SHOP ANNOUNCEMENT

I can’t believe it’s already the last week of November! Seriously, where did the month go. Every week I’ve been giving away crochet on instagram to celebrate the month of thanks, which may have contributed to the weeks flying by! Come Monday, I will be posting the last giveaway. Here’s a sneak peek…

Also, shop announcement!

Next week is the LAST week for orders, then shop will close on December 1st!

I do this every year, as it is the best time for me to take a vacation to enjoy the holidays with my family. Jeff is done with finals in a few weeks, and Ewan will be out of school for Christmas break, and I can’t wait to spend some slow down, quality time together.

Hugs and HUGE THANKS for all the love you guys show for my crochet goods. XO!

CROCHET AT THE FALL FAIR

Well, we did it! After weeks of preparation and endless crochet, we filled our first booth! Setup started at 6:30am, and we were non-stop til 3pm. It was a long, happy day. We saw so many familiar faces, hugged friends, met new friends, chatted with experienced vendors around us. The best part was sharing our crochet in person, letting people try on bows and hats and scarves, see the vibrant colors up close, feel the softness of the yarn we carefully choose to work with... it was such a sweet feeling, all of it.

// Jessie and her girls

// our favorite Lindsay 

// little bow beauties

// Lauren, 8 months pregnant and looking like a rockstar

// Felicia's best friend Darla, and mama Tami

And some instagrams shared from the day using the hashtag #isawcalikatandfe...

...which included a giveaway. Elisse Stenlake, you won! Cowl and Bows coming your way!

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Thank you to everyone that came out, and for all the support sent via text, instagram comments, etsy shop messages... we felt the love. XO!

SAVE THE DATE - HOLIDAY SHOP

Save the date! My sister and I will be selling our handmade crochet in Temecula on Saturday, October 5th. We're both excited and nervous, as this will be our first time doing a holiday craft fair booth. And to start to feeling somewhat prepared, we worked a mock-up of our table today...

a small preview, come see it all next saturday!

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Temecula Valley Museum Holiday Baazar

Saturday, October 5th

9am - 3pm

Sam Hicks Monument Park

28314 Mercedes Street

Temecula, CA

(our booth will be located near the gazebo)

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And after visiting our booth, stay and visit:

Old Town Temecula Farmer's Market, and

The 15th Annual Temecula Outdoor Quilt Show

with hundreds of quilts hanging from eaves and balconies

it's going to be a beautiful Saturday in Old Town!

DOLL CROCHET

My best friends daughter (my first niece!) turned seven last week, and got her very first American Girl doll. And every doll needs accessories. So I crocheted a blanket, pillow, and doll-sized calikatrina bow just for her.

Happy Birthday Abby!!

PORTFOLIO

So I don't have a professional portfolio, but if I did, this work I did last year would go right in it.

Babiekins Magazine, PRINT ISSUE!!

available here //

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Misha Lulu!! Crochet BOW used in styling, Fall 2012 collection.

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Another requested custom piece for Babiekins!!

as seen on Babiekins and Juneberry Photo //

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And a favorite BOW studio session!

also photographed by Juneberry Photo //

It was an amazing, exciting year!

And I bought enough copies of that magazine to save for every one of my future grandchildren. :)

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And available February 6th: Babiekins Magazine, Issue 11!

Photos by Deb Schwedhelm and Jessie Kenney // For Babiekins Magazine

Piles and piles of a million thanks to Heather, Jessie, Priscila. xo!

POM POM WREATH TUTORIAL

I posted this picture on instagram today, and was asked for a tutorial. Bam! Here it is.

A baby napping, and some afternoon light and iphone snaps, made this a quick one to share.

You need: yarn. scissors. cardboard. and not pictured... a wreath! I used a cheap styrofoam one I had.

(and not needed but pictured, a crochet hook. I don't know why I stuck that in there, ha!)

Cut a piece of cardboard 2.5 inches wide. The bigger the width, the bigger the pom pom.

Cut a slit, slide a piece of yarn through it.

Then take the yarn from the skein and start wrapping around the cardboard.

I wrapped 40 times per pom pom for these.

Now, use the piece of yarn you placed in the cardboard slit and tie a knot around your wrapped yarn.

Then slide the whole thing off. Make sure it's tied tight.

Start cutting through the loops and see your pom pom begin to pop open!

Give it a little trim around the edges to make it even and round.

Wrap your wreath in yarn to give it a finished look.

Then use those two long pieces of yarn left on your pom pom, and tie them all on your wreath.

Done! Now find a pretty place to hang it...

And as you can see, the poms continued to a garland on the mantel.

You can never have too many pom poms.

Let me know if you make one!

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pom pom wreath inspired by this years anthropologie holiday collection.

red yarn wreath made last year, using a modified version of goodknit's pattern.

Added note: yarn used is Lion Brand, Hometown USA Super Bulky, in Houston Cream color