Still Alive

Yes, I'm still alive! I've been deep in work mode, busting out as many items as possible leading up to Craft Lake City and everything that comes after.

This all begs the question- is all this work worth it? I mean, am I spending too much time on making things and not enough on other things? I am crocheting about fifty hours a week right now- it would be more if I wasn't also working full time. Lots of cute and adorable things are coming of my hook every day, so this will mean good things for my impending CLC patrons.

I don't know- I think I'm just bouncing things off the interverse...

I leave you with today's adorable picture- Dexter "helping" me. He helps me a lot lately.

Midsummer Crochetapalooza

Last week brought all kinds of good news- getting into Craft Lake City, welcoming a new sister-in-law into the family, and seeing my local exposure blow up.

Do you ever feel like you can't crochet fast enough, like every stitch takes five minutes and creates ten knots and your blood pressure goes through the roof and you just want to crawl under the coffee table with the cat and be still for a while?

Oh, that's just me? Alright then.

I've been trying to make my midsummer mad dash more fun by having a theme for each day. Friday was unicorns and watching Legend. Saturday was gnomes and Labyrinth. Sunday was owls and Bones. Okay, so the last two didn't really go together, but you get the drift. Last year, I tried to spread out things, so I didn't get tired of making elephants, for example, but I think that made me too scattered. This summer the goal is to bust out a bunch of each item at once, then move on. So far, it's working well...except for the whole "can't crochet fast enough" thing.

It will all work out, and all be worth it, and you will be so amazed by my stuff that you'll want to jump for joy!

Crocheting With Crossed Fingers

I have been holding my breath and hitting the refresh button on my email like a maniac for about a week. I am a crazy person, it's true, but there is something to be said for a sense of urgency, right?

Today, I found out that I am, once again, one of the Craft Lake City Artists! Woo! Who's laughing about the color-coded spreadsheet now? I know what I'm making! How about you?

I checked in at Signed & Numbered on Friday, and I had sold a couple things, which was most excellent. It seems that the yarny goodness is on an upswing. Now, how to maintain it? Hmm... ponderous.

Please come visit me at Craft Lake City August 13th, along with all the other amazing artists, who maybe also made spreadsheets. Follow this link to see them: http://www.craftlakecity.com/artists

Why am I still typing- I have to make a thousand things! Gahhh!!

Creating and Pondering

It's been an exciting couple of weeks on the yarn island. The amount of custom pieces is growing, along with my exposure. And, so lovely, as of Tuesday, Signed & Numbered in Salt Lake carries some of my yarny goodness. A big thanks to Shauna, the manager, for that one!

I'm still waiting- and by waiting, I mean checking my email every ten minutes- to hear if I have a spot at Craft Lake City for a second year. I already have a list of what I'm bringing. Yes, there will be gnomes...

Today is the first day of my mini-vacation, but I'm having trouble relaxing. It feels very strange to just sit here. I've poked around the intertubes, thought about teaching lessons again, and almost made a second, prettier list of what is going to Craft Lake. I seem to have forgotten how to do nothing.

Sigh...

For those of you (imaginary) readers who don't live around Salt Lake, there's a pretty good arts and crafts scene evolving here. I've been very surprised and humbled by some of the things I've seen. It makes me want to try harder. That being said, I'm bumping up against that big question that all artists and crafters come upon at some point- should I make this my main form of income? I can kind of see how it would look, what I would have to do, but I don't want to take that plunge on a "kind of."

I should come up with a business plan. Hey, isn't that kind of like a list? I like lists...

While you ponder my addiction to lists, turn your attention to today's picture- a blue and white baby owl, who you can pick up at Signed & Numbered on 21st and 21st!

The Wire

I can't stop playing with wire. Cancel that, I don't want to stop playing with wire. It's so easy! My fingers itch to make something with it every day. Want a good tutorial?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QZMh1YqX8GE

Carla will show you how, and if you're like me, also make you slap yourself for not trying it sooner. Soon, your fingers will be tarnished and your yarn will miss you. No foolin'. Last night's project was this beaded bracelet, which turned out so cute that I may have to keep it for myself.

Happy hooking!

Wire Day

I figured out how to crochet with wire today. And beads, obviously. I should say, I figured it out this afternoon, and I have spent the last six hours making bracelets. I think I may need an intervention. How did I not do this before?

I've had a slew of new ideas lately, and it seems that this has overtaken everything.

Seriously. Intervention. Get this wire out of my hands.

Etsy Update-o-rama

My husband, who is a computer genius-type, helped me create a new banner for my Etsy page today. Well, I should say, I told him what I wanted, and he made it. Until you can crochet intertube stuff, I will need help. I also took a slew of new pictures, like the one above, which may be my favorite, and listed some new dolls.

Let's sit back now and see what happens, shall we? What do you think- does it look good? I think it does.

New Directions

I've been applying for the next round of craft shows, and one in particular is sticking in my craw. This one has turned me down, saying my stuff isn't unique enough. That really bugs me. Who got to decide what was unique? If it was something a bit more constructive, like "we already have seven crocheters" or "we're not into jellyfish" that I could understand. The way I was turned down just makes me cross-eyed. Uniqueness, or lack thereof, has been decided by a committee.

So, on that note, I'm shifting gears in my crochet journey. I've been working on and off on a book, I've FINALLY discovered how to take better pictures for my Etsy shop, and I have some delicious ideas for some new patterns. In short, I'm realizing I need to stop gauging my success by whether or not I get into craft shows.

So I sat down and made a unicorn. Unicorns make everything better, right?

The Funk Is Over

I've been spinning my wheels with crocheting this year, and I think the funk is ending.

WOOOOO!!!!

I've had a slew of ideas and inspiration overtake me, and now, as soon as I'm finished bloggety-blogging, I may be flipping some coins to decide the next project. I finished my latest project today, and I will also be finishing the elusive dragon today as well.

There have been quite a few articles making the rounds about afghans lately, and I have heard the call and delved into the yarn stash to make a few stacks of granny squares for an afghan. I think making an afghan is the very best way to clean out your yarn when all those bits and half skeins start to take over. It doesn't cost much (hardly anything, really), and it's a good gift or a nice profit if you decide to sell it.

On that note, I present to you my chameleon!

Arts & Crafts Season is Upon Us!

The winter funk is leaving me, and now it's time to apply for some craft show goodness.

Spent the morning applying for things, squaring things away, and now....I wait. For those of you who don't know me, I missed the part of growing up where you develop patience. There is a more than likely chance that I will vibrate out of my skin with anticipation before I find out if I got into any shows.

I tend to equate getting into shows with being accepted as a crafter/artist type. Seeing as how I've only been in a handful, my feelings of acceptance are still a bit shaky. I shouldn't feel that way, but it's like..applying for school, but I don't want to jump off anything if I don't get in. I occassionally want to lay down my hooks and find a new hobby...I heard stamp collecting is still a thing...

So, I will be making a concerted effort to not worry myself sick, drive myself nuts, and every time the waiting starts to get the better of me, I'll go ride my bike somewhere.

While I wait? Makin' a dragon...

Yarn Winter Blues

I haven't made anything in almost two weeks.

What's up with that? Why is it that I feel like I'm failing because I don't have a hook in my hand?

I think I'm having an existential yarn crisis. Don't wanna make anything, don't know what I would make if I felt like it. Just want to curl up on the couch and watch daytime tv.

So there you have it. The adorable visual enahncer you are seeing is the last thing I made. Maybe if I stare at it long enough, I will find my motivation!

Large Container Sunday

Wooo! It's sportsball day!

Oh yeah, I almost forgot, I don't watch the sportsball. Don't get me wrong, as the daughter of an old southern family, I know the game, I can follow it, and I actually connect the sounds of the game to Sunday laundry, but it holds no sway over me. Yes, I knew what "Roll Tide" meant when I was two, but I'm a documentary nerd, and Sundays in my house are reserved for the Science Channel.

In the spirit of the day, I am having a superskein party- ROLL YARN!

(You can purchase the football player pattern from my Etsy shop)

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... :)