brace yourself

...for all these bracelets!! ha. After selling 2 online (thanks, Melissa!) and a special request from Mary, I was inspired to make new bracelets. Check 'em out!





These, and MORE, will be up on etsy soon!

I will be getting some new supplies from Hannah to work with... recycling old and broken jewelry. Then the sewing shall begin! I have a lot of projects lined up.
I declare September as sewing month!!

OFFICIAL

check out our stuff!!




business cards, a stamp, and magnets!!
I'm excited.

scrap exchange

Ahhh, the scrap exchange. Such a good place for unexpected inspiration. New and different things are there every time I visit.
I took Jaime there and she got a ton of loot. I can't wait to see what she does with it!
I got fabric scraps, ribbons, papers, beakers, and more! I will be experimenting with my finds this weekend. I also have a "coffee and crafting" date with Laura next week.

L&L business cards are on the way, and made some good art contacts last week. Feeling good about creativity.

sweet petites

I made a few new things using little pearl beads:





They'll be up on etsy soon!

Now I have to sew more pouches and work on our business cards...

jewelry display

I enjoy making jewelry, and I enjoy having a good variety to wear. The problem was, I always wear the same studs, or the same simple necklace. Why? Well, all of my jewelry was stored, in a box, in a drawer. I couldn't easily think of what I had. Problem solved! I covered some cork that I already had with some fabric we had laying around. I have all necklaces out now and visible, and easy to throw on. Bonus that it serves as art for the bedroom wall!

I went to anthropologie and got a couple of cheap but super cute and colorful bowls (it was hard to decide... there were SO many colors). I have a blue egg holder in the fridge for... yep, eggs. I got another one in white to hold cocktail rings and earrings. Now I can see my stock at a quick glance and be ready to accessorize in a flash!

weekend to-do list

*attempt to make fabric flower brooches
*jewelry organization (already started Friday night... will finish and post pictures this weekend)
*visit the Scrap Exchange with Laura
*make ginger-pear tea & try other kitchen experiments
*continue organizing my office/craft room

I tried making spanakopita this week and it was a huge success. Will make again very soon. I also tried making pea pesto, which went on crostini with fresh farmers market tomatoes.


Another huge success! I am very happy to keep expanding my recipe repertoire!

sew done

I made a birthday present for David:



He attended the GSA for 2 years and does not have his diploma displayed anywhere. I thought this would be a nice reminder to hang on the wall of his work room at home. It took FOREVER. Why did I think stitching the coastline of Scotland was a good idea? Look at all those islands and nooks and crannies! I completed the school logo in time for his birthday, but the outline took some extra time (and a lot of thread). It was a fun craft and I had not cross-stitched in a very long time. It was nice to revisit something I really enjoy.

vintage part 2

OK, so I thought I'd do one random post on thrift finds.... but no. I have to show you this too. A weekend date with David: Lily's pizza, NC Museum of Art, Father & Son vintage store. Check out what I got!





There were SO many other things there that we both wanted. So many well-kept pieces of furniture. We held back though and only got things that we would use right now. I really needed a bookshelf for the upstairs spare room. I have been doing a lot more work from home and needed a space, away from household distractions, to hold set office hours. This bookshelf will be perfect. i was so excited to get it in place that I did not take the time yet to remove a few stickers. The back says "millbrook elementary 1987, 2nd grade." Also, things like this sell for hundreds of dollars new. This one is old, but that is OK. I paid MUCH MUCH less! I will paint it if i get tired of the color.
I can always use kitchen things... I cook almost every day! I have all rectangular pans, so this square will be a nice addition to my collection.

cute as a button

Button rings! I keep all of those spare buttons that come with sweaters and jackets and things. So I have a lot of buttons, but almost all different. Here is a cute way to use them!



I am happy with the color combos and these make a cute daytime/casual accessory. For sale on Etsy!

vintage

I don't usually post about non-created things... but today I have to. I checked out Good Bones Vintage in Chapel Hill, NC. Very cool. A small space, but the stock changes almost daily. I got this fabulous casserole/serving dish with a lid:

I don't think I had ever seen anything from mid-century design in this color combo. And it is made in the USA! Estimated to be from around 1956. I am in the market for a bookshelf for the craft room so I will definitely be checking Good Bones again and often.

Other recent acquisitions... Beautiful floor lamp from David's aunt (which belonged to his great-aunt). Very well built and HEAVY. This thing was built to last.


Mixed-Material end table from Aunt June and Uncle David. The lamp goes with this perfectly! I love the metal edge details and the dark glass top.


I continue to look for cake stand supplies at thrift stores. Next I will keep my eye out for fun vintage fabrics to cover cork pieces for a bulletin board. I am getting the upstairs office/craft room organized and why not make it fun and cute?

drink & eat

Aahhh... The weather is warmer and I need a drink. In an effort to stretch a buck AND be healthy, I've been buying a ton of seltzer water. It is on sale fairly often at one of the grocery stores nearby. It is fabulous with cran-raspberry juice and a splash of lime (and the cutest little ice cubes). Also, trick yourself into drinking less wine by making a spritzer. And feel extra fancy at breakfast with a virgin mimosa!


And it is getting to be that time of year when the produce is SO good and my plates look so delicious. Here are a few recent dishes:

hard-boiled egg and blanched asparagus on field greens with balsamic dressing

italian mashed potatoes (from scratch! my first time!)


assorted tomato salad with bocconcini and fresh basil


tomatillo & avocado salsa (recipe in Readymade)

mason jars

I have used mason jars for a long time. Mostly we use them for their intended purpose... canning foods. I gave salsa away in little mason jars to my clients around the holidays. We made muscadine jelly last fall. If we make a big batch of pasta sauce we store some in the big jars. So apart from pickles, coffee blends, homemade cookie/brownie mix, and special drinks, what else can you use these sweet little jars for? I'll tell you!

At Sabrina's house she has Q-tips and cotton balls on her vanity in them. Simple and chic.

We marinated and stored bocconcini in them.

In Readymade this month, and at Sarah's baby/beer/bbq fest, they were used as tea lights. I made a centerpiece for our kitchen table with tea lights and cute little bud vases:



David uses them as ink wells for the last bit of ink from the cartridges he turns into lamps. Then he paints with that ink.

I store beads in them.

We also make our own salad dressing in the tiny ones. A single serving to get to work spill-free and then shake it up before it goes over those yummy greens.


What do you use mason jars for?

productive plans

Ahhh, Memorial Day Weekend. Summer officially begins! And I officially stay off the road. This will be the second year in a row that I stay at home and be very productive.
In fact, by Friday afternoon I had already done the test run for a new project... jewelry pouches! Inspired by those freakin' cute little cloth holders that anthropologie uses for their gift cards.


The one from anthropologie is on the left. The others were made from leftover fabric scraps and swatches I had lying around, with the thread that was already in the machine. Next, I'll hunt for cute stuff at the Scrap Exchange and do a neater job.



These pouches have a draw-string closure. I think they could be used as a travel jewelry pouch or fill it with potpourri to make a little sachet.

Other projects for this weekend:
*cross-stitching
*experiments with all those leafy greens from the farmers market
*organize: pantry, first aid stuff, craft room


and all along the way I have the best little helper...

the real teal

I think I have unknowingly picked teal as my color of the season. Here are 2 new pairs of earrings I made this weekend: A couple of new things added to etsy. Tell your friends!!

a garden

We made a garden box! Placed in a rarely used section of the back yard that gets a good amount of sunshine. We'll see if the chicken wire keeps the puppy out... fingers crossed! We planted a few different varieties of tomato, jalapeno peppers, and sweet banana peppers. We got a little pot of sweet basil too. Can't wait to make pizza and fajitas with ingredients from our garden!

cake stand

I went to the thrift store and found some more ingredients for another cake stand. I gave the first one to my sis, so I think I will keep this one for me. Under $2 to create!

sea-inspired

I had a surge of productivity and creativity last weekend. I worked on several projects, including the "nook." This area of the house has been a puzzle. What do you put way up high, out of reach, in this little oddly-shaped recess in the wall? Our first answer was a pony. A Christmas penguin riding a cowboy pony to be more specific:


After a visit to homegoods, trying NOT to buy out the store, I came back with a few grown-up decoration things for the nook:



A nice pop of color, and a little sophistication brought to the... "area close to the ceiling." Whatever that's for.

Then being all springy and summery feeling, I made a couple of new jewels also inspired by the sand and surf:


Check 'em out on etsy!

refueling

WHEW!! It has been a very busy year so far, with no signs of slowing. I did leave one of my two personal trainer jobs... I am excited about focusing and growing with the studio close to my home. I am also excited about getting some free time back in order to craft more!

I have not been able to create much except for food (I have to eat!) so I am thankful for the birthday gift from my mother... all new pots and pans! I took some pictures with my phone of some of our recent kitchen adventures:

grilled cheese with garden vegetable soup

grilled eggplant and onion, with tomatoes & peperoncini on crostini

grilled bbq chicken with asparagus fries

greek panzanella

chocolate covered: animal crackers, strawberries, pecans, sugar cookies, and thin mints.

tomato salad with crostini

I have a few sewing projects on my list, as well as experimenting with metal (thanks, Jaime!). I need to finish dressing the bedroom walls and continue to help Mary plan for her wedding. Next up, working on the etsy shop!