Etsy Sale

Calling all deal hunters!  I'm offering a special 15% discount on in-stock items at my Etsy Store for a limited time...just for my blog readers.  Feel the love, people.  Feel the love.

Click here, shop 'til you drop, and enter coupon code SAVE15 at checkout.

Carrick's Baby Blanket

On Thursday, 7/7/11, Boss Man and his family welcomed a new little boy into this world.  Carrick is already surrounded with people who are in awe of him, and I'm sure he'll grow up to be a people person just like his daddy.

When I heard that baby Carrick had arrived, I wanted to do something special for him.  After digging through pattern after pattern for baby blankets, none of them appealed to me.  So I went back to my favorite prayer shawl book and found one I loved.  I modified it to make it lighter, almost lacy, since Carrick lives in Georgia, and I made it larger than the pattern called for.  The last modification is the white single-crochet border.

(Please forgive the horrendous quality of the pictures!  The camera battery was dead at home, so these were taken before my shift at work today with my iPod camera...could be worse, I guess.)

The fun part about finding the inspiration for this blanket in the prayer shawl book was that it gave me the idea to make it a "prayer blanket."  With every stitch, I said a little prayer for Carrick to grow up healthy and happy.  I hope he can feel that when he snuggles up with it.  :)

Marli's Moondance

The Hubbs has a wonderful aunt who is celebrating a big birthday this week (I won't say which big birthday; that just wouldn't be proper!).  She moved to Arizona a few years back, and it only took me about three minutes to figure out what her present should be.  What do you think: will this go well with her turquoise jewelry?

This bag measures approximately 16" wide by 9" tall and 9" deep, and is lovingly handmade using cotton yarn and rattan handles. As with all of my bags, the flower clip is removable/interchangeable.

I'm also playing around with my photographing techniques.  Seeing as how the color mix in this bag is called "Moondance," I thought I'd take it outside to see what kind of night shots I could get.  I'm pretty happy with the lighting results, though I did have to use the flash.  I'm thrilled with how the lawn makes such a contrasting and unexpected backdrop.  :)

Roundabout Evening Bag: Victorian Rose

I hadn't realized how long it had been since I posted anything other than a Super-Fat!  Here's one of my recent projects:

This bag measures approximately 9" wide at its widest part by approximately 7" high (excluding the handle).  It was fun to work in this beautiful shade of Caron Simply Soft.  It's called Victorian Rose, so I thought it was only fitting to try my hand at outdoor pics in the rose garden.  What do you think?

Buy it on ETSY!

Super-Fat #23: Faded Denim

I'm one of those gals who would much rather be decked out in denim and cotton than anything that needs to be - heaven forbid - dry cleaned.  Anyway, jeans go with everything, right?  And this is the perfect go-with-anything-and-compliment-your-favorite-old-jeans kind of purse.

This bag measures approximately 16" wide by 9" tall and 9" deep, and is lovingly handmade using cotton yarn and rattan handles. As with all of my bags, the flower clip is removable/interchangeable.

SOLD! Click here to visit my Etsy shop and see what's available.

Super-Fat #22: Damask

Okay, so one of my all-time favorite color combos is pink and brown, and adding in this rich red just plain makes me smile.

This bag measures approximately 16" wide by 9" tall and 9" deep, and is lovingly handmade using cotton yarn and rattan handles. As with all of my bags, the flower clip is removable/interchangeable.


BUY IT ON ETSY!

Busy Gal

Hey, y'all!

As of May 12, I was officially on break from school.  Finals were over for the spring semester, and summer classes aren't scheduled to start until June 13.

What ever was I to do with myself???

I've been a busy gal these past two weeks, and I'll try to get a bunch more done before tackling my 10-credit-hour summer semester.  Because, well, chances are I'll be going off the radar again when that starts in.

Check out my Etsy page for some newly listed items.  Hell, if you wanted to buy somethin' while you're there, I sure wouldn't stop ya. ;)

~One Crafty Broad

Super-Fat #21: Buttercream

I've done this color combo before, but this one's a tad different.  Over time, I've realized I really prefer the trim at the top (where the handles are attached) to be solid.  What do you think?

This bag measures approximately 16" wide by 9" tall and 9" deep, and is lovingly handmade using cotton yarn and rattan handles. As with all of my bags, the flower clip is removable/interchangeable.

BUY IT ON ETSY!

Super-Fat #20: Camouflage Rose

After finals were over for the spring semester, my brain apparently needed some chill-out time.  Since the beginning of last week, I believe I've made six purses.  You'd think I'd get sick of making the same thing over and over again, but I honestly don't.  I find it relaxing to work something by heart, and I love to see how each individual yarn pattern turns out.

Call me crazy if you must (you'd be right), but somehow this has become my wind-down activity.

This bag measures approximately 16" wide by 9" tall and 9" deep, and is lovingly handmade using cotton yarn and rattan handles. As with all of my bags, the flower clip is removable/interchangeable.

BUY IT ON ETSY!

Super-Fat #19: Crown Jewels

Well, I couldn't be happier.  The gal who ordered the "Stripes" bag loved it so much, it sounds like she'll be placing additional custom orders from time to time to get started on her Christmas shopping.

Here's the second purse she ordered.  Again, the only guideline was that it must include purple:

I couldn't decide which flower I liked better...with the different tones, they each make the bag look totally different.  Since I couldn't make a decision, I'm letting her choose for herself.

Which one do you like better?

This bag measures approximately 16" wide by 9" tall and 9" deep, and is lovingly handmade using cotton yarn and rattan handles. As with all of my bags, the flower clips are removable/interchangeable.

Super-Fat #18: Partytime

Between my full-time schedules at both work and school, and the special orders I've been receiving lately, time seems to fly right on by.  Still, I somehow managed to crank this one out in one night (don't ask me how).

I know...big surprise, right?  But y'all should be aware of my love for insane-o colors by now.  :)

This bag measures approximately 16" wide by 9" tall and 9" deep, and is lovingly handmade using cotton yarn and rattan handles. As with all of my bags, the flower clip is removable/interchangeable.

BUY IT ON ETSY!

Super-Fat #17: Stripes

Here's another special order Super-Fat.  She wanted something with purple and left the rest up to me.  I love how this particular yarn decided to stripe so evenly across the bag!

This bag measures approximately 16" wide by 9" tall and 9" deep, and is lovingly handmade using cotton yarn and rattan handles. As with all of my bags, the flower clip is removable/interchangeable.

Super-Fat #16: Spring Green

I've recently been made aware of the sad lack of posts here recently. I've been crocheting between working full-time, going to school full-time, and hanging out with The Hubbs and The Princess...it seems my blogs are the one area I just can't seem to find time for these days.

For that, I apologize. I'll try to post more often, but I can't make any promises before I graduate on December 10...I'm currently taking 13 credit hours, I've registered for 10 more in the summer, and will be taking my final 7 credits during the fall semester.

Anyhoo...here's some photographic evidence that I have not suddenly forgotten how to make a Super-Fat. ;)

This bag measures approximately 16" wide by 9" tall and 9" deep, and is lovingly handmade using acrylic yarn and rattan handles. As with all of my bags, the flower clip is removable/interchangeable.

This was a special order for one of the gals at work...I can make these bags in virtually any color combination you can think of, and I'm happy to work with custom requests.  Give me a shout if you're interested in one of your own.  :)

Super-Fat #15: Spring in Your Step

At first, I wasn't sure about this color combination...but it's grown on me over time.  Somehow, the white flower seems to offset the crazy colors just enough to create a sense of calm for me.

This bag measures approximately 16" wide by 9" tall and 9" deep, and is lovingly handmade using 100% cotton yarn and rattan handles. As with all of my bags, the flower clip is removable/interchangeable.

Super-Fat #14: Mayflower

You may remember a similar purse I did a couple of months ago...this is the same yarn, but with one twist: the handle section is all done in that beautiful dusty rose color.  I love how it makes the bag look, and I think I'll start playing around with this technique a little more often, now that I see how beautifully it can turn out.

This bag measures approximately 16" wide by 9" tall and 9" deep, and is lovingly handmade using 100% cotton yarn and rattan handles. As with all of my bags, the flower clip is removable/interchangeable.

My First "Official" Prayer Shawl

A few months ago, I ran across a book.  At first, it was just another pattern book with tons of fabulous ideas.  Then, I began to read it, and that is when I realized it was so much more than what I had originally thought.

I hadn't heard of prayer shawls before, but I was sold.  It just figures that the first story I read involved a child with autism.  Yep.  It had me in tears, right there in the middle of our local Borders.

After countless visits, the book finally became mine.  I had seen one pattern in particular that I wanted to modify and try on my own.  And I recently became aware of someone close to me who could really use a prayer shawl of her own.

I won't "out" her here, since it's not my story to tell.  All I can say is that creating prayer shawls is something I can see myself loving for years to come.  It really is a different kind of experience.

While I don't feel comfortable sharing the recipient's name here (with all my gazillions of readers - ha!), I would like to share the prayer that accompanied the shawl.

This has been taken from the Shawl Ministry web site, and the author's name is listed in the title section. 

This, my friends, is what it's all about:

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Prayer For Comfort © 2010 All rights reserved

By: Cathleen O'Meara Murtha, DW

http://www.shawlministry.com/

As you wrap yourself in the prayer shawl of comfort...

May the Mother of Mercy, the Father of Faithfulness and the Spirit of Compassion

wrap you in their all-encompassing love this day.

May you find comfort

from all that appears too much to bear at this moment

from all that feels as if it might be the breaking point

from all that seems to threaten your peace of heart.

May this prayer shawl be

a shelter for time of overwhelming grief

a shade in times of sorrow too deep for words

a shield from times of unimaginable loss.

May you be comforted

by the presence of those who love and support you

by faith in the eternal Loving One

by the memories of what you hold most dear.

May you be strengthened

in your daily comings and goings

in your tentative new beginnings

in your unfolding new memories.

Blessings of the Angel of Comfort be with you and all you love now and forevermore.

Autism Awareness Fleece Blanket

Yeah, yeah, I know...it's not crochet.  You've just gotta live a little, people!

Here's my first attempt at a home-made no-sew fleece blanket for The Princess's room.

Momma-created...

Toddler-approved.

Happy Halloween, y'all.  For pics of The Princess in her Trick-or-Treating garb, give it a day or two and then head on over to my mommy blog.



Not So Much

Did I sleep before the craft fair on the 24th?

Not so much.

Did I have any idea what I was doing when The Grumps picked me up that morning?  Kinda...but, really...

Not so much.

Did I have a hard time setting up?

Not so much.

Did the college advertise the fair properly?

Not so much.

Did I sell anything?

Not so much.

Did it break my will?

Not so much.

I'm chalking this one up to experience, folks, and you bet your sweet bippie I plan to do another fair or twelve in the future. 

Best part of this fair, hands down?  Seeing My Favorite Person and her hubby after far too long.  Almost made the whole damn thing worthwhile.  :)

"Simple Gal" Clutch/Wallet - Autism Awareness

I started this project with every intention of making another "Zazz" clutch, but it somehow turned into something else completely...

This is about as simple as you can get, folks, but I still dig it (not that I'm biased or anything).  I have a real soft spot for this particular yarn, which reminds me very much of the autism awareness puzzle piece motif.

This clutch/wallet measures about 4x8 inches, and features a silver puzzle piece charm.  It would also make a pretty fly glasses case.  Just sayin'.

Fatty #8: Creme de la Creme

Well, here I am, a day and a half before the craft fair, and I believe I've done all I can do.  Now, let's just hope some of this loot sells!

Here's the latest Fatty, which I've dubbed "Creme de la Creme." 

The entire bag has been lovingly constructed by hand using 100% cotton yarn with acrylic handles and an adorable (removable/interchangeable) sunflower clip.  The finished product measures approximately 7" high (not including handles) by 11" wide by 6" deep.