Working on some goals

#4 - Complete 100 swaps -- 22/100 completed. I am currently in like 6 swaps as well. Honestly, it's a bit overwhelming right now. I haven't joined any new swaps in at least a week, and won't be joining any more for at least two more weeks. Too much going on.

#15 - Make spreadsheet for tutus -- I made a spreadsheet on the computer, but I wasn't happy with it. I'm now inventorying everything on regular wide ruled loose leaf paper and keeping it in a binder with my receipts for expenses/income.

#16 - Add 20 items to ETSY shop -- 7/20 completed

#18 - Add 10 tutu designs to website - 2/10 completed, plus I redid ALL of the inventory numbers and added more Allie Clips!

#22 - Add more pictures of bows to website - Completed 2/20/2010

#23 - Make 4 mohawk hats (without ear flaps) -- 1.5/4 completed. :)

#41 - Drink at least 3 bottles of water a day -- Working on this one.. drinking at least 1 or 2, haven't made 3 yet.

#44 - Lose 40lbs -- 6/40, all in the past week or two.

#52 - Make pop-up card -- Completed 2/1/2010, forgot to blog about it. The girls and I made pop-up Valentine's with little squiggly hearts for Mammie. We actually lost them and made new cards (not pop-up) yesterday. Not sure if I know where those are, either.. haha

#54 - Write 25 articles for eHow - 1 and 2/25 completed

#56 - Weigh in weekly - FAIL.. haven't been doing that. Will start when the scale goes down a bit.

#58 - Post craigslist ad for tutus at least once a month - 2/12 completed, but people keep flagging them and saying they are "prohibited" or "spam". I think it is other people who sell similar items who are doing this, because I've NEVER had anything flagged before. Sad..

#60 - Teach Gracelynn Sign Language ABCs - she is doing well with almost all of the letters! We will make a video when she has learned how to fingerspell a few words.

#72 - Make something with my button stash - Completed 2/10/2010, will post pictures later, made flower clips with button in the middle

#74 - Make a journal and swap it - Completed 2/4/2010, sent to swapper in Illinois. She sent me a message saying she LOVED it. :)

#79 - Make 10 YouTube videos -- I actually made another video and created a new (business) YouTube Channel 1/10 completed

#97 - Try to stop using shampoo -- This is going well. I am on week 3(?) of no-poo and my hair is amazing, better than it's ever been - HOWEVER, now my scalp is kind of breaking out. I've been using baking soda and lemon juice mixed with water to "wash" my hair once every 4 days or so. Everything has been great (minus a little frizziness), until this week when I started breaking out. Am looking into getting some tea tree oil, heard this helps. Any tips?

#99 - Pay all bills ON TIME -- doing well so far. :)

Well, I guess that's not so bad now that I type it all out. I was feeling as if I wasn't moving forward with much. However, I made like 70 clips and bows this week (even korkers, which I HATE to make). I have four tutus I have to make by tomorrow evening (EEK!) for customers, and at least five by Friday morning (EEK!) to put in the shop. I am corresponding with a woman who makes beautiful boutique hairbows that wants to put her items on my website, and am talking to a few others about link exchanges.

I'm hosting three giveaways currently - two on Cafemom and one on my blog (OWOH). All giveaways end this Friday (busy day!).

This weekend is something I am really looking forward to. For one thing, all of my stuff will be in the shop and I can breathe again. And for two, Rachel and I get a date night because my mom is keeping the kids alllll night! w00t!! :) Next week will be busy, too, but not QUITE as hectic! Hopefully I can continue to get things organized and move forward with my business and my goals.

Leave a comment, let me know you're reading! :)

Loom Knitted Mohawk Hat Tutorial

I looked all over for a decent tutorial for a knitted mohawk hat and could not find one. After getting frustrated, I just decided to wing it -- I'm good at that, remember?

I used Wool-Ease (I think that's the name?), about half a skein. I recommend using two different colors - one for the hat and one for the mohawk. I wasn't sure if I would like the finished product, so I just used one color for practice (cheaper that way).



Knit the hat up on the 2nd largest loom -- mine is green but I know different brands are different colors. This hat will fit most heads (not mine, because I have a huge head). Use the smaller loom for a tiny baby, use the largest loom for a big head like me. You can put a brim on your hat, but I think it looks better without one.



After your hat is completed, you want to add the mohawk (duh). I cut a ton of 4-5" pieces of yarn, and laid them out. I stretched the hat a little bit to find the middle row, where I wanted to add the hawk. It isn't an exact science, just eyeball it. Just make sure you follow the same knitted line so it's not a crooked mohawk. That would look kind of dumb. Use a crochet hook to pull the yarn through, and double-knot each piece of yarn to make sure it stays on. You could add two rows or even three but I just stuck with one. It all depends on how wide you want your mohawk.

You can make your hawk go from end to end, or just on part of the hat. I chose to have it go from one end to the other, minus three stitches on each side.

Last but not least (and optional) is to "fluff" your hawk. I used a regular brush but a wire brush would work wonders! You can cut it a little shorter if you'd like.. or next time make the yarn pieces longer if you want it shaggier. Again, it's all up to you! The possibilities are endless here.. these are so flippin' cute!!



Let me know if you have any questions and I'll try to answer them... I know this isn't the BEST tutorial because of the lack of pictures, but I honestly didn't think it would turn out so I didn't take pictures along the way. It's pretty self-explanatory if you know how to make a hat already.

Good luck, and I'd love to see pictures!!

Monday blahs!

I definitely have a case of the Monday blahs! Rachel went to work at 11 but came home an hour later, not feeling well. While I was happy to see her, it threw off my whole day! I had a plan! Oh well, stuff happens. :)

I went shopping at Hobby Lobby (40% off coupon this week) and Michael's (BIG Dollar Days Sale!) this morning with my mom and the kids. I got some cute little ribbon so I can make some more Allie Clips. Also got some wool, so I can make some Mohawk hats. I don't know how to follow a pattern (at all), so I am going to just knit a beanie (no ear flaps.. ew) and then add some wool to the top and felt it.

I have quite a few swaps going on right now, would love if you'd join the one I'm hosting -- it's a mini journal swap!

If you are here from swap-bot, please leave your swap-bot username and let me know you're following me. Last swap I rated everyone a 5 but realized not everyone was following me. I'm keeping on track of it this time.

I hope everyone has a great Monday. I think I will spend the evening crafting!!

I will leave you with a video tutorial for the Allie Clips I linked earlier. :)