Christmas Tree 2007

Here is my christmas tree for 2007! Finaly up and sparkling as of yesterday. With the help of my dad and sister I was able to have such a nice looking tree. Dad took me to go pick it out. Yes, it is a real tree! We love the nostalga of a real tree along with the smell and uniqueness you get from year to year. Laurie helped me decorate it. We chose to go with the white theme and kept all the ornaments white, opaque, and clear. I made my newspaper trees that I got inspiration for last year from a store in MN called Digs in Northfeild. Laurie made snowflakes that look so great.

Holiday Inspiration.

It's the holiday season and I should be crafting up a storm. I planned and took a weekend trip to Chicago thinking I would get all sorts of crafting done there and was not as sucessfull as I wanted. Which is always what happens. To many places to go, people to see and stores to be shopped.
I did get all sorts of inspiration. Angie and I went to DEPART-ment on Friday night, an Indie Craft Fair. I found many items and if I had all the money in the world would have brought them home with me, even a boy or two. Great inventory there! Maybe I need to move back to Chicago where the inventory is larger. Here is a picture from the Craftzine blog of DEPART-ment.

You can view many more pictures of the show at their Flickr account here.

Obsessed.

I can't stop thinking about how much I want a Scion xb. I don't even want a new one because I don't think the new ones look as good as the old ones. I like the boxy, toaster looking vehicle. My car is getting old, it's time for a new one. I just have to see if I can find the right priced one. I am looking at this one on ebay today.

I can't sleep.

It's the middle of the night or should I say the wee hours of the morning and I can't sleep. I decided it wasn't worth the tossing and turning and getting all agrivated over it so I just go up. Don't you just hate it when you have so many things on your plate that you fall right to sleep but then wake up realizing there is something you forgot to do that day or you are designing things in your head in your dreams? I just haven't figured out how to balance work and sleep yet. Please if anyone has any good tips on a good night sleep let me know. I've been tossing and turning mutch to long now.

I'm betting old.

As many of you know I had a birthday this month. My mom emailed me these pictures from my family birthday party and I thought I would share them all with you.

Here I am with my whole family.

We are not drinking beer if that is what you think you see in the picture. It's Root Beer.

And here is Morgan, my niece eating a cupcake

It's been dry.

I am not talking about rain around here because we finally have sunny weather after a laps of two weeks of rainy cloudy weather. I was getting pretty sick of it all.
My computer has been having many problems lately and I finally gave up on it and handed it over to my brother to fix three weeks ago and am still without. I didn't realize how much I depended upon it. I am still waiting to get that thing back but in the meantime I received a new computer. I am so excited about it! It is my very first mac! An imac G3 that is. It's getting so old that it is almost retro in computer world. I am able to do all my internet surfing and all my blogging in, while I am waiting to get my other computer back. It's absolutely a pleasure to have it. The novelty of it all makes me happy.

Here's a picture of it, but mine is Grape.

The Cutting Edge!

This summer has been my first for being responsible for mowing my lawn. I was very lucky my mother found me a push mower at a garage sale for a great deal. The hard part is that it isn't self propelled and I seam to get quite a work out mowing my not so big yard. I want to die from heat and exhaustion when I am done.


My brother and sister-in law noticed that their new neighbor was sporting a push reel lawn mower and thought since I am all about conservation and Green things that maybe I need a mower like that too. I am all for it! But when you think about it, you have to be on top of mowing your lawn. You have to mow maybe twice a week because you can't let your grass grow to long or you won't be able to cut it. I really don't even enjoy mowing my lawn once a week so how would I ever get around to doing it two times?

Maybe I would with one of these.........

link.

My brother would be proud! We are a huge bicyclist family (even though I have ridden my bike probably twice this summer). This might be a way that I could enjoy mowing my lawn a little bit more. It's possible that it would even be easier to mow my lawn.

Craft My Ride...

not pimp my ride.

Thanks to my friend Raechel I found out about this great little contest from Scion. Craft a car accessory for the Scion XB (my personal dream car) and you can win one for yourself. What a fun creative way to win a car. So sign up and lets see what happens. Contest Details

Dark Fairy Craft Swap

It's time again to join the Free People in a craft swapping gaila! I signed up, so make sure that you sign up too by this Friday to join in the fun.

I don't know what I am making yet but it will be cool and book based of course.

Sign up and see post here.

Sock Knitting

I am so excited! I just signed up for my fall knitting class. It starts on Tuesday night. I am going to learn all about knitting socks. Something I have never been able to do and also helps me with my goal that I made for the new year last January, to do new things. I took another knitting class last winter and learned many new knitting techniques that I never imagined I could do. Like knitting with a needle in both hands and one time. Quite challenging in the begining but really easy and fun after you get familiar with it all.

With this cooler weather we have been having, knitting has been on my mind. I am craving to do some knitting! I will have to go home and see if I have all the supplies I need.

Decorating Contest

Who wants to join?

I just read on Domino's website that they are having a decorating contest. You can enter your room to win a great prize. But I think just having a picture of your room on a website like Domino is cool enough. So I am debating going home and cleaning up and doing a photo shoot. What room shall I do????

You can check out all the rooms that have been entered here.

I could do my lovely basement area here.

It looks much different now that it has carpet. I almost wish my carpet was grey because I really loved the color of the concrete floors. But they just weren't comfortable or warm and the carpet was free so brown it was and has to be.

Another options is my bedroom or my living room? Tell me what you think I should enter.

New Dress

This is my dress I have been working on for the last two weeks. It was good for me to have a dead line, my friend Nick's wedding or it might have never got done. My mom and I worked on this dress that was suppose to be a "Fast and Easy" pattern from Butterick for many hours. All afternoon and evening Sunday, all afternoon Monday. I cut out the pattern for the top three times before I got it right and the skirt twice. Good thing I had purchased many yards of the fabric. I think I might be a pro at this pattern by now. Does anyone want the same dress in the same fabric? hehehe. The reason for having to cut it out so many times was first I forgot that I am not a standard body type any everything always has th be altered to really fit me, the second time was because I altered the pattern incorrectly, so the third time was a charm. I imagine it wouldn't have taken us so long if I got around to sewing more often but I rarely do. I still have a pair of dress pants hanging in my closet from last fall that I was suppose to take the hem out and lengthen. Hopefully I will get around to doing it this fall so I have another pair of pants to wear for work. The sewing machine is now dusted off and warmed up we will have to see what other projects I get finished.

Pillowz

I finally got the front two pillows sewed today. I've been meaning to do this since early spring.

Have your cake and drink it too.

Everyone knows how much I love layered cakes, so when I saw this at the grocery store last week I couldn't pas it up.




Then I had to bake some cupcakes too. Maybe I will have them together.
"If only my friend would come a join me." Sigh!

Morning

This morning I woke up to hear thundering rumble so I peeked out my curtain to see a beautiful sky over my back yard. I wanted to share it with you so I grabbed my camera and took a few pictures. I wish the houses weren't there so I could have gotten a better shot.

For my birthday......

Look at these amazing cupcakes! I was reading through my new issue of Domino the other night and came upon an article about Sprinkles. I guess they have had all sorts of reviews on the place and they are known for some pretty amazing cupcakes. They sure look good! Maybe I will get some for my birthday.

Fall is coming....

time to KNIT!

Just found this wonderful knit designer from the UK and I wish I could knit this well to be able to make garments just like this. They are so beautiful! The designer's name is Kim Hargreaves

Here are a few of the items I fell in love with.

Lilies BBC

Has anyone heard of the BBC show Lilies? I found out about the show through reading blogs and can't really find much of any other information about it. When I look it up on Amazon you can only pre-order. I want to see it now and not wait till September 11. I don't have cable either so this doesn't help me out that it is BBC. My obsession with period historical films and shows is growing.

How Wonderfuly Depressing.

I have been anticipating the arrival of the new movie about Jane Austin "Becoming Jane" for the last month. As many of you know I am a huge fan of all Jane's books which I haven't read but absolutely love the movies. I would love to read the books too. I have Sence and Sensiblilty that I have picked up a few times with good intentions in reading but just haven't made it through. A movie is much quicker to get through.
Anyway, finally saw the movie Monday night and it was just wonderful! It was much different than I thought it would be not knowing the history of Jane's life. I recommend anyone to see it! I must go see it again then purchase the DVD when it comes out and maybe even the soundtrack.

Kniting on Vacation

I did some knitting while I was on vacation. I took about 5 projects along hoping to get them all done but came back home with none finished. I did start another set of leg warmers and I tried to finish my kitten hat that I started in knitting class last winter but had many problems with it and gave up on it.

New BLOG!

As people are pounding their fist on their desks waiting for a new blog I have been absent from the world of blogging. My dreams and desires to make this a daily ritual faded to weekly, then bi-weekly and to know it's more like monthly. I had a feeling it was coming down to this when I switched jobs and my feelings were right. I use to have time while I was working the day away to keep up on all thing wonderful blogs out their on the world wide web and now I have hard enough time to keep up with my emails coming in for work questions. Oh what is happening to me? My creative ideas are all just figments of my imagination. My craft desk is piled up with projects that have been started and not finished and new materials for new items never started.
No worries everyone I am not quiting! I just need to learn to balance the new schedule. So I ask you to be patient with my while I go through this transition. It could also be the business of summer, vacations, weekend trips, weddings, parties, evenings at the lake, movies with my sister and spending good time with my family. There is never enough time to do it all.

Busy, busy, busy!

I've been so busy with my new job position that I have not had enough time to do much crafting, photo taking or blogging. I even dream about my kitchen and bath designs when I am sleeping. I am so sorry for letting all you guys down with no new exciting stuff from me. I am hoping that I will be able to write an interesting blog here before I leave next week to go on vacation with my family. Then when I get back I will have great pictures to post of my adventures. So until them.....
Leslie

Falling in love with Etsy...

is a terrible thing. Well, not really terrible because it is so wonderful all the amazing things you can find. But, it is terrible on the wallet because I should not be purchasing these items I don't need. I've really only purchased two items so far and still waiting for them to come in the mail. Everyday I come home from work I check the mail thinking today might be the day.

These are some amazing items and sellers I have found in my wondering through people's favorites.

Claudine's Closet

Miss Fickle Media

Jade Scott -who I met at Craft Saturday before I ever new her on Etsy.

Flower Power

I am getting ready for one of my best friends personal shower/bachelorette party to be held at my house this Friday evening and the theme is daisies. It is Brooke's favorite flower ever since I can remember, so I am going wild with all the flower/daisy things I can do without going over board.

Balloon flowers made to be daisies.

Altered thank you cards for all the galls to self address.
I found the perfect pre-made "thank you's" at Target and decided they would look much better if I added a daisy to it.

Knits

Finally, I can write about my leg warmers that I finished knitting about a month ago. I just received news from my friend Raechel that they received their package of delights. I know leg warmers are a little out of season unless you live on the other side of the equator but sometimes it just takes me way to long to finish a project and it is done out of season. woops. So in the cool nights of California or crank your AC up and pretend it's the right season to wear them.

Me modeling the finished product.

All rolled up and ready to put in with the other items to be mailed off.

Here it is almost all ready to mail. Everything except the cookies placed in box.

Woops!

This dress would be perfect for me! Just this morning I noticed that I had a smear of makeup on my collar and had to get the stain stick out to make myself look a little more professional.

"Coffee dress" of the "Elegant disaster" collection
text: ooops!!! I did it again! I poured coffee/wine/coke etc on my dress...I don’t care. Stains are so beautiful!
Details:materials: cotton, screen printAuthor: KOd, Marta Florkowska 2006/2007

Design Spotter

Cake, it's what's for dinner

I love baking cake! It's the truth. I love to watch the old Pollyanna movie just because the fact they bake three layer cakes in the movie. I love to watch the part when they slice it up and serve it out. Strange, I know. I just find in fun and delightful.

Here are some pictures of the cake I baked this weekend for Kendra's Birthday. It was a confetti cake with white butter cream frosting.

Can I have my cake and eat it to?

Books in a Rainbow

My book shelves were getting a little unruly so I decided that I needed to add some organization along with life to my books. The way to do that was to create a rainbow. I've always organized them through subject and size before and they looked ok but not as cools as they do now. Like a gal who comment on my flickr page "how cool would it be if Libraries did this?!".

Go ahead, try this. It might make things look a little bit more colorful around your craft room.

Travel Swap

I am finally finished with my craft project that I created for the Free People Travel Swap. It took me weeks to make a final decision on what I was gonna make. I went back and forth with all sorts of ideas. Some of my ideas I still want to make, maybe for myself. What I ended up creating was an altered book with a map of the U.S. that you could ad push pins into to show destinations you've gone.

One of my good co-workers that I love to bounce ideas of off helped me come up with the idea and also the quote that I added to the map. "You can travel coast to coast... but home is what you love the most."

I also added some more embellishments. Stickers saying "Travel", and "Home", also some tags hanging off a string.

The back of the book I printed off some mini post cards from Iowa and also Virginia the location me and my swap partners are from and did a little collage with them.

I had great fun creating this little book. I think I might had to make one for myself. You can check out other people's crafted items at the Flickr swap sight here.

Event Specialist

If you want to know what's going on or happening ask me because it might be likely that I know about something cool happening. Or not. But hey, I just discovered this great event in Chicago that is the "Anti-NeoCon" for all you designers out there. It is actually called the Guerilla Truck show and you can read more about it here. This looks like the indi thing to do. And if I was around Chicago at the time of the event you would see me there. So check it out for me. Make me jealous that I don't live there and can attend all these cool Chi-town events.

Summer's the time.

Craft fair season is approaching us! Oh there are so many I would love to attend. If I only had the budget and vacation time to go to all. Maybe someday.

Here is a listing of a couple here in the Midwest.

Craft Saturday I will be attending this one! It's a small craft show but going for Jade Scott a jewelry designer from Omaha is well worth it. She has unique designs that I love. I purchased two pairs of earrings from her at the April show and I had someone stop me and ask if they were Jade's. I get comments on them all the time.

This is the flier from the April show. The next show is June 23, 2007 9 a.m. - 2 p.m.

The Renegade Craft Fair in Chicago. I believe it is closer to Christmas if I am remembering correctly.

Handmade Market Midsommarfest, June 9-10 :: Summer on Southport, July 28-29 :: Retro on Roscoe Aug 4-5

Diving Adventures

One of my favorite hobbies that I never remember to list under interest when doing profiles is dumpster diving. The thrill of finding some treasure in another persons trash makes me squeal with excitement. Tonight my flatmate and boyfriend and I went bike riding and I was lucky enough to bring my camera along on our adventure. Not only were we able to enjoy the evening breeze, sweat, get bug bites all over, but also find a large pile of treasure at the end of someones lane. Weee! So here are the great pics I caught on our evening adventure.

To safely carry my camera while biking I thought my "lumbar pack" (not a fanny pack) would be perfect. I'm pointing to the logo so people won't get it confused.

Moving some one else's treasures out of the way of OUR treasure.

It takes two to load the record player/radio into the Euro Van. Thank goodness there was three of us so I could capture the moment with my camera that I toted along in my "lumbar pack".

Sorthing through the vinyl to see if there is anything valuable. Lots and lots of Kenny Rodgers. Someone had an obsession I believe.