Baby Shower Ready

After school, today, I'm going to a baby shower for one of my co-workers.  She's going to have a little girl in December, pretty close to Jelly's birthday actually.  So, for the past couple of weeks, I've been crocheting a few baby things.

Anyone that's read this blog for a while knows that crocheting is something I only do in the fall and winter.  I'm not a year-long crocheter, and I do it for the pure fun of crocheting.  I have been told by countless people that I should sell the stuff I make, but I just enjoy making stuff.  I don't want to turn it in to a job.  It's a lot more fun if I just get to make whatever I want, whenever I want and then share that stuff with people if I don't need or want it.

Anywho, since being invited to the baby shower, I've had a purpose for stuff that I wanted to make:  Baby stuff.  Momma-to-be had asked me about making her a hat for the little one, but I knew I had to go a lot further than that.  Being that I only had a set time, I wanted to focus on a set of some sort, so I decided on a blanket/hat/mittens set. I used a yarn color that is similar to the nursery color, which is yellow.  Not baby yellow, more like a bright yellow.  I got the blanket, hat, and mittens made in about a week, and wanted to make something different.  So, that's when I moved on to making a little sweater.  

I found a pattern that I liked, and made sure I didn't have to sew anything.  I can NOT sew.  It's weird, but true.  I can crochet all day long, and make a ton of stuff with a crochet hook and yarn, but if it requires sewing, I get nervous and shy away from that stuff.  I was ecstatic when I found a pattern for something like a baby sweater that didn't require any sewing.  

I started the sweater Saturday night, and finished it up last night.  I also made another hat to go with the sweater.  Both turned out pretty well.  Extremely well for being my first time making something like that.  I would share pictures, but I don't want to spoil the surprise if Momma-to-be happens to read my blog today.  I made the sweater out of a lavender purple yarn.  I picked it up while I was out shopping on Friday, along with a couple of other balls of yarn that will come in handy over the next couple of weeks.

Now, my baby shower goodies are all finished, and I even managed to dig out some other baby stuff I made last year that needed a good home.  

 

Even though my focus was to make a few things for the baby shower, my baby stuff making days are far from over.  I have several other items I want to make, including a dress and a pair of baby Tom's.  They won't be shower gifts, but they will be gifts for the same baby... she just won't get them for another couple of weeks.  

I am excited about having new projects to try out.  I've been crocheting for several years, now, and I've made a lot of stuff.  I can knock out hats, headbands, scarves, and blankets in no time but I like to challenge myself.  I get bored making the same ol' stuff, so I'm always looking for new things to try.  Baby stuff is always a great place to start for new ideas, because baby stuff is little and quicker to knock out.  I know that sounds funny, but I'm not a big fan, and a little too impatient for starting big projects.  I like to make stuff that only takes a few days to create, because I get bored easily and like a new challenge.  The best thing about crocheting is that I can make the same type of stuff over and over and try out new patterns, stitches, and designs.  

Last year, I got hooked on infinity scarves.  Do you know how many different ways I can make an infinity scarf?  TONS.  And people like infinity scarves.  If I ever do sell anything, it's infinity scarves.  I don't think I could ever get bored with making them, so I know that once I'm out of baby things to make I'll be moving back to those.  I'm also going to try and make a sweater for Jelly, similar to the one I made for the baby shower.  I only have a pattern for a baby size, but I think with some adjustments, I could make it a lot bigger.  If I do manage to figure that out, I'll save myself a fortune because then I'll start making a couple for me.  I wear a lot of sweaters, so it would be nice to be able to make them for myself instead of shelling out $50 a pop at a store.  I figure if it takes four balls of yarn to make an adult size, it'll still only cost me about $12 to make one.  

Anywho, the time has come for me to start getting ready for work.  I have a planning day with the county 4th grade teachers today, so I won't actually be at work.  I'm looking forward to getting with all the other 4th grade teachers from the county to share ideas and make some units.  It'll be a very productive day, I can guarantee that.

Have an awesome Wednesday, everyone!!

It's Crochet Time!!

                                     

                       "The time has come", the teacher said, "To talk of other things".....

A day off from talking class work, lesson plans, and teaching is in order.  As much as I love blogging about my job, I figured it's a perfect day to take a break and discuss another one of my loves: Crocheting. 

I absolutely LOVE cold weather.  Mostly because it's the time of year that I get to curl up on the couch and snuggle in a blanket and create some stuff with some yarn and a crochet hook.  I consider myself a "seasonal crocheter", meaning that I don't crochet all year long.  It's an activity I save for when the weather starts getting cooler, and all I want to do is snuggle on the couch to stay warm.  I'll take cold weather over hot weather any day.  Mostly because of how much I love crocheting, and I don't like to crochet when it's 90 degrees outside. 

Yesterday, as I sat on my patio with my iPad, a cup of coffee, and a blanket, I realized that the time had come.  There was a crispness to the air that told me the cooler weather is moving in to stay, and it was time to start crocheting.  Not only that, but I've got a couple of people at work that are having babies so I need to get started making their stuff.

So, last night after spending the day working, I pulled out a crochet hook, a big ball of yarn, and started creating.  I've decided to start off with a baby afghan, just so I can get my bearings back again.  Even though I never forget how to crochet, it takes just a little while to get my speed and technique back.  I have to start out with something easy before I start moving in to things like hats, mittens, and baby shoes.  Those things require a little more finesse, so I start out simple and work my way up again.  

I spent a couple of hours crocheting, last night, and I still only have about 4" of the afghan made.  That's because I took it apart about three times because I didn't like the pattern.  Being that I often create my own patterns, I often have to rely on trial and error.  My first attempt had way too many holes in it.  The holes were supposed to be there, but I thought about those holes not doing an infant too much good at keeping her warm.  So, I tried smaller holes, and then I thought about her sticking her little toes and fingers through them.  Third time was a charm, and I got rid of the holes and decided to go with little clusters as the main pattern instead.  

One of the teachers I work with is having a baby in December.  Her shower is at the end of this month, and I'd like to have a few things ready for her by then.  The afghan will be one thing, but I also need to make a hat, some mittens, and possibly some booties.  The hat and mittens won't take much time at all, but the afghan and booties take some time.  She's given me her wish list of stuff she wants, and I plan on getting them done for her.  

As bad as it sounds, crocheting saves me a fortune come baby shower time.  What people are willing to pay versus the cost it takes to make some of the things I make is amazing.  Just a few weeks ago, the teacher texted me a picture of a baby hat she had thought about buying.  It had a price tag of $15 on it!  I told her NOT to buy it.  I can make the exact same thing for less than a third of that price.  

Which is probably why I never make any money when I crochet.  HA!

Not that I'd charge her for baby stuff.  That's even better for me.  I can make the stuff and give it to her as a gift, and it helps out both of us.  It saves me a few bucks on buying baby stuff, and she gets the accessories she wants for her new baby girl.  But, I hope she realizes that now that I have a baby to make for, her little bundle will be showered with crocheted goodies from me for a long time.  She'll have crocheted hats, headbands, mittens, and booties coming out of her ears.  HA!

Being that I love to crochet so much, I feel like it's not right to charge someone to make something.  If they provide the yarn, I'll make it.  Simple.  As long as there are no deadlines and I can make something when I can, I have no problem giving stuff away.  

Last year, I did make a few bucks making some infinity scarves.  They were super cute, and it seemed like several people wanted one.  The scarves similar to the one I made sold in the stores for about $40 a piece.  I was shocked!  They cost me all of $5 to make, and I sold them for $15.  I was told by countless people that I was selling them too cheap, and that my time is worth something.  But, I couldn't justify charging for my time when it consisted of sitting in front of the TV, wrapped up in my blanket, doing something I absolutely loved.  

I guess that's why I'm OK with how much money I make teaching.  HA!.. Just kidding.  Not really.

I don't crochet to make money.  It's a form of stress management.  Some people handle stress by doing yoga, walking, squeezing a stress ball, or talking to someone about it.  I handle stress with a ball of yarn and a crochet hook.  The time I take to make stuff isn't really worth that much, because crocheting is a pretty mindless activity for me.  I'm not doing anything that requires mental or physical labor, it's just something that keeps my hands moving while I'm relaxing.

For the last couple of years, I've started out each crocheting season with an idea for something new I want to try.  A few years ago it was hats.  Then I moved in to headbands.  Then it was boots/socks.  Last year, it was infinity scarves.  This year?  I'm just going to make stuff.  Probably, for the most part, baby stuff, but there's nothing new that's jumped out and grabbed my attention as being a new endeavor.  

Oh wait.  Scratch that.  There is something I plan on making at some point that I've never made before.  That would be a stuffed animal.  Being that there are a few babies to make for now, I can have a go at making some crocheted dolls and animals.  But, they're not on my immediate radar.  I'll have a go at them when I tire of making baby hats, gloves, and booties.  

The only thing I have to worry about come crochet season is staying on top of my other priorities.  Being that I love to crochet so much, and I don't do it all year, I often have to force myself to keep up with my other duties.  I often have internal arguments over whether I should be working or sitting on the couch crocheting.  Sometimes the crocheting wins, and then I find myself up late at night working because I didn't get everything done.  I'm going to try hard to not let that happen this year.  I'm going to try and focus on my crocheting being my reward AFTER a hard day's work.  

Being that my crochet season is fall and winter, I have plenty of breaks that I can spend crocheting.  Fall break is coming next week, a month later is Thanksgiving, a month later is Christmas break.  Plenty of time to sit, relax, and crochet.  I just have to stay on my toes during those breaks to make sure I don't get pulled away by the lure of my crochet hook.  

Speaking of, I have to finish up some work this morning.  I better get to doing that, so I can have some time this evening to crochet.  

Have a great Sunday, everyone!! Enjoy this beautiful, cool, cloudy weather... because it's supposed to get bad around these parts tomorrow.  

Time for a Second Job?

                      

Well?  What do you think?  And in case you didn't know, the one on the left is a picture of a crochet pattern I bought and the one on the right is my first attempt at making it.  Think I got pretty close?

I think I NAILED it!!

I am so proud of that scarf/cowl.  Probably one of my biggest crocheting accomplishments to date.  And it all came about by one of my friends posting that picture on the left on my Facebook page asking me if I'll make it.

Over the past three weeks, I have been a crocheting machine.  Trying new things, perfecting older things, and even making up my own patterns.  It's all been for fun, but I've had several people ask me to make them stuff and it's really got me thinking that it's time I branch out and start selling my work.

The same friend that requested the scarf also suggested an Etsy store.  Which is something I may look in to, but I'm thinking that to start out, I'm just going to create a Facebook page and see where that goes.

I've definitely weighed all the pros and cons that goes along with something like a side crochet business.  The biggest pro is the fact that I could make a few extra bucks doing something I enjoy doing.  The biggest con is the fact that if orders do start coming in pretty fast, will I be able to find the time to complete them all in a timely manner.

And I think that's what ultimately led me to starting up a Facebook page.  At least I can post how long an order could take, what I'm working on, and sell stuff I've pre-made in the interim.  I also think that just going with a Facebook page to start would limit my workload...because it takes some time before a Facebook business page starts getting some pretty decent hits.  I can start out with sending it to my friends, and then asking them to post it to their friends.  Get going by word of mouth.

I even dabbled with the idea of starting a crocheting blog, but then I thought.. I've already got two blogs that I keep up with, do I really time for a third? And, would I really be able to write some interesting stuff about the crochet projects I'm working on?  And the answer to both was, probably not.

So, I'm just going to start with the Facebook page.  Which I hope to have done sometime this morning or this evening, and then I'll post a link on tomorrow's blog... so everyone that reads this can visit that page and pass it on to all their friends.  HA!

I did manage to complete the other boot I posted the other day.  Here's the completed pair of the first boots I've ever been able to successfully make...

                               

I have decided to try and make a pair using a loop stitch, that would create a fake fur effect.  But, that's when I don't have anything else going on.  I have already received an order for two more of the scarves shown up top, so that will keep me busy for a few days.

I'm kinda kicking myself that I didn't start the Facebook page about three weeks ago, you know, when I had all that time off work.  But, being that I don't have the best history with sticking with my crocheting long term, I really wanted to get a start on making some stuff and seeing how I felt about continuing once I did go back to work.  And, I have to say that for the first time ever, I see me continuing my crocheting well past the winter months.  I see it as something I'll be doing each and every evening when I get home from work and each and every weekend when I'm not busy with other stuff.

Besides, like I said yesterday, I have  feeling that our snow days aren't completely finished.  Being that we've had two weeks of snow days already, and we usually don't start getting our snow until January/February, I think I might have some more snow days to keep myself occupied with. 

But, today is definitely NOT a snow day.  In fact, we are supposed to see temps get up in to the 50s again.  Yesterday, the temps managed to get in to the 60s!!  I was out about about and shorts and a t-shirts.  Which is crazy, because just one week earlier, the wind chills were in the negative numbers and we were dealing with record breaking low temperatures.  

That's how the weather is around here, though.  Forget life being like a box of chocolates.. around here, it's more like the weather is like a box of chocolates.  You just never know what you're going to get.  And, you can't always find out from the weather channel, cause most of the time that app that I use is sometimes WAY off from what actually happens.

Like I shared yesterday, I'm very excited to get back to it.  I got some new clothes for myself over the break, and I'm ready to put them on and get back in to "teacher mode".  Living in sweats for three weeks has made me fatter and lazier.  I need to move.  I need to interact.  I need life outside the confines of my home.  

And today is that day!

So, now, I can get back to blogging about something that might actually be worth reading.  It won't or shouldn't be the same humdrum each and every day.  Being at work ALWAYS gives me stuff to write about... so that's a big bonus for getting back.

Which it's just about time for me start getting ready to do.

Have an awesome Monday, everyone!!

Something Productive Came Out of My Time Off

                               

That, my friends, is a (not very good) picture of a crocheted baby boot that I made last night.  I haven't started the other one yet, plan to today being that we are on Day 4 of our Christmas break extension.  But, this one boot is an EXTREMELY big deal to me.

I started crocheting about 12 years ago. I know it wasn't long after Butter was born.  I was living in Texas with my ex's dad and step-mother.  She was a crocheter, and the person that got me first started.  She tried really hard to teach me, but being that I'm left handed and she was right handed, it didn't go so well.  So, instead, I bought a beginner's crocheting book and taught myself.  I started off with basic squares, just getting the stitches all down, and then started spreading my wings in to the crocheting world.

Over the past twelve years, I've made countless afghans, baby blankets, hats, scarves, headbands, fingerless gloves, baby mittens, and even beard-like face warmers.  I've very rarely encountered a pattern I couldn't make.

Except one.

And that would be boots.  

I have made one pair of boots in the past twelve years... and I really shouldn't call them that.  They were "bootish".  They most definitely didn't match.  They didn't stand up.  And I would say they were socks...uneven, badly made socks... at best.

I know the reason I've had so much trouble with making baby boots.  And that's because they have to be made with extreme precision and perfection.  One too many stitches, one stitch missing, one minor miscount and the whole thing will collapse. Plus, the stitches are all so tightly made, it's really hard to count the stitches or notice any mistakes until you're halfway in and then have to undo the whole thing because you have no idea where the mistake was.  

The past few days, I've been a crocheting machine.  I've made several hats and several headbands.  Last night, I even made a beard for a guy to wear over their face to keep their face warm.  I was honestly getting a little tired of making the same old stuff.  So, I decided to have another crack at the dreaded, adorable boot pattern I've been saving and dying to master.

And, after about an hour... and only having to take a few stitches apart here and there... I had this tiny, adorable gem in my hand.  

It's absolutely perfect.  From the faux heel, to the foot covering, to the boot top... perfection.  Absolutely matching the picture I had to compare it to.  

I could have cried.  All those years of trying more times than I can even remember to make one, tiny little thing like a pair of boots, and I'm 50% of the way there.  Which is 49% further than I've gotten in all those years.

Today, I will make the match.  And once I've got that out of the way, there will be no stopping me.  I'll be opening my own Crochet Payless before you know it.  Baby boots, toddler boots, adult boots (slippers that look like boots anyway), Mary-Jane look-a-likes, Croc look-a-likes, cowgirl boots, tennis shoe look-a-likes...the shoe look-a-like business will be mine for the taking.

Because, I know that the boot is the hardest of them all.  Master the boot, and the rest are easy. Or should be.  

I have a couple of babies that I know are going to be born this upcoming year, so I really want to make full sets to give to them:  Hat, mittens, boots, and blankets that all match.  Ugg-style boots for girls, tennis shoe style for boys.  I just have to wait and see what style I'll need.  But, the whole set will be the perfect baby shower gift.  

And now, I can actually do it.  

Before trying the boot, I knocked these out yesterday...

                               

                             

I've made so many hats, I can knock them out in no time.  And, I'm coming up with my own patterns for them.  The same way with scarves.  But, now that I'm on to the boots... I'm sure they'll be my focus moving forward for a while.

I'm betting that this will be the last snow day we get.  It's just supposed to be rainy and miserable today, but the temps are supposed to be high enough to do some serious melting.  Then, I'll get to go back for one day and get the weekend off.

I have no idea what I'm supposed to make the kids do for one day.  Not really worth starting brand new units on a Friday.  I guess it will give me a day to hear all about their Christmas breaks, have them do some writing about it, maybe.  Plus, I'll have the chance to review some of the stuff we covered before the break.  So, it won't be too bad, I suppose.

But, right now, I've got to get back to my crocheting.  I'm bound and determined to finish up this pair of boots.  My first pair of boots.  And then let the fun of new creations start coming forth!

Have an awesome Thursday, everyone!!!

Antarctica, Alaska, Arkansas? Who Can Tell the Difference?

                     

Here's a side-by-side comparison on the current weather conditions in North Pole, Alaska (not to be confused with the actual North Pole), Gentry, Arkansas, and Base Jubany, Antarctica.  

If I was giving a pop quiz right now, which place would you pick to be the coldest place on earth?  In Antarctica's defense, it's actually summer there right now... so that's actually really warm for them.  But, still.  It helps to make my point about how stinking cold it is here.  And, some of my friends up north, in places like Illinois, woke up this morning to negative temps far less than what we're dealing with in my neck of the woods.

Thankfully, we got a snow day today.  About 2-6" of snow fell in our Tri-State area, which was enough to close the schools down.  While places up north are perfectly fine with having school with 2 feet of snow on the ground, our area just isn't accustomed to driving on any amount of snow and ice.  But, I am very thankful we got enough snow to have a snow day, because I just couldn't imagine our little kiddos having to walk out to bus stops when this morning the temperature was -4 with wind chills in the negative twenties.  

I stepped outside at 10:50, just to get an idea how cold it was, and the air literally took my breath away.  It hurt to breath.  I just couldn't imagine our kids going to school when the temperature was even colder a few hours ago, and having to stand waiting on a bus to pick them up.  

The high for today is supposed to be 10 degrees, but being that it's almost noon and the temperature is still sitting at 2 degrees, I doubt we'll make it to the 10.  Even if we do reach the 10 degrees, the wind chills will be staying in the negative numbers.  Which means that all the snow that fell yesterday is going NOWHERE.  Even with the sun directly shining on it, there's not the faintest hint of any amount of melting taking place today.

Does that mean another snow day tomorrow?  

Still waiting to hear about that.  But, if I were a betting woman, I'd say there's not a chance we're going back tomorrow.  Tomorrow, the temperature will get back in to a normal range and will melt off everything we have.  The high will be 39, enough to get the roads good and slushy to freeze again overnight.  But, I'm thinking that it will be drivable for us to get to work/school on Wednesday.  

I just can't believe how "OK" I am with us being out of school for another couple of days.  I mean, I absolutely love my job.  Everything about it.  But, there's just something about giving up how much fun I'm having doing absolutely nothing that makes me happy that I get to prolong my break.  

I have really got in to crocheting this year.  I usually get it out each winter, and make a few minor things here and there, but this year I'm a crocheting machine.  I've made several scarves, hats, and headbands already...and I'm excited about making more.  I've been posting some of my stuff on Facebook, and people have been telling me that they want what I'm making.  It's got me all excited about just making as much stuff as I can, and then selling it all when I'm done.  If I can stop myself from just giving it all away.

I'm such a sucker.  The minute someone says "Oh, I like that, I'd love to have it", I get this strong urge just to give it to them.  I start to feel guilty about actually charging a friend for something I've made..that didn't cost me anything to make except the cost of the yarn.  And even that doesn't really cost me anything, because I'm using yarn that's been stored for YEARS in huge tub I got a few years ago.

But, the "samples" I give away, may lead to more customers. So I guess I'll give away the few things I've planned on, and start selling the rest.  I've even decided to set up a Facebook page when I get more "inventory" to sell my wares.  

Right now, I'm cranking out headbands made from our school colors:  Red, black, and white.  I'm making red headbands with white and black flowers.  They look like this, except different colors...

                                

I figure I can surely sell those, and so I'm stocking up on as many of them as I can...and then I'll focus on making more hats and stuff that takes longer to make.  

I've already got a couple of people interested in new hat style I came up with.  It looks like this...

                                

                                

I love the way it came out, but it takes quite a bit of yarn and a lot more time than the other slouchy hats I make.  But, I got a few interested people when I posted this, so I'm going to make more.  This one has already been "claimed" by a friend.  

I've also made a couple of hats that I'm going to donate to a girl that has leukemia.  I saw a posting on Facebook asking for hat donations, so I donated two that I've already made.  

I really need to make one for myself that I will keep.  Each time I make a hat that I really like, I end up giving it away to someone else.  But, I have a scarf/headband set that I made for myself a few weeks ago that I will keep and use until I make myself the hat I want.

Maybe this year, I'll actually be able to get a good stock of stuff ready to sell for next winter.  If I actually stick with it, this time, I could actually make a few extra bucks.  I refuse to charge exorbitant prices for stuff, but anything I make is profit.  When I look at some of the prices stores like Walmart charge for scarves and hats and headbands and gloves (yes, I can make them too), I always laugh.  They charge crazy prices for stuff I can make for the price of a ball of yarn.  

So, why not sell the stuff to people, cheaper than they can buy it in retail stores? 

I'd rather avoid getting in to custom ordering.  Just because that's pressure that I don't want.  I like the freedom of making what I want, when I want.  Of course, stuff like headbands and hats don't really take that long to make, so I'd make some custom headbands and hats if the buyer buys the yarn. 

Anywho, all this rambling is taking away from the time I could be sitting and actually crocheting.  Which means I should get to getting.  I'll be sitting and waiting on that phone call telling me that school is cancelled again tomorrow...maybe it will come, maybe it won't.  But either way, I'll be ready for either scenario.

Have a good day, everyone, and be sure to stay warm!!

Oh, Holy Night

Even though I promised that I wasn't going to blog about the snow anymore, I will say that I'm at home on another snow day.  We also got a little more snow last night, and the temperature outside is WAY below freezing.  The temperature today is supposed to barely get above freezing... if it actually does.. but the sun is supposed to come out, so we're expecting a little melting to occur.  The problem will be, though, whatever melts today will refreeze tonight.

But, enough about that.

Last night, I got to have another Christmas movie night.  It's the third Christmas movie I've watched this year, so far.  We kicked off the Christmas season on Thanksgiving night by watching Polar Express.  On Saturday night, we watched a Christmas movie on Netflix called Saving Santa.  I'd never seen it before, but it was pretty cute.  Last night, I drug Peanut out of her room and the kids and I watched Elf.  My favorite Christmas movie.  

It felt good doing something Christmassy.  I should have been doing something like wrapping gifts, but I haven't quite figured out how I'm going to pull that off with the kids in the house.  I figure that I'm going to have to lock myself up in my bedroom one night and wrap.  Then what I'm going to do with the wrapped gifts so that they stay pretty and wrapped is beyond me.  My new house doesn't have near the hiding spaces that my old house had.  

The Christmas bug is biting at me big time.  I'm not sure if it's because I'm locked up in the house, but I want to get my Christmas shopping finished, BAD.  I just want to know that I've gotten everything I need, and be done.  That includes gifts and stocking stuffers.  I don't want to worry, anymore, about what I still need.   Not that I'm super worried about it, I'd just like the peace of mind knowing that I don't have anything else to take care of.  Especially being that there's only 2 weeks until Christmas.  Then, I can put on some Christmas music, lock my bedroom door, and wrap until my little hearts' content.  Which will probably take a couple of evenings.  Doubt I'll get it all done in one night.

It's been harder than normal to get in to my normal Christmas spirit, because there's been so much going on.  I really wish I was able to let it all out here, it sure would help, but I can't.  All I can say is that someone very close to me is dealing with something MAJOR.  Life-threatening.  And that has caused just a tad bit of extra stress.  

Not just that, but I'm also helping Peanut deal with some stuff.  She's been having a rough time, lately, and she's also been hurt by someone close to her...and me.  It's not fair that a thirteen year old has to deal with some of the stuff she's dealing with.  She also tends to take after me and keep her feelings bottled up inside.  Thankfully, she's got an amazingly close friend that's watching out for her, and she's got me.  

We had a really good talk last night, and she was able to let out a lot of her frustrations.  It hurt my heart to see her so upset about stuff that's completely out of her control, and stuff she shouldn't be worrying herself with.  The problem is, though, she cares WAY too much about what others think of her.  How others see her.  She tries to do everything she can to please people, or watch out for them, or to help them....and it often blows up in her face.  

She really is one of the most caring, loving, genuinely honest people I know.  She gets so stressed and upset because she just wants everyone around her to be happy, even if that comes at the expense of her own feelings.  I just wish that she would learn to let some things go, so she could be happier.  

That's probably why I'm so freaked out about the whole Christmas shopping situation.  Peanut is the one I still need to shop for, and I want to make sure that she has a great Christmas.  Not that the gifts will make or break her Christmas, but it sure would be nice to see some surprise and happiness on her face Christmas morning.  

Other than these meloncholy feelings going on in my house, I've also been enjoying my new crocheting endeavors.  Last night, I made one of those fake beard things I've been seeing a lot of.  It was a lot easier than I thought it would be, and I even managed to talk Jelly in to modeling my creation for me.  I made it in a baby size, so I had to force it on Jelly, but it came out really well...

                                

I've also been working on a new pattern for a scarf that I'm really starting to like.  At first, I was kinda unsure about it, but now it's starting to grow on me.  It's a lot more time consuming than the infinity scarves that I made, but I like the way it looks.  I really need to start working up some beanies and headbands, though, as they are usually the easiest things to sell.  I also have a whole bag of leftover yarn balls that I plan on making in to flowers to pin on to the headbands and scarves.  They can be sold seperately.

Anywho, here's the new scarf pattern....

                              

It's a lot longer than this, now, but I might need to put it up for a while so that I can get the other stuff made.

OK, I feel like I need to go because I'm boring myself from rereading what I've wrote this morning.  I really need to come up with some new material.  My posts seem to be a little all over the place, and a lot of that has to do with being locked up in the house.  As much as I'm enjoying it, it's very hard to come up with riveting blog posts when all I have to talk about is what's taken place in my house over the past few days.

I will make it a priority to write some blog post ideas, today.  Right after writing my plans for tomorrow.  Which I should probably be doing right about now.

Have a great day!

Are Craft Fairs and Online Stores in My Future?

So, I've been thinking a lot lately about selling some of my crochet items.  I've hesitated because I'm not a "professional" crocheter.  I'm self taught, and dabble around in following patterns and creating my own.  I love it, though.  So much that I've made several items these past few weeks and just given them away.  People have called me crazy.  They've told me over and over that I should be selling my stuff... but I don't know if I consider my stuff good enough to sell.

Last year, I made character hats.  They were my thing.  I noticed that all the kids were wearing them, and rather than going out and spending $20 per kid for my own children to have one, I decided to just try making them myself.

These are the first character hats I produced...

Definitely some room for improvement, but not bad at all for my first attempts - especially since I made up my own patterns.

This year, character hats are still "in" and I noticed that sock monkey hats had taken a lot of the limelight.  Butter wanted one, so I decided to try and pull one of those off.  Coming up with this...

The mouth is a little crocked, but an easy fix.  Butter seemed happy with it, anyway.  Jelly, not wanting to be left out, decided she wanted a monkey hat (her favorite animal) but gave me specific instructions.  The monkey had to be wearing a black hat with a pink flower on it.  I'd been making some hats with flowers, and she wanted me to combine both.  OK, no problem...

I think the thing looks terrifying... but Jelly loves it.  She says it looks like a monkey, it's wearing the hat she requested, another satisfied customer.

Because the hats are very time consuming and require lots of sewing and separate parts, I wanted to start making stuff that were a little easier to knock out.  That began my interest in headbands.  I knocked these out in less than an hour each...

Then, a friend mentioned to me that I should try and make some infinity scarves.  I had never heard of them - but after a quick online search I realized that they were in pretty high demand - with pretty darn high prices.  A few days and a couple balls of yarn later, I had these to add to my collection...

Please excuse my reluctant model.  The gray one should be worn a little more bunched up, but Peanut wanted to show off the pattern.  All three patterns are from my own creation, by the way.

And finally, yesterday afternoon, a friend asked me if I'd make him a slouchy hat.  Again, having no idea what that was, a quick search online gave me my answer...and so I made him this...

The back view shot isn't Peanut - I took that photo last night after I was all finished.  Once again, my own pattern, very simple to make, and quite the current trend from what I hear.

I don't think that's a bad lineup of items.  I've also made tons of regular beanies and scarfs and even fingerless gloves. 

So, what do you think?  Am I ready to start branching out and selling items?  Do I make items to order or do I make a bunch of stuff and sell what I've made?

Come on, I know there has to be a few people out there with some advice for this novice crocheter.

One thing I have decided on is that I refuse to charge exorbitant prices.  The price of the yarn plus a couple of bucks for my time should do it.  I'm definitely not going to charge the $20+ prices I've seen these items sell for.

Help a gal out...what should I do?  Any recommendations on how to sell, where to sell, etc. is greatly appreciated.  You don't have to be someone that sells stuff - just a person with an opinion.

Thanks!

My Last Full Week of Work for 2012

So did not want to get up this morning.  Mostly because I stayed up until 11pm last night crocheting.  Never a good idea to stay up until 11pm when your alarm is set for 4:30am.  I hit the 'snooze' button several times before finally dragging my behind out of bed.

I've found a new crochet item I'm trying - and so now I'm all hooked on crocheting again.  I've started making an infinity scarf.  They look like this...

P-Momma told me on Saturday that she really wants one - but they sell for $15-$25 in the stores, and she's not really wanting to pay that much for a scarf.  Yeah, guess who's making one for a total cost of $4... the price of a ball of yarn?  Yep.  That would be me.

And if I'm able to make them and they look as good as I think they will - I'm selling these bad boys.  I could sell them for $10 and still come out with over 100% profit.  It amazes me how much crocheted items sell for in the stores.  Thank goodness I took the time to teach myself how to crochet.

Anywho, I woke up this morning with the realization that this is my last full week of teaching for 2012.  My first year of being a teacher is half over.  It's crazy!

It's hard to think that this time last year, all I really wanted for Christmas was a teaching position.  My own classroom.  My own students.  And I got all of those things and so much more.  It just blows my mind that I have only eight days left of teaching for 2012.

This week, I really want to carry with me how blessed and thankful I am for what I have in my life.  I want to celebrate how far I've come and the struggles I've overcome.  If there's anything I can share with my kiddos this week, it's the story of them all being a very late Christmas present for me this year.

Well, that's pretty much all I've got today.  Sleep deprivation tends to do that to me.  I'm sure I'll have plenty more to say the rest of this week.

Happy Monday!

Oh Yes, That Time of Year is Definitely Upon Me...

It should come to no surprise to anyone that has read this blog for any amount of time that I absolutely LOVE the cold weather.  Not being out in it, just it being cold outside while I'm inside.  In my mind, there's just nothing more relaxing and soothing as snuggling under a blanket with a hot beverage while the cold wind blasts around outside.

I always know when my mind has settled in to "cold weather mode", and that's when I break out my crocheting.

I've been crocheting since Butter was born.  It was a new hobby I wanted to start for myself, and so I completely taught myself how to do it.  In the eleven years he's been here, I've made several afghans, blankets, scarves, gloves, hats, character hats, and have even successfully attempted making boots, slippers, and a poncho.

For years and years I've told myself that I would stop only crocheting during the cold months, and crochet all year long so that I can sell the stuff that I make.  I totally could.  I've been to many craft fairs where crocheted items are sold at outrageous prices - and I can knock out those things in a few hours to a few days.  If I were to really buckle down and stick with it, I could make a fortune at a craft fair.

Last year, around this time, my crocheting stuff made it's appearance.  The item on the agenda for me to try for the first time were character hats.  I shared some pictures a few days ago of some of the hats I made last year.. but in case you missed them, here they are again:

I just know that I took pictures of the boots and slippers I made, but of course I can't find those pics anywhere.

Anywho, what I made last year is neither here nor there.  I have a new desire this year.  A new interest.  And that's with making headbands and hats that have those cute flowers on them.  Last year, the character hats were really popular - but from what I saw at the craft fairs this year, big flowers are the "thing".

So, yesterday, I decided to break out my crocheting stuff and see what I could come up with.  With all the things I have made, I have never made a headband.  Kinda silly, now that I think about it, because they are probably the easiest things to make.

I managed to knock a couple out pretty quickly.  Here are the two I made... the first one is Jelly's and the second one is mine:

I did mine a little thicker, so it would cover my ears.  I would have done the same to Jelly's, but she hates having anything over her ears.  Besides, she's a lot more likely to wear it all day long if it's small enough.  I have to say, I'm pretty happy with myself.  They didn't come out bad at all.  Before I went to bed last night, I tried out a third flower option which is kind of a mixture of the two seen here.  I think it's my most favorite, but I didn't attach it to anything yet.  I'm thinking about whipping out a beanie to put it on, just to see what the hats look like with a flower.

Butter has been on at me about making him a Sock Monkey character hat, and I will eventually... but I want to really get some of these headbands and hats made first.  They make great gifts in a pinch.  Plus, if I stock up on as much stuff as possible now, maybe my craft fair booth will finally become a reality.  We'll see.

Speaking of which, my crochet needle is calling my name already this morning.  Time to get to relaxing on my last day before going back to work, I suppose.