Wednesday Wrap-Up

Here’s a picture of my latest crochet experiment – some Tawashi, a little dish scrubber… The pattern is here – no, I don’t read Japanese – but I was able to follow the chart.  It was a quick project to learn and easy to remember.  I was reluctant to try to follow charts for a while, but determined to not let the chance to make so many cute projects escape me!

 

I’m taking a break for a week, won’t be on Twitter or blogging much.

 

While I’m gone, you can visit:

At my etsy shop, orders placed from now till June 30th won’t ship until that day.  How about I throw in an extra yard of ribbon for each order placed to thank you for your patience?  Just leave me a message to seller and I’ll include it when I ship.  If you’d like to place an order and I’ve run out of ribbon, but you see it in the SOLD section, just message me – and if I have it when I return I’ll be sure to include that extra 1 yard for you.

My last post at the CraftFail blog is amusing.  Check it out.

I’m also on Ravelry, on Flickr, and I’m sure there’s more I’m forgetting right now….  See you in a week!

E.T.T. Shop of the Week – Rockis Supplies

I don’t recall there every being an Etsy Twitter Team shop of the week that was all about supplies, but I’m definitely liking this one!  To the right are some nice flat headpins.  Deb of RockisSupplies  makes all her items by hand, and that’s so impressive.  I’m really interested in this because I want to work on making my fabric jewelry more sophisticated and I think the right supplies help do that.

Check out her interview over at the E.T.T. blog & make note of this special for this week only: “For any purchase made during the week of this [Etsy Twitter Team] blog feature, she will include a small free sample, one per customer. All you have to do is mention you found her via the "Twitter Blog Feature" in "Message to Seller" at time of purchase.” 

From her shop announcement: ~Handcrafted Pieces of Art for Your Artistic Creations~
“… classy organic with a touch of fun.” Visit her shop here.

June Featured Etsy Blogger

LazyTCrochet is the featured blog behind artist  Lazy T (Tricia – from her Etsy profile).  (I could be a Lazy T, too!)

This woman has got a sense of humor:

And she’s so crafty! I liked this recent post at her blog about crocheting with unspun fibers.  I’ve done that with knitting but haven’t tried it with crochet yet, and it’s a little tricky.  (Remember this tiny elephant?)

 

Just one more fave from her shop – Love this shawl!

Visit the featured blogger this month and say hi, I’m sure you won’t be disappointed!

EtsyChai Sings the Blues

I’m honored to have been included in this creative treasury.  Click through to this beautiful treasury until Wednesday, June 24th at 11:16pm when it expires:

Summer Birthdays

This month I’ve chosen to answer the following question from the Etsy Bloggers Team “Blog Carnival”: “When's your birthday?? What do you like to do when you turn one more year?? What is your favorite birthday present ever?? What would your dream birthday be like?? Do you give yourself gifts??”

To tell the truth, I never make a big deal about birthdays.  I don’t mind getting older, I actually enjoy the experience that I’m living through and accumulating.  I don’t dye my hair or lie about my age.  Yeah, I’ll usually find an excuse around August to splurge on some new yarns or fabrics, but I never covet much.  So, why on earth would I answer this question?  Because this year I’m turning 40.  Seems like a big deal to most and I’m wondering what it’s going to be like.

If I had to think up a dream birthday, I’m pretty sure I’d want it infused with creativity.  As it happens, my town is going to be running an Uncommon Art day right on August 8th!  It’s going to be a day filled with artists lining Main Street, in tents, creating and selling their wares.  I’m probably not going to have my own display but I am looking into working with a few artists on a community-wide participatory painting project all through the day.  I can’t wait! 

My Horoscope: Leo

You know intuitively that it's time to push hard toward your goals. There's never been a better time than now to make your dreams come true. But it's not about meditating, clearing your aura or saying affirmations like a mantra. Instead, it's currently your job to get serious and work hard. If you can keep your feet on the ground, your chances for success are greatly improved.

Just so happens I listened to a very motivating Tony Robbins clip on my ipod during a walk this week.  Maybe I need to listen to some more of him.  Maybe I should finish the bajillion projects laying around my workroom.

♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥

Well, here’s an affirmation I got today:Yay, that’s my Art to Wear pin in blue, right in the center! Just the type of motivation I need to keep creating.

Sun Dried

I’ve always waited for the end of the summer to dry my herbs indoors (see here) … but I don’t know why!  Here’s how I did a bunch of drying this week outside, in the sun.  It was so nice and quick, each batch was done in one day:

1. Oregano
2. Cut and laid out on cooling rack in a sunny spot.
3. Window screen mesh (stapled to frame) on top so it doesn’t blow away as it dries.
4. Bottled, labeled and packed with oil and vinegar in a bucket for a gift.

 

See more of my peony pictures (with poetry) over at my flickr pages.

E.T.T. Shop of the Week – Rose Bush Designs

This week’s Shop of the Week is RoseBushDesigns and it’s really delightful.

I’m pasting this from Beth’s listing, because I loved it: “Do you have a really great girlfriend? The kind that you giggle with, commiserate with and just love--especially over a cup of coffee? Tell her how you feel with this card. The sentiment says " A good friend is like a warm cup of coffee".”

I love handmade cards, as much to give them, as to receive them – check out Beth’s shop – RoseBushDesigns and a great interview with her over at the team blog.

Blog Anniversary Tutorial Round Up

Wow, I’ve been blogging since 2006.  I hope you’ve enjoyed this journey so far, the posts, the pictures, the links and the evolution of this blog.  Below is a list, for you,  of some of the “how-to’s” I’ve had up here, from simple to complex tutorials.  If you’ve ever made any of these, or do in the future, please let me know!  I’d love to put up a post about your creations and say thanks.  (That also goes for the art doll patterns you may have purchased from my etsy shop – would love to see what you make.)

• Dyeing plastic buttons in the microwave
• Love Letters fabric envelopes, sewing
• Jewelry Display from a game board
• Business Card Holder, sewing
• Summer Felted Tote, knitting

Thanks, readers, without you, I’d be sitting here talking to myself.

E.T.T. Shop of the Week - NDN Chick

I don’t know how I let the shop of the week post slip by Tuesday, what was I thinking?  And Leanna is such a sweety on twitter, I can’t believe I didn’t put this post up yet.   Well… NDN Chick is the shop of the week!  And of course, I had to pick out a favorite… and of course it’s red….

Aren’t these earrings great?!

I’m sure you won’t be disappointed by the beading and beautiful cards over at NDN Chick’s shop and she’s offering a special this week: “Free shipping on all orders including international.”  Nice! You can also stop by the E.T.T. blog to read a lovely interview with her.  Enjoy! 

In the Night Kitchen

Disclaimer: This is not my original idea at all – once my daughter and I saw these creations at The Crispery online, we had to try and make our own.  Well, it’s 1am and I made these for a birthday treat for her class tomorrow… how I did it :

• Prepare two batches of crispy rice/marshmallow treats in well-greased, wax-paper-lined, jelly roll pans, using an oiled rolling pin to get them flat and well mashed together. 
• Open one package of chocolate sandwich cookies and separate each one – setting aside the halves that have the most frosting and crushing the remaining halves.
• Next, place about 1/2 package of marshmallows over one crispy layer and placed it in a pre-heated oven at 400 degrees for about 5 minutes. Remove it from the oven and immediately  sprinkle the crushed cookies all around. 
• While everything is still warm, carefully flip over the second crispy layer onto the first, pressing down so the semi-melted marshmallows spread out.  Leave the 2nd pan on top & add a couple of phone books to it to compress it all for a few hours.
• When it’s all cooled down, cut into servings, and press the remaining halves of cookies onto each one (the frosting is what helps it stick).  That’s it!  Enjoy!

These were really yummy… but honestly, I’ll probably be ordering some from the Crispery in the future as birthday presents to send off to long-distance relatives…you know who you are!

A Quickie

Just a quick post… 

How shall I celebrate?

Taking suggestions!

Been blogging since 2006! (the date is 6/11, forgot to stop the counter for the blog post!)Do I need pictures in every post? More variety? I know tutorials are popular, I always get lots of hits when those are up.  This weekend, I have some gardening pictures and maybe some of my new knitting or crochet pictures, too.  Have any blogoversary suggestions, or want to share what you’re doing this weekend or how long have you been blogging?  Leave a message, I love to hear from you!  (And if it doesn’t show up… as I’ve recently learned some might not be, I’ll start pasting in your emails that I get.)

Thursday Threesome

 

(How on earth can I pick favorites?!? I have too many!!!)

Etsy Twitter Team Shop of the Week - That’s Headley!

  Etsy Twitter Team: Shop of the Week: That’s Headley!

If you haven’t seen these peas, they’re adorable and I love the ingenious way she’s made this into a wrapped piece of jewelry. (FREE SHIPPING Worldwide on this Collection.)

Ginny has a wonderful interview over at the Etsy Twitter Team blog and has a delightful shop, That’s Headley!

 

 

Of course, I had to browse around and pick out my favorite… I LOVE this necklace, the colors are so bold & cheerful:

Check out her shop and remember: FREE SHIPPING in the US on all items!