Handmade Gifts are the RAGE this Year!



CREATIVE BUT PRACTICAL GIFTS

From HandmadeByAnnabelle



Holiday 4 Pack - 100% Cotton - $12.00


(Note:  If you'd prefer to make your own crochet washcloths, here's the
pattern:  Annabelle's Crochet Washcloth Pattern)

Creative but practical gifts!  I think that's my theme this year -- something they can use and handmade.  Here's a list of ideas from my customers:

• Twist them up like cupcakes and wrap them in individual boxes
• Twist them up like candy and wrap them in a pretty box
• Twist them up like roses
• Wrap small gifts with washcloths and bows
• Simple delicate wrapping paper with a ribbon makes your family member or friend  feel very special when opened
• Add them to any gift basket
• Add them to a bath and body gift basket
• Wrap pretty for the hostess when going to parties
• Stocking stuffers
• Give them to those on your list who are eco friendly
• New moms love receiving them - add to the baby gift basket

  

Luxurious ORGANIC Cotton - Cream - $11.00

 

100% ORGANIC Cotton - Walnut - $11.00

 

100% ORGANIC Cotton - Hunter Green - $11.00



Crisp White !00% Cotton - 8 Pack - $16.00

 

Holiday 100$ Cotton Christmas Colors - 4 Pack - $12.00



100% Cotton Holiday 4 Pack - $12.00



100% ORGANIC Cotton - $24.00

FINALLY Found Some Yarn I Love!

**  Update 10-21-10:  I got some more yarn in ... this 'candy corn' yarn is 100% cotton chenille.  Super thick and absorbant.  I had quite a few requests for these washcloths, so here's the listing if you're still interested:  Candy Corn Washcloths.  If you'd like to make some for yourself, here's the pattern url.  **

I've been looking for some new and different yarn to brighten up the handmade washcloths I stock in my shop.  And FINALLY I found it!  When I opened my USPS box yesterday, I began crocheting and loved the yarn so much my fingers wouldn't stop! 

Here's what I made and it's now in my ETSY shop:

Here's the free pattern:  Annabelle's Washcloths - Pattern

Her shop name is "Crochet 4 U 2 Dye 4" and here's her url:  http://www.etsy.com/shop/crochet4u2dye4?ref=top_trail.  And here are a few of her other yarns:

Decorating Ideas for Your Front Porch

DECORATE YOUR FRONT YARD

ON THE CHEAP!

The mailbox was decorated for about $10.00 total and has a pumpkin ($3.99) + mums (3.99) + 2 leaf rings ($1.00). 

If you look at the front porch all the way to the left, you'll see a fall banner - it's kindof hard to see, but I crocheted triangles and attached them to a long string of single stitches.  That's it - very simple.  I'll have better pictures of the banner next week.

The front porch has a mum ($3.99) + a pumpkin ($3.99) + scarecrow sitting on the chair (2.00) + corn stalks ($5.99) + 2 small pumpkins above my door ($2.00) + scarecrow on the door ($1.00).  Most everything was purchased at the dollar store.

Sweet Little Halloween Rag Basket

I had forgotten that last year I made this sweet little Halloween basket to sell in my ETSY shop.  I haven't made any rag baskets in a few months because I've been busy with my other crafts, BUT this sweet thing makes me want to start up again!

Here's a link to get you started making your own rag basket. 

For now, ENJOY!

Halloween Decoration (Pumpkins) Under $1.00

Easy Halloween Decoration

Pumpkins !!

Tutorial

Materials Needed:

1.  Toilet Paper Roll

2.  Newspaper

3.  Leftover Fabric

Process:

1. Place a roll of toilet paper on top of a piece of newspaper.
2. Lift the newspaper and stuff it into the middle tube of the toilet paper.
3. Place the roll of toilet paper on top of the piece of fabric you have chosen.  (Good side down.)
4. Lift the fabric and stuff it into the middle tube of the toilet paper.

NOTES:  You may need to cut the newspaper and the fabric a bit.  Use any fabric you'd like - it doesn't have to be Halloween fabric.



Make Your Own Red, White, and Blue Bangles for Labor Day!

HOW TO MAKE YOUR OWN

BANGLES

I could make these for you, but better yet, how about you give it a try?  If you're not from the US, you could use the colors of your own flag.  I've shared this pattern on a few BLOG LINK PARTIES.

These are fun and super easy to make.  You've probably seen my free crochet pattern for these bangles before, but I changed the pattern just a bit.  Instead of using a double crochet in the middle, they are all single crochet stitches.

Steps:

Leave a 3 inch tail.
25 single stitches.
Loop the last single stitch back to the first one and stitch together to form a ring.
Single crochet in each single stitch you made above.
Turn.
Single crochet in each single stitch you made above (again).
Turn.
Single crochet in each single stitch you made above (again).
Finish off.

Super easy, right?

I usually have a few bangles in my ETSY shop if you'd rather I make them for you.

Hey, if you have 2 minutes, vote for this free pattern on CraftJuice.  THANKS!

These little bangles take about 10 minutes each for an intermediate, and they can be washed with your cotton wares.  The ones above are 100% cotton.

Email me here if you'd like me to make them for you - any color, any theme.

Here's another pattern for a quick and easy (but super cool) drink cozy.

Have fun!

Here are a few variations of the above pattern:  

Deborah Norville Yarn Review

Deborah Norville Yarn

Review

Serenity - Bulky Weight
(Last Updated 8/25/2010)

I found a beautiful synthetic yarn by Deborah Norville yesterday at Joann's ($3.29 regular price) and decided to try this yarn to make "The Perfect Bath Puff (Pattern Link)". Before I get started, it's only fair to tell you that I'm addicted to fabric and have reviewed fabric quite a bit - this is my first yarn review. Nevertheless, let's get started!
Description:

• Deborah Norville Serenity Chunky Yarn
• 100% acrylic
• Crochet gauge: K-M
• Color: Golden

Pros:

• Because this is a chunky weight yarn, the project worked up much quicker than standard cotton yarn.
• Super soft - doesn't have that plastic feel that some acrylic yarns have.
• Beautiful colors to choose from.
• Machine washable/dryable.
• Yardage is enough to make 2.5 large bath puffs.
• Very little splitting of the yarn when crocheting.
• Light weight when wet and dry.
• Getting help on choosing the right yarn for this project was easy and quick!

Cons:

• After washing 4 times, the yarn frays a bit. However, I took my scissors to it and trimmed off the fraying. Looks like new now.
• While the yarn makes great bath puffs, I have to admit that cotton yarn does work up a better lather. BUT, cotton yarn is much heavier when wet.

Bottom line -- I absolutely love this yarn. It works great as a bath puff, but might even work better for a blanket or sweater. And, it gets softer with every washing. There are several free patterns on the Premier Yarns website, but I have to admit that I'd love to see more free patterns! Deborah Norville yarns are fairly inexpensive and are not in all the stores yet. Because I wanted to make sure I had the right yarn for the job, I sent an email from the web page and got a response the next day -- from Deborah Norville herself! It doesn't get much better than that!

I'll definately be buying this yarn again and adding these bath puffs to my ETSY shop!

Weekend Link Party - Link Up Your Latest!

WEEKEND LINK PARTY

PARTY ON GARTH!

When you link up your projects please be sure to:

• Link to your specific post, not the main page of your blog, so people can easily find your project.
• Link to a craft/art project.
• Show some love!  Visit some of the projects linked up and leave a comment!
• Become a follower on my blog.
• If you don't have a blog, feel free to link one of your ETSY items!

Super easy, right?  What are you working on?

Crochet Pattern: Fluffy Bath Puff

The Perfect Fluffy Bath Puff

(Updated 07/12/10)

Because these bath puffs are made from a cotton blend by Lion Brand (50% cotton, 50% acrylic), I make them tight, but medium sized. Double crocheted (larger) 100% cotton bath puffs tend to get too heavy when they get wet. This size is good for a child or adult.

Materials: 1 ball of medium weight 50% cotton/50% acrylic and crochet hook K.

Round 1: Chain 3, loop the chain back to the 1st chain.  Add 15 single stitches in the center of the circle you just created.  Chain 40 -- This will form the hanger. Loop the chain (hanger) back to the beginning of round 1 and add 1 single stitch to connect the hanger and with the ring.

Round 2 thru 6: 6 single stitches in each chain of the 15 chains.

Finish off

NOTE:  It takes about 1 hour for 'intermediate' crocheters.

Visit HandmadeByAnnabelle on ETSY

 

Red White & Blue Linky Party

Link Up Your Favorite

Craft, People, or Scenery Pictures

of the 4th of July!

Quick post -- This is one of my favorite July 4th pictures.  We were at a local parade and this cute lady was so proud to be American!  I just had to get a picture of her.

Linky party rules:

1.  Post anything red white and blue - link to the post, not your main blog.

That's it - super easy, right?  Let's go!  What 'cha got?

Craftzine.com blog : How-To: Crochet Bangles For 4th of July

Yea! My little Red, White, and Blue Bangles made Craftzine Magazine: Click here to see: Craftzine.com blog : How-To: Crochet Bangles For 4th of July

Blog Link Party - Share Your Craft

CUTE and PRETTY FINDS

From Last Week's

Blog Link Party

Find these cute little custom made magnets at Vintage SHOUTING

Sweety Bird has such wonderful knitted baby blankets.

 

Grandma's little dress is so, well, I just want to have it!
Hope you join the party this week!

Making Friends on ETSY !

I Love Surprises!

Andrea from Swan River Stone surprised me today with a feature on her blog about my ecofriendly organic washcloths.  She probably found my blog through ETSY or maybe even FaceBook, not sure, but she has a beautiful blog!  Here's what she wants us to know about her and her blog:

SwanRiverStone's blog is "based on the three elements above- Grace, Balance, and Strength that is the story behind the name of my business SwanRiverStone.  The Swan is a bird who goes through alot of hell and clumsy growing pains in order to become the beautiful, graceful bird that it is- This is me."

Check out Andrea's beautiful jewelry - here's a quick sample of her 'prettiness:'

Blog Party! Show off Your Craft!

Click here for the free pattern to make these washcloths:  http://handmadebyannabelle.blogspot.com/2010/04/crochet-pattern-not-your-grandmas.html

Super Easy Chunky Crochet Bangle

5 Quick Steps to a

Great Chunky Bangle / Bracelet

Materials:

I used "Loops & Threads, Charisma, 100% acrylic yarn".  Just use up your scraps for this project.  Any yarn should work (cotton, bamboo, acrylic, etc.)

Steps:

1. Leave a 3 inch tail.
2. 25 single stitches.
3. Loop the last single stitch back to the first one and stitch together to form a ring.
4. Double crochet in each single stitch you made above.
5. Single stitch in each double crochet above.

Good luck !  Please leave a comment if you make these - link to your picture so we can see how they came out.

This is my own design!  Feel free to post it on your blog!

Willie Got All Wet! (The Cutest Cat Ever)

We had a huge storm the other night and Willie got caught in the rain.  When he came in, we wrapped him up in a duckie towel and dried him off.  He loved it - can't you tell !?!?!