Skirt News

I finally figured out how I wanted to embellish this skirt I made last summer! Happily, it also incorporates some of the fabric I bought in February.  That's what I like, two craft challenges solved in one go!

Here's a close up of the reverse applique:

My second skirt for spring is done but awaiting a sunny day for a photo op... stay tuned!

Handmade Ziplock Bag

If you've travelled by air recently (and even if you haven't) you're probably aware of the liquid restrictions: less then 100 ml, in a ziplock bag and all that.  I thought it would be fun to make my own ziplock bag for travelling - it's small, clear and can close so hopefully it will make it past security with no problem (I'll likely have to wait till August to try that out though).  In the interests of being Earth friendly (not that air travel is Earth friendly but every little bit helps) I do reuse my ziplock bag from flight to flight but they start to wear down after several uses.  This bag is made from some thick plastic stuff (a huge pain to turn right side out as it sticks together!) which I'm hoping will last longer.  Plus it's so much cuter then a plain old ziplock (at least I think so).

Surprise!

One thing I didn't count on when I put these heart garlands in my window was the effects of the wind!  It was fine for the first couple months as it was too cold to open the window but now the spring breezes are blowing through and the hearts are a little "friendly" with each other.  They are beyond untangling so I have a good excuse to make more next year!

Deal of the Day

I've had a couple good Deals of the Day lately... free vanilla syrup at Starbucks (it was no longer part of their product line, therefore was not recognized in the computer system, therefore I couldn't be charged for it!) and labels rescued from the garbage by a kind employee of a local store.  Today I had a super surprise - I guess Find of the Day would be more appropriate - lots of Martha Stewart magazines in the basement!  Yes, they are mine, I just forgot I had so many (I was thinking 1 or 2 but there's probably a dozen).  Perfect for recycled envelopes & cards!  I'm thinking of putting some sets in my Etsy shop and sharing the loveliness!

Recycled Note Cards

My other weekend craft project continued on the recycling theme.  I was inspired by this project I saw over at One Pretty Thing.  I sat down in front of the TV with a couple old magazines and ended up with beautiful envelopes.  I was really happy with how they turned out - especially the food ones!

The next day I decided to make some matching cards - more magazine cut outs glued on recycled paper. 

Now to find more magazines to chop up recycle.  I found Martha Stewart magazines had lots of great pictures for this project. Makes me wish I subscribed, just so I could cut them up after!

Spur of the Moment Crafting

You know how sometimes a craft project sits neglected in a box or closet for weeks or months and other times you're hit with inspiration and you've got a completely new project started and completed in a day?  Saturday (being one of those rare days when I had nothing I had to do) I was hit with the sudden notion to make paper.  OK, maybe it wasn't so sudden - I had been making paper with the toddlers at work during this past week (for our Earth/Environment theme), remembered how much fun it was and really wanted to experiment with it, on my own, without a bunch of 1 & 2 year olds to supervise!  So I got out my paper making stuff:

(The big screen is from a paper making kit I got years ago at Michaels or some such, the small screen I made from 2 IKEA frames, glass removed, and some window screen.)

Blended up some paper I rescued from the recycle bin and ended up with some lovely little sheets:

The one on the left is computer paper that had been printed on.  I like how some of the letters are still visible (I think you can see more clearly in the photo at the top of the post).  The one on the right was the leftover pulp from the computer paper, some manilla paper scraps and a couple used tea bags that I let sit in boiling water for a few minutes.  I also used the tea pulp to make hearts:

I think I might iron them out a bit, just to flatten everything out, but otherwise it's a craft project done in a day!  I had another I need to make this right now moment on the weekend, more about that tomorrow!

Skirt for Spring!

The recent warm weather had me digging out spring/summer clothes and enjoying wearing skirts again!  (I do wear skirts in the winter but not too often as it's so cold, even with tights, on the legs!)  I was also busy sewing skirts.  The one in the picture is based on a style I saw at Old Navy.  (Please note the shirt is tucked in for your skirt viewing pleasure only - don't criticize my fashion sense!)  I like it because I got to do some shirring (always fun!), use my rotary cutter (Christmas present - I love it!) and it's super comfy to wear.  I already have ideas about how I would do it differently next time and got some brown jersey to do just that.  Would anyone be interested in a tutorial?  I have this grand plan in mind that I could do a series of spring/summer skirt tutorials but we'll see how it pans out.  Skirt two is in the works so it could be a possibility! 

In the Moment - April

Have you noticed how many of my monthly features have to do with daylight/weather?  I would not have guessed I was so focused on it, but apparantly I am!

In April I look forward to:

• Seeing the first flowers bloom!
• Easter long weekend - extra time with family.
• Lunch at the Boathouse (a local tea room open seasonally.  It's really spring when the Boathouse opens!)
• Being outside in non-freezing weather
• Hearing the birds sing (except maybe at 5 am when I am trying to sleep!).
• Getting my bike out and going for rides.