December with the "Hookers"

I am currently working on some team pages, first up of course being Christmas.
This is still a work in progress, we have many members and I have only gone through about 25% of the shops, but it's a start!

Supplies!  From patterns to yarn (and some necessary features for Christmas dolls and snowmen!):  a lot of the patterns are instant downloads, so are ready to download when payment is complete.

Christmas Crafting Supplies curated by EtsyHookers on Etsy

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For completed items, please, before purchasing, check the shop's location and  shipping info to be sure you can get the item in time.



Everything Christmas curated by EtsyHookers on Etsy

You can opt to follow the list, and see updates in your activity feed on Etsy, there will be more to come!

One more day of July!!

I can't believe the July we've had in southwestern Ontario!  Apart from a few hot days, most have been bearable, and the nights, especially recently, are cool enough that a blanket is called for.  My husband keeps asking "Should I take the window air conditioner out and just put in a box fan?"
My reply is always an adamant "NO."  Because as soon as we do that, *that's* when the really hot, sticky weather will hit.  Murphy's Law may have a section devoted to stuff like that.

I thought I'd pick some nice, sunshine-y items from team members as my last post of the month, enjoy!

Crochet Pattern from akuadesigns.

Cotton crochet thread from crochetgal.

Pattern to crochet this fun sunshine wand from hertercrochetdesigns.

Silk sari yarn from mandalayarn

Sunshine for the bathroom, soap saver and face scrubbies from samscrochet

Fun beverage cozies from smudgekitty

Wouldn't any fashion doll love to wear this to the beach?  From rianasbarbiecloset

Crochet pattern, girl with summer's favourite fruit!  from crochetsal

More Hot Stuff

Some more summery bright colours, and a couple of Hot Sales! 

From HerterCrochetDesigns, a cute amigurumi dachshund: 

(Save!  $4 total purchase of $8 or more in this shop, till July 31, use coupon code ETSYJULY14 when checking out.  Does not include shipping, shipping costs are stated in listings)

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 Check out MandalaYarn's silk sari yarns like this vibrant multi colour yarn

                                                                  

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More yarn from crochetgal

 

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Keep a bit of bold summer colours through the cold winter with this bright afghan from smudgekitty

Save 25% on purchases over $20, valid on all listings in this shop, shipping is not included and is extra as stated in listings.  Use coupon code HAZYDAYS25 when checking out.

Summertime Fun

Summertime, summertime.....
To me, bright, hot sun in the day, the smell of clover and freshly cut grass...
Sipping icy beverages while sitting in the shade crocheting, or just sitting back listening to the distant lazy drone of a lawnmower...
Barbecued burgers with baked beans and potato salad...now, burgers and baked beans you can eat anytime, but for some reason, potato salad for me has always been a summer recipe, and it just doesn't feel right eating it when there's two feet of snow blanketing the ground.  (Keep scrolling for my 'recipe' for potato salad)

Bright, bold colours:  blues, reds, yellows and greens...and lots of neons!  A few things from team members in summertime colours (click on pictures to see listings, link will open in a new window)

Something to set those icy beverages on to help prevent that pool of condensation on your side table

Something bright for your kitchen, the set includes matching dishtowel

 (Pattern for above dishcloths, with matching hotpad and coaster can be purchased HERE pattern for dishtowel will be available soon)
And we can't forget some bright yarn for those projects you're working on in the shade or inside in air conditioned comfort (these would work great for the above pattern!)

 Sally's Potato Salad (adapted from my mother's potato salad)
Quantities are approximate, I never measure but just throw stuff in! and can be easily adjusted, use more or less of each item according to your taste and amount needed.

• 2 lbs of potatoes, I use just about any kind, and have even used the red/white/blue mini potatoes
• 1 cup of elbow macaroni
• 4 eggs, hard boiled and cooled
• 2 green onions, chopped
• 1 celery stalk, chopped
• small amount of sliced mini carrots (the multi coloured mini carrots make for nice colour if you can find them) to add colour.  You could also use pre-shredded carrots.
• mayonnaise  (app 1/3 c)
• mustard, app 1/4 t

Boil potatoes till they are cooked, but still somewhat firm.  Drain, rinse and refrigerate.  (I prefer leaving my potatoes for several hours/overnight in the fridge before cutting up)
Prepare elbow macaroni, I prefer mine 'al dente', drain, rinse and refrigerate.

To prepare:  
Into a large bowl, cut potatoes into bite sized pieces.  Peel eggs and cut into small pieces (I also crumble the egg yolk into the salad).  Add macaroni, green onions and mini carrots.
In a small dish, mix mayonnaise and mustard, add to large bowl and mix well.  If needed, add more mayonnaise.
Refrigerate till well chilled.  

I have also used chopped sweet peppers and/or thinly sliced radishes in my salad. 




 

It's Finally Spring!!!

I am pretty sure it is anyway, at least around here.  The robins have come out of hiding, the redwing blackbirds are singing, our cats have decided it is safe to venture outside and our little Westie will now stay out longer than 2 minutes at a time.

I've seen crocheters ask:  does crochet sell in warm weather?  Many think of hats, scarves and afghans when they think of crochet, but there is so much more--not to mention although in the northern hemisphere we're moving into spring and summer, the southern hemisphere is moving into their fall and winter!

For warmer weather:  airy, cotton floppy hats; lightweight wraps for cool days and evenings; accessories in seasonal colours; brightly coloured table settings; dolls...
**Unfortunately, the treasury tools that I have used before no longer work, so individual pictures here are not clickable, however, if you click on the picture, it will take you to the treasury page where each image will take you to that listing.

 

 

Winter Weather and Crochet

I have to say this winter is more like the ones I used to know.  Very cold, windy, blizzards, and snowfall on top of snowfall.  I will say though, that it was much more enjoyable when I was 13; schools actually closed during really bad weather and without having to be somewhere, the day could be spent outside building forts, snowmen, or playing games of fox and goose.  You didn't feel the cold when you were young and having fun.

But the bad weather isn't so much fun when you're an adult and have to shovel it, or drive in it to work (cause work rarely closes, even the schools rarely close any more).  And the cold is just plain cold now.

It was nice to see something great amidst this cold and snow, a new sort of yarn bombing:  knitters and crocheters would leave scarves in handy places for anyone out in the cold who needed one to take.  I thought it was an awesome idea, and although the 'old-style' yarn bombing was fun to see, this one is fun AND useful.  A great way to use up stash, spend time doing what you love, and give to others.
I may just have to try this next year somehow.  Another idea is to make winter accessories up and take them in to the local foodbank.  I have been told there is a table there for those who have need of the foodbank, where people can pick from the table non-food items they may need.


Some of our team members sell yarn in their shops so I thought I would post a few of those today.  Keep in mind, some people do have allergies, so if you do plan on scarf bombing, a content label might be a good thing, especially if you are using wool.

Some vintage mohair yarn from BerthasBizarreBazaar

 

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A wonderfully bright, bulky weight yarn from crochetgal:

 (crochetgal has a shop full of yummy yarns!)

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From HeavenSpunCreations a thick and thin handspun merino yarn in beautiful teal ombre:

(check out her other handspun yarns while you're there!)

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Some destash from Smudgekitty, 24 oz of  bulky Baby Anna yarn:

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SixSkeins has some gorgeous handdyed yarns, including this merino cashmere nylon yarn:

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Lastly, MandalaYarn has several silk yarns in her shop, I am not sure how warm they are, but they look like such fun to 'play' with, this one is banana viscose!

Five days...maybe?

Yes, it has been several days since I posted to begin a countdown to an event unseen for a few years.

I had hoped to spark interest in the event, and continue to post with comments to build up to the final day, but due to lack of interest, the event may not happen at all, or may happen, but on a smaller scale....or, *I* may be surprised too, and there could be several 'last minute' participants.
Either way, event or not, I will post later this week.

Many of our members offer wonderful gift ideas for everyone on your list, not to mention yarn, hooks and patterns to keep any crocheter busy on cold, snowy days.  Over the next few weeks, I'll post some ideas here for different recipients, so check back every few days for new ideas.

Shopping this time of year can be especially tense, even online.  To help keep frustration levels low, when shopping be sure to check where the item ships from and decide before ordering whether there is time for the item to get to you.  Yes, overseas shipping *can* be quick, but often depending on the country, it can easily take 4 weeks, and sometimes 6.  Surface mail can take even longer:  I once had a postal employee tell me that a package sent surface could take 3 months to get to Australia from Canada.
Also, this is important, know before purchasing your country's duties for importing goods from outside your own country.  This is a tax/fee imposed by the country's government, so this is something buyers are liable for, not the sellers.  Sellers have no idea of knowing every country's rates, and cannot collect the money from you to pay on your behalf.  A seller cannot lie on the customs form and fill in a lower $ value to save the buyer money, this is highly illegal and could result in huge fines for the seller.