Showing posts with label crochet. Show all posts
Showing posts with label crochet. Show all posts

Take a look at the CAST Shop of the Week, BlueBayCrochet. I don't know about where you are, but freezing temperatures hit us this past week and hats and mittens and other cold weather wear came out of hiding.  If you are in the same boat and are taking inventory of what you have already and what you'd like for your winter wear wardrobe this year, you'll enjoy browsing Rose's shop for hats, headbands, boot cuffs, scarfs, and more. 

Grey Boot Socks , Crochet Boot Cuffs



Please note that the only way to be featured as the CAST Shop of the Week is to tag your shop items "castteam" on Etsy and to not hide your teams in your Etsy profile. You will also have to have at least 12 items to feature. Those are the ways that I find great CAST shops to feature each week. 

CAST Members: If you have a minute or two, please feel free to favorite ♥ this shop or promote it on Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, or other social media.  Thanks!

by Sue of SueRunyonDesigns

Welcome Jackie of NorthernCottageGifts in Alaska.  Jackie's charming shop is stocked with crocheted items--including many that are great for summer wear. Look for boot cuffs, flower pins, chokers, scarfs hats and more.  Grab a cup of tea and enjoy a browse through NorthernCottageGifts. 

Lady Elizabeth Fuchsia Pink English Rose Crochet Flower Brooch Pin



Please note that the only way to be featured as the CAST Shop of the Week is to tag your shop items "castteam" on Etsy and to not hide your teams in your Etsy profile. You will also have to have at least 12 items to feature. Those are the ways that I find great CAST shops to feature each week. 

CAST Members: If you have a minute or two, please feel free to favorite ♥ this shop or promote it on Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, or other social media.  Thanks!

by Sue of SueRunyonDesigns

Say hello to Keil of LemonLaneOrganics Keil is an active member of the CAST who makes beautiful and inventive crocheted items for babies and children.  She also has a few other items, so please take a few minutes to browse her shop.  You are sure to find her models to be absolutely adorable.

Organic Baby Hat and Booties, Crochet Baby Girl Set, Coral Pink Peach Nectarine Organic Cotton, 0-3 month





Please note that the only way to be featured as the CAST Shop of the Week is to tag your shop items "castteam" on Etsy and to not hide your teams in your Etsy profile. You will also have to have at least 12 items to feature. Those are the ways that I find great CAST shops to feature each week. 

CAST Members: If you have a minute or two, please feel free to favorite ♥ this shop or promote it on Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, or other social media.  Thanks!

by Sue of SueRunyonDesigns
Brought to you by Collar Topia

I hope you are all enjoying the changing of the colors!  
Prayers go out to those who suffered loss due to Hurricane Sandy.

Totally Crosses
Todd Mike Glass
Cool and Beautiful
Custom Crochet By Terri
Bracelets By Linda
Made By Mandy 35
Primitive Quilting
Holmes Craft Jewelry Design

A Tribute to St. Patrick's Day  
By: Collar Topia

One traditional icon of the day is the shamrock. And this stems from a more bona fide Irish tale that tells how Patrick used the three-leafed shamrock to explain the Trinity. He used it in his sermons to represent how the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit could all exist as separate elements of the same entity. His followers adopted the custom of wearing a shamrock on his feast day.
The St. Patrick's Day custom came to America in 1737. That was the first year St. Patrick's Day was publicly celebrated in this country, in Boston. (http://wilstar.com/holidays/patrick.htm )

Luck of the Irish Green Stained Glass Shamrock













Silver Pendant Celtic Cross













Necklace - Irish crochet












Hand Painted 'I Love Being IRISH' Ceramic Plate













Celtic Knot Table Runner





Christmas is next weekend!  You might just have time to get something if you purchase today from your favorite CAST Team Shop and upgrade to Priority Mail. But even without a Christmas deadline, there may still be a need for some gorgeous warm scarves if you live in a cold climate.  SticksNStonesGifts has some beautiful crochet items and lots of other cool things to browse!

Pink Scarf Chunky Knit Soft Long Handmade



Please note that the only way to be featured as the CAST Shop of the Week is to tag your shop items "castteam" on Etsy and to not hide your teams in your Etsy profile. You will also have to have at least 12 items to feature. Those are the ways that I find great CAST shops to feature each week. 
Shannon of baruchslullaby has been a CAST Team member for a long time. She knits and crochets beautiful items in Wasilla, Alaska. I have one of these scarves in honeysuckle pink and it's lovely and soft and light enough to still work even though I've moved to the warmer weather of Florida.

Shannon and her family are in the process of adopting two children internationally and bringing them from an orphanage to a loving Christian home and family.  She's been having an auction of handmade items on her facebook page to help with the expenses of the adoption. There are still some late entries that are up until Monday (check the last few items in the album). Or you can donate from the button on Shannon's blog or do a little Christmas shopping from her shop if you'd like to help out.


romantic crochet lace scarf for women and teens, cotton and merino wool - pale sky blue, soft, all natural fibers, ready to ship



Please note that the only way to be featured as the CAST Shop of the Week is to tag your shop items "castteam" on Etsy and to not hide your teams in your Etsy profile. You will also have to have at least 12 items to feature. Those are the ways that I find great CAST shops to feature each week. 
posted by Melanie Arntsen of SqueakyBug Specialties

Introducing Ashley of CrochetASmile
Introduction:
Introducing Ashley of CrochetASmile! She is offering a giveaway of one of her adorable headbands. Go to her shop and look around. Come back here and leave a comment with your favorite item from her shop. Be sure to leave your email so we can contact you if you are the winner!
My name is Ashley and I am a SAHM of two crazy kids and one on the way! I have a 3 year old boy and a 1 year old girl. I am so blessed to have a wonderful husband and kids - even though life is usually pretty crazy! :)

How did you get your start on Etsy?:
I started crocheting stuffed animals for my daughter because she is pretty rough with her toys. I was always concerned that she would choke on the eyes or things on her other toys. So one day I made her own! All of my animals are completely child safe, which sounds silly, but they don't have any choking hazards - no buttons, beads or anything! I hand embroider eyes on - so that kids can play with them and they won't come apart! I kept crocheting stuffed animals and hats for gifts until people wouldn't stop asking me for my website! So I came to etsy...and here I am! :) I'm so grateful I took this step of faith - I love it and all the people I've met!!
How did you choose your shop name?
My shop name came one night while my husband and I were talking about my etsy store...I knew that I wanted my "logo" to be one of my stuffed animals smile...and there it was: CrochetASmile. Perfect, especially since I started mainly selling stuffed animals! :)
What does a typical day look like for you?
Ha, my typical day is anything but! I roll out of bed whenever my kids are up, usually far earlier that I am hoping for. Taking care of them, having fun, playing, and errands is most of the day - crocheting comes at nap time and bed time - those wonderful quiet hours - just me, some yarn, and my hook! (And sometimes my husband!)
If you could be anywhere in the world for one day, where would you be?
Easy - Hawaii...I would love to get away from this cold weather and be on a beautiful sunny beach! 
What is your favorite Bible verse?
Jer 29:11 - "I know the plans I have for you..." - I love this verse because I can be a worrier and am definitely a planner! But knowing that God has plans for me that are FAR better than mine is so comforting. Especially as a mom when I so badly want to control and create the best for my kids - God has an even better plan for them and me! How incredible is that?!
What is your favorite Etsy item listing to feature?
This is so hard to pick!! I love so many of my stuffed animals and hats!! I think it's between my giraffe and owl...I love my owl listed here Crochet Owl
Where else can we find you on the internet?
Thank you to Ashley for sharing her story and her creations with us!! Remember to visit her store and come back here to share your favorites. Leave your email address too for a chance to win her adorable handmade headband!!
by Melanie Arntsen of SqueakyBug Specialties

Introducing Kimberlyna Stowe
Kim is hosting a giveaway. A beautiful folded rose brooch (pictured to the right) will be awarded to the winner of Kim's giveaway.  To be entered to win, visit Kim's shop (ButterflyKissCrochet) and then come back HERE and leave a comment with your favorite item in her shop.  Please include your email so we can contact you if you are the winner. The winner will be announced on next Wednesday's Featured Artist post.

Introduction
My Grandma Vi made a crochet hat for my daughter right before she passed away in October 2008. She taught me how to crochet at age 10. I had only learned how to make crochet blankets. I was really missing her and having a hard time not having my grammy to talk to. In January it was very cold outside and my daughter pulled out Grandma Vi's hat from the closet and put it on. I had stored it away as a treasure, but my daughter wanted to wear it. God must have put the idea in my head....I thought I wonder if I could make a crochet hat? So I bought a hat book and purchased some patterns online. It looked overwhelming, but my husband told me I could do it. So I tried and the first hat in a round came out better than I thought. So I tried more, bought more colorful yarn and before I could blink I made over 50 hats. I gave some away, but I still had sooooo many, but my husband had an idea. He mentioned trying to sell them online. So I looked and looked. I tried a few websites, but they did not feel like a "good fit". So one day in Feburary of 2009 I stumbled upon Etsy! I fell in love with the website and started to get customers. Since then I just knew this would be a great artistic hobby. I think back about Grandma Vi from time to time, I wish she could be here with me and see what I created. Thanks to a combo of her teaching me and God blessing me with this artistic talent. My Aunt Diane said it best... "Mom (Grandma Vi) would have been so very proud of you and she would have been tickled pink she left you with this legacy to create."

How did you choose your shop name?
My daughter and I love butterflies very much. One day about 3 years ago an Oregon Swollowtail butterfly landed on my daughter's hat and it looked like she was kissing the flower on the hat. The hat happened to look like a crochet hat that I made so I thought it would be a perfect fit. We now raise butterflies so when we release them there happens to be a lot that flutter around and "kiss" us.

What does a typical day look like for you?
 A typical day starts out with worshiping the Lord. I love to sing for my morning Bible study to get the day started off right. I work with my father and mother in a natural health care and sports clinic. What a blessing to be with both of them and use my heart of mercy to help get other's back on their feet. My hours differ, so I come home and crochet and create before my husband leaves for work. We homeschool our daughter (well my husband mostly) so I hope in the future to be able to be a stay at home full time mom and Artist on Etsy. So we do have an interesting schedule. I supply our local Homeschool Group with hats every winter, and thinner open stitch hats in the summer. I also am a Client Advocate for our local Pregnacy Care Center (PCC) so I have openings in my schedule. I am able to help save lives in many way's including witnessing to the mother's in need. I have just started featuring Keepsake booties and baby hats that I give away at the PCC.

If you could be anywhere in the world for one day, where would it be?
If I could go anywhere in the world for one day, I think I would want to be in the Caribbean in one of the hut's that sit over the water. Ahhh to imagine that as paradise, how incredible will Heaven's Paradise be! Too detailed to possibly fathom. :)

What is your favorite Bible verse?
My favorite bible verse will always be John 3:16! I have other verses close to my heart, but this verse says the importance of here today as to what to do and what our future holds. As God makes available the "Free Gift".

What is your favorite Etsy item listing to feature?
Everything I make I use a lot of color or sparkle, so I am not sure what is my most favorite. I am adding a new artist item to my hats and also one seperately...rolled fabric flowers as brooches, fascinators, headbands and necklaces. So since it's new to me that, seems to be my favorite.

URLs where we can find you on the internet?
Blog: http://butterflykisscrochet.blogspot.com/

And the winner of last week's giveaway from Bob Loves Eleanor by way of random.org is Clare from Clare Packages! Congratulations Clare! Please look for the convo I am sending to both of you.

by Anastasia of Mattscraftywife



Introducing Rita Mascaro of sammysgrammy



Intro: I became enchanted with old things when, as a young wife, I began to furnish a home on a tight budget for four men (one hubby and 3 sons) with sturdy furniture. The salvation army was the first place I shopped. My eyes were opened to the endless possibilities of other people’s throw-aways.

How did you get started selling your crafts: The experience launched a wonderful hobby which I call “saling”, not the kind you do on the ocean but the kind you do at estate sales, moving sales, fundraiser sales, etc., etc.

What started out as a means to furnish my home soon became super saturation. I developed a distinct weakness for vintage buttons and linens. I needed to have an outlet for the many treasures I was carting home in my little hatchback. Soon I was making brooches with the buttons and angels with the linens. The Lord gave me revelation about the angels. That they were a picture of what happens in our life when we turn it over to him. The piece of linen may have come home from the estate sale all soiled, stained, wrinkled. I washed it and took whatever steps were needed to restore it to beautiful condition. It may have been used to do very mundane jobs like wipe a dish, dry hands, wipe a mouth, cover a pillow. But now it was just going to look beautiful and remind folks of the wonderful work of Jesus to make all things new. He gave me the verse from 2 Cor.5:17 - ….those who become Christians become new persons. They are not the same anymore, for the old life is gone. A new life has begun. (NLT) That launched my journey with craft sales

I opened my etsy shop a couple years after I saw a blurb about etsy in a magazine. I wish I had not procrastinated but I was timid about all the techno stuff. I still am slightly mystified, hence, my reluctance to dwell in the blogosphere, or on twitter, or even have a FB fan page.

How does a typical day look for me: It starts with devotions, check email for sales, inevitably get caught up in that and check the cast thread, the cast blog, other threads that I’ve posted in, etc., etc. Next, I might make something, photograph it, list it or relist something. I try to have some activity in my shop every day. I do the usual things that we all do each day. One thing I hope to add to my routine is EXERCISE.

If you could be anywhere in the world, where would it be?: There are so many places in the world I would like to visit for one day but the winner would have to be sitting on the beach in Cape May, NJ, watching the vast ocean waves breaking and splashing on the sand.

What is your favorite Bible Verse?: Again, so many verses are my favorite verse. Isn’t it wonderful how Holy Spirit draws out of the hidden spring just that perfect one when it’s needed. Here it is: 2 Cor. 1:20 “For as many as are the promises of God, they all find their YES in Him (Christ)” Amp.

Featured Item:

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=41486929

Check out all of Rita's fabulous items in her shop! She is such a great lady, a good Christian, and very talented!