gift orders...

Quick post to say my hooks are producing full-steam ahead... I haven't had time to post about my new chenille colors yet... or post any new styles as I'd hoped... I probably won't get the new styles up until after the holidays :(

So I just wanted to mention that I'm running at about 1 to 1 1/2 weeks from order confirmation to shipping/delivery or pickup - so please keep that in mind when placing orders for the holidays!! ...please order as early as possible... I really want everyone to get their "stuff" in time!!!

Happy shopping!!!

Mary-Jane Slippers!!!

I'm so excited to finally post the mary-jane slipper. I bought this pattern some time ago but when I made my first pair there was a major design flaw - every time I took a step my toes would pop out the top... it was like flossing your toes... not a pleasing quality in a slipper! I shelved the pattern for a while...

Eventially I decided that they were so cute that they deserved some re-working to make them the awesome slippers that they were meant to be!! I'm so glad I did because I am in love with this pattern - they're not your grandmother's slipper... ;)

Specs - ultra-stylish mary-jane shape - 100% cotton slipper - double layer sole for added cusioning - firm upper provides just the right balance of support and flexibility - strap keeps the slipper securely where they belong - super comfortable - sizes XS, S, M, L (fits aprox 6, 7, 8, 9 respectively) - $25.00 a pair. Great gift idea!!!

Now for the fun part - there are so many color options and combinations, here are a few examples! I'll be posting them to my website very soon!

..."The" interview

Well... I'm a little late on this one... about a week in fact... :) I've been hopelessly sick and more or less non-functional... which set back the slipper production! :( ...incidentally I should have some pics of those to post this wknd!!! YAY!!

Anyway...back to the topic at hand... Carol from Freckleface Photography (http://www.frecklefacephotography.ca ) contacted me about doing an interview on her blog. She's doing a series of posts called Workin' Woman Wednesday - and I was her first "real" interview!! ...it was lots of fun to answer all her questions and I totally love her idea - uh....why didn't I think of that??? :) I find it personally encouraging to know that we're not alone out there trying to succeed as business women, all the while juggling a great many things! It's also a great way to find out about all these interesting businesses and the women who front them! YAY Carol... I just read your second interview and can't wait to read more!!!

If anyone wants to check out my interview you can proceed to the following:

http://frecklefacephotography.blogspot.com/2008/11/workin-woman-wednesday.html

Boys...boys...boys

There is a serious lack of crochet patterns for boys, but I bet I didn't have to tell you that! I loved the scarf with tassles that Pyper made (with a little help) so much that I decided to make a boy hat & scarf set based on it!

I bought a couple balls of this great multi-colored yarn with dark green, grey and taupe - I bought it for something else entirely but though it would lend itself perfectly to this project. It's SUPER soft!

Since I have only a small amount of this yarn I can only offer two of this set, first come, first served! ...The hat fits a size 18-20" - it's nice and plyable.. the scarf has the loop to keep it in place around the neck. They are very easy to care for, machine wash in warm water and dry on low heat - but I do strongly, strongly recommend washing and drying in a laundry bag to prevent any snags from other clothing. The cost for the 2-piece set is $45.00.

Stay tuned for those awesome slippers I mentioned in the Pyper post... they will be making an appearance soon!

Miss Pyper's first project!!!

Pyper just finished her first crochet project... i'm so excited for her!!! She wanted to make a scarf for "Auntie Crystal's other baby" she said as we were in the store shopping for yarn. The "other" baby is the one that has not yet been born. So we picked out this icy blue alpaca blend, it's super-soft!

Through many evenings she sat in my lap holding the hook with her right hand while I guided the yarn with the left - complete teamwork. I must admit I sneaked in a couple extra rows for her here and there to speed the process a little!!! I did the finishing and added the tassles and she's so excited to box it up and take it over!

My next project is these great slippers - so she says - "mommy can you teach ME how to make slippers". I told her it's pretty hard to which she answered, "I knowww that, I want you to teeeeeeeach me". How can I say no to that? I suspect she's going to jump right in with both feet just like her mom!

I can't wait to post the new boy set that I just finished last night, and those fantastic slippers, they haven't even hit the website yet and I've already got a bunch of orders!!! :)

mmmmmmmmm........ butter........

oops... I`ve been seriously delinquent in the posting department... our move proved to be more unsettling than I had expected, but I`m here, catching up on orders and trying out some new stuff!! ...I love new stuff!!!


I was in touch with my chenille supplier and placed a BIG order...yay!!! ...yarn... I`m trying to get some of the popular colors that I`m running (or have run) out of and of course a few new ones to add. It`s funny when you`re in the realm of ordering yarn by the pound, rather than by the ball... I asked her how much i can fit in one box... and she said not more than 50 pounds.... 50 pounds... holy cow... that`s like 1 1/2 Pypers ...of yarn...


Carol (freckleface photography) was in touch with me a couple weeks ago and sent me an image to see what I could do with it... as a result I made a newborn ``pod`` ...I LOVE it and hope it works for her! It`s out of this great dill colored bamboo yarn...melty soft!!! I love these opportunities, getting to step outside of the ``box`` and create a pattern from scratch, especially the photography props, since they`re not my norm... hopefully I`ll have a great shot of it soon to post!



Just finished a hat order... (above) a chenille berry hat, they`re so adorable...I really like making them, and they are so cute on... the shade I used was one I forgot I had (the larger ``the stash`` gets the more amnesia about what`s in it) :) ...anyway, it`s butter.... soft, smooth, cuddly... butter... I hope the intended recipient loves it... `cause I sure do!!!


I hope to have the berry hats added to the website soon, a few people know I do them and have requested them specifically even though they`re not yet listed. I`m also planning to add newborn boxed gift-sets...like the one I did in the Cotton Candy pink (post below) I figure one for girls, one for boys and one neutral... so easy for gift giving, it`s all there for you, all you have to do is wrap!!!



Oh, I almost forgot.... I`m offering Gift Certificates now!!! ...sometimes it`s hard to make choices for someone else so now you can let them do the deciding... They`re available in denominations of your choice, $15 minimum.

Mourning the loss...

It is with a heavy heart that I report the untimely loss of cotton candy.

She was born in North Carolina, at a manufacturing plant, it was not an ideal environment for her beginnings. Once she had "served her purpose" her owners auctioned her off to the highest bidder which is when Cotton candy entered our lives. She was welcomed with open and loving arms into our family. She had a beautiful color and had a fine disposition, always soft and gentle, and so flexible - willing to do whatever I asked of her. There is not a person that she encountered who didn't share a love and appreciation for her many favorable qualities.

Cotton candy will be greatly missed! With a little help she managed to pull herself together for one final project, her magnum opus before she met her tragic fate.

Here's to you cotton candy! I will miss you more than you know!



PS - I couldn't figure out why all the pictures i took of this set came out hazy... just discovered little fingerprints on my lens... thanks to P!!! I think she's an aspiring photographer! :)

PPS - Cotton Candy was my pale pink chenille yarn.

Confessions...

1. I have a large stash – and I don’t mean moustache! My yarn collection could rival any respectable yarn store.
2. Although I have this large stash, I still buy more yarn!
3. I regularly beg my husband to take up crochet so I can increase production.
4. Acrylic chenille is one of my favourite materials – it can be tricky to work with but is so soft and cuddly I can’t resist.
5. I have an addiction to Slurpees and Kraft Dinner (I know! It’s bad!!!!)
6. Every time I come up with a design idea (crochet, home, sewing, scrapbooking...) i'm terrified that i'll never have another good idea.
7. I'm starting to teach P how to crochet, she's 3 - child labor isn't all bad is it??? ;)
8. I'm excited about my business and terrified at the same time. Hopeful it will be successful, afraid it will be successful...i'm an exercise in contradiction!
9. I am a birth junkie, facinated by the natural, unmedicated & properly supported process. I read about birth, I watch shows about birth - and not the baby-story type, the natural, raw kind. If I had a chance in life to go back to school it would be to become a midwife.
10. I take crochet projects out with me...i've even been known to crochet at red lights while driving... ssshhhhhhhhh, don't tell!
11. I'm a perfectionist when it comes to my work - i'll tear something out and start over 10 times if it makes it come out better in the end... it pains my husband to watch!
12. I love my family of 3!

lift off........

Today I lauched Paper Raisins' new look! ...a new face with lots of new images. It's been quite a while in the works and it's nice to have it done...ish...!!!

Of course there is lots of great stuff to come...fantastic new patterns, color options etc... but it's a start. A lot of my stuff is in storage right now since we're moving in October... and moving us means Paper Raisins is moving too.

I am so excited that in the new digs - I will have my own dedicated space to create! ...I've picked out the color scheme and can't wait to impliment it...it will be fantastic to have creative and soothing surroundings in which to do what I love doing! I only wish it didn't have to be a part-time passion. I feel like Clark Kent - during the day working an 8-4 then morphing into Superman when I get home! ...well, maybe not super"man" ...more like super"mompreneur", it's a lot of work to try to juggle!

Anyway...enough babbling... enjoy the new look, new site and new styles...and keep your eyes peeled for more great things to come!

Images

I had a lunch meeting with Carol (freckleface photography) yesterday and we exchanged goods! I am now in posession of stunning images with which to reconfigure my website, I can hardly wait. Here's a sneak peek at a few images...

Of course, my girl...
Are his eyes not stunning??!!

I really hope that Carol is as happy with her handmade props as I am with her photographs. I'm still in the process of finishing up the last hat, I made one each for her three girls. The last of those is in the works and I picked up some fantastic ribbon and a clip to use on it, since I'm told she's not a frilly girl it's more tailored. I really hope the girls like their hats once i'm done...

I can't wait to get the ball rolling on the new website!

PS - an extra special thanks out to my fantastic "models"...they did so well and are absolutely gorgeous kids!!!!

...Making it work

This post is a test of sorts! I'm taking issue with the fact that when I post pictures along with my text for some reason my spaces between paragraphs mysteriously disappear. Incredibly frustrating!!

So I thought i'd give it another go and make it worth my while by including a pic of a sweater from a set I made for a client. The style was requested in this fantastic color for her neice's baby after she met me at a local craft show.

It's a pattern I really love...Auntie was thrilled with the results and hopefully mom was too. The set was hand-crocheted using the most melty-soft acrylic chenille... a weakness of mine!!!

Here's hoping the spacing stays put!!

OH...MY...GOODNESS... apparently paragraph spacing was too much to ask... what does a girl have to do to get a single blank line between her paragraphs??!!???

Kayla

Well, a trip to the emergency room on Friday afforded me the time necessary to finish up this hat for Kayla. She's the unborn child of one of my daughter's daycare workers. I'd save the hat until after she's born but her mom isn't returning to work after, so no better time than the present.

I made this Cloche Style hat from acrylic chenille and sized it to fit her at about 3-6 months, so she should be good-to-go for the fall/winter, provding her head circumference co-operates!!! I had been saving this fantastic plum chenille for something special. I broke it out for Carol (frecklefacephotography.ca) to make a newborn hat and decided that it would be lovely for Kayla too! I have such a small amount of it that i'm really trying to save it for special projects!

Hope the hat is a hit!!! :) ...and i hope that somewhere down the line i get to see a picture of Kayla in it!

All Good Things

...must come to an end... so the addage goes!

We returned home last week from Florida. I'm not one for heat or the sun... but I had a great time anyway. We took P to Disney World - she was blown away! We sat outside and watched a show - walked, walked and walked - got her face painted, shopped... and tried to get her in for a Princess Makeover in Cinderella's casle... unsucessfully - they were fully booked...for a year...!!

She enjoyed her audience with the princesses!

She was in awe of everything, and so was I, right along side her! Disney is a truly a magical place!

My knitting needles were working busily in my spare time, preparing a prototype of a wrap to use at newborn photoshoots. Fingers crossed that Carol likes the result! ...and of course true to my addiction I had to check out the local stores for yarn. As if my yarn stash isn't big enough already!

Home means a snap back to reality - fixing our condo for sale... but eagerly anticipating the move - where I will have a room for my studio! I am so excited to be able to have a space dedicated to my craft - I can't wait to decorate it - i've got the design all worked out. If only I didn't have to wait until October! :)

Esther

Just in the nick of time I finished the hat and scarf set for Esther. After painting my upstairs hallway's second coat I hit the hook hard... up late putting on the finishing touches, and none too soon either. The retirement party for is this morning and I just got it wrapped and boxed, whew!

I think it's her, it should be a big hit! ...in fact now that it's done I want a set for myself...

Congratulations on your retirement Esther... you deserve the break!!!

WOW!

Okay so here it is...

...Carol posted a sneak peek of pics from the Paper Raisins photo shoot we did about a week ago (check them out on http://www.frecklefacephotography.blogspot.com/). So - now i'm officially embarassed!!! All the pictures I have posted on my website currently (that I took myself), most of which were in my house, all with flash and artificial lighting... hee, hee...oops... with colors that are definitely NOT true to life... oh, my... it is a sad state of affairs... I should really focus on the crocheting and leave the photography to Carol!!! :)

Well, I guess we do the best we can with what we have at the time... but these photos are amazing... the kids look fantastic and Auntie "C" looks awesome too ...as usual! :) I am so looking forward to getting these up on Paper Raisins!!!!!!

"P" loved the pics of herself... acts like a goof in front of the camera for me, but does great for Carol...and when I opened the blog page and she saw the picture "About Me" section, it was, "Hey... that's my best friend Carol!".

Well, back to crocheting I go... I'm on my lunch break at my "day" job and working on a hat/scarf set for a friend! ...i'll post a poorly taken photo of it (LOL) when i'm finished!

L-A

Beginnings

It looks like things are starting to take shape.

Months and months...and months ago I registered my business, but have done very little with it. Until today... I had a photoshoot with some amazing kids, and a fantastic photographer, Carol (freckle face photography). My daughter calls her the Carol that takes pictures (she knows a few Carols).

The moms had a blast with all the wardrobe changes, trading of clothes and most importantly... great hats! The kids did fantastic and I can't wait to see the result!!! I am so looking forward to what i'm positive will be amazing pictures to help showcase my wares. And i'll be feeling extremely humbled about my current product shots (sadly, taken by me) versus Carol's artistic talent!

A huge, HUGE, HUGE thanks to Carol for making today so painless... I had such an exciting afternoon!