Grannies Gone Wild!!!

If you wouldve asked me last year if I would make something with granny squares I wouldve thought you were crazy. Now . . . it seems that most of the items I make are with granny squares. I think of things in my head while I am sleeping, driving, cooking, etc. It seems that I eat, sleep and drink crochet and most of it is granny!

I was given a photo of a granny square skirt that was in Vogue magazine, created by a major designer and it sold for $1,300! Amazing!!! I made my take on it with a cute frilly ruffle on the bottom. Since then I have seen so many different dresses, skirts, and recently a jacket in the Vogue Knitting magazine September 2011 issue. It seems that being a granny is the new in thing!! Well, I am a granny and have recently become a new granny! My grandaughter, Katie, was born on June 26th and is the cutest thing ever!!! I have one child left and then my job will be complete!!! Yeah right!

I am in the process of switching my thinking from Summer to Fall and Winter. I need inspiration. I guess I need to walk around, go to the mall and hit a few craft fairs. I get my inspiration around creative, crafty people. There are sooo many of them!

Beginning on Monday I will have a raffle for a bag of your choice (hobo or messenger) for anyone who signs up and follows my blog page. I will post the pics of each bag. The raffle will be held on Friday September 2nd. The winner will be notified via email so please be sure to comment with your name and email address.

Give your Granny a call, hug or take her out to lunch. I wish my Granny was still here! Have a great day and Good Luck on the raffle!

Joy and Pain!

I have been going through alot of different emotions during the last two (2) months. I have lost several relatives and close friends and celebrated life through award ceremonies, grad nites, baby showers and upcoming graduations. Im not sure exactly what to feel or what I feel.

On Mother's Day I was awaken by phone call which alerted me that my brother (Ronald Maurice Spears, 47yrs) died very unexpectedly. To this very day I feel the pain in my chest as if it happened yesterday. On May 28th my godmother/surrogate mother (

Georgia Loud, 54 yrs) died of stage four (4) brain cancer. On June 7th my grandmother (Eula B. Sheffield, 87yrs) and on Wednesday, June 8th my aunt (Greshon Baker, 78yrs) died. On each of these dates my middle daughter was either going to prom or having an award ceremony! So . . . I cried for a couple of minutes, sucked it up and put on a happy face.

This past Saturday my oldest daughter had a Baby Shower celebrating my upcoming granddaughter. That same day I attended the funeral of my godmother and missed the funeral (it was out of town) of my aunt. This coming Thursday will be the funeral of my grandmother, which I will miss because I must attend my daughters High School graduation the next day. Whew! Im tired just typing it!!

So. . . I have put my Etsy shop on vacation until I can get past all of the celebrating and grieving and get inspiration to create new and beautiful items for my shop. But, the best thing that I have experience through all of this is the meeting of two new friend on Etsy. I met one Tess @ www.bannerpaperscissors.etsy.com) because I added one of her items to my treasury. We started talking and bonded. She felt compassion for my grief and mailed me a free banner to bring my happy back and make me smile! (which I did). The second person saw my crocheted items and extended an invitation for me to participate in a craft fair. I told her that I was just thinking of giving up and she shared a sermon excerpt with me that spoke about gifts from God and being patient and not giving up. This inspired me because people dont usually share their faith with friends and family let alone a stranger! I have had a few friends throughout the years but these two ladies have encouraged me in ways they will NEVER know! I am sooo grateful.

So I say to you . . . There will always be a ray of sunshine in the midst of a storm. Look to the hills from whence cometh your help, your help comes from the Lord. He will always give you a rainbow at the end of the storm and you will experience JOY while going through PAIN. Be encouraged and look our for new items in my shop in the coming weeks. Also, dont forget to check out my friend Tess' shop on Etsy. (I have included a picture of one of the banners she sent me). If she was sweet enough to be a blessing to me . . . her gifts are heaven sent and she is gifted beyond measure. Share the Love!

EtsyMom Spotlight - Cobblestoned

I have been trying to post a new blog all week. I had lots of thoughts but no time to express them. I still dont have the time but I have committed myself to post at least once a week. Sooo. . . here goes! I have joined a couple of team on Etsy. For those of you who are not familiar with Etsy it is a site where alot of creative people who make handmade items have websites that you can browse and see their items and even purchase or make a special order if you desire. Today, I would like to spotlight the etsy site of one of my team members today. The shop has really nice jewelry. . . earrings, etc. . . I have seen a few items that I like and plan to purchase soon. My team friend is Kristina Pick and her site is Cobblestone, isnt that cute! :) I urge you to check it out. She has lots of avenues for you to do so. . . you can connect via . . . http://www.cobbledstone.com/, http://www.cobblestoned.etsy.com/, www.facebook.com/cobblestone, www.twitter.com/cobbledstone. I wouldnt suggest someone to you that I didnt think was talented or reputable. I also admire her entreprenural spirit and desire to be a great mom and design such beautiful items. Being a mom alone is hard work add a business and you are already over your head! LOL! So, while you are surfing the web, click on her site and check it out! In addition to my crocheted designs I also do balloons and vinyl, digital, handpainted signs and banners. I am working on a banner for a good friend of mine. Just found out that the store gave me the wrong version of a product I purchased for the banner. Im a little irritated because I have to make a 20-30 min drive to have it replaced. Gas is $4 and Im not smiling!!! So, Ill cut this short. Have a great day and remember to check out that site and share a smile today. Someone may really need it! God Bless.