week thirty-six

For my last hurrah...

I made another Frog hat.. I know you all have seen it before, but I made it for one of my friends that I haven't seen since I graduated High School. It was such an awesome day to go to her baby shower and catch up. I had to leave early though so I could make it for another [family] event so after we returned home, got the kids to bed my sweet hubby told me to go back and hang out... we talked [ate more of the yummy cake] until almost 4 am... ? or was it only 2 or 3? I can't seem to remember. Time flies.

See you all next year, where I'm sure I'll come up with some other crazy idea for a challenge for myself.

week 36:complete

#projects: 1

weeks to go: DONE!!!!

cumulative project count:63

week thirty-five

THE RUSH FOR CHRISTMAS!!!
Sooooo.... all of the projects that were started weeks ago.. and some this week... are FINALLY FINISHED! whew!



So here they are:




A crocheted hat with brim for one of my older sisters. She loves hats and accessories so it was kinda an easy thing more me to make with her in mind. I know I made them from Christmas colors and she wont be able to wear it for too long this year, but next year and so on, she'll already have a hat! :) I originally was making her a hand bag, and it would have totally ROCKED!! but my 2 year old son decided to abscond with the main element [of which] the whole design was hinged on... so the hat was a last ditch effort to have a present [not an IOU ] to give to my sister.




My oldest niece likes scarves but is really a picky kind of girl. I spent hours searching for a fabric that would be perfect.... I found this flowy sheer animal print and knew right away that it was the one! I made a flower clip with beads in the center to either use in her hair or to clip onto the scarf as an accent. love it!



For a cousin [on my hubby's side] who is 12 and I'm not sure I could make anything that he is really that impressed with. But thought that a hat would be a nice warm fuzzy gift :) I made it out our fleece and added a little bit of detail to [an otherwise] boring hat.




My cousin [who I don't see very often] loves skulls and crossbones and motorcycle stuff. I saw this fleece and knew it was for him. I made him a beanie that would be warm :) his mom tried to steal it from him, as did almost everyone else at the party. I think it was a hit!



A fluffy, warm scarf for my aunt who lives in London. I have to admit though, I did not make this scarf. My hubby did!!! what a man! I was so stressed [and trying to "enjoy" the holidays] and he offered to help in any way he possibly could. Normally I asked him to play with the kids.. [a real chore, right? esp since he loves to play with them] Then I asked him to make a few things, this being one of them. I would have asked him to help with more things [making that is..] but I seem to be such a control freak when it comes to handmade gifts that I couldn't [or really didn't want to] find things for him to help with. Yeah, looks like I just gotta let go sometimes!





This small neck cowl is for one of my hubby's cousins. She live in Utah, bbrrrr, so instead of a scarf, I thought a cowl would be very appropriate and lovely. I almost kept it for myself!!


Now for the project [of which I am supremely excited about and just love love love!] I made this for my hubby's cousin's wife.. I wanted to make something classy for her and I don't know her very well [even though I helped hubby's cousin "get the girl" ] and this is what I came up with. I used left over satin [from my Christmas dress, which is going to end up a valentines day dress or mother's day or Easter..... sad, i know but somethings just get pushed of..ya know?!] and I hand painted the bird on in white, hand-sewed the glass seed beads and added my Hey Sharky! label on the bottom back corner. I hope she loves it [half] as much as I do!
{*update- she didn't show up at Christmas too bad. :( so this is her present for next year if she shows up, if not it's going to her mom-in-law !}

Last, but certainly not least.... A dress for my cousin's kid. I thought I took some other pics of this dress right after I made it, but can't seem to find them. So [for now] this is what ya git. He doesn't know the first thing about girly stuff, so I made this cute dress, with a girly skull and crossbones in the bottom corner. He loved it and I'm sure she did too :)







I made a few more gifts, a scrapbooked DVD case set with 1,000s of photos on cd for my sister in law....a BBQ set for the father in law, apron and all ......and a few more things that in the rush of things I thought I took pictures, but apparently did not. Or I just lost them.. or.. or.. or..

What an exhausting week this has been. But also so rewarding! I'm glad to be done with the sweatshop, but sad that Christmas is over and I didn't celebrate it as I really wanted to. This year was better than last, and next will surely be better as well. {esp since I am already starting on projects to put in the gift bin for next year!! Call me crazy but I love making our gifts {its not really about saving money because most of the time I don't.. it's about the from the heart touch that a homemade gift brings}



Happy crafting! And see YOU next year!

week 35: complete
# projects: 11
weeks to go: 1
cumulative project count: 62

week thirty-four

Sweater- turned-hat

So with Christmas knocking on my door, and projects STILL not finished..... I needed soemthing for our niece. She is a true girlie girl and I wanted to make her a cute [soft] beenie with a brim. I cut up one of my sweaters that i have only worn a few times.. and turned it into a hat. I am very pleased with the result.

I really thought I made more than just this hat, maybe they were all just IN THE WORKS and not really done.. time to CRAM for the next weeks!!!!

week 34: complete

# of projects: 1

weeks to go: 2

cumulative project count: 52

week thirty-three

The mad rush to get all the Christmas presents done!!! I seriously thought we had more than half our list left, when in reality we had WAY LESS!!! So yeah for us! I did put my hubby to work making a few of the presents and he did an awesome job. I don't think I will be adding them to my total because - well- let's be honest.. I didn't make them so it doesn't count. the projects in this entry are going to my husband's sister and her family. we hope they love them because we spent a lot of time thinking of what to do and coming up with [what we think] are the perfect gifts. :)

For their daughter: a headband, crocheted with a flower and a head/ear warmer with pom poms. These are such a cute accessory! So many of my friends have them for their daughters, I just couldn't leave our niece out!! [a special thanks to my son who modeled the headband/ear warmer for me.. he had a fun time doing it and was such a great model]

For their son Jr. I made a travel mat for him to play and store his cars. Xander wanted it so badly and I promised that I'd make one for him after Christmas. He helped me pain the "beep" . It was nice to include him in the making of the presents.

For his sister I made a beanie with a brim. I absolutely love this yarn! She's not very girlie so I left off my usual details of a flower or buttons. Simple and sweet.

For my sis-in-law's hubby: a basic beanie. Again I LOVE this yarn!

week 33: complete

# projects:4

weeks to go: 3

cumulative project count: 51

week thirty-two

OK so i don't know how to count.....

there were 36 weeks when i started this challenge.. and so that would put me ending on 31 December 2010. So instead of going back through all my posts and changing them [very time consuming, and who really has the time?] I'm starting from this one and correcting them.. after-all, i only have a few weeks left.. I CAN SEE THE FINISH LINE!!

This week I made a sock monkey hat for a friend. She wanted to give ti to her granddaughter so I added a bow. I know you are probably thinking you have seen this one before... but is as a different version of it and its what I did this week :)

week 32: complete

# projects: 1

weeks to go: 4

cumulative project count: 47

week thirty-one

This week I focused on my photography skills. And yes, I am in need of some assistance... can anyone show me how to use my camera? The booklet it came with didn't explain anything! Oh well, it looks like trial and error is going to be my teacher.



This weekend we were able to go camping in the Anza-Borego Desert. IT WAS COLD!! Oh my gosh! We woke up one morning to the baby wipes being a solid ice brick! By the time I got up and out of bed it was close to 16 degrees Fahrenheit. Whew!



We took many hikes while out there and I [of course] took a gazillion photos. I love being out in nature and capturing it on film is the best thing ! I love looking at the pictures I took later and not only remembering the amazing time I had but admiring the amazing beauty that is around us.



If you are an avid hiker you will be familiar with the subject of this week's blog entry. It is a trail marker. In some regions, piles of rocks are called "ducks" or "duckies". These are typically smaller cairns, so named because they would typically have a "beak" pointing the way of the path. An expression "to rocks don't make a duck" reminds hikers that just one rock resting upon another could be an accident or nature rather than an intentional trail marker.



I have seen so many of the cairns throughout my hiking/backpacking/rock climbing adventures. The sight of these, no matter how big or small, are a source of comfort for me. I'm not sure why except I know that I'm on the right path and I have nothing to worry about. Whenever we're out hiking I always look for them and if it is a hike we've done before I look for familiar cairns- especially the ones I have either started or added to. It's really fun to see new ones and be welcomed back by old friends.

If you haven't seen one, added to one, or started one..... go out on a hike! Your body and mind will thank you!



week 31: complete
# projects: 1
weeks to go: 5
cumulative project count: 46

week thirty

Harry Potter Scarf & Head Band

A friend of mine was attending the midnight showing of "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1". {whew!} So she asked me to make her a scarf for the occasion. I took to it right away {of course after an intense shopping trip to Micheal's - in which i had to avoid purchasing everything on sale! It did take me longer than anticipated [bummer because I wanted to get something else done too....] But it turned out very well and I even made her a head band.. every girl needs a head band to accessorize!

week 30: complete
# projects: 1
weeks to go:6
cumulative project count: 45

week twenty-nine

Sock Monkey Hat for Xander & a new born Santa Hat

This week I finished Xander's Sock Monkey Hat to match his Sock Monkey. We were supposed to make a run to Home Depot... but xander INSISTED that I finish his hat. Now normally I don't give into the whims.. or demands of a 2 year old.. but let's be honest, I wanted to show off what I had been working soo hard on this week. And wouldn't ya know it.......... people noticed it!! I even got a few orders for one! It pays to have your kids advertise for you, right?! I was just too pleased with how it came out. Xander even let me photograph him. Most times he's up for pictures of Xander... but lately who knows.. the changing times of a 2 year old....

This time HE reminded ME that I had to take pictures.. apparently I've been making a lot of things and photographing them- I usually ask for his help so the process goes faster [instead of trying to keep him away]. This "photo session" was a blast! Xander is such a silly and inventive kid! love it!!

{I asked him to show me his hat and this is what I got}

{I have no clue what he was doing here, but kept moving his has back and forth like this LOL!}

{This is his "show me your smile!"}

Cameron also phoned me this week while at work an had an order for me. It was a RUSH order and had to be done within a few days.... so I JUMPED on it! I have a few other orders that I was working on so I really felt the pressure to crank this out and get it delivered. [esp since this week was his last at work until after the new year!]

A co-worker wanted a Santa Hat as a gift for a newborn baby. I single crocheted it and {MAN}! that took a long time! half doubles for me next time! Here is the little hat:

week 29: complete

# projects: 2

weeks to go: 3

cumulative project count: 44

Hey Sharky! on etsy

So I finally have my etsy shop open. I did have another shop, under a different name but then recently decided to switch my brand logo, which was LONG over-due and when you change a name etc you can't do it on etsy so i had to open a new shop. Gesh! But well worth it. I've been crocheting like a mad woman so it's nice to be posting my stuff!! Please go and check it out!! TELL A FRIEND!! Thank you so much!!

http://www.etsy.com/people/HeySharky

week twenty-eight

More crochet hats!!! A friend of mine asked if I wanted to make and display some of my hat sin her cradt booth at a craft fair. So I got to work! I even added them to my etsy shop! http://www.etsy.com/shop/HeySharky?ref=pr_profile

Here's what I came up with this week:

Scarlet:

Blanco

Monkey business:

week 28: complete

# projects: 3

weeks to go: 4

cumulative project count: 41

week twenty-seven

This week I really wanted to have some props to have our newborn wear at his first photoshoot :) Since it was close to Halloween, I made a pumpkin hat. I also made a froggie hat. I also saw this beautiful flower and just HAD to make it! I don't remember where I saw it, but now its mine!! so excited!!

week 27: complete

# projects: 3

weeks to go: 5

cumulative project count: 39

week twenty-six

My sister wanted to get the perfect messenger bag but couldn't find one in the stores.. the solution?? I'll make one for her! It is custom made to fit her specifications, I made the pattern and concept. The decorations etc were my creations too! I'm so excited that it turned out so well and she loves it!! Put it to good use Siri!

emblishments

side details on pockets

fully functional zipper

lots of pockets including a cellphone pocket and key clip
large back pocket

I can't wait to make one for myself and for anyone else who wants one!!

week 26: complete

# projects: 1

weeks to go: 6

cumulative project count:36

week twenty-five

i decided to add more things to my etsy shop and to facebook to sell. part of my motivation is that there are so few little boy's accessories out there and the ones i have found are really expensive, my kids would never be well accessorized if i had to wait to be able to purchase any of them. designing my own will also give me something to put on my blog, a sense of satisfaction, get rid of all the material i have 'laying around' and in boxes in storage [i have enough fabric to start a fabric store!] and make a little cash to stash for a rainy day.

my first attempt at a felt hat......

now the felt doesn't have any give to it so i need to figure out how to make it adjustable. looks like i have a little experimenting to do!

senor froggie hat

newborn size- 3yrs $12.00

4yrs+ - $15.00

To order send me an email at starfaktor@hotmail.com and include the head circumference of the child it is being given to.

week 25: complete

# projects: 2

weeks to go: 7

cumulative project count: 35

week twenty-four

felt boards were always fun to play with as a kid. i remember all the fun shapes and stories my mom made for us to play with and wanted our kids to have the same kind of fun with learning. plus it will make for fun-er family home evenings and 'school time'. since xander is learning how to read and count we punched out letters and numbers and glued them to the felt. we'll be adding more to our stash as we go along, but here's what we did this week:





felt board side one-dark blue [black was ubber expensive.. blue was on sale] and side two-white


clouds
waves
sun
stars
boat
tree[s]


week 24:complete
# projects: 2
weeks to go: 8
cumulative project count: 33

week twenty-three

MY GREATEST PROJECT YET!!! 9ish months in the making......
Sebastian Grey. What a blessing! And yes, even though I just gave birth, I was still making things.. go me! hahaha.. accually there was a lot of "down time" while the boys were sleeping and in between feedings. I was too bored to sleep. bored? with a new born and 2 year old?? yes. no. well, kinda. Our 2 year old plays by himself a lot and when he's sleeping I have "free time".

The project that I worked on this week is a board of the "be attitudes" I got my inspiration from I am momma hear me roar -a fellow blogger. Her blog is AWESOME [way better than mine!!] go and check it out! http://iammommahearmeroar.blogspot.com/2010/03/be-sign.html

Again, her version of this is WAY better than mine, but I think mine will do :) It now has a home on our piano as aprt of our apartment remodel/makeover :) more to come !!

week 23: complete

# of projects: 1

weeks to go: 12

cumulative project count: 31