Another New Years Favorites Cleanup - 100 Crocheted Flowers

This is a great site that I stumbled upon that has a round up of over 100 free crochet patterns for crocheted flowers. 

So if you love all of those crocheted headbands and scull caps, I'm sure you will be able to find at least one great flower pattern.

They also have over 300 free crocheted toys and doll patterns like this adorable little bird:

Check out some of the other great free crochet patterns:

 
Check out some of the 150 free crocheted bag and purse patterns:

What I always try to keep in mind is that even though a pattern might look sort of ugly or outdated because of the colors, yarns, etc, it doesn't mean that I cannot make it super cute and modern with a few simple changes - like color selection, handle choices, etc. 

Featured on Very Berry Handmade

This morning a very special thanks goes out to Very Berry Handmade for featuring our Doctor Kit Pattern in her spotlight on Folksy Patterns.  If you don't know already, Folksy is our newest venue for selling our patterns.  It's pretty much a UK version of Etsy.

If you haven't seen this pattern before, I would like to tell you a couple of things about it.  First it is so easy to sew.  There are lots of pieces, which gives a big impact when you look at it, but it is truly a beginner pattern.  Each piece is incredibly easy to put together.  Secondly, this pattern really is a must have if you have toddlers/preschoolers to gift to.  They LOVE this pattern.  Belle, Maggie, and Kamille will actually spend hours playing with this Doctor Kit. I added some great elements you don't get in the cheap plastic kits, like bandages, splints for broken arms, a face mask, nurse's hat, and blood pressure cuff. 

PRICE COMPARISON

On Amazon, the plastic kits range from $14.95 to $39.99 (For Melissa and Doug).  They are full of small pieces that really aren't for toddlers (plus they get lost).   I bought a plastic kit for Kamille last Christmas and the stethoscope was broken by the end of the day.  Most of the pieces a lost or thrown away.  For the same $15.00 you could as the plastic and cardboard kit, you could make the pattern kit with LOADS of extra pieces.  You could probably make 2 kits for the same price.  (And I only say that b/c the pattern is $6.00). 

Fun Stuff to Make for Dogs

I thought that it could be fun to put up a post on projects to make for your dogs.  Some of these projects are so simple that kids could join in the making fun.  Up above are some great pics of dog treats.  I especially love the boxed treats, which would make a nice Christmas gift for all of your dog loving friends. 

www.Bullwrinkle.com is loaded with great dog treat recipes.  Here is their recipe for fun, flavorful everyday dog treats. 

2 teaspoons dry yeast
1/2 cup lukewarm water
2 tablespoons dry parsley
2 tablespoons minced garlic 1 1/2 cups chicken broth
3 tablespoons honey
1 egg
5-6 cups whole wheat flour

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 ° F (180 ° C).
In a large bowl, dissolve yeast in warm water. Stir in the parsley, garlic, broth, honey, and egg. Gradually blend in flour, adding enough to form a stiff dough.
Transfer to a floured surface and knead until smooth (about 3-5 minutes). Shape the dough into a ball, and roll to 1/4-inch (6 mm) thick. Using small bone-shaped cookie cutters, make biscuits! Transfer to ungreased baking sheets, spacing them about 1/4 inch (6 mm) apart. Gather up the scraps, roll out again, and cut additional biscuits.
Bake for 30 minutes. Remove from oven and turn over. Bake for an additional 15 minutes, or until lightly browned on both sides. Let cool overnight. (After we finish baking all batches of biscuits, we turn off the oven, then spread all the biscuits out on one baking sheet and set them in the oven to cool overnight. The extra time in the oven as it cools off helps make the treats crispier and crunchier.)
Makes several dozen small bones that keep and freeze well. We like these biscuits because they're quick and easy and we always have the ingredients on hand to make them. Our boys like them because they're good!

Dog treats really are easy to make.  Plus, you control the ingredients, so you know what is going in there.  They keep for a very long time.  Let your kids get in on the action.

Make Your Own Dog Bed



Veronica Peterson come up with this awesome idea for upcycling an old suitcase (this actually loves like an old hair dryer case to me - I know because I have one of the shelf right now).  She just crammed a pillow in there and then covered it with a blanket.  What a fun way to have a travel bed if you travel alot with your dog.  Plus, I love the fact that she has the toys stored in there too.  Click for the full free tutorial.

DIY Dog Toy

This great toy idea is compliments of woof nanny.  These toys are made from braided fleece.  I don't think that it takes a tutorial to figure out how to braid some long strips of fleece into a long pull toy.  She also suggested using hand towels for the same concept.  To me, this looks like a great way to use up some fleece scraps.  Also, you could use the parts of the remnants that have marker on them.  That usually makes me crazy, but now I know what I will be doing with something I would normally have thrown out.

Dog Carrier

    One of our customers send us an idea about our baby sling pattern.  She used it to make a dog carrier for her little doggie.  Who knew?

Pet trends even featured puppy slings last year as one of the hot new trends in the dog world.