Something to Do in February

For anyone out there who lives in or near Mesa Arizona,  got any plans to celebrate Valentine’s day yet?  I’ve got something for you.  A group I’m in at my church is hosting a special dinner and dance fundraising event on February 12th.  We’re raising money to redo the entrance to make it more friendly looking and inviting,  some have said it looks more like a bank as it is now.  I personally don’t think it’s quite that bad, but it has always reminded me of a court house, or maybe the huge house in that movie The Haunting.  I think that’s what it was called.

The tickets for the dinner and dance, which starts at 6:30pm, are $15 and must be purchased ahead of time so we know how much food to prepare.  The dance tickets alone are just $3 and can be bought at the door at the last minute.  The dance itself is at 8:00pm.  leaving plenty of time before hand to eat and do whatever, and of course there is a live band.  I hear they’re pretty good.  Also, I heard a group from a local dance school will be there to show everyone a few steps, hopefully to get those wallflowers out on the floor. 

The church is located in downtown Mesa on the south-east corner of Center and 1st Street across from the Mesa Arts Center.  For more info check here.  Hope to see you all there.

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Hats Off, or On

The last item on my list is done.  I made the hat from scraps of the sweater I used for my jacket (see Soft and Glittery).  It’s a somewhat smaller version of the pattern from Sew Modest Clothing.  I though it look so cute on Midnight, so I couldn’t resist having her model it here.  See what a good kitty she, considering she can’t stand having things on her head for more than like 5 seconds.  I decided as a reward to postpone her bath, she deserves it.
Here’s the updated list:

Altered jacket

doll house

sleeping bags

hat

Glittery makeover All done, what a relief.

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Organized Time

I’m still alive, so don’t worry.  I have just been a little preoccupied lately.  One of the things I’ve been up to besides the usual stuff is reading up on organizing and decluttering.  I figured if I cleaned up a bit and organized everything, then I would have more time for important things, like crafting and sleep.  Here’s some of what I have been reading, maybe it will help some you who may have the same problems with time and stuff.

• The Queen of Clean Conquers Clutter by Linda Cobb—This one really popped out at me because it was pink and glittery, but it’s fantastic.  It helps you get started almost instantly, you just have to know what Q.U.E.E.N. stands for.
• Simply Organized by Emilie Barnes—This one is as simple and straight forward as it’s title, it is also so thin that you can read through it in a hurry.  Good for a “there’s no time to organize but I need to” solution.
• Emilie’s Creative Home Organizer by Emilie Barnes—If you liked the last title, you’ll love this one.  More help from the wise one.
• Clutter Cutters: Store it With Style—It is hard to organize all your junk if you have no where to stash it.  This one helps you to declutter and store what left so your house won’t be one big eyesore anymore, not that it is that bad.

Hopefully I’ve learned enough to successfully keep all my obligations in check with these resources.  Or at least I've learned enough to keep my sanity as I try to be superwoman.  It’s an improvement.

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Home Sweet Home and Maybe a Campout

  Well, I finished the doll house.  At least I finished building it, I still need to furnish and decorate all the little rooms.  Those will be separate little projects.  Anyway, the house is made from a cardboard guitar box and all the window trimmings and sidings and stuff are made from old file folders I found.  Along with the folders I found a sheet of clear plastic which I used for the window glass.  The door knobs are made from wooden beads and a straight pin.  Can’t wait to furnish it. I’ll probably start with the bathroom.  I found some fun books at the library about making tiny toilets.  More on that later. 

I also manage to make the sleeping bags.  They are based are some I saw in a book several years ago.  The book is called Wild with a Glue Gun.  It’s a simple design with a built in pillow and just the right size for tiny dolls.  I’m thinking of using them for another short film.  Although it seems a little chilly for a camping video.
Here’s the updated list:

Altered jacket

doll house

sleeping bags

hat

Glittery makeover Just one more to go. It might be a little difficult since I have no clue how to make hats.

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Pause Before the Storm

I have been so busy lately it’s unreal.  I have another test to study for, a project on dental care coming due, a final exam looming near, and not to mention it’s now tax season so on to the coal mines.  If you didn’t already know, I work as a tax preparer during the season every year.  It’s strange because I don’t really look the part.  Some of our customers usually think I’m an intern or a part-time high school student or something.  Imagine their surprise when they find out I’m the one doing their return, some actually panic a little.  It does get insulting sometimes when they prefer to wait for a different preparer with more “experience”.  Technically that would also be me, I have been doing this for a few years.  It does make things a bit more interesting, but just how to balance the time between work schedules, school, household stuff, my cat, and crafts (notice I didn’t say sleep).  With a bit of determination, some organization, a pinch of luck, and maybe a magic wand, I will somehow make do.

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New and Improved

This post may contain affiliate links, please check out my disclosures page for more info.  Thanks!

Another project finished, Yay!  For this one, I went through my closet and found pieces I thought could use a little sparkle.  Then added a touch here and there with sparkly squeeze tube fabric paint.

The upper left is my Cubs t-shirt.  I’m not a baseball fan, I just think the shirt is cute.  Now it’s even cuter with ruby-red paint outlining the logo and all the letters. 

The upper right is a Garfield tank top I got from a dollar store years ago.  I outlined the heart and glasses with silver and added some diamond paint in a few spots.

The lower left is just some old shirt I got from who-knows-where.  That is my hand traced in silver.  I just love handprints.

The lower right is a pair of short I hardly ever wear, that will change now.  I made purple clovers with silver centers and ruby dots between them.  Who says 4 leaf clovers can’t be purple.

 
A wardrobe makeover wouldn’t be complete without accessories.  I made these pins using the round metal thing from old floppy disks. 

I remember seeing the idea before, but I can’t quite remember where.  I think it was on Craftster. 

A little paint, some fake flowers and a pin back and they are ready to wear.  After drying of course.

Here’s the updated list:

Altered jacket

doll house

sleeping bags

hat

Glittery makeover

Three more to go.  I am almost finished with the house.  Look forward to it.

Give it a try:

• Tulip® Glitter® Dimensional Fabric Paint
• Tulip Dimensional Fabric Paint 1.25oz - Glitter

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A Crafting Question

There’s a lot of things we love about our favorite crafts, things we love doing ourselves all on our own.  But here’s a question for you, what’s something you can’t stand to do when is comes to your craft? 

For me, it’s button holes.  I have, on many occasions needed to add them to some of my sewing projects despite attempts to avoid them (i.e. snaps, Velcro, loops).  I stink at making them.  Something always goes wrong.  I frankly would rather stitch up a wound on myself than stitch a button hole.  Maybe I just need more practice, but after about 14 plus years of sewing, I think I’m as good at them as I am going to get.  Sewing and crafting is like everything else, you won’t love everything about them, just 99.89% of it.

9/9/2015 Update:
Thankfully I have improved on doing button holes since I originally made this post.  I owe it to a few vintage sewing books and a nice sewing class I took a couple of years ago.  I still can't stand doing them, some things will never change.

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Soft and Glittery

I finished my jacket, looks pretty good, right.  I boiled it in tea to fade the color and give it a brownish tint.  Very subtle.  I used an old sweater for the new collar and cuffs.  The sweater was dumped on me a while ago, and it was hideous but oh so soft.  Perfect for a cozy warm jacket.  I covered the buttons with scraps from an old dress I had use before to make doll clothes.  The appliqués on the pockets were cut from that same fabric.  I used fabric glue to stick them on, and don’t worry, it is washable.  Just a touch of sparkly gold fabric paint on the appliqués and it’s all set.  I just wonder if anybody will notice the change when I wear it to church tomorrow.  We’ll see.
Here’s the updated list:

Altered jacket

doll house

sleeping bags

hat

Glittery makeover Just four to go.
Here’s a look at the progress on the doll house.  For those who read my last post, if you guessed that I would be using cardboard, you were right on the mark.  I used an old cardboard guitar box I found downtown.  It was the right size and had an interesting shape which I incorporated into the design.  You’ll see what I mean when it’s finished.  Hope you can wait that long.

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