Small Closet Project

It's not much, but I was so happy with my recent closet organization that I wanted to share it. I don't have a dresser, but instead have hanging organizer things in my closet. The only problem with these is that it's hard for things like socks, which would just constantly spill out. I found an easy and awesome solution...I took a box and cut off the top flaps, and the top of one side. Voila! A little drawer! It pulls out easily, and now no more socks on the floor!

Customers are cool

I just want to say a few quick words about my Etsy customers. They really rock. They are so nice, say such cool things, AND the best part is that they have awesome ideas. Sometimes a customer will ask for something that isn't in my store, but they just had an idea. And that is SO FUN. I love doing that stuff. They give me a fresh perspective on my supplies.

My favorite thing was this one pair of earrings. The original design sells REALLY WELL. They are probably my most popular item. They are called 'Protons Fig Neutons' and have this neat balancing mobile thing. One of my shoppers wanted them with different colors of pearls instead of the blue glass beads they normally have. I worked with her to get the color combinations just right, and they turned out phenomenal. She loves them, and I love them too!

And now I can put that new item in my shop, because if two people love them, maybe more will!
Here are pictures of the original design and the new design.

Props to great customers!!

What's in your tote?

Have you been to Ikea lately? If you have you will know that not only are the chicken fingers in the restaurant delicious, but also that they are now charging 5 cents per plastic bag at checkout.
Or maybe you live in San Francisco and have to pay 17 cents per bag at your grocery store.
One by one, individual stores and whole cities are taking action on the bag dispute. That's why it's more important than ever for us crafty people to come up with cool reusable alternatives!
If you type "grocery bag" into Etsy at any given time, you are going to find about 2000 or so matches. How do you find the best reusable bag for you??? Not everyone is looking for the same things, but these are some of the features I look for:

1. The bag is durable/washable
This Etsy seller, cipolla, has made a tote with one of my favorite features, it is LINED. This means it's really strong and you can haul around your heavy groceries in it!

The Sunday Market Tote - Sliced Pear $40

2. The bag is large
This amazing Etsy seller, QwertyO, makes a tote with a very important feature...it's LARGE. It's wonderful to have a reusable bag but if you are stuck at the checkout and realize that only a few things fit into it, and the rest are shoved into paper/plastic, then why the bother? This one is awesome and huge, AND this seller makes a smaller for for the kids to like to emulate mom and dad. (p.s. her daughter also makes these sweet little bags for produce - replace those ziplocks!)

Market Plus Five $25

3. The bag is easily portable
Are you the type of person who already has a bunch of reusable totes but always forgets them at home? Me too! No one wants to have to remember to put a bunch of bags in our bag! That's why this tote is so awesome. This Etsy seller, Made By Molly, did something simple and brilliant, she made her tote COMPACT. Plus, it's adorable. Look at the little button!

Calorie Counter Market Tote Bag $30

4. The bag is itself made form recycled/upcycled materials
I love two birds with one stone! This Etsy seller, zJayne, made a tote that is clever and simple. They are totally functional AND they are made out of old shirts. Brilliant! Score BIG TIME for the upcyclers!!!!

Six Pack paper or plastic No Thank You $24

5. The bag is attractive
To me, this is a big one. If you don't like the way that the bag looks, you will be less likely to use it! Who says that functional things can't also look cool? This Etsy seller, effie handmade, makes a BEAUTIFUL tote. The colors are beautiful and the pattern is simple. And there are BAZILLIONS of totes out there, so you are sure to find one that suits you (I like anything orange!). Or better yet, make one yourself :o)

Orange Flowered Tote Bag $23

Shameless Self Promotion

I think there is probably an unwritten rule that you aren't supposed to blog about other people's blog post about you. It's confusing even saying it!
Still, how often does it happen! Maybe all the time to Angry Chicken, but only once for Floaty Toes Dry Goods.
This amazing stranger wrote about my shop, and I have never been more ecstatically proud or happy!!!!
Here is a link :o)

Shout out to Recycled Yarn

Personally, I can't knit. Nor can I crochet. I have skeins, needles, patterns, how-to books. I was just never able to pick it up.
I'm sure I COULD, but I have so many other hobbies that my house is a bit overrun with those supplies as it is, without becoming a yarn collector.

Still, I want to say HOW INCREDIBLY COOL recycled yarn is. I was recently doing a search for lace weight cashmere yarn (which can be pretty pricey), for a project I wanted to commission from my yarn-arts friend. While I was on Etsy I discovered recycled yarn! It had been unraveled from clothing, washed, and made back into a skein. And the people who do it seem to have a great knowledge of their products, naming the material, weight, and washing recommendations of the yarn.

Here is a great shop, called Crafty Yarn. I like how the yarns are separated by material. This is such a great way to reuse old clothing in styles that NO ONE wants to wear anymore. It makes me want to raid the Goodwill for sweaters to unravel!!

Long Time No Post!

Welcome back blog! I admit, I haven't been as crafty as I was before BUT! I started a new type of craft! The jewelry stuff. Now it's getting pretty fun, and I am just barely starting to get in the world. Okay so 45 or so total orders isn't exactly paying my mortgage, but everyone starts somewhere.

Teapot Cozy! Finally!

Okay I know I have taken approximately one billion years to post these pictures, but seriously people, they are so cool that it was well worth the wait.

button hat

I made this hat using the Robin's Egg Blue Hat pattern from I Dream of Knitting. The band is made using a seed stitch, the rest is done in stockinette. I was an easy to follow pattern an I used a pretty bulky yarn, still not sure what the yarn is made of because I got it as a gift from a nice gal named Ashley. I love the color.... nice bright red, and it is super soft! Thanks Ashley!

Rachel, if you're reading this, your pattern rocks!! I think I'm going to make about 1.5 million of these hats!!

The yarn I used was more bulky than the one suggested so my hat seems to have come out slightly big, but I like it that way because it covers my ears and will fit over a ponytail or whatever my hair is doing that day.