welcome to my craft room!

Upstairs, the room across from our bedroom is what I dearly call my craft room. My mission for today is organization--it might look clean, but don't let my mad-dash-wanna-post-about-this-cleaning skills fool you!

A small tour:

Above my sewing desk is my small library of knitting, sewing, and writing references. I love these shelves--they cost $20 for both at Home Depot, a reasonable amount for book space! My jar collection lines the top shelf. (Glass is such a multi-functional container, and cost-effective too--save those peach, pepper, and pickle jars.)

I just recently purchased this ironesque basket for display on my craft table. I saw the idea for something similar in a magazine, and I thought it was a fun way to display favorite stamps!

Now, here's my problem area. My closet. This is mainly what I will be sorting through today. (Raul helped me build this apple green shelf a couple of summers ago--we kept it in our tiny closet in the apartment, and somehow it held most everything that is in this room! A Mr. Cart is behind the other closet door, and holds extra supplies like tape, glue, etc.)

Now where's the yarn, you ask? In an old chest of drawers, next to my sewing desk. I'm trying to think of fun ways to display my knitting needles and notions... Jars, perhaps?

A few other fun photos... A bulletin board, where I post photos and favorite cards... A rug, kindly crocheted for me by my dear friend Jennie (see how perfectly it matches the paint? Thanks Jennie!)...

And of course, a reminder to live simply. This is above my bulletin board, & will be at the forefront of my mind as I purge and organize today. I'm sure to find some fun supplies to pass onto a friend or younger crafter.

Thanks for visiting. Off I go to clean...Live well, be well, friends!

decor on the walls

Last weekend, I visited an antique show at one of our local parks. There were all these little booths with anything and everything set up--old metal wash bins, artwork, jars, yard accessories, you name it. I ended up taking this little piece home:

It is a 5x7 embroidered cloth--I thought it would be an adorable addition to our bedroom. Really, we haven't hung very much art at all in our house yet--we still have pictures leaning against walls of where we might like them to go. Whoops. Maybe this will jumpstart the decorating of the walls.

After I bought this piece, I found several other cool frames at Hobby Lobby (1/2 off!) to create a montage with this embroidered one. Sometimes all you need is a little inspiration. Now for the decorating!

Be well!

slowly but surely

A quick update on the bag...

After my initial fiasco, all is well--I've finished the main sides and am now working on adding the bottom.

I discovered a helpful solution to containing the random bits of thread that get snipped here and there and usually end up on the carpet, or me: A 3 x 3" piece of felt. Worked like a charm!

See?

Onward and upward!

follow the garter stitch road

This past April, I posted about an orange scarf I began earlier in the year. I am excited to say that it is finally finished! I love the variation of colors, and how fine the stitch is (size 5 needles).

Despite being bummed at my sewing project yesterday, I was encouraged because I finished this scarf later on in the same day. Sometimes all you need is to switch projects and take a breather!

These are not great pictures, but they give you an idea of its length/what it will look like! I am excited to wear it this fall. All I gotta do now is weave in the ends. Voila!

D'oh!

What's wrong with this picture?

Yeah, that's right. I sewed the pocket inside OUT! You should've seen my face when I flipped the fabric right-side out, fresh from the sewing machine... and saw this. Argh.

It's so nicely stitched up, too... Well, now I have the honor of unstitching every.single.stitch, on both sides.

The stay-stitches should be really fun to un-do. (A stay-stitch when you sew back and forth at the beginning and end of the fabric so it "stays" securely, i.e., lots of extra thread!)

This purse might be awesome, or it might just be sad. So far, I'm on the sad track. :)