Stressedesserts Crochet

2012-07-06T07:16:00.000-07:00

I tried my hand at an instructional video.

Pretty happy with the results.

It would be nice to get some feedback from someone who found it helpful.

2012-07-06T06:57:00.000-07:00

Karl has been drumming up a storm and I found a way to incorporate crochet in the design.

2012-04-14T06:48:00.002-07:00

‎"Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work." Thomas Edison

2012-04-14T06:34:00.001-07:00

My husband Karl has always been a little jealous of my hobby. He enjoys working with his hands and creating but it's hard to drag the workbench in to the family room. The skill saw drowns out the T.V. anyway.
Well, he found a portable passion. Drum making. He can lace and keep up with NCIS at the same time!

Here's pix of his first drum. I'm sure there will many to come.

2012-04-14T06:12:00.000-07:00

Wow it has sure been a while. I've been concentrating on Facebook but I hate the new timeline.And I get sidetracked with the games! It really cuts into your crocheting time. I would like to find something people want to buy.The next Pokemon LOL. I've read that you should think about what is different about your work and promote that...... well.... I enjoy designing and making bags. but I don't enjoy mass producing anything. Boring!!! I would love to make one of a kind handbags and sell enough to support my habit. I even have a friend who is an Ebay wiz. So here it goes..... a sample of my work with more to come

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2010-02-09T07:09:00.000-08:00

Facebook stressedesserts crochet

2010-01-29T05:47:00.000-08:00

Word of mouth truly is the best advertising. I have not gotten one hit on my online store or Facebook fan page. But... everyone at work wants a blanket. Of course, the price is right. I started by charging $50 and now I hesitate to raise the price. I don't want any issues at work. I still need this job for a while. I am curious to know what I could get for my work. My mom-in-law just got $100 for a painting she took to auction. I have to try that as soon as I have a break in the orders. Meanwhile. I am learning something with every project. I have a chance to experiment with colors and patterns. And the money more than pays for the yarn. It's all part of my 5-year plan to retirement. :)

Oh, and I did take a break from the orders in order to make the Power Puff Girls blanket for my "coming soon" granddaughter.

2009-11-03T07:25:00.000-08:00

There are not many things that will take precedence over my crocheting. One of those things is Halloween. I am fortunate to have a boss that lets me turn the meeting room into a haunted house. And a husband that will work for hours with me on the project. It was a blast this year. We keep getting better ideas and techniques for scenes and monsters. Next year will be the fifth annual. We have to make it bigger than ever.

It was fun but now it's back to my crocheting. There are clients waiting and a new grandbaby coming in March. OH and by the way IT'S A GIRL!!!!

2009-10-16T06:57:00.000-07:00

I love receiving tins of anything. I'm not so concerned about what might be in the tin. Butter cookies or those jelly-filled strawberry hard candies no matter. I'm more interested in the tin itself. Filled with my homemade microwave peanut brittle these tins make the perfect gift that keeps on giving. Who wouldn't enjoy keeping their treasures in one a these beauties?

Now, how about a recipe for peanut brittle that can be made in the microwave.

Here you go...

1 c. sugar

1/2 c. light corn syrup

1/8 tsp. salt

1 tsp. soda

1 to 1 1/2 c. roasted salted peanuts

1 Tbsp. butter or oleo

1 tsp. vanilla

Combine sugar, syrup, and salt in 2 quart casserole or mixing bowl; microwave at high 5 minutes. Stir in peanut; microwave 2 to 5 minutes, stirring after 2 and 4 minutes until syrup and peanuts are lightly browned. Stir in butter, vanilla and soda until light and foamy. Spread to 1/4 inch thickness on large well buttered cookie sheet. Makes 1 pound.

Now, you'll never be disappointed to receive a tin of anything again.

P.S. use 4-ply yarn on one of those big popcorn tins to make a toy chest or (even better) a yarn caddie. :-)

2009-09-22T08:51:00.000-07:00

Believe it or not, this project is for a girl that just started middle school. It could actually fit into my room back in 1970. Everything old is new again.:)

2009-09-12T12:01:00.000-07:00

Oh boy, I got 4 more blanket jobs yesterday .Three need to be done by Christmas.

One said no rush. That's good. I'd hate to feel rushed about my crocheting.

Funny thing is I really don't feel too much pressure. No more than I always put on

myself to finish projects. Some crafters have more than one project going all the time.

Most collecting dust never to be finished.

Although you might be able to find the

stray motif in my stash for the most part

I either finish it or recycle it for another

project. So here we go again. Get these jobs

done. I have a new grand baby coming

in March. At least I know I'll have plenty of

yarn money. :)

2009-08-18T07:24:00.000-07:00

The panda blanket is finished. I also made a teddy to match. I like to make a toy to go with the blankets I make. I've been getting $50 for each set. What do you think?

2009-08-16T10:26:00.000-07:00

I'm really enjoying the crocheting from a graph. It is so satisfying to see the finish product. How amazing it is that the pictures transfer so accurately. This one is also for a customer.

I will have to make one for my next Grand which is now under construction :)

2009-08-13T02:48:00.000-07:00

OK, here is my first written down pattern. Any crocheters out there that would like to try it? I would appreciate any feedback on the instructions. I've been following patterns for years or making it up as I go along but then I can't get it to look the same the next time:)

YIN YANG- make 2 in alternating contrasting colors

Ch 4 with yarn A

Dc in 4th ch from hook

15 dc in same chain

join in top of ch 4. fasten off.

Make another with yarn B

Join yarn B in any dc on circle A

sc, 2sc, sc, 2sc, hdc, 2hdc, hdc, 2hdc

dc, 2dc, dc, 2dc, trc, 2trc, trc, 4trc around the circle

Working on the side of last trc

Ch 4, 3trc, dc, evenly

Dc in sc on center

hdc in next 2 stitches, sc in next 2 stitches turn

Ch 1, sc, hdc in next 3 st, dc in next 3 st, trc in next 2 st, turn

Ch 4, trc in next 2 st, dc in next 2 st, hdc in next 2 st, sc in next 2 st turn

Ch 1, sc in next 2 st, hdc in next 2 st, dc in next 2 st, trc in next 2 st. turn

Ch4, trc, dc, hdc, sc next 2 tog, sc next 2 tog turn

Ch 1, sc, hdc, dc, trc turn

Ch 4, trc, hdc, sc, turn

Ch 1, sc, dc, turn

Ch 1 sc - do not fasten off

Repeat with yarn A on circle B.

Fit pieces together, stretching points to create a circle.

Pick up yarn A and sc in 16th stitch on other half, ( second dc on circle)
Sc around evenly to yarn B side. Pick up yarn B and sc around to meet A.

Use lighter color yarn to sew halves together down center.
Use steam iron to block piece into circle shape.

I have used this motif on a blanket. It would also look good on a purse or the top of a hat. I think there will be more patterns to follow.

2009-08-13T02:27:00.000-07:00

Having your appendix out is no fun. I just want to go on record before I show you all the great crocheting I've been getting done while I'm home. While watching my dvds of Angel, I have finished a teddy bear blanket for a client, written a pattern for my ying yang and made a prototype of Frank E. Futor. My next assignment is a Panda blanket for a paying customer. Is this what retirement will be like?

2009-07-25T11:05:00.000-07:00

How long has it been since you were at the circus?

After passing the sign every year for 5 years I finally

made it to Circus World Museum in Barabo, Wisconsin.

This is where the Ringling family settled when they

came to this country.

Now I know why I waited.It was because I was waiting

to take my Granddaughter, Lula, with us and she is

only 1 1/2.

My first memory of the circus was when I was 6 or 7.

My older sister and her boyfriend took me and my younger

sister. He thought it was great how much we liked cotton

candy. ( also a first for us) He kept on buying it, we kept

on eating it. Pink, blue, pink, blue. The thrill wore off later in

his car where we both threw up purple. To coin a phrase of

the time "psychedelic".

Older and wiser, I bought one and only one bag of cotton candy.

And a popcorn but that's what "Gamommy" is for.

Most of the fun came from her reactions to the animals. She

knows many animal sounds and "talked" to the tiger and elephant

at length. I'd like to make a play blanket in a circus theme.

The tents and circus cars are pockets to hold your anigarami

circus pals. Cool.

2009-07-13T17:34:00.000-07:00

ta DA!!!

We have penguin.

Now for the border.

I think I would like to make strips of checkerboard, black and white, and then applique little penguin feet running around the edge. Why not?

Meanwhile my next project will be with teddy bears. It's for a little boy baby so the bears will be playing with cars, trucks, balloons....

2009-07-11T04:53:00.000-07:00

Little penguin belly... check

I'm thinking now about what sort of border to add. I think I will need some height so maybe a row of little penguin feet on the top and bottom?

Or black and white checkerboard pattern?

I'll have to wait and see what it calls for at the time:)

2009-07-09T14:20:00.000-07:00

Here comes the baby penguin!

This is working out better than I imagined. To make the graph work up bigger and the blanket to be softer I have made each square on the graph 2 half double crochets instead of 1 single.

Man, those are some big ole penguin feet!

The blanket came out to be 45" wide.

2009-07-09T06:57:00.000-07:00

Here's the toy to go with the blanket (still under construction) I hope the penguin lover will like it.

2009-07-07T06:00:00.000-07:00

WOW Summer vacations are great! It's like a little
taste of retirement. Trouble is it gets harder and
harder to come back every year. It won't be long
though before I will be on permanent vacation. That's
when I will turn my hobby into cash. I have 5 years
to build up my crocheting business and I've already
been off to a good start.
By word of mouth I got commissioned to do a baby blanket
and toy this month. The mother likes penguins.
(The hockey team actually) so I'm making an afgram
with a baby penguin on it and a soft toy to match.
Now I hear there is a girl at work that is having a
baby and she was asking about my work. I had better
get busy. Keeping a portfolio of the jobs I do will
help people decide what they want. And forming guidelines
for pricing is a must. Looks like vacation is over but
I surely will be blessed if I can make a living doing
something I love :)

SNOODS!!!!

2009-06-09T12:55:00.000-07:00

Hey there! My name is Sara. As was mentioned earlier, my best friend, Robin, asked me to make a SNOOD. I capitalize SNOOD because I feel that a name that cool and quirky deserves to be said loudly.
Robin's birthday this year sounds like it is going to be awesome. I wish I could make it out there for it but I'll have to settle for being there in spirit. Huzzah!!
So, just in case you were wondering a SNOOD, by definition, is a distinctive headband formerly worn by young unmarried women in Scotland or northern England. It's also the term for the pendulous skin over the beak of a turkey. I'm not sure how that is relavent to this story but it's a fun factoid.
After looking up SNOOD on the internet and trying a pattern that I found, I realized that I knew how I wanted it to look and how I was going to incorporate the beads that Robin wanted on her SNOOD. So, I just made a pattern of my own. Most patterns that I found and that are out there for sale start with a 5 chain ring and increase evenly until they get to the band that goes around the head. That leaves a little pointy part or a dark tight circle at the back of your head. That makes it look more like a hair net then a decorative hair piece. So, I opted to start by making the headband first, then I made a point of interest at the top to get the netting part started and work evenly from the top to the bottom thus ending on the underneath side of the SNOOD and no one can see it. YAY!!
I also decided to make the headband itself one size and the ribbon woven through it can be adjusted per the wearer's comfort. TA-DA!!! Now, I'm ready to make more and be able to sell them to almost anyone. The trick to getting beads onto your work when crochetting is to put ALL the beads that you will be working with onto your yarn before you start crochetting. Then when you need a bead you bring it up to where you're working and simply crochet over the bead.
Happy Hooking and May all your crafting dreams come true.
Huzzah,
SARA

Calling all Husky Lovers

2009-06-05T17:04:00.000-07:00

A few weeks back my husband and I went to a bowling event for the Siberian Husky Rescue Foundation. We had a great time and the bowling alley loved it and wants them to come back again. Cool. There was a raffle with many items from baskets of doggy goodies to $50 at the Outback. This gave me an idea. I would make a blanket to be raffled off at the next event.
Everyone who has seen it has been like WOW. I might even get some orders from this. But the important thing is it will bring in some needed funds for the rescue.
They haven't decided exactly how they will use the blanket. Possibly an auction. But when they do, I will surely post it. :)

Marry 'em off for $200 or less

2009-06-02T14:04:00.000-07:00

My friend Adele is very clever. When her son, Walter, and his girl friend, Melissa, wanted to get married she knew there was no money for a big, fancy wedding. So she gave them the highlights of a wedding without the stress and expense. For over 6 months, she looked for sales and closeouts on all the materials she would need to give them a special day to remember.She says the key places to look were Big Lots, Ross, and Party City.

After finding the perfect dress and suit for the couple, she made the veil and bouquet. Off they went to city hall to tie the Knot under the arch of flowers. Adele was there with a disposable camera to document the entire event. From there it was on to Walter's recruiting station to get a picture with his Sargent. Then over to the store where she and I work for a photo session with us. We had our cards and well wishes ready. It made the day. Customers were pretty amused as well.

When they got home they lit their Unity Candles and cut the cake. She even had him retrieve the garter. All the while she was clicking away and the lucky couple have an album to reserve those memories. It was a day they will never forget.

Walter will be shipping out next week. Maybe when he gets back there will be time and money for a reception with family and friends. But you know what? If they are as clever as my friend Adele they will put the money down on a home of their own. And, of course, live happily ever after.

2009-05-29T17:27:00.000-07:00

I am soooo jealous. My daughter's friend, Robin, is having her birthday party at the Renaissance Faire in Colorado. I'm no where near Colorado, therefore, I will not be attending. My daughter, however, will be contributing even though she is no closer to the festivities than I. She has been commissioned by the B-day girl to make her a SNOOD for the occasion. My daughter, Sara, is a prolific crocheter and knitter so when assigned such a prestigious task replied with a resounding "?!What's a SNOOD?!" "Huzzah?"

This is a SNOOD.

This is also Sara.

I ordered one in burgundy to match my RennFaire ensemble. We enjoy dressing up when the faire comes to us in February. We make our own costumes. My husband made the shirt he is wearing.

The kilts got a lot of attention made from the camouflage material. I was proud to hear the comments of the Kilt Maker that was there. He inspected my work and gave it a thumbs up. :D

It's not hard to make a kilt.

Originally, they were just a long piece of fabric that was wrapped around your waist and tucked in. That way it could be used as a blanket at night. The wealthy gathered their fabric in pleats. The longer the piece of material the wealthier you had to be. That's where you get the expression "the whole nine yards". Modern kilts are made with 4-5 yards and the pleats are sewn in for convenience. I even put belt loops on mine to avoid any embarrassing slippage.

Measure around the waist and add 10 inches for overlap. Then lay out your material and gather a pleat every 6-9 inches until you have the desired length. Hemming the bottom first does make it easier. Add the waistband with belt loops and you got it. Ready for the RennFaire, St. Patty's Day, Gaelic Storm concert, or just hanging around the house. My husband actually has worn his to the grocery store but

that's my husband. Huzzah!

And that's my son, Donny.

Oh, I hope Robin sends pix of her big day.