I'm back

I started mixing pleasure with pleasure. Ironic, yeah? If you read my other blog, Maui Honu Honi, you know what I mean. If you don't, go read, come back. You must forgive me for any repeated thoughts, though. This idea of organizing my thoughts is new for me. Being messy just sometimes works better for me.

So, you may know that my good friend Debra got me interested in making ATCs again. I adopted a totally different style this time around, though. I like the mixed media styles, collage work especially. I obsess over the styles created by Christy Tomlinson, using her YouTube videos as a source of inspiration.

I especially like working with canvas. Unfortunately, I lack all of the supplies I need to finish many of the canvas projects I have in mind. I started one a couple weeks ago, involving tons of tiny 1-inch pieces of paper, but I need to wait until my studio arrives in a month or so before I can finish it. I posted a request for people to send me 1-inch scraps of paper, though, and I received the first of those from Christina in Indiana.

As soon as I got home after work, I changed into my crafting clothes. I reserved special raggedy clothes for working on my projects because I get messy at times - wouldn't want to get paint or glue on my new favorite Maika'i Ola shirt!

My "studio" these days consists of a TV tray that I set up bedside so I have somewhere to sit while I work. My supplies live in a battered cardboard box that might not last through the end of the month. My only light to work with consists of the natural light I get when the sun shines in the window. The cardboard box goes on the floor next to the TV tray, I take my spot on the edge of the bed, and I get to work.

Today, I worked on a canvas project using my just received 1-inch paper squares. When I reached a stopping point at which I would be able to pick things up again tomorrow, I moved everything aside. The supplies return to their cardboard box. The cardboard box gets stashed on the sad little window shelf/desk/thing. The TV tray becomes my nightstand, holding all of the electronics that need charged while I sleep.

I can't wait until my real studio gets here, until I have loads of supplies to work with...and ArtBin containers to keep everything neat so The Hubby doesn't have a breakdown!

The Bracelet Board

Let's face it, I have made a lot of bracelets, I wear them, I sell them, I even give them away as gifts. And for a while I couldn't stop making them. I've been all over Pinterest and Google looking for a way to hang them up for display and easy access. I finally decided on a cork board. I picked up a  17" x 23" one at the craft store about a week ago. I finally got Hubby to hang it up today for me. I picked up a jar of colorful push pins at the office supply store and pinned away hanging as I pinned so i could manage the space well. Then I ran out of space. and I have a LOT more left. I think I will get back to listing them for sale on line (Etsy, probably). Here is a pic of the board all filled up.

Finishing Projects

Back, 2 posts ago, I mentioned Some handmade crocheted cuff bracelets my grandma made me. Well I found the right buttons for the white one.

Even tho I didn't make the cuff, Grandma is a piece of me so I'm going to show it to you...

I think it's very cool!

And while I'm on the "Finishing Projects" topic...

Last time my Mother-in-law was in town we went to a few quilt shops and I found the coolest pattern for a Chili Pepper table runner. Well I decided to use it as a wall hanging. I started making this in early may before my 2nd knee surgery (on the right knee) then when I went for surgery I could use my right knee quite right for a while so I didn't sew for a while. This week I pulled out the pieces n pattern and finished it up! I really only had the green part left to do. It looks awesome on my Terra Cotta Orange kitchen walls...

Granny's Crochet Needle Roll-up

I got this idea from a crayon roll-up pattern I saw online, I tweeked it to be tall enough for crochet needles and the pockets narrower in most cases also. I left a few pockets wider for the larger needles. Grandma loves it!

Rolled up...

Unrolled...

Close up on needle in a pocket and flap turned up...

Crafters X-mas and Inspiration

Going to my grandmas house is always a treat. I love to visit with her, hear her stories, and learn from her. Plus I almost always leave with at least a grocery sack full of goodies! Some of the goodies are hand made sometimes and other times its supplies. This time it was both! Check it out!

^Oodles of old lace!

coz i wanna make these

^ a bunch of tiny ribbon flowers and bows

 I want to incorporate into the above lace flowers

^ thread cones for my surger she gave me a few months back

Here is a pic of the vintage surger. It is a White Superlock 503:

^ a very old cookie tin - i want MORE!

coz i wanna make these, sans the snowflakes and in a color that suits my home.

^ dozens of crocheted flowers 

she makes these with her yarn/thread scraps, not usually with anything in mind to do with them.

I want to make a bouquet with them, like this:

^ tiny ribbon flowers and bows i will probably incorporate with the lace flowers

^ *swoon* vintage thread spools all wooden!

^ rick-rack... i have quite a collection of rick-rack now from a previous thrift store score, i need some rick-rack craft ideas!

^Crocheted butterflies. something else she does with her scraps. 

Maybe I will make a mobile with them?

Perhaps something like this:

And then there rest... there was some googley eyes, red pompoms, sequin pins and steel silk pins.

There are 2 bracelet-cuffs she crocheted me too I need to get pictured of them on the bracelet model.

Check it out!

Rocky Wrist Bracelets

In the bottom of my bead stash, is a floss box with some sorted drilled rocks.

I had to think how to make these into a bracelet with out the bracelet weighing too much!

I recalled some silver plated aluminum beads, and used them to alternate with the drilled rocks.

I think they turned out interesting!

Less Than Creative in My Free Time

This week, when I am normally creating I've been doing other things.

I've seen 2 movies in the past week. I don't usually go to movies... In fast the last one I saw was True Grit in 2010. (Double Take, this is 2012!) But I went with a gal friend to see Magic Mike Friday. Hubba Hubba! Then last night a hubby, a couple other friends and I went to see Ted. Bother movies were good.

Tonight, its July 4th. A day I dont normally do anything on but work, in the past or stay home with the doggies. We are going to a 51's Baseball Game! Something else we don't normally do- in fact I have not been to a game since I was a kid and mom got Angels n Dodgers tickets from work... But My friend who I went to see Magic Mike with said we should go and so we were all easily persuaded. There will even be post game fireworks. Fireworks are something I have grown out of but whatever...

I made a round of Bento boxes, no pics sorry.
Then when I was grocery shopping I got chicken breasts cheap(er) and came home to follow this link and made 6 varieties of marinaded chicken breasts, threw one in the fridge for thursday, and the other 5 in the freezer as recommended.

I was going to get creative a couple days ago but i stepped on something I couldn't see in my studio and decided to clean it up instead. I never got around to making anything in here tho. I did switch placement of my ironing board with my cutting table. Since I keep some bins and plastic drawers under my cutting table, the bins are moved now too and the room feels a little more open.

Friday Doc said I'm ready to go back to work and gave me a week.  So...How on earth can I make a living from my crafting so that I may ALWAYS craft...