Ideas for the New Year

Ah! My mind is buzzing and flitting from idea to idea right now. My fingers are itching to crochet. I barely did any crocheting during my pregnancy. I don't know why because while trying to become pregnant, I made all sorts of things. It was therapy for me. Whenever someone announced a pregnancy, I coped by making them something. Every time I thought I was pregnant I would make things for our future baby (which is why Cai has two baby blankets and I have more stored away). But during my pregnancy, I didn't make much.

But suddenly, I have so many ideas I don't know where to start. Last night I messaged me best friend, who is expecting baby #3, her first girl, and told her to find some ideas on Pinterest for things she wanted me to make for baby girl. I had made things for her first two, including a baby blanket for each of them, so I want to make some things for baby girl too. She sent me a bunch of ideas last night which started me on a Pinterest search, and I found tons of ideas.

Which leads me to a plan I mentioned her on my blog months ago. I'd link to the post I mentioned it in, but I don't even remember when I said it. I want to open my Etsy store again. Actually, I want to open a new Etsy store. I had planned to open it in June, but then I got pregnant and it never happened. This time though, I don't want to do any custom orders; I want to build up some product, list it all, and add new things as I make them. No pressure, No deadlines, Just creating. I know it sounds crazy with a new baby, but if I set aside some time during naps or after bedtime, I can get significant amounts done at a time. I also have some stock already that I have set aside to give as gifts, but I can list those too. And I have the perfect name for it, which I'm not going to share now, but I will if I can get this going again.

Mainly this post is just to blurt out all of my ideas and tentative plans, but I'd also like to know what kinds of crocheted things you would buy. Not just baby things either. Tell me your thoughts and ideas! In the next few weeks I' m going to try to set a date for myself to get this all officially started and maybe even plan a giveaway and a grand opening! Ah! I'm so excited.

Gifts and Other New Projects

Here are some more of the projects I've been working on! Most are gifts, but you can expect to see more items like these in the shop in June.

Baby Monster Hat Front. I love his crooket smile. He was made without a pattern.

Back

Side View

Men's/Boy's Knights Helmet Hat. This was made without a pattern. 

The visor can go down for protection from the wind or up.

Front View

This picture is actually from the book where I found the pattern. I don't have a model, so it's difficult to see what my finished product is like.

Sunset Baby Capelet

I hope other people like the colors as much as I do. I think it looks like a sunset.

African Sunset Baby Blanket. This one is for some friends who are planning to add a little one from Ethiopia to their family. Read their story here.

 

This one is my favorite. She represents a great deal of hard work. I did not use a pattern for her, so she is not perfect, but I love her anyway. I call her the Ari Doll. I made  her for the daughter of a friend of mine who recently welcomed a second younger sibling to the family. I know what it's like to be the oldest, and I thought having her own baby to take care of might help with the transition. Unfortunately, I haven't given it to her yer. I planned to give it to her this weekend, but the snow stopped that, so I think I will mail it this week. Mom will probably get a sneak preview of it through here!

She has a scarf to match her hat and pea coat, but I have to find it. It's around here somewhere.

She has summer attire too!

I am EXTREMELY proud of her hair! I love it!

What are some other things you would like to see in the new store in June?

Would you buy a doll like the Ari doll?

A Craft Room of My Own

I want a craft room. I need a craft room. And, without going into a lot of detail yet, I may be able to start working on a craft room by March. Yay! I am so excited! I've already started coming up with ideas and plans for it, and for fun, I thought I'd share them with you all.

The room is small, not sure of the measurements, but I think it was designed to be a tiny bedroom, so it has a nice sized closet and a bright little window. I want the room to be not only a place where I can store my craft supplies, but also a place where I can work on my projects comfortably and with lots of light. I need the perfect combination of style, comfort, and function. So here's the plan...

Style:
Alright, so I love the idea of vinyl wall decals, and I especially love this one from another seller on Etsy.

But it's not exactly what I want. I also like this one from the same seller.

and the birds from this one...

And unfortunately, as much as I love all three of these, I cannot afford any of them. So the plan is to paint my own design on the walls, freehand. I think I want to do a tree with various colored green leaves and a bunch of flowers like in the second picture in bright colors like pinks and purples, then scatter a few of the little birds from the third picture throughout the branches in blues and maybe yellows.

Mostly, I'm all about color and light. I'll probably put some sheer white curtains on the window, do some white shelving and brightly colored organizers, but that all comes in the function side of things.

Comfort:
I love to crochet and paint, but sometimes it takes so long, and to sit quietly for that long sometimes makes me nuts, so I really want a little love seat and television. Something small and cute maybe like this...

Then I'll probably put the TV on a cart that can be stowed inside the closet.

Function:
I've got lots of ideas on this end of things. Luckily I've got a good start on this already. I have this great sewing/craft table that Steve bought me for Christmas two years ago. It's got a great amount of storage space and I can put it right under the window and sit there to work.

But I've found tons of ideas online for what to do with everything else.





And this great idea from Martha Stewart, to be done in bright colors of course.

Anyway, this is just the start of my ideas. When we actually start the project, as well as some others probably, I'll be sure to post all of the renovations and such on here.

Oh! Don't forget the Giveaway in my last post! Enter now!