Not Enough Lines

When writing patterns in the office I generally type them into the computer as I work, but when working in the living room I tend to write them into my notebook (a real one, with paper in it). I have the Bubbles Dragon pattern on my computer and started working on making one a couple of days ago. I finally got to the head portion, the portion I knew there was a problem with just couldn't remember what it was or where it was.

Moving right along and suddenly I realized there wasn't enough lines written! I had just barely gotten past the nose and there wasn't anymore written down! OMG! What in the world?!

I couldn't figure out if I had just forgotten to write them down or because I knew there was a problem I erased it. I was freaking out that I was going to have to try remember what I did on the first one. My memory is not that trust worthy!

I panicked, I admit it! LOL! I called mom to talk me down from my cliff and wouldn't ya know it, it worked. I got to thinking that maybe just maybe I wrote it in my notebook. Thumbing through the pages and came across one page that had no title on it but thankfully I recognized the sequence and knew it was what I was looking for.

SIGH of relief! 

I really need to be a bit more organized to avoid mishaps like this...just don't know where to begin.

Bubbles and Princess Nagger

For the few years that I did blog on a nearly daily bases, I met some really awesome blog buddies and yesterday was a big reminder of that. My blogging buddy Stacy from Stacy Uncorked did a wonderful blog post on my Bubbles Dragon and her Princess Nagger. Go check it out, the pics of her little girl are soo worth it!

It also reminded me of just why sometimes I push myself to be creative instead of just using someone else creativity to create things. It is very hard sometimes and yes I would just rather follow someone elses pattern than to labor over creating a pattern, but the reward is sometimes soo worth it. The smile on her little girls face is all that is needed to make me smile and continue on. 

And for those who are curious as to why the pattern for Bubbles is not up for sale yet... I found a mistake in the pattern for the face and head and am going to have to wait till I get some free time to work on it. Which will come real soon considering I have two to get done before the 26th of February. Yes, I know...I better get busy!

A little update...

Wow, it has been a long time since my last post. I have been super busy lately filling orders and getting some Christmas presents done. Where I left off... News of a local boutique wanting some of my items in their shop. One owner was all for it, the other owner not at all. So, it was a no go. I was pretty bummed but that's okay, I got over it. We did do the flea market for another two weekends but didn't really make much to make it worth spending booth costs, food costs (from being away from home), gas cost and making my kiddos (dogs) suffer at home with no one to let them outside to do their business. Needless to say the profit margin was too low to continue. In case you didn't know already...Hubby did find a job about 3 weeks ago and we finally got our first little tiny paycheck. Thanksgiving was a bad week to start back to work, slow work and only 3 days. We are hoping things pick back up after the holidays. BUT thankfully with the little income that I have been bring in with my crochet we are able to get by better than we would have. (do I harp on this? I am just so excited for what I have been able to do to help) I appreciate my customers more than I can express. I did run into a small problem over my Monty Moose pattern and I was infuriated for some time. I was messaged by a publisher that my moose was identical to someone else's moose and I was to cease all sales and distribution of the pattern. I was mad, heartbroken and discouraged. I know mine is different but as I was informed it is not obvious to the average browser. So, I have to make an obvious change in the appearance. I was soo upset that week, I hardly got any crocheting done. I hear all the time that folks crochet to relieve stress, I have no idea how they do it! I get stressed and try to crochet and I make mistake after mistake till I am soo frustrated I want to throw my work across the room! LOL! That's all for now folks, be back later.

Great things!

Where to begin telling yall of the great things happening for my little business...

 First great thing was releasing four patterns on my Etsy page... Monty Moose, Gippy Giraffe, Bonnie Bear and Log Dog. As soon as I can get time to do some editing, I will be releasing number five... Harold Hippo. All of this has had me very busy but also very excited.

I had also been preparing for our venture as a vendor at the flea market. Something totally new for me and my mom. We went, greeted, smiled, (smiled so much my cheeks hurt that evening) talked to, listened to comments and suggestions. We did make a few sales but were slightly disappointed. From what we heard from other vendors, they were having just about the same bad luck that day.  We learned a great deal and got a pretty good workout.

That evening the hubs suggested for me to do the small flea market closer to home. So we did. A fairly steady flow of traffic and again lots of compliments, comments, suggestions and a few sales. But hey, I was still pleased with the exposure and socialization (I don't get out much). We plan to do it again this weekend.

Soo, patterns and flea markets... great things happening!

But wait! There's more!

Mom calls me up Tuesday with a sale for the Gippy Giraffe she took with her, ($ money in my pocket, woohoo!)  AND an order for two more! $$ Yes, dollar signs make me very happy especially since the hubs is still struggling to find a job. I get busy right away!

Today my sisters and dad come to get me. Dad brings me money (brightens my day) and I send them away with the two giraffes.

I am already feeling pretty good about all that has been happening for my little business...

BUT today's phone call took me over the moon!

When mom took the giraffe, she also took a monkey that she had already made a sale for. The lady who bought it called me. She had taken my monkey to a baby store and the owners loved it and wanted me to call them about putting some of my animals in their shop!

Yes folks, this old gal did a jig! (scared the hubs a little, it wasn't pretty) LOL!  

Of course the first person I call is my mom. I had to calm myself before calling the baby store, didn't want the shrill of excitement in my voice to scare them! LOL! I finally called and waiting on a list for what they want. I will definitely keep yall updated on how that goes.

Great things...the smile on my face is starting to hurt but I don't care...smiling away!

Sharing from my Favorites List

Since I am so completely bored today and am not going to pick up my hook till later this evening (so I will have something to do while watching tv), I thought today would be a good day to share with you some links on my favorites list. Lets start from the beginning of the unsorted favorites, that list is long so we I will only do a few.

I love this simple little baby blanket. She doesn't post a pattern but it looks easy enough. Just crochet the length you want, on your 2nd row do *sc for 16 sts, fp sts in every other st (8 times)* repeat to end and desired height of color.  Change colors and repeat the pattern in reverse.

Such a simple pattern and yet it looks so elegant. It can easily be made bigger for a throw for the chilly nights ahead.

Wouldn't you know it! Number 2 on the list is no longer available, hate it when that happens! Since the pattern isn't available the page opened up to Craftsy all patterns, naturally I found something to catch my eyes! LOL!

The perfect Cowl w/ flower
Isn't this just gorgeous?  I love the color and from the pic it looks really soft. Sorry it is a purchase pattern but I'm sure some of my more experienced readers could whip one up in no time. Nice gift idea!

Check this out!
Finger Saver Too cool! Not sure how good my tension would be at first but I bet after awhile it would work nicely.

Friggin eye candy is every where, distracting me! Lets move on.

Well #3 is refusing to load, no idea why, it was a Red Heart pattern - Brillant Butterfly Pillow (just in case you want to see if you can load it. I thought it would make a great gift for one of my grand daughters or nieces.

I thought this square pattern was unique and different so I saved it for future use. BUT now that I have reopened this page, I see she has some very beautiful designs that I am going to have to go back and check out.

Just love these Tp covers! Just a little something to hide to unmentionables.

Then of course there is Stephanie's Garden Party Tic Tac Toe game.  Perfect for those long trips or visiting the relatives who don't have any toys or just want to engage the kiddos in something that doesn't involve a screen.

I'm sure you will find at least one of these will end up on your favorites list too! Yes, I am an enabler! LOL!
Happy Hooking!  :)

Monty Moose

Two weeks ago I was browsing through my "Not Mine" folder on my computer. It's all the stuff I run across and save the pic with the hopes to one day to try my hand at it. So I ran across a pic of a moose and thought...I'm gonna make that.  I got to work on it right away! I actually was smart enough to write down what I was doing, most of the time I just do and have to go back and try to remember what I did.

After getting rave reviews from the fabulous Facebook crocheters and several requesting the pattern, I got to work on... downloading the pdf format, organizing the pattern to make it appealing and readable, converting it to a pdf. 

I had a drawing for testers and crossed my fingers and held my breathe as I sent them out. I sat around checking my emails and Facebook practically every hour waiting to hear how things were going. One minor issue did get found and was promptly taken care of.

At last I have my very own pattern!

I am still extremely excited, it has been up for sale for a week already!

Click HERE to purchase.

I hope everyone enjoys my pattern as much as I do, I had fun in the whole process of getting it made up and ready for sale.

Ramblings of a Crochet Slacker

Today has been one of those days where you know you need to get things done but the "want to" is just not there.

I currently am working on:

An order for 5 dolls (cartoon characters). I have three done, the pieces for the fourth doll are sitting in my tote waiting to be put together. All the yarn, felt and stuffing for those dolls are sitting on my office table, thankfully those still have a little more time left on them before they are due to be done.

I also have two bags that my mom asked if I could finish for her, those need to be done sometime in the next 2 weeks .

Pieces of a baby's pillow bear have been sitting behind me for almost two weeks waiting to be put together.

A Kitty is in the works but that is slow going cause I am writing the pattern as I go, so my table next to my chair in the living room is covered with the yarn for that, along with papers of my scribbles.

I looked around this afternoon and said "That's it, I can't take this mess any longer!" I went around gathering all the left over yarn, scraps, supplies and was putting it away in my somewhat organized craft (Ok fine, it is a yarn closet) closet only to find the three unfinished Monkey Loveys that I was doing in a crochet along.

I also signed up for a Christmas Ornament Swap that is due to be done in two weeks also. Spent most of the day browsing through patterns looking for that something that screams "Yes, make me". I did find one but still need to find one more.


So, I guess you could say I am feeling a little overwhelmed and it is nobodies fault but my own. I want them all to be finished right now! LOL! Mostly cause I have soo many other projects running through my head just waiting for their chance.

Good news... is I just finished the bear! haha