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).

Watson Wedding Tea Wallet!

A Tea Wallet can save your life.

But it takes John Watson to save your life.

Hence...

I'm calling this the John Watson/Mary Morstan Wedding Tea Wallet!

As those who know me, 

and those who read this blog have probably 

caught on to, I have an obsession with BBC Sherlock.

(Stick with me here... I'm going to make the naming of my tea wallet reference work)

In the 3rd series/2nd episode our lovely John Watson weds Mary Morstan.

The venue for the wedding is GORGEOUS! 

All in pale yellows.

In Sherlock's Best Man speech,

 (watch this please, it's nothing short of amazing and takes most of the episode :) )

he centers around the theme of 

"Sherlock solves the crime, but John saves the life".

Tea on the go has saved me many times.

As a recent-ish devotee to tea, I'm still super particular 

about which ones I like.

It's great to just reach into my purse and have my favorites

at hand rather than force down a blend I'm not familiar with.

Also, I've cut caffeine out completely (whew!)

so to have a tea I like and be decaf just "available" at a

moments notice is the best!

So, this yellow hued Tea Wallet I dedicate to that most epic of Best Man Speeches.

(I still tear up when I watch it, and I watch it a LOT!)

The details:

I stitched this up originally for SonjaBoo in the Box of Sunshine Swap.

I had enough fabric to make a twin for myself (YAY!).

The tutorial was found at Handmade Therapy: (Here's the link it's GREAT!)

Just for giggles, I'll include another favorite part of mine in his speech:

Lego Movie Hoopla Triple Threat!

This seemed to be, above all The Summer of Lego around here.

I have to admit, I love Benny.

His joyfulness to make a spaceship is how I feel about a great deal of things.

Maybe too many things.

Maybe I'm overexcitable?

Morgan, of course was all about WyldStyle and Will had a big thing for Emmet. 

After I first stitched up the Benny Hoopla the kids promptly put their orders in.

Below is a montage of close ups and basically me playing around with an intagram app for the first time.

I've been pretty busy lately, and a lot of crazy creatively awesome

things have been going on.

My sincerest apologies for leaving this blog for so long.

But no fear, the creativeness has (for the most part) been

captured for future blog posts!

I also have a serious backlog of Craftster Swap items 

to post for posterity.

(Even if it's for my own enjoyment.)

But, on a fun side note, I looked at my Stats on 

here and my Lalaloopsie crocheted hats have 

been viewed 124 times from France today!

One word to leave you with:

SPACESHIP!

Crafty Cave: February...March!

Golly have I been slacking on my New Years Intention of sprucing up the Crafty Cave!

I did, however, get some Calendar Towel Curtains made to hide away the clutter of my fabric stash cabinet.

Not matching up at the bottom, but I'm gonna let that slide for now.

Here's a little peek at the "during".

I went all fancy and installed a curtain rod...all by myself thank you very much!

For attatching, I snapped some Bistro Curtain Clips and called it a day.

Oh yeah, and I used to have all these little fabric scraps in diaper boxes on the bottom shelf.

I picked up some plastic zippy bins and now I can squish them away and store twice as much.

There was also some major organizing of the closet which is still a work in progress. 

I hope to get Will's birthday behind me, then I can concentrate on the Crafty Cave again.

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.

BBC Sherlock Hoopla!

Happy Sherlock Day!

Today is a day I've been waiting for since 2012.

Just about 2 years ago Sherlock Holmes jumped off a building to save his friends.

I'm getting a bit sentimental...

Today is my Superbowl.

(Usually my Superbowl is Oscar Day, but I'm making an exception this year!)

Like yesterday's Basil Kindle Sleeve post this Hoopla was also made for my partner, Camezzo,

in the Sherlock Swap of early 2013.

I decided to do a study in texture (Study in Pink) to spice up the silhouette.

My Sherlockian Plan tonight is to watch the heck out of it.

Since I'm DVR'ing it as well I'm going to watch the heck out of it 

a second time to bask in the glory and maybe pick up some missed things

 from the first watching.

Then...

I'm going to do some face stretches as I'm sure I'll have a 

grin on my face for 3 hours straight.

I suppose I'll go to sleep next, then wake up...

and watch it again!

Never mind me, my favorite show has been on hiatus for 2 years.

My Summer of Nerdery!

But then again...
Aren't ALL my summers chock full of nerdery?

I'm joining THE SUMMER NERD GAMES over at Craftster.org!!!

The team I've joined is "OF SHIPS AND MEN" which includes Firefly, Star Wars, Star Trek, Doctor Who...just about anything that would have some rogues on a vehicle.
I mention it because we get extra points for including our Geekdom Team in our crafty projects we submit.

This summer is going to be all about getting some projects done I've had on the back-burner for a while and to also basque in the Nerd Love.

TEAM PRIDE!!!!

badge credit: Eiseldora

Morgan Lego Maze of Madness!

It's was Spring Break and Miss Morgan was out of school.
To say I needed to find fun things for them to do and not have the kids plopped in front of a screen is quite an understatement. I NEED to be better about this!
Thank glob for Pinterest (again).
Morgan and I got to create a marble maze from Legos and I think it really caught her imagination...

Check out her spokesmodel skills!
(Sometimes I really miss Star Search, ya know? )

Forgive me for abruptly ending her fantastic presentation of the Marble Maze...Morgan was about ready to invite the internet to our house by giving out our phone number!
SHEESH!

Fionna and Cake Stitchery!

From Adventure Time, Fionna and Cake (backstory info).

Fanfic from the Ice King himself, has gotten quite the following. I loved the twist on my beloved Finn and Jake.

This hoopla I stitched up for Queenofmarigold in the IYP R22 Swap. The french knots were screaming to be done as fill-in for Fionna's hat and Cake's fur!

I hope they continue to make more episodes with this alternative universe.

It's RHOMBUS the cleverness that show has!

Elusive Lego Series 9!

I have been on a mission.

I am in search of those darn Series 9 Minifigs!

My friend, Chris from West Virgina already has about 1/2 of the series.
Grrr.

I've tried a few places in the past few days.

C&S Supply: NADA! They said they probably won't be getting anything until spring because Walmart buys it all up.

Walmart: No dice! I called and they said they haven't heard from the Lego rep in months.

Target: Uh, uh! I just got off the phone with them and they replied it series 9 wasn't even showing up in their system.

Perhaps a Lego conspiracy is afoot?
I know, I could go online and get them. But.... there's just something great about the embarrassed looks I get to give when people spy me standing in a store feeling up these blind bags for distinguishing shapes.

Call me crazy, wait scratch that. Call me dedicated!

They're forming an official protest march downstairs.

Just look at Sumo Guy! HE'S GETTING MAD!

New Use For Lego Minifig

I decided that a turkey meatloaf was in order for the bitter cold weather we've been experiencing.
But were to put the ring while my hands were wrist deep in squishy, meaty goodness?

Behold!

I just happened to have Mr. DJ man (series 8) sitting right by the sink! 

Those little guys are great for EVERYTHING!

Super Easy Pumpkin Muffins!

I probably make these mini pumpkin muffins 3 times a week, I love them so.
What's even better than the taste is....
ONLY 3 INGREDIENTS!

PREHEAT oven to 400 degrees
Don't forget to spray your muffin pan.
(I prefer the silicone mini muffin pan Ruby got me for Christmas years ago but this will work with any muffin-y type pan. Perhaps you may need to adjust cooking time accordingly)

Above I mentioned 3 ingredients, here they are:
1 box of yellow cake mix
1 can of pumpkin (not the pumpkin pie filling, keep it pure baby!)
About 1/3 of a bag of chocolate chips.

That's it! No water, oil, eggs, or anything!



DIRECTIONS:

First mix the cake mix and pumpkin until smooth.

Then add choc chips in and combine.

Throw the pan in a 400 degree oven for 20 minutes.

DONE!

So super easy

These are going to mix up way thicker than a usual muffin batter.

Don't be afraid!

As I said above, I favor the mini muffin pan. I also love to use a melon baller to scoop it in. 

A big THANK YOU to Mother in Law Lynda for tipping me off to the melon baller.

While the muffins are baking we love to eat the extra batter.

It's totally okay because of the "no eggs" thing. YAY FOR BATTER!

Here they are all baked, cooled, and ready to eat.

I recommend coffee to wash them down.

Mmmm, coffee.

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....

 

 

It's Shaun the Sheep!

All the kids I know (including my husband and me) can't get enough of Shaun the Sheep!
For my niece's birthday everyone had to get some Shaun love...

 

I made the head alone for the 1yr old

 

All the cousins got GOOGLY EYE pouches

(Like Amy Sedaris, I love me some GOOGLIES!)

 

The Willster got Shaun himself

 

Aww he loves him so

Won't you watch you with me?

GET YOUR FINGER OUT OF YOUR MOUTH

AND YOUR HAND OUR OF YOUR SHIRT!!!

 

 

Everything was well received and That Will still loves his Shaun. A big accomplishment there with how often kids change their minds....

 

If you've never seen the glory that is Shaun the Sheep I highly recommend it...you even get to see some fancy red underpants every once in a while.

 



 

 

 

Adventure Time Angels!

Crafted by the ever fabulous omgitslisa on craftster!

I've always believed in karma to a certain extent...but recently I had it slap me in the face.

In the good way.

At craftster.org there are these swaps one can sign up for. I'm addicted to them and tend to do quite a few. I always try to bring my crafty "A" game because, for me, it's more fun to find that perfect thing to make someone than to make something for myself.  I'm a giver...snort snort!

Just look at the crispness of Finn and Jake!

 

 

In a recent swap 2 lovely ladies, we've been calling them my Adventure Time Angels around the house, asked if they could send me a little something (without sending them anything back no less!) because my partner(s) and I were kind of mismatched skill-wise. (I'm downplaying this a bit, humbleness requires I do.)

 

I can't tell you how special I felt! My work was noticed and appreciated! Now I want to extend the notice and appreciation. 

She has an etsy shop Fuzzy Stars Studio so please check it out if you get a chance!!!

Just look at the precision stitching!

 

 

Lisa, your karma level has been leveled up like crazy and thank you ever so much for being AWESOME!!!!

 

Adventure Time 4 LIFE!

Pandorica Opens Scarf!

One of my obsessions is Doctor Who.
Another is Crafty Swaps on craftster.org
Yet another is knitting.

Here's what happily happened when these obsessions collided...

 

I don't think Van Gogh's masterpiece has been attempted in knit form so I had to give it a whirl.

 

The flames are knit with 2 strands of sock yarn in i-cord, then tacked on with a basic sewing thread.

 

I knitted this scarf for Strawberryh in the Surprise Swap on craftster and I didn't want it to go...

But we do what we must and need to as faithful Whovians.

 

The pattern is from The Spiral Staircase Scarf on Ravelry.com rav link and was superfun and quick to make. I'll definately be knitting more of these scarves (not necessarily Doctor-centric) up!!!