For My Mellow Folk & Fellow Pokémon Lovers

It's been a cool minute since I've put something different on Etsy.  I've mostly been filling custom orders and doing a lot of writing lately.  But, let me go ahead and insert this photo here...

The "Shiny Stoutland" Drawstring Tam

I crocheted this after playing a quick game of Pokémon Café ReMix on my phone and encountered a shiny Stoutland. The only sucky part is that I didn't get to recruit that big ol' floof as a staff member for my bistro. But, I loved that earthy color scheme he was sporting, so I had to make this hat.

(Edit: I did recruit that big ol' floof a while back and got him up to maximum level 😊)

And here's what he looks like...

Courtesy of Serebii.net

I'll be honest, I didn't realize until after I listed it on Etsy that I was missing a color.  Well, I'll just make another hat with the forgotten color since I need to go on this yarn run anyway.

Oh yeah...Gotta Catch 'Em All!

Okay, No More Long Hiatuses

I need to start utilizing this blog a lot more this time.  Let's just say that some things happened in life, and time just flew by.  But trust and believe, this blog is not going anywhere.

And can you believe that the 9th anniversary passed since I started?  I've most certainly been slacking.  All that aside, I plan to bring you guys more from the world of crochet.

Y'all be good now 😘

Patchwork Tams Are Like Making Beats

You've ever listened to a hip hop beat before and just admired the craftsmanship of it?  Do you sometimes wonder who the producer is behind it?  That's how I feel about patchwork tams.

I read on another crocheter's blog about how she never wastes an ounce of yarn, so she makes these beautiful patchwork tams instead.  She's even inspired me to do it...to an extent (any tangled yarn automatically gets dumped).

In the title of this post, I mentioned that patchwork tams are like making beats in the studio.  Each strand of scrap yarn is like a dope break beat just waiting to be sampled.  But of course, you need to create a beat to tie it all in.  For a crocheter, you need a main strand of yarn to connect all the other strands together, sort of like flipping your samples.  I guess you can say that buying your yarn is like sample clearance; once you've paid for your rights to that yarn, you can do whatever you want with it.  Some examples of the proverbial beats that have been produced...

This tam was actually inspired by a hip hop track called Loop Digga

Just added this one to my Etsy store

The funny thing is, I've never made beats in the studio before, even though I'm big on hip hop music and play the piano and flute.  Though, it would be fun to do (😊).  Guess I'll just have to stick with doing patchwork tams until I get the right equipment and software.  I honestly want to be like a J Dilla (RIP), Premo, Madlib, or Pete Rock of the crochet world.

Knocking Off The Cobwebs...

Oh dear...looks like I let my blog get old and rickety.  Well, a little WD-40 will fix that...sike!  I just need to get back into the swing of things and stop taking these big hiatuses all the time.  Anyway, like that singing group The Notations, I'm still here.  And I'm still crocheting my butt off.  😊

Dusting Off My Blog

Now I have to get rid of these damn spider webs nesting in these posts...long as there are no moths, then I'm straight (moths scare the ever-loving [bleep] out of me).  But yeah, I'm back!  😉😉😉

Just put up some new stuff on Etsy and my Green Life Center store, so go on ahead and take a look.  And I also want to show some stuff that I've been too lazy to post.  Now go on over to that little area on your right (----> that way) and drop by my shops!

Y'all come back now, y'hear?

Some Hat Listings...And a Scorching Autumn

I always say that in Los Angeles, Summer never really ends.  She actually just takes a break.  For the next few days, Summer is taking a short break and will be back on Monday...with a vengeance.  Autumn is just covering her shift with pleasant weather for now.  And then we're gonna fry...  😞😞😞

In the meantime, here's some stuff from my shop that I've been too lazy to blog about...

Morning Eclipse Drawstring Tam

Celestial Sky Patchwork Drawstring Tam

Holiday-Themed Fitted Baseball Hat

Autumn-Themed Bohemian Skully

And some fingerless gloves, too...whatever color you like

And I'm also doing the whole messy bun thing...

Custom Messy Bun Cadet Hat

Now go ahead and shop your butts off, since the holidays are around the corner.  As for me, I'll just be studying for midterms.  😊😊😊

Mecca & The Soul Brother: The 25th Anniversary (And Why I Bought This Album)

I know it's been a hot minute since I let this blog collect dust, but I just had to do this next piece.  Dedicated to all you hip hop heads out there.

Who remembers the album Mecca and the Soul Brother from Pete Rock & CL Smooth?  I know I do.  I was actually 7 years old when it dropped.  I was 16 when I actually copped the album, the first CD I bought myself.  Had to buy it again seven years later after some family member stole that s*** one night while I was spending the night at my auntie's place (along with my Slum Village Fantastic Vol. 2 CD).  But y'all know I had to have that album, though.

You weren't a real hip hop head without this gem

I got introduced to them from the album's first single, They Reminisce Over You (T.R.O.Y.).  Once again, I was only 7 years old when it dropped.  Knowing my mother, she would've taped this off the radio whether I asked or not.  She pretty much had taped every last one of their music videos and performances, from Showtime At The Apollo to Soul Train.  I got reintroduced to T.R.O.Y back in middle school.  I already had my tape in the deck, ready to record.  But taping it off the radio wasn't enough.  I had to have that album, mostly because of that song.  That saxophone break was hypnotic, I tell you.  You know how a song just does something to your spirit as soon as you hear the beginning?  T.R.O.Y. was the song that did it for me.




Soon as the 15-second buildup started, I either got excited or sat there with goosebumps and shivers.  Once that saxophone break kicked in, I might as well have damn near fainted!  It's like once you hear that sax break start, then you had better sit down, shut up, and don't say shit (excuse the profanity).  That song goes deep.  Got me through many a transition (passing) in my family.  I often play this song as a way of paying my respects to those who have transitioned into the universe.  This track is my all-time favorite composition.

Another song from the album I enjoy is Straighten It Out.  It's another one of my vibe-out favorites.



There are other songs from the album I'd recommend (especially T.R.O.Y.), but you gotta cop the album to fully enjoy every last track.  Find your local record store (or go online if you have to) and see if they have this on CD, cassette, or vinyl.  Seriously, buy this album...like, yesterday!!!