Better Late Than Never

I am so behind the times. I am still trying to get a handle on blogging and now there is Facebook and Twitter. Ugh! There aren't enough hours in the day to do all of this, plus craft! But after dragging my feet for several months, I have caved in and opened both a Facebook and Twitter account. I understand that both are very good tools for online shops, so we'll see how it goes.

In any case, if you Twitter or are on Facebook and would like to follow along with me here are my links:

Twitter: Missie Zee
Facebook: Crafting with Cat Hair

Facebook: Missie Zee

I opened up two pages on Facebook, one for the shop (Missie Zee) and one for the blog. I figured that might work better, especially once the shop opens next week. 

Are you Twittering or Facebooking (Is that a word)? Leave a comment or email me a link to your page. I'd love to add you as a friend. :)

**I also forgot that I added my blogs (Missie Zee and Crafting with Cat Hair) onto the NetworkedBlogs application on Facebook.**

Take Me Out to the Ball Game

As many of you know I am a huge Pittsburgh Steelers fan. I am still basking in the glory that is our 6th Super Bowl win. But what you might not know is that I actually began my sports loving life as a baseball fan, a Cleveland Indians and, ultimately, a Pittsburgh Pirates fan.

Now for those of you who know a little about baseball, the Pirates are, well, one of the worst teams in baseball. They weren't always that way. They actually won several World Series trophies and made it to the final game of the NL playoffs in 1992 before being defeated by the nasty Atlanta Braves (I hate them as much as the New England Patriots). But ever since 1992 they have been the laughing stock of baseball.

So, I was completely shocked and super happy to see that the Pirates, who just swept the equally nasty Florida Marlins, are only one game out of first place in the NL Central Division. Woo Hoo!!! While this probably doesn't float your boat, it really floats mine. :)

What does this all mean? It means I am now on my way to fulfilling my sports fantasy. . . that all three of the Pittsburgh teams win this year. The Steelers got it done (sixth Super Bowl win), the Penguins are getting it done in the Stanley Cup playoffs, and now the Pirates are one game out of first place. Now I know there is a LONG way to go to the end of baseball season, but I'm going to enjoy myself for a little while.

Thanks to all this great sports news I, of course, had to make a craft. So, to honor the Pirates accomplishment this season, thus far, I made some felt baseball sugar cookies.

If you'd like to pick up a set of felt baseball cookies for your own baseball fan they'll be available for sale (minus the Pirates cookie) in my new Etsy shop on May 11!

Goodies Galore

Lots going on around here, some good and some not so good.

I guess the bad news first. . . my NEW computer is acting up! I just can't seem to figure the whole internet problem out. I can get online, but I can't watch any TV shows or download any pictures without waiting 20 minutes. Not cool for me since I have fast internet through AT&T. I've been corresponding with them, along with HP, so hopefully it will be resolved shortly!

Other than that bad news, everything else has been pretty good. I took part in an NCIS swap, which turned out to be a lot of fun. Our goal was to pick items that spelled out N.C.I.S., plus send an item for our swap partner's favorite character all for between $10-$20. 

First, here is what I sent my swap partner:

N- nibbles (Milky Way Midnight candy)

C - coffee, coffee cup, and Caf-Pow cup cozy

I - inspirations (knitting needles and notions)

S - sock ease wool yarn

My partner's favorite character is Gibbs, so I sent a travel coffee mug, since Gibbs drinks coffee all the time, and the Caf-Pow cozy, since he is always bringing Caf-Pows to Abby.

Now, here is what I got:

N - newsworthy (Movie Mania game)
C - crochet yarn & hooks
I - imagination (cupcake stamps and decorating gun, cat buttons)
S - sweets (Twizzlers, Clue candies, and nonpareils)

What a great box of goodies! I said that my favorite character is Tony, which is why I got a movie trivia game, and that I like pastel colors. I can't wait to make some cupcakes so I can use the decorating gun to squeeze in some filling! 

This week, I also got two other great packages from fellow bloggers/crafters: some great drawings from Dabbled (my second place prize in the Anti-Valentine's Day contest) and a really cool library card bookmark from The Home EC Teachers Daughter. Thanks Ladies! My mailman was a busy guy this week.

I'll hopefully be fixing my computer this week, so I can get back to several posts a week. I'll also be working on some items for my Etsy shop. I hope to have them in the shop next month. Plus, as you can see on my sidebar, my WIP list is growing. I'm working on some pretty cool birthday presents that I'll be able to talk about and show you in a few months. 

And don't forget to take a peek at the Pop Culture Craft Challenge. 

Whew, now I need a nap. 

Drusilla's got the right idea!

Tax Day Tea Bag Tutorial

This Wednesday, April 15, people from all over the United States will be heading to the streets for the Tax Day Tea Party. The "Tea Party" is intended to send a message to the federal government to put an end to their out of control spending.

So, in honor of the 2009 Tax Day Tea Party, I have made my very own crocheted tea bag.

Want to join the tea party? Here is a quick crochet pattern to make a little Tax Day Tea Bag of your own.

Abbreviations
ch = chain
sc = single crochet (UK: dc double crochet)

sc dec = single crochet decrease

st = stitch

Don't know how to crochet or need a refresher course? Check this link for simple instructions. 

Materials:

US G-6 (4.0mm) crochet hook

Yarn in white

Felt scraps (black, red, white, blue)

White pipe cleaner

Embroidery thread (black, red) & needle

Yarn needle

Fiberfill stuffing

Toothpick

Glue

Instructions:

1. (Make 2) Using white yarn, ch. 10

2. Row 1: sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across.

3. Row 2-10: ch. 1, sc in each st.

4. Row 11: sc dec, sc in next 5 sts, sc dec, ch.1.

5. Row 12: sc dec, sc in next 3 sts, sc dec. Fasten off.

6. Cut two small circles from black felt for eyes.

7. Cut crescent shape from red felt for mouth.

8. Using embroidery thread, stitch eyes and mouth to one side of your tea bag.

9. Using white yarn and yarn needle, whip stitch two pieces of white tea bag together, leaving opening at top.

10. Stuff teabag with fiberfill.

11. Using white yarn, ch. 25 for tea bag string, fasten off.

12. Place one end of crocheted string on the inside of tea bag and whip stitch tea bag closed.

13. (Make 2) Using white yarn, ch. 5.

14. Row 1: sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across.

15. Row 2-4: ch.1, sc in each st, fasten off.

16. Using white yarn and yarn needle, whip stitch two pieces of tea bag label together, leaving opening at top.

17. Place other end of crocheted string to the inside of label and whip stitch label closed.

18. Cut pipe cleaner in half. Place one half of pipe cleaner in each side of tea bag for arms.

19. Using red, white, and blue felt scraps, make an American flag.

20. Glue your American flag to the toothpick and then wrap the pipe cleaner around the toothpick.

He's ready to join the party!

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

© 2009 Missie Zee

Please remember that items made using my patterns and tutorials are for personal use only and can not be sold for profit. Thanks!

PCC Challenge #1 - Goodnight Mask

The first Pop Culture Craft Challenge has started! Swing over to the blog to play along.

I had a really tough time narrowing down a craft for the first Pop Culture Craft Challenge. The theme is Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Inductees, and there were just too many cool people to choose from: Madonna, Fleetwood Mac, Blondie, Otis Redding, Gladys Night and the Pips. . . So, I decided to stick with the 2009 inductees, and ultimately chose Metallica. 

I was never a really big fan of Metallica, they were always a little too heavy metal for me, but the older I get the more I like them. One of my favorite Metallica songs is "Enter Sandman", so I chose that particular song to be inspired by. It didn't take me long to decide on the craft that I wanted to make. . . a sleep mask.  

I used a pattern I found in the Nov/Dec 2008 issue of Crochet Today, but tweaked it a little to make it fit the lyrics better. 

Metallica - Enter Sandman

Say your prayers little one

Don't forget, my son

To include everyone

Tuck you in, warm within

Keep you free from sin

'Till the sandman he comes

Sleep with one eye open

Gripping your pillow tight

Exit light

Enter night

Take my hand

Off to never never land

Somethings wrong, shut the light

Heavy thoughts tonight

And they aren't of snow white

Dreams of war, dreams of liars

Dreams of dragons fire

And of things that will bite

Sleep with one eye open

Gripping your pillow tight

Exit light

Enter night

Take my hand

Off to never never land

Now I lay me down to sleep

Pray the Lord my soul to keep

If I die before I wake

Pray the Lord my soul to take

Hush little baby, don't say a word

And never mind that noise you heard

It's just the beast under your bed,

In your closet, in your head

I never realized how spooky the lyrics are! 

Would you like to join the fun? Check out the Pop Culture Craft Challenge blog for more info. I've entered my challenge item! 

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame theme will be running until April 29. On May 1, we will start a new challenge theme.

My computer has officially died, so I won't be checking emails or blog posts until I get a new one (not sure when that will be). Please bear with me if you email me a question or theme. I'll get back to you as soon as I can!

Calling all crafters

I'm happy to report that many of you are interested in a monthly craft challenge. So, I have started the "Pop Culture Craft Challenge". 

Some of the specifications of the challenge:

1. Open to all craft mediums: drawing, needlework, fiber, glass, jewelry, paper, food, etc. 
2. A new theme will be chosen each month and will focus on pop culture (movies, music, television, and literature). 
3. Fashion your item after the challenge theme.
4. Post a link to your item on the Pop Culture Craft Challenge blog.

That's it! If you want to read more about the challenge or submit a challenge theme, just "pop" over to the new blog. I'm working on a new header and button for my blog, but my computer is still acting a little funky.

Oh, and most importantly. . . the first challenge starts this Monday, April 6! 

Hope you are inspired to join the fun!