She grabbed her rocking chair and did THIS!

My 3 year old daughter, Tara, grabbed her rocking chair and took it to a corner of the kitchen. She didn't want to see what she was doing, but when I rounded the corner I stumbled on maybe the cutest thing ever. I stumbled over myself to grab my phone fast enough to take a video before she stopped (sorry about the dryer noise in the background #reallife).

That's my girl!

 

play hard ... play hooky

Bunny Slope Teether for Babies - Free Crochet Pattern

Here's the story of my latest free crochet pattern. Scroll down to the Print Friendly button for the pattern.

My neighbor had a baby 6 months ago - just about 6 months after I had my baby girl. Even before he was born, I started thinking about what I could make for him.

Everyone loves babies. Well even more so if you are good with a hook, chances are you love crocheting for babies. That means the internet is chock full of ideas... some good, some, well, you know what I mean. I found myself cruising patterns for hats, diaper covers, photo props, loveys, Amish puzzle balls, booties, blankets (but let's face it, we all know I have too much hooky ADD to finish a blanket), rattles, mobiles... you name it and someone has probably tried to crochet it.

I eventually settled on a crocheted ring rattle-type thing. I planned to make the ring around a set of gorgeous customized wooden rings I found on Cake in the Morn on Etsy (I'll wait while you go check out her shop... seriously go... I'll be here when you get back). I even had the baby's name burned into a ring to make it even more special. 

All that was left was to make the ring. Here's how that went down: I'm so excited about giving them this gift!... He's still to little to use it though... Ugh, I still need to make that ring... I don't feel like making the ring today... I'll try to make it now, but I have so many orders... Ok, the holidays are over and the baby is getting big enough to play with it so I need to sit here until it's done... Sitting here trying to make it... I don't like this... It's twisting weird... Why is my colorwork shifting so bad?.. This will never hold the weight of those wooden rings... I give up.

So there my pretty little wooden rings sat, alone and naked - they looked so sad and kept reminding me of my shame. By this point I felt like a terrible, horrible, no-good, very bad neighbor for never giving them a present to celebrate their baby boy. (This is the same neighbor who saved my coffee that day so you can imagine how guilty I felt.)

And then it happened. True inspiration struck. I had it. I'm going to make a ribbon teether! It's perfect. It's removable, washable, quick to make, and baby safe. YAAASSSSS!! I was so excited that I had three made by the end of the next day.

My fans on Facebook asked if I would write the pattern, and of course I agreed. Needless to say I couldn't repeat that whole agonizing process the next time one of my friends had a baby so I knew I needed to write it out anyway. I gave it the name Bunny Slope because I think it looks like cute little bunny ears and I had to give a nod to my local ski culture.

Now, I know what you're thinking. "This is a small project and it's a free pattern. It can't be that good." Well, you're wrong. Just WRONG. This isn't your average free pattern... you know what I'm talking about. This is a meticulously written pattern with every detail including a full page of new photo tutorials, specific materials needed, stitch explanations... everything you've come to expect from my patterns. Just because it's free doesn't mean I skimped on you.

So scroll down and click the print-friendly page to access this fun pattern. You can also find it on my Ravelry page! You'll want to make several so you can wash one when it gets dirty. As always, send me an email if you have any questions or problems. And don't forget to add yours to the Ravelry projects page so we can all revel in the cuteness.

play hard ... play hooky

The Butterflies Have (Finally) Been Released

It was a perfect day, with great friends, good weather, and much love!!! After such a busy and amazing weekend, I'm finding it hard to gather my thoughts about what it means to me to have you be a part of such a personal celebration of my daughter Bryn. So, I'll just let the pictures do it for me.

play hard ... play hooky

10,000 Fan GIveaway - New Moon Studio

We have come full circle with one full week of giveaways! Thank you to  everyone who entered, all my new fans, and of course my vendors. It's been an incredible time so far and I hope you think so too!! My hope is that I introduced you to some drool-worthy shops. First up as always are the winners from yesterday.

Drumroll please....

CONGRATULATIONS to...

Schere K.W.! She will be making ice cream headbands and bacon scarves with Twinkie Chan's book!
RaeLynn O.! Can tote her WIP's anywhere because she won the tote from Yarn Pop!

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For my final giveaway, New Moon Studio is donating a STUNNING hand thrown yarn bowl. I'm finding it hard to describe; it's just that beautiful. Seriously, no words... just look!

The bowl is made with high fire stoneware and covered with combination of two beautiful glazes.

It is approximately 6"x3".
Each yarn bowl is made to order, so estimated ship time from final pick is 3-4 weeks.

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I also want to give a final thank you to all of my vendors! I couldn't have done with without their amazing talent. If you missed any of them during the giveaway, here they are...

Yarn Baby

Mad Mad me

RAD stamps

East Mesa Design

Just Be Happy Patterns

Auntie Jen's Creations

Craftwich Creations

TJB Designs

Happy Peg

Manjar Sweets

The Lemonade Shop

Wearthou

Twinkie Chan

Yarn Pop

New Moon Studio

play hard ~ play hooky

10,000 Fan Giveaway - Happy Peg

Who's ready to see who won?

Drumroll please....

CONGRATULATIONS to...

Avril H.! She gets to play with the hook from Craftwich Creations!
Crescendo Gal & Sandie R.! They each one a new set of st markers from TJB Designs!

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Alessandra (Just Be Happy) is at it again! Not only did she donated two copies of her book, but she's also giving this morning's prize from her newest shop, Happy Peg. I swear, she always has the best ideas - it's hard to keep up! Her new peg dolls are SO sweet that I dare you not to smile! She makes everything from firemen to circus performers to farm animals and of course hookers too!

Enter for your chance to win one Crocheter Peg Doll from this upbeat and positive shop. Just imagine having your own little crochet friend standing at the ready. Now I want one!

play hard ~ play hooky

Inspiration Mondays: REDUCE, REUSE, UPCYCLE!

Happy Monday!! To brighten up the fact that today's the day most of us go back to work I'm giving you another glimpse into what inspires me. Today, it's upcycling! Don't you mean REcycling. Nope, I mean UPcycling. For those of you who know what it means, congratulations on being so hip. But for everyone else, here's a quick look at the newest way to make your life a little more green.

Upcycling, according to Wikipedia, is "the process of converting useless products into new material or products of better quality". So basically, taking things that someone got rid of and making something useful and pretty!

Crafty people of every variety have been using their creative skill to reuse old materials for about a decade, but it just came into the limelight in the last few years. At least, that's when I figure out what everyone was talking about "upcycled this... upcycled that..." Some of the things people upcycle include license plates, vinyl records, typewriter letters, hardback book covers, picture frames, colored glass bottles, crayons, denim, and of course YARN.

Since I'm a hooker (crocheter for you non-yarnies) this upcycle blog is dedicated to people who make pretty yarn from old sweaters, and new clothes from old yarn! ENJOY!

Top of the page: Upcycled Twirly Scrappy Skirt by SnugglePants

HAPPY HOOKING!!

The symbol for upcycling

Autumn Fire - upcycled sweater yarn by BKYarn

Make your own upcycled coffee can cubbies - Leethal

Berries & Cream - upcycled yarn by TwiceShearedSheep

Tutorial on how to make Upcycled Sweater Boots - Instructables

Upcycled T-Shirt Yarn by KinichiGreen

GREAT tutorial on recycling yarn from a sweater - CraftStylish

Inspiration Mondays: LOL

Another Monday and time for more of what inspires me. I've been moving and starting a new job which means I missed the last 2 Mondays. *Sad face* I missed you and I'm so glad the dust is starting to settle and I can start writing more! With moving an entire household comes multiple phone calls to utility companies (stay with me, I'm going somewhere with this..). I spent this morning on the phone with 6 different people from the same utility company trying to transfer, verify, bill, and remove fees. Needless to say, it hasn't been fun. So I decided to dedicate this Inspiration Monday post to the funny and weird things that people do with yarn. I'm a nerd at heart and live for the chance to laugh at myself (and other people, of course!) so I scoured the net finding yarny things for a much needed Monday LAUGH! Please to enjoy! :)

"A Horrific Yarn" by Bent Objects

HAHAHA, we knitters & crocheters are a dangerous lot!

Nathan Vincent - LionBrand Yarn Artist

Funny, but impressive!!

Too Legit to Knit - CafePress.com

HELL YEAH!

Knit Sushi by Needle Noodle

I like it, despite the fact that it's knit, not crochet ;)

Hooker Leggings - What Not to Crochet

heeheehee, hooker (double meaning alert)

"Boyfriend Pants" - The Boyfriend Confessions

Yowzah! I can hear the cat-calls now!

(The sheep keychain at the top of the page is from Zazzle)

Inspiration Mondays: HOOKS

It's Monday again (no way to avoid it) and time for another sneak peek into what inspires a hooker (me!). I had to follow last week's yarn porn with the thing that none of us could call ourselves hookers without: the hook of course. When I started crocheting I bought the standard, cheap aluminum hook set that is sold at every Walmart and Hobby Lobby. I thought they worked just fine and never imagined spending more on those fancy hooks. Until I used one. My sister-in-law taught me how to crochet and one day when everyone was together, I needed to borrow a hook, so she let me use herClover bamboo. OMG, how could I have EVER go back to cold, aluminum hooks. If you've never tried anything but your rainbow colored aluminum friends, I HIGHLY suggest it. Recently I lost my I bamboo hook, the one I use for almost EVERYTHING, and I was not a happy camper. I suspect my kids were playing with it and hid it under the bed or in the toy box, or any number of other random places. Anyway, back to the point, I ran out to get a new one IMMEDIATELY so I wouldn't have to use my aluminum stand-by!

I can't help myself around a good hook, so here are my favs (plus one hook holder by MadBird)

Inspiration Mondays: YARN PORN

You know what Mondays are - the day most people have to return to the rat race - so I decided to brighten up the drudge with a new blog series on what inspires me. Every Monday I'll let you into my funny little world and show you why I am a hooker. ;)

I wanted to kick things off with what started it all. But the question is, the yarn or the hook? I say the yarn. I'm not sure if it's just me, but I get all tingly when I walk into a good yarn store and see the rows of color. The brighter, the better as far as I'm concerned. When I look at a skein I try to picture what I could turn it in to and I usually get some of my better ideas and designs when I start with the yarn. In fact, I love yarn so much that I dream of starting my own yarn store where I can sell all the wool, acrylic, silk, and alpaca that inspires me.

So here it is, for your viewing pleasure - some of my favorite yarn porn.