Our Baby Boom

Our family baby boom has come to an end with the arrival of Kiarah on Tuesday. That makes four new babies this year. My niece also had a baby in April so this Christmas should be wonderful, five new little people to love. My mom who is 80 cannot wait to snuggle a;ll these new little family members. I on the other hand have a whole new set of models for my hats.

Kiarah 

Danny

AJ

Jake

These are my newest loves.  I count my blessing daily, four beautiful healthy babies and mine to spoil and love.  With all this cuddling and family I have been trying to get some hats together for a show , but up until now I am just working on orders and find myself on Pinterest looking for new ideas for this bunch.  Halloween was discussed by the two older guys,

should the babies be ninja turtles, what about minions and last but not least paw patrol.  Paw Patrol has seemed to win so those hats are in the works.  Visit us on Facebook to see how things are coming along.  

  Bye for now , I am off to work on hats and #fox blankets.

The Big Chill Ends

Good Morning, it is sunny and only -4 this morning. That means we have made it through the worst and can now talk about it.  No frozen pipes, kids off school 5 days in a row and we are all still civil.
     We ventured out into the cold yesterday when I needed crochet thread for a christening gown I am working on. An emergency?  In my book YES. I only bought one ball, not knowing if I would like working with #3 thread , rather than baby yarn. I love how it looks and now can't wait to finish it. I am then going to try and make a slip for this delicate vintage pattern Christening gown. I bought the pattern from an Etsy shop ,  

 As I stitch away I can see my Gram smiling from ear to ear. She crocheted almost her whole life. We grew up in things she made and our babies all came home in her sweater sets, got Christened in her gowns and off to school in her hooded sweaters. She could look at something and just figure it out, I wish I was that talented.
  I do have a few new things up my sleeve and if I finish my blanket squares and a few orders I can start on three new puppy hats, a chow, bassett hound and yorkie.  I have to make myself finish before I can start more. I also have a lamb and baby bird drawn out and waiting to be hooked.  I may have to forget cleaning house, have leftovers and just stay up later to get this all done.

  I am off to sit in the sunshine and work on projects, stay warm and safe and have a wonderful productive day!

The Happy Dance

It is that time of year again, when the kids prepare for the start if school.  The final BBQ with family before school starts. I have to confess I for one will be doing the happy dance in the driveway as Tabitha leaves for her first day of 1st grade. We have had Tab since May and I have to say that on any given day she says Aunt Pat about a hundred times. I am tired just from answering. LOL  We have practiced reading and she will be starting with some good work skills and hopefully enjoy this new teacher. Also this means it is craft show time again. Crocheting mainly hats, I find that summer shows are very slow and so I wait for fall and the pre Christmas shows. My first show will be a week from today in Waupun Wisconsin at Volkfest. Great polka music all day, delicious food and spending the day new a good friend Marlene who owns #Country Soaps by Marlene. We get to chat and catch up while selling, listening to music and an occasional beer. I have been behind with my hat making due to my new kid duties so will have to step it up. This is alos the same time that orders increase in my Etsy shop due to Halloween orders for the animal hats and early Chrsitmas orders. So far the most asked for hat this season would be the minion and for the littlest ones a rhino. You can never tell from year to year what will be the hit so I just keep on crocheting and go with the flow.

My newest favorites have been the little fox and boston terrier, so much fun and my new motto is  "LET NO EARS GO UNCOVERED"  so I must find a hat for everyone. That means I should get off the computer and crochet. 

But to leave you on a sweet note I would like to share a page link for a cinnamon roll bundt cake that I found. After making this maybe you will also be doing the happy dance! Have a great weekend 

http://sixinthesuburbsblog.blogspot.com/2012/08/cinnamon-roll-bundt-cake.html

July is Here

       It seems as if summer has just arrived but as I check the calendar it is July already. For crafters this is not summer vacation but time to get ready for the holidays. That seems silly but the time to make sure you have enough stock for shows and the shop orders before you get swamped with holiday orders. Being swamped would be a good thing but this year I have a plan to be prepared so I can also enjoy the time between Thanksgiving and Christmas.
      Long before people start searching for Christmas I need to be ready for the Halloween rush. In years past I have made a point of showing Moms just how easy it is to add a fun animal hat to a pair of sweats or a blanket sleeper for a fun costume alternative. The hat can be worn all winter and the sweats or blanket sleeper used again. Here in Wisconsin we never know what weather we will have on Halloween, a light jacket or the snow suit so these hats and costume suggestions are a good idea. No masks needed and the kids are comfy and cozy as the trick or treat of play at home long afterward.I am working on some new baby sets that will make great gifts for holidays or an upcoming baby shower.  Some of the fun animal hats will include fingerless mitts this season and I am adding to the fox items as well as those colorful owls,sock monkeys and a few surprises.

Inspiration

After having been away from the Etsy shop for a few months it has been an adjustment getting back in gear and crocheting while working on online classes and then my visits with the boys.  Maybe I am just beyond such multitasking .  Even though I did manage to get some new items listed and made some great sales. The inspiration for these adorable drivers hat outfits is my Great Grandson Carsen, he loves hats and looked like this hat was just made for him.

After seeing him in this I set out to make it for some little guys, a great item for photo shoots or just to dress up a little guy.

this is a customers photo from a newborn shoot. Just adorable.  Now I also have to start thinking Valentines Day and spring even though it is still quite chilly here. So on my list for the upcoming days are fluffy chicks and Drivers caps.  It is nice to be busy again and I love the feedback. I also am working on some doll clothes since I have two beautiful granddaughters who just got American Girl type dolls for Christmas. This is all fun, and a Granddaughter who has requested I work up a border collie hat for her. I will let you know how all that comes out. 

Off for some pancakes and housecleaning before I can work on my hats while my inspiration for these is playing The Rifleman, he just loves Chuck Connors and watches it daily. Bonanze, Gunsmoke and the Rifleman and his day is made. The good old days!

     

Where have I been? What have I been up to ? Those are the questions I get from friends and family and the simple answer is I have been spending alot of time with mermaids! 

      

'Mermaids Everywhere!' by jebstreasures

This treasury list gives you a variety of mermaid items just in time for summer.

The Mermaid's Pearl... thependantemp... $8.95	Vintage Mermaids Charm ... baublesbeadsn... $36.88
Medium Custom Handmade ... graciousandpu... $40.00	Mermaid Locket Necklace... agothshop $17.00
Mermaid photo prop / ne... GrammasGifts $29.95	Custom Boutique Mermaid... SPBClothing $62.00
Medium - Mer Bear - Men... DowdyStudio $26.00	BLUE MERMAIDS on Front ... sarahndipityC... $32.00
vintage design MERMAID ... ToTheMoonAndB... $15.00	RW2 Leather MERMAID Clu... RW2Gallery $50.00
Beach Decor Mermaid Bot... beautifuldeta... $16.00	Goldfish Mermaid with B... sarambutcher $16.00
MERMAID Ocean Nautical ... metalshine $15.00	Mermaid, Oceanica, Sea ... chimeracustom... $25.00
MERMAID BEACH SOAP - Ro... JOANSGARDENS $5.50	Mermaid's Key Cream... CastawaysHall $16.00

Treasury tool by StylishHome.
The mermaids have kept me very busy, I am happy to say. and with that seaside theme in mind I have added a crab and lobster to the shop as well. Alot of fun and very cute!
http://www.etsy.com/listing/97849222/crab-diaper-cover-set-newborn-photo-prop
http://www.etsy.com/listing/97811036/lobster-newborn-photo-prop?ref=v1_other_2
http://www.etsy.com/listing/72926254/goldfish-hat-and-diaper-set-newborn?ref=v1_other_1

Very Busy

The past few weeks have been very busy here in our little neck of the woods. The recent addition of two cockapoo puppies, the two boys back almost full time and now last week right after visiting with the Easter Bunny the birth of five kittens. I see an ark in my future.

These are Bingo and Spot, 2 adorable puppies bought by the boys MOM, yet residing with us because, well she can't have them where she is now staying! Both kennel trained very easy and listen fairly well for being about two months old. The other dogs had a little getting used to but are fine with them now, in fact they keep the big dogs exercised.

then.... if that wasn't enough along came the kittens

There is of course a Dad cat also. 

Now to that mix add in two 17 year olds, a hubby, a 22 year old grandson and upstairs a daughter and her 13 year old son. Life is pretty full and busy.

So, with all this going on how do I keep my sanity ( hubby claims I don't ) and keep the stress levels down to keep my myastenia gravis in check.  

CROCHET 

Yes, that is my therapy!  In fact over the past few weeks I have had some really cute brainstorms. On a wish from a customer  I made a mermaid outfit. It turned out very cute and after seeing some other fun seaside type hats I came up with this adorable crab set   Then I thought ....crabs, beach, sand pails and came up with this crab hat .  Last night instead of sleeping ( I have a sore throat and just could not get comfortable) I came up with yet another that I hope to get done today. If my Gram could see me now... we used to say she could look at an item and make her own without a pattern. Of course all these silly hats and such were not what she would do, she made beautiful christening outfits, doilies and pinafores. The pinafores I have mastered but the others for right now are beyond me.

My Etsy shop has been very good this year and I am hoping to keep coming up with fun items that people can use for gifts or photo props. That makes my items sellable ( if that is even a word ) year round instead of them being winter hats and cold weather items. I hope shoppers think baby showers , Mother Day and more! 

My friend Jean owner of Teapot Quilt Cottage and The Garden Center in Montello, and I are also hosting a Coupon Clipping 101 Class

• •                               Wednesday, May 9, 2012
  • 1:00pm

• First National Bank Montello, Wi 408 Main Street

  
  This class is given by Dannelle Fraser Gay . She was able to save $40,000 in less than one year for a new house, and now teaches others how they too can save money with Coupon Clipping 101 and Meal Planning 101 Classes. Join us for what we hope is the first of many such classes. Seating is limited so please get your tickets in advance at The Garden Center 505 Main Street, Montello Tickets are $15.00 each and the proceeds will go to help stock the Marquette County Care and Share Food bank.

Well, I am off to put Curious George in the DVD player, do the morning dishes and then work on a hat. Have a great day!

Approaching Valentine's Day

It is cold, very cold and the snow has finally come to our corner of Wisconsin.  As I look around Etsy and other blogs I see alot of preparation for Valentine's Day. I miss the kids having to write out Valentines and me needing to bake five batches of cupcakes for their classes. Yet, there is alot for me to do, I have added a few new hats to the Etsy shop and some listing for the photographers who take those adorable newborn photo shoots. I am always amazed at the imagination behind those photos.  Photographers purchasing hats from me has opened a whole new market. Now , these are not just cold weather hats for the family but can be used for the photo shoots year round and all over the country. Here are a few of the listings I have put out there.
http://www.etsy.com/listing/90843050/newborn-phot-props-diaper-cover-or-cape

newborn phot props Diaper cover or cape and hat sets / custom /Photographers Props / Special Five

Perfect for newborn photo props/ Five newborn Diaper cover or cape and hat newborn sets of your choice. Valentines Day Sale Custom colors. Dress that new baby up and show him or her off. A great selection and you can choose animals and colors .

Photographers Prop Special/ with free shipping

Ten count them TEN baby hats of your choice at a wonderful price! Choose any of the animals from my shop cow, pig, giraffe, sock monkey, mickey mouse, frog, hippo, skunk, ANY of the animals/ in newborn sizes
other sizes available please convo for price

http://www.etsy.com/listing/88514592/photographers-prop-special-with-free

A fun way to build up the business and many of the photographers will share a photo which makes the shop look so nice! 

In searching around I came across a great blog that had a recipe for Calazone Hearts and since pizza in any form is a big hit in our house I thought it would be great fun for the two little guys to try. We do make homemade pizza every couple weeks always on Friday our PIZZA night. here is the link and you may want to check out all the other fun Valentine ideas they have . http://sixinthesuburbsblog.blogspot.com/2012/01/calzone-hearts.html 

Well, I am off to finish two more Valentine puppy hats and get some hats packaged for a post office run.

Valentine Puppy Earflap Hat 

This perky pup is ready for Valentines Day gift giving!