Christmas Greetings

Merry Christmas! I know it was yesterday, but anyways, I hope you all had a great one. This year has just flown by and here were are about to say Happy New Year again. My mind is still processing where all of the days have gone. November I did quite a bit of traveling. I spent weekends in Gainsville, FL; St. Peterburg, FL and Orlando, FL. I love road trips for any reason. It's a nice way to get away from reality for a day or two.

It has been an extremely warm winter so far. That is honestly nothing knew in Miami. The cold tends to come in January and February. One year it would be nice not to have an 80 degree Christmas. I know for many of you it has been a rather cold winter so far. I'm sending you warm wishes and in turn you can send your cold ones to me. :)

I have been doing a little creating. I confess I haven't done any cross stitching since I finished that model stitch two months ago. It hasn't been published yet to my knowledge. I have been planning what I want to do for 2017. It will be the year of UFO's. When I moved to my house back in April, it really opened my eyes to the number of UFO's I have. It's quite ridiculous honestly so I'm going to focus on those more next year.

These are new items I created for my Etsy store. If you click on the link above the picture, you will be taken directly to the listing in my store.

Beaded Stitch Markers for Crochet and Knitting:

Blue Stitch Markers

Pink Stitch Markers

Pink and Green Stitch Markers

Blue and Yellow Scissor FOB

Blue and Pink Scissor FOB

Blue Scissor FOB

Ladies "To the Peak" Cap

Baby Beanie

Man's Beanie

Thank you for visiting! I hope you have a wonderful New Years!

**Hugs and Love from Miami**

Jen

Crocheting Away...

Just as the title states, I've been crocheting away when my free time has allowed. It's been a busy couple of weeks. Not to mention, a yucky bug decided to visit me and ground me on my couch with a fever all day Saturday. That wasn't what I had in mind for a relaxing Thanksgiving weekend! I did manage to finish a hat and scarf set on Friday for my Etsy store. 

The scarf measures 3 1/2" wide and 65" long without the fringe.

Here's a closeup of the yarn. It is a soft bulky acrylic yarn with iridescent metallic weaved in. It gives the white such a lovely, elegant glitz. I'm sure it would just sparkle beautifully in the sunlight.

I am having so much fun crocheting scarfs that I've decided to make a couple for Christmas presents. I will post a pic of all of them once they are completed. So far I've made one out of four that I have planned. I'm trying to pace myself to get everything done before Christmas. I have some bags in mind to sew as well. I also have my nieces baby blanket to finish for Christmas also. My sister brought the baby all the way from Hong Kong and they will be in town till after New Years. The baby is so adorable!

It's going to be a busy month! There is lots to do. I have another weekend trip to Orlando planned, again to Disney! I am waiting for Winter to make its annual three day appearance, hopefully its longer than that. The rain just doesn't want to go away it seems.

Thank you for visiting. I hope you have a fabulous week. Thank you for all of your lovely comments too.

**Hugs and Love from Sunny Miami**

Jen

Falling in Love with Crochet Again.

It is absolutely storming here today in "Sunny" Miami as I write this post. In fact, it has been like this everyday since the end of May. It is turning out to be another typical summer for Miami where it rains every single day at the same time. Well, at least the rain keeps me indoors and out of trouble in the craft stores. How's the summer weather where you are?

These last few weeks I have been busy playing with Yarn. I enjoy knitting but I am finding that I enjoy crochet more. Perhaps that is because I am still new to knitting and don't have much experience yet with it. I am on a mission to learn how to make socks though. I just have to master those crazy double pointed needles. 

After about the 6th attempt at starting socks, I decided to pick up my crochet hooks again. I have so much yarn stash that I have decided to use it up for projects for my Etsy Store. I have come to realize in the last few weeks that I know absolutely nothing about yarn. I thought I did, but I don't! It is not all the same. The information on the label is there for a reason and just because you can use one kind of yarn to make this item doesn't mean you can use this different yarn to make the same item. Boy I can kick myself for spending so much money on stashing yarn.

Here are a few projects I have crocheted in the last few weeks. It is a start, but I'm working on more to add. I can only keep so many items for myself.

Travel Cup Cozies 
A nice alternative to those cardboard sleeves the coffee shop uses. I got the pattern from another lovely artist on Etsy.

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Coasters with Color

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Soap Sacks
This is my own design. Working on a new one.

I am enjoying my new adventure with my Etsy Store. I found that it takes quite a bit of time to get it going. There is so much to learn especially if you are new at selling your crafts. I am enjoying it, but as far as Etsy goes, the competition is tough. There are so many talented artists all with the same goals of selling their items. I have found quite a bit of inspiration too.

I made a couple of new Scissor Fobs too

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As a special thank you to you my blog readers who I consider my Blog Buddies, I have decided to offer you a special 10% discount to anything in my Etsy store. This my way of saying Thank You for taking the time to read my little blog and for your encouraging comments on my creations throughout this new adventure. My offer is good from now through July 31. Just use the code BLOGBUDDY10 in the coupon area of the checkout. I will be adding more items in the coming weeks so keep checking back.

I hope you have a Fabulous Weekend.

**Hugs and Love from Rainy Miami**
Jen

Playing with Beads

I have not crafted with beads in a long time. In fact, I have such an extensive bead stash that until recently I had no idea what to do with it. There was a time that I was into making beaded flowers.

That time was long ago as I haven't made these in a couple of years. The final result is pretty but the process to make these is not enjoyable at all. I could make them every once in a while, but not everyday all day. My poor fingers won't tolerate that. 

 One day I was reading one of my favorite blogs: Sew We Quilt. Madame Samm is so creative and her blog is so much fun to read. She always has new fun project in the works. I don't think the lady sleeps but she swears up and down to her readers that she does. Just recently, she taught herself how to make Scissor FOBS. I thought to myself, what a perfect way to use up my bead stash. I should give it a try. Here are the few I have created so far:

The FOBS are a great project for larger beads but not so much seed beads. What that in mind, I went on an internet search for what I could do with my seed bead collection. I came across a project that spoke to the inner book worm in me. Book Marks! or as they are sometimes called Book Thongs. 

There is still something so wonderful about having an actual book in your hand. I have an e-reader which I love but it still doesn't compare to having an actual book in my hand. 

Aren't those beads on the end lovely? They are glass beads with a gold foil inside. I found them at the local bead store in a tray of loose beads they were selling.

I've decided to put all of these new beaded beauties for sale in My Etsy Store. If any peek your interest, click on the link or the widget on the right bar of my page to be taken straight to my store.

I decided to take today off from work to give myself another 3 day weekend. I think I will spend some time today on my stitching. I started working on my Bluebell Fairy's dress. I am really enjoying it. She is starting to really come to life on the fabric. I have also been doing some knitting, but I will show those projects in another post.

Thanks so much for stopping by and thanks for the lovely comments on my North Carolina pictures in my other post. I still miss NC. I can't wait till we can visit again.

 The summer time is definitely here in Miami as the rain clouds have started to kick up again. The humidity is getting worse too. Just more reason to stay indoors.

Take Care Everyone.

**Hugs from Sunny Miami**

Jen