Enough already!

Okay, this is the last scarf for a while - I swear! I'd just started a bunch at once. I realized though, that if I get my shop up in April -- the popularity of cold-weather accessories will be pretty low. So I think I'll be holding on to them until August or so.

Posh and Purple

This actually originally was to be my second foray into knitting -- but then I dropped it and I was already thoroughly disgusted with using two needles so... I picked up the ol' hook! I would totally keep this one because it goes with my purple winter coat.

Half-Kitchen-Towel-Apron!

Aren't those chickens just the cutest? I had meant to add a towel loop -- I've never used one, myself, but I guess it could be handy.

The Last of the Christmas Gifts!

the two final aprons were given and unwrapped today. See, I really *was* a busy little bee before the holidays! I whipped up a kitchen towel apron yesterday which I will post as soon as I get the pic uploaded. :)

Crafting... at work!

Threw together this pillow cover yesterday for a display -- it took 1 yard of fabric and it's only 7 straight seams! The roughest part was the ties, but you could always use a ribbon or something instead of sewing them. I didn't have that luxury, since we don't sell ribbon.

It turned out cute, though!

So many placemats...

...on clearance at Pier1. Now I've combined my love for placemat bags with my love for buttons! They are also handy for masking the sometimes not-so-cute stitching that attaching handles causes.

I ran out of napkin, so I had to pick up some ribbon to attach the handles -- in some ways easier, and harder in others. Also, I was trying to pick ribbon based on what I *remembered* the colors of the bag to be... and obviously was thinking it was a little more sun-shine-y than it was.

But the buttons are a nice buffer.

Apron! The Red...

So, now the Christmas Craft projects can be unveiled! Slowly... I finally got to give this lovely number to a very good grad school friend. She loves red (like some other people I know...) I thought the pattern was pretty cool!

Scarf + Buttons = True Love!

So this variegated yarn I picked up does this cool argyle pattern when I crochet it juuuust right. I also have to keep my tension consistent, which is hard, and some days I have more success on this than others. Anyway, here are the first two, with adorable buttons. I love shopping for buttons. (Especially when they're on sale. Unfortunately, the ones I picked up for the red scarf were not. Ouch.)

FINally...

This was my final Christmas gift, and last night I finally made it. Talk about Procraftination. Seriously. Anyway, I'm super excited about it because it's the first of my aprons that I've fully lined. It really gives it a nice weight, and it wasn't that much extra work. I'm hopeful that its recipient will get some use out if it. In other news, I still haven't given anyone the other crafted goodness I made for Christmas (everyone is always so over-scheduled during the holidays, don't you think?) so the other crafty goodness is still forthcoming. Maybe next week.


Oh, and this special piece (the Halloween Bandit) I stitched up for my blogging buddy!!

better than jet puff

Or at least that's the word!
Inspired by Emily over at the Black Apple, I thought I would try my hand at homemade marshmallows. I made hot cocoa mix for a pair of dear friends, who love hot cocoa, and giving them a bag of store-bought marshmallows just didn't seems right! It wasn't as difficult as I thought, thought I need to work on my cutting of said marshmallows. I took photos of my process, but not the finished product, as mine do not look quite as beautiful as Emily's. My pals seemed to enjoy them, and said they were definitely better than what you would pick up at the store. Myself, I simply adore the scent of them. The aroma of vanilla just wafts off of them, heaven to me!! I will probably try my hand at these again, if for no reason than to perfect my technique. I may do a batch hand-dipped in chocolate for gifts during the year, or perhaps for Christmas.

Triple Word Score: Re-Purpose

Home Studio is one of several sellers on Etsy who re-purpose Scrabble tiles... Of course, Home Style is obviously the best because I bought 3 pendants from them (and a nice snake chain) for myself for my birthday! They have such a great selection of designs, it was hard to pick only three. And harder still not to go back and buy myself more immediately.

mazel tov, third willow!!!

Congratulations to a dear friend, Third Willow, on the opening of his Etsy shop!

I really like this one: