It's alive! or how anxiety eats your brain.

Mostly.

Life ate me for while and I'mnot  entirely certain it's finished with me yet. But the good news is that I got my crazy, giant, time consuming, brain frying, eyeball melting book all done. My advice to those of you who buy the second book - don't try to make them all back after back after back after...you get the idea. Also use good lighting. I got an Ott light for Giftmas and I love it.

Completing the book was hard, I felt like I was never going to get the time to work on it because I had to take on a part time job that often ends up being full time and then some. That led to anxiety about not having enough time and a desperate wish or two to stop time for a bit. That led to me feeling like a failure because my inner voice is a mean spirited little gremlin. All day long with the 'everyone else has there sh!t together why don't you?' and the 'you're gonna fail, why even try' - and those are the nice things she says.

When I feel like that it's really hard to concentrate, unless it's a facebook game because then I'm all 'hey everyone I ever met on facebook can you send me a (insert asinine, imaginary thing here)?'. I think the devil invented facebook games to suck all your will power, energy, and proper hygiene habits, into oblivion.

Oh and another fun little side effect as a result of the anxiety, gremlins, and facebeast, all your creativity and inherent skills have gone and hid in the basement...or something. So every task feels like it can never ever be accomplished. Yay life!

On the bright side, I finished the damn thing even with all that, and I have better idea of what it is I want out of my life. So there's that at least.


Also I made a ton of stuff, take a look.

That is the current line up of book 2 (there may be additions)

Hopefully it won't be eight months before my next post.

Getting back to where I want to be

Ever have one of those days (or months) where it just feels like you forgot how to be you? You get so caught up in just trying to survive that you leave little bits of yourself in your wake. I'm trying my best to get back on track though, I'm humming along with book number 2, and I've been playing with some new cross stitch pattern ideas, and I've thinking about doing up some shrinky plastic buttons.

I;m trying really hard not to get ahead of myself, but now that I feel excited about what I'm doing again I feel like I have a ton of catching up to do.

Oh and because I apparently run on deadlines and stress I signed up for Swap-Bot. So far I'm limiting myself to writing letters or the sending of postcards to avoid feeling overwhelmed (and to avoid the postage cost while I'm broke). It's a lot of fun and you should all join and look me up (Voodoo Maggie, just like everywhere else) maybe we'll end up in some of the same swaps and I'll get to send you a letter :)

and so I don't leave you without anything pretty to look at enjoy these random photos from my massive horde of them.

I fell off the planet

Okay so I didn't fall off...but I might as well have. I've been crazy busy and then crazy lazy in a horrible cycle for a few weeks now. But I've pulled my head out of ...the sand, yeah that's where it was.

I had a big wordy hoopity doo, but lucky you I deleted it and sent to myself via futureme.org, it'll be interesting so see what reading them a year from now will be like. It will probably involve a lot of headdesk's and faceplam's but then so does my 'journal' from 1999. Or it did before I burned it.

Anywho, back to more entertaining things. My book was featured in issue 12 this lovely magazine (it came out a few weeks ago, but I haven't had a chance to share) I wanted to get a copy before posting it, but alas my finances are tight. It looks good though. Here's the link for your perusal  and the specific issue.

I also snagged the good room for my crafting purposes. I wanted it when we moved in but I figured I get what I want most of the time, it had to be hubby's turn sometime right? Well lucky me he outgrew the space and now it's mine!! It's only half-ish done right now but I love it so much! So much I'm just gonna drop some more exclamation points!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! almost done!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ...!!!...!

The lovely built in. Pro tip, don't spray paint shelves that you can't take outside. Unless you like huffing paint in which case you should slap yourself for being dumb.

My favorite corner full of green growing things (that aren't mold)

The upper part of plant corner

My awesome shelf full of jars and bits waiting to be turned into terrariums

Alright I've kept you long enough from whatever it is you really meant to be doing online. Go about your surfing and I'll catch you next time.

Micro bear Facebook giveaway

I've been sick or covering for people who were sick at work so I wasn't able to keep up with the thing a day posting (though I did manage to make or draw something everyday). I'm almost better now and I made this awesome tiny thing. It's the smallest thing I've ever made and you can win it. All you have to is be a fan of my facebook page ans share one of the pictures of the bear{or the album}

so go to here: https://www.facebook.com/Voodoo.Maggie1 


Go win it!

Cherry Garland free pattern

I've been doing Thing-a-day and if you've seen it then you know these cherries were my first post. And I promised a pattern when I got them into a vague garland assemblage. Well it's here! Okay so it isn't the most exciting thing ever, but it's cute, quick, easy and free.

Cherries

Foundation: Ch 2   SC 6 in second Ch from hook
Row 1. *2SC in each* across
Row 2. *SC 1   2SC in next* across
Row 3-4. SC across
Row 5. *SC 1   2SCtog* across
Row 6. *2SCtog* across
Do not finish

Stem

Join green and 2SCtog across, this should leave you with 3 stitches. SC in around for 4-7 rows depending on how long you want it. I use the flat side of my hook and come up from under the loop, it's easier when working with such short rows.

Finish off one cherry and make the stem of the second, join it to the first with SC around both (you should have 6 stitches at the end of this step.
 Join with SS to first stitch of next row, Ch 7   SC in second Ch from hook   HDC   DC 3   SC join with SS to stem.

Finish off.

To make cherries of differing sizes I used different hooks F and H.

To make the garland, crochet several cherry pairs, Ch 15 join a cherry pair at the top of the stem and repeat to desired length. When you added your last cherry pair Ch 17 and finish off. (I always add two extra stitches when I finish a chain so that when you pull it tight to knot it, it's remains even with the pattern directions.)

Abbreviations.
2SC - Two single crochet in same stitch
2SCtog- Decrease over two stitches /SC two stitches together
HDC - Half double crochet
DC - Double crochet
SS - Slip stitch
Ch - Chain

MInatures!

I've been making things, lots of things. Most of them tiny. Check it out

And a not mini thing, a goat -the pattern will be in my shop soon.

Now it's back to working up a cherry pattern to make a garland. The pattern will be my next post.  

Foxiness and watercolor surprise

So remember how I sad my next post would have a fox? Well here is a dimly lit, slightly fuzzy picture of said fox.

  I haven't had a chance to write it up proper yet (filling Christmas orders has had me working overtime for a few weeks now). He'll be ready soon though I'm hoping to put out at least four new patterns in or before January. For the fox, the Duckie, my yeti playset, and for a super cute otter that's been mostly done for over a year now but for some reason never finished or shown.

(cheap watercolors from Micheal's)

Working these past few weeks has been difficult, I sometimes feel overwhelmed with fulfilling other people's needs that I lose a little bit of the spark that crocheting normally brings me. 

(Notebook paper is really not ideal for wet painting)

When that happens I pull back and work on other interests. Lately that has been watercolors. I normally hate to paint, at least with acrylics (to quick to dry for me) but I have been having a ton of fun with watercolors. 

    I bought a cheap set at Micheal's and started experimenting. Then I saw a thread someone had posted in a forum I visit from time to time, asking what you wanted for Christmas but knew you weren't getting.

(Splotch bunnies, I started after something I saw on pintrest and decided last minute that I wanted bunnies instead of birds, hence the derpitude of some of them)

 I mentioned a set of nice watercolors and a watercolor notebook. I knew I wouldn't get it because I had just started with the painting and hadn't mentioned to anyone how much I was enjoying it. 

(Work in progress, watercolor on fabric)

  But a certain sneaky person on the forums bought them and sent them to me for Christmas. I have been having a blast with these and I've only just started playing with them.

(Another work in progress, watercolor on fabric with needle felted letter, buds, and embroidered stem)

 So a HUGE thank you!!!!!!!!!!! to Laura Dissen, it is a wonderful gift and I can't tell just how good it felt to be thought of. <3

-Maggie

P.S. update on sad frog and elusive cross stitch pattern coming soon.

Cozy Apples and Sad Frog update

These are the first two apple cozies I made.

I made the buttons out of shrink plastic. Next on the list are a jack 'o' lantern, an octopus and a monkey.

A few steps from Sad Frog's journey to awesome.

A secret pouch

All closed up

A new tummy.

And a quick look at some other stuff I finished recently.

Stay tuned, coming up next my newest fox pattern and a cross stitch freebie. (Plus maybe more progress on sad frog

Finding time

I started a new job a month ago and I love it I really do, but it makes finding time for my shop really hard. So I've been struggling to keep up and not fall behind. I manage just barely and I stress a lot, but what's life without a little stress right? I've managed to complete a few things (some still need finishing touches so I'll so those off later when they are 100% finished.) One of the things I finished I am super proud of. It was a request I came across on a forum I take part in. The requester wanted a giraffe hat, like this one    

I offered up services thinking I could make my giraffe into a hat. I wasn't sure I would like the outcome but I really wanted to try. Well it's finished and I LOVE IT!! here's my son modeling it.

(the fabric sticking out is a hankie so he can keep his head cooties to himself -not that he has bugs or anything)
It is so cute! and I can't wait to make some more (my son was a bit sad that he couldn't keep this one).

Also this week we went out thrift shopping for little man's Halloween out fit (last minute on Monday morning). While were out one of the thrift shops had a little sign that said "all toys free" as you can imagine there wasn't much left at that point but I managed to find a few goodies. I collect all sorts of toys/pieces, I like little things always have. One day I plan on taking a series of Ispy photos with all if or maybe get adventurous and try something along the lines of My Milk Toof (seriously awesome blog). But in the midst of all the bits and bobs was this sad looking little frog.

I'm going to give him a makeover and see if he doesn't perk up. Keep your eyes out, my next post will have a frog update and some cozies of a variety.

Requests!

So I want to do more free patterns or How To's on my blog but with me working a new job (SPCA, yay kittties!) And trying to keep of with my shop my creativity is coming in fits and starts. So if there is anything you'd like to see me do/try just leave a comment and I'll add it to my huge to-do list.

A few selections hovering near the top, A giraffe hat, A zelda key, some apple cozies and more Cupcake playsets like this one (but different)

(okay and at least one just like this)

I like big long to-do lists so feel free to add as many ideas as you want to.

-Maggie

Bookmarks! and a free X stitch pattern

So I've been super busy lately, making new stuff and working on project outside the norm for me (I'll show you when it's done) And I got a part time job at the SPCA in my town, which is at least eight different kinds of awesome. I mean who wouldn't enjoying working somewhere were the there are free range kitties (allergics aside that is).

Here's a look at some of the stuff I've been working on

Embroidered Narwhal (I always want to add an e to that)

Sleepy Bear Face

And Skeleton Key (it's a skull face :)

Oh and just cause I love you all to pieces there's this 

http://www.mediafire.com/?c3b4c4ck144atzp