New Store up and running

Happy Monday Everyone!!! I hope you made it through the weekend ok.  I have finally gotten my groove back :)  I struggled for a few weeks with many different things and hated how I felt.  I burnt a batch of Peanut Clusters (my daughter asked how that was even possible...lol) and then burnt a batch of homemade oldfashioned fudge.  The Cakepops that I worked all day on for some youth in my area - well - The dipping chocolate didn't work out for that either :(

It's a new week and I have chosen to focus on making myself a better person instead of focusing on everything that seems to keep going wrong.  Since doing this, things have quickly started to look up for me! 

While I still have my Etsy shop running, I'm not huge on paying a bunch of fees. It seems that in order for your items to actually be seen by a wide variety of potential customers you have to pay extra for your product to show up in search results and other things.  I came across Storenvy.com and have decided to give it a try.  It is completely free for me to use and is accessible through my FaceBook page for followers to view.  I'm excited to give this a try and hope for the best.

My NFL Mohawk hats are back up and very popular, so my focus has been on trying to get a bunch of them readily available for people to order instead of having a wait time for me to make them.  While I do have a few still ready to go, most have been going quickly - such a great feeling to know that others enjoy what I make :)
Here is a link to my shop: http://www.storenvy.com/CraftingFriends

Many of the dresses that are ready are priced at 50% off to try and make some room for more designs when I get time to get back into designing.
The photos shown are few of the Hats that are ready to ship.

December Thoughts

Happy December my Friends!  Can you believe that the year is almost over?  I have been truely blessed this year.  We have had our ups and downs like everyone else, but we have a roof over our heads and food in the cupboards and have no serious health problems...who could ask for more?

I met a sweet lady yesterday at the boutique in town where I sell some of my items.  She is having a rough time right now and my heart aches for her.  She recently had surgery and lost 2 nephews (brothers) all within a few weeks.  Her neighbors and church "friends" did not take the time to check on her and I am just floored!  Are we that busy with our lives that we don't notice?   There are so many posts being shared on FaceBook about giving and sharing and serving and remembering the true meaning of Christmas.  I hope that more people will be willing to actually put forth the effort to do those things and not just click a button to share and pretend that it means something. 

I was in a hurry last night and my 3 daughters were waiting in the car for me.  Though I listened to her trials and hugged her while she cried, I admit that I should have done more.  I am a complete stranger, and was there to comfort her - but I think that I will see if I can find out who she really is and where she lives and do something for her.  She seems familiar to me, but I failed to even ask her name...I myself need to be better and I will be putting more effort into serving others.

How well do you know your neighbors?

21 Days of Thankful Giveaway Day 21

Today, I am thankful for the many people in th past who were very strong willed to have traveled as far as they did from other countries and struggled as much as some of them did in order to come to a new land and give us the Amazing country that we have now. Tomorrow will be a day of reflecting on the things we have that we are thankful for and spending time with family. I Love the Thanksgiving Holiday and I truely appreciate all that I have been blessed with! I know that there are many out there who do not have the means to celebrate as many of us do at this time and my prayers are with them. My heart aches for those who are struggling right now and though I don't have much to help anyone out, I have done and will do what I can in my local area to try and lighten their burden.

For some reason, Rafflecopter is not working for me this morning. It is not allowing me to choose a winner for yesterdays giveaway (I will keep trying until it works) or load todays.

So, for todays giveaway of the Swirly Whirly Child's Sundress pattern, you will need to leave a comment on my Facebook day 21 post here: Crafting Friends on FB letting me know what your favorite part of Thanksgiving is.  I will give each entry a # and use Random.org to draw a winner tomorrow. 

Remember: Only 1 prize/winner and exchanges are not allowed. 

Happy Thanksgiving to all of you and please travel safe!
Kate

21 Days of Thankful Giveaway Day 20

a Rafflecopter giveaway

I am thankful for wonderful neighbors!  Each of my girls have a good relationship with many neighbors and it's comforting to know that if we ever have any trouble, they are there for us.  It's also fun to watch my little toddlers when they play pretend.  Lately they have pretended to be our neighbors :)  I think sometimes, they have enough of me since they are with me all day every day and it's good that they have other great examples in their lives.  I believe that trying to make the world a better place has to start in your home first and then in your community and we are blessed to live in the area that we do!

The pattern for today's giveaway is the Swirly Whirly Sundress size NB-4T

21 Days of Thankful Giveaway Days 18 & 19

a Rafflecopter giveaway

I am off a day again :(  I didn't even get on the computer yesterday, so we will have 2 patterns up for grabs today.  The 1st winner will receive the Ribbon & Lace Infant size pattern and the 2nd winner will receive the Ribbon & Lace Toddler size pattern. 

Today, I am thankful for the rain!!!  We really need it and a good amount of snow this winter to get us the moisture we will require next year.  Last night, we had a good ole thunderstorm with lightening that lit up the entire sky and I loved it!  :)  I remember as a young kid, we would sit in the living room with the big windows and just watch the storm and count how long between the thunder and lightening.  If we were lucky, my parents would come in and we would all sit around and listen to ghost stories.  One of the stories my dad would always tell had to do with the cemetary.  After he would tell it, he would dare us to drive out to the cemetary and run across the length of it alone....Ummmm....NO Thanks!  I would get scared just walking upstairs alone in the dark after that.  I swear there really is a ghost in their house!

21 Days of Thankful Giveaway Day 16

a Rafflecopter giveaway

I am very thankful we have a home.  Sometimes it would be nice to have more than 1 bathroom, BUT we have a home that is ours.  We are blessed to have a roof over our heads and heat to keep us warm each night.  I know there are many, many families who have lost their homes recently due to the storms or economy and my heart goes out to them and prayers are with them that they may find their own, or fix their own home soon.  It is such a comfort to not have to worry about things like that and I do not take it for granted!

The pattern for today's giveaway is the Princess Britt Toddler size.  Good luck!

21 Days of Thankful Giveaway Day 15

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Today's pattern for the giveaway is the Princess Britt Infant Size.   This is one of my favorites!  And with the release of my Bubble Baby Sweater,  It would be a cute outfit for christmas for any little one. 

The Bubble Baby Sweater pattern can be purchased
on Ravery: http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/bubble-baby-sweater

or on Craftsy: http://www.craftsy.com/pattern/crocheting/clothing/bubble-baby-sweater/36511

 

Today, I just want to let you all know how Thankful I am for you!!!  When I started all of this blogging/FaceBook stuff for my craft, I never imagined it would grow so much and it's all thanks to you.  I know that the #'s of fans don't really count because not everyone "truely" follows, but I have made many, many True friends who I may have never met, but have made a difference in my life and I thank each and every one of you :)

 

Remember: Only 1 prize/person, so if you have already won a pattern in this giveaway and enter again, your entry will be deleted to give others a chance to win.  Exchanges will not be given.

Thanks again to all of you who support Crafting Friends!

21 Days of Thankful Giveaway Day 14

a Rafflecopter giveaway

As you saw in a previous photo from this giveaway, I live near the mountains. I have mentioned that one of my favorite things to do as a family is ride through the mountains during the fall to see the leaves change colors and the wildlife. 

 

I am thankful that my daughters all have an appreciation for animals (pets and wildlife).  This tiny little guy found it's way to our friends house and Brook was able to pet it.  Very Cool!  I Love wildlife and my favorite to see is the Grey Wolf.  I know they can be destructive, but they are beautiful.  I would love to have a tiny dog for a house pet, but my allergies will not allow it right now.  We do have a Red Heeler that Brodie has had forever and he is spoiled by the girls.  He is a good dog and is getting old, so I do feel bad that he is outside.  I have put quilts in his doghouse to help keep him warm and the stinker always pulls them out.  The girls will let him in every once in a while because they feel bad that it's cold out side, and I'll let him stay for a bit, but I get stuffed up quick :(

 

The pattern for today's giveaway is the Emerald City Child size.  Congrats to all those who have won so far and good luck to everyone who enters over the next week!

Remember: Only 1 prize/winner.  Duplicate enterants will be deleted.  Exchanges are not allowed.
Happy Wednesday my Friends!
Kate

 

21 Days of Thankful Giveaway Day 13

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Today I am thankful for Creativity.  If you would have asked me just over a year ago to crochet some baby clothing, I probably would have said no.  For some reason, it intimidated me.  Yet, here we are a year later and I am designing my own clothing patterns :)  I Love it and have enjoyed seeing the finished items, hearing my girls compliment everything I do and also being able to see what others have made with my patterns and little ones wearing things I designed!  What a joy it has brought to my life.

I will be releasing my Bubble Baby Sweater pattern tomorrow (size 0-3mo only) SO,  for today's giveaway, I will have 2 winners.  The first winner chosen will receive the Emerald City Toddler pattern.  The second winner chosen will receive the Bubble Baby Sweater pattern.

Remember - ONLY 1 prize per winner throughout this giveaway.  Any enterants who have already won will be deleted in order to give everyone a chance to win.  Exchanges will not be given.
Good Luck!

21 Days of Thankful Giveaway Day 12

a Rafflecopter giveaway

I appologize that I missed posting the Thankful day yesterday.  There were enteries though, so I was able to choose a winner.  Thank you to all of you who stay on top of things!

Today I am thankful for power.  There was an accident a couple of blocks away from our home on Saturday night and it took the power out for a few hours. luckily there were not serious injuries! I learned that I need to be a little more prepared and hide the flashlights from the little ones.  All of the batteries were dead except for 1 flashlight.  Luckily, Brodie had his big lantern in the shed along with a heater, so we were able to pull out the couch bed for the girls and I read to them and we had a little fun before they fell asleep.  It was kind of funny to watch them the next morning...they went from room to room turning each light on to check and make sure everything worked.


Today's pattern for the giveaway is the Emerald City Infant size.