Welcome

I am a 30-something mom of three and wife of more than 11 years. I work nights doing data entry from home and attend college part time to get a degree in special education. I stay home during the day with my youngest son and my older son and daughter are twins in 1st grade. Please use a direct link if you want to include my items on your site. You may do what you want with the items you make from my free stuff with the exception of selling them on Etsy. I have an Etsy shop and don't want to compete with my own designs. I welcome comments and questions. Find me on Facebook for your chance to win Freebies!

Angry Bird

Posted by hyphenatedlady | Filed under | 0 comments
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I must apologize for being away for so long, even though nobody probably noticed.  Last May I went back to college.  Quite the experience for stay at home mom of 6 1/2 years and 37 years of age.   In July I began working nights for an online business services company.  My standard hours are 10 p.m. to 2 a.m.   Let me just note here that my kids are all early risers whether it is summer or not so my wake-up morning greetings came somewhere around 6:30 each morning.  While the summer months weren't too crazy I have been absolutely overwhelmed since the twins started first grade in August, especially since our youngest stopped napping about two weeks later.  So much for my nap.   In addition to my job, my school, staying home with my just-turned-three-year-old, managing the school and extracurricular schedule for two 1st graders, I was asked to join the strategic planning committee at my children's elementary school.  I felt honored to be asked and took that on as well.  So, I have been just a tad busy and have been burning the candle at both ends. While I have made a lot of projects over the last several months I haven't spent much time promoting my little crochet shop or blogging. 



I made my first Angry Bird this week.  I found this wonderful pattern on Craftown.com . It is the first time in 7 1/2 years of avid crocheting that I have made a "single crochet" hat that I really love.   The pattern is easy to understand and works of up quickly.   I made a few minor changes to the eyes, brows and head wick.   

Head wick changes:   I followed the directions through round 8 but joined and fastened off at the end, leaving a long tail (16" or so).  Instead of crocheting the yellow in rows 9 and 10  I tasseled them.   I used 8" lengths of yarn folded in half.  Then I folded them in half again to pull through each chain and make a tassel  (here is a link to a video if you don't know how to do it, the same thing but with less yarn).    After adding the yellow tassels I used the black tail to stitch the top of the head wick together, leaving the bottom part open to attach to the hat.

The eyes, I did the black and gray parts exactly as written but elongated the whites by using 3hdc in place of 3sc on each eye.   Not much of a difference but I liked the shape.

The brows, I wanted some major brows for this bird so 

Using F hook (I wanted the ends stiff)
CH 20
Row 1: SC in 2nd chain from hook across, CH1
Row 2: (BROW 1 ONLY)  Turn, HDC in turn CH, HDC in next two, SC across.  CH1
             (BROW 2 ONLY)  Turn, SC in turn CH, SC in next 16, HDC in last three.  CH1
Row 3:  Turn, SC in turning CH and across.  Fasten off, leave long tail to stitch to hat.

I stitched about 14 chains down and left the last 5 to poke out like the bird on the game.


I made this for a customer (the pattern allows you to sell your items) but now both of my boys want one and my daughter wants to know where the pink and purple angry birds are....lol.



The 12 Steps of Yarn Addiction

Posted by hyphenatedlady | Filed under | 1 comments
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I am a member of OA so am in no way making fun of 12 Step Programs, they really do work when you work them but I am feeling the pull of yarn today so had to post this.

The Yarn Addict

Posted by hyphenatedlady | Filed under | 1 comments
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A friend send me this PSA and I feel obligated to share it:


Public Service Announcement:

Yarn Pheromones

A recent study has indicated that yarns give off certain pheromones that hypnotize susceptible men and women causing them to purchase ungodly amounts of yarn. When stored in large quantities in enclosed spaces, the pheromones in the yarn causes memory loss and induce the gathering syndrome, similar to the one squirrels have before the onset of winter. 

Sound tests have also revealed that these yarns emit a very high-pitched sound heard only by a select few, known as stitchers. When played backward, the sounds are heard as chants...'Buy me! Knit me! Crochet me!' Furthermore, pheromones seem to cause a pathological need to secret the yarn purchases away when one takes them home and blend them into the existing stash. When asked by a significant other if the yarn is new, the reply is, "oh, I've had it for a while!"

In order to overcome the so-called feeding frenzy effect that these yarns cause, one must wear a face mask when entering a storage facility or craft store, and use ear plugs to avoid being pulled into the hypnotic grip. It is also beneficial to enter these facilities without the presence of cash or credit cards.

Sadly, the addictive qualities of this compulsive behavior are cumulative, and are ameliorated only by the purchase of more and more and more yarn.
 
No cure is known at this time.

As a person who has recently "reduced" my yarn stash to one large Rubbermaid (tm) Bin and a two drawer end table I could totally relate to this email.  Oh, I forgot the shopping bag full of yarn stashed in the corner and the project in my school bag.  I do have two skeins sitting in the back of my car "for emergencies" as well.  Then there is the other large tub of finished projects that I need to get listed on Etsy.  Uh.....yes, I have a problem.


I am happy to say that I have recently passed my yarn addiction on to my husband who has taught himself to knit using videos on YouTube.   He is about halfway through a "Dr. Who" Scarf and is working on another project for a friend.  He keeps saying things like "damn you" to me as we walk past the yarn departments at Wal-Mart and Michael's.   (insert evil laugh)