Open for business...finally!

I've have offically opened my etsy store and I'm so excited to start really adding things. I currently have barrett sets listed but I'll be putting on some knitted items (hopefully tomorrow) and other crafts in the weeks to follow. Let me know what you think and how I can improve. Here is the link (and a pic of some of my barretts)

I'll be adding pics and a real link to my side bar when I get the chance just in case you want to pop in and see what new. Cross your fingers for me :o)-

The knitting bag

My grandma (we called her 'Nanny') was an avid knitter. She always had something in the works and she knitted for everybody. When I'd go to her house for the weekends, we'd knit together. She had a HUGE stash of yarns and a giant bag of tried and true vintage patterns to pick from.

When she died many of her things were in disarray. I lived far away, couldn't attend the funeral, but the next time I went to visit my parents I was given Nanny's knitting bag. The pattern books had the same sweaters that I had seen her knit. There were also 2 zip-locs filled with misc buttons, all of her knitting tools, and her scissors. I have since knitted from many of the same patterns for my children and it's really an honor for me. >>fast forward.

So, I was working on a little 'next summer' outfit for girl-1 today and I reached the moment of choosing buttons. This moment is always a reflective time since I get to use Nanny's buttons. I know that when I buy craft supplies I always have a vision of what that item will become and what it will be like on a finished project. I wonder what she imagined for each set and I hope that my vision can make something equally as beautiful as her vision. Props to all of the great crafters out there who took the time to create beautiful things for their families and in turn inspired today's craft creators! She is the inspiration for many of the things that I create. Who is yours?

Confessions of a cheap-skate

When I had girl-1 we had A LOT of boy things. For a cross-over project (from boy item to girly delight) I took an old mirror that had small blue beads around the edge and converted it. With the fake flowers from a sprig that I got on clearance, I glued little flowers around the edge to cover up the blue. I don't really use fake flowers very much at all, but for about $1.50 it turned out fine and was a nice addition to that particular wall which up until that time had been bare.

My eyes, I can't see!

Yes, this is entry to create bling. While not usually my thing, please realize that there is room for creative change in this project while still making this very project. I used to knit a sweater for every baby born in my family (like nieces and nephews) and then every baby born amongst my group of friends/acquaintances....well let's just say that there must be something in the water, either that or I got new friends because all of a sudden there were too many babies and not enough knitting time. I started to make pacifier clips which were cheaper and A LOT faster.

You'll need: Crimp tubes (not beads), fox tail or tiger tail (this kind of wire is crucial. don't get normal beading wire!), needle nose pliers, 11/10 seed clear beads, misc spacers and larger beads. a badge clip, jump rings (these look like mini key rings where you have to feed things around the ring to get them on). Click on the pic below to make it big!

Let me know if you have any questions.