L is for Little Man

Mazz little One's photography





Here's a picture of a baby wearing my top hat and bowtie set available in my Etsy Shop.  Isn't he the most adorable little man?

Please visit the link above to Mazz little One's Photography blog to see more of her work.  there are also more photos of the baby above wearing the bowtie and hat  under "Our Charming Boy T" on her blog.

K is for Knitting

Knitting  VS. Crochet

 

Here is an example of similar “looks” in knitting and crochet.  I’m designing something that looks like bricks.

 

 

 

 

 

I like the knitted example much better because it achieves the look of bricks better.  However it takes a lot longer to make than the same size piece in crochet.

 

 

 

 

The crochet sample is okay but doesn’t look as much like bricks as I was hoping.  Plus the pattern was fiddly.  You had to finish off at the end of every row which means a ton of ends to weave in when done.

And that's a look into how I design projects.

J is for Jump

Jump!

Just do It!

 

 

 

 A lot of times I hem and haw and stand on the brink of a new project or goal or dream and just stare at it, frozen.  I can’t start it.  It can be as small as a new idea for a crochet project or as big as opening up an Etsy shop.

When I first wanted to open my shop I was so overwhelmed by all the advice in the blogosphere I became paralyzed.  “You must have excellent pictures.”  “You must write a witty and revealing profile.”  “Your sales copy has to be primo.”  “And don’t forget your tags and SEO”   And while of that is certainly true, you don’t have to do it all at once. 

It actually took me 3 months longer to get going because I was afraid to start.  Nothing was perfect.  My pictures were bad.  I didn’t know what tags and SEO were.  I would just sit and stare at the Etsy  site  and then walk away because I couldn’t do it.

But I really wanted an online shop.  And a lot of people were doing it.   So finally one day I did it. I just started.  I put up my bad pictures (which are no longer available, I didn’t even know about cropping or rotating the pictures LOL) and wrote bad copy and just did it.   And my first attempt was bad.  But it was out of my head and the shop was open. 

Now that it was out of my head, I could see what had to be done. I learned how to write copy, and use tags, and take better pictures. (I’m still not great at photos, but I just signed up for an online course at Craftsy to learn more.)  I’m still learning every day.  I just found out a few weeks ago you can rearrange you shop pictures. 

So my advice is Jump in, get started and keep going.  Soon you'll be jumping for joy.

 

             

 

I is for Interesting

  Here are some things I find interesting.  I love this zentangle elephant.  I thinks he is gorgeous.

.These steampunk earrings are fun and fascinating.



                                                                                               

  I bought the pattern for this peacock pin.  It's really interesting the way it's made.  tho it will probably be a long time before I try it.

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All these items are available on Etsy


 

G is for Garden Gnome

G is for garden gnome.  My inspiration for one of my most popular baby sets.  I saw him at the store and just had to buy him.  I'm contemplating what to name him.  What's a good name for a gnome?

F is for Free Pattern

F is for Free Pattern

 

This is a free pattern for those barefoot sandals that are all the rage.

Pattern:  Barefoot Sandal

Material:  cotton thread size 3 (Aunt Lydia’s fashion 3 in Maize is used in pattern)

Crochet hook : size D (3.25mm)

There’s really no gauge.  Want it bigger, use a bigger hook or thicker thread.  Want it smaller, use a smaller hook or thinner thread.

The finished size of my motif without the strings attached was 2.5 inches high by 2.5 inches across at the base.

This patten is written in American terms.

Abbreviations:

Chain – ch

Slip Stitch – sl st

Single crochet – Sc

Treble crochet – Trc

Space - sp

Row 1:  Ch 6, slip stitch  in first chain  to form ring, ch4 ( counts as first dc, ch1),  (dc in ring, ch 1) 11 times.  Sl st to third ch of ch 4. (12 sts)

Row 2:  Sl St into next ch 1 space  , ch 4, *( trc, ch 7, trc) in next sp, (ch 1, dc in next sp) 3 times, ch 1; repeat from * once more, (trc, ch7, trc)  in next sp, (ch1, dc in next sp) 2 times, ch1 sl st to third ch of beginning ch4 .

Row 3:  *In next ch 7 corner  sp, (sc, ch1,sc, ch5, sc,ch1,sc), then (ch1, sc in next ch1 sp ) 4 times, ch1, repeat from * once more, (sc, ch1, sc, ch5, sc, ch1, sc) in next corner sp, (ch1, sc in next ch1 sp ) 4 times , ch1 sl st to first sc made.  Fasten off

That’s your motif.  Now we’re going to attach the strings.

First the part that goes around the toe.  Attach the thread in one of the CH 7 loops with a sc, ch 10, sc in ch z loop.  Fasten off.

Now for the ties:  Attach yarn in a different ch7  loop with a sl st, ch 100, sl st in loop.  Fasten off.  Repeat in other ch 7 loop.

Weave in ends.  And you’re done!

Make it your own, add beads or shells, do it in three different colors, have fun!

Please don’t copy or sell the pattern.  If  your friends want a copy send them to my blog to get it.

Feel free to make and sell as many barefoot sandals as you can.  Teach your teen to crochet with this pattern.  Maybe she’ll sell them to her friends and make enough to go to that rock concert.

 

E is for Etsy

E is for Etsy

 

 

 

I love Etsy.  I love to shop there for unique handmade items. You can search for almost anything you can think of and you'll find it.  Stuff from all over the world.  I'm amazed at what  people sell.  Steampunk, vintage, jewelry, scrumptious hand spun and hand dyed yarns, clothes, shoes, makeup, and even food.

And I love having my shop on Etsy.  Every day I learn new things about selling and marketing.  I've been really active the last year on Etsy, really trying to make it successful and my products have improved so much. 

Etsy has so many wonderful things to help you grow as a seller if you take advantage of it.  Join teams, make treasuries, read the Etsy blog and put as much of it as you can into practice and you will notice a BIG difference.  I have.

Post links to your shops in the comments so I can visit and see what you have to offer.