Bohemian Mermaid Palace

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 an...

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...

**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 h...

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...