Cat Treasury, What could be better?

So honored to be in the Feline Amorization Treasury! : ) : ) I'm all warm in my tummy. Check out the cool kitty things! Have a lovely lovely New Year too, and Best wishes for your Christmas recovery, hah!
Feline Amorization Link

Fun Stitch

I may have been reinventing the wheel with this one, but did some stacked shell stitches for a super-fast edging idea....what fun! It goes a mile a minute, and I've been using all of my odds and ends yarns lying around to make cool coiled thin scarfettes and headbands. Pretty! You can see the listing for the pattern at http://www.etsy.com/listing/64529321/pattern-make-easy-stocking-stuffer  AND have a lovely holiday weekend. Lots to do!!

Amazon Ho (why does that sound wrong?)

http://www.amazon.com/Susans-Small-Animal-Crochet-Collection/dp/1456389858/ref=sr_1_15?ie=UTF8&qid=1292419878&sr=8-15
Ok Now I Really Really am on Amazon, woo hoo! (See my Animal Applique Patterns book above) Now I just need to publish the full-color version. Am working on the treasury of all 150 pages of patterns to publish, what a blast.

Cold cold day! Wish I could crochet a cocoon around myself!

Createspace and the Stitch that's Tangling my Brain

I think I have figured out why my CreateSpace Store AND Amazon don't show my new paperback, duh. Here's the link which actually does work.

That bit of info aside...

Here's the stitch which I've been trying to create (although it's so simple I'm sure it's been "invented" a number of times)...I wanted an edging which could be used as a headband or belt, which filled a couple of requirements: it had to be FAST to crochet and it had to look nubby and interesting. This one looks either like a zigzag pattern or a mottled pebble pattern, depending on your yarn and gauge. But boy, does it go fast, and you can do it almost without looking, just a glance with each round. Yay! I'll form it into a pattern for an edging and headband soon, maybe will put it on etsy. In the meantime, thanks for all of the suggestions and kind comments, I have really been enjoying being a part of the offbeat crochet community out there. Toodles!

If you'd like to see my patterns, check out www.susanlinnstudio.etsy.com and if you want to check out my new (Black and White) paperback book of Animal Applique Patterns, you can look at my CreateSpace store

New Hat Collection for Crochet!

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=110621748115&ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT

What a blast!
http://shop.ebay.com/susanlinnstudio/m.html
Check out my latest on ebay! I'm trying to figure out the right way to put things both on etsy and ebay...I think I need to make sure my pricing for fixed price listings is the same in both venues; right now the collections don't exactly compare because they are different mixtures, but am hoping to get my act together. Thanks for looking!

My New Paperback Coming Soon!

My paperback crochet collection: https://www.createspace.com/3509283You simply have to try createspace, I can't believe that POD publishing really could be so easy. Hope when the project's finally live I can sell a few copies! What an absolute blast. All you do is upload a pdf (make sure you choose the right page size and make the gutter on the left and mirrored margins....and wow, when they send you your proof, you'll be shocked by how CHEAP and SUPER looking it is. I sound like an ad for createspace...but  it's the POD of Amazon, so I think it's got a lot going for it. Kindle, now, is quite a formatting problem. Will have to save that for my Great American Novel, hah!

Penguin and Santa Hat now on Etsy!

Finally got this little pattern up on etsy! http://www.etsy.com/listing/63379969/pattern-penguin-ornament-with-adorable
Cute little guys...but I'm all ornamented out. Was having a blast yesterday with a new edging design that I think I'll use in black thread for a choker. Love it! More later...have been consumed with getting a small paperback book of animal patterns on Amazon, you authors and designers ought to check out createspace.com! It's awesome and walks you through getting your pdf on Amazon.

Check out my patterns at www.susanlinnstudio.etsy.com and at www.susankennedy.com/Instruction

Thanks!!!

Crocheted Godzilla Costume

Wow. You think you've seen it all. Here's the designer's flickr album. How adorable!! This is what I start 10 times a month to do, and the false starts are littering my baskets and living room. Not Godzilla costumes for dolls, but funny physical jokes in the form of crochet. I've got a cool one bobbling around in my head, hope it can make it to some form of yarn. Can't tell ya what it is. I will say that the eyes have been the problem.

If you want to see my crochet, fanciful and otherwise, check out www.susanlinnstudio.etsy.com and my more arty fare at www,susankennedy.etsy.com Happy Thanksgiving to all!!

The Only Place to get my CD and besides who EVER heard of a crochet CD?

Yeah, I love ebay, unless it happens to be kicking my butt at the moment. It has most definitely kicked my arty butt, and discouragement over no views/$25 art sales have driven me elsewhere.

BUT it's pretty cool to sell your artistic instructional ebooks on lulu and ebay, (check out my Ebay Crochet CD ) not to mention on etsy. Etsy lets you sell and email pdf files alone; ebay only lets you advertise pdf ebook sales as classified ads. So, I put a classified ad up on ebay for the crochet ebook portion of my website: crickets. To paraphrase my youngest.

You pay $10 for a month-long ad and you get 6 views for an item that gets lots of views and bids when it's a live auction. End of Ebay classified ad experiment.

So I figure that I'll sell the pdf ebooks on ebay by selling an actual data CD with the files on it....not too hard, and it is something that ebay allows. You can see one of my CDs in the links. Seems to get pretty good attention, the views do come and go: like any other web-based selling format, you need to babysit, list often, chat in the forums, and blog. Why can't the world just come stampeding to my door, impatient crochet hooks in hand? (Actually that sounds really really scary). But, the world being what it is, putting those ebooks on ebay in CD form might not be too bad. I'll have to see.

There's also lulu, and the website, and etsy, and if all else fails, serving up fries at McDonalds. Hah! The only other thing in this town I think I'm suited for!

Blessings to all, and go write your ebook about how you create deconstructionist art from dead bugs and dryer lint, then apply for grants! Do it!

Helpfully yours, Susan
Ebay Crochet CD

Treasury of Christmas Themes

Oooh, I'm in a treasury, All about Christmas what cool company I'm keeping! I was hoping to design a few more nature-based snowflakes before the holidays were upon up, but this little group of seven might have to be it. I'm not understanding the etsy treasury thing, do you have to be a particular kind of seller to be a curator?

Love Etsy. After beating my head against a wall in ebay for 10 years, I've finally given up and switched to etsy. It's still nothing but crickets in the etsy art store, but I'm going to keep trying to give it a shot. Much younger and artier a clientele , from what I can tell.

I'll have to show everyone the latest oil painting commission I'm working on, it is the most wonderful ever. It's my client's view of animals in heaven, and is a dream to paint. She prepped the canvas with lots and lots of gesso, lots of sanding, and I can't believe how nice it is to work on! Way way too absorbent, but so wonderfully smooth for blending. I've gotten the gesso back out to have more fun with it, instead of my usual readymade canvas routine.

Here's my crochet pattern collection: Susan's Crochet and it also has a watercolor e-book. You can also check me out at susanlinnstudio.etsy.com and at susankennedy.etsy.com

Awesome Tree Cozy

I don't know if this crochet tree sweater is still there; this picture is quite old but SO AWESOME!!

Here's a link to the explanation, I believe from 2006: Tree Cozy What a delightful project! I wonder if I could be so dedicated, knowing that my sweater would mold and fall apart. How in the world to install this thing?

I love the topic of crochet art, because my hobby of crochet becomes more and more absorbing. I've been toying with ways to "paint" with crochet, and have been admiring the crochet art that is out there. Fascinating!

In the meantime, I guess today is a painting day. I have a wonderful project involving a squirrel, heaven, a virgin, and a hawk. Mysterious, yes? I hope I can do it justice. Etsy buyers who commission art are the best, what a privilege to live in a country where you can do art, the thing which brings the most delight, and make (even a paltry) wage. I know heaven will be like this, without the death and disease and all that. Hah!

I don't know if God dresses the trees in sweaters in heaven, but I do know that he loves it when Carol Hummel does.

If you'd like to see my crochet site, go to susanlinnstudio.etsy.com  and susankennedy.com/Instruction . If you'd like to see my more traditional art in oils, watercolor and linocut prints, see susankennedy.com or susankennedy.etsy.com

thanks for looking!!

Good Old Paypal

Kinda cool how Paypal makes it easy to work on a website and its sale items, thought I'd show you. I need to really figure this stuff out better....susankennedy.com/Instruction
ebooks may or may not be passe, but they sure are an easy way to publish patterns. Those of you creative writers out there who are publishing on lulu and other ebook sites: submit to ehow.com, it's a neat venue for writers, too.

Lulu's been ok, but not exactly thrilling. So I thought I'd put my own files on my website, and forget about lulu and other sites. Hopefully getting out from under the trillion pages of internet rubble won't be too big a challenge, hah!!

Christmas, Love it? Hate it?

Wow, here I am contributing to Christmas craziness.
But, I do hope to make it a simpler, cheaper, more handmade Christmas. I tend to dread this time of year, both for the sadness of missing family members  and for the insane expectations. I wonder if the kids would mind doing something totally different this year. I think they wouldn't mind, actually.

This morning the stars were so bright I could still see a few in the Western sky, even though it was almost 7 am. Beautiful.

I hope this crisp early winter day is a lovely one for you, and I hope that Christmas brings togetherness and warmth and the love of our Lord to you and your loved ones.

check out my patterns at susanlinnstudio.etsy.com and also my art at susankennedy.etsy.com

What ever shall I do? Crochet, Art, Art, Crochet

I've got to figure out a way to merge crochet and fine art. I'm thinking crochet sculpture? I saw a crocheted heart, I mean anatomically correct heart, arteries and all, on etsy. Hah! The Venus de Milo in wool? I know, deconstructionist  crocheted wool art in which a jar of moths is released onto the sculpture inside the display case. Wow, time to go to bed.

All that to say, I crocheted and painted today. I like the way the painting turned out, with the early sun and the hawk, it was a scene I saw this morning. Not so much the crochet, I got skunked. Crocheted an entire hat and decided it looked like something between a shark egg case and a roundish baby dinosaur. Wow. I usually can get what's in my head out from the end of a hook, but hoo boy not today. I'd show it to you, but I unravelled it all in a fit of pique. However, I did come up with a butterfly for my bubble gum pink newsie hat, am a bit fond of it. It's perched behind the painting. You can see the newsie pattern at my etsy store listing

I'd like to invite you to look at my patterns and odds and ends on etsy and also at the Instruction Page of my website.  As far as the fine art goes, you could take a peek at my more snooty stuff at susankennedy.com. Thanks for looking!

Oh, the flower! Black and White and Bubble Gum Pink

Hot Pink Baby Hat with Flower Oh yeah, the flower makes it. Did I not listen to my mother about how you shouldn't toot your own horn?

Susan's etsy patterns

Hot Pink Cutie

Ahhh...now I feel so much better...now in 3-6 month and 6-9 month sizes...(the pattern, that is) now I'm madly working on a frog, a flower, and a butterfly to attach to these little newsboy/newsgirls...

If you want to see it you can click on etsy pink newsgirl hat and you can see all of my patterns at susanlinnstudio.etsy.com  and when I was typing a minute ago, I almost said you can "click here to see my snotty art website" HAH what I meant was my snooty art website, not that I can't be snotty at times.

My 3-6 month Newsboy....whew! Coming soon in Hot Pink and Gold!!

This little darling was a labor of love, for a friends' baby...and I must say, I was happy with how it turned out. It's more like a Greek Fisherman's Cap than a Newsboy, but both have that poochy shape and the bill. I put a decorative chain stitch across the band in lieu of a detachable band, and am SO VERY PROUD of my baby-safe faux "button" on the top. If baby chews it, it just ravels and shreds at worst, because it's crocheted right onto the cap, not formed and then sewn on.

Only a 3-6 month size right now, am working on two other sizes and hope to expand the pattern's utility by that....that's why it's only $2.50 right now. Hah!
You can see the pattern here:
Newsboy Hat on Etsy

And if you'd like, you can check out all of my small project patterns at susanlinnstudio.etsy.com

New Easy Penguin toddles into my Collection, Yay!

These little guys are simple and humble, but they make me smile. Think I have the hat problem just about finished, maybe tomorrow for a cool baby newsboy?
Here' the collection that includes my penguins, and I'm going to add a Santa hat for them and the kitty...
etsy animal patterns
Take care and take a look at all my patterns if you like: susanlinnstudio.etsy.com

Ridiculous

I've simply got to dig through these piles and make a workspace which is attractive, instead of one which makes me want to run away. Funny how I'm always my own worst enemy! Have been doing the math on those little hats and trying to make several different sizes, sheesh! Out my window the misty trees on the other side of the pasture are lavender and the trees are lit up with gold, will have to paint!!

If you'd like to look at my fanciful little crochet patterns, they are at susanlinnstudio.etsy.com and my snooty art stuff as always at susankennedy.etsy.com

I need a lobotomy with a crochet hook

I sure do get obsessed with whatever the current project it, whether it's painting, crocheting, or whatever....this was what I was up to today...hope the pattern is on etsy tomorrow....

you can check out my patterns at susanlinnstudio.etsy.com and thanks for looking!

Crocheted Heirloom from a Barn

Wow, how appropriate that my crochet workspace should be covered with this lovely old tablecloth. I was at a yard sale where Dad found 3 original watercolors and an ink drawing, all covered with dirt....I found this tablecloth (actually, it's probably a bedspread) hanging on a tree. It was extremely dirty. I mean extremely. It smelled like a horse, and Scott said two fleas jumped on him when I put it in the car.

When I got home I threw it in a tub and soaked it with various non-chlorine bleaches and detergents. As soon as the water hit the cloth, it smelled like I had Mr. Ed standing in a washtub in my kitchen. I wouldn't have been surprised if the thing had moooed or nickered, it stunk! The water was dark brown. Washed it again, again dark brown water. Unbelievably, it actually got pretty clean, only a couple of stains...and what a lovely heirloom. Someone's grammy made this, and I'm sorry it's not in their family anymore, but mine is enjoying it.

Check out my etsy patterns if you like, I'm nuts about animal crochet patterns, they're my specialty! And always, my artsy stuff at my other etsy store

Woo woo I did it!

Hoo baby, here they are: owl ornament on etsy

What a blast...

Closing in on an Owl

Usually I can just design crochet like it's a sketching medium, but sometimes I get all tangled up. I just can't seem to come up with a new dove or an owl. These goofy prototypes are the best I've come up with, and I think the one flapping at the viewer is going to have to go. They need eyes, a little stitching. Hm. Mouse is a problem, too.

I think I'll probably have these on my etsy store in the next day or so, probably as a thread crochet variant.
Check out my stuff, or look at my snooty art stuff

Crazy Mum

This is the flower that is on my Shannon's head. I actually think she would have worn this hat if it had been brown or blue. Anything but yellow, and it was no use telling her it was buttery gold. Hah!

mum pattern

I love this stitch, remember it?

My husband's old fire chief's invalid wife taught me this stitch about thirty years ago. Jeez, that makes me old. I love mixing these long double crochets with regular stitches, so very easy and nice and nubby. Doesn't have to be all complicated or snooty, just interesting and simple.

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check out my pattern store at susanlinnstudio.etsy.com

Maybe Reshoot this

Well, I like the hat, and the girl is beautiful (Thank you, Shannon), but the photographer needs to get a clue. Am trying to get some better shots and finish writing up this pattern. It's a blast, so cheerful and silly. I was told that browns and turquoise were the thing, so Mom needs to redo the yellow, too! It will be on my pattern  store soon, and you can look there for lots of animal ornaments, a crocheted snail, a cute sleeping kitty ornament, several crocheted birds, some baby crochet, and of course, my beloved crocheted snowflakes.

If you want to see more flower patterns, check out this item and you can see my art at www.susankennedy.com . Thanks for looking!

New Animals Soon....A Mouse and Penguin to Join These

These are the little ones in my animal collection so far. You can see them individually at my etsy store ,

but hopefully I'll have the complete thing up in a few days. Anyone who has helpful hints on felting little object like this, I would love to hear from you. I've been crocheting for 3 decades, but have never felted. Does it work with crochet? Is wet felting or needle felting better? Intriguing, but will have to remain so for a bit.
Here's hoping your yarn has no knots, your cat stays away from your work, and your knuckles stay supple. Supple knuckles? Wow. Sometimes I surprise myself.

My Snail! My Snail! Remembering Flower Power and Snails

My newest pattern: on Amazon, it's this new 99 cent Sid the Snail Pattern!What a gas, I remember Hippie Times, with Flowers, Owls, Snails, Mushrooms...do you? Good gosh, it's all back and so I HAD to contribute with Sid the Snail and his little butterfly pal. Personally, I think Sid would look great on a Christmas tree, but possibly even better on a little girl's dress.

You can see more of my ornament and fashion patterns at www.susanlinnstudio.etsy.com, and if you're curious about what I do when I'm not crocheting, look at www.susankennedy.etsy.com

Thanks for looking! Show me your crochet treasures and have a lovely, creative and positive day. Wooooo!
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To see more, check out my Etsy Pattern Store or my Kindle- and Nook-friendly patterns on Amazon  or Barnes and Noble

A New Sleeping Cat Design in Crochet

I'm sure I can't keep this up, but it's a blast for now....now a sleeping kitty, and soon to have a Santa Hat! Kitty

Super super easy, but I'm not sure how many thread crochet afficionados there are out there. So there will be yarn instructions for this design soon.

Thanks to my etsy buddies, especially ones who send me photos of your crochet projects when they're done!
Have a lovely day with all of your creations...
Susan

I thought I'd paint all day, but the snails got into my Head

I was happily doing landscapes for the first time in a few weeks. What gorgeous weather to inspire a painter! Oh, God, that it would stay this way. But I know I'm going to be cursing around the house in a few short months because my hands will be stinkin' cold all stinkin' winter!

But the crochet muse wouldn't leave me alone, and these snails were quick to invent. I'm sure they've been "invented" before by lots of crocheters, it's kindof a no-brainer, making a spiral of double-crochets into a snail shell, and from there a body is a snap. But I still love them and think they'd look great sliding their way across a little dress or scarf. Maybe I'll write up the pattern, I don't know.

If you'd like to see my crochet patterns, they're at my etsy store and if you're curious about what I do when I'm not crocheting, you can see my art at my snooty art store

Peace Doves and a Free Fun Pattern

Well, the birds are out of my system for a day or two. And Hitchcock thought his birds were bad....get them out of my head!!! I've been putting linocuts on my other etsy store, have stacks of them to go through...

Here's a dove that was the last example I did from this pattern...did a blackbird too, but he needs some adjusting.

And if you click on the link here you can get a free pattern for how to make a crocheted basket out of shopping bag plastic, very righteous and cool. Wooo woooo


Check out all of my designs at my Etsy Pattern Store or the Kindle versions on Amazon.

To see more of my original crochet design work, check out my Etsy Pattern Store or my Kindle- and Nook-friendly patterns on Amazon  or Barnes and Noble

Cardinal Cutie and Tiny Birds with Wings to Crochet

These ones just invented themselves, I can't figure it out. I see a design in my head, and sometimes I try 5 times and the thing just looks strange or goofy or lumpy. Then I try a different idea, a different animal...and it looks snappy and right on the first try. Not to brag, but I think this one looks snappy. Hope you like it! Here it is on etsy: Cardinal It's such a delight to play all day and poke around etsy all night. Show me your crafty stuff and have a lovely day full of stitches!

New Fall Flower Accessories and Little Black Purse to Tie it On!

I'm so happy about this one!  (fall accessory)I wanted to make some flowers with black edges because I LOVE the POW that a bit of black gives to brights...must be my old eyes loving that they can actually see something. Actually the eyes aren't THAT old, but they sure as heck need new glasses!

I'd love for you to check out my other patterns at  www.susanlinnstudio.etsy.com and thanks for looking!

And another Fall Mum in Crochet

What is it about all that big fresh pile of petals in a mum that makes you feel like smashing your face in it and rubbing it with your nose? I've always loved the way that kids smell a flower, just like that. No delicacy, no fastidiousness, just pure abandon...smoosh your little nose into the bouquet of blooms and luxuriate. No worries for the present about bees, just inhale their smell and enjoy the moment. Wish I could always feel like that  Here's the newest mum pattern, by the way : http://www.etsy.com/listing/58511435/pattern-fall-mum-ii-crocheted-flower

Not that mums smell so wonderful, they're usually pretty bland. But the glowing colors in their recesses are fascinating, and I tried to make a humble and homey replica in crochet. Hah! There's the more colorful of the two, in the picture above.

To see more of my original crochet design work, check out my Etsy Pattern Store or my Kindle- and Nook-friendly patterns on Amazon  or Barnes and Noble

Mums for Fall, sitting on my bum making flowers and LOVING IT!

My new mum is on etsy, I love the cheerful things. This one is really most like a football mum...am working on another, but it's morphing into a flower not quite mum, not quite dahlia. The cool thing is, you can make mystery flowers and it's just snazzy and cool.

Delicious little Crocheted Hearts for your Hair

I love tiny little crochet projects like this: there's no downside! If you invest enough time in crochet to become minimally fluent, sitting down to work for 5 or 10 minutes and come away with a little delight like this is so addicting! It is truly the perfect hobby, medicine for a stressed-out soul. May little ornaments and funnies like this mean good cheer to you the way they do to me!   Etsy Hair Ornament Pattern
And please do check out all of my patterns at susanlinnstudio.etsy.com

Dr. Seuss-Inspired Birdies to Crochet

I love Dr. Seuss birds, and these remind me of Mayzie and pals. I'm having a blast designing appliques that are easy to do, and putting them on my etsy store . So cool to sit down and show my fave hobby, and have it be the basis for a store, too. Etsy is that great for crafters and designers, may it have a long and fabulous future.

More Mayzies and Gertrudes and maybe even a Horton coming up.... Cheerio!

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I'd like to invite you to look at my patterns and odds and ends on etsy and also at the Instruction Page of my website. I'm also a watercolor and oil painter, and you could take a peek at my more snooty stuff at susankennedy.com. Thanks for looking!

Darling Crocheted Hummingbirds, I'm cross-eyed!

Wow, these guys took some doing. I worked for a few hours this afternoon designing of all things, a hummingbird applique in thread crochet. Why, I don't know, I just went nuts. Love it, not to brag, but I'm rather happy with the little cuties. They're a bear to make, so tiny that they a bit of a pain. I hope to have the pattern for them up on my etsy store, until then these little prototypes are for sale : Hummingbirds

Let me know if you'd like the pattern, any other thread crochet maniacs out there like me?

Snowflakes at the First Excuse

I've been making snowflakes and other little doodles like crazy....here's my latest, inspired by real snowflakes from nature: etsy snowflake pattern

I'm blown away this last few days by the sheer volume of listings and human creativity on etsy. It's daunting to jump into that marketplace with so much talent all around you; but I guess there's a place for everyone, be it ever so humble. Show me your fave etsy stuff, I love looking at neat things I've not seen before. 

I'd like to invite you to look at my patterns and odds and ends on etsy and also at the Instruction Page of my website. I'm also a watercolor and oil painter, and you could take a peek at my more snooty stuff at susankennedy.com. Thanks for looking!

Snowflakes at the First Excuse

I've been making snowflakes and other little doodles like crazy....here's my latest, inspired by real snowflakes from nature: etsy snowflake pattern

I'm blown away this last few days by the sheer volume of listings and human creativity on etsy. It's daunting to jump into that marketplace with so much talent all around you; but I guess there's a place for everyone, be it ever so humble. Show me your fave etsy stuff, I love looking at neat things I've not seen before. 

A Good Winter for Crochet

A CD Collection of Appliques and Ornaments

I'm hoping to crochet a roomful this winter, I'm so jazzed about loading up etsy and ebay; why, I do think there's a crochet audience out there which is vibrant and happy to have yarn and hook in hand.

The cool thing about crochet is that you are never bored or anxious: start working, and worries melt away. Creating is such an antidote to all those negative vibes, I hope others can see this craft the way I do! I know that it's not been around for millennia like knitting has, but it still has the feeling of ancient human culture about it. There is something so basic about making an object out of string, and so very satisfying. Crochet on!!! Yay baby we're cookin' and hookin'!
I'd love to have you check out my patterns and odds and ends on etsy and also at the Instruction Page of my website. I'm also a watercolor and oil painter, and you could take a peek at my more snooty stuff at susankennedy.com. Thanks for looking!

Berries and Cream Purse and Sunny Crochet Still Life

I love this photo! It makes a still life of some humble crochet, how homey and inspiring. At least to a crochet nut, it is. Been working on baby and toddler things and cool tweedy bowl, there are too many projects spinning around in my head! Show me what you've been working on.I'd like to invite you to look at my patterns and odds and ends on etsy and also at the Instruction Page of my website. I'm also a watercolor and oil painter, and you could take a peek at my more snooty stuff at susankennedy.com.  

Thanks for looking!Berries and Cream Purse Pattern (at left) Etsy Item

Crochet Candies, Peppermints, Rosettes, Hearts in Yummy Colors

My crochet pattern on etsy for these little crocheted doodles....they are absolutely addictive to crochet in tweedy candyish colors: licorice, peppermint, dark chocolate, chocolate and cherry...not as bad for you as the real thing and very cheerful for a little bowl or Christmas tree.

I'd like to invite you to look at my patterns and odds and ends on etsy and also at the Instruction Page of my website. I'm also a watercolor and oil painter, and you could take a peek at my more snooty stuff at susankennedy.com. Thanks for looking!

Recycled Shopping Bags made into Cool Stuff

Plarn Doodles

You've probably seen recycled shopping bags and produce bags which are repurposed and made into purses, bags, baskets; these are new designs and they focus on QUICK and EASY and fun to give as gifts. This little pattern has five quick, small designs that are perfect for a craft fair or to sell on etsy. A fun way to fill an evening, and you're cleaning up the planet! But a word of caution: it's a pain in the bum to crochet with sticky produce bags, yuck. Every now and then one gets past me, and it's such a bummer. So wipe those little guys, cut them in to strips, and crochet away, wa-hoooooooo

I'd like to invite you to look at my patterns and odds and ends on etsy and also at the Instruction Page of my website. I'm also a watercolor and oil painter, and you could take a peek at my more snooty stuff at susankennedy.com. Thanks for looking!

Crocheters Going for Market Share in a Big Box World

I feel passionately about fair trade and artisan issues, I suppose, because I’m an artist.

We have a very cool business here in town called Land of a Thousand Hills Coffee. Their vision is to create a market for their gourmet coffee because it is paving the way for a community in Rwanda to have coffee washing facilities which promote tribal reconciliation and give the village a way to participate in a larger economy; hopefully this will be a way out of poverty and strife. I think that, in a way, we Americans have to not only support these types of goods, but recognize that the way that they have to compete is the way that we artists, musicians, craftsmen, even manufacturers have to compete.

The efficiency of our market has made huge cargo containers of cheap, anonymous, hugely transported goods the norm. We have to fight that shopping ethic, as it were, and show our customers that it feels good to buy directly from the producer, the craftsman, the artist. It’s greener, it’s more human, it recognizes the value of art, chairs, music, beer, and purses which are made on a small scale. The idea parallels the local food movement.

I hope there are others out there who feel as I do, and I hope that continuing to be involved in arts and crafts is something that will always be a part of my own life. Send me your thoughts on the artisan movement, and have a lovely artsy day!
Susan

I'd like to invite you to look at my patterns and odds and ends on etsy and also at the Instruction Page of my website. I'm also a watercolor and oil painter, and you could take a peek at my more snooty stuff at susankennedy.com. Thanks for looking!

Video: How to Crochet on a Pipe Cleaner or Wire

Here's my latest, it's part of the instruction for this little etsy listing, another hippie crocheted flower pattern.
Am going to have to switch to something else for a day or so, I'm done with flowers for at least that long. I hope to post some video of a few other things in a bit, but this one is helpful, it shows you how to work single crochet on a wire or pipe cleaner. Take care and have a lovely day!

New Cutie Pie Baby Hippie Headband for Crochet Nuts

And I finally finished it to my satisfaction, ahhhh. Nothing like the feeling of creating something comfy and kind. You can see it in this etsy listing
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I'd like to invite you to look at my patterns and odds and ends on etsy and also at the Instruction Page of my website. I'm also a watercolor and oil painter, and you could take a peek at my more snooty stuff at susankennedy.com. Thanks for looking!