back to school.

Everyone seems to be headed back to school around this time of year. While I'm not headed back myself, I still love shopping through fun back-to-school items. Here's some great handmade items perfect for heading back into the classroom (or just oogling).

These adorable apple name tags are perfect for labeling items on the way back to school and making sure nothing is lost. Plus they are so bright & cute! You can find them in MiChiMa's etsy shop for only $3.

Sleevy's beautiful crochet notebook sleeves are officially drool worthy. They are offered in wonderful, sophisticated color schemes and heading back to school is the perfect excuse to pick up one today. You can find them in sleevy's shop for $50.

And finally, you can't go back to class without a great notebook to doodle in. This one Baghy is gorgeous leather embellished with a wonderful flower-esque design. You can find this (and other wonder journals) in Baghy's shop. This one is only $32.

spotlight: for dad.

The spotlight of this week is coming a bit early.

I created this spotlight with my dad in mind. He's going in for heart bipass surgery this week, so I picked my favorite heart related items for this week's spotlight. We don't know when the surgery will be yet. Until then it's a waiting game. But it looks like it'll be at the end of this week on Friday most likely. So this one is for you dad! Because your heart is more beautiful than any of these could portray. ♥

spotlight: purple!

This week's spotlight features items that are my favorite color: purple! If you like what you see, simply click the picture above to learn more about the item. I hope you enjoy and hope everyone has a great weekend.

crochet amaze

Whenever I tell someone I crochet their first reaction seems to mix me up with knitters. I'm always asked if I make sweaters, socks, and other knitting cliches. I always try to explain politely that although you can make those things with crochet, it usually isn't as common as with knitting. So, of course, the next question is "What do you make with crochet, then?" While I think crochet is most commonly associated with lace, and sometimes scarves and hats, people always seem amazed that crochet can make something as fun and stylish as this: 

Crochet Hobo Purse in Robin's Egg Blue

Available at Artfire or Etsy

Crochet can make some fun things! And just because the art of crocheting goes back pretty far, doesn't mean you can't make stuff that's cool today! Crochet doesn't have to be lace doilies. It could be fun, fuzzy, mary jane slippers.

Strawberry Champagne Mary Jane Slippers

Available on Etsy

I always like to see the surprise on people's faces when they realize just how fun crochet can be and some of the great things you can make with it that aren't completely traditional. Exploring and pushing your craft to new limits is always one of the best parts of crafting to me! So get inspired and see what you can make today!

sweetest things.

My slippers are featured in this great treasury! It's full of everything pink and fluffy. How perfect! Be sure to drop by, check it out, and leave a comment!

slouchy

   Who ever said it wasn't correct to slouch? With these new slouchy berets that I've added to the shop I think the slouch is coming back! These are just two of the new fun crochet hats I've added to the shop lately. There's lots of other fun colors available for you to rock the slouch in your favorite color. And if you don't see your favorite color, let me know and I'd love to work with you on your own custom hat.  Also, if you're a fan of the custom purse I blogged about before, keep your eye here for an update about a purse you can call your own coming soon. I, also, would like to thank everyone who's left a comment on my blog lately, new and old! It's so great to hear from you all and you are so nice with all the great compliments you leave. I wish I could answer you all, but I don't think blogger comments let me to contact you on a one-on-one basis so I've tried to visit you all and let you know I appreciate the kind words you've left. Thanks to you all!

fresh

One of my favorite things about etsy is taking custom orders. This purse is one I finished this weekend and just shipped off to far away Finland! Custom orders always brings a freshness to my creations - new ideas, colors, and designs. It's always refreshing to hear what people would like that I am not already producing. It can open my eyes to color combinations or designs I would never have tried on my own. 

I love custom orders, and now without school I have a lot more time to work on them. So if you have a new idea for one of my items, send it my way! I'd love to hear from you even if you don't want an item for yourself. Crafters live off of new, fresh ideas!

shop update.

   Some old favorites have been recently added to the etsy shop. These include some of my most popular slipper designs like those pictured above. These and much more are available in the shop plus lots more hats, bags, and of course, slippers are coming soon so keep your eye here for the updates as these new items become available. And be sure to check the shop out for some great accessories for you and your home.

ready for spring?

Remember a few posts back when I teased you with the new crochet project I was working on? It's alright if you don't; you can click here to brush up your memory.

I finished it a while ago, but have either been too lazy or the sun had just decided to hide for a whole week straight so I hadn't gotten around to taking pictures of it finished until today. And now it's listed in the etsy shop so this bright, light, lacy hat can be yours! It was crocheted from a new bamboo-acrylic blend yarn in a beautiful robin egg's blue and comes with the flower accessory. 

This, and of course many more fun crocheted goods are all available in the shop. It's still chilly outside, so be sure to stop by and check out the fun new slippers that are being added along with great new hats to keep your toes and ears warm! Plus new cotton cloths that are great for use around the house and last much longer than plastic sponges or scrubbers. 

sudsy. in technicolor.

New, colorful cotton cloths have been added to the etsy shop. Been having fun whipping up these new squares with more on the way. 

customize me.

Now in my shop is this funky, spunky floor rug. I'm offering it in a customizable form so that you, the buyer, choose the colors you'd want your rug to be and I crochet it just the way you want! The one pictured above is just a sample of the rug, which I had great fun making and weaving together this weekend. The fun color combinations this rug could be made in is endless. And it's uses endless also - in the kitchen, living room, bathroom, bedroom, or dorm. 

goodies.

New goodies added to the etsy shop (finally, I know!) Hopefully more coming soon with tests winding down before the holidays! Check them out before someone else snatches em up.

new for autumn.

Finally have something new in the shop. I loved crocheting this hat. It was quick to make and it came out looking so great. It's a perfect color for fall and is warm and fashionable. I have made up a couple more hats in some different colors but haven't had the time to take pictures yet. They should be in the shop by the end of the week, though. 

falling into place.

School has definitely been taking a toll on me lately. Test after test after test. It's been a never ending cycle that is finally approaching the end. 

In good news, though, I think the Christmas sale season has kicked in because I've been making a sale on etsy almost every day for the past week. It's been a welcome extra "burden" on the plans finding a few couple minutes to package up these slippers send them out to their new homes. So it looks like things are falling into place both in the realms of etsy and school as both things pick up and begin to lead to exciting new places (with a little more money in my pocket to spare). 

Still no sign of autumn here, but the my favorite movie season has begun to pick up. One of my favorite things to do is keep up with movie news and when Oscar season rolls around I get a little more excited for all the great new movies that are soon to be coming out. Next week I already have several movies I want to see including the new Keira Knightley movie The Duchess. I've been trying to keep up with the trailers for new movies, too. Some of the ones I've seen recently that look like they should make good movies are The Soloist (I'm a huge Joe Wright fan), Australia, and Milk. Maybe I'll get around to posting some of my thoughts on these movies when they come out. 

Hope everyone is having a spook-tacular October! 

busy bee.

School has really begun to pick up with lots of tests and projects taking up most of my time. On top of that I have all the preparations I've been doing to get ready for graduate school including essays, applications, letters of reference - all that fun, inconvenient things that take up way too much time.

I've got my schools narrowed down to four. 3 in California including UC San Diego (Scripps Institute of Oceanography) and one school in North Carolina that I am applying to because one of their faculty researches exactly what I've been wanting to research for years now - whales and dolphins. I think the applications are almost prepared and ready to be submitted which is very exciting. I still have to take one final GRE exam. I have one shot to do well, but it's not until November so I still have tons of time to prepare.

Sadly, though, all this busy work has taken a toll on slipper making (just in time for the Christmas rush). I'm simply renewing items that are already available in the shop to keep myself visible. I try to crochet whenever I can find a spare moment, but those are few and far between and most of the time I probably should be doing something else anyway. Like right now... I probably should be sleeping. 

I suppose that's my signal to get to bed. Hope everyone's week is lovely and cool.

color burst

  

Some great new slippers have been added to the etsy shop recently including these three pairs. They include some old favorites and some brand new colors and patterns. You can see these as well as all my other mary janes by visiting http://brokenhallelujah.etsy.com.

here comes the sun.

I survived the hurricane! It didn't turn out too badly, after all. It just rained most of the day today and was pretty windy, but we just stayed inside and watched it all from the comfort of the sofa. We only lost power for an hour or so - not too bad for our first hurricane. As soon as the sun peaked out from behind the clouds we decided to get out for a little bit before the sun set. Most places were closed up for the day, but it was still nice to just be out of the house. 

I wish I could've spent the day crafting, but sadly school has caught up with me and I had a bit of studying to get done for some exams coming up next week. I have had time to get a couple pairs of slippers made up in the meantime including the one pictured to the left - Chunky Monkey mary janes. I had another pair of these for sale earlier in the summer and they seemed popular, so I used up the left over yarn to make up another pair. They are available in the etsy shop along with all my other great mary janes. 

I hope everyone else who had to go through the hurricane are alright. Things down in Houston and Galveston look messy, but no deaths reported so far. Since I lived down in Galveston for a year for school I am definitely hoping everyone at A&M Galveston are alright and made it out of the storm safely. 

Hurricane Ike

Hurricane Ike seems bent on heading my way this weekend. Classes tomorrow have been cancelled and I'm looking into what the plan is at work, also. Andy and I had planned to head to Dallas this weekend to celebrate his mom's birthday with the rest of his family, but I'm not sure how Ike will influence these plans. Many parts of the Gulf Coast south of us have been issued evacuation orders which will definitely influence traffic and then there is the weather itself. We're supposed to get tropical storm force winds tomorrow evening and loads of rain through Sunday - not ideal traveling weather.

Anyway, with this storm I'm afraid some shop related things may be put on hold. I usually don't ship on weekends, but if the weather doesn't improve over the weekend shipping could be delayed into next week. Also, I may not be around much on the internet so if anyone needs to contact me the best way is through email (endlessxhorizon AT gmail DOT com) or by etsy conversations. Foto Friday and Theme of the Week may also be postponed until next week. 

We'll do our best to stay safe and dry and I'll try to keep everyone updated as I get the time. Keep the Gulf in your thoughts and prayers! 

how much is that bunny in the window?

People have been requesting my bunny slippers left and right lately. It seems like I've been running back and forth to the hobby store to get some more grey yarn. Since people seem to be quite taken with them I was trying to come up with some other fun color combinations I could make them with besides the grey, but I need some feedback. What do you think about pink and light grey? Or purple? What colors have you always wanted to see a pair of bunny slippers? Or is there another fun animal you'd love to see? I'm up for any and all suggestions!

bright & colorful.

School work hasn't kept me from crafting this week and I've definitely been inspired by some of the bright, fun colors I've seen around me in flowers, the sky, and even some yummy snacks. All of this inspiration has led to some great new slippers being added to the shop in the past couple of days. This fun, food-inspired pair was added just tonight - Dark Chocolate Mint mary janes! Who doesn't love indulging in decadent chocolate with a hint of mint? Well, now you can without the calories! Well maybe they aren't as tasty as that treat, but they are a treat for your feet!

This beautiful pair is simple but still colorful and of course comfy and warm. This beautiful, bright blue caught my eye at the hobby store and I couldn't help myself from indulging. I'm not a big fan of the color blue, but the color has won me over with this wonderful shade. These great Peacock Blue mary janes can be found in the shop here.   

Both of these great new slippers are available now in the etsy store. And don't forget all the other mary jane slippers available in the shop alongside these.