Fall at full speed

 I have been enjoying Barbara Walker's "Knitting Treasury" pattern books, and love to take a basic pattern and make it into hats. It's a great way to practice a new stitch without worrying too much about using up a ton of yarn, but forgiving enough to rip out with less guilt if you don't like it.

This one is called "Wave and Shield" and according to the book, quite an old pattern developed in Britain.
Lacy enough for a blanket, dense enough for a jacket, I believe this is quite an all-around. It sure made an attractive hat! The extra is the soft plum flower and vintage earring re-purposed into some bling detail.

For $45, I will send it to you for your wearing pleasure!


*UPDATE*  This hat sold! I will make another one soon!

Classics

Finally, I'm getting a chance to add a few more hats on here. I have so many projects in different stages of completion, I'm keeping really busy. I love it!

This is my "Desert Flower" hat. One of the very first hats I designed, so this pattern has been used quite a bit. I teach this hat pattern to intermediate crocheters. Emily is modeling a version made with Bernat Yarns. Their recent line is really fun to work with. You can have this hat sent to you for $35.

Another "Vicki" hat, this time in Navy blue and a vintage enamel pin I snagged at the local Rusty Relics antique shop (you can find them on Facebook). I added some novelty yarn, and the whole thing came together quite nicely! I love it. Emily had a great time modeling for me as well. You can get this mailed to you for $45. That pin is adorable! you can take it off and add it to a bag, or another favorite hat.

Noting today as September 11th, I would also like to remind everyone to NEVER FORGET the events of this day. God Bless America.

I just launched a Facebook page so I don't get left behind in the social networking dust. In addition to my Thousand Hat project,  you will find all the other artistic media I dabble in. You can find me as:

Desert Flower Creations

Please 'like' my page and see what there is for sale! A portion of all sales will go to Bridgeway House (a local autism support center) and the SMCF (Single Mom withthreekids in College Fund :)

I am finishing a Tango dress at the moment, but after that, there are three more hats ready to go! Check back soon to get a peek! Christmas is coming soon and I start fall term on the 26th. I won't be able to do more than a select few custom orders.

Have a great week!

The kids and I went to visit my dad's family in eastern Oregon over the Memorial weekend holiday. Eight hours filled with driving, music, pretty views, potty breaks, nap breaks (for mom ;) and more driving. This year we encountered snow on the Santiam Pass and about 18 miles from my grandmother's house. Very rare. 

On Monday, the kids, my uncle George and I went up to the gravesite and added the mums (Gramma's favorite grave decorating flower) and It was such a pretty day I took hat photos up there. Here are the latest creations:

$40

Pistachio super slouchy beanie in Bernat Mosaic acrylic yarn. I really enjoyed experimenting with this project.

$45

I call this one, "The big O". The hat started out with Oregon Duck colors, so I just decided to add the "O" as an understatement for Uof O Duck fans who still want to look hip. This hat actually sold at a recent craft show, so  if you want one, the color progression will not be the same as what you see here.  I could also make it with other letters and colors for your particular team.

$30

"JillyBean" is a hat-tip to one of my best friends, Jill (we call her JillyBean, 'cause she is 6' tall and thin as a green bean.) She loves these wide head bands because it accommodates ponytails and bad hair days without the extra heat retention a hat provides. In the western half of our state, This works well.

$40

Yet another color added to the Mossy hat collection. This is hot pink. My camera wasn't cooperating with me, and the photo editing only got it slightly closer to the actual color. If you are really wanting to see the color, I will gladly send you a yarn snippet. I had to promise Emily I would make her one after this photo shoot. I love that she thinks I'm cool. 

I start summer term Monday. I have the feeling it will be a bit tough. Especially when the Professor emails all of her students a week early with a LONG email stating "I highly reccommend you taking this course in a traditional classroom setting if you are not organized and committed.. blah blah.." and reminding us that we better get help when we need it, yaddah yaddah. Sheesh! Thank the heavens for online, live tutoring! I have three more hats on the sticks, so intermittent knitting in between epic study sessions should keep me sane.. enough.

 I am purging the redneck condo today so it can be ignored until September, when I get three weeks off before Fall term starts. Who does housecleaning these days anyway, right? 

Names vs Numbers

Numbering the hats were too impersonal I decided. Besides I can still make a thousand hats just a zillion different colors. Here are a few I have made before I started the project. They are good designs, and still originals from my head.

         Denver is wearing "Denver", a good wool striped hat for men. Stripes are a navy blue, forest green and      
                                brown. I can make it in any color combination. I can do wool or acrylic.

The 'Vicki" hat in a creamy white with brown accents. This was a Christmas present for my good friend, Bethany. If you are interested in matching mitts for any of these designs there is an extra charge of $35 (crocheted only) and you need to contact me personally. Just put "Special Order" in the subject line.

Sadie is wearing "Vicki" in pink. So girly!

                 Emily is wearing the "Skull Bucket". A nice solid black that is a nice everyday cranium cover.
                                                                    Wool or Acrylic.

                             The original version of "Vicki". Teal with a white flower. The brim can be made either
                                                           short or long like the pink one.

                            And, this is Vicki, wearing her "Vicki" hat. Perfect accessory for skiing!!

The "Mossy Hat" pattern I designed in fuschia with an awesome white flower for customer Gwen. Feminine!

The "Mossy Hat" again, in Teal with a red flower. Amy ordered the colors and modeled the hat. Pretty!

The original Mossy Hat. I designed and wrote the pattern. It's for sale on Ravelry for $5 download .pdf format. Green wool with a gold flower. The hat is now owned by Denise, a good friend a co-worker. Erin is the model.

I hope  you get an idea of how unique each hat can be just by color choices and  adding embellishments. If you have a custom design feel free to contact me about it and we will make something that is uniquely you!

Another reason to knit

I have been struggling with creative ways to add my new reasons for this blog. Nothing has come to mind yet, and there are two more hats that need posting, so I will just say it. 
Autism. 


I recently found out my 5 year old son has it. Asperger's to be more exact. Most moms understand. We blame ourselves first and foremost, with things like, "I know I shouldn't have eaten this, or drank that" during pregnancy, or blame the genetics or God or the Hospital staff. 


Then, we research. "I'm getting to the bottom of this. I will know everything there is to know" like, one in 110 (!) children will have some sort of autistic traits, or "on the spectrum" as it is normally discussed. We tell everyone about it like we are on msnbc or something. 


Then, finally, there's an uneasy truce. At least in my case. 
All I know, right now, is that my dear little boy isn't going to have the life I thought he would. I know I have a hard road ahead of me, and no, it isn't fair, but it is what it is. So I am doing whatever I can to make sure he has everything he needs to become a productive member of society.


Oh and I also have two other kids, a job, going to college full-time, a small 'paying hobby', and oh did I mention I'm doing this All. By. Myself.? Sure, Mom and sis are around to help with emotional support, and I have a place to sleep while I get through this, but anyone who has been even close to where I am at now knows. NOT easy. 

My little Joe.

So I knit. I knit for women like me, I knit for Autism, I knit for my family.


And there will be 1000 reasons why.

Hat #15: Slouchy beanie in Bernat Mosaic. Acrylic. $40.00

                                      

Hat #16: Wool striped cap. $40.00

                                         

#13 and #14

Flickr has become my favorite new social site. Not only are literally thousands of photos, I have connected with people all over the world. Norway, Italy, UK, Ireland, and all over the US. And talent. Wowzers! I visit the site more than once a day just to get some visual inspiration.

What I have learned is this: Just about anything can be photographed. I'm not saying everything should be. I like to take pictures of pretty things or things that are interesting. I am not into too much 'off-kilter' stuff that gets labelled as 'art'. ( I think I just talked myself into a corner. You know what I mean).

I think I will stick with more of this.

                      #13. 100% Wool in  "Sand Art" from Ella Rae designs. Will fit most heads. $40.00

                          #14 Patons Classic Wool in Brown Tweed. Also will fit most heads. $40.00

Spring has officially decided to stay around here in western Oregon. I hope it finds your state/country soon! So nice to see the sun, the birds, and hear the spring peepers at night again!

If you're interested in my Flickr photostream, here is the link:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/desertflower66/

I put all the hat photos there, as well as things for my other blog,
http://desertflowercreations.blogspot.com  where I blog about knitting and life, (mostly)

I'm off to do more homework. sigh.