Just in Time for the Holidays

If you saw me at the Jingle Bash in Dallas this last weekend or Funky Find's The Experience in Fort Worth earlier this month you might have noticed that I'm now 6 months pregnant! Things are going well and we're so excited about our new baby coming in March. While I won't be doing any shows in the Spring, I am so happy to have had the opportunity to do such amazing shows this Fall.


I had a blast at the Jingle Bash yesterday and even though it was completely exhausting, it was totally worth it. Same for The Experience in Fort Worth, but the Jingle Bash holds a special place in my indie-craft-heart. I've done that show every year for all of its three year history. Every year I am blown away by the crowds, the enthusiasm of the shoppers, and the quality of the Bash. The Etsy Dallas team does an amazing (all-volunteer) job of organizing a fun, creative, and high quality shopping experience.


Once again, I'm in awe. I'm exhausted, but still kind of giddy from the success of the day.

Full Circle Hoop Experience

In addition to crocheting, I really enjoy hooping. I've been working with Hip Hazel Hoops making and teaching hula hooping since September. This August we're teaming up with three other hooping instructors for our first all day hooping workshop. Here's the scoop!

Spin Cycle Hoop School announces Full Circle Hoop Experience on Saturday, August 21, 12-5 pm at South Side on Lamar in Dallas.

No longer just for kids, adult fitness hooping has come full circle offering both physical and mental benefits for all who want to give it a whirl! Full Circle Hooping Experience will include activities for all levels, including beginning and advanced workshops with area experts, a hooping showcase, hooping videos, a hoop boutique, and an open hoop jam with Q&A. If you’re curious about how the hula hoop has evolved into a fitness revolution, this is the event for you! No previous experience necessary.

What:  Full Circle Hoop Experience

Who:  presented by Spin Cycle Hoop School

When:  Saturday, August 21, 12-5 pm

Where:  South Side on Lamar, 1409 S. Lamar, Dallas, TX 75215; Free event parking

Cost:  $75 in advance, $80 at the door
Web:  spincyclehoopschool.ning.com (click on EVENT REGISTRATION)

Email:  spincyclehoopschool@gmail.com

Bespoke(n)

I just finished two commissioned pieces back to back. Here is the cream and brown puff sleeve shrug that is going to Austin. It is based on my Chocolate and Cream Shrug, but resized for a custom fit. It was really fun to revisit this item. I love how sturdy the acrylic feels; it really helps give the sleeves the right amount of structure. 

Just before that, I finished up a very challenging piece in silver lame. It looks and feels more like chain mail than your typical yarn. I used a smaller hook than normal and found it took a little while to get used to handling it. But, I think the results are stunning. This piece is off to Cardiff, UK.

The back is longer and the sleeves are fitted. The piece was created exactly to fit the customer. This is the first time I've had a chance to use the size Large dress form. It was very helpful when establishing the drape around the sides from the front to the back. With the longer back, this pieces has more sewing with piece work than some of my other shrugs, like the one above. With these two now in the mail, I'm off to my next project!

Renegade in Austin

I spent last weekend in Austin at the Renegade Craft Fair. I was super psyched to be juried into this show! I went to the Renegade in Brooklyn last June and it was amazing. I agonized over how to set up my booth and finally break free from the table table display I've come to rely on. So, for this show I had a dress form with one of my shawls and three panels across the back of the 10 x 10 booth. I covered the panels with fabric and either clipped to or stitched through the fabric to secure the items on display. Yes, that is an IKEA bath mat that I repurposed as a background for an arrangement of pins! I still had my trays of crocheted button pins, baskets of crocheted scarves and hats, and my hanging rack of goodies, of course. But, I really wanted to try some new things with my display. I also added a new sign. I kept my crocheted script sign and added a logo painted on a large stretched canvas that could be propped up. 

I really enjoyed the process of preparing for this show. It was challenging trying to load the car for the first time with all of these new additions to the set up and a new car. The drive down to Austin was full of blinding rain, but we didn't have any more rain for the rest of the trip. We went to the Etsy meet and greet on Friday night and found Korean BBQ from a street vendor later that night. Saturday night we had burgers and sausage out on a patio. By Sunday evening I was ready to go home. Renegade was fun. I spent plenty of money buying wonderful goodies and oogling everyone's stuff. There are so many talented and creative people! 

Spring is finally here!

I just finished my contribution for the Spring Bash. I made tiny crocheted flowers with button centers and magnets on the back. Very cute and petite. I made ONE leaf. A very special person will find that in their Goody Bag. Although I'm not participating in the Etsy Dallas Spring Bash with Modest Ambition, I still want to contribute to the team! 

I will, however, be there with Hip Hazel Hoops selling hoops, classes, gift certificates, and demonstrating hooping. It's going to be so much fun! I just signed up for the decorating committee. I feel like we're getting ready for the prom.

Custom-ize Me

February and March have been surprisingly busy for me. I was lucky enough to have a flood of custom orders including all the ones featured in this post. I didn't have time to photograph all of them properly before shipping, but at least I have some kind of record. The pink and off-white shrug was based on my Chocolate and Cream Shrug. I'm working on a black version for my shop right now. 

Here's a better view. I forgot how much I like this item! the lacy grid on the arms and trim really help differentiate this shrug from all the others. I made two brooches in case the one photographed here was just too dramatic, i.e. too big.

This ivory silk mohair shrug was based on my Silk Mohair Orange Shrug. It was designed to go with a lovely floral print dress in shades of green. The brooch is just pinned on so this shrug will be wonderfully versatile.

This is probably my favorite custom item that I've done recently. The customer took my Silk Mohair Blue Dream Shrug and turned it inside out, reversing the colors and adding red for the rosettes. I love how it came out! 

Finally, this was the most complicated of the recent orders. The photograph doesn't do it justice at all, but this is a version of the Ivory Alpaca Lace Ruffled Shrug. We changed the fiber to a brighter shinier one, an alpaca silk blend, shortened the back and made the entire thing smaller. I took this photo at night and since it doesn't actually fit me I couldn't model it, in fact, I think my hanger was too big, which is too bad - the mohair ruffles were so pretty. 

White Rockin' It

I was at White Rock Local Market today and it was so much fun! I have a terrible sunburn from being outside from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. but I'm so glad it was such a nice sunny day. I split my booth between Modest Ambition and Hip Hazel Hoops, which made for some chaotic moments, but seemed to work pretty well. I wore my crocheted shrug and demo'd hula hoops. Kids love to play with the hoops, but really we focus on adult fitness hooping. The colors did sparkle in the sun. I'm experimenting with my display; I debuted my brooch board. Which worked great, until a great gust of wind knocked it over. Oh well. The hoop rack came down once too. Yikes! At least it wasn't as windy as yesterday. Some of the booths had tents and others didn't like mine. While I benefitted from the warmth of the sun in the early morning (like in the picture) when it was in the 40s, by the afternoon we were getting cooked but still it was only in the 60s. I'd say that was a perfect March day.