The Handmade Dress

Change is a comin, mostly good, but some scary. I am in the process of opening an online shop and I will be moving my blog. I am so excited because when the shop is open you will be able to buy patterns and books, and download them instantly! This will save me a lot of time and customers will have better service. But I am so scared about the blog move! I will most likely be moving to Wordpress, and when I figure it out, I will have much better service. It will be so much easier to reply to your comments, and I will have a more user friendly layout. This may sound crazy, but I am so freaked about loosing some of you! And now you see where the mixed emotions come in, I'm so torn! I really want to be able to offer a better service, and spend a little less time tied to the computer in the process; but I almost don't want to if it means loosing some of you. Will you reassure me? If I move will you follow? I am so overwhelmed right now. I never told you this story and I'm sorr...

I took better pictures of the scarflette today, I just love this green! The variations in this kettle dyed wool are incredible. I think I will put this pattern up in my shop today for pre-order. I have decided to add two bonnets to the shop too. If they sell well I will add more later. I will have the following sizes available: newborn-6 mo, 6-12 mo, 12-24 mo, 3-6 years. They will be $40. This is my finished granny square baby blanket on it's way to the baby shower. I will add the pictures of the finished blanket to the tutorial . Thank you all so much for offering to be testers! I will save all the names and email addresses. I have a few other patterns in my head that I will need testers for - when I get the time to sit down and stitch them all out! Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Today was a big day in the Caffee family. Today was the day we dedicated our little miracles (my nieces), Lily and Iris. Can you believe how big they are getting? I'm sorry I don't have a better picture but with the fluorescent lights and having to work from the first row, this was the best I could do. I am still amazed at what God has given us in these little angels. Today was also the day that Molly and Madeline got to wear their bonnets that Molly has been BEGGING for. She said she wants to look like a little Amish girl (we visit Amish country a few times a year and she loves the little girls bonnets). I loved them!!! My girls looked soooo sweet in them! There's something so innocent about a little white bonnet. I think this could be my new obsession. Don't you think every little girl needs a bonnet, heirloom dress and dress coat, and a pretty petticoat. mmmmm....... I just can't get enough! The bonnets are pintucked, white, batiste with entredeux and hand cro...

I tell Maddie all the time to go to bed and when I go check, she is in there. I have never questioned how she got in. Ben came in the living room last night after putting the girls to bed and said, "Have you ever seen Maddie get in her bed?". I thought about it, and said"No, not really." He said "Come in here and watch her." When I went in this is what I saw. (This is a video, just click on the play symbol) My little gymnast climbs into the window seal, mounts onto the side of the bed, and just flips over into the bed. How funny is that!!!

My three little lovelies have never had snow, so when the weather man said we may get a couple of inches, they took to the windows waiting (not so patiently). We were supposed to have snow when we woke up, but there wasn't the first flake. Rae and Jake came over and spent the night and we were hoping to get snowed in! Soon we started to see SNOW! REAL SNOW! They were so excited, it was like a dream to them. Ben soon joined in their little snow vigil. The flakes were really tiny, but they were there! As soon as it started to stick to the ground, they were off............. they hit the front porch for some hot chocolate on their first ever snow day! This little guy is what we call an Alabama Snow Man. Bless his heart. OK and while we are blessin hearts, lets go on and bless my poor children's hearts because they are wearing plastic baggies on their hands ........(said in an embarrassed whisper) and feet............ Look, we can't help it! It's like we have hillbilly...

I couldn't choose, I had no idea it was going to be so hard! I made Ben pick because I couldn't take the pressure. I know this, I have some amazing blog readers! This was so much fun (up until decision time!). So here are the winners...................... Sheila, my sweet friend, you won the book for the best comment! I don't have your email address to contact you so just email me your address. Oliver Rain , my blog twin, you were comment # 15 so you win the patterns! Thanks everyone for participating! (here are my sweeties last Easter) I am thinking of starting a "how to crochet" tutorial series. I want to know who would really use this before I start to see if it is even needed. If I have at least a few people interested I don't mind putting it together. This is what I want to do: The first tutorial will be how to hold the hook, tie a slip knot and how to chain. The second will be how to do a single crochet. The third will be a double croc...

Ya'll are always so much fun, so I wanted to have some sort of giveaway. There will be 2 prizes to win. The first will be a copy of my book, Samantha's Crochet Edgings, and the second will be all four of my crochet bootie patterns. To play everyone must comment on why they want the book, or what they think I should do to advertise for my book. The best comment-er wins the book, and I will let my kids draw for the person who will win the patterns. I will announce the winner on Sunday. I'm hoping to meet a few lurkers! Come on don't be shy! I think this will be fun. Here are some of the pictures from my book and a pair of the crochet booties. This was Molly's Easter dress last year. This is one of the edging patterns from the book. This was a dress I made for my niece Lily. This dress was for a very special baby named Isabella. The booties and blanket below were for my niece Iris. NOTE: If you want to comment but do not have a blogger account, comment as anonymo...

These are the bamboo crochet hooks I bought at Smoky Mountain Spinnery , I think I'm in love! I am seriously addicted! I don't think I can ever go back. EDITED TO ADD: After several inquiries about this hook set, I gave the owner of the shop a call. She said that she is more than happy to ship, she does carry these Japanese baboo hook sets on a regular basis, and they cost $55 (they are well worth it, I promise). The number you need to call is 865-436-9080. I have been working on this blanket for an upcoming baby shower. I like it because the pattern stays the same so you don't have to carry instructions around, it's a good on-the-go project. This pattern is also great for beginners because it's good practice without the complicated pattern to follow. The pattern itself is as old as the hills, but so beautiful and classic. I worked this blanket in my three favorite girl colors, pink, white, and natural. I achieved this look by changing colors at the start of eac...

The day after my D&C last year, Ben took me away to Gatlinburg, TN. It was the first time I had ever left my kids! We had a very good time and it was so good to get away under the circumstances. This year we decided we would go again the very same weekended. WE HAD A BLAST! Now we know that next year we need at least one more night. We always have fun together, but there is something about being away that makes you extra silly. We ate, drank flavored coffee, went to ALL the good restaurants, laughed, walked everywhere, went into every little shop, and did whatever we wanted. It was so much fun! I can't believe I get to spend the rest of my life with this guy! Before we went this time I looked for a yarn shop on the Internet and found a little shop about a half mile off the main strip called " Smoky Mountain Spinnery ". Well I went and I lOVE THAT PLACE! Nancy, the owner, was so sweet and helpful and she let me take some pictures for you! She told me that she wil...