Pinterest: I can't get enough!

I'd been hearing rumors for a while in the crafting community about a site called Pinterest where you have your own virtual "cork board" on which to "pin" up pictures of things you like or found interesting. I think I attempted to check it out once before, but was turned off by the fact that you have to request an invite and be put on a waiting list.

Last night, I bit the bullet and signed up for an invite. I immediately received an email informing me that I was on a waiting list, and BTW, you might want to explore a few "pinboards." Ho-o-leeee cow. I clicked on the link to pinboards, and it was all over for me for hours! And I'm not even a member yet!

DIY has it's own category. The place is a mecca of how-to's and tutorials. I was 100% mesmerized. At 2am, I made my own pore strips. I bookmarked pages to show me how to make cute Halloween costumes for the kids, how to make all-natural pesticides for the garden, how to make scratch-off tickets, how to make a skirt from a men's button-down shirt. My mind was racing with all the awesome things that I want to do, and OMG, as soon as possible!

Bottom line: Check out Pinterest. Just do it. It makes you manic.

Excellent tutorial to make a kindle cover from Chica and Jo

My mother bought a Kindle for my 13 year old son for Christmas. She mentioned that I should get a cover for it, as teenagers are not known for being exceedingly careful with things with a delicate screen. It turns out, a decent Kindle cover is not cheap!

While killing some time browsing around the internet, I came upon a tutorial for the absolute coolest Kindle cover ever at a super-fun blog called Chica And Jo!
 You can find the tutorial HERE.

It not only protects the device, it can be folded up in such a way that it works as a stand for the Kindle.. So you can read it hands-free. And most exciting of all, the directions looked pretty simple. I am about as far from a seamstress as they come! In school, I always got a "needs improvement" on my report card for "listens and follows directions," and as an adult with a sewing pattern, I haven't gotten much better.

My first attempt was not so good. I made it way too skinny to fit the Kindle inside. I had to start over from scratch, being sure to cut to the correct measurements and being extra sure to use the correct seam allowance. The pattern does not allow for much leeway in the seam allowance department-- just a touch too big on the seam allowance and that Kindle is not going in there!

My second attempt turned out very nice, and became my son's Kindle cover. He was thrilled, and I was very pleased with myself. So then I made one for my horse-loving mother, in horse print fabric. It's fun, it's easy (after you do it once), and very functional. I swear if I knew anyone else close to me that had a Kindle I'd be making more!

Without further ado, here are pictures of my finished covers:

                                                  

If you make one, I'd love to see it.

My first "craft show" = fail? Not at all!

My very first attempt at selling my jewelry was at an elementary school's fall festival. A friend of mine had posted on her facebook page that her daughter's school was looking for artists to have tables at their fall festival. Booth fee was only $20, and she said there is normally a very large turnout.

Terrified to do it on my own, my friend Carolyn and I split the booth fee and shared a table. She was selling beaded jewelry and I was selling wire name pendants. I thought it would be a good venue for the name pendants, as young girls do seem to like them. I think I sold 3, and Carolyn sold one item, a watch, which she discounted drastically from the price that the she would normally have asked.

A few things were going on here.

• The crowd did not come prepared to spend large amounts of money. They need items at a low price point.
•  The festival had been rescheduled from a previous date, and was now held on the same day and time as a big-deal college football game

So, while the amount of money I made at the festival barely covered my half of the rental fee and my lunch afterward at Taco Bell, the experience taught me something, and I am grateful for it. Next time I do a school fall festival, I will be sure to bring lots of eye-catching but inexpensive things that Mom & Dad will not say "no" to.

I'd be remiss if I did not mention that it was a beautiful day, which I got to spend outside talking with lots of nice people, hanging with Carolyn, and getting some exposure for my craft. I also learned that my daughter, Sid, is an outgoing little sales girl, bringing over girls, two at a time, "Do you like my necklace? Come see, my mom can make one for you, too!"

Fail? Nope! I had a great time and learned something, too! Win!