Jane Austen Crochet Shawl in Recycled Yarn

Hello there!  I've been away yet again.  I don't know if it is because blogging is not my strongest point or because I feel like I have nothing to say that anyone cares to read...?!  Either way, it doesn't matter, it's good therapy...LOL

So one thing I did last year was purchase some "recycled" yarn.  If you remember this post showing some of my purchases.  The yarn had been pulled from sweaters found in garage sales or Goodwill or what have you.  They then wound it up and sold it on Ebay...a GREAT FIND!  Well I finally got over the intimidation of how unbelievably small this yarn is, not to mention how I was going to maneuver it with my long skinny fingers!  So I started with this color, kind of a sage green:

85% Silk 15% Cashmere

And a pattern I found on Ravelry: The Jane Austen Shawl by Wendy Lewis  Wendy mentions how she can just imagine Jane wearing this shawl over an empire waist gown.  I can imagine it keeping the chill off of a cool spring evening walk across a flowering pasture.  How fun is it to dream about period events where your creations can come alive!

It was so long I had to block it on the floor!

ECU of pattern!  Too bad I have beige carpet!

As you can see the shawl turned out beautifully!!  Jane Austen is one of my daughter-in-laws favorite authors, if not her most favorite!!  So I thought what a perfect mothers day gift for her.  I know it will be a little late getting to her but I am really excited to share this recycled treasure with her.

Even though the finished product looks NOTHING like it did before it was blocked, it was actually kind of ugly, I liked the result so much that I decided to try another pattern with one of the other yarns...it is about halfway finished and includes beads!  Yeah!  I will have it up for sale on my Etsy site once it is blocked and all purty up.

Thanks for hanging in there to read my sporatic posts!

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!

Wednesday is Craft Day!

Good windy afternoon!!  It was 72 degrees this morning in deep south Texas and now at nearly 5pm it is 43 degrees...seriously.  When the weather changes here it is NOT foolin' around!  The good thing is that it never lasts long, a couple of days maybe.  So today was craft day at the RV park and it made me realize it's about time that I updated my blog.

Remember this pic from a few weeks ago?  

Well this is what the Rockstar blanket looks like now.  The star is finished but I still need to come up with an edging.  I hope the new owners will like it!!



Here is a picture of one of my newest projects.  I'm doing a mock seed stitch that I think is beautifully textured.  Using the Aran yarn with the flecks of color only add to the texture...I can't wait to see how this turns out! As a finished product it will be a smock type jacket with a couple of buttons on the front.  It already feels like it will be very warm...I wish it was ready for today!!!

Don't you just love this purple!!!  I'm learning a broomstick lace technique using large knitting needles.  This will be a shawl but I can already envision so many cool things to do with this technique.

The edge of the shawl will have these pretty little flower squares to finish it off.  It looks so dainty! 

This is a sample of the craft project for today.  It has been called both Indian and Mexican Weaving, so I guess it depends on where you are from.  This is my pinwheel design but there were soooo many patterns to choose from.  I may do another pinwheel on either side in red to resemble fireworks.

In other exciting news....

I have officially joined the Crochet Guild of America.  I am really excited about this venture.  I am hoping that I will be able to carve out some time in my schedule this spring to work on their masters certificate program.  

This weekend I will be attending a bellydance workshop event called Rio Raks.  I have not had the opportunity to do much dancing this winter so I will be one sore puppy!!  But a happy puppy will be I! 

Don't forget to visit my website!!  I currently use ShopHandmade.com but am SERIOUSLY considering Etsy since it is so well known and followed better than ShopHandmade.  Does anyone else use ShopHandmade?  Etsy?  Opinions and comments welcome!!

Stay warm and be blessed!