Crochet Chair

This little crochet chair was made by my great grandmother, I can remember her cranking out the yarn crafts with a such a cute smile on her face. She was really sweet. I am in search of a pattern/outline. Any help would be greatly appriciated. I plan on bringing them back!

Lights and Signs from Above

I think there is a theory that to compensate for the lack of snow people who live in warm climates overcompensate by extreme decorating at Christmas. See above as proof?



Funny and ironic signs just crack me up. Here the girlies pose with one we happen upon last night.

Cross Stitch Gifts-finally!

It was so hard to keep these to myself. I emailed my parents asking them what their favorite sayings were and I drafted up these cross stitch designs. I pulled some of the borders and squirrels from the book Subversive Cross Stitch and altered the duckie's colors to be more of a mallard. The acorn was a total "wing-it" My dad will frame them and they will be hung in their respective offices.

Handmade for the Holidays!

Holiday Scrapping by non-scrappers

T'was the night before Christmas and all through the house, all the non scrappers were scrapping with a beer in their hand and a twinkle in their eye!

Let me start the tale with a prologue.

A few weeks ago a co-worker decided that everyone needed a "Spice Girl" name. She dubbed herself "Snarky-spice". I of course chose "Plaid-spice"

Now back to the narrative of the evenings goings on.

Here you see "Fluffy-Spice" (left) and "Full-throttle-spice" (right) deep into making their daughter a card bequeathing unto her dance lessons.

What a team effort! After complete success it was "down the hatch!"
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Now irony ensued, arguably biggest man in the room, "Two-Spice" chose the smallest punch/tool to experiment with.

I think he had total success with his new found love of paper punches. His wife, "Too-Spicy" was the bearer of tiny treasures from a big heart!
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And finally necessity is the mother of invention and a scalloped punch, a large circle punch and a few pictures from a Maxim magazine were combined to make these sexy coasters. Recyclers out there know no bounds!!

5 Inchies and Flock of Partiges in a Pear/Christmas Tree

Scrapbook Lounge Designer and Editor of Scrapbooking.com , Jami Petersen gave me a bunch of Inchies because she knew I had just heard of them and was very intrigued. I kept them in a little bowl, but that didn't do them justice. Well, at some obtuse moment that I can't remember it came to me to clip them on one of my Christmas trees and here you have it! Thanks Jami!

Recycled Fabric Wreath

I had been saving this fabric for a very long time. In "How-to" TV it is necessary to make "step-outs" that is, the project in various stages of completion. This fabric was part of step-outs from the TV show Sew Much More, which was the first show I worked on as a Producer. The fabric was in small odd shaped pieces and half sewn together, I think this was a coat.

Anyway, after bringing out the recycled dry cleaner bag wreath, the color reminded me of this fabric. So I tried the same technique only with the fabric and on a smaller scale.

Little Ho-Ho Ho!

Behind the scenes with Jeanie in The Scrapbook lounge

Super "Star" Jeanie Sumerall-Ajero Models her new look as the sound guy in the background prepares to put her microphone on before taping of her Webisode Stellar Starburst

Just another fun use of binder clips you might not think of is to hold your jacket open "just so" so that your microphone doesn't rub up against the edge of it on the front side. Maybe we can start a new fashion trend???

Santa's Watching If you've Been Naughty or Nice

Well, ya know how sometimes the previous holiday decorations don't quite make it back into storage? Well, I say dress them up for the next one! Here are my "Lawn Eyeballs" with a hot new Christmas look.

It was suggested by a neighbor that I had a "Nightmare before Christmas theme" look to my house. That works for me. I was thinking about Monster's Inc. - Mike Wakowski


The Lawn is Watching-Bowling Ball Eyes

Dry Cleaning Bag Surgery Wreath

Can you believe this pretty mint green wreath is made from dry cleaning bags!

Simply stretch out a wire hanger, the one's Mommy Dearest wouldn't let us have, into a circle.

Cut strips of dry cleaner bags about 2 inches by 6 inches.

Tie strips onto the wire hanger circle 2 at a time.

I "heart" recycling and cutting stuff up!

BookClub Crafters-a-gogo!

This amazing group likes to craft once a year and I am generally "tagged" with the coordination of the festivities. Here are a few shots of the ensuing madness!

My favorite creation was this little stocking with "bubbles" created from pony beads on their side. It is the creation of a first timer to our group! Whoo-hoo! What a splash. (bad pun intended yet again)




And no party is complete until it had gone to the dogs, isn't she cute?

In Loving Memory-SPC Nick Steinbacher

Knit and Get Lit-with a finished scarf

Last night was Knit and Get Lit at Cha Cha in Silverlake. Lorelei taught a new visitor how to knit while another simply partakes in the "Get Lit" part of the evening.

I was focused, in between fixing Lorelei's booboo's in the big scarf she was working on that is one of Vickie's designs.

Here is my finished scarf. It is simply two balls of coordinating yarn that is variegated with similar colors. Knit the first color until it runs out than start the next ball. It is a great "no paying attention" project.

It was great catching up with Candi (not pictured, but in attendance earlier in the evening.

Yes, that is a camping lantern we bring a bit more light with us. Knitting in a dark bar can pose a challenge.

A good time was had by all.

Now what do I do?

I made these cool double sided "slides" with images from a stock photo catalog I found in a thrift store and a punch from McGill and I love them. But my question is what do I do with them?

Anyone , anyone? Bueller, Bueller?

Spit and a safety pin

I had a friend in college (art school) that believed all you really needed was spit and a safety pin and you were prepared for any possible situation. We were wacky like that.

I bought this cute B B Dakota Sweatshirt the other day and the tag was held on with this really cool safety pin. I almost bought the sweatshirt just for the safety pin! I love little details.

Remember when your mom would spit on a napkin or tissue to clean your face, always done at the most inopportune moment?

Hankie Lady Christmas Card

Isn't this so cute?
It is from Two's Company

Just thought I'd share a little holiday greeting with ya'll!

Meme Cookies from The Left Coast Martha

I read a lot of blogs and it seems to be a common thing to photograph food and cooking. So I thought I would document about the only thing I make-my grandmother's sugar cookies.

Now I do need to be clear, even though I don't cook much I have an extensive collection of dishes and accessories.

One of my collections is anodized aluminum. Seen here is a new set of cookie cutters from Mrs. Clause (AKA Mom)

Measuring spoons and in the second photo, the rolling pin.

In the third photo I threw in one of those loop pot holders we all wove on those little looms. I made tons of these as a kid and gave them as gifts. We would role them in a toilet paper tube and wrap with paper so that it looked like a Christmas Cracker.

I think I cook just to use all the pretty things-is that so wrong?

The First rule of Scrapbooking is -Make a mess

The crafters of me (AKA my parents) went to Paris recently and my mom decided I should be the one to assemble the scrapbook of said trip. She did a good job of sending the photos and their coordinating memorabilia in individual Ziploc baggies. I of course didn't know what went with what, especially since everything was in French.

The biggest challenge was the album she sent had pre-cut widows but the catch- no horizontal openings and the majority of their photos were landscape format. So I matted a lot of the photos and had to get a bit creative with flaps and layering.

I hope they like it!

Another Finished Project! Striped Scarf-with a good story

Let me preface this story with a disclaimer: Girls solve problems very differently than boys.

OK here's the story:
My friend calls me from her car while she's driving and asks if I could do her a favor? Always wanting to help I say yes. She asks if I can sit in her car while she leaves it running while she goes into AAA to get her tags for registration.

Apparently if she turns the car off after it has been running and then goes to restart it, it runs really rough and sputters. I say sure. Why not. I'll grab some knitting to pass the time and be productive.

As I am sitting and knitting it does occur to me that this is a bit insane but it wasn't like I was given time to rethink the plan. It just happened. So the outcome is a finished scarf!

Pattern:
It is a simple 4 row stripe with two colors of yarn.
The yarn is simply carried up one side.
It is 10 stitches wide on 10.5 needles.
The pink yarn is Moda Dea Outrageous-Pretty In Pink #9730
The green yarn is Moda Dea Metro-Wasabi

Composition Notebook Dress up

Here's another project I made inspired By Tricia Morris of Club Scrap


Webisode on the Scrapbook Lounge "Just Add Photos"

I did it a bit different in that I only covered the black and white modeled part and left the fabric border spine exposed.

For the tan, pink and black, I added some clipped pictures from magazines. I do want to note, if you try this project and are using a light thin paper the black printing could show through from the back so you may want to cover it in white paper first. But this wasn't a problem on the blue cherry blossom cover because the new paper was so modeled.

I whipped these up in no time, they would make a fun gift! Hmmm maybe I'll try covering a matching pen???

Paperback Book Folded Christmas Tree

Here is a classic craft project- the paperback book folded Christmas tree. I used to make these when I was a kid and loved it. Sometimes I can really get into the repetition of a project, same thing that is nice about knitting and cross stitch.

You simply fold each top corner of the page over at an angle so the top edge of the book meets the inner binding and then the bottom corner up at an angle so that the side edge meets the bottom edge of the top folded section. This forms the side point. I spray painted this one silver. If you make one send me a link or a picture, I would love to see what else is possible!

Egg pocket ATC-May your ideas always hatch!

The egg is such a great shape. It is a symbol of possibilities to me.





I learned the technique on The Scrapbook Lounge Episode- Butterflies Are Free

and you can the stamp at Michael Strong Rubber Stamps

ATC cards Sayings with Portraits

I "HEART" ATC cards- I just learned about them. They are are such a great little canvas to experiment with all sorts of paper crafting techniques. These three were made from magazine photos of portraits. I have a huge stash of pages ripped from magazines as lots of crafters have for their inspiration.
Just thought I'd share a set. I will post more as they evolve.

Running with scissors here in Burbank!

TNNA flashback-Drew, Vickie and me

As TNNA aproaches it brings memories of last year. Here is a picture of me and Drew, The Crochet Dude getting books signed by Vickie

Vision of yarn dance in my head!

Knitted Christmas Tree

Last year when we were in production on Knitty Gritty we produced an episode with Debbie Brisson of The Museum of Kitschy Stitches and Marnie Maclean

They made some kitschy projects inspired by the classic granny square. Very innovative and fun.

The pattern for the tree is here by Maryse Roudier








To see Debbie and Marnie's fabulous episode check out the Knitty Gritty schedule:
http://www.diynetwork.com/diy/shows_dkng/episode/0,2046,DIY_18180_49948,00.html

Here is the project Debbie did and I of course added the "optional" sleeves.
Thanks Debbie!

The first Christmas Tree is up!

Last year I was working so much I had no time to decorate for Christmas. So this year I am compensating, OK overcompensating! This is the first tree up sent to me by my Mom. Yes, it is black and yes, those are tiny penguins! No, my Mom is not weird, she has though learned to be a Mom of a weird daughter! Go Mom.

What I am Thankful For

This is the view outside in my front yard at sunset.

I loved how the tree had all the golden colors of fall juxtaposed next to the silhouette of the palm trees-the best of both worlds!
Happy Thanksgiving

Doin' it Old School Cross Stitch Design

After making 3 Subversive Cross Stitch patterns right from the book, I decided to make one up of a saying I read in someone's signature line in their email.
I started my design career before there was computers were widely available-just before-so learned how to do it old school with paper, pencil, and scissors. So I thought I would show you how I did it.


1. I used the graph paper and letters in the back of the book to plot out my first thought of how I wanted the letters to be.




2. Then I cut it up and redid the layout getting the centering better by folding each new section in half (how high-tech of me!)






3. I used a wash-a-way marking pen to sketch the border and get it's spacing right. I used a border and details from the book.




And this is what I did: