Failed Feminist

Commence craft fair season

noreply@blogger.com (Cara Hall) — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 02:07:00 +0000

Wow, is November a busy month for craft fairs. My first is on Sunday, and it's a new one! Check out the Green Gifts Fair at the Des Moines Social Club.

Then on Nov. 21 comes Craft Saturday, which is always full of great vendors around holiday time.

And finally, as an alternative to the big box Black Friday madness, Market Day will be held the day after Thanksgiving with longer hours.

I will have LOTS of knit and crochet accessories, plus my usual magnets and thumbtacks and candles (with new scents, including my favorite, white tea and ginger).

At the Green Gifts Fair I will also be selling gift certificates to the Family Tree, which can be used for yoga, Nia, massage and other classes. If you want to get some holiday shopping out of the way early, this is your chance!

Tiny sweaters are here!

noreply@blogger.com (Cara Hall) — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 03:25:00 +0000

Of all my knitted creations, the tiniest might be my favorite.

The first batch of tiny sweater ornaments are done and have been delivered to my friends' lovely store, Ephemera. If you live in the Des Moines area and would like to purchase one, get on over to their amazing new digs, just a few blocks from their old store in the East Village.

They are also offering several artsy crafty classes this winter, and I had the pleasure of trying one out last night. We created another miniature project, these trading card size pieces of art, made with photos and scraps of vintage books.

So much fun. If you're interested in taking a class, you can download a full schedule from their Web site.

As for me, I must get back to knitting bitty sweaters for Etsy and upcoming craft fairs...

Dog yoga?

noreply@blogger.com (Cara Hall) — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 22:43:00 +0000

I don't know why the dogs prefer to sleep in this position sometimes, but I admire their flexibility.

Freelancing: month four

noreply@blogger.com (Cara Hall) — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 21:08:00 +0000

My whole life I've been a planner and a worrier. I've always had a next step and a good measure of security. It's so strange to go into each month not knowing where my income will come from or what exactly my job will be. But I think each month I get a little more adjusted to this way of living. It's almost like a different kind of freedom. It's scary, but it's thrilling to know that you're not tied down to any one thing. If something doesn't work out, you don't necessarily have to do it again. It's just up to you to be resourceful and find a replacement.

The next two months I'll be switching things up a little and working as an online editor. I did this back in 2004, and in pieces throughout the last three years, so it's not a huge jump. And it will give me a break from the pace of writing frequent stories, which I sense I need.

Also, November is like the unofficial craft fair month in Des Moines. For some reason I have three scheduled in a couple weeks, and then none in December. Hopefully last-minute shoppers find their way to Etsy. :)

I spent the last few days going through my writing clips, picking out the best ones and attempting to make nice digital copies of them (try doing that with newsprint - not so easy). That has actually been really helpful to me because I can see what it is that I loved doing the most, and know what to keep pursuing. Plus, every once in a while you just need a little reminder that hey, I am pretty good at this.

I had a good laugh over this one clip, from a time when I attempted to be Andrew Zimmern and taste weird foods in town.

Yeah, it turns out I'd rather eat stuff that tastes good.

Live and learn.

Shipping tips for crafty sellers

noreply@blogger.com (Cara Hall) — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 17:36:00 +0000

I have wanted to post a blog on this topic for a long time because it has been the source of so much frustration for me as an Etsy seller. I'll just say that I've learned everything about shipping the hard way.

But I did benefit from several forum posts and online articles about shipping, so I thought I'd share what I've learned here for the benefit of anyone else who needs it.

First, I should say that I'm still learning and I don't claim to be an expert on this. And second, I am only giving tips on using the US Postal Service. I can't speak to the experience of someone using UPS or FedEx. But I would LOVE to hear from others on your experiences, whether you are using USPS or not.

Materials

Since my business tagline is 'recycled and rescued' I try to use recycled packing materials whenever possible. This also means that I spend almost nothing on boxes and stuffing. Whenever I order candlemaking or other supplies I toss the boxes in the basement and save all the peanuts or bubble wrap. Same for anything I buy from other Etsy sellers, which I do more than I should. Darn PayPal account!

What I do spend money on is good packing tape and the occasional roll of bubble wrap.

I discovered from some items that broke in transit that glass must be wrapped very well AND separated from anything else it could clank against with cardboard. Sometimes I create my own dividers with cut up pieces of boxes. Then I fill the remaining space with packing peanuts. This has been the only formula that works for me.

If you don't have peanuts you can try running newspaper or junk paper through a paper shredder to get good packing material. Sometimes I just use wadded up newspaper, too. We have a lot of that around here.

Weight

Unless you are using all priority mail flat rate boxes, you will need to get a digital scale to weigh items. You should actually weigh your items prior to listing them to get a rough idea of how much shipping will cost. I'll get into it more later, but weight is crucial to pricing when you ship.

I have stolen the scale from our kitchen, but I hope to get a bigger scale at some point. The post office sells official scales, too. I discovered that mine weighs things a teensy bit heavier than the post office, but that works out well for me since I never underestimate weight. You definitely don't want to send a package and then have it come up postage due because you weighed it wrong.

For most packages, if you have your own scale you can actually weigh them, pay for them online, print out stickers and have your mail person pick them up at your house (usually the following day). If you're using PayPal, you can do this through their site and have the money deducted straight from your PayPal account. Very convenient, but I've found this only works for certain types of postage and flat rate boxes.

Labels and decoration

One of the best ways to make your product memorable is to send a pretty package with a personal touch. When you print your own shipping labels, sometimes you have less room for embellishment. But you can still tuck something nice inside. I usually print out a color copy of the Etsy receipt and fold that up with with a business card.

My designer friend had these tent cards made with the biz card on the outside and room to write a message inside. They fit inside their own tiny kraft envelopes.

She also designed full address, return address, and fragile labels for the outside of boxes. Since I'm usually reusing a box, these labels pretty them up a little.

If I have a really dingy box, I will wrap it in another layer of kraft paper. I've thought about doing that for every one, but that's a lot of wrapping!

Get yourself a package of 100 sheets of sticker paper to print out all of these labels. I am also looking into getting a laser printer because the quality of my inkjet one is just not that great.

I've seen people draw on the outside of packages or wrap their business card and some coupons with cute ribbon. Tucking in an extra little gift like a votive or bar of soap is nice, too.

Free boxes!

If you plan to use priority mail (a faster but more expensive option) for some or all of your shipping, you can order free boxes from the post office. They will deliver them to your house in a few days. I have ordered a few of these just in case I don't have the right size box already, or if I want to use a flat rate box.

Postage costs

Here's the complicated part, and why you need to know how much your item weighs before you list it. Shipping costs are just all over the place depending on weight and how far away you're shipping the package.

To use First-Class mail, your item must weigh less than 13 ounces. But the maximum price for that is just over $3 - very affordable. For items over 13 ounces (which is just about everything in my shop) your options are Parcel Post or Priority Mail. Express is also an option but I can't imagine using that for Etsy because it's crazy expensive.

Parcel Post starts at $4.90 and is based on weight and distance. Use the USPS web site to see the chart. I use their charts constantly to check prices. For example, if your item weighs no more than 4 pounds, the price could be anything from $6.05 to $11.57 depending on what zone you're mailing it to. Yeah. That's a big difference. If I send a package to Chicago it costs way less than if I send one to New York.

So how do you price shipping for an item like that? It's really up to you. You can price it at $11.50 so that no matter what you won't lose money. With that option you could always refund the difference if it ends up costing $6.05. Or you could price it somewhere in the middle and take a little hit if it turns out the person lives far away. I tend not to want to scare people away with a larger shipping cost if I don't have to.

I actually don't use Parcel Post often because the mailing times are longer and the post office workers have told me that packages are not treated as gently. If I'm shipping a breakable item, which I often am, I use Priority Mail.

Priority mail gives you two options: regular or flat rate boxes. In a perfect world, a flat rate box would work for everything and you would never have to worry about calculating shipping costs. But in my experience, the flat rate boxes don't hold much and are pretty expensive. I only use them if I have a very heavy item that could be expensive to ship. Or, if someone orders multiple items and I want to put them all in one box for a lower price.

Usually I put the item in a box and weigh it (not all the way wrapped, just plain to get a rough idea) and go to the priority mail price chart to see how much it might cost to mail. If it's less than 13 ounces, I go to the first-class mail chart. That's how I determine the shipping cost.

International shipping

For international shipping, the rules are a bit different. First-class international goes up to a package of four pounds. Again, it's zone-based. So I would definitely recommend looking up separate prices for Canada, Mexico, and Europe for your shipping profile if you're offering international options.

If your package weighs more than four pounds, you have to use Priority mail international and the price goes waaaay up. You also have to fill out a longer customs form. I recently repacked an order that was bound for Canada because it was 4 pounds 6 ounces, and I needed it to be under 4. But that's risky when your item is breakable.

One option is to just make a note on your welcome message that asks people to convo you to inquire about international shipping prices. That way, you can look up the price specific to their location, then add that to the listing and they can go back and purchase the item.

Discounts and pickups

If you buy your postage online though Click-n-Ship, you will usually get a discount from the regular price, and free delivery confirmation. This also saves you the hassle of waiting in line at the post office (and there is always a line).

But, if your package is over a certain size, you still have to take it to the post office and have a person look it over. Once I had the person tell me I did not put enough postage on it (even though it was a flat rate box and there was only one option) because she didn't know about the online discounts.

So, if I'm not in too big of a hurry, I prefer just to schedule a pickup at my house. I leave the package at the front door and they come get it. If you don't want to leave a package sitting there a long time and risk it being stolen you can arrange an exact time.

In conclusion...

-Pack super carefully and don't let any breakables clank into each other.
-Pretty up your package and enclose a personal note.
-Weigh your item before listing it to get a better idea of what it will cost.
-Get free boxes from the post office.
-Print your own labels and schedule a pickup to avoid standing in line (and get the online discount).
-Know that it takes a while to get the hang of all this.

Droopy dog

noreply@blogger.com (Cara Hall) — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 16:11:00 +0000

Reggie knows exactly what to do when it starts getting dark early.

I heart Halloween

noreply@blogger.com (Cara Hall) — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 01:24:00 +0000

When your birthday is Nov. 1, you pretty much have no choice but to embrace Halloween. I always have and I always will. Mike makes fun of me for how I excited I get when they first start putting out pumpkins at the grocery store.

Over the years I've gotten really into pumpkin carving. When I had my DIY projects column in Boulder, I did a Mr. Peanut on a pumpkin that seemed made for it.

And then I did one with my own face! To make the pattern you just take a photo of yourself and make the contrast really high in Photoshop until you have clear chunks of black and white.

Of course, I love the extra hard patterns in the back of carving kits.

I tried Martha's method for a glitter pumpkin, too.

I'm terrible about costume planning, but one year Mike and I got really creative and decided to go as toys from our childhood. We rigged up Christmas lights and a giant battery so I could be a Lite Brite and he was a Slinky.

Last year Mike shaved off his beard (the only time he's ever done that in our relationship) to go with his hilarious Larry King costume.

Even Reggie got in the game once, much to her humiliation.

This year, all we've done so far is carve pumpkins, and pretty simple ones at that. But it was a good opportunity to put together a tutorial, so just in case you need it, here's how we carve pumpkins:

Start by clearing off a table and covering it with plastic (a trashbag slit open is perfect). Layer newspapers on top of that.

Get some of those little carving tools, your pattern, scissors, tape, a Sharpie, and the most important tool of all: an ice cream scoop. Also have a wet towel on hand to wipe the goop off your fingers.

Clean any dirt off your pumpkin and decide which side you're going to carve. The side that's usually the most flat also tends to be the most ugly because it's been on the ground. But if your pumpkin is just going to sit in the dark, don't worry about that.

Some people use a big knife to cut a lid on top, but I prefer a little saw carving tool. Since it's bendy you can get a really nice curved edge. Or, if you want the top to stay in tact, you can cut your lid out of the bottom.

Trace a circle around the stem with the Sharpie and carve out the lid.

Here's where you get your first glimpse of all the goop!

Start by shaving all the strings off the lid.

You don't want them hanging over a candle flame and burning. I find the best way to remove all the seeds and goop inside the pumpkin is just to roll up my sleeves and scoop it out with my hands.

Get yourself a garbage bowl for the goop, instead of slopping it on the table. You can heave it in the compost when you're done, or use the seeds for cooking.

Use the ice cream scoop to get the rest of the stringy stuff out. Scrape the sides all the way around the inside.

Make sure your pumpkin is dry outside, and tape on your pattern. I find it helps to trim the corners on an angle so I can fold them in. Then I put tape all around.

There will be some spots where the pattern doesn't lay flat because the pumpkin is round, so try to fold them over neatly instead of letting them crumple.

Next, get to poking. Put little holes all over the lines. Then remove the pattern, keeping it somewhere in view where you can still refer back to it.

Then start carving along the lines.

Sometimes you might have to cut lines into the large chunks to make them easier to remove. It's best to push them outwards to avoid tearing the pumpkin. But sometimes I think it helps to push it a little bit inward first, then push it all the way out.

When you're finished, you will probably still be able to see some strings hanging in the back. Remove those with your fingers. Again, they will burn and smell funky.

Voila.

Light and enjoy. It's nice, too, that you can get those fake candles and avoid flame altogether.

By the way, Mike is from Wisconsin. You can probably guess his feelings toward Brett Favre.

What did you carve this year?

The crazy things we do to get fit

noreply@blogger.com (Cara Hall) — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 03:28:00 +0000

Some of us were chatting during the stretching part of our Nia class tonight about all the torturous exercise classes we've put ourselves through in the past. And not that it's not important to push yourself in the name of fitness, but some of the stuff we've done has been truly insane. I paid a personal trainer to time me doing planks (a move I hate more than just about anything) and balance on a half-ball thing with weights in each hand. Another girl took a class where an instructor screamed at her until she cried. It's no wonder we quit after a while.

I think maybe we just stopped believing there was a way to work out that wasn't painful or miserable.

Finding Nia was such a blessing after all that. I love the music (and you can buy Nia Sounds CDs just to listen to - they're even on sale right now). I love that we all have different body shapes, including the teachers, and nobody cares. I love that we're dancing and moving and sweating, and all the sudden an hour's gone by and we're still sitting around talking because no one's ready to leave.

My neighbors probably think I'm crazy when I'm dancing around my living room practicing routines. But hey, at least I'm happy doing it. I give you permission to dance around, if that's what feels good to you.

See? Fun!

photos from nianow.com

Have you found the exercise that fits you perfectly? What crazy things have you done in the name of fitness?

Reese's PB cups + cookies

noreply@blogger.com (Cara Hall) — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 17:43:00 +0000

Last year we bought mini Snickers and Reese's peanut butter cups for trick-or-treaters. By the end of the night we had a bowl full of Snickers. Apparently kids prefer the Reese's (and I fully get that!).

So this year we bought two giant bags of peanut butter cups, only to realize when we got home that they were mixed bags of regular milk chocolate and dark chocolate cups. Nice!

I couldn't help it. Less than 24 hours later I got into the bags and stole a few cups to put into a batch of chocolate chip cookie dough. I made half the batch with regular chocolate chips, and for the other half I dumped in the peanut butter cups and mashed them up with a wooden spoon.

I don't think I used quite enough (you can't really see the candy poking through the tops), but the cookies were so, so good.

If you like this combination, you should also try our holiday favorite, Chocolate Suzies. You put chocolate chip cookie dough into mini muffin liners, bake them and then push a peanut butter cup into the top at the end of baking. Heaven.

By the way, if you live in the Des Moines area, you should sign up for Deb Cazavilan's cookie baking workshops in Ankeny. Deb is a fab baker, and super cool lady, who recently taught me all about pie baking for a story I'm writing. She has a few spots left in her November cookie baking workshops, which are always popular. Perhaps because you get to take home 12 DOZEN cookies at the end. And you can peruse her collection of vintage aprons, which are also for sale.

Busted

noreply@blogger.com (Cara Hall) — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 17:37:00 +0000

The other day I caught Reggie using Wally as a pillow.

Market Day, and it's a rummage sale

noreply@blogger.com (Cara Hall) — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 12:02:00 +0000

If you're out and about in Des Moines today, come visit me at Market Day. In addition to the regular handmade crafts and artwork, this sale has longer hours and is also a rummage sale. I'll definitely have a shelf full of cheapie goodies.

Here are the deets:

Market Day
Hours: 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
Where: Market Street Media Foundry, 118 SE 4th St. in Des Moines
What I'll have: knit and crochet scarves and a few other accessories, cup cozies, scrubbers, magnets, thumb tacks, vintage housewares and a shelf of craft leftovers and vintage sewing notions.

Hope to see you there!

Learning to share

noreply@blogger.com (Cara Hall) — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 20:02:00 +0000

As you can tell from just about any photo I take of my dogs, they're obsessed with the orange couch. It's their favorite place to relax, probably because they can monitor both the back door and the living room windows from this perch.

But they have a hard time sharing.

Lately they will only sit on the couch together if they can each have a side, divided by the ripple blanket.

It's so funny, because Sadie will inch closer and closer to Reggie until there's hardly any barrier and you can almost see them cuddling together. Almost.

Comfort food dinners

noreply@blogger.com (Cara Hall) — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 16:09:00 +0000

If you need some dinner recipe ideas for the cold weather months, here are a few favorites from my recipe archive:

White beans, zucchini and tomatoes over couscous

My veggie version of beef stroganoff

3-bean chipotle chili

Shipwreck stew, which is really more of a casserole

Potato enchiladas to die for

Tortilla soup (so good with crunched up chips and sprinkle of cheese)

Vegetarian cassoulet with chunks of artisan bread

Wild rice-stuffed acorn squash

And the two recipes I hear readers make the most:

Sweet potato and black bean burritos

My easy potato-veggie curry

With a cup of tea and a remote, you're good to go for winter!

Homemade applesauce

noreply@blogger.com (Cara Hall) — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 15:51:00 +0000

Even after I made apple crisp and caramel apples, our supply of apples was still bursting out of the crisper drawer, so I decided to try making my own applesauce.

I perused a few recipes online and decided on this one from Food Network. It seemed like most recipes were almost exactly the same: peel and core a bunch of apples, cook them in sugar, lemon juice and pie-type spices, then blend them in a food processor or food mill (a kitchen item I don't actually have!).

I liked this recipe for the addition of apple cider, brown sugar and cinnamon sticks. Although next time I would eliminate the brown sugar. The sugar from the cider is plenty for sweetness.

Though the peeling and chopping took some time, I was impressed by how easy it was to make my own applesauce. Just like the caramel apples, it would make a great take-away gift, poured into a cute jar and tied up with ribbon.

Pumpkin bars with cream cheese frosting

noreply@blogger.com (Cara Hall) — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 16:59:00 +0000

What a good use for a can of pumpkin!

These bars are soft and moist, with just a thin layer of cream cheese frosting that keeps them from veering into too-sweet territory. The recipe calls for pecans, but I substituted walnuts because that's what I had on hand, and they worked just fine.

Pumpkin Bars
adapted from BHG.com

2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
4 eggs
1 15-ounce can pumpkin
1 2/3 cup sugar
1 cup cooking oil
3/4 cup chopped pecans or walnuts

Cream cheese frosting

Beat together 3 ounces of softened cream cheese, 1/4 cup softened butter and 1 teaspoon vanilla until fluffy. Gradually add 2 cups sifted powdered sugar.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a medium bowl stir together flour, baking powder, cinnamon, baking soda and salt. In a large bowl beat together eggs, pumpkin, sugar and oil. Add the flour mixture and beat until well combined. Stir in nuts.

The recipe says to spread the batter in an ungreased 15x10x1-inch baking pan. My pan was looking a little worse for the wear, so I lined it with parchment paper. This made it really easy to remove when it needed to cool.

Bake for 25 to 30 minutes or until a toothpick in the center comes out clean. Cool on a wire rack. When it's cool, flip it back into the pan. This gives you a nice flat surface to frost.

Frost with a thin layer of cream cheese frosting and cut into 24 squares.

Ooey gooey yummy yummy

noreply@blogger.com (Cara Hall) — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 02:02:00 +0000

Normally I'm not a big fan of caramel, but when you slather it on an apple and dip it in various bad-for-your-behind toppings, well, I give.

Caramel apples feel both like something you should eat when you're 10 years old and a luxurious treat you might buy in a boutique. Wrap them up in a little cellophane and ribbon and they make fantastic take-home gifts for parties or holiday get-togethers.

Making caramel apples can be a messy process, but thanks to caramels that now come in little pebbles rather than individually wrapped candies, it's super easy.

Start with about six large apples, washed and any bad parts removed. Twist off the stems before you get started.

Now, the bag of caramels comes with five sticks, but I prefer to use dowels from the craft store.

They're sturdier, both for dipping and for eating. Trust me, you don't want the stick to crack at any point during the process.

Gently push the dowels into the center of the apples, about an inch or so. I'm using a combination of tart green apples, smaller red apples, and some large Galas that I had in the fridge. Any apple works, as far as I'm concerned.

Lay out all your candies and toppings in separate bowls.

Heat the caramels in a glass bowl in the microwave with a couple tablespoons of water. A silicone spatula is ideal for stirring and scraping the caramel down the sides of the bowl. You'll need every bit!

If you're dipping into candies or nuts, you'll need to do that immediately after you dip the caramel. If you're drizzling on chocolate (I like to do both white and dark), you might actually want to dip the caramel, put it into the fridge to cool for a few minutes, then drizzle the chocolate. This keeps the whole melty mess from sliding right off, which it will do if it's too warm.

So, back to the dipping. When the caramel is hot and well mixed, roll the apple around the bowl, and use the spatula to scoop extra caramel on any missed spots.

If any of it has globbed onto the bottom of the apple, scrape it back into the bowl. Immediately dip the apple into your topping of choice, rolling it around and sprinkling on extras with your hands.

When it's completely covered, transfer it to a plate in the fridge and let it cool.

You can use chocolate chips or baking chocolate squares for the melting chocolate. It usually takes a minute or two in the microwave to heat (and maybe a few teaspoons of milk to thin it out further) just like the caramel. Just use a spoon to drizzle it back and forth over the top of the apple. It will roll down the sides on its own.

Then, into the fridge with those apples.

They're almost too pretty to eat. Almost.

If you don't want to crack a tooth trying to eat your apples, which are usually pretty darn hard after some time in the fridge, here's how to cut them:

With a sharp knife, slice down the right side of the apple, next to the dowel. Rotate it a quarter turn and slice down that side. Repeat for the other sides. You should get 8 slices and a core when you're done.

Brrrrrr

noreply@blogger.com (Cara Hall) — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 15:06:00 +0000

This morning we woke up to quite a sight, snow coming down just like it was December.

The news had been saying we were about to get a hard freeze, so we brought in the rest of our green tomatoes and peppers yesterday when it was still cool and sunny.

My poor pumpkins.

I had some oatmeal and a cup of tea and huddled under my ripple blanket, which has turned out to be as warm and enveloping as I'd hoped it would.

Last night I could feel my throat getting scratchy, and sure enough I've got the clogged ears and snots to go with it now. I think I'll just stay under my blanket today. We've got the New York Times crossword to keep us busy.

Pyrex polka dot heaven

noreply@blogger.com (Cara Hall) — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 22:03:00 +0000

A package arrived on my doorstep today that made me super excited — because I finally got to complete my set of Pyrex polka dot bowls!

Except... there is actually one more bowl, the coveted green dots bowl, that I have yet to add to my collection. But I will probably have to save my pennies for that one.

But wait, it gets better. I actually got three orange bowls in the mail today.

It was a good deal, I couldn't resist. One of them will probably go into my etsy shop soon, so keep an eye on it.

The perfect fall scarf

noreply@blogger.com (Cara Hall) — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 19:40:00 +0000

October's in-between-y weather calls for a scarf that's cozy but not so stifling that you had to take it off the minute you got indoors. This lacy lightweight scarf can be made with just about any yarn you like (bulky yarn will just make it a little larger), but I used super soft organic merino wool.

Here's the pattern:

Lightweight lace scarf

Materials:
1 skein Sublime organic merino wool
Size J/10 crochet hook
Scissors
Tapestry needle

Chain 20. Single crochet into the 8th chain from the hook. Chain 5. Skip 3 stitches and single crochet into the 4th stitch over. Repeat ch 5 and SC into 4th stitch until you reach the end. Chain 5, turn.

Row 2: SC into the middle of the loop you just made. Chain 5 and SC into the next loop. Repeat until the end of the row, ch 5 and turn. Repeat the pattern across every row until piece measures 60 inches. Weave in ends.

There's also one for sale in my etsy shop!

Sadie says ...

noreply@blogger.com (Cara Hall) — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 03:12:00 +0000

"I will sit on the new blanket, but only if you fluff it for me first."

Signs of fall

noreply@blogger.com (Cara Hall) — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 16:18:00 +0000

Mini white pumpkins in an awesome orange bowl my mom gave me.

I think we were a little ambitious when we decided to pick a half bushel of apples at the orchard yesterday. Notice the size of the bag in comparison to the George Foreman grill.

Some organic merino yarn I am thinking of turning into fingerless gloves.

Freelancing: months two and three

noreply@blogger.com (Cara Hall) — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 23:19:00 +0000

Compared to the last couple of months, July (my first month as a freelancer) was an absolute breeze. In August, everything just became real.

I realized that having lost an assignment that brought in several hundred dollars a month with no replacement, I was getting a little bit behind each month. I started asking Mike to pay for more things while I scrambled for more assignments. But the assignments I'm getting now just don't compare compensation-wise. I don't see that changing until the economy changes. Gah!

There's also this emotional roller coaster that comes with not knowing where your paycheck is coming from each month. You worry and worry, and then sometime in the space of a day or two you're suddenly fine. I'm getting better at handling it, but it can be really terrifying.

You're also home all day by yourself, so it's easy to get lost in your own head, thinking you are doing something terribly wrong, and then realizing that you can do nothing but put one foot in front of the other and keep moving forward. Not every effort works out the first time, but that's how you learn.

Ultimately I made the decision to lower my stress level about money considerably and cash in some stock. I waited as long as I could before doing that, but it I knew that if I continued to get behind each month, I'd really be sorry later.

In better news, the craft selling prime season is coming up, and I'm starting to see a little return on the items I make and find. If I can get to the point of teaching Nia at least once a week, that would round out my income sources. And like I said before, I think that's the best you can do as a freelancer. Diversify your income sources as much as possible. Always keep an eye out for new possibilities.

The best part about the last two months has definitely been starting to teach Nia. I love it beyond all my expectations. My fitness level has increased to the point that some of the hour-long routines actually seem too easy. And can I just say a little hallelujah for the fact that I pulled out a pair of jeans from last season and they were too big? I will never join a gym again. I've found my movement and I'm not turning back.

Mike got me some Web hosting space, so my next big project is to put together all my clips, resume, etc. into a nice site. Eventually it may merge with my blog, but that's a way's off, I think. I'm also spending just about every spare moment knitting so that I'll have plenty of inventory for winter.

I know way too many people, hard workers, who have lost their jobs this year, and it makes me thankful that I made the decision to leave on my own terms when I felt it was right. If it's hard, I have to be at peace with the fact that it was my decision, and so far, that's what makes me pull it together and keep on truckin'.

Where's Wally?

noreply@blogger.com (Cara Hall) — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 23:12:00 +0000

The other day I caught Sadie sleeping with Wally between her paws.

I swear I did not put him there. Our dogs are just obsessed with a squeaky beaver.

Getting ready for Market Day

noreply@blogger.com (Cara Hall) — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 15:28:00 +0000

My fingers are knitting as fast as they can go for my first craft fair of the season, Market Day. Here's the info:

Saturday, 9 a.m.-2 p.m.
Market Street Media Foundry, 118 SE 4th St. in Des Moines
handmade crafts, artwork, vintage and more

I will have knit and crochet items, magnets, thumb tacks, hair clips, recycled wax candles and vintage housewares. There will be some amazing vendors there, so please stop by if you get a chance!

You wouldn't want to miss my first pom-pom hats...

Up to my ears in vintage

noreply@blogger.com (Cara Hall) — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 21:53:00 +0000

The Mary Marie shop is absolutely bursting with vintage finds lately. Here's a peek:

I'm still devoted to my handmade wares, but this journey into vintage has taken me a lot farther than I ever expected to go, and I love it. There's so much out there just waiting to be found, so many things that have withstood the test of time and will still fit just right into someone's modern decor.

I think there's a lot more I can do besides selling a few things on Etsy, but that remains to be seen. For now, I'm just learning all I can and having a ball thrifting.