Merry Christmas!

May it be filled with yarn-y goodness!

A Few New Things!

Just wanted to share a few new things with you!

I currently have 3 new colors for the Angel Cloud Cocoon!! I only have a limited amount of the new colors available (about enough to make 2 of each color), so if you like them, snatch them up quickly. The new colors are:
Finch (purplish-pink)
Blink (white without sparkle)
Quiet (blue/navy)

I also just listed a new Watermelon photo prop hat! I just love watermelons, and I hope you do too! Just think how creative you can get with some summer photos!! And wouldn't a matching diaper cover just finish the look?

OH...and see this large box of yarn scraps?? Stay tuned to see what I plan to do with it!

What I'm Working on Wednesday

Absolutely nothing, LOL!!

I've caught up on all my work and am taking a small break from crocheting. Other then putting a few finishing touches onto a hat for my wonderful hubby, I don't have anything on my hook right now.

I did just wind up some hanks of Blue Sky Alpacas Worsted Cotton yarn for a new project, but I probably won't be starting it for another day or so. The colors are beautiful and I can't wait to work with it!

That's about it. I can't believe it is November already! Where did this year go? You know what...I better get to work on some Christmas projects soon!!!

Have a great day!

Just for Fun - Yarn Videos

Sorry I've been MIA! Finishing up those last few projects for publication. Hope to have them done in the next day or two. So, while you are waiting, here are some fun yarn-related videos I've seen lately on YouTube. Enjoy!








And this one just because I love it!

Yarn and Camping

Usually these two don't go so well together!! LOL!! YES, I do always bring a project with me when we go camping, but usually it is nothing that either A: uses expensive yarn or B: takes a lot of thought to crochet. You'll usually find me with a skein of Simply Soft and making baby hats for my charity group.

BUT...this time it was different!! We drove over to Telluride, Colorado for a day. Now, Telluride is a ski town....a VERY high end ski town...I think many stars have homes here including Tom Cruise/Katie Holmes...and it is absolutely beautiful! Nestled in the mountains, a huge community park including fishing ponds, ice rink, pool, and huge playground! Lots of trendy boutiques and very expensive food ($3.50 for a hot dog!).

And while we were there, guess what I found??? A yarn store!! Yippee...whooo hoooo...happy dance!!! And after much pleading and begging on my part, my wonderful husband let me go in for a look!

Now I was in a hurry....remember generous husband and large dog waiting for me outside...so I touched and drooled over as much as I could! I have been wanting to try some linien yarns, but wasn't inspired by the colors they had...so I grabbed the yarns that stood out to me the most! I purchased two skeins of Mirasol Tupa yarn in ruby red! The yarn is a 50/50 merino silk blend and the color is fantastic! I hope to have enough to crochet me a skinny scarf and matching wrist warmers!! And please don't ask what I spent on the yarn....remember how much I told you a hot dog was??? LOL!!


So, if you ever find yourself skiing/hiking in Telluride, head to the end of Colorado Avenue and stop by Needle Rock Fiberarts! Friendly people, lots of knitting (sorry...didn't see a lot of crochet there except some hooks) supplies, FABULOUS yarns, and tell them that I sent you!!

And I did manage to bring the yarn home and not touch it yet...I have a few other things I need to finish first.

Yarn Inspiration

OK, so upon talking to my friend about the Ski Themed Baby Blanket, she has given me free reign to create what I want!! Yippee and Blah!! LOL!!

Yippee because I get to play...make what I want...get creative without boundaries.

Blah because I now have no direction and have a few ideas floating around in my head!

So, I guess my next step is yarn. I know my friend really likes the new bamboo yarns....but unfortunately it is hard to find locally. It looks like these will be my choices (as long as my local shop has a decent selection of them!)


First we have the Naturally Caron Spa yarn. I really like this yarn and have used it before. I'm just not sure that the Berry Frappe is the color I want.

My local high-end yarn store has this little baby called Eden in Royal. Very pretty....and on sale for $3!! But how many of these little balls of yarn will I need to make the blanket??? And do they have enough of the same dye lot in stock?? I'm guessing NO since it is on sale...
Now, the last time I was at Hobby Lobby, I saw this yummy yarn by Patons called Silk Bamboo!! It has some pretty shades of blue....but is not machine washable. I don't think that will work for a baby blanket! BUT.................
According to their website, they have a baby version that is machine washable! SCORE!! But does my Hobby Lobby or Michaels carry it???

Looks like I may need to do some shopping!!!!! Does anyone have any experience with these yarns?? If so, I'd love to hear your opinions. Or do any of my readers have any other suggestions for yarns that I may be missing?

Baby Hats and Yummy Yarn!

Last month I won some yummy hand-dyed yarn and couldn't wait to crochet it up! This AquaMarine blue yarn by Little Bo-Peep Knits was wonderful!! But since it was such a small skein, I decided to make a baby hat for my charity group, Lil Troopers, out of it! Isn't it adorable!! Can't you just picture it on some sweet newborn baby's head?? I sure can!

Crochet Swap!

I found a fun new crochet forum lately over at crochet mania! The girls there are super sweet and I had the fun of participating in their latest crochet swap!! Look at all the goodies I got!

* 3 skiens of Lion Boucle in Gelato (hmmm what to make???)
* 3 skiens of Peaches & Cream in Gum Drop, Fiesta, and Earthtone (I could use some new kitchen washcloths!)
* one skien Lion Magic Stripes in Denim (PRETTY!!)
* size 9 circular knitting needles (maybe I should practice my knitting when making those washcloths, LOL!!)
* A stunning wooden crochet hook (gotta figure out what size it is!)
* A leather hook case (can never have too many!)
* Coffee!!!! Yum!

Thank you so much to my swap partner Lisa!! I appreciate it!

Monday, Monday

Well, typical Monday around the Jaybird home. Heather is at school and I am cleaning and doing laundry. Not much fun!!

I am patiently waiting for some new yarn to arrive!! My friend has commissioned me to create a shawl for her sis to wear during Mardi Gras. I was so excited....I got to order some custom dyed yarn for the shawl!! It should be here any day now and I can't wait to get my hook into it!! It was made by danido crafty over at etsy. I'm posting a pic of it....YUM!!!

Other than that, this CPSIA has put a kink into my plans. I had decided to make a bunch of really cute children's hats ans was excited to start on them. But now I may not be able to sell them. Maybe I should just write the patterns and sell those??? Hmmmmmm...

OK, I need to get back to cleaning. I hope you all have a great week!

Tangle Grand Opening!

Tomorrow I will be at the new location of Tangle Yarns here in Grand Junction! They are now located at 525 Main Street and are having their Grand Opening Celebration tomorrow, Saturday the 18th, from 10am to 4!!

I will be there with hook in hand working on a sample BJ's Baby Blanket for a class I will be teaching there next month! Stop by and say HI!!

See all the wonderful new yarns they have stocked, browse the sales, and they'll even have FOOD!!! I'll be there to answer your crochet questions and visiting!! Hope to see you there!

Hot off my Hook!

Sorry I didn't post anything yesterday. I was too busy finishing up my latest crochet project!

I was busy making a sweater for Heather's best friend, and neighbor, Kathryn. She will be 6 years old next week! Boy, do they grow fast!! I figured with the weather starting to get cooler in the mornings, she could use a good sweater! In my stash of patterns I found this great hoodie sweater pattern by Anji.Beane, formerly Pink Willow Designs.

Of course I had to make my own changes to the pattern! I made the stripes wider....basically out of laziness since I didn't want to weave in all those yarn ends!!! And I left it simple without adding all the fun squirrel/fall details. I used "I Love This Yarn" which is a 100% acrylic that I purchased at Hobby Lobby. I like it's softness better than Red Heart, and it was pretty cheap too!

I was hoping to have Heather model it for you, but she is out with Kathryn and her mom shopping for party supplies!! So you'll have to just imagine how cute it will look on her!

Oh, and BTW, I am now working on my free crochet pattern for September....I hope to have it listed on Monday! Have a great weekend!

#10 cotton thread- For Sale or Trade

I have all of this size 10, 100% cotton threads that I will never use! It's all in very good condition and mostly unused. There are 7 total, in three different shades. Ecru, creams, greens, and one yellow-ish verigated. I'm looking to trade or sell them(CHEAP!) if anyone is interested. I can use some size 10 in WHITE or just about anything nice you may have available. If you are interested, please leave me a comment with your email address (I won't post it!) and I'll be in touch!

UPDATE: The lot is now listed in my Etsy shop!

YUMMY Stash!

Lookie at this great stash I picked up yesterday!! All for my new fall line!! Just wait till you see what I have in mind!!! See anything you like??

OHhhhhh!! Pretty!!

OK, so you know that yarn you have had lying around? It's just too pretty to use and you want to find the perfect item for it?? Well, I finally found mine, LOL!!

I've had a bag of Moda Dea Beadnick in white for a looooooong time now. Never knew what to make with it. So this weekend, as I was looking for patterns to make, I found a pretty scarf and thought this yarn would be lovely! The scarf is a gift for one of Heather's preschool teachers. I really hope she likes it!

I love how all the little seed bead look like confetti! I've got a few more skiens left, maybe I'll make a few more to list!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

From my family to yours!

Thought I would list a few things I am thankful for this year.

1. My family. Even thought most of them are far away, they have made me who I am today and for them I am greatful.

2. GOD. I am thankful that he is forgiving and loves me just the way I am.

3. My Friends. Like I said in #1, my family is far away, so my friends tend to take their place.

4. My husband. For showing me what love is really supposed to be like.

5. Yarn.......need I go into detail here, LOL!!

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! Feel free to add some things you are thankful for in the comments. I'd love to hear them!

Rejection!

Not what you expected after my last post, huh??? But it was bound to happen...eventually. Just got my first rejection letter from a magazine. But I really don't feel that bad about it. Probably because of the two contracts I already have coming in the mail, LOL!!

But now I am having a dilemma. One of the magazines asked that the sweater be made out of a certain yarn. The sweater was originally made with two strands of a baby sport yarn. And yes, the new yarn is a baby sport, but when I work up a swatch using two strands of it, it would make a lousy sweater, LOL!! So, what to do??? Alter the pattern so that is is made using only one strand.....or keep to the original and use two?? What would you do?

Yarn Gifts!

Oh my!!!! So I joined my first crochet swap over on Crochetteville and got paired up with a wonderful woman name Robyn. We had lots of fun getting to know each other through emails and then we got to send each other "gifts"! The gifts had to consist of at least $25 worth of yarns in a cotton/cotton blend.

Wellllllllll.....I got mine yesterday!!! First, how wonderful it was to get a gift in the mail!!! Totally made me feel like a princess!! Then when I opened it up, I was floored!!! Miss Robyn went WAY OVERBOARD!!!! Let me tell you what she sent!!



~an adorable knitted and felted bag that she made

~handmade stitch markers

~Two skiens of Cascade Cotton Rich in red

~two skiens of Cascade Luna in pale yellow

~two skiens of Bernat Cool Crochet in denim

~three coffee samples (One not shown in picture because I already drank it!)

~A cute little notebook with paper refils and a carrying bag

~a Black Mountain Studios stitch/right side marker

~And an amazing crochet hook, size H, made in Germany by Addi



As you can see, I was totally BLESSED! Thank you so much Robyn!!



Now, she should be getting her package on Monday.....



~Last is an awesome new hook!! Size H made in Germany by ADDI