Owlishly

Guess who I've finished making?

Oh yeah! I finished the hula girl.  After like six or seven attempts on the lei, I got it just how I wanted it for the pattern.  I'd made a couple that I liked the look of, but were way too complicated to even want to try to explain in a pattern, and then the easy to explain ones were funky, but finally I think this one is just right- a good balance between looking detailed enough, but also something that I think will be understandable when you're reading the pattern.

I'll have to take some more pictures in better lighting for the pattern, but I hate posting without an image, and I wanted to share since I think she's really cute, and I hope you do too.

So, I have an appointment to take my computer in to get the topcase replaced, and it may be a week before I get it back so I'm hoping I can get the pattern done within the next couple of days so that it doesn't turn into a couple week wait!

Geez.

I just completely missed July didn't I? Sorry about that.  Well my dining/craft room still resembles this mess-

Which is just a tiny bit of the mess in there and I'm just nowhere near motivated enough to organize it.  I've worked on other rooms and picked up a sweater that I'd started last winter for my daughter to finish that while she still wears a 4/5.  Good thing I went up a size on that one :)

Unfortunately I hit a wall with the plumeria design- I think the thing is with this stuff is that I find myself at an impasse because I struggle with writing a useable pattern, but also wanting to make something that I find inspiring.  That doesn't always mesh, and I love writing patterns that people can make, and want to make. You know?

I'm also feeling guilty everytime I think about email or this blog, because I just really don't have the time that I used to to answer questions.  Maybe I should just have a FAQ's section where I answer the most common questions I get, and then refer inquiries there? I don't know.  I just feel like I get only so much time to spend doing crafty things, and I feel frustrated because my time is going towards responding towards questions or explaining how to sc2tog instead of being able to make the zillions of dolls that are on my design list and then write out the patterns.

Would it be better to refer people to the Owlishly Ravelry group? That way they can get help on the simpler type of questions like how to do a certain stitch.  I don't feel like I'm that great of a crocheter- probably intermediate level, and while I really, truly appreciate everyone who buys a pattern, I can't keep explaining what things like hdc means.  I sincerely want people to learn how to crochet, but I can't be their teacher, and there are so many online resources that will tell or show them how to do the stitches that I use in my patterns.  I don't think that I use stitches that are uncommon, do I?

Blech, I hate sounding so whiny, but I also wanted to get things off my chest.  So let's be constructive- if I did create a FAQ page, what type of question/answer do you want to see on there?  I can think of a couple, but it'd probably be better if you could help me out with this one since they're questions you have for me :)

On a lighter note, we've tried to maintain a very laid back summer vacation.  Some infrequent swimming, and very frequent library trips are keeping us busy during the week, in addition to a 4 day a week preschool for my little girl. I usually have a black thumb when it comes to plants but I decided to try again to clean up the air quality inside our house so I went with some rubber plants and aloe vera for the bedrooms.  And I've renewed my interest in making healthier food, or I should probably say just making food in general- cooking is so not my forte!  I do love reading recipes and books about food though so I have lots that I could recommend.

Anyway, I didn't mean to be a Debbie Downer (no offense to Debbies!) in what was supposed to be a quick "Hi! I'm trying to be back" type of post, so I hope you're all well, and I'd love to hear questions you'd like me to answer in a FAQs section :)