Citrus

Maybe I'm subconsciously battling the winter, I don't know. But I had to paint these two pictures, of an apple and an orange (or grapefruit, it's kinda pinkish) for my kitchen. I've decided that in all my anal-orderliness, I want a mismatched kitchen. Doesn't seem to make sense, but I like it. I like having matchy-matchy stuff, but when a dish gets broken, I don't want to immediate think-OMG where did I buy that? Do they still have that color? What if they DONT! Then the set will be uneven...oh no oh no!

For my sanity, I'm going with as many bright and mismatched colors as possible. It's going to be awesome. This all started when I wanted to crochet or knit something, and didn't want to have a big project, but something that could be accomplished semi-quickly. That resulted in bright blue and green and yellow dishcloths, and I love them.

I'm thinking the refrigerator needs something, like cool magnets. I should make some of those, but they will have to wait. I've got lots of gifts for Christmas to be working on, including a second sock....which I've totally started, and I'm in the 2x2 ribbing as we speak....hopefully I'm to the plain knitting by tonight....I need to see progress. The boy came home with my Christmas gift tonight, and I feel guilty not having his done....so I will try to kick butt on that tonight, among the other things that need to get done around here.

Hope all is well for everyone!

Rachel May

It's SOUPER!

It's cold outside here, so cold in fact, that there is a layer of frost on the INSIDE of our sliding glass door....where my computer desk is now. I wear a sweater to check email:)

Checking myspace, I couldn't help but notice all of the people who were angry about the cold and snow. I'm more of a warm-weather person, but I'm glad I get to experience all four seasons here in Colorado. There's nothing like eating chicken soup out of a cup or cuddling up with a good book and some tea when it's cold. Cocoa is wonderful too...

Rachel May

Back to work!

Now that school is pretty much done (besides the graduation ceremony), I'm finally getting back to work on the website. The website that has nothing to do with my degree, but I digress.

I love crafts. I hope that is apparent from my website, lifestyle, and respect for others' crafts. Feel free to check out my website, I've added a TON of earrings today!

http://www.rachelmaydesigns.etsy.com/

Enjoy!

Rachel May

Tuna CAN be exciting:)

Hello! Not much time, but thought I would lend this idea out to anyone who wants it. During this time where it seems no one has money, I feel it's going to be more and more important for all of us to get creative. I think having less money forces us to think outside the box to please our consumer minds.
I needed an organizing tool for my desk, and right now-my desk are lacks color. I do a lot of scrapbooking and card making, so I thought it would be good to use supplies that I had laying around. I've tried to be more and more self conscious about recycling, so we have a lot of cans lying around. However, a key part to being a greener, more eco-friendly you, is learning to reuse what you have. That's what I've tried to do.

Tuna can desk organizer









Supplies:
1 tuna can (emptied, cleaned out...label left on it is fine, you will cover it up)
double stick tape (approx 2-3 pcs)
1 sheet of paper-whatever you want to use is fine. I just used fun stuff to brighten my day, if you get sick of it, you can change it out!

All you do: simple. Cut a strip of paper. My tuna can was one inch...then I just kept the length of the paper, so if you use an 8.5 x 11 piece of paper, cut it so you have a 1" x 11" strip-should be plenty of length.

Place double stick tape on outside of can, at different spots, just to make sure it sticks. Wrap the paper around the can, press it to the double stick tape. Secure the end with another piece of double-stick, and....yay! A pretty organizer...cheap too!

Hint: You can use any size of can to get all different shapes of organizers. Tuna cans work good for paperclips and such. Tomato paste cans are really good for pens, along with regular soup cans. I like all three to have three different heights of things...makes it a collection:)

Rachel May

My First Sock!!!!!

We have hit a monumental moment in my knitting career, folks. Let the record show that I just finished a sock. It's the first sock that I've ever knit and actually finished/succeeded at. It is, as you may have noticed...one. Most socks create a pair, sure. I see what you're saying. However, this is what I've got and I started it on Saturday. I read in a Yarn Harlot book that she can knit a single sock in 7 hours. Mine took me just under 7 days. Still working on it. Behold the glory of the first sock! This is an amazing feat and I haven't been more proud of my knitting success.

Check out the pics if you don't believe me. I'll be working on casting on for the second sock.

Rachel May

Loot

Hello All!

Finally done with the grad project (okay, that's a lie...pretty much done though and presented to my class) and now I'm back to crafting. I've decided after reading two of the Yarn Harlot's books (http://www.yarnharlot.ca/) this week and last weekend, that I am in a knitting mood. I went to my LYS (Local Yarn Store) and picked up some Cascade yarn, which is huge and wonderful and will knit up quickly, as well as sock yarn and new dpns. I would really like to get some socks made, and not to jinx it, but I would love to make my dad a basic pair of socks for Christmas this year. We will see how that goes due to the fact that I am not extremely proficient at knitting. I will make sure to update everyone on this.

My handmade soap on the last post is wonderful....I'm really pleased with it. My sister Amber is excited about the soap too and plans to get it for her Christmas baskets this year. I would highly recommend checking out the soap site. http://www.dennisanderson.etsy.com/ The seller is pretty popular on etsy and has been a featured seller. He just hit 8,000 sales and has some great deals. I would suggest getting on his mailing list for extra deals that he emails to you to, a great oppportunity to save some cash.

Anyhow, that's what is going on with me. Reading the yarn harlot, getting ready to do some knitting, etc. Jem (my boyfriend) has actually been doing more crafts than I have lately-he sews. It is SO cute, and crooked...which I love. Although he sews survival gear for himself, and that's not exactly what I'm into. I have knit a few rows on my blue scarf that I started forever-ago, but it's nothing worth a picture. I will update you on my knitting progress soon.

Hope everyone is having a good season, stay warm!

Rachel May

Apartment Therapy

So, I haven't been around very often because I've been busy working on The Cure. I've recenly gotten really into Apartment Therapy, and I'm trying to do the cure in my own apartment. If you want to check out their blog, it's http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/ It's a really cool blog with great ideas.

I'm on week two of the Cure and I'm getting really into it. However, this all will have to change soon because I really need to be focusing on my grad project. I have a lot to do, but then I will be finished.

I have had the time to shop on the internet, though! Check out dennisanderson's soap on etsy, it's amazing! My new love is handmade soap.

Anyhow, I've been cleaning, organizing, and assessing my apartment situation. Now I am cooking, which is no easy task...at all. It aint easy, folks. Last night, I made chicken cordon bleu, and it turned out amazing! I made it with some mashed potatoes and gravy and green beans. See the picture for the yumminess (oh, and ignore the stray green bean that fell on the table...lol).

On the craft front, I haven't been doing too much except for starting my graduation announcements. Those really need to get finished soon too.

Hope all is well with everyone!
Rachel May
check out my etsy site! http://www.rachelmaydesigns.etsy.com/

It's not coloring...it's rendering

Hey all!
I have been so sad to be away from real crafts for so long, but right now school is priority. I have been rendering my brains out and I still have a lot to do-yuck. All of the fumes from the markers have started getting to me. Anyhow, I'm still around, just a busy bee. Once I'm back to the crafts, you'll be the first to know:)

Rachel May
www.rachelmaydesigns.etsy.com

Pumpkin Pie and other autumn fun

Hello all!
I'm still around, but I'm really busy with homework right now. I have, however made time to make pumpkin pie 100% from scratch, and not a too unhealthy version:) I also made pot roast the other day-yum! I will try to take a pic of my pie before it's all gone...but no promises.

How is everyone? I'm feeling very blah today-kind of an up and down mood. I hope it gets a little better today, but I only slept two hours last night. I think that explains the moodiness!

Hope everyone is doing well. Have a great day!

Rachel May
check out my website where I sell handmade craft goodies! www.rachelmaydesigns.etsy.com

I'm Still Alive!

Hello all,
Sorry I have been sadly away for so long! I am alive and kicking, just swamped with homework. I have no new craft things to report other than some jewelry I made a couple of days ago. I will post pictures and work on some crafts so I have something interesting for you soon!

Rachel May

Hello! It's been a few days, so time for a little bit of an update! First, you will notice a lovely picture of the arm/wristwarmers I made for myself. I like them a lot, they make me feel sorta grunge and urban, which is always fun. Oh yeah, and they're warm, without impairing any knit/crochet projects.

On another note, you will see that I have been doing a little reading. I'm trying to further my knitting skills, and I love the Super Stitches Knitting book, it's by Karen Hemingway. It has great pictures and a bazillion different types of stitches to do.

The Law (in Plain English) For Crafts is another book I'm reading, to further educate myself in the business side of crafts and Etsy. It seems really good and straightforward, but it is an older book, so keep that in mind (I bought it used off of Amazon). This book is by Leonard D. DuBoff, Attorney-at-Law.

On the bottom, which is last, but absolutely not least, is Closely Knit by Hannah Fettig. This book has great projects, which I hope to complete as Christmas gifts. What I really like about this book is that the categories/chapters are fun...there's a section for moms, daughters, the men in your life, etc. I thought that was fun. I will let you know how that goes.

On top of the books, you will see some washcloths that I have crocheted. This is all for a spa-day basket idea I have, but I've only gotten as far as to crochet two washcloths, but hopefully more on that soon.

Today is my first day of classes for this quarter, so I will try to be good about posting, but I will get busy because this is the last quarter I will be in school....I graduate with my Bachelors of Arts in Interior Design in December. Yay! (and oh so scary!)

Rachel May

Accomplishments for an Animal Lover

I did accomplish something today, but not exactly WHILE I was hanging out with my sister. Most of it was finished after. I hand-embroidered these tea towels for the Humane Society in Colorado Springs. My sister is volunteering there, and they are holding a craft fair and need handmade donated items to sell. The craft fair is this month, so get out your crafting gear and get to work! It's for a good cause, and there are so many animals that need help. I've made some small washcloths for wiping pet's paws clean, and the tea towels. Let's hope they raise some good money for them!

We hit some great stores today on Broadway in Denver. Decade has really cool interior decor and other items, like jewelry and lingerie, and Fancy Tiger-both stores. One of the stores has fabric and yarn, the other has clothing. We also hit True Love, a shoe store, and Paws, a pet store. In both Paws and Decade, there were animals hanging out. I was walking by a couch in Decade and spotted a kitty in the wilderness, and it was very friendly. In Paws, I pet a dog that didn't seem very interested in me, but once I quit petting him, he followed me around-so we bonded:)

I miss having pets!

Rachel May

On the Go

Today, I'm hanging out with my oldest sister, Jennifer. She's a knitter and a crafty person too. We are going to the Asian Market (if we can find it) in Denver and hitting the town. I hope to get some crochet work done while we commute to our shopping/hanging out places. I will post later and let you know how it goes.

Oh, and last night, I made another pair of armwarmers, smaller ones in one color. They look really cute and they fit like a dream. I will take and post pics for you all soon.

P.S. Somebody got Barack Obama to hold a sock! yay for knitters! (If that doesn't make any sense to you, head over to the Yarn Harlot's blog http://www.yarnharlot.ca/)

Hope everyone is having a good weekend!

Rachel May

Progress

Hello All,

Did you all watch the vice-presidential debates last night? I did watch them, but I also added to the curren WIP blanket...only right now it's more of a large washcloth. As you can see in the picture, I added a few more colors. I'm out of different colors of Cascade 220, so I will have to dig in the stash and figure out what I come up with that will work color-wise.

Other than that, you will notice a picture for some really cool armwarmers. A coworker/friend of my sister's requested them, and I think they turned out really well. I crocheted them with a cotton/viscose yarn, and a size H or 8 hook. I really like them, and I hope she does too. If you really want a pair, but either can't or do not have the time to make them, head over to http://www.rachelmaydesigns.etsy.com/lmaydesigns.etsy.com/ for the listing, and I will make them for you (shameless plug, I know).

I hope everyone's October is going well so far! Can't wait for halloween...anyone have any unique costume ideas?

Rachel May

Ambitious Fool

Okay, now I'm on to recording my crafts and WIPs (Works in Progress). I'm hoping that by sharing these, it will force me to finish a project and to be held responsible for my ambitious crafting goals.



For this Christmas, I really want to pledge handmade. I've always tried to make handmade items for my family members, but I'm going to try to make things that are extra special this year.


In the picture, you will see something that I fear will be a really long WIP. I intend to do an interpretation of the Log Cabin Blanket and design that the ladies at Mason Dixon Knitting do. I read a great story about it on the Vegetarian Knitter's blog (http://www.vegetarianknitter.wordpress.com/). She talks about having the blanket as a comfort item through many moves and about adding to it when she feels like it. I like the idea behind that. I have started with Cascade 220 (I'm pretty sure, the labels are long gone though) and I've crocheted a square and I will just keep adding to each side.


Other than that, many new and some crafty things have been happening in our apartment. I have started recycling, which I am really excited about. But I wanted to take it a step further. I understand that our landfills are filling up, so recycling is a good step towards avoiding that, however, there are three parts: Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle. I want to work more on the reuse part of that equation.


So far, I am thinking of ideas for reusing the soup cans that we have set aside to be recycled. Right now, I use them to hold pens, pencils, and paintbrushes. They also work good for mini-pails. Last year, I painted them orange with black faces and filled them with candy for halloween coworker gifts. I will try to think of some sort of Christmas application for them.


Other than that, I have purchased a handmade papermaking kit by http://www.basicingredients.etsy.com/ and I have started to reuse my paper. I take scraps of paper from my cardmaking for color, and other papers (like credit card offers and old school junk) that have print on both sides, shred them up together, and make paper. For paper that only has one side used, I'm setting it aside for later endeavors (I will let you know when it progresses).


Anyone have new craft/recycling ideas? Let me know!

Rachel May

Autumn

My college career will be finished in December, and with that I hope to have more time for Etsy. It's landmark times like these that make you start wondering what the future will bring.

I'm currently working on scarves and Autumn cards for the website. Some have been posted (like the card on the left), as well as some new jewelry.

I hope to later get further into green and ecofriendly products and crafts, as I feel that is a personal responsibility of everyone. Right now, I'm saving up paper bits from leftover card-making endeavors and other things to be recycled into handmade paper and notebooks.

Check out my website http://www.rachelmaydesigns.etsy.com/

Enjoy!
Rachel May

First Post

I just started this blog today to help advertising for my website on Etsy.

www.rachelmaydesigns.etsy.com

The goal of my website on Etsy is to provide affordable handmade gift options that everyone can enjoy. I currently have card and jewelry items on the website, and hopefully soon I will be expanding.

You should check it out!

Thanks for reading,
Rachel May