I've moved!

Hello, everyone! I moved my blog to my website and just realized that I never posted a message here. So sorry! Please feel free to check out my new site and blog. I also have a shop there with my patterns and some ready-made hats and accessories. Hope you'll visit!

Trunk Show!

My trunk show with Stitch Sprite is coming up soon! I hope you can all stop by Hello Bluebird and check it out.

In other news, you may have noticed lately that on Twitter and Facebook I've been linking to my new website. The site has a shopping cart, blog, and events calendar, so please bookmark it for more up-to-date info. I will still occasionally update this blog with my musings and recipes (and new products, of course), but my main focus is going to be on the new site. Let me know what you think of it!

I see a pattern

Dear Like Clochework fans, I have a special announcement to make! I've had quite a few requests over the past months for patterns of my hats, scarves, and other accessories, so over the weekend I officially launched the LC Pattern Shop on Etsy! I have three of my patterns up, with more to come in the next few weeks, so if you are a crocheter and want to make your very own Like Clochework hat, keep watching the new shop. Happy hatmaking!

It's a wash

Well, if you haven't heard yet, Crafty By Nature is cancelled this month due to weather. I'm pretty bummed because I was all psyched to showcase my new products. So instead - and for this week only* - I'm offering a discount on my bracelets and headbands in my Etsy shop: $1 off each bracelet and $5 off each headband! Just include the code "CBNdiscount" in the note to seller box at checkout and I'll refund you through PayPal.


*August 1-7, 2010

NEW for August!

Welcome to what's become my "monthly newsletter"! Got a little kick in the pants from Alex at Hello Bluebird today (chatting about blogging more often), so I'm really going to try harder with this.

On a happier note, I'm excited to announce two new products! First up are my crocheted bangle bracelets, which are made from cotton crochet thread and are really fun to wear (I didn't take mine off for almost a week). You can purchase them singly, but I recommend getting three because it just looks nice :-)

Next is my "Rachel" headband, which features three Irish crochet roses, again in cotton. I had a lot of fun choosing buttons to accent my initial four creations. The pictures don't do these justice; I'm hoping to get better ones tomorrow at Crafty By Nature, where I can talk friends into modeling.

Speaking of Crafty By Nature, I hope to see some of you there! Weather permitting, I'll be out at Shupp's Grove from 9-4:00 tomorrow along with my friend Spotted Hill Farm. I'll be offering a little discount on my bracelets and headbands, too, so stop by and take advantage of that!

The joy of pickles

One of my favorite little foodie "extras" is pickles. Cucumbers, chow-chow, American, Japanese - doesn't matter, I love them all. Pickles can be anything: your traditional cucumbers, cauliflower, broccoli, radishes, peppers, beans (and if you mix them all together you get the aforementioned chow-chow).

Thanks to the abundance of my wonderful friend Donna's garden, I had the veggies I needed to do some pickling this weekend. I tried canning once and decided it's not really for me, so I like to make quick and easy refrigerator pickles instead. Anyone can throw these tasty treats together in 10 minutes or less, and you can throw in any veggies you want. They're great on their own, with a burger, over chicken salad, or thrown into the food processor and turned into relish.

Carrie's Sweet and Sour Pickles

INGREDIENTS
- 2 medium cucumbers, washed and sliced lengthwise
- 1 small onion, thinly sliced
- 1 1/2 cup vinegar*
- 1 cup water
- 1 T sea salt
- 1 T sugar
- 1/8 cup black peppercorns
- 1/8 tsp red pepper flakes
- several springs of fresh herbs such as dill, lemon thyme, bay leaves, etc.

DIRECTIONS
Pack vegetables, spices, and herbs loosely into jars or a an airtight container. Mix liquids, sugar, and salt in a seperate bowl and stir until sugar and salt dissolve. Pour over vegetables, seal containers, and allow to refrigerate for at least two (2) hours. Enjoy within two weeks (they won't last that long!).

*I used a mix of herbed white wine, cider, and distilled white vinegars. You can use whatever you like.

Not everyone is sweating their butts off

Oh, oh look, I'm POSTING!!! (That's for you, Lori.) Before I get into the whole "what I've been doing the past month," I have a very special announcement to make:

IT IS WINTER IN AUSTRALIA!!! To help my friends in the Southern Hemisphere beat the winter blues, I am having a 25% off sale on select items in my Etsy shop, now through July 31. You do not have to live Down Under to participate. In fact, this is a really great opportunity for everyone to think ahead and stock up for the winter. Check it out!

Now, I'm not going to apologize for being absent for the past month or so. Seriously, friends, I have been busy. Here's a taste of what I've done:

- Started my own marketing/pr firm focusing on small businesses (more on that later, after I finish my web site!)

- Worked on print and web projects for my clients.

- Joined the team at Scoutie Girl as Tara's virtual assistant.

- Gone to a million farmer's markets. Not just gone - worked. I've been employed by a friend with great products!

- Started a web comic, which needs to be updated even more than this blog does.

- Had lots of ice cream and Rita's dates with my husband.

- Enjoyed good books and good friends.

What I have not done is vaccuum or dust my house, clean my kitchen, or update this blog. Somehow, I think this is understandable. I should probably shower, though. So go check out that sale already!

Two things

1) My husband is taking me out for ice cream in just a little bit, which makes me very happy. Ice cream dinner!

2) I finished my East Coast Wrap, which I absolutely love. I promise to share the pattern as soon as I finish writing it up and figure out how to link up a PDF.

Better than Farmville

It's been a busy month here at LikeClochework! Last weekend I was in charge of a Mother's Day craft show at Studio B and this weekend I will be at my friend Donna's farm fest! Actually, I've been doing quite a bit to help get ready for the festival, and I can heartily vouch for it being a wonderful event. There will be lots of animals (including lambs and newborn twin goats!), games and pony rides for the kids, food, farmers, and artisans. I'll be selling my hats as well as Donna's signature handmade, all natural soaps and lotions, and we're also featuring local jewelers, potters, glass artists, and even a local yarn and fabric shop. And a spinning demo! Ya'll better be there.

Today I am sending a package to Alaska, which makes me laugh because Mr. LC and I just watched a Discovery Channel special on how everything in Alaska wants to KILL YOU. I've come to the conclusion that Alaska is the United States' version of Australia, except there are real wolves instead of dingos and grizzlies instead of crocodiles. So, I hope my package makes it, and I hope my recipient survives long enough to wear it. If the avalanches don't get her, the mosquitos might...


The latest version of my "Pamela" hat, the bucket.

Mum's the Word

Hello, everyone! This weekend I'm hanging out over at Mum's the Word, an awesome little show of handmade artisan goods at Studio B. Tonya Lov Jewelry, Stitch Sprite, Spotted Hill Farm, Loops and Links Design, and others are also here with me. If you don't have a gift for your mom yet or just want something lovely for yourself, stop on by! I bought something handmade for my mom :-)

Sneak Peek: Art Star

Lots of picture posts lately! But it's been hopping here at LC headquarters. Here's a peek at what I'm making for Hello Bluebird's jaunt to Art Star Craft Bazaar.

April flowers

Non-crochet craft time!

Sorry I've been remiss with posts lately, my friends. Three or four weeks ago I ate what I thought was harmless gorgonzola cheese - only to find out later that gorgonzola is fed on wheat! I broke out in a rash all over my hands and am just now able to do some crochet again. Horrendous!

While I was convalescing, I was not idle. There's always something to be done around here! And for my birthday the other week I decided to try something entirely new to me: making a terrarium. It was a lot of fun, and now I am a little terrarium-happy. You can make one, too, with my easy little tutorial :-)

Carrie's Terrarium Tutorial

First, gather your goodies:
- clear glass jar, with or without lid
- plant that is half the size of the jar, or smaller
- pebbles
- sphagnum or spanish moss
- activated charcoal (only if jar has a lid)

Step 1: Layer pebbles in bottom of jar until you can't see any more glass. If your jar has a lid, sprinkle an even layer of activated charcoal over the pebbles. This is your draining and filtering layer.

Step 2: Cut a thin layer of moss and spread it over the pebbles and charcoal. The goal of the moss is to keep your soil from migrating into the drainage layer, so you don't want too little moss... but you also don't want it too thick, either.

Step 3: Take your plant out of its pot and gently remove the excess soil from around the root ball. Place plant in jar; fill in with the excess soil. Use your fingers to press down the soil evenly all around. If you want, you can now decorate your terrarium with rocks, a little garden gnome - get creative! Or leave it as it is.

Step 4: Pour a small amount of fresh water onto the soil around your plant and put the lid on your jar. You're done! Check the soil every few days; if it seems dry, add a little more water.

Notes:
- Always buy your jar first; it's easier to fit a plant to a jar than to find a jar to fit your plant.
- Jars with lids will "automatically" water your plant by recycling moisture. Jars without lids must be watered by YOU, and more often.
- If you can't find activated charcoal, try looking for activated carbon instead. It's the same thing, and you can find it in the aquarium aisle at your local pet store.

R is for Roadtrip, G is for Gluten

I had an absotulely stellar time on my jaunt through Ohio this past week; lots of good friends and good times! My dear friend Melissa and I explored Columbus and found ZenCha Tea Salon, which I absolutely adored for their wide selection of properly prepared loose leaf teas. Spent some time with Rachel and her two adorable kids. Kudos to Rach and Greg for actually parenting their children - it's paying off! Angie and I went to Toledo and chatted about life and her poetry book, which is coming out this summer (I'm so proud of her!). Discovered all sorts of delicious things at Cincinnati's Findlay Market with Mary, and made semi-matching earrings with Sharon.

In some ways I wish I could have stayed longer, but it was so nice to come home and see my husband (who had been on a trip of his own) and catch up on our adventures.

In other news, a few days after returning from my trip, I was officially diagnosed as being gluten intolerant. Don't feel bad; it's relieving for me to know what's been making me sick and causing my horrible skin condition for the past 15 years! I've actually been having fun relearning how to eat and cook gluten-free and am thinking I'll post a new recipe here once in a while.

And now it's back to work! I promised Hello Bluebird some flower pins...

Road trip!!!

I feel as though I use far more exclamation points than someone with an English degree should, but... alas. Truth be told, I am super crazy excited about my road trip, which I take every year, and upon which I am about to embark. I will be putting my Etsy shop into "vacation" mode, so the ordering system will be unavailable until Monday, March 29. Hopefully I will return refreshed and bursting with new ideas. Until then, enjoy these glorious weeks of spring!

Birds of a feather

Yesterday I attended the first of what I hope to be many crafty meet-ups at Hello Bluebird. What a fun time! Approximately 20 ladies, all handmade business owners, gathered for a potluck brunch, item swap, and all around good time. Many of us had only met online or admired each other's work but had never met in person. There was a lot of "oh, YOU'RE so-and-so!" Tara from scoutiegirl posted a recap and pictures (I'm the one in the hat!) on her awesome blog, so check it out. Also, huge thanks to Stephanie Corfee for getting the ball rolling!

Am I blue?

From top: Lotus Flower pin, "Millie" Slouch Beanie, "Pamela" Cloche

In the air...

After all of the snow in February, we are finally in the midst of a glorious "warm" streak here in eastern Pennsylvania. The temperature has been in the 50s, the breeze has been light, and the birds are coming home and singing away on my rooftop. Hope springs anew!

Speaking of new, I have been hard at work on designs for spring and summer. In the past week I released two new hats: the "Pamela" summer cloche with buttons and the "Millie" slouch beanie. They are already posted in my Etsy shop and will also arrive at Hello Bluebird soon!

Excitement!

Alicia's treasury made the front page of Etsy! And she wins my contest! Hooray!

Links for a snowy day

I have just finished trudging through the fallling snow to deliver packages to the Post Office. Boy, it is chilly out there! And windy, my goodness. That'll be my exercise for the day (and maybe the week if it keeps coming down like this).

Exciting news of the day: I've been featured in an Etsy treasury! Check out Alicia's 70s-style treasury, and don't forget to pop in to her shop. If her treasury makes it to the front page, she'll get a free hat from me!

Also would like to point you all to my artist friend Stephanie Corfee's new website. It's chock full of good, clean lovliness. Be sure to check out her "Freebies" page!

Time to make some tea and snuggle in for what might be yet another blizzard. Spring, I miss you...

p.s. 100 posts! woo!