Productivity, Please!

I've been super productive the past two days and have managed to sew:

2 rat hammocks, 

2 no-sew fleece rat hammocks, 

2 pairs of flannel sleep shorts (which have been cut out since November), 

1 pair of flannel sleep pants for my husband (also cut out since November), 

(sorry for the blurry photo - wrong camera settings and an impatient hubby ;))

and a cute summer robe (which has been cut out since last July).

Now I just need to finish the 4 things I already have cut out and I can move on to new sewing projects!  Mainly I need to start working on my garb for the Michigan Renaissance Festival... Wish me lucks!

I'm International!

Hooray!  I've sold an adorable pair of earrings to a gent in Ireland.  Sláinte!

Awesome Knitting / Crochet Program for Android Platform

Sometimes I just can't watch TV, crochet and keep count of my rows. Having invested in a Motorola Bionic, I figured I may as well put it to good use and see if there was a simple program that would allow me to keep track of my rows.Thank goodness for technological knitters/crocheters like Polly McEldowney!  She came up with a great little program for counting rows called "County".  And if you pay $1.60 you can get "Ravulous" which, according to the description, is a program that connects you to your Ravelry projects and has integrated counters.  Apparently, you can have separate counters for each project and access your patterns through the program.  I have yet to buy it, because I am still fond of paper patterns right now...but I may change my mind in the future 8D

County for Android

Adventures on Yardsellr

So - after receiving numerous "1,000,000 Free Photon $s" from a few people on Yardsellr, I decided to check them out.  Basically they provide a space for people to sell whatever they want with a user interface that allows you to set prices, add photos, set shipping prices and import other listings from Etsy and Ebay. There is no charge for listing an item, instead the buyer is charged an additional "transaction" fee which pays for the website's maintenance and fees.

This seemed like a good opportunity to sell my crocheted items, so I imported a few things over from Etsy.  I have received some positive feedback regarding my items and their quality, however, I have yet to sell anything.  I keep receiving comments from people begging to be given Photon $ so they only have to pay shipping and the transaction fee.

The problem is that vendors have to buy the photon dollars. So basically, I am paying people to "buy" my merchandise.  This is not how commerce is supposed to work!  I am supposed to be able to make enough money to cover the expense of creating the item and to compensate me for all of the time I spent carefully and lovingly crafting it.

I don't know how much longer I will stay on the site - I'll give it another month I think...  Here is my page:

Yardsellr

Cotton Candy Anyone?

For the last 5 years, I've been meaning to make an item to donate to my friend, Iris, for the Susan G. Komen 3 Day fundraiser.  Every year about three weeks before the walk, I look at the yarn I purchased (oh so many years ago) and think, "I really should make that afghan square for Iris...".  Then I spend hours upon hours looking for a great afghan square that would fit in with other squares and can never decide which one to make.  Well, this year, I finally gave up - and decided to make a hat and scarf set instead -  which I just finished - YaY!!  I think that it is a very pretty set and it definitely turned out better than I expected.  What do you think?

Made from Lion Brand Yarn Homespun in Cotton Candy

If you wish to donate to the Susan G. Komen 3 Day Walk, 

you can do so at this link: 

Donate to Pinkbubelz Caboose for the Susan G. Komen 3 Day

Adorable Winter Hat

For my niece's birthday, I made her a very cute winter hat in the colors of her university, The University of Mary Washington in Virginia.  The colors are grey and navy.  Once I had finished, I realized that the pattern in the hat matched a scarf I had previously made in grey - et viola! instant birthday gift!

Pattern used for the hat is located here:

http://www.jpfun.com/patterns/free/wearables/f124001addisonhat.shtml

The difference in coloration in the pictures is due to lighting and flash or non-flash usage... I'm still working on refining my picture taking skills 8D

Time Flies By!

I can't believe it has been more than a year since my last post!  I have been very busy and have photos of things I've made.  I will add them in my next post... 

I hope that everyone has a wonderful and joyous holiday season and a prosperous New Year!

My First Craft Show

I participated in my first craft show at the Redford Market at the Marquee on September 25th.  It was very cold and windy - so there wasn't much traffic...  I was very happy, though because I sold a dozen items and received a special order (now just to finish said special order!). 

I will be participating in another craft show on November 20th at Thurston High School in Redford.  Here are some of the items I will have available for purchase:

Free Pattern - Seed Stitch Dishcloth

Seed Stitch Dishcloth

slg studios ©

Yarn: handicrafter's cotton

Hook: H

Dischcloth will measure approximately 7 1/2" square

1. 
   
   Ch 31, turn
2. SC in 2nd st from hook and in each st across (30 sts), Ch 1, turn
3. Sc in 1st st, Ch 1, sk next st, sc in next st, ch 1 sk next st - repeat from across being sure to sc in very last st from previous row, Ch 1, turn
4. Sc in first ch 1 sp, ch 1, sc in next ch 1 sp, ch 1 - repeat from across being sure to sc in the very last st from previous row
5. Repeat Step 4 for 25 more rows
6. Sc in each st across, end off (total of 30 rows).

____________________________________________________________________

Please DO NOT mass copy, redistribute as your own, or SELL this copyrighted pattern.

Please DO feel free to sell any item you make using my pattern, just please credit me as the designer and cite this webpage as your reference.

PS: If you find any errors in the pattern or have any questions about how to work the pattern, you can contact me at slgstudios@att.net

Free Crochet Pattern - The Striped Man-ghan

The Striped Man-ghan

slg studios ©

Yarn: worsted weight arcrylic: 3 - 6 oz skeins of color 1
                                                4 - 6 oz skeins of color 2
                                                   (7 - 6 oz skeins total)
Hook: L
Guage: not important
Finished Size: approximately 40" X 72"

1. Ch 152
2. HDC in 3rd ch from hook and all the way across (150 sts)
3. Turn, end C1, attach C2
4. Ch 2, HDC in 1st st, sk next st, HDC in st following sk st, go back and HDC in sk st (crossed HDC)
5. Continue crossed HDC across, you will have 1 st left, HDC in that last st
6. Turn, ch 2, HDC in 1st st, sk next st, HDC in st following sk st, go back and HDC in sk st (crossed HDC)
7. Continue crossed HDC across, you will have 1 st left, HDC in that last st
8. End C2, attach C1, Turn
9. Ch 2, HDC across, turn
10. Ch1 sc across, turn
11. Ch 2 HDc across
12. End C1, attach C2, turn
13. Repeat steps 6-12 until desired width is reached
14. When desired width is reached, end C2, attach C1, turn
15. Ch 2, HDC across, turn
16. Ch 1, sc across, turn
17. Ch 1, sc across - DO NOT TURN - continue to sc around the outside of the afghan, end off when you reach the beginning.

____________________________________________________________________

Please DO NOT mass copy, redistribute as your own, or SELL this copyrighted pattern. 

Please DO feel free to sell any throw you make using my pattern, just please credit me as the designer and cite this webpage as your reference.

PS: If you find any errors in the pattern or have any questions about how to work the pattern, you can contact me at slgstudios@att.net

Busy Bee

In an effort to become a small business owner - I have been busily crocheting away at dishcloths and other tidbits that I could sell on Etsy.com.  I have several items for sale, but no bites as of yet...

This, however, has not deterred me and I keep adding to the pile of things for sale :)

Though, I have had to start working for the man again... and boy! does it severly cut into my creative processing time... :(

Enjoy the pics of my newest selections:

I Think H#!! Has Frozen Over!

I have finally finished the afghan I began making last year as a Christmas present for my dad!!  Part of the reason it took me so long was because I changed the pattern three times and then decided that I didn't like any of them and consequently wrote my own pattern :D

You can find the pattern on Ravelry here:
http://www.ravelry.com/projects/slgstudios/man-ghan

(This pattern is copyrighted - feel free to download for your personal use but do not reproduce, post, publish, or distribute without permission)

You may sell any afghans you make using the pattern, but please credit me for the design (slg studios)

In the meantime - enjoy a few photos of my beautiful Man-ghan

Latest Additions

Things have been pretty crazy around here with the moving and the organizing and the garage sale and the going out of town - twice...

But I managed to get some crocheting done...

I can't seem to find the pictures of the Berets, handwarmers and scarves I made for my niece... I did one set in the colors of Wellesley (where she will be attending in the Fall) and one set in goth purple and black.  I also made a newsboy cap for my sister-in-law in black and grey and I made my nephew a cute winter hat in black and camo.

For me, I made another cute hat:

My New Summer Rolled Brim Hat

Close up of Rolled Brim Hat

I have almost finished my Dad's x-mas present - a blanket... and I have 4 different newsboy caps just waiting for their brims...  I'll put up some pics when I finish them ;)

I even managed to sew an
apron for washing
dishes!

Now I am getting ready to start sewing some Ren Fair gowns so I will look smashing come August - when our contract begins...  Oh, don't worry - I WILL be crocheting more, and more, and more...

Movin' on up...

Well, it's been a while since my last post, but don't think I have been slacking off...  I have successfully moved into my new home - YaY!, finished 2 more newsboys and a baby blanket (Whew)!  I can finally start finishing up my poor dad's Christmas present (another afghan - yeah I was a little over zealous this year...)


I have also adopted 3 more rats and started fostering a sweet, but precocious, beagle!  And now for the pictures...

Miss Mandy

See ya' next time...