Presenting: HandmadeBySandi

In honor of Memorial Day, I decided to choose these two patriotic items from our Etsy Blogger of the Month: HandmadeBySandi. She has quite an interesting variety of items in her shop at http://HandmadeBySandi.etsy.com Her items range from jewelry to adorable baby washcloths to many delightful crocheted items which, as a fellow crocheter, I can tell you are artfully done. Congratulations, Sandi, for being the Etsy blogger of the month, and for having a birthday this month as well! I have only one important question for her: Is that candy included with the bowl????

S.........nakes and snails and puppy dog tails...

Is that really what little boys are made of? I hardly think so, but it does seems that it is easier to find patterns for cute sweaters for baby girls. When I found this pattern, however, it was fun to tailor it to be a little more on the masculine side. I added a brightly colored stripe and made the tie interchangeable in both the cream and bold color. Can't you just see bringing a little guy home from the hospital in one of these?

N.........ew Christening Dress

In the last several years, I have found that many folks are waiting to have their babies baptized when they are a little older than we did. My daughters were christened when they were only a few weeks old. But lately I've had several requests for lager size gowns. I adapted this pattern for babies and little girls ages 6 months to 2 years. It is hand crocheted from fine crochet cotton and adorned with ribbon ties. Because it measures 15" inches from neckline to hem, it is also suitable for those who are already walking. Featuring a cascading shell pattern, it is particularly appropriate for baptism, but would be lovely for any special occasion. The ribbon tie under the yoke adjusts for babies with a 19"-24" chest measurement. This dress and matching bonnet and socks are available in my Etsy shop!

A.........cronyms Part II

Please meet the CEO of Peacox Creations! My dear, CTH (crochet tolerant husband), was so dubbed because when I sell at craft shows he carries everything out! A dear friend overheard this acronym at a quilt show, but all the rest of the acronyms in this post come from fellow
CPers (the Crochet Partners group on Yahoo). Actually, he's practicing for the next show September 6 and 7, at Trimborn Farms in Milwaukee. He may be carrying PIGS (see post below), PILLs (projects I've lost lately), or perhaps NTBFUFOs (never to be finished unfinished projects). Your guess is as good as mine!
We knitters and crocheters also have two fun words for an un-fun task: ripping out our work. TINK (knit spelled backwards) is used when we take out a few stitches and FROG is when we really have to "Rip-it, rip-it, rip-it". I've been known to FROG an entire afghan!

Here are a few more acronyms you may enjoy:

WIP.........work in progress
WIM........work in mind
PNB.........pine needle basket (I use that one alot!)
SEX.........stash enhancement experience (enjoyed by all the quilters I know!)
YMMV...yarn mileage may vary
OOAK.....one of a kind

Please join us for our next episode when we discuss syndromes!

H.........elp! There are too many PIGS in my house!

I don't mean the Piggly Wiggly bags! The temptation to use them was overwhelming. PIGS is "projects in grocery sacks", just one of the many acronyms used by inveterate crafters! The world of crafting is no exception to the internet love for acronyms and I've been investigating a few of them. With help from fellow CP's (that's Crochet Partners, an internet group), I've amassed a list that shows the ingenuity as well as the sense of humor we crafters posess.

Actually, Eeyore, who is peeking out of the first bag is a FO (finished object) and the baskets are presently UFOs (unfinished objects). Of couse UFO can stand for "ugly finished objects" , but we never put those in grocery bags!

Are you ready for a few more from those most ingenious CPs?

BOY: basket of yarn, box of yarn

ACADD: adult crochet attention deficit disorder (I was diagnosed a long time ago!)

MAMA: mile-a-minute afghan (a kind of afghan done on a very large hook that goes fast)

LYS: local yarn shop

RACK: random act of crochet kindness

AFH: afghan from hell (I really found this...hope it doesn't upset anyone!

Be back with another post later with more! You'll also get to meet my CTH who is also a CEO!

T.........hey've done it again!

Perhaps it was viewing all the beautiful pink flowers in the gardens; at least that's the only reason I can think of that Camille and Oscar dramatically changed colors last night! They chose beautiful shades of pale and deep pink for their new look. Camille did keep the flower in her hair...or is it her hare...and Oscar still sports his classy bow tie. They're sure to be off on more adventures soon, so please stay tuned.

C.........omfortghan

A comfortghan is a small afghan (this one is 46"x36"), often given to someone going through a difficult period of time, or as a symbol of love and devotion you have for someone else. This particular comfortghan was especially designed for those of the Christian faiths, because each of the twenty individual teal colored squares reflects a verse or verses from the Bible. The white borders make the patterns stand out as well as unify the theme. The verses reflected here are "Rose of Sharon" from Song of Solomon, "Waves" from Matthew, and "Evening Light" from Zacharaiah. When I give one of these to someone, I include the Bible verses depicted in all twenty squares, hopefully making it more of a blessing!

C.........amille goes shopping and shows off some results!

Not infrequently, Camille heads over to the yarn shop to select her favorite colors. The big one pound skeins weigh more than she does! Here she shows two of her favorite crocheted afghans, both done in quilt styles. One is "Granny's Flower Garden" and reminds me of the quilts I slept under so long ago at my grandmother's house. The second, in stunning gold and white, seems to have several names including "Ohio Star". Both are hand pieced, just as our grandmothers and great grandmothers did when they made their priceless treasures.

A.........new Camille; a new experience!

Good thing that Camille was weighed on Friday, because she is already on her way to surprise a little girl in Malaysia. So she quickly changed colors and became quite a helper! First she guarded the pink nylon net that will soon be crocheted into scrubbies. Then she sat on a large box that arrived with my daughter and son-in-law that live here in Wisconsin. They had delivered an early Mother's Day gift from both daughters and sons-in-law. Inside was a brand new set of pots and pans! Seeing as my old ones were almost 45 years old and had become adept at burning dinner, I was thrilled and surprised! Camille fit nicely in the new ladle, but certainly did not want to jump into those shiny pots! How lucky I am! I can honestly say that I am the world's happiest Mom and Mother-in-law...even though there are others that feel the same way!

C.........amille has a contest!

So this is why Camille didn't turn around yesterday! She was hiding the prize for her contest! Camille is giving away two scrubbies! All you have to do is post another fun idea for Camille on the blog, and I'll have a friend pick the best idea. It could be a suggestion for an adventure, a good way to market her, some fun colors for her next "chameleon" change, or anything else that pops into your head! After the choice is made, she'll draw another suggestion at random from the list. Both of you will receive a free scrubbie soon in the mail. The contest ends tomorrow afternoon! She's "hopping" to get many suggestions!

U.........h, Oh!

True to form Camille has changed color..from bright blue to pale green aqua blue! But not true to form, she had a request today. She wants to go shopping! What's happening with Camille? Is there something we don't know about? Should I be concerned? And why won't she turn around? Perhaps we'll find out in the new post tomorrow!

B.........unny hopping with Camille

Meet Camille...that's short for Chameleon...because she has been known to change colors...at least when she hops away from my etsy shop! Camille is starting out on a series of "excellent adventures". Every Thursday morning you can catch Camille hopping around the house, helping with my crafting, and visiting as many people and as many places as she can. Here you can see her coming and going! It's amazing where this 6 1/2" bunny can hop, so please watch for her every Thursday. This weekend she's planning to visit Grandma and in May she's going to LA! Stay tuned!

A.........pple Scrubbies

Because fall is the season for apples, this post seemed perfect for the the September 29 blog carnival! It seems that everyone likes the standard nylon net scrubbies, I thought I'd show my original design for scrubbies in the shape of a red apple with a green leaf. They work as well as the other scrubbies and I find them more fun to look at...of course my kitchen has apple decorations!
Seeing as many of you asked for the pattern, I'll give it as briefly as I can. You will need a size "I" crochet hook...if you crochet very tight, you might want to up it a size or two...and two 2" strips of nylon netting, about 8 yards of red and 1 1/2 yards of green. Because nylon net comes 72" wide, you can get quite a few from one purchase.
With red, ch 3, sl st to form a ring. Work 8 sc in ring. Join with sl st to first sc. Ch 1. Work 2 sc in each sc around and join with sl st to first sc. (16 sts). For row 3: ch1. Work sc in next 3 sc, 2sc in next sc around. Join with sl st to first sc (20 sc). Last row (apple shaping): Sl st in next sc. Work hdc in next sc. Work 3 dc in next sc. Work hdc in next sc. Work 2 sc in next sc. Work sc in each of next three sc. Work 2 hdc in next sc. Sl st in each of next 2 sc. Work 2 hdc in next sc. Work sc in each of next three sc. Work 2sc in next sc. Work hdc in next sc. Work 3 dc in next sc. Work hdc in last sc. Sl st in first sl st and finish off.
Join green strip in the sl st you just finished. Sc in next 2 sts on top of the apple. Work 2 sc in next st on top of apple. Ch 3. Turn. Work sc back to center and finish off.
Hope you can follow this! If I would need to write it out more carefully with illustrations I would have to sell the pattern Hope you understand. I do have finished scrubbies for sale in my etsy shop. There's a link on the right!

T.........est pattern

Funny, but when I wrote this title I immediately thought of the old "test patterns" on TV! Most of you reading this blog have never experienced a "test pattern", I imagine. Originally, they helped you tune in your TV. Boy, am I dating myself!

This, however is a much newer type. I was given the privilege of testing a pattern for a crocheted felted purse by the talented kellykat, another etsy shop owner. She designed the purse using giant granny squares in bold colors. It was crocheted in wool and then felted in the washer to make a very solid bag that measures about 11"x11" without the strap which is shoulder length. She gave me the option of making an additional granny square for the flap, but I chose to add a small solid flap instead, which fastens with a large snap.

Be sure to visit http:// kellykatcrafts.etsy.com to see all of her cute designs. I really enjoyed making this project! I chose these colors because it matches several outfits I already own.

S.........crubbie/dishcloth Part 1:

For many years, I have loved using handmade dishcloths and nylon net scrubbies. Finally, it hit me that I could combine them and make the most useful dishcloth ever! For those of you who crochet, this mini-tutorial may give you all the directions you need. The complete pattern and finished dishcloths are also available on my etsy site in the right hand column.You need about 7 yards of nylon netting cut into two inch strips. One purchase of the netting which is 72" wide will give you many scrubbies. With an "I" crochet hook make a loop. I crochet loosely, so you may want a "J" or "K" hook. Single crochet three rows, increasing as needed to lie flat. It should be about 3" in diameter. Finish off. You now have a very useful scrubbie as is. If you wish to continue with the dishcloth, see the post below!

S.........crubbie/dishcloth part 2:

Once you've decided to continue with the dishcloth, using the same size hook, crochet a row of single crochet around, using cotton yarn in a variegated color, increasing as needed to stay flat. Then add three rows of double crochet, again, increasing as needed. Then with a solid color, add a row of single crochet, also increasing, and finish with a final row of loops of chain stitches and single crochet. You have produced a scrubbie/dishcloth that can be machine washed and dried that will serve you for a long time, getting dishes ready for the dishwasher, cleaning tables and counters, and doing dishes by hand, getting off stuck on food while not scratching dishes!

Y.........ellow going green!

Just finished crocheting a new eco-friendly shopping bag. It seems to hold a lot and is quite sturdy. After I give it a few tries on my own, I'll probably make some for my etsy shop. I remember years ago my grandmother always carried what she called a "string bag" in her purse for shopping. So this also reminds me of her. . . another example of life coming full circle!

C.........rafting in a winer blast

Just had to think spring in 25 below zero wind chills here today. Here are the new darlings...pink and white long eared bunnies in one of my pine needle baskets on a soft white doily. I plan to make the bunnies in many colors with doilies to match.. The basket cannot be equaled. It is an original design, one-of-a-kind creation that took almost 35 hours to make, coiling long leaf pine needles and sewing intricate designs with natural raffia. The handle is the hardest part as wire is inserted in the center of the coils to give it stability. The bunnies are on my etsy shop and the basket will be soon. http://peacoxcreations.etsy.com

C.........rafting

Just returned from the Kohler Arts Center where we enjoyed a Mexican Fiesta! The Ballet Follorico dance troup was fantastic! Now I'm inspired to use the glorious, bright colors of Mexico in my crafts! It's hard to see against the black background, but the top and the base of this tote bag are black!