Throwback Thursday - A Beanie

Good morning readers! I have found that I enjoy crafting for National Hat Month. Perhaps it is the oncoming chilly weather that makes me long for something to cover my head and back. What I know is that I hardly crochet for myself and this "celebration" allows me to be a little selfish and add a new beanie to my collection.

This week, I wanted to share one of the hats I created previously. It is a pretty simple hat, but here goes:

It's called the interchangeable beanie. The flower is removable, which means you can have one beanie and any number of embellishments that can be changed at any time. I thought it worked with someone who changed their colors very often. I will say that this blue and green doesn't go well together, but it does draw your eyes to the flower.

In hindsight, I would have made the beanie black or white and created a myriad of colors with the flower or other such embellishments.

What's your favorite hat?

Sarah

Throwback Thursday - Journals and Writing

One of the first things I did when I was preparing for a fall craft fair and after my foray into paper crafting was cover a composition notebook. Since school days, composition notebooks were used to write down thoughts and work with writing prompts. Children on a daily basis continue to do this as a way to practice writing and grow as individuals.

In high school, my English professor required us to write daily as a way to reduce our stress and to talk about anything we wanted. It could be about boyfriend troubles. It could be about life. Or about our jobs. It could be anything under the sun. I didn't understand how very calming and relaxing writing without an audience was. I do now, which is why I am sharing some of the composition books I covered.

Each of these have their own qualities and match someone's traits. Thankfully, they were all purchased! It showed me that there are still many people who use the composition notebook as a portal to write their thoughts.

*Suggestion* Buy one of these for your child at home. Allow them to decorate it. And start writing a note to them each day with their reply on the back page. It will bring you closer and encourage them to confide in you.

Sarah

Throwback Thursday - A Teddy Bear for a Friend

One of my husband's long term friends enjoys the things I make with crochet. When I asked her what her favorite color was, she didn't seem surprised that I asked. What did surprise her was that I decided to crochet her a teddy bear in that color. It wasn't planned. I wasn't expecting anything in return, as I hardly do.

What it gave me is the happiness and joy at seeing someone else enjoy something I gave to them. It could be food. It could be a hobby project. It could be something I made. It doesn't matter what it is. What matters is that I took time, effort, and love creating something that someone else will love through time.

Although I have many instances of this in my arsenal, I chose this teddy bear because it is an adorable teddy and because it shows no planning. It was a spur of the moment decision. And like that, a Random Act of Kindness was born. Here's the finished product:

Isn't he a cutie? You can find the pattern at these links:
PDF - http://gosyo.co.jp/english/pattern/eHTML/ePDF/1004/amicomo3-34_Amigurumi_Bear.pdf
Ravelry - http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/amigurumi-bear-2
Gosyo - http://gosyo.co.jp/english/pattern/eHTML/toy_ornament.html

Please note that this pattern does seem like it is just a diagram, but there is numbers in a table that provide the stitch count. This is not a beginner pattern unless you want to jump feet first into learning things like this. It is relatively easy to understand if you know about stitches, increases, and decreases.

What is one of your RAK?

Sarah

Throwback Thursday - I love my Kindle

When I first thought about Valentine's Day, the first thing I really think is pretty horrible. The sentiment behind the holiday is perfect - sharing, caring, love. What bothers me the most is the commercialization surrounding it and the thought that you should only show you love someone near this time of year. Not that this means anything to Throwback Thursday, but I thought I would share.

This Kindle cover is one that I created around 2012 or so with the theme of love. I called it The First Blooms of Love or something like that. It has a little heart that hangs down. Each of the petals on the flower are hearts. It just seemed fitting.

Perhaps it was the love I feel when I look at my Kindle and how much it has changed my life. Maybe not. But, I thought it represents an aspect of my life that I love and appreciate all year long.

That's something I can support and hope that you do as well. If you love someone, let them know all year. Don't wait. It isn't worth the cost of waiting!

Wishing you a Happy Valentine's Day,

Sarah

Throwback Thursday - The Color Chocolate

There is something about the color brown that pulls at my tension and allows me to just relax around it. Perhaps it is the connection between chocolate (the candy) and the chemical reactions it gives to humans that creates that relaxation. What I know is that I am the type of girl that loves chocolate and Tiffany blue together. So much in fact that my living room and bedroom have those color themes. 

When I make cards, I usually try to find a theme. It could start with the first layer color or a piece of ribbon. The Throwback card I am sharing today is one that I made around a stamp. I found this stamp and a few others in the clearance section of JoAnn's online. It was when I first started stamping. I instantly fell in love with the hand drawn feel of it. The lines are so delicate. And it just fit.

So I used the owl as inspiration, but stuck to creams and browns as my color theme. As you can see, it turned out to be a good choice. Chocolate on Chocolate on cream filled chocolate. This is my chocolate share for the week.

What is your go-to colors?

Throwback Thursday - Favorite Books and a Bookmark

As an adult and avid reader, I find myself drawn to the same authors over and over again. As a young child, you couldn't tear me away from books. I craved that knowledge. In third grade, my love of reading was cultivated by Mrs. Leihkauff. She opened my eyes through stories like The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrope and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. What I didn't know then is that these two books are classical novels usually taught at that grade level. But, that didn't stop me. We had the opportunity to have a classroom in the library with books surrounding us on all walls - literally. So once one book was done, we could turn around and grab one off the shelf. I found myself reading books way above my grade level just to read.

What it did was provide the backing to be a lifetime reader. That is something that most young people have lost among the many technological advances and cell phones.

How does this tie in with a book craft?

Well, I love reading and support reading through reading, advocacy, and making bookmarks. Just a few weeks ago, I showed multiple bookmarks made with scraps. What I am going to show on this Throwback Thursday is a crocheted bookmark. It is in the shape of a heart. I remember finding a heart pattern (free) and attaching a chain of 20-30 and a tassel. It's very simple to change any applique you have into a bookmark.

Do yourself a favor. Spend a little time with a book each day. You will be happier.

Throwback Thursday -

I realized early in my crochet pattern designing that I wanted to focus on something I rarely saw - Barbie patterns using larger yarn. The patterns that have been developed by thread crocheters are simply fantastic. If you have not seen any, I suggest you google it. My absolute favorite is Scarlett O'Hara's Green Curtain dress. (Okay, I admit. I am a HUGE Gone With the Wind fan. Sue me.)

I don't own this photo! I found it here.

I thought I would give thread crocheting a try. How hard could it be using the same stitches as normal crochet? Well...apparently MUCH harder than I anticipated. What really bothered me was the smallness of the hook and the slippage of the thread. It was hard to control. I continued to mess up. My hand and wrist was hurting. And I just couldn't take it. I knew after that first try that without some serious intervention I would never be a thread crocheter. So I stuck with what I knew.

A size G hook and Red Heart.

Who needed the end product to be super soft and not itchy? I was absolutely sure that plastic Barbie would have no issue with a scratchy dress. So, I began designing patterns. The first ones were a little horrible. Even my first purses...Well, they could use some updating.

I suggest keeping tuned for that!

Anyway, here is my first Throwback Thursday photo.

My first Barbie purse design

It isn't TOO bad, but it could use some work. You can find it on my blog by searching Barbie Purse with Flap or clicking here.

Revealing the Theme - Barbie

Every Sunday in the year of 2015, I will be releasing a post that shows the theme of the week. The projects presented that week will be following that particular theme. It may follow a particular type of craft. It may be on a particular topic. Or it could end up completely random. What is important is that I will be focusing on a few goals this year to make this blog easier to follow. The 12 Weeks of Christmas format in 2014 was an easy to read, follow, and complete format. That is the general idea.

Goal 1
I want to use all my scraps to make the most of my money and my materials.

Goal 2
I want to finish some of the patterns in my arsenal. Some only need to be typed up!

Goal 3
Have at least three posts every week for my blog.


These are not horrible goals. In fact, they are pretty easy to accomplish. Here's how the blog posts will look like.

Sunday - Release of the Weekly Theme
Monday - Make it Monday, where I will go in-depth on the project
Thursday - Throwback Thursday, where pictures of past projects pop up
Saturday - Another Scrappy Saturday, where I use scraps to do a project
Other days - Releases of patterns or deals

Some of these days may have free patterns. Some may be projects seen on other sites. There will be no set project choice for any week.

The first week of the year actually begins today. The theme is one that I have always enjoyed having.

Barbie

Stay tuned to the following week to see what projects come up. I can provide just one small detail. There will be a free pattern this week.

Throwback Thursday - My First Card Making Adventure.

My card crafting interest was peaked when I first ran across a card maker on Youtube. That card maker was Robin from MyPinkStamper. Her attitude toward card making was engaging for me. So I began watching all of her videos. One of the most paramount products she uses to make cards was the Cricut. When I began becoming serious about trying card making, I purchased a new Cricut on Ebay for a lower price. It was fun to mess with, but my first projects were.....Well, they left a lot to be desired. Here's a quick view of one of my first projects.

What I learned through the first weeks of my card making adventures was that I absolutely loved stamping and designing cards. The Cricut.....not so much. The mat would stop sticking. The machine wouldn't cut all the way through the card stock on 6. It was just horrible. So, my adventures left me with a love of stamping and of making cards.

Do you remember your first adventure in a new craft?

Sarah

Throwback Thursday - Five Petal Bookmarks

In preparing for a previous booth, I created tons of bookmarks. They work up SO quickly. Here's a similar product of mine offered free in my ravelry shop: http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/five-petal-flower-bookmark

This bookmark was done in blue and white that fits a paperback and can stretch into fitting a hardback book.

Please check back on Saturday for a preview of my new project!

Throwback Thursday - Custom Order Viking Helmet

This one...yep this one was trouble! I remember struggling on how to create the horns in a way that matched what a Viking helm may look like. Obviously, it is not a true representation. Yet, it does give a nice nod. Yes, that is a crocheted blanket to the right of the photo, but I did not crochet it. It was a gift. That woman is me though! Unfortunately, I did not write this pattern down as it was just free hand. I might be tempted in creating the pattern in the future if there is interest....

What have you crocheted freehand?

Sarah

Throwback Thursday - Roman Helm

This Roman Helm was a difficult task, but a fun one. I had been crocheting for about 2 years when I got asked to create this and a Viking Helmet. I decided to accept the challenge and began trying to accomplish something similar to a Roman helm. Despite it not being a true representation, I thought it provided a close representation to one. I used heather gray for the helm and cherry red for the floppy brush. Looking back, I should have used starch to make it stand up!

What a wonderful way to spend Thursday!

Sarah

Throwback Thursday - Oh Snap

Hello friends!

Here is another week of firsts.....

Hair Snaps

These cute little hair snaps was my first try of making some. I had no buyer. Again, this was just attempting to expand what I could accomplish. I used small 1 and 1/2 inch hair snaps, e6000, and 4 - 6 petal flowers in pink. They did turn out cute. And perhaps I will expand my product line to include them further.

I would like to know if you have any ideas on displaying them. I could never find a great way.

Snap!

Sarah

Throwback Thursday - Dangling

Hello friends! Another week of firsts.

First earrings to sell

As you can see, there are two different kinds. My little sister requested me to make two sets of these earrings for her in-laws Christmas gifts. I had given her a pair of each a few weeks earlier for her Christmas gift. The red five petal flower ones actually have some gold thread weaved in. The other pair is some pale blue snowflakes.

I actually enjoyed crocheting these. I thought about adding them into my product line-up; however, there were no bites to purchase. So I did not continue.

Would you like to see a pattern for these?

Sarah

Throwback Thursday - Reading what?

Hello friends!

Today is the day that I share some exploits of the past...and by exploits, I mean craft/crochet that I did. In the coming weeks, I am going to share some of my "firsts." By that, I mean that I am going to share with you the first time I completed a certain type of item. The horrible, the improved, and the best, in essence.

This week's share: My first designed kindle cover - Love Themed

I created this cover around Valentine's day as a product in my Etsy shop. It was never purchased. I am thinking about creating the pattern to sell on my Ravelry and Craftsy pattern stores. I have some ideas for a technology set. We shall see how that goes.

What was your first cover like?

Sarah

Throwback Thursday - A Rose by any other name....

This week, in honor of Mother's day, I am sharing with you my first crocheted rose. I inserted a pipe cleaner and wrapped it in a green yarn to create the stem. If I had to do it over again, I would probably use a wooden dowel instead of a pipe cleaner. It would be sturdy.

As you can see the pipe cleaner shows. I used Caron Simply Soft and that might have caused it. It wasn't wrapping very well!

Happy Mother's Day to All the Mother's out there

Sarah

Throwback Thursday

Don't judge, but I am apparently on a Christmas kick. Yes...by the end of the year I will be entirely tired of Christmas and spent about 3-4 months not thinking about it until the realization that I am a) a crafter and b) me and thus, start working on projects, gifts, and products so I will be done early. I know! Exhausting.  But any good craft can tell you that getting things done early is better than scrambling last minute to accomplish a huge goal. My goals for Christmas? HUGE! Thanks to a large family. LOL!

Well, this week I wanted to share with you something that I really enjoyed doing and the story behind it. My mother LOVES handmade gifts. What mother doesn't? I know without a doubt that I can spent an afternoon or a weekend creating a handmade ornament in the first experimental phase with my mother loving it from the moment she sees it. Maybe it is a mother just bolstering her child. I highly doubt it though. Two years ago it was crocheted snowman ornaments. Last year, it was medallion ornaments.

When my husband left the Navy in 2010, we ended up staying with my parents for around 4 months as we had to move states and such. It was Christmas in July (crafter's paradise) and I wanted to start on my gifts. This was before I was selling. As a stress relief, I chose to make my mother something special. Since as long as I could remember, my mother would use a plastic tree skirt that would threaten to fall apart every year. Tradition yes, practicality, no. So that was my goal - a crocheted tree skirt.

Before that time, I had never made one. So I spent a few hours searching for a pattern that was simple, within my skill range of the time, and would be finished in time. Without fail, I found a good single crochet tree skirt that I could change the colors on (Red, Green, and White). I would stay in the room we were staying in attempting to crochet on this tree skirt without notice. Once I heard someone coming, I would scramble to put it away fast enough so the gift would be a surprise. The smile on her face was the best present of all.

I unfortunately cannot find the picture of it finished and around the tree; however, I have a picture of it almost finished.

Last year, I finally created a tree skirt for my own family in deep red, dark green, and white. It was a great experience. Slowly, we are moving away from commercialized gifts and products to handmade and local!

Do you have a similar story?

Sarah

Throwback Thursday

It is that time of the week when I show something that may bring a little embarrassment or shame. Perhaps a bit of reflection and thankfulness that I grew, quickly. That I learned a little bit that affected my abilities and skill set. This week is none of that. This week I want to reflect on something that has been a part of me...since birth apparently!

In the 80's, I was born! My mother, who is also a crocheter, took my photos in a lovely crocheted set of a hat, jacket, and booties! I wish that I had the set for the future mini me, but I do not. What I have is a gift! A knowledge that my mother crocheted a set of lovely clothes for me that set my future in motion. The picture that solidifies that emotion of connection.

Here I am, all these years later, a crocheter would loves to give crocheted pieces as gifts and who makes things to sell.

Reflecting....just a bit,

Sarah

Throwback Thursday

It is that time of the week where I get to show an early picture or something as a throwback to older times! This week's throwback photo is:

Dolly

This was my second or third doll. It was for a friend's daughter who wanted a doll. It was relatively easy to crochet, but it took a while. Of course, looking at it 3 years later I know that I could and would change things like the eyes, the hair, and add more stuffing.

The important thing is...the little girl liked it. So I was happy!

Thanks for going back with me

Sarah

Throwback Thursday

I wanted to start creating a blog topic for certain days of the week to share further with my readers. Thursdays will be known as - Throwback Thursdays! If you have been on the internet previously, you have probably already encountered this topic multiple times.

How It Works

I will look through my photos and post a picture of a previous project. Because this is a crochet blog, I will try to make it crochet; however, I may throw in other types of photos!

I would love to hear your comments!

Today's Throwback Thursday

This little bear is not only poorly constructed, but she is my second ever doll and my third ever project in crochet. My first doll and first project in crochet was an elephant. I will have to share that soon! I am not actually sure where this bear ended up, but I sure have come a long way.

What was your first project? 

Sarah