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!