New Listings in the Shop!

Happy Tuesday everyone!
I'm popping in today to tell you all about five new patterns that have been added to my shop!

I've added the following graph patterns:

Game of Thrones Inspired pattern for crochet, knit and cross stitch:

"After all this time...  Always" graph pattern for crochet, knit or cross stitch:

"Remember to Turn on the Light" graph pattern for crochet, knit or cross stitch:

A two pack of Om and Namaste graph patterns for crochet, knit or cross stitch:

and last but not least, "Home Sweet Home" graph pattern for crochet, knit or cross stitch:

Go check them out!!!  I've got more coming in September, including card packs, gift tags and wall art printables!!

A blink.... and where did the time go?

Hey everyone!

So is anyone out there like me, and sets goals and makes plans and blinks... and all the time is gone?
I have been feeling like lately there is not enough time or energy in the day to get it all done.  Between my kids and family, work, my business, my blog, dance class, gymnastics, band and cleaning, I just don't have time like I used to.  Working on projects for the blog and my shop seem to take forever.  I used to be able to have new designs ready to post within a week of conception, complete crochet projects in a day and still get to make dinner for the kids.  Now, I'm just happy if I can cook something that doesn't come out of a box! 

I've been trying different things - bullet journals, the Getting Things Done principle, pomodoro timers, planners and more... but I just can't seem to get a handle on everything the way I did when I didn't have a desk job that lasted 40+ hours a week.  I just started a new bullet journal/planner/getting things done combo in a disk bound format (and yes, I mushed together all my previous attempts), which I have high hopes for.  I even put in project pages so  I could track the work that I still needed to do in order to get some work done for my business and in my personal life!

I started working on a couple of new series for the shop about 6 months ago.  Some of them are getting close to completion, and I am hoping that I will be able to post FIVE new listings by the end of this month!  This months new listings will be some graph patterns that I have lovingly created for your crafting desires.  They work for knitting, crocheting or cross stitching and are of varying difficulties.  Next month will bring you some super fun printables for the holidays, including cards, gift tags and art.  Who knows... I might even have a few new graph patterns for the holidays!

I will post again when the next listings go live in the shop!  Until then, leave me a note and let me know what you do to help manage your time and busy schedules!!!

How time flies when you're living life....

Hello everyone!
I realize that it's been a while since I've put anything new up on the blog.  To be honest, I haven't had much new to put on here anyway.  I completed a few crochet projects this past year, and worked a little bit on a few new ones, but have not done near as much as I have in years past.  It's not that I don't still enjoy it, it's just that I have less time to crochet and work on this blog as I have before.  Working a full time job will do that to you, I guess, but I know what I'm doing is good for the family.

The hard part is figuring out where I can fit in what's right for me.  I guess that's always a challenge as a parent- fitting yourself into the equation somewhere.  You know you deserve it, that small bit of time captured for yourself, but where do you find the time between the constant juggle of work, dance class, band, homework, dinner, laundry, and then somehow finding time for a shower?  It's a balance that I'm still working on, but trying to get better at.  I've started trying to get back into shape, which seems to get harder every time I fall off the bandwagon (what better reason to not fall off again?).

I've got some content that I was working on when I lost track of time, which I'll be sharing with you in the weeks to come, mixed in with some new stuff- maybe just ramblings, but time will tell.  My husband is also working on a project, so I'll make sure to share updates when his stuff goes live!  In the meantime, enjoy this:

My Pattern Experience: Women's Peaked Cap

My Pattern Experience:  Women's Peaked Cap

I found this hat on ravelry one day and just knew I had the perfect person to give it to.  This hat worked up really quickly, it was fun to make and I was lucky to find just the right button to go on it.

I wish I had made it just a tad bit larger, for a bit more of a slouchy look on the top, but the recipient loved it anyway!  The brim is nice and holds its shape well even without the use of any plastic canvas or wires.

You can find the pattern here:  Women's Peaked Cap 

Salt Dough Ornaments {Craft Tutorial}

Salt Dough Ornaments/ Gift Tags

Hey everyone!  I know it's early, but this is about the time of year in which I kick into full on holiday crafting mode.  Today I'd like to share with you the salt dough ornaments that I made last year for everyone in my family.  Not only did they serve as ornaments, but I also used them to label everyone's gift, so they also served as gift tags!  These little guys are so easy to make and very versatile so they can fit any theme that you would like.  

Materials needed:

For the dough:

1 cup salt 

2 cups all purpose flour 

1 cup luke-warm water 

For decorations:

A leaf from a tree or shrub of your desire, the more textured the better

Paint in any color you desire

Sealant of some sort (either a clear spray, mod podge, anything you like)

any other embellishments that you might like

string for hanging

Instructions:

Mix flour and salt in a bowl.  Gradually add water while stirring with your hand.  Knead the dough until it reaches a nice soft consistency.

Roll the dough out (I recommend that you keep it thin- less than a half an inch and much closer to a quarter inch- to help maintain the integrity of any design, as it can bubble during baking if it gets too thick) and use cookie cutters to cut into shapes, or create the shapes yourself!  For mine, I used a small glass to create the circles, and a star cookie cutter to create the stars.

When you have all your dough cut, take a skewer (toothpick, or other small pointy object) and poke a hole through for your string to create a hanger later.  For my circular ornaments, I took a leaf and pressed into each circle to create a leafy texture.

When you're done shaping and designing your dough, place on a cookie sheet in a 200 degree oven and bake for anywhere from 30-60 minutes.  You'll know they are done when they are firm and might even be starting to brown.  

Let your creations cool and then let the decorating begin.  For my stars, I first painted them white with a basic acrylic paint and let that dry.  I then painted metallic blue acrylic paint on one side of the star, and wrote the recipients name on the other side.

For the circles, I painted them red and green, and let that dry.  Then I came back and lightly sponged on white to give them a textured look and to add definition to the leafy prints.  Then I wrote the recipients name on the back side.  

Tie a piece of string through the hole you made and you've made yourself a pretty ornament/gift tag!