Hello! September is almost over and I am shifting into full knitting gear to get ready for my lineup of holiday shows. Even though my next event isn't until November, I hope to pop on here more often over the next few months to give you an idea of what I'm working on. I finished this crazy neon monster last night. He is so fluffy! I saw that yellow yarn at the store and it screamed "MONSTER!" I think he's hilarious and I look forward to hearing what you guys think!

I also finished the stockings that I designed. I am embarrassed at how long it took me to complete this order- and to be fair they're not completely done, I'm still embroidering the names on them- but am very pleased with how well they turned out! I'd love to make more of them in the future [as long as my clients give me LOTS of time... they take FOREVER to make.]

Speaking of LOTS of time, if you're planning to order any monsters for Christmas, now is a good time to let me know! Just saying ;)

Okay, it's time to get back to knitting. I have a pile of monster ornaments that need mouths.

It is New Years Eve. I can't believe how quickly this year flew by... especially after 2012, which seemed to drag on for eternity. I am happy to say that 2013 was pretty nice. I didn't have any huge life-changing events [but after 2012 I didn't need any!] but I will remember 2013 as a "pretty nice" year.

It is really crazy that Christmas was a week ago already. I am always so busy right up until Christmas Eve working on last minute commissions and gifts. This year I gave myself a 3 day break from knitting starting on Christmas day. I meant to go a whole week, but my hands were bored. I had no idea what to do with myself. Apparently I can't just watch TV for entertainment, I have to be DOING something too. Oh well.

Here's just a few of the gifts and special orders of the season: I was honored to make a friend who graduated with me from High School a little owl to compliment her son's nursery. I crocheted a few cute cowls for gifts and remembered how satisfying crochet can be. A nice customer commissioned eight cute small round oddballs for gifts. I designed and knit a few monster stocking ornaments for gifts. I think they are cute enough to make for the holiday 2014 season. [Always thinking ahead!] My dad asked for a honey badger. I knit him a honey badger [pattern by Miriam L. Felton] and a cobra. I made some ornaments with sparkly yarn that looked like gold tinsel. And, last but not least, my boyfriend's mom got the little white llama she wanted. And she loved it!

One big project that I completed this season was knitting stockings for my friend Emily's whole family! Emily blogged about her new "forever stockings" on her blog, merrypad.com. I was so honored that Emily asked me to do this and I had a lot of fun [and a little frustration] figuring out how to make something new.

The stockings weren't the only new project of 2013. I also started to test my design skills and made a successful [SOLD OUT!] line of tie dye monster onesies. I then went bigger and designed two really fun monster tshirts. My Uncle Vince picked out the tshirts above when he was visiting in September and brought them back to the ladies he works with in the Philippines as gifts. I love that they hung a little monster ornament from their sign too. :)

Looking back, I think my favorite project of the year was my monster yarn bomb. I had never done any site specific knitting and loved decorating one of my favorite places [the SUNY Fredonia campus] with warm, friendly knitting during the cold, cold winter months.  

Goodbye 2013. I don't have any big projects in the works, but something always comes along. And when it does, I'll fill you in. Happy 2014.
<3
Erin

Everything is now confirmed! So here is the long awaited [for me anyway! The waiting game is always soooo hard!] HOLIDAY SHOW SCHEDULE! This November and December my monsters can be spotted in Buffalo, Rochester and Utica, New York! Hope you can make one of th

The monsters want to wish you a happy Easter! Today was relaxing and nice. No stresses of a big family dinner, just taking it easy. I started knitting a new monster and when I was almost done with the head, I looked down and realized I was using the same colors as my socks! I really like a pink and neon orange color combination... and I'm always a fan of stripes. :) 

Lots more knitting to go. This guy will have fuzzy neon orange and yellow stripes! I can't wait to see him finished... as well as the other 3 armless and faceless guys that are patiently waiting to also be finished. 

My holiday shows for the season are over so now I can focus on custom orders! Yay! So... if you missed my shows, I updated my etsy shop! Feel free to browse by clicking on the SHOP tab above or head right over to the etsy page to see what's in stock! http://www.etsy.com/shop/erinmakesstuff. There's lots of monsters waiting for you!

Hi everyone... well, today is almost tomorrow and tomorrow is that big show I've mentioned in almost every post since this site came to being.
Women's Gifts is TOMORROW. Yikes, TOMORROW! November 13th from 10am - 5pm at 341 Delaware Ave. in Buffalo, NY. If you mention that you read this, I'll give you a sticker. For real. I have erinmakesstuff monster stickers and they're pretty sweet.
Anyway,
Here are some of the new creations making their first craft show appearances tomorrow. 

And there's much more... including massive amounts of knit ornaments [and I still have some ceramic owl ornaments too!]

Hope to see you there.
Again, here's the link for more info on Women's Gifts: buffalowomensgifts.com