Handmade Gift Exchange Linky Party!

It's that time!!  The time where all the handmade gifts are finally in their new owners hands.  Now we all want to share our new items so we've been busy taking pictures and uploading them in a linky party!   It is so exciting to rummage through all the links and see what people have come up with.  You can browse too just visit this this link to Craftaholics Anonymous.

First I want to show you what I gave to my partner.  She loves lots of colors just like I do so I thought it would be fun to put a little spring in her kitchen during these short winter days.

A lime green Wash Blossom (dish cloth), a bright pink ChrysanthePad (hot pad or trivet) and a bright blue Scrub Bud (pot scrubber).  The wash cloth and hot pad are both made with 100% cotton.  The pot scrubber is 100% nylon and works GREAT on pots, rough feet and getting the grim off your precious tire rims!

Now for my gift! :)  My partner did great at reading between the lines of our email conversations and picked up on the fact that I teach yoga.  So she gave me a yoga mat carrier, with POCKETS!!  I think the pockets are so cool because you can fit your yoga belt, keys, lip gloss, drivers license; all together in one and head to class.  How AWESOME is that??  Check it out!

Ready for class!

Check out the pockets...ALL THE WAY AROUND!
And you can see the pretty green material on the inside...super classy.

It was a hit!

I love the colors and just the idea that it's handmade.  I mean really...who would have thought to make a yoga mat bag??  MY PARTNER, THAT'S WHO!  Kudo's to my partner Jody...best handmade, surprise gift EVER!

Have you ever participated in a gift exchange for someone you didn't know?  If not I suggest you do!

Commission Work Meanderings...

So I was reading through some of my favorite blogs the other day and I came across a post from Handmade Crafts Done While RVing about doing commission work and how it really can be a way of life.  I have never thought I could maintain a living (although secretly wanted to) based on my crafts and talents.  Don't get me wrong, I'm not fishing for compliments here, but who would want my stuff?  My crafts?  My talents?  Thankfully I have had some very satisfied customers and I feel sooo blessed when I can share my God given talents. 

I sat at a farmers market nearly every Wednesday afternoon this summer in a small mid-Kansas town.  I would say that over all I had minimal success.  I sat in the heat of the sun, chatting and crocheting.  But when I sold something my heart lept!  I was so thrilled and I almost felt guilty that I was getting money for something that made me so happy.  But no matter how happy I am, it doesn't feed the belly...ya know? 

Christmas is coming and there is a lull in sales....like zero in over a month.  I keep telling myself that it's the economy...but maybe it's not?!  Maybe my fear of no one wanting my stuff is coming true?  So I make more stuff, out of nervousness...and if any of you have ever been in an RV you know there is very little storage space....SO BUY MY STUFF!!  LOL 

I enjoy crochet so much that it consumes many hours in a day.  I probably give away more than I sell, but it all gives me joy.  I love to watch someone's eyes light up when they see their creations I made just for them.  I love the smell of a new skein of quality yarn.  I love the feel of the fibers sliding through my fingers.  I love creating and learning.  I love that God trusted me with this very special ability and no matter what I make, sell, or give away I hope that I never take it for granted.

When you shop this Christmas, think about shopping handmade.  Items made with love and passion reflect in handmade work.  Get a true one of a kind item instead of something that everyone on the block has.  Buy from your friends, from their friends, make a connection, feed a belly. I will do everything possible to make a customer happy, can you say that about the local chain store?

Some favorites I've made....

Child's Pom-Pom Hat

I love the soft colors of this shawl.

I can stay warm AND keep working!



Wash Blossom and Chrysanthepad



Child's Vest

Car Seat Star Cuddle - small enough to cover but not too bulky

Hair flowers

Ballerina Bear

Scrub Buds...yes I'm working on a flower theme for the kitchen!

Hanging on to the edge of the face of the earth....




Graduation Day!
Joe, Micah, Joseph (the GRAD!) and me.

 

Life has been a whirlwind since returning to the land of Oz in April.  I had tons of pictures and then an SD card that went bad...super frustrating mind you.    On to the news....

After returning to Kansas we went straight north to see little Micah.  She has gotten sooo big since our last visit in the fall.  It was so cold and windy and just completely uncomfortable our first month back.  I was really in a state of sadness and feeling a bit of cabin fever.  I would work on crochet projects to keep warm but nothing really had my hook on fire.  I made the cutest little dress for Grand-daughter Micah and now I don't have any pictures...:(  I will have to wait for her mommy to have a photo session with it...after they have found a place to stay as I'm sure it's boxed up right now.  It was made in a wonderful mercerized crochet cotton.  It has a drawstring neck so she will be able to wear it for a longer length of time...I hope.  I do believe she can wear it as a shirt as she grows.  It is a lovely periwinkle and spring green with flowers on the tie and I made an extra one for her hair.  It turned out so well and as I was making it I was thinking of adapting the pattern to make on my size!  It was absolutely wonderful to see Joe, Liz and Micah before they headed west again.  Dr. Joe finally graduated and Papa Joe as soooo proud!  He accepted a job back in Colorado so it sounds like that's were we will head this fall for a visit before going south for the winter.  Some more graduation pics.

Very Proud DAD!



Micah, Joseph & Liz




I just love this picture!

I also finished a beautiful Asymmetrical Wrap from a pattern I purchased on Etsy.  I made two, one for a friend of mine and one for display at the local Farmers Market that I've been vending at, more on that later.  I also made a couple of Super Star Slouchy hats for some friends of mine that own a "Rockstar" business.  I had to make her star with sparkle yarn because she really does shine!!  I was also honored by her husband that wants the hat I made to be his special performing hat when he rocks the piano!

ROCKSTAR HAT



Capelet



Then I bought this Pirate Sock Monkey pattern.  I just couldn't resist.  I originally bought it thinking I would make some for the Sippel family.  Then I had my Farmers Market Partner In Crime want to do a textile trade...heck yeah!



The towl on the left is from my awesome trade. Click here to see more where this came frome!



Speaking of Farmers Market....while here in KS I figured I would get out and meet some new people and try to brighten someone elses day with my crochet creations.  Every Wednesday morning bright and early I pack up the big truck with my goods and go sit on the court house lawn with about half a dozen other vendors that either have too much stuff or nothing else to do on a Wednesday morning.  I even came up with the cool idea of using my Ladder Ball ladders to help display some of my wares.  Even though I have everything from baby blankets to wearables the two biggest sellers so far are my Soft Necklaces and Wash Blossoms.  I oringinally called them Bum Blossoms (cute huh?) but my husband thought it a bit tacky.



Wash Blossoms - be happy when you wash dishes or bums!



The totally cool ladder display.



Yarn for gloves!

Finished fingerless gloves (aka texting gloves).



Special Order - A rewarding challenge!

 

Baby Cuddles - I just like this picture.



Soft Necklaces - made with ladder yarn and a single bead to slide up and down for sizing.