Spring mushrooms

A few weeks ago I got the urge to hunt morels.  People were posting pictures on Facebook left and right, raving about their delicious, meaty un-meat meals.  I wanted to find a morel.  A few friends wanted to go disc golfing at a local course a few days later, and one had seen morels on his last trip there. 

I was going to find a morel.

While they played, I tromped through the woods, determined to find some glorious mushrooms.  Let's be honest, I had no idea what I was doing.  (Something about looking for dead trees, I think?)  Needless to say, I wound up with mosquito bites, and no mushrooms. 

I joined back up with my group and shortly after, my friend Molly spotted a morel, in plain view, directly off a path near a fairway.  It was kind of like a scene from a movie where a beam of light lands on a treasure chest- just a mushroom popping out of the green in plain view of anyone who'd walk by. 

We investigated the area with our group of five and scrounged up over twenty mushrooms!  Behold:

We looked around through the rest of walk, but only found one more mushroom.  At the end of it all, we split the morels two ways (one of our friends already had a bunch at home that needed to be eaten) between two couples.  Mark and I cooked them up with butter and garlic.  OMG.  One of the best things I've ever eaten.  I get it.  I get the hunt (for vegetarians!), the scarcity... the free (delicious!) food!!  I think our morel season is over now, but I'm anxious to try again next year!

My engagement ring!

A week and a half ago I got my new engagement ring!  We'd sent back the one Mark had originally given me, because it was a couple sizes too big.  It was a wire-wrapped gemstone ring and originally the designer said we'd have to pick something new because my finger size was too small for a ring that fit the three original stones.  Much to our surprise, he was able to fit each of the stones in my new ring with some minor adjustments! 

I love it so much!  It's totally unique and special because Mark chose it for me.  We're probably going to get a different "forever" ring for after the wedding.  I'll probably wear both, but want the option to take this one off because of it's size and to keep it safe. 

So yay!  We've already been planning some parts of our wedding (the big day is going to be a year from this Friday!) and I'm excited to show my inspiration and plans here on the blog! 

Craft show preparation

As I get ready for my first craft show that's just a week away (eek!) I realize how much there actually is to do that I wouldn't have otherwise thought of... processing payments, tagging, displays, branding, etc.

Here are a few of the things I've been able to accomplish so far:

Payments:  I ordered a Square.  It's free to recieve and when you process payments by credit card  they only take 2.75% of the purchase total.  That seems worth it to me for sales that I might otherwise lose if people aren't carrying cash.  It hooks up to your iPad or smartphone and the app processes
payments straight to your bank account.

Branding: I have a few other things in the works, but my business cards were my first plan.  I designed them, printed through Vistaprint, and they turned out great!  I wasn't sure how the color would compare to my computer screen, but it's pretty spot-on.  I'll throw them in bags with sold items and place some on my table.

Tagging:  After I ordered the cards, I got a coupon from Vistaprint in my email.  I ordered a stamp for  creating tags and after discounts, it was $3.99+ shipping!  I stamped it on some Scotch brand label tape my dad got for my birthday (he works for 3M).  I used old photo paper that we were never going to print on for the tags and put them with my stuff!

I'll hopefully be sharing more of my progress over the next week, including display plans and the banner for my table!

Little projects

I've been crafting like crazy lately, getting things ready for my first craft show!  Our house seems to be overtaken with my supplies... sewing machine on the table, piles of fabric across the living room floor, yarn everywhere. I will be a relieved when the show has come and gone, and I know I made things I genuinely liked.  Some of my favorite things to make are these little brooches and hair clips with flowers and embroidery. 

Here are a few of my favorites:

Some are felt and beads, some have little crocheted flowers I whipped up.   It's nice being able to have variation between pieces by changing things slightly.

 

 
 Well, back to work.  I'm very excited and nervous about the show, so hoping it goes well!  (I may have had a nightmare that I didn't sell anything, so here's to hoping I sell at least one or two things!)

Granny bunting 2.0: final results

About three months ago I was working on a little project with "granny triangles" to make bunting for a friend as a Christmas gift.  I finished it probably a day or two after my first post about the project, took some pictures, gave it to my pal, and then didn't think about it for a while. 

I revisited those pictures today and decided it was about time I posted them.   Besides, I loved this project!  The colors were very cute together and the result (unlike my first bunting attempt with insanely fuzzy yarn that doesn't show stitches) is tidy and delicate.

I usually steer away from white, well... everything, but I had this super soft yarn that a friend didn't want, so I gave it a shot.  It's nice and I managed to keep it looking lovely until gift-swapping time.  The other colors were left from other past projects.  And yes, I used three different sized yarns, but it didn't seem to affect spacing or size of each triangle. 

Hanging in our dining room for a few pictures.  Oh, look at the lovely wall paper a previous owner hung.  It's like a Tommy Bahama shirt exploded on the walls. 

I especially love the scalloped edges I added around the triangles and on the chain they hang on.  I used this technique on another recent project.  I think it adds a great finished look.  The tassels really add a nice touch as well.  I'd definitely make a similar project again (maybe for myself or another friend) and maybe try to write a simple pattern if anyone is interested in making their own! 

I'm excited I've been getting around to sharing some of my recent projects.  I need to get back in a habit of blogging, especially because I have so much to share.  Hope to be back again soon!

A weekend project

Oh, I must be just about the worst blogger ever. It's been, what... a month or so? Well, in my defense, my computer is on it's way out and I haven't been able to edit photos at all. Hoping to remedy the situation soon though!

In the meantime, I've done many projects that I hope to show soon. Here's what I made this weekend:

(Forgive the iPad at night picture quality)

Wrist warmers with flowers to get me through the last of winter!  I bought the green yarn for a project I was working on, but it wasn't the right color (serves me right for not saving my yarn labels).   I loved the color and super soft texture, so I kept it for other projects.  I made up this pattern as I went, but I think I remember it well enough to make another similar project again soon.  The flowers were made from scraps of yarn and buttons lying around.  A cozy, simple, comfy weekend project.  I can't wait to wear these out soon!  

Thrift find: incomplete embroidered wall hanging

A few months back we were at Goodwill and I found an embroidery kit in a bag for $3.  I opened the package to find this incredibly gorgeous, nearly completed piece.  I was in love!  I'd been telling myself I wouldn't get more embroidered wall art because we have so many, but I had to buy this.

It sat for a little while, and then I got to work finishing it.  Really, all I needed to do was the basket of flowers, the lines on the floor and wall, and a few other tiny details.  The small bit I did do took me quite a bit of time; I needed to learn stitches and get them looking like they fit in with the rest of the work. You can see some wrinkles from the embroidery hoop that the fabric likely sat in for years, but I haven't figured out how to get rid of them out.

The detail and attention put into the piece by whoever started it is just beautiful.  I wonder what happened to prevent them from finishing.  The copyright on the package was from the 70s, but because the original price tag said $25, I figure it wasn't purchased that long ago BUT since the tag was also from a craft store/ greenhouse that I used to work at that closed nearly ten years ago, it's not too recent.  Anyways, I'm so glad I found this and was able to finish it.   I found a frame at the thrift store for $2 that fit perfectly.

I love the cat on the afghan.  I'd love an identical, full size one like that to curl up with.  I mean, the blanket, not the cat... we have enough felines in our home for now.

I think the cats like the piece too.  I hung it above the bookshelf in our dining room.  Five dollars well spent!

Thrift find: owl wall hanging

Last weekend we went to the social event of the town: an antique car show.  After our brief venture and a beer, we went into an antique shop that had stayed open late for the evening.  I haven't spent much time in the many shops downtown yet, despite them being a few blocks away.  I guess I miss my favorite thrifting spot in my old neighborhood. 

Anyways, we stopped at this new place and saw the best picture ever.  Owls, tree silhouette, olive green.  I'm so glad we snagged it because it's just perfect.

My favorite owl is the top one- he looks like my Dexter:

Eh, eh?  See the resemblance?  Big, spazzy eyes and pointy ears.  Anyways, I love this piece and seeing it on our wall.  Looks like I'll have to give these new antique shops a chance, even if they're not the one I used to frequent and love.  I can still go back and visit... just not every week.

Road trip 2012, part 6: Backpacking (the flowers)

Road trip 2012, part 5: Backpacking (the descent)

After our evening in the mountains, it was time to head back to the gravel lot we hiked from.  We were expecting it to go pretty quickly (and easily) since most of the hike would be downhill and shorter than the path up, but it didn't quite work out like that.

We started off rather leisurely, posing for pictures with mountains in the background, taking our time to enjoy the scenery, sun, and moderate temperatures.

We used a log as the mount for this picture.

As we continued, we realized that this trail (which was described as "not appropriate for horse travel") was difficult, even (especially?) downhill.  There were narrow trails, loose rock, and steep inclines.

We crossed this creek many times throughout the hike.  An easy and enjoyable task.

And enjoyed breathtaking views, completely unique from those on the hike up the previous day.  As we made our way down, we saw a lot of people.  It was pretty scarce initially, but a few hours into the walk, we were seeing families, couples, and large groups of kids from local summer camps, making the hike up.  There were not, however, other backpackers.

The common destination seemed to be this:

We didn't linger like the other hikers, we were ready to get back to our car and be on the way.  After the waterfall, the terrain got smoother, but then we were up and down smaller hills.  Totally energy sucking at this point.  

After five or six hours we'd made it!  Back to the car, down the road, and to Mark's boss's house for showers, laundry, and a real bed.  <3

Road trip 2012, part 4: Backpacking (the campsite)

Once we got to the end of the trail, it was time to find a spot to camp.  The conditions were: 200+ feet from water (the requirements for having a campfire), a flat spot for the tent, and away from people.  Despite the fact that we only encountered three people on the hike up, there were two other camps set up by the lake when we got there.  Really, not so bad, but we wanted to have a little privacy. 

And we found a lovely spot!  It came complete with an established fire pit, flat area for the tent, and that view!  I mean, really, what is better than that?!

Once we got set up, we realized how chilly it was, so we got ready to start a fire.  I'd been collecting this stuff on our hike up:

Mark said Bear Grylls from Man vs. Wild suggested it for a fire starter, so I filled my pockets with it as we hiked.  I was so proud of how much I gathered, but collecting wood proved much more challenging.  Turns out, we could have fires because there had been so much rain recently, so dry wood was tough to find.  Once we'd collected enough (which took a lot of effort because we would get so winded from the altitude) it started raining.  Seriously.  Rain and hail.  Not a lot, but enough to soak any wood we didn't cover with our bodies or put under the trees. 

Despite that, Mark started a fire.  I was so proud of him.  I nearly cried after it rained because I've never seen a fire start after that sort of weather, but he did it and it saved the evening.  It was cold and that was what we needed.  

The sun barely set by the time we were bundled up in our sleeping bags, ready to rest our cold, exhausted bodies.  We wanted to look at the stars, but our eyes barely allowed it, minus a mid-eve wake-up to (sorry for this) pee on a tree. 

And this was our morning site.  The sun coming over the mountains, reflecting oh-so-perfectly on the still lake. 

We ate some breakfast, and then were on our way!  Pictures of the hike down to come soon.