Pumpkin Picking at the Farmer's Market

This week I took the girls to the local farmer's market to pick out our pumpkins and mums as we do EVERY year around this time.

Fall is one of my favorite seasons. I love the smell of crisp fall leaves and bonfires. Our evenings have been getting cool so we have been snuggling up with our cozy afghans to stay warm, while sipping hot cocoa.

Yesterday I went on a field trip with Xiera and her third grade class to the Charleston Falls Park Preserve. It was only 42 degrees in the morning, and I was so happy that I remembered to bring our gloves and hats. We even brought extras for some of the kiddos who had forgotten, so that their little fingers and heads could stay warm too.

It's A Holly Jolly Christmas Launch

The Who's Who Holly Jolly Christmas Launch is going on right now on facebook. You can find it HERE. Many talented and amazing designers are listing their best of the best designs for the launch. Here are my contributions for the launch. The first is The Most Famous Reindeer Of All Hat.

I just LOVE this hat and all of it's fun texture with the soft furry beige yarn and those silly antlers. I have already sold two of these hats with Buy It Now but am hoping I can get my hands on some more of that furry beige yarn so that I can list it in my Etsy store. The next is Candy The Snowgirl Hat.

Like the reindeer hat, it has a ton of texture to offer and the bright fun colors really make this hat an eye catcher. I have also already sold two of these since the launch started last night. I am hoping to find more white fluffy yarn and textured yarn for the tassels tomorrow while yarn shopping, so that I can list this one in my store as well.

I'm Dreaming of....

a White Christmas....how about you?

Picture Perfect Bow Band

Tomorrow is picture day at school for the girls so I wanted to make a little hair accessory to match Zella's outfit.

This sweet little blue bow headband was actually very simple to create. I will have to post the pattern later on when I get the chance.

Cleaning out the Closets

I have been going through the girls outgrown clothes today and have started listing them on my Facebook page.

See something you like?, please friend me on Facebook. ;) Or email me for pictures. Everything is between a size 3t up to a size 7.

Free Bumble Bee Appliqué Pattern

My cousin has started making and selling beeswax candles. She had asked me if I could crochet a bumble bee appliqué to put onto her beeswax candle lids. I couldn't find any patterns I really liked so I decided to create my own little bees.

I went ahead and wrote the pattern out and decided to share it with all of my beloved crocheting followers and lurkers, (you know who you are. ;) )

Bumble Bee Appliqué Pattern

Using an E hook, starting at the stinger with the color black

Row 1: With black, ch 2, sc in 2nd ch. Ch 1 and turn. (1 st)

Row 2: 2 sc in st. Ch 1 and turn. (2 st)

Row 3: 2 sc in each st across. Ch 1 and turn. (4 st)

Row 4: Sc in each st across. Change to yellow. Ch 1 and turn. (4 st)

Row 5: With yellow, 2 sc in first st. Sc in next 2 st. 2 sc in last st. Change to black. Ch 1 and turn. (6 st)

Row 6: With black, hdc in each st across. Change to yellow. Ch 1 and turn. (6 st)

Row 7: With yellow, sc in each st across. Change to black. Ch 1 and turn. (6 st)

Row 8: With black, hdc in each st across. Change to yellow. Ch 1 and turn. (6 st)

Row 9: With yellow, sc in each st across. Change to black. Ch 1 and turn. (6 st)

Row 10: With black, sc in each st across. Ch 1 and turn. (6 st)

Row 11: Sk first st, sc in next. Sc in next 2 st. Sk next st and sc in last st. Ch 1 and turn. (4 st)

Row 12: sk first st, sc in next st. Sk next st and sc in last st. (2 st)

Fasten off and weave in ends

Wing (Make 2)

Ch 2, dc in first ch 5 times. Ch 2 sl st in first ch. Fasten off and weave in ends.

Assemble and sew wings on. French knot on eye and tie on antennas. Trim antennas to measure 1/2 inch.

(Will measure approximately 3 inches in length when finished.)

I hope you have as much fun as I did creating these! Happy crocheting!

Sally and Her Beloved Pumpkin King Giveaway

Halloween has been all the buzz in our home lately. The girls still haven't quite decided what they want to be yet. Powerpuff Girls, fairies, angels, or witches...decisions...decisions.. One of our favorite movies to watch this time of year is Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas. We just love silly old Jack and his beloved Sally whom he just never listens to. These two characters inspired me to crochet my new hat designs. Introducing: Nightmare Sally and Pumpkin King Jack Hats

I had made a Jack hat awhile back but wanted a different design for this hat.

Instead of a crochet applique of Jack on the hat, I wanted this hat to be of Jack's face, but more of a wicked smirk on his face rather than his nice guy type smile.

For the Nightmare Sally hat, I went wild and paid attention to details. I wanted her eyes to be almond shaped and large and I wanted her darker grey eye shadow to really "pop" with those rag doll eyelashes. I also wanted her blood red lips to be smaller so that I could make her mouth stitches longer. I didn't want to forget her extra stitches underneath her eye and across her forehead from a previous tear from something we can only imagine. For her hair I used a blood red color and did a texture style stitch to resemble actual hair. I made the bottom of her pigtails into ear flaps and then braided the ends.

I am hosting a giveaway on Facebook for your chance to win either a Pumpkin King Jack hat or a Nightmare Sally hat; your choice. I will custom make the hat to fit an infant size up to an adult size. The winner will be chosen Friday, September 14th, 2012 via random number generator. All you have to do is like my Crochet D Lane Facebook page, leave a comment stating which hat you would like to win, and if you would like another chance to win, share the giveaway post on your Facebook page publicly and then leave me a comment stating that you have shared. You can find the giveaway HERE.

Don't want to wait for your chance to win and want to purchase them now? You can find Nightmare Sally Hat in my Etsy store HERE, and Pumpkin King Jack Hat HERE.

Thinking Halloween....

Working on a few new items for my store...

I am thinking about the Pumpkin king and his beloved Sally. ;)

My Brave Loving Little Girl

If you haven't figured it out yet, Zella is in love with the new Disney Princess Merida from the movie Brave. She is my little brute so that tough girl image that Merida portrays must appeal to her. I paired up with the talented Karen of Layla and Stitch Boutique and made 2 adorable hats to match her sweet dress design. The first hat I made looks a lot like the Brave purse I recently created. I loved the Merida face I did on the purse so I decided to put it on a hat and it worked.

The hat is so cute and whimsical with all of that crazy red hair.

The next hat was inspired by those adorable 3 little bear brothers from the movie. Those bears were Zella's favorite with their bright blue eyes and sweet little innocent faces that we all know disguised how onry they truly were.

Zella is in LOVE with the Brave dress Karen made. She wants to wear it all of the time.

She actually wore it today to school. She got on the bus this morning with her sister for the first time.

She is such a big/little girl now. She was all smiles while she waved to hubby and I out that bus window.

First Day of Kindergarten

Zella's first day of kindergarten was today and although I have been looking forward to this day, being a stay at home mom for over 8 years, I ended up being a crying mess for most of the morning. I have noticed myself checking the clock every 20-30 minutes anticipating the time that I can break this strange childless silence that I am not exactly used to.

Hubby and I took the girls to school this morning. On the way there, I could hear Xiera giving her little sister a pep talk. "There is no talking in the halls and if anyone is mean to you, just ignore them!"

I have to say that was wonderful advice for Zella since ignoring is something she hasn't quite mastered yet. Zella is my little brute and if anyone or anything is bugging her, you can rest assure that she will let them and everyone around know.

Zella was so excited once we arrived in her class. She put her book bag and lunch box into her very own locker and then found her name on one of the tables and sat down ready to learn.

Leaving her there was so bittersweet. She is my baby and yet she isn't. She is such a big girl now. I look forward to hearing all about her first day this afternoon. :)

First Day of 3rd Grade

Xiera starts 3rd grade today! She was very nervous since it is her first day in the "New" elementary school building that is combined with the junior high and high school. I have to say that I am a bit nervous for her.

Of course she has Team Awesome on her side (The Powerpuff Girls)

Zella starts kindergarten on Friday!

Simply In Awe

My dear, sweet best friend, April delivered a beautiful baby girl Saturday evening. Keira Lynn was born at 6 pounds and 14.5 ounces and is pure perfection.

I visited them both in the hospital yesterday morning and I was in heaven. I am so happy for her.