Two on Tuesday

Things that are making me happy today:

1.  Finding a new blog that I've never read before while browsing crochet patterns online.  While searching for a football applique yesterday, I clicked on a link for an owl applique (I LOVE owls!!), and I came across Laura's blog at Love the Blue Bird.  I'm in love!  Laura's crochet work is beautiful, and after spending quite a bit of time reading her previous posts, I didn't come across a single photograph that wasn't an outstanding representation of her work.  I may need lessons!!  Thanks for the patterns and ideas you've shared as well Laura, I've definitely added a few more projects to my ever growing to-do list!

***Just had to add in two more new blogs that I came across today***

I haven't had the chance to do much more than read their "about me" and scan the most recent posts, but I've started following both on Bloglovin' and wanted to share with you all as well!

Sarah of Sarahndipities

Chi Wei of One Dog Woof

2.  I think 2014 is really gonna be my year for the blog, ETSY shop and Facebook page!  I've been having so much fun linking them together and coming up with more creative things/ways to blog.  Here's hoping the excitment lasts past January ;-)

Speaking of, I'm asking my Facebook friends to vote on which caption they like best for the photo I posted yesterday.  Hop on over now and be sure to LIKE the photo (not the post) for your favorite caption!  Please spread the news too - little Elsie is toooooo adorable to not share!

Option One:

 Option Two:

The polar vortex has made it's way to WNY.  My jeep said -18 on my way to work this morning and the wind chills were said to be around -34.  I've yet to warm up from my venture from the car to the office, and I'm convinced that it should be illegal to have to leave your house (or jammies!!) on a day like today.  I hope that all of you are safe and warm, and if you're really lucky, crocheting in front of a warm fire!

Owl you need is LOVE

Over the summer I received a request from a good friend, and former colleague to make an owl hat for her very adorable baby girl!  She had seen pictures of the hat I'd previously made in purple (posted here), and thought it would be adorable on Elsie.  

 

Thankfully she's a patient and understanding friend, cause it took me about 4 months to get Elsie's hat in the mail!!  

 

 I just LOVE this pattern from Sarah over at Repeat Crafter Me!!  It's easy to follow, provides sizing for newborn through adults and looks totally different (at least to me) with each new color it's made in

I can't wait to find some "free" time to make a few in adult sizes.

 

I am happy to say that the finished product made it's way to Virgina before Christmas and the DC metro region is getting all this cold weather (along with basically everyone in North America!) so there are still loads of opportunities for Elsie to get lots of use out of her new hat.

Her mom sent me this picture yesterday and I just can't get over how CUTE she looks!!

Hop on over to my Facebook page today, and help me caption this photo!!

And a big thanks to her mom for letting me share these pictures with you.

A bit of housekeeping

No…not actual housework, don’t be silly ;-)  Just a little housekeeping in blogging/crafty land that I thought I’d share.

Mostly I wanted to make sure everyone knew I was still alive, well, crafting!  

My “real job” has been excessively busy, and when not in the office I have been pretty single-mindedly focused on 3 big baby gift projects that I needed to get done.   I know; I’ve known for how many months that these women were pregnant, and I waited until the last minute on all three gifts?  Of course!  There will a post soon about all the BABY LOVE I’ve been feeling these days J

On to the “housekeeping”:

Over the weekend I finally got around to publishing my Crafty Holly Louise Facebook page!  There’s not a whole lot to see just yet, but if you’re on FB, please follow the link above to LIKE my page.  I plan to post “in progress” photos there when I don’t have enough to say to warrant a blog post here.  There will also be big announcement, hopefully very soon, about my custom order offerings through FB as well.  Please, stay tuned!

My second announcement is really more beneficial to me, but for anyone who hasn’t tried out Bloglovin’ yet, [I think] I highly recommend it!  I had heard about Bloglovin’ in the past, and had checked it out, but saw no need for it at the time.  I have always been pretty happy with following up on new posts through my Blogger feed.  Then the past couple of weeks happened and I’m now sooooooooooo far behind on all my favorite blogs!  I was feeling a bit bummed about this, until I added said blogs to my Bloglovin’ account earlier today and the following happened:

1.       I realized how easy it was to use, and see what I’ve missed

2.       I haven’t missed nearly as much as I thought I had

3.       There’s an app for that!  I’m very happy to have a way to keep up when “on the road” that looks almost like I’m reading my Facebook feed – I am a creature of habit.

That’s all for now crafty friends – I don’t want to ruin the reveal for all that I’ve been working on lately (though if you LIKE Crafty Holly Louise on Facebook, you’ll get to see pictures there)

Like how I snuck that in one last time? J