My Chronicle Iron-Ons!

Back in May, I won free iron-ons from Mike Perry's Chronicle Book Iron Me On. I received them a few weeks ago, but I didn't have anything to put them on. However, a quick trip to Goodwill solved that.

Here are the iron-ons I got. I received multiple copies of each, and then shared a copy of each with Jessica.

I bought a plain pink t-shirt for $3.

I cut out my iron-on piece. I thought this would be more like the 80's iron-ons I remember from when I was kid. You, know, the kind that could be picked and peeled off after a few washes. But instead, this was more of an ink transfer. It required a very hot iron, but worked really well.

I put the transfer on the bottom in case it didn't work out. I figured I could cut the bottom of the shirt off and try the transfer again somewhere else.

...But that won't be necessary. It turned out great. (Despite what my pics may show). It says "We are what we do." True.

Now I need more ideas on what else to iron these onto!

Sew What: Grocery Bag Tube

In between riding bikes, garage sale-ing, and taking walks, I made this fun little bag using instructions from the book Sew What Bags. I know I shouldn't even have plastic bags given the number of cute fold-up totes I own, but they still seem to sneak their way into my home. And when you can't beat 'em, you join 'em. I made this tube using some leftover fabric I had. It's quite simple...just a two casings on the end for elastic and one seam down side. Voila!

If you look closely toward the bottom (or click the pic to make it bigger), you can see a Target bullseye showing through.)

I'd really like to make more of these since they were so fast and simple, but I'm guessing that I shouldn't be encouraging plastic bag collecting.

There are lots of fun bags in this book. Now it's just figuring out which one too make next!

With the exception of that big gray bag in the middle (which could hold a small body), all of these bags fit into the tube. And now I can actually find things under my kitchen sink again!

Pretty Wallpapers

I'm constantly changing up my work computer wallpaper. I used to just go to Smashing Magazine at the beginning of each month and grab one of theirs, but I think I may have found another site to add to the visit list: thekindredsite.com. How can you resist having such lovelies as these backing up your work? The bunnies from Fifi Lapin are currently my morning greeters.

Craftster, You Tees.

Oh, Craftster. Why is it you sell such cute tees when I'm supposed to be saving money for the homestead? You're killing me.

$1 Computer Desk Meet $7 Sewing Table

I think I've said that I've needed a sewing table since I got Miss Curvy last year. But alas, I've just been sewing at the dining room table. I don't mind, but it requires me setting everything up and taking everything down each time I want to sew something. And if it's just something small, it seems like a waste.

So the big guy in the sky (Jerry Garcia) was smiling down upon me at a garage sale where I found an old computer table for $3. I know, what a steal....but it gets better. It was marked down to $1! Turns out it was an estate sale and the daughter just wanted to get rid of everything. She was ready to give me the table but I insisted on at least paying the dollar.

It's just an ugly old table, but I've been so inspired by Crafty Nest and the before and afters on Design*Sponge that I knew I could spruce it up a bit.

Here she is in all her boring ugliness.

And...bam...$6 later and she's purty!

I started by cleaning off the top.

Then using a $6 roll of shelving paper from Target, I measured, cut, and covered.

The metal on the feet was all messed up.

But a few pieces of contact paper covered that up, too.

There was some random paint on the legs, but it scraped right off with a straight razor.

And now my Miss Curvy sewing machine has a permanent home!

I Want to Watercolor!

I've never been big on painting, but I did win 2nd prize at the County Fair when I was 6 for a pair of watercolor butterflies that I painted. Still, despite my love (and obvious natural gift) for watercolor painting, it's not something I do. Then I was Stumbling through the Web and came across a watercolor tutorial that just screams, "Try me!" And I will...as soon as I get my pictures out of storage and get moved into our house and get remodeling underway. So basically, it may be a while. In the meantime, enjoy what Craftster.org did. Way cool!

I'm a Winner...Again!

I was just notified that I am the official grand prize winner...oh, who am I kidding? I put a comment on the STC publishing blog and I won a book. Woo hoo! And it's a book, I really, really wanted: Sewing Green! It's supposed to arrive in two weeks. I can't wait!

Happy Birthday, Ning!

Miss Ning over at babalisme is celebrating her birthday by giving away printable cards that she designed. They're wonderfully lovely. Go check them out here, and be sure to wish her a happy birthday!

Also for her birthday, she gave ME an award. Ain't she the best! =)

Snail's Pace

I have house-buying indigestion and insomnia and one of the major side effects is low crafting (and blogging) energy. Shane sent me this picture and I thought it summed up my crafty speed lately: snail's pace. Hang in there with me!

Feeling Stitchy?

Jessica always recommends the best places on the Web. Just the other day she sent me a link to Feeling Stitchy, and let's just say I didn't get much done after that. Now it's your turn to waste some time...and get inspired (so it's worth it!).

We Got the House!

Thanks for sending good vibes and well wishes our way. The offer we put in on the house was accepted last night! There is still bank and inspection stuff, but for now, the hunt is over. Yay!

Pretty notecards from prettyday's shop.

Wanted: Good Vibes

Shane and I have been looking for a house for what seems like forever. Unlike the rest of the housing market, which seems to be tanking, houses in the area we're looking in are going like wildfire. For example, there was one house that we were practically ready to put in an offer in on before we even walked through it. The house showings started on Saturday, but our realtor was going to be out of town, so we were going to go on Sunday. By the time we got there, the house had an accepted offer. Ugh! However, we've found and put an offer on another house that we lurve (see the movie Annie Hall if you don't get that joke) and are now just awaiting word on what the sellers think. If you have any good vibes lying around, please send them our way. And if you don't, I'd accept finger and toe crossing on our behalf. =)

(I found this picture on Flickr here.)

Win a Free Decal...Guaranteed!

Well, the contest over at Lewa's Designs blows any contest I've done right out of the water. Why? Because with this one, you're guaranteed to win! From now until June 10, blog about Lewa's Designs wall decals, and you'll get one free. How great is that! What are you waiting for? Go blog!

I'm picking this sweet tweet in brown.

Scrap It!

I've been noticing that my scrap yarn is piling up, so I've been looking for a project that will help me use it up. The good thing is that a lot of my scrap yarn is worsted weight and wool, which means I can use it all in the same project. I found a pattern on Ravelry called the Zig and Zag Sock Yarn pram blanket. I'm really just using the zigzag pattern, and making it as big as I can. (I'm thinking I may need to even raid my friends' stashes at some point.) Here's what it looks like so far:


And take a looksie at some of the blankets other people on Ravelry did. I love how different they all are.

Wheezy's

clarabelle's

skeinqueen's

Beautiful Buttons from Britain

While she should've been swooning over her new hubby during their London honeymoon, Jessica instead was buying a gift for me. OK, I'm sure it was a few minutes shopping for me and then back to her man....but still, how sweet of her to think of me on her honeymoon. Below are the gorgeous buttons she got for me. I just love them and can't wait to use them on something. Now I just have to figure out what kind of project warrants the use of such beautiful British buttons. Hmmm...

Miss Hannah's Birthday

My niece Hannah (the sneaky weasel) had her third birthday last week, and her party was this past weekend. In addition to giving the book, I made Hannah some fun gifts. And not only were they fun, but they were also fast and easy to make!

First up, a tutu. Doesn't every little (and sometimes big) girl need a tutu. As I've told people about the tutu I made, I've heard all kinds of cute tutu stories. My favorite one was from Judith, who said that she had made a tutu for her daughter when she was little. Every time they would go grocery shopping, she insisted on wearing her tutu over her snowsuit. I really think that would improve my attitude about grocery shopping in the winter. =) Have a tutu story? I'd love to hear it!

Want to make your own tutu? Here's a great tutorial.

Next up is the hippo and birdy shirt. I got the inspiration from something I saw on Etsy. I used fabric and fusible interfacing to attach the applique to the shirt, and then I handstitched around the outside.

And now I have extra fabric to do something fun with!