Etsy Shop Sale

Hey you!!

January 30th through February 5th, receive 20% off your hook'd crochet order! Enter the coupon code FEB20 at checkout.

This is an awesome chance to build up your pattern library, so don't miss out!

etsy.com/shop/smithee01

Work vs. Crochet

Have any of you noticed that it's hard to keep up on your crocheting because of your job? I've noticed.

I wish I could crochet every day, but alas, I don't make enough money to quit the ole day job. So I cram all the yarny goodness into two days a week and a couple nights. Some days, after work, the last thing I want to do is...anything.

So where do you find the time? What do you do when the inspiration hits and you're knee deep in paperwork?

Here's what I do- buy a notebook, keep it with you. Write it down so you can flesh it out in those precious moments when you are NOT AT WORK. Create excitement for your next project. Sometimes putting it on paper is all I need to ensure it happens.

Feel free to illustrate it with pictures of yourself independently wealthy and owning a home full of yarn. That is also nice...

Ponies or Unicorns?

Hmmm...which is cuter? Ponies or unicorns? I had this dilemma a couple days ago, when I decided I would make a pattern of a pony/unicorn.

As a kid, I was nutzo about unicorns. And purple. But mostly unicorns. It was sort of a no-brainer that I was going to make a unicorn, but as the pattern came together, I sort of was leaning towards pony.

What do you think? Should I add a horn to this little guy, or leave him as a pony?

And yes, I have decided he is a boy.

January's Free Pattern

I had a little time this morning, so I decided to make an acorn pattern. Half an hour later, the acorn was out the window, and I had made a strawberry. I think I'll make a bunch of these and put them in a bowl in the kitchen.

Since this was such a simple, cute pattern, I have decided to share it with you! Enjoy your Monday!

Easy Strawberry Pattern

SUPPLIES

Small amount of red and green yarn

Size F hook

Fiberfill stuffing

Stitch marker

Tapestry needle

BODY (with red)

Round 1- ch 2, sc 4 into 2nd ch from hook. Place stitch marker and move up each round.

R2- *inc, sc 1* repeat 3 times- 6

R3- *inc, sc 1* repeat around- 9

R4- *inc, sc 2* repeat around- 12

R5- *inc, sc 3* repeat around- 15

R6- *inc, sc 4* repeats around- 18

R7- sc around

R8- *sc 1, dec* repeat around- 12

R9- dec around- 6. Stuff.

R10- dec around- 3. Fasten off and sew closed.

LEAVES (with green)

Round 1- ch 2, sc 5 into 2nd ch from hook. Place stitch marker.

R2- *sc 1, ch 3, sc 1 in 2nd ch, dc in 3rd ch, sc 1 in same*repeat around. This will create a five-pointed leaf top. Fasten off, leaving tail, and sew to top of strawberry. Voila! You're done!

All's Quiet on the Yarn Front

Post-holiday blah is affecting my hook.

It's not that I don't want to crochet, it's just that...I don't want to do anything. I started this super awesome, super hard project, and about a third of the way through, I just lost steam. I think the trouble is that I feel like I have to always be making something, so when the motivation is not there, I feel like I'm failing somehow. But I'm not failing, just taking a mental holiday.

Anywho, after the success of Craft Sabbath, I know I can bust out some new awesome items for the next one. For anyone who doesn't know, Craft Sabbath is this cool, unusual craft fair held the first Sunday of every month at the SLC Public Library. I won't be at the January one, but with any luck I'll be at the March show. I had a booth in December and it was a huge success!

Also, while I'm talking about other crafty things, I read this blog post from the Crochet Liberation Front that was like kick in the pants to get motivated again. You should read it-

http://www.crochetliberationfront.com/?p=1589

Enjoy the day, make something lovely, and check back soon, because my goal is to share different tips, techniques, and other fun things every week. Today's picture is Lightning McQueen, who may have been the hardest thing I've ever crocheted. Until now... :)

Treasury!

I woke up this morning, lazed around for bit, made a cup of good coffee, then checked my email. My first was an Etsy conversation that simply said "Treasury!" and had this link-

http://www.etsy.com/treasury/4c83c2a971ee8eef7c5763ff/nevermore

What a nice Sunday surprise- I made the treasury! Go look at it, because it's Edgar Allen Poe themed. Aw, Edgar Allen Doll is simply untroubled by this...

Pillboxes and Sportsball and Whining, Oh My

This is what is spent my day "off" doing. Let it be known that, while I don't follow the sportsball, I do know who the Cowboys are. But when my aunt asked me to make her three Tony Romos, I wondered why she wanted a steakhouse owner as a doll. Um.... that would be Roma...

Anywho, here they are, non-threatening crocheted fooseball players.

I went on a little craft store binge and bought a bunch of stuff to make pillbox hats. Why I did this now, I don't know. I still have to make two baby presents, two new, original contest entries, and start building up stock again for the next craft show. And what am I doing? Sitting on the couch with a lap full of yarn and blogging.

I came to the realization that, while the yarn business in taking off for me, my social life is on life support. Once someone figures out how to work for yourself and have friends, please contact me. I'll be giddy over the contact at least. I finished the dolls and wanted to reach out to someone, but I seem to be the only one at home this afternoon. So here I am, pouring little bits of my heart out, hoping I'll find my motivation again before I run out of things to say.

Enough whining, let's make some hats! Grab a hook and come on over.