Stocking Stuffers on Etsy

i don't know if i like this

What's Up Your Sleeve Fabric Coffee Sleeve

on the go coffee cup sleeve because i personally know a marine who practically lives off coffee, or because it appears to be so well made.
there's a good variety of sleeves of this style in What's Up Your Sleeve's shop.

with nearly 50 items in her shop, she's sure to have a sleeve that's sure to suit someone you know.

=-)

How perfect is your egg?

before i get back to working on my final [YAY] special olympics scarf, i wanted to show you an egg that just so happened to be in my carton (as if that's not where they belong)-








it's shaped like a jelly bean!

i was way amused by this because i always thought that eggs were always perfect (like everything in nature, of course).
even tho it was the last egg in the carton, i didn't eat it, i put it back just to see what others would say, and they noticed too.
isn't it a wonder.

Stocking Stuffers on Etsy

So, i'm actually starting to get serious about slowling buying stocking stuffers for the family.
i have an 18 yr old male to buy for, a 5 yr old boy, and 2 ladies over 40.
i'm definitely going to have to get the 5 year old, and perhaps even the 18 year old some of these boogers.













They're soaps of course! i'm not really sure how they smell, it'd be great if they were lime-like, but the novelty of them is enough to have me sold!

it's really tough , it seems, to find stocking stuffers for males, so perhaps i'll focus on those a bit more.

Random stocking stuffer idea

Today's stocking stuffer idea :


These crayons would make awesome stocking stuffers for a small child. Shaped like stars, they're perfect for grasping and their bright colors make learning fun.

I like Mommy Buzz' shop because she gives back to her community by sharing her crayons and other things with children at local hospitals.

My son loves using these crayons, and she's got lots of other fun shapes.. definitely check her out!

Stocking Stuffers on Etsy

there are lots of great things on etsy, and with the christmas time nearing, and budgets being tight; i think it's the perfect place to get stocking stuffers that mean a little bit more.
This year, my family will be pulling names, each person will get at least one gift, but we'll all have stockings.
i'd like to do a thing here where, everyday, or when i think of it, i feature a favorite stocking stuffer from etsy.
i will randomly pick a page from the stocking stuffer tag search and choose something off that page to show here.
so, to begin...



I thought this owl pin was just too cute. The eyes are definitely what drew my attention to it.

The Etsymom Street Team is prepping for the holidays by taking the time-honored tradition of gift-giving to another level! Riding the wave of unity, harmony and excitement inspired by the Etsymom Trunk Show in September, our team tossed around a few ideas about our next team event. A little idea of having a giveaway, where Moms would donate an item to be given away each day of November on our blog has morphed into a SUPER GIVEAWAY!! When the call for volunteers went out we had an overwhelming response of over 60 shops willing to donate a $10.00 in value item to this cause. Two winners will be randomly chosen everyday to receive one of over 50 prizes.. Donations will range from an assortment of hand embroidery, vintage finds, hair clippies, baby accessories, paper crafts, earthenware pottery and more. Perfect for gift-giving! There is a little bit of everything, so whether you like trendy, shabby chic, traditional or retro styles, you're sure to find something! Don't miss this ONLINE EXTRAVAGANZA. Visit us here beginning November 1st for giveaway rules and deadlines!



Here is what i entered:

A pair of brown and white crocheted slippers, sized to fit a woman's 9-10.

be sure to check the Etsmom's blog on the 21st of november for a chance to win them!

a quick list

i keep on sitting down at the computer to do one thing or another, but i always wind up chatting on etsy or doing other things.
so here's what i've got to do:

• find a marathon
• upload pics to the kid's album
• relist something on etsy
• pay storage bill

now, how simple would it be to do these things now?
(sounds too much like a good idea, so i'm going to go watch sci fi channel!)
=OP

I want those!!!

Sandy is doing a crochet contest in which you submit a picture of a swatch of your favorite crochet stitch. See here for DETAILS.

here's my entry...

my favorite stitch is the Dc cluster. it's a fast stitch, especially when worked in rounds.

This ball caught my eye

Isn't it cute! (and the shipping price is very reasonable)
You can find it in

thechromaticattic's

shop on etsy. her shop is full of unique, cute stuff, so check it out!

Pumpkin scarf

so, as you can see, i finally figured out how to get my blog to look how i want it. i'm in love with it! having it look this nice just makes me want to blog more and tell more people about it so they'll look too.

although halloween is fast approaching, thanks giving IS just right around the corner..
this scarf would do nicely.
The listing is going to expire soon, but i'm definately going to renew(if it doesn't sell first).

Who wants slipperssss!?

not me!

i did make a pair yesterday that have some how morphed themselves into little pink balls. there's something about slippers that just turns me off.

making a pair or two a year is fine, but anything beyond that is impossible. and it's a shame too, because they're so quick and easy.

instead of slippers, i've decided to do hats. i'm thinking of doing a featured color in my shop, right now i have lots of pink. it's too bad that i waited until the end of october to get with it!

Made it Myself

i'm almost dying for a 3 column blog. and i almost got it last night. i found a site that showed ya how to do it and i did it, but i changed my layout and it went bye bye.
is that sucky or what.
i've started listing stuff on Made it Myself. it's not that i'm totally giving up on etsy...
as stuff gets ready to expire on my etsy, i'm going to list it on MiM.
and this is the reason i want a 3 column blog. one side for each thing.

the other day, i was in the mood to make coasters. it's been so long since i worked with thread that i couldn't find my hooks- i also forgot how bad it hurt after a while.
so, i got about 1/3 way through one coaster and quit.
yes, you're such a quitter!

i did finish a toddler's hat, i'll post pics later.

i want to start working on some more purses like the burgundy rave one i have. those are nice!

but, i'm in the mood now to make coin purses. i'm still excited about working iwth zippers.
tiny linings for the coin purses - not so much.
i'm debating on whether or not a zippered, but not lined crocheted coin purse should even exsit.

i'm going to give it a try any way, part because i'm lazy, part because i just want to get some done already. there's nothing that you could fit in a coin purse that should be poking out of the bottom anyway.
this is my rationalization.

tonight, i'll attempt the 3 column blog again, i'm sure not for the last time.

there must be a mouse in there

cause my mind is going in circles, as if on a rodent wheel.

there is so much i want to do this month, but there seems to be so little time.
i signed up for a give away with an Etsy street team i'm a member of..
Etsymom
and still have to send in my entry. i keep changing my mind. it's either going to be a coaster and dishcloth set done in christmas colors, or a pair of slippers. i keep flip flopping because it's officially cold here, and i'm so tempted to put those dang slippers on my own feet!

i swear, one day the temperature dropped and never came back up.
vegas is odd like that, some one flicks the good ole freeze your ass off switch and so it's done.

i also want to make some pink scarves for the month of october, but i'm unsure where they would go. last year, i had one that didn't sell, so i gave it to a lady who i just happened to know was a breast cancer survivor. i have a large hook and can crank them out fairly quickly if i use caron yarn, so i'm thinking of doing the same thing this year... giving them away to people who have survived breast cancer.

i have a bad habit of starting things and just leaving them. because of this i have ltos of WIPs that may never see a finish. i'm hoping that by focusing my energy on charity type things, i'll get over this little character flaw. at least when it comes to crocheting anyway.
not only will it save me wasting some effort, but it may save me a bit of money, as i love to buy new yarns to start new projects.

on top of that, i'd love to start on making some christmas items. since it's so close to halloween, i'll just call that holiday done with and move on. i missed the last 2 winter seasons on etsy, i'm hoping this one will be better.
with more frequent blogging, chatting, and networking in general, i'm counting on my efforts to pay off.
it's kind of like a sad love afair at the moment.

so, in short, lots to do!

i've been trying to get in shape

i've been trying to get in shape by being more active. doing tae bo and killing myself doing this one video i got from the dollar store.

yeah...
the dollar store.

i figured it wouldn't be too much of a loss, but it turned out to be tougher than tae bo!


I finished this recently:

The Loot

i've been a busy gal..

after i got all that yarn that i told you about last time, i got a custom order for a pair of arm warmers for which i used the pink. so, of course, i had to go back to get some more! The person liked them so much that she's asked me to make her a pair of legwarmers as well. i've never made a pair of legwarmers, so i'm going to wait until i feel like froggin to get to it.

i've had a couple of purses on the back burner because i didn't have either handles or lining for them, so, i hit up hancocks and came home with this:


absolutely enough fabric to get things done with. i've already gotten to using the pink and the burgundy.
This purse is something different for me, and i'm happy to say that i love the way it turned out. right now i'm taking a break from the sewing machine. i'm making a sister to it, which will have a pink handle and reverse colors for the lining. for some reason, i'm totally off tonight, and couldn't get through sewing the dang pocket so i had to ...
10,9,8,7,6,5,4,3,2,1....
and blog.

i'm a bee

ok ok, so it's not 100% done, but it's in the bin of things to be finished. i've still got some pretty good sized skeins left after making this one, so i may be able to do more than 4 before january. i'm planning on putting some pom poms on the front bottoms of these, but i'm not sure... i don't want it to be way bulky, but i do think they'd look nice.

i have been being quite productive. curlin up on the couch and watching....
the SCI FI channel!!!
i've been bitten i guess. there's something about larger than life, eating humans alive sized rats that makes a gal's hook fly.
not to mention the hotties on stargate atlantis!




I did finish the zippered coin purse last week or so. i've given it to my mom. she's asked me to make more for her to give as christmas gifts at work. i should get on that because those holidays tend to sneak and bite!


i had a little trouble with the zipper. i don't remember having put in one before this. or at least i didn't when it came time to sit at the machine. i was having porblems with the fabric getting caught in the zipper. i think i sewed it in upside down or backwards, maybe on the wrong side or something.
it's ok, cause, well, this is only a test!


Did i tell you all about a Christmas in july contest that i entered into in a crochet group i'm a member of? this cuff isn't my own pattern, but it did win me first prize. way cool!



out of this came that..
i know i've been a really bad girl, but i had to do it. i got each of these yarns at bargain prices.
so far, i've made that hat and a couple of pairs of arm wamrers out of the fuzzy pink. next i plan to do a purse out of the silver.
the only thing with purses is that i don't have the fabric on hand to finish them, and the only store near me that has fabric is way out of my budget. so, i've got a pile of purses waiting to be done.
maybe i'll hold off on the silver one until i get at least one of the others completed.


hmm... what else?
i know i have more, but i want to get on to another subject...

what to be when i grow up?

that's a tough enough question with out throwing halloween into the mix.
i've never really dressed up for halloween other than for school days, and i've never been to a halloween party, so, this year is the year!

my friend always throws a party which is right around the corner, but i've never gone. i think we got dominic a costume last year, but we wound up going to my brother's instead.
last year it was spider man, this year, it will be spiderman again.. only the black one.
his old costume[that he never wore] is in storage, so, i guess i'll be springing for a new one. this year, he saw that spiderman costumes come with muscles, so of course, he wants that one.

me on the other hand, i want to be something funny.
at first i thought - I WANNA BE A LOBSTER!

but then i researched prices and well, 200 bucks for a lobster that i can't even eat is a bit much,

so then i said, well, maybe i'll just be a banana.

now, of course i'd wear tights with it instead of slacks, and i would paint my face yellow(i don't want to be a bad banana [one with a big brown spot on it lol!])

then i wanted to be storm

then i woke up.

Now, i'm thinking of being a bumble bee.
i didn't want a cute costume at first, but if you know me, you know that i think that bees are pretty effin scary.
so i'd go around going RAAAHH!
in this lol =-)

what's up wit it?

here's what i'm doing right now.
trying to stay productive, while watching tv, lol

i'm almost done with my first special olympics scarf. i've decided to make this one in the rounds and i'll probably put some pom poms on each end. - well, one on each end, since it'll be a long oval




and these are coin purses i'm working on. i'm going to line them with light yellow cotton fabric and hopefully put zippers in them.
a fellow etsian, and etsymom passed on some zippers to me, so i can practice with out losing money. i'm hoping that including zippers on my pouches will help them move
it's like going high tech! lol
maybe one day, i'll even be able to crochet a hoodie and add a zipper to it!

Check out WylesStyle's shop! she has lovely hand sewn pouches of all kinds!

dish cloths for renewing

I finally got around to re-doing the photos of my dish cloths for renewing. hopefully the new photos will help them move. they're crisper and closer than the previous ones. we'll see.







I've found a charity that i want to donate too, and i'm even on my way to actually doing it. i went and purchased some delft blue and white yarn to make scarves with for the Special Olympics World Winter Games (pdf). I'll be tracking my progress to the right. My goal is to make 4, one for each month that's left before the dead line of January 15th. i figure that i can do that using only 4 skeins of yarn.
i'm still working on the foundation of the first one, which i'm doing in verticle stripes, each one after this one should be a breeze.

i have to admit, i've been slackin a bit

i have to admit, i've been slackin a bit. but hopefully, i'll be able to make up for that today.

on thursday, we had some running around to do, so we thought we'd start our day early and go bowling. it was a struggle getting the kid dressed and out the door, but once he got there and strapped on his bowling shoes, he was ready to go. watching him bowl is kind of funny. the ball is too heavy for him and you can tell. they give you a kiddie ball which weights six lbs, but for a string bean kid who barely weighs over 30... picking that sucker up by the finger holes seems to be like a weeks worth of work out.
i had never been bowling with my mom and she did pretty well. i guess she used to go all the time when she was younger.
she won
then dominic
then me.

but let me say this for myself! (dominic used bumpers!)

it was so nice. after bowling, we went to sonic, dominc ordered the grilled chicken wrap, but hey brought him a sandwich instead and he did not care. he ate nearly the whole thing and some onion rings. that kid can eat. he just doesn't do it very often.

yesterday was a lazy day, but torwards the end of it, i got to working on kelly's bag again. i have teh straps attatched and now i just have the flap to do. oh yeah, and covering the strap attatchments. i got lazy and sewed them on using the machine, so now i'm paying for it by having to make a not so obvious cover up for that. it shouldn't be too hard, i think i'll sew some squares and then hand sew them on just a little.
i'm also thinking of crocheting in some wooden beads to the flap. just to give it something extra.

i started on a small hat, i was hoping for it to be sized for about a 2 year old, but, with my and my bad yarn estimates, i ran out and now i'm trying to figure my way out of that one.
you'd think i'm the kind of person who loves challenges, but i'm not!
i'm just a really poor planner of my projects.

i'm also just about done with a white and black fedora. it's growin on me. i can't wait to put it in my shop, i'm sure it'll go fast.

i've redone some pictures so i can renew a few things in my shop, as well as taken some of a set of dish cloths which i'll be offering in pairs, the first pair will be pick 2, the other will be what's left-unless i crank out some more any time soon.

dominic is still sleeping and ireally wish i had some decaf coffee to sip on right now. i feel like i haven't had coffee in ages, but with as busy as i've been lately, i'm missing snuggling up on the couch with a cup while watching something on tv land or the hallmark channel.