I've been tidying up my laundry room this morning. It was a mess. I added this clothespin bag I made a couple of weeks ago. I made it from a pillowcase that I thought had a nice pattern. The blue bottles (you can just see one of them) were thrifted and filled with detergent and fabric softener. It kind of brightens that corner a bit.
Monday, July 31, 2006
Friday, July 28, 2006
More Baby shoes
I was going for a toile effect...not sure that worked out. lol but still pretty doggone cute, I think.
Close-up of sand pail and shovel motif.
I haven't sealed them yet, so they're not as shiny as the others. That's usually when I start liking them.
Close-up of sand pail and shovel motif.
I haven't sealed them yet, so they're not as shiny as the others. That's usually when I start liking them.
Thursday, July 27, 2006
Finished!
I couldn't resist a little shoe painting this morning. (no pics yet) Then I hurried around and cleaned the bathroom and did what had to be done...and then I sat down and made book marks. (I came back to edit this because when I read it, it sounded like I made the book thongs in the bathroom. lol I didn't....I was just getting cleaning it out of the way so I could enjoy crafting). I made 8 to be exact. Two P's in a Pod wants 10 and they have 2 already, so I made 8 more. Woot! I had a lot of fun trying to make them all a little different.
Tim drilled holes in some little wooden lady bugs and leaves I had and I used them to make one. You might be able to see them hanging there. That was a lot of fun. Cute for a kids' book or something. :)
Tim also made supper tonight! 
Mmmmmm sushi! All I had to do was cook the rice and he did everything else. It was so yummy. I have been craving sushi for months and this really hit the spot. Thanks Tim. :)
Edit: I fibbed!!! I made 6 book thongs today, not 8. Two I had made a while back. I searched high and low for them today. I could NOT remember where I put them...then I looked up and found them on that shelf I put up a couple of weeks ago, hanging from the peg. LOL
Wednesday, July 26, 2006
Frog news **UPDATE**
Woot! They want my bookmarks. The shoes aren't quite right for their shop but she's going to tell people about them, which I think is so gracious of her.
Thanks everyone for your support. This community is really something! I'm off to make book thongs/bracelets/thingies. :) Yay!
Well, you sweet people have been so encouraging that I had this great idea and actually jumped on it today. You've read here several times about my favorite prim/vintage/shabbychic shop in town...Two P's in a Pod, right? Well, it dawned on me that maybe they would like some of the things I make so I stopped there today to ask if they ever sell handmade items and they do! She told me to bring some in some time to which I replied..."Well, I just happen to have some in the car." lol I was so excited. I brought in two pairs of baby shoes and two of the book marks and she really seemed to like them a lot. The other partner wasn't there due to a death in the family, sadly, but when she gets back they'll make a decision. Either way, I was so tickled to see that someone else (in person, holding them in her hands) liked my things so I'm very excited and happy right now. :D
I went out today and thrifted some more baby shoes....one pair is so itsy bitsy...so cute!!! I can't wait to paint them.
I hope everyone had a good day. I did a lot of running around today so no crafting done. I did a lot of sewing, cutting and gluing yesterday...but the end product must remain a mystery for a little while. :)
My stepdaughter Emily is here for the summer and she is crocheting an outrageously neon green and orange bedcover for her room. It's huge! It's really fun to have someone to crochet with. She showed me how to finger crochet a really cool scarf, too. I'll have to do one and show you. It looks easy but I haven't actually done it yet. Now that I think about it, it looked too easy. I'm sure there's a trick to it. lol
Mike's dad and I had a very good long talk today. No homeschooling, but we did agree on so many other things and I think this may be the year that Mike gets his act together...whether he likes it or not. ;) I told Tom (my ex..confusing, no?) that it would have been easier to just stay married and he agreed. It was kind of funny, but kind of bittersweet...but I finally got to say "I'm really sorry about that." That was good for my soul and maybe for his. Now we can get on with living the lives we have now and stop kicking ourselves so much...and stop being too easy on children because of our divorce guilt. Deep sigh. It was a good talk. Funny thing is...he and I are so much alike and we married two people who are verrrrrrrry different from us, but like each other. lol Very opinionated, very forceful. Funny, huh? Not funny ha-ha, but funny...ironic.
Anyway, communication is a good thing. I recommend it.
Thanks everyone for your support. This community is really something! I'm off to make book thongs/bracelets/thingies. :) Yay!
Well, you sweet people have been so encouraging that I had this great idea and actually jumped on it today. You've read here several times about my favorite prim/vintage/shabbychic shop in town...Two P's in a Pod, right? Well, it dawned on me that maybe they would like some of the things I make so I stopped there today to ask if they ever sell handmade items and they do! She told me to bring some in some time to which I replied..."Well, I just happen to have some in the car." lol I was so excited. I brought in two pairs of baby shoes and two of the book marks and she really seemed to like them a lot. The other partner wasn't there due to a death in the family, sadly, but when she gets back they'll make a decision. Either way, I was so tickled to see that someone else (in person, holding them in her hands) liked my things so I'm very excited and happy right now. :D
I went out today and thrifted some more baby shoes....one pair is so itsy bitsy...so cute!!! I can't wait to paint them.
I hope everyone had a good day. I did a lot of running around today so no crafting done. I did a lot of sewing, cutting and gluing yesterday...but the end product must remain a mystery for a little while. :)
My stepdaughter Emily is here for the summer and she is crocheting an outrageously neon green and orange bedcover for her room. It's huge! It's really fun to have someone to crochet with. She showed me how to finger crochet a really cool scarf, too. I'll have to do one and show you. It looks easy but I haven't actually done it yet. Now that I think about it, it looked too easy. I'm sure there's a trick to it. lol
Mike's dad and I had a very good long talk today. No homeschooling, but we did agree on so many other things and I think this may be the year that Mike gets his act together...whether he likes it or not. ;) I told Tom (my ex..confusing, no?) that it would have been easier to just stay married and he agreed. It was kind of funny, but kind of bittersweet...but I finally got to say "I'm really sorry about that." That was good for my soul and maybe for his. Now we can get on with living the lives we have now and stop kicking ourselves so much...and stop being too easy on children because of our divorce guilt. Deep sigh. It was a good talk. Funny thing is...he and I are so much alike and we married two people who are verrrrrrrry different from us, but like each other. lol Very opinionated, very forceful. Funny, huh? Not funny ha-ha, but funny...ironic.
Anyway, communication is a good thing. I recommend it.
Tuesday, July 25, 2006
Baby Shoes 2
Here ya go Elisabeth. :) Here's the latest pair of baby shoes. I can't explain why it's so much fun to paint these, but it is. I could spend hours doing it.
Monday, July 24, 2006
Tea Time
Newest thing in the shop. I sewed the little "napkin" and the felt cupcake. It's beaded to look like it has sprinkles. While I was adding these sprinkles, the cat went psycho and knocked all the teeny tiny beads right off the table onto the floor. I haven't vacuumed yet because Tim was asleep until 2 minutes ago so it's like walking on gravel. lol I got up as much as I could with a broom...and put them in a separate container to be washed later. That cat almost used up one of her lives!
The bookmark has a little teapot and a teacup and lots of pretty blue beads. It's the first time I'm used the white waxed linen cord. I really like the look of it and will definitely be making more with it.
If you go to the shop and enlarge it, you can see the beads up close.
Hope y'all are having a great day. I painted some more baby shoes last night. They aren't finished yet and I'm not exactly sure how I feel about them yet. Maybe they'll grow on me.
I'm off to vacuum. Brat cat.
The bookmark has a little teapot and a teacup and lots of pretty blue beads. It's the first time I'm used the white waxed linen cord. I really like the look of it and will definitely be making more with it.
If you go to the shop and enlarge it, you can see the beads up close.
Hope y'all are having a great day. I painted some more baby shoes last night. They aren't finished yet and I'm not exactly sure how I feel about them yet. Maybe they'll grow on me.
I'm off to vacuum. Brat cat.
Happy Birthday to Sarah!!!!!!!!!!!
Happy Birthday to my good blogging friend, Sarah..a.k.a. Mrs. Blythe! She's a wonderful person who never fails to make me smile, to make me think a little more deeply about Jesus and to make me feel generally all-around better. Happy Birthday Sarah!
Saturday, July 22, 2006
Baby Shoes
This is my latest craft obsession. I thrifted a bunch of baby shoes and am now painting them. It's so fun! I sealed them with a spray acrylic to protect the paint and it made them shiny, too..always a plus.
Tim and Emily (my stepdaughter came yesterday to stay for the summer...yay!) think they would make great planters. lol
Tim and Emily (my stepdaughter came yesterday to stay for the summer...yay!) think they would make great planters. lol
A Question for Homeschooling Moms
My younger son had to do summer school this year. In fact, I think he's had summer school every year of middle school because he starts out terrible and finishes with a bang...but not bang enough to pull up his gpa. I've tried everything from ignoring it to standing over him for hours while he did homework, to emailing teachers to keep up with assignments, to thinking he should just be held back, to pulling. my. newly. gray. hair. out!
Yesterday he got in trouble at summer school. His father got him a cell phone, which I immediately deemed just one more way for him to get in trouble and one more thing to make it harder to control who he talks to, etc. Yesterday the teacher asked for all the kids with cell phones (kids with cell phones...that drives me nuts...why do kids need cell phones?) to hand them up to her for the remainder of class. My son didn't. He put it on low in case any "important" calls came, he said, like me or his dad. Yeah, right! So his phone beeped because he got a text message and the teacher read it and it was some horrible thing the kid said and now my son has been told not to return to summer school, which means he will repeat 8th grade (although Daddy is trying to get him out of it, which is half the trouble).
Mike is very smart. They tested him for special ed because he wasn't doing his work like he should and generally being an all around pain in the neck at school...turns out he's closer to "gifted" than "learning disabled." He has a very high IQ and great logic. (I wish he'd use it). He's more interested in socializing (like his mother was) and he doesn't have the self-discipline necessary to take care of things that come first, first. I know it's my fault. I have failed to discipline as I should. On the other hand, I am the only one who disciplines him at all.
Yes, I know that divorce has contributed. It's what keeps me awake at night. I do everything in my power not to get into a power struggle thing with his dad over discipline (as it was a huge problem during the marriage). It's causing a huge rift here at home as Tim tells me that I am NOT going to be the one who takes care of the fallout from this and that I must make my ex deal with the consequences. All I care about, of course, is my son. I don't care about whose fault is what or who should have to drive him here or there. I care about my son getting a brain in his head and losing some of his stubborness and doing what he's supposed to do.
A lot of back story for a fairly straightforward question. I have wanted to home school Michael for a long time now. I know he's smart enough. I think I need to get rid of as many distractions for him as possible. I also know that homework time with him in the evenings is part of the reason my hair is turning gray. It has been a real chore to keep him "on task." There has been some improvement. He even occasionally does homework without being reminded....on his own. A true breakthrough. He is actually well-behaved for me. He is respectful and sweet even. I don't know what happens to him when he goes to school, but I suspect it's a lot of masculine posturing and showing off. That's my theory anyway. So, what I am asking from those of you who actually homeschool and know how difficult it is and why...is this doable? He would be starting high school in the fall...he'll be 14 in September (another problem...he is the youngest middle schooler). Can I make this work? or is it too late? I don't want to take it on if it's a mistake.
I'm not sure his dad will allow it. He wouldn't back when I wanted to do it before middle school...with both boys. But perhaps he is at his wit's end and will let me try it at this point. Before I speak with him about it, I'd like to feel certain that it's even reasonable to consider it myself.
I'm open to suggestions. I just want the best for my son. Some sleep would be nice, too. yawn.
Yesterday he got in trouble at summer school. His father got him a cell phone, which I immediately deemed just one more way for him to get in trouble and one more thing to make it harder to control who he talks to, etc. Yesterday the teacher asked for all the kids with cell phones (kids with cell phones...that drives me nuts...why do kids need cell phones?) to hand them up to her for the remainder of class. My son didn't. He put it on low in case any "important" calls came, he said, like me or his dad. Yeah, right! So his phone beeped because he got a text message and the teacher read it and it was some horrible thing the kid said and now my son has been told not to return to summer school, which means he will repeat 8th grade (although Daddy is trying to get him out of it, which is half the trouble).
Mike is very smart. They tested him for special ed because he wasn't doing his work like he should and generally being an all around pain in the neck at school...turns out he's closer to "gifted" than "learning disabled." He has a very high IQ and great logic. (I wish he'd use it). He's more interested in socializing (like his mother was) and he doesn't have the self-discipline necessary to take care of things that come first, first. I know it's my fault. I have failed to discipline as I should. On the other hand, I am the only one who disciplines him at all.
Yes, I know that divorce has contributed. It's what keeps me awake at night. I do everything in my power not to get into a power struggle thing with his dad over discipline (as it was a huge problem during the marriage). It's causing a huge rift here at home as Tim tells me that I am NOT going to be the one who takes care of the fallout from this and that I must make my ex deal with the consequences. All I care about, of course, is my son. I don't care about whose fault is what or who should have to drive him here or there. I care about my son getting a brain in his head and losing some of his stubborness and doing what he's supposed to do.
A lot of back story for a fairly straightforward question. I have wanted to home school Michael for a long time now. I know he's smart enough. I think I need to get rid of as many distractions for him as possible. I also know that homework time with him in the evenings is part of the reason my hair is turning gray. It has been a real chore to keep him "on task." There has been some improvement. He even occasionally does homework without being reminded....on his own. A true breakthrough. He is actually well-behaved for me. He is respectful and sweet even. I don't know what happens to him when he goes to school, but I suspect it's a lot of masculine posturing and showing off. That's my theory anyway. So, what I am asking from those of you who actually homeschool and know how difficult it is and why...is this doable? He would be starting high school in the fall...he'll be 14 in September (another problem...he is the youngest middle schooler). Can I make this work? or is it too late? I don't want to take it on if it's a mistake.
I'm not sure his dad will allow it. He wouldn't back when I wanted to do it before middle school...with both boys. But perhaps he is at his wit's end and will let me try it at this point. Before I speak with him about it, I'd like to feel certain that it's even reasonable to consider it myself.
I'm open to suggestions. I just want the best for my son. Some sleep would be nice, too. yawn.
Friday, July 21, 2006
Results
This is what Tim made. It's a part for a boat that is no longer available. Once he got rid of all the extra metal and cleaned it up, it looked just like the original part.
Thursday, July 20, 2006
Book bracelet
Newest item in my shop! I sat down with all my stuff this afternoon, surrounded by fabric, beads and all sort of fun stuff and finally settled on making this book mark. I love, love, love making these.
I am learning (takes me a while) that inspiration can come from so many places. It doesn't even have to be craft-related. Color is everywhere. Shapes are everywhere.
I am having so much fun!
I am learning (takes me a while) that inspiration can come from so many places. It doesn't even have to be craft-related. Color is everywhere. Shapes are everywhere.
I am having so much fun!
Casting
This is Tim's bliss. He is happiest when casting metal and making lovely parts. I took these pictures today as he was pouring the hot aluminum into the molds, which he also made. He made the furnace, too. It's the bucket looking thing right behind his hand.
Then it has to sit until it hardens. I have pictures of him opening the molds to reveal his handiwork, but they're on photobucket (coz I'm running out of room on Flickr) so I'll put those up later.
Isn't that cool? It's the ultimate recycling. He melts down otherwise useless metal and makes useful things with them.
Then it has to sit until it hardens. I have pictures of him opening the molds to reveal his handiwork, but they're on photobucket (coz I'm running out of room on Flickr) so I'll put those up later.
Isn't that cool? It's the ultimate recycling. He melts down otherwise useless metal and makes useful things with them.
Inspiration
What's a girl to do for inspiration on blogless days? I got some vintage mags from the thrift store. I remember the ads like they are from yesterday.
I went to the library and borrowed as many books as I could carry and then yesterday was date day. We ended up Barnes and Noble. I hadn't planned to buy anything (I have the hardest time spending money on books when I can get them for free from the library) but while I was being overwhelmed in the craft book section (wonderfully overwhelmed), Tim walked over and plunked several books in my hand, saying I may be interested in them...and all were just a few dollars. He loves a book discount!! They were all craft books and I took them all. Woot!
So, that's what I've been up to for the past few days. There is so much inspiration out there, so many creative minds who are willing to share their ideas and encourage us to come up with our own. The attitude of crafters is so open and giving. It is an awesome thing.
Craft on!
I went to the library and borrowed as many books as I could carry and then yesterday was date day. We ended up Barnes and Noble. I hadn't planned to buy anything (I have the hardest time spending money on books when I can get them for free from the library) but while I was being overwhelmed in the craft book section (wonderfully overwhelmed), Tim walked over and plunked several books in my hand, saying I may be interested in them...and all were just a few dollars. He loves a book discount!! They were all craft books and I took them all. Woot!
So, that's what I've been up to for the past few days. There is so much inspiration out there, so many creative minds who are willing to share their ideas and encourage us to come up with our own. The attitude of crafters is so open and giving. It is an awesome thing.
Craft on!
Saturday, July 15, 2006
Nick....last day with braces!!!
Yesterday was Nick's last day with braces. I took him to the ortho at 8 am and a little after 9 am I picked him up.
He took good care of them and they're white and straight and beautiful. The ortho gave him lots of food that would be out of the question to eat with braces...taffy, popcorn, cracker jacks. lol He was so excited to eat without them. F-r--e-e-d--o-m.
He took good care of them and they're white and straight and beautiful. The ortho gave him lots of food that would be out of the question to eat with braces...taffy, popcorn, cracker jacks. lol He was so excited to eat without them. F-r--e-e-d--o-m.
Friday, July 14, 2006
Been busy....
After all the crafting this week, I did some organizing today. This is my craft space in the bedroom. It's a dressing table but everything in it and on it is pretty much craft-related, with the exception of a brush tucked in the drawer and some q-tips in a tin. A lot of my craft stuff is in the dining room in baskets, but these drawers hold paint, stamps, oodles of spools of threads and vintage sewing stuff and other odds and ends.
Some of these things had been spread around and in the way. I was trying to figure out how to get rid of some of it today and decided to "hide it in plain sight", so I decorated with it. :) I love the effect. It's my little hippy, vintage space and makes me smile.
Yes, I painted butterflies on my wall. lol
This shelf has a thrifted album I painted, a small thrifted glass bottle, some book thongs I made, a thrifted candle holder and a candle I bought years ago.
Some of these things had been spread around and in the way. I was trying to figure out how to get rid of some of it today and decided to "hide it in plain sight", so I decorated with it. :) I love the effect. It's my little hippy, vintage space and makes me smile.
Yes, I painted butterflies on my wall. lol
This shelf has a thrifted album I painted, a small thrifted glass bottle, some book thongs I made, a thrifted candle holder and a candle I bought years ago.
Thursday, July 13, 2006
Glass bottle with collar
This is what I've been working on. It's a collar made of 28 guage wire that I crocheted with pink and green glass beads. It was fun to do, although pretty rough on my finger. (everybody say "awwww"). Thanks. I feel better.
This is going up in my etsy shop if I can ever get it to load. I guess all these programs have their problems...blogger, photobucket, etsy...technology, huh?
See y'all later. It's getting ready to storm here big time so I should probably unplug.
This is going up in my etsy shop if I can ever get it to load. I guess all these programs have their problems...blogger, photobucket, etsy...technology, huh?
See y'all later. It's getting ready to storm here big time so I should probably unplug.
Tuesday, July 11, 2006
Mom's Goodies
These are the gifts I'm ready to send Mom for her birthday. You've already seen the jug/jar cover and there's a lavender sachet with a little touch of lace.
I tried to make her a card and I loved the concept of the card I made but I tried to use mod podge and that didn't turn out so well, so I decided to go with simplicity and just send it plain on a pretty piece of cardstock. The raised design on it is textured..soft n fuzzy.
I wrapped them each in tissue, then tied a ribbon around it all. I hope it brings a birthday smile to her. :)
Have a good day everyone.
I tried to make her a card and I loved the concept of the card I made but I tried to use mod podge and that didn't turn out so well, so I decided to go with simplicity and just send it plain on a pretty piece of cardstock. The raised design on it is textured..soft n fuzzy.
I wrapped them each in tissue, then tied a ribbon around it all. I hope it brings a birthday smile to her. :)
Have a good day everyone.
Sunday, July 09, 2006
Needleroll SAL Update
This is my progress on my needleroll as of about 5:30pm on Sunday evening. I may stitch some more tonight before I put it away. I may frog tonight before I put it away instead of stitching. I am not pleased with the rabbits that look like hamsters...and a couple of the flowers are pretty sad. I'm loving the colors, though.
Oh, I should probably point out that I changed my mind, Katrina, about doing the sampler. I had this rabbit chart (part of Sheeps n Rabbits) so I decided I'd like to do it.
Oh, I should probably point out that I changed my mind, Katrina, about doing the sampler. I had this rabbit chart (part of Sheeps n Rabbits) so I decided I'd like to do it.
Closeup
Planted some parsley today (inside the rocks). Behind the parsley is some peppermint. It's really growing and smells so good!
I'm also trying out flickr to see how I like it. I'm blogging from there. It's pretty cool!
I'm also trying out flickr to see how I like it. I'm blogging from there. It's pretty cool!
Random
This is the basket I bought for 5 bucks yesterday. My crafts are spilling over so I needed another portable, stackable storage unit. I really like this one. In fact, it's the reason I got out and walked into this neat shop that's just down the road from me. I didn't even realize it was there until I was getting fuel yesterday and there it was. They had lots of cute things...shabby chic, vintage, antique, country..you name it. I was good and left only with this basket.
Just for fun, I'm including this photo. I've wanted a picture for a bit but it's so dark in there. Tim bought a little headlight (for reading when camping, etc) and it was so bright that we experimented with it as a flash. LOL It didn't quite work but at least you can see my new arrangement at the top of the entertainment center. That's the wreath I made a while back but with new ribbon that matches the hearts on the cushions. (remember?). The candle is a yard sale find. I trimmed it with both the curtain fabric and the heart fabric. The three candlesticks have been there for ages.
I sure hope I don't lose this post. It won't let me save it, copy and paste into Word or anything. I don't want to hit "Post entry" because it's scary, so I just keep typing. lol Ok, here goes.......
Saturday, July 08, 2006
A few crafty items.
I had written a nice long post today and lost it and a couple of more pictures but I'm too tired tonight so here's a pic of the things I picked up today. The basket everything is in was one of the things I bought.
I've been working on my needleroll all evening while I chatted with the boys. I realized I had a reading lamp that wasn't being used and brought it in the livingroom/family room. It works great for stitching. Now I think I'll hit the hay. Good night. :)
Grrr
I'm sorry if I keep updating your bloglines. Blogger won't let me post pictures (and maybe not these words, we'll see) and now Photobucket isn't working for me either. I'll try again later. Hope everyone is having a good weekend.
Friday, July 07, 2006
Sweet, right?
I am having more fun than a girl should be allowed! I will make more of these now that I've figured out a way to do it. I love the way they clank on the glass...like windchimes. I should try to maneuver some work into my schedule today. All this crafting; what's a girl to do? hmmm laundry, mowing, washing the car..........there's always tomorrow, right? Then again..I'm doing the needleroll stitch-a-long tomorrow. Oh dear. When will I fit in responsibility?
Blessed Sleep
I had a wonderful night of sleep! Yes! I went to bed at 10 ish and after one brief trip up to turn the dishwasher on around 11 (lol) I returned to bed and slept until 7:30am! Woot. I feel great.
My plan today is to turn these baubles in the picture into a birthday present for my Mom. I want to try making a jug cover (and I don't mean bra...heh). I think Mom would enjoy one of these and I also want to make her a lavender sachet, since I am so enjoying the one I got from Debbie.
I also want to make her a homemade card. I haven't tried that yet. So, I have a full crafty day ahead. :) Hope your day is awesome!
Thursday, July 06, 2006
And another one
It would really help if I had a better camera. I intend to remedy that. In this picture it looks the same color as the last one, but it's actually a deep purple and matches the fabric. The leaves and the button are the same color of green. 
Ever Have One of Those Days?
This is for a sweet friend who is having a day like this. She knows who she is.
Wednesday, July 05, 2006
Another one
The bottom picture is the true color. The top picture is to show the vintage buttons. These little pins each have a vintage button attached. I'm not sure how this is all going to pan out. It's just an idea that flitted in. Either way, it's fun to play.
Gosh, sorry. They hadn't been posting and then I changed something in my template (added that button over there---->) and they all showed up. I'm just gonna leave 'em. lol
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