Black Friday and beyond with small business and Handmade

Well, here we are at Thanksgiving time--It's a madhouse at the stores, the drivers on the roads are not quite the most forgiving and parking is a nightmare.


Why not stay home and shop on the internet at small shops which make things the old-fashioned way-by hand?
This is so that the merchandise lasts longer and is not throw away (as is all the newer mass produced stuff in the big chain stores).
 If you are shopping hand made and from a small business, chances are you will get good quality for your money and not have to buy the same thing in a few months, or even a few years.
The artisans of The Artisan Grouphttp://www.theartisangroup.org/ are first rate and you get value for your money at their shops. 

 They have a board on pinterest http://pinterest.com/theartisangroup/

I am offering free shipping in my Artfire shop  with the code eabrcfreebf at checkout. 
http://www.artfire.com/ext/shop/studio/eabRainbowCrafts

I hope you will shop hand made and shop small this Holiday season!  Everyone deserves to get good value for their money! :)
If you see something you like in my shop, but need it in a different color please feel free to contact me or e-mail me at igorasaurus@gmail.com  and I will do my best to make your item!  Happy Holiday Shopping!

Dragon Stitch project?

I am trying without a pattern to incorporate the Dragon Stitch (Crocodile) into my Handies or Fingerless mitts...
This is the project so far

Leave a comment or suggestion and I will read them all! and apply as possible.

Christmas in the U.S.A.--A New Tradition

This was shared with me via e-mail and I was asked to share with all who wished to read.  Yes, it is lengthy, but it is a good read, and it is food for thought in this economy, and may start a new tradition in this country of helping each other!

-------Original Message-------   Date: 11/7/2011 6:45:27 AM Subject: Birth of a new tradition.........PLZ READ>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>       Date: Nov 6, 2011 12:58:43 AM   Subject: Birth of a new tradition.........PLZ READ>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>         TO ALL OF YOU THAT ARE SO VERY SPECIAL TO ME.   FAMILY, FRIENDS. LOVED ONES THAT ARE SO DISTANT IN MILES>>>>>>>>>>   This is long but worth it, Christmas 2011 -- Birth of a New Tradition As the holidays approach, the giant Asian factories are kicking into high gear to provide Americans with monstrous piles of cheaply produced goods -- merchandise that has been produced at the expense of American labor. This year will be different. This year Americans will give the gift of genuine concern for other Americans. There is no longer an excuse that, at gift giving time, nothing can be found that is produced by American hands. Yes there is! It's time to think outside the box, people. Who says a gift needs to fit in a shirt box, wrapped in Chinese produced wrapping paper?  Everyone -- yes EVERYONE gets their hair cut. How about gift certificates from your local American hair salon or barber? Gym membership? It's appropriate for all ages who are thinking about some health improvement. Who wouldn't appreciate getting their car detailed? Small, American owned detail shops and car washes would love to sell you a gift certificate or a book of gift certificates. Are you one of those extravagant givers who think nothing of plonking down the Benjamines on a Chinese made flat-screen? Perhaps that grateful gift receiver would like his driveway sealed, or lawn mowed for the summer, or driveway plowed all winter, or games at the local golf course. There are a bazillion owner-run restaurants -- all offering gift certificates. And, if your intended isn't the fancy eatery sort, what about a half dozen breakfasts at the local breakfast joint. Remember, folks this isn't about big National chains -- this is about supporting your home town Americans with their financial lives on the line to keep their doors open. How many people couldn't use an oil change for their car, truck or motorcycle, done at a shop run by the American working guy? Thinking about a heartfelt gift for mom? Mom would LOVE the services of a local cleaning lady for a day. My computer could use a tune-up, and I KNOW I can find some young guy who is struggling to get his repair business up and running. OK, you were looking for something more personal. Local crafts people spin their own wool and knit them into scarves. They make jewelry, and pottery and beautiful wooden boxes. Plan your holiday outings at local, owner operated restaurants and leave your server a nice tip. And, how about going out to see a play or ballet at your hometown theatre. Musicians need love too, so find a venue showcasing local bands. Honestly, people, do you REALLY need to buy another ten thousand Chinese lights for the house? When you buy a five dollar string of light, about fifty cents stays in the community. If you have those kinds of bucks to burn, leave the mailman, trash guy or babysitter a nice BIG tip. You see, Christmas is no longer about draining American pockets so that China can build another glittering city. Christmas is now about caring about US, encouraging American small businesses to keep plugging away to follow their dreams. And, when we care about other Americans, we care about our communities, and the benefits come back to us in ways we couldn't imagine. THIS is the new American Christmas tradition.  Forward this to everyone on your mailing list -- post it to discussion groups -- throw up a post on Craigslist in the Rants and Raves section in your city -- send it to the editor of your local paper and radio stations, and TV news departments. This is a revolution of caring about each other, and isn't that what Christmas is about? =

New items being worked on and/or posted

The newest items that I am working on are Handies or fingerless mittens with a diamond design in them. This is an addition of the bavarian crochet stitch pattern.  The above are pattern 1 and the newest ones are pattern 2.
Please visit the Artisan Group pinterest boards for some great gift giving ideas   www.pinterest.com/theartisangroup 

How I got my start crocheting

I don't remember when I learned to crochet, I just did and have been doing so ever since.  My mother is left handed so she couldn't teach me knit or crochet as I am right handed.  I must have learned from Grandma who did some very beautiful things and taught me so much--mending, crocheting, love of older people, cooking and how to be nice to everyone!  I think of her often even though she has been gone for years, now.
With crochet there is always something new to learn beyond the basics (chain stitch, single crochet, double crochet).
 There is always a new stitch to learn or a way to use an already learned stitch in a new way.
The new items being crafted all feature the bavarian crochet technique and I hope to have them on the web by the weekend...

update to Stripe my Toes

Here is a collection of foot warmers on Artfire to think about for the coming cooler times.  I wear my hand crochet socks all year long--they are softer and springier than most mass produced product!
http://www.artfire.com/modules.php?name=my_artfire_beta&op=inbox#mssg_cont_2689968

Holiday gift guide

Check out the lovely gifts and shops on the Artisan Group pinterest  page   http://pinterest.com/theartisa
ngroup/   There is something for everyone!

Stripe my Toes

Well, everyone wears socks and I know this and I crochet them.  I was slightly tired of wearing the same old white socks or even striped socks that everyone else was wearing --so I started crocheting my own.  Now it in my blood and even you could own a pair.  I have 4 pair all different and unique--some longer that others and some not so long, some striped and some not, some in hand dyed yarn and some commercial yarn--but no one else has the exact same pair as I do.  I am unique just like everyone else!  But my socks are different!  Go to http://eabRainbowCrafts.Artfire.com  to see some and maybe request your own pair  need ankle measurement, foot length and how tall you would like them--two week lead time to crochet one pair.

New scarves and hats

August 25, 2011

Bavarian Crochet

This week I finished some projects done in the Bavarian Crochet style.  The are interesting and appear to be adaptable to many projects.  I was thinking of a Shawl or something along those lines.  I have already made several rugs for our home in this design.  Next week I will be teaching myself the crocodile stitch and then we will see how that can be adapted to my projects...see you soon

August 08, 2011

All those socks

Socks--everyone wears them.  

The need to have durable and fun socks to wear has prompted me to crochet my own.  I prefer to wear wool socks as they are extremely warm in the winter and cool in the summer, however I found that bamboo is absolutely to die for soft and cool in the summer as well.  I rarely am ever without socks and shoes(except to sleep) so these are wonderful.  I personally have four pair that I alternate and they are all machine wash and dry.

The wonders of the internet are that so many different people are dying yarn and that means a large diversity of yarn content and color are available.  I use some hand spun and dyed yarns and some commercially available yarns.  

I make socks from the top to the toe.  Measurements for the socks generally include around the ankle and heel to toe.  And of course heel to where ever they are to stop going up the leg.  I will be posting socks on the Artfire site eabRainbowCrafts.Artfire.com in the coming week.  They will be for the pair as listed and on an order basis--it usually takes about 2 weeks to make a pair as I have a day job, also.  I really wish I was a full time crafter.  Someday...