Whoops

Hey so it looks like I haven't posted since last year.  Note to self- finish one of the several drafts posts you have going.  Maybe even that one about New Year's Resolutions where you talk about posting more.  I blame Facebook and nail polish.  It is hard to type with wet nails...

Don't judge me, Itchy.  We won't discuss when this picture was taken because it also took me forever to take the Christmas tree down.  In the spirit of that, how about a Christmas post.  I don't feel like I crafted nearly as many items this year.  I blame the vertigo in October, which caused some scrambling for alternate presents... Also, it appears I hid a bunch of pictures of things I did make.  That should round out this post better.  And actually, there are still presents that need given (totally not my fault.  Becca and I like to give our presents to each other in person.  Plus I am now holding her present hostage for British candy)

By far the cutest thing I made.  Giant Tulle Tutu for Julia.  Tutorial here.  It was very easy to make and fairly cheap too. So much fun to watch her wear it. 

 Nine to Five socks for my mom.  She had better take good care of these.

A cross stitch for Brian.  The pattern can be found here.  I even made the light and windows with glow in the dark thread.  Looks super cool.

I made a catnip stick for Tesla.  I have never laughed so hard for a weekend.  To say he liked it would be a grave understatement.  He nearly destroyed a few presents trying to get to it.  And then he played with it or held it or just slobbered on it for the entire weekend.  Seriously.  It was a rectangle stuffed with polyfill, a few pieces of plastic bags for crinkle noises and some catnip.  We nicknamed it the Precious.

 My brother asked me for a bacon and eggs scarf.  I do love how strange he can be sometimes.  And who am I to refuse a request like that. 

More Nails

So, yeah, I've become a bit obsessed with this nail painting thing.  It's not entirely my fault.  I have a lot of people feeding my habit.  So since I am in the midst of Christmas crafting and don't really have pictures of stuff I've made to show off, you get pictures of my nails.

First, something a bit nerdy.  The silver is Revlon in Carbonite.  With an accent nail that is supposed to look like a light saber.  Yeah, I am a nerd.

I love me some glitter and matte topcoat.  One of the new WnW Color Icon glitters with a matte topcoat (I use Hard Candy's)

Have I mentioned I like glitter?  A glitter gradient french tip. 

As one of my pushers/enablers, Tiffany got me lots and lots of stamping plates for Christmas.  Yay, Stamping plates.

White and gold stamps over Revlon in Emerald.  

NYC in grey with bloody fingerprints done in red acrylic paint.

Thanksgiving Weekend

 I will start by admitting that I did a horrible job of getting pictures of Thanksgiving.  Not a single one of any food. Or our guests Steve and Tracey.  The majority of the pictures I took were of the animals.  So you get pictures of animals.

 Pixie showing off how hard of a life she has.  Wedged into the couch, keeping warm, and only not being petted by Zach because I told him to move his hand to get a better picture.

See, she hates us so much she won't even look at us.  :)

 After our guests left, something new moved into my craftroom.  I think my mom lied to me.  I have gotten an awful lot of birthday presents this month for my birthday to really be in August.  I'm not complaining.  :)  Steve made me this lovely cabinet to hold my yarn so I can see it better.  It is also lined in cedar so all the good stuff is protected now. 

 Oh yeah, inhale the yarn fumes. 

It's ok, Itchy.  You can come out of your cat fort.  The other dog has left, you are safe.

Winner, Winner, Chicken Dinner

I want to thank everyone who commented on my contest post.  I really appreciate all of the comments, suggestions and encouragement.  It is nice to know that people agree that these are a cute and unique idea. 
 
Based on comments, I've made a few changes to the listing.   One of the most frequent requests was that you don't really get to see what you get.  Since these are custom made as you order, that is a bit tough, so I made a set and I made them to the size that I would probably use the most.  And photographed them how they would be arriving to you.

 And as much as I love the artsy, fartsy picture of all the beads together, I think people are right in that it might be a bit misleading.  So I've replaced it with a not quite as pretty, but much more informative picture of the different styles I can do.  (and it includes the snagless style this time)

  I would love to have all of the pictures on there, but Etsy does limit me to 5.  So I added a link to a Picasa album that has more pictures.  As I take pictures of different sets I make, I will add them as well.  I always feel that more pictures are better.

 So now, for all of your hard work, the winners. 

Wait!  There are two numbers generated!  You guys were such a great help I wanted to send everyone a set, but I will have to settle for 2.  So Quinn (15) and and KnittingViolets (6), congratulations!  I will be sending you an email to find out what styles you would like.  Thank you all again.  Keep an eye on the blog, you never know when I will come up with something new and need to do some consumer research. 

Birthday Weekend

 I went to my Mom's this past weekend.  A bit of Thanksgiving and a birthday celebration. 

 We arrived to delicious cake.  Apples and cream cheese.  

 Zach tormented Tesla.  And then we went shopping  Lots of shopping.  We went to Ewes D'Bleu and Fine Points.  Such lovely yarn stores.

Malabrigo- Rios in Playa.  This will be fingerless mitts for mom.  Not all of the yarn was for me.  Most of it was.  But not all of it.  

Madeline Tosh- Pashmina in Cosmos.  This is mine, all mine.  Mwah ha ha ha  ::cough, cough::

Frog Tree- Alpaca Chunky.  These two skeins are being made into the Cupido Cowl.  So soft and scrumptious. 

Schaefer Yarn Company- Nichole in Indira Gandhi.  Just so pretty.

Colinette-Jitterbug in Toscana.  Again, so pretty.  Probably socks.

And finally some Claudia's Handpainted yarns- Fingering in Collards and Grits and two coordinating colors.  This yarn is for a shawl for my mom as well.  This yarn has a fun story with it.  When we walked in the owner greeted us and introduced herself (as Liz) and another lady behind the counter (as Claudia) and said that Claudia's yarns were up front.  It didn't really register.  So we finally made it to the front of the store and I started looking at all the yarns in several large containers.  When I pulled one out to look closer, I read the label and it said Claudia's Handpainted yarns.  At which point I put two and two together and had myself a bit of a fan girl moment.  So I got to buy some of Claudia's yarns from Claudia.  ::squee::

So an excellent birthday weekend.  :)  I would say.

This is why I am diligent

I sometimes watch Hoarders and recognize those tendencies in myself.  The "I might need or use this someday" mentality is hard to shake.  Add on to the fact that I am crafty and you can make something with just about anything.  Well, you see the problem. 

So what happens when someone has a box of fabric scraps.

 Scraps that are too scrappy to even make it into your scrappy scrap quilt pile.

 If you said throw them away, you are wrong!  I see you non-crafters there shaking your heads.  What in the world would someone do with a box of pieces of fabric that are too small to do anything with?  Use it as stuffing for a bed for the pets.  That piece of fleece is leftover too.  Shoved in the bottom of my fabric stash.  I'm sure I used the rest of it for something. 

 I mean, how could I deny this thing a new bed.  Poor thing has to sleep on her own couch, wrapped up in her own blanket.  Doesn't she deserve a bed when she has to lay on the floor so she can be close to us when we play on the computer?  Doesn't she?

At least I used them for something.  Now I need to start thinking about all of the other stuff sitting in my craft room. 

New item in the Etsy store

Contest Over!  Winner here!

So I have a new item in my Etsy Store (finally).  Well, this is actually the second new item that has made it to the shop recently, since the box bag design worked out well.  But the newest item are my Paper Bead Stitch markers. 

 They are made from the pages of old yarn catalogs such as Webs and Knitpicks.  No two are exactly the same.  But I love how well they show off the pretty colors that you often see in the catalogs.

 They come with different sizes and styles of finding.  And since they are made to order, you can request what you use the most often.  You could get them so you can use them for crochet.  Or even the snagless kind. 

 You can even pick out what size bead you want to go with the finding you want.

Small

 Medium

 Or Large

 Now since I have this new item, I have some questions that I hope my readers can help me with.  If you could take a look at the listing and let me know what you think.  Is it good?  Does it make sense?  If you like crochet stitch markers, what type of finding do you like?  Should it close, be open, big, small?  Do you like the lobster claws?  How do you like to receive your stitch markers?  I am going to make a card to attach them to.  How to attach them; small plastic bag, sewn to the card, set into holes cut in the card?

What is your motivation to help me out?  A free set of stitch markers!  So leave your comment here, on Ravelry, or on Etsy and I will add you to the list.  I will do a drawing by random number at Noon (EST) on Friday, November 18, 2011.  Good luck and thank you for your help.