Little Houses Made Of Ticky Tacky

Is this a stoop?  Or just a front door / entry?  I don't know.  What I do know is that this sad sad entry stoop was plain and uninspired.  I live in a cookie cutter neighborhood.  Every time I drive down the street to my house I hear that song.  It goes:  "Little houses, on a hillside, little houses made of ticky tacky, little houses on a hillside, little houses in a row....." It was sung by Malvina Reynolds and is called "Little Houses".  It was the theme song to the show "Weeds".  Anyways, this space needed some personality.  I added a flower pot that I've had loitering in the backyard.  But, most importantly I added this awesome wreath!

Made with a dollar store foam 8" wreath and paper pinwheels. I just used straight pins and some hot glue to attach the pinwheels.  It only took 2 hours or so. The paper pinwheels took a while to cut and fold.  Wish it was bigger, but hey... it was what I had on hand.

I'm thinking lots more wreaths for different seasons is in order.  Don't you just love color in a boring space?  I know I do.  I'm happy every time I walk up those cookie cutter stairs now.

New Addiction - Coiled Baskets!

These seem to be all over the Internet right now.  I got addicted to these almost a year ago now.  I've made dozens (literally) since then.  My boys have many on our shelves of toys and I made 14 for Christmas gifts.  I just love them.  Easy and satisfying to make.  Not to mention pretty to look at and totally practical. 

This last basket got an addition of fabric. Why didn't I do this sooner! I can't get over that pop of color.  Such a great use of all my string scraps of fabric that I've got in spades over here.  This particular basket is using reproduction 1930's washboard fabrics left over from a quilt I made a few years ago.

More of these to come.  I'm planning on three smaller ones for the boys Safari Ltd. Toob animals.  We are desperate for some separation of species. I've noticed that I need handles on all baskets in the playroom.  It just seems to make it easier for little hands to carry.  Especially these larger baskets.

I also just want to mention that I get my cotton clothesline on Amazon.  $10.00 for a 200ft piece.  It's a steal!  I usually get one large basket and a few smaller ones.

Cael's Cardboard Boat

My hubby and I had a hard time thinking of something for Cael for Xmas.  He really didn't NEED anything.  But I wanted Santa to bring him something cool.  Something that he would absolutely love and play with.  My hubby kept saying that he would just as happy with a cardboard box, so we might as well save our money and just get him a few small things.  During a strong discussion, I yelled at him that he might as well make him something out of that darned cardboard box then!  Funny enough, we both kidna looked at each other and stared thinking.  The next day I told him to make a boat or a car or a train or, or, or.  But, he simply said... "A Car".  That same week he got to work.  What I thought would be a very simple cardboard boat turned into something really amazing.  Just look at this thing.  I think it would probably float across a large body of water before falling apart.  It's held together my hot glue and two corrugated layers of cardboard.  It was painted and then gorilla tape was used on all edges so it would be nice and smooth.  I added felt to the bottom and he added a rope to pull him around the house.  It slides beautifully on the hardwood flooring.  It's also got a little seat with a back rest, a steering wheel that turns, some knobs on the front dashboard, two drop holes up front, side rope with beads and two cute anchors in back.

 

 

 

This thing really goes to show you that you can make beautiful gifts for kids with cardboard.  As, he grows we plan to change things on it to keep it new and awesome.  We might even add a sail to it someday.  I need to get better pictures of him in it.  He really laughs when he's being pulled.  He loves to just sit in it and play.  And, his sisters and daddy all agree that they would totally play in it too if they could fit.

Boy, do I love that husband of mine...  He is continually surprising me.  I never thought he would put so much love and work into something like this.  I guess I shouldn't be surprised though.  He never does anything halfway. And, he would do anything to make his children smile.

Mail.... I love getting packages

I know that I've said this time and again, but.... I love my postal carrier. She always brings me such wonderful things. Today I received two packages. The top of the photo show some hand carved stamps that I purchased on Etsy from Winemakerssister. They are awesome! One is a spool of thread and the other is a ball of yarn with knitting needles. I'm planning on using these on tags when I send things out. The packaging was to die for. So cute! The other package was items from a speed swap on Ralvery. I received two skeins of 100% fine merino 3 ply bulky wool yarn. I can't wait to dye these up! 1 skein of some blue and black yarn. I don't remember the wool content, I'll have to go check on that. Size 10 bamboo circular needles, 1 Brittany size F crochet hook (This is my favorite thing. The carved handle is awesome.) And, 7 stitch markers.

Crafsters Best Of 2008

This morning I hoped on Crafster to do my morning browsing. And, I noticed that they had posted their "Best of 2008". I decided to take a peak. I was oooing and awwwing down the page at all the projects that I had somehow missed over the last year. When I got to the bottom of the page, my jaw hit the floor... My thread on Felt Food is there!! I'm so excited. When I started that thread I never thought I would get such a wonderful response. Thanks to everyone who posted comments and suggestions. Your support has been so great.

1st Day Of Christmas

Well... they days got away from me and I never finished up my 12 days of Christmas posts. So, I've decided to finish them all up in one post.

On the 1st Day Of Christmas I finally finished knitting...
My hubbies comfy wool socks.

On the 2nd Day Of Christmas I used some leftover fleece...
To make 2 pairs of fleecy pants for the girls. I did make two pairs, but the other pair is in the wash.

On the 3rd Day of Christmas I crocheted...
All three characters from the "Bone" graphic novel series. (I'll be doing a single post about this one later on.)

On the 4th Day of Christmas I ordered...
4 Family calendars for the grandparents.

On the 5th Day of Christmas I made for my Ray...
Kitty cat accessories. My youngest is all about cats lately. She must have at least a dozen of them on her bed right now.

On the 6th Day of Christmas I used up lots of holiday flannel...
To sew up 6 pairs of warm nightgowns. All the fabrics co-ordinated together, so I made them each 3 pairs. (on x-mas eve the girls put them on and all of them are to small around the armpits... insert silent tear here... I'll be fixing these sometime soon. Also, just to note - I actually followed the instructions on the sewing pattern.)

On the 7th Day of Christmas.... I got totally sidetracked
It snowed like crazy on this day and I couldn't find anything that I had been working on that had to do with 7... It kept snowing for over a week and we ended up with more snow than we had seen in in a very very long time.

12 Days Of Christmas

In celebration of the busy holiday and crafting season I have decided to do a post every day for the next 12 days. Each day will showcase one (or many) of the items that I have been busy making over the past month or so. I won't be posting to many specifics about the items. Mostly just eye candy and a brief description. If you have any questions though, just leave a comment and I will try and answer your question.

* As a side note, I do realize that my 12 days will end one day short of Christmas. But, Christmas day will be crazy and I know I won't get a chance to blog. Also, I'm doing the 12 days backwards just like when you sing the last part of the song.

"Rapunzel" Scarf Swap

I love doing swaps. This one was called the " Rapunzel" Scarf Swap. I sent 6 (we were only required to send 5, but I wanted to send an extra) 10 foot strands of different fibers, ie: yarns, ribbons, or fabric strips to 5 different people. In return, they also sent me 5 10 foot strands or fibers. I received a few packages with more than 5 fibers, so I ended up with 38 fibers for my scarf.

To make the scarf you divide up the fibers evenly into 3 strands so you can braid them all together. I added on piece from my own stash to make 3 even strands of 13 fibers each. I divided up the fibers by color and texture so that each "strand" had some of each. I then had my daughter hold the end so I could braid the verrrry long strands together into this awesome scarf. I opted ot leave the ends long so I could see and play with all those yummy fibers. Isn't it pretty!! For my color scheme I asked for blues, greens, and plums. Those seem to be my colors lately. I LOVE this scarf.. have I mentioned that yet? I have my youngest modeling it for me. I was covered in paint (yep.. we painted that ugly downstairs bathroom yesterday) so I didn't look quite right for pictures.


I'm sure by now your starting to see how much of a fiber freak I am. I will be making more of these. I really want to use some of my handspun yarns that I have lying around... not to mention all the ribbon and acrylic yarn that I have.

Weekend Projects

So, a few weeks back I mentioned that the weekends would be my “craft anything I WANT days”. This weekend I was able to do just that! Actually....I started my own crafts on Friday. That may have been cheating just a bit, but I really wanted to make my pattern weights.

So on Friday I made my pattern weights. I decided to use some fabric samples that I had ordered from a great fabric shop in the UK. The samples were nice and big. Around 6/8” each. But... some of them had “sample” stamped on them. Which eliminated the idea of piecing them together and making a doll quilt. I did think however that they would be great as my pattern weights. I had three samples of oil cloth and 5 samples of upholstery weight fabrics. I did a lightweight interfacing on the upholstery ones just to make sure they would stand up the the weight of the BB's. I pinked all the edges and just sewed em up on three sides. I then poured in some BB's and stitched up the tops. The edges are pinked, so I didn't have to turn them or anything. I made three sizes. The largest ones and three of the med. ones still need BB's. (I ran out) But, the others have already seen use. I LOVE them.

On Friday night and Saturday afternoon I sewed up some summer dresses for the girls. Ironic too, because it decided to snow on us Friday late afternoon. (and to think that last week it was over 80) I followed a tutorial on Crafster to turn a men's button down work shirt into a sun dress. It was very easy to follow. I altered mine a bit. I added detailing around the empire waist, and I put elastic in the back so the girls could wear them longer. I also added a tie in the back. They are really cute. I'll be making a few more of these. I'll try and get the girls to model for me sometime.

Saturday evening, I finally cut out the apron that I've been wanting to make. It'll be for me to use while I'm sewing and crafting. I'm using and adorable print that has a “pattern piece” background with sewing forms dressed in dresses. I'm making the apron reversible, so the back is an orange and bright pink striped. Both sides will have pockets and the front will have a decorative black border around most of it.

Well, I'm off to go sew up my apron. Finished pics will come tomorrow.

French Press Cozy

Every morning I when I sit down to check my emails, blog, daily readings, etc... I do it with a cup of coffee sitting next to me. I use my French press instead of a standard coffee maker. Love it!! But, when I'm ready for that second cup (currently working on not needing that second cup) the coffee in the press is getting cold. I decided to make myself a French press cozy. I started with a felted sweater in blue stripes. I started working on the flap with snaps to hold it in place when I decided that my dad could use one of these as well. I found a great dark kelly green sweater with a nice pattern running through it. I through it in the washer while working on my blue cozy. I made a bunch of flowers while channeling my inner Betz White. I love her style of crafting... I'd love to get her new book. Anyways....the green sweater finished felting and I cut another cozy from it. I wanted a masculine look for it, but I still wanted it to match my mom's kitchen. She mentioned a coffee mug for the front. So, I grabbed some faux black leather and free cut out a coffee mug. It looked plain on the front, so I felted on some "steam". I added some glitz to the roving, to get a bit of sparkle. I used the same black leather for the back closing and used some large silver snaps for easy on and off. I LOVED how it turned out. I almost didn't want to give it up. But, I knew that daddy would love it (yes... I still call my dad, daddy.... I'll always be his little girl) so I didn't have a problem giving it up. I haven't finished mine yet. I' did end up putting a coffee mug on mine as well, but for some reason it looked a bit plain. And, I wanted to use the great felt flowers that I had made. I've decided to make the mug into a "flower" so I can add the other flowers and have it look "cutsy". I'll post some pics when I get it all finished.