Organizing

Somewhere I read that artistic people are very disorganized. I believe it, because I am.  I also have not enough hours in the day.  With all of this in mind I am making an attempt to get organized so I can make the most of the time before the holidays. I have a daughter who is so organized she has a houseful of belongings neatly tucked away in a 3 room apartment and knows where everything is and can find it.  Not so for me.
This is going to sound like excuses but I just want to give you a little insight into my life.

1. I have a husband ( married over 40 years)
2. I have a 6 year old niece ( she lives with us)
3. 2 dogs
4. My Mother is undergoing chemo for a second time
5. I have 5 grown kids
6. 11 grandkids
7. 3 great grandsons
8. am learning about SPD and aspergers
9. have an etsy shop
10. working on a garden
11. love to paint
12. have a decorating wish list
13. have MG and a pace maker

Now if these things come at me a few at a time I am good. But some days it seems like all of it needs my attention right now and I get scattered and not very productive.

I have decided to schedule my day and set aside time for each of the days projects. Of course I have to be flexible in case I get that urgent call.

I have found a picture of my perfect work room, hubby was not impressed and I would have to build onto the house to get it , but a girl can dream, can't she?

I found this at http://sewmanyways.blogspot.com/2011/04/sewingcraft-room-ideas-and-updates.html

I would not have to leave this room much at all.  Right now I will have to settle for making a plan and sticking to it. I am adding about a dozen new items to my shop and enjoying the designing part of that. Can a person like me become organized , I will let you know!

Gift sets

I spend quite alot of time trying to figure out just what people type in when they are shopping on Etsy .

I notice some people have cute names for their items , while others are very simple and straight forward. I myself stop and think if I was looking for something what words would I use. With this in mind over the next week or so I will be revamping my shop. I am adding a section for gift sets.  Now that can be a sweater , hat and booties ( which by the way makes a great sgower gift) or maybe a Boston Terrier hat with matching lovey blanket. Maybe a spa set with cotton slippers, washcloth and face scrubbies. I am getting all this worked out. There will also be some new items added to the fox and a new dalmation. I am hoping the dalmation gets as much attention as the Boston Terrier has.

I will also begin gearing up for Halloween ( yes, I know it is only June) Think sensible costume alternatives. Match an animal hat with a pair of sweats and think of all the wear they can get out of both. The hat can be worn all winter and the sweats will keep them snug on those chilly days. 

watch for the new additions and changes to Grammas Gifts on Etsy and facebook

Changing things up

Recently we have had some "things" come up with the #1 great grandson. Etsy shop so that I can raise some money to get him some of the things that will make his life easier and make more sense. He has a preliminary diagnosis of Aspergers and we where all really thrown. I have been reading all I can get my hands on while crocheting to get orders out. I love my customers, they are not seasonal shoppers but have seen all the ways my hats and such can be used throughout the year. Thank you to all of you! I am going to be adding some new items that can be added to other items to make great baby shower gift sets. Blankets that match, booties, lovies and all with the option of color choices. There will also be a sale page , there I will discount items that I no longer will be making . I would also love to hear what kinds of hats you would like to see, designing the animals is so much fun for me and it combines two of my favorite things...drawing and crochet. I am hoping to add a page with sensory items such as weighted blankets or lap mats, and even at my grandsons request a weighted boa to wrap around when life seems overwhelming.  Keep watching.
Because of this I have decided to change things up a bit in my
I am off to organize my thoughts and get busy.

Blessed

Blessed is the best way I can describe how I feel right now. The last few weeks have been hectic and stressful. I spent a long test full day in the ER, to find out I am fine.  Pains were not my heart and maybe a sign I need to relax. Then my best friend, someone more like a sister and confidant was scheduled for heart surgery. She has to have a valve replaced, my younger sister had a heart attack and we found out that my Mother has to once again start chemo.  Kids and Grandkids are all safe and well and everything else seems so trivial. Well this evening after about 6 hours I got word that my friend had come through surgery and was resting in ICU. Prayers have been answered and although she has a tough road ahead . I am thankful she is on her way to better days.

This is my dear friend #JeanDawidziak and her hubby "otherwise known as Montello's Easter Bunny" Two nicer people you will never meet. If you want to see for yourself , give her a little bit to get back on her feet and visit her at The Teapot Quilt Cottage in #Montello.  During the summer stop off there or at the farm stand by Kwik Trip for the best sweet corn in the county!

Now with all of this going on, I sleep less and crochet more. I have booked a show in April , https://www.facebook.com/CRAFTastic  and am working to get some cute hats done for there and finish orders from my #Etsy shop. 

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!

Baby It's Cold Outside

I don't know about you, but I have seen the snow, have been cold and am ready for spring. We are into a three day stretch of sub zero days and enough is enough. On my face book page I am running a giveaway for a cute pug or sock monkey hat to make the cold weather a little more fun. Please enter and share for chances to win a hat for a little one in your life.
    The kids have had school cancelled, we are all in and if you just look out the window it is sunny, but looks can be deceiving. The wind chill is around -25 Brrrrrrrr.
     So to keep warm and busy I am baking bread, working on a few new projects and finishing up orders. Hubby will brave the cold to make a run to the Post Office and Walmart for odds and ends.
    Now, I know it cold be worse, we could be getting huge amounts of heavy, wet snow, or there could be an ice storm, so I will try not to complain but take this time to snuggle up with my yarn and enjoy the sunlight.
     Later I will put on a big pot of soup and the bread in the oven and the house will smell wonderful.
     I am trying my hand at writing out a pattern I came up with.  I can make them up and crochet them, but can I write them out so someone else can understand and follow them, that is the question. I hope so. This is my new hat, the pug, now there are pug hats out there but I did not like the faces, so I came up with my own.  How, much like when I used to paint on rocks and wood. I drew it out and then stitched it .

My husband calls this craziness, I love it!

Chilly Willy

That about describes the weather here in Wisconsin.  School has been called off because of the extreme cold and will be closed again tomorrow. That means , " can I have a snack will be said about fifty times and constant chatter by two little girls. I on the other hand am busy finishing up some orders and working on my square a day for Crochet Mood Blanket 2014, on Facebook. I have also joined http://www.ravelry.com/groups/crazysocks--friends  square a week crochet along. I am using up all my odds and ends and will use the blankets for raffle prizes at our family Christmas next December.
Orders seem to come in spirts, the minions were hot around Halloween, just before Christmas I was busy with fox hats and now, Boston Terrier hats. One of my customers was nice enough to share this photo with me.

I am trying to work up a few new items for Valentines Day and then onto bunnies and such for spring and Easter. Luckily I can sit in front of a sunny window and try to not think just how cold it is outdoors.
To warm the kitchen this morning I treated everyone to these Donut Muffins.  The kitchen was warm and smelled wonderful. Now to get a pot of soup simmering and a loaf of bread in the oven and we should be good.

To keep up with whats new in the shop and some of our favorite recipes follow us on Pinterest. You can also find us on Facebook, they we try to share more photos and exchange ideas for new fun hats and other clothing items.

Happy New Year

The New Year rang in on a quiet note here. I had 5 little ones waiting up to see the ball drop and 2 made it . LOL  New Years Day breakfast found some grumpy faces as well as hearty appetites for chocolate chip pancakes and a special order of eggs and sausage from our masked man.

I also added a new project for the year , Crochet Mood Blanket 2014  every day depending on my mood or stash color I will be making not one but two squares. These squares will be put together into a blanket next winter. I have decided to use mine as a grab bag gift for our next family Christmas. Depending on the size I could get three out of the 730 squares I will have.

soft yellow was day 1

this is called pistachio green and looks nothing like this photo LOL

I have not decided yet how I will join them or if I will back them with something. I have lots of time. The pattern for the squares I found on www.Ravelry.com, it is an African flower square.

Taking a Breath

After all the excitement of Christmas, a house overflowing with family and more cookies than one person should eat, I find myself looking toward the New Year and all that it will bring. First on my list is to become more organized! They say you can teach an old dog new tricks, and I am hoping that is true, because I could use to be more organized. Both in my everyday life and in my Etsy shop.
    Having gotten a five year old late last spring, by the way she keeps me young, LOL. I had to redo many of my routines to fit around, her, school and all that goes with being now six. I need to have time to answer the hundreds of "why" questions and can I have a snack zillions of times a day. On top of that I have five grown kids, eleven grandkids and three great grand sons, along with a few kids we just tossed in for good measure. A hubby, two small dogs and that rounds out my life. Busy, yes but very blessed.
  My Etsy shop that I started a few years ago, for a way to sell a few things has done very well, but I know could be better if I used my time wisely and planned ahead. So, that is on my New Years to do list.
   I want to share a few things with you that have been fun to make as well as brought smiles to many faces.

adorable fox hat https://www.etsy.com/listing/161173841

fun fox earwarmer hat, remember when we all wore these?  https://www.etsy.com/listing/169525676

fox hat and cocoon https://www.etsy.com/listing/164858697

fox hat and diaper cover https://www.etsy.com/listing/158114538

If the kids, big and small at your house are into "What does the fox say?" like they are here, try this link for some cute and fun party idea . http://www.bellacupcakecouture.com/category_114/What-Does-The-Fox-Say-Party-Theme-and-Ideas.htm

also for those of you who have no idea what all the fuss is about watch this

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ZM-72_Hr0k

  Now with that tune stuck in your head I will sign off and wok on my fox cocoon order. Have a great 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

Blessings

       Blessings can mean different things to different people. I have been blessed I think with a large wonderful family. No, the siblings are not as close as we once were but, I do believe in times of stress we would all rally together. I hope. I have five wonderful kids who have been healthy and relatively happy, and who combined habe given me twelve grandkids and now three great grand sons.  Blessed by customers who during our recent heat wave ordered so that I could get the air fixed. Thank you again, it is not pretty here when the heat is on......it is hard to crochet while you are sweating.
       Yesterday I received another blessing, I have been looking for a pattern for the Christening gown my Grandmother made my daughter Kathy, back in 1974.  It had a long coat and bonnet and I wanted to make a few to put away for my granddaughters and then sell on my #etsy shop. I looked everywhere and posted about it in a Facebook group. :ast night I got a message that someone had the book and would make me a copy of that long lost pattern. I couldn't sleep last night I was so excited. That #Christening gown was my #Grandmothers pride and joy.

This is my daughter holding my Granddaughter #Elizabeth in a gown my Gram made her.

This pinafore was another of my Gram's favorites and all my girls had them in multiple colors.

As I sit typing this I think how proud my Gram would be of all of us and how amazed that I finally picked up the crochet hook and made something other than granny squares. 

    As soon as I receive the new gown pattern I am starting on it , until then I am finishing up a few other projects and getting a few things made for upcoming fall #shows.