Thursday, September 29, 2011

Handmade Halloween Costumes? YES!

Here is my latest listing, a handmade crochet Pumpkin Hat.  This hat is made of 100% cotton yarn, and is made to order, so you choose the size (from infant to adult).  Are you an adult who would like to celebrate the holiday but are a little too self conscious to dress in full costume?  This is a great alternative!  Moms, wouldn't this be cute with orange clothes, as an inexpensive Halloween costume?  This would also be perfect for fall photos!  To see this hat, or other great alternatives for Halloween and the holidays, or just everyday, see the hat section of my shop here:  Custom Hats by suefern643

Sunday, September 25, 2011

Just sold a Candy Corn Hat!

I just sold a candy corn hat for a 9-year-old girl, who is going to be a Candy Corn for Halloween.  What a unique idea for a handmade costume!  This hat is a custom made item, so it can be made in any size, from infant to adult.  Perfect for Trick or Treat, or Halloween photos.  Available in classic candy corn colors, or other colors you choose.  To see this hat and other unique custom hat designs, click here  Custom Hat Section

Friday, September 23, 2011

Project Runway, here I come!

They say necessity is the mother of invention.  Well, here is an example of that.  My daughter is a softball pitcher, who takes lessons once a week.  My brave husband is her "catcher".  While enduring the pain of a very fast softball stinging his palm through the glove (and sometimes his shins-OUCH!) he sits atop a bucket.  We didn't invent this idea.  We learned it from everyone else who takes lessons.

As you can imagine, a plastic bucket makes not a comfortable seat.  So everyone has a cushion atop their throne.  Note-You can actually purchase buckets with cushions at the sports store-I think they are for hunting or something.  Our local stores have none in stock.

So my daughter came to me to create a cushion for her bucket.  I will probably end up crocheting one, but she needed it rather quickly, so I had to improvise.

My mother is a wonderful seamstress who made many of my clothes when I was growing up.  We were not wealthy, and I was the only girl, plopped right in the middle of two brothers.  So my mother really enjoyed creating cute little dresses and pants and outfits for me.  Unfortunately, though, she did not pass along her sewing talent to me.  She TRIED.  I had a little sewing machine that looked like a toy but was supposed to be functional, when I was younger.  And I tried, but I could never seem to shake the fear that the machine was going to suck my fingers under the needle (as IF!) and sew on my skin. The fear was so strong that I could almost FEEL the pain that would cause-homemade stitches.  Rambo I am NOT!
As an adult, when I became interested in home decor, I thought I'd try sewing again.  {I LOVE QUILTS, and curtains, and pillows, and valances, and roman shades, etc.}  So my darling husband bought me an awesome sewing machine for my birthday.  I feel I'd be remiss if I forgot to mention that HIS mother made a living in Brazil as a seamstress and HE knows how to use a sewing machine!!!!

So he gets me this wonderful sewing machine, which immediately earned my mother's seal of approval.  I've tried to use it less than five times I think, and I find that I'm STILL afraid that the darn thing is going to turn on its big hidden vaccuum and suck my fingers under that needle.

When my daughter needed a cushion for her pitching bucket, this sewing fear posed a problem.  So I improvised. For the sewing impaired (uh-me!) there is a wonderful invention called Fabric glue.  According to the package, it can be washed.  Anyway, I used that fabric glue (got stuck all over my fingers) and I created this masterpiece.  Hey-beauty is in the eye of the beholder, right? And yes, I am aware that it is bigger than the bucket, and it should be a circle, but there was no way I was attempting a circle and isn't a butt bigger than a bucket anyway?  Even a skinny butt?


Anyway, my daughter LOVES it!  That's all that matters.  As Tim Gunn would say, "Make it work!"   {Yes, I'm a Project Runway fanatic--I can dream, can't I?}

Wednesday, September 21, 2011

I sold a Crochet Oscar Earflap Hat!

Yippee!  I'm so happy that I've sold a crochet Oscar Earflap hat!  Ordered for a 3 year old's Halloween costume, it is the first Halloween costume accessory that I've sold this season.  I previously sold another version of this hat (the beanie version pictured here) for an adult Sesame Street themed party, and it was a big hit!  This hat is one of my daughter's favorites, as I created the first version at her request.  I never grow tired of the barrage of compliments she receives whenever she wears it out in public!  To see these and other great custom crochet hats, visit me here:  My Crochet Hats

Another Happy Customer!


Here is a picture of an adorable little guy who loves his eggs!  This is Law, and he's 2, and his mommy ordered a set of my crochet eggs for him to play with.  These eggs are the perfect size for little hands and are a huge hit with the kiddos.  They are cotton, so they are safe for sensitive skin, and they have no small parts to pose a choking hazard.  I have another customer who ordered them for her baby's OT sessions, which help with his developmental delays and sensory issues.  They have been a HUGE success.  Another great idea for these eggs is a preschool classroom, for counting, or role playing.  They would also work well with a child's toy kitchen.  These eggs, as well as other safe toys, like a crochet banana, are available here in my shop:  Safe Handmade Toys

P.S.--How CLEAN are those floors?!  I could only DREAM of having such clean floors!  You go, Kristi!  :-D

Sunday, September 18, 2011

Football Party Accessory in my shop!

Ready for game day?  These coasters are!  Available in a variety of colors to match your favorite team or home decor, they are the perfect accessory for those wild football parties!  At only $1 a piece, you can't go wrong.  How about an inexpensive stocking stuffer for that sports fan?  Check out my shop to see what colors are available!  Here's a link to these and other handmade home items:  Handmade Home Items

Friday, September 16, 2011

Looking for the perfect inexpensive stocking stuffer?

The latest addition to my Etsy shop is a set of 7 handmade crochet cotton facial scrubbers.  These round scrubbers are crocheted with 100% cotton yarn, which is durable and earth friendly, and super absorbent as well.  Wouldn't these make a wonderful teacher's gift?  They are machine washable and dryable.  Great for removing makeup.  At only $1.00 a piece, you can't go wrong!  They are available several different colors. 

For these and other inexpensive gift ideas for the home and family, check out my Home Items shop section here:  Crochet home Items

How cool is this!?

While browsing Etsy, I often come across items that really "strike my fancy".  I save them under my favorites and go back and look at them every once in a while.  Today, this item really caught my attention.  It is a crochet pattern for a pirate ship! This is just so awesome that I had to share it!  If you crochet, you should check out this seller's entire store, because you will find some really unique patterns.  You can order this pattern by using this link.  http://www.etsy.com/listing/63121158/crochet-pattern-pirate-ship-toys-in-pdf

Tuesday, September 13, 2011

New Listing in my shop - Handmade Personalized Blanket






My latest shop listing is a handmade personalized blanket!  This blanket is my own design, and was inspired by one of my repeat customers who wanted a special gift for a newborn baby girl named Ashley.  This blanket can be customized with any name and it has three hearts on the top and bottom of the blanket.  These hearts can be omitted if you prefer.  The blanket has a pretty, scalloped edge.  This is available in my shop at this link:
Crochet Blankets

TAGT treasury challenge entry


Today, I have an entry in the TAGT treasury challenge.  Won't you please check it out?  Thanks!

Here's the link:  The Future's So Bright I Gotta Wear Shades!

Thursday, September 8, 2011

Look at this cutie!!!!!









































This is my new little model, Derek!  Isn't he just the cutest in his new cotton owl hat?  His beautiful mommy, Amy (pictured with him) snapped these awesome shots for me.  He's so sweet, I could eat him up!!!

This hat is available here, in any color combination or size from infant to adult:
Custom Baby Owl Hat

Wednesday, September 7, 2011

All Things Handmade: Beautiful Handmade Autumn Colored Creations

All Things Handmade: Beautiful Handmade Autumn Colored Creations: The temperature has FINALLY dropped below 100 degrees and it is making me dream about fall and cooler weather. I love all the warm tones th...

Monday, September 5, 2011

We won!

My treasury, On Fire for American Beauty, which was a tribute to wonderful American Pride and Labor Day, won first place in the On Fire for Handmade Treasury Challenge this week.  We had 1,082 views, which was a direct result of promotive efforts made within my teams, and by the sellers featured.  I'm so happy that those featured will be enjoying so much extra exposure this week because of the treasury winning the challenge. THANK YOU to those who put forth such effort to promote this treasury!  May you be blessed with much traffic and many sales as a result! On Fire for American Beauty

Saturday, September 3, 2011

Blue Baby Owl Hat in Cotton

Here is my latest listing, Blue Baby Owl Hat in Cotton, which I created for little Derek, my special buddy from Pittsburgh.  You may remember Derek from my previous posts.  He's a strong guy who has fought to survive and is THRIVING.  He just had his first birthday and he recently pulled himself to a standing position for the first time ever!  His mom, Amy is so wonderful about keeping me updated and sends me plenty of pictures of this adorable little angel and his handsome big brother, JR.  Amy wants to take Derek to the pumpkin patch and asked for an owl earflap hat for him to wear.  Thus, the owl hat was born.  I tweeked a pattern I found on the internet, to make it my own, and this is the result.  I think it's the cutest item I've EVER made!  I can't wait to see a picture of Derek in this hat!  Baby Owl Hat