The second item I have recently listed is a Coffee Cup Cozy. These are great to have on hand. This item is reusable and totally ecofriendly unlike the cardboard sleeves we use once and throw away. Plus, it’s a cute and stylish way to personalize your coffee cup. I have 4 different colors up in my shop right now and will be listing more soon. These are inexpensive and would make a great gift for any coffee lover, Father’s Day, and for those who are graduating.

Like I said I love custom orders! If you see something in my shop but want a different color just contact me. I am also working on some purses, market totes, and other items for my shop. So be on the lookout!

Hope you are all enjoying your Spring!!!

I also have some exciting news. This morning I was pleasantly surprised to find out that I have been Featured on Cool2Craft’s website! It is Crochet Week on their blog. They have chosen 10 crocheters to be featured on their blog and I am so thankful and excited to be one of them. Please make sure you check out the other artists on the site and also become a fan of Cool2Craft on Facebook.

I have one more announcement. I have a new banner up in my Etsy shop. I would love to know what you all think of it. Please go check it out and then comment back here or on my Facebook Fan Page. Thanks!

On top of the blankets I’m also working on a scarf for my doctor. I had wanted to make it for him at Christmas time but wasn’t exactly sure what colors he likes. So on my last appointment I brought in a bright lemongrass green color. I remembered he had mentioned he liked lime green and when I saw this color at the yarn store I felt it was the perfect choice. He was very pleased with this color. The scarf is worked up in large stripes of black and the lemongrass green. He had asked for 2″ stripes but I felt the larger stripes looked esthetically better. I am really happy with the way it is coming along. The colors are very modern and clean looking. I am so fond of this look that I am thinking of making some throw pillows later.

I also started on a new slouchy hat pattern. This time I made sure to have a notebook next to me as I worked up this hat. I always seem to just let my mind wander and create a pattern and then I am left with trying to figure it out. This notebook was very helpful. I would crochet a round on the hat and then write my notes down into the notebook. I need to make sure I have the notebook by me every time. Once finished writing down the pattern I can then transfer it to the computer.

As you can see I’ve kept myself very busy during National Crochet Month. I’ve taken on three different projects including a new pattern! On top of this, my husband has asked me to teach him how to crochet. I’ve been wanting to do this for awhile now but he always kind of laughed at me. He says I am too busy now to make him hats and he would like to learn how to make his own. So I am pretty excited about this! Hopefully he is a good student. lol

National Crochet Month is a great way to teach others your gift and passion of the yarn art! Have you picked up your hook lately? The month isn’t over yet so let National Crochet Month inspire you to create a new pattern, crochet for charity, finish a project that’s been sitting around for awhile, learn a new stitch, or teach someone how to crochet!

I also have an announcement. Strings of Me has an official Facebook fan page now. I created this page 2 nights ago and I am in shock with how many fans I already have. So if you haven’t already please go fan us here.

Thanks and Happy Hooking!!!

Well passion and the love for others is where the topic of today’s post comes into play. I knew the second the quake hit my husband’s mom would want to fly over to help the people of Haiti. Well she couldn’t get over there that second but she is going and she’s started a small movement! lol She has been in contact with an orphanage on the coast of Haiti calledJesus Loves Me and in May she, my father in-law, and a group of people will be going. You can find more information on their Facebook page Gonaives Haiti Missions Trip.

When I knew they were going to Haiti I asked my mother in-law if the orphanage could use blankets. I would love to make these children warm and cozy blankies. They have just gone through something terrifying and besides that I want to bring some form of comfort to these children. When she asked the orphanage director the answer was yes. She said the only thing they have right now are burlap. Can you imagine? Burlap is so coarse and harsh to the skin. So I’m going to take these hands and together with hook and yarn make these children as many blankets as I can until my mom leaves for Haiti.

At the bottom of this posting is a Donate button. It will take you directly to my Paypal. I am asking for anything you can spare. Even if its a couple dollars of your yarn money or your Starbucks money for the week. This money is going to go towards buying really soft and warm yarn for these children. Just think when you donate you’ll actually know what your money is doing and what it is going towards. This is something I’d like to do year round. So when my mother in-law gets back from Haiti I’ll know how to organize this better and if there are any crocheters or knitters out there that would like to participate I would love chat about it later!

I hope you guys will be as excited as I am in getting involved! If any of you crocheters or knitters would like to make a blanket please convo me right away at stringsofme@yahoo.com so we can discuss details. To make it on this trip blankets need to be received by April 15th.

The photos above are of us at Disneyland a couple years ago with my husband’s family! Our little sister’s are Emma and Chloe. We love you girls and are so thankful for you!

For my first event I have entered into the WIPs-Dancing. This means Work-in-Progress and only WIPs are aloud to be entered into this event. All other events can be entered into multiple events but for the WIPs-Dancing it can only be in its own event. This blanket as well as my other projects will be for the orphanage in Haiti. After the blanket is finished I cross the finish line and the Officials from the International Ravelympic Committee review my post with photos of the finished project. Once this is done then they call me up to the Podium and I receive my Olympic Medal!

You may think that this is funny and are shaking your head but I think it is loads of fun! Last night it was so exciting to know that thousands of other hookers (that’s a crochet term not a street girl) like me were starting our projects at the same time. No matter where we were in the world we all started at 6pm PST.

I forgot to mention our team name…it’s the Flaming Hooks. The pictures are not very good but you can see our team flag in blue with the flame and the other picture is like our group cheer! lol The only rule to the Ravelympics is to challenge yourself. So my challenge is to get as many blankets for Haiti entered into the Charity Curling event and to cross that finish line! I know I have until May because that’s when my in-laws are going to Haiti, but this is something fun and exciting and like I said a challenge. So cheer me on and after the 17 days we’ll see how many blankets I’ll be able to complete!

I felt so blessed to make this blanket. Every time I thought about how soft the yarn was I was just so excited for the child who is going to get it. To think of the things we take for granted like a blanket. We have so many choices too. I know I probably have at least 5 throws in my house and I have a couple blankets that I’m crocheting in progress. Then to think of how many times I’ve changed my comforter in my bedroom, because it’s just that easy to go down to Target and pick out a new one. Most of these children that are going to receive these blankets it will be the first blanket they have ever had in their lives.

I want to thank the people that have donated money so far. The children will be so blessed by you, and our family really appreciates it. Last night my mother in-law notified us that they got their official dates for Haiti. They will be leaving May 2nd. Its two months later than they had anticipated but that is because of many things like the armed security they have to hire, chartered planes, and other odds and ends. So far there are 18 people in the group going with her and my father in-law. A church has offered to pay for a shipping container which costs $800 as long as they can get enough donations to fill it. They are collecting shoes and clothing for children and adults, medicals supplies like children’s cough syrup, tylenol, diapers, formula, bottles, etc. They will be taking all of these things to the orphanage. Now the orphanage I previously listed in my other posting is not the one they’ll be going to. There were some security difficulties so they will be going to an orphanage in Jacmel, Haiti. It is outside of Port-au-Prince.

I am still in need of donations. I am happy to have 2 extra months to make blankets. Also, I said it before in my previous posting if you would like to get involved an make a blanket or two or more please email me at stringsofme@yahoo.com The blankets would need to be recieved by the 1st of April to ensure they make it onto this trip. I will post photos of my in-laws trip when they get back of the blankets with the kids so that you all can see the great thing you did in giving them warmth and comfort!

This laptop sleeve shown is just one of the six items I have in my shop. I loved working on this item. I actually wanted to keep it for myself. lol This would make a great Valentine’s gift or keep it for yourself!

In the coming week my goal is to set up a Facebook Fan Page. My website is also complete as well and I think I will do some kind of give-away once the website it launched.

So for now Happy Shopping and feel free to request any custom orders. If you see something you like but you want it in a different color just ask and I can do that for you! Some items that I will be adding in the coming weeks to my shop will be scarves, slouchy hats, purses, laptop sleeve for guys, coffee cozy, and more!

The great thing about this Neckwarmer Cowl is it diversity. It can be warn many ways. I showed you this in the photos I provided. It’s a very fun little piece to have, too. The yarn is made of acrylic in shades of mostly brown with some pink in it. The oh-so-cute buttons are pink and made out of plastic. I think they really pop against the mostly brown colored cowl. I sewed the buttons on with the yarn for extra durability. This is a must have fashion piece.

I made this item specifically for my Etsy shop. I decided since the devastation that happened in Haiti I would hold off on launching my shop. I didn’t feel right about it, but then I had a second thought. I’m going to try and work hard and get as much done so that I can list as many things possible in my Shop. Why the sudden change? Because I’m going to donate a percentage of all my sales received to help Haiti! I hope you have already made a donation and if not you are at least praying for the people of Haiti. I have two little sisters adopted from Haiti and they have had their little world’s rocked from this. Their heart is with Haiti and they are grieving for the people of there.

I am already working on a new project and it is almost complete. I am really excited about this new WIP as well! It is fun, cute, and function! That’s all the hints you get right now. You’ll just have to wait and see what it is.

I’d like to hear from you. I’d like to know what you’d like me to list in my Etsy Shop. Feel free to leave me comments with what you want!

I also bought a mannequin head at Sally’s Beauty Supply store. I feel good about all the steps we are taking. They are all steps moving in the right direction. It is so nice to have my husband helping me out. He is also building my website right now and I cannot wait to announce when that will be finished.

I was going to launch my Etsy shop last Friday but we were working some things out and felt better about holding off for another week. To start I’ll probably only have a handful of items listed but that’s ok. The point is that the shop will be launched and I can keep adding items as I work on them.

So the goal for the week is to be productive and positive! Hope you can attribute some of that into your schedule this week as well!