a little catch up

So hello and happy Saturday to you all! I thought since I had been m.i.a. for about a month a would give you an extra helping of craftiness today! Here goes....




I made this cork sculpture because I had way too many wine corks and wanted to do something fancy with them

and then I saw this and laughed because had I seen this before producing above picture, I might have just tried to reproduce something of its nature, because I like to complicate things like that...

Also, I decided today I was going to step outside of my "What if I fail" box, because I've been preaching it to my students that you have to fail over and over again to really learn something. So I decided to sew my daughter some clothes, without legitimate patterns. I just traced around some the existing clothes she had and came up with these two things:
I made the skirt from t-shirt remnants,(my husband finally cleaned out his white t-shirt drawer and gave me a ton so I've been looking for ways to use them.), and knitted leaves and flowers that I had laying around.
On the dress, I ended up using fabric that I bought, oh, about 3 years ago, hoping to have sewn myself or my little Monet a skirt or something from it, but never got around to it. I used some soft leather that I had saved from a necklace kit for the straps and then sewed on some wooden buttons.

I am pretty proud of myself for doing this today, but let me just tell you there are a TON of mistakes and I am not too sure they will actually fit her, so I will just have to keep you posted.

My last pic is a project that I chose for my art students that I teach privately. We made sculptures from salt dough(bird, hearts, man, hat, arm)to adhere to wooden canvases so that we could have parts of it 3D. Here is mine, I will have to keep you updated on what theirs turns out like.

Hope you all have a wonderful Mother's Day and are shown how much you are appreciated and loved!

Time ticks on...

I know, I know...almost a whole month and nothing. No updates, no crafty projects, no eye candy inspiration. I had high hopes to update this blog on a weekly basis when I first started, but alas, life has been getting in my way. I am making a promise to myself and the other people who sometimes might happen upon my blog to make more of an effort to update, even if it's less than a stellar post...maybe just a little snippet or two about how I'm feeling. Here are some pics to illustrate happenings in my life during my said absence:

We've been brushing teeth like crazy due to dental experiences that we do not want to have to repeat!

taking some down time for a quick knee surgery

spending quality time with family on the holiday

and planning a baby shower

Now, we just have to jump over the strep throat hurdle and we'll be golden...hopefully:)

A little Sunday inspiration

Good Sunday morning to you all! I hope your weekend was much more productive than mine! Hopefully, today I will magically be able to get it all done, we will see..... Good news is instead of doing the things I am supposed to be doing right now, I decided to share a little eye candy with you:

• This and this outfit is just about perfect in everyway. I want both of these, so pretty!


• I totally feel this way this morning!


• This print is just sooo cute, I also would like a beachcruiser for two so I could take my girl for a bike ride!


• I definitely need this sign up in my house! Hee-Hee!


• And ummm, yeah, I am in definite need of making this to hang on our walls! LOOOVE IT!


• Loving this too!


• I am not a big pie fan, but I am a fan of mini things like this! It would be sooo cute for a get together!


• I wanted to make dresses like these last year, maybe this year is the year and now I must make those flower belts as well! I do have that 2nd tutorial and I will get around to posting it someday! This mama needs a prolonged little vacay soon so that I can recharge! Toodles....

Chalkboard Bunting Tutorial

I know, I know bunting tutorials have been done time and time again, but I thought I would try one with chalkboard paint and balsa wood!

First you will need some supplies:

thin sheet of balsa wood

white acrylic paint

chalkboard paint

sharpie paint markers

embroidery thread

tiny buttons

Step 1: Measure out 2" x 2" squares on your balsa wood and then cut each square in half.

I ended up with 16 triangles and only needed 11.

Step 2: Primer with 2 coats of white acrylic paint.

Step 3: Paint 2 to 3 coats of chalkboard paint. Let dry and then punch holes in each corner.

Step 4: Decorate edges with Sharpie markie.

Step 5: Use a needle and embroidery thread to weave in and out of the punched holes and buttons to connect.

Step 6: Write message.

Step 7: Hang and Enjoy!

seriously though....

A little Friday eye candy...

this is just a little piece of heaven to me:
http://punkrockbarbiedoll.tumblr.com/post/4058038174

sometimes I need a reminder of this

I absolutely need one of these for my artroom!

I love yarn and nail art!!!

I am totally in love with this cake!

And how cute is this?

there are just too many inspiring and beautiful things out there in the world! Have an inspiring day!

It's been a while....

Yes, I know I have been M.I.A.. My life has been a little chaotic as of late and any second I have had to myself has been left just feeling exhausted. An update on the whole last few weeks would be:

~the hubs went in for knee surgery. ACL repair AND meniscus repair. so he has been just miserable. Although, I love to take care of my family, I hate, let me repeat that HATE having to wait on anyone hand and foot. In this situation, however, I sucked it up and did what I had to do as I have a little bit of knowledge of how crappy you feel having to rely upon someone else to do things for you(I went through this surgery as well in my twenties). Now, I know that might sound awful to some, but imagine the scenerario(and this happened often): You have everyone fed, dishes done, kitchen cleaned, kiddo in jammies, teeth brushed, (you get the picture) and you sit down to relax with a nice glass of wine and you hear..."Ummm...could you get me a glass of water, laptop, pillow(insert any word here and it would work)." It is just plain exhausting. Plan, people! Before Mommy sits her rear on the couch to relax, get all your requests out, please!

Whew! I went on a little bit of a rant, sorry!

~my best friend is in town! We see each other quite regularly, but for all of you that have your closest friend living in another state....it is never quite enough. Everyday events just pass and you wish that you were sharing things with them. Anyhoo....

~I have been working on a couple of tutorials to post. OH YES! I can't wait...a flower one(I know, I know, it's been done a million times, but it's my take on it. And also a chalkboard bunting tutorial!

~I finished a BIG birdcage that I am very excited to share/sell! And also working on new stuff...I will keep you updated.

~had my heart broken by someone that I thought was a friend. Honestly,I think this one is really the big reason I have not been posting. I kind of feel at a loss. I have definitely been reevaluating everything because of this ONE person, and I don't know why. I guess when I argue or have a disagreement with a friend I still persue the friendship, but I guess some people just feel it's better to just let it go.

Well, I'm pushing past it and moving on sooooo....posts will be happening regularly again so stay tuned!

TGIF

Happy Friday to everyone! I just thought I drop by and share a little bit of what's inspiring me lately from around the world:

I am sooo going to do this on a dress or a shirt:
http://sewtakeahike.typepad.com/.a/6a00e009895feb883301156e84e394970c-popup

I love this take on bunting, I am definitely thinking I need to make this too!
http://sewtakeahike.typepad.com/sewtakeahike/2011/01/super-easy-continuous-prairie-points-a-tutorial.html

Really wish I could sew stuff like this:
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--MLkuc3gtM0/TWVwfp9wkPI/AAAAAAAABYY/0HeJf71Q5hM/s1600/P1000192.JPG

makes me want to get married all over again:
http://thatshappy.blogspot.com/2011/02/photo-puzzle-guest-book.html

this blog is just too funny NOT to read:
http://manditremayne.blogspot.com/

Last night I got to go to dinner with a good friend of mine and tonight I get to have dinner(they are coming over to cook) with another couple of friends. I have to say, I LOVE my friends. I don't get to see them as often as I'd like, but I know that my life wouldn't be as full without them! And in a couple of weeks, my best friend is coming to visit from Portland. She is my people. She knows me inside and out(you know all the crazy, "I'm in my dark place" stuff) and loves me just the same. We have a very UNIQUE(kind of like sisters in the ghetto maybe?Ha) relationship that makes alot of people wonder why we are such good friends, but I wouldn't have it any other way. I think she is one of my soulmates for sure. I just feel so dang blessed and I couldn't be anymore grateful for the people I have in my life. Thank you God.

Here's hoping your Friday is as blessed and grateful!

Yaaaaaahhhh!

Just wanted you all to know that I got picked for Imaginative Blooms weekly picks! Soo excited!

go check it out: http://www.imaginativebloom.com/2011/02/25/ib-flickr-group-picks-handmade-nature/

I am just too giddy! I am doing my little happy dance in case you didn't know....

Oh, yeah, I did it, Oh yeah, I did it...

I just successfully finished what I consider to be a bigger knitting project. I just finished knitting a capelet from the book Gifted! And I love it except I love it on my daughter! I think I will make another one for me and make it longer!





Here it is:

I am soo excited and proud of myself! I know, dorky, right? But, this is the beginning of my knitting adventures soo......

I can't wait to start adding some knitted trims to my tanks for the summer....oh yeah...I'm learning to knit some trims too! I am soo giddy when I learn new things. Anyhoo...nothing much else on the crafty front but those things. Talk to you soon!!!!

Baby steps...

To my little Monet,

It seemed just yesterday that I was rocking you in my arms, feeding you, and just plain lovin your babiness. Today is your first day of preschool and I couldn't be more excited! You are about to embark on a fabulous adventure that I hope you will love. I know you are scared and don't want to leave Mommy but I promise that you will have sooo much fun. You are strong and beautiful and smart so don't forget that EVER! Go out into the world and have some fun!

Love,

Mom

It's a lot like love...

So, this weekend has been crazy. We threw my niece her 6th birthday party and I think(even though it was planned at the last minute)it turned out well. I hate having things thrown at me. I like to think about what it is(like planning a party) that I want to do, let it stew and marinate and see what I come up with. However, I can also wing it, which is kind of what we did to ensure that this little girl had a birthday party. I did however come up with this wire and fabric and yarn sign the day before for one of her birthday presents. I like it so much I am creating one for my Monet(per her request of course) and maybe one for our bedroom, who knows????

I got a little derailed this last week as my little Monet decided to get sick on me and make me have to scramble to call 16 parents at the last minute to cancel Art class. So, I started to get my etsy shop up and running but no luck in that department. I think this week might be promising though! I did have time to finish up some boot cuffs for Monet, but please excuse the blurriness as her feet would not stay still long enough for me to take a picture! She was doing her happy dance!

Here are a couple of party shots;

Gotta go, my Monet is bugging me to bring in the extra balloons from the party from the garage...talk to you all later! Have a fabulously crafty day!

Valentine's, Schmalentines!

Hello out there to everyone in the world! It's Tuesday and I am feeling alot better now that I have a little sleep under my belt. You see this past week, I have been getting up in the middle of the night or staying up late because sleep is eluding me. However, last night I took an all natural sleep pill and was able to sleep REALLY well for the first time in a little while. I definitely feel less cranky and able to conquer the world!

How was everyone else's Valentines? Do you have someone in your life that believes in doing something extra special for you on this day, or do you have someone in your life like mine that hates media created holidays? Anyhoo, he's a spoiled sport when it comes to that stuff, but in his defense he did take the little one and I to sushi! Yum, so I can't really complain, right????

I am very excited because very good friends of ours are coming in at the end of the week and I might get some girlfriend time in twice this week. That's right, TWICE! Which is a big deal, because all of my friends are supermoms and are extremely busy all the time! It is definitely a guilty pleasure to get to have some friend time.

Also, this morning after breakfast, I was commenting to my daughter about the fact that she needs to make sure that she marries someone who does the dishes, and her reply with total 4 year old attitude was, "Yeah, you didn't". I died. She just says the darndest things.

This week I am grateful for:

~all natural sleeping pills
~little girls who say the darndest things!
~Mother-in-laws who teach you how to crochet...yes, I am learning! woo hoo!
~Friends who stay friends even when they move away!

I have been busy working on trying to get pictures taken for my etsy shop! Hopefully, I will get it up and running by week's end. I'll keep you posted! Until then....

just wanted to see...

I just got done playing on picnik and wanted to see if it uploaded well to my blog. Let's have a look see, shall we?

It's Friday I'm in love....

Today is going to be a fun day. Lots of stuff to do. Lots of stuff to do. Lots of stuff to do and all I want to do is stay home and get crafty. I've got some ideas in my head that need to get out. Alas, I must do what I have to do....(clean, run errands, laundry...all that fun stuff).

However, me and my mini Monet are going to go to an indoor play structure called Child's Play today which I am very excited about and so is she, so there is thaaaatttt......

I am so indecisive with my blog, I think I might change the color scheme today. I need to make it crisp, clean, and SIMPLE! wish me luck! Have a Happy Friday!

a little of this, a little of that

so....the household is just finally getting over being snotty and coughing, thank goodness! Even though we were sick, we still managed to get artsy over here...check it out....

A little Valentines craftiness...and a little more art...

This weekend I need to get pictures of my stuff done, so that I can open up my etsy shop! And I need to get my desk finished in our artroom so that project can be finished! There is lots to do and not enough time! Whew! wish me luck!

Moving on...

So, what have I been up to the past couple of days you ask? Well, there's a little of this...

and some of these to go on those....

(they will look totally different once fired). I have also been working on making more of this because my lil Monet is in her headband stage so I thought I'd have a go at it. (I am at the beginning of my knitting adventures, so please don't judge.)

Our household though is working through knee sprains and head colds....so there is much more craftiness to come as I don't think we are going anywhere today. Will keep you posted....here's hoping you have a healthy and happy Friday!

It's on like donkey kong....

Okay, so here we go...a journal of sorts to get what's in my head out. A crafty adventure in the making...