Renegade Fair with my SBBF (ScrapBook Best Friend)

Last summer, my SBBF and I went to the Renegade Craft Fair for the first time in San Francisco.  We had a blast.  Unfortunately, we haven't seen each other since!  But today we went to the Holiday version of the Renegade Craft Fair--still in San Francisco, but at a different venue.

They had the most awesome booths, but these two vendors were mobile!

I didn't catch the name of this bicycle vendor, but this crocheter is dorklandia (love the name!).

As much as I wanted to buy something from everyone at the fair, I could not.  Only these items came home with me.

1. Death Birthday Card by genuine haha  My 16 year-old daughter said she would cry if she got a card like that :/

2. Cutest Robot cards by Satsuma Press  The designers son made this design.  He is 6 years old and has a neuromuscular disorder :(

3. & 4. 'to-do" list and tape measure washi tape by Oh, Hello Friend

5. Giraffe button by Steppie this was for my daughter who loves Giraffes because of Brandon Belt

6. Toffee...mmmmm... by P.O.P. Candy  mmmmmm...

Even though I didn't purchase much at the fair, I brought home a bunch of business cards so I can purchase from them in the future.

(you can see the picture of me and Liz in the Magnolia Photo Booth--we couldn't figure out when the picture was being taken...I look like a dork!)

Here are a few of my favorites...

Le Petit Elefant~Cutest drawings ever!!  I am hanging her business card in my craft room (rawr!)

Neiko Ng~Cutest drawings ever!! (yes, I know)  I missed out the first round and wasn't able to catch Snow White and Ariel the second go round...must order from her :)

Unicorn crafts~cute earrings

Oxleberry~Cutest monsters and sad snowman (I should have gotten the snowman!)

Skeletal Dropkick~I'd love to grow a plant in them!

Sincere Sheep~pretty yarns

Collage Lab~I'd love to Scrapbook with those papers!

Wool Buddy~Adorable Stuffed Animals

Leafcutter Designs~Again, I should have left with the Notepaper Embroidery kit--too cute!

Victory Garden Yarn~I wanna be her! :)

There were a ton more vendors...I could be here forever linking all the vendors, but that would be silly since they are listed online.

One thing that the majority of the vendors had were the most awesome tool ever!  It was called Square and they could swipe credit cards from their iPhones!!! (we seen one vendor with an iPad 2 and another with an Android phone.)  I want one of those!

And since my bestie and I haven't seen each other in forever, we exchanged gifts (birthday/Christmas/everyday findings for each other).  Here is what I received

Liz made me the cutest book ever!  I can't wait to use it and show it in more detail :)

Gift making

I wish I was more organized and would think of gifts in plenty of time to make all my Christmas gifts, but I am not.

This past week, I came across the cutest slouchy pattern via Ravelry.  It was by Julie King at Gleeful Things.  She was generous enough to share her Waffle Cone Slouchy Hat Pattern for FREE!!

I have searched for the perfect slouchy beret type pattern forever and even came up with a pattern last year, but this one is much better.  The only person I knew that might enjoy it was my niece.  I went to Joann's with my 50% coupon and came home with the same yarn the awesome pattern maker used.  This was the first time I used Lion Brand Yarn's Hometown USA...and I love it!!!!!

Here is the hat that only took less than 2 hours to make while waiting for my son at the dentist! :D

One Christmas present down...too many to go.

I am thinking about offering to make anyone a hat for free on my Facebook page.

I am a disaster in the kitchen

There are a lot of blogs out there that have posts about cooking--some are sprinkled within general blogs showing off their holiday cookies, while others are strictly to post recipes--great yummy recipes.

For me, there is a reason I don't talk about my cooking--I am a disaster in the kitchen. Don't get me wrong I enjoy baking but sometimes it just isn't in the cards for me and I especially am not a fan of day-to-day cooking.

A few years ago, we remodeled our kitchen--actually we moved the kitchen to a bigger area--and I enjoyed designing the layout, picking out the cabinets, getting the granite, buying new appliances but that doesn't really matter when you are cursed :/

The oven we chose had a convection oven--I am not too sure what that does but it means you have the option to cook some things faster.

This year, my only job for Thanksgiving dinner was to make the pie. Actually, my job was just to bake the frozen pie. But--of course there is a but--the instructions confused me.

See the bolded words that say "conventional", well I read it as "convection". It was after work and I was tired. Luckily, I checked on the pie 60 minutes in and here were the results.

I so hate that oven! Hahaha.  I might be able to just scrape off the top portion that is burnt--so it might be edible :)

Craft Faire goodie

In September, I ordered a crochet hook holder from a seller on Etsy.

(picture from seller's etsy)

I waited about 2 weeks and I hadn't received my item.  So I sent a message through Etsy to the seller.  An automated response came back that the seller was severely ill and if I wanted to wait for my item or request a refund.  I replied that I would wait.  I waited about a month and still nothing.  I went to send another message and the Etsy seller no longer had a shop.  Luckily I "only" spent $12.50 on the item.  I really hope the seller didn't die!  But I did let both Etsy and PayPal know of the non-receipt of the item, just in case the seller just "skipped town" with other people's money!  I let the $12.50 go and didn't go any further with PayPal.  I mean if the seller was severely sick and is in the hospital or going through treatments, I totally wish her the best of luck, but if it was just a scam, then that sucks :(

Anywho...I received an email that there was going to be a Craft Faire in San Jose called Jingle Fest 2011.  I love Craft Faires.  Since it was on Sunday aka husband's football day, I decided to check it out.  It was kinda small, but it was cool to look at all the stuff people make.  There was a bunch of jewelry, that I don't wear, but there were a few booths that sold handmade cards and crochet items.  One booth had the cutest little girl one-of-a-kind dresses.  The one dress I absolutely adored was too small for my youngest niece.

I was about to leave (only stayed about 25 minutes--that is how small it was), when I seen a booth, Firebabe Boutique, that had some crochet hook holders!  Well you can use the case to hold hooks or make-up brushes.  And she even had crayon holders.  Anyway, I picked this one up

I am so excited to finally be able to keep my hooks in order by size!

I left thinking about maybe seeing about selling there next year...if I have a big enough inventory :)

Baby First Yarn

For some reason, I love Lion Brand yarn.  I know there are plenty of people who do not like "cheaper" yarn that can be bought in the big box stores, but I fall in love with a lot of their yarn.

Earlier this year, I bought some Lion Brand Baby's First yarn in beanstalk (horrible picture, but it is a light green color), because I really wanted to make a baby granny square blanket.  Back in March, this was my first try at a baby blanket.

According to this picture, it wasn't too bad of a first try, but it really was not very square.  

I crochet too tight--always have and I don't think I will be able to learn to stop.  So the answer to that problem is to just use a bigger hook.  This pattern called to use a size K hook which is 6.5mm.  The next "normal" size up in the U.S. is an L with is 8.0mm...what happened to 7mm or 7.5mm???  I did a search and 7mm is "normal" in other parts of the world.  Curious, I went to the forums at Ravelry because those ladies have all the answers.  Prior to asking on the forum, I did an online search to see what came up, but everything was pretty pricey and most came from overseas, so delivery was high as well.  I am used to paying under $3 for a hook.  Luckily, I was given better tips on how to search online and I found a place that was in the U.S.  For under $5, I am now the owner of a 7mm hook.  I took apart the first blanket and crocheted it again.

It is a little off still, but I think I need to now learn how to block my items...that should be fun!

 Last Friday, I was complaining that I was unable to find 5 skeins of the same lot in the Baby's First yarn.  Well later that day, I talked my husband into stopping at another Michaels which happened to be 20 miles away (but we were in that neighborhood anyway doing some other shopping) and I lucked out and found 5 skeins of the same lot color!  I can't wait to start a new baby blanket. 

*regarding picture...one, I love using this bag from Kara's Cupcakes to store my yarn and two, for some reason this picture make it look like the skein are not the same shade even though they are supposed to be the same lot...I just think it is the crappy lighting in my craft room.

Minnie Mouse hats

Back at the beginning of May, my SIL called me to describe to me a hat she had seen on a baby.  From her description, I made my 3 nieces this hat.  (My SIL is my biggest client.)

(toddler size)

 

(child's size)

(teen size)

The hat is a basic dc (double crochet) hat with flaps & braids.  I added pompoms to the top for the ears and to the bottom of the braids.  I am sure I am attaching the pompoms to the bottom incorrectly, but I cannot find any help on YouTube or anything on the internet that makes any sense to me--most patterns just say "attach the pompoms"--yes, but how???

It did take me a while to find the red w/white polka dot ribbon.  I had made my toddler and 8 year-old nieces their hats, then my teenage niece asked for one sans the ribbon.

Mini Album ~Birthday~

About a month ago, my friend ask me if I could take pictures at her daughter's 10th birthday party.  She wanted me to take pictures of the birthday girl with each guest so she could give them a copy of the picture in a frame as part of their favor. 

I set up using my D50 because it is way easier to use than my D300.  Then I printed the pictures out using my PoGo that I haven't used in forever.

That made me think about doing a mini album for her since I already had the pictures.  The theme of the party was "Circus", so I searched my mini album books and found a cute cupcake mini album (it kinda went together).  I wasn't sure how I was going to attack that one, so I googled to see if I could find some albums.  Well I found lots of cupcake mini albums made from a $1 mini album found at Michaels, problem was that they were made over a year ago and Michaels no longer carried the mini album (I checked a couple of Michaels just in case).  

So the wheels in my head spun around.  Finally, I found a sample of cupcakes clipart online and enlarged the picture on my screen.  I took plain printer paper and traced the cupcake on it--using my monitor as a light box.  Then I transferred my tracing to some chipboard to use as my template which was then used to cut the cupcake in different colors.  There may have been an easier and better way, but I was on limited time.

The completed project:

Supplies used:  Basic Grey Blush Be Mine and Basic Grey Lollipop Shoppe Fruit Punch, Primary Colors cardstock by Recollections (Michaels), assorted ribbon, binder ring, EK Success-Binding edge punch and some colored reinforcement circles.  All older supplies from my overstocked stash.

I found the reinforcement circles at Staples quite a few years ago on clearance for 50 cents.  The clearance sticker says 2008 and this is the first time I have used them.  I use them to reinforce (duh) the holes punched for the binder ring.

As you can see there are normal circle ones and cute flowers ones.  In the flower pack, there are also some red heart ones--someday I may use those as well :)

9/11

From our June 2008 trip to New York...words cannot express all the feelings that go alone with these pictures...

Tiles For America .

Hobo Bag

A few weeks ago, I started this Hobo Bag on a road trip and I finished it a couple of weeks later in time to give it to a friend's daughter for her birthday.

I used 2 skeins of Sugar N Cream "Over the Rainbow" and 1 skein of Sugar N Cream "White".  The cute pattern was found via Ravelry by ~sarahndipities~.

The only trouble I ran into was at the beginning/end of each round.  You couldn't really see it too badly on the rainbow part.

But on the white part, the gaping holes were more apparent.

I could make sure that the front was very prominently noticeable.  Or I came up with the idea of making this the front and hiding it with flowers.

It was risky, but I liked this solution the best.  The birthday girl and my friend loved it and I got some compliments on my crocheting skills :)

In my bag

I have read a lot of "in my bag" posts over the years, so I thought I would finally give it a try.

This is my crochet notions bag.

I got this bag a lllllllllllooooooooooooonnnnnnnnnngggggggggg time ago.  It is originally from Bath & Body Works.  I think my mom gave me the bag then it sat in my gift wrapping box forever waiting to be used.  Finally, I had the perfect use for it.

A look inside. 

Sometimes when I am working on a small project--like a hat, I take out the stuff I don't need and just put a skein of yarn inside.  When closed, it is 2 1/2 inches thick, so it fits more than one would think from looking at the picture.



 1.  11 hooks from Lion Brand, Susan Bates, and Boye

 2.  Pencils & pen to note any variations that I have used to patterns

 3. & 4.  Yarn Needles  The blue ones are for thicker yarns and the steel ones are the most used.  I am sad because I lost one of the needles from my steel set...yes, I can only use one at a time, but I don't like losing things--it feels incomplete :(

 5.  Martha Stewart Scissors  These were given to me by my aunt.  I was looking for some small scissors for scrapbooking and she loaned these to me.  I loved them and she let me have them.  Little did I know I would soon use them strictly for cutting my yarn.  I love these little scissors.

 6.  Lion Brand PomPom Maker  I don't really care for this pompom maker, but it does it's job.

 7.  Susan Bates Stitch Markers  I used these once and I didn't really care to use them.  But I probably should, it would help me not have to count as much :)

 8.  Tape Measure.  I took this out of my sewing "kit"...(**my sewing kit entails white and black thread, some needles and ironing hem, because that is how crafty I am--ha ha ha.)

 9.  Carpal Tunnel Craft Glove.  When I first started crocheting, I crocheted very tightly and my hand hurt.  I still crochet too tight, but I have not needed the glove lately.

10.  Pin backs I thought I would use these more often, but I really haven't.  I figured when I make something with a flower I can just attach it with a pin so the buyer could easily take it off if they aren't in a flowery mood.

11.  Barrette backs  Same concept as the pins (attach to a hat or scarf) and I thought I would make some barrettes by themselves to sell...which I haven't done yet :p 

12.  Yarn labels--ok, this is kinda odd, but useful.  I keep the labels of the yarn I have used after I am finished with it.  It helps me with the washing instructions--useful, but I also keep them for every color...so say I have used Lion Brand Cotton-Ease, sure 1 label is helpful, but I have 5 of them (one for each color)--odd.

So there is a look into my slightly neurotic crochet bag.

Another Failed project

My blanket had such promise. I spent too many hours on this project. I had just finished my 4th ball (out of 6).

After laying it out, I realized that my tension was off and the first row was 34 inches while the latest row was 35 inch. Blah!

 
This is why I don't cut or weave until the end.  

Not sure if I want to tackle this blanket again for a while :(

Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk Free Friday Night Concerts

For years, Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk has been hosting free Friday night concerts and we never make it out there.  To be honest, the bands that play are usually one-hit wonders or "old" long forgotten bands.  Ok, they usually still have a following otherwise they wouldn't draw a crowd, right?

This summer, we bought our daughter a season pass to the Boardwalk and have only taken her twice, so we had planned on going this past Friday night.  Since I am a fan of the Boardwalk on Facebook, I seen that Berlin was playing.  My husband didn't know who I was talking about and well neither did the kids.

The bands play twice--once at 6:30 and a second time at 8:30.  We caught the tail end of the first concert and my husband did recognized the song "Take My Breath Away" which was featured in the film Top Gun--and for the record, I have never seen that movie because in 1986, I didn't see the fuss in Tom Cruise and still don't :)

Terri Nunn rocked a more modern Black with Blonde hair style.  (Those Berlin fans will remember her black tipped blonde hair.)

We came back for the 8:30 show and seen her walk into the crowd.

I hope I look that great when I am 50!!!  Shoot, I want to look like that at 38 :)

Oh right, this is a photography blog...Well everytime we go out there, I bring my camera but usually fail at taking great photos.  This time I brought my D50, but I took my kit lens that came with my D300.  The lens was probably heavier than the camera!  ha ha ha.  I tried using Aperture mode then Shutter Mode, but went back to the handy dandy Auto Mode.  And I normally try to stay clear from using the flash, but during the concert it actually helped even though we were pretty far back from the stage.  I did a little cropping and some slight color correction in Paint Shop Pro X2. 

Side note, I always thought that RAW was the best way (and I still use it all the time), but I couldn't figure out why my photos were always so drab and flat.  I thought I was doing something wrong until I read an article letting me know that when you shoot in RAW, you NEED to edit--and all this time I just thought the pictures were supposed to be awesome straight out of the camera.  I wish I could find the article I read, but I can't.

Driving Projects

We recently came back from a 22 1/2 hour road trip.  The "original" route was supposed to take 7 1/2 hours one way, but it took us 11 1/2 hours to get there because of a couple of stops and LOTS of traffic.  On the way home, we decided to go another route and make some more stops along the way plus there was added traffic--blah!

The weekend prior to our trip, I picked up a nice supply of yarn at Michaels which was on clearance.  Each of these 8 skeins of yarn were 99 cents a piece!!!  Total score.  The "Over the Rainbow" Lily Sugar'n Cream is normally $1.99, but the Lion Brand Yarn Cotton-Ease is normally $7.99!!!  AWESOME

I search for the perfect patterns before pairing each with a color I had in my stash. 

For the rainbow yarn, I knew I wanted to make a bag, so I found this cute pattern via Ravelry by ~sarahndipities~.  Using 2 balls of the rainbow ombre and a partial ball of white Sugar'n Cream, I was able to complete 3/4's of this bag on the way to our destination.  Unfortunately, during our trip, I was unable to locate a Joann's or Michaels to purchase more white, so the bag had to wait to be completed.

Along with the Maize Cotton-Ease, I used some Cream to start a Child's Chevron Throw via Lion Brand Yarn. (you may have to be logged into the Lion Brand website to see the blanket.)  I was only able to complete about 1/3 of the blanket on our way home.

Over the years, I have enjoyed many hobbies, but crocheting is the one hobby I am happy to be able to do while being a passenger in the car or while waiting around place. 

I cannot wait to show the completed projects. 

110 Film

In 2001, McDonald's was giving away Spy Kids Cameras with their Happy Meals (and I see that you can buy one online for $16!).  Cool...except it took 110 film.  Way back at the turn of the century (2001), some stores like Walmart still carried 110 film.  My kids could not wait to use their "cameras", so I bought a pack of three 110 film.  They used it...the photos came out crappy and they were done with them.  The cameras hid in their toy boxes, then went into a box.  A couple of years ago, I came across one that we still had and dug into my box of film (yes, I still have film that I am sure is expired.)

So 2 summers ago, I loaded the expired film up and headed to the park to just play around.  Well then the film sat in my purse for months, then on my desk for months.  I finally found a place online, Swan Photo Labs,  that I could send the film to get developed.  Well then that information sat waiting to be used.  Finally, 2 years later, I sent my film in to get developed and burned onto a disc.  I didn't need the prints, I just wanted to see what "art" I could come up with.  For the mere cost of $16 (includes both shipping to and back), I got my images--Now maybe I can sell this camera online and recover my cost--ha ha ha. 

1.  I knew this was a crappy camera.  2.  I knew the film was expired to begin with.  3.  The film tossed around my purse and desk for a couple of years.  So, no, I didn't get any artsy photos...just blur and noise and a line through most of them :)

I am kinda bummed that they aren't square photos, but it was fun playing with the camera and maybe someday I will play in PaintShop a bit to see if I can do anything with them...my guess would be no--oh well.  It was worth a shot :D  I will just stick to my iPhone and the artsy filters on that :p