Minor Repairs

This week I made my backpack ghetto. I love this backpack and was not willing to let it go, but also not willing to risk my laptop falling out the back when walking around campus. So, I sewed it up. I love it. I had originally planned on using a bright colored yarn, but then decided to use some rough feeling yarn I had on hand. Maybe I'll add some color to it when it starts wearing out. Maybe it looks ghetto, or maybe it has character...

- rl

Small Business Saturday

The gist: I opened an Etsy shop. Last week, actually. I thought about posting about it then, but then I heard this Saturday was Small Business Saturday, so I decided to wait until now to say anything.

It's called from the Maker. Thinking of a name is why it took me so long to open a shop. I would have started one this summer if I had been able to think of a name. The reason behind it is explained a little bit in the shop info:

My relentless Savior is an incredible Maker. I'm a maker too, but of the things listed here instead of the mountains and skies. 

I don't really know of any other way to explain that. I hope to organize my thoughts on the name a bit more and then dedicate a full post on it eventually. I only know now that I share the things I make here on this blog, but this shop is where I will attempt to sell those things. It's been "open" for a week and I have already gotten one favorite on a hat, which was exciting to see!

So far, I only have four hats listed. One adult-size, and three baby-size. The one shown above is my favorite. I think the ones without brims are the cutest, and I can confirm that the yarn this one was made with is soft.

I guess you could say that my vision is that one day I won't be the only maker on there. A few other people would also be contributing. And it would rock. I like that idea of collaboration. For now, though, it's just me. But, hey, if you want to join me on there with something you make, let's talk about it. (:

It won't just be loomed hats. One day I'll actually learn how to knit or crochet a hat, or scarves, or maybe I'll put my weaved baskets up there, or maybe even some stuff I haven't quite thought of yet.

So there you have. Need a hat? Welllllllllllllllllll, I may know of a place...

- rl

(p.s. I hope to have some other "from the Maker" specific social media pages open before too long. Today, though, I worked and then I have a lot of my Moody application to work on before tomorrow's deadline, so the social media will have to wait.)

Weaving: Attempt #2

This is my second attempt. I don't know if I really consider it weaving, since it's made up of five separate parts. I love it, though. It, obviously, won't be able to hold a lot, but I should be able to find something to keep in it. I made it to fit in an expedit-like piece of furniture in my room. It does have two holes/handles. 

There's not much to say about it. It's a basket. Kind of weaved. Lots of hot glue. Took...maybe three evenings of work? Once I finished it I slipped it over my head during a particularly stressful scene at the end of season eight of Supernatural. #fangirlmode 

This is one of those things that, yes, I enjoy making, but just isn't really productive. (I kind of talked about that struggle here.) Regardless, I love it and I'm glad I tried. I expanded my skills and know a little bit more about something I knew nothing about before.

- rl

I Want to Remember: Nightly Routine

This is my nightly routine. It's always evolving. Here's how:

Picture 1: I'm always doing a different craft. Sometime it's looming. Sometimes it's knitting. Right now, it's either reed making or weaving. When I took these pictures the other night, I was still watching Supernatural, but, since then, have caught up and am moving on to getting caught up on a few other shows I'm halfway through.

Picture 2: I've had the snack - banana, rice chex, and milk - every night for a year now. It's the best. Seriously. THE best before bed snack! In April, I started watching an episode of The Office (U.S.) every night. I'm just starting season seven.

Picture 3: Journaling. I go through ups and downs with this one. I journaled consistently for a few years, but have been off and on for the last 18 months or so. I just recently decided to stick with this simpler style of journaling: memorabilia (which can include clock in/out receipts, the notecard I used to keep track of my to-do list, etc.) + a run down of the day.

Picture 4: My boy. Sleeping, as usual.

I decided to blog about this because this is something I want to remember. I mean, that's why I blog in the first place: to put pictures I take and words to go with them together.

- rl

(p.s. Ignore the picture quality. Once the sun goes down, I turn on two strings of Christmas lights I have hanging in my room, so it makes for some fuzzy pictures. I don't mind, so I hope you don't.)

Weaving: Attempt #1

Last week, I shared about how I was itching to get crafty using magazine reeds. So, I did. I made over 200 reeds, then decided to try my hand at weaving. At first I only tried the method I knew, then did a bit of research, which is when I realized I could weave by making them farther apart. Since I don't feel like researching again, I don't know what it would be called, but you can compare the one I made with something like this. I know what I did wrong this time, so I'm hoping when I try again this week I can be more successful. I don't know what this basket could be used for. It's pretty flimsy, and not an exact square. Oops.

After I finished that, I asked my little sister if she wanted me to make anything for her, and she brought me two composition books to recover for friends. Those were quick, both done in the time of two Supernatural episodes. 

(You know you watch a lot of Netflix when you measure time by how many episodes you can watch. Needless to say, season nine is just over 48 hours away and I only have 18 or so episodes to go. I've watched a lot in this last week. I recommend it, but not in such a tight time limit.)

Now I'm off to watch more Supernatural and try my hand at weaving another basket or two. 

- rl

Upcycling, of Sorts

 

The first time I can recall seeing magazine reeds was in Earthbound. They had them surrounding picture frames, and it inspired me to give it a try. I did some googling, and got to it. I don't remember the order in which I made things, but I've kept a few of them, which can be seen in the first two pictures.

The first one is simple: reeds hot glued to a can. I currently use it to store hot glue sticks. The second thing took a bit more time. It's a Converse shoe box, and I decided to cover the lid with reeds. It just stores string for when I'm in a mood to make bracelets, which is pretty rare, considering that I usually end up frustrated that I can't get past the one simple knot I know how to do, but that rant is for a whole other day. I've made a few other things too - like a picture frame - but I've gifted those so I don't have any pictures.

The other day I saw a post on instagram of someone making a trash can with reeds rolled up. I've seen it done before and considered trying it out, but I already have two trash cans so I just don't see the need. I was wanting to work with them again today, though, so I started making some more reeds. I think I may attempt to make a weaved basket, but we'll see.

If you couldn't already tell, I like to craft a little bit. Whether or not I decide to make something depends on two things, though: if it's worth the cost/time AND if it's useful. I wouldn't consider it upcycling like I did in the title of this post, but more like cheap. I just hate spending money on things.

I'm not quite sure what the purpose of saying all this was, I just felt like sharing what I'm up to creatively. I've been knitting and unraveling a lot, because I cannot decide on what to make, but I want to keep my hands busy. I also want to attempt quilting the project I mentioned here, but I don't know if we have the right supplies to do the actual sewing and quilting. I want to loom, but don't want to spend money on yarn that will be made into something that will just sit there. And then I also want to improve my minimal crochet skills, paint, cross stitch, and just make art in general. Although I'm sure these things will be pushed back even more than usual as I started my first job on Wednesday. I now work with my sister at Chick-fil-A, so that will be fun. I spilled lemonade on myself my first day, so it can only go uphill from here, right?

- rl