handmade update and some etsy sellers

Most of the handmade gifts I’m giving (or have given) are made! It ended up that the cupcake potholders I planned on making became cupcake ornaments that I wanted to make which became jewelry because another friend was giving cupcake themed gifts and I didn’t want to overwhelm my baker friend with too many cupcakes. She loved the necklace though, the crystals I used matched her topaz engagement ring! The other friend who was supposed to get a necklace ended up buying one from me at the Hartbeat Market, so I made her earrings to match instead. It actually worked out really well, I feel like I’ve only been home to sleep for the past few weeks. *deep breath* Now I can relax a little.

The only handmade gift I have left is a Tardis that I planned on making one of my guy friends for his birthday, but it’s going out with his xmas gift because I’m a terrible friend. Then it’s back to the baby blanket!

I’ve found some other great etsians in my browsing over the weekend who have some great supplies that I can’t get at my local shop. TerraFinds has tons of great briolet jems and sterling and gold connectors and pendants. Carolina Bead Shop has some great sterling and gold pendants, and amie3 has fabulous hand made lampwork beads. Very similar to Grace Beads, but I think her prices are better, plus she’s local for me! Oh, and Thunder Moon Supplies has awesome deals on sterling silver chain and wire, among other things. I placed a few orders from a few places and I’m really looking forward to trying out some new designs!

I am definitely looking forward to my vacation after Christmas… I’m hoping to be super productive and have lots of new stuff for the new year!

How are your handmade projects going? Have you run into any roadblocks?

hartbeat market is almost here!

See you there!

gearing up for the cold

I got the urge to make myself a slouchy hat over the weekend, so I searched all over the place to find the pattern that was just what I wanted and I found this, on etsy of course! First of all, her patterns are wonderful! I want to make everything she has!! They’re also inexpensive, which is nice…because if I ever did get that ambitious (ha), I could actually make everything. Her patterns are super easy to follow too, the best part about this one is you get the look of cables without a cable needle! I’m not that experienced of a knitter, so this was definitely a plus for me.

Here’s the hat so far:

I chose to use Bernat Alpaca yarn in ebony, it’s a 70% Acrylic/30% Alpaca blend marked as a bulky weight, but it’s definitely on the smaller side of bulky – pretty close to a worsted weight. It’s also a bit darker than the photo lets on, more like a charcoal grey than ebony really.

I’m also choosing to add a couple of buttons to the brim once it’s done. I found a great bag of assorted buttons at A. C. Moore (craft store) for really cheap! I haven’t picked out any just yet, but there are a few I’ve got my eye on, particularly that square one in the upper right of the pile. We’ll have to see once the hat is done!

I’ll keep posting progress once I get to the closing rounds and then once it’s done. I can’t wait to finish this, the weather here is cooling off fast!