Saturday, May 22, 2010

New OOAK Crochet Flower Accessory

Wow...It's been a long time since my last post! There's just never enough time in a day! Any it doesn't help that my time managements skills are terrible! lol

I've been busy these days working to improve my photography. It helps when I have beautiful models :) My niece has been visiting often lately and so of course I have to bring out the camera! Sometimes my little ones will play along and hold still for me for a whole 5 seconds!

I've also been working to perfect a new crochet flower that I stumbled on. My aunt knows I love to knit and so she brought out some of the items her and my mom used to work on when they young ladies. ;) I saw this small little flower and just knew I had to make them bigger and attach them to something... a headband, a clip..something! I was so exited I went out a bought several different color wool yarns. Once again...I was addicted! LOL So, I search high and low before I decided to offer them for sale in my shop. I couldn't find it anywhere and my mom and aunt don't even remember if they came up with it on their own or they copied a pattern somewhere. So, I guess you can say it's a "vintage inspired crochet flower", that I'd like to offer to my wonderful clients!!

Here are several photos to show how beautiful they look dress up or down. And of course a change to show off my BEAUTIFUL daughters and niece! Hope you enjoy!!





Here it is on a clip...

Here it is as a ponytail...

These are the only 3 colors I have in this type of yarn. It's an acrylic blend with a nice satin finish.

Here it is on a plastic headband...





These are make from a cashmere and cotton blend. Very soft and full of texture.


These are all made of wool. You'll notice I have many different center pieces. I can never decide on one color or one style, so I changed them a little. All the pearls and crystals are Swarovski. They are put together with silver or gold platted wire and some have silver plated beads in the center. Making bracelets are another favorite hobby of mine. It's something my girls and I love to do together!!
You can find them for sale at my etsy shop.
Priced as follows:
1 for $12
2 for $22
3 for $30

Thursday, November 26, 2009

Home Update


Yeah!!! So we finally signed the papers for our new little home in the country! It's been a long time waiting for all the wrinkles to be ironed out. Can't believe it's finally happening. We've been shopping for new floors....omg there are just so many options to choose form. I diffidently want some kind of hardwood floors. With little ones, carpet just doesn't stay clean in our home...lol And the thought of all those little critters living in the carpert...yah...we're going with wood floors. :) And here's a photo, we have a lot of work to do, but it will all be worth it.

Friday, October 30, 2009

More Yarn Color...

Here are a few new arrivals. Got to get back to knitting! I'll chat more a little late. Working on getting my mew hat out! Yeah!!

Photo #16 Yarns 1- 10
(out of 2, 5 and 10)

Monday, October 26, 2009

Yarn Colors...

Hello...So this is how it will work. This is all the yarn I have availible for custom orders of my Happy Elf Hat and my New Hat Design still to be announced. I will be posting new new colors as I recieve them. To pick a color please do as follows. Each photo will be numbered, then start counting from top left corner to bottom right corner 1, 2, 3...etc.

PHOTO 1 Yarn 1-12
(out of #5 and #11)

Phtoto 2 Yarns 1 - 5

PHOTO 3 YARNS 1 - 6
(out of #1, #2)
phot0 4 yarns 1-5
(out of #4 and #5)
Photo 5 yarns 1 - 8
(out of #2)
PHOTO 6 1 - 9

PHOTO 7 1 - 6
(out of #4 and #6)
PHTOTO 8 YARNS 1 - 4

PHOTO 9 YARNS 1-5
PHTOTO 10 YARNS 1 - 5

PHOTO 11 YARNS 1 - 9
(out of 1, 5, 6, 7 and 9)
PHOTO 12 YARNS 1 - 6

PHOTO 13 YARNS 1 - 9
(out of 6)
PHOTO 14 YARNS 1 - 9
(OUT OF 3)

PHOTO 15 YARNS 1 - 10
(OUT OF 9)
PHOTO 16 YARNS 1 - 4
(OUT OF 2)

Friday, October 23, 2009

How Sweet Dreamz Began...

Hello Everyone! Well, I thought I'd give blogging another go. LOL I'd like this to be a place for my customers to come and read a little about myself and all that goes into my little creations. You are welcome to ask questions and, or leave comments about your purchases.

Her are a few photos of the very fist wrap I made for my daughter. It wasn't exactly what I wanted...but I loved the photos anyway! Boy how time flies...

My CUTIE Elina at 6 mths.







Love those tiny toes!! :)




So let me introduce myself. As may have already figured my name is Vanessa. I'm a Mommy to 2 kind little souls Isabella 5 yrs and Elina 2 yrs. And I'm a wife to a wonderful man and father to my children, Fernando. I am truly blessed to have them in my life!

What is Sweet Dreamz by Vanessa?
Well, this all started with my LOVE for photography. Since my first daughter was born I have not been able to put down my camera. I tried to better my skills by reading many photo forums such as MPix and ILP. Thanks to those forums my photography skills only grow....they're not the best..LOL But I'd like to believe I'm getting better!
But, it wasn't until my 2nd daughter was born that I began my knitting obsession. As a young girl I used to knit and crochet with my mom. When we'd receive word that a new baby was to be coming to our family, we got to work on a special baby blanket for them. I started off as the official Yarn Puller. lol We'd watch a movie and I'd pull the yarn out of the ball, as she would crochet. Eventually my mom taught me to crochet also and we'd take turns at making the blanket. We could always see were I began and ended in the blankets....it was always a little looser there...LOL But my mom didn't mind...it was a gift that we had made together. I had no idea that later in life I would become a knitting addict...LOL

The addiction began when my second daughter was 6 mths old. She was napping in my arms as she did everyday (all day). I couldn't do house work, so I would sit at the computer and read the photo forums. I came across a post by Amanda Andrews. She had knitted this amazing colorful wrap for her newborn. In that moment I fell in love with the idea of drapping babies in beautiful and vibrant colors. So, the next day I went to Joann Fabrics, picked up the biggest set of knitting needles I could find and some of that amazing, ribbon like yarn. After that...the rest was history! I could not stop knitting wraps of every color! I bought all of my favorite colors and knitted a wrap of everyone. As soon as I wad done, I'd grab the girls and my camera and we'd head to the brightest area of the house for a quick "photo shoot" which for me was a large piece of black flabric duck tapped to something..LOL I was thrilled at the idea of the girls drapped in these beautiful wraps that I had made. And, with NO HELP may I add! :) After that I began noticing more photos with babies in wraps. After posting some photos of my girls in their wraps, I got a few requests and I sold a few here and there. Soon after, someone came to me with a photo and asked if I could make them something like this......It was The Cocoon by Marta Locklear....WOW, I was blown away by this AMAZING photo! I thought to myself that there is no way I could make that cocoon! This thing was a perfect piece of art!... So, I declined her request and stuck to my wraps. Later, another late night up with my baby in arms, I came across Amy Ussery's post about making your own "Cocoon" using a loom. Well, I had to try it out..LOL And it was then, that I realized how simple this cocoon style realy was. I knew I could make one with out a loom.
It was around this time I had discovered the world of Etsy! What a great place to buy and sell! I made several attempts at creating my own style of cocoon. My thought was to create an organic cotton cocoon that moms could carry their precious babies in. I searched and searched for the perfect organic cotton and found some gorgeous thick yarn and I was hooked. I thought I'd try my luck at selling it on Etsy. I listed a few of my version of the cocoon, along with 2 replicas of Marta's Surf and Turf and Berris Cocoon. Yes.....I was one of those MANY peoplethat copied Marta's cocoon. I am ashamed to admit that! :( I do apologize Marta I should never have sold the surf and turf and berries cocoon. My intentions were to market my Sweet Dreamz Baby Blankets toward Moms, not photographers.

Next came my yarn obsession! lol I was always on the hunt for some unique yarn that moms would love. Soon after I wasn't feeling so good about riding Marta's cocoon wave. I made a few more of my blankets and took a break. So, now I have all this yarn....what do I do with so much yarn? Well fall was coming and my girls need a hat. I grabbed some of my beautiful new yarns and began to make a hat (which I had never done btw). I wasn't sure how to stop or when to stop, so pixie like tail began to grow and grow. I couldn't believe what I had just made!! I FELL IN LOVE!!! I put the first hat on Elina's head and My heart melted!! I was so HAPPY to say the least! My husband even liked the hat. He thought they looked like an Elf hat. And so came the name, "The Happy Elf Hat" My girls were once again wearing my creation on their cute little heads. WHERE'S MY CAMERA!! LOL I couldn't stop taking pictures of them! I loved my hats so much that I had to share them with other moms out there. I know they would love seeing there little ones in the hat just as I do! I hadn't seen anything like this on Etsy, so I thought I'd give it a go there. I was right..moms did love them! But I had no idea what I was in for with the photographers!! They also LOVED my hats! The orders began coming in so fast, that I spent more time on the computer taking orders then I was knitting. LOL It wasn't too long after I began selling my Happy Elf hats that my knitting came full circle! Amanda Andrews purchased 2 of my hats!! The same Amanda Andrews who's post inspired my knitting venture. Truly a proud moment for me!

I sold many hats that Fall and Winter and it was time for me to take a break. Knitting began to take over my home. Yarn was being delivered, what seemed like every day! My girls didn't want to see one more package that wasn't for them! lol So I took a short break, and only knited a few new items for my girls here and there.

HOWEVER....Fall is back now, AND SO AM I!! This time I will take more control on my business hours. lol I do most of my emails and all of my knitting while my girls are sleeping, so that I don't miss out on their golden days of childhhood. So to all my customers reading this, I hope you understand that I am a Mommy Firs and then a business women. :)
I check my messages frequently though out the day. Usually I just keep my email open. And, if I can answer your question quickly, I will do so. But, if it's going to require some time to answer your question, then I will get back to you in the evening.

Thank you for taking the time to read a little bit about my Sweet Dreamz Journey! I look forward to hearing form you all in the future! Good bye for now! :0)

Friday, July 10, 2009

Baby Creations











Just wanted to share a couple of photos of some more Sweet Dreamz Creations. I love to see them come alive on babies! Hope you like the as well.

The Diaper Swaddles are PERFECT for EVERY baby shoot! Just put them on right on top of the baby's diaper and turn any photo into an art piece.

And the cocoons....well....I just love to see babies wrap in some colors!
Specials thanks to Retta for letting me practice my photography skills on her sweet little baby Chaz!!

Tuesday, February 24, 2009

The Happy Elf Hat A Fun and Unique Hat for Baby


Hello Everyone!

Thank you for stopping by. Please be patient with me, as I am new to blogging. LOL I guess it's time to get with the program.

I want to thank everyone for all of there support with my hats. I am so please that everyone is enjoying them!

I am currently taking a short break from custom orders to finish up some orders and work on a few new projects. Here is a quick overview.

***Happy Elf Hat Prices***

1 XSmall or Small Hat $35 each
1 Medium or Large Hat $40 each

Hat with out tail and pom pom less $5

***4 Sizes to choose from***
xSmall = Newborn - fits newborn to 6mths
Small = Toddler - fits 6mths to 1.5yrs.
Medium = Child - fits 2yrs to 4yrs.
Large = Tween-Adult fits 5yrs. to Tweens, Teens and most Adult women