Iron Craft 11 & Crocheted Cozies

After sewing a bunch of coffee cozies, I realized I could crochet some too.  I searched for patterns on Ravelry, but decided to just create my own!  I was also going to create some shamrock coasters for St. Patricks day (and the green challenge at Iron Craft), but I ran out of time.  So I made a green coffee cozy!  So far I only have three crocheted cozies made, but I LOVE how they look!

Marketing :)

 

And for the green cozies (for Iron Craft):

 

Coffee Cozies: Complete!  I am definitely going to be making more of these.  I just love them!  And sorry, the green just didn't show up very well.  Oh well!  Would you be more likely to purchase a sewn or crocheted coffee cozy?

Iron Craft Challenges 8 and 9

I got a little behind with the Iron Craft challenges, but I am all caught up now!  Part of the problem is that I did not have time to do what  I really wanted for the hometown challenge.  My hometown is all about oranges, I think we were the first exporter of oranges from California, or the largest, back in the day.  It was on Jeopardy last week.  Anywho, I wanted to make a shirt with an old crate label on it.  Or a shirt the said "Left my heart in San Francisco" with a heart cut out of California where San Fran is (I'm originally from the Bay).  But I didn't have time to do all that.  So last night I came up with the second best option....

Challenge #8:  Hometown

I used the pattern from the Fruit & Vegetable basket from Coat and Clark [April 21].  That makes me a little further along in crocheting up all the things on the calendar.  Now I just need to finish the rest of the fruits and vegetables for that basket! haha

Challenge #9: And the Oscar Goes to

Harry Potter!  It was going to be Twilight, but the Every Flavor Beans [Jan 17] just seemed so much more fun!  Can you see the vomit flavored one?  How about blueberry pie?  And way faster than the Tent Scene beanie.  I did start the beanie though!

Don't those look delicious??  How did I end up with two food items for these two challenges?  Must have food on the brain!  Oh yeah, and food is small and easy (yes i started and finished both of these projects last night!

Iron Craft 7: GOLD

When I saw the challenge of gold I was at a complete loss.  What the heck am I going to make that is gold?  I mean, I am more of a silver (or white gold) girl.  But to craft gold... no idea! haha  Then I remembered the pattern for March 16, Pot O Gold.  Instead of buying plastic gold coins, I could crochet them!  I used gold super saver yarn (it's gold, not yellow, I swear!) and gold crochet thread.  So fun and sparkly!  And now I am ready for St Patrick's Day!

I am pretty sure the leprechauns had some whisky before moving this pot of gold to it's hiding place... that is why it has a few dents and dings!

At least, that leprechaun story is what I am telling myself!

Here's to all things Gold (and the Midas Touch that inspired us all)!

Here are a few pictures from our previous St Patrick's Day escapades, first 2008 and then 2010.  This year will be our fifth year (at least) of celebrating St Patricks Day together!  We do love these two!

About a week after our honeymoon... green beer with good friends!

Their first St Patrick's day as husband and wife!  :)

I just love this picture... can you tell that Matt is patronizing me? hahaha (check out Halvsies!)

Much better!

Iron Craft Challenge #5: Be Mine

This week's Iron Craft Challenge is all about LOVE.  We were challenged to make a valentine for someone we love.  Well I got a little excited and made Valentines for lots of people that I love.  It all started last week when I decided to make sewn cards with fabric scraps.  The idea was that I could send one with each etsy order, so the recipient could use it (and it would match).  Here are my first two:

As you may have noticed, the first one (left) was a bit messy and the scraps were sewn straight onto the card.  This left the back of the card looking like a total disaster. By round two, with a little advice from the hubs, I decided to first sew onto an index card, and then sew the card onto the folded card.  Then you still see stiches on the card, but not a zillion. 

I made a third card that night, much neater thant he previous two!  Also, I used a gluestick on the back of the index card before sewing it on... just wanted to keep those thread ends tucked in!  Each of these is going to a friend whom I love.

A day or so later came the Iron Craft Valentine Challenge.  I wanted to make a few Valentine's for specific people -- with specific fabric.  There is school fabric for a teacher friend, traveling / luggage tag fabric for a far away sister, polka dots and hearts for friends closer to home, soccer stuff for my beloved, and wine for one special wine loving cousin of mine!

I am really pleased with the final result!  And thankful that Joanns had cards on clearance so I could finally push myself to try this whole sewing on paper thing out.  I mean, seriously, I have been wanting to do this for months!!

And because you asked so nicely, here is the back of a card.  :)

Iron Craft: Get Cozy

I kept seeing Missie post about her Iron Craft challenges, and they just looked so fun.  This week's challenge was to make a coffee cozy.  Lucky for me, I had already made one!  I wanted to make a few more to sell on etsy, but the pattern just was not right.  I feel bad for joining the Iron Craft challenge a few weeks late, but better late than never, right?  I finished up these 2 cozies during the week of the challenge.

Below you can see the 2 next to each other.  You can see how much smaller the pink one is -- that was my first attempt!

I am in love with the pink / green hearts one.  The other one... well it just may be showing up when I do my giveaway later!  I had to do some last minute changes, after I tried it on the mug.  You can see my "fails" below!

This one was just tossed.  No recovering from it.  It would have been super cute,but part of it did not attach and I chopped off the end.  Then it was just too small.  :(

And this one -- well it is the "before" of the cute light blue & brown coffee cozy.  The button was sewed on too far to the right.  I was able to cut it off and resew it, though I was worried I would not be able to, because I sewed the button on before sewing the 2 pieces together.  Sigh.

All in all, it was fun to participate in this iron craft.  I would love to keep going - with more crocheted items!