I have been a maker for a long time. I learned to knit when I was 12 and I made my first quilt when I was 16. Throughout my childhood, my mom always made sure there was always a new craft or skill to learn. We did origami, we played with K’Nex, there were Perler beads, we did loom weaving, we made friendship bracelets, we tried calligraphy, I made accessories for my American Girl dolls. And there was so much hot glue.

Our house goes through a LOT of candles. Our current favorites are from Gingersnapped Candles.

For most of my plushies, when I want to add eyes, I use a product called safety eyes. They are made of plastic and have a post on the back that goes through your item. Then there is another plastic-y/rubbery pieces that slides over the post such that it is a one-way operation. The only way to remove the eye from your item would be to cut the rubber piece off the back. This makes the eyes very safe for plushies made for kids, as the eyes are unlikely to be ripped off and swallowed.

A knit stitch is not a square. It is slightly wider than it is tall. As a result, if you want to design your own charts, you have to use special knitting graph paper. If you use regular paper to design the chart, then knit from that, your design will end up looking too short.

Pencils are a must in any maker’s shop. I love getting ones with funny sayings on them, especially the Kamala Harris set from Pensults (sadly, no longer in production). But equally important are good accessories. We all know the erasers on the pencils are crap, so I go with a standalone eraser. I have a classic Milan pink eraser as well as a kneaded eraser (brand unknown, purchased at Artmart). My favorite pencil sharpener is the Prismacolor Scholar sharpener, which is also great for colored pencils. Bonus points for grid paper notebooks!

Supporting small businesses is so important. No one at a big box store cares if you bought something except maybe a handful of execs. Buying something from a small business 100% makes a person happy. It puts food on the table. It helps them to continue to be creative and successful.

When you buy from a small business, an actual person does a happy dance.

Prepping for a market is always stressful. Making sure you are bringing everything is a huge concern. Have to remember my card reader, business cards, Venmo signs, table signs, big sign, Loops of Gray mask and vendor apron. My day-of emergency kit always includes extra labels, markers, white-out, things to attach the labels to the item, binder clips, scissors, and zip-ties. I did forget my packing tape this time, but that's usually in the tubs too. I also didn't bring enough hangers, so I had to get creative with a few shawls. :)

It's been a crazy year and I am so thankful that the vaccine has allowed us to hang out in person again. I've met a ton of new crafting people and it's been really inspiring and motivating.

I am thankful for a stable life situation that allows me to make and hustle and help solve people's crafty problems with creativity. I love bringing their visions to life with my hands.

I hope you all have a wonderful day with family and friends, whether in-person or virtual, sharing a meal, stories, gratitude and hope.

Shawl pattern is Wavedeck by Kate Atherly

Trello is the main way I keep track of all my Loops of Gray projects. I put things in various lists and move them along as they progress as well as manage their priority.

Today I want to give a shout-out to my friend Megan who runs Urban Owl out in Kansas City. She makes awesome and hilarious doormats plus a portion of all sales go to a local animal rescue. She also fosters dogs including this beautiful Mabel who is available for adoption!

The maker in your life may not need anything specific to their craft, but they are sure to appreciate thoughtful gifts from other makers. Here are some general suggestions for wonderful and delightful things that makers will enjoy.

In addition to more “traditional” hand crafts like knitting and quilting, I also do a bunch of general making. I can cut and glue up my own custom foam board display stands. I can make envelopes, I can cut a foam chair cushion, I can make pincushions, I can take apart a ceiling fan. There are all sorts of makers out there who love to be creative, try new things, and support other makers.