4 Boys & a Ball of Yarn

The Difference $1.19 Makes

2011-10-31T20:21:00.000-07:00

After finally buckling down (and gluing for what seemed like days), I finished the Great Grey Owl costume. Just in time for the Halloween party last Saturday night. Well, actually, we were an hour late. We would have been even later, but I 'edited' the costume and saved myself loads of time and burnt fingers by cutting off the sleeves. Sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do. :)

I probably would have had more time if I hadn't made the hat twice. Why twice? The first version was 'ok'....

but to me, it wasn't 'owly' enough. So I dug through my stash and discovered this lost treasure:

It's a super-thin fuzzy yarn that added the perfect amount of texture to the original yarn. Not bad for $1.19!

Here's the finished beanie with the owl's facial features:

And my inspiration, a truly gorgeous creature:

I have to reshoot photos of the entire costume. My model has already gone to bed.

Catching Up, Part II

2011-10-15T14:01:00.000-07:00

Looking back at past posts, I have realized that I never shared the finished Domo hat in action. So here it is (as modeled by DS4):

And who doesn't love Domo, anyway!

Right now I'm creating another sock monkey hat -- this one for DS4's Halloween costume. If there's enough time, I'll make one for me also, since he has requested that I be his "sock monkey mama" and who can resist a request like that! Not me!

DS3 has challenged me to make him an owl costume for Halloween, and not just any ol' owl either, specifically a Great Grey Owl. I'm not exactly sure how I will pull this off, but here's the base for the owl hat (Vanna's Choice yarn in Grey Marble):

After the Halloween costumes, I hope to finish this scarf:

It's a Missoni-inspired long chevron scarf in many, many shades of blues and greens (Sugar 'n Cream cotton yarn). I'm not positive but I think there are about a dozen different colors in this.

And just for fun, here's a little pennant flag banner in beautiful autumn colors (Heart & Sole yarn in Tequila Sunrise):

As soon as I block this, I'll use it to decorate a mirror in our entryway. I'm considering making another one in winter holiday colors for a tiny tree. If. There's. Time. :)

Catching Up, Part I

2011-10-03T19:10:00.001-07:00

I really can't believe how neglected my blog is. I'm pretty sure that earlier this year, time stomped on the gas pedal and is now hurling by at light speed.

It's October, and we've just begun the 7th week of school. DS4 has started kindergarten, which you think would mean that I have loads of extra time, but in fact, it seems the exact opposite is true. Our two youngest are both at the neighborhood elementary school, and our oldest two are in high school, but they attend different schools. They were both accepted into magnet schools, just not the same one. The sad realization came to me the other day that this is the last year that any of my boys will be at the same school at the same time. Next school year, I'll have 4 sons at 4 different campuses (and I'll be pulling my hair out, I'm sure!).

Here are my guys on the first day of school:

DS4 was beyond excited as we walked to school on the first day. (His backpack got heavy though, so Dad carried it most of the way.)

Now we're full swing into our school schedule. DS1 just finished a production of Arsenic and Old Lace with his high school theatre department. He also had theatre camp before school started that ended with a showcase featuring skits written and performed by the students. He has a thespian convention in December, and the theatre department has chosen the musical for the Spring performance with auditions coming this month. Oh yeah, and he's going to China for Spring Break.

DS2 is busy getting used to his new high school schedule. He's a freshman at the science/engineering magnet school in our district. The curriculum is rigorous to say the least.

DS3 has been keeping up with a crazy schedule. He's taking violin lessons twice a week before school, and he sings in the choir every Wednesday. Plus he and DS4 have started weekly gymnastics lessons. They love it! Me? I'm surrounded by lots of leotard-clad girls. It's a little bit of culture shock. :)

This ends part one of the update. Next time, I'll fill you in on the news of the crafty sort.

Summer Happenings

2011-07-18T13:12:00.001-07:00

Dear Summer, you are passing too quickly. Please slow down so I may enjoy more time with the boys before the hectic pace of school/activities/theatre/gymnastics? start again. Kthxbai. Love, Me.

We've been so busy this summer. At least summer school is over. DS1 and DS2 are both happy about that. :)

We try to go bowling at least once a week. The boys are all getting better, and I've managed to keep my form too. Ha.

We've had lots of family visits. Cousins:

And we've been hanging out at the ranch:

And we celebrated DS4's 5th birthday with lots of friends:

(16 kids and everyone's eyes are open! Ha.)

I have managed to finish a blanket that I made for my younger niece A. She loved the colors; like me, purple is her favorite!

I have lots more plans for summer; just hope I don't run out of time!

Cousins Reunion, Part II

2011-07-03T15:07:00.000-07:00

A week ago, I spent a long weekend in Alma, Colorado with my sisters and my girl cousins. This is the second time we've met to catch up and hang out. (First time was last summer in San Antonio.) Sadly, because of family and work obligations, three cousins were missing this time around. :(

This is the six of us on the last morning in Colorado. ^^ I'm on the bottom right side, wearing my blue tunic that I finished just in time for the trip. Talk about motivated!

We stayed at my uncle's beautiful log cabin (thank you, Tom and Rosie!), cooked, laughed, played games, and went sightseeing. Alma is located a few miles south of Breckenridge.

We went bowling in Fairplay -- just 8 lanes and most people went to the bowling alley for the tamales! We had a blast!

This is me at the Continental Divide:

Til next year, Gonzales Girls!

Love.

2011-06-21T14:51:00.001-07:00

Mavericks Win!

2011-06-13T09:57:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to my team, the Dallas Mavericks for winning the NBA championship for the first time in franchise history!

Proof I went to the first game ever with my father and my brother:

Every person at opening night received a commemerative coin made by Corrigan's, a local Dallas jewelry store. The Mavericks beat the San Antonio Spurs by 11 points on the 11th of October, 1980. (Told you I was a number freak!)

Hard to believe it was 30 1/2 years ago. Clearly I was just a toddler then. :)

It's Summer!

2011-06-09T12:20:00.000-07:00

Why does this son look soooo happy?

It was the last day of 4th grade, and I pulled him out early to go have lunch with his grandparents! He will enjoy only a week off until his 2-week science camp starts on June 14.

While I usually only craft with yarn, every once in a while, I venture into paper crafting. I wish I could say I was particularly good at it. For a teacher gift, my friends and I (we have children in the same class, and we are the Class Moms) made a pot with paper flowers that held gift cards and notes from the students.

The idea came from Disney's Family Fun website, but we took it a step further. We used a longer pot to allow for more flowers. We also used styrofoam covered with moss instead of including a real plant. One thing I would have done differently is to make the spirals on the stems a little larger and a little 'looser' to allow for the double thickness of card stock.

Ms. A really enjoyed reading all of the notes!

Americana

2011-05-17T18:57:00.000-07:00

Nothing says "americana" like red, white, and blue stars!

This is 48 stars in 2 different sizes that I just made for a special order. They will be sewn onto striped baby hats! I can't wait to see how they turn out -- I'll be sure to share photos.

PS If you'd like your own red, white, and blue stars (or any other color), visit The Lavender Ladybug. :)

Another WIP Begun

2011-05-12T09:50:00.000-07:00

Besides keeping up with my Etsy shops and working on items for The Little Black Box, I managed to make a cute little seal and ball for DS3's 10th birthday. The pattern for the seal came from Easy Crochet Critters by Leisure Arts. (DS3 wants an entire zoo of amigurumi animals!)

I've also started a blanket for DS4. He's my summer baby so I hope to be done by July, when he turns 5. (!) It's Cotton-Ease yarn in stripes of Lime, Violet, Stone, Seaspray, Almond, Cherry, and Maize.

While working up the color combination for the blanket, I was intrigued by this trio (Seaspray, Almond, Cherry):

I quickly put the blanket aside to stitch up a long, skinny scarf in this cute combination. As soon as it's photographed, I'll be listing it at The Lavender Lizard.

New Holiday Embellishments

2011-05-09T18:04:00.000-07:00

You may remember that I'll be the September sponsor for The Little Black Box. Well, awhile back, the owner of TLBB, my friend Milly, told me that TLBB will have a themed box for July and asked me to participate (as The Lavender Ladybug, which is my supplies shop). The theme is Make it Yourself Christmas in July, and it will feature (but not be limited to) handmade supplies.

With that in mind, here's a sneak peek at what I'm working on:

(tiny gold metallic star)

(tiny holiday tree)

I also hope to create snowflakes, silver stars, and white stars. Be sure to check The Lavender Ladybug because these designs will also be available there.

May the 4th....

2011-05-04T17:35:00.000-07:00

Be With You.

In honor of Star Wars Day, I post this:

Wow, my refrigerator is heavily guarded. And someone has managed to disarm Wicket and the Clone Trooper. Hmmm...dark forces abound. :)

Have You Seen Me?

2011-04-21T18:32:00.001-07:00

I found these limited-edition Taco flavor Doritos a couple of weeks ago at Super Target. I was lucky enough to snap a photo before the family emptied the bag (ok, so I helped....a little). It was a blast from my childhood that I really enjoyed and now crave once more.

P.S. I knew I should've grabbed all 3 bags! :(

Hmmm, if only someone would make Marathon candy bars again....

Blue and More Blue

2011-03-25T13:27:00.000-07:00

My Doris Chan tunic project is sloooooowly coming along...

I love the way the pattern makes a slight change for the fitted waist. It's so subtle that it doesn't look like it changes at all. The sign of a great design. :)

Here's a color inspiration from a recent trip to the zoo. Love the turquoise and royal blue and brown together! (Hey, that's almost the same royal blue as the tunic!!)

"Are you lookin' at me?"

Spring Break

2011-03-18T19:42:00.000-07:00

Spring Break! Yay! Sleeping in, hanging out with the boys, and not being on anyone else's schedule --- heaven!

Haven't done quite as much crocheting as I had hoped, what with cleaning out closets and rooms. But I did manage to start a new project that's just for me:

It's a Doris Chan design (you know, one of my faves) from the City Crochet book by Tahki Stacy Charles.

I've already pulled out rows and had to make an adjustment due to fit, but I sure do like how it's turning out. Can't wait to wear it (and show you the finished project)!

Peace...

2011-03-11T18:03:00.000-08:00

Peace.

My wish for all of the world,

where men fight men,

men fight nature,

and little babies in heaven have never known the safety of a loving family.

:'(

New Listings and a Little Shamrock

2011-02-28T15:09:00.000-08:00

I spent this past weekend listing 4 brand new scarves at The Lavender Lizard. They're all long and cozy and colorful. Here's my very favorite of the bunch (the pink lemonade stripe scarf):

Today I listed a brand-new color set of lip balm holders. The colors are a limited edition, as such I won't be creating very many of these sets.

I also took tons of photos of other new listings that were created with the new yarn I recently purchased. Over the next few days, I hope to edit and post these (as life and time and boys allow.) A sneak peek is definitely called for:

In the midst of all this "new", I made a belt just for me. Love all of the colors so much, plus it coordinates so well with so many colors (turquoise, navy, white, hot pink....)

And I had a little time to create this shamrock embellishment. A friend asked for these so her mother could embellish a quilt. They're so cute that I may just list them at The Lavender Ladybug.

Color Inspirations

2011-02-25T06:37:00.000-08:00

I think I've always been drawn to color. I still have my box of crayons from kindergarten. (Notice the colored "tracks" behind what's left of the crayons. Each color had its own space.)

I recently bought some Lily Sugar n Cream cotton yarn in (hard-to-find) spectacular colors!

(^from top left: Quilt Colors, Oriental Ochre, Bronze Blue, Weathered Rose)

(^Ume Blossom, Leaf, Lotus Blossom)

(^Chrysanthemums, Robin's Egg, Temari Balls)

(^Plum, Snow Blossom, Velvet Orchid)

(^Crown Jewels, Damask Ombre, Emerald Isle -- in huge 12oz. balls!)

Can't wait to share what I'll be making with these new colors. Right now I'm thinking scrubbies, anything cups, market bags, and lip balm holders. Stay tuned...

The Little Black Box

2011-02-07T17:35:00.000-08:00

Have you heard of The Little Black Box? If you have a handmade business, samplers like TLBB are terrific ways to advertise your business. Your items are put in the hands of potential customers who are already fans of handmade. It's a win-win!

I have signed up to be the September sponsor for TLBB. Why September?? It'll take me that long to make the samples. :) Actually, I'm exagerrating just a little -- I've already started! Here's what I have so far:

Don't look too closely -- I still have to weave in the ends and sew on the buttons. But at least I've started!

For more information on The Little Black Box or to purchase your own box of goodies, check out their website or Facebook page!

PS I'm on Facebook too! "Like" me here for project updates, discount codes, and other happenings!

Post #101

2011-02-01T20:43:00.000-08:00

Today it was so cold here in south Texas -- I spent most of the day working on projects and photographing some new items (it was surprisingly sunny, despite the cold and wind.)

Here's one of the new items I photographed today in 2 different colors:

They are super-soft cuffs or wristlets. They're perfect year 'round because they give a little extra warmth in the winter, and they also look great as bracelets in spring and summer. I used Spa yarn from Caron -- it's a bamboo blend that feels so nice. They'll be listed this week at The Lavender Lizard. (They can be made longer and in other colors, so if you're interested in a custom order, please leave a comment here or click on Request Item at my shop.

Another project I've been working on is FRINGE, which I dread doing and usually put off until the veeeeeerrrrrrry last minute. I fringed these 3 scarves...

...and I still have 2 more to finish. sigh.

Another project is reworking this blanket. That means pulling out all of the stitches and starting over. It's wider now, plus I added the ivory color, which really balances out the bright variegated yarn. I'm much happier with the result:

I just wish I had started over before I had finished 45 rows. For some reason, it photographs better now too! Bonus!

Two New Listings

2011-01-21T19:24:00.000-08:00

I've been working a lot lately on some new listings, and I'm excited that I was finally able to post two of them at The Lavender Lizard.

Just in time for Valentines Day, I have a listing of my popular heart scrubbies in really pretty ocean colors:

(Other heart scrubbies are available in this section.)

And I have a new scarf with delicious strawberry pink and apple green colors! It's super soft and thick and cozy!

And a couple more sneak peeks coming soon:

Stay tuned for these and more!

Goals for 2011

2011-01-15T14:39:00.000-08:00

It's only taken 15 days to write the first post of 2011. :( I hope this improves. Soon.

I have set some business goals for 2011. I hope to submit more pattern ideas for publication, and I'll be adding new listings (new items, and popular items in new color choices) at The Lavender Lizard. I'm still on the fence about whether or not to close The Lavender Ladybug, but for now it remains open. I'm also still hoping to keep up with this blog a little better.

Here's a couple of sneak peeks of new items coming to The Lavender Lizard real soon:

Happy 2011! Wishing my readers a wonderful, healthy, and prosperous New Year!

The Main Reason I Haven't Been Blogging....

2010-12-31T16:09:00.001-08:00

These handsome young men keep me very busy! But I'm thankful and grateful to be their mom! (It only took 69 photos to make this card.....sigh....some people -- DS4! -- were not in the mood for group photos.)

To catch up, here's the finished Pikachu hat:

and the completed Domo hat:

And for good measure, here's a beret I made for a 15-year-old friend with a piggy pin. (She raises pigs, and according to her, the best people are pig people!)

Been working on a lot of hats/beanies lately. Right now I'm working on a dozen to donate to a homeless shelter for pregnant women/mothers here in San Antonio. Gotta keep those little babies warm.

So we say good-bye to 2010 and hello to 2011! I'm hoping that 2011 brings health, happiness, prosperity and love to all! Happy New Year!

Baseball and Why It's So Awesome

2010-10-27T13:32:00.000-07:00

I grew up the third daughter of a man who loves sports (football, baseball, basketball, hockey, soccer...), and to say that it rubbed off on me is an understatement. I have memories of running outside on Saturday afternoons to update my dad, who was doing yardwork, on the score of the Saturday afternoon baseball game. When. I. Was. Four.

And the Saturday afternoon baseball game was the only game on television. (Some of you may not realize how hard it was to follow your team back then, before cable and satellite tv, especially if your favorite team was in a different state. We had to make do with reading the box scores in the next day's newspaper. I know. Crazy.) I sometimes think that my father moved us to the Dallas area after retiring from the Air Force, just so he could listen to the Rangers game on the radio every night.

Without a doubt, baseball is my favorite sport. Maybe because I played it myself growing up (not softball, although that's okay too). I practically lived in my Twins cap. First thing I put on in the morning; last thing I took off at night. I remember early one Saturday morning a neighbor came over. I was wearing pajamas, my robe, and my cap. He said, "You really do wear that all of the time." Yup. Sure did.

I still have my cap. The yellow T has faded, the elastic is worn, and it's a pretty sad sight. But I know it's mine (my sisters played on the same team) because it still has my name on the inside.

Here's why baseball is my favorite sport:

No better way to spend an afternoon than at a ballpark with a beer and a hotdog.

The sound of a baseball hitting a wooden! bat on the sweet spot and knowing the ball is a homerun.

Watching that homerun leave the yard in person is an awesome sight.

There's no clock in baseball -- a game is 9 innings long and can last 2 hours or 4 hours.

It's all about the numbers -- 9 players play 9 innings; 3 strikes and you're out; 4 balls and you get first base; 3 outs and the other team gets to bat.

Every player can be referred to, numerically, three different ways: their uniform number, their place in the batting order, and their position on the field. So Josh Hamilton, wearing uniform #32, bats 4th, and plays centerfield (8). See, it is all about the numbers.

Baseball's been played since the 1870s. My grandfather, who was born in 1899, played baseball.

The managers and coaches wear the same uniform as the players.

The uniform includes a belt which, when you think about it, looks oddly formal.

"SALTALAMACCHIA" makes a rainbow when it's on the back of a uniform. And that makes me smile every time.

You never know what you'll see during a game -- a perfect game, a triple play, a walk-off hit-by-pitch courtesy of Mariano Rivera.

Every ballpark is different. There's the Green Monster in Boston, the flagpole hill in Houston, the ivy in Chicago, and McCovey's Cove in San Francisco.

Somewhere, for every single major league game that has ever been played, there is a scoresheet. By studying the scoresheet, you can read exactly what happened to each batter as he came up to face the pitcher.

It took 50 years but the Texas Rangers have finally, finally, made it to the World Series.

And they beat the Yankees to win the American League pennant!

This is dedicated to my father, my grandfather, and every die-hard Texas Rangers fan who waited 50 years. And I hereby predict that Josh Hamilton will hit 2 homeruns into McCovey's Cove. At least.

A Project Update

2010-10-23T09:16:00.000-07:00

I made mittens to match the Sock Monkey hat and shipped both the hat and the mittens last week. Here's the complete set:

I'm working on a Pikachu hat for DS4's Halloween costume. The face parts just need to be added to the beanie part. I think it'll be great!

My two youngest sons received an invitation to celebrate the third birthday of a distant cousin, so I made a little beanie as a gift. I love the colors!

A couple of weeks ago, 2 friends and I took our children (12 of them!) to a pumpkin patch in Medina, Texas. Despite a few raindrops, it was a beautiful fall day in the Hill Country, and everyone had a great time!

A Quick Update and a BOGO Sale!

2010-10-04T10:31:00.000-07:00

Well, the sock monkey hat is complete and just about ready to ship to a sweet girl for her Halloween costume:

And I've started a hat for DS4's costume. He'll be Pikachu, the ubiquitous yellow pokemon mouse. Somewhere around here, we have a face mask for the costume, but I know he won't wear it (plus, it's a safety issue .) So I'm making him a Pikachu hat! Hope it turns out as well as the sock monkey hat!

DS1 had his first high school performances this past weekend. He did a super job! And he was invited to attend the Texas Thespian Festival in Corpus Christi in November!! He's beyond excited!

Today is First Monday, and I'm having a BOGO 50% off sale at The Lavender Lizard and at The Lavender Ladybug! Please stop by! Other ETC shops and their sales info are listed in this Etsy forum thread.

Happy First Monday!

My Poor Neglected Blog

2010-09-20T12:01:00.000-07:00

Every day that I don't blog, I feel guilty. Lately, I've been feeling guilty a lot. :)

I have been busy shuttling boys back and forth to school and such. They're at 3 different campuses this year, and DS1 has parts in both the theatre and musical productions at his high school, so I'll play taxi mom for the near future. But I don't really mind -- I love to see DS1 on stage. He told me the other day that I didn't have to see all of the productions that he's in. I don't? Oh, yes I do. Wild horses couldn't make me miss him on stage!

I have also been busy with hooks and yarn, as always. Here's a sneak peek at an upcoming project:

Can't guess what it is? If you're a fan of The Lavender Lizard on Facebook, you may already know that it's the start of a sock monkey hat for a Halloween costume for a dear friend's daughter. I'll post the finished photos soon.

Speaking of hats, you may remember that I created three beanies for my cousin Meri, the photographer. She used one of the beanies in a photo shoot with a newborn baby girl about a week ago. Here's one of the photos she shared with me:

This baby is just gorgeous, and Meri has captured such a special moment! I'm honored to be a small part of this beautiful memory. (Photo courtesy of MeriBella Photography.)

My Latest Projects, Cont.

2010-08-27T20:24:00.000-07:00

Well, we all managed to survive the first week of school (and for me, the first time my sons were all at different campuses -- nervewracking!). I had very little time for crocheting this past week, but I realized it's been months since I blogged about my latest projects.

I'm working on a blanket for a special little girl. (Shhhhh - it's a surprise.) It's made in a waddle stitch (single crochet, chain 1, double crochet) pattern in alternating stripes of solid Orchid and a variegated yarn called Melonberry. Both colors are Red Heart Super Saver. I'm in love with the Melonberry palette: shades of pink, lavender, yellow, tan, and orange. Trust me, the picture does not do it justice! I think I'll be using Melonberry for something else real soon!

I'm working on a smaller blanket for a baby boy due to appear in October. It's a green and ivory striped blanket made with Eco-Ways from Red Heart. This is the first time I've used Eco-Ways, which is 30% polyester made from recycled plastic. So my green blanket is actually "green" too!
How cool is that!

I had an opportunity to create a custom beanie for a 4-year-old boy recently too. This was the photo his mom posted:

I guess he likes it! When I sent the beanie I included two angel ornaments:

The reason why is best told in Connie's words.

First Day of School 2010

2010-08-23T07:44:00.000-07:00

Woke up way too early wondering how summer flew by soooo fast! It's the first day of school today, and the boys are all at different campuses (for the first time ever). Sigh...

DS1 starts high school today (!) at the best magnet school in town; DS2 is in 8th grade, ruling the roost at the best middle school in the district; and DS3 starts 4th grade with his 2 besties in the same class (pray for his teacher). So now it's just me and DS4, the baby, who is spending his last year at home, before tackling kinder next year. He's just handed me the Wii Fit Plus; I wonder what he's trying to tell me.

On a happier note, I treated myself to a slew of new sharpies while shopping for school supplies. I think I'll doodle until dismissal.

I Made a Rug!

2010-08-08T21:46:00.000-07:00

I've been thinking about this project for months, and I finally took a day to sit down and make it. Back in the spring, my DH painted our bathroom and redid the flooring. It turned out great! But the wall color didn't look so hot with our Texas flag shower curtain, which truthfully, after 8 years, I was getting tired of anyway.

I bought a new shower curtain with soothing stripes in aqua, blue, and purple. I love the way it looked with the soft blue walls. It brightened up the whole room! Then I realized why I loved the colors of the stripes so much -- I had a collection of yarn in the same colors!

So then I decided to crochet a striped rug for the bathroom. To make it nice and thick and durable, I used three strands held together of Lion Brand Cotton-Ease yarn and a size P hook. The great thing about this technique is that your project will work up quickly (once your hands get used to holding this much yarn!). Then I chose three of the colors and combined them for the border.

Our bathroom is kind of long, so I'm thinking of making a second rug. Just gotta find a day to sit down and crochet it!

First Monday is Back!

2010-08-02T07:41:00.000-07:00

After a six month hiatus, the First Monday sale from Etsy Texas Crafters is back, just in time for Back to School!

I have taken over as coordinator for First Monday, and I'm so excited to do this for such a great team! Join us here to see the complete listing of shops and specials.

Today you can save 25% at both The Lavender Lizard and at The Lavender Ladybug! Please wait for a revised PayPal or RME invoice, or I can refund the difference as soon as possible.

Happy First Monday!

Projects for My Primas

2010-07-19T09:57:00.000-07:00

I can't believe that it's already late-July.....where has my summer gone?

I've been keeping busy with the boys. We've been swimming with friends and out to the ranch (new kittens!) and to the zoo and the movies. Today we headed to the library for more summer reading.

I've also been busy with projects! During the cousin reunion, my cousin Meri asked me to crochet newborn beanies for her photography business. I made 3 slightly different versions in hot pink and black:

plus 4 flower pins to accent them:

My cousin Josie asked me to crochet a poncho for a gift for a 6-year-old girl. I just finished it in beautiful neapolitan colors of pink and brown (plus another flower pin) and will be mailing it to Albuquerque this week.

Speaking of summer, I've also been working on a special order from The Lavender Lizard. One customer asked me to make a baseball-themed tape measure. I love the way it turned out! This will be available on Etsy, and it's also inspired a couple of new designs that I hope to make and list soon. Stay tuned!

Girls Weekend!

2010-06-28T14:57:00.000-07:00

I just spent 3 fun-filled days in San Antonio with 8 of the most loving, creative, fun, and wonderful women I know -- my sisters and my cousins, the Gonzales Girls!

One flew in from California, and her sister flew in from New Mexico. Four came down from the Dallas-Fort Worth area (one of those by way of Mexico -- long story...). One drove up from Brownsville, and the other one drove down from Austin. I'm so blessed that they are my family and also my friends!

Here are the 9 of us in birth order from left to right (I'm the fourth one from the left):

This photograph is courtesy of MeriBella Photography (Gonzales Girl #8), which leads me to a collaboration that I am thrilled to share!

My cousin Meri asked me to create a cocoon/wrap for her to use when taking photographs of newborns. Here's the image she created with the wrap I made for her:

During our reunion this weekend, Meri and I discussed more newborn items/props. I can't wait to create these, and share them with her and with you. More information on MeriBella Photography, based in Brownsville, Texas, is available on the website or the Facebook page!

Reminder: the giveaway for the set of lip balm holders will end on July 1. Please read the last blog entry (I'm Published!) for ways to enter the giveaway. Good luck!

I'm Published!

2010-06-22T15:38:00.000-07:00

Well, sort of....it's not the Great American Novel but it's a good start! One of my goals for 2010 was to be published, and it's finally happened, not once, but twice!

The first is a book called Craft Corps by Vickie Howell. It's full of inspriring interviews with famous "crafters". I'm on page 39 (Ds1's favorite number) with a crafty story about making Christmas ornaments for the boys every year.

Thanks for including my story, Vickie!

The second publication just came to me in the mail today. It's the July 2010 issue of the British magazine titled Knitting, and it's about, well, knitting. It has beautiful patterns, yarn and book reviews and makes me wish I could coordinate using 2 knitting needles. (I'm all thumbs when it comes to knitting!) My neapolitan stripe scarf was chosen for their inspiration page! Plus I'm on page 11 -- my lucky number! So exciting!

Thank you Emma, for choosing my scarf!

To celebate reaching this goal, I'll give away a set of the ice cream-inspired (what else?) lip balm holders shown here (a $15 value):

To enter the giveaway, simply leave a comment on this blog post telling me what inspires you. You can earn additional entries for the giveaway by following my blog, becoming a fan of The Lavender Lizard on Facebook (click on "like), or following @lavenderlizard on Twitter. One person will be randomly chosen to receive the lip balm holders on July 1. Good luck!

The End of the School Year!

2010-06-20T08:30:00.000-07:00

I finally got around to downloading the photos from the end of the school year. Next year will be monumental in that all 4 boys will be in 4 different places (high school, middle school, elementary school, and the baby at home). Wish me luck!

Sadly, one of our favorite teachers EVER retired this year. To celebrate her retirement, I cross-stitched and framed a quote from Albert Einstein, her hero.

It reads: " Imagination is more important than knowledge. Knowledge is limited. Imagination encircles the world."

Here's Mrs. K with the boys in her very empty classroom (except DS4, who of course, wouldn't cooperate). Mrs. K taught GT and had DS1 and DS2 for four years each in elementary school. She's a superb teacher and a great friend, and she will be missed!

Over at the middle school, the PTA hosted an end-of-the-year breakfast for the staff. I made a market bag and two scarves in school colors that were given away as door prizes.

Time to enjoy the summer break!

My Latest Projects

2010-05-20T20:44:00.000-07:00

I'm happy to report that I have completed another afghan in the long-running and ever-growing list of blankets for the primos!

Plus the next one for the primos is almost complete; just 10 more rows to go.

In the meantime, I have started a baby blanket for a dear friend who is due in November (yay for Scorpios!). It's made with super-soft, super-plushy Buttercup yarn by Red Heart. I chose the white-multi color since I'm not sure of the baby's gender yet.

I also made a flower scarf for a gift using 2 colors of Loops and Threads (Michaels own brand) Impeccable Yarn, an ombre called Holland and a solid named Soft Fern:

And I liked the combo so much (reminds me of a fruit salad) I made a long, skinny scarf that will be listed at The Lavender Lizard.

What a Busy Week!

2010-05-13T17:23:00.000-07:00

The end of the school year brings so many challenges: TAKS tests, projects, field trips, and Morgan's dinner theater have kept everyone busy, plus we've been planning for next year when Morgan goes to high school. Then Tanner was chosen for induction into the National Junior Honor Society! We could not have been prouder, especially since last year, Morgan was inducted.

So last Wednesday (May 5), we witnessed Tanner and over 100 other 7th graders receive their NJHS certificates.

Here's Tanner with his principal and the NJHS sponsor receiving his certificate (sorry it's so fuzzy):

Here's Tanner celebrating with cake (Morgan and Dad are in the background).

We wanted to take photos of all of the boys (everyone was dressed so nicely). However, Connor wouldn't cooperate at all -- seems that he had enough of 'playing nice'. But I figured that we would have another chance at Morgan's dinner theater performance, which was Thursday and Friday (May6 and 7).

Morgan had the role of Bensonhurst, the very proper (read: stuffy!) butler in Murder's in the Heir, a production where the audience chooses the murderer from among the cast.

Morgan and the rest of the cast and crew had been rehearsing for months. And they all did a terrific job! Here's Morgan looking suspiciously at another character:

And we were finally able to take a photo of the boys. Sadly, Connor still wouldn't cooperate completely.

Luckily, we have another opportunity this weekend -- Morgan has been invited to the Awards Ceremony for the Young Pegasus Poetry Competition sponsored by the San Antonio Public Library. Over 2200 poems were submitted, and 82, including Morgan's, were selected for publication. Hopefully, everyone will cooperate at photo time!

The Accidental Gardener Strikes Again....

2010-05-04T22:41:00.001-07:00

Saw this happy little sign of spring the other day:

The significance? Well, I thought we lost the passionflower that we enjoyed all of last year. It bloomed and bloomed and bloomed some more. It also attracted a mess of butterflies, so we literally had continuing cycles of caterpillars turning into chrysalises (or chrysalides, according to dictionary.com -- who knew?) turning into butterflies. We even took some of the chrysalises to school for our favorite teacher, Mrs. K. (She teaches the children in the gifted program and kept a butterfly house in her room.)

Anyway, we ended up with a pretty harsh winter for South Texas and the passionflower appeared to have suffered the worst for it. But now, it has three little sprouts coming up from the ground! Can't wait to see the blooms and the butterflies again!

No news on the afghan front for now. I did take a break from the three (yes, three!) different blankets that I have in various stages of completion to make something for me -- a top designed by my fave designer (and crochet genius!) Doris Chan in one of my favorite yarns ever -- Spa, an acrylic/bamboo blend.

DS2 took this photo of some stranger posing in my top. Ok, I confess, it's really me, but I think he must have had a dozen cameras pointed in my direction. You know, because one camera adds 10 pounds. Anyway, I love, love, love this top and thank you, Doris, for such a terrific pattern. (The pattern is available free on NaturallyCaron.com)

I'm planning on making a second top in yellow. The only change I'll be making is fewer rows on the body. Because the yarn is so drapey, it turned out longer than I thought it would. I may even get up the courage to make this gorgeous top, another Doris Chan design:

The Latest WIPs

2010-04-27T22:03:00.000-07:00

I was finally able to wrestle DS3's birthday blanket away from him to shoot a photo. He sleeps with it every night.

I used the five colors of yarn that I chose last year when I was working on a baby blanket for a friend's nephew. Originally, I thought I would make this in a ripple pattern (see below) but then I decided to make an oversized variation of a granny square. DS3 and I both love how it turned out!

This is the next primo blanket, a griddle stitch (alternating sc and dc) in purple, green, and yellow stripes. It reminds me of pansies!

I also recently finished a top (for me!) in a soft bamboo-blend yarn. I hope to post photos soon!

Trying to Catch Up....

2010-04-21T18:13:00.000-07:00

Well, lots has happened in the last two months. I have finished two blankets, one for my sister and one for DS3's birthday. I also started another one in purple, green and yellow for the primos. (It reminds me of pansies.)

Here's the one for my sis in blue, white and purple:

I'm also working on a top in a bamboo yarn in purple for myself. It's turning out so nice that I think I'll make another in yellow. Can't wait to share a pic of that one.

Spring has brought lots of changes to South Texas. Because we had such a wet winter, the wildflowers have been the best we've seen in years. (Unfortunately, the rain also brought an astounding number of potholes!) We even finally managed to sprout some bluebonnets in our backyard (the seeds were planted 3 1/2 years ago!).

And here's another backyard surprise -- Boomer's back! Apparently we grow the right kind of weeds! He stops by almost every night around 5 and sometimes we even see him in the morning.

But the best bluebonnets by far are on what I call Bluebonnet Hill!

Happy Spring!

Four Down, Seven To Go

2010-02-19T15:23:00.000-08:00

Here's the afghan I completed this week (#2 for the primos, if you're keeping count):

If you think I'm counting incorrectly, there was a change (and a few additions). Afghan #1 went to the first primo; afghan #2 was kept by my mom for herself (her excuse was that it matched her bedroom perfectly); afghan #3 was for my sister; and this just-completed one is afghan #4 for the second primo. So although the original plan was to make seven afghans for the primos (cousins), somehow four more were added to the list (two for Mom, one each for my two sisters).

That makes the score: four down and seven to go. Sounds daunting, but on the upside, #5 is already started, and #6 is a repeat of #4 with a different color scheme (which went very quickly)!

These projects are all temporarily on hold while I complete a quick entry for the Etsy Texas Crafters February Design Challenge. Sneak peek -- I'm combining these two very different yarns:

Stay tuned for a pic of the finished project and a link to the Design Challenge!

The Winter Games

2010-02-15T14:40:00.000-08:00

I just love the Olympics, but this year I really love the outfits the American team wore at the Opening Ceremonies, especially the moose hat:

J'adore!

And I absolutely love the cable knit sweater the athletes wore also (but I'll have to save up for that little beauty --$425 at ralphlauren.com!) Maybe I'll just learn how to knit....

Belated congratulations to the Jefferson Middle School theater arts group for their Superior (the highest possible) rating at the Middle School Theatre Festival! They did an awesome job!

And DS1 won a medal for All-Star cast! Here he is receiving his medal along with his classmate Justin (they are the two tall boys).

And a belated Valentines Day greeting to all -- we don't really celebrate Valentines Day (never have), but I brought home a heart-shaped balloon and that just made DS4's day!

That's love for you!

Finished One Project and Started Another....

2010-02-02T19:21:00.000-08:00

I'm so glad I finally finished my sister's blanket! It turned out so nice:

And I started a new project right away, another blanket for the primos:

It's made of solid squares in aqua, ivory, and grey (a modern combination, to be sure). The squares are connected when you work the last row (no sewing! yay!). I love this pattern -- it works up so fast! After a week, I am about half-way done!

The pattern is free and available on redheart.com (search for the Square Upon Square Throw). I like this so much, I'm thinking of changing up the colors and making another one! (Turns out my other sister wants a blanket, too, so the second one just might end up being for her!)

Time to Get Blogging Again....

2010-01-26T15:37:00.001-08:00

So much for New Year's resolutions: here it is, January 26, and I haven't blogged since Veterans Day. To describe my life is busy is an understatement.

To catch you up, Thanksgiving and Christmas were fun. My brother, sister-in-law and their three children came to visit. Adding their three with my four ratcheted up the activity/noise level by about 100 or so. But the cousins had so much fun playing and exploring at the ranch. Plus my nephew was happy to be with boy cousins for a change.

DS1 has been preoccupied with rehearsal for the one-act play. He has one of the lead roles. But he took time to head to the movies twice with friends during the holiday break. He used to be my anti-social child, so it's nice to see him hanging out with friends. Oh, and he won the spelling bee at his middle school! So it's off to the city bee for him!

DS2 just took the SAT as part of the Duke TIP program. It's a wonderful opportunity to get a sneak peek at the exam while he's a 7th grader, and it may lead to scholarship or other educational opportunities.

DS3 participated in the 3rd grade Christmas program at his school. They sang 5 songs, then for the last number, several of the children (including DS3) danced on stage. Oh my, it was hysterical. He is quite theatrical and obviously not shy at all!

DS4 is just a joy to watch grow up! His vocabulary is expanding daily. He told me the other day that flies "are disgusting." Big word for a little boy! Here he is swinging at the ranch:

Me? I've been trying to finish up some projects. I stayed up until 3am on Christmas Eve to complete DS4's stocking. The blanket for my sister is just about complete, just have to weave in the ends (ugh). I've already started two more blankets, one for the primos and one for my mom (and no, DS3's bookbag is not yet complete -- actually I can't find it right now, although I think I know where it might be.)

Oh, and my parents hosted an exchange student last year. Marina is from Germany, speaks 4 languages and is a sweet, engaging, and bright young lady. Sadly, she left to go home last week (she was afraid she would be behind in her senior year if she spent her entire junior year here). Plus, I'm sure she missed her family terribly. Here she is with the boys:

We miss her already, but now we are thinking of taking a summer trip to Germany to visit Marina and her family. That would be fun!

2009-11-10T19:53:00.000-08:00

Happy Veterans Day!

Thank you for your service and sacrifice for our country! We live in freedom because of you! A special wish for a happy Veterans Day to my two favorite veterans, my father (USAF retired) and my DH (USN)! My thoughts and prayers go to the families in Fort Hood -- your loved ones are heroes!

So Many Projects, Not Enough Time

2009-11-05T22:44:00.001-08:00

I can't believe how quickly 2009 has slipped by! And now we're about seven weeks from Christmas! The list of gifts I want to make keeps growing. For sure, I have to finish DS3's bookbag -- he asked about it today. Oh, did I feel horrible when I had to tell him it still wasn't complete. Worse than that, I haven't touched it for weeks. :(

So completing the bookbag is Number One on my list.

Number Two is completing DS4's Christmas stocking. Several years ago (before DS4 was born), I crocheted Christmas stockings for DS1, DS2, DS3, DH, and myself. I like to decorate in non-traditional holiday colors, so I made the stockings in shades of blue and purple.

When DS4 was born, I knew there would come a day when I would have to make a stocking for him. No problem -- I found the worn free pattern that I had used originally, picked some more Lion Brand Homespun yarn, and starting crocheting last winter. Unfortunately, Christmas came and went before I could finish the stocking (don't worry, he got goodies from Santa in another, not handmade, stocking). He didn't even notice that his stocking was different. But this year, he's a year smarter and much, much more observant, so I must finish it! Number Two.

Number Three is a blanket my mom asked me to make for my sister. (No peeking, M!) I'm about 3/4 of the way complete. I love the color combination (a pretty pink and chocolate brown) -- she's going to be lucky to get it from me -- it's definitely a keeper!

So those three are my "must finish" items! Time permitting I want to make a scarf for my mom, hats for DS3 and DS4, and something from the exchange student my parents are hosting. I also have an awesome pattern for a man's vest, that hopefully will be under the tree for DH.

A Handmade Halloween and First Monday Sale!

2009-11-02T08:20:00.001-08:00

Here's DS3 and DS4 dressed up for Halloween:

(Note: I apologize for DS4's unfortunate hand gesture. The gloves were too big for his little hands. Also, he wouldn't let me draw a mustache or sideburns. Maybe next year...)

DS2 was Indiana Jones with my old leather jacket and a fedora, and DS1 was the Plague. Yes, the Plague. He had his rat minions crawling all over his shirt. Not real ones of course, because that's just gross and would freak me out.

I hope everyone had a safe and fun Halloween!

And a quick reminder that today is ETC's First Monday Sale! 99 shops are participating this month! Save 20% at The Lavender Ladybug, and Buy One Get One 50% Off *OR* Buy Two Get One Free at The Lavender Lizard! Have a great day!

Happy Halloween!

2009-10-30T21:36:00.000-07:00

Just a short post in-between candy runs. Life's been super busy, but I have to share one funny little item I just had to get for Halloween -- the Devil Domo:

He's so cute and if you recall, DS3 dressed as Domo for last Halloween. That costume was such a hit with all of his friends and the other trick-or-treaters (the adults, however, were baffled.) I briefly considered recycling the Domo costume -- which we still have -- and adding the horns and forked tail. (Maybe next year....)

Here's a sneak peek of DS3 and DS4's costumes:

More photos of the boys in their costumes coming soon, and don't forget Monday is the ETC First Monday Sale.

Let's be safe out there....

First Monday!

2009-10-04T21:53:00.001-07:00

Oh, how I love First Mondays! It's a great day to shop the terrific sales of my ETC teammates -- 113 shops this month including both of mine! Wow! Time to get a jump on Christmas shopping! Visit us here to see the complete list of shops and specials!

At The Lavender Lizard, I'm having a BOGO sale -- Buy One, Get One 50% Off **OR** Buy Two, Get One FREE!

At The Lavender Ladybug, everything is 20% Off! I have lots of autumn motifs for crafting plus I'm destashing some commercial supplies. These pumpkins have been a best seller this year:

I got the sweetest note from my last buyer about these pumpkins -- she said they were the cutest ones on Etsy! Yay!

One little shop announcement, I won't be listing single lip balm holders at The Lavender Lizard any longer. Now, they are still available as three-packs, and as always, I take custom requests for other quantities. And shoot, I'll still sell you just one if you like. But for now, I won't relist the single ones, only because there are so many color choices, and I want to concentrate on other items in my shop. Please contact me though, if you want to order 1 or 2 or 15. Thanks!

Happy First Monday!!!

Where Does the Time Go?

2009-09-30T14:56:00.000-07:00

I just realized today that it has been a month since my last blog post. Where did the time go? Well, I stay busy with 3 boys at 2 schools plus the baby at home. (Okay, so the baby is 3 now and talks up a storm, but he is forever and always "the baby".) I serve on a PTA board and a Council of PTAs board and now a Bond Committee board. Then there's my part-time, mostly weekends job and oh yeah, I just got re-hired at a previous job. So to an extent, the things that have suffered the most from my "busy-ness" have been my Etsy shops and obviously, this blog.

I have found time to crochet, though, in the midst of this madness. I am working on a large wholesale order for The Lavender Lizard. Here's a sneak peek:

I'll have more information on these later, so stay tuned!

Plus I've just finished a custom request for silver metallic stars in 3 sizes at The Lavender Ladybug. They will be sewn onto a sweater for a Halloween costume. I can't wait to see how that turns out!

And I did finish both the market bag for my friend's daughter (no pics, though) and the one for my sister:

Sadly, DS3's bookbag is on the backburner. More than likely, it will be a Christmas gift now. After all, Christmas is less than 3 months away, so I do have some time to finish it.

(Proof that time really flies: Happy 12th Birthday, DS2!)

More WIPs

2009-08-31T20:26:00.000-07:00

Okay, so school for my oldest 3 boys started last week, and the bookbag is not yet ready for DS3. One problem -- I ran out of the nylon thread. Here's what it looks like now:

Plus, I have been trying to finish a market bag for my sister. It's just missing the handles/drawstring, then weaving in the loose ends, and mailing it off. If I just sat for a day or so, I could finish it. I sure do love the self-striping yarn though.... (this is the view of the bottom of the bag.)

I'm also working on a market bag for a friend's 13yo daughter. She requested yellow, green, and purple, and I found this nylon thread that combines those colors with hot pink. Very girly.

Why am I working on all three of these projects at once? Crocheting Attention Deficit Disorder, I think. I usually have an upstairs project, a downstairs project, and a travelling project. This keeps me from getting bored. Hey, I just realized I'm a CADD.

A New Design and Other Musings

2009-08-17T12:15:00.000-07:00

I've been thinking about indian corn (you know, the chocolatey candy corn) motifs for a while now, and I whipped up a set this weekend. They are posted now at The Lavender Ladybug, along with the original candy corn motifs. What do you think?

I also made this tiny fried egg. I'm not sure why -- I just thought it was a cute idea.

I finished a market bag for my mom's birthday, and I'm working on one for my sister. I'm also working on a book bag for DS3, who starts 3rd grade in 7 days. Hopefully, it will be finished on time **crossing fingers and making wishes**

Here's Mom's bag:

Other market bags are available at The Lavender Lizard. They feature a round solid bottom, mesh sides that stretch, and knitted handles that also serve to close the top. You can sling both handles over one shoulder or wear it like a backpack. And as always, custom orders are happily taken!

Speaking of DS3, he was decorating a pencil tin the other day for school. Here's the conversation that ensued:

Me: Do you want me to help you find the letters for your name?

DS3: I need a "p".

Me: There's no "p" in your name.

DS3: I'm spelling "private".

Here's the finished pencil tin:

What can I say? That boy has personality!

I just love the little smiley face!

Meme

2009-08-07T21:42:00.000-07:00

Ruth of rhradcliffedesigns.blogspot.com tagged me with this little meme.

Here are the rules:
1. Collect the book you have most handy.
2. Turn to page 161.
3. Find the 5th complete sentence.
4. Cite the sentence on your blog.
5. Pass it on to other blog friends.

Here's Ruth's: The SQ is responsible for all parts of the province not under the jurisdiction of municipal forces, of which there are many in the Montreal suburbs. (Grave Secrets by Kathy Reichs)

Here's mine: Pretty soon, other bikers will find excuses to walk past so they can take in the sight of her leaning against the table just right. (Book of the Dead by Patricia Cornwell)

I have chosen:

Tricia: handmadewhimzy.blogspot.com
Connie: hello-refabulous.blogspot.com
Amy: miasophiasday.blogspot.com

ETC Design Challenge -- Summer Magic!

2009-07-27T17:59:00.001-07:00

Etsy Texas Crafters is having their monthly Design Challenge right now! The theme is Summer Magic! So what magic does Summer hold for you?

I entered three items in the Design Challenge. My Neapolitan Stripe Scarf:

Market Bag in Marshmallow (a brand-new design!):

Partly Sunny Motif Scarf (another brand-new design!):

All of my entries are available for sale at The Lavender Lizard! And there are tons of other great entries! Please stop by the challenge page and vote for your favorite! (The link to the poll is at the bottom of the challenge page.)

Oh, and the top vote-getters will win prizes, one of which I'm donating -- their choice of my 3pack lip balm holders! So please help us decide the winners by voting and look for the August Design Challenge -- Elements! Thanks!

Another Primo Afghan Complete!

2009-07-24T15:10:00.000-07:00

I'm just so excited to be finished with this:

It literally took four hours over the course of two evenings (and two Ranger baseball games) to weave in all of the ends of this afghan. It is my least favorite chore of finishing a project.

What's up next? Here's a sneak peek:

Baby Boy Blanket

2009-07-08T11:55:00.000-07:00

I confess: I'm a bit of a yarn snob. Not in the "I only use $15 a skein yarn" way, but more like the yarn I use must feel soft. I admit that I avoid anything labelled "acrylic." Usually.

Then I found Cotton Ease by Lion Brand Yarn. It's made of 50% cotton and 50% acrylic, and it feels thick and luxurious, almost velvety. It has the softness of cotton with the durability of acrylic, and I thought it would be perfect for the custom order baby boy blanket a friend of mine requested.

My friend's sister-in-law is expecting her first baby soon, and my friend asked me to make a blanket for a baby shower gift. She left the colors and design up to me. So I hit the Lion Brand Yarn website for inspiration and found a super-cute pattern that I just fell in love with. (Note: you may have to sign into the LYB website to see the pattern.) The only problem was the girly colors they used, but I soon fixed that!

I chose these 6 colors:

From left to right and top to bottom: seaspray, almond, lime, maize, lake, and violet.

I started working the pattern, which is a simple ripple design with double-crochets. After using just the first three colors (seaspray, almond, and lime), I decided these were sweet for a baby boy.

But I was curious about how the rest of the colors would look together, so I made a swatch that included the dark purple and denim blue (violet and lake). I love the way these five colors look together. They are perfect for an older boy. DS3 liked it too, so I promised him his own blanket.

Then I added the gold (maize) to the mix. I'm not sure the gold adds much to the boyish blues. I think I will save it for another project, probably mixing it with purple and reds and browns for an autumn look.

And here's the finished baby blanket:

I just repeated the stripe pattern using seaspray, almond, and lime, and ended with seaspray. Another choice could be to alternate the almond color between the seaspray and lime. (That would "lighten" up the design.) I also made it longer and wider than the pattern called for because I like to think the child will use this for many years to come.

Kinsler Deserves to go to All-Star Game!

2009-07-07T17:36:00.001-07:00

Hard to believe, I know, but Rangers second baseman Ian Kinsler was left off the American League All-Star Roster.

Please help me vote him in! Thanks!!!

Happy 4th of July!

2009-07-03T18:09:00.000-07:00

To celebrate the 4th of July weekend, I have extended my $5 sale at The Lavender Lizard! There are some really great buys -- some items have been marked down 50%!!

Also another selection of items have free shipping (either USPS First Class or First Class International). Those items (some are new listings!) can be found my searching for "julyfreeship" in my shop.

Oh, and check out this super-lovely blog -- oh hello, friend! The Lavender Lizard is featured along with 5 other terrific shops, all of whom are having holiday weekend sales. You'll notice that one of the other shops featured is none other than my good friend Connie/ReFabulous! Her shop is full of recycled/reclaimed goodies. Let's see....I have her pincushions, her rose and lavender sachets, and my latest find -- a gorgeous tote!! (No surprise here, I keep it full of yarn! I've been planning on photographing it, so be sure to check back.) I'm sure you will love Connie's shop as much as I do!

Both the $5 sale and free shipping offer will expire on Sunday, July 5, just in time to get ready for ETC's First Monday Sale!

Have a terrific holiday weekend!

New ETC Monday Event!

2009-06-28T20:44:00.000-07:00

In honor of the fifth Monday of June, Etsy Texas Crafters is having a $5 Monday Sale! Now that's a bargain!

At The Lavender Lizard, I have marked down many items, some as much as 50% off! To find out which items are marked down to $5, please check out my ETC $5 Monday Sale section. Also there are plenty of items that are always $5 or less, including lip balm holders, anything cups and eco-friendly scrubbies.

At The Lavender Ladybug, there is nothing priced higher than $5, so feel free to shop, shop, shop!

As an added bonus, if you purchase 3 or more items (whether on sale or not), I'll ship those to you FREE! (USPS First Class or First Class International only.) The listings can be from either of my shops to qualify.

To see the other $5 items, click on the photo of Armadillo Tex!

(Above and on the right side.)

Americana Gift Swap!

2009-06-26T10:18:00.001-07:00

Etsy Texas Crafters, the best street team on Etsy, recently held a gift swap with an americana theme. I love gift swaps, so I signed up and was paired with Alyssa of simplysparkles. I looked at her profile and noticed she liked the color red and purses and bags. So I made a tote with a solid red bottom, a red-white-blue body, and red straps. It's perfect for the beach or library or even for the grocery store (no need for plastic bags here!)

I used one of the free patterns from Lily Sugar n Cream yarn, but changed the dimensions slightly, made the solid part of the bottom larger, and used a variegated yarn for the body with a solid bottom and straps. (The pattern called for either variegated or solid yarn, but not both together.) I hope she enjoys using it as much as I enjoyed making it! (I'm thinking of making more bags for The Lavender Lizard; please share your thoughts by leaving a comment! Thx!)

Alyssa, in turn, sent me these adorable earrings! One reason I really like them is that they are long and dangly, and super comfortable! Thanks, Alyssa!

Plus, they look great with my latest Tuesday Morning find, a nautical-inspired, americana-striped Sak bag:

Can you guess what I'll be wearing for the 4th of July??

More WIPs and an Update...

2009-06-24T12:11:00.000-07:00

It's been a busy, crafty couple of weeks since the boys finished up their school year. They all painted birdhouses for my parents' 51st anniversary, which was on June 15. My parents live about 30 minutes away on 6 1/2 acres of land with tons of trees. We thought the birdhouses would be a great addition to their enjoyment of the property.

From left to right, DS4's barn birdhouse, DS3's double-decker birdhouse, DS2's colorful feeder, and DS1's castle birdhouse. (Truthfully, I painted the barn. DS4 was not interested in painting at all.)

I finished one of the 2 scarves I started last week. It turned out great! I will be listing it soon at The Lavender Lizard.

I was not happy with the way the second one was turning out, so 5 rows into it, I pulled it all apart. The reason: I love love love the yarn (Caron Spa -- a bamboo/microdenier acrylic blend) and the colors are scrumptious:

But the pattern I was making was not taking full advantage of the drapey, silky feel of the yarn. I have new ideas for the yarn though, and I hope to dive into them real soon.

And here's what I'm really, really, really trying to avoid:

The only things missing from this afghan are weaving in the ends (yuk!) and 3 rows of a border. I must force myself to finish this, and I'll probably devote Friday to this dreaded chore. Wish me luck!

WIPs and UFOs

2009-06-12T16:42:00.000-07:00

My home is full of WIPs and UFOs. Before you get the wrong idea, WIPs are works in progress and UFOs are unfinished objects. Sounds like they are the same thing, but really UFOs are WIPs that have been tossed in a drawer and left untouched for a period of time. I admit I just looooove to start new projects, sometimes before the current ones are complete.

So to that end, I decided to finally finish some loooooong standing projects. I can't tell you how many years ago I started this cross-stitch sampler, but the magazine with the pattern on the cover is from 1988.

It sat unfinished for many, many, many years. I finally finished it recently, but I made a design change (gone are the teddies!). Now I just have to frame it! Yay!

I also finished Afghan 1 for los primos (the cousins). My mother asked me to make 7 afghans for her 1st cousins (children of her father's brother). Out of the 21(!) children born to my great-grandparents, only my grandfather and my great-uncle Nat lived to adulthood. Both of them died in 2001, and they are greatly missed by their children and grandchildren.

So Afghan 1 is finally ready:

Afghan 2 is almost complete (it looks finished here, but trust me, the side with all of the yarn ends looks horrible! If you know anything about me, you know I hate to work in the ends.):

I did manage to complete this great dinosaur skull shirt for DS3's birthday! It only took a couple of days to crochet, and a couple more days to sew it on the shirt. The pattern is by Regina Rioux Gonzalez and was published in the March/April 2009 issue of Crochet Today!

I have 2 more WIPs that I started yesterday (please don't ask why; I just don't know). Both are scarves -- one is made of cotton yarn, and the other is an acrylic/bamboo blend that I just couldn't resist. They will both be listed at The Lavender Lizard when they are completed (which, hopefully, is soon!).

My Favorite Place in Texas

2009-05-25T21:34:00.000-07:00

I like to say that although I wasn't born in Texas, I got here as fast as I could. Truthfully, the only reason I was born elsewhere was because my father was in the Air Force. He and my mother were born and raised here, so Texas has always been home (although I claim Colorado as well -- shoot, it's just too pretty not to!).

So I've been to all parts of Texas, and they are as different as night and day. Texas is the only state I know of that has fertile river valleys, coastline, desert mountains, rolling hills, huge towering forests, high plains, big cities, quaint towns, and everything in between. I love the coast, especially Mustang Island and North Padre Island. I also love the forests of East Texas. But my number one favorite place in Texas is anywhere you find wildflowers.

How can you not love the bluebonnets that greet us each Spring!

Etsy Front Page and a New Product!

2009-05-22T13:39:00.000-07:00

A couple of days ago, I received a message from Jennifer of JenniferABoston and The Crafty Dragonfly. She wanted to tell me that one of my items was on the Front Page of Etsy! Of course, I clicked over there as quickly as possible, but sadly, I missed it. (Thanks, Jennifer!)

Here's the featured item, a silk/bamboo wave patterned scarf (chosen because of its "eco" tag by Etsy Admin):

Great news -- the scarf received 9 new hearts and The Lavender Lizard received 6 new hearts! (Hearts are a way to mark favorite items or sellers.)

Over at The Lavender Ladybug, I received a request to crochet a tooth/molar motif. Here's what I came up with:

Marnie of AdornWithAAndM used the motifs to create a new product -- the Tooth Fairy Pillow Clip. I think they are adorable!

Marnie had previously requested chili peppers from me for her kitchen. The chili peppers inspired me to create paisley motifs (my favorite design element, ever), which I paired with small round dots:

I'm currently adding these in several colors at The Lavender Ladybug. As always, if you different idea for a motif or color, please contact me. I ♥ special orders!

Coming up next, crocheted borders for embellishing scrapbook pages! Stay tuned!

The Accidental Gardener and the Return of Boomer

2009-05-12T17:09:00.000-07:00

I wish I spent more time gardening, as I really do enjoy it. But I've let the yard go and do it's own thing. Luckily, some things still bloom whether I pay attention to them or not.

Here's a lily that originally came from my parents' home in Dallas:

They have been uprooted and moved a couple of times, and I'm always happy to see them bloom each spring.

This is a blue plumbago that I thought I lost a couple of winters ago:

Now it's bigger than ever!

We used to have a wild rabbit that visited us nearly every day at dinner time 2 summers ago. We named him Boomer (short for Boomerang because he always came back). DS2 and DS3 were outside a couple of days ago looking for bugs (for an icky school project), and DS3 ran in to tell me that Boomer was back.

Well, there was a bunny in the backyard, and he does look like Boomer, but given his size (he could fit in the palm of my hand!) there's no way this is the original Boomer! Maybe he's Boomer's great grandson. Either way, he's adorable and he posed for me in the blue plumbago:

Welcome back, Boomer!

A Great Week with My Sons!

2009-05-08T16:09:00.000-07:00

I just have to share the week I had with my sons! First of all, everyone is healthy again (yay!). Secondly, it wasn't the swine flu (super yay!).

I was lucky enough to go to the district-wide GT field trip for 6th graders with DS2 called Nature Venture. I went last year with DS1, so I knew what to expect, namely bugs, humidity, and hot weather. This year, though, I tagged along with DS2 to the snake and lizard exhibition (note: if you're squeamish about snakes, you might want to stop reading here, and for goodness sake, skip the photos).

I, however, adore lizards and think snakes are pretty cool.

This is a corn snake modeled by DS2:

And here's a ball python:

But the most impressive by far, is Strider, the 11-ft. long, 100 lb. albino Burmese python:

I'd like to get a snake for a pet, but I'm not sure about the feeding part. (The Burmese eats 3 bunnies every 10 days. Ugh.) A huge thanks to the Reptile Man for sharing his wonderful pets with us!

Last night, DS1 was inducted into the National Junior Honor Society, and DH and I couldn't be prouder. He looked so handsome all dressed up! Here he is getting his certificate from the principal:

And here he is on the right, with 2 of his best friends (Congratulations, guys!)

I'm very proud of all of my sons! Each one is exceptional, and I love that I am lucky enough to be their Mother! Happy (early) Mother's Day to my mom, and all of the other moms out there! You have the hardest (and most rewarding) job in the world!

Attn: Scrapbookers!

2009-05-06T19:25:00.000-07:00

Back in March, I received an Alchemy request from Pam, the owner of a cool site called Kraft Girl Kits. She requested orange and yellow flowers from The Lavender Ladybug to add to her May scrapbooking kit.

Needless to say, I was soooo excited!

Well, May is here and so is the kit! Here's a photo of the items included in the kit:

I really like the Gallery at Kraft Girl Kits, where designers take the current kit and each create scrapbook pages or cards. Be sure to check out the projects -- you will be inspired, no doubt. For a sneak peak at the Gallery, here is my favorite project (it's titled Proof You Are Mine, and it was designed by Danielle Holsapple):

It's so sweet, and I'm reminded of the 4 baby boy bracelets I still have. See, they really are all mine.

So if you scrapbook or paper craft, please check out Kraft Girl Kits! Monthly subscriptions are available as are some previous month's kits, and the 2008 kits are now 40% off.

Thanks, Pam! I'm so happy to be a part of the May kit!

So What Do You Do With Those Little Flowers Anyway?

2009-04-28T12:10:00.000-07:00

I get that question a lot -- it's in reference to the flower, star, fruit, veggie and other motifs I have listed at The Lavender Ladybug.

Thankfully, I can show you what two different buyers chose to make!

The first buyer is an ETC teammate and friend of mine, Tricia of Handmade Whimzy and Pink Pear Designs. Turns out she sews also. She requested aqua flowers and leaves and a chocolate brown bird for a pillow she was planning to make. Here's how it turned out:

Gorgeous! To read about how Tricia crafted her pillow and see more photos, check out her blog!

The second buyer is Marnie from AdornWithAandM, an Etsy shop she co-owns with Amy. Marnie recently moved, and her new kitchen is decorated with peppers. Amy saw some of my motifs and asked if I could design peppers for Marnie's kitchen. Marnie took the peppers and added them to a decorative plate:

And another set (in custom colors) was made into magnets:

Finally, one pepper was added to Marnie's business card holder for craft shows:

I think all of these projects turned out great! Thanks to Tricia, Amy and Marnie, for their wonderful inspiration! And thanks for sharing these projects with me!

P.S. Next up at The Lavender Ladybug -- paisley motifs! Stay tuned!

Fabulous Friday Finds -- Orange!

2009-04-03T16:08:00.001-07:00

Today's Fabulous Friday Finds are made possible by the color orange! (Sounds like a PBS/Sesame Street tagline, right?)

Thankfully, orange is one of my fave colors! A glance at previous blog posts will attest to that! I had fun searching for bright and cheerful items on Etsy. Here's just a few...

Show her how much you love her with this stunning glass heart necklace from ccvalenzo -- gorgeous!!

This print of an original painting from oladesign is beautiful. I love the contrast of the two black birds and bare branches against the deep orange background.

This bag from mahandbags will add color to your spring and summer outfits!

And for your favorite crafter (or yourself, because it is super-cute!) a handmade wool needlebook from JennMaruskaDesign. The button flowers are just adorable!

Tune in next Friday for a bunch more Fabulous Finds!

Fabulous Friday Finds -- Rubik's Cube!

2009-03-27T20:57:00.000-07:00

Ok, truth be told, when I pulled "Rubik's Cube" from my little cup o' nouns, I thought I was in deep trouble. What could I find on Etsy by searching for "Rubik's Cube"????

Well. not a lot, but what I did find was kinda kitschy and cool.

There's a mini Rubik's Cube that bunnylogic turned into a pendant (bonus -- it's already solved!):

Or how about mini Rubik's Cube earrings from tinyminds (I love the checkerboard patterns!):

There's a Rubik's Cube felt plushie from kittymiaowwow (no hard plastic corners here!):

Or decorate your space with a Rubik's Cube decal from vinylwalldesign:

Whatever you choose, you'll be honoring the 80's in your own way! Just please, no parachute pants and Flock of Seagulls hair-dos. Some things should be left in the past.

Fabulous Friday Finds -- Fish!

2009-03-20T12:22:00.000-07:00

Welcome to this edition of Fabulous Friday Finds! If this is your first visit, here is our premise: My boys chose a bunch of nouns, I select one from my little cup, and I'm off to Etsy to find handmade items by searching for the chosen word.

This week's word -- Fish!

For your baby, this cute little hair clip from shopmayapapaya. Looks good enough to eat (like the Pepperidge Farm crackers), but please don't.

For your teenager, these great fish hoop earrings from sstargell! 3 sizes are available.

For your mom or sister or BFF, this gorgeous fish brooch from Sonseeahray. I love the movement in the fins!

For you dad or DH, a set of 3 handmade handkerchiefs from TheHoneyPress. The hankies are silkscreened with fish and other images on soft 100% cotton plaid fabric. Great for those allergy sufferers out there!

And finally for your crafty friend, a crochet goldfish kit from AmyGaines, packaged in a take-out box! Really, so cute! And if your friend already has a huge stash of yarn, the fish pattern is available by itself.

Thanks for checking out the latest edition of Fabulous Friday Finds. To see past editions, check my blog archive.

Fabulous Friday Finds -- Pizza!

2009-03-13T15:24:00.000-07:00

Today's Finds are inspired by the word "pizza"! Yum!

This kitty pizza chef from annya127 just makes me smile! He obviously loves to make pizza! (Check out the companion piece where kitty chef serves the pizza, too!)

These pepperoni pizza charms from fornever are sooooo adorable! They are tiny perfection! I love the way you can see the layer of sauce under the cheese. Also available from fornever are pizza hairclips and a pizza cellphone charm. Soooo cute!

This pizza necklace from shayaaron looks so real! I love the way the cheese oozed out when the slice was taken -- authentic! Plus it has green olives -- DH's favorite topping! And the way it is photographed with the miniature pizza board, pizza cutter, rolling pin, jar of pepper flakes and jar of grated cheese! Wow!!!

And speaking of pizza cutters, how cool are these pizza cutter earrings from celiefago! They are beautifully crafted of sterling and copper, and both disks spin. These are definitely on my wish list!

Well, now I'm craving pizza! My fave is pepperoni, mushroom, and black olive! Be sure and come back next Friday for more Fabulous Finds!

A Brand-New Design!

2009-03-09T17:53:00.000-07:00

I've been working on new designs for The Lavender Lizard and I want to share one of them now.

These might look like fields of flowers, but they are actually skinny scarves, almost like a vine with eight flower stations with three small leaves in between the flowers. I designed this to be all-season. I have made this in two different colorways of the same wool/soy yarn. The lighter one ranges from ivory to pale pink to rose pink to sage green to soft light brown.

The darker one ranges from light plum to charcoal grey to brick red to red violet to deep purple. Both are simply soft and gorgeous!

I will be listing these as soon as I take decent photos. They really need to be photographed on a "live" model to show them off in their best light -- that's what I hope to accomplish tomorrow. Stay tuned!

Fabulous Friday Finds -- Island!

2009-03-06T14:45:00.000-08:00

Today's edition of Fabulous Friday Finds is perhaps inspired by Spring Break -- the word today is "island." (If you're new to FFF, I choose a word every Friday with the help of my three oldest sons and feature items from Etsy that match the word.)

Etsy is chock-full of original photographs of islands! It was difficult to choose favorites. Here's a very small sample of what you can find by searching for "island".

How gorgeous are the clear waters in this photograph by travelographer of one of the San Blas Islands:

Islands are gorgeous in black-and-white as well, as seen in this photograph by DAJPhoto of Ruby Beach in Washington (Destruction Island is visible in the horizon):

The Hawaiian Islands are naturally subject to the photographer's lens. This photograph by PuaArts captures the lava flow from Kilauea:

This photograph of palm trees and blue skies was taken in Tonga by worldloop. I can just picture spending a lazy afternoon on a hammock beneath these gorgeous trees:

From the skies to the sand -- this photograph of the changing tides on Pawley's Island by joytannerphotography is stunning:

I love the graphic element of this photograph taken under the pier at Tybee Island by fotojo:

3lovely captured this unique shot of the steps leading down to Cupecoy Beach, St. Maarten:

I hope you will take the opportunity to check out these wonderful photographers. (For your convenience, I have also linked each photograph to its Etsy listing.)

Tune in next Friday for more Fabulous Friday Finds and have a happy and safe Spring Break!

ETC First Monday -- March 2!

2009-03-02T07:07:00.000-08:00

March 2 marks the day that Texas declared its independence from Mexico in 1836. Today it also marks Etsy Texas Crafters First Monday Sale!

I'm continuing to feature 2 participating ETC shops for First Monday. First up is locobead, who is offering 15% off any item priced $15 or higher. And this little baby is perfect for Texas Independence Day:

My other featured shop is rhradcliffedesigns, who is offering free shipping. She's a terrific artist who has been fortunate enough to travel the world with her camera and paintbrushes. This photo captures Texas in the spring:

She is also offering free shipping in her two other shops: elephantdreams and earwingsandthings.

As usual, I have a BOGO sale at The Lavender Lizard (buy one, get one 50% off *OR* buy two, get one FREE!), and 20% off everything at The Lavender Ladybug.

For a complete list of participating ETC shops, join us in the Etsy forums!

Happy Texas Independence Day!!

A Special Request!

2009-02-25T14:37:00.000-08:00

I often make special requests for friends and family that don't make it to Etsy, so I'd like to share a recent one.

Eight months ago, one of my best friends gave births to twins, a boy and a girl. For her baby shower, I crocheted little caps out of the softest bamboo yarn, one blue and one pink, of course. Everyone loved the softness of the bamboo (which, if you have never felt it, you would not guess came from a tree!)

After the babies were born, my friend called me to say she wanted me to make blankets for the twins out of the bamboo yarn. I delivered the blankets yesterday. The twins both loved their cuddly softness and fell asleep clutching them. (My heart sang!)

Here is Gabriella's:

And this one is Aiden's:

Sweet dreams always, little ones!

Has Anyone Seen This Yarn?

2009-02-24T17:07:00.000-08:00

This is my favorite yarn ever!

It looks like an English garden, with shades of pink, rose, lavender, purple, and green.

But it's discontinued and has apparently been in my yarn stash so long that I can no longer find any trace of it. I'm pretty sure it is Lily Sugar n' Cream brand cotton yarn, but it may be Peaches and Cream. Either way, I want more!

This little cup was made from the little bit I had left. I ran out of the yarn before I could finish covering the cup, so the bottom (which can't be seen) and the inside are solid purple. (Sorry, this cup is not for sale -- it sits on my desk and holds the little papers with words for the Fabulous Friday Finds. Similar cups are for sale at The Lavender Lizard.)

So here's my plea to the yarn gods: Please, please, please bring back this yarn! Please....

Fabulous Friday Finds -- Tank!

2009-02-19T21:09:00.000-08:00

Nouns can be funny things in that they have wildly different meanings. This edition of Fabulous Friday Finds is a perfect example:

I asked my boys for a list of 20 or so nouns from which I would randomly draw one in order to choose the Finds from Etsy. (This is our new method of selecting the Finds, which eliminates me waiting for them to get home from school on Friday because I had forgotten to ask for the word at breakfast.) So what's the first word I pull from my little cup?? Tank. Yep, tank.

I'm pretty sure this is what the boys had in mind (wooden military vehicle patterns from JandDWoodcrafts):

Or maybe this tank (in the form of soap from saltsmansoap -- hey, that's a great boy gift!):

But to me, a tank is an article of clothing, something for a sweltering summer day in South Texas. This gorgeous silk tank from LotusLuxuries fits the bill in a dressy, date-with-your-sweetie, kind of way:

Or this lovely tank dress from louderthanwords (honestly, it could not look more comfy -- this is sooooo on my wish list!):

And if I had a daughter (or for that matter, could knit) I would certainly make this sweet little tank (knitted pattern from pixiepurls):

(Be sure to check out all of the photos on this knitted tank pattern -- the variations are adorable!)

Since daughters are not in my future, maybe I can learn to knit for the granddaughters I hope to have some day (a long, long, loooooong time from now.) Then their daddies can think of tanks in a new way.

ETC Has Secrets!

2009-02-15T22:11:00.000-08:00

Monday, February 16 is the day for ETC Has Secrets! What's a Secret? It's a free item with purchase of selected listings of participating ETC shops. That's right -- a FREE item! So find the listings with Tex the ETC Armadillo, purchase it, and receive a free item (check each listing for details of the free item.)

I have 2 Secrets hidden in each of my shops, so please visit either The Lavender Lizard or The Lavender Ladybug to see which listings are offering a FREE item!

Today's featured participating ETC shops are PinkPearDesigns and HandmadeWhimzy. I have recently decided to spotlight shops that participate in ETC events, and I chose these 2 shops because, honestly, they are among my faves! I just adore everything Tricia makes! Her jewelry at PinkPearDesigns is romantic; her photos are knockouts!

Tricia's other shop, HandmadeWhimzy, is not too shabby, either! Here you'll find more jewelry, as well as beaded bookmarks and handpainted items. Tex is hiding in both shops, so good luck finding him. I'm sure you'll be happy with your purchases!

Thanks, Tricia, for participating in ETC Has Secrets! You are a terrific team member!!

Fabulous Friday Finds -- Sandstorm!

2009-02-13T11:00:00.000-08:00

Today's edition of the Fabulous Friday Finds is brought to you by my 7yo, who thought up the word "sandstorm". Actually, that was his second choice -- his first choice of word was "hail" as in icy precipitation, but waaaay too many listings at Etsy were called "hail to the ___", and there were very few precipitation-related "hail" listings.

So "sandstorm" it is!

My first find is this hauntingly beautiful photo from LarryNicosiaPhoto. He's a new seller to Etsy, and many of his photographs have a desolate quality. And since I love being at the beach when it's cloudy and grey and a storm is coming in, this particular photo really spoke to me.

This original abstract piece from kellyvanhook is appropriately titled "Sandstorm." The color and texture recall the blinding nature of a sandstorm.

I just love the swirly colors of this handmade lampwork bead from blackriverbeads. It almost looks atmospheric, like the planet Jupiter. Gorgeous!

What happens when yarn gets lost in the desert? According to WhirligigYarns (from Boulder, Colorado -- where I was born!), this is the result -- a delightful mix of yellow, pink, taupe, and brown:

On a personal note, I once found myself in a sandstorm. We were on a chartered bus heading from Dallas to Colorado for a ski trip. It was raining in Dallas when we left. We hit the sandstorm in the panhandle (the bus had to stop on the side of the highway because the driver couldn't see anything), and it was snowing in Durango, Colorado when we arrived. That was the weirdest precipitation day ever!

Fabulous Friday Finds -- Computer!

2009-02-06T14:41:00.000-08:00

Today's finds are brought to you by the word "computer," chosen by DS2, who is no doubt a child of the computer age.

The first item I chose from Etsy is a laptop sleeve, because in this day and age, travelling with your laptop is often a necessity. And how sad would it be if your laptop was damaged. This laptop sleeve was made by annyandme:

And when you pull your laptop out of its handmade sleeve, it makes an impact with this gorgeous graphic decal from michellechristina:

But let's not forget about the lowly desktop computer you leave at home, the one you depend on day after day. How about a set of lavender and flaxseed pillows to both decorate your space and keep your wrists from fatigue through the hours of blogging, posting, commenting, Etsy shopping, etc. The pillows are found at HomeGrownPillows:

Also your desktop deserves a special mousepad from billoneil. What a great way to brighten up your desk!

And how cute is this memory stick from 123smile, made from real Legos! (And I loooooove legos!)

Without a doubt, my favorite find this week is this sweet baby bib from colbylanedesigns:

I predict the child who wears this is a computer whiz in the making! Remember, it's the geeks who rule the world!

Tune in next Friday for more fabulous finds!

ETC First Monday -- February 2nd!

2009-02-01T21:45:00.000-08:00

It's unbelievable how quickly January went! But that just means we have another Etsy Texas Crafters First Monday to look forward to.

I decided to start featuring participating sellers so you would have an idea of the types of shops that belong to ETC. Plus, it's not all about me! (Well, it is sometimes...)

I have chosen two shops to feature -- a newbie and an oldie, plus the ETC Team Shop. The newbie (to me) is SayItOnASign. These 2 signs are among my favorites, mostly because they so apply to me and my family:

SayItOnASign's special today is free domestic shipping (US) on all signs!

The "oldie" is Thistlecraft, but she's not really old -- she's just the first person I met through ETC because she is our intrepid leader. And leading a team of over 700 is quite a task! Plus, she makes all kinds of items. This is my favorite scarf in her shop:

And she creates one-of-a-kind collage cards out of CDs! What a great way to "go green"! Here's an example (which would make a terrific gift for a teacher!):

And Thistlecraft's First Monday sale is 25% off all items!

Let's not forget about the ETC Team Shop! Here you can find pieces donated by ETC shops, like this unique necklace made by StaceyDawn:

The sale at the Team Shop is 50% off all items! The necklace won't last long at that price! So shop early and shop often, because these specials expire at midnight Central time!

Fabulous Friday Finds -- Potato!

2009-01-30T06:59:00.000-08:00

Welcome to the second edition of my Friday feature. My boys challenge me each week with a noun, then I search Etsy and find the most fabulous items (to me) that match the noun to feature.

This week's challenge word: Potato!

"Potato," I thought, "What in the world will I find on Etsy with potato?" It seemed daunting or at least, nearly impossible. Who makes potatoes to sell on Etsy??

Well, personally, I love potatoes, and this little gem sums that up (from jenjensirene)!

And what could be better than playing with potatoes? This yummy felt lunch set from christinamaedesigns features 2 kinds of potatoes -- fries and chips! Now that's what I want for lunch!

And for dinner, we'll serve Mom's meatloaf with mashed potatoes (check out the perfect pat of butter), from opheliamcphee!

Speaking of Mom, how about a gorgeous strand of potato pearls, from briguysgirls! Trust me, she will love this necklace!

And let's not leave out the baby in the family. Here's a sweet newborn set from potatopatch featuring 2 of the cutest chicks ever:

Potato, you ask? Where's the potato? Well, the chick design is hand-stamped with potato stamps! Clever, right?

Thanks for stopping by! Tune in next Friday for a whole new batch of fabulous finds!

Fabulous Friday Finds -- Sheep!

2009-01-23T15:57:00.000-08:00

I'm starting a new Friday feature, and here's the first one. My boys challenge me each week with a noun, then I search Etsy and find the most fabulous items (to me) that match the noun to feature.

This week's challenge word was Sheep!

This is soooo adorable -- and functional too! It's a bamboo stitch gauge decorated with little sheep. From karatstix!

More functional sheep: stitch markers from scarymerry! Baaaaa!

What fiber artist wouldn't love crochet hooks or knitting needles featuring little clay sheep! The crochet hook is from designsbytami!

The knitting needles are from ClayAndYarnBarn!

These fabric covered buttons with hand-embroidered sheep would rock on a handmade wool sweater! From butteredparsnips!

And finally, because sheep are just toooo cute -- a primitive woolly friend to decorate your home from SimplyEwe!

Be sure to join me next week for another Fabulous Friday Find!

ETC Design Challenge -- Chinese New Year

2009-01-23T10:22:00.000-08:00

This month's ETC Design Challenge was a real stumper for me. Chinese New Year? How will I translate that into a crochet design??? My head was swimming.

Luckily, Christine of pinuppixie, the Design Challenge Coordinator, sent along a link to inspire us.

Reading the info, I found out that the Lantern Festival parades often include huge dragons made of silk and bamboo. Well, that cleared my head -- I had just bought some silk and bamboo yarn and had not made anything with it yet. Perfect! Unfortunately there is no red in this brand of yarn (red is very symbolic for Chinese New Year.) So I got a couple of bright colors and decided to make a long scarf in a wave pattern to symbolize the color and movement of the dragons.

Here's my entry:

Also I quickly created a prize to donate to one of the top 4 winners -- it is a strand scarf with the same yarn and a little bamboo/cotton/acrylic for texture:

Come check out all of the entries and vote for your favorite. (The poll will close on January 27.)

Happy Chinese New Year!

ETC Has Secrets -- Monday, January 19!

2009-01-19T14:27:00.000-08:00

What's a Secret? It's a FREE item! And there are 2 available in both of my shops, The Lavender Lizard and The Lavender Ladybug!

Just buy the listing where Tex the armadillo is hiding and receive the FREE item described in the listing.

To see what other ETC shops are participating, join us in the forums!

New commercial supplies for Valentines Day at The Lavender Ladybug!

So Much for Trying to Blog More....

2009-01-18T21:13:00.000-08:00

Arrrrgh! This is only my second blog entry of 2009!!! Where does the time go???

Here's a couple of short shop updates: Over at The Lavender Lizard, I have heart-shaped face scrubbies in a new color -- shades of lilac and ivory, very pretty! Other colors are also available. These would be a sweet gift in a basket with some handmade soap!

At The Lavender Ladybug, I have new heart motifs in red or purple! Perfect for scrapbooking or cardmaking for Valentine's Day or weddings! And I'll be listing new colors soon (and I accept custom requests, as well!) Also I'll be listing new Valentine's Day rubber stamps soon!

Shop early for Valentine's Day!!!

Happy 2009!

2009-01-05T09:43:00.000-08:00

Wow! It's January 5th already! 2008 flew by and 2009 is trending the same way already!

Time for Etsy Texas Crafters First Monday Sale! I'm doing a little something different this year at The Lavender Lizard -- Buy One, Get One 50% Off -OR- Buy Two, Get One Free! Come in and see what's currently available! (Think about Valentines gifts....it's not too early!)

At The Lavender Ladybug, the sale is 20% Off All Items!

Here's to a wonderful, fulfilling, prosperous 2009!

Merry, Merry Christmas!

2008-12-24T18:01:00.000-08:00

My Christmas gift to you! Merry Christmas and Happy 2009!

On the 12th Day of Christmas...

2008-12-12T16:34:00.000-08:00

Ha! I just discovered I have no idea how to spell "twelthe", "twelveth", whatever...12th! I should ask my Aggie nephews....

Anyway it's the last day of specials at The Lavender Lizard! It's been a hard 12 days, but ultimately worth it.

Today's Special (12/12): Save 25% On Any Order Over $25!

And here's wishing everyone a blessed holiday season and a safe and happy 2009!

On the Ninth, Tenth, and Eleventh Day of Christmas...

2008-12-10T21:54:00.001-08:00

Well, I got behind on blogging my 12 Days of Christmas specials for The Lavender Lizard. Too many sick kiddos finally caught up to me.

So I've decided to extend these 3 specials until midnight on Thursday 12/11. Just let me know in the Notes to Seller that you read about these in my blog, and I'll honor any and all of these three specials. Thanks for your understanding!

Day 9 Special: 10% Off Anything Cups!

Day 10 Special: 20% Off All Accessories (including coin/card purses, tissue holders, lip balm holders, scarves, ponchos, and capelets)

Day 11 Special: 10% Off Tape Measure Cozies and Needle Cases!

The final (and awesome!) special will be good on Friday, December 12! Stay tuned!

On the Eighth Day of Christmas....

2008-12-07T21:53:00.001-08:00

The 12 Days of Christmas specials continue at The Lavender Lizard!

Today's Special (12/8): Save 20% On Any Order of $20 or More! Tune in tomorrow for a brand-new special!

On the Seventh Day of Christmas....

2008-12-07T12:39:00.000-08:00

Quick post here!

Today's Special (12/7): Save 15% On All Kitchen Scrubbies and Sets!

A new special tomorrow!

On the Sixth Day of Christmas...

2008-12-05T21:58:00.000-08:00

Continuing the 12 Days of Christmas specials at The Lavender Lizard!

Today's special (12/6): Spend at least $20 at The Lavender Lizard and receive free shipping (either USPS First Class or First Class International)!

And a hint for tomorrow's special: doing dishes for less!

On the Fifth Day of Christmas....

2008-12-04T21:57:00.000-08:00

Continuing the 12 Days of Christmas specials at The Lavender Lizard!

Today's special (12/5) is 10% off an order of $10 or more! That's right -- just pick your choice of anjy items in my shop, spend at least $10, and you'll save 10% on your order!

And I should be listing new items today as well! Have a happy day!

On the Fourth Day of Christmas....

2008-12-03T21:41:00.000-08:00

Today is Day 4 of the 12 Days of Christmas specials at The Lavender Lizard!

Today (12/4) I'm offering 15% off all face/body scrubbies! Add a couple to gift basket with handmade soap for a terrific gift for anyone on your list! Or use them for stocking stuffers for your teens or tweens! (My boys use them, too!) They are environmentally friendly and get softer with use!

So go green and save green at the same time! And tune in tomorrow for a brand new special!

On the Third Day of Christmas....

2008-12-02T20:55:00.000-08:00

The 12 Days of Christmas specials continue at The Lavender Lizard!

Today's Special (12/3): 20% Off All Scarves, Ponchos, and Capelets! Stay warm and cozy and in style this season for less!

And stop by daily to see the new special from now until December 12!

On the Second Day of Christmas...

2008-12-01T22:10:00.000-08:00

The 12 Days of Christmas specials continue at The Lavender Lizard!

Today's Special (12/2): Buy 3 Lip Balm Holders, Get 4th Lip Balm Holder Free!

Either choose 4 individual lip balm holders OR choose 1 set of 3 lip balm holders and 1 individual lip balm holder AND the 4th one is FREE! (Free lip balm holder will be the lowest priced one.)

There are tons of colors and two sizes available, and if you prefer a color that you don't see in my shop, just ask! I can accomodate most special requests!

My lip balm holders have been featured at The Present Professor! These make terrific stocking stuffers, teacher gifts, or coworker gifts! Just add your favorite lip balm, and your shopping is done!

The 12 Days of Christmas Begins...

2008-11-30T23:06:00.001-08:00

Hard to believe that it is already December 1.... The first eleven months of 2008 flew by much too quickly.

The good news, though, is that today is Day One of my 12 Days of Christmas Specials at The Lavender Lizard!

Today's special coincides with Etsy Texas Crafters First Monday Sale -- Buy One, Get One 50% Off plus Free Shipping (USPS First Class or First Class International). Please wait for revised PayPal or RME invoice to pay, or I will refund the difference as quickly as possible.

Curious about the next eleven days?? Check back here or visit my shop daily because each day's special is different but all are awesome!

I'm the Featured Brat! And My New Fave Commercial!

2008-11-24T13:58:00.000-08:00

Thanks to a wonderful and supportive street team, the Military Brats of Etsy, I'm the Featured Brat! Yippee!

TerryAnn coordinates this feature, and you can read the interview at the Military Brats blog or in the forums at Etsy. Thanks TerryAnn!!

To celebrate, I'm offering free shipping at The Lavender Lizard and at The Lavender Ladybug from now through Monday, December 1. Please mention "Brats" in the Notes to Seller.

On another (hysterical) note, I saw this on TV late one night:

I love Iron Chef, especially the original Japanese show, because of the dubbing and the weirdly different food. Plus this song takes me back a few *cough* years. But be careful, after you've seen this once, the song will stick in your head for hours. You've been warned -- proceed with caution!