Featured Friday Presents: Week 2

Lets Welcome

Crystal Bucholz 

 aka

Photo Jewels

Not only is she this weeks Featured Friday Friend but I am so happy to introduce you all to Smalltown Dreamz newest writer and crafter. That’s right this was the big surprise I have waiting to tell everyone. I have known Crystal for years and just recently we started talking and decided to collaborate. We are both moms and love to work on projects with our kids. We also have our MOM type projects that we will both be sharing with you. She makes some of the most stunning crocheted photo props I have ever seen. Here is some of her work. You can find her Facebook page below. Make sure you stop in and friend her. She has some great giveaways on there.

Here is some words from our new writer.

“Hi! I’m a wife and mom of two boys. All three are my world! If I’m not spending time with my family or working, I crochet and I have to admit, I am somewhat addicted. Other crafts I love to do would be scrapbooking, card making, photography and I love to cook! I love getting and trying new recipes but almost always make them my own by changing them slightly. I also love making and playing homemade games with my children and younger siblings! I’m very excited to be a partner for this blog and hope to bring you some new crafting ideas as well as share my hobbies with all of you!  ”

I’m a right-side brain thinker! I love to be creative and I love to craft. Crocheting though hasn’t always been my most cherished craft. I never even thought it an option as something I would like but  towards the end of my last pregnancy, I was put on strict limitations which were very close to bed rest, and the next step if my condition worsened. I had to keep off my feet and TV just doesn’t catch my interest most of the time.

Shortly before being limited and right after finding out we were having another boy, I ordered a hand-made hanging newborn pod for his newborn pictures. Then being on restrictions, I realized I wanted to make something for our upcoming arrival. I searched the internet and found a pattern for a newborn hammock and knew it was what I wanted to make. That same day I ordered special knitting needles and bought some yarn. When the needles finally arrive, I self-taught myself to knit by watching You Tube videos. As my knitting patterns increased, I learned more about crocheting but vowed not to get into it because it would be just another thing I would be blowing money on (buying my knitting patterns were starting to rack up by then.) I laugh at that now. Of course, I eventually gave in and now that I know how to crochet, I am completely in love with the art of crochet!

Crocheting photo props is where I started and am just starting to expand into some clothing  and everyday items. It seems, no matter what I’m making, as long as its crochet, I’m happy! It is my meditation, my comfort, my ‘out’ and I’m happy to be sharing it with all of you!

To follow Photo Jewels on Facebook click Here 

You can also follow her other blog  Here

Photos taken by Kelly Smith Images

Featured Friday Presents:

Amy Jo

with

http://dreameramyjo.wordpress.com

Here is our FIRST EVER  Featured Friday Friend. Amy Jo has some amazing talent when it comes to working with yarn. I have personally known Amy Jo for a few years now and this is a woman who is dedicated to her craft. With Valentine’s Day just around the corner this beautiful hat

Here are a few words that Amy Jo left us about what inspired her to make this gorgeous hat.

This is a hat that I made from a couple different colorways of Lionbrand’s Homespun yarn. I improvised the pattern. It is made for a friend of mine who has asked for one for years, finally got around to it and it only took one evening. (my bad…) One of my very simple pieces.

Currently I have many projects either on hooks or needles. I started crocheting my senior year of high school (now I’m 27) for the very same friend in fact, when I made her daughter a baby blanket. Talk about an ambitious first project.

My aunt taught me how to crochet. Then years later, I decided that I no longer wanted to be just a crocheter, I hopped on YouTube and taught myself to knit.

Here is a great resource that Amy Jo would like to share with everyone.

 A great resource for both the beginner and expert alike is the site www.ravelry.com It is a community where yarnies can unite and share projects, find patterns (free and paid), and get the well deserved attention for what they have done! You can find me there and more of my projects at: http://www.ravelry.com/people/AmyJoPeters  Hope to see you there!

 I would like to give a big Thank-You to Amy Jo for sharing this wonderful creation.

If you are interested in becoming one of our Featured Friday Friends and share your latest creation, then please email us at friendsofsmalltowndreamz@gmail.com. Please include a couple clear photos of what you made along with a brief description about what inspired you to make it.

Thank you for stopping and make sure you stop by Amy Jo’s blog to see more of her fantastic work. http://dreameramyjo.wordpress.com.

Valentine’s Day Charms

Week 1 of the 5 Weeks of Love Challenge

I have recently started working with beads again. It really started by me going through all my stuff after christmas this year and organizing it. I came across this huge bag of glass beads that I have collected over the years. I sat down and organized them by color and realized that I had some really cool looking beads. So as the ideas started rushing into my head the next thing I knew I had 5 Charms/Keychains done. After finishing them I sat back and realized they would make great gift topper or just a great side gift if you are giving a a lot of small items for valentine’s day. These would also make great valentine’s for your kids to give to their friends as they make great charms for backpacks and other accessories.

Small little trinkets like these are things that your loved ones can carry around all the time, to remind them that you were thinking about them and that you loved them. These are quick to make and they don’t cost a lot to make either. These are great projects for you and your children to work on together. There are plenty of pretty plastic beads for the younger children to be able to string together and wear.

The only supplies I used were a handful of glass and Tibetan silver beads, embroidery floss, clear bead string, and a plastic circle of some kind. I use the plastic reminder pieces for knitting/crocheting. I look forward to making some more of these in the future. I would like to make one for myself using Swarovski Crystal Elements. I think that would really sparkle.

Beading can be a very expensive hobby so its best to look on Craigslist, Garage sales, or even your auction sites like Ebay and Listia can have some great deals on bead lots. You don’t need a lot of beads to make something small and beautiful like this. Just enough to give it some color and class.

Valentine’s day doesn’t just have to be about the celebration of love between a couple. This can be a holiday about celebrating the love of everyone around you. Here are some other great charms or key chain ideas that you can make for your loved ones that celebrate the love of a life. As much as we know that Valentine’s Day is just one of those made up Hallmark type of Holidays why not take the time to tell all the people who you care about that you love and appreciate them. It never hurts to take the time to show someone you care or that you were thinking about them.  

I hope you enjoy these as much as I enjoyed making them. I look forward to another great week. I am still looking into finding a blog for our Featured Friday spot. I do have a couple of blogs in mind I am just not sure on how to contact them to ask them permission to feature them on this site. Untill next time…..

Happy Crafting!

This was the bead project I worked on with my little guy and an idea for the younger kids to give as gifts or to make for themselves.