Where ideas come from

I know that I have been neglecting my blog for a while. Partly because of time and partly because I'm not sure what to blog about. But I thought I would start a blog about where some of my ideas come from. This blog will be about pot holders. Yes pot holders because they are the latest new type of idea I have listed in my shop.

Pot holders are a necessary item in the kitchen but they can also be a very decorative item. Pot holders are made from many things: Dish towels folded over for thickness, quilted fabric, asbestos mitts. Mine are crochet. I wonder if the early American people used leaves to make their pot holders. Oh well.

In fact the pot holder patterns that I have on the my cite ( http://www.etsy.com/shop/jbcrochetdelights ) where shown to me by a very dear friend. I would go visit her and she would say: "Hey do you want to see this pot holder that my daughter sent me or that my sister sent me. I figured out how to make it." Then we were off. Sometimes she would just tell me how to make it or sometimes she would show me.

The four pot holder set listed here. (I'm not able to show you the pictures of the pot holders but I listed the links below so that you can see them.) My friend showed me how to make. Then I think about what color yarn I have in the my stash that might work. The yellow, white, and green set was yarn left over from two Irish Flag Afghans that I made for someone. The green and white were left over from the same project.

I'm not sure what colors to do next. Let me know if you can think of some you think would work. It can be two colors or three.

http://www.etsy.com/listing/76320531/orange-green-and-white-hot-pad-pot

http://www.etsy.com/listing/76320317/green-and-white-pot-holder-hot-pad-pair

http://www.etsy.com/listing/73054149/pot-holders-crochet-in-bright-yellow-and

http://www.etsy.com/listing/75700749/red-white-and-blue-pot-holders

Creating a Gift Basket

I wanted to share with you how I came up with my gift basket. I wanted something different in my shop. I have been disappointed that my hand crocheted towels and body wash scrubs haven't been selling. Because I really like them. They are 100% cotton and are really nice to use. Besides I wasn't crazy about using the netting body wash scrub. My cotton ones really hold the water and soap. Well - I going off on a side track.

Then since Mother's Day is coming - I thought about what would I like. My friend always says she likes to soak in her tub. Another friend likes going to the spa. And several of my friends have baskets in their bathroom to hold their bath items. A light bulb went off. Why not a gift basket with my towel, wash cloths, and body was scrub. So that is what I created. I went to my favorite craft store for the basket and candle. Of course, the cotton yarn. Then to another store for the body wash. Netting, ribbon. Then I came home and made up the basket. Even if I say so myself, I really liked the way it came out.

The basket has a handle for later use, 2 wash cloths, a hand towel, body wash scrub, candle, and body wash. What more could you want for a nice soak in the tub?

Check it out.

http://www.etsy.com/listing/73587836/bath-and-beauty-gift-basket

This week's question from the Createcrochet Team : What is my most cherished handmade possession

What is my most cherished handmade possession? That is a difficult question for me since there was creative talent throughout the family.

My maternal Grandma was always crocheting something. I have doilies and pillowcases that she made. She even crocheted a lampshade. That is really nice.

My paternal Grandma knitted and crocheted. She crocheted a fushia sweater for me when I was in my pre-teens. Yes I still have it.

My Dad did many crafts. He made ceramics, jewelry, sewed, woodwork. I guess my favorite from his many crafts is a cameo necklace, and a jade necklace, earrings and ring set that he had designed for my mother and I. Matching sets.

My Mom crocheted, embroidered, and sewed. I have many of the pillowcases that she embroidered and then trimmed with crocheted lace.

My aunt made me a porcelain doll. She painted the doll's head and hands. Then put the doll together and made clothes for the doll. It was really special since it was the last thing she made for me before she passed. I will always cherish it.

As you can see I have many handmade cherished items. The most cherished thing of all is that each were made by hand by a loved one. Each item was made with love.

Remember when you see a handmade item, someone made it with their own hands and they made it with love.

Free Shipping

The holidays are around the corner. Everyone is watching their pennies so I'm offering free shipping on many of the afghans. I'm also running sales on others items. Some items I have reduced the price.

Come check out my etsy shop - www.etsy.com/jbcrochetdelights

Etsy: Your place to buy & sell all things handmade jbcrochetdelights.etsy.com

Operation Gratitude Update

Well I have been busy making scarves. I have made my goal. I have now made 10 scarves. There is one brown, one solid charcoal gray, two charcoal gray with white strips, one forest green, one white with forest green stripes, 3 black, one dark country blue with white stripes. I'm hoping that anyone else who would like to make a scarf for out troops overseas will make one scarf. The Create Crochet Team is trying to reach a goal of 50 scarves. The more the merrier.

Check out my Ravelry account for pictures of the individual scarves.

http://www.ravelry.com/projects/jbcrochetdelights

Operation Gratitude

I've finished four scarves for Operation Gratitude. The Create Crochet Team is making 50 scarves for members of the services. The scarves cannot be longer than 50 inches and 5 - 7 inches wide. Any pattern but the colors should be military colors. Here are three of the one I have completed. (I made two with the same pattern and color.) I would like to make a few more. What about you?

If you have questions or would like to join our quest, please let me know at jcbutler0551@comcast.net.

Scarves for the Military

I haven't put anything on this blog for a while but I have been buy crocheting items. At this time, I am planning what colors to use to make scarves for shipping to our military. I have crocheted one very simple one in dark brown and plan to make some black ones. One skein of Red Heart super saver yarn should make 2 nice scarves. So under $5 you can make two scarves for our troops. I just did a simple pattern of double crochet or you can make one with single crochet, ch 1, skip the next st sc. I'm sure that there are groups who would like to send something to our troops. Here is the challenge. Make 5 by August. If you are up to the challenge, let me know and I will give you the contact person's name. What do you say?

Colors for baby blankets

I'm trying to decide what are the favorite color for baby blankets. Anymore I find pink or blue for clothing in the stores for babies but not the general colors. What color do you think would make a nice baby/toddler blanket? I would like to hear your comments. I love to crochet baby blankets and my daughter has asked me to make some blankets for the emergency room at the hospital. I want to know what other colors to make the blankets out of. Please submit comments.

Thanks.