

  Well I have been hard at work building my Crocheted In Love website and I am super excited to say IT'S LIVE --Yes it's finally up and running and though there are still refinements and pages I plan on adding, the majority of it is good to go.

  It's been awhile since I designed a website and I forgot how time consuming it can be. All the editing and design layout and backgrounds and fonts and on and on and on... BUT

it was sooo worth it

  So please take a few minutes and look it over. Comments and Likes would be appreciated--criticism in small doses is ok too.

Hope you love it 

Crocheted In Love

So excited...

I have been hard at work on a web site for Crocheted In love! I can't wait to share it with you but it isn't quite ready for the public yet :)

In the meantime I wanted to share some pictures of my ALL TIME FAVORITE Crocheted Items to make...i.e. Booties! I just adore making them- seriously there is nothing I like more than booties. They are so small and adorable and go on the most precious little feet! Any size, color, shape and style you desire you can have. 

I recently finished a custom order for 3 sweet pairs of booties and also have a few new patterns I am dying to get to. Here are some pics ~ hope you like them too!

Custom order above and future booties below 

PS- Haven't forgotten about the flower hat pattern. It should be ready to post very soon