I’m always curious about people who work in one profession but, late in the day, decide to act on their talent at making things.
This time, I’m introducing you to Darcy McRae, who made these tiny booties — special order — for my new grandchild.
Her items are modestly-priced, custom-ordered, handmade — what could be better?
An American who writes books under a different name, Darcy says:
“I’m always trying to hone my craft. I made my first completed scarf in the 6th grade and wore it everywhere. By the time I was in high school, I was reading patterns. People have always commented, but I never believed in myself. I never expected to be selling my craft.
“When my online friends started telling me how they loved my work, it began to fill me with confidence.”
Darcy, a mother of six, learned to crochet in childhood.
“My Mom taught me to crochet. This is how she supported our family. My parents divorced, so she was raising six kids alone. I’ve always been a talker. I would interrupt her stitch count, so she taught me to crochet to keep me quiet.”
Much later, Darcy learned knitting to broaden her range of offerings.
“I learned to knit by watching a YouTube video. Lol! I understand yarn, so learning to knit took about 10 minutes.”
As demand grew, Darcy recently decided to introduce her creations more widely via her brand new Etsy online store, Timeless by McRae.
“I opened an Etsy Store to create an environment of integrity, so that those who were buying items could have a safe place to purchase the items. Many people don’t have Paypal or Cashapp, and I wanted to make it as easy as possible for people to purchase items.”
The results have been gratifying. That’s not surprising. Darcy takes a personal approach to every item, because each gift is usually ordered for someone who is special to the buyer. She also prays as she creates, and she prays for each person she is knitting or crocheting for.
Knowing that each piece is an original, beautifully created for them, buyers shower Darcy with compliments. Karin left this message on her Etsy store:
“I’m delighted with this Teddy and I know my granddaughter will be too. In this day and age of mass produced junk it’s nice to be able to give a quality gift that is handmade to your specifications at such a reasonable price.”
Darcy says: “It’s always amazing how much a kind word or gesture can affect you. It made me love crocheting, and it made me want to reach further into designing my own patterns.”
Darcy still writes and hopes to publish books under her own name one day. She says she wants to create books that uplift and encourage. Right now, the crocheted and knitted products are a passion that’s taking up a lot of her time and she loves it. And she has another dream:
“My dream is to be able to create fashion with a brand name of Timeless. I’d love to have a line of each medium, wool, cotton, and even silk and cashmere.”
To reach Darcy via Twitter: @darcy_mcrae
Her Etsy store: https://etsy.me/2pofzbb
Cynthia Reyes 
I particularly like the little brimmed hats. These are beautiful. Thanks for highlighting someone doing such good craftwork.
Thanks for the intro Cynthia. Darcy’s story is inspiring on many levels. Kudos for finding her groove and putting her love into her crocheting.
Darcy, Your creations are adorable. I hope you continue to follow your passions and write that book.
I love love love this. Thank you Cynthia.
Lovely, Darcy! Sharing…
She does lovely work, and I wish her every success in her new venture.
Nice, love the booties. Reminds me of my MIL, a crochet artist.
I purchased two hats from Darcy, the quality of the yarn and her needle work is excellent. The hats are beautiful and fit perfectly. Have ordered more items.
Inspirational. When, in 1986, I left my Social Services post to go freelance one assumption was that I was going into photography. It was another 26 years before I began blogging and a while longer before I introduced photographs – as suggested by a friend.
It’s obvious that Darcy is a master of her craft. And to think, it started with her mother teaching her to crochet to keep her quiet!
Beautiful crochet! I love crocheting!
I don’t but I love seeing what others crochet. Beautiful work.
Such beautiful work; I especially love the angel for the tree:)
It’s very pretty.
Beautiful work! I like that she says a prayer while she is making special orders. Her items will be heirlooms. My mother tried to teach me to crochet but I could never get beyond a chair stitch and she gave up on me. May the booties bring joy to you as you see them on your grandchild. I will check out the store.
Thanks, Jo Nell!
My friend Darcy is a real inspiration! A Sweet Inspiration… but not one of Cissy Houston’s group members. The only reason I rue the warm weather in AZ is because I want to wear one of Her hat & scarf sets. But I do have a crocheted Ella the Purple Elephant, & it is the most adorable little animal. I have my Son’s Gf a crocheted Kitty that was custom crocheted from a pic of said Kitty, which has gone over the Rainbow🌈 Bridge. She loved it, & wouldn’t stop hugging it!
All of this to say… Darcy does Fabulous work… & She blesses the recipient with her prayers, to boot! 😊
My friend Darcy is a real inspiration! A Sweet Inspiration… but not one of Cissy Houston’s group members. The only reason I rue the warm weather in AZ is because I want to wear one of Her hat & scarf sets. But I do have a crocheted Ella the Purple Elephant, & it is the most adorable little animal. I gave my Son’s Gf a crocheted Kitty that was custom crocheted from a pic of said Kitty, which has gone over the Rainbow🌈 Bridge. She loved it, & wouldn’t stop hugging it!
All of this to say… Darcy does Fabulous work… & She blesses the recipient with her prayers, to boot! 😊
My faves were the angel and the teddies. I knit, although so far, only socks. (Yeh start with one of the most difficult and complicated things why don’t you Mary?!) 😉
Knowing how hard it is to knit socks, I am, therefore, in awe of this lady.
Cheers
MTM
You knit socks? Wow. I have been knitting the same long thin woollen thing for decades because I can’t make the turn.
It’s much easier than it looks! 🤣🤣🤣 My mum taught me. But I follow a pattern too. I used to have one for gloves but have failed totally to find it, otherwise I’d know those too.
Like many of us oldies, I was brought up in a home where knitting was commonplace. Till her fingers became really arthritic, you seldom saw Mam without needles in her hands if she was sitting down. I knitted baby clothes for my daughter, and dabbled in crochet, but it was never a passion for me. Nice to find someone who loves it 🙂 🙂 Good luck to her!
We learned embroidery and crochet in school and I was reasonably good but reading and climbing trees won out. I am awed by people like Darcy.
Well done to Darcy for making a career from doing something she loves.
And she really loves it.
So adorable and what a talent! 🙂
She is so talented! I used to knit and crochet a lot but other things got in the way so have only just got back into knitting again. I am in awe of someone who can design their own patterns; wow!
All right. This gets a Maine “wowsah!” Lovely, lovely. Also, made me giggle why her mother taught her to crochet. Being—ahem—a talker, I can relate. 😉
Darcy’s Christmas tree angel looks so much like a newer version of the angel Judy has had since third grade (which was a while ago).
Darcy does beautiful work, Cynthia, thank you for the introduction! I am glad she believes in herself now and has opened her own store. I look forward to seeing her books, too.
Oh, you’ve warmed my heart–that she prays for the person she is knitting or crocheting for is just beautiful.
Well friend Cynthia, I should tell you that my late sainted mother decided when she became a Grand more than 40 years ago that she SHOULD be able to crochet. So I was not surprised when she presented us and our enfant with an afghan. It wasn’t until my parents 60th. anniversary party that I learned her friends had made the afghan that she seemed to indicate she had suddenly, being a smart woman, had the skill to make. Rita
I could learn a thing or two from your sainted mother! Fabulous! Thanks for making me grin too, friend Rita.
Its really nice that she continued her talent through the years as most people would have given up due to obligations from family or a career. Glad to hear she’s made a business out of it as well.