too many options such little time

I have so many options of things to make as a hooker.

I could make more scarves,

or make some shawls

 OR I could make mittens and fingerless gloves.

Hats as an old stand by

But instead I'm trying to figure out how to tweek a pattern for a very very special order.
a customer has requested I make some gloves with matching scarf and hat for her niece. They are not just any gloves they are for hypoplastic thumbs.    I'm waiting on the measurements and pictures and color so I can proceed.  This little girl will have her very own pair of custom gloves. I know they are tricky BUT I know they are well worth the time and energy.

So IF I don't seem to be posting as much this is why- it can be very tricky to change a hooker pattern but even trickier to adjust for this.

a new piece

I have been working on this a while on and off. Mostly because of time constraints and the yarn was on huge cones.. Litterally huge cones. Each weigh at least 4 lbs each.
The yarn is light weight so I needed to combine it together some how and the two colors worked well. one has blues and purples in it the other is a light lavender tone.
I love how it turned out.
Its light and has a little weight to it.

Now to figure out what to do with the rest of the yarn.

I was a little busy today.. I finished a hat, Put the finishing touch on another and double checked to make sure another was felted lightly enough for what I wanted.
the results are
a purple beret a wool hat both for a friend.. and a special order for another friend..

The purple beret and the felted hat... yes already spoken for.

The wool pumpkin hat for my friends pumpkin.
I hat to figure out how to make a thick stem, I ended up stuffing it.
I think they turned out cute.:)

blueberries on my mind. or your head

I finished the blue berry hat. It turned out so cute!
Im working on a peach one. But I know I need to work on the shawl I started.
I love the idea of the fruit hats. I know I need to get a few pumpkin hats done for October.
Im trying to figure out a way to get a lemon hat done..getting the shaping right will be hard but I think it can be  done.
It will just take some patience.
I used my kiddos head for a fitting. and I think it turned out awesome.
She wants a few hats for herself so for the Holidays maybe..
so here is my modle

Miss lady showing her annoyance that the door is open and there is a screen in her way. 

 Oreo waiting for my yarn to jump from my bag or basket.. patiently.

Now using driect check out

So I'm really happy.
you no longer just have to use pay pal, or send a money order thought he mail with etsy..
they now have direct check out.
this is good for most people.
I'm hoping it increases my traffic a bit this winter.
I know some folks dont like using paypal.

I like it because I don't have to wait too long to get money into my bank account.. but the down side? fees are higher overall from etsy.
not only is there a transaction fee bu a fee on the Direct check out. both are higher then those of using pay pal and etsy transaction fee combined. 
but its the cost of doing business there.

I think that adding another form of payment is good it gives another option.

so yes now I'm using direct check out. :)

Its in testing again...

The cupcake hat I had made earlier this year.
Its now again in pattern testing. I had to fix a few things. now one of my friends who also crochets is going to test it and tell me if I made anymore mistakes.
Yes I do make mistakes. More then once I had to frog ( or pull apart) a half a jacket because I didn't get the gauge right. That was a pain BUT the jacket is done and hangs in my closet.
I have also had to redo pieces because I used the wrong sized hook half way through.
Serves as a reminder to me not to crochet really tired.

there are times I wonder why I dont write out my patterns then I start and remember that its a total pain in the tush.. I have to test and retest  and make sure its just so if it is not a super simple pattern.
this one is not.

OH my awesome sister gave me Yarn for my birthday. Not just any warn , hand spun from yarn producers on Orcas Island. she also told me I'm to make something for ME not for anyone else with it. She knows me well.

 anyway that is what is happening now..

Fruit hats

So I made my niece a cute hat out of a tangerine yarn I had.. and thought I should add a stem and leaf and viola a tangerine hat.. Then I thought wouldn't it be fun to make one into a apple or a peach Oh how bout blueberries?
and my brain wouldn't stop.
So I made a granny smith hat- its now listed in my shop. 
both made from scrap yarn. which makes me happy that I use up my stash a little.. then I have a excuse later to get more yarn. 
and my daughter liked it so much I was asked to make a peach for a friends birthday gift..
 I didn't get pics but it was adorable.

 My nieces tangerine hat above..
the granny smith hat below ...

next in line a blueberry!