You want a side of hair with that?

I was reading the article posted on Etsy Noted: She Goes Covered  and was appalled when I got to the part about the short men's hair being sold to chemical companies and used in baking products.  That's all it said, there wasn't any type of elaboration.  How can you include a statement like that and not explain further.  I'll admit that's what really made me click the link to read the full story only to find no further mention of it anywhere.

Now I'm curious about exactly what type of baking products have hair in them?  Does that mean everytime you bite into a chocolate chip cookie your enjoying little bits of someone's hair?

The answer you might ask?  You can't entirely know.  It seems that the hair is used to produce L-cysteine which is used in commerical products to slow down the breaking down of gluten.  Even when you check the labels you can't tell if the L-cysteine is from human hair, animal hair, feathers, or synthetically made. 

Now I'm going to have to think twice about baking that Lemon Blueberry Cake with White Chocolate Frosting.

Crochet Mug Cozy Pattern by Tutus & Tea Parties

Tutus & Tea Parties is a cute Etsy shop that has adorable crochet hats, knit bunny blankies, fantastic onesies and tees with handpainted necklaces, and more. 

This pattern is also available in her shop but you get it right now for FREE!  That's right, there's no need to enter to win and cross your fingers because everybody is a winner.  The only thing you need you to do is go and check out this great shop.

Crochet Mug Cozy Pattern

Size H hook

Medium weight yarn

Finished size approximately 12 inches long

Chain 11

Single crochet in first chain from hook and each chain across (10 sc)

Chain 1, turn.

*Single crochet across (10 sc), chain 1, turn*

Repeat until piece measures 10 inches long.

Do not chain 1 at end of row.

Turn, slip stitch in next 2 stitches, chain 1, single crochet in next 6 sc, leave last 2 sc

stitches unworked.

Chain 1, turn, sc in each sc across (6 sc) for 2 rows

Chain 1, turn, sc in next 2 sts, chain 2, skip next 2 sts, single crochet in last 2 sts

Chain 1, turn, sc in next 2 sts, 2 single crochet in chain 2 space, sc in last 2 sts

Continue to single crochet around whole piece. 2 sc in each outside corner stitch.

Join with a slip stitch and fasten off.

 

Measure around mug and sew on button of your choice.

If you have any questions please feel free to email me at totshop728@yahoo.com

Thank you!

-sts = stitches

-sc = single crochet

-ch = chain

New tutorial posts on their way

I decided to start doing some tutorial blogs on crochet (maybe knitting too, but I don't want to teach people my way if I'm not doing it exactly right) and some other things.  To kick things off there's going to be a free crochet pattern on tomorrow's post that is being provided by Tutus & Tea Parties.  The first tutorial is going to be on how to do single crochet (which will go nicely with the pattern, hint, hint) and is also going to be a guest post by Insprink Studio.  What I'd like to know is there a specific crochet technique that you'd like to see demonstrated? 

Study List

I had every intention of taking pictures of the blue and green scrubbies, the orange and yellow scrubbies, and the cream colored beach hat today but I've been completely bogged down with studying for my three! exams this week.  Plus it's been rainy and gloomy since Saturday so those are all going to have to keep waiting for their close-ups.  For now, I found these on Etsy during my study break.

'Bones, Muscles, and Viruses Oh My' by GoodWaterCollection

Taking a study break and wondering what I could find...

Zombie Skeleton Musician Gui... zedszombieranc... $55.00	Diagram of a RED SKULL Side ... collageOrama $6.99	Anatomical drawing of dead m... birdseyephotog... $6.99	Human Skeleton Anatomy Study... PRRINT $8.00
Muscles of the Neck and Shou... collageOrama $6.99	Muscle Man - Human Anatomy W... ComeDayGoDay $29.00	1919 Medical Full Color Chro... recycledretro $28.00	Words and Bones num 19 (Wb 1... terraterra $7.00
Microbe Button Set scientificcult... $3.00	Beautiful Bugs - original wa... artologica $125.00	Fungi Micro Tile elementclaystu... $95.00	Microbiology Science Tee Art... nonfictiontees $18.00
Cyanobacteria asymmetric coi... Arctida $89.00	Petri dish crochet and felt ... elinart $45.00	Virus cotton FABRIC - One Ya... PocoHilo $15.00	Soap - Glowing Legionella Ba... CleanerScience $8.50

Treasury tool by Red Row Studio.

A Little Bit of This and That

I went to Joann's yesterday armed with my 25% off coupon and planning on only two things.  Which of course meant that I ended up with two bags full of things that I just had to have.  One of those being cotton yarn for a beachy hat, which now needs its ribbon and picture taken, it's basically an adult cream colored version of this hat.

I did sort of find one of the things I went for, some hemp cord to try to make a lighter (cooler) version of the same hat.  It still doesn't look exactly like I imagined it would, I think I need to try using something else to make it.  Any suggestions?  I was thinking of trying raffia or some other type of cord.  I'm just not sure what to use to recreate the vision in my head.

That's going to have to wait until this upcoming week and my three exams are over.  In the meantime I'm going to be learning all about the muscles that let me wield my crochet hook to make these things.  Extensor digitorum and Palmaris Longis here I come...

Rainy Morning Treasury

'Blame it on the Rain' by GoodWaterCollection

A rain inspired treasury for a rainy morning...

A Beautiful Grey Day. ... TutusChic $150.00	Blame it on the Rain CactusCanyonCr... $15.00	China Rain Olive oil Soap Ba... dennisanderson $5.50	Brushed Silver Rain Cloud Ea... paperfacestudi... $20.00
Man in raincoat delaflamant $40.00	Watering Can Copper Rain Cha... rainchains $79.95	Return Fire - short sleeve s... circlesandsqua... $25.00	Raining Blues- Hand Made Bor... terryatmistycr... $29.99
One rain drop sterling silve... lilyja $38.00	Stormy weather twisted ceram... dustypots $20.00	Cloudy rain day metal clay c... joypeckjoy $49.00	V I N T A G E Women's R... thisOtherthing $29.99
Pure chiffon scarf: RAIN FOR... Silklane $25.00	Navy Blue Red Cuffed Rain Tr... ForsythiaHill $62.00	Night Storm - Kanzashi Flowe... PetalMix $32.00	Wall Hanging - Quilt - Walki... play2win $100.00

Treasury tool is sponsored by Lazzia.com A/B image testing.

Fill in the ______ Friday

Fill in the ______ Friday

I found this over at EveNAndy (who found it at Lauren at ‘the little things we do’) and thought it might be fun.  So here goes...

1. My most prized possession isn't really a possession, its my poodle Popcorn that's been my shadow for almost 13 years.



He even shops on Etsy

2. If I could be one age for the rest of my life, I would want to be its a cliche but I think 29.  I knew enough to not worry about the small things but it's way before I found out that my feel will swell on long trips.

3. The best way to spend a weekend is relaxing with a new book and no set plans.

4. My outlook on life is not to worry about the small stuff that won't really matter.  I also believe that there are people who's opinion really does matter and those that don't, the hard part is figuring out who those people are for you.

5. If you want to annoy me, just be completely inconsiderate of others, even little things like not holding the door for someone behind you. 

6. I am completely defenseless when it comes to really cute shoes and purses which is why I have way too many of both.

I soooo need these from Princess Pumps!

7. When dressing for the day one should whatever makes you happy, which around here tends to follow something my Mom used to always say when something was really comfortable, "it's like wearing nothing at all."

Feature Friday! with Ashryla Boutique

Ashryla Boutique is a new shop on Etsy that has adorable little dresses.  Each one is a delightful mix of patterns that compliment each other. 

I asked what got this shop started on Etsy and the answer simply was, "I love sewing, and I was always making things for my kids, and for gifts. As a stay-at-home mom, I thought it would be great if I could do something I love while staying home with my kids, and maybe earn a little extra income too."

This is definitely a shop to watch as it grows with what I am sure more fantastic color and pattern combinations!