Spring Fling Vendor Blender

I recently just did my first craft show for my hats: The Spring Fling Vendor Blender. I felt that it was a success. Monetary success....no. I didn't want to make a bunch of hats to sell for 2 reasons: 1. I prefer custom orders so that you can choose your own colors and other details and 2. I didn't want to spend all that time crocheting things that may not sell. I did get one official order and payment which was great. It was for an angry birds hat and I think it turned out well. What do you think? 

I love doing the fun ones like this. So although I wasn't overflowing with orders I handed out plenty of my business cards and met a couple more photographers. There are photographers on every corner it seems like. WHO KNEW????

I'm still working on some projects for a photographer right now and am excited to post the finished pictures once I am done. After making the "Boobie Beanie" I thought it would be a great idea to contact the La Leche League. I'm waiting to hear back from them - but HELLO they are the biggest BOOBIE pushers out there!! 

So what's next?? Global Domination!! But first, I am thinking I would like to start making up my own patterns and doing a weekly "pattern post". If any of you are interested in crocheting this would be a great way to get some free patterns. It's such a bummer when you see a cool pattern but you have to pay for it!!

Hopefully you guys like the idea and will all become dedicated crocheters - I will need some sweat shop workers!!! And you will be just perfect for the position. So get crackin'!!!

Please comment below and give me some ideas on some patterns I should post!!!

The Boobie Beanie

After seeing pictures of "The Boobie Beanie" out on the internet I decided I wanted to make one. I would like to thank Teresa - The Crochet Geek for posting the pattern so I could make one. I think it turned out pretty well.

The second reason I decided to make it (the first being it was so stinkin' cute and HILARIOUS!) is that nursing is one of the most natural things a woman can do. Especially these days with all of the hair coloring, artificial nails (GUILTY), Botox (you know who you are), fake tans, nips, tucks and whatever new thing they are inventing that WE JUST HAVE TO HAVE - hopefully it's piece of chocolate (or bread, or cupcake, or......) that disintegrates cellulite leaving you with a Victoria's Secret body. Hmmm maybe THAT is Victoria's Secret - a mysterious candy that leaves you looking AWESOME!!! YEAH RIGHT!!!

Back to the breastfeeding thing. I nursed my two children. Not as long as some people do, my mother-in-law in particular. Who has 9 kids and nurses them until they are 4 or 5??? I can't even fathom that. My oldest son is 4 1/2 and there is no way he climbing up on my lap to be fed. But to each his own. I do think that it's every woman's right to nurse their child as long as they see fit.....within reason.....hopefully!! I was only able to nurse my daughter for a month but she has turned out just fine...except for that weird twitch. KIDDING!!! She's a great eater and although she can be a little picky (like her Mommy) at least she eats and according to her pediatrician is well above average (once again - like her Mommy).

Although I didn't have the balls (or should I say boobs) to nurse in public, I applaud all those women who do. That tells me that you put your child first....even before your fear of weirdo gawkers.

On the other hand though, to these same women: Please don't look offended if people look at you. Feel free if they STARE or say something inappropriate. But for most people it's  a shock to see a women have it whipped out there even though the Rated - R part of it is covered by a ravenous sweet baby. I think it's great to breastfeed and even in public if that's where you are and you're baby is hungry. Common courtesy is certainly appreciated, especially if you are a "nurse my baby until he's in college" mommy and there are young children near by. That's the last thing I would want to have to explain to my 3 and 4 year olds. It's bad enough they want to constantly ask me questions about my privates I don't want them getting any bright ideas that I have become a food source......again. 


I would say a good rule of thumb is: If they can write their name they are too old unless you get one of those prodigy children that does that sort of thing at 6 months. In that case your baby probably won't need to nurse since she will no doubt be able to drive to the store for some milk since she has discovered that cold cow's milk goes WAY better with Lucky Charms!! If you do have one of those children that is exponentially smarter than everyone else's kid, just know that no one is giving you the evil eye because of your public feeding session. We loathe you on a much deeper level! 


**Breast is Best**

The Definition of Success

Everyone should have goals. I have goals as a Flighty Crafter, however with every new project they change...strange how that happens. Since crocheting is my latest and most successful venture I may be sticking with it for a long time. However, I have to say I have been considering whipping up some dog treats, especially since I now have 3 FREAKIN' dogs in my house. Who would have thunk it?? Especially since I consider myself a cat person - I have 2 of them...and a python and a large tortoise. What can I say my husband owns a pet store, it comes with the territory. I should start charging friends when they bring their kids over since my house is a petting zoo. There you have it folks my next craft is a petting zoo!! Just kidding, I love all my pets but I am drawing the line --------------   <-- There it is "THE LINE" I have drawn!


Back to my goals. Since I began crocheting I didn't start with goals or success in mind. I just started because I thought it would be fun - and it is!! My first goal I guess was to actually LEARN how to crochet. Check! Next goal: sell my hats to friends. Check! The next goal as you already know came from Noelle MacGregor (I think people deserve to get their props) who suggested I contact other photographers. Check! After that I really was just waiting to see what happened with the interested photographers. So now that I have had orders from 2 photographers Erin Carlyle and Alisa Murray, I feel personally satisfied. I think that the definition of success isn't so much about a monetary goal achieved as much as a feeling that you have. I feel successful since I have done more with my crocheting than I had thought I would. I just found out from Alisa yesterday that she is a national sponsor for the Babies R Us sweepstakes. She told me that she is going to be featuring my best stuff there. I just about died, I couldn't believe it. So even though it hasn't happened I feel like I have achieved success because I am happy where I am and where I am going. Who knows what great things will happen tomorrow but today I'm pretty happy with things. 


I'm looking forward to the challenges and the sense of accomplishment I will feel. It's exciting. I have a feeling that I am going to be pretty busy with the crocheting soon, I may have to scout of some friends to help me out!! Overall though it's a really great adventure so far and only better things are to come. Now I need a yummy margarita to celebrate!!


Here is a picture of something I am working on now. This picture is what it is GOING to look like. I will post pictures of my finished product when I finish. It's a large project.

And yes it is done by crocheting. Doesn't it look like real grass!!! I can't wait to finish and see what it looks like in person. 

Over & Out!

Everything Happens for a Reason

So I have been crocheting for 2 months now. It seems like longer than that with all of the hats I've done. But I am really enjoying it! It all started with Pinterest and seeing a crocheted baby beanie that I pinned. I thought it would look cute on my Maddy. One minor detail I was forgetting was the actual knowledge of HOW to crochet. So I decided to turn to the ULTIMATE teacher: YouTube. BINGO! I watched a couple of videos and BAM I figured it out. I guess you could call me a fast learner. 


So now after 2 months I've sold almost all of the hats that I have made. And I don't even live in a cold city. Not too shabby! So a girl in my mom's group contacted me who is a part time photographer and that's where it really began to snowball. She asked if I would make her some props in exchange for the images. I said sure - it beats a blurry cell phone picture. So I made a couple and she has used them. Then she told me that I could do well with my hats by contacting other newborn photographers and selling my hats to them. Honestly, even after I made her the hats that thought hadn't crossed my mind. So I definitely have to give props to Noelle and I can vouch for her since the pictures below came out great. Go check her out Noelle MacGregor Photography 

Look at those sweet faces. I'm telling you, you add a baby to something and it takes it to a whole new level. Thanks again Noelle!! I appreciate the tip.

So with her helpful tip I basically started searching the Internet for "Houston Newborn Photographers". A whole mess of them came up. Who knew there were so many?? I wish I had known when my babies were little. I would love to have had some awesome pictures like these. My husband and I are horrible picture takers. I can't tell you how many trips we've gone on only to come home with pictures of the scenery. There's really no proof we were there. You would think we are trying to hide from the government by not being photographed. I assure you we're not. All of that stuff got cleared up and we are off their radar as of today. Woo hoo!!

So with all of the photographers I was bound to get ONE interested, right?? Well in fact I have about 4 that are interested! I got responses back and they are happy to find someone local instead of having to pay for shipping and wait a long time. So one photographer has already given me 6 hats to make and I couldn't be happier about that. The other photographer I just met with last night. Her name is Alisa Murray and she's fantastic. I met her at her home, which is exquisite to say the least, and she welcomed me with open arms....LITERALLY. She's a hugger! She's great, super easy to get along with and definitely has that Paula Dean southern belle twang going on. Anyway, we sat and chatted for about an hour and just went over what she wants from me and what I want from her. I ACTUALLY stopped her mid-conversation at one point and asked her "Why are you so willing to help me? You're so established and busy. I don't get it." Her response? "That's just who I am".

She's too good to be true. She shoots the covers of 10 different local magazines a month and she's booked a year in advance. This is definitely the right person to be in touch with. The best part?? I know you thought all of that was the best part....I did too...at first. She wants me to do EXCLUSIVE items just for her use. She has no problem with pushing my normal hats to her clients. Her exact words were "I can sell these all day to my clients" Ok, Alisa go right ahead!!! But she really wants for us to work together and come up with really awesome props that you can't find anywhere else. I am so excited for that challenge. I couldn't ask for anything more - except maybe to move into her awesome house!!! I'll talk to her about that and see what I can do. 

Since her clients are high end they (and she) want that "IT factor" with their photos and I think we are just the right team to make it happen!! This is so much more than I had bargained for 2 months ago while browsing Pinterest. I didn't, but I am sure glad it did. I will keep you guys updated on how it's going.

Ciao!