Luvbuzz Handmade: Anything Handmade

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

2012-11-22T12:34:00.002-08:00

Hello and Happy Thanksgiving. Today I am thankful for my two beautiful children and my [mostly] wonderful husband ;)

I thought I'd just hop on here really quick for a brief hello among the festivities. We'll be laying low today and having an intimate holiday dinner with just the four of us!

Now for the matter of Black Friday. I wasn't sure if I would be doing anything in my shop this year, but the spirit of giving has moved me and I've decided to run a promo for free domestic shipping. The sale was supposed to start tonight at 12 midnight EST, which would be 9pm here on the west coast. But I decided to just go ahead and activate the coupon code now so, here is what you'll need to get your free shipping....

First go to my shop at www.luvbuzz.etsy.com and then pick out whichever lovely items may appeal to you. Once you are ready to checkout, simply type in coupon code FREE12 at checkout and poof, your shipping will indeed be free!!!

Not residing in the US? That's okay, I can offer my international customers 10% off your entire purchase with coupon code TAKE10 at checkout!

In the mood to buy something other than crochet? Well hop on over to Etsy's home page where you will find tons and tons of wonderful shops featuring the best in handmade lovelies all on sale in recognition of Black Friday and Cyber Monday!!!!

As for me, I just might come up with a clever new discount for Cyber Monday. Or I may do nothing at all, I guess we shall see.

Now I'd like to share a few of my newest treasures with you and then I'll be on my way.....

https://www.etsy.com/listing/115788396/hipster-slouch-hat-crochet-purple-with

https://www.etsy.com/listing/115347874/slouch-hat-in-dark-charcoal-gray-with

https://www.etsy.com/listing/114566975/crochet-slouch-tam-hat-in-sage-green

Okay, that's just a little peak of what I've been up to over the past several weeks! Now I'm going to get off of this computer and spend some quality time with my family.

Have a safe and happy holiday!!!!!

Happy Crafting :)

Bees....

2012-09-25T16:18:00.001-07:00

Good afternoon and happy Tuesday! Now lets just jump right in....

I recently decided to start updating the photos in several of my 'older' listings. You see, when I first set out on my Etsy journey, I had no clue what I was doing as far as listing and photographing go. So, what I considered to be a great photo at the time is less than acceptable to me now.

Alright, so today I went through my inventory and pulled out several hats that need updating. I got my camera ready and made sure I had plenty of memory to shoot away. At this point it is very important that I tell you of my extreme fear of bees, wasps, hornets, yellow jackets, basically anything that flie around making a buzzing noise that can also sting me. In preparation for any photo taking, I always put on a hooded sweatshirt to protect myself from the flying insect brigade that plagues my front yard. And everyone knows the best light for photo taking is, in fact, outside!

So in addition to pulling out my hats and having my camera at the ready, I put on my hooded sweatshirt in spite of the unseasonably warm weather we're having and set out to brave the outdoors. Because I am terrified of stinging insects, I am always hyper aware of their locations at all times. Well, wouldn't you know that the second I walk out the front door, a giant yellow jacket flew right past my head and landed on my fence in the exact spot I was going to set my foam 'model'. I, of course, hightailed it right back into the house and decided I could wait until later in the day to take my photos.

I did set up a backdrop near my largest and brightest window and update a couple of listing though. So today I will share my new and improved listings and photos with you.....

https://www.etsy.com/listing/67534068/red-crochet-slouchy-tam-beanie-with

https://www.etsy.com/listing/106489595/snowflake-granny-square-slouch-crochet

Now, I know my fear of bees and such is rather absurd and a tad exaggerated in nature, but it is what it is. I find this ailment becomes worse and worse the older I get. I literally run from the house to the car anytime we leave to go anywhere! My husband is an avid hiker and I refuse to go on any hikes with him during what I consider to be "bee season" aka, any time of year when the sun is shining and the rain is non existent. My ideal hiking conditions are on a dark, grey overcast day with the threat of rain at any second. But then again, I like walking in the rain anyhow. I'd be happy if it rained all of the time. That is why I left Southern California for the beautiful state of Washington to being with. Well, one of the reasons.

Okay, now you know my secret. Hopefully I will have some new items to share the next time around. I am almost finished with the merino wool gloves I mentioned in my last post. And I still have not heard back from my friend regarding that other pair of gloves....

That's all for now! Have a fantastic Tuesday and happy, happy crafting :)

The Great Glove Debacle

2012-09-19T16:27:00.001-07:00

Okay, so here's my story...

Shortly before my daughter was born, this past June, a friend of mine from out of state wrote and asked me if I could make her a custom pair of opera style gloves. I told her that I could and we agreed on a price. A few weeks later I received payment for said gloves and set out to begin my creative journey. At first she had wanted them in gray, so I purchased gray yarn and got to work. After completing the first glove, I realized that they just would not work. The yarn was far too thick for the half finger style she was going for. They looked nice but the fingers were rather awkward on account of the yarn being so thick. It was like having those little toe separators that they use in the nail salon between your fingers instead. So I promptly emailed my friend and told her I needed to get different yarn because the yarn I had was just no good for this project. She then told me that she had decided she wanted a different color [chocolate brown] after all anyhow so it was no big deal.
Prior to this pair of gloves, I had only made half finger gloves a couple of times and I quickly realized that my mistake was in using worsted weight yarn instead of sock weight. The sock weight is much thinner and has a light amount of stretch to it, making it perfect for finger and half finger gloves.
So I went out and purchased the proper yarn in the proper color and set to work again. At this point it had been almost a month and I was getting very close to my due date. I was feeling quite exhausted on a regular basis and my productivity level was at about a -10. My friend was understanding of my inability to work as quickly as I would have liked and told me not to rush.
Fast forward several weeks....
Now I've had my daughter and am finally recovered enough from my c-section to start getting some work done again! First on the agenda is these gloves. I felt so bad at this point for taking over 2 months to complete something that should have been done within a couple of days. I sat up till all hours of the night making sure I got these gloves completed. And on the second day, they were done! They turned out even better than I imagined. I was so excited to take some photos and email my friend! So at around 11pm or so, I made my husband take photos of my modeling the gloves and I sent my message off into cyber land.....
And then I waited....
and waited...
and waited...
A week passed with no word from my friend and I was becoming quite anxious about the continued passing of time. I decided to just mail them off after a week and a half came and went. So I packed them up all pretty like and headed to the Post Office. Now I feel I must tell you that I almost never make it there during normal business hours and am quite a fan of the automated postage machine. I find that it's much more pleasant going at 10pm when no one else is around and the lighting is slightly dimmed. It is both eerie and peaceful. So, I head to the Post Office as mentioned before and of course, it's after hours and wouldn't you know it, the stupid machine that I've come to know and love is having some sort of malfunction! It looks like I'll have to try again the next day....
Guess what? Still not working on day two which is also a Sunday so I figure surely they will have it fixed by Monday night...
NOPE!
After three attempts I am feeling quite defeated. And I still haven't heard from my friend.
And then it happens....
The following morning I wake up and check my email as usual. Finally, I see a reply from my friend. I click on the email full of anticipation of all the happy comments I expect to see. WRONG!!!!!
It seems I got the length of the gloves completely wrong! I made them so that they come to just below the elbow, she wants them to just below the armpit! I wanted to bang my head against my desk repeatedly. Now it all makes sense. The reason I was unable to deliver the gloves was because the gloves were not meant to be sent.
Now what? I quickly weigh my options....I can either make an entirely new pair of gloves which will require the purchase of even more yarn. Or I can just refund her the money and call it a done deal.
Well, I'm pretty stubborn and I don't like to leave anything unfinished. So I decide, I've come this far with these accursed gloves, I can see this thing through to the end. I thought about adding rows to the gloves to adjust the length, but this would leave an odd seam where the original starting row was and would just look well, wrong. The only option is to start all over again. But I don't even know if my friend wants that at this point. For all I know, she's so fed up with waiting almost 3 months now for these gloves that she just wants her money back! :/
So I've now emailed her once again and told her I am willing and able to make a whole new pair in the proper length but I will need an arm measurement to ensure a proper fit.
That was over a week ago.
Nothing....
I decided to go ahead and buy more yarn so that if and when I hear back, I can get started right away. I wish I could start now, but I really need those measurements. I can't tell you just how happy I will be when these gloves are packed up, shipped off, and out of my hair for good!
Alright, that was story err rant for the day....the moral, confirm all aspects of a custom item prior to starting the project even if the customer is someone that you know. When my friend asked me to make her opera gloves, I just assumed she wanted the length to go to the elbow...I was wrong.

In the meantime, I've listed the original pair of gloves for sale in my Etsy shop. No use in letting a perfectly lovely pair of gloves go to waste :)
So, here they are in all of their glory.....

https://www.etsy.com/listing/109500199/extra-long-crochet-fingerless-gloves

I've added a new shop section just for gloves as well and have been happily working away at several new pairs over the past week or so. I figure, I might as well be productive while I wait :)

Feel free to stop buy, take a look and/or spread a little love my way. Here are a few more styles I've added...

https://www.etsy.com/listing/109300989/unisex-crochet-fingerless-gloves-wrist

https://www.etsy.com/listing/109637774/unisex-fingerless-gloves-wrist-warmers

That's all I've got for you today. I'm halfway finished with another pair of long half finger gloves that I'm making with a merino wool blend, self striping, sock weight yarn. They are going to be quite lovely and I should be sharing the completed product in the next couple of days.

Until then, have a great Wednesday and happy happy crafting :)

Happy Labor Day!!!

2012-09-03T14:40:00.001-07:00

Well, a lot has happened since my previous post. First off, I had my baby. She's a beautiful little girl named Willow and she weighed in at a whopping 9lbs 11oz! Needless to say, I had to go the c-section route for the second time. My beautiful little Willow was born on June 14th and is now two and a half months old (already)! Over the past few weeks, I've finally been able to get a good routine down and start being productive once again. I have tons of new items to share!

Alright, here are just a few of my newest creations! I've been on a bit of a roll these past few weeks. Making up for lost time I suppose...

https://www.etsy.com/listing/108378125/crochet-art-doll-clover-ooak-plush

https://www.etsy.com/listing/108192495/zombie-owl-halloween-owl-plush-crochet

https://www.etsy.com/listing/108113883/halloween-owl-plush-crochet-owl-in-black

https://www.etsy.com/listing/107622478/water-lily-crochet-accent-pillow-throw

Just a few of many creations since my recovery. You check out the rest of my shop with my newest creations at http://www.luvbuzz.etsy.com. I am also having a Back to School Sale that is going on through September 11th. The sale is for 30% off of everything in my store and coupon code is BTS2012 !

In other news, I recently added Direct Checkout to my shop which means you now have the choice between PayPal or a direct credit card purchase through Etsy. Alright, I'm off to continue working on my second art doll. She's currently missing a leg and is in desperate need of hair and clothing after that so I must scurry along as there is much to do before the day is through!!!! Have a fun and safe Labor Day and happy, happy crafting!!!!!

Baby Brain...

2012-03-09T12:11:00.000-08:00

Good moring/afternoon! I hope all is well in your world today. I've got a lot going on, first off tomorrow is my baby shower. It will be a fairly small affair with a few family members. Since we moved to Washington from Southern California a little over 2 years ago, all of my friends are still down south and will not be in attendance. I really have no experience with this sort of thing and my husband and I are hosting said shower so this should be interesting. Hopefully I don't bore everyone too much.

I've also been receiving and fullfilling custom order requests. I just finished a pair of little baby booties that look like high top tennis shoes for a close friend. I'd post pics but I was in such a rush to get them created, packed and shipped that I didn't have time to take proper photos.

Next up is a custom pair of fingerless gloves made from lambs wool for an old co-worker. I haven't started on these yet as we just finished the "negotiating" process. I'll be posting those for sure once they're done.

I've also got a cupcake pillow for another close friend in the works. Which I am extremely excited about. This one is going to be super fun to create.

And last, but certainly not least, I have a custom owl stuffie for a repeat customer of mine. This one I'm also super jazzed about because I just love making those little owls so much! They're so darn cute, I can't help myself. If I didn't keep myself in check, I'd have a shop full of nothing but owls.

So I haven't had a moment to create anything new for my shop in the past few days. But I was quite busy at work last week so I will share a few of my newest creations with you today....

First off is my new keychain obsession (which inspired my friend to ask for the cupcake pillow). They're super cute, fun to make and are a nice lower priced addition to my shop. All are under $20 and I've already sold one....

http://www.etsy.com/listing/94420250/crochet-heart-plush-keychain-in-spring?ref=v1_other_2

SOLD 3/5/2012

http://www.etsy.com/listing/94422271/crochet-plush-ladybug-keychain-ready-to

http://www.etsy.com/listing/94515056/red-mushroom-toadstool-crochet-plush?ref=v1_other_1

http://www.etsy.com/listing/94513680/strawberry-plush-crochet-keychain-ready

http://www.etsy.com/listing/94580629/plush-crochet-cupcake-keychain-stuffie

Alright and the last recent item I've completed is this sweet little slouchy hat in a wonderful blend of spring pastels....

http://www.etsy.com/listing/94342330/spring-pastel-rainbow-striped-crochet

This one is great because the yarn is a nice light weight and smaller gage variegated cotton, acrylic, nylong blend which makes it super breathable and easy to wear year round!!! You can pick this up at my etsy shop: http://www.luvbuzz.etsy.com/ or by clicking on the direct link above or right here: http://www.etsy.com/listing/94342330/spring-pastel-rainbow-striped-crochet.

Okay, I've got a ton of cleaning and re-arranging to get done before tomorrow's festivities so I must be running off for now so I will leave you with my latest treasury curration.

Happy crafting and enjoy....

What I've Been Up To...

2012-02-27T16:19:00.001-08:00

Okay, so per the usual these days it has been forever since my last post. Let's just chalk it up to being 6 months pregnant with a 22 month old who requires almost all of my time. Now add to that setting time aside to keep creating products to put up in my Etsy shop, networking, team participation, treasury making...well I'm only one person.
Since it's been so long since my last post I thought it would be much easier to create a few private treasuries to share all of my latest creations with everyone. Otherwise, I'd have an extremely long post made up mostly of photos and product tags. So I've set up two different treasuries showcasing everything I've made since my last post (not counting items that have sold or were made outside of Etsy) and then I went through good old craftcult.com to get the embedding code :)
Without further ado, here are my newest items....

The really cool thing about this is you can click on any photo within each treasury and it will take you directly to the product page! Much more convenient than pasting in a bunch of links to click!!!

Now, I would never normally put my own product in a treasury list but this is what I consider to be a "special circumstance" just so that we're clear! I find it a bit odd when others make lists that include one or many of their products but hey, to each his own!
I've also made quite a few legit treasuries over the past week that I would like to share with you. For now I'll start with one or two, there is just so much great stuff to find on Etsy, sometimes I get a little treasury crazed. Here are just a few of my current fav's, enjoy...

Alright, I'll be back as soon as my time and energy allow. Until then, have a great Monday, a fantastic week and happy crafting!!!!!

Step Into My Office....

2011-12-06T17:38:00.000-08:00

Happy Tuesday evening! I'm feeling rather pleased with myself right now as I just finished organizing all of my yarn and other various supplies, along with all of my finished product in my little coat closet! We recently moved and half of my stuff has been trapped in boxes for the past couple of months. I'm extremely happy because our new home has a pretty good sized coat closet off of our living room and my wonderful husband has allowed me to take it over as a makeshift supply closet/office. After getting all of my goodies unpacked, I've come to the conclusion that I just may have too much yarn! As if that were really possible. I've taken a few photographs of my organization project just to better share my yarn madness with the world...

I know, it's a little out of control. But at least now I can see everything easily which makes finding just the right color a breeze!!!! I doubt I'm the only person with limited storage space and an excess in supplies.

I've also finally completed the last of the few custom orders I had lately. This one was another in the theme of the skull but in solid black with a grey skull applique...

And finally, I had a moment to add a new item to my Etsy shop today as well. It's a little mustard yellow plush owl that is just the right size to be used for a stocking stuffer...

http://www.etsy.com/listing/88047082/small-stuffed-plush-crochet-owl-stocking

Cute right???? You can pick him up for that special someone @ http://www.luvbuzz.etsy.com/ or by clicking on the direct product link http://www.etsy.com/listing/88047082/small-stuffed-plush-crochet-owl-stocking.
I plan on making more of these little guys in various colors over the next few days. I think they are just so adorable. And they make great desk buddies. I have a little brown one sitting here with me at my computer everyday. I will be posing more links and pictures as the week progresses. I hope to get several more completed before the Christmas shipping deadline of December 20th. And, don't forget, you can pick this guy up for 15% off if you order him before Dec. 20th with coupon code "XMAS2011".

Alright, I've got owls to make along with a pair of slippers for my nephew so I must be moving on for today!
Until next time, Happy Happy Crafting :)

Happy Holidays

2011-12-02T17:20:00.000-08:00

Alright, so we all survived Thanksgiving and the Black Friday-Small Business Saturday-Cyber Monday rush.
Or should I say lack there of for my shop at least. Well, I can't say it was a total bust but I didn't do half as well as one would think. It seems that since the holiday season has officially begun, my views have plummeted to near nothing! During the four day discount shopping extravaganza I offered free shipping on all domestic orders in my Etsy shop. I made two sales and one was an international customer so they didn't even use free shipping. On a quick side note, this was my very first international order so I was pretty excited about that. They bought a sweet little purse all the way from Australia. I had my husband run it off to the Post Office for me, which turned out to be not such a great idea. He shipped it First Class with no insurance (the opposite of what I asked him to do) simply because he was not paying attention when I explained to him that the customer had paid $15 in shipping so cost was not an issue in this case. Anyhow, I ended up refunding most of the shipping to the buyer as a result. I'm hoping they get their package in time for Christmas. Lesson learned: never let someone other than myself ship my mail for me!
Needless to say, those two orders were the last my shop has seen every since! I just completed a custom order for a toddler hat that has been two weeks in the making! My supplier was out of the yarn I needed which meant I had to order it online, which caused a huge delay in the whole creative process. Luckily this customer has been a really good sport about it. I normally like to get custom items completed and shipped within 3-5 days of payment. I also aim to ship out all of my "ready to ship" items the day of or next day from the time payment is received.
I've also recently completed a custom order for three hats that I received through my facebook profile. I'll upload those photos later in this post. It's for a mother, father and baby matching color scheme set with skull appliques. I was REALLY excited about this order because I have been wanting to create my own crochet skull applique for quite some time and just hadn't had a moment to get to it. They came out even better than I envisioned. I will definitely be doing more hats like these...

Mother's Hat

Father's Hat

Infant's Hat

Okay now for my current promotional situation. I am offering 15% off on all orders placed in my shop www.luvbuzz.etsy.com by December 20th! The coupon code for this promotion is "XMAS15" or "XMAS2011". Just enter either code in the little box at checkout.

I'm hoping that all of my fellow small business owners and Etsy sellers are having much more luck with the holiday sales rush than I seem to be so far. And I'm still feeling optimistic that my traffic will pick up within the next couple of weeks.

Right now, I'm off to make some special items for a few family members and perhaps a little thank you gift for the kind and very patient customer who's been waiting two weeks for her toddler hat!

Until next time...Happy, Happy Crafting!!!

A Quick Little Word

2011-11-19T23:28:00.000-08:00

Okay, I know...it's been FOREVER since I've posted once again. Well a lot has been happening. My husband got promoted which entailed a transfer soooooo we had to move from Olympia down to Vancouver which is about 2 hours away. We're finally getting all settled in from that mess. And man do I hate moving but we've upgraded from an apartment to a duplex so I can't complain. It's kind of wacky but in a good way, the stove and refrigerator are seriously from the 70's (the fridge is yellow, the stove is chrome)! Good thing I love vintage, it goes rather nicely with my retro 1950's table I've been lugging around for years.

Also, I recently found out that I'm pregnant with my second child. Hurray...yep about 10 weeks or so now. So I get to go through all of the lovely symptoms that go along with that such as nausea, exhaustion, fatigue, migraines, and constant hunger. To top it all off, my husband has decided to share the lovely winter cold-flu bug that he caught with me. What a nice guy huh? So now I'm dealing with extra headaches, nausea and exhaustion on top of what I already had. But I'm not complaining. My life is pretty blessed and I'm sure this bug will pass hopefully somewhat quickly.

In the midst of all of this chaos, I've still found some time to get a few new goodies created and posted so, I'll be sharing a couple few with you and then I'm off for some much needed rest. But one more thing before I get to that, I have finally broken down and started up a twitter account for luvbuzz so you can either click on the little widget at the top right of my blog home page or you can follow me here: twitter.com/luvbuzzhandmade.

Alright, now for the photos and product links before I shut down for the night....

http://www.etsy.com/listing/82600092/crochet-plush-turtle-stuffed-animal-toy

http://www.etsy.com/listing/82464011/large-stuffed-crochet-owl-in-pink-with

http://www.etsy.com/listing/85972181/crochet-slouchy-tam-hat-with-bobbles-in

http://www.etsy.com/listing/86141290/sophisticated-owl-crochet-earflap-hat

http://www.etsy.com/listing/86503910/convertible-crochet-fingerless-glove

Alright, there are a few I left out but there's always tomorrow or the next day. More colors in the convertible mittens are coming soon. Being sick has made me a little less productive than usual but I will get to it as I've already sold two previous pairs that I made in a relatively short amount of time. I think it's safe to say that gloves are the must have item right now!

Until next time, good night and happy happy crafting :)

OlyTeam Treasury Challenge #8 "Nesting"

2011-09-13T14:01:00.000-07:00

Hello, what a fantastic day this is turning out to be. The sky is slightly grey and the slightest of breezes is gently dancing through my windows carrying with it the hint of a crisp fall chill! Man I love this time of year. I can't wait to dig out my Ugg's and get all bundled up in my winter gear!!!
Today I'm going to be sharing with you my latest treasury that I have put together for the team treasury challenge hosted by one of my Etsy groups. It is a local team for Olympia and surrounding areas and we have a treasury challenge up to 4 times a month. At the end of each challenge we vote for our favorite and the winner gets to be featured on the team blog! Then they get a mandatory feature in each treasury curated in the next team challenge. So the winner for last weeks challenge was our very own misschristiana @ http://www.misschristiana.etsy.com/ and www.facebook.com/olympiahandmade ... please feel free to stop by and give her a "like" and check out some of her handmade crochet lovelies. As last weeks winner, all treasuries for our current challenge must contain one item from her shop. The theme for this week is "Nesting" and this is my take on the theme with a fabulous crochet throw blanket from misschristiana herself, I hope you enjoy...

Please take a moment to stop by and show my treasury some love!!!!

Alright other than treasury lists and team discussions I have been busy gearing up for the coming Make Olympia market!!!! I can't believe it's in just a few more days! I have what seems like a million and one labels to sew into various hats and such. Next time I'll be smart enough to label as I create!

That's all for today, happy happy crafting!!!!!

New Etsy Group and a Treasury

2011-09-10T13:51:00.000-07:00

Good afternoon and welcome! It's been quite a while since I've had a chance to get on here. I've been so very busy preparing for the coming marketplace I'll be participating in on the 17th of this month! For those in the state of Washington or the Pacific Northwest, the market is called Make Olympia and the direct site for this market is http://www.makeolympia.com/. I am so very excited and a little nervous to be a part of this. It is my very first market and has been one of my personal goals to get involved with public markets and local happenings!

Alright, on another note, I recently joined a new team on Etsy called The Etsians of Facebook Team! It is fairly new and already has hundreds of members. This team is really great because they provide a venue for free marketing advise and support for each others Etsy shops and facebook pages. In the few days I have been involved I have seen a 500% increase in traffic, shop hearts and item hearts for my shop. I've even sold a few items that I know would not have reached my customers if not for the exposure this team has generated! Anyone can join, and you don't even have to have a facebook account to become a member. If you are trying to make your way in the world of online sales through the wonderful site known as Etsy, I strongly recommend that you join this team! Here is the direct link to the team Etsy page....
http://www.etsy.com/teams/10355/etsians-of-facebook.

Okay, the next thing I would like to share with you today is this wonderful treasury list that a fellow EOF team member curated featuring my crochet rainbow purse as well as other team member items. Please take a moment to go to this link and click on the little heart next to the listing. The more love we can get the better!

And finally, I would like to share a few pictures of some of my most recent items....

http://www.etsy.com/listing/81279762/crochet-leg-warmers-with-stash-pockets

http://www.etsy.com/listing/80676174/womens-crochet-newsboy-tam-cap-beanie

http://www.etsy.com/listing/79586663/crochet-pumpkin-hat-beanie-with-earflaps

Okay, that is all for today. As always, all items are available for sale through my Etsy shop @ http://www.luvbuzz.etsy.com/!!! Feel free to drop by to share some love. In the future, I am planning on going through all of my new member shops and featuring a few a week to help spread a little of the love and because there is just so much great stuff out there that we miss due to lack of time! Until then, happy happy crafting....

Cotton Purse...

2011-07-05T11:00:00.000-07:00

Good morning and happy day after the 4th!!!! So I promised to post pictures of the purse I was working on but I just haven't had a chance to get on here until now! I am happy to say that the purse is complete and it turned out even better than I had hoped for.....

Available for sale @ http://www.luvbuzz.etsy.com/

http://www.etsy.com/listing/77070154/lavender-cotton-crochet-purse-with-rust

Pretty cute right? I love the finished product. I made a flat bottom with an insert to give it more structure and I used an alternative fiber for the strap which gives the look of a leather strap without the cost of leather cord :) I do plan on fashioning a strap with leather one of these days but it really is rather costly. I also lined the purse with a heavy textured fabric and finished it off with a snap closure! I think this is my favorite purse so far.

Okay, now for some really exciting news.....Luvbuzz is going to be participating in our very first public market in September and I cannot wait. I am elated and totally freaked out at the same time! One of my goals for Luvbuzz has been to get involved in the public market scene and now I'm finally diving in! The market is a one day affair so I figured it was a really great way to get started with vending. Now I just need to keep the creative juices flowing to create as many masterpieces as I can between now and then. Those of you in the Pacific Northwest should check it out, the event is called Make Olympia and they are holding markets on three separate days (one per month), July 16th, August 20th and September 17th! For more information you can go to their website @ http://www.makeolympia.com/. And for those of you who are interested in vending as well, they are still accepting applications! I just can't wait to see all of the creative things everyone else will be selling! I live right down the street from the market location and I plan on checking out the goods on the July and August dates as well. I really wanted to vend at all three but I decided not to get ahead of myself since I still have so much preparation to do!

Alright, that is all I have for you today! I must get back to work so that I have plenty of product in September! Have a great day and happy crafting!!!!!!

Hairclips and What-nots....

2011-06-28T15:06:00.000-07:00

Good afternoon and a very happy Tuesday to you! So as I mentioned in my previous post I have become obsessed with making newsboy style hats lately and I've been able to crank out quite a few over the past couple of weeks. I am currently working on a variegated one in blues and purples that I think will be quite lovely if I ever finish it. Do you ever have a giant thunderbolt of inspiration just slap you over the head seemingly out of the clear blue nowhere? Well that is exactly how it always seems to happen for me and it happened again a few days ago. I was lounging on my couch, just staring at the wall when I had this wonderful vision of how to solve a purse strap dilemma I have been mulling over for some time. I've shared a few of my crochet purses in the past and they are an absolute joy to make. Of all my creations, I love the purses and hats the most. Anyhow, I have trying to think up new and exciting ways to do the straps out of materials other than yarn without losing the handmade integrity. You see, you can buy a large variety of ready made straps at Joann's or any other craft supply store but I didn't want a ready made product. So now I believe I've come up with a great plan and I can't wait to try it out! The only problem is, I'm in the middle of making this newsboy hat and I have to finish it before I can move on! That's just the way I am. So now it seems as though this hat is taking forever and a day to finish! Ho-hum, I'm about halfway there and if I'd stop sitting in front of the computer and get to work, I could be in the process of my next purse creation in no time! For now, I'm going to share with you the barrette/clips I mentioned in my previous post. I made them with cotton yarn because it tends to be a bit stiffer and has a cleaner, more crisp finish. I hope you love them as much as I do. I'm also going to share those pictures of my last two hats as well.....

Lemon Meringue with turquoise

http://www.etsy.com/listing/76696918/chunky-ribbed-crochet-newsboy-hat-in

Pistachio with Pink Rose

http://www.etsy.com/listing/76504295/chunky-ribbed-crochet-newsboy-hat-in

Both hats are available for sale in my etsy shop. For a limited time I am offering an exclusive coupon for my readers for 15% off your entire purchase at my etsy shop! Just use coupon code "BLOG15" at checkout! And now for the flowers.....

http://www.etsy.com/listing/75895916/crochet-100-cotton-spiral-rose-hair-clip

These are currently available in sets of three! They are made to order in any color combo you'd like from the color choices shown. If a larger quantity is desired I am more than willing to accommodate with a special order!

Alright, that is all for today! Wish me luck on my almost completed hat and my new purse idea! I will of course be sharing the finished pictures of both. For now have a fabulous Tuesday and happy happy crafting!!!!

Today I'm participating in....
http://www.todayscreativeblog.net/

http://www.makingtheworldcuter.blogspot.com/

Hello, Hello...

2011-06-23T00:05:00.000-07:00

Oh my, it has been a very long while! Things have been a little hectic around here but I have been creating plenty of fun stuff. My newest endeavor has been newsboy hats. And as usual, I just had to do them my own way. I taught myself a few new stitches and then I invented my own method for creating the brim. The first few that I tried didn't turn out so hot, but I was persistent and I finally found the formula that works for me. I'd share it but I am currently selling the hats on etsy and I'd like to keep the exact design all my own. So many people sell hats and beanies on etsy these days that I have to keep whatever edge I've got! I'm sure you understand. Alright, now to share my latest creations with whomever may be peeking in on me this time around......

newsboy in mint and chip

made to order in all sizes

http://www.etsy.com/listing/75718359/custom-chunky-ribbed-crochet-slouchy

solid blue newsboy, ready to ship

http://www.etsy.com/listing/75830782/solid-blue-chunky-crochet-newsboy?ref=v1_other_1

I've also added a few more slouchy hats to my shop with variations of the same ribbing technique I used on the newsboy hats above and a cable stitch as well. I'll be posting more of my items in my next blog. It seems no matter what I do, I can't get away from the world of crochet. I love macrame and painting and so many other crafts but I've come to find that crochet is just my niche in life and I'm perfectly okay with that! I'm constantly in search of new methods and techniques to learn and I hope I never stop learning and growing in my craft! Tomorrow I'll be sharing some lovely flower barrettes that a fellow etsy seller inspired me to create as well as the slouchy's I mentioned and my latest newsboy featuring a large rose! The newsboy is complete and in the process of being listed in my shop but my camera died just as I was uploading the images I took of it, so I'll have to wait to share with you and to make it available for purchase. Alright, that's it for my this evening. Have a wonderful night/morning and happy, happy crafting!!!!!!!!!!!

Happy Memorial Day!

2011-05-30T10:05:00.000-07:00

Alright, so I'd like to start off by saying happy Memorial Day and happy Monday! Today only I'm having a 20% off sale at my etsy shop! You can get 20% off of your entire purchase by using coupon code "MEMO20" at checkout! If you don't know how to get to my shop, here's the link: http://www.luvbuzz.etsy.com/!!!
Okay, now for what I've been up to these past several days............well as I've stated before, I'm focusing my spare time on jewelry and purses for the summer season. That is when I'm not busy with custom orders. I recently did an order for a solid crochet cuff bracelet in natural hemp for a fellow etsy seller....

I have also recently received my shipment of colored hemp that I ordered so this bracelet order inspired me to do some more hemp crochet! It's such a fun alternative to macrame and creates a slightly more solid piece. I've been trying to create at least one new piece a day. Lately it's all been in the Rasta/Reggae theme. Here are my most recent crochet jewelry creations all of which are available at my etsy store.............

Extra wide cuff with lace up tie closure...

http://www.etsy.com/listing/74937320/crochet-extra-wide-hemp-bracelet-in

Cuff bracelet with Magnesite peace symbol and tie closure...

http://www.etsy.com/listing/74991289/wide-crochet-hemp-rasta-cuff-bracelet

Anklet with lace tie closure...................

http://www.etsy.com/listing/75036303/crocheted-hemp-anklet-with-tie-closure

I've also managed to get a few necklaces done as well. My husband also made one using a really cool pretzel knotting detail and Jade beads!!!!! It came out really cool!!! I don't want to overwhelm the reader with too many photos at once so I think I'll save the necklaces for another day. You can always check them out at my etsy shop if you just can't wait! Alright, I'm going to get back to my son and my much needed coffee! Have a wonderful and blessed Memorial Day and happy crafting!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Greetings and Salutations....

2011-05-21T20:06:00.000-07:00

Alright, it's been way too long since I've had a chance to get on here. I am happy to report that I have finished all of my custom orders for the moment. The last one was a pair of toddler hats I made for a very cute little girl. One was a sock monkey and the other an owl. Don't worry the pictures are going up in one moment! Both hats turned out so darn cute that I decided to add them as made to order items in my etsy store. Not to toot my own horn too much here but I seriously amaze myself with the things I can accomplish on my own without a pattern! It just goes to show that if we believe in ourselves, anything is possible. I've also purchased a few more beads since my last post, but I'm waiting on a shipment of hemp before I create anything else jewelry wise. And if you were wondering, my Cthulhu came out very nicely as well. What the hay, I'll post a pic of that too. I made the most charming paper mache box for it also, unfortunately I forgot to take a picture of that before I shipped it! Alright, I think I covered everything I've accomplished in the past few weeks! So here are my pictures and I hope you enjoy them!!!!!!!!!

Owl hat with flaps

made to order @ http://www.etsy.com/listing/74394419/custom-owl-hat-made-to-order

girl sock monkey @ http://www.etsy.com/listing/74394084/custom-sock-monkey-hat-made-to-order

boy sock monkey @ http://www.etsy.com/listing/74458651/custom-sock-monkey-hat-made-to-order

Alright, those are all of my etsy items! The girl sock monkey hat was just to cute, I had to make one for my son and post that one to my shop also!!!! And now for the Cthulhu..........

And that's all I've got for now. Pretty cute for a science fiction alien creature huh????? Happy Saturday and happy happy crafting :)

Hello Wednesday...

2011-05-11T16:43:00.000-07:00

Alright, alright so it's been a while since I last posted! What can I say, I've been busy, busy, busy. I just finished up on an owl I was working on. I'm preparing to mail out an order for one said owl, one stuffed and completely crocheted doll and a card!!!! Yes I was very excited about selling my very first doll. She was really fun to create and she's going to a great home.....

This is " Darla " and she's the very first in a line of dolls I plan on creating over the next year or so. I just love how great she turned out and I really loved making her. I'm so very happy that someone out there thought she was just as special as I do. Now she's all packed up and ready to be shipped off to her new home. She even comes complete with an ID tag that I initialed and numbered. I can't wait to make another but I just don't have that kind of time at the moment. As I have previously stated, I have been focusing on my macrame jewelry and crochet jute and yarn purses. I admit that I have gotten a little bead crazy these past few weeks. It's all I can think about anymore. And it's impossible to create anywhere near as quickly as my mind is thinking up new ideas. In the middle of this wave of creativity that has overcome me, I find myself in a constant state of custom order requests these days! It's good to be busy, that's for sure!!! So right now I'm working on a stuffed, crochet Cthulhu (which is a sci-fi invention straight from the mind of H.P. Lovecraft ) yes I had to look it up. It's for a friend of mine for his birthday. He's a bit of a nerd but aren't we all??? Once I have conquered that project I have to immediately begin work on two baby hats that were requested a couple of days ago. Whew and all the while I need to be creating at least one item of jewelry for my etsy shop!!!!! Like I said, I am a busy girl. AND...my business cards have finally arrived which makes me very happy!!! I'll have to scan one in to share with everyone. Alright, I have now exhausted myself just thinking about all that needs to be done soooooooo that's all for now. Happy crafting :)

P.S. I am currently offering 10% off for new customers at my etsy store. Just use coupon code "TAKE10" at checkout if you are interested!!!!

It's Friday!!!!

2011-05-06T12:42:00.000-07:00

Hello and welcome to another wonderful Friday morning! It's been a few days since my last post, I've just been busy with all of the macrame. In fact, I'm thinking about what I want to make next at this very moment. To me, hemp and macrame jewelry is just so perfect for the spring and summer seasons. And it is just so amazing the beautiful things you can create with a little knotting and a few pretty stones and beads. I've recently added quite a few items to my etsy inventory, so I'll be sharing those with you today. I also have a pretty good promotion going for my facebook followers, so please, become a fan so I can spread the love even further. Alright, here's some of my most recent creations and yes, I most definitely do custom orders on the jewelry as well.....

the pendant is a beautiful Yellow Jasper piece

http://www.etsy.com/listing/73410773/yellow-jasper-on-blue-hemp-necklace

this one is made with a Lampwork glass pendant

http://www.etsy.com/listing/73428934/hemp-necklace-with-lampwork-drop-pendant

this is a custom listing http://www.etsy.com/listing/73478811/custom-macrame-skull-necklace-made-to

this pendant is also Jasper

with cylindrical glass bead accents

http://www.etsy.com/listing/73480878/red-hemp-macrame-necklace-with-jasper

this pendant is ceramic with glass accent beads

http://www.etsy.com/listing/73497463/hemp-necklace-with-skull-charmpendant

Alright, that's all I've got for everyone today! Please take a moment to check out my shop and feel free to message or comment! And, don't forget to like my page on facebook, there's a like button directly to the right of this post! Thanks for reading and happy crafting :)

Happy Tuesday Morning..

2011-05-03T10:31:00.000-07:00

Good morning and welcome to another day! I'm so very happy because yesterday afternoon I finally located the box of necklaces that I hid from myself some time ago! A few years back I was on a macrame kick like no other and I made up a ton of necklaces. Of course I didn't know about etsy back then so I didn't really know what to do with all of the stuff I had made. And so it all got stuffed in a container for a later date. Then I set up my shop and I couldn't find this loot for the life of me. Now that I've found it, I can put my mind to rest on that note at least. I also took a little time to make up a necklace with one of the beautiful Ocean Jasper beads I purchased at Shipwreck Beads a few days ago. I think it turned out to be quite lovely.....

And yes, this is available on etsy @ http://www.luvbuzz.etsy.com/. Along with a few more from my stash which I will share. I have several of these Ocean Jasper pieces. Each one is unique and the colors are different from piece to piece.

This one is being sold as a set........

Alright well that's all I have to share with you for now. I hope you enjoy the rest of the day! Now I'm off to find a project so I have something to share with everyone tomorrow!!!! Happy crafting :)

Monday, Monday

2011-05-02T13:42:00.000-07:00

Good afternoon and a very happy Monday to you. I finally finished up the large jute purse I was making. It is crafted primarily of 3-ply jute twine cord with 2-ply jute accents! I added a few little jute flowers just for fun!!! I have to say that the finished product has well surpassed my expectations going into this thing. That's how it is so much of the time. I have a vague plan of what I want to make and then I just sort of let the item create itself. I am extremely proud of this bag and the jute material makes the structure very sturdy and heavy duty. The thicker jute cord was so intense to work with that I don't see myself making another one of these bags. Thus, it is a true one of a kind creation. My hands are all torn up, but it was worth the pain. And here are the pictures of my completed product....

As usual, I have posted this for sale at my etsy shop for anyone who may be interested! This was one of those projects that I had a hard time "letting go" so to speak. I have a strong attachment to everything I create, but some are harder to put out there than others. All I can ever hope for is that whomever they may belong to in the end will love each piece as much as I have!!! Now to decide what I should work on next. A few days ago, my husband and I finally made it out to this local bead shop we've been hearing a lot about. It's called Shipwreck Beads and it's located in Lacey, Washington. Let me tell you, I have never been so overwhelmed in my life! They have such a huge and wonderful selection of beads it was amazing. I mean every type of bead you can think of and more. Glass, wood, pewter, stone and the prices are really good. If you're into beading or jewelry making of any kind please feel free to visit their online store @ http://www.shipwreckbeads.com/. You won't be sorry, although your pocket book might be! So, I think I just might make up a few hemp necklaces out of some of the Ocean Jasper I purchased there! Until next time, have a wonderful Monday and happy crafting!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Parties I have participated in today:

A word from our advertisers:

Saturday Rope Burn

2011-04-30T10:39:00.000-07:00

Hello, good morning and happy Saturday! I haven't had any coffee yet this morning so I'm just going to jump right in. I was so inspired from the jute I've been working with that I decided to make a couple of crochet bracelets with it. What can I say? I just couldn't wait for my back ordered neutral to come in the mail. So I made two!!! Then I decided to take a trip to Joann because I remembered seeing some of the natural jute there before and I was really wanting to make another bag. Well, they had the jute but a larger gage than I have been working with. I got it anyway but man, talk about rope burn! I actually ripped of a small chunk of skin from my left forefinger and I'm only about halfway done. It's going to be a really cool bag when it's done but quite laborious in construction! I have to wear a band aide from this point on but sometimes you have to bleed for your art! I think when it's complete, I'm going to make a few little flowers out of the smaller gage jute to adorn it with. I can't wait to see the finished product!!! Alright, for now all I've got to share with you visually are the two bracelets, I think they're pretty cute!

As always, both bracelets are available at my etsy store @ http://www.luvbuzz.etsy.com/. Alright, have a great day and happy happy crafting!!!

Parties I've participated in today:

http://www.iheartnaptime.net/ http://www.bystephanielynn.com/ http://www.creativejewishmom.com/

Welcome to My New Obsession

2011-04-29T09:47:00.000-07:00

Good morning and happy Friday! I'm so excited, I shipped off my package for the custom order I just finished yesterday! I can't wait for her to get her things!!!! And I have just discovered my new favorite thing to crochet with...Jute! I've done a lot of macrame in my days but always with hemp. I'll admit, I have pondered trying to crochet with hemp but it is just such an expensive material to work with. I've even considered doing macrame with jute twine in the past but it's not so easy to find a great variety. Then, a few weeks ago, my mom gave me an old crochet book from the 70's that she found in a box and it had the cutest jute purses! I was inspired all over again and I just had to make a crochet jute purse myself. Of course, I started out thinking I'd just use the pattern in the book at first, but as usual I ended up just doing my own pattern instead. I've always had an issue with following rules. It's not that I can't follow a pattern exactly, it's that I just don't like to. I'd rather make whatever I'm doing my own. Anyhow, I set out in earnest this time to find a variety of jute twine in different colors. At first all I could find were shades of neutral and green at gardening supply stores. Then, a more specific google search led me to a packaging supply company that had just what I was looking for. Honestly, I think I would have ordered an entire truck full if I could have. I already want to get more! So without further ado, here is my nifty one of a kind and very cute (in my opinion) jute purse........

I am so very pleased with the way this came out and I can't wait to keep making more in a variety of styles! If you like what you see, this purse is available for sale at my etsy shop. Just follow this link for more details...
http://www.etsy.com/listing/73112136/100-jute-bohemian-crochet-purse.
Now all I need to do is practice a little patience while I wait for the rest of my jute to arrive!!!! And of course, order even more. Alright, have a very happy and wonderful Friday and a fantastic weekend as well!!! Happy crafting!

Parties I have participated in today:
http://www.creativejewishmom.com/
http://www.bystephanielynn.com/
http://www.iheartnaptime.net/

Ad Space....

Happy Wednesday Morning...

2011-04-27T09:45:00.000-07:00

Good morning and happy Wednesday. I'm a little tired this morning as I was suffering from a bit of insomnia last night. Then, the very moment I finally fell asleep, my son started crying in the other room. Welcome to motherhood! It's a good thing that I'm used to functioning on hardly any sleep these days. Anyhow, I am happy to announce that I have completed the fourth and final piece in my custom order!!! The only left to do is complete the detachable pansy for the hat (I'm halfway done). I can't wait to post pics of the flower, the pansy come out so beautifully though it is one of the more challenging flowers to crochet. I really can't wait to ship everything off so I can see how the customer likes her items in person!!! That's always the best part. It's even more special when it's someone you know!!! I do have pictures of the hat on it's own that I am going to share momentarily. It's a standard slouchy and if anyone reading this is interest, I can create my slouchy in any color or combination of colors on demand and I have a large variety of flower patterns if you want an embellishment added at no extra cost. Just message me through my etsy shop @ http://www.luvbuzz.etsy.com/ or you can just write me a little comment on this post with any questions or requests you might have. I would also LOVE it if you would become a fan of luvbuzz on facebook at the following link: http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/pages/Luvbuzz-Luvbuzz-Handmade-/166664783378662.
Alright, here's the hat I just finished...

And the flower...a purple pansy........

And here are a few other examples of my slouchy, all are currently posted for sale at my etsy store....

I'm also very excited because I just ordered my first set of business cards yesterday and I even got to design them with my own background image!!! I can't wait to get them in the mail!!! Alright, I'll post some pics of my pansy once it's complete. Have a wonderful, happy, blessed day!!!

Parties I have participated in today:

http://www.bluecricketdesign.net/ (show and tell)

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Suggested listening for today:

Don't Forget My Linky....

2011-04-25T15:10:00.000-07:00

Alright, happy Monday! I'm about to get started on the last piece of my custom order while the little one sleeps. First I thought I'd hop online for a quicky since I don't have any completed projects to show off yet. I really, really want to host link parties. I signed up for blogger with that intention because I love to participate in other parties but most are not etsy shop friendly. I would like anyone who is reading this to please link up anything you are currently working on weather you are selling it or not. The first party is free through the linky service, after that you have to pay for image links. If I don't get any participants there will be no reason for me to pay and that will make me very sad. So I am putting this out there once again in hopes of some action! Etsy sellers are more than welcome to link up as many items as you wish, the more the merrier! I want to see who's out there and what you've got. It's free advertising so what have you got to lose??? If you're just really crafty and proud of it, please link up too. I'm not biased here. I love being creative and I love seeing what other creative people are coming up with as well. So, my party will be open for another 60 some odd days (I set it to run long in hopes of followers and participantion). I will be very sad if I continue to be the only one linking. Please show me some linky love, it would really make my day. And have a wonderful Monday....

Here are the parties I've participated in today...

Easter Greatings!

2011-04-24T13:44:00.000-07:00

Hello and a very happy Easter to everyone! Our weather has gone back to the usual rain and gloom but I like stormy weather so for me it's just as well. This will just be a quick entry with as much info as possible. I am happy to announce that I have just one more piece of my custom order to complete! I finished the gloves and one of the hats over the last two days. And here are my completed items, I am quite happy about how they both turned out....

Earflap beanie in brown neutrals with cat ear detail.

Fingerless gloves in solid black with ribbing at cuff and body.**now listed on etsy @ http://www.luvbuzz.etsy.com/ as a made to order item**

The next item I would like to share with everyone is this amazing jewelry designer who happens to be the sister of a very near and dear friend of mine. Her jewelry is so amazingly beautiful that I would be sharing it regardless. She does custom work and you can contact her directly for special request or questions. Here is the link to her personal site: http://www.luvfea.com/ and you can link to her facebook profile page url at: http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/pages/LUV-FEA/167324963312992. Please take a moment to look through her example pictures, I just know that everyone will lover her stuff as much as I do. If you're a facebook member, give her page a "like" as well. And hey while you're there maybe you wouldn't mind giving the luvbuzz facebook page a "like" also. All support is always greatly appreciated. I just love the idea of someone making a living from their craft. It is so important to me to support others on their journey as I forge my way along my own entrepreneurial path. If we would all take the time to support one another, think of the wonderful things we could accomplish! This is especially true for all of the women out there trying to make their own way in this crazy world. I wish every single one of you great fortune and prosperity in all of your endeavors. Alright, that's it for today. Please have a happy and blessed Easter!!!

Parties I participated in today:
www.creativejewishmom.com

Rainy days reading list: