You can't sit with us!

Happy Monday kitten's! I had a pretty swell weekend here in good ol' Austin. Friday was a very productive day for me. I met with a very kind and sweet Editor of a Publishing Company that may be interested in my crochet book. I don't want to say too much yet... not until I've actually been offered a deal and have officially signed paperwork and all. This whole book deal has been a HUGE learning experience for me. I've been living outside of my "comfort zone" these past few months and it's really tested me. I've accomplished so much already and have grown leaps and bounds this year and it's only February! 2014 and the beginning or 2015 has been a whirlwind for me with officially starting my little crochet business full time. I have taken on so many responsibilities which frightens me some days but I know in my heart it's good for me.

This tee shirt I made a long time ago! It was a little DIY project that I thought would be fun for me and my bestie. I went out to Hobby Lobby and bought the tee shirts and supplies and then it sat on my shelf for months and months. Ha! You know how that goes... I finally got around to ironing them on and gifted the other one which read: "On Wednesday we wear Pink" to my BFF Christopher for Christmas. I was hoping to wear them together and take a few pictures but that never really happened... maybe someday. I just love the movie "Mean Girls". I can watch it over and over again.... the funny thing is is that my High school (back in the day) was actually like that! There was one group of girls that made my life complete hell.... I couldn't wait to get out of there. I was always the quiet girl that was more of a loner. I never really got along with girls and preferred to hang out with boys instead. Was anyone else like that? I was really into photography and music (though nobody probably knew that). 

I still have horrible flash backs from my High School days. I can't believe some of the things these girls would do to each other and to other people. I'm glad those days are over. It's strange... I didn't really blossom or come into my own until I was in College and even then I struggled to understand myself. It literally wasn't till I was in my 30's that I actually started to feel like I got to know "the real me". I started to care less what other people thought and that is really what set me free. This last year has been a real "eye opener" for me. I finally feel like a real adult. I turn 34 at the end of this month and am quite thrilled with my life and where I am thus far. I couldn't say that two years ago! 

It's true what they say... that if you want something bad enough, you have to make it happen. I seriously believe I'm a true testament to that statement. There literally was a turning point in my life that I knew I had to make severe changes for the better... and I did. I've never been happier with myself... which is really strange and new for me. 

In other news, I've been crocheting my little heart out while I watch "America's Next Top Model" on Hulu. I'm addicted to it. I love watching the challenges and love watching them get extreme makeovers. 

It never gets old to me.... I started watching them from season 1 and am now on season 4. Ha! I've got a long way to go... aren't there 12 seasons now?

I'm also super excited about some new shows that I've applied to this year! Let's hope I get accepted! I applied for "The Renegade Craft Fair", which I've done before but it's now in a new location on the east side of Austin (where I live) and looks to be more promising. I hope so because it's a pretty penny for the booth fee. I also applied to "The Little Craft Show" in Arkansas! I'm nervous and excited about this one. If I get accepted I'm traveling with some close crafty girlfriends of mine so it should be fun. Last but not least, I applied to a smaller show in March called "Austin Flea" which I've done before as well. Later I'll apply to "Pop Shop America" located in Houston and the "Austin Craft Riot Summer Show" and all the regular Christmas shows at the end of the year. How exciting! I better crochet my buns off! 

Okay... I'm not quite sure about my eyebrows here. I tried to fill them in a sculpt them but I may have taken it to the extreme. As you know... I've been playing around more with my look and makeup and sometimes just don't quite get it right. They may be too bold and too dark... I don't know. I usually ask my Husband but he wasn't here on this day. 

Let's just pretend that you can't see the little remote in my hand. Ha ha! Taking your own images is hard ya'll! There's always one image where the remote makes a cameo. 

I hope everyone had a swell weekend! Now it's back to my routine of working out, eating right and crocheting. Thanks for stopping by... I adore all your sweet comments!

xoxo

Jeans: Old Navy

Tee Shirt: DIY

Cardigan: Old Navy

Scarf: Hobby Lobby

Shoes: Target

Lipstick: Revlon "I love that Red"

Marshmallow pattern!!

Howdy! I have a very fun, quick and easy crochet pattern for you all to try out. I must admit... these Marshmallow's are pretty darn cute and make great gifts. Why, they are even easy enough that  beginners can join in the fun!

What you'll need....

Yarn: White medium weight yarn. I use "I love that yarn".

Doll eyes: You can purchase these at most craft stores. I bought mine from Hobby Lobby.

Floss: Any craft store carries floss... you can find it in the embroidery section. 

Hook: 4.0mm. 

Scissors: For obvious reasons.

Darning needle: (not shown) This is also in the embroidery section of craft stores.

Polyfill: (not shown) Usually sold in the fabric section of craft stores. I use "Morning Glory".

Okay! Now you are all set!

Step 1: Chain 2. 

Step 2: 6sc into 2nd chain from the hook. Pull loose tail string tight to close up the hole. 

We are working in what's called "the magic circle".

It should look like this above.... 

Row 1: *2 sc in every sc*. = 12sc.

Row 2: *1sc in 1st sc, 2sc in 2nd sc* repeat around. =18sc.

It should look like this above...

Through back loops only!

Row 3: 1sc all around (through back loops only) = 18sc.

This will shape your little Marshmallow!

Row 4-7: 1sc in every sc all around. = 18sc.

Now you are starting to see the shape of your little Marshmallow. This is also the point where you place the eye's in and stitch a "V" shape for the mouth.

(Through back loops only) 

Row 8: *1sc in 1st sc, dec in the next* repeat around. = 12sc.

Row 9: *1sc in 1st sc, dec in the next* repeat around. = 6sc.

Now it's time to stuff your little Marshmallow full of polyfill!

It's time to close this cute little Marshmallow up! 

Row 10: Dec in every sc closing up the Marshmallow. Sl st in the very last sc and pull yarn through.. leaving a little tail to weave into the bottom. 

Voila! You are all finished! 

I hope you enjoy this pattern as much as I have. I would love to see images of any finished projects. Also, please e-mail me any corrections or errors that you encounter. I crochet these the day before and then wrote/typed the pattern out by memory the next day (not as I was crocheting them). Ha ha!

Enjoy!

xoxo

cre`me dela cre`me

Well, it's a new week and I'm back at home... ready to get some work done. The Mister and I went camping at Mustang Island in Port Aransas, Texas this weekend. It's been awhile since we really "roughed it" like we did this time around. I have to admit... I was pretty miserable both nights. The mosquito's were in full effect and we literally had swarms of them following us around wherever we went. We could not escape them. We even made an emergency stop at CVS to get some deep woods fogger and body spray as well as candles but we still got eaten alive. 

We did have one beautiful day at the beach though... it was perfect weather. The sun was shining and the sky was blue. We ended up packing it all up early the last day and staying at a cheap hotel that we really like in Port A... and I'm glad we did because that night a cold front came through and it rained on our way back home. It was nice being with just one dog (Lucy) during the trip. It reminded me of 

"the good ol' days" when it was just the three of us... pre Sophie. My BFF Christopher watched our youngest and wildest pup while we were away. The Mister and I didn't think she'd be able to handle camping. Turns out... none of us could handle it. Ha!

So this is a fun little cream blouse that I bought awhile ago from Target. I wasn't sure how I was going to wear it... so I improvised and came up with this simple and classy ensemble last minute. I'm not going to be able to wear these faux leather leggings for much longer so I need to get all the use out of them as I can before it starts getting warm here in Spring. I love these leggings but they sound so horrible like old school windbreaker pants. It's so embarrassing!

I've got a lot on my schedule for this Spring.... I'm hoping to apply to some new Craft Shows here soon. Keep you fingers crossed for me! Eeeeeep. I've also been crazy busy trying to finish up my book proposal and will hopefully be meeting with some Editors/Publishing Companies in the next week. I'm super nervous! 

In other news... the Mister and I have some home improvements that we hope to get accomplished this before or during Springs such as; painting the house and putting in a little walk way from the back of our porch to the Studio. We'll see, it's just a matter of money and time.

We also hope to get our Spring Garden started here soon as well. We really scaled back on our garden over the years just because it was such an effort to maintain it and water it. It's literally half the size that it was when we first moved here but that's fine by me. I mean... we do have two dogs, 5 chickens and not to mention a small business that I (we) are trying to keep up on. So, we are kinda busy elsewhere in our lives now. I do love fresh herbs in the Summer though.... that's my favorite. 

I almost forgot... I also have a Birthday coming up at the end of February. I'm going to be the young age of 34! I can't even believe it. I really don't feel 34... not that being 34 is a bad thing. I just don't feel like a "typical" 34 year old should I suppose.... maybe it's because I don't have kids and don't have that whole other level of responsibility perhaps. I do feel like I've grown and matured a ton in this past year. In fact, I feel more like a real adult than I ever have in my life. Probably due to some life changing decisions that I have made as well as learning to "not care as much" and just accept myself as I am. 

I don't plan on doing much for my Birthday... I really only believe in celebrating the major milestones so 35 will be a big one for me as well as 40. I plan on hanging out with a few close friends and maybe having a drink and then turning in early. I'm such a party animal. Lol! 

Hope everyone had a happy and fun Valentine's or Galentine's Day. Thanks for stopping by my little corner of the world. Later kittens!

xoxo

Blouse: Target

Leggings: Old Navy

Shoes: Thrifted 

Sunnies: Target

Earrings: Target

Lipstick: Revlon "Love that Red"

Valentine's Day!

Happy Valentine's Day everyone!!! 

xoxo

Everything red...

You can't go wrong with classic red nails....

What a beautiful little window and a fabulous shade of cold red.

A classy Valentine's Day Dress.

The most lovely red bow leather gloves....

A romantic Picnic in the snow! Brrrrrrr......

Lush red lips.

Just a tiny accent of red....

A very bohemian red dress for  casual night out or in with the one you love.

xoxo

Follow along with me on Pinterest.

All about that Bass....

Hello there kitty cats! Happy Monday! This is sort of an older post that I've been meaning to share. I'm wearing a borrowed dress from Hannah of The Braided Bandit. I didn't expect it to be so fluffy but fell in love with it's fullness right away. This is one of those really fun dresses to wear. 

It was rather chilly when I shot these images so I decided to pair the sleeveless dress with a black blazer by LC from Kohl's. This blazer is a major key piece in my wardrobe... I think every one should at least have a black blazer in their closet to pull out in case of a fashion emergency. It's really a great "go to" item that I've worn over and over again these last few years. 

I bought this nifty little head wrap from Forever 21 online about a month ago and it was just in time for the cold weather. I just love these head wraps... they are too cute. I used to shy away from accessories such as these because I never thought or exactly knew how to "pull it off"... but I think I'm doing an okay job. I just love trying new things and taking on more fashion risks. Some people don't consider this head wrap a fashion risk but in the past I did.... now I'm changing the way I think and the way I accessorize.

I'm also trying new things with makeup... can you tell I'm wearing teal eye liner? I normally wouldn't do this everyday but it matched Hannah's dress pretty darn well and I thought... why not? Ha!

In other news... I've been a busy little bee with crochet work. I had a few orders to fill last week and got a crazy huge shipment of wooden plaques in that I need to un-wrap and stain. The worst part is peeling off the all the stickers. As silly as that sounds, it really takes a lot of time and it wrecks my nails. Booooo! I guess it's a small price to pay for having my "dream job". It really is the best... I get to stay at home with my two puppies and crochet all day as I watch Netflix and Hulu. I also get to make my own hours and can devote all the time I want to working out and getting into the best shape ever. I couldn't ask for more.... this last year has been the best year of my life. I've really learned so much about not only myself but how to run a business and manage my own money. I also am so blessed to have made some major accomplishments as well, in my personal life and in my career. 

As you all may know... I'm slowly trying to turn my bloggy into more of a lifestyle crafting blog rather than a fashion based blog. I still love to play dress up and will always forever be "expressing myself" through fashion but I want to touch more on my little crochet business, gardening, recipes and our family adventures traveling around in Texas. That's really what I set out to achieve when I first launched my blog in 2010 but since then my life has taken different twists and turns but now I'm back to blogging on broader topics. You'll still see me dress up though.... I hope everyone had a fabulous weekend. The weather here in Austin was amazing!!! 

xoxo

Dress: Borrowed from Hannah of The Braided Bandit.

Blazer: Lauren Conrad at Kohl's

Shoes: Target

Head wrap: Forever 21

Color me playful....

Hey there kitty cats! It's Hump Day and boy am I excited that it's getting closer to the weekend. I don't really have anything special planned per say but I always enjoy more time hanging out with my man. This week has been pretty crappy (weather wise).... can you tell? I'm trying to stay upbeat and positive but sometimes the cold rain makes it so hard. I'm that type of gal that needs to get out and play in the sun. Le sigh......

Let's talk about this super colorful vintage dress I'm wearing... you like? It was the most awkward length when I purchased it from a thrift store and has literally been sitting in my closet for years just waiting to be altered. I finally broke down and bought a new sewing machine a few months ago and this was one of the first things I altered. It's a wee bit on the short side but I have some left over fabric that I could add on to the bottom. I like my skirts and dresses short because I myself am short and also because my legs are one of my best assets.... if you got it, flaunt it. 

 I think I'm taking a cue from my gal pal  Marisa of The Shades of Monet Chronicles.... she is always bright and colorful. It was actually chilly enough for me to break out my colored tights... which I have a huge collection of in my sock drawer. I'm pretty sure Marisa probably has a huge collection as well. Lol.

The sunnies were just an afterthought. I suppose they really don't go with the whole "feel" of this outfit but then again... I wasn't trying to be too "matchy matchy". 

This darling little cake brooch I bought from "Squirrel with Hammer" while I was at a show in Houston this Christmas. It was just too cute to pass up.... my sister Taryn got one as well. 

Does anyone have any awesome Valentine's Day plans? I think the Mister and I are just going to spend a cozy night in together... maybe we will make a nice dinner and watch a movie or something. We love being at home with our puppies and cuddling on the couch rather than going out to a crowded restaurant and spending money. Hope everyone is having a great work week... I know I am.

xoxo

Dress: Thrifted

Tights: Target

Shoes: Target

Sunnies: Urban Outfitters

Brooch: Squirrel with Hammer