Firsts

So, I am going to attempt to write my first (official) crochet pattern! I have a couple things to tweak and then we'll see! I'm excited! I LOVE this little hat!
What do you think?

LADYBUGS!

Here is my new hat....pretty cute on my little ladybug. :)

Updates

Well, I took my Etsy shop off vacation mode the other day and am attempting.....again....to give it a go
I found this really adorable pattern at thehatandi@etsy and am making up a bunch of these cute hats. Hope they sell!

Aren't they great?! I am so thankful for pattern makers as that is not my area of expertise!

Then, since I've been craving flowers I made up some of pretty spring loving coasters....

So, those are a couple of my new things. More to come!
Check it out at https://www.etsy.com/shop/flutterbuggcreations?ref=si_shop

One other thing I'd like to make .... more blankets like this one I finished a couple of months ago and in different colors. I really loved this pattern.

Project #1 DONE :)

So - my New Year's Resolution (concerning crochet ;) was to make a list of all the projects I have that need finishing....yes, I'm one of those people...with several projects in the works at one time. *sigh* Anyway, I've been working away on my list and here is my first finished project! :) All pinned and drying.

MUG RUGS

Today I am promoting my Mug Rugs.
So far I've really only made them in fall colors but they'd be great in any color...maybe I should branch out?!? :)
Years ago my grandma taught me how to make potholders. Her pattern had been passed down..I don't know how far. It makes those great double thick, nice and sturdy potholders that last for--ev--er!! I love them! Well, a few years ago I decided I wanted some new coaster options and decided to "shrink" grannies pattern to see if that would work. IT DID!! And they are so cute and handy....yes, I'm a little biased! But they really are great!
They make great gifts for college students, teachers, grandparents, GUYS...ok, really anybody that likes a mug of anything hot anytime! :)

GIVEAWAY

I was checking out some "new to me" blogs and found this one:
http://www.deeprootsathome.com/
AND there is a giveaway posted here from the Bulk Herb Store online!! I am pretty new to using herbs but it does interest me, especially with the cost of everything on the rise. I'd like to be able to make things that will be helpful to my family as well as the fact that I love the idea of home made cough syrups and such - so much better for you! :)
The herb giveaway is over tomorrow but the site is worth checking out - I will be!!

MUST CHECK OUT :)

So, this has nothing to do with yarn but is homey like crochet is homey!! :)
You truly must check out my friends (Heather :) blog....at the least....and if you are into being thrifty, saving money on food for your family, pantry stuff, gardening...this is the place to go. And beyond that Heather has just published an eBook with all her Master Mixes for you to use!! LOVE, love, love it! I can hardly wait to try them all...especially the homemade rice mixes (like the mixes you get in the store that have the rice and spices), the Tortilla Master Mix --mmm...homemade tortillas sound just yummy!!! Oh! And the "Instant" Oatmeal Mixes....made from Old Fashioned Rolled Oats...yep, gotta try those!!
                               There is a link to purchase the book on her blog. Check it out! :)

                                          http://www.thewelcominghouse.blogspot.com/

Updates

So, I've been thinking a lot lately about presentation. How I display my handmade goodies in my Etsy shop. How does one show all the beauty of something when the person looking can not touch it? I have never had a photography class...though I would jump at the chance for one! :) Maybe when the little peeps are grown.

Not having ever had a class I am constantly trying to learn better ways to take pictures that speak! 

Anyways - in the midst of all this thinking I had this lovely thought of a way to make my Baby Blanket line a bit more unique and special for the Momma's as well as the Baby receiving the blanket.

So off I went to my local Hobby Lobby store - what would I do without Hobby Lobby??!?!! Probably faint! LOL 

I picked out some pretty ribbon to tie around the blanket and played around with leaving the blankets flat or rolling them jelly-roll style...oooo! The possibilities! 

When I was done with that I made some cute tags with the month for each blanket, the name of the birthstone of that month and then.....my special fun for you mommas....I added a pendant the color of that birthstone to the tag! Ok - so it's a little hard to explain just how cool this is - or maybe it's just me! haha! I think it is really neat and would have loved something like this with the birth of each of my children! How fun!

Ok, ok...I'll quit! But truly - go check it out and here, I'll put a couple pics here for you, too. :) 

Birthstone Baby Blanket

Finished my second, in my new line, of the Birthstone Baby Blankets! It is SO pretty - I'm loving the color and how soft it is.
August's birthstone is the Peridot and this is the closest I could find to that color, a pale green/yellow.
This blanket is made from Hobby Lobby's I Love This Yarn and I really do! LOL This yarn is sooo soft and works up just a tad heavier than one would expect making the blanket a wonderful blanket that will be even more cozy come the cold months.
So, need a  baby gift this month? Here's a great one! Check it out! :)
https://www.etsy.com/listing/106756235/birthstone-baby-blanket-august-peridot

Another

What does one do while trying to recover from pneumonia? Make treasuries on Etsy, of course!! :)
I love the old song, He's Everything To me and especially the line...In the stars His handiwork I see. I do love looking at the stars! It is one of the things I miss the most since moving to the city. I hear there is a meteor shower going on this weekend that should be amazing! Thus the theme of this latest treasury.

 This pretty little star is from HappyCloudMoments at Etsy. http://www.etsy.com/listing/68747956/sapphire-royal-blue-star-necklace?ref=tre-2720609057-3

And these pretty shooting stars are from shoprarebird at Etsy.  http://www.etsy.com/listing/99756300/fine-silver-shooting-star-earrings?ref=tre-2720609057-9

 Treasury Link:
http://www.etsy.com/treasury/NjI5NjIzNnwyNzIwNjA5MDU3/in-the-stars-his-handiwork-i-see

Treasury on ETSY

I created a CUTE treasury today - which isn't hard to do considering all the talent on Etsy. :)
Come on over and check it out. All sorts of sweet little crochet items and lots of fun colors.

 These sweet little butterflies are from oneandtwocompany on Etsy - aren't they wonderful?!
http://www.etsy.com/shop/oneandtwocompany?ref=seller_info

 I love all the bright colors here with these flowers from ZoomYummy on Etsy - love, love! :)
http://www.etsy.com/shop/ZoomYummy?ref=seller_info

Check out the treasury here:
http://www.etsy.com/treasury/NjI5NjIzNnwyNzIzMTcxMTUy/i-love-crochet

American Girl Doll Accessories

So, I've been a little set back this past couple weeks. What I thought was a bad cold turns out to be pneumonia. Ugh! However, since I am just sitting here resting I might as well crochet...right?! Of course right!
My projects are slow going as I seem to wear out easily but I've had fun making a few small things and making progress on the bigger things.
For today - American Girl doll size shoes. Aren't they cute? My girlies are secretly hoping they don't sell - LOL! Maybe I need to make up a bunch for Christmas gifts?! :)
What do you think?

https://www.etsy.com/listing/106612994/18-inch-doll-shoes-yellow

So, what do you think about my latest project?? I'm SO excited about it!! :) So, the headband part is made with cotton so it will be soft of Baby's head. It will have a button on one end so that the band can be adjustable so it will last Ba

by a little longer. The Plumeria is one of my favorite flowers from Hawaii. It is removable so that when Baby outgrows the band the flower can be removed and used as a hat ornament or pin. Oooo! I can hardly wait to get it all finished up but just HAD to show y'all a picture. :)

Birthstone Baby Blanket #1

Here it is!
My first baby blanket in my new line of baby blankets.
I'm calling them Birthstone Baby Blankets. This one is April's - crystal - white with a bit of sparkle.
My aim with these is to have one for each month - obviously :) - and keep them quite affordable. Baby blankets are such a fun gift to give and crocheted baby blankets are my favorite to have. I love this pattern! So lacy and pretty and yet quite....usable! My favorite thing about crocheted baby blankets are the many spaces available - less risk of suffocating with all the available air space. :)
So, if you need a gift for an April baby or you just like this color, check it out!
The next color will be available soon! But, as always, if you have a particular color you'd like that I don't have listed yet, please, just send me a message. I'd love to work with you to get the one you'd like!

https://www.etsy.com/listing/106267566/birthstone-baby-blankets

BLOG SHOWCASE

So, recently my Etsy shop was mentioned on another blog! What an exciting thing for me. :) I am always touched when anyone thinks my little crafty things are sweet enough to share with others. So Thank You to Miss and Mrs. J,  for making my day!
Check out Miss J's sweet Etsy shop here:
 http://www.etsy.com/shop/ArtfulTrillium?ref=pr_shop_more
She is into Clip Art - how fun! :) I like this one - reminds me of one of my favorite Precious Moments pictures from my childhood.

Hair Bun Covers

They're back! Do you know any little girlies who have ballet or dance classes coming up? Why not try out one of these neat hair bun covers? They are made with nylon thread and "Ouchless" hair bands. The nylon thread gives them a little bit of a shiny look. They are also at least 2-3 dollars cheaper than the ones I've seen in dance supply stores! :) Yep, I'm all about a great deal! LOL
Check them out....New colors coming SOON!!

https://www.etsy.com/listing/106003495/hair-bun-cover

New Listing for a fresh new start? I think so! Here is what I've been up to today...well, part of it anyway - between taking care of kids battling allergies - haha.
  Sliver and Purple Star Flower Necklace and Ear-rings

Check out my Etsy shop for more pics and details. http://www.flutterbuggcreations.blogspot.com

FYI

Okay - so I found another lovely blog that I thought I'd share with y'all! I love finding/reading blogs like this one. I really could just sit here all day and read away....except for the little voices in the background asking "what's for lunch, momma?" ;)
So, here it is - http://www.pepperknit.com/ - go check it out! You may be very glad you did!

Summer Catch Up

Well, how are all y'all doing this summer?!?! Staying cool? HA! Not in our "neck of the woods"! It's been 106+ degrees here....hot, hot, hot! We have a big back yard - that my boys are not enjoying mowing right now! - but no one wants to play in it these day...not even on the trampoline! SO - we got a mini pool. Not one of those little kid plastic ones - my kids wouldn't even fit anymore! This one is about 10' by 30" or something like that. All 5 of my little peeps can play at once with enough room to not clobber each other! We've had it 3 days now and they've every one of those days out in it! Lovely! Even I've been out in it a couple time - so refreshing to get into some water during the heat.
On the crafting side of things.... :) ...it's been a bit slow around here. Trying to get odds and ends finished up, some gifts made for weddings, birthdays,etc...Summer isn't as conducive to my types of crafting, at least for me. Plus the kids are not on a regular chores/school schedule so....the crafts can wait - or squeeze in between, if possible! This time with my kids is going all too quickly anyways and I know there will be days ahead that I will have more than enough time to do other things!  Hope your summer is full and rewarding. God bless!

Fun Friday

Well, I've taken a little break with crochet. Need some time to think of some more ideas....and re-gain my motivation to do it! Do you ever get a little burnt out? I find it very helpful to "jump tracks" occasionally! Helps me keep things fresh - guess that's necessary for me after 30 years of making my craft! :)
So this week I am indulging in some embroidery. I learned to embroidery when I was very small. My mom taught me and I remember making a little kitten potholder for my grandma...which, of course, she still has hanging in her kitchen. :) Grandmas.....wonderful people!
This week, I needed a wedding gift and decided on a dish towel with this cute hillbilly couple embroidered on it. I think I may just have to make some more of them for my shop - they are so cute! And I am enjoying the needlework. Today I am working on a cute little chicken - doing her laundry. You now, the cute sets that have a different picture for each day of the week. Anyway, will have to try to put a picture of her up when I have a bit more of her finished.
Then, I hope to make some peach jams and jellies next week. I was able to get a bunch of peaches at my local Sprouts store at a really great deal. They look so pretty!

I do hope your Friday and weekend are lovely. And if you are here reading this.....THANK YOU! :)