Calvin's papier-mâché bowl

Last evening I decided to make Calvin's papier-mâché bowl from Handmade Home. It's one of the three non-sewing projects in the book.

First I made the 'glue'. That's flour, salt, and water cooked up. You are suppose to add a drop of clove oil so it doesn't mold. (I didn't because I didn't have any.) Then I grabbed a sales flyer from the top of the garbage (still clean). I tore and glued, tore and glued around my plastic wrapped bowl (used for a mold). Then-I rounded up some pretty tissue paper and tore and glued that.

I then sat my bowl in progress in front of a fan overnight.

This morning I gently unmolded it from my bowl, then gently removed the plastic wrap, and trimmed up the edges. (See my lovely new old tray? Love it!) Voilà a papier-mâché bowl. It's the first time I can remember working with papier-mâché and it was FUN!

Anyone need a piñata?

Rocco...

meet Misty and Phoenix.

Now, I said MEET not EAT!

Cloth diaper

Today I made a cloth diaper. It's a first.

It was my 21st project from Handmade Home. It's basically layers of repurposed t-shirts and some flannel that was given to me-sewn together.

You know, I didn't use cloth diapers and I don't know anyone in real life that does either. I think it's just not customary in my part of the woods. I see a lot of folks on the internets that do though.

So were (are) you disposable or cloth? I was disposable.

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On a side note-today's my bro-out-law's birthday! Happy birthday ol' buddy.☺

Some things are a brewin'

Like-my mood. (I haven't been in the bestest mood this weekend.) And then there's a storm a brewin'. (I used to shake in my shoes when it stormed. Now I LOVE it! and I don't really know why. Age, maybe???)
Also-I've got some tea a brewin'. Okay-feeling a little better already. Ahhhhh-look at this adorable puppy!
All better now!!!

(Please don't think I'm weird, but every time I pick up this pup I have to kiss him and sniff him-he just smells so good! And I was told by a friend today that puppies' paws smell like popcorn-so as soon as he gets home with Hubby-it's paw smelling time!) Please don't judge me!!! Pretty please?

Lilacs!

The lilacs are in bloom 'round here.

Aren't they pretty? And they smell so good!
I love being able to bring flowers in from my yard.
Don't they look pretty lying on this lovely plate, given to me by friend-Lori. (Thanks, Lori!)

They're also beautiful in my favorite kind of vase-canning jars. ☺

Ezra's letter satchel

I finished Ezra's letter satchel from Handmade Home this morning. This satchel is meant to be a a place to keep special letters, but for me I guess it will be for special cards-since I don't really receive many letters.

I used some new fat quarters that I had picked up at Walmart (I hadn't been inside a Walmart for about six months!) last week. They had some cute prints! I added a frayed rosette for embellishment.

***20 projects down, 13 to go***

30 Days of Beauty-30

Here's my last day of beauty.

This morning, I had the pup out and I ran back in the house to get the camera because I thought the fog, frost, and sun were pretty together!

Rag bag

I finished up this bag for rags (aka-the rag bag) last night. This is the 19th project I've made from the book Handmade Home by Amanda Soule.

I used a tablecloth that I bought a few years ago at Kmart for a dollar and some thrifted bias tape. For the 'rag balls' I used scrap fabric and embroidery floss.
Oh-and just look a my beautiful new mugs. My goodness, they are a thing of beauty!

Meet Rocco

Hubby brought him home last night and it was love at first sight. That'll help when he starts chewing all my stuff!

Hubby wanted to name him Rosco and my daughter wanted to name him Rollie-so the compromise was Rocco. (That's Madonna's son's name and don't forget Rocco Dispirito-famous chef.) And I like it better than Rosco or Rollie-so it worked out great! He is absolutely adorable and we all love him.

A centerpiece

I've been having a tiny wee bit of table envy. I mean-some people sit at the table and eat, and use napkins-cloth napkins. My family does not. Hubby has never wanted to sit at the table-so we never have. We eat in the (gasp!) living room. And cloth napkins??? The only way we'd know what one of those were would be if it were in the shape of a shirt. Okay, I might be exaggerating a little, but not a lot.
I mean look at this table and this table-so pretty and homey.

So I set up myself a little centerpiece complete with cloth napkins (flour sack tea towels cut in half) and napkin rings (new in box from Goodwill-they have everything, I tell ya!), Hazelnut Coffee Yankee candle which I don't normally burn on the table (usually I only burn them on the stove because I'm afraid I'll burn the house down), empty salt and pepper shakers (from Hubby's grandma) and a couple other things from around the house. This is all sitting on a groovy metal tray I bought years ago at Goodwill.
And I put out this fruity tablecloth given to me by my friend, Dawnie. (It was me or the garbage and she chose me.)

I know it's a little eclectic-and even though I know we won't be sitting at the table to eat and won't be using the cloth napkins-it brings me great joy to look at this set up.

Now-if only I could keep that table cleared off.

Ahhhh-a girl can dream.☺

Speaking of beauty...

Here's mine.

***Photos by Jodie***

30 Days of Beauty-29

The forsythia are in full bloom-I love them!

I thought this old building was pretty.

Beauty can be found anywhere-you just have to look for it!

Puppy love

It looks like I will be entering the peeing, pooping, chewing, whining world of canine toddlerhood in about a week and a half.

Wish me luck, will ya? I'm sure I'm gonna need it!

From bad, to worse, to better

Bad. Very bad.
Worse. Ack!

Cheeto anyone? Someone need a stray Prilosec OTC?
Better. Much better.

Tune in tomorrow for when I clean out from beneath the sink! (Just kidding.☺)

Happy Easter

Have a glorious day!

Some thrift store finds (or Goodwill goodness)

I've always wanted a spool rack. And now I have one thanks to Goodwill!
These lovely suitcases (15 cents for both) are for storing fabric.
I think I'm going to collect a few plates to edge my flower beds this year. (Dawnie did this last year and it was so cute!) And shouldn't your plates always match your luggage???

"Good Friday" to you!

Fruit of my new loom

I ordered myself a little present a couple weeks ago. I ordered a lovely 17 peg wooden potholder loom from Craftsanity's etsy shop. I'm really having fun combining different colors and such. You can see below-the potholders are about two inches bigger than the ones made with the looms from our childhood. Which is nice, because sometimes large potholders come in handy. Like-you know-if you would want to make a rug or something.
Another thing I wanted to say-if you are even remotely interested in crafting-you may enjoy listening to the podcasts on Craftsanity.com. I really love listening to different podcasts while I'm cleaning (haha) or doing my little crafts. These crafty people that Jennifer interviews are quite inspiring and it's so fun to hear their stories. But be warned-you may want to order every last book that these wonderful crafters promote on these podcasts. I know I want to!

***I just noticed that Etsy has their name spelled Esty on their website today. Must be an April fool's joke. It worked-for a minute there I thought I was losing it. (Or am I?)