I'm sorry. I'm so, so sorry.

So, I've been utterly swamped this year, since it's my first year with a job. My advent calendar fell short of what I wanted it to be this year. It is currently day 13 of my calendar and I haven't even posted for days 11 or 12.

Due to this unplanned/poorly planned scheduling issue/not being prepared enough - I'm stopping the calendar. I'll find something for days 11 & 12 - to round it out, but I will not be continuing it further this year.

I did not plan correctly, didn't get information out soon enough, didn't work hard enough to get all 25 days filled. I will constantly be days behind schedule and I can't deal with the stress of "OH crap, I didn't get one for 'Day x' finished, let me panic and stay up all night trying to make something". I will have to do better for next year, starting now, otherwise this may be the last time I do this.

I will still post anything I have made this holiday season, however none will be assigned specific "days". This will hopefully allow me to make up for unfinished gifts and do about two weeks of work in the span of one.

I sincerely apologize and hope that you can understand. I will do better next year, if I decide to repeat this. Thank you for reading and your time.

COMMISSIONS:
These will reopen mid-January, if you are interested. Send me an email or drop a comment down below.

(bonus points to anyone who knows where the title came from)

On the Eighth Day of Christmas

Day 8 and a sort of "repeat", if you will. The first day was about the little blue teddy for my youngest nephew, Michael. Well, today's photo is of the little green teddy I made for my oldest nephew, Keoni.

I really do love this little guy and may even make him again, but bigger! Wouldn't he just look adorable a bit bigger? Size comparison, he's a little longer than my 7.5in hand (from middle fingertip to wrist). He's wider than that, too, of course.

Ain't he just the cutest?

Remember that this pattern is from Lion Brand and is called Bear in a Jiff. It is on the "Free Patterns" page, but you will need an account to be able to use Lion Brand's patterns.

Be sure to stop by Kota's CC on Facebook to like and share all of these photos! They'll be ongoing until December 25!

On the Seventh Day of Christmas

Day 7 - and look, it's a Sunday! 

Many of you know that my mother was diagnosed with "Non-Specific Breast Cancer" back in early February. If not, I'll do a brief rundown. She's been a trooper since day 1. Never really let pity and doubt and worry nag at her. She had her brief "I have cancer" cry, but shrugged and said that it is what it is. She even refuses to let others pity her because of it. The only thing she could do was talk to her doctor about treatments and what they could do to fight back.

And fight back she did! Since February she has had chemotherapy and radiation and several surgeries. She had a double mastectomy (meaning she's lost the gals), but is looking forward to getting her new ones after she's finished with radiation. She even said she wanted them to be bright pink, but knows that's now how it works. 

So, back to today's photo - she's lost some hair, thanks to chemo, but that's normal. She found a photo of an older woman who lost her hair to cancer as well and had knit herself some hair. After posting the photo to my page and a strong hint, I did some searching myself. And I found a cute pattern, pictured below. And of course, I've got to make it in different colors so that she can wear a different "wig" every day of the week!

I've made a blue one as well, but didn't grab a photo of it at Thanksgiving, which is when I had made it. She loves it, and that's all that matters to me. :) Makes me super happy.

She can be a natural blonde now!

This paid pattern Funny Halloween Pink Wig Crochet Pattern can be found at Ravelry, of course. It says it's a "Halloween" wig, but you could totally wear it at any point of the year! I may even make a wig for myself to wear this winter and surprise some of the students I sub for! Wouldn't that be fun?

If you make some "hair" for a friend or family member of your own, send me some photos! I'd love to see the crazy colors y'all come up with!

On the Fourth Day of Christmas

Day 4 of the Advent Season

Today is about Angels and dishcloths. Even better - Angel Dishcloths in time for Christmas! This is a super cute pattern, and (depending on the yarn and hook you select) they come out in different sizes!

The big one by itself is made with Peaches and Creme's "Yuletide" and a size "K" (6.5mm) hook. It actually turned out rather nice. I really like it, maybe more than the other two.
The smallest one (hard to tell, I know) is the one in the large photo, bottom left is made with Red Heart's Mistletoe and a size "H" (5.00mm) hook. The one on the bottom right is the same yarn, though with the "K" hook - and it's no where near the size of the one in cotton.
The two smaller ones will probably be wall decorations, but I can actually use the largest one as a potholder or a dishcloth. Either way, it's really pretty. I love it!

The pattern can be found on Ravelry - Christmas Angel Dishcloth. And it's a free pattern! I'll be sure to update it and put it on the Free Pattern page, so y'all can find it all year long. And, of course, you don't have to make this only at Christmas time. These in a solid would be good all year long.

On the Second Day of Christmas

FINALLY!! Here is Day 2 of my lovely Advent Calendar!

Day 2 brings us what I've made for my nieces this year. There is a purple one that matches this one, with a pink bow and nose of course, but I haven't gotten a snap shot of her yet. The skirt is just some lace I picked up at Wal-Mart and sewed it on. I thought it made the bunny cuter. I've even been told I should make a guy bunny with a little tux, give her a veil and look! A bunny wedding set! I may just have to try that.

The pattern for this is easily found on Ravelry. It is called "Bunny JÄNKS". I would advise you sew the nose on before continuing with the body. I did this twice and I sewed the nose on afterwards both times. It was crazy. Also, I'd get some regular safety eyes (and maybe even a safety nose?) instead of the buttons I used. I mean, I adore this cute little thing, but I know what I would do differently now.

I have opened up spots, as many as I can, this year in hopes of getting more people who would like some free advertising. If you'd like to be featured this year in the Advent Calendar, stop by Kota's Crochet Creations on Facebook and send me a message. I'll let you know what I need from you or even just give you more information. I'm starting my free advertising tomorrow with a very special friend of mine, so be ready for it!

On the First Day of Christmas

And here is the first day of my Crochet Advent Calendar 2014! Are you guys excited as I am?

I've mentioned a couple of times that I decided to give gifts to all of my nieces and nephews this year. Last year, I only got around to making one gift for the niece who lives with her grandparents (my in-laws), the purple cat scoodie. This year, I made each one of them a stuffed animal.

The boys got little teddy bears, Keoni in green, his favorite color, and Micheal got blue (since he's only 2 and can't make that kind of decision yet). I made a boo-boo when crocheting Keoni's only because I didn't use the same yarn I used to make Michael's to make Keoni's. Michael's is made from Bernat Baby Softee yarn and Keoni's is made of Red Heart Super Saver. Though, the scarves are made of BBS yarn, since I'm trying to use up some of my scraps.

They're adorable little bears that are super easy to make. For your own teddy bear, check out Lion Brand's Bear in a Jiff. It's an adorable little bear and it is super easy to whip up. This was my first amigurumi and I can't believe how easy they were. I'm definitely not used to crocheting in what is basically a spiral, but it was easier than I thought it was. If you don't have good stitch markers (like me, oddly enough), a safety pin works marvelous. It's what I've been using for a while now. Cheap too.

Tomorrow you'll get to see what my nieces are getting for Christmas. :D I won't ruin the surprise because that won't be any fun. (Though, if you've been following my Facebook page, you may already know what they're getting. Don't spoil the fun for anyone else!)

Remember to spread the word about my Crochet Advent Calendar! I'm also going to be posting links to various other artists who crochet and create marvelous items and share their patterns with the whole of the internet.

Crocheting New Things!

Welcome back to my blog! So, since my last entry, I’ve been a little busy bee and crocheting a bunch of different things. Down below is a spiral scarf made with Red Heart’s “Stars and Stripes” yarn. Festive enough for 4th of July or any other holiday, yet practical enough to wear whenever!

I do realize that I don’t have any “step by step” photos… I hadn’t thought of that before I started this blog. I’m in the middle of another project at the moment, however, I do plan on taking a couple of extra pictures to show you my progress.

I have completed a few other projects as well, but haven’t placed tons of pictures of them all over here. Most of them are scarves or beanies, which were two of the easiest things to teach myself. But I’m getting way past those now, on to slightly more complicated things, such as headbands and afghans.