Chat Thread

[#1]

Here you go. Private and all.

[hooknsaw]

Just a quickie today, but my book has been published and is available as an instant download at Annie's.  The hard copies will be available in the next week or so.  I am so excited!  I also have another pattern that will be released at the end of the month with Annies Holiday catalog.

Debra, enjoy your trip with your friends!  Are you still taking the bikini?

[mzbellz]

Lisa:  So happy for you. I know you can't wait to actually see it and hold it in your hand.  I'm excited for you too.

Been busy crocheting, Olivia's in school, and so is my daughter, who is now going to nursing school.  Weather here has been ok.  Yesterday it was in the high 80's and now it's in the middle 60's.  Go figure.

Debra: Hope you have fun on your cruise.  Can't wait to hear all the gossip. LOL.  Glad you weren't affected by the hurricane.  I know it must have been very scary.

Well, that's all folks.

[HowCuteAreYou]

CONGRATS LISA!!  So excited for you and for those of us who get to benefit from your talent.  I'm defintely going to try and make one of your patterns.  I learned how to tapestry crochet and it's really fun. I enjoy counting when working and love when a design begins to emerge.

I watched a knitting machine video by the girl who owns the button/label shop that makes my buttons.  She was making a very simple twisted headband that worked up literally in 15 minutes.  I want to get Alexa the machine so she can make them and I will sew them together and add a nice leather label.  I loved them.

Lisa ~ what machine do you have?  Brittany form Rememberwyn.etsy.com was using the Michael's machine.    

No to the bikini!  It took everything I have to go bathing suit shopping!  Those freaking blaring lights in the dressing room are not your friend.  I went with the suit that made my boobs look good...nothing can help the rest of me.  Gone are the days when I wore a crocheted string bikini.  But thank goodness for that bikini because it caught Neal's attention and 8 months later we were married.  That thing was literally 4 triangles and no lining.  It was Miami Beach in the 80's, what can I say!  Crochet has been good to me. :))

MaryAlice~ You must be enjoying the fall weather.  I miss fall the most.  Our winters are like a cool spring but we have nothing similar to fall.  I just love that crisp air and the turning leaves.   I'm going to try and get to NYC in mid October.  My son has been busy with his new girlfriend who lives in Orlando. Either she is there or he is in Orlando so I'm trying to pin him down to a date when I can come up.  The romance happened fast when they were introduced by a friend.  Happy for him since it's been a while now since his last girlfriend.  

You are having great weather for crocheting.  I am taking some crochet on my cruise tomorrow.  I've been working on a triangle scarf for years but never have time to complete it.  My girlfriends are all bringing a project to work on.  Jeeze, we will look like a bunch of old ladies with our yarn work!

Your daughter is really a mover and a shaker!  She's constantly learning and moving on.  My neice is a nurse and it's an amazing career.  Long hard hours but the pay and benefits are amazing and finding placement is relatively easy. Where is she going to school and how long will she be studying?

How's Olivia liking school this year?  I bet she has a ton of friends and loves it. 

I took my folks to look at the retirement apt. again.  My mom was her typical difficult self remarking about the smells in the apts they were shown.  They were shown apts that are occupied so they could get an idea of furniture arrangements and closets so of course they had some kind of smell.  Everyone's apt or house has their own distinctive house smell.  The agent told her that her house won't smell like this because it will be hers and based on your cleaning products and foods it will smell distintive to you.  My mom won't live above the first floor because she's afraid of elevators so they are limited to when an apt will come available.  My dad is fine with whatever they get and the agent told my mother that he will be fine with anything.  Of course my mother didn't take it as him being nice to her but instead turned it around that he doesn't care about her and her fear of elevators and that's why he will live anywhere.  She totally missed the point.  

I need these 3 days away!!!  Of course a tropical storm is out there again so we are all packing our dramamine but still should be fun.

My little Violet graduates from swimming school tomorrow.  The babies graduate when they can flip on their backs in the pool while wearing full clothes including hooded sweatshirt and shoes.  Super difficult to watch the video my dil filmed but amazing to see Violet flipping to her back and kicking to the side of the pool.  

Well, that's basically been my week.  Enjoy your weekend ladies.  I plan on staying tequila hydrated and for 3 days just relax.   

[hooknsaw]

Mary Alice, enjoy your crochet time with everyone at school!  Congrats to your daughter, how long does nursing school take?

Debra, have fun on your cruise and let the stress go with the tequila!  Haha I haven't worn a bikini since I was 20!  Hugs to you with your parents, my Dad has been on a rant since March over his cable bill and I cringe answering his phone calls.  I get tired of the sweary temper tantrums.

The machine we have now is the silver reed sk155.  We had been using the addi machines but needed to upgrade to something a little sturdier for the weight of the scarves we make.  

Have a great weekend, everyone!  I've been prepping for Don's kids visit and so looking forward to putting the hook down for a week and enjoying the company!

[HowCuteAreYou]

Hi Ladies ~

I got back today from our weekend cruise.  It was so much fun, we laughed, relaxed and enjoyed the girls weekend.  Just what we all needed.  I paced myself very carefully with the tequila!

Lisa ~ My sister told me that my mom had been difficult to my dad while I was gone.  So not easy raising parents!!  I hear you with the rants.  My mom has been on a three year rant that only lets up occasionally.  

Thanks for the info on the knitting machine, I will check it out.  I am excited to start the headband project with Alexa.  I think she will like it.

Enjoy your time with Don's kids.  Hope all is well!

Bye Ladies, have a great week.

[hooknsaw]

Debra, your trip sounds amazing!  I am hoping to book us at the hot spring spa hotel in late October, to rest and relax before the crazy season starts.    I hope your Mom settles down!  Not likely, but one can always hold on to hope.  My Dad has been on a life long rant and his rant is directed at the cable company this year.  It is sad to see a man with such a big heart that can "lose his mind" over dropping a fork on the floor.

I got my book copies in today and Don insisted on having the first copy, he is so sweet, he made me sign it too!  Debra, thank you!  I was excited to see the finished book and see a few things I would have changed, but all in all it is exciting and I will see how it goes.

Have a great rest of the week everyone!  We are finishing up stuff for the kids to visit and have to take Dad to the Dr. on Friday.  The kids will be here on Saturday and I am looking forward to the time off.

Crazy season is just starting in our shop and I am putting orders off until October.  I had a conversation earlier today for someone wanting 18 scarves delivered to MN by October 1st.  There is no way I can make 18 scarves in under a week and guarantee delivery!

[HowCuteAreYou]

Good morning ladies ~

Hope everyone is doing well.  I had a few orders this week so that made me feel a little upbeat about my shop.  I have new little faux leather labels that are screwed onto the booties and hats and hoping they go over well.  I can only do so much with my shop at this point.  

Lisa ~ I love that Don is your biggest fan.  Sending you the biggest wish for huge success with your book launch!!

An order for 18 scarves and in just 2 weeks is a huge request!  Smart to turn it down.

A vacation before the holidays is always good.  The weekend away was wonderful and now a few other friends want to do a getaway weekend.  I would like to go to the west coast of Florida which is about 1.5 hours away.  It's very relaxing and quiet over there.  There is a ferry that leaves out of Naples, Florida and takes you to Key West so we're thinking of a day in Naples and then a day in Key West.  My problem with Key West is I never want to leave.  

Lisa, your dad sounds a bit like Neal.  Everything in the last few years was a problem.  I know he was stressed with work but the littlest thing could cause the biggest yell.  My mom "seems" ok to us kids but my dad tells another story. She rants on him about his "affairs" all the time.  For a man who was home every night and never took a business trip I can't imagine when he had the time!  It's really a mental thing with her and though we don't think she has dementia we do know that she can't hear well so she gets angry and frustrated.  She doesn't hear what we're saying and misinterprets everything.  Plus my folks say the dumbest stuff to each other and neither of them know when to stop and walk away.  

Enjoy your family time and I hope you get to go on your vacation.  My neice is getting married in two weeks so we have family coming into town.  Violet is the only member of the wedding party, she's the flower girl.  My dil has been practicing with her but Violet wants to pick up all the flowers after she drops them.  Violet will say, "Violet needs to clean up the mess."  She's a super neat little girl and will point her tiny little finger at a messy spot and say, "Such a big mess, mommy clean it up."   She cracks me up.

I got a knitting machine from Michael's craft store.  Worked great, the ear warmer was looking beautiful and then the machine completely broke!  The gears disengaged and that was that.  I'm going to try another one but if that breaks I might have to break down and spend some money on the Addi machine.  Maybe I'll make it an x-mas present to myself.  

Have a good day and a great weekend.  No plans here.  

[mzbellz]

 Hi Everyone.

Debra: So glad you had a great vacation.  We all need that once in awhile.  It seems like forever since I was in Florida. I really have to try and get away more.  Even if it's down to the city to visit my friend Karen. Also congrats on some sales in your shop.  I know that made you feel good.  I have nothing with Zibbet and don't know what to do.  I know you have to promote but money is tight now and I can't do as much as I want.  Oh well.  I'll see what happens  If nothing by the end of the year I will just end my shop at zibbet.  I'm not putting more money into something that I can't get anything out of.  You are already established so it's easier for you.Hope you get some more sales.  Who was minding Jimmy and your other dog?  Did you have to board them?

Lisa: I'm so looking forward to the book.  It must of been exciting to see your name on a published book.    18 Scarfs, that's crazy.  What do people think?   Glad you're getting away in October. We all need a mental break.   My daughter has 2 years more.  She said it's very hard.  The school even told them, that they will have to dedicate their time exclusively to this program. If they have a job or part time job, they will have to perhaps give it up, they won't be able to do both and succeed. My daughter is 44 so it's not as easy for her as it would be for someone in their 20's.  

I'm sure she will do ok, but it's going to be a long hard process.  Olivia is in 2nd grade now and the teacher she has gives a lot of homework, so now i have to help Olivia if she has a problem as my daughter just doesn't have the time as she's constantly studying and taking tests. It's amazing how they teach math in school now.  Common Core, is so much more complicated.  You can't just add 2 + 2 you have to show different ways of how you  got 2+2  It's just stupid.  It makes it more difficult for a child to learn. 

I'll end my rant here.  Hope everyone has a great weekend.

[hooknsaw]

Debra, if you are not already, sign up for herrshnerrs e mails and promos.  I always bought our Addy's when they sent me a coupon code for 30 or 40% off of one item.   The machine we have now is pricey but will be able to kick out the number of scarves to make it reasonable as to cost per scarf.  Plus it keeps Don trying new things!

That man ... Or I should say man approach to house cleaning.  I was dusting yesterday and he offered to help and next thing I know he has a can of pressurized air and is blasting the lamp shades, floating dust bunnies over the furniture.  Had me laughing and shaking my head, in all fairness he did the vacuuming today and caught the rest of the dust bunnies!

The Florida keys sound amazing!  My favorite part of the spa lodge we stayed at, was the rooms are beyond quiet and you cannot hear anyone in the other rooms.  It is on main st TorC NM and there was no traffic being the historic art district (we went during the week and not on the weekend).  

Violet will be an adorable flower girl!  Too cute that she doesn't like messes.  My granddaughters are like tornadoes when they visit!  They are good about picking up, but not until they leave.  When they come to visit, they drag out every toy I have, coax me to my office for paper stickers and color pencils.  

Mary Alice, good luck with the homework!  Omg, the way some subjects are taught is so different now!  Sometimes it seems like schools get more hung up on the teaching process and testing, that whether kids are learning practical application goes out the window.  Best wishes to your daughter (and to you with homework)!

Well, my book has hit #3 on Annie's bestseller list, so I am more excited than I was.  Fingers crossed it holds and does well.  My giraffe spots pattern will role out at the end of this month with Annie's holiday promotion.

The kids will be here tomorrow and if I don't get a chance sooner, I will chat again at the end of the month.

[mzbellz]

Good afternoon everyone.

Lisa: I just saw your scarf book on Annie's they were advertising it, and I love the patterns in it.  I can't wait to get mine. I love all of them, but the horse and wolf I think are my favorite.  I just finished a team sports color poncho.  The pattern is from Bonnie Bay Crochet.  She does a lot of celtic crochet. I have 2 of her books already.  I made one from her book self striping projects.  It's the light grey and dark grey poncho that I have in my shop. The one that I just finished is done in Caron one pound Claret and Sunshine, also white and black, but I used different yarn for those colors.  It's a very heavy and warm poncho.I'm very happy with the way it's turned out and would like to do more in different colors.  It takes me about a week and half to complete.  Your granddaughter sounds like Olivia when she was younger, she still does it sometimes, but not as much.  So happy to hear that your book is #3, I know you must of jumped up and down.  Hope it goes to #1 maybe the Christmas holidays

Debra: Your granddaughter sounds so adorable.  They are so cute at that age.  I know you can't get enough of her.  It's your time now Debra so you should just relax and go on as many vacations as you like.  I'm glad you got your mojo back for crocheting.  I did the same thing after Tony died.  I wasn't interested in crocheting or my shop on Etsy or anything.  It just takes time.  You'll be ok.

Next year I'm hoping to go to England.  I'm still friends with my daughters x-husbands parents.  They are over here visiting their son and I met them for dinner last night.  They told me they would love me to visit and stay with them and to bring Olivia with me.  They adore her and think she's so funny.  Jenny (stewarts mother) said that when Olivia talks the way she says some things sounds just like me, and it cracks them up.  The first time I met them when my daughter and I went over and I opened my mouth they said I sound just like the people on the TV who are from brooklyn.  I laughed., Even up here when I talk they can tell I'm from the city.  Like they say, you can take the girl out of the city, but you can't take the city out of the girl.  Forget about it.

That's all from this end.  Have a great week and will talk again soon.

[TheYarningCompany]

Hello, Ladies!

Wow...it's been way too long since I've been on here.  I had really thought that once school started, I'd have oodles of time for Etsy and blogging, but that hasn't happened!  :) 

Lisa - your book looks AMAZING!!!  Congratulations! Did you write all those patterns specifically for the book?  I had assumed you'd be doing a book of the scarves you already had listed here on Etsy.  It looks wonderful!

Debra - I'm glad you survived the hurricane.  And I love the knitting machine you got.  Your video on Instagram was fun.  :) Enjoy your weekend away with friends!

Mary Alice - it'd be so great if you get to England next year!  That's a destination on my bucket list.  :)  That would be a really special trip if you get to take Olivia with you.  She sounds like such a sweetheart.  

My kids started school the week before Labor Day, and they've been having a great year.  Elizabeth is given a lot more responsibility this year, and she's embracing that BIG time, so I don't have to check her homework anymore (as long as her grades stay good).  I'm LOVING that.   Abigail and Carl are doing great in their classes, too.  There's a student teacher who is at the school on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and I just met her on Thursday, and when I told her who my kids are, she got a smile on her face about Carl and said that he's such a funny, sweet boy.  And he is.  Not that I'm biased or anything.  ;)

So the kids have been in school for a month already.  The first week I spent 3 days at my sister's house, helping her prime and paint the nursery, and chop tomatoes for massive batches of marinara sauce.  The second and third weeks I sat on the couch and crocheted, while binge watching Netflix, to finish the fox blanket for my sister's baby shower (I just posted that graph on my blog) and a blanket for my in-law's 50th anniversary. I wanted to do their entire blanket in the bavarian stitch, but I was sooooo sloooooow at it, that I finally gave up and did a chunk of it in the alpine stitch.  It turned out nicely, and was a good lap blanket size.  I might have to make a second one as a Christmas gift so they can each have one.  :) 

This past week I've spent 2-3 hours outside every day, working in all of our flower and vegetable gardens, which I had ignored for the previous month and were in desperate need of weeding and fall trimming.  We finished it up this morning (all the kids even helped!) and celebrated with custard at Culver's.  

So now I'm FINALLY back on the computer, typing up patterns and hopefully getting lots more on my blog.  It's slow going, but it's picking up momentum, which is exciting to see.  I have a few listings to get up on here, too (I haven't given up on Etsy yet!), but need some sunny days to get nice pictures.  My dad built me a blanket ladder, so now I have a nice way to display them.

I'm so glad you three are doing well.  Debra, have you heard anything from Sue Ellen yet? Mary Alice, I'm SO thankful my kids' school does not do common core! Good luck with the homework.  Lisa, congratulations on being #3!!!  I think I'll have to ask for your book for Christmas.  :) 

Hopefully I'll be better about checking in here! Here's to a great weekend!

[mzbellz]

Good Morning All.

Lisa: Received the book yesterday and am in love with it.  Such great patterns.  I can't wait to start one.  I think it will be the horse one as that is one of my favorite animals.  Directions are great and easy to follow.    How do you rank now on the charts.  I hope you moved up.  I see it advertised on fb for annies all the time now.  I'm sure you will do great.  Have the asked you for any other patterns?  I hope so and if so I would love to do the dog patterns.  You have such a wide variety of them.

Debra: Hope all is well with you.  

Lauren:  So good to hear from you.  I can imagine you've been busy with the kids going back to school and all. Congratulations to your daughter.  If you want so really nice baby patterns there is a website called Daisy Farm crafts.  She has incredible baby blankets, all the latest modern patterns.  I love looking at them all.  I especially like her gingham patterns.  You can make so many different color combinations.   I will check out your shop as I haven't been there for awhile.  Glad to hear your back doing patterns.  

Right now I'm in the middle of 2 projects one is by Bonnie Barker, and it's called the holiday cable pattern.  It's a combination of all different celtic type stitches. Cables, arrow stitch, woven stitch and celtic cross stitch.  I'm doing it in white. I just finished a poncho of red,yellow,white,and black that she made.  It came out gorgeous if I must say so myself.  The other project is a blue star baby blanket.  I'm using Lion Brand Ice Cream in shaded blues.  I don't know the name of the exact color as I lost the sleeve.  I'm liking how it's turning out also.

Well, have to run.  Have lots to do.  Have a great week.

[HowCuteAreYou]

Hi Ladies ~

Wow so much going on since I last checked the chat.  That's the kind of chat I like!!

Lisa ~ I received your book!!  Amazing beautiful patterns and the photos are great.  I need photos when I work, I am such a visual learner.  As soon as my world settles down I'm starting the bear pattern.  Congrats on being #3, thats amazing!!

I've made a few earwarmers on my knitting machine but only one is gift worth.  I really need to up my game and get a grip on how to make them better.  I am not a knitter so if I drop a stitch I just have to start over, I can't master the drop stitch pickup.  

I bought a pattern for a crochet earwarmer but it involves slip stitching and crocheting into the slip stitch, above my pay grade!  I wanted to make and sell them but it's too slow going for me when working into slip stitches.  Anybody have a trick for them?

Lisa ~ I hope you get to make that getaway happen.  I did love getting away and just hanging out for a few days.

MaryAlice ~ You are so right, we all need some mental health days and getaways.  I have a lady who watches my dogs at her house.  She's maybe 10 minutes from me and super nice.  The dogs are happy to go and often I am happy to have them go.  She's taking them for 3 days next week while both my sons, dil, other son's girlfriend along with Violet come into town for my neices wedding.  It will be a full house and I can't wait.  The puppy is cute but a yappy little biter so glad to have a rest from her!  She sleeps with me and Jimmy now and is quiet all night long so she is a pleasure at night.

You're so close to the city that you should make more trips and just have some good city fun.  Even a cup of coffee and a bagel, best bagels are in NYC, with a girlfriend is so enjoyable.  You deserve it.

I can hardly believe that Olivia is in 2nd grade. I have no idea what common core is!  Once my kids hit 3rd grade they passed me by in math skills.  Thank goodness for them that Neal was a math/science major because I was useless.    A trip with Olivia to the UK would be wonderful and quite the adventure!  I have friends who are in Scotland and I am hoping to get an invite for next summer.  I would love to stay in a little inn and have them show me Scotland as only people who live there can.    

Funny about your accent.  You can take the girl out of the city but not the accent. Of course living in FL. is like a little NYC so the accent is the most common.  I'm often shocked to hear a southern accent around town which should be the most common.  

Your daughter has some fortitude, good for her.  Nursing is so tough but sounds like she's a tough one herself.  My daughter is taking a medical billing and coding course and seems to like it.  She'll be done in a few months and hopefully she will get a job outside of nursery school teaching which she's really worn down from.  

My shop has some sales but I'm selling weekly what I use to do in a day and not even.  But it's enough to keep me a little busy which I do enjoy.  I'm making some new things such as gloves and skirts and want to make more of them.  I did get my groove back a bit.  Just taking it slow.  I have good moments and bad moments, as you well know them, and never know what's going to set me off.  Today I was listening to the car radio and a song came on and there I am in the parking lot of Costco crying away.    

Lauren ~ Good to hear from you.  Of course I see you all the time on instagram and love your postings.  It's amazing how time can get a way from us.  With your children and all that brings it's amazing that you can crochet, post and have a blog.  I'm giving you a big pat on the back!!   What grades are your kids all in?

Your new blankets are beautiful and I love the blanket holder, so cool.

When is your sister due?  And, any recommendations for Netflix?  When I finally figure out how to work it I have some shows I want to watch.

Are you making halloween costumes for your children?  I made a crochet pumpkin for Violet and will make a few more for my daughter.  So easy from a pattern by Coco Belle on youtube.  If I can watch a tutorial I'm so good.  I've been making a new skirt pattern that I found on youtube.  The written pattern itself is missing a lot of info and not well written so the tutuorial has  helped.  The pattern writer has no details on how to end or join rows and without her tutorial I would have messed it up.

When you can your sauces to you just leave them in a pantry or refridgerate them?  I have never canned anything so it's always an amazing thing to me when I hear that people do this.  

I have not heard from SueEllen.  I am concerned but I don't know how to reach her other than via her shop.  Anyone know her last name or her address?  If you do, let me know and I will send her a letter.  Maybe someone has ordered from her and would have her address on an invoice.  

I hope everyone has a good week and enjoys the start of Fall.   

[TheYarningCompany]

Happy Saturday, ladies!

Mary Alice - the blankets you're making sound amazing.  I've looked a bit at celtic crochet and just think that it would take way too long.  I'm more for simple, repetitive patterns.  :)  And I LOVE Daisy Farm Crafts.  They have such doable blankets, but always make them look so easy to make, eyt they're also pretty and modern.  They're the reason I asked my dad to build me a blanket ladder, because they so often have photos of their blankets on a ladder.  

Debra - I hope you have fun with all the family visiting next week!  It must do you a lot of good to see them.  How nice that you have someone who can take the dogs for you. What does Violet think of your dogs? Has she met Scarlett?  When my sister and I did the ridiculous amount of marinara sauce, we just put it in ziploc bags to freeze it.  Our mom has all the supplies needed for canning (cans, pressure cooker, etc.) but I don't.  This year, I know that Becky (my sister) took all of their carrots over to Mom's house to can them there.  She's also been pureeing a fair amount of their veggies for baby food.  Apparently they pureed beets - I just laughed when I heard that, thinking of what the diapers will look like!!  :) :) 

As for school this year, Carl is in 1st, Abigail is in 3rd, and Elizabeth is in 5th.  They're all in separate classrooms again.  This is also our first year NOT having a child in the preK/Kindergarten classroom, which is a little sad.  Carl's reading has really taken off already, and (thankfully!!) Abigail and Elizabeth are both really good at time management at school, so homework has been pretty easy.  They've all also found book series they really like, so there's been a lot of extra reading going on as well.  All good things!

The kids slept over at my parents' house last night while Michael and I attended a conference at school, and they're bringing the kids back today.  I had to ask my dad to come over to fix a shelf in Carl's closet...a few weeks ago, he decided to use the shelves as a ladder to reach something on the top shelf.  Needless to say, the shelves did not hold his weight and one of them came fully out of the wall, screws and all.  Carl was so sweet when he told me what happened.  He came up to me like a dog with its tail between its legs, "Mommy, I have to show you something.".  Sweet little boy!

Speaking of the closet...I better get in there and move stuff so that it's all set for whenever my parents get here today.  

Wishing you all a great weekend!!

[hooknsaw]

I hope everyone had a good weekend!  We had a wonderful week with Don's family and spent the days cooking, eating and laughing.  I can't wait for the next visit!  My book moved to the number 2 spot last week and fingers crossed it holds for a while.

Annie's did publish my giraffe spots scarf as an instant download on their site last week.  They have mentioned wanting more of my designs, including some dogs and more books in the future.  I'm just taking a wait and see approach with everything.   Our etsy shop picked up in early September and sales have been good, so I am taking a wait and see with etsy too.  Just when I think sales have leveled out to normal, etsy usually makes some drastic change and we are invisible again.

Mary Alice that is so cool that you kept your friendship with your daughters ex family.  Is this the family from NM?  I saw a couple of new items you listed and they are beautiful!  I'm glad you are getting more hooking time for yourself.

Lauren, congratulations on the momentum with your blog!  That is great that you can get anything done with small children!  I put hooks and yarn away for years when my kids were young ... I just could not find the time for hooking.  Don loves to can, but for the past few years we do more dehydrating as the finished foods take less space.  We bought an ice cream attachment for the mixer and spent two weeks experimenting with making ice cream and came to the conclusion we needed the old fashion churn type.  I think I gained 4 pounds just taste testing!!! 

Debra if your machine is dropping stitches, try using weights on the started piece.  Don will get about 3 rows started and then add claw weights to keep from dropping stitches.  For the lighter weight machines a paper clamp or clothes pin might work.  Enjoy your time with your family!  And your break from puppy!  The dogs pouted for 2 days when Don's kids left and it was kind of nice having the dogs less needy for a while.  I can't imagine dealing with a puppy.  I love puppies but no longer have the patience!  

Thank you all for the congratulations, I appreciate it.  This was such a long process and everyone was so supportive and it means a lot to me.  Have a great start to October everyone and where the heck has this year gone?!

[mzbellz]

Good Morning Everyone.

I just typed a whole 2 paragraphs and the stupid thing said something about it couldn't process. So, I got out and went back in and of course everything is gone, so here I am again typing.  I think because I didn't hit reply, and just started typing?  I don't know.  I'm aggravated   Anyhow

Lisa: Great that your book is at #2  Hopefully it will reach #1.  Also that they want more patterns from you.  Especially the dogs.   I will definitely buy that one also.  I love all your designs.  I tried the Bear one.  I did the motif first and it came out pretty good.  I just didn't hold and pull the yarn tight enough when I was carrying it along, so some of the other color shows through.  I will try it again though.  I did the bear in brown of course with a pumpkin color background. I will try the scarf part later on, as that won't really be a problem for me.  So glad you had a good time with lots of laughs.  We all need that once in awhile, especially the laughs.

Debra:  Hope everything is going well with you.  So glad you've had some sales in your shop.  I'm making some head/ear warmers. I'm doing it in a celtic stitch or other wise known as an Aran Isles stitch.  I've made 4 so far.  I gave one to my cousin, and I have to make one for my daughter.  I have 2 posted in my shop.

Lauren::  Your kids are getting so big.  Elizabeth is in 5th grade already?  Wow. Glad to hear that she's good at time management, that will serve her well in her future endeavors .  Poor Carl, he sounds like a sweetie.  Hope he knows he can't climb on the shelves anymore.

Well gotta run.  Hope you all have a great week.

[HowCuteAreYou]

Hi Ladies ~

Just a quick stop by.  My nieces wedding is tomorrow so I have my kids in town along with Violet who is the flower girl.

I'll stop back on Monday or Tuesday when the fanfair settles down.

 A lot of commotion around here and my mother is off the rails again.  She was admitted to the hospital yesterday for chest pains but thank goodness is ok.  She had a meltdown last night at the hospital and made my dad come to the hospital at 11:30pm!  He was sleeping and exhausted from the whole day of being with her at the hospital.  He had to drive himself which we don't want him doing and get his walker out of the car all while navigating a not safe neighborhood.  Of course we didn't know any of my dad's midnight run till this morning and we are all shaking with nerves.   Added to family in town and all the wedding excitement it's crazy town here!

Have a great weekend!

[HowCuteAreYou]

Good morning ladies ~

It's settled down here after the wedding weekend and I'm feeling almost back to normal.  The wedding was beautiful and my niece was stunning, I might be prejudice, she took my breath away.  Violet was the flower girl and was just so precious in her violet colored dress.

My folks appear to have settled down.  My brother and I brought them lunch yesterday and it seemed "normal" over there. The stress of my mom in the hospital and her demands on my father have us all shaken.  

Lisa ~ Congrats on being #2!  That is a huge accomplishment and you deserve the accolades!!!  

Thanks for the hint on the knitting machine.  I haven't used it again but now that it's settled down I want to try some more headbands.  They look beautiful when done just my finishing isn't that great.

How big is Don's family?  It's so nice when everyone gets along and you can have some good family time.

Mary Alice ~ You always are working on such intricate designs. I am impressed.  I am so basic still but it might be because I have no patience.  I like projects that work up quickly or I lose interest.  

Are you having a nice beginning of fall?  

Lauren ~ How are you doing?  Are you getting costumes ready for Halloween?

Have a good week ladies!

[hooknsaw]

I hope everyone is having a good week!  

Mary Alice, it is frustrating typing and then losing what you typed!!!  Our internet was acting up for 2 weeks and I was forced to use my tablet (which Don's kids showed me how to use) and typing any type of reply was a pita.  I do like the tablet now for just checking in on our shop, etc. But I still use the pc to respond to anyone.

As to my patterns, I do not carry over when I crochet.  I add new bundles of yarn and drop the color I am not using on the back (wrong) side of the piece and then pick it up when needed again.  For example for the bear motif, I would start with the main color, then add the bear color and then add another ball of the main color.  I did let everyone at Annie's know that is how I crochet, but I don't think that was added.  Some of my multicolored designs have a lot of balls of yarn hanging off the wrong side (also a lot of sewing in ends).

Debra, I'll bet Violet made an adorable flower girl!  Hugs to you with your parents and how sweet that your Dad would be willing to go back to the hospital that late.  I hope your Mom continues to do okay.  So stressful seeing the change with parents and dealing with their health issues.

Don has a fairly large family and we enjoy the time we can spend with them. Like any family, there are some "not so fun" members and we just avoid spending time with them.  Lol, life is too short and the 'not my circus, not my monkeys' fits for some of our family members.

This year is flying by ... I can't believe we are almost mid October.  The temps were mid 80's on Monday and we are supposed to hit freezing by Friday, and my arthritic knees are not happy.  

My book is still holding at the #2 spot and I noticed the giraffe spots scarf has climbed to #9.  I am very pleased with the marketing and advertising Annie's has done with my patterns.

I hope everyone has a good rest of the week.  I have been working on a few custom orders and I am waiting on a yarn order to arrive to work on some more.

[HowCuteAreYou]

Good Morning ~

Lisa ~ That's interesting that you keep adding new balls of yarns instead of carrying the yarn.  The way I learned via YouTube was to carry the yarn but it does cause a lot of tangles with the colors.  When I get a chance to start your pattern I will try it your way.  I can then cut the yarn as I go along and avoid tangles.  

I used your circus/monkey saying this past weekend.  Lots going on that I didn't need to know about or deal with.  Glad you have more fun relatives than not!

I'll head over to Annies to check out the giraffe pdf.  I'm going to start with the easier bear pattern.  I am thinking I might try it on a washcloth size piece of crochet and give it to Violet.  She loves anything with animals.

Congrats on having orders! My shop is slow again this week.  I had a customer ask if she could order two sets, one pink and blue and then return the one she didn't need.  I told her no, that I don't accept returns on items purchased but not needed.  That takes nerve to even ask.  I am not a dept store.

This year is flying by.  Can't believe that the holidays are looming.  I'll try and make them as normal as possible but I feel I need a pass this year on making holiday dinners.  

Have a good day.  

[mzbellz]

Good Afternoon Everyone.

Lisa: Thanks for sharing how you do your pattern. I was thinking of doing it that way, but decided it would be easier if I just carry the yarn along.  If you pull it slightly tight it really doesn't show as the 2 colors I used are rather on the dark side.  I think I will try it your way though just to see if I like it better or find it easier to do.  Glad your giraffe is moving up and your book is still at #2. Also congrats on more sales for your shop.  

Debra: I'm sure outside of the bride Violet was the 2nd most popular.  My granddaughter was the flower girl for my daughter when she was married in the Dominican last year.  I know you have tons of pictures. I like going to weddings it's such a happy time. Hope your mom is doing better, and your dad is sounds like such a sweet man.  God Bless them.

I've been crocheting a bunch of headbands/ear warmers in the celtic, or Aran stitch.  I've made about 7 of them already.  I'm putting them in my Zibbet shop, and I think I posted 1 in my Etsy shop. If I don't sell anything in Zibbet by the end of the year, I'm going to pull the plug on it.  It's turning out to be more expensive than Etsy.  Why through good money after bad.  Oh well, such is life.

Hope everyone has a great weekend.

[TheYarningCompany]

Hi, all!

Mary Alice - I agree with Debra.  You do make very intricate designs! I also don't really have the patience for those, and am in constant awe of crocheters who do! I'm sorry to hear your Zibbet shop isn't as successful as you hoped.  It's hard to figure out how to drive traffic to our own little shops.  

Debra - that's good news that your mom has calmed down.  And it sounds like your niece's wedding was wonderful.  How fun that Violet got to be a flower girl! 

Lisa - congrats on moving up to #2!  That really is quite an accomplishment! I've often wondered how you do your yarn with your patterns, and it makes sense to do new skeins for each section.  I think carrying works great with only 2 skeins, but anything more than that and it can get too bulky too quickly, I think.  I'm doing the Scheepjes Rozeta CAL, and part 1 was just released yesterday.  I'm SO in love with it already.  That one carries yarn because you're repeating the same 2 colors again and again in each round.  

I'm not really working on Halloween costumes, and I might get away without doing them this year.  The kids' school always had a Harvest Hoedown the last Thursday of October, and that happens to be the 31st this year, so I think we'll do that instead of trick or treating, which means I can get out of figuring out costumes.  Yay!  I haven't broken that news to the kids yet, though.  They won't be so excited.  

I hope you're all having a good week! Any plans for the weekend?

[hooknsaw]

Debra, starting new balls of yarn causes all kinds of tangles!  I drive Do nuts with "my rats nest" crochet!  He is so organized with a list and rolled balls of yarn to start the lengths of our scarves and then I throw it to the wind with my mess!  I  do not work with full skeins, just a small hand rolled ball of each color.  For those trying my book patterns, the bear is the easiest for the silhouettes and the horse is the easiest for the multicolored.

Add to that I twist the yarn being changed with the color change stitches ,.. that prevents any weird gaps with the stitches.

Lauren, I'm so happy I don't have to deal with Halloween costumes any more!  I hope your kids have a great holiday!  Izzy has her first loose tooth and I am looking forward to the future photos!

Wishing everyone a great weekend!

[HowCuteAreYou]

Hi Ladies~

I hope everyone had a relaxing weekend.  Not much going on here.  I had lunch at a beachside restaurant on Saturday with my brother and sister and yesterday I crocheted.  I had made some little pumpkins for Violet, my daughter and niece and my friend saw them on instagram and requested a few for her grandsons.  They are super cute from a pattern on YouTube by Bella Coco Crochet.  I use little faux leather tags for the pumpkin stems.  

Today I had to take Scarlett to the vet for an ear infection but she's doing fine.  She is one kooky wild puppy.  

Mary Alice ~ Your headbands are gorgeous!!  Colors are so pretty and perfect for fall.  Looks like a complicated pattern.

Any fall/Halloween plans?  You live in the perfect area for fall and all the festivities.  Does Saugerties have some kind of holiday event?  It's kind of a spooky town with all the old houses.

Violet was adorable as the flower girl, thank you.  I'm heading up to see the kids this Thursday and coming home Saturday.  Hard to stay away from Violet.

Lauren~ Enjoy the Halloween season with your kids.  How's the fall weather in your area?  I bet it must be beautiful around Lake Michigan.

Lisa ~ How's the book and pattern going?  I've not had any time for new patterns but I know over the holidays I will have down time.  My shop is completely dead for over a week with only 2 patterns sold.  Not sure how to revive it so I'm just going along with it for now.  Thanks for the tips on your patterns.  I'm going to have to re-watch the video on tapestry crocheting since I forget everything and am strictly a see it and learn it type of person.  I am so bad at reading directions.

Have a great week ladies!

[hooknsaw]

I hope everyone is doing well!  I'm just waiting on a yarn order to get some of my custom orders started.  Our shop has been busy and then not busy ... typical for this time of year.  The crazy usually starts after Thanksgiving and runs through mid December.

Debra, I hope everything is good with you!  Is Scarlett feeling better?  My daughter took her poodle to the vet 2 weeks ago and he has kidney disease and it has been a roller coaster with the poor dogs treatment and worrying about my daughter.  It sucks to have a sick pet and an older pet and knowing when is when.

I hope your parents are well!  We took Dad to the cardiologist this morning and the Dr. summed it up.  He walks in and tells my Dad "4 years!!! You have lived 4 years... and you should not be here anymore ... you have beaten all of the statistics".  He is right the stats for my Dad were 24 months at best.  So it was a good visit and a reminder to my Dad to count his blessings every morning!

Mary Alice, your headbands are beautiful!  Love the intricate stitches. Etsy is taking forever for traction with new listings.  The biggest influence I am seeing with our shop is more views when we add new listings daily for a few days in a row.  My love hate relationship is turning into a tolerate hate!

The book is still holding at #2 and the giraffe spots is waffling in the top 20 between #8 and #18.  I am just starting to sell some of the books in our shop on a regular basis (will wait to see how long that lasts).  Omg, I will not get a statement and check until January (after the quarter closes) to even know how relevant the numbers are!

Have a great rest of the week, everyone!