The Baby Shoe Bug

When it comes to crafting, everyone has their "thing". Some people can't stop buying yarn (thank goodness!), some buy hundreds of sheets of scrapbooking paper and stickers, and others, like me, buy patterns. I'm too much in denial to go thumbing through my files and come up with an actual count, but I'm certain it's into the hundreds. Of all those patterns, well over half are various baby booties and shoes. There's something about a tiny shoe, destined for a tiny foot, that I find irresistable. I suppose that's what led me to design the Cherry Tart Mary Janes!

I discovered a designer recently who delights and inspires me with her adorable shoe patterns, and over the course of the past week or so I've already acquired five of them. Her name is Lisa van Klaveren of Holland Designs. She has an etsy shop, but I recommend downloading her patterns directly from ravelry.com so you can get them instantly. She allows crafters to sell shoes made from her patterns, so look for some new shoes in the store soon! I finished up a pair of 6-12 months watermelon mary janes last night, and they are too cute! Since they are 100% cotton they'll be great summer shoes. Pictures and more details coming soon! Side-button loafers for boys are next on my list :)

I <3 flickr

Every now and then while browsing flickr.com, I come across a picture of something that was knit from yarn that I spun. It's hard to explain, but it feels sort of like seeing your child do something adorable or extraordinary out of the corner of your eye. To make something, and to have really LOVED making it, and then to see it out in the world blossoming into something totally new and amazing is just heartwarming.

I happened upon this little guy today, wearing pants knit with stripes of Hidden Canyon. Isn't he just a doll? I'm so glad to see that the yarn found itself a good home :)

Let's try this again!

Wow...in all the excitement of having two kids under two and enduring the holidays, I seem to have let my blog fall by the wayside. I think it's time to jump back into things in full swing! I have lots of new and exciting things in the works, including a new etsy shop, and possibly a local yarn store carrying my line! New pictures and info (and yarn!) coming soon.