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Alright you guys,

I have not used this blogspot in a very long time. Why?

Probably because I couldn't figure out how to sign in to it. lol

I don't know what happened but here I am signed in. Anyway.....head on over to the newer blog at wordpress. Life was happening for a while so I neglected blogging for a bit but am back to working on it. I have some plans for the near future. I hope to see you there.

Click Here to go to the Longhorn Prairie blog.

Paying Varrah's Medical Bills

 For those who are following this story:

 Update: Varrah is doing well. As far as we can tell her seizure was caused by a sudden body temperature change. It happens sometimes in small children. The doctors say that the few other times she has awakened at night crying after vomiting in her bed could have been because she had a seizure, again for the same reason...fever. A very nice and generous friend of my sister went and bought the video baby monitor we were originally trying to raise funds for. Those baby monitors may be pricy but not nearly as pricy as the bills from the hospital and doctor will be. Like so many parents of young children my sister and her husband are young and doing well just to get by with their 2 year old and 8 month old babies.
The sale I started in my online stores on Tuesday were originally to just raise a couple hundred dollars to buy a video baby monitor without anyone having to break the bank. Those sales will go until next Tuesday, March 4th (to end midnight that night). But we are raising funds to at least knock a dent in the bills.
 I will update on how the sale is going on my facebook page for those who are intrested.

The fundraiser sale:
1. 40% off all crochet pattern in the ravelry shop. No limits. No coupon code required when you 'add to cart'.
2. 25% off EVERYTHING in the main Longhorn Prairie etsy shop with coupon code: VARRAH

Danielle, Shane, Varrah, Levi, myself and the rest of the family thank you all so very much for your outpouring of support. With so many horrible things going on in the world it is so nice to know that we can still lean on each other when we need it. May the Lord bless you all as you have helped to bless this beautiful little family.

Varrah in the ER right after her seizure sharing the bed with her mama.

Here is the original post from my business page on facebook Tuesday February, 25. Two days ago.

 This is my sister, Danielle, and her 2 year old daughter, Varrah. Last night Varrah had a siezure that lasted 30 minutes. It was from a sudden spike in fever. Her mama is scares to sleep at night so I am having a SALE to buy her a video baby monitor.

All pattens in my ravelry shop are 40% off (no coupon code needed, discount is automatic when you 'add to cart'.)
25% off everything in my main etsy shop with code: VARRAH.
Every penny will go to get her a video baby monitor. Target has them for around $200. Please help us with this while taking advantage of a great sale.
(links are in comments.)

Here is her daddy's, Shane, explanation of what happened: "One second she was sitting next to me on the bed, the next minute she walked into the living room, and face planted. Eyes rolled back, not really breathing. Limp as a noodle. We picked her up and took off
To get into the car to go to the ER. No shoes, no phones no nothing. We got to the ER, she threw up all over me right when we got
There. They took her into the room, still not really breathing, they had to hook her up to oxygen, and use a handheld breathing mask to pump air Into her lungs..then she slowly came around. It was about a 30 minute seizure all together. Most only last like 5 mins tops. They still don't know what caused it."

Daddy, Shane, with Varrah when baby sis was born.

 

Danielle (middle) Varrah (left) baby sister Levi (right)

Black Friday through Cyber Monday Deals

Several sales going on here at Longhorn Prairie. 

Longhorn Prairie Fiber Arts

Black Friday sale 3013

You may not know that Longhorn Prairie operates under 2 different etsy shops.  Sales are happening in both. Details below.

 

40% off patterns on Ravelry

• http://www.ravelry.com/designers/april-hubbard (starts 12:01am 11/29, ends midnight 12/2) Discount is automatic, no coupon code needed.
  
  
  
  
  
  

 

20% off storewide on etsy (longhornprairie) This is my main shop and most of the items in listed are either my own crochet patterns or items made from my patterns.

• coupon code: BLACKFRIDAY20 www.longhornprairie.etsy.com ends 12/2

10% off cross stitch & embroidery kits on etsy (longhornprairie2) Sale does NOT apply to crocheted items in this shop.

This is my other etsy shop where I sell craft kits as well as finished crocheted items made using patterns from other designers.

• coupon code: NEEDLEART10 https://www.etsy.com/shop/LonghornPrairie2?section_id=14603601 ends 12/2

Spinnin' it Prairie Style! (Introducing Handspun Yarn by Longhorn Prairie)

Spinnin' it Longhorn Prairie Style!

So I have a fascination with all things fiber arts. (more like an addiction) 
Lately I have taken up spinning yarn. Before learning to spin my own yarn I had never felt merino wool. Who knew wool could be so soft? I think I'm in love. I was fortunate enough to find a local shop who can supply all of my fiber needs. www.mohairandmore.com just happens to be in the next town over from me.
Do I have a spinning wheel? Nope, can't afford one yet so until then I am spinning with this beautiful hand turned drop spindle I got from spindler's cottage on etsy.
Here is my spindle:

I have been spinning 4 oz of yarn onto the spindle in one shot. I could probably fit 6 oz but it really starts to get heavy so I stop at 4 oz.

And here are some of the yarns I have spun:

Salmon colored worsted weight merino wool, chartreuse colored merino and multi-colored purple merino & tussah silk.

This thick & thin made a really cool looking knitted headwrap.

This was my first spin. Not bad for a beginner.

The headband I made from my first handspun yarn.

~ The FREE pattern for this headband can be found here on Ravelry.

I even tried my hand at dying my own:

Hand dyed fushia colored highland Peruvian wool drying in my kitchen.

This is just a tiny peek at what has been going on here on the prairie lately. I also have a few more crochet patterns published since my last blog post. But I'll save that for another post on another day.

Handspun yarn is now available in my etsy shop and on facebook. I add new yarns as I finish them so expect more to come.

Mermaid on the Prairie???

So I wanted my own version of the very popular Mermaid Newborn  photo prop outfit. So I designed my own. I wanted clearly defined scales on the tail and I felt the need to do something a little different with the tail fin to make it my own. In order to get the 3d effect of scales on the tail I designed it to be made from the top down (waist down.) A rarely used technique is used to make a stretchy waist. The fin is an oddity in itself....straight from the circus that is my own mind. lol  
The tail is a cocoon (or sack) that baby's legs go in. It fits up to baby's waist. And it wouldn't be complete without the headband and bikini top. 

Right now the pattern is only written for newborn size. It can stretch up to a few months. (I may sit down sometime soon and crunch the numbers to come up with some larger sizes.) 
The pattern can be found in my ravelry shop and my etsy shop.

Another thing I have started is my new youtube channel: LonghornPrairie. But so far, as of this writing, I only have one video posted. It is a tutorial on how to work the special stitch that is used in the waist and fin of the tail. It is 'unlisted' so only those who have purchased the pattern can get the link for the video. Full customer support is offered with all of my crochet patterns.

Because it seems weird to me to have my own mermaid design for sale and also be selling one that I make from another person's pattern I have stopped offering the other mermaid set that I have been selling for the past year or so. It is a wonderful design and I am grateful to Brindy Rae for allowing me to purchase that pattern from her. The profits from the many finished sets that I have made & sold have helped my family get the bills paid.
I also make and sell the finished mermaid set for those who don't crochet. That can also be found here in my etsy shop.
I hope to have some more professional looking photos with a model soon.

Baby Born....now back to business.

My shop is OPEN

Enjoy these photos of my newest baby girl, Rachel.

So I wasn't going to reopen my etsy shop until September 1st but I got antsy and, quite frankly, I need the money.
I closed for business just before my baby girl was due. She's 10 days old now and I'm ready to get back into the game.
Rachel Ruth was born Friday, August 10 at 6:40 am. She weighed 8 lbs 9 oz 21 inches tall. The smallest of my 4 babies (big to some but I am thankful she was less than 10 lbs). She is the newest Longhorn Prairie model and a great model she IS. If you are interested in purchasing any of the finished items or crochet patterns in the photos just click on the links below the photos.

Newborn Cocoon 2: pattern or finished item

Owl Cuddle Critter Cape Set (pattern by Calleigh's Clips & Crochet Creations)

Gnome Hat: pattern or finished item

Lakeside Mermaid (pattern by BrindyRae)

Cartoon MouseCuddle Critter Cape Set (pattern by Calleigh's Clips & Crochet Creations)

 I am slowly working on updating some listings in my etsy shop and adding photos. I will have more photos once my photographer is finished with editing.

Thank you for looking at my blog post. Baby girl and I are doing very well. Have a great day!

'Like' me on facebook

Birthing time

Hi y'all. I'm just letting everyone know real quick that my etsy store is on vacation until September 1st. I'm having my 4th baby any time now and I don't want to be worried about filling orders while trying to rest and recover.

I will still be working though. When I reopen in 5 weeks I hope to have some better pictures of some of my regular items as well as a new line of cowboy and cowgirl baby photo props.

I will at some point (I know I've said it before but haven't gotten around to it) I will have a mega clearance sale for all the ready to ship items I've had sitting around here for too long. The sale will probably be on facebook.

I hate to close my shop during a time when I've actually been doing better than ever with sales but mommy and baby have to come first. I'm looking forward to the changes I will be making in my shop, especially with the photos for my listings. My baby girl is definitely going to be modeling plenty for me.

See ya, I'm out!
April