Something unexpected

Hello:) It has been a long while since last writing anything. I have been keeping busy with pattern testing for many wonderful designers, making different items to sell and collecting more yarn and yarn paraphernalia as well as collecting oddish crafty items. My latest acquisition is a dress form to take cute pictures of the awesome stuff I get to make. I still am spending time with my daughter, The Ice Princess. We are still  hanging out, learning and creating together, our latest experiment together was making a birthday card for her brother. We have plans to make something special for her dad when Father's day rolls around.

The Ice Princess awaiting her turn on the Kritter Carts :D

 In April of this year, she turned 5 years old! We had an opportunity to celebrate her birthday at Adventure Park with family and friends. We had such a great time! In the midst of the celebration, I was asked by my daughter's uncle if I could make his mom a hat for her while she is going through Chemo. I made her the hat and she eventually received it. I was so nervous that I thought she would not like it. To my surprise, she texted me saying that she liked the style of the hat, and liked that it was thinner than the others in the donations bin. She wanted to know if I would like to make more hats like the one I made her to donate to the clinic where she gets her treatment. I told her I would. I want to get some I love this Cotton from Hobby Lobby to make some of these hats, but for now I found some Lions Brand magic stripes yarn in my stash, and I hope to make at least 10 hats and send off to her. (Hopefully we can meet up before I make them all so she can have a say on whether the yarn is to her liking).

Unfortunately, I was too excited to take a picture of the finished hat, but I will be taking photos of the ones I plan to make. I had wanted to make her something special and something pretty without it being too flashy or with too many holes so that her head would be covered. The pattern I chose that I felt I would wear, is the Dune Hat by Drops Designs. This is the link to the pattern I used:  http://www.garnstudio.com/pattern.php?id=5983&cid=17

The yarn I used is called Deep Seas Moonshine from Crystal Palace
Yarns. https://www.jimmybeanswool.com/knitting/yarn/CrystalPalace/Moonshine.asp?showLarge=true&specPCVID=38553
 It's so pretty with green, blue, purple and some metallic coloring throughout the nylon and kid mohair blend. I especially like that it's so soft and lovely to work with and every 6 inches or so, there were little bumps that gives the finished product a sweet textural element. I want more of it, but looking around online I haven't been able to find more of it:( but lucky for me I still have a few skeins laying around in my stash...!!!!
I hope to write more often than before and share what I am learning and doing in crochet and other crafty projects that I make. I am attempting to do more with knitting but I am struggling. My creative learning goal for the year is to finish a few knit blocks to make a small afghan or purse. Wish me luck. If I am more adventurous, I may complete one of the Ravelry KAL's I am participating in. I just need to spend more time with the needles than the hooks.
Until next time!!!!!

I haven't wrote anything for a good while. I still crochet and am trying my hand at getting my daughter prepared for kindergarten. I'm getting more involved now that she's actually wanting to learn. All of a sudden this blast of questions from colors, to letters, to numbers, to animals. Everything is questioned and I'm loving every moment, especially when I see she is understanding and applying what she learns with her everyday experiences. I'm looking forward to showing her how to count chains when she tries to crochet. She doesn't quite know how to crochet but I love that she tries.

pattern testing

I’m not sure about any of my fellow crochet buddies out there but I for one enjoy a great pattern. To me, a free pattern is optimal, but if I purchase a pattern on the rare occasion my lust for a pattern wins over, I hope that it’s written without any flaws and easy to follow. Even if it’s a free pattern, I hope for the same. With that said, in comes the pattern tester.

To be a pattern tester, one must be willing to work with the designer, and know how to crochet, read a pattern, have yarn and the only payment is accessibility to a pattern and a budding friendship. I’ve seen requests from designers for testers who are very skilled with years of experience, to crocheters who just enjoy crochet and have variable experience and skills.

I took a chance and responded to several designers who needed people to test out their pattern or patterns. I’ve been fortunate enough to be given an opprtunity to help another crocheter with their design. In doing so, I have been learning new skills as well as offering my input on a personal level in a semi professional setting. (Semi professional in regards to my assistance to their success in their business and free advertisement of said designs by me).

I enjoy the process of seeing original designs and being one of the first few to get a hold of said pattern and to help make the pattern a success. In my run as a pattern tester, I have found a few typos, a wrong or different stitch, and unclear instructions in a few of these patterns. I feel a sense of accomplishment in addressing these mistakes that otherwise may have gone unnoticed and for the designer, could mean a bad review and a loss of business. With my help and that from others, I feel that a full circle is enacted by means of an open communication with the designer and the ability to perform as a crochet pattern tester with an end result of a beautiful square, hat, scarf, vest, or pair of gloves, what have you. 

Whatever the designer creates in their mind’s eye and writes down on paper, sends it out to us and the cycle continues, fine tuning a pattern for your enjoyment. I am very fortunate to be a part of this and hope to continue in aiding my fellow humble crochet hobbyist with a beautiful pattern with little to no flaws from a talented crochet designer.

An Introduction

Hi everyone, I'm Maria. I'm so excited as this is my first ever blog! Woo hoo! Yay me.. anyway, I'm begining this on the heels of a creative burst I've had for a few weeks now, with the hopes of continuing this trend. I'm like most creative people I suppose, in where one form of self expression just isn't enough, (at least that's what I believe and live by). Right now my fixation is yarn, yarn, and more yarn. I got hooks, circle looms (I'm not even sure what their really called), knitting needles, YARN, bags and boxes of unfinished crochet projects, I'm sick with it, that even my baby girl has her own crochet hook, and knitting needles and she's only 3. (She doesn't make anything but its so cute having her try). She at times is the perfect size for some of my creations.
Mind you, I don't have the fortitude or the abstract mind to design patterns. I'm in awe of some of these individuals who design. I've been grateful to be a part of perfecting their written patterns, for their shops. I'm very fortunate to be a part of their teams. My creative stride is in full effect and I'm so excited to be working a vest and a scarf by two extemely different designers, these two things are great.
I have several personal projects and one item for a friend that I've neglected because I got frustrated.. its on a time out, but will be coming out soon cause it's been long enough. (This project makes me mad, but probably because I had to frog (unravel), redo and frog...) le sigh. I'm also working the nerve to learn to read crochet diagrams.
But wait there's more... ;) I'm also making and using alternative yarns (made from recycled materials). These recyclables tho..   smh.. I'm in too deep.
As I mentioned at the beginning, I'm into other creative outlets, I'm gonna learn to master my sewing machine, I have patterns and plans...they will get made! Another thing I do is help set up and organize the various preschool crafts for my daughter. We have so much fun, we try to stay busy, and I'm a firm believer that self expression regardless of the style builds a sense of self, and a greater appreciation to the beauty in the world around us.
Well, thank you for taking a read and let me know what you think. Until next time, keep creating!