Glass fusing random fun

   

These are my three favorite pieces I made at the Etsy Pittsburgh team glass fusing workshop. They declared my fish tank the "winner", despite the fact it wasn't a contest. I also like it very much. I would make more of them. I also learned that if you layer the glass, it can be called tacking. Fusing seems like a more logical term. We should be doing this again soon. I also found a studio really close to my house where I can also do this, among other things.

busy busy

This weekend was super busy, and I didn't even do anything.
This would have been a big Twilight Market week, with the poetry festival that happened yesterday, if not for the insane weather. The reports claimed all day rain, with heat. Everyone decided to wait until a later week for the weather to calm down. Of course, it got beautiful right at 3, when people were busy elsewhere.
I however, was already set to miss because this weekend was the Steel City Big Pour. It seemed even bigger than last year, with more food, vendors, and beer. I got the designated driver ticket. The weather was so much hotter than I expected for September.
Next weekend is even busier, with a potential two shows in two days (intense) and our team craft night on Friday. Plus, I've been rabidly swapping on swap-bot.

i fail it

I have been completely dysfunctional for two days, and today is apparently not much better.

Yesterday I had to finish some sewing before going to Twilight Market, which was not unreasonable, but I also wanted to wash my items because they got wrinkly. Also, reasonable, until I can't get them into the wash until 2:30, when I'm supposed to leave at 3:30.

I didn't get out the door until 4:00, the time I was supposed to be there, because I couldn't find anything. If I needed it I couldn't find it. On top of that I forgot my camera. So there are no pictures proving that SilentLotus, VintageHotcakes, hairycarrot, LzRocks, or CharmedbyNature were ever anywhere.

I managed to deliver the box of yarn that I wanted Cosy to have, but forgot the magazine pages I had ripped out especially for her.

So today I thought I could recover, as the only thing left to do was apply to Handmade Arcade. I'm pretty sure I screwed that up, too. I had everything perfect and then when I paid my fee, I forgot to put my name in the subject line of the paypal transaction, so I'm probably not getting in. Argh.

Twilight Market

Twilight Market, originally uploaded by hairycarrot.

1. go team pittsburgh!, 2. farmer's market, 3. new clothing rack, 4. satisfied customer

Created with fd's Flickr Toys.

The Twilight Market is a great time. The nice thing about farmer's markets is that they are open for the season. I got incredible vegetables for a great price, and they were so much nicer than the store's. This is the only thing as good as shopping at Wegman's.

I bought a bunch of dill, and used it to make pickles. Since I have 6 cucumber plants I have a lot of cucumbers. They are just regular ones. I will never need to buy cucumbers.

It's a great time. The farmers are there every week, and we get to be there on alternating weeks.

I'm planning to be there.

I sold 2 items, which was about 15% of what I brought, so I'm happy. I also have some great inspiration for new items to make for next time. I haven't solved my hanger problem, which is that I need some with clippies. My sewing room is almost finished after I moved it from the basement to the spare bedroom. Double inspiration is that I have some company coming.

Show Tomorrow!

This show is hosted by Distinguished Dobermans, Inc.

Our Lady of the Angels Parish
Holy Family Social Hall
256 44th Street
Lawrenceville, PA 15201

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I'm really excited because there will be dogs there. I'm not really looking for a dog, but these things really sometimes introduce you to the "perfect" dog. I don't have a fence, and I have rats, so that narrows the choices a lot.
I'm premiering a new item for this show. I've made a few flower bracelets. I've given some to students, and I have a bunch more for tomorrow. I wish I didn't have a regular job so I could make more stuff. It's really eating into my crafting time. But, since crafting doesn't really rake in the cash, I'll be keeping my day job. I would be much more productive if I didn't fall asleep on the bus every day.

How to crochet

How to crochet
Originally uploaded by hairycarrot

I was asked to demo crochet at I Made It Fashionable, a local roving artists' market. This installment was held at the brewhouse, and focused on fashion. There was a fashion show in the theatre, tables in the front gallery, and we had 4 demos in the side room.
I shared a table with Sara, between us covering knitting and crochet. EJ set up the popular shrinky dinks recycling station, and there was a lampworker making beads.
The event was, as always, incredible. The turnout was great, the venue was great, and people had a great time. Plus, someone had a tiny dog.

I brought finger puppets and skirts, and demoed crochet in a circle, since that is the basic concept for finger puppets. I made hats, using larger yarn and hooks. I got to teach one person crochet. People tend to look at it as "too difficult" but I'm also not the most outgoing person in the world. I could probably harrass more people into trying it, but I would feel mean. It's really not hard. I swear.

I Made It! Mine

I Made It! Mine was so popular that I didn't make the deadline cut. This show always has something new and exciting going on. There are so many quality artists in Pittsburgh.
I got to shop for myself. Cosy Knits Literally is totally awesome. Be sure to look over her really nice yarn which she takes beautiful pictures of. Her naming system is especially ingenious, too. It's like audience participation, but without having to go to the theatre.
It's nice to see the street team. We love working together. Our trunk show should be really fun in a couple months.

I Made It 3

I Made It 3 was today. We did fairly well. This show is well publicised, and therefore much more pleasant to be at. We were on the risers in the theatre part of the Brewhouse. They warned us that the lighting would be lacking. Even though the lights were on and you could see, everything had an eerie glow to it.

I am excited to go to the next one. I'll try to make new things. We'll have our cool weather tops, and hooded scarves. I don't intend to bring any skirts. Finger puppets are questionable. It depends on whether or not I can make some spooky ones.