Hello Again...crafters!

When I left my crafting life, I thought I was through. I thought that time and obstacles would be the end of my creative drive. Boy was I wrong. In the last year, I have published 5 books and been included in an anthology. I have continued to make cards, but never got into the video/picture mode that is a requirement for blogging and such. I have found that I have some time on my hands, so I am back in the saddle.

Good thing too. I have tons of crochet patterns that I haven't finished up for publication. I have some new card layouts I cannot wait to show. I may even start a Youtube channel with tutorials. I would like to thank those who have patiently continued to explore the scheduled posts I had for 2015. It means the world to me to see that so many people continued to read.

Here's a small list of things that will be coming in the future:

Updates to my patterns (formatting)
Cascading Ball Gown - Barbie, Skipper, and Stacie
Ball gown sets - Skipper and Stacie
Mailbox Playset
Barbie Bedroom Set
Raccoon Beanie
The Dabbler Fairy Beanie

I cannot wait to go on a new crafting adventure with you all!

Announcing New Pattern

Good morning readers! This beautiful autumn morning gave me a great idea for a Christmas ornament. Most people don't know this, but I am a writer outside of designing crochet patterns with some writing friends. One has become a very good friend to me. This morning, I decided I wanted to send her a set of crocheted ornaments for Christmas, but the one thing I wanted to include was a book ornament. I was hoping to find one so I didn't have to waste brain power, but there wasn't one to be found.

What was a girl to do? Well, design her own of course! So I am introducing a new pattern available through Ravelry and Craftsy. This pattern is available at an introductory cost of $1.99 USD. Get it while it is on sale!

Where you can get the pattern:

Ravelry Link: http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/book-ornament

Craftsy Link: http://www.craftsy.com/pattern/crocheting/home-decor/book-ornament/118173

12 Weeks of Christmas - Week 4

Week 4

Lion Brand Snowman

(http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/amigurumi-snowman-ornament)

(http://www.lionbrand.com/patterns/80967AD.html)

Please note: Before starting this pattern, it requires an account with Lion Brand's website. It is a free website and takes less than 2 minutes to register. 

What I love about this pattern is that it is another adorable pattern. I LOVE snowmen, so this one just fits the bill. The first time I made it was for my mother a few years ago. It is pretty simple to follow. It does work up a little bit slower than the first two simply because of the added steps.

Here's some photos from previous makes. Excuse the photo quality and background. These were not meant for blog posting.

Before scarf and hat

After scarf and hat. And you can see my kitties to the right!

Project Type: Scrap buster

Skill level: Easy/Beginners with a little advanced knowledge about sewing

Hook Size: G or H hook (I used H.)
    Recommended - H, but G will make it slightly smaller.

Type of Yarn: Worsted Weight - I used Red Heart in Burgundy and White.

Extra requirements:
Fiberfil
Scissors
Stitch marker (if you need it)
Small mm beads for eyes (optional)
     -6 mm recommended

Uses for finished product

• Without the holder, this could be a cute baby rattle or toy. If you make it into a toy, do not put beads or other embellishments on the snowman.
• Ornament
• a cute gift
• An embellishment to a gift

Look forward to seeing your finished products!

Sarah

12 Weeks of Christmas - Week 3 Reveal

This is such a cute ornament. I would like to share my experience with this pattern. First, the designer of this pattern (Frayed Knots) is obviously an accomplished pattern designer. The pattern is easy to read and spaced in a nice manner making it easier to understand. There is an abbreviation list and a materials list for those who need it.

The only thing that I would desire in this pattern is a way to create a holder or hanger for the tree. Some perhaps would use the handle as a hanger, but I do not find that too desirable. If you do, YAY! I do have a way to add a hanger if you would like to continue to read.

I did choose to use a size H hook instead of the recommended G hook simply because it was near me. This gave me a bigger ornament. If you want a smaller ornament, I do suggest using a G hook or even a F hook if you crochet loosely.

I chose to use burgundy as my main color as it is a deeper red simply because the color reminds me of Christmas. The "coffee" or "hot chocolate" color I chose is Cafe Latte by Red Heart. It works with either one as the coffee that I am around (but don't drink) is usually caramel in color. The only changes I did to the pattern for my own desires is adding a hanger and creating just a chain for the handle. It still looks good!

Here's the photos!

Looking down into the cup.

From more of the side.

This years and last year's cups!

Size comparison between a H hook and a G hook.

The smaller one is a G hook.

As you can see on the first two photos, I added a hanger. What I did was attach the red yarn at the final sl st and the beginning of the cup handle. I chained up 16 and reattached it to the same spot. This will give a tipped over look on the tree as if the coffee/hot chocolate is spilling out. As you can see, I did not make the marshmallows as these are "coffee" ornaments. I also chose not to overfill the red one, but you can see the effect of overfilling on the green one.

Would you like to know where these new ornaments are heading too?

Stay tuned for an update post!

Sarah

12 Weeks of Christmas - Week 3

Week 3

Hot Chocolate/Coffee Ornament

(http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/hot-cocoa-mug-ornament)

Like the last pattern, I have crocheted this ornament before and absolutely love it. The Hot Cocoa Mug Ornament was created by Frayed Knot and is absolutely adorable! Yes, I used absolutely twice in one sentence. There is no way to not fall in love with this little ornament. Last year, I crocheted it as a gift for my roommate who grew up working in the coffee business in Puerto Rico. What a perfect gift for the coffee lover huh? He adored it!

NOTE: Please do not use the link at the bottom of the Ravelry post. You will get an File Not Found page. You can download it for free from Ravelry at the top of the note section.

Project Type: Scrap buster

Skill level: Easy/Beginners with a little advanced knowledge about sewing

Hook Size: G or H hook (I used H.)

Type of Yarn: Worsted Weight - I used Red Heart in Burgundy and Cafe Latte.

Extra requirements:
Fiberfil
Scissors
Stitch marker (if you need it)

Uses for finished product

• Without using the fiberfil or the "coffee" part, you could make a set for a children's tea set.
• An ornament
• A gift

Because of the type of project, this may take a little more time. I attempted to schedule some of the more time consuming ornaments further away from Christmas. I find that it is easier to take a little extra time in October and the beginning of November than 2 weeks before Christmas. Christmas parties, shopping, and just spending time with loved ones takes priority to making last minute gifts or ornaments....for....yourself. LOL!

What do you do when it gets closer to Christmas?

Sarah

Clothespin Snowflakes - Photo Heavy

I recently saw a pin on Pinterest for a cute and inexpensive ornament that had my heart aflutter. Snowflakes, snow, and snowmen are my most favorite ornament and Christmas decoration out of everything. I can pass up Santa for a good snowflake! So when I saw this cute little pin, I knew I had to try it. I already had the glue sticks. I had the ribbon. All I needed was the clothes pins!

A few weeks ago, I found myself in the craft section of my local Walmart looking for clothespins. They had a set of 18 or so for almost 4 dollars. That makes this project less budget friendly. So I headed to the laundry section to see if they had a better pack for cheap. They did! A 50 pack for about $0.97. That is more than budget friendly as I could pick up 3 packs of 50 for the price of 1 in the craft section.

Materials:
50 pack of Wooden Clothespins from Walmart ($0.97)
Glue sticks (In stock)
Glue Gun (In stock)
Ribbon (In stock, but cost $1.00 per spool)

Optional: paint, glitter, craft glue, paint brushes


Now, for the instructions. I will be posting a set of pictures with the instructions below it. Please view all the instructions before beginning the project.

Here's the materials. I chose to not use paint and glitter, although I am looking into adding that later.

Twist the clothes pin until the twisted one pops out the spring.

Lay the one side off and pull off the spring.

It should be relatively easy. I have no use for the spring, so I just toss them.

Now you are let with both sides. Lay the sides with the straight sides up. Make sure the cut outs are facing the same way.

Place a line of glue along the pin.

Now that it is on, place the two sides together. Match up the cut out.

Here you can see what the glued pin looks like.

Tie the ribbon. I am going to show pictures of how I do it, but feel free to do it how you feel comfortable.

I actually added my ribbon into the pin as I glued it for the most stability. It is about an inch from the top of the pin.

Next, add some glue to the bottom of one pin and attach another completely opposite.

In the center, add another bead of glue and attach another pin.

Repeat for the other side.

Now, in each area between two pins, add glue and another pin. I did have some issues getting the pins to completely adhere due to the angle, but I just added some glue up the sides so the angles attach.

Here's the completed snowflake.

From one half of the package, I got three snowflakes. These are unpainted, but still beautiful.

One thing I would caution you about is that the glue does snow, but can be covered with paint and glitter to mask. I do not have a problem with the view of paint, but some may. The original pin shows these snowflakes stained as more of a vintage look. What I say is to do what you like with them!

In about 30 minutes, I had all three completed including taking photos for this post! That is a quick and inexpensive ornament. The cost breakdown is below.

Costs

8 clothes pins  -   $0.16
1/2-1 hot glue stick   -   $0.10
Hot glue gun  - free
Ribbon     -$0.16
_____________________
Total Cost - $0.42


Each pack of wooden clothespins (50) can make 6 snowflakes.

Happy Crafting

Sarah

A Lingering Question

Some may be wondering why Dande Creations disappeared from Facebook and that is a fair pondering. In the past few years of being a designer, I had noticed a shift in the type of fans and the attitudes of other designers through Facebook that I disliked. I was receiving more and more fans that focused on the giveaways and never participated in my posts or enjoyed my patterns. That, by itself, would have been a great reason to close the doors despite missing out on the wonderful people who did participate. What really drove me to close my Facebook doors is simple - the attitude of other designers.

In the previous months, I have witnessed a number of witch hunts, false accusations, childish actions, stealing, copyright infringement, and just plain rude behavior from the designing community. Not only that, I have been at the receiving end of one such attack that left me frustrated and no longer willing to participate in the community. As a person, I would not want to be around that. As a fellow designer and a consumer of patterns, I was appalled at the unprofessional behavior running rampant within the crochet and knit community. Reputation is a huge thing when attempting to maintain a business. In the crochet and knit community, that does not seem to be a care of many individuals.

It was those actions and words of people who were less likely to follow the law and more likely to do what they wanted that led me to leave Facebook. I do not crochet for the money. Let's be honest. 1. Many people do not see the value in what I do enough to pay for it. 2. I work in an industry that constantly has similar patterns popping up on the market with no way to "stop" someone from having an idea.

I do not have any desire to stop someone from having an idea. Two people could look outside and see a car and have similar ideas on how to translate it into crochet. It is not against the law to have a similar idea. What is against the law is copying patterns and photographs then putting your name on it. Those little details are completely ignored by many crochet pattern designers. It's like high school with each designer as a clique. Each one hates the other and finds a way to pick and pick and pick until someone bleeds. It has become a way to weed out the competition. It is disgusting. It's unethical. And frankly, it is not something I want to be around.

At the end of the day, I crochet and I design because I love working with yarn and I have ideas. When I create something similar to someone else and someone mentions it, I research it. If the other person has it for sale, I IMMEDIATELY remove mine because I feel like I am stepping on toes. Does that make my work wrong? No. Does it make my idea wrong? No. Does it mean I committed copyright infringement? No. It just means that I have ethical principles that I follow as a designer and as a person. That happened with my dino pattern.

What I stand for is ethical treatment and following the law. I can't attack or even sue for someone having a similar idea. What I can do...is be a designer I would like to see elsewhere - ethical, kind, and law-abiding. Please know that when you purchase a pattern or use one of my free patterns, this is the type of person you are supporting. There are other designers out there who follow the same principles, but be wary. Many of these individuals are vipers hidden among the grass.

Sarah

Hoot Hoot!

One of the more important and marketable items that I seem to make is anything to do with is....Yep you guessed it....Hooters!  LOL!  Owls.  I  have tested multiple patterns, but most of the time I end up going my own way.  Like everything else.  (Yes I have to forge my own path.)  Recently I had an order to make two owls, so I decided to share some pictures of the Hooters I have crocheted.

I have to say...after all those orders, the newest version (at the beginning of the post) is my favorite design.