1 done, 51 to go....

On etsy, there is a whole community of crafters who support each other by driving SEO, offering advice and helping encourage our businesses. To prevent the usual "oh no, I haven't made enough stuff" before craft shows and to try to make my own little shop a little stronger, I have joined a team that pushes us to create and list 1 new item a week all year.  Doesn't sound too impossible, until you take into consideration that custom orders (more than 90% of my sales last year) don't count. 

So, I look forward to 52 brand new items this year! Hopefully there will be some popular new products in there.  Here's number 1: 

I really love it! I wore it to work today and got quite a few compliments and a couple orders. Feels nice to have my first "garment" for adults go over well.  The etsy listing gives full details.

cute crochet

I have continued to practice my crochet ... um, skills ... and after finishing off a couple baby sweaters for both my bambino and his bestie Kev (his mom and I already decided they will be BFF by geography....they live 10 houses up the street, will be in the same school, on the same bus, and most likely have the same daycare.) They also both had a couple hats made....there were a few pair of booties...some baby blankets given up on....and then I discovered amigurumi.

Amigurumi is Japanese-inspired crocheting of dolls, stuffed animals, and other cuteness. Think of it as 3D anime. Everything is cute. Or maybe it started that way, and ended up perverse. Exploring examples on Ravelery.com I found some really interesting projects (like "adult lip balm case" ... you can google it.)

Like every other new interest I have, I immediately took this topic to Amazon.com and have purchased 4 books so far this week on amigurumi. I have also started a few projects with varying success. And varying challenges....like a missing bunny head, which the puggle is absolutely being blamed for at this point. The biggest challenge, though, is my lack of ability to create a "magic circle". In my search for the right way to do this, I discovered a great website with the first directions for a magic circle that have ever worked for me.

Planet June is full of cute patterns to purchase, helpful free tutorials, and a starting point to trying out amigurumi, or just crochet, for yourself. June's book is on its way this week. Its also the best resource for the details you may want for your own creations, like the eyes, noses, etc. that are not available in stores and even extremely limited for purchase on my beloved amazon.com.

Without further ado....here is my 2nd ever amigurumi....a very simple bunny for the bambino.


I long ago created "Alvira Loo" who know resides with a BFF of my own, but failed to photodocument her awesomeness. There are 2 other toys in process right now...with many more to come. Another snowstorm (4th this season) is on its way this week, so hopefully I will have more couch time to keep the cuteness coming.

2010 is almost over...

....and it has been so long since an update.

In that time, we found that the baby we are expecting is a healthy (thank you, God, and everyone who's prayed for us this past year) boy. And my days have been filled with fun stuff like professional development at school, sciatic nerve pain (literally: a pain in the as$) which seems to move side to side, a couple of my usual fall into winter calls for anti-biotics (strep, sinusitis, laryngitis, a couple of other 'itis'es....bambino is going to come out pre-disposed to needing super strength anitbiotics, sorry babe.)

I've also fallen back into my winter craftiness. Baking cookies, decorating sugar cookies, baking dog cookies, decorating dog cookies, making candy, burning skin off my knuckles (ouch...boiling sugar), and of course, crocheting.







This year, its baby blue items galore. So far I have:

1. discovered Ravelery.com, and wasted many hours looking at patterns

2. made a periwinkle blue elf hat, good only for photo ops

3. made matching periwinkle blue booties

4. worked on a sweater (needs button) and matching toque (looks more like a yamaulke right now)

5. gave up on...poncho to cover large belly, christmas table runner, beige thick scarf

Our big gift from each other to each other is a dSLR camera....we have over 600 pictures of the puggle at this point. Look for more this coming year. The well taken ones are from Dan. The not-so-great ones are mine. I may try the 365 pictures in 365 days project to force myself into playing with the camera and catching up to my husband's abilities.

summer into fall

When I last wrote, I was anxiously looking forward to a new school year in a new role at a new school.
I kept wanting to write how fantastic it is, but wanted to wait for "the other shoe to drop". I historically end up in pretty miserable work situations...the kind that make me want to never see another Monday as long as I live, send me to doctors for stress-related illness, and cause many, many tears.
Somehow...the stars lined up just the right way...I was hired at a really great school this summer! I am doing the job I have been wishing for, teaching small groups of students who need reading support, and working typical teaching hours. The administration is great, and so far, very level-headed. The other teachers actually respect me. They are kind, encouraging, supportive, and cooperative. There is no junior high type gossiping. There is no tattling. There are no unreasonable and malicious rumors. I love it here!!!

So that is what brought me from summer into fall this year.
As the cool weather rolled in (I saw snowflakes Friday!) my favorite winter time passtime has made a come back, I am spending a LOT of time crocheting. This also has a lot to do with football and hockey. Thanks, Dan.

Hopefully my first big project will be done and posted this week....meanwhile, I will enjoy this Sunday afternoon and continue working on a mini-project while 'watching' football this evening. And look forward to work tomorrow.