From tacky to boho chic

Don't ignore those half-finished pieces you come across.

Be it the quilt your grandmother never pieced together.

or, as in my case, the crocheted granny squares

that were originally destined to be a rather ugly afghan.

I think if I had used all the colors together

in one project as they were originally intended,

the result wouldn't have been as dramatic.

These four super long scarves have much more appeal,

and will see more use than as a tacky 70's afghan.

BOHO CHIC Super Long Scarf White on Green

BOHO CHIC Super Long Scarf White on Brown

BOHO CHIC Super Long Scarf White on Orange

  

BOHO CHIC Super Long Scarf White on Yellow

Click the links to see more photos

and find out how you can purchase them

if you are so inclined.

Snowstorm

Power of social media

Never underestimate the power of social media when selling

your handmade (and, also in my case, vintage) goods.

I've been working on this scarf for weeks now

and talking about its progress on Facebook.

I couldn't wait to share the finished piece this morning.
Within an hour, a friend saw it and bought it.

This isn't my only positive experience like this today.
Another friend bought one of my necktie scarves
after checking out my Etsy link on my Facebook fan page.
(I also have a "My Etsy" tab on the top of that page.)

Besides Facebook, I also use Twitter and StumbleUpon
to promote what I am creating and selling.
My Facebook fan page posts go straight to Twitter
and I believe you may be able to get your new Etsy listings
to automatically get posted on Facebook and Twitter
but haven't looked into that recently.

What other social media outlets do you use
and how successful are they for you?

Portraits in the snow

I just discovered my camera has a wide variety of settings

for a wide variety of situations -- beach, fireworks,
aquarium, and most useful to me right this time of year,

taking photos in the bright whiteness of snow.

I'm in love with it, as long as there is strong enough sunlight.

My boys went skiing yesterday afternoon but since the sun sets

behind the mountain, it was too hard to get shots of the skiers.

The shots I got of the spectators,  my son's friend

and my two youngest boys, came out phenomenal.

My New Year's non-resolution

Did anyone have a  New Year's resolution

pertaining to being more organized?

While it wasn't anything formal,
in fact I don't ever make resolutions,

but I wanted to have this place straightened up

before our routine got back to normal.

It's not done, not by a long shot, but

I am slowly making progress with the piles.

It really helped that my husband knocked

some things off our list and spent

most of the weekend cleaning the basement.

Our bedroom is done,  except for

the always-accumulating piles of clean laundry.

Here is how my yarn stash turned out.

Not the prettiest of solutions

but it is all sorted and easier to get to.

I managed to finish up the attached

living room and kitchen which

gave us back half of our main living area

after the chaos of the holidays.

Even though I first wanted to get

my dining room work space cleared out,
I couldn't resist trying out my Christmas present.

Turns out the kitchen table
offers the best morning light anyway.

On New Year's Day, my husband and I snuck out

for some coffee, a drive and a stop at

the storage building for a used furniture store.

He stood guard over my pile

(what's it with me and piles?)

until I was done "shopping."

Even he had to admit we got some really great deals.

These are but a bit of what I bought.

I'm drawn lately to silver and glass pieces and

this GE industrial gray fan just had to come home.

So there is my progress on my non-resolution.

I'm heading back to do more organizing now.

Happy New Year!

My boys have said this is a very early spring cleaning

that we are doing during their holiday break.

Why not call it that, the temperature is up near 40°

and it feels like a sunny spring day outside.

With their help, we sorted all of their toys

and moved them to the basement

then cleaned the living room from top to bottom.

They were rewarded with pizza afterward.

I have finished sorting through the massive yarn stash

and crochet books I keep stored up in my bedroom.

Much of the excess is going to my sister for

her home ec classroom and a project she is doing.

Up next, my Etsy shop's storage closet.

My oldest son reinforced the shelving unit as

it had been buckling under the weight of everything.

Now I can cull out non-sellers and organize the rest.

After that, the dining room I use as my crafting space

will be totally cleaned and reorganized too.

Right now, there is no room to actually craft.

Plus, there are supplies in there that I will never use.

Much of it will be sold on Etsy or donated.

You may be wondering why I am telling

you all of this here on my blog.
Once I spell it out, I can't back out of doing it.

That's why, lol.

See you in a few days once it is all done!

And HAPPY NEW YEAR in the meantime.

Forget the Snuggie, I like my handmade blanket better

What was once three sweater vests and one sweater

has been transformed into a lap blanket.

First came the crocheting of hexagons,

lots and lots of hexagons,

in Pepto-Bismol pink, pale lavender

and two pretty shades of blue.

Trimmed out in charcoal gray

they were ready to come together.

And I took them with me

everywhere all summer long.

 Delayed by the busy holiday season,

it was neglected for months.

I picked it back up Christmas weekend

and finally finished it.

Alice thinks it is hers, but it is mine

as it fits my lap perfectly.

Maybe I will share it with her though.