simpletruths

New in the shop

granny charms galore

 

I'm still loving these little granny squares.  I've got one on my key chain and a couple on my favorite purse. They make me smile.

 

coffee cup sweaters

A quick word about the CC sweaters; I've been making these for a while now - It actually started out as something I wanted for myself. Then I made one for my sister and mom.  Since then, almost every month or so I have a new request from a friend or someone my mom or sister works with.

BUT, I've only sold one in the shop...just one, in the past year.  Maybe virtual interest is just lagging behind real life.

Recycled T-Shirt cowls and necklaces

More colors are on the way - moss green, cobolt blue, bold red.....and wait until you see the bracelets.  These are one of my favorite summer accessories because they're so light.  Who wants metal or plastic against their skin when it's hot outside?

My barbie's job was to look pretty...

via www.wbez.org

...but if my daughter is into Barbie later on, maybe hers will be an architect.

Check out the full story over HERE.

Threaded Comments

Very exicted about being able to reply comments within a thread and via email simultantiously. So, if anyone's been holding back on the comments - bring them on!

On the horizon

With only one more week left in February, spring is upon us (although truth be told, it seems like winter JUST arrived here in the Bay Area).  I've been busy thinking, planning and working on the spring/summer 2011 items for the shop. 

It's gonna be fun.

more recycled t shirt accessories - necklaces, cowls, bracelets...

granny square fun - necklaces, key chain charms, bracelets...

beaded strands that can be worn as a necklace or a bracelet...

hair clips..?

rings...

 

As always, I'll make sure I have a few cowls and scarves in the shop for folks who are coming up to their cool weather season.

 

 

 

 

 

California Crafters Club of Etsy: Spotlight on....

via californiacraftersclubofetsy.blogspot.com

The spotlight is on me! At least for a moment.
Be sure to check out the full post over here.

Granny Square Charms

So I've been addicted to granny sqaures lately - especially little ones;  about the size of a half-dollar.  After a couple of late nights I ended up with a small stack of them.

 

now what?

 

Well, I'm part of the California Crafters Club of Etsy and this year I'm participating in this great cross-promotional effort that I'm hoping will at least increase the traffic to my shop.

I've also been brainstoring for new items for the shop.  This covered both categories.

I was just going to make them as key chains but then I found some ball chain laying around the house and realized that my mini grannies made great little charms.

Look.

 

I have a few of these in the shop right now and more are on there way.  Playing with the color combinations is the most fun - any suggestions?

 

There's more granny square love still to come.

Homemade Valentines

Alternative title for this post is "crafty mommy goes overboard on valentines for 2 year olds"

At the pre-school Little Mr. goes to they're celebrating Feb 14th as Friendship Day. Instead of going to Target and buying a box of Valentines featuring the ever popular Diego, Dora, or Sponge Bob... we made ours (yay).

I gave the little guy two pieces of white paper, a red marker and some red, pink, and purple crayons and let him go at it.  Meanwhile I folded 10 mini-envelopes.

Together we used the paper scraps to punch out heart and star shaped confetti.  All the fun was tucked into the envelopes and sealed with puffy stickers left over from Christmas crafts.

 

So, why do I say I've gone overboard? Because this was all done for a class of 2 and 3 year olds.

 

Happy Valentines Day!!

 

Granny square sneak peek

OK - here's a quick peek at what I'm working on. I'm loving tiny grannies right now

Giving - one square at a time

About a month ago I mentioned that I was interested in doing more charitable knitting and crocheting.

 

Well I found something! An organization called KasCare-an organization that focuses on providing support to AIDS orphans in South Africa,  runs a project Knit-a-Square.

It is exactly what it sounds like. Donated knit and crochet squares are sewn together to make blankets for AIDS orphans in South Africa. They also accept and distribute hats.

From their site:

Our goal for 2011 is 175,000 squares (5,000 blankets), 5,000 hats and 2,000 knitted garments.

There you have it.  I'll keep you updated about what I'm making for the project.

Everyday is earth day!

Last year, for earth day, I whipped up these cotton rounds for a custom order I recieved.

Then a few months later I made another batch for a friend.  Then, just a few weeks ago we ran out of cotton balls. Instead of buying yet another plastic bag (boo) full of cotton balls or rounds that would be tossed after one use (double boo), I decided to spend an evening making some reusable cotton rounds for myself.

I made 8, in two different sizes and I really like them.  They don't absorb liquid and quickly and easily as an airy cotton ball, so for some things I get them wet first.  But aside from getting used to that, they're pretty great.  I only toss them in the washing machine every few weeks because I typically just rinse out the one I just used - maybe even use a little hand soap - and let it dry over night.

easy, peasy

plus they look great in my bathroom

More photo props

A couple of weeks ago I discussed my new found photo prop for my scarves and cowls - the wooden hanger.

 

Now here's another photo prop that I use (and a new product for the shop)

yes, an envelope

 

Nice right. But if I flip it over to the other side....

(don't worry - I'm not planning on using that picture in my etsy shop).

 

Now - I wouldn't ever ship something to someone like this.  When it comes to shipping, this felt ball garland will be wrapped around a piece of nice white cardstock.  But for now, thank you junk mail!

 

 

Who's your granny?

Wait till you see what I do with these granny squares: