It's time! #indylgbtfilmfest

Did you know Indianapolis has a big gay film festival?  It's true; it's a fundraiser for IYG - and my best friends work hard to put it together every year - so go!  Support your gays and mine - and see some great movies in the process!  36 feature, short, and documentary films are screening at the IMA this weekend: the 13th annual Indianapolis LGBT Film Festival starts tonight! 

As I wrote for the Film Festival's faceplace page: not to be a name-dropper, but... this weekend we're showing films featuring Megan Mullally, Leslie Jordan, Patricia Field, Divine, Willam Belli, Allison Scagliotti, Ruth Dix, Marc Samuel, Bruce Vilanch, Starlady Nungari and James Franco - just to name a few!  

This thing is not to be missed!

October?! Yeah!

How have you been, lovely readers?  I took a little break from blogging after our piano got to its permanent home (though I still have to get over to Day Nursery and tighten things up). Things have been busy here, but I knew I needed to get over here and give you a recap!  Among recent highlights:

1.  We got a new baby nephew!  This is the first time I've become an aunt as a grown-up, or lived nearby, and it's thrilling!  He is easily the most adorable boy I have ever seen, and Merino and I keep wondering what we ever did before we were so busy texting each other our pictures of him and changing our computer backgrounds with updated pics!  

2.  Have I mentioned I finally bought my own spinning wheel?  She's beautiful, but it took me a while to get her adjusted like the one I have been borrowing for years!  

3. I'm volunteering for a local "exotic" animals rescue (EARPS.org), which has led to us fostering two single gerbils, and man are they different than hamsters!  (Which reminds me, Carmelita's birthday is coming up; she wants sunflower seeds!) 

4.  I'm having fun conceptualizing custom knitting orders.  Coming up: an elephant hat and an owl hat!   

5.  The Film Festival I volunteer for is next month - yay!  Just so you know, I may have an embarrassing fan-girl meltdown if I get to meet Del Shores.

6.  My sister came for a visit, and we got to meet her husband!  He has laugh lines, and they held hands; it was very heartwarming.

7.  The Yarnburners yarnbombed the Indyfringe Theatre Festival, and I attended a couple of Fringe shows... LOVE!

8.  I applied to, and was accepted into the Handmade Promenade, which is a holiday-shopping-time pop-up shop that will be in downtown Indianapolis!  In November and December my yarns will be available in person, in addition to on Etsy!  

Yes, these are just a few recent happenings!  I'll keep you posted on these and other developments - but if you think I'm being too quiet on my blog, be sure to connect with me on various social media platforms for more frequent updates; I hear Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook are all the rage.  

Thanks for reading; I appreciate you!

Color me flabbergasted!

Since I started spinning, I wonder (a lot) about what people would make from my yarn.  Never in a million years could I have imagined something this fabulous.  Look what Sandi made from yarns I spun! GORGEOUS!  Check out her Pinterest board to see how a felted bowl is "born."

Source: Uploaded by user via Sandi on Pinterest

I love October!

There's a lot going on... first, I designed my "Young Frankenstein" baby hat just in time for trick-or-treating and Fall photo shoots.  I was thinking that a little black "suit" or some sweats would make an easy baby Halloween costume.

Second, I've learned to use a spinning wheel!  That's right, I can now make yarn.  And, as much as I might want to keep it all to myself, there just aren't enough hours in a day, so I'm starting to sell it in my Etsy shop, too!  Here's a screen shot from when I was editing photos earlier:

Today's the day!

You might wonder why you see me on Etsy today with this modified avatar:

Tonight the Handmade Movement will be Sneaking up on our 1,000th shop!  C'mon over; we are here.

♥ Attack!

It's a good thing! My Handmade Movement pals are promoting very new Etsy shops that don't meet the usual Sneak Attack criteria. Maybe they only have a few items, or they are out of the usual price range (under $10), etc. So, anyway, I'm hosting for an hour today from 2-3, which means I got to find shops to feature! Here are my picks, which both feature beautiful art:

Korpita
and
photoIMAGINARIUM


The whole goal is to get these new shops new hearts, facebook fans, twitter followers, pins, +1s, stumbles... in general lots of exposure for their lovely shops! Here is today's Heart Attack thread - but even if you can't join us there, please at least give the two shops I picked a look!

Is our hamster the cutest?

You be the judge. Flower is "Photo 4" in this small pet photo contest, and I would love it if you'd vote for her! Look for this photo, and you can vote once per day, if you like! Thank you kindly.

Little dude, big favor!

Readers, what say we help this little dude win a new wheelchair?















I heard about him from my pal LaRue (you know LaRue; she makes all my favorite earrings, keychains, etc.). Here's what she shared on facebook the other day:

"This is Jorden, my cousin's son. I have asked for prayers for him previously, as he has many health issues. Convaid is giving away a new wheelchair to the child with the most 'likes' [in their Facebook contest]. Jorden is outgrowing his current chair, and the new chair would allow him access to areas that he can not get to conveniently now. Please click on the 'like' button associated with Jorden's photo. A comment would also be helpful."


It just takes two clicks to help! One click here and then one to "like" the pic of Jorden. If for some reason the link above is not working for you, you can also access it through my Facebook page. Thank you kindly. You rock!

Warning: cutess factor: HIGH.

Told you. Are these not the sweetest little slippers you've ever seen? Hopefully they turn out to be "somewhere between a 6 and a 7" which is what size Ellie's mom says she wears. I googled shoe size measurements and made them as long as the results said. I got the handmade fleece flowers from hksupermom during a Sneak Attack (See? Undiscovered Etsy shops can have the most amazing things!); the genius-y slipper pattern was designed by Little Red Mitten - and she provides instructions for making them in all sizes from baby to grown-up! Regarding the yarn, you know I can be kind of a yarn snob, right? But slippers for a kid must be soft and machine-washable. This is what I used; was super-soft and pleasant on a knitter's hands! Since the pattern calls for two strands held together, I grabbed the center-pull and the outside of the skein - which means my yarn-ball holder came in quite handy. There - now you can go make slippers for your adorable cousins!

Blogspot feature!

Hi! Since I'm a co-sponsor of today's kindly Sneak Attack, my pal Sandi has posted a little profile of me on the Handmade Movement blog! Check it out if you have a moment - I'm excited to be helping Crystal, a brand-new Sponsor, make some new Etsy shops' day!

Whee!

Check out my Sneaky pal Miss Bitty's blog - I think you'll see a little hat that you recognize! What a nice way to get ready for the weekend, huh? P.S. Stop by Bitty's Christmas pretties section, while you're at it! We all need more charming decor, right? I know I do!

Hello, Front Page!

My latest Treasury made it to the Front Page of Etsy - at 2 a.m., but still, wheeeee!

Halloween: it's not too early to be thinking about it.

Handmade and vintage finds... what do you think of my latest Treasury?

Bees can tweet!

And can you imagine that twitter led to my shop being featured on Reviewed By Mom?! True - and exciting! Now, darling readers, go follow her blog so you're in the know.

Norway.

My latest Treasury, thinking of someplace I've never been... but I did have a Norwegian friend years ago.

Look what I got!

Remember last year, when I won a binder cover from madbird? All this time I've been trying to decide what to else to order, since I know her quality of workmanship firsthand. Well, couple a fabulous mix tape fabric with my new-found interest in spinning with a drop spindle, and voila: check out my new spindle bag!




















Look in the pocket and you'll see the matching, removable zipper pouch there in the pocket. Handy!





















There is a stationary divider inside, specifically designed to keep your fiber completely separate from your spindle! Clever!





















Here it is all loaded up... and I can carry it via the handle or the sturdy drawstrings! Perfect!

Here's that link again, since I know you'll want to order some madbird goodies for yourself... and while you're at it, be sure to check out her group on Ravelry!

Bottom line: getting exactly what you want, handmade with impeccable detail, is priceless (and in madbird's case, very reasonably priced)! Plus, having a real bag for my spinning gear makes me feel like it's official: I can make yarn!

Who wants to win this?

I've designed and knitted a new baby hat, and it's up for grabs in the next Handmade Giveaway !


















I thought it would be a fun baby gift or photographer's prop, since it has an elf-y, stocking cap kind of vibe. The hat, peak, and tassel each measure about 4.5 inches, in alternating yellow, brown, green, orange, and purple stripes. It'll fit baby noggins between 14 to 17 inches.

Care instructions: machine wash (warm), tumble dry (low). Yarn is 75% Merino Wool, 25% Nylon.

Help The Bee's designer out!

Lovely readers, would you please do me a favor? My dear friend Matt, who designed the Stockannette Bee for me, has been chosen as a finalist in Mondo Guerra's (of Project Runway fame) Go, Mondo, Go t-shirt design contest! If you "like" Mondo's faceplace page, you can then cast a vote for Matt's design by "liking" it, too! So, two clicks is all it takes - wouldn't it be exciting if he won? Here's a screen capture, so you know what Matt's looks like (isn't it fabulous?!)...























Thanks for your help!

This is what happens when a bee tweets!

I sent out tweets saying, "Hey, Etsy fans: tweet me your orange and/or aqua items; I'll put the first sixteen applicable responses into my next Treasury! Sound fun?" and here are the results: Orange & Aqua: a Twitter-spawned Treasury! I hope you enjoy it; it was great fun to interact with random, super-talented tweeps!

How does this look?

I've adjusted my blog settings to adjust for those of you looking at this on a mobile phone! Fancy! Here's my latest Treasury; tell me how you like it!