Not a hugely productive month for finishing projects, but I'm working several! I have several projects done that I still need to photograph but they're newborn hats, so I'll just shoot them all together one day.
I finally finished up the Crochet Mood Blanket 2014!
I worked up some amingrumi samples for our Hogwarts class at the homeschool co-op so the kids can pick their animal for the semester!
I look forward to sharing the stack of newborn hats and a few more projects for February! ~~Happy Creating, Amy
December was a busy creating month! Early on in the month I sprained my
ankle pretty severely and was left to do little else than rest it. I
spent much of my recovery crocheting and knitting. Here is some of what I
accomplished :)
Finally finished a cowl for my beautiful friend Jessa after a YEAR! Now to get it to her.
I didn't snap a finished pic of this but I made a hooded cowl for a friend who moved away in 2014. Hopefully it keeps her warm and bright!
Made my son a Stampy hat. If your kid likes Minecraft or Terraria you probably know who Stampy is. It was my first real attempt at duplicate knitting. Not something I'll do often!
Made this TARDIS beanie for a sweet girl who shaved her head for her sister who passed away.
I've got a few more things on the hooks and needles and I'm still finishing up the Crochet Mood Blanket 2014...it won't be done for a bit as I need to edge it still and it's slow going!
Despite my little one being sick and being a few days behind my normal schedule, I did manage to get a little bit done this week.
I finished up a baby blanket that's been in progress for months. I reshot some product images and have worked on some more items. I'm currently working on a Moosey hat for Eli, his 4th birthday is Monday (I can NOT believe it..)
This week I finished up a pillow cover I'd been working on. It was an experiment to see if I could wing the basic stitch and make my own pattern. Turns out I could :)
The details of the makings of it are on Ravelry if you are interested. Basically its rows of single crochet and a double crochet circle for the ends :)
Fall Placemats turned pillows! Yet another, "Inspired by Pinterest, Made by Me" item. Grab the leaf placemats from Walmart from Better Homes and Garden. Open up the seam, stuff with fiberfill, sew up the hole and viola...pillows!!
They are kid approved....
Another fun and easy fall decor idea is pinecones and faux pumpkins (also from Better Homes and Gardens available at Evil Empire Walmart.) inside a cheapy glass jar. Naturally it sits atop my crochet granny circle :)
I crocheted another granny circle to sit under my "Give Thanks" Luminary.
So I've got a few more items to put out for tomorrow and we're ready to Turkey Day away! :)
HAPPY THANKSGIVING everyone!! May you find it filled with friends, family, food, football and fun! Give your thanks to God for the awesome things in your life and enjoy the day!!
I admit...I take on too much...and things slip through my fingers...such as blogging. In my defense, I have stayed on top of Daily Handmade Picks!! I have help with the lovely Danyel of Crazy Socks Crochet helping me do picks. If you haven't checked it out, please do! We really aim to choose unique, quality, lovely pieces each day! One little jewel to feast your eyes on each day!
So, I've not been able to add any tutorials and such for a bit, I apologize! Just WHAT have I been doing?
Well, I've been continuing my Year of Living Frugally! It's going well, I sufficiently stocked up in Nov-Jan so that Feb/March required much less grocery shopping! Couponing, watching sales, stocking up, it really does work!
Also, my littlest one started 3 hour a day preschool early intervention. While that gives me a few precious hours, business has picked up and kept me busy. He is LOVING school, and for those that followed his story, his Autism is what I consider nearly 'cured'. If you didn't know he had it, you wouldn't even notice. Sure, he has meltdowns, and has his little obsessions that you have to work with, but he's three, and some of that is normal!! He's adjusted wonderfully to school, and his speech is doing fabulous! If not for the food issues we have, I'd consider him completely 'cured'. (I say cure, but I look at Autism as you would cancer...you may beat cancer and put it in remission but you never take away the fact that you had it and it could come back. I see Autism like that. If we gave him gluten, stopped his therapies, his symptoms would return.). So I feel very confident by the time he's in kindergarten or first grade, he will no longer need his IEP services and may be able to just need a 504 plan (for his sensory issues). He's doing wonderful, my little buddy!
His big brother is also doing well in school, learning to read and loves kindergarten. I can't believe the school year is almost OVER!! Where has it gone?? He's working hard to learn to ride a bike, and Daddy is working on that with him. :)
Personally, I've been busting my tail on my businesses, my handmade goodies. I thank everyone who takes the time to check out my shops, share my work and purchase my work! I truly enjoy what I do and can't imagine not doing it. Who knows what the future holds, but I hope I'm buried in fabric for a long time to come!! :)
I'm also continued my Operation Simplify! I've successfully purged the house several times, donating the items. I've even purged my supplies! (GASP!) I gave up making handmade soap for profit, as much as I loved it, I realize I just didn't have the time. I will soap some for my boys but has sold or is selling the rest of my supplies. If you need anything, please check out Destash City, I plan to list more there ASAP.
My Handmade Louisiana team is about to celebrate two years!! I can't believe it's been 2 years since Merry, Lisa and I sat in that coffee shop and created Handmade Louisiana!! Stop on by if you haven't lately, we have a lovely new blog author, Baby Deary who is helping me out a ton with the blog!
Overall, things are well, I am happy and the family and businesses are good! I pray each of you are having the same experiences and enjoying this life while we have it! Things are bad out there, life is scary, but I go to sleep each night safe in the belief that we are not alone, God is in control and I pray for all our safety and joy!
Stay tuned, April will be a busy month! It's Badge Reels' 1 year anniversary and since Earth Day is in April, Micro Mops will be having some goodies!!
Ahhhh. Time in the Craft Room. It feels great. So inspired by my lovely friend Rose, of What Rose Made Today...I shall tell you what Mama Made Today!
I made 2 quilt blocks for Layla Grace but was in such a hurry to get them in the mail, I forgot to take pics. I can't wait to see the finished quilt!
I also turned these little circles:
Into these fabric fortune cookies:
I'll probably add them to the shop. They make great little gifts to put in your sales. You can include a little thank you message to your buyer or a sweet/silly/funny/inspirational, etc message inside. They also make great party favors for parties, weddings, and so on!
I also will finally list two more Saints soaps because remember...the New Orleans Saints are SUPERBOWL CHAMPS!!
It was so awesome to be back in the craft room and get some sewing done! I did also make a makeup box bag which I did not get pics of yet :)
