Crochethoughts

2011-09-10T08:07:00.001-05:00

Wow, it has been a very long time since I crocheted. I have not stopped crafting though. I have been busy exploring the world of altered art and painting. But now I must get back to my first love which of course is yarn and the great, fun things I can make with it. That does not mean I will stop the other crafts like art journaling and altered books but they will not overshadow crochet anymore.

I think the cooler temps have been my main prompting. There is just something in the air, the crisp coolness, of it that I love and it makes me want to create fabulous fashions to cozy up in. So that is just what I am doing. I have started a creamy colored scarf with great scalloped edges that is almost done and finishing a shawl. I will post picture when I am done with them.

So what does the changing weather make you want to do? Paint a picture or capture a moment of the season with a picture? Bake or do some canning? Maybe cozy up with a good book or go outdoors for a hike? What ever it is please share. I would love to hear how autumn effects you because it effects me in very positive ways that I just love.

Find your place

2011-08-30T23:13:00.000-05:00

Here are a few of my favorite maps to help you find your place in the world. Enjoy!

Find Your Place

paper roses. repurposed at...
dragonflies
$7.50 USD
World Map Silk Tie
rabbitstop
$18.95 USD
Vintage Chic World Map Acc...
kristykollec...
$9.00 USD
Handmade envelopes from vi...
SimonEtCie
$5.50 USD
Womens Skirt, Map Of The W...
Roobys
$50.16 USD
Topographical map bow tie,...
toybreaker
$40.00 USD
Map garland of hearts
bookity
$28.00 USD
Silver Locket Necklace - V...
kalikadesign...
$36.00 USD
Versatile Custom Travel Jo...
UsefulBooks
$29.00 USD
Vintage 1860 London Heart ...
TheMapShop
$10.95 USD
Old World Atlas Cover Hand...
cadencedesig...
$26.00 USD
12 Italian Vintage Style M...
PaperBoxStud...
$4.25 USD
Florence Italy - Wine Bott...
ksickles
$25.00 USD
Upcycled Atlas Map Vintage...
PaperSquare
$28.00 USD
Map chair
Bombus
$450.00 USD
Vintage Map Coasters - Cus...
CarolinaCott...
$30.00 USD

I made a treasury!

2011-08-29T18:43:00.000-05:00

A Country Affair

OUR NEST Wood Sign. Shabb...
SundayTreasu...
$19.00 USD
Country Road 5x7 (13x18cm)...
magnesina
$13.00 USD
WEDDING Table Numbers, RUS...
SophiasSignB...
$7.50 USD
Redneck Mason Jar Wine Gla...
MinSvenskaLa...
$124.00 USD
Miniature country house at...
JoMed
$59.00 USD
Country Fried French Quart...
bayousalvage
$189.00 USD
Flower Girl Basket Rustic...
MinSvenskaLa...
$32.00 USD
Wheat field bouquet, rusti...
thecoralbout...
$20.00 USD
Rustic Birds Nest Ring Pil...
bstudio
$35.00 USD
Flowers Queen Annes lace c...
SouthernHipp...
$35.00 USD
Cotton Boll Bridal Bouquet...
TALLCOTTONnP...
$150.00 USD
Yellow Country Farm Bouton...
thecoralbout...
$35.00 USD
Hazy Country Rural Shack F...
SylviaCPhoto...
$20.00 USD
Vintage Rustic Country Wed...
inkdbykate
$1.80 USD
Unique Wedding Favor, Brid...
joblake
$3.60 USD
Distressed Antique White C...
PetiteSophis...
$29.99 USD

Foam Stamps

2011-06-23T23:04:00.000-05:00

I am loving Youtube these days. I do not know what took me so long to start making videos. I am still learning to make mine the quality that I would like them to be but hey its all fun. My latest video is about how I made some foam stamps. Here is the video. Hope you like it and feel free to share some of your stamp making tips. I love stamps but cannot afford them, they are so expensive.

2011-06-04T18:25:00.000-05:00

I am officially hooked on junk journals. It combines everything I love about paper. Little bits and pieces of things I like from scrapbook papers to junk mail and cards and all manner of ephemera. Things that would probably get thrown away or stuffed someplace and never seen again. Instead it is all put in a book which inspires and can compel you to journal and/or draw. Or just keep it someplace handy to flip through and admire. I am very tempted to do the last just because I like pretty little things and pictures and once you start writing in it it becomes very personal and harder to share with others. So obviously I will need several. Right? Anyways, here is a video about a couple I made.

Art tags and collage

2011-05-27T12:26:00.000-05:00

I have also made some art tags and collages. This is a video showing some of them. Hope you enjoy!

Finally

2011-05-26T23:37:00.002-05:00

So I finally did something. I have been doing stuff for a few months now. Though I did have quite a while were I did nothing crafty because I was very busy home schooling my 4 children and learning how to make it work. I have become fascinated with altered books and tried my hand at one. I am officially hooked! Here is a video I posted on youtube of the books I have been working on.

So I have not been completely idle and now that school is out for the summer I will hopefully have time to do more. I apologize for being so absent here on my blog. Hope that does not happen again.

A need

2010-07-29T13:07:00.000-05:00

I am feeling inspired. Yay! It has been a while. So what have I been inspired to do. Well oddly enough I am not sure yet. I do however know that it will be something very artistic. I feel a need to journal, take pics again and collage and even paint. I may just make an artistic journal with all these things combined. Something similar to the sketchbook project but for my own enjoyment and yours of course. I am not sure yet but that sounds like a pretty good idea. I will be sure to blog about it when it is done or even during the process.

Don't get me wrong I am not going to stop crocheting because honestly I do not think that is possible. And crochet can be very artistic in itself. Which is why I generally do not make the same items repeatedly and usually do not use patterns. I just make what I am inspired to make be it a purse a scarf or a hat. Very few of my projects have been repeated and only when someone requests another like what has already been done. Now this may not be wise business sense which I will have to work on but it is more artistic that way. Don't you agree? Anyways this is how I feel about it.

Have a great day and be inspired to create art in whatever form you choose.

2010-07-26T12:32:00.000-05:00

I know it has been a long time since I last blogged. So sorry. I will admit I have been going through a slump. My sells dropped down to nothing for a month and I just did not have the desire to put so much energy into something that at the time seemed pointless. But I am back and it is not pointless at all because I love what I do and still have tons of ideas and plans.

One of my most recent projects was an envelope book. I call it my Lil' envelope book because it is listed in my lilthoughts shop. The idea comes from this blog. These great little scrapbooks are made from mailing envelopes salvaged from my own mail. The envelopes are different sizes which give it stair step pages. I then altered the pages with paint, stamps, images and more to make a scrapbook.

I also made custom tags for some of the envelopes to add journal spots while others are left empty for memorabilia. These books are easy and inexpensive and so much fun to make. I have made 2 and am working on a 3rd with coffee stained pages.

Thrift Shopping

2010-02-24T11:34:00.004-06:00

I will admit it. I love thrift shops! You might even say I am addicted.

Yesterday I had the pleasure of shopping at a thrift shop I have never been to before. Way I waited so long to go there I will never know. The ladies that worked there (possibly even ran the place) were very kind and lovely. And the treasures to be found there were top notch. I found yarn to crochet with, good clean yarn, and then there was this little treasure.

Your probably thinking what is so great about that right? Wait for it. I had no idea what it was when I picked it up so to my amazement it was a crochet book. Not just any ol' crochet book but a complete book of crochet from 1949.

In my opinion that is a treasure! Crochet patterns from the ever so fabulous hat and gloves era.

It has instructions and patterns. Lots of patterns from hats to bedspreads. This made my day!

Then to top it off later in the evening my 7 year old daughter exclaimed to her friend who was over to play, "I know how to crochet." with pride. I have taught her to chain and now we are working on sc. We have decided that she is ready for her very own hooks and a project bag. She has started projects in the past but has not kept interest long enough to finish anything. Now she wants to make things not just crochet. My heart is overflowing. Ok so it doesn't take much to please me what can I say.

God bless you this day

Supplies

2010-02-02T10:57:00.003-06:00

I liked the yarn destash idea, I had in Jan., so much that I decided to destash all of my crafting supplies that I have been hording but not using and some great supplies that I have found for a bargain. You can find them at my new etsy shop LilThoughts.

It is finally ready to show off. There is not a lot there yet but more is coming. Find some great vintage patterns, sewing notions, jewelry/beading supplies, and vintage crafts books.

Winter Wonderland

2010-02-01T08:57:00.005-06:00

Just a few pics of our weather to remind us all that winter is not over yet. Just in case you were thinking of spring a bit too much. HeHe!

Business Card Booklet

2010-01-06T11:14:00.003-06:00

Recently I read an article on Etsy's The Storque, a handmade blog, called 'Don't Order Another 1000 Business Cards'. It really got me thinking. I agree with most of the points made, but on the other hand I am a collector of business cards. It is completly compulsive.

In the comments someone suggested an 'etsy passport' which I think is a great idea but it does leave out those crafters who do not sell on etsy and they are just as important. So as I was thinking of my drawer with business cards hiding in it I got an idea. How hard would it be to make a passport of sorts with those cards.

Here is what I did.
-First I dug out all of my cards that I could find. I know some are missing but then that is why I am doing this.
-Punched holes in the cards in approximatly the same place.
-Jotted down a note of some sort on the back of each card to remind myself either what I bought from them, what they craft, where I picked up the card, or what interested me in the first place.
-Slipped them all on a book ring that I purchase at my local deptment store.
Done!
Now this book is simple and can still be thrown in a drawer, but at least you know where all your cards are and why you have them.

Peace and Quiet

2010-01-05T11:35:00.005-06:00

Whew! The holidays are over, the kids are back in school, life is back to normal. So I am getting back in the swing of things.

First thing I wanted to do was go through my yarn stash and decide what I will probably never use. That was pretty easy. I have several skeins of fuzzy, furry type yarns that I keep buying thinking I will use and never do.

These and more.

So I decided instead of forcing myself to make something out if them that I would not care for (because they are not my style) I would sell them in my shop. I have seen a lot of nice stuff made from this kind of yarn so I know someone will want it. If you are one of those talented people check out the yarn destash section of my shop. They are going for $2-3 a skein so its a great deal you don't want to miss.

I have more great ideas to tell you about but I will spread them out so you don't get overloaded.:) Plus it makes me come back and blog. Too many long gaps between posts these days.

Magazine Article

2009-12-15T14:40:00.003-06:00

The article that I was interviewed for back in sept. has come out! It is great to see it in print.

The feedback I have gotten locally from it has been amazing. I did not realize so many people read the Hutchinson Magazine. I am glad that they do because I underestimated it.

For those wondering, they found me through Etsy. The editor sent me a message and I replied. Thank you Etsy for helping me be seen and thank you Hutchinson Magazine for finding me and a BIG thank you to all those who have commented on the article and shared it with friends.

Christmas Sale

2009-12-11T09:47:00.005-06:00

'Tis the season!

In more ways then one. First there is this cold winter season we must face and then there is the much more enjoyable Christmas season. With both in mind I am offering a Christmas sale in my shop. Get 50% off everything in the store. Simply place your order and wait for a revised invoice to be emailed to you before you pay.

Are you buying a gift for someone? Would you like it shipped directly to them? I would be happy to do that! Just leave me a message in the comment from buyer section with the details. Each item will be wrapped in tissue paper and tied with a ribbon and I can include a note from you if you like.

Anything to make the Holiday shopping easier! Merry Christmas everyone!

A fall craft

2009-11-04T14:03:00.005-06:00

I have seen them and love them. So of course I had to try to make them for myself.

My needle felted acorns.
I love them! They are a great autumn decor feature.

Mine are a bit different from others I have seen in how they are made. They look the same and are just as great, but I did something a bit different that made them less expensive to make. All of the felted acorns I have seen for sell or in craft posts are made with wool roving. I priced some at my local craft store and decided it cost too much. To solve that problem I made my own roving using the scrap yarn I had.

I had small sections of different colored acrylic yarn given to me by my grandmother that I still had not found a use for. I picked my best autumn colors and set to work.

First step is to choose your color. I found that cutting the strands made it easier. So I cut 4 strands each about 3 to 4 inches long. It is not necessary to measure them. Gather all the strands together and hold them tight in the middle with the ends even.
Now for the next step you need a very clean brush. I used an old bristle brush that we do not use any more. I cleaned it well before using it.
Hold the ends of the strands between the brush and your thumb and brush them out.

When that end is well brushed turn them around and brush out the other end. Make sure you work your way to the middle so that the whole section is brushed out.

Now the yarn will have some twist to it but as you work more into it and pull it out several times it will not twist any more.Do this several more times until you have enough roving for your acorn. Then all you have to do is needle felt it into an acorn. Here is a simple video to see how to do that easy technique. Have fun!

Craft sale

2009-10-22T10:48:00.002-05:00

Well I survived the craft sale. It was fun but I did not sell much. Hardly any customers came unfortunately. I don't think the organizer did a great job of advertising the event. The flier she gave me was not exciting nor did it convey "event" if you know what I mean. Of course this was her first time doing anything like this so it was an experiment anyways.

I did make 3 sales total all to other people who had booths so it was not a complete waste of time. Many compliments were given too. So I feel good about my products and I know they were not the reason for the lack of sales. One women surprised me by telling another that my crochet was very professional after buying a hat. Of course it is! I would not be selling it if my work was not of good quality.

So if nothing else it was a great confidence builder!

I love Autumn

2009-10-22T10:40:00.003-05:00

Here are some pictures I took in my yard! Enjoy!

I think I'm Ready

2009-10-16T09:29:00.002-05:00

Ok, my first craft sale is tomorrow. I think I am ready but I just don't know. I am so nervous and excited at the same time. After making a table cloth(which did not turn out very good but will work)and a jewelry tree(which I think is quite unique) I set up my display yesterday to see how it would look and am happy with it.

So here goes. I have to pump my self up because I am so nervous. The worst of it is not the sale itself but having to face people. I get so nervous when I talk to people. I mean I start sweating and sometimes feel like I am about to start crying. I have gotten a little better in the past few years but I am not great at it yet. So pray for me please! Oh and don't forget that if your local you should stop in take a look see, even if its just to encourage me.

Scarves like crazy

2009-10-06T13:52:00.003-05:00

So I obviously have not blogged in a little while. Why, you ask? Well I have been busy. Oh yeah and a little under the weather too. I had to go and start the season off right with a head cold. Needless to say it is hard to think when your head is pounding with a sinus headache.

But back to the busy part. I have a craft sale coming up on the 17th(yay! my first one) and I have been making scarves like crazy and more fabric covered pushpins. For a while I was making a scarf a day. I still need to make more stuff and get my table and displays ready. I love it! So join me at the craft sale if your local. It is Sat. the 17th from 10am-3pm at 1665 31st Rd. in Windom Ks. By handmade and get some shopping done for the holidays!

My first interview

2009-09-22T11:14:00.004-05:00

I made it! I survived my first interview. Thank you Hutchinson Magazine. Amy was so friendly and nice. I am going to be featured in the winter issue. It is so hard for me to believe.

My prayers are being answered. I really do believe that this could be my path in life, to be a small business owner. It has been in my heart for a long time but finding my strengths and sticking with what I love, which is crochet, is what is making it possible. I know that my talent is God given. I tried for a while to deny it as a talent simply because crochet has such a stigma attached to it but I am thankful that I got over that and do what I love regardless of others opinion. My motto at least for today is, do what you love and you will find others who love it too.

Home Again

2009-09-10T12:38:00.005-05:00

It is so nice to be home. We had a great time! I really love it up there and want to go back to see everything we missed. Custer State Park is beautiful! We drove through it early in the morning. Many animals crossed our path or watched as we passed by. The most exciting part was when we saw donkeys so we stopped to take a picture and they all rushed to the truck. One stuck his nose in the window. We all were surprised and the children were a little scared. Later we found out their nick name is the begging burrows. Fun!

We also had the miss fortune of finding out the my youngest daughter gets motion sick on curvy mountain roads.

We saw and experienced much more. Too much to even list here. Maybe someday I will get it all written down to pass on. Lets just say it was a great adventure and learning experience.

Vacation

2009-09-03T14:48:00.004-05:00

I and the kids are going to South Dakota to see Mount Rushmore with family. We are going to be camping and hiking in the black hills. I can't wait!! I have never been there, none of us have. I am a little nervous because I have never camped out side Kansas as an adult but I guess it is the same where ever you go. Right? I love that my children will grow up with some great memories and experiences too.

I remember doing things like this with my parents and they are some of the best memories I have (so long as I block out the traumatizing part). I remember freezing in Colorado, getting rained on, and almost blown away in other places. It was an adventure. No wonder my kids love adventures so much. I guess I have raised them right. Come what may, we will be okay for God is with us. Some things can't be helped so you might as well make the most of it because worry accomplishes nothing.

Coming Soon

2009-08-26T09:20:00.003-05:00

I have been experimenting with fabric covered buttons, the metal kind, lately and have decided I love the look and possibilities. I have loved pretty fabrics for ever and feel this is a great use for all the pretty little scraps that I have been collecting and can't seem to stop buying when ever I am at a craft store. So coming to my shop soon will be fabric covered push pins and magnets. I hope you love them as much as I do. They are perfect for dressing up your bulletin board, fridge, file cabinet, and so much more at work and home. I will start adding them 8-31-o9, Lord willing, so be sure to come see all the pretty styles that will be available.

A Tote

2009-08-25T08:17:00.003-05:00

I had so much fun making this tote! It started with cut off jean legs and turned into this.

Yay me! Sorry not trying to brag but I am proud that it came out so nice. I am not a sewer type person, and I am not going to sew a lot trust me. It is nice to be able to make things once and a while though. I know I still need to sew a bead on for the eye. I will get around to that soon. I was just excited to share my new tote with you.

That is some of what I have been up to lately. So what's your latest craft project?

Fun in the Virtual Labs

2009-08-11T17:17:00.003-05:00

I just visited Etsy's virtual labs for the first time. It was fun and I learned a little. The first was an interview and Q&A with Brett Bera of Crochet Today Magazine. That was a lot of fun!

Then I stuck around for a shop critique. Got my question answered even. So my pics are bright enough. I was wondering because sometimes they seem so dim to me. I guess I will stick with the white background. People always say the backgrounds are so distracting, but I like pics taken in different settings. I thought it added character to the image. Guess I was wrong. I will not be watermarking my pics anymore either. It keeps them from being featured. That was news to me, but makes sense.

I think I will have to go to these virtual labs again sometime.

A Natural Trellis

2009-07-28T15:00:00.006-05:00

I recently received a morning glory vine from my mother who had one growing places it shouldn't have. I was not sure where I would put it or what it would grow on. I considered a metal frame from a toddler bed that was no longer being used, but that seemed a waste because it could be used again by someone.

With that idea scratched I started looking around the house and yard sure that there was something I could use. Not finding anything I started cleaning up brush from the yard when it hit me. I could MAKE a trellis! Of course. Using the limbs I found in the yard and some wire(first I tried yarn, didn't work) I constructed a nice trellis perfect for my morning glory.The plant looks a little sickly in this pic because I just transplanted it. I do have bricks helping hold it up because I could not dig deep enough in the soil to get a good hold on it. The ground was very hard then. We had not had rain in a while. Someday I will get around to fixing that.

The vines are looking better now and have new growth on them so will soon be climbing that trellis. I can't wait!

So I'm sewing

2009-07-25T15:23:00.004-05:00

I decided to sew today. A little change of pace is good. Plus I made something for crocheters. I made a crochet hook case. Inspired by some others I saw on etsy. Mine is a little different of course because I did not use a pattern. I just made it up as I went which was easy since it was such a simple thing to make. The hardest part was stitching straight lines for the dividers. But all in all I think it came out very nice. What do you think?

Simply Summer

2009-07-22T13:02:00.003-05:00

In my backyard.

Your favorite item?

2009-07-21T10:36:00.006-05:00

I am interested in what you love about crochet. What is your favorite crochet or knit thing and why do you love it so?

I will start by saying my favorite item is a throw blanket I made. It is a patchwork blanket of sorts because I made it with left over yarn from many other projects. I see the things I made for people I love when I look at it. It has an old fashioned look to it and is very comfy.

So tell me what yours is.

So Much

2009-07-17T18:48:00.003-05:00

There is so much to do it seems to get traffic to a blog. Oh my! There is a lot of good advice too so it is nice that people share their tips. But it is so time consuming. Today I claimed my blog on technorati and made a fan page on facebook. I will just have to see if they help. Surely something has to. I know there is much more I could do but I often wonder if it is all worth it. I guess it has to be because people will not find me on their own.

Oh yeah and I also finished some buttons I have been working on and made some very comfy wrist warmers. Will load pics soon.

2009-07-17T15:06:00.001-05:00

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Bracelet

2009-07-13T19:53:00.003-05:00

I made a bracelet! An adjustable crochet bracelet with a large rose button. The wooden button is handmade by me. It is woodburned and sealed.

I think I will make more of these for my shop, but this one is mine. I like it too much to sell.

My Reminder

2009-07-11T10:45:00.003-05:00

This morning as I was hanging clothes on the line. A bird was singing its song. I often hear words in different bird's calls. Like when I hear a cardinal it is saying pretty. I do not know what kind of bird I heard this morning but to me this bird today sounded like it was saying redeemer.

I had to smile and give praise as I tended my laundry with this simple reminder of things greater than this present world. I have a Redeemer! He came and saved me of my sins and gave me much to look forward to. No pressing matter or trying situation should over shadow that fact. This time and these things that cause me to worry are tiny in comparison to eternity in heaven with this Redeemer, Jesus.

Psalm 148

¹Praise ye the LORD. Praise ye the LORD from the heavens: praise him in the heights.

²Praise ye him, all his angels: praise ye him, all his hosts.

³Praise ye him, sun and moon: praise him, all ye stars of light.

⁴Praise him, ye heavens of heavens, and ye waters that be above the heavens.

⁵Let them praise the name of the LORD: for he commanded, and they were created.

⁶He hath also stablished them for ever and ever: he hath made a decree which shall not pass.

⁷Praise the LORD from the earth, ye dragons, and all deeps:

⁸Fire, and hail; snow, and vapours; stormy wind fulfilling his word:

⁹Mountains, and all hills; fruitful trees, and all cedars:

¹⁰Beasts, and all cattle; creeping things, and flying fowl:

¹¹Kings of the earth, and all people; princes, and all judges of the earth:

¹²Both young men, and maidens; old men, and children:

¹³Let them praise the name of the LORD: for his name alone is excellent; his glory is above the earth and heaven.

¹⁴He also exalteth the horn of his people, the praise of all his saints; even of the children of Israel, a people near unto him. Praise ye the LORD.

I needed this today, this week, this month. It has been a rough one. I have cried out to God and worried(to no avail) and He heard me!

Matthew 6:26
Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?
Matthew 6:25-27 (in Context) Matthew 6 (Whole Chapter)

Purses!

2009-07-08T13:37:00.006-05:00

I love to make purses! I can make them just about any size and shape I want. It is so much fun. Here are some I have made lately! Tell me what you think of them.
Find these and more in my shop!

What Pleasure?

2009-07-07T12:00:00.001-05:00

I heard something that struck me as very wise and even unbelievable. It was this. Giving in to and saying yes to sin is like saying that the sin itself whether it be an object or a situation or action can bring more pleasure and satisfaction than God. Wow that hit home to me. I have been in the midst of temptation and thought that it would bring me pleasure and joy even, but I did not think past the initial action itself to the consequences or to the effect it would have on me or those around me. If only I had.

James 1:14 & 15
But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.
Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.

What in this world as we know it could be more satisfying than the knowledge of salvation from eternal suffering? What can bring more pleasure than the peace of God? If only we could see past our current situation to the future that is beyond this present life. Would we be as concerned with physical pleasure or even comforts if we were to compare it to actual suffering, which is what is to come to those who do not choose to turn to Christ for salvation? What about those of us who have chosen Jesus as our Savior? Do we look past that temptation to the effects of its outcome in our lives? Sure we are not going to suffer in hell but what about the suffering we will have in our lives here on earth? The guilt of succumbing to that temptation and allowing that sin into our lives or the effects it has on our witness to those around us who are looking for us to do better and be stronger than they. What about the fact that the action could somehow lead unbelievers away from God and thus cause them to be damned? Their suffering would then be our responsibility, our fault. I am not saying that we are somehow supposed to be perfect because that is impossible. We all are sinners and no men is perfect, but keep in mind that your sin is going to have an effect on someone at some time even if you can not see it now. Just be careful is what I am saying. The saying look before you leap is right on the mark.

No amounts of pleasure in this world can compare to that in heaven. God created us so don’t you think He knows what will be most rewarding for us? I have tried to imagine what heaven could be like and I can’t even begin, but I do know that there is no pleasure in this world that can compare to it. We are programmed to know that there is more beyond this life, it is in us. That is why there are so many religions that speak of some sort of after life, but do you know of any that compare to the real after life that is taught in the Word of God. Who wants to come back to a world of sin? Now can you really fathom that after this there is nothing else, that this is all we have? I cannot and most cannot because we know deep down inside us that there has to be more. So keep looking ahead to what is to come next and let that guide you in the now.

Ok I thought I was done but then I remembered the real grabber from the thing I heard last night. Here it is, get this I heard it from a junior in high school. Can you believe the wisdom at such an early age? Sure he heard it from someone else but he also retained it and passed it on. If only I had done the same at that age. Retaining some bit of knowledge like that could have prevented the mistakes I made.
Until next time remember what is coming next

Poem Then and Now

2009-06-30T10:41:00.001-05:00

Then and Now

Then I was lost

Without any real purpose

A person not sure of what lied ahead

Scared of the future

Strong in faith yet weak in reason

I knew I was saved

But not sure what to do next

I lived reckless knowing forgiveness

I did not understand my example

Could rescue or abandon

Could lead them home or leave them stranded

Selfish in salvation was I

I could not see past this present world

To the future of heaven

I was blinded by pleasure

Not knowing real satisfaction

Now I am focused

Knowing the future

Not of this temporary time

But of a present yet to come

Strengthened in reason

Sure of my purpose

Not in search of pleasure

But rather to please God

Knowing that I can withstand

Given the strength

To be different and not conformed

To make a stand instead of falter

Through me others can see

Hope in a surety

Not a weak being

Crushed by despair

I strive to give to others

Hope in forgiveness and reason to resist

Courage to be a new link in this chain

Leading to heaven

Marcia Harris

Combining

2009-06-27T10:14:00.003-05:00

I have been considering combining my blogs together. I currently have 2 blogs, a facebook, myspace(was 2 til recently) and twitter that I post on. This is a bit too much I got to say. I thought it might help draw attention to my products but it is not working mostly because I do not stay up to date on any of them. Plus I thought it would help separate my thoughts and different sides to my personality. That is kind of dumb now that I think about it. A blog is about sharing who you are and what you do, but not sharing all of my interests and thoughts is holding back and defeating the purpose.
So now I am going to put it all here. For a few days I will be adding things from my other sights so some will be older but still relevant to me. I will not be posting old news about my shop, only things that are important to me. Like, did you know I write poetry and love taking pictures and I even have a few designs that I made and sell on t-shirts and gifts. If you read all my blogs and sites you would know that but nobody does so that's the point I am trying to make and correct.
I will start gathering items to share here on my favorite blog. Keep in touch and get to know a little more about me.

Yart Sale

2009-06-11T09:31:00.004-05:00

Yay!! It's Yart Sale time again. I have decided to join in on the fun this year. I am providing free shipping to the U.S. on all items in the Yart Sale section of my shop. So be sure to stop by and take a look to see some great finds.

If you don't find what your looking for in my shop just search "yart" on the Etsy site to find other items and shops participating in the Yart Sale.

Have fun Yart Saling!

Sales info

2009-06-10T12:10:00.006-05:00

Since I recently moved everything to a new shop I decided to delete the old one. Because I will lose all of my sales information when I do, I am going to post them here for all to see. I loved getting all the positive feedback and would like to share it. Plus I know future buyers like to know the track record of sellers before making a purchase. So here it is!

Click on the pictures for large readable images.

Feedback-
Sales-Hope this is helpful.

An Award

2009-06-02T17:03:00.001-05:00

Wow, I have received my first award! I got the “One Lovely Blog Award” from ByCoco. You can see her blog about it here. How lovely is that? Absolutely lovely I think. So I have of course passed the award on to 15 more lovely blogs. I decided to pass it on to blogs from CAST that I like. CAST is Etsy's Christian Artist Street Team that I am a member of.

Here they are. Be sure to check them out.

http://alittlehut.blogspot.com

http://angelasheartwork.blogspot.com/

http://creativeflutter.blogspot.com/

http://velishart.blogspot.com/

http://everydayeclectic.wordpress.com/

http://www.rustiqueart.blogspot.com/

http://thisartistsjourney.blogspot.com/

http://justsoterryann.blogspot.com/

http://mamaslittleditty.blogspot.com/

http://themommyandmeboutique.blogspot.com/

http://pamlicobee.blogspot.com/

http://mompotter.blogspot.com/

http://heliumdays.blogspot.com/

http://eversodear.blogspot.com/

http://embound.blogspot.com/

May Madness Anyone?

2009-05-28T15:03:00.004-05:00

Wow, what a busy month May turned out to be. On top of it being the last month of school and all the end of school activities I decided to move everything to a new etsy shop for a new name, and God blessed us with a larger home.

The move was a very quick, over the weekend from beginning to end, type of move. Which did not seem possible at first. Thank God for good friends who were willing to help. I did not really give myself time to pack or do anything in an organized way. Which is unusual for me. The last time I moved I spent days getting ready for the big day. Then of course that was a cross country type of move which is different. One day I knew we were moving and the next day we moved almost everything. Simple as that. The cleaning took longer than the move, but then that makes sense with four messy children.

So now we are getting settled in and loving the new space. Things are slowly getting added to my new shop. Yesterday I got my first sale in the crochethoughts shop! It feels so good to know that God is seeing us worthy of His blessings in so many ways. Thank you Lord!

New Leaves

2009-05-05T11:44:00.003-05:00

I love when new spring time leaves start popping out everywhere you look. Here are some I thought looked particularly great against the tree bark in the background.

Big Changes

2009-05-01T09:01:00.003-05:00

Today I have decided to take a big leap and change some things. In the beginning I thought I might like a change of pace and named my Etsy shop InspireDesign. As much as I like this name it does not match my blog name and that has been bothering me for some time. Two names is too much.

Since my shop is predominantly crochet it only makes sense to put crochet in the name. So today I did it. I opened a new etsy shop named crochethoughts same as the blog. I am praying this will be a wise decision. This will be a process that will take a little time. I will keep InspireDesign open for a while so people can read my feedback for the sales I made there. Plus it will take a while to move everything to the new shop. All my new items will be loaded to the new shop. So expect some changes in names to as many of the outside links and social sites as I can change. I think this will be a good direction for my shop.

Got to get Organized

2009-04-30T13:38:00.005-05:00

I have been putting this off for some time. I have parts of skeins left over after projects and a few whole skeins of specialty yarns, that I have not had the perfect use for, that are just piling up. This is a big storage container that has been getting fuller 'til now the lid just does not fit any more. Usually that is a good time to decide to organize right? When I absolutely have to.

Well the time has come so off to work I go. It sure is nice to have plenty of little helpers. Surprisingly they all wanted to help role balls of yarn with me. My baby was having trouble but she kept trying. I decided it would be easier to wrap it around pieces of cardboard instead of balls.

Plus I have to think of things to make out of it to use up the yarn. I do not throw yarn away unless it is a small piece, say under a foot, because I am sure I will find a use for it. So expect to start seeing small items and maybe even striped items coming to my shop soon. Have any great ideas for such a time as this be sure to pass them on to me.

Ahh Texture

2009-04-30T10:42:00.010-05:00

I think the best thing about crochet has to be the texture you can make with different techniques. Once learned it can be applied to just about anything you make. A simple fpdc or bpdc action or the twisted stitches and viola you have texture in your item. I know I am stuck on it. Almost everything I make now has some sort of texture. Everything from purses to wraps and it really gives it a quality look I think. Not to mention the feel! I obviously love crochet already but the feel of texture in my crochet, ahh I love it. Here are some picures of my textures. Just imagine the possibilities.

So here is quick guide on how to get those textures. This guide is for those who already know the basics of crochet. These are done using fpdc (front post double crochet) and bpdc (back post double crochet).

Start with a row of dc.Insert hook into the front of your work under a dc, yo and pull through, finish the dc.
You have a fpdc.

To get a bpdc insert your hook into the back of your dc row under a dc, yo and pull through, finish the dc.
You have a bpdc.
If you crochet a whole row of fpdc or bpdc you will get a horizontal rib. Or you can alternate them and get a woven type pattern. Now your thinking how to get a vertical rib. It is done with the same stitches simply done in a pattern going up instead of across.
Here's how.
Make your fpdc around a fpdc each row across the right side of your work.

And make a bpdc around the fpdc each row across the wrong side of you work.
This is the backside of your work.

Well this is my guide. Hope it helped you. I know some of the pictures are a bit dark. It is difficult to photograph yourself crocheting. If you have more questions feel free to email me. If this helped you or at least got you interested in adding texture to your work let me know. Show me your textures!

Spring is here!!

2009-04-25T18:31:00.003-05:00

A little peek at my surroundings. Take a look around your neighborhood and see what signs of spring you can find. They are everywhere. Enjoy!

Something on My Shoulders

2009-04-14T09:39:00.005-05:00

I think spring might finally be here to stay. I thought maybe so before but then we had a blizzard blow through. Now the rains have come and the days are warmer, the grass is greening, and the sunlight lingers a bit longer. These things are ways to know there is hope after winter. Many of us are ready the bring out the summer clothes, but there is still too much of a chill most days.

Then there are those of us who get a chill easier. I remember working in a nursing home for the elders as a house keeper. I would go into an elder's room to clean it and feel the blast of warm air when I was already hot because to them it was a little cool in the air conditioned hall. When they went to lunch they had to have "a little something on the shoulders" and would often comment on the temperature.

So for those who need a little something I make wraps or shawls. Even when it is warm outside these covers are needed by some. We probably all have someone in our family or neighborhood who would appreciate the thoughtfulness.

My teams

2009-03-05T08:57:00.003-06:00

I am a member of two teams on etsy. Teams are groups of shops that have something in common. Such as in the CAST team we share our faith. We are Christians who sell our art or craft online. In FAM we are all mothers who are artists. I enjoy being a part of a team. We share stories, wisdom, and experience with each other in hopes of learning and supporting each other. Another great part of being on a team is that we advertise and run promotions together. Recently FAM did a birthday bash promo. It went well for all invovled.

To find the shops invovled in a team is quite easy. Most of them have their own tags to put on your item to help others find them. So to check us out go to etsy.com and type in FAM TEAM or CASTTEAM in the search box or just go here or here. Check us out we have a lot of talent and quality products.

Twitter

2009-03-04T10:15:00.002-06:00

So I have been tweeting for a couple days now and have decided that I like it. It is fun to read others tweets and so easy to update my followers on what I'm up to. I have started following several other etsians and crafters. They are a great encouragement and I can learn so much from them. As I am somewhat new to this online promo stuff it is much needed. So if you tweet look me up. I'm inspiredesigned there cause someone already had my name:( So sad. Anyways, check it out it's fun.

Twit What

2009-03-02T14:45:00.003-06:00

So I have been hearing a lot about this twitter thing. I have seen people talking about it on line and off. Even news stations are tweeting (I think that's what its called). So today I have signed up on twitter. I don't know what it will do for my business but I will try it out. Why not I say.

I haven't got anything to twitter about yet but I am sure I'll think of something. This whole online promoting stuff can get very time consuming, but it is a necessary part of doing business online. If you twitter and can give me some pointers that would be great. I am fairly new to all this and so far the majority of my business is coming from etsy which is fine by me but I could use some more traffic. I have tried facebook, ning, indiepublic, myspace, and others. I am trying all kinds of things to bring business to my shop. If this works I am all for it. I will just have to wait and see.

Wood Burned Pendants

2009-02-10T09:51:00.006-06:00

I have added a new line a jewelry to InspireDesign. These necklaces are wood burned pendants on black ribbons. These necklaces prove to be very fashionable and unique. They are a nice 1 1/2 inches in size. So they are not tiny and not too big.

All of the art on them is my own. I dabbled in the art of wood burning as a teen but never thought I could make something wearable out of it. I am fairly new to this medium of art and am learning along the way. Each pendant is sealed with several layers of water resistant sealant after being wood burned. If you have an image in mind, that you do not see and would like, I would be happy to try to custom make one for you. Just email with a detailed request.

Cleaning out

2009-01-31T12:54:00.003-06:00

I have been in a serious cleaning mood. I have been through boxes and closets, organizing and straightening. During all this I have come to a simple conclusion. I have to have a sale to clear out some of my products to make room for more. I am itching to crochet but I truly do not have room for more stuff. The prices on these items do not reflect the quality or the time I put into making them. They barely cover the cost of the materials. So believe me I am not doing this purely as a gimmick or even for profit. I am simply interested in moving some things out. These items will remain on sale until they are sold. So go to my shop www.inspiredesign.etsy.com and go to the SALE section to see everything that is for sale. I have everything from baby blankets to scarves and jewelry and more.

Christmas season

2008-12-22T12:35:00.004-06:00

Well now I can actually relax and enjoy the holiday as I should. As far as I am concerned I had a great etsy selling season. True I did not have a lot of sales but I had some and that is more than I have ever had before which feels really great. I have to say a huge thank you to my customers. This being my first year selling on etsy has turned out to be a great year so far and its not even over yet. Yay!

Plus I now have all of my Christmas shopping done. Yes I am confessing to be a last minute shopper. Every year I say I am going to shop throughout the year and have it all done by the time Christmas gets here but I never do it. It is sad not to mention stressful. This year I am going to do it differently. Now that I know about etsy I vow to shop handmade this year and because of the ease of shopping online I can do it off and on throughout the year or wait til I hear the first Christmas song on the radio and still won't have to deal with long lines and impulse buying. Hurray for the internet to allow us to be able to connect with crafters and artist with out leaving the comforts of home.

So have a very Merry Christmas this year and remember its not about the presents anyway. Just enjoy time with your loved ones and take time to remember that Christ was born for all mankind in a stable with nothing more then his parents and some animals to witness this great thing which has transformed the world.

Free Shipping

2008-11-27T23:05:00.003-06:00

Well I have to say I have had a great Thanksgiving. I had a nice big dinner with relatives. Then I and the four people in my life I am most thankful for, my children, went to my parents and visited and ate left overs before watching a movie. I took time out to appreciate the important things and people in life and realized how much I have to be thankful for.

On that note I want to show my appreciation for my customers at www.inspiredesign.etsy.com by giving free shipping on all orders til midnight Dec. 1st. So stop by and check it out. There are lots of great gifts and stocking stuffers.

Hair clips and matching headbands

2008-11-18T10:38:00.005-06:00

These are really great. A large flower hair clip with a matching tie back headband. The flower is sewn onto a snap on barrette with a button or beads in the center for embellishment. The head band is nice and long for an elegant look and would look great worn as a scarf or tied around a pony tail too. I have several of these made in different colors red, brown, pink, and purple so far and am adding more. I also have one for little girls in a shiny pink color. Stop by my shop to see them all.

New in Inspiredesign

2008-11-01T09:36:00.006-05:00

I can load pictures to etsy again. YAY! I have added two new scarves and a hair clip. More is coming soon
.

Would add more

2008-10-30T10:22:00.003-05:00

I have not add to my etsy shop in a while but that is not because I have not had things to add. I would love to add them but I am having technical problems loading pics to my listings. I have some more scarves, and I have made hair clips, necklaces and Christmas ornaments. I will be adding them as soon as I can so check back later. Please bare with me during this.

Links

2008-10-30T09:35:00.006-05:00

A list of sites from around the web.

Amy's Painted House and More
Warm Glow Candles and Accessories, Handmade Beaded Jewelry, and Handpainted Gifts.

Togs and Toggles wools and yarns.
Togs and Toggles wools and yarns are a supplier of quality knitting wools and yarns. We are a supplier of Sirdar, Stylecraft, Tivoli, Wendy, Robin and Twilleys. We also stock a huge range of knitting patterns and knitting accessories.

diy-day.com - DIY Arts & Crafts Videos
The do-it-yourself arts&crafts video instruction site featuring kid-safe projects for the entire family. Watch and learn how to make, create, and assemble your handmade product from a variety of materials.

Link2Me SEO Link Exchange Directory
Quality directory of webmasters actively seeking link exchange. Improve your search engine rankings and link popularity the easy way. Work clever not hard.

This post is also dedicated to those in my home state, Kansas, that make and sell their own products. I support buying handmade, as it is a tradition that is often overlooked and under appreciated. In this post I especially want to support local Kansas made products. Here are some sites I have found while browsing the web.

If you are in Kansas and have a website or blog about or selling your handmade items and would like to be added to this list email me and let me know about it.

www.greatcakessoapworks.com
Handmade soaps and skincare products.

www.circlehr.com
Goat milk soaps and creams, herbal teas and more all from a Kansas ranch.

www.treetables.com
Rustic wooden furniture.

www.takekansashome.com
A place where individuals sell their art and handmade products.

www.kansasoriginals.com
Custom gift baskets filled with Kansas products.

www.shinyadornments.etsy.com
Artisan handmade beaded and wire wrapped jewelry.

www.garnettartglass.com
Hand blown glass art.

www.yodercandles.com
Hand poured candles.

Poncho

2008-10-21T10:01:00.005-05:00

I have added this pretty silvery/gray poncho to Inspiredesign. This is a feminine v-shaped poncho with a collar and pretty scalloped edges around the bottom and collar.

Check it out as well as my other items.

Flower Hair clips

2008-10-09T10:20:00.005-05:00

I have been playing around with the idea of flower hair clips for a little bit. So far this is the only one I have made because I do not have any more clips but I intend to get some because I really like them. I gave this one to my daughter because the colors are not me.
I have made flowers just have not been able to put them on clips yet. I will show more once I get them done and will be adding them to my shop. So check back if you are interested.

New Testament Bible Cover

2008-10-06T10:16:00.004-05:00

New in Inpsiredesign- A pretty hand crochet Bible cover for a New Testament Bible with Psalm and Proverbs. This one is pink with a purple flower, you can order it HERE. These are adorable for any little girl and it is a good way to keep those precious words of God nice. If you have a color in mind you would like you can email me or convo me from etsy and I will see what I can do.

Crochet Curtains?

2008-10-04T13:21:00.005-05:00

So I decided to try something new. At least is seems new to me I do not remember ever seeing this before but that does not mean it has not been done. I was not sure how it would work or look but I got to tell I am pleased. Though it really is not wide enough to fit across my window because I ran out of matching yarn. So I have it kind of pushed to one side.

It gives a very warm glow to the room and is lacy enough not to be dark. Pretty I think.

Cool weather warm ups

2008-09-25T14:25:00.004-05:00

It is that time of year again. The air is getting cooler, the days are getting shorter and the leaves are falling. It is autumn! I love it! Time to snuggle up in something warm. Scarves, wraps, and ponchos are coming to my shop. Be sure to check them out and get prepared for cooler weather or just add something new and fun to what you already have.

New in shop

2008-09-25T09:36:00.004-05:00

I have just added four new necklaces. These very in design but all are hand made by me.

They include a whimsical tree- which is a wood burned design,

pressed flowers- with real pressed flowers preserved on a pendant,

a star- another wood burned design,

and wild flowers- a photograph of mine on a pendant.

They are available for purchase here .

The Comfy Shrugy

2008-09-25T08:39:00.004-05:00

I like shrugs but all of them that I have seen are a little tight and constricting unless you are a skinny minny model type(which I am not). So I designed my own supper comfy shrugy that fits me just right. It is a little larger then shrugs generally are and the arms are a bit longer so I can roll them up finishing the comfy look perfectly.

Just added

2008-09-10T11:31:00.005-05:00

I just added two very pretty necklaces. These necklaces have large statement piece pendents 1 1/2 in. across featuring my photography set in resin and accented with glass beads. Be sure to check them out.

I also added a new purse. This purse is crocheted in black and detailed with red along sides and around handles. The front is embellished with little red flowers. It measures 10 in. wide and 8 in. deep. It is lined with matching striped material, hand stitched in.

What is Inspiredesign

2008-09-05T09:52:00.004-05:00

Inspiredesign is my handmade shop on Etsy.com. This is a place where I can express myself through art and creation of my own products. Each of these items comes from the heart and my imagination. On my shop you can find purses, glass beaded jewelry, cloth covered journals, and a few misc. items that I felt the urge to make. I will soon be adding pendents and necklaces featuring my photograph art.

Yarn Stash

2008-09-03T23:03:00.004-05:00

So I went quite a while with out crocheting because I was trying to do something with my photography which is my second passion. It is not going any where right now but I still love to do. You can see my photos here and tell me if you think it is worth pursuing or just a great hobby.

Anyways back to crochet. I love to crochet but was taking a break from it when out of the blue my new step grandmother gave me 3 small sized storage bins of yarn. She used to make clowns but had to stop due to her eye site. So now I have all this yarn sitting in my rather small house (ok tiny) taking up space and am having a rather hard time deciding what to make with it all. I have so many options where do I start? I am trying my hand at small stuffed animals and dolls. I like them a lot. They turned out very well considering I am not using a pattern but just making it up as I go.

My kids love them and my oldest daughter who’s 11 is making a doll too and she is doing a very good job. I am not sure if these will be just for fun or if I will be adding them to my etsy shop. I will let you know if I decide to. Maybe you could tell me what you think and help me out.

A Little About Me

2008-09-02T09:32:00.007-05:00

About me

First and foremost I am a child of God, a born again Christian. Second I am a mother to four wonderful children.

I learned to crochet when I was a teen but then did not crochet for a long time. I started again in 2002 and have not been able to stop since. I mostly like to make smaller items that do not take a long time. Though I have made blankets for my children and a couple throw blankets for the living room. I really like making purses and scarves. They are my favorite. I am really drawn to textures. Solid colors with texture is tops for me.

I grew up in Kansas, then moved away for about 9 years, and am back in the state I love. Kansas is in my blood. I love it here.

What I love about Kansas-

The big sky, the wild flowers and grasses, colors of the crops, acres of sunflowers, watching our farmers bring in the “Kansas Gold” (wheat), the small towns and local arts.

What I love about life in general-

A great find in a second hand store, everything about autumn, antiquing, anything vintage, being in and photographing the colors and details of nature, art, seeing others imaginations and the world through their eyes, spending time with my family, laughing, having fun and being free with people who love me for who I am.

What I love about the seasons-

As I said before everything about fall, curling up under a warm blanket in winter with something hot to drink, sitting in the fresh new grass of spring, watching fireflies on a warm summer night.

These are all the things, that when combined, make me who I am.

In addition to all of that I have an online shop were I sell my handmade crochet items and sometimes art. My shop is www.crochethoughts.etsy.com

Crochet Baskets Uses

2008-08-30T10:53:00.009-05:00

These baskets are a lot of fun and have so many uses. I have been thinking and realized that while many may think they are adorable they may not know what to use them for. Baskets are common but they usually get tossed soon after receiving them because you just don't have a place for them.

Well here are a few uses I thought of.

Catch all- a cute place to keep your keys and loose change that is attractive on your side table or kitchen counter.
Gift baskets- Give a cute gift in a functional basket.
Spruce up a potted house plant.
Bathroom decor- A great place for decorative soaps or lotions.
Organize your dining room table by placing salt, pepper and napkins.
Potpourri

So have fun with them. And let me know if you can think of any other uses.