Feature Shop: Sarahndipities

Happy Wednesday! The cheerful personality of Sarah of Sarahndipities really comes through when you read her busy blog and this interview. Wouldn't you just love to have a cup of coffee with her? Learn more about this long-time team member and busy mom of five below! -Cori of Peace, Baby! Batiks.


What is your name?
Sarah Anderson

Where are you located?
I live in Mt. Pleasant, UT.

Tell us a little about yourself.
I a 32-year-old SAHM of five great kids! My oldest is 10, and my youngest is 9 months! My hubby is a 5th grade teacher at our local elementary school. We've been married for 12 years.

What do you sell in your Etsy shop? 
Mostly crocheted hats and accessories...but also some blankets and embroidered dolls.

Embroidered Felt Matryoshka Doll Plushie Pattern

How long have you been crocheting? 
I've been crocheting now for about 11 years!

What or who got you started in your craft? 
My grandmother taught me how to crochet when I was expecting my first baby. I wanted to make her a baby blanket! And the rest is history! :)

OOAK Retro Granny Square Lap Afghan

Tell us the story behind this item: OOAK Retro Granny Square Lap Afghan. What inspired you? How did you choose the materials/colors/etc.?
I got a bunch of vintage yarn remnants from my grandma, and there were all these great colors! I couldn't figure out what to do with them for the longest time, but I've always LOVED granny squares so that's what I ended up making! It's truly a one-of-a-kind piece, since the yarns I used aren't available anywhere!

How did your shop get its name? 
I wanted to have my shop include my name and be something clever and memorable. I also wanted to have some flexibility so that I could change what I was selling if I wanted to!

How do you balance mothering and running a small business? 
It's a lot of work!! For me, I find that making myself a schedule really helps. I try to do 'work' things when the kids are busy with other things, and I also make after school until bedtime hours off limits for 'businessy' type things.

The Meanie - Outdoors Man Crochet Beanie

What is one piece of advice or a tip you'd give other stay-at-home moms? 
Don't feel bad if you need to take a lot of breaks! It's better to keeping moving along in the right direction, with frequent breaks, than it is to get stressed out and get nowhere!

Do you have a favorite quote or inspirational saying you'd like to share?
"Motherhood is not a hobby, it is a calling. You do not collect children because you find them cuter than stamps. It is not something to do if you can squeeze the time in. It is what God gave you time for." ~ Neal L. Anderson

What do you like to browse for on Etsy? 
I love looking for unique supplies and, of course, children's items!

Crochet Boho Headband / Headwrap

What is your favorite Etsy shop currently? 
I love so many, but a couple of my current faves are www.etsy.com/shop/claraiuribe and www.etsy.com/shop/annemariesbreiblog

Where can we find you?
Etsy: sarahndipities.etsy.com
Blog: sarahndipities.blogspot.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/sarahndipities1
Twitter: twitter.com/#!/Sarahndipities1
Pinterest: pinterest.com/sarahndipities
Crafsty: www.craftsy.com/craftsyer/115582
Ravelry: www.ravelry.com/people/sarahndipities
Google+: plus.google.com/u/0/116525346303961018630/posts

OOAK - Custom Retro Granny Square Lap Afghan

Tutorial Tuesdays: Crochet Hobo Bag

Today's tutorial comes to us from Sarah at Sarahndipities....

The HOBO BAG! 

I really love that way it turned out!

Material Needed:Size K crochet hookA bunch of Cotton yarn (I used a large skein of Bernat Handicrafters, and one skein of Lily Sugar and Cream...sorryI didn't take the time to keep track of the amounts!)Tapestry or yarn needleScissors
Abbreviations:sp = spacest(s) = stitch(es)beg = beginningsk = skipsc = single crochetdc = double crochetdctog = dc together (a decrease st)sl st = slip stitch
Pattern is written in Standard American Terms***NOTE***This pattern has NOT been tested...so if you find any errors, feel free to leave suggestions in the comments below!
Crochet Hobo Bag
Ch 41.Row 1:  Sc in 2nd ch from hook. Sc in each ch across. (40 sts)Row 2 - 12:  Ch 1, turn.  Sc in each sc across.Row 13:  Ch 1.  Do NOT turn.  Working along end, work 12 sc evenly.  At corner ch 1, sc in same sp.  Working along beginning edge, work 40 sc evenly to end.  At corner ch 1, sc in same sp.  Working along end, work 12 sc evenly.  At corner ch 1, sc in same sp.  Working along next edge, sc 40 evenly to beg.  Join with sl st to first sc.Row 14:  Ch 1. Working in back loops only, sl st around, chaining 1 in each corner.  Join with sl st to beg ch.  This creates the rectangular base of the bag.

Base of bag

Row 15:  Ch 1, turn.  *Sc in next 40 sts.  Sk corner.  Sc in next 12 sl st.  Sk corner.*  Rep from * to * one more time.  Join with sl st to beg sc.Row 16 - 18:  Ch 1, turn.  Sc in each sc around. Join with sl st to beg.Row 19:  DO NOT TURN.  Ch 3, dc in next 11 sc.  Sk next sc.  Dc in next 38 sc.  Sk next sc.  Dc in next 12 sc.  Sk next sc.  Dc in next 38 sc. Sk last sc.  Join with sl st to beg ch.  DO NOT TURN.Row 20 - 34:  Ch 3, DO NOT TURN.  Dc in next dc, and in each dc around.  Join with sl st to beg ch. Row 35:  Ch 3, DO NOT TURN.  *Dctog over next 2 sts.* Rep from * to * around.  Join with sl st to beg ch.Row 36 - 40:  Ch 1, DO NOT TURN.  Sc in same st.  Sc in each st around. Join to beg with sl st.

For Strap:


Row 1:  Sl st in next 6 st.  Ch 1, sc in next 8 sts.  Ch 1, turn.Row 2 - 50 (Or however long you want the strap to be!):  Sc in each sc across, Ch 1, turn. On last row, fasten off, leaving a long tail of yarn.Using needle, st strap to opposite side of bag with whip st.  Fasten off, weave in ends.

NOTE:  The base of my bag measures about 14.5" x 4" and it's about 14" tall, not including the strap.  I switched color on my bag on row 29 to add some contrast.  I also added a simple crochet flower as an accent.

Original post HERE.

Thanks so much for stopping by!
Monika, My Lovebug Baby

Feature Yourself Friday Linky Party #15!

Happy Friday!!


This week we had a THREE WAY TIE for the most viewed links!!


First off we have...

A Skirt A Month by BLauzonSews!

Next is...

Yellow and Gray Shoes by Good Little Things

And finally...

Fancy Girl Tiara Bow by DollBabyBowtique

Thanks for all the great links, everyone, and welcome to the newcomers!!! Now let's get onto this week!!

Feature Yourself Friday will be a place for you to highlight something you've done!! You can link to blog post or tutorial that you've done or a new item in your shop! We want to see what YOU have been up to!!
The only rule for linking up is that you become a follower of our blog and check out a few of the other links shared!! YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE A MEMBER OF OUR TEAM TO LINK UP!!! (Please link up only TWO posts/items each week!)

Please be sure to visit some of the other links and give some love to others!!

Each week we'll pick two or three of the links that stand out to us and feature those here on our blog! It's just a little way to help everyone see what YOU do!!

Let's see whatcha got this week!!!

~ Sarah from Sarahndipities

Feature Yourself Friday Linky Party #13!

It's that time again....Time to link up your new projects, posts, or items from your shop to share with all of us!!

But first...

Our most viewed link last week was....

The Slouchy Crochet Beanie by, yours truly, Sarahndipities...Thanks for the love!! :)

Our runners up were....

This cute Little Star Birthday Boy Shirt by The Cuddle Corner...LOVE it!!

And...

This Repurposed Dress by My Little Nuggets...can't wait to see her finished dress!!

Thanks for all the great links, everyone, and welcome to the newcomers!!! Now let's get onto this week!!

Feature Yourself Friday will be a place for you to highlight something you've done!! You can link to blog post or tutorial that you've done or a new item in your shop! We want to see what YOU have been up to!!
The only rule for linking up is that you become a follower of our blog and check out a few of the other links shared!! YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE A MEMBER OF OUR TEAM TO LINK UP!!! (Please link up only TWO posts/items each week!)

Please be sure to visit some of the other links and give some love to others!!

Each week we'll pick two or three of the links that stand out to us and feature those here on our blog! It's just a little way to help everyone see what YOU do!!

Let's see whatcha got this week!!!

~ Sarah from Sarahndipities

Feature Yourself Friday Linky Party #12!

Welcome, welcome!!

Can you believe it's August already?!?!  Neither can I!  How this summer has flown by!

We had a three-way-tie for the most viewed link last week!  Our three tops picks were...

Green Frog Beanie by KayaLu Creations

Mary Janes 0-18 Months by BLauzonSews

Tangerine Berry Branches Taggy Blankie by Chic Little Bug

Thanks for all the great links, everyone, and welcome to the newcomers!!! Now let's get onto this week!!

Feature Yourself Friday will be a place for you to highlight something you've done!! You can link to blog post or tutorial that you've done or a new item in your shop! We want to see what YOU have been up to!!

The only rule for linking up is that you become a follower of our blog and check out a few of the other links shared!! YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE A MEMBER OF OUR TEAM TO LINK UP!!! (Please link up only TWO posts/items each week!)

Please be sure to visit some of the other links and give some love to others!!

Each week we'll pick two or three of the links that stand out to us and feature those here on our blog! It's just a little way to help everyone see what YOU do!!

Let's see whatcha got this week!!!

~ Sarah from Sarahndipities

Feature Yourself Friday Linky Party #11!

Happy Friday, Everyone!!!

It's time once again for another fun Feature Yourself Friday!!

This week's top clicked link was....

This super fun and useful Business Card Holder by BLauzonSews..LOVE it!!

And the runners' up were...

This Crochet Boho Headband with Flower by Sarahndipities (Thanks guys!)

And this adorable little felted Mama and Baby Pig by novembrin...Don't you just NEED these!?!  I do! 

Thanks for all the great links, everyone, and welcome to the newcomers!!! Now let's get onto this week!!

Feature Yourself Friday will be a place for you to highlight something you've done!! You can link to blog post or tutorial that you've done or a new item in your shop! We want to see what YOU have been up to!!

The only rule for linking up is that you become a follower of our blog and check out a few of the other links shared!! YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE A MEMBER OF OUR TEAM TO LINK UP!!! (Please link up only TWO posts/items each week!)

Please be sure to visit some of the other links and give some love to others!!

Each week we'll pick two or three of the links that stand out to us and feature those here on our blog! It's just a little way to help everyone see what YOU do!!

Let's see whatcha got this week!!!

~ Sarah from Sarahndipities

Feature Yourself Friday Linky Party #10!

Welcome!!!

It's time once again for another fun Feature Yourself Friday!!

This week's top clicked link was....

These ADORABLE Peep Toe Shoes by Good Little Things

Some other faves were....

This fun and thrifty DIY Scrap Wood Dollhouse by Creative Contentment

...and these cute Mini Felt Fascinators by Sweeter Than Sweet

Thanks for all the great links, everyone!! Now let's get onto this week!!

Feature Yourself Friday will be a place for you to highlight something you've done!! You can link to blog post or tutorial that you've done or a new item in your shop! We want to see what YOU have been up to!!

The only rule for linking up is that you become a follower of our blog and check out a few of the other links shared!! YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE A MEMBER OF OUR TEAM TO LINK UP!!! (Please link up only TWO posts/items each week!)

Each week we'll pick two or three of the links that stand out to us and feature those here on our blog! It's just a little way to help everyone see what YOU do!!

Let's see whatcha got this week!!!

~ Sarah from Sarahndipities

Feature Yourself Friday Linky Party #8!

Hope everyone has has a fantastic week!!

I'm gonna get right down to business!! Here are a just a few of the links that caught my eye this week...I  wish I had the time to feature everyone!!!

And speaking of time...THIS WILL BE THE LAST FEATURE YOURSELF FRIDAY UNTIL JULY!  (I'm having my baby next week, and I'm taking a break from the blog until then!)

***I'm not sure why blogger isn't letting me upload the pictures for this post, but I'll try to get them up later today!!***

Check out this SUPER cute Dinosaur Onesie with Matching Crib Shoes by Growing Up Wild!

This fun tutorial on making Scrap Bracelets by Creative Contentment

And these amazing Pinwheel Cupcake Toppers by Sweeter Than Sweets!

Thanks for all the great links, everyone!! Now let's get onto this week!!

Feature Yourself Friday will be a place for you to highlight something you've done!! You can link to blog post or tutorial that you've done or a new item in your shop! We want to see what YOU have been up to!!

The only rule for linking up is that you become a follower of our blog and check out a few of the other links shared!! YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE A MEMBER OF OUR TEAM TO LINK UP!!! (Please link up only TWO posts/items each week!)

Each week we'll pick two or three of the link that stand out to us and feature those here on our blog!  It's just a little way to help everyone see what YOU do!!

<center><em><a href="http://stayathomemomsofetsy.blogspot.com/"><img src="http://i1215.photobucket.com/albums/cc513/stampswithstyle/SAHMLinkyButton.jpg"/></a></em></center>

Let's see whatcha got this week!!!

~ Sarah from Sarahndipities

Tutorial Tuesday - Re-Purposed T-shirt Yarn

This week's tutorial comes to us from Sarah at sarahndipites:

For today's tutorial we're doing a slightly different take on the usual T-Shirt makeover!  We're gonna turn that shirt into yarn!!!  Yup.
I've seen several different tutorials on this, and found this one to be the most helpful!
Here's my quick how-to:
Materials Needed:An old -shirtSharp scissors
First, lay your shirt out on a flat surface.

Next, cut the bottom hem (if there is one) and the top of the shirt off just beneath the armpits.  It become a big tube.  
Turn the shirt so that on of the folded edges is on top, with the cut edges on each side. 

 Fold the bottom folded edge up...leaving about a 1 inch 'hem' at the top.

Do that again.

Next, cutting from the bottom, cut 1 inch strips upward to the 'hem'...make sure you don't cut through it!!  

When you're done with that unfold the shirt...it should look something like this:

Next, comes the trickiest part.  Slip your arm through the top 'hem' of the shirt.  

Carefully cut across the shirt from the bottom slit to the SECOND slit on the top, at a diagonal.  (Sorry...this part was really hard to take a picture of!)

Continue across the length of the shirt.  At the end, cut across to the open end of the shirt...Repeat on the first side.  (If you don't cut the end you end up with a big circle!)

Now, you have a big long strip of t-shirt.  Obviously, if you use a shirt without side-seams you're going to end up with a much smoother looking strip...but I actually kinda like the raw seams, etc.

After you've made your strip, stretch the shirt apart...it will kinda roll and pull into a narrower string.  Voilá!

T-Shirt Yarn!!!

Now go make something fun and cool, like this funky loopy scarf.  Here's how:
Take a gigantic crochet hook (like a Speed Hook...this thing is seriously, like, as big around as my thumb...maybe bigger) and crochet a long chain with your new yarn.  

Slip stitch into the first ch on hook.  Finish off.  (You can cut off the ends or leave them hanging down for a funky look.)  
Wear your new creation by twisting it around your neck.  

Add a cute T-Shirt Flower clip or pin to add a little extra flair!  (I made this flower following the basic plan of these flowers, and added a button to the center and some felt leaves as an accent...then I hot-glued it to a hair clip.  Simple!)

Hope you all have fun with this fun new way to use an old shirt!!

Originally posted by sarahndipites.

Thank you for stopping by to read this fantastic tutorial! I hope to see you next week for another great tutorial from the SAHM of Etsy Team!

Monika, My Lovebug Baby

Feature Yourself Friday Linky Party #5!

Happy Friday the 13th, Everyone!

Blogger finally got back online ~ whew ~ so now we can play!!

Here are a couple of links that were shared last week, that I thought were pretty fun!!

How cute is this Shocking Pink Headband from TuTooCuteTutus?

And doesn't this Watermelon Lime Exfoliating Bar from SinisterSoaps look good enough to eat?

Well, now let's get on to this week's party!!!

Now onto this week!!  Feature Yourself Friday will be a place for you to highlight something you've done!!  You can link to blog post or tutorial that you've done or a new item in your shop!  We want to see what YOU have been up to!!

The only rule for linking up is that you become a follower of our blog and check out a few of the other links shared!! YOU DON"T HAVE TO BE A MEMBER OF OUR TEAM TO LINK UP!!!  (Please link up only TWO posts/items each week!)

Each week we'll pick two or three of the link that stand out to us and feature those here on our blog!  It's just a little way to help everyone see what YOU do!!

<center><em><a href="http://stayathomemomsofetsy.blogspot.com/"><img src="http://i1215.photobucket.com/albums/cc513/stampswithstyle/SAHMLinkyButton.jpg"/></a></em></center>

Let's see whatcha got this week!!!

~ Sarah from Sarahndipities