Make Me

Fabric Fortunes

We have a artists' group on campus and for our annual staff picnic this past Friday we were given two tables for four people to sell their goods.  I made my own variation of Brassy Apple's fortune cookies. I figure it was okay for me to sell them since I made them slightly different than the instructions.  

My version is still a no-sew one but I used colored felt because I didn't like the white innards of the fusible fleece.  I used the double-sided applique fusible adhesive to stick mid-quality felt to the fabric.

I started using ribbon to hide the wire, but switched to strips of the felt instead.  I had to use quadrupled wire because my circles were so much thicker than the original.

For the fortunes I used Sew-in Computer Printer fabric by June Tailor. I printed up a bunch of sayings (I love you, I'm sorry, Congratulations, You're the Best - stuff like that) and cut them out.

I thought it was a cute idea but I only sold three. I can never second guess these craft fair things. At Christmas I had people looking for my greeting cards so I made sure I made a lot more. Sold about 5.  Didn't have anyone ask about them this year, but that is where I made my money from.  I think there ought to be some sort of craft show crystal ball.

    

The "booth" and yours truly. We had half of a six foot table.

 

I shared my table with a co-worker, Tracy, who does beaded jewelry. I like her new display which is a thread spool holder. Very organized and easy for people to see. Her stuff is really cool, too. If she ever gets around to opening her Etsy shop, I'll post it here.

Welcome to My Lunch

I've been trying to eat better. Lunch is one of the meals I can really count on to be fully what it should be. I can chintz out on dinner and breakfast is usually fruit followed by something more substantial like oatmeal. But lunch may look complicated but is really very easy. 

I get cooked brown rice from Trader Joe's. It comes in a packet and I get 1-2 servings from each one depending on how hungry I am at lunch time.  That goes into a bowl. I add a liberal serving of at least 2 vegetables. Here I have carrots, broccoli, green beans from my garden and fresh beets (Trader Joe's). Spoon over about a teaspoon of olive oil - more if you used the whole packet of rice - nuke for 2 minutes or less and enjoy. Today I've topped with fresh chopped basil.

I keep everything, including a small, cheap bottle of olive oil, at work. The veggies last about a week. Sometimes I add a flavored tofu which makes the dish really filling.  Keep a really good knife at your desk as well as a good microwave-proof bowl. I don't really count calories but I know after a week of my little insta-bowl lunches, I'm usually feeling pretty good and have lost a couple of pounds. Often I'm still full at dinner time!

Tidepools

 Lookie, lookie! I gotta cookie!

Well, not a cookie, but a new pair of socks! Tidepool socks in Red Rocks Fiber Works yarn.  So nice.  Messed up the toe on the second sock though. Gonna redo that.

I really made these in two weeks. The first was done in Atlanta while I was on vacation. The second I started on July 30 and finished today. Very, very quick knit.  And very easy.

I love how the pattern plays with hand-dyed yarn. Keeps it from doing the weird pool thing.

My perfect kitchener experience was not to be repeated for this sock however.  Looks like it was closed by the sightless and thumbless. i just don't think I have the attention span for kitchener-ing.

Happy Belated Blogiversary to Me

I missed my blogiversary! It was August 4. Make Me is now 5 years old! We can count to 10, say our ABCs and hop on one foot! We're bursting all to pieces with pride over here.

I can't believe I've been blogging for 5 years.  When I look back at my earlier posts and see the examples of my first attempts at knitting, I'm very much amused.  So many blogs have come and gone these past 5 years, but I'm loathe to let Make Me go as it is such a good record of progress for me. I guess I'll keep plugging away until I can no longer type and I start knitting Barbie doll toilet paper cozies. 

Thanks for reading!

I Want It Bad

I'm not 100% certain, but I think this may be the coolest thing I've ever seen on Etsy.  I'm sitting on my hands so I won't order it.

Friday Like-Day

It was supposed to be an Etsy Friday today, but perhaps I over-excited myself thinking about finally seeing the new Harry Potter movie today.  I just plain forgot.  So instead I will share some of my new favorite crafty sites with you. Perhaps there will be one or two that are new to you.

Home Ec blog is fun and filled with loads of crafty goodness.

Orange Flower is two blogs - the sketchbook blog and the patterns/tutorial blog. The sketchbook blog offers the more journal type entries concerning knitting, cooking, sewing, crochet, embroidery and craftiness in general.  The patterns blog, well that's pretty self-explanatory, isn't it?

I haven't read to much of The Object Project, but I have enjoyed all the sewing goodness to be found there. The author has a new ebook out, Sew Expecting that looks like a lot of fun.

Barefoot Glamour is fellow Ravelry-an Alissa Hall's new fashion blog.  A little bit dishy and a lot a bit informative. 

Craftershock is "your source of all things crafty."  Make a pit stop there anytime you feel you've lost your mojo.  You will be inspired by all the things people can make!

I just found How About Orange yesterday and I've already downloaded a creation of hers.  The "Freakin' Never Ending To-Do List" is a winner in my book.

Also found yesterday was Twig & Thistle. Love the photography and love the ideas.

Makeunder My Life is also new to me. I've enjoyed reading it and think it will please some of you who, like me, are seeking something simpler. She doesn't really offer organization tips or talk overtly about getting rid of stuff, she just does it.  The author is also a jewelry designer with a cool little Etsy shop, Studio 1423.

Honorable mentions:

• LillyBonBon
• krank press
• Heirloom Paperie
• jars of cute
• simply designed

Click away and enjoy!