Five Pinterest Crafts I Hope to Do This Weekend

I'm so looking forward to the Thanksgiving Break. I know...I had a three day week last week, but when all you can do is sit on the couch while you hack up a lung...not the same. This is what I hope to accomplish/start.

Now don't rush out and buy up all the vintage Santa head mugs! I saw this cute idea in Better Homes and Gardens Holiday Crafts. (The one with a felted snowman in a bell jar on the cover; I tried to find the issue on their website for you but, why would they sell that on their site? Here, get it on Zinio.) I may not do much more than start to gather the items. Depends on how gung-ho I am to get out to the vintage shops in the inevitable traffic.


On Friday, I plan to make cards. Two of the ideas I have are pictured here. The first example is the non-specific holiday card for my friends who do not necessarily celebrate Christmas. I am going to use a cool blue instead of the spring-y gold to make something generally winter-y. (Find this card at Magical Scrapworld.)

I'm also going to use Warm Wishes stamp set that I love to make this sled. The original idea came from Stampin by the Sea. I might have to wait to finish these until I go to my Friday night stamping party again. I can't remember if I have the embossing folder for the background or not. (You know you have too many crafting supplies when...)







On Saturday, I plan to shop small at the Bead Garden. I am thinking about making two necklaces, pictured here. Tassels are all the rage, and I know how to make them! (Finally, a reason for that useless skill!) The pink and green necklace would be a perfect gift for a certain aunt. I would link you to the origin, but it is a piece that was sold on etsy, by a seller that didn't make sure a permanent link went back to their store. The item is unavailable--that's all I know.

Finally, that same aunt would love this daisy necklace. I think it will also be pleasingly complicated--not too easy, but not too difficult either. You can find the instructions for this piece at Pandahall Tutorial.

What are your plans?

Commencing

Many of you have been sharing the joy of your children's graduations. On Saturday, I attended the graduation of my college roommate's college-aged daughter. (She of the mini-cupcakes craft day.) How quickly did those four years pass!? I swear, all I did was blink. At any rate, Cupcake Claire has moved home before she attends graduate school* on a fellowship. Look at her go!

To commemorate the occasion, I stitched

This is JBW Designs French Country Owl. I stitched it on 28 count of a beige variety with WDW Saffron, WDW Chestnut, and GAST Spring Grass. The white is DMC. The College's colors are yellow and white, with the owl as the mascot representative of Athena, the school goddess. (You can see how the students honor her during exam weeks here.)

Of course, the part I was in charge of charting got screwed up. I cannot center anything! To "balance" it I aligned the "College" four stitches in like the "Bryn" if that makes sense. If I hadn't been racing against the clock (I seriously finished stitching this, laced it, put it in the frame, got in the shower, dressed, and went to the graduation) I might have thought to put some buttons next to College. Whatever. It's artistic!

I think she liked it. She told me that she was a real adult now that she had two things in frames to hang on her wall. (Too true that the transition to adulthood is marked by no longer hanging posters with adhesive putty!)

And the transition to old age is marked by your children's (or your friend's children's) transition to adulthood. And yet, in my head, I am only 28.

I am so behind on blog commenting. I've been reading, and you are all fabulous! Soon, I will come and tell you in person.

*She's headed to USC!

Appreciated

I know many of us are in the throes of holiday craziness with the added bonus of working on gifts, and thus having nothing we can show on our crafty blogs. The dude and I find this time of year to be a little quiet at work so we decided to take a couple of days off. On Thursday we went to see the Magna Carta at the Library of Congress (through January 19). You might recognize the document as the predecessor of our own Constitution and Bill of Rights. One of the things I found most fascinating was that the Magna Carta was loaned to the US during the 1939 New York World's Fair. When it became dangerous for the document to return to the U.K., it was held at the Library of Congress. And when the U.S. entered the war, it, along with the Constitution and Declaration of Independence were moved to Fort Knox. If you get a chance to see the Library of Congress, you should. It's a beautiful building with some fabulous displays even without the Magna Carta. On Friday we went to Longwood Gardens to see the Christmas decorations. We did a few other things about town. It was a nice, relaxing day. It definitely has helped us gear up for this last full week of work this year.

Today, my mother texted me a photo of her outfit. "Thought you'd like to know that I still wear this. So many compliments!!!!" I have talked about it before, but I've never shown the photo. It's from Hollie Designs and I took it as a class, I think, at Spirit of Cross Stitch. It took a long time because we had to flip the Santa (stitched on the other side of the vest). I have the distinct inability to rotate shapes in my head, so it was a nightmare to do the second half, but I persevered. Lots of fun fibers in this one. I'm glad she still wears it because the vest I made myself (photo at the above link) never sees the light of day! 

The Season of Giving

Phoro: Jane M. Sawyer via Morgue File

Today, I turned to the January 1845 issue of Godey's Magazine and Lady's Book and found an article appropriate to the holiday season. "Gifts used to be pleasant things once; in the simpler days of this world's history, when men wore the faces and hearts God gave them and not faces and hearts of stone or ice" begins this treatise on how best to give and receive true gifts (those "spontaneous offerings from heart to heart," as opposed to gifts used as payment or procurement). This is truly a blog-worthy rant on gifts, but I can only share bits with you, so I have chosen:

Some people are much disappointed and quite indignant if "presents" do not buy affections, respect, deference, conformity, and other things that we all like. But this expectation is altogether unreasonable. Even children are seldom attached by gifts*. Their pleasure in the gift seldom refers to the giver. "Love for love" is the only barter, and we can all see when "presents" mean love. The very look--the tone of voice, may change the whole aspect of the thing. Indeed looks and tones are very important in these matters. The manner may be awkward--the eye averted--the voice constrained--the heart may shine through all and sanctify the offering. In either case, we care more for the spirit than for the action.   "Hints for an Essay on Presents" by the author of a "New Home." Godey's Magazine and Lady's Book Jan 1845; 30, 28.

So remember this season of holiday exchanges, you won't buy anyone's love when you go to the store, so make each gift a "spontaneous offering from heart to heart." We can dream, right?

I also enjoyed this article for the hint of first year writing student in the opening sentence: "Back in the day" we used to know how to give gifts. Nowadays we're so world-weary and cynical, gift-giving is a much more difficult form of exchange. Seriously, I used to get essays all the time: "since the beginning of time, man has had a love affair with the car (or other historical inaccuracy)" or "In the 1950s, women knew how to keep a clean house; nowadays children are dying from germs they pick up at home." Some days I can appreciate where I am now and where I came from. A true gift.

Another Gift

This time it's a belated Christmas present:
betz white's tutorial on felted rosettes + new green mama's felted coffee cozy tutorial =

The colors are a little off--the cozy is a brighter green and the leaves are mint green but we took the picture in a Starbucks with an iPhone after 5:30 p.m. (We couldn't get the right angle when it was on a coffee cup, but it does cover most of a tall cup.)

A Present for a Friend

Linen bookmark instructions + A Mon Ami Pierre's Cally Amap 2 + DMC 310 + rickrack + buttons =

Crafting for your Crafting Friends

Just a quick one today since I am on my second honeymoon in Paris. Oh yeah, that's right, I'm not. I'm on a quick weekend getaway to Maryland to celebrate my tenth anniversary. {Le sigh} At least the man I'm with is hot.

One Pretty Thing has put together a list of crafts to make for crafters.

Shopping with the Dude

Sissy's birthday is in two days but we're celebrating tonight at Sunday dinner. The dude and I went off to the mall to find her something cute, or failing that, buy her a Tory Burch gift certificate. (We found something cute.) The dude is not known for his shopping prowess nor his patience with capitalist culture nor for "just looking." It was a pretty remarkable day. After we had been in Banana Republic, Free People, and J Crew, he turned to me and said, "All this clothes is made for a race of little people I've never met...all for a hundred and fifty bucks a pop." In Lilly Pulitzer, he threatened to have an epileptic seizure if we didn't leave right away. He had a field day when we walked by the sign that said, "Coming Soon: True Religion."

When I walked by the Tiffany store--which was loaded with teenagers, wtf? I was 24 before I set foot in a Tiffany store--I saw that they had an interesting embroidery display. Not sure if this means cross-stitchers are cool--especially since they've mixed embroidery tools with sewing thread, but there you have it. (I didn't photograph the other display with "T is for Tiffany." We were in a crush of people.)

When I was downloading the photo from my phone, I found this picture I took of my aunt's birthday gift. I bought the premade felt purse and pieces, and sewed them together. But, and this is what I am most proud of, the zipper pull was missing from the purse. We bought an earring at Target, well we bought the pair but just used one, and turned it into a pull. Since the balls in the flower centers are beaded, it was perfect.

The house still isn't cleaning itself. Why hasn't the Jetsons become our reality? I think scientists just want to keep women down.

Procrastination

What exactly can I be procrastinating? All the gifts are out of the house, right. Trust me, not everything is in order for this trip we are taking to Florida but I wanted to take a quick minute to show you some of the gifts you haven't seen.

The spa boxes. Although I had planned to make the paper flowers (seen here in blue and white) on all four boxes (35 on each box requiring eight punched scallop circles each), I realized the two that would be shipped had no chance of survival. I swapped out paper flowers of a different sort on those (below, pink). The spa stuff itself was very easy to make. It's just a matter of finding high quality essential oils.

Unfortunately, I didn't get a shot of the pillow remote holder, but my BIL brought it right down to the den and popped the remotes in it. And then he cuddled it. (Don't let him know I saw that.) (Actually, he's the only family member who reads my blog with any regularity. Hi, Big Guy!)

The pet t-shirts. Of the pets, not for the pets. Unfortunately, I didn't take any photos of those, but just try to picture my sister's dog on a white t-shirt, and a myriad of other dogs on various colored tees. These were for my younger niece, and she thanked the dog profusely for them. (Ahem.)


The frame on the mermaid. The Strawberry girls were kind enough to bring this to me at stitching. And doesn't it look fabulous?

The Weasley clock. I sanded this thing for more than an hour, that's why it took longer than it looks like it took. And also why decoupage has fallen out of favor as a leisure time activity.

Hedwig

It so rarely happens that the thing in my head comes out in any recognizable way. I knew I wanted to make the owl white like Hedwig--since the nephew thinks he is Harry Potter. But I had no idea how to pull it off. Then little by little things fell into place. When I was in a Joann's-induced daze, I found the fluffy felt. Then I was looking at white owls online, and the face came to me, but how to make a face on felt. Felt. Felting. Needle felting! I had it sketched out, when Melissa sent me this link to a very sophisticated white owl pillow. It made me think I was right on with the felting idea.

Today I brought him to stitching so I could sew up the stuffing hole. The old ladies loved her.

More on them later because we had our Pollyanna, and I've got something new to make.

Check out the wings! Ignore the ironing board.

Whoooo

I am back in action! The bobbin issue was solved in about five minutes for $5--I had put the piece that holds the shuttle in place in incorrectly. D'oh! I only had to buy a set of new needles. That's good news.

I was also able to finish up the coasters in quilting class. I am putting together a few more sewing projects that I won't be able to show you because someone reads the blog.

I am in a bit of a bind though. I need to come up with an owl pillow for a boy who loves Harry Potter. I bought some fluffy white fleece, but I can't find a pattern anywhere. If you have any ideas, I'm listening!

Getting with the Program

Sorry I couldn't come to the blog yesterday, but they locked me in down at the sweatshop. The good news is I've made some progress.

On Tuesday night, I finished the second messenger bag. I brought it to show everyone at quilting last night because I was so proud of how perfect this one is...and I only had to sew the lining into the bag once. This bag was made without use of a seam ripper!






Here is Sissy's Sea-bathing box. I hope you can tell I spent hours painting the thing. And four coats of sealer, inside and out. Speaking of the inside...













I wouldn't want to bathe in that sea, but awesome fabric, isn't it?

This is the first finish of December's list! I had started with the blue coasters, but the variegated viscose (Sulky) thread kept breaking...and I could tell it would soon affect my sanity. So I switched to the red (these are the brown, which aren't on the list, but I meant to list "blue, green, and brown." Bear with me.) because the red used a different (poly) thread. Flush with the success of "quilting" the red, I tried the viscose thread again, and the brown and dark green gave me no trouble at all. Last night in quilting class I finished these, "quilted" the green coasters, and cut the final two sets. Just need to edge them now. Tutorial for these, here.

Another November Closes

This week's Maggie story seems to be one those of us who are fortunate enough to have aging relatives share. While aging may be as frustrating as watching our loved ones age, we have to remember at least they continue to age! With luck, we will all be there someday, accusing the help of stealing that third brown hand towel or the lint roller. I'm going to be like the woman in last week's episode of Lie to Me who wrote post it notes to remind herself to brush her hair. Only mine are going to say, "you misplaced the lint roller; no one stole it."

November's Goals:

• continue to work on the marquoir--I worked on this a bit at stitch night, November 19.
• finish messenger bags--I finished the brown one and the blue one will be completed tonight. I just have the lining to insert and the handles to apply.
• make Mortal Peril clock--I just have to add the hands (photo when it's light out again)
• stitch Beneath the sea by November 20--done!
• knit brown scarf--done!
• knit two more washcloths--done!
• make four floral boxes--not quite. I think the prospect of making 120 paper flowers is too daunting.
• string bracelet--done!
• finish Christmas cards--I'm bringing this project to Friday's craft circle.
• work on my quilt--what was I thinking??
• blog every day--yes, but next year remind me to be more cheerful!

I also knit a scarf for my FIL who admired the brown one.

By December 23:

• Sew green coasters
• Sew red coasters
• Sew blue coasters
• Make owl pillow
• Make milk bath
• Make foot soak
• Make sea salt scrub
• Make pet t-shirts
• Make and send Christmas cards
• Make Remote Holder pillow
• Think of gifts for two nephews who aren't into Harry Potter
• Maybe make a chess set for the dude
• Work on marquoir

December 24-31:

• work on Monthly Mania (March, September, December), Heart in Hand
• work on Snowman Stocking, Bent Creek
• Finish-finish four more pieces to double the finishing accomplished in 2010

Four Down

Last night at the stitch-in I hurried to finish this piece. {I also managed to work on the marquoir, un petit peu.} Today was the framing deadline. And I asked the possibly impossible. I want this to be a box. Of course, it's not a standard box size. And the girls at the shop weren't sure which moldings could be used to make boxes.

I picked a frame I am happy with, a shabby frame with a  sort of mushroom color. And if it's framed instead of a box (I'll find out on Tuesday) I'll just buy an easel for it. And start looking for a pattern that will fit in a box (but not for Christmas, oh no.)

Three of 24

Thanks for your compliments on my first presents. Especially the bag--I had to put that lining in three times. After the second time, I was willing to live with the imperfections, but I was shamed into correcting it. (Those ladies were merciless!) I'm glad I did because it looks great now.

I'm pleased to report that I have finished a third gift.

The inspiration can be found here. It's just three strands on elastic tied with a brown taffeta ribbon. It's very dressy. I thought the fabric wasn't right for my recipient.

BTW, you can find the pattern for yesterday's scarf here. 

Gotta run...it's Stitch Night, and I have to finish another gift because tomorrow is the framing deadline. (Ack!)

Making Things Happen

Manly scarf, free pattern--can't find it.
Lion Brand Vanna's Choice, taupe

Yesterday at quilting class I was bragging about how I make all my Christmas presents (except for the ones I buy at the last minute, right?) and someone asked how many I have finished. Many moons ago I wrote that I had to make something every four days. I'm pretty sure you know how that went. When I got home, I made a list of all my peeps and crossed out the ones that I've completed. Of the 24 names on the list, I've crossed out two. Why did I think I was doing so well?

Not as wonky as it looks.
Pattern from the Village at Chelsea Lane.

(I know why. Even though I am finished with two, I have eight more that I am nearly done. Add in one that I am buying (my cousin-I-never-talk-about gets gift cards because she's down on her luck) and I'm almost halfway done. Next weekend, the dude will be playing in a chess tournament, so I should be able to whip out four or five more. Also, I am a cockeyed optimist.)

I still don't know what I'm making for my dad, but Sew, Mama, Sew is doing their Handmade Holiday round-up again and they've gotten round to men.

Restitched that black lining three times.
Charming.

Feeling Fresh

Abbey Lane, Beneath the Sea

Thanks for commiserating with me on today's "procedure." I took Terri's story to the OR with me today, and everyone was cracking up. Dr. O told me he once had a patient who had a graffiti-style tattoo on his cheeks "Eat" on one side and "Sh*t" on the other. Nice. The guy told the doctor that message was not meant for him. As Coni mentioned, I brought home some pictures of my creamy colon (that's actually the color it should be) but I'm guessing you don't want to see them. Heck, I didn't really want to see them. Things aren't perfect in there, but they're pretty good. Which sometimes is the best we can hope for.

I'm working on Beneath the Sea. Here's how Monique stitched it, which is closer to the original. I don't remember if I saw it stitched this way, or if it popped into my head to do it this way, but it will be perfect for my mother.

She stole my father's Vegas box. Clearly she needs one of her own. Her bedroom in Maine is painted a sort of mushroom color with lots of creamy white furniture. The bathroom is loaded with mermaids. I think this will be a perfect gift!

Biennial Exam

Is all this NaBlowing too much for you? Because my comments are way down. :( I started out writing into the ether, but now I kind of like hearing what you have to say.

---

Today, I am fasting for tomorrow the doctor shoves camera equipment up my ass. {I'm asleep so I don't mind.} No matter the utter humiliation involved with this biennial treat, I will not be walking down the path Terri took, but I am going to ask the doctor if he's ever seen such a thing.

On Sunday, I finished knitting the last spa cloth. Of course, by the time I got to that one, I had the pattern memorized and finished it in about 6 hours. I could crank one out for almost everyone I know by Thanksgiving. But alas, I have other presents to make. If I ever knit that pattern again, I'll probably be back at square one with fumble-fingers.

Here are the last two: turquoise* for Maggie and pink for my grandmother who has a toilet like this in her bathroom (and matching sink!)

*It really is turquoise. How come the pink came out looking right, but the turquoise looks different? Color correct that!

Christmas *IS* Coming

I just spent a bit of my afternoon at the farmer's market handing out flyers for the library gala. Come! It'll be fun.

Not only have I begun an excel spreadsheet to record gifts I've given over the years, I've made a list for this year! I started--and abandoned--several of these gifts last year, so I am way ahead.

Here are a couple of links I'll be using. I can't give particulars since there are those from my list who pop in here every now and again.
* Geode sun catcher * tea cup candles (video) * spa supplies * foot soak * sleep pouches * knit wash cloth (I've succumbed but it works with the whole spa thing) * Weasley clock * Batman mask * Superhero Cape * another one of these scarves * coasters * chess set

If you still find yourself scratching your head on gifts for men and boys, don't forget to revisit my old posts. Actually, there are a couple of men I'm scratching my head over so perhaps I should update those old lists? Let me know in the comments.

Happy Fucking Holidays

This was my to do list yesterday:

1. drop off donation at Goodwill
2. pick up lobsters at Wegmans
3. return at Steinmart (same mall as above)
4. pick up framing at Strawberry Sampler
5. grocery store
6. make lobster stew (it has to sit overnight)
7. wrap presents
8. maybe work on Stash and Dash bags

I walked the dog, popped her into her crate, loaded up the car, and away I go. Goodwill, check. Wegman's, after some hemming and hawing, I get the kid in charge of the seafood department. "I called you about an hour ago. I guess you had just left. The lobsters didn't come in, but they'll be here by 2:00 (in two hours)." "And then they need to be steamed..." "That'll take about 20 minutes. I'll call you when they get here." "No," I say cheerily, "Call me when they are ready." "Thanks for your patience," he says. "It's okay. I have other errands to do here."

So I sit down to a fine Wegman's lunch. Then I walk over to AC Moore--the dude had asked me to get some boxes for the fudge he made. Then I walk to the other end of the mall to Steinmart. I make my return and look for jeans because I want a new pair for the trip. While I'm wandering around, I decide to buy a gift for my fil and bil. Then I notice a pair of pajamas with a fleecy top. Just yesterday the dude tells me the jersey that goes with his flannel pj bottoms is too thin. Wow, I am scratching things off the list!

I wandered into DSW next because one of the pairs of black shoes I bought from Zappos is too small. I find myself a pair of closed back style clogs and black winter boots. (Mine are brown and I'm going with a black wardrobe for England.) And I find a pair of winter boots for the dude, which he told me he needed on Monday. (Because he cannot anticipate clothing needs.) This is great!

At 2:20, I wander back into Wegman's and pick up the rest of the stew items and something premade for dinner. There's a voicemail for me; my lobsters are ready.

Again, they can't find my order and don't seem to know what's going on. Another kid comes back and says they found them, do I want them steamed? "They'd better be steamed." I say. Kid wanders off. "Good news. We steamed ten in case you wanted more than eight." I say, "I didn't order eight lobsters, I ordered lobsters to make the equivalent of eight pounds of meat." More wandering off. He comes back, "Good news. Seven lobsters equals eight pounds." (Anyone who knows anything about lobsters knows this is very bad news indeed.) "I don't want eight pounds of lobster. I want eight pounds of lobster meat." "Oh, I don't know how to figure that out." "What I want you to do," I say remarkably sweetly, "is to find someone who knows and bring him to me." He consults with the kid in charge (kic) who goes back to the order books. Suddenly the kic is by my side with frozen lobster meat. "I'm so sorry about this screw up. We just didn't get our order of lobsters and we went to another store and they got the wrong thing. You know, you're doing this the expensive way. We're halfway through your order and your total is over $100." "Yes," I respond, "I do this every..." "Every year," he says. (Every other year, I think. But still I remember it's $200 worth of lobster.) "If it's okay," he says, "I'm going to give you the difference in frozen meat." We use frozen meat all the time, so I'm fine with that and at last, I'm going to get my lobster and go home to my dog who has now been crated for four hours, and I still have a 40 minute drive. Then he makes it clear, they are giving me almost four pounds of frozen lobster meat free.

That was annoying but worked out in the end, I think as I drive home.

I take the dog out to play in the yard when I get home, then set to work breaking open ten tiny lobsters (which yielded just over four pounds of meat--almost not worth it as any New Englander knows.) It took me over an hour just to do that step. The stew is simmering when the dude gets home. We eat. He tends to his fudge. He tends to the gift for my sister that arrived from Walmart in a wet box. (From the cleaner that leaked inside the packaging.)

We sit down to watch A Christmas Carol (Patrick Stewart, my favorite) and I finally feel a small flicker of Christmas spirit inside me. (I did put up the wreath and a few snowman decorations.)

As I lay in bed, running over the lists of things yet to be done before I leave the country (in three days!) I realize I forgot to go to the Strawberry Sampler where my mother's and my sister's gifts await. I burst into tears. The dude went to the computer to check to see if I could pick them up today, but you know I wouldn't have told you this whole story if there were a happy ending. Because this will be my most miserable Christmas ever. Sigh.

Photo stolen from Subversive Cross Stitch Web site. Go there. Buy something to make up for my bad behavior.