Where I've Been (Again.)

Recently made this piece of canvas subway art.  Turned out well I think.  One day I'll actually do a project and take before, during and after pictures.  Maybe soon - or as usual maybe not.

What I've been doing.

Just finished this pair and started a second. (Two Girls Patterns on Etsy)

This is hanging in my basement now.

Gone AWOL

I have not completely disappeared I have just been busy!

Teenage daughters Room and furniture. I did take in-progress step by step photos of painting and stenciling these little tables, but after computer crash this summer it appears these photos may be lost forever!!!  =(  And apparently all of June's photos...but considering what could have been lost I will just be happy.

Facepainting

Baking.

And apparently lots of stuff I didn't take pictures of... oh wait...

And several of these have been painted or are in progress.

But either way I'm here today so that is something and several projects in the works.  Including some hopefully awesome Halloween costumes.  In the meantime here are some favorites from years past.

Two little black crows.

Medusa!

Oh and I made some more of these cupcakes...huge hit again at the pasta party...unfortunately I didn't take photos this year - too busy.  So these are a repeat of last years.   These are from one of the  Hello Cupcake books.

Awesome Chevron Swing Top

I saw this pattern here at BrassyApple and made four of them yesterday for my three girls and myself.  The teen is wearing hers to school today...it's striped orange and oranger?  and has the chevron pattern sewn on the front just like the awesome pattern - she love it and is wearing it with a tank under it.  I shortened hers a bit, but think the longer version would make a great beach cover up too.   So you only get a picture of the fabric...believe me it was cute.  Also believe that I will try and put more effort into the pictures - soon.

For the Littles I made two "identical" - only one wanted it long and the other wanted it shortened.  Mine is brown and probably way more boring, but I love it.   - I shortened mine as well and adjusted the side seam to be 10" down from the "neck" and 14" down the bottom.  (If you read the pattern you will understand this. =)  I'm just a normal framed girl woman of average size and this fits perfectly - or at least the way I wanted it to fit.  Oh!  And I sewed the entire thing in a zig-zag stitch since my fabric had nothing, but stretch.  I also made my chevron more floppy by only sewing three lines into the chevron strips. 

Their embellishments were cut with the same fabric using my Sizzix four-part flower die and then stitched randomly (a.k.a.  quickly) along with a grosgrain bow onto the neckline.  They LOVED them and put them on as soon as they got home yesterday.  Then proceeded to wear them to an open house at their school last night.

The hardest part I would have to say was making my chevron pattern.  I could have done it easier on my die cut machine, but had started by hand and then became determined. 

Not Very Crafty Lately...

but I have done a few things.

First I tried my hand at "Cake Balls", which really truly have an awful name, but are super easy and with a little more practice could be adorable.

I also like that I can keep the balls in the freezer and just dip a few when needed for quick coffee with a girl friend or a fun addition to cold lunches.

And then I've been warming back up my face painting skills for the upcoming fun fair.  This rose is eluding me this year...

I want it to look tattoo-ey, and even as I type this sentence staring at the pictures I just realized it needs some black for that to happen, but it is definitely improving...

She LOVES this one.

See?  Definitely getting better, but now needs a bit of outlining if I want it to be "tattoo" like.

I've also been working on these super cute little door hangers

for May Day "baskets" and simple teacher gifts, etc. 

(Which I will photograph this week, when I have more completed.)

Oh!  And I made myself a cute little metal stamped necklace that I've worn every day this week. 

 (No photo, yet. =)

Love this.

Five crashes of Google later...I have some really quick photos of my loved pin cushion ring.  Made from a chunky ring blank from Michaels (brand unknown) and roving wool from Herschner's.  (Please ignore my desperate need for a manicure.)

Catch Up.

In January or February I made these hats - which they love and requested matching scarves for...but since it's stopped snowing (finally) that can wait until next year.

I also made a pretty darned cute crochet and felted cupcake purse, but alas didn't take a photo of it before I gave it away. 

I made a felted pin cushion ring that I LOVE, but haven't photographed.  I will take that in like 5 minutes.

Last weekend I made a messenger purse, based on the one over at mmmcrafts for my 15 year old daughter, which I did take pictures of.  She has worn it every day this week, so we'll assume that one was a success.  The pictures for the following stink, but decided better awful than never.

I love the unfinished, tattered edge of the strap.  If I were to make another I would make the heart-peace symbol smaller and I would make the edge of the flap unfinished and tattered as well.  I would also get rid of my chalk marks and press it before I photographed it in better light...  =-)

I made these key chains for the girls' swim coaches at the end of the season (mid-March).  They were quick and had to be done that day - so again the photos stink.

Just simple keychains for the boys and key charms for the girls.  - Totally wish I had taken time to plan ahead and take better photos.  Oh well!

I am currently knitting a Noni purse pattern for myself - hopefully to finish this next week.

Wow!

Two posts in one day?  What? 

Anyway, it's not a craft, but it is delicious.  This is a recipe slightly adapted from one over at Kalyn's Kitchen, which I'm pretty sure she adapted from someone else if I remember correctly.  Either way - awesomeness!

Quick and Easy Chile Rellenos Bake (My favorite Mexican food.)

2 cans chopped chiles (Not pickled, just chopped.  Kalyn's called for whole chiles, but search as I may I cannot find them anywhere not pickled.)
4 cups grated Mexican cheese blend ( I use about 2-3 cups)
1/2 c thinly sliced green onions
1 1/2 c EggBeaters
1/2 cu fat free milk
3/4 tsp cumin
3/4 tsp chile powder

Spray glass casserole dish. 
Spread one can chiles in bottom of pan.  Cover with half the cheese.  Top with half the onions.
Repeat.
Beat together EggBeaters and milk.  Add cumin and chile powder.  Pour over  chiles and cheese, making sure to evenly distribute the eggs.  Bake covered for the first 15 minutes then remove and continue to bake for 25 minutes (40 minutes total) until mixture is bubbling and lightly browned.  Serve hot with sour cream, salsa and warm tortillas.

Yum!

Not Ignoring This...

Seriously I'm not.  I've thought about the blog lots, made many a craft, just haven't posted pics.  This week. I promise.

Crafting - Again

In trying to clean out my enormously, ridiculous amount of crafting supplies I started with this white ball.  Made from felt in my years of Halloween costumes felt stash, some styrofoam balls from a long ago craft project and straight pins.  They became "snowballs" in a little wintertime vinette on my mantle.

And once you make one, apparently you don't stop.  My daughters became involved and made half a dozen of these kissing balls.  (I must confess we didn't hand cut the circles (because that would be insane), we used my cirlce die on the Big Kick.)  And a thousand straight pins later we have these hanging around the house for Valentine's Day in a variety of pink, white and red colors. 

And while shoving pins into styrofoam balls I remembered a pillow my sister had mentioned loving at Pottery Barn this last Christmas, which was basically the same thing.  So I made one of those for her as well.  (Actually the front is made and I just need to turn it into a pillow.)  And because I stink at surprises, or saving things until the actual holiday I've already emailed her a picture of it. 

 (Please ignore all the thread ends I haven't cut off yet.  I think it turned out pretty darned cute considering it is a complete knock off.  It would probably be fantastic made from wool, but alas I was trying to use up the felt. )  Now if anyone can think of something to make out three yards of blaze orange felt, (aka "I want to be a pumpkin princess for Halloween.) I am all ears.

Oops, I almost forgot!  Then the girls made these out of leftover pieces and some pin backs they found.

I wonder what their teachers are getting for Valentine's?

2011

Nine days into this year and my "resolutions" are vague at best.  But definately include crafts - all of them.  So I started a little blog to document my 2011 crafting adventures.  Not yet brave enough to set goals for them....but at the least am determined to photograph them and post. Well, that is not entirely true because I'm also thinking that I will try to use as many of the MANY supplies I currently own to make things this year. 

Since part of my 'resolution' includes photos.  I should start with one.  This is where I work on my crafts: