Day 1: Favorite Yarn

Day 1 of the YARNutopia 30 Day Photo Challenge is 'Favorite Yarn.'

How do I pick my favorite yarn? I love them all! I love some more than others. I pick my yarn by what I am making so it's very hard to choose. It's the equivalent of asking a mother who her favorite child is....*spoiler alert* it's the one that is being the least annoying any given day.  

If I had to actually PICK I would say my favorite yarn to use is Bernat Super Value. My deciding factors: wide color range, easy to find, not as scratchy as other value yarns, ease of use. 

There are just a few of the colors I have in my stash of this favorite yarn.

Happy Creating!! ~ Amanda 

30 Day Challenge

I decided to do a 30 day challenge thanks to Nadia over at YARNutopia. If you haven't explored her patterns it's a MUST. I have fallen in love with her creativity and videos. She is easy to follow and doesn't fill the videos with too much talk no related to the pattern. One video I watched her dog was scratching at the door and she was trying not to giggle while giving instructions; it was super cute!

This challenge is a great and fun idea.
Let's kick off the summer!!

Happy Crafting!! ~ Amanda 

Case of the missing needles!!

Ahhh!
I mainly crochet at my desk. I keep all my stitch markers (also known as bobby pins), needles (about 4 different types/sizes) and various other smaller items I might need to crochet in a teacup. It provides easy access and I can move it a round to fit my needs.

My go to needle for crochet is a blunt tapestry needle or darning needle, whichever name you prefer (Is there a difference?). 
I try to be diligent about putting it back into the teacup, even though I know I will need it in less than a minute but somehow I have lost 2 of those suckers. Today, I am down to my last one and sadly, it's different than the last one I used. My new one is shorter and when sewing up amigurumi it's a little bit of a pain since I tend to hide my yarn ends through various spots; sometimes going directly through the object. 

Anyone else experience the 'case of the missing needles?'
Needles-s (har har) to say this weekend I will be picking up a package..maybe even 2....Back to crocheting.

Happy Creating!! ~Amanda 

Back from my Hiatus!

I haven't been very active in the blog department recently. I am hoping to change that.
I participated in a 'Crochet Along', Yarnspirations and The Crochet Crowd hosted. It was a Mystery Afghan. We had no idea what the design or pattern was going to be from week to week. Over the course of 10 weeks we were given instructions. It was a lot of fun not knowing what the end result would be. I plan on making a separate post about the experience in another blog. It's on my growing list of  'to-do'. 

I also participated in a shawl challenge. I made the 'Yes Yes Shawl' and absolutely love it. I am in the process of making one for a loyal customer.

I am also working on a crochet bag. It's made out of squares sewn together to make a bag. A customer sent me the pin for the bag, see it here on Pinterest and the pattern here on Ravelry. 
She really loved the picture that was pinned, the flower square is beautiful (for the lack of a better word). So I searched the internet for a nice flower pattern. I settled on this one. 

Following the pattern of  Inga's bag I will make the 16 squares and attach them. I do plan on adding a fabric lining, so that will be challenging. I haven't added a fabric lining to anything crocheted before. I plan on documenting the process. So positive vibes it turns out. 

I wanted to get this posted before I get off the computer and start on my next cleaning project. Oh, how I love Spring! 

Happy Creating!!  ~ Amanda 

Busy busy!!

Here it is May and I have done a horrible job about keeping my blog updated.
I have been busy crocheting animals and I also made my FIRST crochet baby blanket. I came across a beautiful pattern for a granny square blanket, via Daisy Cottage Designs. 
My sister in law asked me to make a blanket for her new nephew and I jumped on the chance. I sent her the link for the blanket and she loved the pattern and colors (Lion Brand Cotton Ease in Snow, Seaspray and Stone). 

The tutorial was SUPER easy to understand and it turned out beautifully. The only thing I changed was the white edging around the quilt. I couldn't get mine to look as good as Lauren's so I just made up my own. 

I can't wait to make another one of these lovely blankets!!! This one measures at 30" x 30" and I bought 2 skeins of each color (ball weight was 3.5 oz each).

Happy Creating!! ~ Amanda 

Business Cards

It's amazing how one little thing can either make you super excited or supply you with enough anxiety to last the rest of the year!!
I ordered some business cards from VistaPrint and they arrived today. I couldn't wait to get them but now that they are here...I am like ...woah!! THEN I started thinking of places I could put them!! The excitement has set in!! 

Stop on by and say hello over at Dandalynn! Browse my ready to ship items or share your own creative inspirations!! 

Happy Creating!! ~ Amanda

First Order!!

I have been pretty busy over here at Dandalynn Gifts!!
I had my first order a couple weeks ago and let me tell you!! I was nervous, excited and dumbfounded!! 

My first customer ordered a Pig Hat for his girlfriend, now fiance!! Congrats you two!! :) Maybe the piggy had something to do with it? I like to think so!!

I bought the pattern from here, the PDF email arrived within minutes of completing the transaction (always a plus)!!

Here is the little piggy!! I did change a few things from the original pattern, which are minor! One thing I love about crocheting, once you get the hang of it you have a little bit of creative license to alter your needs or vision!

As a free gift (for being my first order) I included the bow, I attached it to a pin so the recipient could take it on and off when she wanted!!

I used the tutorial found at Devin Likes to Knit (link will take you to the bow tutorial). I made my bow a little wider but her tutorial is super easy to follow, so it's easy to make slight changes to fit your needs!  

Since I made the hat I have had 2 more orders come through!! Yippee!!!! 
If you would like to order a Pig hat for yourself or someone who loves pigs! Shoot me a message I would LOVE to make one for you!! 

Happy Creating!!! ~ Amanda