Sunday, March 31, 2013

Happy Easter

check out the facebook page -Mystic AquariumPhoto: Our African penguin chicks with their Easter Bunny!  Eggstravaganza kicks off at 10 a.m. today: http://bit.ly/10Z9uMM. Watch our live penguin webcam at http://bit.ly/RJgX10.

Saturday, March 30, 2013

Pies Pies Pies!!

        I made mini pies today, all day. I also made the Cadbury Creme Egg brownies. Tomorrow or Monday I will be baking the bunny butt cake.  I am going to be one fat penguin.


Friday, March 29, 2013

More Easter Baking

          Get ready to drool. Cadbury Creme Egg Brownies , no joke. I am deadly serious,  I am making these tomorrow.  Although they look like a million calories they also look super fudgy and awesome.

Cadbury Creme Eggs Brownies from Roxanashomebaking.com  Rich, fudgy, irresistible and totally addictive brownies with Cadburry Creme Eggs baked inside.

Thursday, March 28, 2013

Easter Baking

        I know I said I was going to focus on sewing techniques this week but with Easter just a few days away I have been looking into what I will be baking for this weekend. I found several great ones on the Betty Crocker website. Bunny butt cake.

BunnyButtCake

Wednesday, March 27, 2013

Sewing Tips

        Over the years I have done several projects for people that have involved a "you keep the leftovers and pattern" kind of arrangement. So I have amassed quite a few patterns. Now I will be honest when I was younger I was not particularly careful when putting patterns back so they were often messy. Plus at the time it always seemed like I was using the smallest size so I cut slits into the pattern pieces to fold them back. This created such a mess when trying to reuse a pattern. I knew there had to be a better way. Tracking paper. I found laying out my pattern and then using tracking paper to make pattern pieces in each size was the perfect solution. I then would put each size into a large plastic baggie. The original pattern would fold up and slip right back into their envelope. 

Tuesday, March 26, 2013

The coolest sewing item

        I recently inherited some sewing accessories. A few hem gauges(?), some pinking shears and snip shears. But the coolest thing I received was a darning maraca. They are for repairing socks, usually they are egg shaped but this one is actually the shape of a maraca with a night handle. Very useful. I have been looking for a darning egg forever, I never thought to look for a maraca. And this just fell into my lap. I have a million and one socks to fix and now I can.

Monday, March 25, 2013

Blind Hem.

        Craftsy has some great tips and tricks for many different topics. I recently caught a small tutorial on how to do a blind hem with a serger. Now it is a very tempting prospect, sewing and finishing all in one shot. But the problem is I hate the look. Honestly they seem so chunky and now all that invisible as I would like. What do you guys think? Yay or Nay?

Sunday, March 24, 2013

Too much travel

        We are back but exhausted so very little post tonight. But I am going to be taking about sewing techniques this week starting with blind hems.

Friday, March 22, 2013

Blog black out,

        I will be out of town for a few days and will not be blogging. I am sorry. be back soon! Awesome picture to tied you over.

https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRMctxV1qWhj6ol94m4pBoQ-RgJySCPy33Mbx1XDAn4Q_1xKW4N

Thursday, March 21, 2013

Classes Galore

        Thinking about glass sculpting yesterday got me inspired. I have taken glasses for bead making but that is it. So it got me thinking, maybe I should take more classes. After searching the internet I have found several but all are focused on paperweights and ornaments. I think this could be a good start but I want to be able to do more that paperweights.I want to actually sculpt. Like this...

Wednesday, March 20, 2013

Exploring new mediums

        If you haven't guessed, I'm moving. It is a few months off still, mid-summer but I am already thinking about what the new space is going to allow me to do. A few years ago I started working with glass. I learned how to sculpt it a bit and how to make beads. The only thing about glass work is you need space and ventilation. One other great thing about the new house, besides the loft, is that it has a garage. Space and ventilation galore. Maybe one day I will be make to make something like this. 

Tuesday, March 19, 2013

Lights!

        I know spring is just around the corner but I can't stop thinking about Christmas in my new work space. I found this great pattern for Christmas light and think it would be really great in a garland.  I am a still looking for a knitted pattern as the one I found is for crochet.I plan on using a very deep red and other jewel tones to make my garland.

crochet_christmas.jpg

Monday, March 18, 2013

Charting

        What is it called? Then you look at an image and turn it into a chart for fair isle knitting? Charting? Graphing? All I know about it is that I am pretty good at it but I hate doing it because it is do damn time consuming. I am currently working in this cute penguin one so I can make a sweater. Wouldn't that be cute?

, Rain Heather, hi-res


Sunday, March 17, 2013

Problem solved!

        Okay, I do have a problem I admit it, so I have decided to take baby steps to an addiction free life.  Now again thinking ahead to Christmas, I still want that sleigh and reindeer, Santa and Elf village. Baby steps means miniature! Think about it. The whole kit and kaboodle to fit on a 12 X 12 square. (picture from MochiMochiland.com )

santas_thebon1

Saturday, March 16, 2013

Baby Squirrel

        I finally found the eyes so I could finish the baby squirrel.  He is pretty much adorable.

 
And here he is in disguise. 
 


Friday, March 15, 2013

I might have a problem... you tell me.

        It started off innocently enough. I was just talking about Christmas and how I had find this particular yarn that was perfect for making reindeer. You see I already have a Rudolph, aka Jingle the reindeer and I was hoping to make 8 more, with black noses of course, so I could make a sleigh. "And then a Santa with sack, full of present and a whole elf village, while you at it." Finished my roommate and that is when I realized I might have a theme problem. I go off on bursts she says, bursts of mitts, bursts of scarves, bursts of hats and repeated bursts of stuffies, all over my house and the houses of others who I know and have gifted. I might have a problem, a very serious craft problem but it's a cute one. So is it really that bad?

March 14th

        Interruption due to internet. We changed our internet service provider on the 13th but the new provider only installed at 8:50pm last night.  It took several hours later to install the router and get our network up so no post. Sorry. Here is a picture of a cute penguin. Just because.

Wednesday, March 13, 2013

Still sick

        I am still sick. Actually I was actually feeling better today until I stepped off the bus and slipped on some ice. I bruised the ligaments in my knee. I can hardly walk to be honest. So I am taking it easy.I feel like the bear in this picture. I just want to curl up an sleep for a few days.


 

Tuesday, March 12, 2013

Sickie Bear

          I am sick and have exhausted my post reserves. I have been off work for almost a weeks. So instead of a long post on crafts here is a picture of this sick little bear. Hope you all have a great night and let's hope I will be able to post something better tomorrow.

Monday, March 11, 2013

Spooky hat

 
        I found this pattern online. I am currently working on this in black but in a bigger gauge. I really like the skull pattern, it is done in duplicate stitch, which I have never done before but I have found a very helpful video on. I found it on the verypink.com channel on you tube. (p.s this is not a picture of me)