Just Can't Get Enough

This my friends is a view of my nightstand. Don't act like you don't keep a glue gun handy because I know you do. A little tour > Scissors. Water cup. Nail polish. Hot glue gun. Lamp. Old Mt. Dew can (only a few days I'm sure). Hot glue sticks. Snickers. O'keefes working hands hand cream. Felt strips.


I've self diagnosed myself with craft ADD. It appears to me and has only become more obvious that I change my craft of choice daily.  Two days ago I was playing with satin fabric. A week ago I was making lanyard bracelets. Two weeks ago I was beading my way through a week long stay in Memphis. Today I busted out some felt for some hair accessories. It is ridiculous and I can't make it stop. I don't know that I want it to but I have craft supplies of any and every kind, EVERYWHERE. 


Some people take a book in case they will be stuck in traffic or have extra time in a waiting room. Me, I make sure to take a craft with me even of the littlest kind. Call me crazy I know you want to. I just needed to get that off my chest. I hope we can still be friends.

Hi I'm Lauren, and I'm a craft addict and hoarder. 

Things I want to MAYke

Welcome May. I don't know what you have in store for us. I spent all day sewing until my back hurt so much from my wonderful 'office' arrangement I couldn't take it any longer. 


Instead I've been mulling around for a couple hours online in awe of the creativity that is in the online universe. I found some really cute projects that I think I'll have to try. 


This quilt is awesome. It reminds me of my sister - maybe in different colors.

Source: vanessachristenson.com via Lauren on Pinterest

Then there is this darling fat quarter dress. I love fat quarters and how you can usually find them in the clearance bin. I think I know someone this would fit. 

Source: u-createcrafts.com via Lauren on Pinterest

Speaking of fat quarters, have you ever heard of a jelly role? No it isn't a donut but that does sound a bit delicious at the moment. They are one of my favorite things, fabric wise. Isn't this awesome? I'll take ten for decoration please.

Source: vanessachristenson.com via Lauren on Pinterest

These jellies are used mostly for quilting. Unfortunately I haven't taken up quilting but I think I could manage to add some ruffles to a cute little tote. 

Source: sewcraftcreate.com via Lauren on Pinterest

Maybe one day I'll just have some jelly roles to decorate my craft room and I'll sit them next to this fun pillow. I don't make pillows now because it's just an extra to move at some point. This also makes me miss my Silhouette that's getting dusty back home. If only I could be adding vinyl, rhinestones, and other fun things with that mack daddy. Sigh.

Source: sewcraftcreate.com via Lauren on Pinterest

And finally something I that I couldn't take my eyes off. A very simple sunburst flower head band. I've been trying the last few days to use accessories to dress up my outfits. Slowly but surely I'm becoming a fan. 

Source: sewcraftcreate.com via Lauren on Pinterest

 quilt / dress / jelly roles / bag / pillow / flower headband

I know this isn't any kind of update with whats been going on but that's just it, not to much has and we are okay with that. Just wanted to share with you some things I might be sewing on and welcome the month of May.




**I know that Pinterest is not a source for photos so I have included links back to the original site I found them. None of the above photos are mine.**

Vintage Darlings Are Born

Me: I think I'm going to pick up a new pair of some color skinny jeans, they are in right now.

Brandon: Who says?

Me: It's all over right now. It's just in.

Brandon: But why? Who decided that its 'in'?

Me: I don't know I can't explain to you how fashion works. It's just popular right now.

Brandon: Who says that though? Which person decided that and told the whole world?

We go round and round. I can't convince him if it's in or not, and if it is, he will never jump on the bandwagon. He will stick to his greens, blues, grays, browns, and of course Camo for the rest of his life because to him, camo is always in.

I'll admit my closet is not real up and up with what is in as far as fashion goes. I wear what is comfortable to me and what I think is cute, and of course things Brandon likes and sometimes things he doesn't. 

As a tiny shop owner of some clutches and wristlets I try to follow the current trends. Maybe that isn't a good idea and maybe I should make what I like instead. If I did that though, I would probably hoard all my new designs and not be able to share these with everyone else.

It has occurred to me that thrifting and vintage clothing are a hot item right now. Brandon if your reading, don't ask me why or who decided this, it is what it is. The last time I went shopping for fabric all the pieces I picked in some way reminded me of my grandma Norma. She liked to quilt, owned a farm that my siblings and I reminisced about all weekend, and could cook something fierce. 

Today as I was shopping for fabrics, I ooh and awwed over pretty much the entire store. I spent the first fifteen minutes documenting my new-found obsession for fabric. Years ago my mom couldn't drag me into a fabric shop. Anyways, I kept finding myself being drawn to some of the most classic old fashion and some pretty ugly pieces. Don't get me wrong I loved all the new bright color and geometric shapes and patterns but before I knew it I had several bolts of the old fashioned looking stuff in my arms.

And that's how my next little project was born. Tonight I worked on a prototype and brainstormed to see if this was going to work the way I planned in my head all afternoon driving home from shopping. I'm super giddy about it. So much that I knew if I didn't just write out how excited I was, I'd be up all night thinking about it. Now instead I'm up late writing about it. 

I completed my first clutch, that I have to keep for myself because it's to live for cute, (I'd never die for a clutch's cuteness, just saying) Then, we started going through my mom's fabric stash. Some good, some bad, and some just uggggaly. I ended up with this whole stack of fabric perfect for my new vintage line. Love love love.  

Until I can show you more, I'll leave you with a sneak peek. I'm so in love already. I have very high hopes for the new clutches and I hope you will love them. These mean more to me already than any of the other things I've sewn because they have so much meaning behind them. They remind me of my grandma and quite a bit of the fabrics are from my mom. I think know my grandma would be proud of her little quail. 

First Date

Today...I get my new sewing machine. I'm just going to warn you from here on out you will hopefully be seeing lots of sewing projects.

I always used to dread going into fabric stores with my mom. 

Not anymore. I guess deep down she did pass on her love of fabric.I know that she is SO excited and can't wait to see what I come up with.

I've been contemplating a sewing machine for quite some time. As our move to FL for a 
short 6 weeks approaches, I've decided I have to choose which craft stuff I will be toting along. Of course naturally you'd say ALL OF IT, but it won't fit and I won't stay organized. We have a small studio apartment and I don't feel right junking the thing up. Instead I'm gonna focus on learning something new that is more portable. 

I've been brainstorming projects and pinning things like crazy. I have high hopes and big ideas but these are semi long term goals.

I have been waiting for this all week and I'm ready for our first date. 

image via pinterest

Stocking Stuffer Magnets {A Tutorial}

I took a tiny break from signs although I'm thankful I have several orders to fill before the holidays. 

Today I decided to make some small crafts. Actually I decided I was making a gift for my neighbor based on the CSI Project. I've always wanted to enter but I don't have a porch I've redone, couch reupholstered, or any of the larger challenges, at least not yet. So I am starting small and hopefully inspiring. 

I made these adorable fabric magnets. They are sorda like rosettes but kinda not. They are pretty simple to make and require few supplies.

What you will need:

Fabric

Button assortment

Thread & needle

Liquid Stitch - or sewing machine

Hot glue gun

Scissors

Magnets

First cut strips of fabric into 1" wide by 14-15"

I fold the 1" strip in half and used Liquid Stitch to stitch together the raw edges.

Okay, this part is tricky. I did it different on each magnet and couldn't come up with a good way to get these started. See photo.

Then I stitch from the back and gathering the fabric in a spiral, stitching as I go.

It looks pretty messy in the back, that means your doing it right. 

But it's okay cause then you hot glue a 3/4" power magnet over that stitched up mess. 

Flip it over and add whatever type of topper you like.

I used some plain black buttons and turquoise buttons for mine but other ideas include decorative beads or brads. This is where you can personalize your magnets. 

I love them for a few reasons. They are cute. They are something you can use. They are something you may need. They are relatively easy to make require little supplies and frustration. They will stuff a stocking. 

Christmas Challenge

This Christmas will be our first as a married couple. Since we have our own place together I realize there is no longer all of my favorite decorations that I have gotten used to over the past 24 years. And this made me sad. I absolutely love Christmas decorations. We have had none.

I was in town and I was going to look for some new decorations for the house. As of late, I have been investing quite a bit in my new shop and therefore came to the realization that it might be smarter to save the money. I had some help with this realization...(ahem) thanks hubs. Let me be clear. He never said, 'you can't buy any decorations.' He kindly reminded me that neither of us are working at this point and we won't have any income until this spring. Reality, yes. Guilt trip set in. I wasn't the happiest, but he was right. What is the point of spending lots of dough on decoration for will stay up for about thirty days?


This created a new challenge for me and an opportunity to take lemons and make lemonade as they say. I headed to the house and began right away pulling things to transform into our Christmas decor.  I didn't spend a single cent. I created our Christmas shelf from ONLY stuff I already had. I also created a HUGE mess. But we all know that messy spaces are productive spaces. 


This was my result. I'm pretty much in love and catch myself staring at my sweet little Christmas haven. Ahhh. Christmas.  

Now, I challenge you my crafty, creative friends. I'd love to see what you can come up with! Happy FREE Decorating. 

P.S. Can you believe I didn't use Pinterest ONCE to make this little shelf. I'm so proud of myself for that. I love it as a resource but I'm glad I used my own ideas this time. 

Linking up with Sundae Scoop
& 

Berzerk

We got a little creative the last couple of days. The kids were driving me bonkers. Yep those cute little things I love so much can still drive me crazy. Since it has been a little bit cooler, high 80s/low 90s instead of 100 degree heat, we have been outside a lot.

We love sidewalk chalk. I have never seen this before and then I text these cute little photos to my sister and she sent me to this website. Okay seriously I felt like an under achiever after seeing that. It was fun though and the kiddos parents enjoyed it. 

Then we experimented with sidewalk paint. I think that I will make this again, kids or no kids. 

Ingredients:

1/4 Cup of cornstarch. 1/4 Cup of water. Food coloring. Stir.  

It is awesome! Try it. Love it. Share it. The neat part is when it dries you can brush your hand over it and it will brush right off with a powder texture. Sweeps away easily if you don't want tacky drawings all over the sidewalk. Just make sure you have large paint brushes, we had to use the itty bitty water color paint brushes, but we made it work. 

Here is to the last few weeks of summer and kids all over driving parents and babysitters berzerk before they head back to school. 

Mr. Black & Decker

My Monday's usually begin by dreading getting out of bed. Today was no different. But then I get to work and I round the corner and there is a tiny little toddler standing smiling at me in his jammies with bed head and I forget just how tired I am. That doesn't set back in again until about three or four in the afternoon. Then I leave work and I get a second wind. Thankfully, or I would be worthless every evening.


Knowing I have projects in mind to start I head to one of my top five favorite stores; Michaels. Are you thinking, "what could you possible need that you don't already have?" Well there is stuff, okay. Then I go to Lowes. Why do I love that store? I mean its so manly and huge and then you smell the lumber and all the pretty floor samples and hardware and you get the point its a good store. 

I was very glad to see Mr. Black and Decker again! I remember a while back we had a few good nights together and I'm not sure why we split. I vaguely remember an 'its me not you, can we still be friends?' conversation that ended things. I sanded away and while I did I had some great and random thoughts I'd like to share.

• I do not miss buying college books this time of year. I overheard a college student behind me in the check out line at Michaels mention she dropped six hundo on books. Eek.
• I'm glad my younger brother taught me to wipe down wood after you sand it the first time. This will let the grain raise from moisture, let dry, and resand. Then when you put the first coat of paint on the grain won't rise messing up the paint job. Make sense? I like learning these little tidbits of info. 
• I like power tools and feel like super woman when using them. 
• I'm going to ask BD to be my business partner. I think once I run my great idea by him he can't say no. Especially considering at this point in time neither one of us have a job this fall and because I know he doesn't like to tell me no, but he might.
• The previous thought reminded me of my Ah Ha moment that I'm glad I've slept on for over a month. Well since I'm not going to pursue it at this time I'll share. I wanted to start a blog that networks all kinds of blogs and had a new guest poster every day. Did you know there are already TONS of those out there? Glad I passed on the job that would have been.
• I really really love the smell of the lumber aisle at home stores and I left a few pieces I purchased in my car as an air freshener.
• Another great idea popped into my head (in the shower like the last time) but I may wait and sleep on this one for a while too. Although I'm pretty confident if executed properly it could be something pretty neat. Its like friendship bread only it doesn't include a bag of dough and a 14 day process.

So all that happened between the sanding and painting. Gotta get all my crafting in early this week because I finally get to see my fiancee aka future husband aka new business partner this weekend! 

Psalm 37:4 Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart. 

Cleaning Up

I cleaned this weekend and did some organizing. One particular area needed it more than others. My ribbon box was puking everywhere.

First I found this organizing tip on Pinterest, of course, and knew that would be perfect for some recently acquired embroidery floss used for friendship bracelets and other craft needs. I love how neat this looks and easy to access too with out getting knots and tangles.

Then I tackled the ribbon box. I had to figure out what to do with the mass amounts of ribbon I had. I bought a ribbon rack last year from Michaels that failed me. Some spools have a huge hole in the center and some are tiny and the rod wouldn't fit through them all.


I had to come up with my own idea for all the scraps of ribbon I had. Once I started going through them I found I had quite a bit of ribbon shoved in a Ziploc bag. I didn't have enough extra spools for the widths of all the scrap ribbon. I got the bright idea to reuse some tubes that my mom had for some of her vinyl and other cutting materials.

Problem solved. I can fit the lid on the ribbon box! When I relocate I can hang the tubes on a rod or some fishing line. For now the box is FULL so I won't allow myself to buy anymore ribbon. Just kidding people. I just discovered a new way to organize and be sufficient and you think I'm gonna QUIT buying ribbon? Okay maybe I will take it easy for a while though, hows that sound?  Have I ever shown you my work space? No. Oh okay then sorry for being rude. Now that it is cleaned up I'll show you. Look at the huge empty table for crafting. I love a clean organized office work space. I actually think I did show you a glimpse. This is what used to be on the left where the storage containers and table are. All that good storage is at the future abode. You liked those letters thingys? Well I'm going to be making some more like those and these for a baby's nursery this week. Love to get my paint on! 

I better get down there and mess it up again. I can't have it looking that good always or it means I'm not working!

One more itty bitty teeny tiny thing. Did you go vote for my link over at Little Miss Momma? I'm number 59 Epic Fail [almost]. If it isn't too much trouble please do, and as many times as you want. Thanks friends!!!


ooops two more...want to see where I'm getting married go look out My Wedding Window?!!

Where I Dabble

I'm pretty inconsistent when it comes to a routine, but that is life. I have lots of things I dabble in. Lets take crafting for example. I had been cranking out Blossoms for an event, steadily spending hours nightly in my craft area. (Note to self: start keeping a folder of awesome craft rooms you find on other blogs for inspiration) After the event I took a leave of absence. Now looking back I am not so sure I wanted it to last quite as long as it did, I have just been busy.


Tonight I ventured down to clear the cobwebs and dust. I wanted to work on something old that I never really gave a chance. My Silhouette machine is going to make it easy for me to start creating those unique paper dresses again. You can take a gander at those here. So I created a few or tried to anyway. I wasn't a surprise that I was unsuccessful. I will try again another night soon. But it was time to dabble else where, so I did. 


My mom is a sewing, embroidering, quilting bee. I have all the tools at hand to learn this trade and I will only have them for the next few months. I have hijacked the sewing machine for odds and end projects of my own, but I had a new project I wanted to work on. I'll give her the credit it was her idea she picked up on vacay. This past weekend we visited the fabric store and she may or may not have passed on her passion for fabrics. I found a book of patterns that I had to have and now I have a yearning to learn to sew. Yep, I know what you are thinking CRAFT HOARDER. We already went through this, don't you remember?  

Here are the pieces I picked out with the colors Pink, Lime Green, and Gray. We she has been practicing on some other projects but I won't give you a full reveal until mine is complete. It is a learning process for me so I am enjoying it as much as I can. I know I have a great teacher and will be excited when I can create my own patterns down the road.