Crafty Pants!

It’s already getting cold here at school, which is unusual but not unwelcome. It was such a hot summer, and now that I can crochet (it’s almost my one year anniversary of when I first picked up a hook!) I want to spend the winter snuggling on the couch, making hats and scarves. I lost the first hat I made last winter at the grocery store, so I decided that it’s time I made another.

And that is when I realized that… I forgot my yarn at home! Luckily, I have all my hooks, but I’m on a no-buy for yarn. I have to wait until this weekend before I can drive home and get my precious yarn.  Garr!

Been away moving my wonderful SO two states away. Then I had to move myself across the state the very next day that I got home. It was a lot of moving, and I am exhausted! I’m not looking forward to moving again in just a few months. Ugh.

I don’t even know where I packed my crochet hooks… I hope I did or I’ll be one unhappy puppy come tomorrow!

OK, So I went to Borders and bought the Crochet Today magazine. While I’m not a fan of every pattern in the mag, I did find that I liked most. I’m not one for buying patterns, because lord knows I’ll never, ever be able to make even 20% of the patterns I already own. That’s why I’m so in love with free patterns. If I don’t make the item, it’s no sweat off my back!

However, I can see buying a magazine like crochet today, if only to get you back into the “crocheting mentality” every other month. I tend to wax and wane when it comes to crafting. I’m on fire one month and boring and unproductive the next. Crafting to me is like going to the gym; once you are there you love it (and it makes you feel fantastic) but the day you stop it takes a semi-truck to drag you back in.

I’m not super stoked about any of the patterns right now, but I do want to try my hand at felting flowers. I’ve made about six scarves for the craft fair, and I could see putting a felted flower on at least one. I’m trying to avoid the typical items (plain hats and scarves) I see at this craft fair every year, and trying to make unique, hip items.

PS. I’ll post pictures once I find my darned camera!

Ok.

So I’ve been gone a long time.

I can explain!

Well, I went on a very lovely vacation to Key West. Once I was back I started a new job that has demanded much of my energy getting settled into. Also, it has been HOT for Seattle, and I just haven’t felt like picking up a crochet hook.

However, I got the fire lit under my arse once again! I am making things as fast and I can for a small craft fair. I am going in on it with three other people, so between the three of us the booth price is very cheap! This is the first arts/craft fair I have ever done, so this will be fun. I have been crocheting, knifty knitting, carving stamps, printing, sewing, woodworking, you name it! Because the booth will be soo cheap, I don’t really care about mass producing anything. I’m using this as an excuse to sit and craft for 3-4 hours at a time. Now I can say, when people ask me what am I “going to do” with something, I can say, “sell it!”

I haven’t really been checking out the free patterns lately, because I can’t really sell the things I make from them. However, I did find these super duper cute Gnomes that I want to make as gifts. Anyone remember David the Gnome? Ahh, memories.

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Wow, it’s been a long time since I’ve posted! School, and searching for an internship has really zapped all my creative energy. I haven’t crocheted for over a month, but I can feel the itch coming on soon. I’ve been really itching to do something I haven’t done in a while, like soft block carving. I’ve been seeing lately in the craft-blog-o-sphere people carving and stamping on fabric. I feel like when I stop crafting, it’s hard to get back into it, like going to the gym. But once I start again, it feels so nice, and I wonder why I ever stopped!

Another thing I’ve been getting really into is tea. At school I live just a few blocks from a wee little shop that carries many varieties of loose teas. The owner is a tea fanatic and convinced me to try all sorts of types. My mother gave me her beautiful french press, and I have been drinking 2-4 cups per day. I really enjoy mixing different flavors (I’m drinking vanilla red tea mixed with sencha cherry rose festival green tea. It’s marvelous!)  and the methodical  process of brewing it  is very therapeutic.

I have discovered that I like my tea unsweetened which, if you knew my sweet tooth, is very suprising. I find that when I drink tea I feel more calm, and centered. I wish I had discovered tea earlier during my college career, as maybe it would have helped take the crazy, frantic edge off of school!

Yes, it's my favorite time of the year again! Finals week! Well, actually, there is another week of class, but I have so much work/tests, it might as well be finals week. I won't be crocheting for at least two weeks:( I'd be perfectly happy in a class that had more worthwhile assignments, and less tests!

*Breathes in paper bag* 

Not dead, just in finals week. I am working on a few more creations, but I can’t finish them until next week. Please let this nightmare week end!

I wish I could stay up all night crocheting rather than stay up all night studying. If only the world were perfect.

I wish school didn’t take up all my free time, but it does. *sigh*

The good news is that my birthday was beyond amazing. I got everything I could possibly want, and more. Most of all, I got all four books in the Amigurumi Collection Series. YES! For the most part I’ve figured out the charts, but I haven’t had time to sit down and make anything. Boo. My goal is to make the little black and white doggy in the middle of the last picture. He makes me melt!

My 22nd birthday is coming up in exactly a week! Wow. I remember when 22 sounded ancient. Now I realize how young 22 really is…

My family and friends have been pestering me about what I want for my presents. Having a birthday so soon after Christmas is a challenge, because typically I get everything I want (and more) during Christmas. I got the needle felting kit, and the pattern books, and the yarn. What else could I want?

I am a craft-o-holic, but my collection of supplies and book has grown so large over the past 22 years, I am having trouble finding things to add to it.

So, if anyone happens to stop by here, do you have any suggestions for ‘must have’ crafting paraphernalia? Otherwise, it looks like I’ll be getting another Fred Meyer gift card this year. Hey, a girl’s gotta eat!