A Really Tough Week

Excellent grades for the semester!  2 A's and 2 B's, pulling my GPA up to normal after all the damage I did when I was younger. I love how it seems good news tends to be tempered with bad news.  I was able to feel elation for the successful end of the semester for only a couple of hours before life decided to sucker punch me again.  Oh well.  I plan to work on some Christmas gifts this week.  Hopefully knitting will help me cope with the sadness I'm feeling.  I have found a super cute mitten pattern that I plan to knit for my little cousin for her Secret Santa gift.  They are piggies!  Thanks Spilly Jane Knits!  I have also almost finished a pink and purple earflap hat for her as well.  Hopefully I will get around to the mittens and perhaps a scarf, but I also have two commissioned hats to make for twin 6 year old girls!  Also, thanks to all of you who have bought the Handsome Hat pattern from my shop on Ravelry, I am so glad others like it as much as I do!

As the Semester and Year Draw to a Close...

Obviously, my entrepreneurial endeavor has taken a back burner this year.  I still have big plans though.  Just pushing through with school and such has taken quite a lot of my focus this year.  Luckily, I had the foresight to drastically reduce my employment for this semester, and success has been mine!

I made this literally a year ago! Still proud of it and wanted to share!

I have had so many new ideas in the past month or so, and I am so excited to try them out!

I have discovered:
http://bigcartel.com/, http://www.drmomma.org/, http://pinterest.com/, and http://www.handmadeology.com/.
I am so excited to put my new found passions and knowledge to use!

My dream is to use my creative talents to further educate the public about some things that have recently come to my interest.  I'm not even a parent yet, but I am definitely going to be a "crunchy, granola mom"- I'm totally okay with that.  It doesn't sound sexy, but it is beautiful.

From my recent dive into the more 'natural' side of life, I have discovered so many simple ways to have a healthier, calmer life.  By the way, those 'greenie' moms are onto something- they're making their own lives better- not only by improving their families' health, and the environment they live in, but also by saving money!

I am hoping to have some creative time to myself over this winter break.  I have so many things to get done before Christmas!  I also hope to be able to try out some of these new ideas.  Best wishes to all, and hopefully a new post will come before another year elapses.

I made a Knitting Pattern, I call it the Handsome Hat

I wanted to make W. a hat that fit his personality.  Thus, the handsome hat was born.  It combines simplicity and masculinity with a little flair.  He loves it, and wears it all the time, which makes me really happy.  I loved this pattern so much, that luckily I remembered it, and now it is for sale on Ravelry.com for anyone to enjoy!

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas- I know it was the best one I have had in years.  W. proposed....well he proposed during the lunar eclipse with one ring to trick me (I loved the first ring, mind you)- then a few days later, on Christmas Eve, he surprised me with a ring he had been collaborating on with a jeweler for months, both are beautiful!  We were also blessed with the first snowy Christmas anyone from this area can recall.

I also hand painted some custom shirts for G. and they were a huge hit for her niece and nephew!

Hope everyone has a splendid New Year's!

Cool Shops on Etsy and Other Goodness

I'm about to branch out into the sewing world with my shop.  I want to make adorable kids' stuff, but I also want to try my hand in the adult world with my sewing.  I am about to make myself a new winter coat out of the most beautiful cranberry red wool that I found in the Etsy shop find4you.  This seller was top-notch and I am terribly happy with the fabric.  Hopefully this sewing venture, along with my sewn Christmas presents will go well and I can move forward with my plans.

Baby Alpaca and Business Cards

In case you weren't aware, I am creating and selling my art in order to work from home and give to those less fortunate than myself. My charity of choice is Pendleton Place Children's Shelter.

http://www.pendletonplace.org/
I will donate 10% of my sales to Pendleton Place. Please help me live the life I dream about!

"It is easier to build strong children than to repair broken men." ~Frederick Douglass~

I'm almost finished knitting another baby hat- this one is made from baby alpaca yarn blended with silk!  It is so incredibly soft and warm- the baby who wears this will be pampered silly!  Alpaca is naturally hypoallergenic, so this little hat is not going to cause itching.

I also just ordered some business cards- I got the official LLC papers for It's The Potatoes! back from the Secretary of State today.  I am officially a business owner!  I'm trying to decide whether or not I want to stay on Etsy or move to my own website- advice is appreciated!  

Also, in case you weren't aware, it is very easy to place custom orders- all you have to do is email me (itsthepotatoes@gmail.com) or find me on Etsy (http://www.etsy.com/shop/ItsThePotatoes) and request a custom item, we can work something out!

Looksee!

A couple of items I've (unintentionally) not shared until now...

This hat and bootie set screams hip baby!  The hat just needed something to finish it and make it something really special- and I think the funky flower was the PERFECT thing!  I really love this little set.

The blanket is even sweeter in person  and is the perfect size to become a child's cherished 'wubby'.  I am debating adding a border to it- I sort of think it's perfect the way it is.

I completed this baby beanie a couple of days ago.  It is 100% cotton and super cute.  The brim can roll up or down to accommodate child's growth.  I adore the way that the stripes came out!

http://www.etsy.com/shop/ItsThePotatoes

Bibb Lettuce!

I just finished knitting my first bib, and I must say, I am really proud. I am calling it "Bibb Lettuce" because I think it looks like a a beautiful leaf.  I am contemplating what sort of closure I want to put on the strap, and whether or not I should make it more special with some crocheted details- I think I will.  I keep seeing a pretty little girl in her Sunday best wearing this sweet little bib for Easter.  I am thinking pink roses might be just the thing to make it extra special.  I will definitely be making more of these, I LOVE it!  Feel free to let me know your thoughts and suggestions, feedback is always welcome!

On another note, I am so looking forward to little A.'s arrival, and I really hope her mommy comes back to the South ASAP- I already miss her!  Everyone, cross your fingers!  I might just have sneak up to Utah and get her myself...

I am probably going to try my hand at amigurumi this week (and hopefully finally get around to playing with the sewing machine!...and maybe weaving as well)  W. wants amigurumis for Christmas, so I had better get started- Batman, Spiderman, and Mega Man have all been requested (along with many others).

Hope everyone is doing well!  Be grateful to our Veteran's this week and always- they give their lives in ways I don't think I could ever willingly face.http://www.etsy.com/shop/ItsThePotatoes