Happy Thursday and a Giveaway!

Happy Thursday! - A giveaway! To get your complimentary copy of "25 Ways to Wear Your Slippers", a crochet slipper lookbook, click the like button on our FB page, then e-mail us at francine@francinetoukou.com, and we'll e-mail you a copy. If you've already liked us, just e-mail us a request for the lookbook and we'll send it to you. Hope you'll be inspired!

The ez breezy lemon squeezy bowtie pattern

I think that this has got to be the most fun and easy pattern ever. I've been whipping up a storm of these in different summer colors. I'll post some more pix as soon as I get the chance. You can find the pattern here
www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/ez-breezy-lemon-squeezy-...

Have an awesome weekend!

I really meant to say happy thursday, but...

Am I one day late or six days early? Nonetheless, Happy Thursday!

Better than Cupcakes!! (O.K, Not exactly)

Happy Thursday!

You can find the pattern at www.francinetoukou.com

In My Neck of the Woods!

Happy Tuesday! Looks like I'll be wearing one of these over the next few days. It's quite breezy in my neck of the woods. I made this using the "fireside capelet pattern", but I substituted the flower with a scrap fabric ribbon. xoxo

Happy Monday!

More Easterish Goodies!

I've been working on some of these little Springish/Easterish Goodies. I'm going to carry some in my shop, so if you're ever in Manhattan, please stop by. If you'd like to make your own, the pattern is available on my site. www.francinetoukou.com. The name of the pattern is "Poppies Galore".
Happy Wednesday!

Pom Pom hats and Cotton Tails!!!

I can't believe that it's almost Easter. How time is flying. I'm making a couple of these to give as Easter gifts. The pom poms remind me of cotton tails. This pattern is from my book "Crochet Chic". You can find it on line at Amazon, and Barnes and Noble, but I think Walmart.com has the best price right now. Happy Easter!

A GRANNY SQUARE LAPTOP TOTE

I MADE THIS LAPTOP BAG USING THE GRANNY SQUARE TOTE PATTERN FROM MY BOOK "CROCHET CHIC". INSTEAD OF USING THE CURVED WOODEN HANDLES THAT ARE IN THE PATTERN, I ADDED A FEW ROWS OF HALF DOUBLE CROCHET STITCHES. I ALSO LINED IT WITH FELT.

HERE'S THE AMAZON LINK IF YOU'D LIKE TO GIVE IT! A TRY www.amazon.com/Crochet-Chic-Scarves-Hats-Bags/dp/16005947...

"BALLAY" baby slipper update!

I've finally finished my little collection of slippers for newborns, called "BALLAY". I've stocked my facebook shop with a few pairs. Here's the link if you'd like a little look-see! www.facebook.com/pages/Francine-Toukou/107934249246008?sk...

Happy Friday!

Happy Tuesday!

Just a quick, happy hello. It's beginning to feel like Spring! YAY!!!

More goodies for the shower!

I promised to put up some more pictures of goodies that I made for the shower. I made som "peek-a-boo baby" nursing wraps to go with the delivery room slippers. Now, the baby will be able to see the world, and breathe easily through the openings, while he or she dines in private! Happy Monday!

I'm Going to be an Auntie!!!

I'm going to be an aunt, (again) this summer. I started working on some gifts for the shower. So far I've made these and a couple of other goodies that I'll try to find time to post. I made these with the simply slippers pattern, but I just added these Tiffany blue bows, and blue rhinestone buttons. These sure beat hospital slippers! I'm going to puff paint the soles to make them slip-resistant. If you have a chance, drop by my site. I've made some updates!!!

Here's the link: www.francinetoukou.com

So, I've already made my public confession a while back - Yes! I'm suffering from a flower addiction. It's a rainy day in my neck of the woods, and when I make my hour long drive this afternoon, to pick my kids up from school, I will be wearing my blue prairie skirt, with my rain boots and fleur galore crochet flowers underneath. No one will know except me and you! I don't plan on getting out of the car, but these flowers sure do make me feel happy!!!! I sure hope I don't get a flat tire today!

Spring and Summer Crochet Projects

Some folks put away their crochet hooks as the weather starts to change, but i love to work on projects for the spring and summer also. I've been making a few of these in lighter, brighter summer colors. They work up really quickly, and are a great item to add to your etsy shop or boutique, especially if you carry bridal items. I've been trying to make projects that work up quickly for folks who craft for a living!

I'm wearing one of these today.

Just a quick hello. This obviously isn't a picture of me, but I am wearing one of these today. I was planning on saving it for St. Patrick's day, but it goes well with the green jacket that I've got on!

Happy Thursday!

Bloom where you're planted! A quick thought to share

A sneak peak!

Life is funny! I love making pretty little things, but I'm the mom of 3 boys. I'm certainly thankful for them, and I make things for them also, but they're manly little things, not girly little things. I'm happy to announce that I've found and alternative outlet for my urge to make girly things. I'm going to be launching a line of vintage inspired, heirloom quality soft shoes for newborns. The line will be called "Ballay", and here is a sneak peak at the first design. It's called "arabesque". I'll be sure to keep you guys posted. I'm SOOOO excited!!!

4 Ways to Celebrate Valentines Day and a Pattern Giveaway!!!

Here are four of my favorite fun, simple and crafty ways to celebrate Valentines Day. 1. Make turn a simple and ordinary, everyday dish into something romantic, by adding and edible heart-shaped embellishment. Here, I simply added cranberries to everyday oatmeal.

2. Turn and ordinary pattern into a Valentines Day pattern, by working your project in a sensous and sultry shade of red. I crocheted a set of his and her Valentines Day Beanies in this soft and simple Vanna's Choice yarn, in a rich romantic red.

3. Make a Hearts and Roses tote bag to match your Valentine's Outfit of the Day! I used the oversized tote pattern, and the poppies galore pattern, to make this, in a shade that will match these earrings, and necklace, that I plan on wearing for the first time this Valentines Day.

4. Make this Hot and Spicy set of coasters, to liven up your Valentines Day toast for two! To get your complimentary copy of this very simple pattern, sign up to follow my blog. Make sure to include your e-mail address, and I'll send you a copy!

Happy Valentines Day!

Poppies Galore and Handmade Weddings

Even though I've been hitched for over a fifth of a century, I still get bit with the bridal bug every year around this time. I guess it may be because it's the season when I planned my own wedding, and when I helped my sister, and many others plan theirs. This little poppy pattern, is quite the ace in the hole, for the diy bride, Or for anyone anxious to bloom. These flowers can be used with other knitting or crochet projects, or to craft all sorts of goodies!! You can find them HERE

A stash busting, scrap rug for Kouassi's Bathroom

This is a great way to burn a hole in your yarn stash. I made this rug for my youngest son Kouassi's bathroom. I'll take some photo's of it in there, as soon as I get the chance. I made it to coordinate with the granny square blanket that is on is bed.

My Happy Bag - How Does My Garden Grow?

So I guess its official. It's time for me to get turned in to Craftaholics Anonymous. While you won't catch me with a travel flask, I do carry this little purse with me wherever I go. Inside, I have a crochet hook, and enough yarn for a fleur galore flower or 2. I guess you could say that wherever I'm going, my garden is growing!!!!

The Color Purple

A WHILE BACK, I DESIGNED THIS HAT AND PATTERN FOR THE COVER OF THE FIRST ISSUE OF CROCHET TODAY MAGAZINE. AT THAT TIME, I FELL IN LOVE WITH COATS AND CLARK YARNS, AND WITH THE COLOR PURPLE. IN THE PAST FEW DAYS, I'VE FALLEN IN LOVE WITH IT ALL OVER AGAIN. NOT ONLY SHADES OF PURPLE, BUT VARIOUS BLUSHING PINKS. IF YOU'D LIKE A LINK TO A COMPLIMENTARY COPY OF THIS PATTERN CLICK THE LIKE BUTTON ON MY FACEBOOK PAGE, AND I'LL SEND YOU THE LINK. HERE'S THE LINK TO MY FACEBOOK PAGE
www.facebook.com/pages/Francine-Toukou/107934249246008?sk...

The Joy of Blankies!

Now that my boys are getting bigger, I don't have a whole lot of use for these little blankies, but boy, were they a hit, just a couple years back. My youngest still uses his though. I still love them. I gave them a little tlc over the long weekend, now they're nice and clean and ready to keep my lap warm. And boy did I need one today! BRRRR.....!!!!! I took some more pictures of them that I hope to get a chance to post soon. BUSY, BUSY, BUSY!

A handmade girl in a digital world. - Thoughts from my handwriting corner.

For the past couple of weeks, I've been getting a stream of handwritten thank you notes in the mail. They've been lovely thank you's for handmade holiday gifts. They made me think about how much I love the lost personal touch of an actual 3 dimensional note, or card, in actual human hand writing. I mentioned before that I'm not into New Years Resolutions, but I plan on establishing the habit of taking time this year, to keep in 3 dimensional touch, by handwritten, postcards, greeting cards, notes and the like. I've designated this little area of my room as "My Handwriting Corner". I closed my laptop, fancied up the corner a bit with some crochet flowers, and stocked this little box that my neice gave me, with postcards, blank cards, thank you notes, and sweet little envelopes.

Hearts and Roses - A Valentines Day Pattern Pairing

From now until Valentines Day, receive a free gift copy of the Poppies Galore Pattern, when you order the Oversized Tote Pattern. Here, I used the poppies galore flowers to embellish a bag made with the oversized tote pattern. The tote was made using Red Heart Yarn in Claret.

You can find the Oversized tote Pattern at www.francinetoukou.com

I think I'm getting obsessed with pattern pairings, but I just love exploring all the different possibilites. I'm putting together a slipper pattern lookbook. If you'd like a copy, click the like box on my facebook page, and I'll post a link on your page later in the week.

Here's the link to my facebook page: www.facebook.com/pages/Francine-Toukou/107934249246008?sk...

I HOPE YOU LIKE!!!!!

Crochet Slipper Lookbook - Complimentary Copy

I love to use my imagination when it comes to styling craft projects, so I'm putting together a lookbook to share, that features lots and lots of photos, showing different simply slippers designs and styling ideas. To get your complimentary copy, click the like button on my facebook page, and I'll post a copy on your wall when the lookbook comes out next week!!!!

Here's the link: www.facebook.com/pages/Francine-Toukou/107934249246008?sk...

P.S. These were made using the Head to Toe pattern from www.francinetoukou.com