Helby's Hatch

Spring is in the air - 24 of 365

2012-02-11T08:14:00.000-08:00

Sitting out on the back steps the other day, I saw signs of spring popping up - flowers starting to bloom, birds fluttering around, squirrels...well they're always around.

I've recently started buying bags of oranges from the local farmer's market. One bag can last me a few weeks, but I start to feel the pinch when they're getting a tad too old. But what else can I do with them?
Then I found these instructions from HGTV on making bird feeders out of orange skins. So I used what I had laying around my kitchen. Extra oranges, almond butter (that I'm not too fond of but haven't really found a use for yet), raw sunflower seeds and peanuts.

I'm sure I'll try treating the squirrels (who will feed off of this than the birds well, the piggies) to surprises in the baskets - different nuts, maybe fresh berries, raisins, etc. What did they do to be this spoiled?

Spring cleaning - 22 & 23 of 365

2012-02-09T10:10:00.000-08:00

Spring is just around the corner, so I thought I'd start some early cleaning and organization.

First up - a new garbage bag for my car, courtesy of One Yard Wonders. I'm not really one to clutter up my car - the inside is practically empty - but every now and then some trash ends up in the cup holders. So now my trash has a home.

Next, I've seen some Duct tape projects around on the web, so I thought I'd give one a shot. I drew up a design on a box I had laying around and cut out the pieces with a box cutter. Using some scotch tape, I lined up all the pieces to make sure they fit.

I deconstructed the pieces, and wrapped each piece individually with the duct tape and put it all together! (and threw a sticker on it)

Cork tray - 21 of 365

2012-02-06T07:57:00.000-08:00

Joe and I are winos. We admit it. I'm also a kind of a hoarder. In this case, it's corks. It started off with a small basket... but eventually had to buy a big ole jar to hold all the corks.
But why not make stuff from them? I've made trivets from them before but you can only have so many trivets.
Then Joe gave me the idea to make serving trays.
I picked up some untreated wooded trays and got right to work:

Materials:
Wooden trays
Spray can of primer
Spray can of paint
Paint brush (for touch-ups)
A lot of Corks
Cutting mat
Sharp blade (I used a box cutter)
Strong adhesive glue

	2 big rules: Spray paint in a well-ventilated area, and protect your workspace - I covered the lawn with brown paper. 1. First spray the tray with primer, about 2 or 3 coats. This is to avoid wasting the colored paint as it would all soak into the wood. Follow instructions on the can in regards to coats.
	2. Once the wood is primed and completely dry, start spraying with the colored paint in a sweeping motion. Once again, follow can instructions.
	3. Once you're done with your coats, you may need to do some touchups, especially in the corners. I wasn't able to find the matching color in bottle form, so I ended up spraying the paint into a puddle, and touching up with a small paint brush. Let dry completely.
	4. On a protected surface, like a cutting mat, cut the corks to the desired height. I did mine at about a third of an inch. Put a drop of glue on the back of the cork and position inside the tray. (I arranged all the corks first to get the best fit, then glued into place.)

So now I'm expecting breakfast in bed more often........

One yard wonders - 19 & 20 of 365

2012-02-05T07:33:00.000-08:00

Thumbing through my One Yard Wonders book, I found a few more projects I had to try out. AND got rid of more of my stash fabric, though I'm still unable to close my fabric drawer completely...

Plushie elephant with doll eyes:

Travel jewelry roll. This will definitely come in handy for all the work trips I have coming up.

Separate zipper pouches for my necklaces and such, and a ribbon across the width to attach earrings to they don't get all tangled with my necklaces (like they usually do!)

Spring in linen form - 18 of 365

2012-02-03T07:23:00.000-08:00

I thought I'd take a stab at making a shirt from scratch from a pattern again. It's been awhile, mostly because I've never been blown away with the finished project. The chest wouldn't look right, the shoulders were too bunchy, etc. But whaddya know? It turned out great!
I used Butterick pattern #4684. I was a bit concerned was the v-neck - points and I don't get along that well. But to my surprise, I conquered it!

So now I think I've created a monster. Patterns were on sale at the store the other day, so I picked up a bunch. We'll see what happens...

Spring reading

2012-02-01T09:14:00.000-08:00

So, I was a bit late with my last reading schedule. My goal was to have my last set of books read by the end of the year. Turns out the last book carried over a couple weeks. Oops. So for spring, I'm getting a head start.

Hootie and the blankie - 16 & 17 of 365

2012-01-30T07:49:00.000-08:00

For a friend who had a baby a few month ago, I decided to whip up a ribbon blanket. I never heard of these until recently, but supposedly they enhance the senses, or something like that - differently textures, different sizes, etc. One side is pink fleece, the other side a beige muslin, surrounded by ribbon loops.

Then, based on the owl that's on one of the ribbons, I made a matching owl plushie, stuffed with poly-fil micro beads so he's squishy.

Wintery - 14 & 15 of 365

2012-01-26T09:12:00.000-08:00

Though it's in the '60s and '70s in LA this month, the chill of winter hasn't escaped me.
While I was home for the holidays, my mother requested I make her a hat. So, a few weeks later, the hat is done:

I was also asked to make Victorian-like ivory snowflakes for some on Etsy:

Can we move on to spring please?

Wordless Wednesday - A rainy day at the zoo

2012-01-25T08:30:00.000-08:00

Laptop cozy - 11 of 365

2012-01-23T07:39:00.000-08:00

For Christmas, I had asked for a book I happened upon while browsing Amazon - One Yard Wonders.

What a great way to use up this stock of leftover fabric I have!
My first project was based on the instructions for a laptop sleeve. But unfortunately, I don't really have 1 yard or more of one fabric. So I improvised and matched up some of my scraps.
The pattern also called for a dog applique to go on the flap. Eh. So from some leftover fabric, I cut out an intact flower and heat-n-bond'd it to the flap.

And I still have some of this fabric leftover. So I may be making matching cord wraps...

A Taste of Spring - 12 & 13 of 365

2012-01-20T07:58:00.000-08:00

I save jars. I always find a good use for them - storage containers for food, storage for craft items, but most importantly - candles.

Making my own candles is so much cheaper than buying from stores, especially soy. Once I save up a half-dozen jars or so, I heat up a batch.
I normally like simplicity - a plain clear jar, plain white wax. But I saw this idea for a burlap-wrapped jar and just had to try it. Very simple - a strip of burlap, jute cord, and hot glue. Bam, you're done.

I've also seen a few sites online where people have made their own glass beads, so I thought I'd give it a try. I didn't realize how easy it was.
You start off with a clear glass tile. (I got mine from Olivia Pearl Designs.) Cut an image to the size of the tile. Smear a very thin coat of Mod Podge on the back of the tile, and affix the image. Let dry for a minute or two and you got yourself a unique tile! I've seen this done for button, magnets, and even jewelry, so I'm sure you'll see more of these from me in the future.

Stripping - 9 & 10 of 365

2012-01-18T08:27:00.000-08:00

Today's crafts (3% on my way to 365 - Woo!) include strips.

First up, I made myself a new ornament can. That's right - I said I was done with Christmas crafts but I lied! Muah ha ha ha.
At work we receive gift baskets from vendors, one of which included a can of nuts. Took us a few weeks to finish the nuts, but when we did, it was mine! All mine. I ripped off the label, washed it out, and glued on a strip of Christmas scrapbook paper. I now have a sturdy container for my mini-ornaments:

Next, I found these instructions from CrafterHours. I've had a t-shirt in my closet I've been hesitant to throw out. Just a plain brown tee, several years old. But just due to many years use, my deoderant turned the armpits kinda got crusty/discolored so I really only wore it as an undershirt. Once I found this idea, I was able to revitalize it and give it a few more wears! I also took it one step further and added some color to the sleeves.

I used strips of fabric which you may find familiar - the same fabric I used in my quilt block of the month block. As long as I don't wrap myself in the finished quilt wearing this tee around other people, I should be fine...

Quilt block of the month - 7 & 8 of 365

2012-01-14T08:23:00.000-08:00

It seemed like fate - at almost the same time, I decided a project to create 365 craft items this year, and then Craftsy.com announced they were holding quilted block online classes.

January's lessons included two block, with a 'slashing' technique. I found this fairly simple - no corner points to worry about, no matching up triangles, etc. A great start to a new quilt!

Also, a new sub resolution I made was to use nicer fabric in my projects. Thus, for this quilt, I'm using fabric I'm buying from this awesome little shop close to where I work - Sew Modern. An awesome selection of fun quilting fabrics. I can't wait to go get more!

Valentine's butterfly - #6 of 365

2012-01-12T08:27:00.000-08:00

Though I've never been a big fan of Valentine's Day, the idea for this just popped into my head the other day while procrastinating at work.

The butterfly is made of red, pink, and beige felt and stitched on blue cotton fabric with embroidery thread.

For some reason, 'flies' looks misspelled to me though I know it's right...

This item on sale now in my Etsy shop.

Santa kit - #5 of 365

2012-01-09T07:52:00.000-08:00

Last post with Christmas crafts, I swear!

A few years ago, I was given a kit for a quilted Santa candle mat. For one reason or another, I just never got around to making it. I decided this season was the time. I opened up the box, all set to go, read the instructions, and BAM - crafting block. I didn't not understand the instructions at all. Bummer.

The Happy Hollow Designs kit included the fabric, accessories, and Fusible Quick Grid.

So I took the kit back East with me for Christmas to have my quilting-expert mother decipher the instructions. Once it was told to me in English, it clicked.
I came home and New Year's weekend, got to work. It was much easier than the instructions made it sound. The fusible grid doesn't make sewing blocks together easier, but it does make it a bit faster.

A Peanut's Christmas - #4 of 365

2012-01-06T07:27:00.000-08:00

Earlier this week I spent some time working on the last character of my Peanuts Christmas collection - Woodstock:

which means...

It's finally done! I attempted to do a set number of characters as I could before the end of the year. And they here's they are:

Maybe next year I'll add a few more characters to the group:

Wordless Wednesday - Visit with Dante

2012-01-04T08:32:00.000-08:00

This year's Goals

2012-01-03T08:32:00.000-08:00

I'm happy to say that in 2011, I accomplished quite a few of my goals:

I volunteered quite a bit. I continued to help out with the dog rescue my friend works for, but I had chosen the LA Zoo as my primary spot. I try to go at least once a month, mostly hanging out in the petting zoo with the senior goats (I'm not mocking old people, seriously, they're goats), but sometimes walk around certain zoo areas, answering questions and monitoring for bad guest behavior. This year, I've volunteered enough hours that I can do Orangutan watch, which means I get to babysit the 'rangs while they're out in their yard on display and answer questions about them. I'm hoping to get trained for that soon.
I kept up with my crafting, and actually had a few sales in my Etsy shop.
The goal I didn't accomplish. Well, I guess I did it halfway. I wanted to focus on my health. I did visit the dentist - had some work done, and a couple cleanings, and now my teeth are in tiptop shape. My weight on the other hand...
The first half of the year went pretty well. I was keeping up with exercising at home - walking at lunch, doing some cardio at home. But then it all went to hell when I started a busy travel season for work, outta-town guests, more travel for work, personal travel, then prepping for the holidays. Bye Bye exercise routine.

So, I have made a new set of goals for myself this year:

Keep up with my volunteering. Maybe try to find some large events to help out at. Maybe the Renegade craft fair needs help...
Kickstarting the weight loss again. But I need more motivation. This year, hopefully within the next week or two, I'm joining the gym. And this isn't one of those things where you join the gym, and then just stop going after 1-2 months. When I belonged to a gym before, I was very loyal, going 3-4 days a week for years. Then we moved away from that gym and just never signed up with another one. But I just didn't know how to eat back then, so I never really saw results. Now I know how to eat, and exercising at home isn't working, so it's time to combine the two.
This may be impossible, but I'm definitely going to try: 365 crafts in 365 days. I've already started the year with making my own wreaths (see post here), and I made two, so that counts as two, right? Right.

So, #3 in my 365 crafts of 2012 is a two-toned blanket I made for Etsy shop:
Custom orders always welcome!

Here's to a prosperous 2012!

Happy New Year!

2012-01-02T07:52:00.000-08:00

I'll get to my 2012 plans on of these days, but for now, I'm taking advantage of after-Christmas sales!

My biggest steal - several sets of LED lights for about $4 per box! Awesome.

I looked around the clearance Christmas decor, but I couldn't find any small pine wreaths. My plan is to have small lit wreaths hanging in our living room windows, but other people must have grabbed them all up. So, I took matters into my own hands and decided to make my own. And with these clearance sales, supplies were dirt cheap!

	Grab some garland - make sure it's wired! Shape it to the size wreath you want and cut with wire cutters. (I wanted mine thicker so I doubled up).
	As I doubled up, I twisted the rounds together to make sure they wouldn't separate. Twist the ends together to form the circle.Adorn with ribbon, picks, bows, etc and voila! A handmade wreath.

So next year, I'll have pre-made wreaths ready to go right up in my windows! (And it's always a nice surprise to open my storage boxes and find a decoration I had totally forgotten about!)

Pajama eaters

2011-12-30T11:06:00.000-08:00

A few months ago, I found a pattern online for Pajama monsters. I filed it away in the back of my head and thought - Yes! This will be a gift for the kids in the family.
As Christmas grew closer, the thought of making monsters seemed less appealing to me. But I still thought it was a cute idea.

As I browsed Old Navy's website, I saw some adorable pajamas. (on sale, of course!) And then it struck me - I'll make 'monsters' to match the pajamas! Once the pj's were delivered, I started scribbling some pattern ideas.

I was able to alter the pattern from ..... enough to make a Polar Bear pillow and an Owl pillow. And stuffed inside their bellies - the pajamas!

I made these pillows with soft fleece. But I do think next time I should use those soft beads rather than stuffing to fill the pillow to make them even squishier.

"Greeting cards have all been sent..."

2011-12-27T08:12:00.000-08:00

I LOVE Christmas cards. Especially hilarious ones, that are just slightly wrong. I believe my favorite one we've ever sent out has this:

A few years ago, we picked up a book of postcards from the creators of SomeEcards.com so everyone got their own unique Christmas card, such as:

One we were considering buying this year, but opted out:

This year, we sent out two different cards. I apologize if you didn't get the one you wanted, but you can deal...

Did you get any great cards I haven't mentioned?

Here's to a happy new year!

"I never thought it was such a bad little tree."

2011-12-24T07:54:00.000-08:00

Well, I wasn't able to complete my Charlie Brown collection before Christmas, but I WAS able to whip up the tree before heading out for my flight east...

...and it took a lot less time and effort than I expected.
I know you can buy the Charlie Brown tree in stores lately, but for the sizes of the dolls I made, that tree would be monstrous. So why not make my own?

Materials
Wired tree garland
Brown floral tape
Small box (I used a small gift box from gifted candy)
Piece of floral foam
Light blue fleece

Cut three different lengths of the garland (the longest one being the branch the ornament will hang from.)
Using floral tape, tightly wind the tape around the base of the branches and wrap upwards, eventually separating the three branches by taping each individually. Leave 1-2 inches of garland untaped at the end of each branch. Bend the branches as needed to get the desired look.
Place piece of foam in the box. Poke a hole big enough in the foam to stick in the trunk of the tree.
Loosely wrap fleece around the base of the tree to cover the box, and hang the ornament.

Coworker christmas

2011-12-19T08:11:00.000-08:00

Morale at work has been down lately. Tons of work, low pay, low respect, lots of b.s. promises, etc. So I try when I can to bring a little fun into the mix. The other day, I brought a full tin of homemade cookies to the office, with the intent it would last the week - it lasted the day.

So I thought I'd make up a little something for everybody to surprise them with fun little gifts.

I knew I would use the $1 pack of Christmas scrapbook paper I picked up at the store someday!
I found the instructions for this origami wreath at Sandy's Space. But to make them ornament sized, I halved the paper squares to 3 inches.

A small gift that's actually useful made sense for the office environment, so I made these little matching sets of a paper pad, magnetic bookmark, binder clips, and a pencil (not pictured). I found the idea for the paper pad at BlueBird Sews. I picked up enough paper so everyone had a different design set.

As far as I could tell, they seemed delightfully surprised when they came in to the office that morning. Every little bit helps!

The stockings were hung...

2011-12-16T08:28:00.000-08:00

...by the bookshelf with care?

In the 9 years we've been out living on our own, we've never hung stockings. Never had them. But the time has come!

Unfortunately, we don't have a fireplace/mantel in our place. But we do have a nice sturdy bookshelf! I tied some ribbon around the sides, prettied it up with some bows, and was able to hang our stockings with small clothespins.

Both stockings were very simple and quick to make. Here are the patterns:
Elf stockings: Sew4Home
Paw stockings: Disney's Santa Buddies

"Ugh! I've been kissed by a dog!"

2011-12-14T10:23:00.000-08:00

The next installment to my homemade Christmas Peanuts collection: Snoopy!

Snoopy was actually very easy to make, compared to the kids. The body is in one piece, unlike the kids, and I just tacked on the ears, feet, and collar.

The last cast member I planned to make this year is Woodstock. Stressing a bit about him though - Will I have time?! There's so much other things I need to do/make before I make the big trip back to the snowy east coast.

Weekend warrior

2011-12-12T07:42:00.000-08:00

This had been a very busy weekend.

Saturday started with the 2nd annual Renegade Craft Fair near downtown LA. Picked up a few unique locally designed t-shirts!

Once getting my craft fix for the day, I came home to a kitchen stocked up and ready for holiday baking! Several hours later.... (Whiskey balls not pictured)

(You can grab some of the recipes starting tomorrow at Eat Well and Prosper.)

Sunday - the one and only and always fun Venice Canals Christmas Boat Parade! Residents (and for a small rental fee, the public) decorate pontoons, canoes, etc, with lights, trees, and even karaoke machines for a full on festive evening.

Oy - now to get back to business with finishing Christmas presents and wrapping! Oh yeah, and work.

Winter reading

2011-12-05T08:05:00.000-08:00

I've set up a pretty difficult feat for myself - to read these three books by the end of the year. That's 4 weeks to read 3 novels. Can I do it? We'll see...

O Tannenbaum

2011-12-02T08:31:00.000-08:00

Thursday night, we got to experience a little bit of Christmas in our own neighborhood - the Annual Downtown Tree Lighting Celebration in Culver City.
With a pretty big gathering, the party started with a few carols sung by the Culver City High School Chamber Singers:

Then, the highschoolers were outshined by the Linwood Howe Elementary School Choir, who kept complaining about the brightness of the lights:

I then learned that:
a. Culver City has it's own mayor, named O'Leary.
b. He's actually Irish.

What made this event great was the participation of the local businesses. The visit with Santa and the free snack table were donated by and staffed by nearby restaurants, shops, firehouse, even the optometrist. It's not very often you see a local community come together and organize an event so flawlessly. And in return, much of the crowd then patronized the businesses...
A small town feel in the big city.

Snowball Fight!

2011-12-01T07:36:00.000-08:00

Ok, I live in LA. No snow here. But I can pretend, right?

I came up with this idea last year, but I've finally decided to make them. And they were much easier than I anticipated.

	With the help of a template from my friend, Martha, I cut out six pieces of soft, wooly fabric (use anything you'd like - felt, satin, cotton, fur, etc.)
	Using a 1/4" seam allowance, I stitched one piece to the side of another, right sides together. I did this five times and left the last set unstitched.
	Turn the ball right-side out. If you're using wool, fur, etc, use a needle to pull out any of the loose fabric that got caught in the seams.
	Stuff, and handstitch closed.

I also got the crocheting bug, so I made myself a hat, scarf, and fingerless glove set! :

All set for the fight!

Crochet Basketcase

2011-11-28T08:16:00.000-08:00

I've gone a bit crazy with crochet lately. After I had made a blanket for my coworker before she left for maternity leave, another colleague of mine commissioned me for 2 baby blankets. Since November is a crazy month with the holidays and starting the homemade portions of my Christmas presents, I needed to start these asap.

The first blanket she requested was a basketweave pattern.

Had to watch some YouTube videos to make sure I was doing it right as the written instructions weren't completely clear to me. But once I got the stitches down, I was on my way. I admit, this is a beautiful pattern. And for a baby about to be born in the Midwest, this blanket will definitely keep him warm through the cold months. The weave pattern, to appear on both sides, creates a double-thick blanket, so be prepared to use a lot of yarn!

The second blanket was this cute star pattern. She gave me the colors she wanted and off I went. I liked this pattern a lot as I could go into my crochet-zombie mode. Once the initial center star was done, I didn't have to count much anymore and just stitched away with my eyes glued to the TV.

Small Business Saturday

2011-11-23T08:06:00.000-08:00

November 26 marks the 2nd annual Small Business Saturday.

I'm sure you've heard all the raucous surrounding Occupy Wall Street, bank greed, class warfare, etc. And maybe you're turned off by the thought of group protests. But you can still do your part easily and make a big impact. How?

Sure, on Black Friday, everybody will be waiting in lines at midnight to get the best deals at Best Buy, Target, Walmart, and other large chain corporate stores. But how about you sleep in that day? Maybe go for a walk to work off all those calories you ate the day before. And on Saturday, celebrate all the small business owners in your area.

Small businesses are what make this country what it is. The American dream - owning your own business, setting your own hours, be your own boss, building something that your future family generations can inherit, and possibly making a difference in your community.

These people are your neighbors, your family, your friends. It's time to support them during this economic crisis. Take the pledge to shop small at http://www.facebook.com/SmallBusinessSaturday.

"All I want is my fair share"

2011-11-21T07:40:00.000-08:00

Found some time this last week to work on the next installment of my Peanut's Christmas scene.
Here's Sally!

I was a bit worried about what to do with her hair. How do you make curls out of felt? After letting this project incubate, I came with up the idea to just make poof balls from the felt for her bangs. And I think it worked!

Wordless Wednesday - Cougar Wine

2011-11-16T13:41:00.000-08:00

Quilting for kids

2011-11-11T08:20:00.000-08:00

Wow - I can't believe I started these scrap quilt squares over two years ago! I almost forgot about them until I received an email from Craftsy.com. The goal: Collect 1,000 quilted blankets by December 15th for Project Linus. Well, I practically have the quilt half done. I already had about 20 squares. Why not put them all together and donate it?

Project Linus is a nonprofit group with chapters all around the country that collect homemade blankets for millions of children in need.

So why not? Tis the season to think of others, right?

While piecing the squares and borders, I realized just with the few number of quilt projects I've done since then, I've become a much better quilter. My corners are sharper, my measurements better. And it only took two years!

Finally, it has all come together. And off to the post office it goes!

Thanksgiving Pillows

2011-11-07T07:30:00.000-08:00

Let the tryptophan kick in!
After gorging on all the turkey, potatoes, and pies, take a nap on a festive pillow! Here's an easy tutorial for a removable pillowcase:

	1. Print out a high quality image on photo transfer paper. (Don't forget to mirror image the graphic if there's text! You want it to print out backwards.) Following the transfer paper instructions, iron the graphic on to the fabric - I used a tea-colored muslin. (Any text will appear the right way once ironed.)
	2. Stitch the graphic onto the fabric to secure. I did a tight zigzag stitch - twice, to make it nice and thick.
	3. I then figured out how to cut my fabric strips based on the size of my pillow (12" x 17"). My graphic with a muslin border measured 8" x 11". I then cut the patterned fabric to fill out the rest of the front side, adding 1/4" to each side of the strip for a seam allowance. I then attached the strips to the muslin log cabin-style. This is where my 1/4" foot came in handy! If you don't have one, feel free to use a fabric pen/chalk to make sure you keep a straight and even allowance.
	4. The Backing: I cut two pieces of the patterned fabric the height of the pillow (+1/4" seam allowance on all sides) and about 2/3 of the width. On one end of each piece, I stitched a 1/2" hem to hide the raw edges.
	5. This part is optional. I wanted to add some piping along the outside of the pillow with some cotton cording and a coordinating fabric. To make the piping, cut a strip of fabric enough to fold over the cording with about 1/2 inch of fabric to spare. Using a zipper foot, stitch right up along side the cording.
	6. On a flat surface, lay the pillowcase front right side up. If using piping, lay the piping on top, matching the raw edge to the case front. Right sides down, lay the two backing pieces on top. Pin in place to make sure the piping doesn't move on you. Stitch as close to the piping as you can. Take your time around the corners - they can be tricky! Stitch all the way around.
	7. Turn the case right-side out and stuff with your pillow! (If you didn't use piping, make sure to trim your corners to the stitching so once you flip, you'll have nice pointy corners.)

Who you gonna call?

2011-10-28T07:45:00.000-07:00

Finally finished!

Well, these have actually been done for quite awhile. I just never got my lazy butt out to a store to pick up frames.

But here they are - my Ghostbusters triumvirate:

Each design measures about 3.5"x3.5". I found images online, the cropped, resized, and flipped each image and printed on photo transfer paper. Ironed the images on to some cheap muslin, and the fun began.

With invisible thread, I hand-stitched seed beads in rows to match the color of the image, often going back through some of the beads to secure them down.

Picked up some shiny scrapbook paper to use as matting and voila! Another addition to our pop-culture wall of art!

Joe mentioned that I should submit these to the next Crazy for Cult at Gallery 1988. But we'll see. I'll definitely keep that in mind...

Original Stay Puft post
Original Slimer post

What's this? There's Magic in the air...

2011-10-24T08:18:00.000-07:00

It's not even Halloween yet and I'm starting to get the Christmas fever! Which as you know is the warmest, coziest fever ever...

An idea for a large ornament/small wall-hanging popped into my head a few weeks ago, and once I started the project, I couldn't stop. Here's a taste:

I originally planned just to make these as the homemade portion of Christmas presents this year (spoiler alert, family) but they turned out so well, I plopped some in my Etsy store and see how they do.

All Hallow's Quilt

2011-10-17T07:45:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago, I had seen a Halloween composition made of scrapbook paper. Unfortunately, I had printed out the picture, but neglected to print the website it came from! D'oh! So I'm unable to give the artist credit, but if you happen to recognize it, let me know!
Anywho, the layout of the design totally reminded me of a quilt, so I took it upon myself to make a fabric version:

I appliqued the images with Heat'N'Bond and a straight stitch to secure it to some scrap fabric I had. I was recently given a bag of buttons that weren't going to be used, and I happened to find some Halloween-themed buttons that I attached: a spider from the witch hat, an acorn on the leaf, a pumpkin on the cat's bow tie, and stars by the moon. So glad I was actually able to put some of these to use!

I've made quilts before and my one regret has always been the binding. Sure, sometimes my triangles/squares don't line up exactly, my points might be somewhat rounded, but the binding - always sucked.
So for this project, I actually did some research, referenced some of my quilting books, and took my time when it came to the binding. And whodathunk - this is the best binding I have done! If I do say so myself...

Very encouraging...so you may see more quilts in the future!

Wordless Wednesday - Apple picking

2011-10-12T08:08:00.000-07:00

Gone batty

2011-10-10T07:53:00.000-07:00

I saw this post last year from Ameroonie Designs, but never got around to making my own, until now.
As I already have throw pillows on my couches, I've started making pillow covers for them for the different seasons rather than new pillows. Totally saves space in my seasonal decoration storage which is already bursting at the seams.
I happened to have quite a bit of fleece and felt laying around, the perfect materials for the pillows!

1. For each pillow, I measured out 2 1/2 times the width of the pillow from black fleece, with about a 1/2 inch allowance for the top and bottom. I then folded over the edges for the cover's opening and stitched, so we won't see the raw edge once the pillow is inserted.
2. I cut 15 bats out of the colored felt. I'd like to say I planned to use two different colors here, but my original plan of all orange bats failed when I realized I ran out of orange. So purple it was!
3. I lined up the bats where they should be placed and pinned. Then, using matching thread, I stitched the bat bodies down, leaving the wings free. Flap as they can, they won't get away from me! Muah ha ha ha.....

4. Anyways... with right sides together, I lined up the bats as the pillow face and folded over the back flaps. I pinned the bottom of the fleece where I should stitch, as well as showing me where the side edges of the pillow should be. I stitched about 1/2" seam at the top and bottom, sure to go back over the hemmed opening seams to make sure they don't pull out from the top.
5. Turned right side out, shoved in the pillow, and voila! A festive, cheap, and best of all, easy pillowcase.

"I am the shadow on the moon at night"

2011-10-05T07:45:00.000-07:00

Happy October! Crisp air, earlier evenings, leaves changing colors - well, not so much here in LA, but you get the point. It's the start to my favorite time of year!

This year, I've planned to decorate my living room to the theme of 'The Nightmare Before Christmas.' Previously, I whipped up a few of the characters:
Oogie Boogie
Jack and another Jack
Zero

So this past week, I made some character silhouette candles.

Easy and quick to make! Here's how:

Materials
Black scrapbook paper
Candle holders
Modge Podge
Foam brush
Exacto knife and cutting board

1. Using these patterns (click here!), cut out the stencils and trace the designs onto the black paper.
2. With the knife, slice out the images.
3. With the foam brush, spread a thin layer of Modge Podge on the glass. Apply image. Cover with another thin layer of the podge.
4. With a damp paper towel, gently wipe up some of the exposed glue and let dry.

Right back at it

2011-09-29T08:14:00.000-07:00

Well, I'm back. Back to back trips in San Diego then Chicago. Granted, I had a fantastic time, but I'm so glad to be home and back to normal! In the few days I've been back, I finished up a few projects I started what seems so long ago.

The next installment of my beaded homage to The Ghostbusters - Slimer!

Also, my coworker is ready to pop any day now, and I had whipped up this hooded blanket a few weeks ago. Made with an off-white yarn, I recently decided it needed a little bit of color, so I added a green single-crocheted border.

You can find the pattern at LionBrand.com.

Prepare yourself - Halloween crafts coming soon!

Wordless Wednesday - Chicago Architectural Tour

2011-09-21T12:35:00.000-07:00

Door bashing

2011-09-12T08:09:00.000-07:00

The other day, I just happened to peek behind our bedroom door, and noticed the doorstop at the bottom of the wall was broken, and there was a slight indent in the wall from the doorknob. In an effort to prevent any further damage, I decided to make a new door stop... But I'm cheap. Too cheap to go buy one.

So instead, I made my own. I picked up some wooden wheels from the craft store which seemed to be the perfect size.
I slathered a couple coats of paint on top, letting dry between layers. Then sprayed a clear glossy acrylic coat on top (be sure to do outside! The fumes aren't fun to inhale).
Once dry, I added some soft squishy felt to the backside (shaped to the wheel size) so that the wheel isn't banged directly against the wall.
Found a screw long enough to fit through the wheel and into the wall, and with a head large enough not to fit right through the wheel.

So, for the cost of about $2, since I had most of the supplies in stock, I made myself colorful and cute doorstops!

"I never eat December snowflakes...

2011-09-08T08:29:00.000-07:00

...I always wait until January."

Well, I waited long enough to create my next addition to the Peanut Christmas gang - Lucy.

If you haven't been following, my goal over the next few months is to make the complete (or almost complete) set from "A Charlie Brown Christmas" special. Charlie Brown, check. Linus, check. Lucy, check. Sally may be up next!

I think Lucy has been the most fun/interesting to do so far. The hair was definitely a challenge, as a flat image of curly hair doesn't give me much to work with. The coat buttons and shoes were also a fun to make.

There may a break for awhile until the next doll as I'll be out of town for two weeks. But I'll get right back to work as soon as I can!

The watering hole

2011-09-05T08:10:00.000-07:00

Sometimes I have a hard time remembering to water my forest of plants I have in the apartment. And some need watered every week, some every other week, some multiple times a week. My overstuffed brain sometimes can't handle it.
Then I saw an idea for a plant waterer. Lord knows I have plenty of bottles around. For my larger plants, I took some empty glass wine/lemonade bottles, filled them with water, and stuck it mouth down into the dirt. The idea is that the water will pour into the soil as needed. When the soil is saturated, water won't come out. Thus, no need to keep checking if the soil is dry. The plant should basically water itself, and all I need to do is refill the bottle as necessary.

Will this work? Time will tell. As well as dead plants.

Trifecta of dreams

2011-09-01T10:14:00.000-07:00

So I slept pretty bad last night. No real reason. Just kept waking up. The good that came out of it though is that I had some odd dreams. Should've written down the details on some, but I was able to remember quite a bit:

Had a fight with Neil Patrick Harris. We were in some basement and arguing about something, and I kept pushing him away. I turned my back to him a started walking away. I looked back towards him and saw him coming at me with a bat. I shrieked. I'm not sure if I shrieked only in my dream, but I may have when I woke up. Only Joe and the cats would know for sure.
I was watching a Batman movie. The Adam West version. But it was darker. Batman was running around some shipyard with two other people trying to get the bad guys. At one point, his right arm got chopped off. They tied up the sleeve of his costume on that arm to stop the bleeding. Suddenly, I wasn't watching it on a screen anymore. I was just there, watching as a casual viewer. They would look to me for help, but I didn't respond like they couldn't really see me.
I was at my parents' house hosting a Christmas party. I was in the kitchen prepping all the food - most baked breaded stuff - but people kept interrupting me. Coworkers, family, people I don't know, etc. Then Adam West showed up. Some of my guests were oohing and ah-ing over him. Then I started to tell him how I saw that movie where his arm got chopped off...

The Adam West dreams make sense, as I had watching an online video including him before bed. But the NPH one and the details on the others - pretty random right?
I need some sleep.

Dot the I

2011-08-31T18:34:00.000-07:00

Thrown in between some items on my to-make list, I took the dat off work and spent a few hours whipping up a new outfit.
And this time.... I kept patient! Normally I rush through because I'm excited to get a piece of clothing done, and then I regret it. But I took my time, and it paid off! I'm super proud of this tank and intend to make some more!

Patterns:
Tank = Simplicity #5056
Skirt = Simplicity #4881

"I can tell you what Christmas is all about"

2011-08-29T08:17:00.000-07:00

Next character done! Here's Linus singing his little heart out.

If you didn't see my previous post, I'm currently working on recreating the last scene from "A Charlie Brown Christmas." Two down, several more to go! I believe next up will be the biggest biotch bully of them all - Lucy. Just gotta figure out every girl's problem - how to do the hair...

"Something that could never ever possibly destroy us"

2011-08-22T07:27:00.000-07:00

Mr. Stay Puft!

In our home office, we decided to make a large wall collage of various pieces representing our favorite subject - pop culture. Still in the works, but Beetlejuice, Gremlins, Pac Man, Edward Scissorhands, and The Big Lebowski are all represented. And I thought it would be fun to create something other than a print or stitch. So I decided to try my hand at bead embroidery.

I found an image I liked online, cropped it to my liking, flipped it horizontally, and printed it on transfer paper. Then I ironed it on to some muslin, and Voila! Stay Puft on fabric. From there, I took seed beads and invisible thread and attached beads four at a time, then relooping through two to make sure they stayed in place. Several hundred beads later and Stay Puft was born!
Joe liked it enough to encourage me to do a set. So I now have plans for Slimer, the Ghostbusters logo, and the trap. More things to add to my to-do list!

Fall reading

2011-08-18T08:38:00.000-07:00

Because I don't have enough on my plate, I have created a stack of books I need to read before the holidays begin. The comic books are no problem to get through, but the novels, that may cause a bit of a problem. But I'm up for the challenge.

I've started reading the Batman book already, and the Catwoman one should be a breeze. I had already started reading The Walking Dead series awhile ago, but took a break to finish some other series first. Now I need to read up on the next few book as the next season on AMC starts in October! Can't let there be any spoilers, if they keep close to the books that is.

I have also found that I am one of the few people who wasn't forced to read Catcher in the Rye in highschool. So I feel the need to catch up on that as well.

Wish me luck!

Good Grief

2011-08-15T07:32:00.000-07:00

Over the last few weeks, I've seen many crafty bloggers out there posting their new Halloween and Christmas projects. Already?! I felt so far behind, and it's only August. So, after browsing the interwebs for pics of old cartoons I used to watch, I came across this:

...and it hit me - my Christmas project this year will be the Peanuts gang.

After scribbling out a rough pattern, cutting and sewing some felt, after a few hours, Chuck was born.

Going through my stash, I have enough felt to make a Linus next. Then a trip to the store for Lucy, Sally, Snoopy, and whoever is left that I have time for.

Might have to make the tree too. Those store-bought Charlie Brown trees they have every year are about twice the size of the doll, so that won't work. Gotta start brainstorming.

Two outta three ain't bad

2011-08-03T08:31:00.000-07:00

Here I am - two thirds of the year has passed. Time to look back at what I've done so far.

I've been doing some volunteering, but I've been slacking lately since I've been occupied with work and personal travel.
Haven't been to the doc for a checkup yet, but, also due to my screwy schedule, my workout routine has suffered. For the last week or two I've been trying to get back into the habit of walking during my lunch breaks. Gotta get back into strength exercises and cardio videos though.
I've been crafting, obviously, but not as much as I'd like, again due to my schedule. I guess this means I just have to quit my job and stay at home all the time, right? Any of you want to support me with this?

Immediate plans:

Collecting items for Big Sunday's school supply collection for underprivileged kids. Dang, I can't believe my parents paid so much money year after year for my ever-changing interests. Supplies are pricey!

Prepping to volunteer at the Los Angeles Zoo. Tons of hoops to jump through so it's taking a little while. But I'm looking forward to hanging with the petting zoo animals and making treats and toys with peanut butter!

Still volunteering with other organizations here and there - weekend animal rescue adoptions, beach cleanups, etc.
And most importantly.......CRAFTS! Halloween and Christmas are quickly approaching and I feel so far behind. My list of things to make is growing, yet my spare time is not.

Geeky week

2011-07-29T07:31:00.000-07:00

So I'm back to normal after the madness that was Comic Con 2011. But I had a fantastic time. Tons of panels, tons of walking, tons of comics, tons of granola bars... it was worth it.

And get this - the purse I specifically made for this trip - yeah, the strap broke as soon as we walked into the hotel. I was so upset. I don't know how it happened as the straps were basically triple stitched. Fixed now, but I wasn't able to use it for Comic Con *frowny face*

Now back to the crafting. Here's a piece I finished quite awhile ago but was too lazy to pick up a frame for it. Now for sale in my Etsy shop!

I'm also taking a stab at bead embroidery. Started it last night but turns out I need a smaller needle. We'll see when I get around to going back to the store. Too much to do! I'll keep you posted.

Comic-Con here I come!

2011-07-20T07:35:00.000-07:00

Yes, Thursday through Sunday I'll be down in San Diego for my second Comic-Con. Last year, I was only able to spend two days down there, but this year I'll have four full days of Pop Culture indulgence. Keep an eye on my twitter feed to see live updates.

So, besides mapping the area and scheduling the panels to see, I found a pattern for the perfect trade show bag in preparation for the hours of walking around picking up fliers and comics: Vogue #8274.

Three large pockets on the outside for the schwag; large compartment inside with two small pockets for the personal items. I'm all set!

Holey elbow, Batman!

2011-07-18T07:32:00.000-07:00

I was sooo disappointed the other day when I noticed a hole in one of my favorite shirts. Not just a little hole that I could whipstitch shut, but a cavernous hole into the abyss.

Luckily it was low enough on the sleeve that I was able to trim up the sleeves to 3/4 length. Almost like new!

Good save!

Snacking

2011-07-15T08:08:00.000-07:00

Though I had already started a project for myself this week, I was commissioned by a friend to make up some sandwich bags for her. I made two. She liked them so much that she requested 3 more, but in snack bag size.

Each bag was made with 100% cotton, lined with a thin vinyl for easy cleaning, and has velcro closure.

But now that those are made, back to my project which I'll hopefully finish this weekend. Pics coming soon!

Last minute patriotism

2011-07-13T07:31:00.000-07:00

I was a little late in making these, but I finally got them done. Just in time too, since I'm about to pack up the 4th of July decorations.
Nothing too complicated - just appliqued on a star, blanket-stitched it, and threw on some binding. At least the set will be ready for next year!

I also got to use an early birthday present - the Simplicity Bias Tape Maker. I don't know how I ever made bindings without it! I'm horrible at pressing so this saves me so much time!

Shells and such

2011-07-08T07:31:00.000-07:00

I've been meaning to get to this for a long time. Once I got the new bed, I've been meaning to throw some art up on the walls to complement it. So I saw this idea from Craft Monkey and went with it.

I had some framed art that I bought years ago that just doesn't fit anymore. After setting aside the glass and posters, I glued some purple scrapbook paper to the cardboard. I got glue-happy. I glued pieces of burlap on top. Then glued some sea cucumbers and starfish I ordered from SeaShellCo.com (Believe it or not, I couldn't find any in stores around LA!). Using some hemp rope, I made some nautical knots and glued the rope as well as some shells on top. And voila - homemade art to help complete my seaside escape!

Wordless Wednesday - Whale Watching in Dana Point

2011-07-06T10:18:00.000-07:00

Happy 4th!

2011-07-03T08:15:00.000-07:00

Happy holiday weekend, everyone!

Here are some candle holders I whipped up quickly last week. I got the idea from My Paper Pony from her patriotic vases.

I printed a few images from Vintageholidaycrafts.com and superglued them to some cleaned out spaghetti sauce jars. Then I tied some gingham around the top, sewed on a heart button to accent, and dropped a votive inside the jar. Makes a great holiday illuminary!

High on herbs

2011-06-30T08:36:00.000-07:00

Sorry I haven't posted much lately. But now that my travel for work has ended for the season, I have much more time to craft and do fun stuff to share.

In the meantime, I whipped up these herb labels recently. These are the remnants from my most recently Aerogarden supply. What should I do next - herbs again, cherry tomatoes, lettuce, or something else?

I first cross-stitched the names onto 18ct aida cloth. Then sewn the cloth onto some spare fabric I had laying around. And presto, handmade herb labels.

Wordless Wednesday - Niagara Falls

2011-06-22T07:31:00.000-07:00

Summer lovin' 5 - The Andrews Sisters

2011-06-17T07:59:00.000-07:00

Show me to the bar!

My Name is Okabashi...

2011-06-13T08:05:00.000-07:00

Well, it's not. But I'm totally in love with Okabashi shoes. I forget how I first heard of them; must have been an ad on Facebook or something (yes, I'm susceptible to ads).

Though the name sounds Japanese, they are made right here in the good ol' USA. Here are a few more reasons you should invest in a pair, or four...

1. Ergonomic footbed - great for high arches like mine. Super comfortable and provides lots of support.
2. Eco-conscious manufacturing - practically waste-free as leftover scraps are recycled into more shoes.
3. 100% recyclable - once you beat the hell outta the shoes, send them back to Okabashi, or take to your local recycling plant.
4. They're vegan!
5. Anti-microbial - no more stinky sandal feet
6. Totally affordable - averaging around $15, you can also google great coupon codes for even a greater deal.

With so many different styles and colors - make sure you treat yourself to a pair this summer!

Monkeying around

2011-06-10T07:54:00.000-07:00

What kind of friend would I be if I met my friend's baby for the first time and didn't bring a gift? A pretty cruddy one.
So after a stroll through the fabric store, this Debbie Mumm series jumped out at me and screamed 'Make something out of me!' It really does that, you know.
I found this pattern online for a bib and it was a match made in cottony heaven. And who doesn't love monekys and cupcakes?

The monkey head is backed with velcro to close the back of the neck; the back is a soft flannel.

Wordless Wednesday - New York State of Mind

2011-06-08T08:33:00.000-07:00

Summer lovin' 4 - Emiliana Torrini

2011-06-03T08:55:00.000-07:00

If only I was 21 again...

Curiously strong

2011-06-01T07:29:00.000-07:00

A couple summers ago, I had found a pattern online for a business card holder. With how clumsy and careless I tend to me, my business cards still ended up bent and squished when I pulled them out of my bag.

I've had this Altoids tin sitting around forever. Then, like a sign from above, I saw this - Design*Sponge gives a great tutorial on mod podging an Altoids tin!

The pattern itself is for a candle, which I may do as well at some point, but I figured this would be a pretty sturdy business card holder.
Unfortunately, my business cards are just SLIGHTLY too big for the container. Phooey. So if I ever get a set of mini cards, I'll definitely use this. Otherwise... more candles here I come!

All it took was some old scrapbook paper, some Mod Podge, and about 10 minutes of my time.
What's great about this is, since there's so much cool scrapbook paper out there, you can really personalize it. For certain holidays, celebrations, personal decor - there are so many options and it will always be unique!

Summer lovin' 3 - DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince

2011-05-20T08:19:00.000-07:00

This one couldn't explain a summer day any better:

Doing it granny-style

2011-05-18T08:30:00.000-07:00

I had always heard the term thrown around a bit, yet didn't realize what macrame was until I saw some pics online of 70's owl wall hangings and nasty looking plant-hangers. But then I saw this blog at ReadyMade.com. Looks like macrame is making a comeback! Luckily, crafters out there are making them a little more basic and modern, taking the old lady out of the art. Skinny Laminx offers a super easy tutorial for making a hanging garden. So I took a shot!

Instead of basic cotton rope, I used 3-ply jute for a more natural look. (Forgive my dirty pot.)

Now that I have the basic idea, I fully intend to make a few more, maybe try out a few different designs. Gives me a good excuse to get more plants, right?

Summer lovin' 2 - Bob Dylan

2011-05-13T07:53:00.000-07:00

Next in my summer music series is an oldie from Bob Dylan. This one makes me want to lay out a blanket in the backyard and sip on a nice cool drink. So kick back, put your feet up, and dream away with 'In the Summertime'

(Sorry, couldn't find a decent video or live version)

Hanging around

2011-05-11T07:29:00.000-07:00

For quite a while now, my kitchen window has been bare except for the dirty old blinds. I used to have a spider plant hanging in front of it, until the leaves hung so long they were actually hitting my head.

Then I found this fabric. Used for a towel
and a centerpiece
. What would tie the room together - a rug? No. A valence? Yes.

I measured the width of the window and added and inch to each side. I folded the sides over, hiding the bare edges, and stitched. I then made an inch hem at the bottom, and a 1 1/2" opening at the top for the curtain rod. And voila, less than an hour later, my window is dressed and ready to go!

Comic Book Day

2011-05-09T07:58:00.000-07:00

Happy Post Free Comic Book Day!

Every year, comic book stores around the country open their doors to the celebration on the first Saturday in May. This year, I visited two shops: Meltdown Comics and Golden Apple, both in West Hollywood.

A few issues are given out for free, made specifically for this day with the intention to turn you on to new comics, promote a new comic book movie, whatever. David Peterson, the artist behind 'Mouse Guard,' was also on hand for some autographs. Here's the stash we picked up this year:

But I also took this opportunity to support my local comic book store and not buy online at Amazon like I usually do. I decided I need to finish off some of the series I'm in the middle of, thus I picked up the last books of 'Preacher' and 'Ex Machina.' 'Fables' and 'The Walking Dead' are still in production, and I have quite awhile until I catch up. Also picked up some single books we've been interested in. My collection is starting to get a little too big though. Gotta make some room on the shelves...

Summer lovin' - Beach Boys

2011-05-06T07:54:00.000-07:00

As we approach to that wonderfully warm season we call summer, I'd like to take some time to sit back in my chair close my eyes, and listen to songs that take me away.

Let's start off with the boys of summer themselves...

Walkin the Walk

2011-05-04T12:56:00.000-07:00

I just signed up for my first official 5K walk. This one benefits the California Wildlife Center in Malibu. Who can say no to a sunny Sunday morning walk along the beach?

I used to volunteer here a few years ago until the commute got to be a little too much to handle. Nestled in the Santa Monica Mountains, the center rehabilitates injured and orphaned wildlife including squirrels, deer, raptors, coyotes, bobcats, and more.

If you'd like to make a donation, please visit my personal donation page.

Making the bed

2011-04-27T07:46:00.000-07:00

Finally! After many years with a cheapo basic metal frame and bed-in-a-bag set, I picked up the perfect bedset for us. Once we moved the bed to make way for the delivery, I had to sweep up 3 vacuum-fulls of cat hair and scrub up a few hairball spots. But no more under-the-bed-hiding for the girls anymore!

The new bedset has a solid wood frame with storage, and a bookshelf headboard. We were able to fit everything from our dresser and nightstands into the bed storage. And getting rid of those items really opened up a lot of room in the bedroom and let me spread out my sewing area a bit.
I also dished out a few bucks for a new comforter set, and let me tell you, it's worth the extra cost. The sheets, blanket, and comforter are sooooo much comfier than the old set! The room now feels like a bedroom for an adult rather than a college dorm room.
The comforter set came with a bedskirt, which we obviously don't need with this frame, so I cut up a piece of it and made 2 additional matching pillows:

I also whipped up a set of candle to put on the headboard. Simply getting a glass jar, inserting a votive in its own jar, and surrounding with shells.

And since we no longer needed the extra furniture, rather than hanging on to them for no good reason like packrats, we donated them to Habitat for Humanity of Greater LA. I set up an appointment for Saturday afternoon. The guys came right on time, carried the furniture out themselves, and took off, all for the low donation fee of $5 as a fuel surcharge. Hopefully, our furniture will serve many more happy years with a new family.

Earth Day Tips

2011-04-22T07:53:00.000-07:00

Happy Earth Day! What are YOU doing to celebrate?
Though this list of eco-friendly lifestyle tips seem fairly obvious, I think they're also easy to overlook and forget. So engrave these in your head!

From 41pounds.org:

As you all know, Earth Day is rapidly approaching. It is important that all of us not only celebrate April 22nd, but also make some lifestyle changes to help the environment flourish. Here are some very effective but easy tips that can make a huge difference in your life.

1. Eliminate your junk mail!! - That one is easy. Sign up with 41pounds.org and you are all set. (We had to put this as number 1 didn’t we????)

2. Leave the car at home - It might sound tough, but if you actually make an effort, you can make a huge difference. Once a week, don’t drive somewhere where you normally would drive. Maybe walk, or ride a bike, or have someone pick you up. Doing this once a week can cut greenhouse gas emissions by 800 pounds per year! What a huge difference for such a little sacrifice.

3. Use your own grocery bags - Many people have already made this change but there are still so many others that haven’t taken the time. It really does make a huge difference and I like it much better. The bags are more sturdy and easier to carry. I would make the switch even if it didn’t have such a large environmental impact. You can buy these bags at any major retailer and they are usually less then $1.00.

4. Recycle your electronics - Old computers, cell phones, printers, etc. all have important components that can be reused in newer equipment. Go to this website to find out a quick and easy way to recycle all your old gear: http://www.epa.gov/osw/conserve/materials/ecycling/donate.htm

5. Wash when it’s full - When you clean your dishes or your clothes, make sure your dishwasher/washing machine is completely full. Doing half a load is a huge waste of water and can put a stress on your water bills. Also, look into buying water-efficient appliances when your old ones die. The change can be staggering.

Easter beanies

2011-04-21T07:40:00.000-07:00

Though I don't really celebrate myself, I remember really looking forward to Easter when I was a kid - devouring chocolate, listening to 'Jesus Christ Superstar,' watching TV Easter specials (good luck finding that now).

But when I found this pattern (sorry - lost the link!) I couldn't pass up the chance to make it. So the kids in the family will get an unexpected Easter treat from us...

Spring towel

2011-04-18T08:00:00.000-07:00

Last week, a friend asked me for any extra fabric I had laying around, as her kid's class had some kind of project and was in need of fabric and embellishments. Well, she definitely knew who to come to as she ended up with a big bag. Best of all, I'm now able to close my fabric drawer! For now at least.

I was, however, unwilling to give up some fabric, like the leftovers from the placement I recently made. So, this weekend, I put some of the fabric to use and made a matching kitchen towel:

Super easy to make in these few steps:
1. Cut a strip a few inches thick, and about an inch wider than the towel. Fold and press the edges under.
2. Double satin-stitch around.

Gift-apalooza

2011-04-14T07:56:00.000-07:00

April is a big month for birthdays. For Joe's birthday, we took a trip up to Solvang for a day of dehydrating ourselves with wine at a couple different tasting rooms.

For a friend, I made a Strawberry Shortcake ornament. (Like it? Check out the pattern I posted on Etsy.)

And for a niece, I whipped up another cork/memo board (to be posted next week).

This week, I also had a new bed set delivered, so I'll be working sprucing up the bedroom a bit. Etsy here I come!

Wordless Wednesday - a rainy afternoon in Boston

2011-04-06T07:08:00.000-07:00

Springing forward - placemat

2011-04-04T07:58:00.000-07:00

Last week, we had over 80 degree weather in LA. Between the warm weather and the sun staying up past six o'clock, I've had plenty of time and oomph to do some crafting. So among the other crafts I did last week, I decided to brighten up my dining table:

Found that cotton fabric at the store and HAD to have it. Wasn't exactly sure what I was going to do with it, but I'm sure glad I got it! Just a simple quilted placemat with angled corners. But it turned out cuter than I expected.

I also made a crocheted bowl out of my old t-shirts. Up for grabs in my Etsy store!

Skirt chaser

2011-03-31T08:00:00.000-07:00

I've been meaning to try making another article of clothing of some sort, so when I saw this fabric in the store the other day, I snatched it up. Thought it'd make the perfect skirt.
No pattern. Just the simple idea of an elastic waist skirt.

I also got to use my overcasting foot for the first time in the 10 years I've owned my machine, since I don't have a serger.
PLUS, it was the first skirt I made with a lining. Don't need to be showing my goods to everyone.

I just bought a new bed frame, so when that comes in, I fully intend to go out and get new bed sheets to help revamp the room. So what am I going to do with our old jersey sheets? Probably more skirts and pajama pants!

The stitching continues...

2011-03-30T08:08:00.001-07:00

I just posted my most recent cross-stitch at my Etsy store! Another original pattern. I'm really getting the hang of this :)

Love Orko? Hope you didn't miss the plushie I made earlier this year. See it here!

So....what shall I make next?...

Shipping Container Re-do

2011-03-28T12:02:00.000-07:00

I just thought this was adorable and had to share. If only I had a large garden to do this kind of thing...

From Treehugger.com

The Evergreen Brick Works project is a massive redevelopment of a former industrial site into " Canada's first large-scale community environmental centre representing a striking new model for the future--a heritage destination where nature meets innovation in the heart of an urban centre."

It is not quite finished, so they turned to Levitt Goodman Architects, masters of repurposing and reuse, to design a temporary Welcome Hut out of an old shipping container.

A Stitchin' Fool

2011-03-24T07:25:00.000-07:00

So I'm off my crochet kick for now and I've turned back to an old favorite - Cross Stitching.

I've also had this urge to make my own patterns (See a few I have for sale at my Etsy shop.)

This one I made for Joe since we've both been longtime fans:

And this one I made as a birthday present for a friend:

If I ever make this one again, I may line up the text and images horizontally, rather than stacking the 'I' and heart.

Brought some graph paper home from work this week, so I'm off to conjure up more patterns!

Cute Overload

2011-03-23T07:24:00.000-07:00

Sorry for my absense, but I had been traveling for work, and mistakenly didn't prep any blogs for while I was gone.
But I'm back, for a bit at least.

I mentioned before that my tomato plant from last year actually survived the winter and had a few blossoms. Well, now, there are a ton of blossoms and several adorable baby tomatoes popping up. And I'm sure the rain LA had this week will give them a big boost!

I'm anticipating a bigger yield this year than the whopping 3 tomatoes I plucked last summer.

The dilemma - Since it's on my mind, I feel like I should plant any new veggies now since the tomato and pepper plants last year seemed to take a while to produce. Question is: what do I plant and how do I plant it? Should I try bell peppers again? I've also been itching alot lately for jalapenos, should I try those? Should I grow from seed like last year or buy a plant from the store?

Meanwhile, Lil Girl rolled over to say hi:

Then decided you bored her and went to sleep:

Wordless Wednesday - Farmer's Market

2011-03-09T07:44:00.000-08:00

Coral Crochet

2011-03-07T07:41:00.000-08:00

From Discovery.com...

"It first catches your eye as a riot of color at the back of the hall, visible through a gap between a couple of other exhibits. You investigate, and it reveals itself as a wondrous mishmash of different shapes and forms, looking for all the world like some form of coral reef. You look closer and you realize it is a coral reef - not a real one, of course, but a representation of one. You look closer still and you are hit by the biggest surprise of all. The whole thing is made from crochet."

Twin sisters Margaret and Chrisine Wertheim, founders of The Institute of Figuring,
wanted to promote "the aesthetic and poetic dimensions of science and mathematics" through coral reefs. (See the article on hyperbolic forms, which is over my head). After displaying their crocheted coral at several exhibitions around the country, you can currently see this project in the Ocean Hall at the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History in D.C.
Each piece of coral was made by 800 contributors. Nancy Knowlton of the Smithsonian says "What I love about it is it’s been on Fox News, it was also in Street Sense, which is the magazine by and for the homeless of Washington, DC. They had a cover story on it that was called, 'Homeless Women Stitch Their Way Into the Smithsonian.' And you can just stand back and watch the way people interact with it. People are completely captivated by the fact that you can create something like this out of crochet."

Read the rest of the article here.

Dream - I guess I don't have Adonis DNA

2011-03-04T08:55:00.000-08:00

So I really haven't been following the whole Charlie Sheen debacle at all - I don't watch the news, I skip over the headlines online. I only see jokes/quotes people post on Facebook and Twitter, and clips in commercials for his interviews.

That said, I had a dream about him last night.

Not sure where I was, but I decided to take a day off from the world and go hang out in this quiet area with a bunch of cabins. The cabins were lined up and there was a nice sidewalk in front lined with benches. I laid down on one of the benches and started playing on my phone where I saw a headline that Charlie Sheen was going to do a press conference from his home. The article showed a picture - it was the cabin I was sitting in front of. Damn. Within minutes, a crowd of people gathered, along with a ton of press. I remained on the bench. I started texting Joe about what was happening, when Charlie appeared from the door. He saw me on my phone, ran over to me, grabbed my phone and started squeezing it to crush it. I grabbed it back and yelled at him. He started yelling something to the effect of how I was taking his picture and spouting lies over the internet about him (though there were hundreds of other people around me, as well as press, actually DOING that).

Then he went on to introduce his friend who was playing golf in a valley on the other side of his cabin. And that was it. Everyone left. I called Joe to come pick me up...

...so what's it mean? Should I be paying more attention to celebrity gossip and craziness? Or shouldn't I? Do I feel I'm often mistaken? I have no idea.

Candle mat

2011-03-03T07:13:00.000-08:00

Sine we're cheap, we light candles around the house rather than run a heater. And drink wine. Lots of wine.
I have a candle sitting on top of our wine bar, which I'm often afraid will scratch the wood. Thus I came up with the idea to make a candle mat.

Using leftover material from my wine wreath (see it in my Etsy shop!), I made a simple quilting pattern:
2" wide bias from the cork fabric
2 - 6"x6" squares from the grape fabric

First, I cut a piece of low loft batting slightly larger than the squares. I sandwiched the batting between the squares. I prefer to use a temporary spray adhesive to make sure they don't move around on me.
I then quilted with invisible thread. Since this had a viney-pattern already on it, I just traced over the curly vines and the centers of the leaves.
I then attached the binding to the square and voila! A candle mat in less than a half hour!	See this video or these written instructions for more info.

Wordless Wednesday - Signs of Spring

2011-03-02T07:35:00.000-08:00

Keep on truckin'

2011-02-24T07:42:00.000-08:00

So I'm 3 pounds short of my short-term goal with the 28-day bootcamp from Sparkpeople.com. But that's ok. I got myself moving and ended up losing a few, didn't I?

My next challenge: A minimum of 10 exercise minutes, 5 days a week. Doesn't sound tough, but when you get busy with work, errands, and chores, you're exhausted by the end of the day.

And yes, 10 minutes doesn't seem like all that much exercise. Especially when driving by a gym and seeing elliptical monsters who've probably been at it for over an hour.
Here are some articles on it:
Small Bits of Fitness Add Up
Maximizing Your Exercise Payoffs: How much? How long? How often?

Of course, when I can, I spend much more time getting my heart rate up, like my 30-45 minute walks during my lunch break. But every little bit helps, right?

(On a sidenote, I'm a bit bummed. Had bloodwork done again and my cholesterol is high again - though I've lost a little weight AND I'm more vegan now than I ever was. Stupid genetics)

Keeping warm

2011-02-21T07:46:00.000-08:00

It has felt like the arctic in LA lately - in the 50s. Sure, other parts of the country are cold, but I swear - 'cold' is different here. Stop snickering, east coasters. You don't know.
So, while it was raining out and I was shivering under several blankets with a cat covering my feet, I decided to use up some spare warm and make myself new slipper socks.

Made from wool from Japan. And honestly - as soon as I put these on, I started to warm up immediately. Thus, the cat's position has moved to my lap, until I make myself a crocheted wool body suit.

Cleaning up hearts

2011-02-15T07:47:00.000-08:00

Had an hour to spare this weekend and some leftover heart fabric. And here's what came of it:

Happy belated Valentine's Day!

Spring reading

2011-02-11T08:00:00.000-08:00

So I really slacked this winter. Didn't read too much at all. But I'm determined to get back on track.
So this season, I plan on burning through the following:

Squirrels Seeks Chipmunk by David Sedaris
I'm a huge fan of Sedaris. I think his works are the only books I've read that make me guffaw out loud in public. This title may look like its geared towards children, but trust me...it's not.

The Walking Dead Volume Three
I'm a bit behind in this set. I did watch the AMC series - It was only six episodes, so I doubt it will ruin too much for me. Now I just have to keep on truckin' so I can get more volumes under my belt before the Season 2.

Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll
Though this has been one of my favorite stories since childhood and I've seen many different versions on film (including the creepy European one with marionettes *shiver*), I have never actually read the story. So I picked up a cheap copy and I'm finally going read it cover to cover.

A Comfy Valentine

2011-02-07T07:32:00.000-08:00

Though Valentine's Day isn't one of my favorite holidays, I still felt I need to be festive. I don't have many decorations, besides a centerpiece and some wreaths, so I came up with the idea for throw pillow cases.

1. I found a heart pattern on Google images and adjusted it to the size I wanted. I cut one heart from the two different fabrics, cut them in half, then stitched 1/4" seam to the differing fabrics. I measured my pillow and cut enough fabric for the front and back, leaving 1" allowance on each side.
2. I then stitched the two pieces of fabric together for the front of the pillow, then satin-stitched the heart to the front, lining up the seams.
3. To break-up the solid color a bit, I added a hand-embroidered 'XOX'
3. I sewed the front fabric to the back on all sides. (Not shown - to make the cover removable, I made a velcro opening in the back.)

Crafts for a Cause

2011-02-04T07:35:00.000-08:00

Sticking to my 2011 resolution to become more involved, last weekend I participated in BigSunday.org's Crafts for a Cause. A bunch of ladies gathered together to make blankets, hats, scarves, etc, for nonprofits catering to premature babies, cancer patients, and more. It was very interesting to see this diverse group of knitters/crocheters - old and young, pros and newbies.

(Forgive the pictures - I don't take the best pics with my phone)

For the kids, a table was set aside to decorate potholders for The Jewish World Watch Solar Cooker Project for Darfur refugees.

We were encouraged to bring our own supplies, but plenty of yarn was provided. And fancy yarns! We were even given some free yarn for our help (so much for trying to get rid of my stash).

During the four hour session, I ended up making a red shawl:

Since I do have a large stash of yarn, my goal is to make a bunch of items - hats, scarves, potholders, whatever - and give them to charity. Then I become a yarn snob - only pretty yarn for planned projects from then on!

Dear Lil Groundhog

2011-02-02T07:14:00.000-08:00

Poor Phil. All he wants to do is sleep in on a cold winter's day. But then he's abducted from his bed, pulled into 10°F weather or colder, and blinded by hundreds of flashing lights. What's a rodent to do?

Here's a bit of info on one of the oddest national holidays in the US:

Based on the European holiday of Candlemas Day, where clergy would bless candles. The weather on that particular day would predict the rest of the season: (Groundhogday.org)
From an old English verse:
If Candlemas be fair and bright,
Come, Winter, have another flight;
If Candlemas brings clouds and rain,
Go Winter, and come not again.

From this, early Germans predicted that if the sun were to shine on Candlemas Day, the hedgehog would cast a shadow and run back into its burrow, signifying 6 more weeks of harsh winter weather. Once settled in Pennsylvania in the 1700s, they discovered the groundhog to be comparable to the European hedgehog. (Groundhogday.org)

As most know, the largest Groundhog Day celebration is in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. Its local celebrity: Punxsutawney Phil. Though Phil is the most commonly known, other popular groundhogs include Staten Island Chuck, General Beauregard Lee, And Wiarton Willie. (Wikipedia.com)

According to handlers John Griffiths and Ben Hughes, Phil weighs 15 pounds and thrives on dog food and ice cream in his climate-controlled home at the Punxsutawney Library. (StormFax.com)

In 2009, Alaska governor Sarah Palin changed the holiday to Marmot Day, as groundhogs are not prevalent in that state. (Wikipedia.com)

Sorry to spoil the fun, but meteorologist Mike Randall from WKBW in Buffalo, NY, stated: since there are always six more weeks of winter after Groundhog Day, and the concept of early spring in the astronomical sense simply does not exist, then whenever the groundhog sees its shadow and predicts six more weeks of winter, the groundhog is always right, but whenever it predicts an early spring, it is always wrong. The results have an approximate 80% rate of accuracy, the average percentage of times a groundhog sees its shadow. (Wikipedia.com)

Since the release of the 1993 film Groundhog Day, visitors to Punxsutawney have increased to over 35,000, five times the size of its population. (StormFax.com)