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I finally ventured into amigurumi last October and made my boyfriend a cupcake for his birthday. He did not seem to excited but what else can you eat during Ramadan? I think the goats ate it.
I studied two patterns when making this cupcake: one was from Priscilla Hewitt and this yogurt cupcake. However, with some minor changes, I think I mainly followed Priscilla’s pattern. And, I just had to add some gold sprinkles!
After reading about several craftie’s experiences at fairs, I decided I needed some kind of centerpiece for my booth at the street market. My inspiration for this flower pin bouquet came from my Japanese Grandma’s tissue cover that I found in her basement. She had crocheted it some time ago and it had always been upstairs in use. However, since she passed, someone had moved this centerpiece into the basement. The ribbon had been frayed and torn so I inserted a new ribbon. Luckily, I had a very similar ribbon already at home.
One major flaw of this bouquet is the packing, which I may re-do. Instead of using floral foam, I decided to wind up a ball of yarn. Although it went with the theme of crochet, this caused difficulty in inserting the chenille pipes into the ball of yarn, making the flowers a little wobbly.
Flower pin #1 is the one I generally apply to my Dianne Purse and is made of 100% acrylic. It is reinforced with chenille pipes, which is hidden inside the crochet.
Flower pin #2, #4, and #6 were originally made for my mother to match the shawl I made her for Christmas but I just couldn’t get it to go. They are primarily made out of mohair and sheep wool.
Flower pin #3 is very similar to Megan Mill’s Bourbon Rose with some alterations. They are made of 100% acrylic.
Flower pin #5 was originally made for an amigurumi kitty I made but I decided to accent her with a fabric scarf to emphasize the crochet yarn texture. It is made of 100% acrylic and embellished with gold seed beads.
I made flower pin#7 when I was attempting to work on my sewing technique. I had leftover scraps from a skirt that I made (terribly) and so I decided to make a fabric flower. I like it and may make more but probably smaller ones.
Before going to Palau, I went to Japan with my family. I was so excited to take pictures everywhere with my new suit from Hong Kong and my very first crocheted bag. Its in my favorite color – antique and lined with my favorite Kona Bay Fabric – hana ga saku in Taupe. Unlike the new bags I make, the lining was all hand stitched. What a pain.
My trip to Palau gave me some time to come up with ideas for my new boutique and street market sales as well as a new design for a clutch. I am hoping that I will be organized enough to open my booth this Thursday. Right now, I am working on pamphlets in English and Japanese for my leis and business cards in English and Japanese. On Tuesday, I will work on getting a business license.
Besides inspiration for my boutique, the trip was also a great cultural and scenic experience. My mom, dad, brother, and boyfriend met up in Guam and then we traveled together to Palau.
We spent three full days there. Knowing that Palau is known for its diving, my brother, the boyfriend, and I went diving with Sam’s Tours on the first day. The diving masters were great and we saw many many fish. Our first dive was at the German Channel and our second dive was at the Blue Corner. During those dives, we swam with sharks about four to six feet long and several Manta Rays, as well as many colorful fish. While at the Blue Corner, we hooked onto the coral, which allowed us to relax as the sharks were swimming around. Unfortunately, we did not have a diving camera so we are left to our memory of these beautiful creatures.
On the second day, the entire group went on a Rock Island Tour with Sam’s Tours. Once again, this crew was great and very knowledgeable. They took us to the Milky Way, Jellyfish Lake, and the cemetery. They also showed us some giant clams and a place where many sharks feast.
On the last day, the entire group traveled around the island via automobile to the infamous jail, Palau Aquarium, Belau National Museum, the Ben Franklin (“BF”) Department Store, and the Senior Citizen’s Center. Many gifts were purchased at BF. I also purchased a very pretty shell bracelet at the museum and a nice seahorse shaped storyboard from the jail. As my friend informed me, the price of storyboards at the jail is much higher than at other places. However, there is more of a selection at the jail. (Even if you aren’t looking for a storyboard, you should take a visit at the very low security jail – it is quite interesting.)
An interesting note: While driving in Palau is on the right side of the road, the steering wheel is on the right (instead of the left). We found out this was because, even with the cost of importing them, used cars from Japan are significantly cheaper.
I made this layette for my boyfriend’s sister’s baby boy. I was really worried that the baby would outgrow the set before he had a chance to even touch it so I insisted that he send it to his sister right away.
This color, what I call mint, is really my favorite baby color for a boy or girl. This one has pompadour, which makes the set a little shiny, which is what I like. I have never really liked variegated yarn to use as the main color but I really like how it accents.
The baby blanket is made with the Tunisian knit stitch and detailed with crochet border. The hat, bib, and booties were crocheted regularly. I didn’t use a pattern but I can only imagine that they have been imagined by others before me.
I am hoping that my trip to Palau will give me inspiration for new ideas. Palau is known for its great fish and diving spots. Besides the diving, which I could not pass up, we are going on the Rock Island tour and I hope to see some jellyfish and monstrous clams. It should be exciting. The Palau Aquarium looks interesting.
I have been inspired by the tropical island of Saipan, the rock that I live on, to create crocheted Leis. I am hoping to get a booth at the street market to sell them. I figured that I would hit the market just before graduation. These leis, at least I think, look like flowers, which is what I love. Look at all the wonderful colors. Although they don’t have the scent that reminds one of the tropics, the receiver of these leis can treasure them for a life time.
After days and days of contemplating, I have decided to open my own etsy shop with username tantalizingstitches. I am nervous and excited at the same time. In hopes of spurring my very first sale, I have a shipping promotion – shipping is on the house for my first customer!
Welcome to my blog. My name is El and I am the founder, designer, and administrator of Tantalizing Stitches – I do everything here, even website design. My favorite past time is indulging in the art of crochet. However, since I have started to line my crocheted handbags with fabric, I have began to dabble in sewing and have contemplated embroidering.
In this blog, I hope to post my progress through various projects as well as crafting tips and selling tips that I have found useful.
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