2007: A Pretty Decent Year

I read 24 Novels.

I read 8 (or more) "how to" books.

I bought my 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Japanese crafting book.

I learned to can veggies.

Redecorated my bedroom.

I made my first Jam.

I learned to silkscreen.

Hosted my first serious swap (handprinted fabrics, doncha know?)

Started Using Bloglines.

I learned to needlefelt.

I had my first pattern published.

Made my 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th handbag design.

Made 7 tiny dogs, 2 monsters, a naked gnome, 10 birdies, and some bug people.

I made 13 New Vintage articles of clothing for myself...
and found lots of new blog buddies because of it.

I finally got into the double digits of sold items on Etsy.

I met 2 really cool Bloggers from SF.

I was on tv in CraftLab reruns, twice. ( Don't know what happened to the other episode we taped.. oh well.. Maybe next year?)

Met 4 Craft Stars in person.

Made 27 new recipes.

Made 34 Holiday gifts by hand... Not counting cookies or food.

Posted 103 times.

Did some half-assed gardening.

Cleaned out my craft cave twice.

Had a pet tragedy.

Tried again and adopted the Best Evil Kitten In The Whole World.

Picked for Whiplash once.

Participated in Handmade Parade, and C is 4 Craft.

Went to the Maker Faire.

Taught my kid more about modern art.

Let him see Rushmore even though it is rated R.

Helped him get on the Honor Roll 3 times.. the first 3 times it has ever happened.


Not Bad... Not Bad, at all.
I am trying to clarify my goals for 2008... But I just wanted to take a minute and look back...
It was a satisfying review.
Let's hear it for 2007!!

Now, Bring On the New Year! (Would someone get that dang tree out of here already?)

It's In The Bag.. and I am dreaming of a New Year

Handmade Holidays:
It was fun.. It was crazy... It really should have started earlier.. Like, last April.
( The handmaking part, that is...)
But I had a great Christmas and I hope you all did too.

The most fun was the boy-craft. I mean, I loved the girly stuff:

The felted doggies, the "ruffle duffle", the sweety monster:






and my sister's Mini Pinny (casual modern pinafore to be worn with jeans- sorry, no pics, but soon in the shop.. pretty soon, anyhow. I mean, I need to catch my breath! phew!)

But the really wild stuff was for the boys.

Felt revolvers ala ReadyMade Mag for the big boys:




Pokemon storage and deck tote for a serious gamer who has to catch them ALL:




The sketchy sketch book for my manga obsessed future animator:




The Make Mag/Craft Mag inspired recycled plastic bag music and sketch book holding mini messenger bag (check out the grommet for the earphones for the new i-pod from Grandma):


It was all such a blur.. Kinda like my photos (oops, sorry.. it has been pretty cloudy lately) .. and now I am ready for that New Year feeling, fresh start and all that jazz.

Thanks to everyone who comes by to say howdy and to the people who bought crafty gifts from me and the people who sold crafty gifts to me and the people who sold them to my relatives so they could give them to me...

More soon.... I have missed you blogland... It is good to be back.

Tutorial Tuesday: Battle of the Bulge

As I am the lucky type who, thanks to a delightfully fortuitous marriage, gets to indulge each year in both latkes and Christmas cookies, it has come to my attention that unless I control my urges or actually exercise (no time, making presents, damn it) it might be in my best interest to ask Santa for a rather aggressive foundation garment.

Here again, advise from the formidable but devastatingly accurate Nurse's Guide to Charm:

How to Buy a Girdle...


That's right, Santa, I have removed my rose colored glasses...
I will take the "Lycra Iron Maiden"..in medium.

Oh, and I will be good next year.. to make up for some stuff.

Made it Myself Monday: Some Handmade Holiday LOVE

So this is what I finished last week:



Eco-Friendly Owl Handbag: Recycled sweater, rescued handle, recycled inner facing and splurged on the new gorgeous Amy Butler fabric.. from a great local shop.

Because shopping local is important too.

Used again, here:


The purse ensemble: check book, tissue holder ( thanks, Cassi) cosmetic bag, and change purse.
( modified, but inspired by Kerry)...

Rose hat, tutu, and wings (modified from the Halloween tutorial from Threadbanger) ..

Did I have fun making all this stuff? You bet I did!

Yes Virginia, Handmade Holiday is worth it. Really Worth It.

But, I better go get cracking on this weeks to do list! I have about 10 more people to make for!
and if I am baking that is about a person a day!

Giddy-up.

WIP Wednesday: The Panic Sets In....

(Spoiler Alert: Family: It is time for you to stop reading the blog from now until Xmas,
unless you want your surprises ruined.)

Here at Bitter Betty Industries,
all handmade gifts are kitten tested for comfort and durability.

okay.. I am about ready to start day-drinking.

Hanukkah started last night...candle free here. Ran out of candles.. didn't have time to hunt down the menorah. If I find it tonight that will be the miracle of the lamp, 2007 style.



I am very nearly done with my Hanukkah gifts for my husband's side of the family. We exchange all in one night, Saturday, this year. I have to make wings for a dress up costume, sew a hat to a birdie's head, press and detail a purse ensemble ( matching tissue holder, cosmetic bag, coin purse and checkbook cover). And then wrap everything and pack it for a plane trip. Only one gift not handmade.
Handmade for my Father in Law turned out to be a hurdle I couldn't jump.

My side... The vastly huger side, still isn't even started. ( Yes, I know 'huger' ( say: huge- r) isn't a word, but sometimes I roll like that ... you know, like, illiterate.) I think I know what I want to make for everyone, which is good... But the list is long and varied.
It will be a very action packed next few weeks.

Last year I told myself I was going to start in January. Make a few gifts a month and then by December just cookies and decorating... What the Hell Happened to That Plan?

I went to get some supplies at Micheal's and Target (of all places) and had a panic attack just being in the stores. It is bugging me a little how much I am buying to make presents. It is supposed to be simpler, less impact on the planet, a better idea.. But I am still shopping quite a bit. It feels ironic, not funny ironic... more like, hypocritical ironic.

Busy Busy Busy.. Consume Mass Quantities... bigger, Better, Faster, Brighter,
More, More, More.

I need to soothe my soul. I need to breathe.
I need Inner Peace on Earth.

Next year I am going to be less like Betty and More Like Lenore.

Tomorrow, I promise: Less Woe.. More HoHoHo.

Tutorial Tuesday: Mexican Hot Chocolate

1) Buy Mexican hot chocolate tablets at the store. Ibarra, Don Gustavo, Montezuma.. they are all great.
Go to a Mexican Groceria if you need to. It will be worth it. Not available in your area? email me. You really should try this. Mexican chocolate has cinnamon in it! You won't get the same experience if you just sprinkle cinnamon on it ... Go Authentic.

2)Heat milk to nearly boiling.


3) Put 2 "pie slices" per cup of milk into your blender and then pour in the hot milk. Not sure how many cups you have? well pour the milk first.. the blender should have measurements on the side. You really need to blend this. It gets frothy and so tasty.

4)Blend for a minute or so..

5) Add marshmallow.. I like the big ones but the minis are okay too.

6)Drink hearty and give yourself a chocolate moustache.

Silly Hat Day and My Bases are Covered...

This is what would have posted for Fashion Friday:

It is our tradition the last weekend Before Thanksgiving to have a "Sisters in The City" day.
We shop, have a lovely lunch with glasses of prosecco, drink fancy coffees and occasionally actually get Holiday Stuff off our to do lists.
Since my holiday is of the Handmade variety, I had lots of time for getting goofy this year.
My sis Lassen is 11 years younger and easily led astray.
Just ask her.

Do you think Gap will hire us as models?

Fantastic Tradition.. One of my favorites of the year.

Made it Myself Monday:
I asked my niece to try on the hat I made for my other niece ..
It is clear the modeling gene has not skipped a generation. Dang the low light and this blurry shot.. Her pose is clearly "America's Next Top Model" worthy.

Oh, The Glamour! Oh, The Sass!