Holy Smokes!

Hey! I was in a magazine about 2 years ago!

For this blog here in sunny 2017, I'm catching up a lot of backlog stuff. So be prepared for some old references....

This article was written by my local Stylish Heroine, Ann Rosenquist Fee.

She runs an amazing blog (link).

Still Not Inspired!

Yes, I know it's been a long time

(read: years)

Since I've posted anything here!

I'm not very proud of it.....

But, that isn't to mean I haven't been busy?!!!

I've just been busy not being crafty.

I did, however, get some new ink since I posted last!

And now my new adventure is to delve into the world

of heart healthy recipes.

My blood work came back yesterday showing a rise in

cholesterol and triglycerides 

so I did what I always do when I have to research something new...

I start a Pinterest Board about it!

So far, I've made Energy Ballz and Greek Yogurt Chicken Salad.

You know what?

(what?)

Not that bad!

It's been 9 days since my last Kit Kat.

(sounds like a confessional)

I should find a counter for that....

Food Making is soooooo not my forte. 

(this is probably why my numbers are high)

So, that's about it.

Life is good, my kids are healthy, and I love my job.

I can do this!

Drawing Challenge Day 5: Best Friends

Day 5: Best Friends

Friends, they accept you and sometimes the best times are when you can be alone...together.

But the real thing I know you're curious about is...

What are those two doing?

Are they knitting, embroidering, crocheting?

The answer you seek is here, my friends...

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None of the above, sillies!

They're actually playing Words with Friends...with Each Other!

Just a simple pencil sketch.

I had an inclination to add color, but then I was so 

happy with the scratchy way #1 turned out I didn't want to mess it up.

Sub question:

Which are the best friends?

The 2 girls, or the girl and her phone?

Drawing Challenge Day 4: Fave Place

Day 4: Fave Place

My House!

Not too sure if this goes up to 11 on the cheez-o-Rama scale,

Or if it lends a little harsh to my introverted tendencies...

But honestly,

There's no place like home. 

(Sorry, I couldn't resist)

(Sorry, not sorry.)

I wanted to try and sketch this super fast, not be overly analytical, and keep the simple lines. 

Although, it's not museum worthy....

I'd say Mission Accomplished!

Drawing Challenge: Day 2

Day 2: My Favorite Animal

"Weezer"

As some of you may know, I have a spaztastic dog named Weezer. He's a Pomapoo (Pomeranian/Poodle) and really keeps my startle level high with his ear piercing bark. He secretly likes to sneak up behind me as he hears Lee pull up in the driveway while I'm totally oblivious about it...Then he yips super loud sending me 4 feet in the air. Silly dog!

But when I thought about this challenge, I kind of wanted to do a Sloth. 

Sloths are cute! They laze about (like me) and do things deliberately (like I wish I did).

So when I asked Lee about it, he immediately nominated Weezer.

Then he defended his case:

It took 2 years of active trying to get pregnant when I kind of gave up

and asked if we could just get a puppy. Lee consented seeing how heartbroken 

I was month after month. He's cool like that.

Within the month of getting Weezer

we conceived.

I guess he turned into our lucky charm?

So now he's my favorite animal too...

Sloth holds a close 2nd.

So to answer Ms Melissa's questions on the Copic Markers...

I'm kind of addicted now.

Since Weezer is black in coloring I thought I wouldn't do him justice in Sepia tones.

With a quick trip to Michaels and a 40% off coupon on my phone

I picked up the Sketching Greys Set.

Below is a picture of the Marker with caps off.

I've mostly used the "paint brush" tip so far.

I really like the smooth application!

Copic Markers 4 Life!

(Ha, Ha..)

Drawing Challenge Day 1!

Day 1: Yourself

First off:

LOVING the Copic Markers!

They'll take some getting used to, not quite like

Sharpies (duh!) and I love the paintbrush tip.

Second off:

Critiquing my sketchy self portrait...

I kind of like the way I did the right side of my hair better.

But, I'm learning right?

Also, I think by playing around with shading...

I may've gone a bit crazy.

All in all, I'm quite happy with it.

I'm about to sit down for Day 2: Favorite Animal!

Hiatus Ho!

So the last post I wrote was in May.

May!

I'm sincerely hoping everyone is having a wonderful summer, I know we are. 

Time has just simply had no meaning around here. The kids are able to not need me for every single little thing in the morning so I've been able to sleep in a bit. 

I took the kidz to LegoLand with Melissa and her daughter. 

Here's a link to her blog knitting sandwich on it: Oh my gosh you should check out this blog!

The kidz each had a weeklong camp: Morgan- Girly Glitter Art Camp and Will-YMCA Kindergarten Prep. 

I have not gotten a haircut for months and am in sore need of one!

But, I usually post about my craftiness, right?

Well...I still been crafty to a certain extent, but this is the first summer I'm not quite able to eek out time for the craftiness. 

In a way it's irritating, I've not had much of a creative outlet and sort of feel in a rut...

That's not to say I didn't participate in a craftster swap or two. (Tee Hee)

But, my current fun is going to be completely different. 

I've decided to do a 30 day drawing challenge I stumbled onto via The Pinterest!

This is double fun because it's also my first foray into Copic Markers. 

I invested in some Sepia shades to get me started. 

I'm pumped and just finished Day 1...

But I think I'll post that tomorrow. (wink!)

So...

If anyone is still reading this thanks for sticking with me!!!

Zen Doodle for Belly Dancing Bravery!

So, this weekend I did something Brave.

I danced on stage...in front of people.

Belly Dancing.

I was pretty freaked out at the prospect,

I'd never taken a dance class in my life before last August.

Now I was going to do it.

I needed a token of the things that make me feel strong.

So I decided I could make a wrist band and zen doodle on it.

1. I found it DID give me strength

2. It kept my mind occupied in the hours 

leading up to dress rehersal.

                           

I had the kids write their names and draw something that made 

them feel strong.

Morgan: MineCraft TNT

Will: A Football.

Then I drew my little strong pictures:

Honey Badger "I do what I want!"

The Hulk Symbol "Hulk SMASH!"

Lee was still at work, so I wrote his name in as well.

After that I Zen Doodled all around the aforementioned things.

The show went SO well!

I'm so glad I finally took the plunge and took a class.

I've met some super nice people and really stretched my limits.

Belly Dancing was and is all about breaking out of 

a rut for me. I LOVE it!

I love the outfits, the way I've used my muscles, the people....

My super good friend, Melissa, was the one who talked me into it 

and I'm so grateful she did.

THANKS MELISSA!!!!

Crafty Cave: January

Here's my monthly accountability update for my Crafty Cave Redeux.

Here's my Best Intentions Post of how it looks "before".

(And hopefully won't look like by the end of the year!)

January kind of flew by on me, but it was mostly about cleaning things...

Like my desk!

Look, it almost sparkles!

This mystery pile of clothes that could be altered...

Before 

After!

On top of my file cabinet...

(Most of the papers were patterns I needed to file away)

Before

After!!!

Beautiful organization!

I put on my brand new colorfulriffic ironing board cover!

(I'm not completly sure, but it might be too busy of a pattern)

There you have it!

I was also going to install a curtain rod for my fabric bookcase,

but Lee loaned the drill out to his dad.

I've gotta get my own darn drill.

A Plan for the Year...

I'm not really one to make resolutions.
When I *do* make them, I have the lack of willpower to keep up.
Sure I need to lose weight, try new things, and take more joy in my life...
But who doesn't?

I am a crafter.
I am creative.
I currently have a Crafty Cave that does not inspire me...

Aspects I love about this space:
1. It exists
2. My Hoopla Wall is abundant with awesomeness
3. I've got a comfy chair (nobody expects the spanish inquisition)

Things I want to improve upon:

1. Better lighting

2. Appear Uncluttered (Storage and Concealment Curtains for said storage)

3. Organized Small Crafty Things

4. Utilize the Closet better

It's to be expected that I LOVE this space. 

Clutter and all.

It's just not the refuge I want it to be, more of a hovel to cower in at the moment. (Gollum, Gollum)

Brainstormy:

1. Yarn Bomb Ottoman and Metal Desk Bits

2. New Ironing Board Cover (already aquired)

3. Pretty up the Armoir without painting, or banging holes in it (because Lee would kill me)

4. Painted Peg Board for Weapons of Choice (scissors, small baskets, rulers, tapes, quarterstaff, magic wand)

This is my Crafty Cave Intention Statement.

I pledge to try and post a progress picture once a month,

motivation is my kryptonite.

So, Happy New Year to all you lovely people!

I hope your next year comes with oodles of niceties!!!

Anyone have any favorite craft supply organization tips?

I would be super psyched to hear them!

PS:

I made a polka dotty change to the look of my blog. 

Polka dots are currently a very uplifting thing for me.

YAY HAPPY DOTS!!!

It's a Thrift Store Miracle!

It's not often you find EXACTLY what your looking for at the Thrift Store....

Usually you wander in and fate takes over whether or not something catches your eye enough to buy.
But every once in a blue moon fate smiles on you.

Morgan and I went in looking for Junie B. Jones books and we found 8 of them!!!












Her 1st grade class is reading them and she's become enthralled. So much so we're now working on a Halloween Costume!

 

I found these "fake" "fashion" glasses at Target so we're well on our way!

What are you fine people doing for costumes in your house?

Lockers!

SPECIAL ALERT:
Just got back from Miss Morgan's 1st grade-before school starts-conference.

She is going to be the proud inhabitant of a LOCKER for the first time!

Now the pinterest addict in me wants to start a board all for school locker decoration.

Here's a selection from Locker Lookz . 

Does that first locker have a chandelier?!!

Super cute tutorial on a locker organizer over at Sophie's World.

Made from a shoebox lid AND I get to incorporate duct tape?

Sign me up!

I have some research to do here.

The goal of today is:

1. Don't go overboard.

2. Remember this is not MY locker, it's MORGAN's 

Both important goals...

Perhaps the more important is the second one.

As I type this an epiphany has smacked me...

Let's wait a few weeks and let her get settled. 

If she wants to glam up (note to self: pinterest search "glamping") her space and asks for help, then I'll be there with duck tape, magnets, and hot glue gun in my Crafty Batman Utility Belt.

Until then, keep my crafty mouth shut!

(note to self: make a Crafty Batman Utility Belt out of duct tape.)

A Note to my Readers!

As you may (or may not) have noticed, I've been posting a lot of older stuff lately.

I do this to have a little record of my crafts, but there's also a more fun reason than that.

I am addicted to the swaps on Craftster.org and am always crafting stuff for that; I don't want my partners to get wind of until they receive it.

There's a certain type of stalking we swappers do. Any swapper worth their salt would probably be checking out their partners blog at least once during crafting time. I've had it happen to me, they posted what had been made before the package was mailed to me. Surprise was squelched!

So please, dear reader forgive me my old crafts and never fear,
I'll be posting what I make for swaps as soon as my partners post in the swap gallery! :D

First Linking Party!

I was dinking around on pinterest, big surprise... I know.
I discovered this site "Sew Many Ways"...
She has lots of organizing ideas, blogging tips, and tutorials. Just about everything, right?

Well, there was this thing called a "Linking Party" that looked interesting and I'm kind of all about trying new things with my blog so I thought I'd give it a whirl.

Hope I did everything right. (tee hee)

Oh, but I do love my minivan!

Hoop I stitched for Lee's birthday

 

 

I've just got to say I love my minivan!

I know there are some moms out there who are very proud of the fact they made it through without one, but I'm a fan.

I get to sit high up off the road, it's a more smooth ride than our old car, and room to pile the wagon and bikes in the back.

 

She got some fixit love this week.

We just got the antilock brakes and Will's door fixed. They changed the oil. Oh, and it's clean.

Super clean.

Both outside AND inside!

 

I have a feeling the old van and I are going to be spending a great deal of time together in the coming years and I want to really "fun up" the inside. I'm thinking of crafting up some seat covers for sure. The sun can sure heat up those leather seats!

Oooo perhaps a bunting might be in order!!!

I'm open to ideas....

 

 

Facebook got me thinking....

Made by me...except the barrel of monkey sock. That was from ThinkGeek.com.

"I'm extra proud to be a knitter today! My feet are freezing and I KNOW when I get home there are handknit cozy wool socks waiting for me... And Earl Grey- him hot!!!"

This was just some random thing I posted to facebook yesterday.
Today I can't stop thinking about it.

I AM proud to be a knitter! I'm also proud I taught myself.

I'm proud of the friendships I've made from knitting/crafting.

I'm proud my kids have an appreciation for handmade things. I've even heard the phrase "Oh we could make that" come from my 5yr daughter's mouth.

I'm proud that I can give things a new life through crafting. (most recent example: Morgan's Halloween costume was an adult size 6 dress altered down to a little girl size 6)

Summing up, I'm proud I can feel proud of myself.

Who knew facebook could do that?

 

 

Oh, and Earl Grey IS hot!