75 Days TIll Halloween Costume Countdown Today's Theme "Elves"

Only 75 Day's Till Halloween Wahoo!

I'd like to thank everyone who has supported these Halloween Countdown Treasuries.  Seems they are growing a following.

Thanks to all my twitter friends and their support.  If you don't already follow me on twitter you can @Mountaingoth.  I post a few times a day every time I post a new treasury so you can check out what today's theme is.

I'd love some suggestions for new theme's.  Yes, Vampires are coming,  I'm saving that till we get closer to Halloween.

A word to you stitchers out there...There is a decided lack of black capes currently out on Etsy.  If you are looking for a project this is a good one.

Please when you are posting pictures of your items on etsy, make sure that when in the picture format of a treasury that your item looks good.  I can't tell you how many truly beautiful items I have to pass by cause when cropped down to the treasury size picture format you lose the essence of the item.

Now for Today's Theme  "Elves"
Don't you just love these elf ears

And Boots to make you Dance an elvish jig

And some lovely Elf Couture

skirts

Gowns....Making big dresses is a lot of work

Check out the entire Treasury here and be sure and leave a comment!
75 Day's Till Halloween Countdown "Elves"

76 Days Till Halloween Countdown Today's Theme "The Phantom of the Opera"

I have to admit, I am a complete sucker when it comes to gorgeous gowns. 

So only 76 Days till Halloween and what better excuse to feature a few of these gowns and other items than "The Phantom of the Opera"

To start with, you have to have the mask.  What would the phantom be without his mask, and don't dare unmask him.

Phantom Mask
Next you have the heroine
Young Christine Daae.

Christine Gown

Then there is the Hero
Raoul

Our Hero Raoul
And forget not the Prima Donna First Lady of the Stage Carlotta

Carlotta

Be sure to check out the complete treasury here.

http://www.etsy.com/treasury/MTAwMjE2ODB8NTg0MDA4NDg4/76-days-till-halloween-countdown-todays76 Day's till Halloween Countdown "The Phantom of the Opera"

77 Days till Halloween Countdown

Since Halloween is just the best holiday of the year, I've been creating halloween countdown treasuries over on Etsy.  Everyday a new theme.

Todays theme is "Don't Fear The Reaper"   Please stop by and leave a comment.


77 Days till Halloween Countdown Today's Theme "Don't Fear the Reaper"


Here is a sampling of some of the cool items included.

The Robe....

http://www.etsy.com/listing/49843503/deluxe-wraith-or-grim-reaper-costume-in?ref=tre-579646506-1

The Mask

http://ny-image0.etsy.com/il_fullxfull.145437528.jpg
http://www.etsy.com/listing/47540434/vampire-skull-mask?ref=tre-579646506-3

and of course the scythe...

http://www.etsy.com/listing/70509545/autumn-sale-vintage-antique-salvaged?ref=tre-579646506-2

Mountain Goth is one year old today

It was one year ago today that I opened my Mountaingoth shop on etsy.  So I'm trying to figure out what I have learned in the past year.

1. I learned how to needle felt.  There is alot more I need to learn but one year ago I didn't even know there was such a thing as needle felting.
2. You need to time your items to the season.  People don't buy wool in the summer.  Even if it's needle felted critters.
3. Check the feedback on your buyer.
4. How to get over 13k in followers on twitter. Twitter gets you alot of hits but not so many buys.  Though it's a great place to connect with other crafts people and learn from them.
5. I would rather needle felt or crochet than sew.
6. Finally going back to having a day job and all of a sudden your items start selling.  Go Figure.

That's all I have time for now....Have a great day!

Crochet Hooks and Needles

Knotwyrd on Etsy
If you check out my etsy shop you can see I crochet alot.
Just wanted to talk a little about crochet hooks.
There are all kinds of crocheting needles out there.  Just a little from my experience.

The straight thin metal needles work.  I have used them for years, however after a while my ring finger and pinky start to get fatigued.  Not so good. 
Stay away from the plastic versions,  they tend to have molding lines in the plastic that your yarn can get caught on.  Spend the few cents more for the metal.  I have not tried the glass ones but they look really neat. 

Since I crochet a lot I figured I'd keep experimenting...
So I've been on an adventure to find what is the best.

Next I tried the Clover Soft Touch Needles.  These are a metal hook with a plastic handle. 
I actually found these harder to use and more fatiguing than the straight metal needles. The plastic handles are too short so they don't reach the far side of you hand, this maybe cause I have fairly large hands for a women though I do not have extra large hands.  If you have small hands these may work for you.  I like many of the other products that clover produces, especially for needle felting.

Clover Hooks

At Joann's stores they sell crochet hooks with a bamboo handle by Susan Bates.  These don't cost much more than the straight needles but are much easier on your hands,  worth the couple of extra bucks in you are crocheting frequently.

I journeyed further.

Then I discovered the Cadillac of crochet hooks.  These hooks are really expensive, but if you are seriously into crocheting they are the way to go. 

Addi SwingCrochet Hook by Skacel. These are imported from Germany....hmmmm maybe that makes them the Mercedes of crochet hooks.  They are engineered for you hands.  I can crochet for hours with them without getting hand fatigue.  Not only that and I can't explain
Well that's my 2 cents.  Love to here what you think.

Last WWI vet turns 110

When I was kid, I used to volunteer to once a week go help out the elderly. Help them go to the grocery and small household chores. For about a year I helped out this lovely couple, they were both well into their eighties and that was over 20 years ago.

He had been an airplane mechanic during WWI. I would sit with him for hours has he told me tales of the Great War. Back then there was no airforce, it was part of the army. He would pull out his old leather flight jacket and cap. I imagine these items today would be priceless. His stories just fascinated me.

Back in the day, when a mechanic worked on a plane, it was a requirement that he go up in it to ensure that the plane was in functional order. That is sure one way to make sure that the quality of your work is good, if you have to stake your own life on the work you do, you make sure it's done right.

I wish him good tailwinds.

Take a walk around Cambridge

If you are ever in the Boston area, I highly recommend take a walk around Cambridge.
It is the most oddly diverse area on the planet. You have the energy of Harvard and MIT mixes with the locals. There are great eats and eclectic shops.

You can learn so much just walking around and soaking it in.