Simply because I love the "rock"

Check out this project over at http://www.cutoutandkeep.net//projects/rock_buddy
and
I just learned what a hoodoo is because of a cool comment left-you have to check these out!
These are from a photographer named Barnchaser
http://entertainment.webshots.com/photo/2712505190030894601LEtjzi
I think I am going to do this in my back yard, I have tons of rock from when I broke down a rock wall. Don't believe me??
Here is the lovely wall before:
Here is the other side about half way through digging up the dirt (done by me):
Here is the wall about half way down and yes that's the tools I used a small pick and hammer, very zen!
I then built up some upper body strength and graduated to the sledge hammer. It was really ironic one day when Peter Gabriel's song "Sledgehammer" came on the radio while I was working, I totally giggled. And yes those are safety glasses, little chips of rock were flying all over the place!

I have to say it was very cathartic and satisfying. Everyone should break a wall down. Be sure to put it on your "to-do" list!

So anyway there is the proof that I have a ton of rocks and I will be re-purposing these babies into some hoodoos soon! And maybe I will draw eyes on them........

How to build a shelf-Hu?

OK so normally (hu me using the word "normal") talk about irony, I would have some cute craft I made here but today's project is a bit more on the practical side. It is important to have good storage for your craft supplies so time must be taken to organize sometimes. I hope you like it anyway, maybe you will give it a shot????

Back to today's tutorial (3 "T's) good one. Always a fan of the alliteration.

How to build shelves with freecycled wood specifically to hold freecycled copy paper boxes.

1. Roughly lay out what you have to work with, always good when working with freecycled stuff.
2. Measure the boxes you want to put on the shelves.
Note: I should also mention here that you want to measure the space where the shelves will be going so you don't build them too big. In this case they are going in Superfly and under a window so I had a maximum height measurement to consider.

3. Cut side panels down to height measurement and screw in lateral boards at designated intervals for maximum number of shelves to accommodate the boxes you are storing on the shelves.

4. Screw on a backing support so that the shelves can't sway sideways. I don't remember the name of this structural property but it has something to do with x,y,x axis stuff.
5. Place shelf in it's location and fill.
Just in case you were wondering- I get my copy paper boxes from my local shop, they generally order paper at the beginning of the month and have a huge stash that they are more than willing to give away. I do find the more standardized you can make your storage the more efficient it is.

Crafty Blogger links and a "swimmingly" good time at Church of Craft

Here is my favorite project that was being worked on at yesterday's Church of Craft meeting-a knitted mermaid outfit for a Barbie! The COC attendee (which shamefully I can't remember but was a very unique and pretty name) was drafting the pattern as she designed it. We both commiserated that when when we were kids neither of us had Barbies but had the "Sunshine Family" We both revelled in the fact that now we have both rectified that as adults.

This is why traffic in Los Angeles can be a nightmare. Can you believe this????If I didn't take the picture myself I probably wouldn't.
This is the view when you are not the one in the traffic, you thank the freeway gods that it isn't you when you look across the median at all the poor souls stuck moving at snail's pace when it isn't your turn to be in it. By the way that is my Etsy.com sticker that says "My other car is a sewing machine" I love it!
But this is why we do live here. Beautiful sunsets with a beautiful skyline. Incidentally, it is illegal to now drive and talk on a cell phone but no one said anything about taking pictures while driving!

About Family Crafts
There comes a time every summer when our thoughts must turn to going back to school... You can make it fun!

About.com Cross Stitch
Get your creative juices flowing with these ideas for Cross Stitch Projects.

Aileen's Musings
Come take a peek at MMCA Marketplace's Grand Opening! Peruse the talented artists' shops to see some fresh, new and exciting works of art! You will find jewelry, collage, purses, hand turned bowls, prints, fabric collages, assemblage and more. Also find out more details and enter Aileen's 2fer Blog Giveaway!

Art Bead Scene
Have you got something to say? Enter the Art Bead Scene's monthly creativity challenge to win some awesome prizes!

Crafty Princess Diaries
That little voice inside of you has something important to say. Listen to it no matter if it has to do with crafts or your life in general.

Layers Upon Layers
Would you like to stretch your collage muscles to include more abstracts?

Craftside-A behind-the-scenes peek at a crafty world
The paper and fabric are flying this week with origami napkin rings, T-shirt jewelry, inchies set in hot wax, free envelope and Japanese paper downloads and even a recipe thrown in for good taste!

The Impatient Blogger
The Impatient Crafter Presents: Summer CHA Fabulous Crafty Rockstars! Join Margot as she schmoozes with some of the craft industries biggest celebs in this fun YouTube video!

Sweater Surgery Flower with a little Help from Sherri Haab's New Book- Felt, Fabric, and Fiber Jewelry

Hot off the press:Felt, Fabric, and Fiber Jewelry: 20 Beautiful Projects to Bead, Stitch, Knot, and Braid

From Amazon:
More exciting ideas from crafting diva Sherri Haab
* Twenty gallery-quality jewelry projects--necklaces, earrings, more
* Simple introductions to fabric crafting
* Top-selling author!

Sherri Haab knows jewelry. Sherri Haab knows fiber and fabric. Sherri Haab knows crafting. Is there anything Sherri Haab can’t do? Frankly, no. She’s the Superwoman of crafting books! Now she shows her readers how to make stunning gallery-quality jewelry by combining fabric, ribbon, thread, cord, beads, buttons, and other materials with a variety of needlework techniques, all engagingly explained. Each chapter of Felt, Fabric, and Fiber Jewelry spotlights a different technique: embroidery, felting, crochet, tatting, braiding, and macramé. Then there are stunning necklaces, pendants, bracelets, and rings to make, all in a fresh, appealing style.

Twenty projects mean great looks and great gifts for any occasion. We can’t all be Sherri Haab...but we can do crafts the way Sherri Haab does them!

About the Author
Sherri Haab is the best-selling author of The Art of Metal Clay and many other crafting titles. She has more than 2.5 million books in print worldwide. She lives in Springville, Utah.

From me:
I "heart" Sherri! I have met her at trade shows and have several of her books, let's just say I am slightly short of being a stalker of her designs.

So when I got a copy of Felt, Fabric, and Fiber Jewelry: 20 Beautiful Projects to Bead, Stitch, Knot, and Braid I savored it emidiatly!

And of course I had to make something from it right away and I decided to start with the cover piece. But I don't craft directly from books I like to take my inspiration from them and put my spin on it. And being that this is Sweater Surgery, well you know. These flowers are made from wool felt in the book so it really isn't so much of a stretch to make them out of recycled felted wool sweaters.

I used the included patterns from the book.
And I followed the directions and stiffened them up a bit with-what else Stiffy! from Plaid. I also let them dry over a tiny bowls I covered with foil.
I popped a tiny black pom pom in the middle and glued the flower on a ring blank. I really like biiiiigggg rings right now!
I can't wait to make more projects from this book-they all are so good! Thanks Sherri!

Cat-tastic Crafty Blogger links

So, this is Daisy, the neighbor's cat who loves to hang out in our yard, now under the Airstream, Superfly, a lot! And she also loves hangin' out on the Miata. This is the view outside of my window closest to my desk. I could hear her bell on her collar jingling away as she did her morning scratch-a-thon. So I snapped a few pictures. They aren't the best because I am shooting through a screen.

About Family Crafts

Gather together all the kids you know and follow these directions to show them how to make a variety of fancy craft foam visors with little effort and a few common craft supplies.

About.com Cross Stitch
Practice your stitching skills with these patterns that use basic stitches.

Aileen's Musings
Creativity comes in all forms. Follow Aileen's sons Olympic adventure as he sets off for China! He'll be performing with the Olympic Orchestra as one of 2008 musicians from all over the world. Aileen is challenging you to create an American Cheer for our Olympic athletes and post it!

Crafty Princess Diaries
Have a book idea or even a few book ideas but not sure what to do next? Which one do you devote your time to? The Crafty Princess has some answers or actually some questions for you.

Layers Upon Layers
An artist profile with the fabulous June Campbell, one of the most generous women in the mixed media art world!

Craftside-A behind-the-scenes peek at a crafty world
Tons of free patterns and how-to's for mixed-media and beaded jewelry, a crochet sweater, a doll name tag, a vinyl tote bag and a chance to win a free copy of any Quayside Publishing Group Book, Crafter's choice!

The Impatient Blogger
Margot wants to know what you think. Please take a moment to answer her crafty survey.