Thursday, May 10, 2012

Me Made May '12: Day 7- Day 9

It's been just over a week in May and I am starting to hit a wall, but more on that in a bit.  First off here are days 7-9.
Day 7
Cuffed Denim Shorts
Hand Knit Nautical Stripped Top

 Day 8
Lavender Anda Dress
Taupe and Mauve Hand Knit Cropped Cardi

 Day 9
Cuffed Denim Shorts
Refashioned Linen Button up
Noro Stripped Hand Knit Scarf

So now to the wall.  Today has been the hardest day to pick out what to wear.  I have days like this all the time and I usually solve it buy throwing on a pair of jeans and one of my favorite t-shirts.  To get me out of this funk I may start planing my outfits the day before so I don't have to really think about it.  There are still tons of great me made items in my closet so there is no excuse for being lazy and wishing for my jeans and tees.  

Wednesday, May 9, 2012

Guest Post with Lori from A Little Slice of Special

Hi there! I'm Lori and I blog over at A Little Slice of Special. 

 When Amanda asked me to do a guest post of course I said yes. I am forever geeking out over Amanda's craft and sewing skills and on top of that she's pretty much just downright awesome. So, thanks Amanda for letting me share some beauty related freakout-age. She asked if I could do a retro inspired tutorial and fingers crossed you guys (and Amanda) like it!

If you've read my blog you know that a majority of my daily blog posts focus on what I'm wearing, Makeup Monday is my blog-day to celebrate my love of makeup. For the longest time I did the same makeup every day-basically swapping out neutral colors of eye shadow and gasp-I had never used eye liner. Then I went to college where one of my floor mates introduced me to eye liner and I've (rarely) ever gone back to not wearing it, but with that being said, I also didn't really start experimenting with bolder and more challenging makeup looks until the last 5 years or so. Then I started blogging and now I have (almost) no fear on tackling bold makeup . Two of my fave discoveries? A red lip and winged liner.
 

 They've kind of become my go to for when I want to have a touch of retro in my day makeup routine. I mean, I think every girl feels at least a little classier and more fabulous with a bold red lip. So here are some of my Red Lip Tips!!!

1. Over the years and through trial and error I've personally decided that the best way to apply red lipstick is with a lip brush. It's much more precise and thus you don't end up with any unwanted messes. My favorite lip brush is made by E.L.F. and it's a retractable lip brush. The retractability (is that even a word) is awesome for tossing in my bag and not having to worry about having brush cleaner with me! Plus for only $3 you really can't go wrong!
2. The second thing I've learned is the importance of having a good clear lip liner. It prevents your bold lip from bleeding outside of your lip line and also helps you to create a more defined line. My favorite for a long time has been Revlon's clear colorstay lip liner. It's reasonably priced and I've kinda had it for a really long time...it goes on nicely and does it's job. The only downside, Revlon's products are not cruelty free. 
3. Another thing I've picked up through experience is that it's best to build a red lip. It sometimes takes a little longer but with a lot of highly pigmented reds (I'm using MAC Brave Red here), the color can be overwhelming.
4. The Fourth nifty trick I've learned is for setting your lipstick. You simply place tissue paper over your mouth and on top of that, brush a translucent loose powder. I also tend to mist a little makeup setting spray over that (I use Urban Decay's Dew Me setting spray). I am still using some Revlon Photo Ready translucent setting powder that I got a few years ago, again, it's revlon, so I feel like it's important to note that I personally, wouldn't buy it again.... So, to recap, I start by applying clear liner around my entire mouth, creating the lip shape I want. Then, I start to apply color, I usually do one lip at a time, applying the lipstick with a lip brush. I start by lining my lip then gradually building color until it's even and the color I want. The last step is to set the lip color. I use translucent powder, applied over a piece of tissue paper and finish with a setting spray. And boom, retro red lip.

 Thanks so much for letting me guest post on Blue Betty Amanda, I hope to see lots of red lips around the blog-land this week now! Xo Lori

Tuesday, May 8, 2012

Knitting Update

I have been knitting, crocheting and spinning my fingers to the bone.  Ok, maybe not to the bone, but I have been working on a lot of new projects.  Some are for designs and some are personal projects.  Here's what's on my needles, hook and bobbin this month. 

I'm working on my first ever lace design.  This is just a sample I'm knitting to make sure it's going to work out the way I want before I start knitting it with the yarn I have intended for the design.  The lace pattern is hard to see, but that's because it will need to be blocked aggressively.  

Here's a close up of the main lace stitch.  

I have completed my last Spring pattern for my shop.  Here's a super early, super sneaky peek.  I know it's just the button band, but what a button band it is.  I just finished typing up and formatting the pattern now I just need to shoot some photos and proof the written pattern.  I'm planing to release the new pattern on May 21st. 

I also am crocheting a doily blanket.  I've wanted to do this for such a long time that I finally gave in and just bought the yarn and picked a pattern off of Ravelry.  It's called the Double Pineapple Doily and I am in love.  

The yarn is Elle Rae's classic Heathers.  Its the same color as the walls in our living room.  It will look lovely on our sandy colored couch. 

I finally finished spinning my Loop Batt, now it's time to chain ply!

That's all that's new in the fiber world right now.  Tomorrow I am having a guest blogger with a super awesome tutorial, but you'll have to check back tomorrow to see who it is.  

Monday, May 7, 2012

Me Made May '12: Day 2 - Day 6

Blogger and I have mended our friendship for now so in celebration here is my first official Me Made May '12 outfit post.  By the way May has so far been chilly and cloudy.  I am so glad that I made that infuriating sweater.
Day 2
 Denim cut offs
Teal striped polo refashion
Black and white sweater
Blue shiny tights (not me made)
I said I was going to rock it out like Blossom. 

Day 3
Saucy Librarian Top
Wide Leg Trouser Jeans

Day 4
Denim Cut Offs 
Purple dolman top
Sherbet Striped scarf 
I slouched around the house most of the day, knitting, sewing, trying to play nice with blogger. 

Day 4.5
I learned a new way to put my ridiculously long hair up in a type of bun.  It actually stayed up all day with only 1 hair band and three bobbie pins.  

Day 5 (Best day of the week)
Green Stripe Dolman Top
Purple Shorts
Simon snapped this pic of me right after seeing my favorite band of all time, Eve 6, for free!  It really was the best day ever.  I really wished they had played longer.  

Day 6
Green Wide Leg Drawstring pants
Black and White striped sweater
Purple tank top (You can't see it, but I had it on)
Noro hand knit striped scarf 
I mostly did errands on Sunday.  It was the First day of the Head House Farmers Market, which is now my favorite place to buy things.  I made friends with a sheep farmer, a produce farmer, and a baker.  I can't wait till next Sunday when I get to go again.

Friday, May 4, 2012

What's up Blogger?!

Blogger has not been my friend today, or this week.  Hopefully we can repair our friendship over the weekend.

Thursday, May 3, 2012

Stitch Guide: Raspberry Stitch

Raspberry stitch was the first "fancy" stitch I learned when I was knitting.  After learning Knit and pearl and ribbing I took on a challenge with this stitch, but I'm the knitter who knit socks for their second project.  Any who, this stitch has a lovely texture to it and can give any knit a bit if interest.  It is not reversible, but it is a great stitch for hats and other items where there is a public and a private side.

Raspberry Stitch (knit flat)
Multi of 4 +2 sts
R1: (RS) Purl All sts
R2: K1 *(K1, P1, K1) into next st, P3tog* K1
R3: (RS) Purl All sts
R4: K1 *P3tog, (K1, P1, K1) into next st* K1

Raspberry Stitch (knit in the round)
Multi of 4 sts
Note: When knitting raspberry in the round you will want to knit it with the wrong side facing out.  this just makes it easier and faster to knit. Once you finish your item bind off and turn right side out.
R1: Knit all sts
R2: *(K1, P1, K1) in same st, P3tog*
R3: Knit all sts
R4: *P3tog, (K1, P1, K1) in next st*

Wednesday, May 2, 2012

Me Made May '12: Day 1

I know I know it's only been one day, but i'm going to share my first outfit for Me Made May anyway and then it's off to work.  An early start for me.

Slate colored Tunic
black carol leggings
sherbet stripped lace scarf..
It was suppose to rain yesterday so I figured leggings and a tunic to stay warm and comfy, but by 1pm it was sunny and super warm out.  The rain decided to wait a day and now it is cold and damp out today and I am left with no leggings or skinny jeans to tuck into my wellies.  I guess it's time to pull out the colored stockings and shorts and go all Blossom up in here.  (Yeah, that's right, I use to watch Blossom.  She was the original tights and shorts girl.)

And yes that is a lobster on my living room wall.