Guest Post at Amelia Grace | 15 No or Low-Cost Acts of Kindness

Hey, readers!

I just wanted to let you know that sweet Amelia Grace let me do a guest post over on her blog. If you want to read it, you can find it at her own blog, Amelia Grace.

It's called,

"15 No or Low-Cost Acts of Kindness"

I would love it if you checked out her blog for me.

I was honored to be given this privilege.

She does other guest posts too, so if you want to you can do one, as long as it's a good safe topic.

Thank you, Amelia Grace! 

Random Photography Tip:

Sometimes when you're trying to get a good picture it just won't happen because it bulges  a bit in the center, making it look awkward. Here's the trip: Stand back and zoom in. I learned this a few days ago when I was trying to get that picture of my journal. I was like, "Wow, what a difference that made!". There's no certain rules; just till it looks right. ;)

XOXO,

Bree

Owl Love Mini Purses! {Crochet}

Calling all crocheters!

My very first pattern on this blog!!

Seriously, if you crochet, this is something you need to do at some point in your life.

You can store change or your cell phone in here, or just whatever you like(don't tell, but it's also good for fashion, even if there's nothing in it!!).

I made one of these and loved it so much I had to try it again and record the pattern.

I hope you like it, I tried hard!

Owl Love Mini Purses!

Materials:

Hook: Size G or 7

Yarn: (worsted) Color A: Base color of your choice for purse. Small amounts of white and black for eyes, yellow for beak. Color B: Accent color of your choice for outlining, ears, and wings

Scissors: For fabric

Tapestry Needle: For weaving in ends and sewing on eyes and beak

Markers or small piece of different colored thread: For keeping track of where your round ends/begins

Ruler or tape measure

Gauge:

8 half double crochets would equal 2" With a size G hook. 4 single crochets would equal 1".

Abbreviations:

ch: chain

sl st: slip stitch

sc: single crochet

hdc: half double crochet

dc: double crochet

tc: treble crochet or triple crochet

If you happen to find any errors or come up with a different number of stitches, please contact me so I can fix it. But I counted twice before I recorded it, and made some extra with this pattern, so you should be good to go. ;)

Purse:

Rnd 1: Using base color, Ch 32. Sc 3 in 2nd ch from hook. Sc across, to first ch. Sl st in last ch. (That's 2 sts in 1 st) 

Rnd 2: Turn to work along other side of ch, 3 sc in first ch. Sc (30) to end if ch, and into first sc. (See visual B) In second sc, sc 3. Sc to end of rnd. Here, take a marker or different colored piece of yarn and insert it into your last st. (Visual C) This will mark every new round. Take it and move it up at the end of every round. (70 sts all around)

Rnd 3: Sc 30. Work 2 sc in next 4 sts. Sc 31. Work 2 sc in next 3 sts, sc in last st. (Remember: move up your marker) (76 sts around)

Rnd 4: Sc 33. Work 2 sc in next 3. Sc 35. Work 2 sc in next 3. Sc  in next 2. Still in last st, ch 2, 1 hdc in st at bottom of ch 2, and move your marker into that st. This will be your new round end. (82 sts, and that's counting the ch 2 and 1 hdc)

Rnd 5: hdc 34. Work 2 hdc in next 4 sts. Hdc 37. Work 2 hdc in next 5 sts. Hdc 3, move up marker. (92 sts around)

Rnd 6: hdc 35. Work 2 hdc in next 6. Hdc 40. Work 2 hdc in next 6. Hdc in last 5. Move up marker. (104 sts around)

Tip: (See Visual E.) Once the rows get really long, I like to count ahead the amount of stitches I'm supposed to crochet and put a marker there. For instance, in Round 6, I had to crochet 35. I counted 35 (by 3's) stitches and put a marker there. This saves me some counting or keeps me from loosing track and having to start over counting along.

Rnd 7: (Really? Another round?) ;) Hdc 38. Work 2 in each st over the next 7. Hdc 47. 2 hdc in next 5 sts. Hdc in next 5 sts, sl st in last st. Remove marker and fasten off. (115 sts around) (See visual F for final piece)

Set aside.

Eyes (Make two)

(Visuals G)

Using black, ch 3. Join in first ch with slip st to make very small circle.

Rnd 1: Ch 1. Sc 5 in circle. Join to first sc with sl st.

Join with white...change color to white...

Rnd 2: with white, Ch 1. Sc 2 in each st all the way around, including bottom of ch 1. Join with top of ch 1. (14 sts)

Rnd 3: Ch 2. Hdc 2 in bottom of ch 2. [Hdc 1 in next st, hdc 2 in next st] around. Join; fasten off. (21 sts)

Sew to one end of purse oval (right side facing), but leave space underneath the top half is the eye. This is what you tuck your flap under to secure it. Weave in ends.

Beak

(Visuals H)

Using yellow...

Ch 5. Dc in 2nd ch from hook. TC in next st, ch 1, TC in same st. Dc in next st, sl st in last st.(6 sts) Fasten off. Sew to purse between and partly under eyes. Weave in ends.

Folding your Purse

(Visuals I)

Set on flat surface and flip wrong side facing, with end with tied off round (or where face is) closer to you. Fold in half, bringing tied off end to other end. Pull down end on top of fold so that its tip is right at the beginning of your very first ch on round 1. Your flap on top (the bottom half) should be 2 1/4" (measured in the center of the flap) from the top flap with face if your gauge is correct.

Tuck top flap underneath eyes.

Outlining

(Visuals J)

Using Color B, (accent color) insert hook thru slip knot. Insert hook thru bottom (if you are right handed. If you are left handed,  you will have to follow these instructions backwards so that right side of fabric will be facing right. That, or you can do the second part of this step and then this one) TWO loops, and do a slip knot. Working up, (or down) sc thru both loops 10 more sts. (11 sts) (Wing one:) Still attached, ch 3. Tc 5 in same st. Ch 2, sl st in next st, still joining two folds. Sc in next 5. Proceed to working in only 1 loop on the top flap, or the bottom fold. Sc in 4 sts. (Ear one:) Still In that last st, ch 3. Tc 2 in same st, dc 1 in same st, hdc 1 in same st, sl in same st. (Outlining flap:) Sc along next 26 sts. (Ear two:) Sc in next st, ch 1. In same st, do the following in order: 1 hdc, 1 dc, 2 tc, ch 3, sl st. (Yes, all that in one loop.) Sc in next 3 sts. Count 17 sts along edge above the eyes, starting at st after last joined st. Put finger on 18th st where you will join that and your next st on the flap with a sc. (Insert hook thru both loops) sc next 5 sts, working in both loops, joining together. (Wing two:) Ch 2. Work the following in 1 st, the next one, in order: 1 dc, 3 tc, 1 dc, ch 3, sl st. In next st, sc. Sc in both loops to end. Fasten off. Weave in ends.

Braided strap

(Visuals K)

Cut 9 strands of colors A and B, 4 or 5 of each color, about 35" and make sure colors are well blended. Strand one end thru one of the ears, maybe a few strings at a time, between the two treble crochets. Shorter end is about 4 to 5", double knot. Cut to even out shorter end, divide longer strand into 3 equal parts of 3 and braid tightly till you have 5" left. Attach to other ear in same way as before.

Fix or straighten any last touches...

Sit back and SQUEAL at your adorable creation!!!!

If you happened to find any errors or came up with a different number of stitches, please contact me so I can fix it. But I counted twice before I recorded it, so you should be good. ;)

This pattern was created by Bree. I saw something different that inspired me to make something like it, and came up with my own pattern. If I have copied someone else's pattern exactly, it was completely coincidental. I am sorry for any coincidences. I did not mean to violate any copyrights.


Visual Help

If you got confused at some point, let me know in comments so others who have the same problem can see it right there.

Thank you!!

xoxo,

Bree

My New Journal

Just in case you didn't know...

I keep a journal

You couldn't imagine what I write in there. :P

Anywho, I wanted to share it (and these neat pictures!) with you in case you have a journal. It's found at Lifeway Christian Stores and in many more colors and patterns.

They are $10 full price but I was able to catch them at the whopping deal of 50% off. $5!!!! Doesn't it just make your day when you find something you love at a great deal?

It does for me!

It's by this company called Punch Studio, so I'm sure they're elsewhere than Lifeway.

Like I said, there were so many types it was so hard to choose!

I think the one I would've gotten if it weren't for this one would have been that flowery black and yellow one. It looked very rich.

I highly recommend it!

XOXO,

Bree

Journey Through the Journals...my Progress

Hey, writers-

(Journey through the Journals)

In case you were not aware of this, I'm writing a book.

*Oh!*

Haha, yeah, I'm pretty slow when I write. I started it...I don't know, a while back? LOL, I'd say I've been writing it for about six months now. It was developed from a dream (and changed and altered a bunch, but its still cool) and when I explained it to certain people, I got so many comments like, "Wow, that's so original." "YOU COULD BE FAMOUS. Lots of popular books came from dreams!!" (this coming from my best friend) ;) (love ya!) and "It seems like it'd make a good Saturday evening movie."

Something about these comments convinced me to write a book about it. (don't ask me why)

I've been writing and coming up with stories since I was old enough to, and stapling my own books together and also illustrating them myself when I was about four. At eight I started coming up with longer stories and writing them down on notebook paper. I was good at short stories, but I could never quite finish them. My head flooded with an excessive amount of ideas and stories, and I might have been able to finish the first (very short) chapter, but never more. I think part of it was because it was physically on paper and my hand cramped easily. But also because I got writer's block.

Bad.

This made me frustrated.

And unfortunately, I gave up on writing. As sad as that sounds. It had been a huge part of my life. Every single month at some point or another, it'd be my duty to say, "I came up with a new story idea!" and explain it all out to my parents or friends. Every single time my friend(s) would say, "Uh, huh. Are you sure you're going to finish this one?" and my parents, "Well, you need to finish your other books before you start a new one,".

But-but-but-! This idea is awesome! What if I forget it?

But earlier this year, some time in March or so, I believe, a single one-day writer's class was going to be taught by a local author. I thought, "Hmm, its worth a shot,". Plus, I wanted to meet the author and see what books she writes.

She shared some very good tips. She was very friendly and writes writes fantasy, and I also found out that she owns a publishing house.

Wait, what?

Shortly after, I had that dream. I did start writing that one (on my tiny tablet, though), but it was hard to stay at it.

I attended another series of classes taught by that author at our local library. After the second class, I stopped to talk to her. I asked her about her publishing house, and the deals impressed me. Then I asked if she had any tips on writer's block.

She gave me something that basically changed my life.

She said her "little secret" was writing future scenes ahead of time. You can be working on chapter two and have, say, chapter 12 playing in your head. Go ahead and write it. You can have as many as twenty scenes being written all at once! Just connect in the points and pieces when you're done.

This hint was oh, so helpful.

I couldn't have written my book without it. It also evens out your book. You know what to write about that's going to happen later and it all fits in smoothly. That's a great way to write a mystery book.

I should note here, though, if you plan on publishing your book, you should always start with an Ebook. I didn't like this idea, hence all the friends and family waiting anxiously to read my book, and because I was invited to a book signing at our library, I wanted to have some spare copies to hand out. But unless you're already wealthy, you won't be able to pay for the printing and shipping. 

And most Ebooks to publish are free. One is Smashwords. It is free to publish, but you can price it for as much as you want, although nobody is going to want to buy it for much more than $6. The whole reason why Ebooks are cheaper is because the author doesn't have to worry about paying for printing.

Hope this was helpful to any writers out there. :)

But anyways, I would tell you about my book, but I hate the idea of piracy. XP People can steal your book idea anyday and pretty much rob the money you should be earning.

Its called "Journey through the Journals", and I only have about two more chapters to write. Its over 40 thousand words as of right now, (an average is 50 to 60 for young adults) so it will be considered a novella. I'm trying to make it as long as I can stand writing it, since it seems like such a story, the kind you don't want to end.

I CANNOT wait until its done.

I will share it once I've completed it. ;)

XOXO,

Bree