Bohemian Mermaid Palace

  **Update! April 2022** My first ALL NEW Beer Can Hat Tutorial and video is up!! Woohoo! Many more tutorials coming, this is just the beginning! *New* 3-in-1 Beer Can Party Hat Tutorial - Part 1: The Crown   !!More details and a preview video:  Coming Soon! NEW *Creative* Beer Can Hat Tutorials   *The Best* Beer Can Party Hat Crochet Tutorial     (continued from Part 2 )  See Crochet Basics for stitch descriptions and abbreviations.   5. Make the Base (Top):   I call this part of the hat the Base because that's where a hat usually begins. Crochet the Base of the hat from the Basic Hat Pattern . Work in the dc stitches as described until the underlined number is 4. You should end up with a nice circle that has 60 sts around the outer edge. Do not tie off. 6. Join the Base to the Crown: Hold the Crown and the Base wrong sides together with the labels facing you and matching up the stitches as you work. Sl st into any st at top edge of Crown, *insert hook through sa

My girl Panda likes to sleep outside. In the summer, she likes sleeping on the dirt and grass... but now that it's winter and rainy, she can't really sleep in the mud. So she lays on the cement, which is not very easy on her old bones. I wanted to make her a dog bed that would be soft and weather resistant. I looked around the net for instructions and found nothing, so I thought I'd post my own How To Make an Outdoor Dog Bed project. Here you go... Honestly, I wasn't sure what to make it out of... I went to the fabric store to see what I could find. Here's what I bought: 1 yd Vinyl upholstery fabric (54" wide) 1 yd wool/polyester twill fabric (54" wide) 1 22" zipper Heavy duty sewing machine needles Starting with the vinyl, fold the fabric in half short-ways, to make the widest rectangle you can and measure it. Mine came out to 27" across by 36" long. Fold it right sides together so the edges match all around. On one short end

(From my stash of little articles written about 10 yrs ago... I've not changed my mind. In fact the 70s styles are even more popular today. Woot.) Let's not forget those awesome days of yore...when crafting and needlework were having a real heyday.  No, not the Renaissance, nor the Victorian era, classic though they may be. I am referring to the colorful and creative 1970s.  I am a child of that period, and as such took part in nearly every creative whim of my parents...latch hook, crochet, needlepoint, crewel. And do I recall some of those cellophane dipped flowers and some sort of toxic resin plaques? Yes, those were the days. Funk was the norm and looking through my mom's craft book collection was so much rainy day fun.    "Granny Square Vest Family" painted from a 70s crochet pattern booklet I have now amassed my own impressive collection of craft books, also of the 70s variety.  Most of these (surprise) relate to working with fibers in some way.  I j

OK, as promised... more free crochet patterns. I wish I had better photos for you, but I used to sell these printed out, so the photos are small. Unfortunately I don't have the original pics or samples. I made these years ago. As always, feel free to contact me for help if you get stuck. Enjoy. Bohemian Mermaid Crochet Pattern   Warm &Comfy Slippers     Description: Simple and warm house slippers with optional non-slip soles, size adult large. Materials: 4oz worsted yarn, K hook, rubber shelf liner (optional).   Pattern:   Instructions are for adult size. Work 2 strands worsted tog (1 or 2 colors as you wish) throughout. Make 2: Rnd1: (Toe) Ch 3 (counts as 1 st hdc here and throughout). Working into 1 st ch made, 8 hdc. Sl st into 3 rd ch of ch3 (9 sts total). Rnd 2: Ch 3. Hdc into same st. Work 2 hdc into each st around. Sl st into 3 rd ch of ch3 (18 sts total). Rnd 3: Ch 3. Hdc into same st, hdc into next st. *Work 2 hdc into next st, hdc into

Yay! I've been working hard to get my online listings going again... and my first round of etsy stuff is up. Oh, let me put up some sort of cool gadget. Jeesh. The photos, as always, are a challenge. The light has to be perfect to see the colors properly & clearly. I thought it was bright enough outside even though it was partly cloudy... I mean, I had to squint! But the pics were still quite dark. So I had to mess around with brightening them and tweaking some of the colors. Ah well, I'll get better and faster as I go. Anyway, my goal is to list 10 items per week on etsy, and concurrently update my regular web site with the new photos. This week the goal was 20 things, to get started. Done. Oh and I have become completely addicted to the etsy forums . I'm learning a ton about all sorts of craft business stuff, not just more about etsy. It's quite a bit of craft nerd fun. A couple examples... there is a great wholesaling thread going, started by the owner

Ok well I get distracted...I'll try harder.  Well, holiday craft shows are done. I only did one (as usual) which was the Arcata Holiday Craft Market. I'll call this year's a success. Sales were pretty good... AND I finally connected with the owner of The Rocking Horse and now have bamboo onesies and some kid's T-shirts in the shop. I'm way excited about this, thinking it's a first step to getting all my little Mermaid dresses in there too!  Ok, now that I have left yet another dayjob (yay!!)... I have plenty of time to work on Mermaid projects around here. My plan for this particular blog is to start posting some more craft projects. I came across my old teaching plans for kids (well, they were for disabled adults, but work for kids), which has tons of neat little projects of all sorts.  Of course I also have some more crochet patterns, a couple silk painting projects, simple beading... and ideas for more stuff. I'd like to eventually offer suppl

Well, I've been busy ok? sorta. Stupid dayjob tends to take over my life... luckily, only for a few more days and it's back to Mermaid land.  After TG, I have about 2 weeks until the Arcata Holiday Market at the Community Center 12/12 & 12/13. I'm working on some new wire wrapped jewelry, which I'm excited to play with. Also been fooling with some polymer clay beads. Fun fun. Oh and I now have some goods in the mall store Schatzi's Hidden Treasures. I had some clothing there last year... so this year I'm back. Not tons of stuff, but ponchos, ladies knit tops, skirts, pants and little girl dresses. I haven't met a little girl yet who doesn't love a mermaid dress. So anyway... I should be around here more often once stupid dayjob is done. Yippee!!

Ok, here you go... this is my own pattern for a basic crocheted cap, including adjustments for size and stitch variations. Rock on!  See Crochet Basics for stitch descriptions and abbreviations. Bohemian Mermaid Crochet Pattern Basic Hat Description: Simple, flexible instructions for a basic cap using any stitch design, sized for anyone in the family. Materials: Worsted weight yarn, I or J hook. Pattern: Instructions are for average adult/teen size fitted cap. The base is worked in dc. After working the base as described, any stitch can be used for body. Work is not turned. Change colors as desired. Base: Start : Ch 4. Sl st into first ch to form loop. Rnd 1: Ch 3 (counts as 1 st dc here and throughout). Work 9 dc into ch4 loop (10dc total). Sl st into 1 st dc (3 rd ch of ch3). Rnd 2: Ch 3, dc into same st. Work 2 dc into next st and each st around. Sl st into 1 st dc. Rnd 3: Ch 3, dc into same st and in

Pattern Abbreviations: Ch : chain Ch st : chain stitch Dc : double crochet Dec: decrease Dtr : double treble crochet Hdc : half double crochet Inc: increase Lp : loop Pat: pattern Prev: previous RS: right side Rep : repeat Rnd : round Sc : single crochet Sk : skip Sl st : slip stitch Sp: space St : stitch Tog : together Tr : treble crochet WS: wrong side Yo : yarn over hook Crochet Stitches: Slip Stitch : Insert hook into designated st, yo and draw a loop through work and through loop on hook. Chain Stitch : Make slip knot and place loop on hook. Yo and pull a loop through loop on hook. Single Crochet : Insert hook into designated st, yo and draw a loop (2loops on hook). Yo and draw a loop through both loops on hook. Half Double Crochet : Yo and insert hook into designated st, yo and draw a loop (3 loops on hook). Yo and draw through all 3 loops on hook. Double Crochet : Yo and insert hook into designated st, yo and draw a loop (3 loops on hook). Yo and draw th

**Update! April 2022** My first ALL NEW Beer Can Hat Tutorial and video is up!! Woohoo! Many more tutorials coming, this is just the beginning! *New* 3-in-1 Beer Can Party Hat Tutorial - Part 1: The Crown   !!More details and a preview video:  Coming Soon! NEW *Creative* Beer Can Hat Tutorials   All NEW Beer Can Party Hat Tutorials!!     (Continued from Part 1 ) See Crochet Basics for stitch descriptions and abbreviations.  Note: I used tall cans for my sample hat, adjustments for using regular size cans shown in [brackets].   3. Edge the Can Labels Basically, the cans will be edged just like a granny square. 5 dc into each corner, and 3 dc into each hole along the sides. For those who prefer a written pattern, here you go: Sl st into corner hole, ch 3 (counts as 1 dc). Work 2 dc into same hole. *Work 3 dc into next hole and each hole across. Work 5 dc into corner hole. Repeat from * around label, ending with 2 dc into starting hole. Sl st into 2nd of ch 2 from beginning.

**Update! April 2022** My first ALL NEW Beer Can Hat Tutorial and video is up!! Woohoo! Many more tutorials coming, this is just the beginning! *New* 3-in-1 Beer Can Party Hat Tutorial - Part 1: The Crown   !!More details and a preview video:  Coming Soon! NEW *Creative* Beer Can Hat Tutorials All *NEW* Beer Can Party Hat Tutorials are Actually COOL! Okay. Carry on.   I'm going to attempt to share with the world my pattern for the coveted Beer Can Hat. Some years ago I started making these and spread them around to many friends and unsuspecting acquaintances. I believe they originated during the 70s cheesy crafts era, which I completely adore. Many a birthday party have I attended bringing a 6 pack of beer, a skein of yarn, a couple compact tools... and a few hours later, left the host with a special party hat and gift made right before his drunken eyes. Now YOU can be that fascinating craft nerd, amazing your friends at parties. Or just drinking and crocheting at home.  Al

As predicted, a wonderful time was had in beautiful Mendocino, CA. I asked for a view of the stage and got just that. As usual, my neighbors were fun and talented. I'm considering going back for their holiday show over Thanksgiving weekend. hm, we'll see.

Well I'm heading today to the beautiful town of Mendocino for the Mendocino Art Center Summer Craft Fair. Woo! I love going there. So pretty and the people are so cool. I think I have a couple photos from last year... hm where are they? August is looking a little lean on the festival schedule for me... I might get back to the Mendo coast for Casparfest . We'll see, but I have a few other irons in the fire of course. I still have goods for sale at Schatzi's Hidden Treasures in the mall. I'll be beefing up my display when I get back next week. If you haven't checked it out you should. Pretty neat importy store full of interesting stuff. I also need to get my web site updated, duh. How long have I been saying that? Well I got a new camera last fall and now have some much better pics I can put up. I still want to get some sort of photo shoot lined up with models, as in real people. And I'll be going back online selling on the wonderful etsy.com. Possibly some ebay

I think this time I'll skip the commentary and just post some photos. Such a beautiful town!

Hey do I have time for this right now? Hm, if I make another cup of coffee, sure... mmm. ok. Well lagging still on my reports. However I have photos! woo! The Benb ow show was nice as usual. That is, the Mateel Arts & Music Festival. Perfect weather, good attend ance from what I could tell. Although Stu pointed out there is usually a time w hen it's elbow to elbow and we didn't see it get that crowded. Still lots of folks. We were across from the Holistic Hooping booth which was fun to watch all weekend... Two little bummers, ok 3. 1) Stu was a freakin grump. Note to self, leave him home next time and take a girl. 2) and I haven't dwelled on this at all really, but one o f my nicest pieces was stolen. It was a bummer, but I hate giving that sort of thing much energy so that's the end of that. 3) I managed to get poison oak, which finally cleared up a few days ago (that's 3 weeks of pure torture my friends). Haha. Still my favorite show... I mean look at our view