Mother's Day Jewelry

This year I gave each of our moms a kilt pin with the kiddos pictures on them and adorned with fun lampwork beads. Check out how they turned out!

South Pacific Wonderland

My friend Kim told me about Loose Ends after seeing their sale sign off of Madrona. She said it was full of handmade papers, sea shells and fun craft stuff. Well, I was very happy to check it out myself.

At first I thought it was locked. I pulled gently on the door and it didn't open. The hours were not posted on the door either. I wasted a few minutes and then a car pulled up. I asked the driver if she worked there and she said she was the owner and happily let me in to the store after introducing me to her cute dog. I guess the door was unlocked the whole time and my weakling pull had no effect on the door. Maybe this is another sign i should start working out more?

The owner , Sandi Reinke, was super friendly and told me about the store a bit. She said they sell to set designers, party planners and decorators and that most of the things in the store and warehouse was marked down to a whopping 60%. Needless to say, my hoarding/artsy side took over.

Sandi's staff was also very friendly and refered me to items that were similar to what I was purchasing. From branches, tins, ribbon, pictures, bamboo, and shells, Loose Ends has a collection of goodies that inspires you to creative and decorate. Walking through their warehouse was the most fun. I felt as if I was on a craft safari through the South Pacific.

Her staff member also informed me at checkout that Sandi Reinke is a frequent guest on TV shows such as the Christopher Lowell Show and Carol Duvall Show and has written a book about decorative papers.

I sighed a breath of relief after receiving my bill (gotta love a markdown like that!) and both Sandi and her staff member helped me load up my car. After a little bit of chit chat about my CRV (Sandi said she wanted to get one) I was off. I brought my kill home and I felt victorious!

Visit Loose Ends at 2065 Madrona Ave SE Salem, OR 97302 Monday-Friday 8am - 5pm & Saturdays 10am - 5pm.Just remember to pull the door hard to open!

I Heart Robots!

We finally finished Mr. and Mrs. Robot and I think they are adorable. The kids and I had a blast picking out their body parts. For the base we used tins we found at a thrift store. For putting most of it together we used E-6000 glue, which is really smelly but easy for kids to work with.

Mrs. Robot is Little Missy's creation. She is all dressed up with a tart tin crown, mouth from the top of a broken alarm clock (this we got from IKEA and it popped it's spring). and hair coils (also from the broken IKEA clock). For the nose we used an "A" key from an old typewriter. For her eyes we used the bells from the broken clock and these cute wheel scrapbook embellishments from Oriental Trading Company for her eyes. Mr. Robot is robust with his large stomach and fork hands. He has compass eyes which I was thrilled to find at Goodwill. He also has lincoln log legs, a domino mouth, bottle cap nose and altoid tin feet.

These junk robots are super fun to make and bring a smile to my face when I see them.
Tips:

• Use masking tape to hold things in place while the glue dries
  
• Keep your eyes open for your junk (read: treasures) at garage sales and estate sales to save money.
• Make your robot function as a clock, bank, or light
• Use parts that are nostalgic and easily recognizable
  
• Use E-6000 glue...the best glue ever!
• Have fun and play
  

Cruise With Me

I'm super excited. Our vacation is just around the corner. Soon Hubby, the kiddos, and I will cruise off to Alaska. We've never taken a cruise before and I'm looking forward to not having to cook for seven straight days. Oh, the luxury!

A girl has to accessorize on such an occasion so I made this "cruise with me" movable necklace. On the back of the pendant is a mini collage with the words "love boat". Wishful thinking with two kiddos in our room but we'll see. The in-laws will come along as well. Hubby's mom grew up in Alaska and my hubby spent most of his childhood there so it will be a big treat for them to visit again.

I'll hold back my disdain for wildlife sweatshirts (I'm sure there will be lots of those both on and off the ship) and embrace the scenery and gorge myself silly at the midnight chocolate buffet. Wish me luck!

Cargo Pants Repurposed

I had some Cargo Pants laying around that were too big. It's so nice to write this since lately my pants are too tight! The pants were sitting around in the donate pile for awhile since I haven't made a donation run in some time. I did want to make some small bags for the kiddos to take on trips so they can carry around a small notebook, snacks and toys. I decided to re purposed these pants into bags. They were so easy too! If you can sew a pillow case you can sew these bags.

I cut around the cargo pockets and put them together like a sandwich, nice side facing out. Then I sewed around the edges on three sides, leaving the top open. Then I turned the wrong sides out and sewed around the same sides, creating a French seam. This kind of seam is great because it encases the raw edges so they can't be seen. I then rolled over the top edge two times and sewed it so those raw edges were hidden. For the strap I used the sides of the pants and sewed them to the sides of the bag.

You can use pins if you like but I didn't. Pins just get in my way and since I'm a bit accident prone, I usually poke myself a few times with them. Pins are NOT my friends.

Using just one pair of pants, I was able to make two bags and have enough left over for one more. I LOVE that they are unisex and easy to wash. They almost look like we picked them up at the Army Surplus store. And the best thing, my kids think they are so cool!

Easy Sheet Music Wreath

This is a very simple and easy project. I cut some foam core for a base for the wreath. I didn't even make it perfectly circular since I knew the music sheets would cover it up. Then I cut my music sheets down to a square shape. Roll them up so they look like a cone and glue them closed. Then glue onto the base with hot glue or glue dots. Continue around the base until it's all filled in. I then added a medallion I made with a bird motif and crepe paper (same as paper streamers) fixed onto the back for a ruffled look. I also added some tulle for added depth. Poke a hold in the foam core to hang on a nail. So simple!

Sewing Recyle

It is cold outside and rainy. It doesn't feel like Spring at all here in gloomy Oregon. I needed a project to cheer me up! So yesterday I set off to Goodwill to find some materials. I decided to go to the "bins". Have you been to one yet? At this type of Goodwill you get to search through bins and then your loot is paid for by pound. It's such an interesting place. Some pro scroungers have gloves on and some have carts of books and scan each with some type of gadget to find it's worth. And then there is the mass riot of people running with elbows out whenever a new bin (full of never been picked through stuff) gets out on the floor.

But you can find some incredible deals! Have I told you about the time I got huge stack of old music sheets for only 50 cents! I can most always find something to repurpose there. I came home a happy shopper. I found some cute old sheets and some glassware that I can make some pedestals out of.

With one of the sheets I made this dress for Little Missy. I loved the spring colors and it was so darn simple! I found my instructions at Mama's Doodles. I made the sleeves a bit too big so I took them in a bit. And since I wasn't working from a pillowcase, and instead I used a sheet, I made french seems up the sides so everything looks nice and tidy inside the dress as well. I added some ribbon and rickrack to the bottom and saved some extra ribbons for Little Missy's hair. LOVE IT and she loves it too!

Trash to Treasure

Trash

Here's a new project that was so simple. We got a new piano and needed to recover the bench. On it was some pretty nasty brown and white vinyl. I got out my screwdriver, and took the seat off the hinges. Then I took out the nails that held the vinyl on. I had some toile (my most coveted fabric) that I picked up from an estate sale and I simply stapled it onto the seat on the back side a little bit at a time, making sure to stretch it tight. I think it turned out really well.

Treasure

From Trash to Treasure

Trash

Treasure

I have problems throwing things away. I'm a bit of a hoarder and all you crafty people out there can probably understand why. I do end up using the things that I have (if I can find them). I heard the six-month rule before. It goes something along the lines of "if you haven't used it in the last six months you probably won't ever use it, so throw it away." Well I disprove this thinking all of the time. This box, taken from a child's stamp set, is a good example of something that I saved from the landfill. I've had it for about a year now and came across it when I was cleaning out a closet. I didn't know what I would use it for but decided to turn it into a shadow box for the upcoming "feather her nest" baby shower a friend and I are throwing. It looks great hanging out on my book shelf and it gives me hope to think spring is just around the corner. Come on spring! Anytime now!!!

Stuffed Birds

Spool Sewing has an adorable bird pattern available for free download. Check it out! I made some cute birds of my own to dress up my front porch (or should I say perch? Ha, that joke is for you Mom!). Anyway, I had some left over branches that keep breaking off from the wacky tree next door. I painted them white and simply stuck them into the soil of my planters.

The "R" sign I made from an old cabinet door awhile ago. It needed a bit something so I made a birds nest by twisting some of the ivy that we have growing on our rock wall. Well, it worked really well and I added chocolate eggs since I can't seem to find cute little robins eggs anywhere. Better on my porch than in my stomach I guess. :)