grasshopperhandmade.com

I thought I'd write a short note to let everyone that I've registered grasshoppperhandmade.com. It just links to my Etsy shop right now, but I'm still super excited about it. (Plus, now no one can steal it out from under me.) Eventually I will get a website set up, but I really don't have the time right now. So, anyway... Yay!

Banner and Bracelet

I've made a new banner for my Etsy shop since I really hated the old one. It's not really that different, but I took out the part I hated--which was the background color behind the text--and still managed to make my shop name legible (which was why I had the background on it in the first place). You can see it at my shop or here--as soon as I figure out how to add it.


Above is a stainless steel bracelet my grandfather made for my grandmother. Her name was Ruth--I hope you can read it. My grandfather worked in a machine shop, but also had a garage full of woodworking tools and was a wonderful carpenter. (I've got a family full of crafty people.) I adore this bracelet--partly because it rocks and partly because it makes me think of my grandfather and my grandmother. Eventually I may post some pictures of my bookcases, my jewelry case and other things he made for me, but for now I wanted to share this.

Circular Rug "Pattern"

I've been asked to share my pattern for the crocheted t-shirt rug I posted about in my last post. I'd be happy to share, but I don't really have a pattern--I just crocheted a basic circle in half double crochet. Just in case that isn't something you already know how to do, I'll write it out as a pattern. (Hopefully this will be understandable--I normally only make notes for myself, not for other people.)

Basic Circular Rug Pattern

For the one I posted about, I cut the t-shirts into about .75 inch to 1 inch strips (by cutting off the sleeves and seams and then cutting each piece in a continuous strip around the outside edge) and used a Q hook, but that's certainly something that could be changed.

Round 1: Ch 2 and crochet 8 hdc into the first ch, sl st in first hdc to join
Round 2: Ch 1, 2 hdc into each st, join
Round 3: Ch 1, (hdc in next st, 2 hdc in next) around, join
Round 4: Ch 1, (hdc in next 2 st, 2 hdc in next) around, join
Round 5: Ch 1, (hdc in next 3 st, 2 hdc in next) around, join

And just continue on increasing in this manner until your rug is big enough.

I hope that's helpful, but please feel free to ask if something's not clear or you need more information. (And that goes for anyone--even if you weren't the one who asked for the pattern.)

I didn't make it to the Michigan Fiber Festival over the weekend. We were going to go on Sunday, but my boyfriend, Chris, had a terrible headache and it was raining fairly hard. We thought we would probably just be miserable and since it's a pretty long drive for us, we decided not to go. I'm sad I didn't get to go since I had been looking forward to it for months, but I'm sure it was for the best. There's always next year, I guess.

Finally Spinning

Well, I can hardly believe it, but I have finally gotten around to spinning some of the roving I handpainted ages ago. (And then had predrafted for another age.)


I think it's coming out pretty well. As I believe I've mentioned before, I'm a very beginning spinner (even though I've been learning for about a year and a half now--I just don't practice enough), so I don't expect too much, but still... I think I like it.

I've also been working on crocheting this rug out of strips of old t-shirts.


(I know that it looks like navy, gray and black, but the navy is actually black--just different t-shirts.) I made one of these rugs out of fleece a year or so ago and never made any more. Last night, I decided I had to make some more, so away I went. I have a huge collection of old t-shirts, polyester dresses and fleece remnants that I've been saving to crochet into rugs and it's about time I work on using some of them up. Besides, I think they'd be nice to sell at the craft show I'm doing in September.

Well Loved

This is a picture of Isabella (Bella for short)--who is the daughter of friends--at her first birthday party. What a doll. I crocheted the blanket in the picture for her before she was born and now I am told that she can't take a nap without it. Which is just lovely. It totally made my week.

Boxes of Fibery Goodness

I've been ordering lots of supplies for this craft show I'm doing at the end of September and today I got several packages. And I love getting packages.


This is merino roving which I am going to use to make felted soap. Isn't it gorgeous? I almost want to just keep it in a basket so that I can admire it and pet it, but I suppose I'm going to have to use it. (The soap to felt came today as well.)


And this is a box of wool for felted clutches and my new purses.

I'm still attempting not to panic about not being ready for this show. At least I have some of my supplies now so I can make a more concerted effort to get more stuff done. I just feel like I don't have anything ready--which isn't completely accurate. My Etsy shop has pages of items and I have other stuff here in varying stages of being done. I remember my mom doing this before every craft show that she did, so I guess it runs in the family--but that's one thing I'd rather not inherit, thank you very much.

Felted Handbag Prototype

I've been trying for ages to come up with a felted purse (handbag--not clutch) design that I like. And I think I have (almost) finally succeeded.


Since this is the prototype, it does not yet have handles. And the finished ones will have some sort of embellishment on them--probably embroidered appliques. Except for the size and a slight adjustment to the flap, I like it. Which comes a quite a shock to me since I didn't think I'd ever make one I like. So now I'm making another one, which I hope will be exactly what I wanted. And then I will make many many more for sale--as soon as I get the time.

The 2nd Detroit Urban Craft Fair (DUCF) is on Saturday, August 4th, which is this Saturday. I highly recommend going--I went last year (and will be going again this year) and thought it was great. I will not be in the fair this year, but I'm thinking about trying to get in next year. Let's see how the show in September goes and then I will think about it.