Kool-Aid is awesome

I had my first adventure in yarn the yarn dyeing process. I did some experimenting with some Patons wool yarn and Kool-aid. From what I have read online, this is the cheapest and least easy method to screw up. I went from a skein of this...
Into the Kool-Aid bath. I used strawberry, grape, and tropical punch. This smelled so sickeningly sweet.

After about twenty minutes in the microwave, I let it dry for about 24 hours.
Here is the end result. I am working on a crochet skull cap with this stuff. If I have enough, I'll make a pair of mitts too.
Lovely.

it works

It took me a couple of tries, but I spun some stuff that resembles yarn. This stuff is single ply made from hand dyed merino roving. I just bought two pounds of plain roving and an acid dye kit. I'm hoping that will keep me away from roving searches on etsy. You know me. I have to make everything myself.

spoiled rotten

This Christmas has been amazing. I had no idea what the mister had up his sleeve. I got two biggins along with all of the little boxes I love to unwrap. I got to the bottom of the pile to find this one. Unassembled of course.

OMG. If that wasn't enough... he then proceed to lead me out to the shed behind the house. He had been hiding this little beauty.

Holy crap. I think he loves me.

added more to the etsy

Once again I am overcome by that nagging feeling that Christmas is so close and my etsy shop is still bare. There are buyers out there who appreciate unique handmade things. I hope. My endeavors continue. The saddest part is that all of these items have been created over a month ago and I am just now getting them photographed and posted. Creative and lazy are traits that tend to cancel each other out. I did get some quality time with decent lighting on Tuesday.





I did have a little motivator to crack to whip.

christmas efforts

I really have to get my etsy shop going. I think my biggest problem is my lack of new items. I also make a lot of things (like purses) that are common and get buried in the searches. Here is the first of my efforts to fill up my shop for Christmas. Guitar straps for those hard to shop for punkers in your life. That reminds me... I need to pick out some fabric for a special guitar strap for Mr. S.

chicago vaca

We spent our anniversary in Chicago. Five years ago honeymooned there, but didn't see much because we were very young and broke. This time was much more organized and very fun. We spent a lot of time at the usual touristy hotspots like the Field museum and the aquarium. We shopped our brains out and we ate so much Chicago pizza. Love Chicago.

I finally got through my last show of the season.

I have been making for about three weeks straight. No time for pics or posting. The Strange Folk Fest really busted my inventory.... so not complaining. Anyway the pressure has been on for the big O'Fallon High School craft fair. I went ahead and started making my items in fours. It is much easier to cut several of the same pattern instead of doing them one at a time. I know I know. They are not one of a kind anymore. In my defense, all of the prints are different. They are all still very special. I realize my booth looks rather cramped. The booths were small this time around. The rule is the more merch you have displayed, the more merch you can sell.

Zipper purses with shoulder straps...

Brocade drawstring bags...