Exciting News & A Special Free Pattern

Last November I got a unique email! The Hobby Lobby Needle-arts Department contacted me to see if I was interested in joining the team as a freelancer. I'm lucky enough to live in OKC home of their very large headquarters. In joining the team I test patterns and sometimes I get opportunities to submit a design. I've only submitted a few times because unfortunately once you submit if it gets selected than Hobby Lobby owns the rights to it and I get no credit. I've really enjoyed testing and it's a great freelance opportunity. I really enjoy it! 

When you submit a design you generally are submitting with a few others and then they go through a process of selection. I would never know if the pattern was actually picked or filed away for later use. 

Yesterday I was doing some yarn shopping for an order and to my surprise I noticed new tear-away free patterns out! 

I squealed with excitement when I saw this one! I wrote this one!!!

It's for a Textured Cowl made with their Yarn Bee First Love Yarn!  

So If you want a new free pattern from me you can find it in 

Hobby Lobby Stores or on the website here.

So I'm excited if you can't tell and even if my names not on it it's still a big accomplishment to me to have a pattern I wrote chosen. You can find other projects & inspirations on their website 

This isn't endorsed by Hobby Lobby in any way. Just my thoughts :) 

Enjoy!

Thursday Yarn Shopping

I usually go yarn shopping every Thursday! My mother in law watches the kids and I can shop in peace. Some days I just feel the yarn and squeeze it hope that a project jumps out at me. I haven't done that in a while but it did today! So I thought I'd share what I got to day!

I love Vanna's Choice yarns and how they all work together no matter the color combos but unfortunately Hobby Lobby is weeding out most of it's non Hobby Lobby brand yarns. The selection is small but they were clearancing a bunch out so I grabbed a few skeins of the colors I know I'll need eventually.

I  picked up some Grey worsted in two colors since I used a bunch up in my new shark design.

The fun furs and cream color is for a fun custom order I'm going to work up tomorrow! I can't wait to share it with you!

I was excited to see Hobby Lobby added Vanna's Choice Twists. I fell in love with them when they first released but that was while visiting my mom in Colorado and my stores weren't stocking it. 

I loooove the purple with blue/green twists. They are now carrying about 4-5 colorways of it. 

I use it to make my favorite slouchy hat (free pattern) 

Then on a whim I picked up the bon bons. I laughed when I 1st saw these a while ago. Why would you buy this? I have tons of scraps but......today I thought of an idea for them and I'm hoping to get to work on the pattern very soon! I love the bright colors in this set. I've been obsessed with Jade lately and I tend to lean towards jewel tones. You'll just have to wait and see! 

On another note! I've been wanting to share my desk in my crafty loft space. We've had it a while but finally got it upstairs. It was a little heave so my hubby got some help since I'm a weakling!

We purchase this from a friend of my hubby's that was moving. She had hand painted the entire thing. 

Isn't the top pretty! I said to my hubby "that reminds me of ikea" and he said that was her inspiration! 

Funny because most my yarn storage is Ikea and so is the rug and lamp in my picture!

Any hoo! That is my Thursday fun! I hope to share more in the coming Thursdays! 

Bringing my Logo to Life: Shellby the Turtle Lovey

A while back I was looking at my logo thinking how cute it is and what a great job my web designer did when I told her what I had in mind. I thought it would be fun to make a line of patterns based of my logo for a few reasons. It's got some darling little creatures and shapes (trees, mushrooms, & flowers) in there that would be fun special items.  Also a great opportunity to work on something unique that would mean a lot to me and be exclusive from my shop!

I was naturally drawn to the turtle. Each of my animals in my logo have meaning to me. The turtle represents my turtle cuddle cape  as my all time best seller, so I thought it was a good place to start. I've been working on and off of this for the past 3 months. I got a little side tracked with crazy distructive weather, moving, and several deaths in the family so it's taken longer to do than planned but today I'm so very excited to release a new crochet pattern. The 1st in a line of more to come!

Introducing

Shellby the Turtle Lovey

Do you think she looks like the turtle in my logo? 

I'm never good with naming my creations but this one was fun! I asked my testers for ideas and my friend Jennifer suggested I name her after my hubby. I didn't know if he'd like that but oh well! His name is Shelby and we just added an extra L because "SHELL"BY is just perfect for the turtle. 

I did tell my hubby and since he thought the turtle was super cute he didn't mind! 

You are going to looove this pattern! You can make the Turtle Stuffy or a small blanket but why not combine two childhood favorites into one and make a special lovey. 

My kids stole my lovies and I'll have to make more! These make a great gifts. 

You can find this pattern in Raverly

Shellby the Turtle Lovey

It's on Sale for $3.50 Jul 17-19th

(No coupon needed, discount applies at checkout!)

Come check out all the adorable tester pics on facebook! I love them all!

Thank you testers for all your help so that we can provide a wonderful pattern! 

hmmm I think we might just have to have a Crochet Along with this little guy! What do you think? 

January Design Contest

I've really enjoyed the Design Contests. I love seeing you take the base pattern and putting your own spin on it. I had the contest running though Dec but only had two entries so now that we're not as busy with the holidays I want to try again! 

The New Capelet pattern has been a new favorite in the shop so I though we' would focus on just using it. Plus I want to show that it can be use year round in lots of other ways than just Christmas! I think It is a perfect Valentine prop. 

The rules are simple.

1. It has to be from this pattern. It can look just like my pattern or it can vary with your own creative ideas added. For instance, change the colors, edging, or add some ears from your favorite animal.  You can purchase this pattern in Ravelry. 

2. Email your Photo submission to me calleighclips @ att. net or you can post it to my facebook wall.
It doesn't have to be a professional image or even on a model. So don't feel like if you don't have professional image you wont win because it's mostly random draw. It's not a voting contest

4. I have made an album on facebook . You can view current entries here.

5. I will accept submissions til Jan 31st.  Winners will be chosen in the 1st week of Feb. 

This will not be a voting contest to give everyone an equal chance. I will pick a few at random, I will pick my favorite and my kids love to pick a couple favorites too. The more that enter the more random draws I'll pick!
Winners will received a free pattern.

If you have questions at any time just contact me! or leave comments below!

I can't wait to see your entries!! Have fun and be creative!

Sept Scarecrow Design Contest Winners

The Sept Design Contest had some fabulous entries. Our theme for the Month was using the scarecrow pattern. The only Rules were to purchase the pattern and put your own creative spin on it and take a picture. Will all the great entries is was hard to pick winners. So I just made some random categories and then pick several at random to give anyone a chance to win some new patterns!!

Made by Me, Photographed by Gina Rae Miller Photography

You can see all the entries in this facebook album!  

Here are the winners. 

Most creative spin on the pattern: (both my kids picked this as their favorite) 

*Melanie Joshua Edgett - CraftyCreations*MelaniebyDesign

Great use of combining two Calleigh's Clips and Crochet Creations patterns : 

(the witch and the Scarecrow)
*Theresa Perrin Wade Entry is from TCW- Handmade Gifts

Calleigh's nickname is pumpkin so since you used the most pumpkins ;) 

*Jessica Fernandez

Great use of patches, flowers and hay! 

*Amanda Stevens - My Sweet Knitting's

Random winners 3- 

1. Jenalea Johnson

2. Terri - CBC -Cozy Baby Crochet

3. Slightly Knotty


Winners please fb message me, or use the contact tab to email me!  You have 48 hrs to claim your 1 free crochet pattern of choice. 

Thanks so much to everyone that entered and if you don't have the pattern yet you should totally get it because it's been a new fan favorite this season! You can purchase it in any of my pattern shops but instant downloads are always best don't you think - Here is the link to the pattern in my Ravelry shop!

Well if you enjoyed this contest Octobers contest is going to be great too especially if you love pink! More to come on that later this week! 

Come and see....

I've been pondering the idea of having someone make a logo or design for me for some time. I just had no clue what I wanted. An acquaintance of mine asked if I'd looked on Etsy. I don't know why I didn't think of it. I didn't have to search far when I found Dreamlike Magic's Shop. She makes the cutest pre-made designs. It was hard for me to choose even from a small be darling collection of designs.

I didn't want it to look to girly since I do sell items for boys as well as women and men. I loved the idea of the owls. I finally decided on this design with the three owls because to me it represents a momma and two babies just like me.

This is a sample of my business card

With the set I choose I got:

01 ♥ Banner
02 ♥ Sale Banner
03 ♥ Vacation Banner
04 ♥ New Items Banner
05 ♥ Blank Avatar
06 ♥ Sale Avatar
07 ♥ Vacation Avatar
08 ♥ New Items Avatar
09 ♥ Avatar with Shop Name or Intials
10 ♥ Reserved Listing Placeholder
11 ♥ Thank You Placeholder
12 ♥ Custom Listing Placeholder
13 ♥ Business Card Design
14 ♥ PDF File of Printable Business Cards
15 ♥ 2x2" Round Sticker Design

She'll also give to the option to purchase made to made designs for the following:

♥ Hang Tag
♥ Sticker
♥ Stationary
♥ Letterhead
♥ Return Address Label
♥ Product/Bow Card
♥ Bag Topper
♥ Blog Banner
♥ Website Banner
♥ Web Ad
♥ Blog Button

I plan to get a real Blog banner and blog button and maybe a few other m2m items when I make a few more sales. So If your in need of an etsy banner or a great new design for your shop check her out. You'll love it I know. 

I'm very excited about this new look and I hope you love it too!