This is so me!

Found this today from crochetconcupiscence.com. Love it!

Manic Monday!

Well, it's time to start a new week! Our first partial week of home school went fine. I did some adjusting and I think I am ready for week 2. Heather is enjoying herself and we are coming up with all kinds of creative ways to get our jobs done. I hope this week goes smoothly too.

I've finished up my current crochet/knitting projects and it is time to mail some off. I have plans to start some new ones asap...but first a few design submissions need to sent off too. But more about these at a later time.

I also sold a custom order this week, so I need to whip up a Custom Sailor Hat. Isn't this just the cutest photo by Robin Long Photography?

OK, I need to get moving...lots to do today. Have a great day!

Adventures in 2012!

Well, it's here and one of my resolutions is to keep up with my blog better. Now, that may be difficult because one of the BIG changes for 2012 is that I will now be home schooling my 9 year old daughter! My hope is to get a little blog post in here and there while she is working on school work.

This is going to be a big change for me. I've gotten pretty used to have my days free to do as I want. Now I'll have a kiddo to worry about and take everywhere with me. I'm actually really looking forward to it! I think we are going to have so much fun! The first thing I did was to print out a list of "holidays" for every day this month and I hope to do something fun to correspond to each day. So, today is Soup Day!! Guess what we'll be having for dinner? LOL!! Other fun days this month include Jan8 - Elvis' Birthday, Jan12 - Little Red Riding Hood Day, Jan16 - Nothing Day, and Jan21 - Hat Dy.

As for my crochet designing, well, it looks like 2012 is going to be a good year for publication. My first two designs just came out in the new Crochet World Magazine and I have many, many more to come! I am finishing up another design this week and will be starting yet another one due at the end of the month! I'm really excited about these. This year I hope to submit (and have accepted) a lot more designs and I hope to self-publish at least 3 new patterns to sell online.

Other than that, I am currently working on my knitting skills. Who knows....maybe some knit designs will be showing up soon from Jaybird Designs?? On my needles right now is the Waffle Stitch Scarf from Bernat. Since I only had one skein of Mosaic, I am making the scarf skinnier and in the beautiful shade of Spectrum.

Well, I hope you all have a wonderful 2012 and I am looking forward to staying in touch with you more! Have a great day!

Crochet Commercial for Sudafed

The Book Corner

Are you a member of the CGOA?? Did you get your copy of the Winter 2011 Crochet! Magazine with the Chain Link Newsletter inside? If so, be sure to check out The Book Corner!! My debut in book reviews for the CGOA!! In this issue I am reviewing Go Crochet! Afghan Design Workbook: 50 Motifs, 10 Projects, 1 of a Kind Results by Ellen Gormley. Let me know what you think...I'd love some comments!

Guest Blogger - Crochet Concupiscence

Today I'd like to welcome Kathryn from Crochet Concupiscence as my guest blogger! If you are interested in guest blogging for me about something crochet-related, please contact me at jaybird [at] acsol [dot] net with your ideas! I look forward to hearing from you!

I am trying to spread the word about three of my big crochet projects and I thought you might be interested in any or all of them.

The three crochet projects are:

1. Swaddle! A Crochet Art Project. Swaddle is a crochet art project exploring the ways in which women nurture the men in their lives. It looks at silent forms of nurturing but specifically delves into the way that women communicate. Swaddle looks at the positive ways that female approaches to communication improve relationships but also looks at the darker side of how differing communication styles can suffocate relationships. It does so using crochet, which has stereotypically been considered a female craft. It will include 12 – 24 works of crochet art incorporating a range of crochet types including hyperbolic crochet, mosaic crochet and granny squares and using yarn from indie dyers, sellers and small yarn stores. I am trying to crowdsource funding for the project and all people who contribute will be represented in the project. Learn more here.

2. The Health Benefits of Crochet (a book). I am writing a book about the mental and physical health benefits of crochet. Crochet is such a healing, soothing craft and can provide significant mental health benefits for people dealing with depression, anxiety and stress-related illness. It can be used as a form of both long-term and short-term pain management and also as a form of occupational therapy for people with various hand ailments. What I’m spreading the word about is that I’m still interviewing people for this book and I’d love to hear from anyone who feels that crochet has helped their health and who would like to complete an email interview for the book.

3. Hooked Together! (a blog project). Hooked Together is my huge crochet blog project designed to explore the connections within the crochet community. I have a list of 270 crochet / fiber / yarn blogs that I read. I am going through the blogroll for each of those blogs and exploring what they read, sharing their links to crochet, craft and other blogs on my blog every Friday so that my readers can find other blogs that they’ll enjoy. In the end, I’m going to put all of this together into a big display so that we can all see how the crochet community is connected within itself and to the larger craft community.

Too Cute!

I just received this sweet sweet photo of my Angel Cloud Cocoon!! A BIG thank you to Tierra Kendrick Photography for sharing this adorable photo with me! Be sure to check out her website and Blog!

And just FYI, I'm currently swamped with work, so I have disabled all my custom listings in my etsy shop. I hope to be able to resume making custom items for you in a few weeks. In the mean time, if you are interested in a custom order...still contact me. I know some other crocheters who may be willing to make your items for you.

Guest Blogger - Some Bunny's Love

Today I'd like to welcome Kimberly of Some Bunny's Love as my guest blogger! If you are interested in guest blogging for me about something crochet-related, please contact me at jaybird [at] acsol [dot] net with your ideas! I look forward to hearing from you!

Recently I spent time with family and friends that I have not been able to see since I moved back to Southeast Virginia. By stating "spending time" I mean that I was not stopping in to say "Hi" between my various yarn shop visits or appointments. It felt good to relax and not to have to think about deadlines and numbers. I knitted earnestly on some projects that used the new techniques I have learned. In doing so I found out something about myself that had been buried.

While hanging out with my mom, I discovered that she could no longer hold the hook and yarn in her hands anymore to crochet. It saddened me to think what joys she was missing as she gave me her few skeins of yarn and hooks which all fit in a plastic shopping bag. I began to remember the projects I crocheted -- they were scarves, shawls and baby blankets. The ache to pick up a hook and make something tugged at me, but I had things to knit for work and knitted projects to finish for gifts.



Shortly after mom gave me her yarn, I found a palm-sized crocheted heart and the note I wrote back in late June when my boss, Benjamin Levisay, asked me to join in the support of crochet by designing a hooked heart. I had forgotten about the request and the heart which resulted from it. When he had asked me to create one, I immediately decided to see what I could do with the Twinkle Soft Chunky I had in my stash. Grabbing the largest hook I could find, I quickly crocheted what I jokingly deem a lily pad.



Seeing the heart reassured me that crochet was not dead inside me at all. Instead it was only dormant, waiting to show itself. I fondly smiled in recollecting the times I was an avid crocheter who attended knitting groups. Okay, maybe I was a bit *ahem* passionate with my craft... When I saw Lily Chin at STITCHES last year, I divulged that her story in Better Homes & Gardens Crochet magazine in 2002 brought me back to the love of yarn with crochet. In meeting Laura Krzak of "Singularly Laura" during STITCHES Midwest 2011 last month, I was excited that someone was able to show the passion that I once carried ten years ago. Quickly I made sure that she met key crochet designers like Myra Wood and Edie Eckman at the conference and proudly showed her my shawl patterns I posted on my personal blog those many years ago.

Crochet had never gone away from my heart; it had never left its home after all. It was only patiently waiting for me to pick up my hooks. So if you don't mind as I snuggle underneath my grandmother's crocheted crazily-striped afghan while I alternate projects between my needles and hooks, I am going to start crocheting again. =:8

Guest Bloggers?

I'm thinking of having some guest blogger posts. If you have something crochet related that you would love to share with my readers, drop me a note to jaybrd [at] acsol [dot] net and let me know your ideas. Also, feel free to send me any questions there too!

I WON! I WON! Thank you!

Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!!!! I won the Flamie Award for Best Design for Children! My Tulip Baby Set won by only 10 votes! It was close, but I want to thank everyone who voted! You don't know how excited I was just to be nominated...and to win something! OH MY!! I was on cloud nine when I found out and it was soooooo hard for me not to tell anyone!!

I have a few THANK YOU's that need to be said:

*Thanks to Laurie and the Crochet Liberation Front for supporting the art of crochet in such a fun manner!
*Thanks to my wonderful, dear, sweet friend Annastasia Cruz of My Treasured Heirlooms who nominated me! It's been a pleasure to be your friend all these years and to go through our crochet designing journey together!
*Thanks to Dee Stanziano of Crochet With Dee! She was my mentor through the CGOA Associate Professional Program and she actually showed me the tulip stitch used in the pattern.
*Thanks to the amazing Michele Maks, who was the editor of Crochet World Magazine when this issue was published! I appreciate all the support and encouragement you showed me!
*And thanks to my friends and family! My beautiful little girl who inspired many of my designs, my wonderful hubby who has allowed me to become a stay-at-home mom and to follow my crochet obsession, and my mom and Aunt Cora who are always amazed by what I have accomplished. Also thanks to my Granny up in heaven who passed down her creative genes to me and taught me how to crochet!
*And finally, thanks to all of you....my crochet friends....for your support, encouragement, and votes!

The Tulip Set crochet pattern can be found on the cover of the April 2010 edition of Crochet World Magazine.








You can also listen to Getting Loopy to hear all the winners and listen to me sound like a giggly little girl accepting my award here (I'm on at about 68 minutes into the show):

Listen to internet radio with Mary Beth Temple on Blog Talk Radio

What I'm Working on Wednesday

Hello!! It's Wednesday again!! I've been busy this week!

An old friend of mine purchased a custom Cupcake 2010 Set for her niece and I finally got it finished and mailed yesterday. I love how it turned out!

I also had a custom order for a Snuggle Cocoon and really love this new color...it's called "Pearls".

I also promised you a photo of the awesome Greyhound statue that I received from my wonderful family for Valentine's Day....isn't he sweet!!

Well, now I'm off to create a new design for magazine publication!! Have a great day and happy crocheting!

Bow Tie for Pets?

Did you know that my Itty-Bitty Bow tie looks wonderful on your small pet?? Check out how handsome Mr. Simon looks this Valentine's Day!!

Thanks Mary for sharing your pictures!

You can purchase your Custom Bow Tie, buy one Ready to Ship, or even make your own with the Itty-Bitty Accessories pattern!

Just think how some of my other items would look on your pets.....hmmm.....flower headbands....frog hats...LOL!!

Sneak Peek

Thanks for all your comments and suggestions on the new blanket for my bedroom. Still thinking and will let you know what I decide to make.

But here is a sneak peek of a new crochet pattern coming in the next day or so. I really like it and hope you do to!

Have a great day!

Decisions, Decisions

So my wonderful hubby has requested a crocheted afghan for our newly redecorated bedroom. For the life of me, I can not decide on what type of design to use!! The room is a little busy with a Log Cabin style quilt (not shown in the picture) and the curtains feature squares as well. We kinda have a southwestern feel to the room with sage and terra cotta colored walls and a rustic log bed. With all this busy-ness going on, I think I would like to see a solid colored blanket....maybe a nice dark sand or tan color. But that is as far as I get!!

Do I want motifs?? Not a big fan of making all those little squares and sewing them together.

Ripples?? Nah, I think that would just be too busy.

Textured? Possibly. But as a sampler? Or just a simple design throughout?

So, if you have any ideas or pattern suggestions, please let me know!! I'd really like to make this before Summer!! LOL!!

What I'm Working on Wednesday

Happy Wednesday! I hope you are all having a wonderful week!

I've been busy here. I'm currently working on a few new baby photo props to send to my friend Robin at Robin Long Photography. She is gearing up for an amazing workshop for photographers, Simply Baby. I'll be sending a Sugar Plum Hat as a door prize and I whipping up a few other goodies to send along. Planning on mailing this weekend.

I also sold a custom Valentine Hat that I need to finish.

Then yesterday I had a photo shoot with the amazing Naturally Red Photography and a beautiful new model!! Two of the items are for new patterns, the others are a couple of last minute, ready to ship, Valentine's Day items. Can't wait to share them all with you!

Lastly, I picked up a new cookbook at the library and have been trying out a bunch of new recipes. The Best 30-Minute Recipes by Cooks Illustrated is amazing!!! I HIGHLY recommend ANY recipe from Cooks Illustrated or America's Test Kitchen!!! They are all super-duper yummy!! Some take a lot of preparation, but are so worth it! Last night I made the Quick White Chicken Chili and the family devoured it!! Even my picky 8 year old!! The Thin Crust Pizza and Crunchy Potato Wedges are also a few of our favorites! All I can say is, Boy....have we been eating good lately!!!


Well, I hope you all have a wonderful week!!

What I'm Working on Wednesday

Happy Wednesday! I hope you are all having a wonderful week. I actually have a few things to tell you today about what is on my hook!!


I am currently working on a new design to self-publish. I hope to have it finished today and get photos soon. Then I can send it off to the editor. It is using Misti Alpaca Chunky yarn and I am using my new "K" hook that I just received from Jimbo's Hooks!! I love this new hook!! It feels wonderful and I can't wait to make more things with it!

Other than that, not much else on my hook...but lots of things in my mind! LOL!!


I also want to share with you the new tag I got for Mr. Cash! It's from Punky Jane's Etsy shop. She is a fellow Etsy Twitter Team member and makes some wonderful stamped silver jewelry! Be sure to check her shop out! Cash's new tag features a Greyhound on the front and my cell phone number on the back....just in case he gets away from me. I think I may have to shop with her again for something sweet for my hubby on Valentine's Day!

Have a great day!

I Stink!

I am doing a very poor job of updating my blog. Sorry.

So let me jot down a few things for you so I don't feel like such a looser.

I have added another new section to my etsy shopReady2Ship Photo Props." Here you will find some great items ready and willing to be used for your next photo session. Most items will be newborn and baby sized and a lot of them will be one-of-a-kind! Right now I have listed some great items for all your Valentine's Day photos! My favorite is the Pink Heart Diaper Cover!!

Also, over at the CGOA site, they are accepting votes for the Crochet Hall of Fame!! Be sure to stop by and cast your vote!

Now to go finish some housework and hopefully start on a new crochet pattern... titled "

Are You Looking for a Crochet Magazine?

UPDATE_ All patterns have been promised. Thanks for all the interest!

OK, I need to do this!! I am downsizing my crochet magazine collection! If you are searching for ANY issue of just about any crochet magazine from 2007 to present, please contact me and let me know. I am GIVING AWAY (yes, for FREE!) almost all of my collection and would love to see it go to happy hooker homes!!! All I'm asking is that you pay shipping for your new magazines. I even have duplicate copies of magazines that I have designs published in. So PLEASE, if you want anything, contact me at jaybird [at] acsol [dot] net with what you are looking for and I'll see if I can help!!

Crochet News and Happenings

SO, just a few crochet-related things I want to share with you today!

The CLF - Crochet Liberation Front, has launched a new-and-improved website this week! Be sure to check them out HERE! Be sure to look at the book published by them and learn about the Flamie Awards! (BTW....I'd loooooove to be nominated!)

Something else that I learned about recently through the CLF is about our wonderful Crochet Podcasts! It appears that they are about to be charged large amounts of $ to continue, and that is just crazy!! So they are asking for donations to continue. Read the entire article here, and be sure to check out those podcasts and help with a donation if you can! I did!
Getting Loopy
Yarn Thing

Lastly, I just saw that my friend and amazing designer, Mary Jane Hall, has started a new site for her designs! Be sure to check her out at Positively Crochet!

Happy Hooking!

No Idea What to Write About

LOL!! I'm trying to stick to my New Year Goal and blog Monday-Friday, but truthfully, I have no idea what to write about today. How about if all you readers send me some comments on what type of crochet pattens you'd like to see more of in 2011. After all, I need to publish at least 6 to fulfill my goal! So please, leave me a comment and tell me what you are interested in making! More baby hats & photo props? More woman's fashion accessories? Hmmmm...