Chicago Lakeview Taco Festival

A few weeks ago, I went to the Lakeview Taco Festival in Chicago. I had never been to this event before so I thought I would go. 

 

The event was free to attend. The festival focused on just tacos for food. The vendors sold tacos from local restaurants that were both traditional and speciality. 

 

 

I had a hard time finding vegan tacos. I did find one taco was the specially made vegan. But they were all out. You could order tacos without the meat though.

 

Besides food, the event also had two stages of live music with several bands. The live music was pretty good. They had a lot of cover bands.

 

It was a fun event overall. I would go again. Have you been to any festivals lately? Let me know in the comments. 

What are Your Favorite Halloween Costumes?

 

Halloween is a great time to dress up. I am curious what your favorite Halloween costumes you have been were.

Let me know by e-mailing: 

mythreadofthought@gmail.com

Include a photo and brief description of what you were dressed up. They can be old photos or more recent ones. You can even include ones of pets or group costumes. 

If I get enough, I will post them on this blog. I look forward to hearing from you.

Mother's Day

I thought I'd share some items that would be good to buy for Mother's Day (Which is May 10th this year). There is a 10% sale in my shop from May 5th-May 10th. It seems like I've had a lot of sales lately, but I guess that's okay. :)

Iridescent Blue Photo Frame



This frame is perfect for your mom to put a favorite photo in or for you to put a photo of you and your mother in.

Laundry List Sticky Note Pad



Whether it's for shopping, things she has to do around the house, things she has to do for work, etc., a journal with blank to-do list sticky notes can always come in handy.

Cupcake Desserts Cookbook



This is perfect for the mother who likes to cook (especially sweets). I gave my mom a cookbook for Christmas.

Love Deeply Inspiring Quote Greeting Card (Pink Version)



I didn't have time to make new Mother's Day card, but there are some greeting cards in my shop with general inspiring quotes that could make great gifts. This card has the quote, "To love deeply in one direction makes us more loving in all others."

I think I already know something I can give my mom. It's something I made for a class (I can't reveal what it is yet because my mom reads my blog sometimes, haha). Last year I tried making a handmade card that had seeds in it (so you could plant it afterwards). I can't remember if the seeds actually worked, but it was a fun idea to try. Mother's Day is a good holiday to give handcrafted things because they're a little more personal.

I made a new poll on this blog. I think I might do a poll from time to time. This one just asks if you keep a journal. I started journaling a lot more last year and I have kept 3 journals this year. I don't have a journal right now and I'm not sure when I'll start a new one (even though there is one journal I'm using for a class that I'm going to continue to keep) so it just made me curious if people keep journals.

I have my last final tonight (which is weird, I've never had a final on a Saturday night before). It doesn't really feel like a weekend to me now, but after that, I'll be completely done with classes. I'm excited to get out for the summer. :)

Earth Day, Craft Show and Recycled Items

Happy Earth Day! My college held a craft show type event for Earth Day so I decided to sell some of my crafts in it. I had fun doing it. It was busier than I thought it'd be and reminded me of a craft show I did at Esperanza last summer. One of my cards sold right away. It was a newer card and I didn't have the chance to get a photo of it. I collaged photos from a magazine I had from the 1950s. That was the only thing that sold, but I got lots of admirers and comments which was nice. It was also fun to see what other crafts and recycled items people were selling.

Since it's Earth Day, I thought I'd post some items I have in my Recycled Items.

I have a couple movie poster recycled journals. I want to make more like these in the future:

Hope Floats Movie Upcycled Journal



Center Stage Movie Upcycled Journal



I have some items made out of recycled books. The "I Am a Little Duck" is the first item I sold on Etsy:

I Am a Little Animal Upcycled Journal



Upcycled Swan Flyaway Journal



These are some items I made with vintage items, from magazines:

Best Wishes Red Birthday Greeting Card



Vintage Girl Coptic Bound Book



These items are altered journals. I started with an old journal that was already bound and redid the covers:

Asian Print Mini Upcycled Journal



Altered Octopus Spiral Journal



What are you doing to celebrate Earth Day?

New Greeting Cards

I listed some new greeting cards. I listed these greeting cards that use paper from vintage magazines:

Wavy Fudge Ice Cream Vintage Greeting Card



Wavy Blueberry Pie Vintage Greeting Card



These are some other new cards I've listed:

Wavy Blue Checked Doughnuts Card



Blue and White Flower Greeting Card



I'm working on some new journals. I got some new decorative paper so I'm using it with these journals. I'm also trying to list new items frequently. Besides Etsy, I've been really busy with school lately. I feel like I'm at the point of the semester where you have a lot of work in all your classes. Are there any art projects or crafts you're currently working on?

Vintage Valentine Greeting Card Sale

I sold this Vintage Valentine Greeting Card:



I think this is the first Valentine's Day item I've sold. I'm also giving away two greeting cards in my Valentine's Day giveaway.

Art Journaling Tutorial

Art journaling is is a method of journaling using illustration and artwork instead of just writing. It is not about creating a perfect picture, but allowing you to be imperfect and express yourself. I discovered art journaling online around 2008 (about the same time I opened my Etsy shop). Art journaling allows me to play with pictures and not just use words which can be harder for me because I think visually a lot.



Here are some tips to get started art journaling:

- Art journaling is all about expressing yourself so just experiment until you find what works best for you. Remember, you don't have to show your journal to anyone so don't worry about it turning out a certain way.
- Use different materials such as paint, glitter, fabric, decorative paper, etc. You can keep a box or folder where you keep things you find that you might want to use in your art journal (e.g. magazine cut outs, photographs, receipts, etc.).
- Play with using both text and photos/images.
- If you don't know what to journal about, journaling prompts can help get you started. Google "art journaling prompts" or "journaling prompts" for a list of ideas for what to journal about.
- Set aside time to art journal to help stay consistent. For example, you might decide to make an entry every night or every Sunday.
- If you need inspiration for art journaling, you can google "art journaling" to find a bunch of helpful blogs and photos. Flickr also has a lot of art journaling groups where people post photos/scans from their journals.

You can see some of my art journaling on my Flickr. If you need a journal to get started in, I sell some journals in my shop that would be perfect for art journaling. Do you art journal?

How to Make a Veggie Dog for Fourth of July

Grilling veggie dogs is a great way to celebrate Fourth of July. If is a fun way to enjoy an alternative to traditional hot dogs. Here’s a quick guide on how to barbecue them to perfection:

Choose the Best Veggie Dogs

Start by choosing a vegan veggie dog. Look for veggie dogs specifically designed for grilling so they hold up better on the grill and provide a realistic texture. My favorite brand right now is Lightlife Smart Dogs. Field Roast is another good choice for veggie dogs. Try their Signature Stadium Dog Plant Based Hot Dog. Beyond Meat has a hot dog form of their Beyond Sausage that is perfect for grilling. You can also make your own veggie hot dogs like this recipe from Fat Free Vegan that use pinto beans and vital wheat gluten. to give them texture. 

Grill the Veggie Dogs

Place the veggie dogs on the preheated grill using tongs. Rotate them occasionally for even cooking. Watch for grill marks which will add visual appeal and enhance the flavor of your veggie dogs. Cooking time varies, usually 5–10 minutes. 

Serve with Toppings

Once done, serve on a whole grain bun and top with your favorite toppings. Veggie dogs can be customized with a variety of fun toppings! Here are some ideas:

1. Classic Mustard and Ketchup: A timeless combination that works well with any hot dog, including veggie dogs.

2. Relish: S

   weet or dill relish complements the veggie dog nicely. You can also use dill or sweet pickles that are chopped. 
3. Hot Sauce or Sriracha: If you like a spicy kick, add hot sauce instead of ketchup.

4. Grilled Veggies: have you tried grilled vegetables? Use your favorite veggies like peppers or mushrooms for variety. Also try caramelized which will bring sweetness and depth of flavor.

5. Chopped Tomatoes: This is a great way to replace ketchup. They also add a burst of color. Try using fresh tomatoes. 

6. Vegan Cheese: Melted vegan cheese (such as Daiya cheddar) will take your veggie dog to the next level.

7. Sprouts or Microgreens: Add greens to your veggie dog. Use sprouts or microgreens. You can also add avocado slices which will pair well giving a creamy texture. 

Remember, the best toppings are the ones you enjoy the most! Feel free to mix and match to create your perfect veggie dog. 

Have you ever made a veggie dog? Let me know in the comments what you like on your veggie dog. 

How to Make Fourth of July S’Mores

Here’s a delightful twist on traditional s’mores for your Fourth of July celebration: red, white and blue S’mores. These patriotic treats are easy to make and perfect for your Fourth of July party or barbecue. I found the original recipe from Sheri Silver. Let’s get started! 

Ingredients:

• Graham crackers 
• 1 cup red candy melts
• 1 cup blue candy melts 
• Decorative sprinkles
• Vegan marshmallows (I use Dandies to make them vegan, but you can use any brand)
• Chocolate squares (I use vegan dark chocolate)

Instructions:

1. Melt the red candy melts in the top half of a double boiler set over simmering water. 

2. Dip a graham cracker into the bowl of red candy melts and gently tap on the rim to remove any excess. Place on a lined sheet pan to cool. Repeat with as many graham crackers as you want.

3. Top with patriotic sprinkles if using.

4. Repeat the above process with the blue candy melts (do not top with sprinkles, if using). Let set.

5. To roast your marshmallows, you can do using a campfire or stovetop. Just find a stick in the woods or use a long metal skewer and toast the marshmallow over the flame until toasty. You can also use an oven or microwave as another method to toast s’mores (do this after placing them on a graham cracker).

6. To assemble the s’mores, start with a blue graham cracker. Add 2-3 squares of chocolate. Add 1-2 marshmallows on top of the chocolate. Gently press a red graham cracker with decorative sprinkles on top.

7. Serve warm and enjoy!