let there be light

So many fun projects this week! First off, I found the most amazing blog: One Pretty Thing. There's a daily roundup of delicious projects and I'll never be at a loss of things to work on. One link pointed me towards making my own light box. My pictures have been terrible, so I played around a little with foam core and lights and my camera settings and made this awesome thing. Thanks to Ben for knowing everything there is to know about this good stuff/giving me the lights and a darling tiny tripod.

Steffi says that when people come to the house and ask about it I should tell them it's the incubator for our chickens.

On Monday: delicious tortellini soup from thimble.

On Tuesday: a new cellphone case! I made this pattern up.

(Doesn't the light box make my stuff look so profesh!?!)

On Wednesday: Miles and Sam were here for the LOST premiere, and Miles taught me a little origami.

On Saturday: Adrienne came over for Crafternoon. Every other week she brings over her machine and we work on projects and chat all afternoon. It's great to have a buddy so we can help each other figure out what directions mean/techniques and whatnot. She was working on an amazing corset made out of ties.

I made this fabric flower from sew itzy titzy. But I can't decide if it looks better on Adrienne's sweater, or...

...my roommate Elliott. Isn't he adorable?

(He paid me to say that.)

And as for Sunday: the light box was the big project. Also working on a ruffly cardigan made out of an old t-shirt, but it's not quite done yet and I'm running out of steam. It'll be up next week for sure.

Until then, happy crafting!

Yay! I'm getting used to this!

I'm getting used to posting every Sunday now...I spend all week thinking about what projects I'll be working on!

This week I finally got to give moni her apron! So cute! Hopefully it will inspire her to bring me a special delivery of those pumpkin-chai cakies I love so much.

I made a passport cover for my favorite travel buddy. I love this fabric! It's so vintagey-delicious. The Chrysler Building, the Eiffel Tower, and the Leaning Tower of Pisa - perfect for traveling. The very simple and adorable tutorial is at bunny bum.

I finally got my crafting area all organized!

...And as soon as I cleaned everything up, I was ready to make a mess again! Arielle gave me this awesome pattern for a bomber hat. It's supposed to be made with felted sweaters, but I didn't have any sweaters to felt, and it has been way to cold to walk to the salvation army. Instead, I used an old sweatshirt and pair of flannel pants for the lining.

I'm pretty much never going to take this hat off.

That's it for now...off to bed to get ready for the busiest day of the year at the Museum!

Until next week, happy crafting!

Back in the crafty swing of things...

I'm back in the crafty swing of things and finally had the inspiration to start working again. I made this lunch bag from the oil cloth and "Carole Answer's Make-Your-Own Lunch Bag" kit that Jennifer gave me for my birthday.

It velcro's shut. Cuuuuuute.

Next, I realized my long-standing dream of bringing back the fanny pack, only awesome-r. Here is what Adrienne calls "The Hipster". It has belt loops, so it hooks right on to my belt. I never have to carry a purse again!

Pockets that are perfect for your id, credit card, a few bucks, cell phone, ipod, etc. None of that big purse full of dumb crap...I have everything I need right here on my hip!

Begin!

A recap of holiday gifts. This year I decided to hand-make all of my gifts - it was a lot of work, but very rewarding, and I learned a lot.

First, lots of luggage tags for each of my americorps members and the ed staff team. I found the tutorial at Bernina Sewing.

My first zipper! A button bag for Annie. Isn't it just darling? It's the Love Bug clutch from craft leftovers.

Cute checkbook covers! Directions atCrazy Mom Quilts.

Matching Christmas aprons for mom & me. Cuuuuute. I made

this pattern up on my own. But wait! There's more! They're reversible.

My favorite - an apron for mon. My first shot at applique, and by now I have the ruffles down. Now she can make her cakies in totally personalized s-t-y-l-e! Also my own pattern.

And now that I'm settled in back in pvd, I tried out a recipe from my new Eating Well Magazine. It's from vermont, so you know it's good. Turkey & squash soup. Yum!

Happy crafting!