Make Me

Etsy (Eight?!)

I'm stealing this month's Esty "8" from a treasury I fell in love with.

You can see this listing on Etsy until Monday morning.  After that, you'll have to click on the photo here to get the sellers name or item name and do a search. 

If you're not familiar with Etsy, the Treasury is a user driven showcase.  If you're patient and get a treasury, you fill the blanks with items for sale on a theme you choose.  You are not supposed to use the treasury to promote your own items agressively - you may put one of your items in, but it's not supposed to be all about you.  Treasuries usually last 1-3 days.

On the first page of Etsy there are 12 photos showcasing Etsy sellers' items. These front pages are chosen from the treasury.  I finally got a front page a couple of weeks ago and I missed it! :/

And just so everyone get their props, this treasury was created by tobyhanna who has a pretty nifty shop herself.

Me n Etsy

I've been really working on my Etsy site the last couple of weeks.  Maybe it paid off - I had a sale this weekend!  Yay!

Listing stuff is a lot of hard work! And then there's the buying!  I bought some really luscious handmade soap the other day from Karen's Soaps.   I got one that smells just like tea. 

I also bought an African Black Soap just out of curiosity.  It's strong smelling but nice.  My favorite is the Sweet Grass and Orange scented soap.  And it smells heavenly!

I could spend all day shopping on Etsy.  That's probably not a good thing in the long run.

Also created a nifty treasury that expires on Thursday at 930 pm.

Is anyone out there reading me on Etsy as well? Lemme know and I'll add you to my humongo list of favorites. 

In knitting news....I got nothing.  Started the Kew socks but haven't worked on them since Friday.  I've got to remember to put a short row heel on these. 

Anyway, I got a new 10:30 bedtime and its 10:28 now.  G'nite!

Where My Stitches Hat?

I've been busy since yesterday and didn't get the chance to post my Etsy eight.  I meant to spend time today finding out how to keep a set eight rather than have it change every time I add something new to my favorites.  Unlucky at that so far.

Speaking of Etsy, I made a new treasury of sock yarn. You can view it here until Tuesday.

But yesterday I got all excited about finishing my hat. I had an idea for a sampler hat - try out different stitches to see if how they work together for other projects. Meanwhile you get a perfectly wearable hat.  I'm calling it my Ravelry Where My Stitches Hat.

I think I might write up the pattern since this time I managed to take some notes as I was knitting.  I also managed to use up nearly three squiggly bits of leftover yarn.

Speaking of which, I think I need to join the MP:2008 challenge. Just found out about that since, when I first saw it, I thought it was one of those yarn diet things which I KNOW I wouldn't ever stick to in the first place.  So I was looking through the stache and trying to figure out what is going on the block and found the big bag of end bits.  I just can't throw anything away.

Which is why Priscilla is coming over tomorrow for Operation Organization.  I hope I don't cry.  I think I need to start in small doses - one area at a time.  Haven't quite figured out where we'll start yet, but I'm no one if not Queen of the Last Minute.

Etsy Eight

I didn't do my Etsy Eight for Friday.  Here ya go!

Etsy Eight for Today!

Sadly I've just found out (from Stacey) that the mini only keeps the current favorites.  So those of you who just love archives, I hope you love repetition just at much.

Those of you on Ravelry - I just noticed this little gem I have to tell you about!  When you look at a pattern, you know how is shows you how much it is at Amazon?  Well I just noticed another little link.  A library link that tells you where the nearest library is that has that book.  OMG! I am so in love with Ravelry just for that. Ravelry is my new boyfriend.

Friday Five

Okay, really this should now be called the Etsy Eight or something, right?  But I'm just a girl sitting here in the dark waiting for the light to come on.

Friday Five is Back!

I don't know about you, but I've missed the old Friday Five - highlights of some of my favorite Etsy bits. Now, rather than links, you get thumbnails! Yay!!

How's that for slick, eh?

Friday Five

Oh the things I do for my blog!  Tired as I am, I am posting another five fab products from Etsy.  San Diego themed this week.

Charger Wedding Garter

Killer Tomato

San Diego Trolley painting

La Jolla Hobo Bag

Tijuana Bull Tote Bag

Enjoy!  I'm off!  Not much to hear from me this week - one more week and The Orientation Battle is Ovah!!

Friday Five

Happy Friday!  This week's "Five" is all about the Amigurumi!  Yay!

LIttle Fawn

P T Stitchy Monster Pocket PIllow

My favorite! 
The Concentrating Truffle
How cute is that?

Eugene the Green Alien

Dark Chocolate Mousse Cake (calorie free! Yum!)

I haven't done any amigurumi yet, but I'm so fascinated by it.  If you conceive of an idea, then you have to figure out how to translate it into crochet.  I'm stymied!  I think I have enough crochet experience (30 years!) to figure something like this out, but I've never even tried.

I have fun plans for the weekend - girly slumber party tonight.  BTW, do you call it a slumber party or a sleepover?  Is that regional?  We always called them slumber parties. 

Then tomorrow it is tea time at the Bird's Nest.  I think we might be discussing our latest book, but I've only read the first 5 pages, so don't tell Wendy.  I'm so behind.

We have a summer reading thing at work through the library.  You write up reviews all summer and in September you can go to a lunch and win prizes. The catch is you can only write up books that are available through the campus library, although you don't have to get them from the library.  So any book that wasn't on the list didn't get read by me this summer. Oops. I'm shallow, I admit it!

Friday Five

It's been what - 2 weeks since the last 5?  Blame Ravelry.  Even when I don't intend to, it just sucks me right in and I can't seem to start.  Is there a 12-step program?

Anyway, today's Five is brought to you by Audrey Hepburn. 

Audrey Hepburn pendant

Breakfast at Tiffany's set

Audrey Painting

Sweet Audrey Bracelet

Audrey Cowgirl Light Switch

Enjoy!

Friday Five, New Sock

The Friday Five is a little different today.  Rather than individual items, I thought I would highlight shops.  Shops that I can't get enough of.

Danita Art  - whimiscal art - I just stumbled across her shop last week and there are fully a dozen things that I want to buy.

Crafty Mimi - I love this little shop mostly because I found out she's the grandma of an Etsy daughter and an Etsy granddaughter. 

LiTelle Designs - Um, just incredible jewelry.

Madison Craft Studio - Cards! Graphics! Color!

Coccole di Lana - Beautiful knits!

On the knitting front, I completed my first Waving Lace sock.  I love it.  It looks so beautiful on.  SO beautiful, in fact, that I wore just the one yesterday.  I thought my pants were long enough that no one would notice.  Of course they did though.  Oh well.  Maybe it'll be a new fashion next year.

I'm going to wait until my new needles come in to start the next sock.  Let's just say I'm not a dpn sock knitter.  I had 5 needles, now I have 3.  This was total ghetto knitting.  I lost one dpn, I broke another.  In the end I had a 16" circ working the heel and the back and my dpns on the front lace pattern.  The circ was a size smaller than the recommended. Consequently, this sock fits me best of all the other socks I've made.

New Job, New Book, New Five

I'm really busy trying to figure out how to get the new HP book.  I have a hold on it at the library, which I was comfortable with until I started thinking someone could leak the ending before I had a chance to read the book.  I would hate that.  So I called the library this morning to see if they could guesstimate when I would get the book and they didn't know.  A couple of the local libraries are going to open at midnight to let the first 50 people check out the book.  Arrgh!

Oh!  I finally got through to someone who knows what's going on at the library - I can pick my book up tomorrow.  Yay!!!!! 

I love my new job.  One of my new co-workers is even a knitter! Yay!  And she knits socks!  That makes me happy to no end.  I am also falling deep in love with my new iMac.  I heart it sooooo much!  Right now I'm listening to podcast after podcast.  Filing?  Mugglecast.  Reading manuals? Socks in the City.  Makes the day go by zippy, zippy fast.

The Friday Five are all bracelets today. 

Kitty Yarn Ball Bracelet

Tiger Eye Bracelet

Back to School 

Hard Candy Pink

Olive & Sand Cuff

I'm in a rush because tonight I'm going to the Dead Sea Scrolls exhibit at the museum. So I've got to run and catch up with my group.  I'll fill in more info when I've finished reading Harry.

Friday Five

I had the Friday Five all planned out earlier because I knew I was going to be at my friend Shona's house out in Alpine for 2 days. 

It was a lot like this

You know how it is when we girls get together....

Last night I finally saw the new Harry Potter movie.  I'm not sure what I think of it just yet.  It was good, especially toward the end and it picked up all the major points of the book, but somehow, I feel it lacked something.

With that on the plate, how could I not have a HP related Friday Five?

Luna Lovegood Radish Earrings

Molly Weasley Sweater Pattern

S.P.E.W.

Gryffindor Yarn

Magic Wand

In knitting news, I finished the back of Isabella and will start the front tonight.  I also kitched the toe of my diamond lace sock, but it is too small.  And I'm not sure I like it.  I was going to take the whole thing out, but now I think I'll just make a longer foot and one day I'll get around to making the second sock.

Now it's time for me to get my crap together for crafty day at my friend Laurie's house.  I have no idea what I want to do, other than something with paper.  We'll see.

For Norma

This week I lost a friend to cancer.  Cancer really does suck and I'm tired of it.  I'm tired of seeing the pain it puts people through and all the suffering that surrounds it. 

Anyway, Norma was a fun gal I worked with at the library and she dubbed herself my second mother because she always had to remind me to do things like take my medicine, tie my shoes, get enough rest and eat healthier.  She battled cancer for 4 or 5 years, I think and this week she succumbed.

You know when you are really thinking about someone - that person is just constantly on your mind and you keep telling yourself to call that person?  I feel really guilty that I kept putting that off.  She was really on my mind last week and I kept saying I would call her later and then never did.  Sigh.  I'll have to live with that now.

Yesterday I went to her rosary service which was really nice.  Her children and husband were there and a lot of family and friends.  The service was different for me - Byzantine Catholic, I think.  Partly in English and partly in Arabic.  There were cantors.  The music was so....soulful.  It sounded both very old and very new.  The priest started out with a line from a song about a heart beating for the love of another. Then he talked about the love Norma and her husband shared and how that love expanded and created their beautiful children.  The service ended with the priest asking us to remember the power of love and to respect and honor it and to realize the enduring aspects of loving someone fully and completely.  He then asked us to pray for the family.  It was very touching.

So, in honor of Norma and in honor of love, here's this Friday's five from Etsy:

Wedding card

True Love

Relationships Take Work

One True Thing

Romantic Couple

Five for Friday

Today's theme is (drum roll, please!!!)

Things That Are Tweensy!!

Hong Kong Style BBQ (don't tell Heidi!)
Dai
Farm Figures!
Miniature Teapot
Artist's Studio

Enjoy!!  I'm back full-time from my housesitting gig tomorrow.  So I should start getting my act together sometime thereafter.

Five for Friday

I've been trying to think of a good theme for the Five today.  How about things that make me laugh?  Sounds good to me!

Rockstar shirt

Self-Medicate

Dog Shirt

Egg Soap!

Gravity

There's a ton more, but I'll have to save them for another Friday. 

I've been knitting. Beanies, of course.  Well, beanie, actually.  And I've got to start on Isabella this weekend for mom.  It looks like a relatively straightforward knit.  I love the socks in the new Knitty.  Think I'm going to make Breeze right away. I think I have the perfect yarn, just have to check the gauge.  And then it'll be 'Vog On.  Yay! Socks! (A year ago, who'd a thunk I'd be making socks and that I'd be happy about it?!)

Five for Friday

Well, I've had a busy week! Saturday I started my spring cleaning and switched out all my clothes from winter to summer (vestiges of a life lived back east). I've dusted and tossed and fluffed (Wendy, Heidi, Nancy ...don't go there!) my room. My closet is all nice and tidy and I even attacked my desk with a magic eraser sponge and it looks brand new!

Of course I still have all the other rooms to do.  Yikes! The fridge!  Any volunteers? :-)

So this Friday's five is all about spring (even though it's almost summer)!

Sewing Notions Box

Floral Tote Bag

Reversible Headband

Leif the Felted Pup

Bride & Groom Champagne Flutes

I've gotten hooked on creating Etsy treasuries.  You can create a page of items that fit a chosen theme and post them to Etsy.  It's fun coming up with a theme and then searching for items that fit.  Here's my latest treasury - it's good only for another day. 

On another note, I like to keep up with the big news stories.  And of course WHAT is the BIGGEST story right now?  The war in Iraq? No.  The immigration bill? No, not quite.  This?

Maybe, but it's nothing compared to Miss Paris Hilton!  You'd think she was a Nobel Peace Prize winner with the coverage she's getting (who am I kidding? No Prize winner ever got this much publicity) Does anyone actually know what the girl does? But here's the best thing about this story: The Prison Life.  Make sure you read the license plates!

Five for Friday

MIssed last Friday's Etsy bits!  Was busy gearing up for the big garage sale (and by big, I mean I made about $40!) A friend showed up mid-sale with some awesome furniture that was brand, spanking new and made my stuff all look like crap.  Oh well.  The really fun part was going to Chick-fil-A afterward. Yum!

This Friday's five is in honor of the lovely Cristina who is with child. Embarazada. Enceinte. About to have a blessed event.  Knocked up real good. 

Tomato onesie

Floribunda onesie

Skull & Crossbones!

Pirate onesie - could there be anything cuter than a pirate baby?

ASL onesie

Bonus! Bonus! Bonus! Because onesies are too cute to stop at just five, right?

Onesie for Johnny and Frances if they'd had kids.

Cribs

For Sir MIxalot's kid

Babies for Peace

Colorful onesie

Congratulations Cristina!!

Five for Friday

Sorry I haven't written.  Been going through some kind of crazy lethargy lately.  I thought it was unique to me, but after reading some of the other blogs out there and talking to friends and random strangers, I've discovered that the world at large is going through something similar.  There's a lot of tired, cranky, lazy folks out there and I'm proud to be in their company.  I'm blaming the weather.  And George Bush.

I have lots of pictures to post but I can't seem to be motivated to download them off my camera.  Maybe tonight.  Most likely not.

Anyway...this week the Etsy Five is in honor of Wendy.  If you don't know Wendy, then you really should.  She's kind and wonderful and hysterically funny.  And she's got a huge heart - even if you claim you have no interest in spinning (speaking of which - check out her shop!).  Get to know her.  Here's her phone number and address....Well, you might want to contact me later for that....

Crochet a Greyhound

Greyhound Yawn

Whippet Sphinx photo

All Mine

Greyhound Pullover

Whippet Tee

Okay, so that's six.  Sue me.

Five for Friday

The theme for today is pendant!  Lovely pendant in all different styles and colors!

Pomegranate Enamel Pendant

Aqua Striped Spiral Pendant

Resting Geisha Pendant

ChronoEntropy Pendant

Rainbow Greyhound Glass Pendant

I love pendants because you can change out a necklace super quick and have a whole different look.  All you need is the chain part - and that can be leather, gold, silver, rattail or whatever.  I have one that is on elastic.

Have some fun and buy a pendant.

Five for Friday

Since I've been in Arizona all week, let's have a special Zonie Desert edition of the Friday five!

Cactus Watercolor Postcard

Arizona Horizon cuff bracelet

Mist at the Canyon

100 Degrees in the Shade (everyone here keeps telling me its not hot yet!  But trust me, it is!)

Cool embroidered tank top - the Arizona uniform, regardless of the size of the wearer.

Strange things I've seen:

• Dust storm - omg!  That is CRAZY!
• Man in leathers and helmet riding a motorcycle.  Must be great for weight loss!
• Tumbleweeds blowing across the road (just like in the movies!)
• Woman with "pageant" hair talking about the greatness of Paris Hilton.
• People dining outside on metal tables and chairs.
• Metal tables and chairs.
• Dust devils in the strangest places, like in the Circle K parking lot
• Women in pantyhose (!!!)

Okay, it's not as hot as it is in August, but it's pretty dang hot! 95 degrees is hot, isn't it?  It's really quite impossible to knit socks here.  All I've managed is the two dishcloths for the Get Stitchy April Showers-a-long.

Two more days and then it's nothing but cool ocean breezes!

Five for Friday

The friends helping friends edition!

I love this story and reaction.  Seems a fellow crafts person fell sick and needed medical care. The bills piled up and she had no insurance.  So some kindhearted crafty people got together and created an Etsy shop to help defray the costs!  Nice folks!

Shop hard, shop often!

Halter dress

Secret Garden Charm Bracelet

Vintage Obi Wallet

Confetti Handspun

Plumeria Rosette Hair Clip

Pass the site along to your friends today - if someone is gift shopping or just looking for something unique for themselves, they can do that AND help a sistah out.  Wonderland Retreat.

I'll be in AZ tomorrow, so look for exciting posts about the weather next! Yay!

Five for Friday

The Happiness Edition!  The only requirement for entries is that the mere looking at of the item has to make me happy.  Yay!

Plush Toy Doll

Bad News Ghostie Pin

Ho...well you just gotta see it - the description is fun too!

Pears always make me happy, even if I am a little indifferent about eating them.

Just about everything in this shop makes me happy. 

Speaking of happiness, I went on an all-day outing on Sunday with my friends, Karen and Johanna.  First we went to Needlework Cottage in PB where I thought I would be safe and away from any sort of temptation - crewel? Embroidery? Cross-stitch? I laugh in the face of your meek tempti-ness.  I can resist you!  Of course, you have probably guessed by now that the first thing I saw in the store was yarn.  Scads and scads of yarn.  I didn't buy much, but I did get the sweater yarn for the button.   Now I just have to get out the calculator, abacus, slide rule and tea leaves to figure out what size she'll be by the time I finish knitting and make that correspond with the correct season so I know what size to knit.  Sigh.  Maybe I should just get her a onesie.

Then we celebrated Johanna's birthday at Pizzeria Uno where I had the tasty margarita of pomegranate.  Mmmmm.  Much love for the pomegranate. 

But anyway, what I was getting at is we ended up at Border's where I stumbled upon this adorable book:

Which first made me make a lot of intelligible noises and then made Karen make a lot of intelligible noises.  The pups are sooooo cute!!  But sorry, Wendy, I don't think I saw a whippet or a greyhound.  And apologies to Nancy and Shona too - no boxers, I don't think.  But wook at dat widdle face on da cover!!  Couldn't you jes squoosh-y woosh it!?  Fleecy-weecy doggie-boo!

Karen bought it, so maybe I can convince her to make me a pup or two - ya think?

Five for Friday

Time for all the Etsy adults to get their freak on:

This is what happens when you click on the "weird" category.

Harry P. Ness

Black Vinyl Garter Belt

Lizard Dreaming

Rough Love card series: Be Mine and I'm Yours.

Six for Saturday

Etsy was down yesterday so I didn't get to post the Friday five.  So here's six for today!  All themed for Easter!

Jelly Beans! No sugar, no calories, no flavor!

Felt Peeps!  How cute are these little guys?

Cute Easter Egg Tote for all your eggy goodness.

Glass Cross Pendant in pink and turquoise.  Looks like a little pillow! And quite the bargain, if you ask me.

I love this mixed media collage piece, The Gift.  The color and depth are fascinating.

And this one is for all you woolies - Sheep bath fizzies!

Enjoy and have a Happy Easter!

Five for Friday

The theme for today is....miniatures!  Wee! Tiny! Tweensy!  Fun!

Needle Felted French Bulldog - oh my goodness!  How cute is he?!

Butterfly Note Cards! - because who doesn't love a butterfly!

Nothing is cuter than wee food! PB & J earrings!

Chewbacca hair pins?  How can you resist a tweensy little Chewie?

Cityscape painting - small art!

I admit I have a fascination with small things.  (Which you would think would make me more attractive to a great many men, but alas, no) There were so many wee things to choose from!  I totally can't resist linking to this beautiful ring which probably deserves its own category.  If it's still around after Lent (no frivolous purchases?  What was I thinking?!! I am nothing if not frivolity personified!) I may have to get it. 

Of course those PB & J earrings are adorable too.  'Specially since that has been my dinner of late.  I wonder if she makes PB & J earrings on whole wheat....

Five for Friday

I'm always so tired after the time changes in the spring.  I could sleep all day!  All that blasted, perky sunlight is enough to make a girl wanna cocoon for a month and a half.  Ah!  Cocoon.  Sounds lovely doesn't it?  In honor of cocooning, the Friday Five is brought to you by the word "sleepy!"  Enjoy!

Crochet Bedspread

Monster Be Gone Room Spray

Butterfly Headboard

Flowering Star Quilt

Teddy Bear

Five for Friday - Wearin' O the Green

Just in time for St Pats!  Get your green on people!

Four Leaf Clover Pendant

Bailey's Irish Fudge!

Batik Thistle Napkins

Celtic Cross

Clover Leaf Fused Glass Night Light

That fudge sounds soooo good!

Five for Friday

The Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous version:

Plastic Sofa

Scrapyard Cat

Cathedral Window Quilt

Hand Carved Wood Sculpture

Vintage Engagement Ring

Five for Friday

Belgian Waffle Earrings

Shamrock Baby Hat

Itty Bitty Rice Bowl Pincushion from Linda at Craft Apple - I just ordered mine and can't wait to get it.  Where'd those adorable little bowls come from?

Cherry Blossom Ring

Loch Ness Monster pattern

Five for Friday

Actually there are 6 today!

Shabby Chic Scarf

Hand Turned Wood Pens - okay, I picked this cuz the category is "My Husband's Wood".  Face it, you woulda looked too!

Mixed Media Collage Purse

The Cloisters - such a great deal!

Oooh Cashmere!

Nesting Doll Beanies!

And I made my first Etsy purchase!  I've been obsessing on these plates for about 3 weeks now.  Finally bought them on yesterday.  Aren't they lovely?!!!

Five for Friday

I didn't do my Etsy Five this week!  Well, actually, I did do it, I just didn't post it.  So here's my list backdated for your happiness!

Catfish Crochet Pattern

Tropical Fruits Bracelet

Preeetty Lace Socks by Vicki of Suan Knits

Glass Sushi Plate

Black Heart Valentine

BTW, the new camera is here and once I kinda get an idea of what I'm doing, I can post some photos! Yay!

Five for Friday

Let's see how I do with the regular posting thing.  Here's my five Etsy cool bits I found this week.  Enjoy!

Crescent Moon Pendant

Stella and Ella

Cream Puff Clutch

Two Birds Pincushion

Severed Pigs Feet Serving Bowl

There are just so many talented people on Etsy!  I can't get over how much cool stuff is available.  So this is me doing my part to be supportive.