Bookmarks designed by Hands of Blessing Designs

I want to share a few of my designs with you today.  I started crocheting when I was a child but never really caught on until my senior year of college.  I found a big hook and a heavy cotton yarn, and away I went.  Even then, I made up my own pattern (very simple) and figured out how to make a throw blanket.

Fast forward a lot of years until I'm in my mid-30's, with two small children plus a 10-year-old and a full time job.  My husband and I tag teamed babysitting for a few years so I was home in the evening with the children.  

My work supervisor and her daughter and daughter-in-law started a consignment gift shop in town, and I decided to try my hand at selling Christmas ornaments.  I began crocheting with tiny hooks and crochet thread instead of yarn, and finally managed to make white snowflakes - the kind you have to starch so they hang stiff on the Christmas tree.  

My crocheting saga has turned many corners.  The current emphasis of my journey is bookmarks.  Most often a bookmark is rectangle shaped, and I do have those in my pattern catalogue.  Today, though, I would like to introduce you to my heart-shaped bookmarks which slide down over the corner of the page(s).  Both sides are identical and have a wide enough space between the layers to accommodate several pages in case you want to mark two locations.

It's a unique way to mark the last spot you ended your reading.  This particular design is called "A Corner for My Heart.  

A Corner For My Heart

Butterfly Corner

A New Year

We have passed through a season of holidays and now are already in 2012.  I have been busy with family and also designing since my last post.  My newest design - Candy Cane (Red) Ruffles Scarf is posted for sale on Ravelry and Etsy, and there have been some sales.  I just found out that Craftsy is beginning a sales area for independent designers, so I will soon be able to sell patterns from their site as well.  I am hoping to add a pattern or two to Knit Picks also but have some work to do on this.

I am excited about a baby shawl pattern that I entered into the Lion Brand contest sponsored by Vanna White, using her Vanna's Glamour line of yarn.  I also have another line of ruffled scarves to publish soon which will have multiple options to it.  This is very exciting to me.  I want to give as many options as possible to each pattern and make it a versatile pattern to use.

On a personal note, I spent the last week caring for my 90-year-old mom who is battling Alzheimer's and Parkinsonism.  It is a great challenge to work with her.  She is the one I have to thank though for teaching me to knit and crochet.  She was a great seamstress, making my wedding dress, and most of my clothes when I lived at home.  Many times I have thought that she could have been a fashion designer or at least an assistant in the fashion industry.  I hope that I will in some way be able to fulfill that desire through my personal designing in knit and crochet.  To help me do the best job and further my advance in the fiber arts, I have signed up to audit an art class at U.W.-Stout, which has a fashion design and merchandising program.  I'm excited about the possibilities and the skills this will open to me in designing.

Whirls Twirls and Swirls Hat Pattern now for sale.

Yesterday I posted the first ever pattern to my Ravelry Store.  It is called Whirls, Twirls and Swirls Crocheted Hat.  You can also purchase this download from this blog using this link box. 
You do not have to be a Ravelry member to purchase patterns using this link.

This is a quick design, suggestions included on pattern include using coordinating solid color yarn for the swirls and edge row, or using tassels instead of the swirls.

Little girls will love to twirl around in this hat.

New patterns submitted

I'm so excited to let you know that this week I mailed off two patterns to the Crochet-One-Skein project of Storey Publishing for consideration in their next book.  A quirky children's crocheted hat and a pretty pink purse for girly girls.  The purse is decorated with picot ribbon and pink heart  and white round pearlescent pony beads and lots of ribbon.  The hat has swirly tassels hanging free from the crown so the wearer can twirl around like a pinwheel.  Lots of fun.

Once I get the photos uploaded, you will be able to see these patterns and they will be posted for sale on Etsy and Ravelry as well.

These will be the first completed patterns for sale of my designs.  This is a banner day for me.  Step by step towards my goal.