My first knit hat.



It looks much better here than it really is... I have a tendency to blaze my own trail rather than following instructions and patterns. In other words, some kid (I made it pretty snug and it will most likely only fit a 7-year-old) is going to have a VERY unique hat that can never be replicated. HAH. Seriously, I just hope it keeps someone's head warm.

Check out Nest Maine here. Learn to knit and send your stuff to them! Good practice, good cause.

http://nestmaine.blogspot.com/

Starting soon...

Etsy Site- most likely with roommates Jessica Howen and Megan Svensson. I would like 70% of my proceeds to go to this http://www.panzihospitalbukavu.org/. More to come.

Save Save Save.

Saving plastic cups, lids, straws. Sorting paper from trash. Keeping all of my leftovers. Considering and reconsidering what I need and don't need. Making lots of paper bag envelopes. Buying groceries in preparation of eating out less and less. Avoiding clutter. Baby steps to better stewardship.

These are some of the things I'm focusing on right now in my (very) new life in Brooklyn.

I'm Making a Chalkboard Today.

The clouds are foreboding and I'm hiding inside. I'm listening to MewithoutYou and painting my own chalkboard. I was going to buy new plywood but found to my dismay that it has TRIPLED in price since the last time I purchased plywood (I think I paid 5 bucks, whereas now I would have to pay almost 15 for a small sheet!). I took a piece of an old shelf out of the garage, pulled most of the nails out, and painted it. I'm going to paint a border on it too. I hope it turns out nice. I'll show you when it's done. I'm hoping to use it to memorize scripture (write it down and erase it word by word like in VBS). Either that or I'll make some venn diagrams or brainstorms (first regarding what career I should pursue: Glass blower or French translator for a consulate??? Set Design for SNL or Missionary in Southeast Asia (my new diet is most accommodated by rice noodles and Vietnamese delicacies)? Farmer's wife or Jazz Club singer? One by day, one by night?

Spraypaint. Bottles.

I love to spraypaint, mostly because I haven't learned how to screenprint or letterpress (yet). I also have kind of a love affair with painters tape. Here's what I've made so far- I spent about three bucks for the paint and I already had the tape:



(This one is based off the song "Summertime" by The Fire Theft. Angle One)



(Angle Two)



("When we roam/faded rumors that outlast the century")



(Crooked Rays)



(I spraypainted my wallet too- just because I can)

This takes a lot of time. You get a lot of tape stuck all over the house. But... it's fun. And lovely sometimes. I'll show more as I make them.

Failure is Sweet.

I love experimenting. I make cookies and banana bread without measuring anything. Sometimes everything goes to you-know-where in a you-know-what-kind-of-basket. But... once in awhile, things go great. And I don't have to thank Betty Crocker for the help.

Same thing goes with crafting.

I took a lampshade I found at a thrift store and cut triangles out of it. Then I covered it with tissue paper. Then I put it on a lamp. After about ten minutes I threw it on the closet shelf and replaced the old, attractive, Urban Outfitters Clearance lampshade. Let's be honest, the one I made was pretty darn ugly. But you know what? I'm so glad I got my hands covered with glue and went through the creative process. I think I'd rather waste my time doing something than never doing anything at all.

How to make...

Giant Paper Bag Envelopes! YAY! Honestly, I need to do my research and check to see if these are compatible with the postal service. I use these babies to hold cards and small papers- just because. Yeah, you can get file folders, OR you can make your own kind of folder. All you need are scissors, glue, and a large (or any size) paper grocery bag.

Step 1: Cut the paper bag at the point where it naturally folds... you'll basically still have the bottom third of the bag.



Step 2: Cut down the side seams- just follow the natural folds! Easy peasy.



Step 3: See?



Step 4: Think of the bottom of the bag as the back of the envelope (where you would put the stamp and address). Fold down the side triangles. To fold the bottom portion of the envelope, just fold in the sides where you think it looks best. I usually line up the seam (that used to be attached to the side triangles) with the bottom of the envelope. See picture if this is too confusing.





Step 5: Fold bottom of paper to the seam. This basically just makes the envelope look more finished.



Step 6: So, it should look like this.



Step 7: So basically, you do the same thing to the top as you did to the bottom- although you might want to vary the top flap by making it more pointed or angular or awesome because it's ultimately the part that people will see. You will end with something like this!



VOILA.



Don't forget you have to glue the different components in place. Also, to seal it you either have to use a few drops of glue, a sticker, or some double-stick tape. I usually make these out of small paper bags, which should be sendable, although as a precaution I sent them in plastic envelopes just to make sure they got where they needed to go. Make sure you at least get the envelope flat and take care of anything that could catch in a machine, because that's the biggest qualm the post office has with obscure letters.

In my experience, people really liked them. I sent one to Sufjan Stevens and he wrote me a letter back. Yay:) I'd like to think he wouldn't just write back to any run-of-the-mill letter.