The Dapple Apple

2011-10-13T13:22:00.001-05:00

Helpful Sites

Here are some helpful sites to get you on your way with Crochet!

Ravelry

Once you complete the free sign-up, this is a great resource where you can organize all of your supplies and yarns, keep track of patterns, projects, etc. I love EVERYTHING about Ravelry.com!

Lion Brand Yarns

This is a yarn company, but they have lots of lovely, fun, retro, and useful patterns. You have to register for the site, but there is no charge and you can opt out of receiving their weekly emails. (However, I find many of their weekly patterns helpful and great!)

Caron Yarns

This is another yarn company site, but with a totally different style of patterns!

Below are just a few other sites I have found helpful in the past and still look to for patterns and inspiration:

Crochet Pattern Central

Lily: Sugar & Cream

Free Crochet

I hope that some of these help you on your way to learning more and growing in the art of crochet!

2011-10-08T10:35:00.004-05:00

Welcome to Basics for Beginners!

Most crochet projects for beginners begin with a very simple stitch called the Chain Stitch.

It is the foundation for most projects and therefore must be even and uniform. As the base for your project, is the most important stitch to learn first. The stitch is not complicated to learn and with a little patience you will be crocheting amazing chains in no time.

These links will help you learn your first crochet stitch, the Chain Stitch!

Chain Stitch in step-by-step pictures and written instructions from About.com

A fantastic "How to Chain Stitch" video from The Knit Witch

Marie from "Make and Takes" has an excellent Intro to Crochet Chaining

The most important thing to remember it to relax, breath, and have FUN!

2011-10-07T15:15:00.001-05:00

Well, as I get ready to teach my first group crochet lessons, I feel compelled to start with an overview here. There are many others who have set out before me to explain the art of Crochet, the stitches, the techniques, and the amazing variations. Below you will find introductions with links that are very helpful and informative!

If you are planning to join my lessons, these links will help you prepare, assist you, and refresh your memory. If you aren't attending my lessons, from these links you can teach yourself to crochet with the information provided here.

I will include each of the following in their own post for easy referencing! Happy Beginnings!

Begin at the Beginning

Supplies for Getting Started

Back to Basics

2011-10-07T15:11:00.004-05:00

The art of Crochet uses yarn and a hook to create a myriad of things... Below are some examples collected from various places around the internet.

For a brief overview of the history of crochet, please check out this wiki article on Crochet.

These are examples of beginner projects:

These are examples of some more advanced projects:

2011-10-04T08:20:00.000-05:00

Things here at the Dapple Apple have have been going along without the blog.

My apologies to all the regular readers!

Well, the news now? We are back!

As the fall gets settled in here in West Texas, I am getting back into a normal routine with work. There are some exciting things going on and I can't wait to share them with you! Stay tuned here later today for some updates, announcements, and maybe even some pictures of things I am working on now!

Many Blessings!

The Downtown Art Market (May 20011)

2011-05-17T16:45:00.000-05:00

This month The Dapple Apple booth at Lubbock's The Downtown Art Market had some new features and some new items!

We arrived at 7:15am Saturday morning to find our booth and start setting up!

Two of our tables are now on risers, so it makes everything much easier to see! I was nervous that the tables would be unstable, but they seem to be perfectly fine, and the new table covers work like a dream and look so much better...

I also have new shelves for my crochet items, so I can have hats, scarves, etc all at eye level without destroying my canopy like before...

We also have some new displays for our Coffee Cardigans/Mug-Hugs!

Mr. Dapple Apple took the opportunity Saturday to set-up a workstation to make things from copper wire.

He is so very talented at it and made some amazingly cool things while we were out there!

Next month, our earrings will have a new and more prominent display.

It will be in conjuncture with the introduction of our new wedding jewelry collection! Previews of the wedding jewelry will be coming up in the next post, along with some other new hat pictures!

Thanks to all of you for your continued reading and support!
Love and blessings to all of you!

The Dapple Apple Returns to The Downtown Art Market!

2011-05-11T14:56:00.000-05:00

I know that we have missed the last 2 months, and we feel very sad about that!

However, this Saturday we return to The Downtown Art Market in Lubbock, Texas!
What do I have that is new?
Hats, shawls, wedding jewelry, earrings, coffee cardigans, and more!

I would write more, but there is so much to do!!!
Come see us Saturday!

Workshop Wednesday

2011-04-27T18:56:00.001-05:00

This week there has been a lot of planning, working on new ideas, & day dreaming (brain storming) about the future!

I have some exciting things to announce in the next few weeks about some new product lines!

Until then, I also am working on finishing projects I started & never got around to completing.

Pictures of lots of newly constructed items coming soon! Until then, blessings & love!

Music to Crochet By...

2011-04-25T15:53:00.000-05:00

Greetings!

As most of you probably know, I love music. There is so much power in a song, simple or complex, techno or old hymn... Music can be shaped to almost anything to anyone, and no two people experience the same song in the same way.
Whenever I am working, I am usually listening to music. I was thinking through out the past week that I should really put together a Pandora station that is "Music to Crochet By..."

You might well ask yourself, "Wha-?" and trust me, I was asking myself the same thing. "What makes music that is perfect for crocheting? Wouldn't that very per person? Wouldn't it depend on the project you are working on...?"

To some degree, yes. I mean, if you are crocheting a bright pink, yellow, and orange spring slouch hat, you might not find The Decemberists "The Soldiering Life" very appropriate or inspiring. Likewise, while crocheting a black shawl for the symphony, you mightn't find "Kids" by MGMT carries the mood of the project.

However, I find many projects get rather tedious, and since most people my age and younger have project ADD, I was thinking... by varying your auditory stimulation, you can continue working longer than you would have had the patience to otherwise. So, I present to you, my newly crafted Pandora station!

Music to Crochet By... (To Listen, Click Here! It's Free!)
Though this station is designed with yarn crafting in mind, it would also be good for crafting/tedious work of any kind, or general listening! It might be my favorite I have shared so far and hope you all enjoy it!

The Robin Easter Bonnet

2011-04-25T12:26:00.000-05:00

I decided Saturday that I wanted an Easter Hat. I know that sounds old fashioned, but I love the concept of having a festive hat to celebrate the Resurrection of our Savior, Jesus.

Now, I celebrate that resurrection everyday, but I think it is wonderful that there is a day to celebrate it openly! How better to accentuate that joy than with bright colors, flowers, and fun hats?!

Well, I decided to not go too flamboyant with my hat, as I have a rather reserved demeanor and want to wear a hat, not have it wear me. So, after searching online for about an hour I came across this lovely hat, and the pattern for it here: Classic Cloche Crochet Pattern from DaPerfectMix!

I fell in love with the simple elegance of it!
I love the shape, the band, the the simple pattern, the way is curves smoothly... In short, it was exactly what I was looking for.

My dress is a brown square neck, 40's chic inspired dress with large cream polka dots, and I wanted a hat that wouldn't be out of place. This one was lovely and complementary of the time.

Here is the result:

I think it turned out rather nicely! I really like the color, the band, and the fit. I wish I had used a thicker yarn, to minimize the appearance of the stitches, but I will definitely be making more of them.

Let me know what you think! Do you like it? Do you hate it? If I made some more in a decorative style, would you like to see them in the Dapple Apple shop? Would YOU want one?

Until the next post, BLESSINGS

Poetry Inspiration

2011-04-18T12:07:00.001-05:00

It is no secret that one of my favorite poets is Emily Dickinson. Her eloquent concise imagery strike a chord in my hear that creates peace in my soul.

I have been seeking inspiration for art work lately and I heard an unlikely individual* recite one of her poems the other day, which encouraged me to start reading through her works on Bartleby.com. I found some of these old favorites and wanted to share them with you...

This ones speaks to me of renewal, through realization of a stagnant and hard-heart.
I would love to paint from

AS far from pity as complaint,
As cool to speech as stone,
As numb to revelation
As if my trade were bone.

As far from time as history,	5
As near yourself to-day
As children to the rainbow’s scarf,
Or sunset’s yellow play

To eyelids in the sepulchre.
How still the dancer lies,	10
While color’s revelations break,
And blaze the butterflies!

Here is one quite different from the last, giving hope for continued service...

IF I can stop one heart from breaking,
I shall not live in vain;
If I can ease one life the aching,
Or cool one pain,
Or help one fainting robin	5
Unto his nest again,
I shall not live in vain.

I think this one is an all time favorite... I want to make a necklace full of blue crystals, yellow glass beads, white pearls, and little silver beads based on this... Love, toil, hope, and the choices we all make in our service and dedication.

I HAD no time to hate, because
The grave would hinder me,
And life was not so ample I
Could finish enmity.

Nor had I time to love; but since	5
Some industry must be,
The little toil of love, I thought,
Was large enough for me.

That is all for now, I hope these lines inspired you as they did me! I am going to follow up on these and include pictures of what they created! Until then, may God bless you more richly than we could ever dream!

(* the man reciting was Stephen Colbert...)

The Future, Technology, & The Dapple Apple

2011-04-10T09:22:00.001-05:00

Today I am posting from my new phone. It is taking a good deal longer to type out what I want to share, but the motility means that I can post more often & with more pictures!

It has been far too long since I published any of the posts I've written, but that changes today.

God bless!

Accidental Hiatus

2011-02-11T13:45:00.001-06:00

So, after a two month absence, I am back to the blog world! I am have been diligently working for the past 4 weeks on some exciting new things for The Downtown Art Market, as well as for my Esty Shop that I will be restocking soon.

I know that you want pictures and descriptions, patterns, how-to's, and to hear about all of the funny things that happened over the holidays and since then... I will get them to you... as soon as I can find my camera charger...

Until Sunday... Blessings!

2010-2011

2011-01-11T11:50:00.001-06:00

(NOTE: This Post should have published in January, but I couldn't get all the pictures to upload until now.)

Life over the past 6 weeks has been much busier than I expected!

We left on the 16th for Atlanta, Georgia to spend a week with one set of my parents and my two adorable little brothers.

We had a full week of school field trips, class holiday parties, playing games, sight seeing, and more! It was a lot of fun and so good to see them for the first time in two years!

On the 23rd we left Atlanta to spend a week with Richard's family in Flushing, Michigan.

The house was crowded, there were lots of kids, and a wonderful Christmas family reunion. There was a lot of laughing, smiling, giving, sharing, playing and... chocolate!

We had a GREAT time with them that week, and it was so good to see how excited everyone was to be there together.

We left Michigan on the 30th and flew back to Lubbock. Richard worked on the 31st while I did laundry and repacked for the last leg of our trip the next day.

We left Lubbock on the 1st and headed to Guthrie, Oklahoma for a week at my other set of parents' house and to celebrate x-mas there with my little sister.

She is growing up so fast, having turned 11 at the beginning of December, and was so much fun! We played lots of games, got to see her horseback riding lesson, and listened to her practice piano.

We have been back since the 6th, but I am only now getting back to work with The Dapple Apple.
I have many new years goals, one of them is to post more here and keep up with all my business work. We shall see...

Until the next post, may you all be warm, safe, blessed and filled with JOY!

Happy New Year!

Welcome, December!

2010-12-01T12:29:00.000-06:00

This is not a real blog post, as I don't have much to say about the Dapple Apple today!

I just wanted to stop by and let everyone know that I am still indeed alive and that I do still love you all, but simply have been very busy and couldn't get around to writing.

I have made 4 pair of gloves, most of a scarf, a hat, and learned 3 new stitches. I have been doing many domestic things (laundry, organizing, etc) and I hope to finish writing my first crochet pattern to share with you all by Friday! (For THIS hat!)

There are so many things going on that I haven't had time to take many pictures yet, but rest assured that I will be back soon with pictures and updates, and more! (including a new recipe and a new blog design!)

May God bless you all!

X-mas Gifts, Audio Books, and Turkey...

2010-11-27T18:58:00.000-06:00

I apologize for my absence, but this week has not gone as planned. There were some unexpected things going on that left me without much time to write and with even less of relevance to say.

I am still working on the same gift I started on Tuesday, but I am sure that whenever it is finally done, it will be great! ( I will expound more on this and have some pictures soon!)

I have discovered a GREAT site that I wanted to share with you all! It is called Librivox.

Recently my crochet projects have become more intricate and that makes it impossible for me to watch a show while working. I was lamenting the face that I didn't have anything to just listen to when I remembered Librivox! Free online books, read by the public and saved and shared, or "acoustical liberation of books in the public domain."

If my writing seems rather formal, it is because I have just finished listening to "Persuasion" by Jane Austen, and I am on chapter 10 of "Sense and Sensibility" by Jane Austen. It really is a wonderful site and I hope that if you are at all interested in books, you will check it out! (Both books were read by the talented and crafty curator of A Mingled Yarn.)

In addition to working on the gifts and orders, I did manage to eat my share of turkey, potatoes, mac and cheese, etc, and absolutely the best pecan pie ever this Thanksgiving. With that came the sleepy afternoon napping and the insanely early rising for the best of the Black Friday deals.

Because we don't really need anything (except the money to move) this holiday season, the shopping was light and mostly just for the few things we will use on our holiday trips in December and January. I got all I needed from Joann's and Khol's and only had to wait in line for about 40 minutes.

Above are the sweaters I found for myself, and I did something I never do... I tried on the pink ones! I don't typically like pink, but it was the only striped on they had left in my color and so I thought, "Why not?" and I am so glad, it fit perfectly and was very reasonably priced! The cardigan was a great choice, too and I am so very happy with both!

These Sweaters are for my husband, Richard. We both acknowledge that I don't buy them as gifts for him, but gifts for myself that he will wear, but I hope that he will like them at least a bit.

From Joann Fabrics I procured the following treasures for 50% off, and plan to use each of them for various x-mas gifts I have yet to finish!

Well, that is all I have time to write today, but hopefully I will be more able to write this week!
God bless you all with love and joy!

Slow Show Positives

2010-11-22T09:37:00.116-06:00

The Awesome Success Network craft fair was not such a hit with the customers this weekend. We didn't have many, and the ones who were there weren't interested in my items. That stated however, there were some good things about the show:

It was inside, so there was no wind/dirt.
I designed a new display! (Much more organized!) A better booth layout, is always helpful.
I was right behind Heather and Justin of Dirty Deeds Soaps, which was wonderful because they are such great people!

The next show will probably be The Downtown Art Market on the second Saturday in December (the 11^th). We will be there with all the usual things, but perhaps also some new items! (fingerless gloves, aprons, and a new line of Southwest jewelry, etc...)

Well, back to the laundry and sewing! Come back later this week for a special surprise post!

Fingerless Glove Infatuation!

2010-11-17T13:27:00.000-06:00

So, I am not alone in my new obsession for fingerless gloves... It seems that there are many people out there who want to keep their wrists and hands warm in style! I really love these gloves and I am so glad that others do, too.

I have 3 orders for gloves that I hope to have finished by Wednesday! The first pair are in dark purple (which is much darker than they appear in these pictures). The next ones will be dark teal, and the last order is for black.

I will be in the Awesome Success Network craft show this Saturday and I hope to have several pair finished to sell by then including some in green, black, hot pink, blue, tan, navy, purple, and black!

I am so happy to be making pretties that people like! I have decided on 3 standard sizes: short, medium, and tall. The shorter ones will be $25 a pair and come about 2 inches past the wrist, the medium will be $35 and will come about 6 inches past the wrist, and the tall, $45 will come all the way to the elbow.

If you are interested, please let me know!

Blessings of peace and love and joy!

Week of Magic!

2010-11-16T18:22:00.000-06:00

In preparation for the Thursday late-night showing of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, I have been working on a few surprises the lovely daughters of a new friend (and co-owner of Dirty Deeds Soaps!)

They will be joining our group at the Midnight Showing and since they are 13 and 11, I didn't want them to show up and feel left out in muggle (non-magical) attire. So, I want to share with you one of the cloaks I made today.

This one is for Miss Kayla, the first year.

It is not strictly up to Hogwarts standards, but I think it will do quite nicely. It has a wonderful green fabric lining with keys and roses, dark purple stitching, and fitted shoulders. The clasp isn't sewn on yet, but I think I will do that tonight after I finish sewing Miss Faith's cloak.

These pictures do not do it justice, as the green is actually brighter, and the black is not just shiny but has little silver flecks all over it! (I am realizing that some of these pictures make it look like a lined trash bag, but it really does look much better in person!)

This is the part that I am most excited about... The cloak has a pocket!

Parchment, quill, wand, whatever you need, you now can carry with you! Conveniently located on the inside left of the cloak, right at the right pocket level for an 11-year-old!

I really hope Miss Kayla will like her new wizarding costume and that she will have a great time with us at the movie!

Until the next post... Blessings!

Monday Madness!

2010-11-15T13:55:00.000-06:00

The rush to the holiday season has begun in earnest now, and this chilly Monday finds me hard at work!

Since the show on Saturday I have had 2 orders placed for fingerless gloves, as well as 3 people contact me interested in learning to crochet! I am so excited about all the new opportunities that are presenting themselves!

Also, this morning I found out that my application to join the Awesome Success Network was accepted and that I will officially have a space in the craft show this Saturday. This is wonderful and daunting news, because I haven't had a chance to get all of my things done that I needed to accomplish this week.

The show this Saturday will be at the Science Spectrum in Lubbock, from 10am to 4pm, and admission to the craft show is FREE! I am busy working to fill orders and get things in order for Saturday, but I hope to have another post with pictures up before too long!

Until then, please check us out on Facebook, simply search the Dapple Apple, and if you like what you see, click the "Like" button at the top of the page.

Thanks for reading! Blessings of peace and a joyful week!

The Downtown Art Market Review

2010-11-14T10:07:00.000-06:00

The Second Saturday Downtown Art Market was a success!

There were more people than last month, it was cold, but not too windy, and I sold some things! Several hats have gone to keep some heads warm, a very favorite scarf of mine is on its way to a wedding today, several necklaces will be showcasing some lovely new owners, and a coffee cardigan will be helping to save trees and looking fashionable on some cups!

These are some pictures I took yesterday! I left a lot of my displays at home because I was going for a more simple look with the booth.

Though it was very cold, and I did a great deal of complaining about not feeling my toes, I would call it a success! Also, there was a quite a bit of interest in my fingerless gloves and I am confident that I will get some orders for them soon!

Something else that is very exciting is the number of people interested in learning to crochet! I am happy to teach all who want to learn, free of charge (so long as it is on a small scale) and I am so glad that there are others interested in the art!

If you are interested in learning, please get in contact with me, or check back here tomorrow for my new blog post and announcement!

Now, I am off to make my very own pair of fingerless gloves!!!
Blessings of love and peace to you all!

Fingerless Glove Fruition!

2010-11-11T14:56:00.000-06:00

I am happy to share with you my first pair of Fingerless Gloves!

To say I love them would be an understatement!

I love the way they turned out, the soft yarn, how warm they are, the almost floral quality to the stitches, the delicate scalloped edge... everything about them.

The simplicity of the stitch means these gloves work up rather quickly, but the composition is just lovely!

Also, the open spaces means they breath, but the acrylic yarn is really warm. They are flexible enough to move, but they stay on really well so they don't get in the way.

This is the first pair, they are light blue and a good medium length. They work great for typing, writing, drawing, needle working, sewing, etc!

Their classic appearance and versatility mean that you could really use/wear them almost anywhere.

The gloves are fitted along the side seam, which is an adaptation from this pattern at Strand Over Fist.

This pair didn't turn out as evenly as the ones shown in the pattern above, but on the 10th or so try, I managed to make them look somewhat more even.

Would you wear them?

What do you think?

Stylish Ravenclaw

2010-11-10T12:27:00.000-06:00

So, last week my friend and I were wondering what Hogwarts House we'd have been sorted into, had we not bee Muggles. Good for us, there was an online quiz to determine just that.. While she joined the likes of Hermione and Ginny in Gryffindor, I became a Ravenclaw.

I am happy about that, as logic and justice are things that I greatly value.

So, I made myself a Ravenclaw Hat! It is not like the Gryffindor ones from the previous post, because they didn't look right, but I really LOVE the way this on turned out!

This is the finished hat! As you can see, there are some "claw" shaped stitched at the top, a ripple round the middle and some blue diamonds, then the little scalloped edge.

This is a close up of the "claw" "ripple" "diamond" pattern! I used two completely different kinds of yarn here, and it created a very interesting contrast.

The brown is a Fiesta Yarn by RedHeart, and the blue is "Dark Country Blue" Simply Soft by Caron.

A hat inspired by the Ravenclaw House at Hogwarts, from Harry Potter.

The stitches were all experimental and crazy complicated, but they looked so good, I had to persevere. However, I don't anticipate making another one any time soon.

This hat is a different style, with more of a bell shape and looks much better on me then the slouchy ones do with my odd shaped head.

Let me know what you think!

Go, Go Gryffindor!

2010-11-09T13:25:00.002-06:00

In preparation for the craft show on the 13th, I am making some Harry Potter inspired accessories! I have been talking about them for a while, but some of them are finally finished and I am so excited to share them with... everyone!

By Saturday I hope to have made hats to represent all four of the Hogwarts houses, as well as necklaces, earrings, scarves, and maybe even a pair of fingerless gloves...

First up on the list was Gryffindor! I have had several people asking if I was going to make hats, etc for the midnight showing, and so I decided it was the best place to start...

This first hat was my attempt at a Gryffindor Hat! I took my inspiration from the picture above and I am very pleased with how well it turned out.

This first attempt was good, but the subsequent hats had some improvements. I have made two since this one and like each of them better than the last. I hope that everyone else likes them, too!

The next one was another slouchy beret style hat, though instead of the flower center, I went with a more solid one, and more continuity in the pattern. It still has the "diamond" like shapes, but it has a more symmetrical pattern in each round.

The newest Gryffindor hat was made for a dear friend and ended up being a more beanie style hat. She really liked it and let me take her picture!

I've also made a Ravenclaw Hat, but I will save that one for tomorrow's post!

If you are reading from Lubbock, I hope you will come out on Saturday to Downtown Art Market and see us! If you are reading from afar, please keep us in your prayers Saturday, that we can keep warm and have a great sales day! May God bless you all! Come back tomorrow! Blessings!

More Projects from the Dapple Apple X-mas Workshop

2010-11-03T13:38:00.002-05:00

There are some cool new projects getting underway here in West Texas as the countdown to X-mas has begun. There are currently 4 Adventure Bags and 3 aprons cut out, 2 shawls almost finished, and 1 super cool Computer Messenger bag in the planning stage.

These are pictures of the shawl I am working on now:

I debated for a long time on colors and stitch patterns for this shawl and am very pleased with the way it is turning out. I just have 3 more rows and two rounds to go until it is done!

This is a close up of the first few rounds of a very lovely border from my new book!

Originally it was going to be solid gray, but it was simply too dull and I was getting depressed just making it, so I decided to bring life to it with the aqua and navy. It worked perfectly, being a simple shawl with just a bit of life.

I am in a coffee shop with lots of florescent lights right now, so this picture is taken with the flash to show the true colors. Though the aqua isn't actually day glow as it appears here.

I will post more pictures of the finished shawl in my post tomorrow, but I want to share with you now the splendid book where I am learning the borders.

I just love everything about this book! There are simple to follow instructions and diagrams, there are unique and creative patterns, and there is a sense of encouragement and motivational support in all of the tips and instructions! I don't usually buy books about crochet or work from patterns, but this book is WELL WORTH the exception!

The Dapple Apple Learns a Lesson!

2010-11-01T13:40:00.000-05:00

Growing up I loved to read the American Girls book series. Molly was my favorite and I would read and re-read, and so on all of her books. I have always loved reading, and last night I began writing my first novel.

NaNoWriMo is a wonderful tool for people who want to write, but never thought that it would be possible/plausible.My previous post talked a little bit about NaNoWriMo, but now I would like to share a little bit about the book I am writing.

An Adventure Murder Mystery centered around a government conspiracy, The Historian, is not your typical young adult drama, magical adventure, or vampire saga. Instead, The Historian focuses on truth, facts, events, and how to discern the real and important from the public perception.

There is alot more to the story than that, but in its very roughest form, I don't have much more to say about the over arching plot. Below is the first attempt at cover art, an excerpt, and a summery. With 2,535 words in the Introduction and Chapter one written, I think day one is shaping up fairly well for a first attempt at the art of novel writing!

The Historian

(a summery)

A young woman... an ancient manor... an old Historian... a dark deception... a life time of goals... a political conspiracy... a murder... a startling mystery... a friendship forged... a life changing journey... a crippling failure... a secret revealed... an enduring promise... a triumphant success... a secret lost... a better world... a true adventure...

The Historian

(an excerpt)

Each person to live, and who has ever lived, is unique because of their heart, their mind, their soul, their talents, strengths, weaknesses, perceptions, and so on. “The is nothing new under the sun...” but there is always an infinite number of possible perceptions. Who can hope to divine the truth of the past from so many interpretations, all dependent upon each individuals perceptions? That is the job of the Historian.

***

He awoke with a start the next morning, just as the sky was beginning to turn gold and pink, by a strong hurried knock at the door. He got, his body aching from the work and spending the night on a hard chair, but crossed the small room quickly. He'd never actually had a visitor before. Wayden stretched and yawned as he opened the door and was left standing dumbfounded, one arm extended up over his head, the other still on the door handle and a half yarn gape on his face. He was starting to wonder how much he'd had to drink the night before when the man on the step spoke clearly but in a register just above a whisper, “May I come inside?”

The man came in, and waited til the door was closed before removing his traveling coat and hat. His fluffy white hair matted on top and his thin body dressed as ever in an impeccable suit and shimmery tie. He stood there holding his coat and hat waiting for the shock of his sudden appearance to wear off a bit before he explained why he had come. Everyone who lived near Caerwyn Manor said that old, crazy Aaldenburg never left his home, and yet here he was. Standing in the humble home of the man whose life he had torn asunder.

***************************

If you want to read more, let me know and I will make the rough draft of each chapter available to you.

Please let me know what you think!

Many Blessings of love and peace,

Courtney

PS- This is all copyrighted to Courtney Roper, and any attempt to copy it and use it for your own gain is strictly forbidden and greatly discouraged! Thanks!

NaNoWriMo 2010

2010-11-01T01:26:00.000-05:00

I am not sure if it is because I am a masochist, conceited and overly ambitious, or because I am just plain crazy, but I have signed up to be a part of NaNoWriMo.

What is NaNoWriMo? National Novel Writing Month. Why am I doing this? Because I have always wanted to write a novel, and now there is pressure from everyone to get it written.

NaNoWriMo is 30 crazy Days and Nights of reckless literary abandon! People attempt to write 50,000 words in 30 days... and yes, I know it is crazy.

If you are interested in following my progress and word count, please click here:

CourtCreative's NaNoWriMo Profile

I need all of the encouragement I can get to make this happen, so it you have anything to add, suggest, etc, PLEASE don't hesitate.

Thank you for reading and come back soon for another update. May God Bless you with love,
Courtney Roper of The Dapple Apple

Workshop Wednesday

2010-10-29T08:27:00.000-05:00

The Dapple Apple Workshop is in a state of total chaos because of everything going on and all the crafting happening getting ready for the holidays! But, there are some really cool things that are in the works for the Downtown Art Market show coming up on November 13th!

There will be lots of holiday and Christmas items, as well as a few Harry Potter themed items getting ready for the movie release on November 18. These are just a few of the things that I have for sale. If you see something you are interested in, let me know and I will meet up with you for you to take a better look!

For Pictures check out The Dapple Apple on Facebook!

Cerebration Station

2010-10-26T12:55:00.000-05:00

Tuesday here at the Dapple Apple and I am sharing some of the things I worked on yesterday and today!
I've been researching patterns for messenger bags, aprons, totes with lots of pockets, and more. I drew up schematics for what the "Adventure" Messenger bags will look like, researched the most effective way to make a plain apron more versatile, and designed the ultimate crocheter's perfect carry all!
These are my sketches!

The Quintessential Adventurer Bag!

This is the quintessential Adventure bag! It will have two main pockets inside, a back pocket, side pockets, 4 pockets under the flap, a pocket on the outside of the flap, and 2 secret pockets that only the creator, adventurers (and their mothers) will know about! This bag will be able to hold all the adventure essentials and comes with a matching blanket that fits into its own compartment behind the bag! World, beware!

The Updated Basic Apron!

This apron will have lots of "cargo" room, as well as a hook for an oven mitt and a towel loop. It will be super functional, durable, and adorable! After the holidays, I will probably make myself one!

The Ultimate Crochet Tote!

This tote will have two smallish pockets on each end, two large pockets on the front, and a thin large pocket on the back. The inside will have 2 compartments, a large one for yarn, projects, etc. and a smaller one for books, magazines and instructions. The top will either close with a flap (as shown), or the front and back will come up higher and there will be handles and two snaps. Along with it I am also making some simple drawstring bags for yarn, no more tangled masses of yarn under your projects... just smooth crocheting from here on out... Well, not from here, but after x-mas...

These are just some of the new projects I am working on... I hope you will check back tomorrow to read more about what will be coming up at the Downtown Art Market on November 13th!

The Paperless X-mas Continues!

2010-10-23T22:38:00.000-05:00

So, I have finished 2 bags now and I am so very, very pleased with how they have turned out!

The bags here are Richard's and mine, as I wanted to be sure that I knew what I was doing before I started on everyone elses! The drawstrings aren't in their casings yet, but other than that, these two are finished!

(A picture of them folded up)

(To see a larger image of any of these photos, just click on it.)

I love them, but what do you think?!

The Paperless X-mas

2010-10-23T22:27:00.000-05:00

We have decided this year that with all of the flying and the hectic schedule we will have this holiday season, that we are not gift wrapping presents. Instead, I am making everyone reuseable fabric gift bags! Each person will have their own bag and I will make large gift tags with their names. Each of the bags will be made from a different holiday fabric, so it is easy to tell them apart.

Making them will take very little time, as each one is just a simple lined bag with a draw string closure made from one yard of fabric and one yard of lining. I am still not sure which tutorial I am going to go with yet, but here are the few that I am yet to choose from:

Craftzine.com blog: How to Sew a Lined Drawstring Bag

Yarn Monster: A Drawstring Bag

Happy Things: Lined Drawstring Bag Tutorial

But this is what they look like now:

Potter Magic Update

2010-10-23T09:54:00.000-05:00

So, in anticipation of the next installment of the Harry Potter movies, a friend and I have decided to have a Harry Potter Party! We will watch the most recent movies, make a Harry Potter Trivia game to play while we wait in line at the theater on Nov. 18, and we will have lots of snacks and food from Harry's magical world!

As I started my research I was feeling a bit insecure about how terribly geeky I was being... but I soon found there are so many Potter party idea sites they make me feel like a Potter-neophyte! I have gotten recipes for so many amazing & geektastic things!

* Acid Pops (sour suckers covered/served with pop-rocks)
* Cauldron Cakes (brownies baked in cupcake tins with goo centers)
* Butter Beer (Cream soda with butterscotch schnapps)
* Parchment Scroll Sandwiches (Chicken salad wraps)
* Pumpkin Pasties (pumpkin pie fried pies)
* Cockroach Clusters (stick pretzels mixed with peanuts covered in chocolate)* Cheese-warts Wands (a castle made from cheese cubes on short wooden skewers)

For my birthday, I got some amazing chocolate molds, so we will also be having these!

Chocolate Peanut Butter Owls and Chocolate Frogs! (Though for the actual party, I think I will make the Owls more peanut buttery than these turned out, and I will make the frogs from a mix of milk and dark chocolate.)

These are some of the sites where I found my information:

The Hogwarts Celebration: Recipes

Harry Potter Recipes

Focus Friday

2010-10-22T13:03:00.000-05:00

Today is a day for organizing my ideas and thoughts and getting things ready for the rapidly approaching holiday season. With so many bills and so much family, this year we are giving everyone something hand made.

For many people, this will be a handmade holiday, and to get everything done, I should have started planning months ago. However, all is not lost. I have made a long list, checked off the things I have finished, specified all of the supplies I need to make everything else, and now it is time to get back to work!

There are some cool projects I am going to attempt and I do hope they will turn out. I will be making 2 "Adventurer" messenger bags with lots of cool pockets and such. I will be making 2 "Book Bags" with matching "Roll Up" blankets to attach for on the go reading and warmth. I need to make 6 shawls, 8 blankets, 3 scarves, 10 "Mug Hugs", 2 aprons, a tote bag for a very special crocheter, and the worlds best and most amazing computer and tote messenger style bag.

In addition, we have decided not to wrap any of our presents this year using paper. So, I will be making "gift bags" out of lovely Holiday Fabric. I will write more about these great reuseable alternatives to wrapping paper in their own post!

I have a question, what are you making for someone this holiday season?!

Well, with all of that work cut out for me, I don't think I will have any trouble figuring out what to do with my time, and for now I must run. May God Bless you all!

PS- I will post again tomorrow with some more exciting Potter News!

Wizarding Wednesday

2010-10-20T13:49:00.000-05:00

Let the Potter Mania begin!

Tickets went on sale yesterday (a month early) for the next installment of the Potter Films: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1! I have our tickets and several people in the group have already begun planning their costumes for Halloween and the movie Midnight showing.

Being the 5th time for me to go to a midnight Potter event, I have all the usual things planned and ready to go... But more about the night of the event later...
From a fun business perspective, getting ready for the month of Potter Mania is actually alot of fun!

I will be making several new kinds of necklaces, hats, earrings, cup cardigans, and maybe scarves, and a few shawls all in the Hogwarts, school house and Wizarding-world fashion.

So far, I have not made anything specifically Potter-style to sell, but I have a feeling people will be interested in anything cool and potter-ish they can find by October 30th!

Mechanical Monday

2010-10-18T17:23:00.005-05:00

After a restful weekend spent crocheting in bed while warding off a cold, I am back out-and-about, hoping to get all of the responsible things out of the way today so I can get back to my creative work tomorrow.

There are several exciting things that have been completed including 3 shawls, two necklaces, and a list of x-mas projects I still need to make. Below are pictures of the two shawls I have completed for my nieces. (Just one more to go!)

This is the little shawl for miss sweet Sarah. She is so loving and adorable and I think this shawl is bright and colorful and will reflect her personality.

The light pink, bright blue, gold, dark pink, and shell border all complement the fun 2-year-old life style.

The button is a tan "gingerbread" looking plastic button in the shape of a flower. I think it is perfect with the whimsical look of the shawl. The best thing about this shawl is that it is washer/dryer safe and thus perfect for Sarah and her Mommy!

This next shawl is for Miss Emily! I love this little shawl. It is super frilly, but classic!

The silver and pearl buttons add to the timeless feminine appearance, while the fancy pink and blue border make it just a little fun.

Miss Emily is growing up into quite a sophisticated little girl, with so many great qualities and refined preferences. I am really hoping she will like the colors and the buttons.

This is a close up of the top button, which is a bit larger and more ornate than the other two. I made the shawl extra full so that when she spins it will twirl very nicely.

This shawl is also washer/dryer safe and while there are many little holes, is actually very warm.

Pictures to come of the Order of the Phoenix shawl tomorrow!

I hope that you all had a good weekend, and let me know what you think of the girls shawls.

God bless!

Thinking Thursday

2010-10-14T16:17:00.000-05:00

I have been rather ponderous as of late, contemplating the truth behind each individuals' perceptions of reality... This has made me tired. However, I did want to share some pictures with you.

Downtown Art Market: October 2010

2010-10-12T12:15:00.001-05:00

Well, we didn't have a very good turn out at the Art Market this month. However, that just means that there are still LOTS of things in my shop for you to look at and lots of potential x-mas gifts!

Here are some pictures from Saturday!

For more information, photos, and more check out our Facebook Page!!!

Motion Monday

2010-10-11T11:34:00.000-05:00

What's in the works here at the Dapple Apple? That is a great question!
I have been working on some great new yarn projects, and I have some interesting jewelry ideas that are still taking form in my head...

Today, I hope to finish this:

It is a shawl for one of my precious and adorable nieces! It has just the right amount frill to twirl when she spins, yet is thick enough to keep her warm during the long, cold Michigan winter. I really hope that she likes it.

Also, I am working on my newest project for me, which I am experimenting with alot and trying some new and strange stitches. This is going to be my Order of the Phoenix shawl.

Fading from golden yellow to orange to red, it reminds me of Fawkes, and will go great with my Halloween costume and be a great thing to wear on the night of November 18th! (I know this is a major geek moment, but I am embracing it.)

And this project is a simple set of pot holders for an older gentleman I know from the coffee shop who is always kind (albeit a bit ornery).

He always asks, "Honey, when are you going to make me some of those fancy holders?" So the answer is... Today.

Well, that is all I have to share with you about current projects.
Coming up next week you will hopefully get to see my new work apron and patterns for my first Dapple Apple craft show apron!
May God bless you with peace and love and joy!
Until tomorrow...

Welcome, October!!!

2010-10-02T15:09:00.001-05:00

There are so many wonderful things about October and I am excited to share them all with you!

We took a break from all the work on Wednesday to go to the fair. We ate junk food, saw lots of fair things, then went to the Blue Oyster Cult concert! IT WAS AMAZING!

"Oh NO! They say he's got to go! Go! Go! Godzilla!"

"Oh NO! There goes Tokyo! Go! Go! Godzilla!"

I am still gearing up for the BIG craft festival (the Downtown Art Market).

October is also bringing a great series to PBS Masterpiece Mystery! Kenneth Brannagh is back as "Wallander" every Sunday night on PBS, starting October 3rd (or on pbs.org)!

The cooler temperatures mean that sweater weather is just around the corner, and soon we will be having soups! I am so excited! I just love October!

So much to do, so little time! If you want more information, to see pictures, etc... check out our Facebook page! Search for "The Dapple Apple" on Facebook.com.

May God's peace and joy be with you!

What's the Artist Wearing?!

2010-09-29T15:18:00.001-05:00

Often, when I find myself sifting through all of the greatness of creativity on the internet, I find myself wondering, "What does this artist wear? What are their favorite pieces?"

So, I am going to share with you what I've made and how I wear it week to week.

Some of the things I have made, I fall in love with. I simply cannot part with them, so I make another one, and keep the first. This week I share with you two of the necklaces that I have made and wear ALL the time.

The "Branch" necklace is a one-of-a-kind that I made about a year ago. I love it and have made about 5 variations of it, but each one is unique and this one was by far my favorite. I like the little birds, the mixture of silver and wooden beads, and the 'acorn' on the end.

The "Vintage" necklace on the right is the one I wear most. It goes with almost anything, it is the perfect length, edgy yet classic, professional yet no pretentious. I have many variations on it that I sell alot of, but this is the first one I made.

The hat is one of the first i ever made, it is imperfect and I can't sell it, but i do love wearing it all winter!
Its warm colors remind me of Spring and help me to know that warm weather will come again.

More to come soon... Stay Tuned!
God's peace be with you!

"What's Up?!" Wednesday

2010-09-29T15:06:00.000-05:00

Welcome to Wednesday here at the Dapple Apple!

Life is just speeding along with so much to do this week that there is toooooo much to write about. However, I did want to share with you some of the exciting things that I am working on right now, and some cool new things that will be available/on display at the BIG Downtown Art Market on October 9th.

These are two of the hats I have made this week. They will be for sale on Saturday, October 9th, at the Downtown Art Market along with many others.

What is this? It is my work area where I am getting ready to make more displays for the hats and more!

These are components I just found on sale for my new line of Holiday jewelry! I am VERY excited about these and I hope to get at least a few finished for the show on the 9th!

There is more to come and more pictures forthcoming, now that I have my camera battery charger back!

Stay Tuned! God's peace be with you!

The Artists of the Future

2010-09-27T10:38:00.000-05:00

The artists of the future are the 3-year-olds of today! This morning I had the pleasure of meeting a charming child whose artistic future seems most promising. I was in a coffee shop wondering what to blog about today when she arrived with her mother.

She was wearing a red t-shirt dress that had hamburgers all over with a black and white striped skirt, teal and white striped leggings, red sequin shoes with giant red glitter bows on the toes, and a bright blue zip-up hoodie with little white stars all over it. Her hair was short and parted to the side with a giant yellow bendy clip, and she had on the most precious thick framed, plastic "Buddy Holly" glasses (in miniature of course).

She was ADORABLE! She had the attitude to go with the outfit and she walked over to me and said,
"Hi. I like your necklace."
      "Thank you. I love your outfit."
"Yeah. I know, I dress myself. I look cool today."
      "Wow. You dress yourself. That is impressive."
"Yep! Momma says it is good that I is impendemdent."
      "That is good. Did you pick out your glasses too?"
"I pick out everything. I am super great at the pickin' stuff out."

Then, her mom had finished ordering coffee and came to collect Miss Artistic Impendemdent and they were gone. It was striking how smart and collected she was. I began to consider all of the possibilities this world offers to her future, to the future of all of us. So much potential, so many opportunities, so many choices for ways to excel, talents for people to have, and yet she is clearly gifted in specific ways.

How great is our God, creating such diversity among the same creation! The future is uncertain for so many, worrying about politics and war, pollution and global warming, economic threats and the decreasing job markets, but there are things that are more certain than ever. Children are gifted, there are so many future artists, diplomats, repair men/women, educators, doctors, philanthropists, politicians, advocates, missionaries, leaders of industry, house wives/husbands, and so on. The world is in turmoil, and yet brimming with so much promise. It is truly amazing what God can do.

Supervillain Radio

2010-09-24T08:12:00.002-05:00

So, a while back I was making these collections on Polyvore:

Super {Geek} Chic: Harley Quinn by CourtneyRoper

Super {Geek} Chic: Poison Ivy by CourtneyRoper

However, all of my Pandora stations were playing things that were just not... villainous. So, I asked myself, "If I were a Supervillain, what would I want to listen to?" The answer was a new Pandora station rooted in the supervillain spirit.

Now, Supervillain Radio is a station that plays regular songs, the difference is you! You have to listen to the song and lyrics as if they were being sung by a Supervillain!

I have been training it for about a month and while it is far from perfect, most of the songs on the liked rotation are quite good. May you listen, laugh, and share!

Supervillain Radio

(Disclaimer: Supervillain Radio is NOT rated, but if it were, i would think it should be rated "R" for some of the language and subject matter included in the songs. However, to my knowledge, there is no extreme violence or hate-mongering.)

A Welcome-to-Autumn Update!

2010-09-22T17:44:00.000-05:00

Fall is finally here!

In the spirit of celebrating my favorite of all seasons, I have given this tired and neglected blog a make-over. Also, I will have some autumn things to share with you soon from the Dapple Apple craft shoppe. Until then...

Autumn has arrived and with it, a renewed sense of warmth for all things stew/soup related!
Today, in an effort to prove to a few of my readers that I don't *hate* Texas, a truly southern stew recipe. I came up with this one on my own using 5 recipes that I found to be... lacking. I hope if you try this recipe, it will warm you up! Let me know how it turns out!

West Texas Cowboy Stew

Ingredients     1 pkg of stew meat or diced boneless/skinless chicken breasts
     2 cans of black beans (don't drain)
     2 cans of corn (don't drain)
     2 cans of diced tomatoes & green chilies (not drained)
     1 large onion (diced)
     1 bell pepper (diced)
     2 zucchinis (diced)
     3-5 potatoes (in bite sized chunks or thin slices)
     3-7 cups of beef or chicken broth or water
     1 teaspoon of black pepper
     1 teaspoon of salt
     3 tsp of garlic powder
     1 teaspoon of cumin
     1 teaspoon of rosemary
     2 teaspoon of dried or ground oregano
     (optional) 3 avocados (chopped)
     (optional) 1 cup of shredded cheese
     (optional) Tortillas or Tortilla chips

Directions
    In to a large pot, drain the beans, corn, and tomatoes and green chilies. (Do not dump the beans in, just the liquid.) Heat over medium until warm, add in broth (or water), seasonings, and meat.
    Let heat through, then simmer on med-low for 25-35 minutes. Stir occasionally.
    Add beans, onions, bell peppers, corn, zucchini, tomatoes and green chilies, and potatoes. Simmer for 30-45 more minutes- stir often. When potatoes are soft and done, remove from heat and let stand for 10 minutes, then serve.
    Eat avocado, cheese, lime, sour cream, tortillas, etc. with stew. Enjoy!

The Dapple Apple on FACEBOOK

2010-09-09T08:35:00.000-05:00

That is right! The Dapple Apple how has an official Facebook Page!
The Dapple Apple | Promote your Page too

You can start following us on Facebook. There will be pictures of lots of items up next week after the BIG show this Saturday....

That is right! There is a big show this Saturday in Downtown Lubbock, Tx!
The Downtown Art Market will be at 19th and Buddy Holly Ave. around the Tornado Gallery. I hope you can join us! I will also be using that time to take pictures, and promote this blog and our new Facebook page!

I hope you can join us out there!

Blessings and Peace to you,
Courtney Roper
The Dapple Apple

Craft Fairs & Facebook

2010-08-30T13:31:00.000-05:00

I have had a booth at the Second Saturday Downtown Art Market in Lubbock 2 times now, and I plan to be there on the second Saturday of September (September 11). I hope that you can come out and see us, and see all the new things we will have. There will be lots of new jewelry, including some specialized for pirates, cowgirls, and more.

I will also have some new hats, maybe a shawl or two, and definitely some more great t-shirts. I hope you can come out and see us!

Also, The Dapple Apple now has a Facebook page. I hope that if you like my work, you will join us there!

Fashion Game!

2010-08-01T14:47:00.000-05:00

Super {Geek} Chic: Captain America by CourtneyRoper featuring Irregular Choice shoes

Up Coming Events...

2009-08-14T10:11:00.007-05:00

Being August, I suppose I should post something... (Especially since the last post was such a sad one!)

Again, blogging is not my thing, but here we go!

I am going to be in a craft fair on Sept. 19th, at the Lubbock Garden & Arts Center! The Arts and Crafts Festival usually has quite a few people so if you are in the area, you should stop by! It should be super fun.

(Pictures are of just some of the things that will be in my booth!)

Life has been geared toward getting organized enough to be in the festival and to make a plethora of unique and fun things to sell.

Richard and I took a trip to Michigan to visit his family there. It was a lovely visit and a nice two weeks spent regrouping and a time for evaluation. (His family is having some health problems, and we would all appreciate your prayers...)

So, upon returning home, I have been working on organizing displays, my beads for the jewelry, my supplies and such for tagging, and determining what I need to do over the next 4 weeks to get ready!

I will *try* to write more, so please stay tuned! Many blessings, peace and mercy to you all!

Willow

2009-06-14T08:00:00.000-05:00

It's strange how we can get so attached to an animal, that even after you move away from them, they still hold a place in your heart.

(These are from right after I first got here.)

When I decided to go to AIM, I had to leave my cat with my parents. She was so spoiled and attached to me that it was hard on us both. She was not the friendliest, but she was very sweet in her own way.

(These are from the night I was finishing packing to go to Mexico.)

(This one is from last Christmas... They did eventually get along.)

My mom called a week ago and told me that she was sick, that the vet thinks it was feline leukemia. They were trying some drugs but ultimately, they didn't work. She called this morning at 7 to tell me that she died next to our other cat, Noah (they were best friends,) on the couch at 2am. I know it is best that she isn't in anymore pain. But it is still hard, letting her go.

Willow Persephone... May you rest in peace.
2002 - 2009

Again... Blogging and I...

2009-06-04T11:07:00.008-05:00

So, it is clear now that blogging is not my strong point. I get so caught up in everything else going on that I forget to post what I write!

These past few weeks have been interesting, exciting, fun, stressful, and promising! I don't have time to write about it all but I will give you the highlights!

* Bad News: My online store is not making any money, and so I am looking for a part time job...

* Good News: I have had lots of time to make new necklaces, new coffee sleeves, and start some new projects.

* Bad News: Or car was having some issues and needed some work.... (which leads to)

* Good News: We got a NEW CAR!!! (Well, new to us anyway...)

Her name is Kyanos, she is a Mazda 3, 5 door sport wagon (fancy way to say 4 door hatchback), she is beautiful, blue, and will be relatively affordable to keep. And my favorite, she has cruise control and since the back seats lay flat, she can haul things!

Well, That is about all I have time for at the moment. We have a mountain of laundry and I have been informed that the dishes, bedroom, and bathroom won't clean/organize themselves... So, I am off to be domestic.

Have a BEAUTIFUL and God filled day!

Deuteronomy 6:4-9
"Hear, O Israel:
The LORD our God, the LORD is one. You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.
And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart.
You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.
You shall bind them as a sign on your hand...
You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates."

Another Week Review

2009-05-20T08:39:00.002-05:00

The family is gone, sales are being made, and things are slowly returning to the typical craziness that I have come to call “normalcy”.

A brief review of what has been happening in our world:

I planned the 50^th Anniversary Party.

We got everything ready for said party, including coordinating out of town arrivals and surprises.

On Thursday (the day of said event), Richard tripped while going up the stairs and ripped up his big toe. There was a trip to the campus doctor and cleaning of the grossness and then bandaging and a trip to Wal-Mart for bandaging and party supplies.

Then on Saturday, my sis and I went shopping, and then out to lunch with the family. Richard was getting ready for lunch and slipped in the shower and hurt is back. He landed on the faucet. His back is now bruised, scratched, swollen, and he is in a lot of pain.

Sunday, my brother left for home, we spent time with family and House Church. I made some of my now famous Chocolate Chip Cinnamon Muffins and two pans of unleavened bread. Most of it was gone.

Monday, I had brunch with some old friends, my mom and sister left, I sold a necklace and earring set, and got some great pizza with friends.

I’m looking forward to the rest of the week!

50 Years of Marriage...

2009-05-15T11:51:00.009-05:00

This blogging thing is clearly not my strong suit… This means I will be redoubling my efforts (again) to bring you more information on my life, my work, and the many crazy things that happen around here on a daily basis!

For today, I will share with you the events of last night. Today is my Grandparents’ 50th Wedding anniversary. On this day, May 15th, 1959, Ken and Nancy were married. They went one to be missionaries in Guatemala, where their children were born, and then in Nigeria. They have been living in Lubbock, Texas since the late 1970’s.

I wanted to throw them a party, but my grandmother didn’t want one, so instead I organized dinner with all of the family at a lovely restaurant here, Gardski's. There were 16 of us, including my mom, brother and sister from out of town. It was a huge surprise and lots of fun.

I made a CD of hits from 1959 to play during dinner. I was sneaky and framed some of their wedding pictures for the table. My mom (a cake decorator of sorts) made her famously popular white cake and I got the same variety of yellow roses they had at their wedding to put on the table and on the cake. There was great food, lots of talking, and fun.

Grandma and Papa,
Here is to 50 golden years, and to many more!

The Week in Review

2009-05-06T12:49:00.003-05:00

I have not been posting as frequently as I should, so I plan to write several posts about various things from the past week. Here we go!

* Richard finished his finals on Tuesday. He has yet to decide if he is going to take summer school. I have no idea how his grades turned out because we have been super busy and decided not to talk about it until we were less stressed.

* My grandparents are having their 50th Wedding Anniversary on May 15th and I have been trying to organize a nice dinner for them.

* I am working on a commission for Jill, my mom-in-law, and have been working to finish things to put in the box to mail to her.

* On Thursday we went to see Wolverine at the midnight showing.

Now, I am going to try my best to avoid spoilers, but here is a brief review. Having been somewhat recently converted to the world of super movies and comic books, I do not have the knowledge required to attest to the accuracy of the movie. However, judging it on quality alone, I would give it a 7.5 out of 10. The movie was good, but not as deep as I would have liked. The main plot had no sub plot or other points of interest. The graphics were good, and the characters were interesting. It flowed well, and the mutations were cool.

If you have not seen it, it is worth the first showing of the day price, but I wouldn’t pay $9.00 to see it. If you have seen it and liked it, I recommend Push and The Watchmen. Both were far better movies in my opinion and were/are worth the price to see them!

(DISCLAIMER: Wolverine, Push, and The Watchmen all have content that is inappropriate and that I do not condone. PLEASE be wise about seeing these films. (Note: I do not recommend Watchmen for anyone under 20, and please know that it does have very mature content.)

Well, there is more to say, but I am trying to cook and clean today, so that is all for now... I hope to have more to write tomorrow! May God's peace be evident in your life today! Blessings!

Fun and Celebration

2009-05-05T19:23:00.001-05:00

I haven't been working as much as I should have been the past few days.

But I have been spending time with friends and watching movies and having fun!

Finally...

2009-04-29T19:58:00.003-05:00

Spring is actually here... though it feels a bit more like summer some days.

Not much time to write, just quickly popping by to say hello. Firstly, all of you need to check out Lydia's new blog. I edited the layout quite a bit, designed the banner, updated some of the formatting, etc. There are still a couple of things to tweak, but I like it!

Secondly, I am so crazy excited about going to see the new X-Men Origins movie tomorrow that it is ridiculous. I plan to spend the day tomorrow finishing up some new necklaces, sending a few emails, and baking about 4 dozen chocolate chip-cinnamon-vanilla-banana-muffins. Then, it is off to dinner with at least two of my favorite people, and then to the movies to wait in line for the midnight first showing of the X-MEN movie!

Long but happy day tomorrow... can't wait!

Work, Store, Finals, and More...

2009-04-25T12:42:00.007-05:00

Things are still busy in the LBK. I have been working on more coffee sleeve designs, more fun necklaces, and organization.

It was brought to my attention that the blog wasn’t allowing people to leave comments so, as you can see, it has been completely re-designed! I got very tired of trying to make other peoples layouts work, so I went to work on redoing a basic layout and this is what I have come up with so far. Let me know what you think!

I have been working with my dear friend Lydia, and have decided to set to work on her blog next. She makes the most darling things like hats, flowers and now—COASTERS! Who thought that something like a coaster could be so adorable?!

Also, more adorable things handmade by me are where? IN THE SHOP! Check them out at THE DAPPLE APPLE on Etsy!

New-ness!

2009-04-22T11:00:00.011-05:00

I have been work on new ideas for jewelry design over the past few days. There are some exciting new things finished that I will put into the shop on Friday. Here is a little preview...

Necklaces, prints, scarves, coffee sleeves, and a tote bag (hopefully).

I wanted to have the store updated by yesterday, but some things came up and I got some new ideas. I also made a necklace for my dear Lydia's birthday gift.

I have also been working on the wedding jewelry order I have. I designed these for Alisha’s bridesmaids. Let me know what you think!

Progress, Progress

2009-04-15T12:34:00.008-05:00

I have been working on organization and record keeping this week, attempting to get caught up on all of my paperwork, house work, etc. I have new business cards that I think are super cute.

In addition, I have been scanning some of my favorite sketches from my books to the computer so that I can offer Prints for sale in my store.

I've created some new jewelry designs and I hope to have enough of them completed and photographed by next Tuesday for my first major store update since the opening. I also have a jewelry order for a wedding next week. Spring is here and life is fairly busy in the Hub City!

My First Etsy Sale!!!

2009-04-15T12:13:00.010-05:00

I made my first sale on Etsy last week! My dear friend, Amy, purchased a coffee sleeve! The envelope with her purchase and bonus gift was mailed out on Tuesday, and it is wending its way to her mailbox as we speak! I am super excited about it and I am hoping she really likes it!

Week of Renovation

2009-04-09T12:44:00.004-05:00

Welcome to the new blog layout! This one is just temporary until I design something of my own, but please let me know what you think!
I am taking this week to reorganize some things and finish projects I’ve put on the back burner. I hope to have pictures of new things to post tomorrow! In the mean time, why not look at the new things in the shop?!
For today, I am going to answer Amanda’s question for the comments section of my previous post-
I do not have the tax thing worked out yet, but I do have a book and other resources that will be helping me with that once I get around to doing it (hopefully by next week!)

Thank you for your help, support, and encouragement Amanda! You still inspire me!

(a few of Amanda's photographs I pasted together...)

A Book, Buttons, and the Beauty of God

2009-04-06T17:08:00.010-05:00

I am rereading a book that changed my life and lately I have been convicted to spend more time in God’s word. If you haven’t read The Irresistible Revolution by Shane Claiborne, I encourage you to find it and read it. If you have read it, I recommend you read it again. God is opening hearts…

The long weekend was hectic, but I still found time to read and work a bit.

I went to Hobby Lobby with my mom and sister and found buttons on sale!!! I am putting buttons on so many things now that I couldn’t resist the ½ price opportunity.

My sister and I spent some quality time with the Super Nintendo and some old friends: Mario, Link, and Carmen Sandiego. We also made puppets for her project and had a great discussion about love, God, and the Holy Spirit. She explained the plurality of God’s oneness with an apple. It was amazing to see how far she has come in the last nine years… She truly is a beautiful light in the darkness of the world.

Store, Trips, and MORE!

2009-04-01T06:55:00.007-05:00

Hello!
I am a bit tired today, as I had a long weekend. Richard had a convention this weekend. So, while he was in Nebraska, I was hanging out with my parental units and my sister in Oklahoma.

News from the store... It's OPEN! I will still give good deals on shipping and discounts on custom orders for all of April! I hope to upload more jewelry today and will have more to list on through out the week by way of jewelry, coffee/tea sleeves, and probably scarves. I will definitely have a hat/scarf/pocket set (if not two of them) in the shop by the end of today!

If you have already looked at the shop, THANK YOU!!! I'm so blessed to have such a great community! If you haven't, no worries! Please do when it's convenient for you! This is just the beginning of my new chapter in life, but I would like to share it with everyone!

The Etsy Store is OPEN!

2009-03-29T13:32:00.002-05:00

No sales yet from the store, but I remain hopeful.

I have MUCH more to add once this crazy weekend is over and the veil and jewelry are in the mail on the way to Joy for her wedding.

Want to see what I've been working on?

http://www.theDappleApple.etsy.com and check out my new ad to the left!

Many blessings!

The ONLINE store is OPEN!

2009-03-26T20:38:00.004-05:00

That's right, folks! Get over the shock and head over to my Etsy store! Now all of the things everyone always asks about are for sale or custom order over at my Dapple Apple Etsy Store!

I am working furiously to get the store stocked with photos of all of my work. If there is something you know you want but you don't see it, just email me and let me know what I'm missing!

I have also updated my slideshow of work (to your left on this page) with pictures of more current work, some of which will be for sale in my Esty store!

Below are some pictures of the necklace and earring set I made for my friend Joy's wedding. Let me know what you think, I appreciate any feedback!

I am the Queen of Terrible Bloggers!

2009-03-23T20:55:00.005-05:00

I have neglected you all for over a month and I apologize. Life has been hectic and cold for a while, but as spring settles in, I hope to be around more.

I have big news today... The Etsy shop is (finally) online and officially under construction!

The Spectacular Opening Sale will commence Friday, March 27, at 3pm (cst) and will continue through Sunday, March 29, at 9pm (cst). I will be offering special deals on shipping, reduced prices and bonus items to everyone who places an order of more than $25.00 during the sale.

I hope to have jewelry available by this weekend, but if not I will have a separate jewelry sale once I have pictures of them and can get the descriptions written.

www.theDappleApple.etsy.com

There is nothing to buy yet, but please check out the store and read welcome message and the Store Policies. If you have any advice or suggestions, comments or questions, PLEASE contact me! Courtney.Roper@yahoo.com

God bless you all!

Thing-A-Day: Five & Six

2009-02-10T08:48:00.005-06:00

Day Five:

I made more of the reusable coffee sleeves. I am trying to make enough that I can sell them in stores… These now have decorations and the rest will soon have embellishments too!

These cater more to the ladies…

These are more for the gents…

Day Six:

Today I ran errands, had coffee with a dear friend, and talked to a man who owns an embroidery store about having sew-in labels made for my products. After all of the time spent out; I didn’t have much time to make anything. I started a scarf last night and was about 20 minutes from finishing it when I noticed a MAJOR mistake I’d made in the second row. There was nothing to do but unravel it to the mistake and start over from there. Therefore, a picture of my intended project in ruins as it sits awaiting completion.

Thing-A-Day 4 and other information...

2009-02-08T10:26:00.007-06:00

Yesterday, I made a scarf. It is made of dark grey and olive green wool, and is an attempt at making something that might appeal to the gentlemen, since most of what I make is for ladies. It will be going up in my shop whenever I get it open!

It turned out better than I expected, and the few guys whose opinions have been offered tell me they like it! I love that it is machine washable, and yet is made of wool!

On another note, I am going to have to delay the store opening for a few more days... I have alot of reading and such to do before I open. I need to make sure that I am abiding by all of the tax laws, etc. I hope to get it all figured out and together in the next few days!

Even further removed, I saw the movie “Push” on Thursday night and thought it was really good. There were a few parts that were a bit violent, but overall, a great movie!

Thing-A-Day: Two and Three

2009-02-06T17:11:00.007-06:00

Greetings, all! I have completed days two and three of my Thing-A-Day projects!

Day Two:
Yesterday, I finished a scarf I was making with two strands or yarn held together. It turned out even better than I had expected!

It will be in the shop as soon as I can get it open!

Day Three:
I was at Sugarbrown’s today and decided to sketch out some pictures of Lydia’s purse I told her I’d make for her birthday… So, my thing for today is my sketches.

I hope to have the purse finished in about 3 weeks, but with everything else I have going on, it might be longer than that. I will put pictures of the bag up once it’s done.

Thing-A-Day 2009 (Day One)

2009-02-05T15:04:00.006-06:00

Thing-A-Day 2009 is not so difficult for me, as I have to make things to sell. However, the difficult part is getting organized enough to photograph and post everyday. I think this daily thing is going to help get me into a routine that will be good for my business.

Day One:

I made customizable coffee sleeves! I made three yesterday, and hopefully will make many more to sell in my etsy shop.

These are reusable coffee sleeves made of 100% cotton grown in the USA. These look plain now, but can be decorated with anything you’d like! I just get so tired of throwing things away, that I thought it would be nice to have something unique and useful. Worried that it might get coffee stains on it? No problem, these are machine wash/dryable!

Let me know what you think!

Return

2009-02-04T14:32:00.005-06:00

I have been away from the blogging world since November and it is great to be back. Lots of travel over the holiday season, combined with no internet connection at the house, and then a cold snap that prevented me from being in the office for more than a few minutes (because it is unheated) all compounded into a two month hiatus in posting. Now that I’m back, I have SO much to show and share!

I think the two most pressing things are:

* I joined Thing-A-Day 2009, and so for the month of February I will be making one (at least) new thing every day! I hope to get pictures of them all and share them with you here… As today is the fourth, I think I will start the Thing-A-Day today, and then add in extras as make-up things.

* The other exciting thing is that I am going to open a shop on Etsy! It will be called The Dapple Apple and should be up and running by THIS Saturday, February 7, 2009! I will be selling some of my paintings, many unique jewelry designs, hats & scarf & other crocheted things. Eventually, the inventory will include prints of some drawings and maybe paintings too, along with all ot the other things I am working on making like creature tote bags, purses, and handmade pillow animals, and much more!

It has been a great two months for Richard and me. Hope you are all well and survived the holiday season…

Centration

2008-11-18T10:14:00.002-06:00

About 3 or 4 years ago, I painted a painting. I had not painted anything in a very long time... It was something that just came pouring out of me and I couldn’t control it. I have worked on the painting intermittently and it has been ‘finished’ several times.

It has always been something that made me feel accomplished, something that brought me peace, and when people have asked about a price, I’ve always told them ‘It’s not for sale.’

Recently however, when I look at the painting and consider it, I feel… nothing. No aversion, no love, not hate, no wonder, no longing, no inspiration… just nothing.

This indifference has made me realize that I have moved on from what it represented to me and that (perhaps) it could better serve someone else. I still like it and respect it for what it represented to me for so long, but I don’t feel for it anymore and I am no longer particularly attached to it.

So, I present to you… “Centration” the price has yet to be determined, but it will include the painting (original and no prints have been made) signed by me, a brief written history of myself and the events that led to the creation of this painting, and whatever else I decide to put with it.

If you are interested, please let me know by email: Courtney.Roper@yahoo.com

A Hat, a Blanket, and an Escape!

2008-11-15T14:49:00.010-06:00

I have been working a lot lately on the gifts I am making for Richard’s nephew and four nieces. Two blankets are finished, one is almost complete, the fourth is only a bit under way, and the hat and scarf set for the one year old is what I most recently started.

(This pink camo blanket is for the three year old.)

(The hat is for the one year old… I think it turned out cute!)

I got the yarn for the hat at the Hobby Lobby in Wichita Falls, Texas when Richard and I took a day trip on November 8 to see our dear friend Lydia (who has her own etsy shop). It was a great trip, though very, very long. We got there in time for lunch and went to a great little Mexican food place then we went and hung out at the Hobby Lobby down the street. The store was having a great sale on yarn so I had to get some… and some that was not on sale made me think of an ewok and so I had to get it, too.

From the Hobby Lobby we headed downtown to a cool coffee house Miss Lydia had heard about, but upon our arrival we found it closed. We were left standing outside looking in the windows at its remarkable coolness and lamenting about out timing.

From there we headed to Braum’s for ice-cream and a lovely random 2 hour chat. We took Lydia home and then headed out for the four-hour drive back to home. It was a long night, but totally worth it! I am so excited that Miss Lydia will be moving to Lubbock in January! I have missed her dearly, and now I get to see her in two weeks and then again 2 weeks later and then in three weeks after that she will be living here!

I have tons more to blog about but no time now. I am off to clean and cook, then bake a pie!

Have a great Saturday!

Paintings...

2008-11-08T06:51:00.005-06:00

I have finally had some time to take pictures of two of my finished paintings (and one peek at a work in progress)… Here you go!

Spookily Great Cabbage

2008-11-05T07:30:00.003-06:00

So, catching up on my life…

Last Friday was Halloween, didn’t do much haunting though. Richard and I weren’t feeling super great and we didn’t end up going to the Mountain Goats concert as we had planned. I made us dinner of Cabbage Stuff with spaghetti (a favorite food!). It was delectable! Richard’s wonderful mom Jill takes it and then makes bread dough, stuffs the cabbage stuff in the bread dough, and then bakes it into Cabbage Burgers. They are very good, but I love it with just noodles.

So, in the spirit of sharing...

Amazingly Great Cabbage Stuff

Recipe:

1 pound of ground meat (I use beef, but turkey, sausage, or others should work…)

1 small/medium yellow onion (thinly sliced or chopped)

1 small/medium purple onion (thinly sliced or chopped)

½ head of green cabbage (thinly sliced into long ribbons)

½ head of purple cabbage (thinly sliced into long ribbons)

3 tbsp of Worcestershire sauce (any kind)

¾ of a cup of BBQ sauce (any kind will work)

1 tsp of garlic powder (or if you want to mince garlic, 1 clove)

1 tbsp of butter (preferably not margarine)

Take the pound of ground meat, brown it in a very large skillet, and then drain well. Set the meat aside in a bowl and add the onions to the warm skillet on med heat with the 1 tbsp of butter. When the onions are about ½ cooked, add the meat back to the skillet. Add the Worcestershire sauce, the garlic, and the BBQ sauce (these measurements are what I use, if you think it'd be better with more of anything, go for it). Stir together and let sit on medium heat. While that warms through, slice the cabbage. Add the cabbage to the skillet and mix well. Cover and let simmer for 5 minutes. Stir and then cover again. Repeat until all cabbage is tender, but not mushy. Then you are ready to eat! Goes great with rice, noodles, bread, or alone! I’ve even added some ground sausage to the mix before and it is great too…

I bet it would even be good as a soup… (I think I’m going to try adding the leftovers to a pot of chicken or beef broth and maybe add a few slices of tomato… maybe some potatoes… *Sigh* I love that soup weather is almost here...)

2008-11-04T07:15:00.003-06:00

I am seldom patriotic. I am seldom pro-government, as I have problems supporting what they do with war and with neglect and with allowing bureaucracy to stall the little good that they as an entity strive to do.

I am an idealist and I support the belief that my first (and only allegiance) is to THE higher power, whose community I try to serve. That is not to say that I do not respect the leader of my country, but I do not want respect to be misconstrued with total and blind support. I truly believe that we are called to be something more in this world, as is evident to me throughout the Bible. (Picture of my sister, being patriotic. Circa 2002)

All of that said... Get out there and VOTE! VOTE! VOTE! (Just once though, any more than that and you can be arrested.) I do not know what the future will bring or how this election will shape America. I do know that, as a citizen of this country, your right to vote is a blessing. Pray, get informed, find out the facts about the issues, about the candidates, about the situation facing this nation, and then pray again for God’s guidance as you go out and cast your ballot for whomever you believe is the best choice. I am not saying there is a great candidate, but you have the power to write in whomever you want… make a wise choice and do it today!

God gave you your voice. God gave you the capacity for discernment.

USE IT!

GO VOTE!

Greetings!

2008-10-24T17:42:00.001-05:00

Well, this is it. Welcome to my new blogging home. I hope that you will join me on this crazy adventure I am about to undertake in starting my own business.

“Why,” you may very well be asking yourself, “would Courtney be leaving her job and diving into what is considered to be a dangerous financial venture when the economy is so uncertain?” (was it scary how I just read your mind?) I know this question because many people have asked me, and I will attempt to answer…

I have been thinking a lot lately about what it is that I need to do with my life. I have been dealing with an abundance of inner turmoil and self-doubt for over a year now. I have a wonderful husband. I have a good marriage and a tolerable job, and yet I still feel as if I am not living up to my potential, as if something is greatly lacking in what I am doing with my life.

I have been mulling over all of my options and talents and I have arrived at a conclusion: God created me for several purposes but one of them is to be creative. He has given me certain abilities and a creative process that allow me to design, make, construct, and paint. Creating things brings me fulfillment and joy beyond any other thing that I have tried as a job. Why work in a job that is miserable and unrewarding, difficult and stressful, when I can work for myself, doing things that make me happy and bring me peace?

Therefore, worldly concepts of an 8 to 5 job and the possibility of promotion and pay increases meaning success are out! The Christian concept of community and using talents to better the world and yourself alongside are IN!

That said… Welcome to the new home of The Dapple Apple! I hope you’ll be back soon!