Monday, March 29, 2010

Newest Addition!

Happy Monday everyone!

I just wanted to share the latest addition to my shop today! I've been working on the Photography prop section of my shop and this is my newest design! I was hoping to get some feedback from everyone here!

Cuddle Blanket

What do you think? I cannot wait to have it professionally photographed with an adorable little baby! I would love to give a discount to any photographer willing to do so and share some of the photos with me --for use in my shop!

Friday, March 26, 2010

There will be no Friday Feature today (I forgot it was Friday, yeah I know... weird!) instead I wanted to share my beautiful new Spring packaging!

Light Pink Paper Bags from NotableNotions
Let me tell you... if you're in need of any type of boxes or bags for your shop - or jewelry/merchandise displays or merchandise boxes -- this is the place to go! They have some of the best prices on Etsy and with Suzanne's wonderful customer service, their quality just can't be beat! I have to say, that as a now 2nd time return customer .. I would recommend NotableNotions to anyone with an Etsy shop!

Custom Shop Tags from BeautifulBlooms
If you're in need of shop tags for your merchandise, I would highly recommend BeautifulBlooms. She found me through a bid on Alchemy and boy was I glad! She does wonderful work at a very reasonable price. Though my tags are plain and simple and right to the point -- she has done many others bright and colorful and even with images! Check out her sold items to see the kind of work she has done for other shops.


and now, my latest custom order that I completed this morning..


Custom TWIN Beanie Hat Set with Flowers


and my lovely Spring packaging (and new designed business & discount cards by moi!) that I am SO very proud of! :)

Friday, March 19, 2010

Friday Feature:

Ah! Gorgeous weather again today! I definitely cannot complain. We will hit 70 today! :) Oh, how I love Spring.

In the name of Spring, this week's feature is: babybeenos

Baby Beenos' Etsy shop is - simply put - Adorable! If you have a little girl, the Spring 2010 collection is a MUST-SEE from sizes 6 months to 4T (and yes, even custom orders on larger sizes!) your little Princess will look lovely in any Baby Beenos' piece! From beautiful fabrics, to trendy styles -- I bet you couldn't choose just one favorite. This is the type of shop that keeps buyers coming back again and again. I'm sure you can see why.

The best part? She's running a READY-TO-SHIP sale on some of her finished items! Maybe she has the size you want? Don't wait!
Go take a look at Baby Beenos' shop here.

Friday, March 12, 2010

Friday Feature:

Ok, so it's been a while. Things have been hectic as usual. The weather has been so wonderful here that when I wasn't working - I was out enjoying it! Mother nature must of known I needed to get back to work because today's weather is not so enjoyable -- cold and rainy. Blah. Owell, looks like my initiative came just in time for my Friday Feature!

This week's feature is: carriedawaybags

Carried Away Bags' Etsy shop carries some of the most practical & affordable bags made from the prettiest fabrics. It's a wonder they haven't had more sales! They carry four different types/sizes: The Market Bag, The Original Bag, The Ultimate Bag (which is the same great size as the Original Bag with the addition of a mini pocket and a magnetic snap closure) and the Small Bag. They can be used as a grocery bag, a beach bag, a project bag, even a diaper bag! The possibilities are endless. I think that everyone should own a bag from carriedawaybags.
Visit carriedawaybags HERE.

Wednesday, March 3, 2010

FREE Crochet Button Beanie Hat Pattern

Since I do so well selling my patterns on Etsy - I thought it would be nice to give a little something back. This is my first FREE pattern post ever! (with hopefully-many more to come.) Enjoy!

Intermediate.

Button Loop Beanie Hat
Size Chart:
0-3 months (Newborn) 12"-13"
3-6 months (Infant) 13"-14"
6-12 months (Infant/Toddler) 16"-17"
12+ months (Toddler/Teen) 18"-19"
Teen/Adult 20"-21"
X Large Adult 24"

Requires:
H hook (5.00mm)
4 (medium worsted) yarn

Abbreviations:
c = chain
st. = stitch
sl. st. = slip stitch
hdc = half double crochet
dc = double crochet
dcbp = double crochet back post
bphdc = back post half double crochet
dv st. = double v stitch

Description of stitches:
bphdc - yarn over, put your hook through the (inside of hat) back of the post of the stitch in the row directly below it. yarn over, pull through the first loop (which will be the post). yarn over pull through the remaining 3 loops. (same as hdc) this makes the ridge across your hat.
dv stitch - this is my own made up stitch. You skip the first stitch, dc in the next stitch and then work backwards...and dc in the skipped stitch. you then proceed by skipping the next stitch in line (after your very first dc), dc in the next stitch, and work backwards once again making a dc in the skipped stitch. You will see a V-pattern slowly forming.

Hat pictured is Newborn size. (approx. 12-13" in circumference) Used in photo: Caron (Simply Soft) yarn in Dark Country Blue.

Row 1. c4, join to form ring. make 12 hdcs in ring, join. (12 hdcs)
Row 2. c2, dc in same st. (counts as first 2 dcs) *2 dcs* in each st. around. join to first dc. (24 dcs)

for 0-3 months skip to Row 3.
below
for 3-6 months increase (from 24 dcs in Row 2) to 27 dcs.
c2, dc in same st. (counts as first 2 dcs) *dc in next 7 sts., 2 dcs in next* repeat from * around. join to first dc. (27 dcs)
for 6-12 months increase (from 24 dcs in Row 2) to 32 dcs.
c2, dc in same st. (counts as first 2 dcs) *dc in next 2 sts., 2 dcs in next* repeat from * around. join. (32 dcs)
for Toddler-Preteen increase (from 24 dcs in Row 2) to 36 dcs.
c2, dc in same st. (counts as first 2 dcs) *dc in next st., 2 dcs in next* repeat from * around. join. (36 dcs)
for Teen/Adult increase (from 24 dcs in Row 2) to 40 dcs.
c2, dc in same st. (counts as first 2 dcs) *dc in next st., 2 dcs in next, 2 dcs in next* repeat from * around. join. (40 dcs)
for XLarge Adult increase (from 24 dcs in Row 2) to 44 dcs.
c2, dc in same st. (counts as first 2 dcs) *2 dcs in next 4 sts., dc in next* repeat from * around. join. (44 dcs)

Row 3. c1, hdc in same st. *hdc in next st., 2 hdcs* repeat from * around. join. (36, 41, 48, 54, 60, 66 hdcs)
Row 4. c2, dc in same st. (counts as 2 dcs) *dc in next, 2 dcs in next* repeat from * around. join. (54, 60, 73, 81, 90, 99 dcs)
Row 5. c1, hdc in same st. and around. (54, 60, 73, 81, 90, 99 hdcs)
Row 6. c1, bphdc in same st. and around. (54, 60, 72, 80, 90, 98 bphdcs)
Row 7. skip 1st stitch, dc in next st. then go backwards and dc in skipped st. (dv-st.)*skip st., dc in next, dc in skipped st.* repeat from * around. (27, 30, 36, 40, 45, 49 dv-sts.)
Row 8. repeat Row 6.
Row 9. repeat Row 5.
Row 10. c2, dc in each st. around. join. (54, 60, 73, 81, 90, 99 dcs)
Rows 11-13. repeat Row 10.
Row 14. repeat Row 6.
Row 15. repeat Row 5.
Row 16. repeat Row 5. before joining, c10. dc in 3rd chain from hook and the next 7 sts. down your c10. (9 dcs) sl. st. in same st. as your c10 and sl. st. to join. join to first dcbp. this will be your button flap. (for larger size hats, you can increase the c10 to make your button flap larger.) the flap will hide your seam.
Row 17. repeat Row 6.
Row 18. repeat Row 5.
Fasten off and tuck in your ends.

Widening your flap:
Attach yarn with a slip stitch to the very first stitch of your flap.
*c1, sc in each st. around and in each of the sts. at the bottom* (this forms a rounded bottom.)
Fasten off, tuck in all ends and sew on your buttons - as shown in the photo.


If you have any questions, please feel free to ask! I welcome comments/critiques! Thanks!

Please do not steal this pattern or pass it off as your own. You may use this pattern to make things that you will sell. All I ask is that if you are going to share the pattern itself - you credit me and link back to this post. That is all!