Infinity scarves

Started working with my new yarns from Stitches West. Finished an infinity scarf made of the most gorgeous aqua-blue bambo yarn. (I'll post better photos later.) I love the pattern, but I'll have to find a new stitch if I want to make these to sell.

The yarn is super soft and cozy, and I have some left over, but I'm not sure I have enough to make a hat.

I also finished a beanie using soft organic cotton from Chili. I'm going to have to much time to work on items for my store while I'm trailing to, from and around Italy :) I'm also going to look for some yarn stores while I'm there.

Next projects: Gray and Orange Nor'Easter beanie for Drew, Angry Birds beanies for Dana's kids, infinity scarf for Tammy, and some beanies and gloves for my store! Always so much to do :)

Mannequin Heads

I dig the vintage look, but they're expensive.

What do you do if you can't get friends to take time out of their busy schedules to pose for photos while wearing your work? You could pose for the photos yourself... or you could get a good mannequin head.

I would pose for some of my photos, but the men's and kid's beanies just don't look right on my little noggin. So, I went looking for a good mannequin head.

So many of them look creepy and plastic, while others are a little too close to real. I like the ones that are painted like vintage girls, but I have three problems there.

1. They are expensive. 
2. There aren't any male versions. 
3. They don't have ears

   

   Newspaper decoupage

So I broke down and bought a couple of Styrofoam heads. One male, one female. Both have ears and were fairly inexpensive.

Besides, I like the idea of maybe doing some decoupage art on the mannequins to give them a vintage or outdoorsy feel. Black and white print might work best--it would match any hat ;-)

Mystery Afghan

Wow, has it really been over a month since my last post? Every time I open Blogger to start work on an entry I get distracted and never finish it. Excuses, excuses, right?

Solution to Clue #1 in the Mystery Crochet-Along

Anyway, I got through the pile of holiday gift crafting I had to do and started working on the Bernat Mystery Afghan Crochet-Along. It's tough, but it's nice to have a challenge. I'm through Clues one and two, and I've started on Clue three. Clue four is already out and Clue five is coming this Wednesday. I need to catch up!

On top of that, my good friend Dana and I are getting our s**t together to be in a craft fair. It's a lot of research and work. I'm psyched about it and I'm glad Dana is just as psyched, but there is A LOT to learn!

Not only that, but I'll need to seriously get my crochet on if I'm going to have any inventory to sell. I've slacked since the holidays, but I think I'm finally ready to jump back in. I have a ton of amazing yarn that I picked up at Stitches West (which I'll talk about in the next blog entry--I swear I'm back on it ;-)