Merry Merry!

Thank you for the fabulous year. Hope your holiday and 2010 are a srumdillyumptious blast!

fabric chain fun

a few months ago i picked up an awesome vintage charm pack from Home Ec Shop. Resolving to make sure i actually use fabric i buy even if it is "too pretty" to use, i decided to whip up this happy fabric chain garland to add a little holiday oomph to the tiny casa. you can whip one up in a cinch.

i cut each wee square in half and then half of them in half again. alternating between two thin and one thick scrap.
the thicker links were stitched on the machine...the thinner links utilized my never-ending box o' glue dots...see? easy peasy!have fun!

last minute holiday craftiness

i had plans folks. mad plans of crafting a christmas frenzy. but then, i got a distress call that i couldn't ignore so my plans got shoved under the fridge (our tv cabinet) and off i dashed to help the loverly ladies of ReForm School (and do some holiday shopping as well...how could i not, have you ever been in ReForm School? such loveliness!)but today, amidst (amongst?) important phone calls, last minute errands and such i will make like an elf and bake, wrap, clean, pack and craft away as best i can with a wee break to help a wee one make an extra special gift for her brother (and it is AWESOME, but i can't post pics for he might see.)so far, other than the special gift, i have played with macarons (starbucks, whowouldathunkit? thank YOU m'dear!), finished a few phonecalls, washed three loads of laundry, made a fabric chain garland, two almost finished scrapy happy floral pins, a handful of headbands, and the grand reveal of a clean kitchen table (though the table is actually in the living room but you get the picture...)may you all enjoy the bestest of holiday cheer from now until the new year and then may your new year be the most productive and healthy ever! stay tuned for one or two more crafty posts if i can swing it. we'll be off for a family visit tomorrow until monday, i adore you!

the week in review: dec 14-20

busy busy busy...no baking got done, a little cleaning did and i spent a couple of days helping out the lovely ladies at Reform School...this week is Christmas and I have WAY too much to finish and TOO LITTLE time to do it all in. cross yer fingers for me! mr. a-go-go is sick with a cold, i'm feeling sympathy sick (i hope it's not real sick) and he casa needs a cleaning, mucho cookie dough nees to be made, presents need to be wrapped, sweaters need to be cut up and oh so much more! Today is super duper busy, tomorrow will be spent at Reform School and Wednesday is the last minute waltz to get it all done and packed into the car to head up to be with family for the holidays...happy monday everyone! i'm not even sure i will have time to find a bench!

the two lucky ladies are....

icedteaforme & digital misfit!

take a looksie at the following pic and let me know which band you would like...first contact gets first dibs! and note that the green is a biggie for those of you with pouffee hair and or really gifted noggins...

holiday countdown: a quick(ish) gift that is (almost) too pretty to share and a giveaway!

My new motto is have sweaters will make something...I may have mentioned this before but I am not a knitter. I knit as well as I use chop sticks and let's just say you might not wanna sit with me when I am attempting to slurp up pho (i once threw a pair of chopsticks clear across an eatery, on purpose. I was frustrated). So, to assuage my lack of yarn art capabilities I have been looking to wool sweaters to see what I can come up with. Earlier this week I was in Anthropologie and saw these gorgeous crocheted headbands (I can't find them on the website, sorry) complete with flowers and I thought, hey...I can hack this and so I did.

What you need:
*wool sweaters that have been felted
*needle & thread (or machine)
*tape measure or ruler if you need specifics
*scissors

You can use one sweater or many depending on whether or not you want a monochromatic look or something a wee bit more colorful. Me? I went with color. Either way, you are gonna end up with four parts. Mix and match, you choose. Firstly, you will need a long strip at least 20" long and 4" wide. This will be your band. Sweaters stretch so make sure you cut it a wee bit smaller than you need. This is where the tape measure comes in handy.Now, you will need two smallish squarish pieces, these will be the bulk of your flower. Cut them into flower shapes, one smaller than the other. Set aside.
For the center of the flower you will need a thin strip of sweater at least six inches long and one inch wide. Pop it onto your machine and do a long running along the length of one long end. Hold one end of thread and tug a little to get your strip to curl up and ruffle a bit. It will look a little like a rosebud. Shape it to your liking and with a needle and thread tack it in shape and then stitch to the remaining to flower pieces that have been stacked with the smaller piece on top. You can wait to do this part and do it all at once as you stitch the flower to the band. Your choice.Fold your band in half, right (preferred) side facing in. Stitch the ends closed either by hand using a wip stitch or by machine using a zig-zag. Turn it right side out and decided where you want your flower to be in relation to the seam. I placed my flowers about 8" away. Depending on how you wear the band your flower may be worn up above one ear or down below the other. Versatile! Handstitch your flower to your band, put on some happy lipstick and dazzle your do with your headband and have a great day! Oh...or you can make up a bunch and give them as gifts this holiday season. I'm kinda having a hard time deciding. You probably wouldn't wear one if I gave it to you anyway, would you? Would you? Leave a comment telling me how you would wear your happy headband and I'll pick two delightful persons to receive one of their own. Thanks for stopping by!I'll pick the winners on Saturday and mail yer goodies out to ya on Monday...stay tuned!