Handknit Grey and blue baby pullover

This cute little boys' knit pullover was a custom order in grey and blue to fit a 6 mo old. As usual, I think I made it a wee oversized, but that's ok, the lil tike can grow into it over the coming winter!
I hadn't thought about using non-traditional baby blue, pink and mint green colors. My husband even commented on how nice this pullover looks, and that is a major compliment in itself! He suggested I try making a couple more for the ArtFire Studio.
It was made using Caron Simply Soft in Heather Grey and Navy Blue. I love how the finished garment drapes. Soft and comfy.
Putting the finishing touches on a green sweater size NB-3mo. Again a non-traditional color of Caron Simply Soft, but the effect is so charming.
Scalped myself yesterday. Trying to clean a covered chicken run with a low ceiling. I got distracted and scraped the top of my head. Only one serious scrape, but, shoot did I carry on so!

Promote your Handcraft Shop - An Advertising Bargain

Image by Isolino via FlickrMy ArtFire Studio, HollysDollies, is featured in "Shop of the Week" at christieCottage blog for the week of August 14-21.

The Sales Fairy has already visited! Through the link to my shop, someone visited the link to my blog and purchased an item.

ChristieCottage is a fantastic blog host, the owner really knows how to promote her site and other crafters products. She works hard at getting the word out there, as well as The Lord's Word.

I highly recommend that you advertise as Shop of the Week at ChristieCottage. It truly is worth the small investment. Advertising dollars well spent!

Make it a productive week. Create your to do list and give it to God. He'll take it from there.

The winner of the giveaway doll quilt is......

Ruthi, aka abitosunshine!
Congrats, Ruthi! Email me your shipping address and I will have it in the mail tomorrow!
monkeefan66 at gmail dot com

One day left to enter the doll quilt giveaway!

Only one day left to enter the giveaway. Only 6 valid entries so far. Come on! You can have up to 3 valid entries per day. Simply tweet, facebook share and comment on the giveaway post.
I need confirmations of tweets and shares.

The drawing will be tomorrow evening at 7pm mountain time. The deadline will be 6pm mountain time. We'll be out fishing again tomorrow and no telling how long we will be gone.

Visit the giveaway and enter!
http://knitting-monkeefan.blogspot.com/2011/07/giveaway-doll-size-quilt.html

New addition 8 Inch Berenguer Doll

Friday, I met a new friend at a craft shop. She encouraged me to try designing my own crocheted doll dresses and such. I was really hesitant to try to do this with a larger doll, like the American Girl Doll. So while we were shopping at Wally World, I browsed the dolly section to see if there was a smaller doll that wanted to come home with me. Well, of course they were ALL crying to me. I found one that really tugged my heart strings. This is a little Berenguer 7.5-8 inch baby. His/her smile and expression are so close to the expression in a photo I have of Bubba when he was 3 months old.
I then set about designing a dress, headband and booties! That wasn't as hard as I thought it would be. I wrote down all the stitches, increases, decreases, etc.

Crocheted Dress, Booties and headband on ArtFire

Today I started to work on a pair of overalls and a shirt. So far so good.
Will I be brave enough to try sewing for this little darling? Maybe.....

The next dolly on my wish list is Berenguer's 14" Lola. Her gleeful expression is also very similar to Lil Bub's photo.

Giveaway - Doll Size Quilt!

Front Of Quilt



















Back Of Quilt

This giveaway is for a 14½” x 14½” doll quilt in the 9-Patch pattern. Strips are a white floral print and backing is a country girl print. Machine quilted. Perfect size for 18” dolls like American Girl Doll, Our Generation, Gotz, Madame Alexander or even a baby doll to cuddle in.

This is the first quilt I’ve made in over 20 years!  And my first ever doll quilt!! I feel ready to begin making more now.

To enter:

*Earn 1 entry by leaving a comment here on this blog post. Let me know what you think of the item!

Earn extra entries: (limit 2 posts on Twitter and Facebook per day) must leave comment letting me know.

*1 entry - Share on Twitter by posting the following (or something similar but be sure to include @hollysdollies so I can track your tweets): I’ve entered a giveaway to win this handmade doll quilt on Holly’s Crafts Blog http://t.co/ML0RudZ #giveaway #handmade @hollysdollies You could win!

*1 entry – Share on Facebook using this link or clicking the share button at the bottom this post and leave a comment on this post with your status update.

Drawing will be held on August 10, 2011 by my son selecting a random Name from a hat. Winner will be notified by email, a blog post, twitter and Facebook. Good luck!

Double the Price Double the Fun!

I cringe at the thought of having two shops open (plus one other which is free so it won't count in the stress factor). One fear is can I produce enough to supply both shops? I think I can I think I can.

Another fear is the fees. Can I afford the fees? Not so sure on that one, but I have to try.
I've made some really good friends on each.
Dear Lord knows I have enough supplies to make a fantastic start on getting items listed (note - need to get snaps and velcro and sewing machine needles, and lace to finish those need to be finished things!).
And the third problem I need to make a decision on. To have each shop focus on something in particular. I am leaning heavily toward yes since a terrible fiasco over the weekend convinced me that certain items will simply have to go in the other shop. 
Now off to work on some long over-due seasonal dresses for my bunny doll. I need to make another doll before I make the clothes. First up will be Halloween, the Thanksgiving/Autumn, then Christmas/Winter - I'd love to knit her up a wee hat and scarf!