diy: snail garland

 

I have had the idea for this snail garland for a few years now, and what better time to make it than for a fellow snail fan and swap partner? I used vintage neckties, wood dowels, bendy wire, and beads to complete the whole shebang. LOVE! 

getting a little bit crafty for valentine's day

So, I've not only misplaced my blogging mojo but I have misplaced my crafty mojo as well. I blame this virus...it has knocked me on my arse. I'm still cough, cough, coughing away and the goo...oh the goo!

To keep me on my toes and force myself into crafty mode I signed up for Aunt Peaches Valentine Swap. And as always, I had too many ideas and far too many piles of crafty crap to rifle through to find any sort of focus.

In the end I went with an idea I had been sitting on for three years now (only because the crafty bits were out where I could see them and hello...it was about time I made the darn things)...wood doily dream catcher dealios! How's that for an official name?

I left one of the catchers au natural, and painted up the other two. Use a toothpick to clear any of the lacey cuts and a set on a sheet of wax paper to dry. Drying time is pretty short...fifteen minutes or so. Use a needle to thread the floss throughout the doily...add a vintage button or bead where you will, and tie it off with a dab of glue for good measure.

I really like how they turned out! I wish you could still find the doilies at Michael's...I haven;t seen them in a few months. Maybe they will return for spring?

I'll post the valentines I receive soon. So excited!

swappy swappy

a long while ago an old swap friend and i decided to do a crafty fun garland swap. it took me forever to eke out the time to finish it but i did and it was super fun! lookie:

first off, i made this happy garland in red, aqua, yellow, and green. i love the wonky scallops with this color combo. i have extra scallops so i may whip up another smaller garland for myself.

my swap partner was crocheting me a doily garland and told me she preferred cotton yarn. how cool is it that i found these wee little bits of happy cotton yarn. yay! i popped them into a small metal tin with a minty green top. double yay!

keeping with the color theme i found a trio of happy washi tape to snuggle inside a second tin just like the one holding the yarn.

the rest of the bits and bobs did not exactly fit in with the color scheme so i wrapped them up to match. i think this little package is full of an awesome earl grey tea.

one of these little packs is hiding a locally made bar of soap that smells of chocolate and lavender while the other hides a lively pair of socks covered in teacups from our local shop sock, The Sock Drawer.

i have no idea what i wrapped inside here. it was a longer package...huh. i am getting old and cannot remember anything.

and here is the happy pile of wrapped up goodies. ooh, maybe the garland is in that red package up above. there was a lot of fun packed inside...tea, soap, tape, yarn, socks, cookie cutters, and the garland plus more that i cannot remember. either way it was super fun but i think my swap partner went cute crazy and sent me the much better package. photos coming soon! yay for swaps!

a wee proposal {second title}

I am certain there were things I wanted to write about. Things that may have involved cooking or shopping or sad racooning. And now, since I waited sooooo long I cannot think of anything to share. At least anything remotely interesting to anyone other than those involved. Oh wait! I remember....I need to re-title this hold on a second...

A few weeks ago a was working on the february bed and fretting over the artwork when I found a thrifted granny square in pink, white mad grey! I found two more but they were of the grey variety and I thought...

"Drats! If only I had more to choose from..."

Okay, now I have an idea. My birthday is in six days and I was thinking about how much I love a granny square and how inept I am at needle arts. I've already got a partner for a granny square/garland swap but I was wondering if anyone else out there would be up for sending me a square or two or three. Anyone?

 

I would love to have a basket full of gloriously artful grannies to hang over the bed or place about the craft room for splashes of pretty. Some may even make an appearance in a photo shoot. What I can offer you up in exchange is a set of six dillydelicious pom-poms made by me or perhaps a painted newspaper garland/papel picado?

 

I do love making pom-poms even if they aggravate my allergies (while wearing a filter mask even) but there is only so much room in the-room-that-shall-one-day-be-cleaned to store them. So what do ya think? Is it time for a swap?

snail mail?

I picked up this nifty little house shelf back when we lived in L.A. It was a creamy yellow then and I asked the mister to paint it. When he asked what color, all I said was "Not blue." And so he gave it a new look with a blast of orange paint.

 

 

I added some happy scrapbook papers for color.

 

And then it was ready for happy little bits.

Only, I'm not thrilled with the happy little bits save for the snail.

So I have decided it needs more snails. All snails, all the time. Who is up for a snail mail swap? You send me a small handmade or thrifted snail and I send you a happy letter of appreciation and a wee bit of goodness that you may be looking for. Anyone? There are twelve squares that are 2" X 2" and three that are 3"X 2" and one that is 4" X 2". Leave a comment here and send me a gmail and we'll have a bit of snail mail goodness!