Jaybird Designs

Having a Great Time

2009-11-25T05:38:00.000-08:00

Here is Heather at the Pittsburgh Zoo this week! Really enjoying my time with the family, but miss my blue skies of Colorado!

Vacation!

2009-11-18T06:27:00.000-08:00

I will be on vacation from November 19 to December 1st. We are heading back to Pennsylvania to have our first Thanksgiving with the entire family!!! I will have limited internet access while I am gone. All crochet patterns purchased from my etsy shop will be emailed within 48 hours of purchase or you can shop my website for immediate downloads!!

Also, all custom made items will not be started until after I return on the 1st. Please be aware of this when purchasing!

Have a great holiday everyone!!

YAY!!

2009-11-15T07:43:00.000-08:00

My wonderful husband got my computer part to work and now I have my laptop back!! Wonderful news!!

ANd yesterday was awesome at the Handmade Holiday Arts & Craft show! We had tons of vendors and even more customers!! My friend Katie and I shared a table and between the two of us we made just under $400!! My best sellers were my Twilight and New Moon themed items along with the Campus Field Cap! She sold a ton of fuzzy scarves for $10 each! Here are some pictures!!

Good News, Bad News

2009-11-12T06:38:00.000-08:00

Good news: they were able to easily fix one part of my computer...the internal part that broke. So I now have it back.

Bad news: The other broken part is the AC Adaptor. I need a new one. My laptops battery is dead and I can not charge it enough to even turn it on! Boo hoo!!

So please, if you need to purchase a pattern, do so from my website at www.jaybird-designs.com. They are immediately downloadable that way.

Also, if you are tryng to reach me at my sales [at] jaybird-designs.com email, I do not have access to it on my husband's computer. Please be patient. I hope to have my new adaptor sometime tomorrow and will return your email as soon as possible!

Panic Attack!

2009-11-10T06:22:00.000-08:00

Hey all! Just wanted to let you know that my laptop is in the shop and I am using my husbands computer for the time being. It doesn't have all my usual stuff on it, so I am kinda limited on what I can do. Please be patient if you are trying to contact me and it is taking a while. Hopefully I should have it back within the next 24 hours!!! I hope so...I think I'm having a panic attack!!!

Campus Field Cap

2009-11-06T06:43:00.000-08:00

My wonderful friend Scarlet over at Scarlet's Yarn Barn, just finished making a Campus Field Cap from the newest issue of Interweave Crochet! Isn't she adorable!! Thank you so much Scarlet for sharing it with me! I LOVE seeing what others make from my designs!

Spiral Sprite Cap

2009-11-05T07:37:00.000-08:00

Are you ready?? The second hat in The Portrait Series is available!! Get your copy of the Spiral Sprite Cap now!! More to come around the end of December!

Etsy
My Website
Lulu
Ravelry

SugarPlum Hat

2009-11-04T09:24:00.000-08:00

YAY!!! I'm so excited!! My newest line of patterns, The Portrait Series, is here!!! The first on in the series is the SugarPlum Hat!! This sweet design will definitely bring out the "Ohhhh's and Awwww's" in people!! Great as gifts, portrait props, and holidays!

Now for sale in My etsy Shop

or it can be immediately downloaded from my website or Ravelry!

Happy Crocheting!

Etsy Twitter Team Shop of the Week - Lindab142

2009-11-03T06:45:00.000-08:00

Another beautiful shop of the week from the Etsy Twitter Team! Check out LindaB142's shop and see these simple pearl earrings that I love!

As usual, you can read the entire interview on the ETT Blog, search "etsytwitter team" on etsy and "#etsytwitter" on twitter.

Buy Handmade!

2009-11-01T15:48:00.000-08:00

Posted with permission from CasualGal.

This is the first year for Handmade Holiday. I have plans to do more shows throughout the year - probably one for each season. I strongly felt there was a need, here in Grand Junction, to do an art & craft fair/show that featured strictly "handmade" items, hence the name:

Handmade Holiday
The Biggest, Little Art & Craft Fair
featuring
The Finest Artists & Crafters on the Western Slope.

I also felt the need, and it has been validated and supported by the artists and crafters, that we, as a community, are wanting to get "back to our roots", so to speak. Buying and giving handmade is a way of doing that. Not only is the buying public getting good quality items for gift-giving or themselves, they can meet and get to know the artist behind the great design. It is a much more personal experience than buying off the rack at the local chain store or off the internet. They are able to use all of their senses, and make a decision based on actually seeing, touching, hearing, smelling and tasting what catches their eye. They not only get the sensory satisfaction, they are also supporting local entrepreneurs and keeping money in the local economy. We have 50 artists and crafters from the Western Slope, from Grand Junction, Fruita, Palisade, Montrose, Rifle, Cedaredge, Hotchkiss, Eckert. It is a very diverse group of artisans. You can check out our blog at www.handmadeholiday.wordpress.com to see some of the featured artists - a wide variety of talented artists and crafters. We will have a raffle ($1 per ticket) featuring items donated by the artists, all of the proceeds go to a local charity. There will be a food cart, so food will be available. So, please come down to the Lincoln Park Barn in Grand Junction and see the great art that your neighbors are creating!

Costume Test-run

2009-10-29T06:45:00.000-07:00

Today is the Halloween party at Heather's school. She was super excited to finally get to try on her entire costume! I personally think she is the cutest little zebra in the world! ;)

Etsy Twitter Team Shop of the Week - Cape Cod Jewels

2009-10-27T07:55:00.000-07:00

Very pretty!! And I can't believe her prices!!

This week's Etsy Twitter Team shop of the week is Cape Cod Jewels! She has some unique and fun jewelry in her shop! I love this simple rose ring!! Totally something I would wear!

As usual, stop by the Etsy Twitter Team Blog to read her entire interview. Also, be sure to search "etsytwitter team" on etsy and "#etsytwitter" on twitter.

Look at Me!

2009-10-24T08:54:00.000-07:00

Well, I actually got up today and did my hair and make-up! Since I put so much time and effort into it, I decided to have Heather take a new picture of me. It's not the greatest, but what can you expect from a 6 year old who would rather be watching Saturday morning cartoons??

Halloween is Coming!

2009-10-21T11:16:00.000-07:00

And like I said, I've been busy!! I JUST finished Heather's costume!! We decided that she should be a zebra (her original idea was a dolphin! LOL!!)

I made a cute pair of leggings with a matching tee. I figure it'll make a nice pair of PJ's after the holiday! Of course I crocheted a hat, attached some ears, and made a fun mane to go with it! And there is even a little tail pinned on too, LOL!!

I hope she likes it. She hasn't seen the top yet. But I think she will.

Me?? I don't feel like making anything special like I did last year (remember Grumpy Care Bear?) This year I will be a doctor, LOL!! Borrowed a friend lab coat and stethoscope. I'll share pictures after the holiday.

Busy, Busy

2009-10-19T09:11:00.000-07:00

Sorry I haven't been posting much lately...been busy around the house and truthfully, not much is happening to blog about.

Currently I am working on Heather's Halloween costume. She finally decided (with a lot of mommy's help) to be a Zebra. So last week I started on the project. After purchasing all the supplies needed, it probably would've been cheaper just to buy a sill costume at Target!!

Well, I started out wanting to make a cute little dress with bloomers. And then add some legwarmers and gauntlets along with a crocheted hat and tail. But when I was just about finished with the dress, daddy started calling it "the little hooker dress"....so that went out the window and I had to start all over again! (But I am still keeping the dress...it was a lot of hard work!! But I think I will shorten it a bit and turn it into a cute little top!)

So this weekend I finished the crocheted hat...and boy is is CUTE!! I can't wait to share finished pictures! I also made a pair of zebra stripe leggings. Now I just need to find the perfect pattern for the top of the set. Wish me luck!

Other than Halloween stuff, I have been making things for the Handmade Holiday Arts & Craft Show (see the red banner on the right?). I even got over my fear of knitting with DPN's and learned how to finally use them! I've been knitting up a few fingerless gloves to sell. Plus a handful of other items. I really hope you all come and see me at the event!! And if you ask me about my Greyhound....you'll get a free gift!!!

OK, back to work I go!

The American Cancer Society:

2009-10-18T07:07:00.001-07:00

The American Cancer Society:

I'm still looking for donations for my walk on Halloween! Help support Breast Cancer Awareness!

Shared via AddThis

Crochet Nominations Needed

2009-10-15T08:01:00.000-07:00

Taken from the Official Blog of the Crochet Liberation Front:

"PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE if you are a CLF Member go to the Ravelry.com group we started just for nominations for the 2010 Crochet Awards…We have Flamies to give out next year, I will start the voting process in January, so we can be fully prepared to do the award ceremony in March of 2010!

Do you have to nominate in every category? Nope.

Do you have to be an expert to nominate? Nope.

Can you nominate your friends? Yup.

Go HERE to nominate your favorites."

Hmmm.....I'd love to see my name in any of these categories!! (HINT!)

Etsy Twitter Team Shop of the Week - MindyG

2009-10-13T08:10:00.001-07:00

OH how I love to look at pretty jewelry!! And I am totally in LOVE with Etsy Twitter Team Shop of the Week! MyndyG has some beautiful items including this recycled silverplate silverware bracelet!! I would totally wear it every day!

As usual, be sure to read her entire interview on the Etsy Twitter Team Blog and and see her shop here. Also, be sure to search "etsytwitter team" on etsy and "#etsytwitter" on twitter!

Handmade Holiday

2009-10-12T16:23:00.000-07:00

If you are in the Grand Junction, Colorado area, come and visit me and numerous other artists and crafters at the Handmade Holiday Event.

Saturday, November 14th
Lincoln Park Barn
10-4

And be sure to check out our BLOG daily to find out more about our featured artists!

Etsy Twitter Team Shop of the Week -Prettywhimsical

2009-10-09T07:56:00.000-07:00

What a fun shop of the week! Pretty Whimsical has some really unique pendants in her shop! And how cool that most are recycled scrabble pieces!! This one is probably my favorite!

Please stop by the Etsy Twitter Team Blog to read the entire interview and, as always, search "etsytwitter team" on etsy and "#etsytwitter" on twitter for more great items!

Specials!

2009-10-08T12:54:00.000-07:00

Have you noticed the new item over on the left top column of my blog? It's a new promotion I'm starting called the Deal Of The Day! (DOTD) Every day (or at least most days!) I'm going to pick a new item from my shop and offer you a special deal on it! How cool is that? Today you can get this cool hat for only $10 shipped!! So check back daily too see what else you may get for a steal!!

The Etsy Twitter Team is also running a promotion today through October 11th! We are celebrating HOMECOMING!! And I am having a special promotion on my custom items!! 15% off!! But you must be following me on twitter to find out what the code is!! You can follow me here~!

And did you know that I have a Facebook Fan Page?? It's a great way to find out what the DOTD is and you may even find the Homecoming code there. Become a fan here~!

Charity Weekend

2009-10-07T08:49:00.000-07:00

I set myself a goal this past weekend. To make as many items for some charities as possible. I used scraps of yarns for newborn caps and purchased some new skeins for scarves. I think I did pretty good!!

I made five newborn hats for Lil'Troopers! We Crochet, Knit and Sew for the newborn of the Military Families at ~

Winn Army Community Hospital.
*FORT STEWART, GA
(They average 100-110 births a month.)

Ireland Army Community Hospital.
*FORT KNOX, KY
(They average 40 births a month)

William Beaumont Army Medical Center.
*FORT BLISS, TX.
(They average 100-110 births a month.)

Now that's a lot of babies! My goal this year has been to send at least 4 items a month!! So far I have kept to that goal! Anyone can join this wonderful group...just click here!

My new charity that I found this week is Operation Gratitude! They send items to our amazing troops overseas! I whipped up three scarves, attached a little note with my business card, and added a new lip balm. I feel so thankful for these wonderful men and women! I only wish I could do more! You can find out more...just click here! BTW, these are the scarves I made for Dee's 60 Scarves in 60 Days Challenge!

All items are going out in today's mail! Now, anyone else up for the weekend charity challenge?? Let me know! And when you post, I'll feature you on my blog!

It's Me! It's Me!

2009-10-05T19:03:00.000-07:00

Getting Loopy!

2009-10-04T07:49:00.000-07:00

I'm so excited! I was just asked by the fabulous Mary Beth Temple to be her guest this Monday, October 5th, on her weekly fiber chat...Getting Loopy! This show was voted Best Podcast 2008 through the Crochet Liberation Front (CLF)!

We will be talking crochet and what is new with Jennifer J. Cirka/Jaybird Designs! Please join us! I may even have some news on future designs in Crochet World and upcoming independently published patterns!

You can call in with questions and there is also a live chat! Hope to see you there! Here is the link! It will air at 9pm Eastern and 7PM Mountain. Be sure to register so you can join us in the chat room. I'll be there under the id JBD.

Breast Cancer Awareness Month

2009-10-01T07:32:00.000-07:00

Yup, it's October already! That means it is Breast Cancer Awareness month!

At the end of October I will be walking in the American Cancer Society's Making Strides Against Breast Cancer event here is Mesa County. 100% of the sale price of this scarf will be donated to my team's fundraising goal.

I hope to also get a few more items listed this week that will also be used as donations.

You can also go to my page and make a donation without having to purchase anything. I'd really appreciate it!