designwaitress

Lots of Dots!

2012-01-15T18:33:00.000-08:00

Liam's first birthday was a great reason for me to put my creative hat back on and get to work. I figured I'd better take advantage of these first couple years when he doesn't have an opinion on what kind of party he wants. So, a polka dot party it was!

The backdrop were paper dots sewn together to make a garland. Super-duper easy and a little addicting. I was sort of planning all of the places I could hang dot garland all over the house (which I decided could be in every room).

No party is complete without Martha's poufs. I added pictures of Liam framed by colored dots. The containers are all food containers and glass vases with floral foam to hold dowels in place.

I designed labels for the water bottles and beer bottles. "Mommy & Daddy bottles" and "{not for} Liam" :)

These Nutella cupcakes are thanks to Your Cup of Cake.

The orange polka dot picks were made from ribbon attached to a toothpick. The cupcake stand is a cardboard cake circle covered with paper and trimmed with ribbon. I placed it on a couple of ramekins for an instant cake stand.

Vanilla cupcakes with cream cheese frosting. These cupcakes were a recipe from Martha and were so-so, so I won't link to it. I designed the graphics and attached them to toothpicks. I also placed the cupcakes in another liner because my cupcake liners always look yucky after baking. Not sure if there's a tip out there to make them look as good as they do before baking?

My fabulous family frosted the cookie stacks. The recipe for this fluffy sugar cookie can be found here. They are truly delicious!!

All of the food was round. Fruit kabobs, pesto pinwheels, caprese salad and pizza (not pictured).

I cut paper circles (with a circle cutter!) and had people write either a memory of Liam or a wish for him for his second year. The plan is to put them in a book for him along with photos from his birthday.

I also made a polka dot birthday hat for him which he wore just long enough to snap a few pictures. Was it worth it? Heck, yes!

It was a very good party!

Best Creation Ever

2011-01-20T09:09:00.000-08:00

I've made a lot of things in my life, but none of them can compare to this little guy!

The first minutes of life: Note how mommy isn't wearing a hospital gown — there was no time!!

Wouldn't It Be Awesome If . . .

2010-04-28T06:30:00.000-07:00

I'm featured on my friend Aubre's blog today!
Every Wednesday she features a "Wouldn't It Be Awesome If" post. Take a look at mine.

Aubre's blog is full of great tips for technology, fashion, DIY and pop culture. I like reading her blog because she sifts through a lot of the gunk on the web and gives me good info that I can actually use. Read her blog and bookmark it. You won't be disappointed!

Painting on Fabric

2010-04-24T07:46:00.000-07:00

I tried my hand at fabric painting this week.
I quickly learned what worked for me and what didn't.
My first projects were a perfect fit for Regretsy. (not shown!)

Stencils seemed to work best for me. Most of the stencils were purchased but they can also be cut. This requires much patience.

April Showers

2010-04-11T14:18:00.000-07:00

My awesome sister is pregnant! I threw her her first shower this weekend. I went with the theme of "April Showers." We had the shower at a cute little cafe in a town not far from here.

A Peek Inside . . .

2010-04-09T06:14:00.000-07:00

Some snapshots of my cube at work.

Bid on Me

2010-03-24T06:50:00.000-07:00

Every year we have a silent auction at work to raise money for the United Way. Every year I donate a couple monkeys. Every year I'm doing this the night before it's due. Every. Year.

Only this year they changed the date AFTER I submitted them. So now I'm, like, ahead of schedule. Here's a sneak peek:

So long, Kristi

2010-03-24T06:41:00.000-07:00

One of my former supervisors left the company. She saw potential in me and gave me an opportunity that I'll treasure for my whole life. Thanks, KT!

And for you, a monkey! (Which I told her was a "forever hug".)

The Sweater Project

2010-03-04T05:43:00.000-08:00

A while back a co-worker asked if I'd make one of her daughter's sweaters (which she'd outgrown) into a cute creature. My friend Katie saw the post on my blog and asked if I'd do the same for her son, Logan. I'm always nervous making the first cut but if it's one thing I've learned it's that creativity can explode with greatness from mishaps.

This sweater is from Chez Ami and I just have to put in a plug for their quality. As I was deconstructing the sweater I noticed how well-made it is.

I wanted the "L" to be special so I turned it into a cape!

Judging by the look on Logan's face, he loves it.

{P.S. How sweet is Logan?}

2010-03-03T20:02:00.000-08:00

Dan

2010-02-15T17:10:00.000-08:00

This is Dan's studio.

I love going in here when he's not around.
I love being surrounded by the things he's created. It's like his presence is there.
I love seeing him when he is in there.
I love that he is so happy when he is doing what he loves the most.
I love, I love!

{p.s. How talented is he?!}

To My Valentine

2010-02-14T11:05:00.000-08:00

Thank you for being the perfect balance in my life.
I love you.

{Tulips from Dan}

{The worlds of Jessica and Dan collide on a table top: gardening & graphic novels}

Cupcake Delivery

2010-02-14T11:02:00.000-08:00

I left a valentine surprise at Shannon and Dave's house.
(Inside the box: apple cupcake with cream cheese frosting AND chocolate cupcake with chocolate peanut butter frosting)
I was trusting that Shannon would get home before a squirrel paid a visit.

For the boys

2010-02-14T10:46:00.000-08:00

Shannon and I got together to make valentines for Dave and Dan. Later that afternoon I was talking to my dad on the phone and when I told him what Shan and I did that morning his response was something like, "Felt fortune cookies? So what are they supposed to do with those?"
I think there needs to be more holidays concocted to give a reason for women to give gifts to women. About 7 years ago my friends and I celebrated "Pal-entine's Day." Maybe I should send that idea to Hallmark.
Back to my dad's remark. I'm sure Dan will have the same question. So, Dan, when you read this you have my permission to do whatever you'd like with them. Perhaps pay it forward by giving them to someone you feel lucky to have in your life? Hmm?

for grandma

2010-02-13T18:55:00.000-08:00

One of my favorite things to do is to send packages to my grandma. For Valentine's Day I made her a book made out of brown lunch sacks. The book was "10 Things I Love About You."

2010-02-11T06:27:00.001-08:00

Super Sweet Valentines

2010-02-10T06:13:00.000-08:00

Need an easy Valentine idea?

This is my old standby. It works for every occasion—especially the one on February 14th (Sunday, everyone!).

You will need the supplies listed in the photo to replicate the ones I made. However, rounded corners and “phat” staples aren’t necessary (straight corners and a regular stapler will work just fine). These are the stickers I used.

Craft supply stores will have everything you need — even the candy!

2010-02-01T04:41:00.001-08:00

The Notebook

2010-01-30T09:19:00.000-08:00

I'm going to start sharing my notebook.
It's basically my way of meditating.

Happy Happy!

2010-01-24T09:02:00.000-08:00

My mom wanted to buy some of this tape for me for Christmas. She was overwhelmed with the choices so she gave me money to buy some for myself instead.
She's right - it was overwhelming. I think I made a good choice.

THANK YOU, MOM!!

I'm going to tape the heck out of a craft :)

Plush, je t'aime

2010-01-11T16:36:00.000-08:00

I was looking through the French magazine "Marie Claire Idees" and spotted a super-cute plush "thing." Instantly I was inspired to create my own version. I drew up a quick pattern on paper and within a couple hours I had this sweet creature.

YES!

2010-01-09T14:03:00.000-08:00

I totally scored today. My friend Amy wanted to meet me at Trader Joe's this morning to give me something. How happy was I when it was a box of pretty pastel butterfly sugar cookies?

Thank you, Amy. I've already eaten 4 of them. Delish!

Fun on FB

2010-01-02T14:22:00.000-08:00

I love making my aunt April's mint chocolate cookies. The recipe makes about 5 dozen cookies which is way too many to be sitting in my kitchen! So I decided to have a contest on Facebook.

The first two people to post a comment would win some cookies as well as the recipe. Gina in Minneapolis and Christine out in sunny Cali were the recipients of this yummy giveaway.

It was so popular that I'll have to try it again soon. Maybe a sock monkey next time?

A Monkey for Mary

2010-01-02T13:48:00.000-08:00

Dan's mom is known in the family as "Busia" (pronounced "boo-sha") which is Grandma in Polish (her heritage). For Christmas this year Dan decided that Busia needed a monkey.

She got Mabel.

And she liked it:

Merry Christmas!

2009-12-18T09:05:00.000-08:00

Luckily I got a lot of decorating done pre-vertigo. The snowstorm we had definitely helped put us in the mood to deck the halls!

My aunt Marcy and uncle Tom gave us this beautiful pan dau handmade by Hmong women in their community.

Dan and I have a new favorite store. We found our stockings there.
AND he surprised me with these. Aren't they cool? We snipped some boxwood to place in them.

Since we're both Nordskogs now I thought it's be fun to have a Norwegian tree!

My aunt Andrea and uncle John gave us this gorgeous German pyramid for our wedding.

The great snowfall of December '09:

Thanks to Val!

2009-12-18T09:01:00.000-08:00

As a gift for our wedding, Red-Haired Shannon's mom made us a quilt. She was very patient working with me as I decided that I wanted a design that didn't have a pattern to follow. She listened to me and figured out how to do it and IT'S PERFECT!

I love our new bedroom.

Vertigo Crafting

2009-12-18T08:56:00.000-08:00

I've been couch-bound with vertigo for 5 days now.
Luckily I've been able to do a couple of craft projects that don't give me the spins!

Martha Stewart had a needle felted penguin that was too cute to pass up. Thanks, Martha, for inspiring me to make this. It gave me ideas for other creatures to create.

Sentimental Sweater

2009-12-18T08:52:00.000-08:00

A co-worker asked if I'd be willing to create a creature out of her daughter's sweater. She loved the sweater but the daughter had grown out of it. This was a fun challenge! I admit I was a bit nervous making the first cut into the sweater but I'm thoroughly pleased with how she turned out.

Monkey-a-Rama

2009-12-18T08:40:00.000-08:00

As always I have a monkey in every state of creation.

Here are a few of the ones I've been working on.

A visual representation of my greatest skill—starting projects without finishing them:

Jinger, Julie and I had a monkey making night! I think Jinger was inhaling the polyfill . . . Jinger?

Every year my place of work has a silent auction for the United Way. This time I donated "Stripey Striperson" and "Dottie McHottie." A co-worker won them both and gave them to his 2 kids. Fun!

My aunt commissioned me to make monkey finger puppets to go along with the story "Five Little Monkeys." Dan is modeling the first batch of monkeys. The second photo is of the doctor monkey who is crucial to the plot line of the book. :)

Oh, Baby!

2009-12-18T08:14:00.000-08:00

In October I hosted a baby shower for my good friend Shannon whose baby boy was born just a few weeks ago!
Here are some photos from Levi's baby shower. I went with a theme of elephants because Levi's room has this adorable bedding!

Clockwise from upper left:

• Wrapped candy bars for guests to take home. • The invitation • All of the decor in my dining room waiting to be hauled to the party spot • Guests took home my favorite chocolate mint cookies along with the recipe • My first attempt at a souffle (and it was successful!) • Silverware wrapped with paper labels • Details of garland, confetti and all of the fun things that made this a great celebration!

I Love You, Sam!

2009-09-18T18:02:00.000-07:00

My little buddy Sam had surgery a week ago. I made him a couple of creatures to divert his attention from his pain if only for only a few minutes. Sam, I love you and I'm wishing on every star you feel better soon!

No Satisfaction: A tragic lunch story

2009-08-26T11:27:00.000-07:00

In an effort to eat a filling yet non-super-fatty lunch today, I spent 25 minutes trolling the aisles of the grocery store. Here’s how it all went down.

The deli aisle proved to have too much mayo.

The only thing at the salad bar that didn’t give me a gagging feeling in the back of my throat was the 7-layer salad which is basically 7-layer dip.

I moved on to the cracker and chip aisle sensing that nothing there was going to give me satisfaction.

I walked briskly to the frozen aisle section filled with a sense of relief knowing that my lunch was hiding somewhere behind the frosty doors. It wasn’t. I found a bunch of options that I decided were all simply frozen chemicals shaped into what looks like food.

Then I had an a-ha moment as I turned to the refrigerated food behind me: Yogurt! But if I have yogurt I want the berries and the granola, too. Too much work.

By this time I’m thisclose to tears because my stomach is eating my spleen. My thoughts were now more in the eat-whatever-you-want-just-do-it-fast camp.

Cheese, yes, cheese. That’s what I want. But not a whole brick. Back to the deli. 2 pieces of co-jack cheese. Check.
Thirsty. Juice. Bottled smoothie – perfect. Check.

I decide popcorn will round out this misfit lunch.

The bagged popcorn is filled with oodles of fat – who knew-but I was now committed to a crunchy food so I obsessively read the labels of the things that I think will be the least artery-clogging. The Pirate’s Booty caught my eye. The low levels of blood sugar had me convinced this was the healthiest option.
Crunchy food: check.

So I sit here back at my desk having just ingested my “lunch” and wished that my blood sugar had spoken to me sooner because I would have gotten that Happy Meal that I really wanted.

Quilt & Color

2009-08-18T07:39:00.000-07:00

In anticipation of our new bedroom quilt arriving soon (red-haired Shannon's mom made one for us as a wedding gift - THANK YOU!), I'm posting the palette for our "new" room. Until I see the quilt I won't be able to settle on a paint color. Right now I'm going between grey or yellow.

Armchair Travel

2009-08-17T07:32:00.000-07:00

If I could get a passport stamp for every country I visit via the internet I'd win some sort of prize for sure.
Today I stumbled upon this gem—thousands of Photocrom travel prints from the 1890's and early 1900's.
I especially like the ones from Norway. My mom and I were there in 2003 and our pictures don't look much different than these taken so long before.

Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Fabulousness

2009-06-05T09:12:00.000-07:00

If it’s one thing I love more than being in a foreign land, it’s scouring the streets to find charming shops. Lucky for me London has Liberty which is a department store of YUM.

One floor in particular had me at hello.

It’s like a Craft Apothecary with ribbon capsules and fabric-covered button pills.

I had to limit my purchases because I didn’t have any projects in mind and the price of the fabric was enough to make me be very selective. I curse you, exchange rate!

Goods to declare:

Next time I’m back at Liberty I’m bringing a little stool and a cup of coffee. Because I’m going to be there all day.

Married with jet lag

2009-05-24T08:52:00.000-07:00

I'm waiting to post wedding pics. But for now you can see the happy couple on the best honeymoon ever in jolly ol' England.

Dress Decision

2009-04-29T11:49:00.001-07:00

Here’s a sneak peek at the adorable dress the girls will be wearing! Miss Morgan is pictured below. Could she be any cuter? And I have a feeling this is the last time she’ll be smiling in this dress :)

Addy needed a “big girl” dress so she’ll be wearing this adorable frock!
She will be a ring bearer (or princess in her case):

"So cute I could eat it!"

2009-02-26T18:06:00.000-08:00

Just tonight at dinner Dan was commenting about a time when I said a baby was "so cute I could eat it!" Now, I know I have heard other people (probably women) say that before but he thinks it sounds like cannibalism. I see his point.
So when I got home and had an email from Gina sending me to Nieman Marcus to look at a cute dress she found I had to chuckle because her message said this:
"Are you kidding me?! Look at this luscious-ness! can you make this loveliness....if I could eat it I would."
Exactly.

The dress on the left is the edible one. And the one on the right is irresistible, too (and sort of reminds me of a frosted cake!)

Side note: I'm loving ombre right now. This dress is so adorable! (Also found on Nieman Marcus in the "things I'll never be able to afford" section)

He loves me!

2009-02-15T09:18:00.000-08:00

Thank you, Dan.
You knew what I wanted and you signed your name.
It's perfect!

Feelin' the Love

2009-02-15T09:08:00.000-08:00

I love Valentine's Day. I think it's the colors and the chocolate. And it's the kickoff to the week before my birthday - what could be better than that, right?
This year I needle felted hearts. I strung a monofilament cord through each heart so they could be hung.

I also received Valentine's gifts this year. My friend Gina sent Dan and me a crafted paper heart pouch filled with chocolates - adorable! My sister sent me a heartfelt card (thank you!). And my awesome cousin Ann whom I visited this weekend gave me an uber-cool Vera Bradley drawstring bag which is lined so it's uses are limitless. Plus the print is so great. I love it! Oh, and I guess this was an engagement gift but it happened to be handed to me around Valentine's Day so I'll count it as dual purpose ;)

Can't decide for the life of me . . .

2009-02-09T19:16:00.000-08:00

I think I've had more fun thinking about what the flower girls are going to wear than what I am going to wear! But the internet has caused me to go into an eternal cute spiral. The more dresses I find the more they lead me to more dresses which leads me to . . . UGH!

So here is a collection of dresses that I like.

And I'm still debating making them (with friend/coworker help). This dress isn't done yet but it is looking very cute. Practice material - those colors would never be Dan-approved (too many!).

The Sweets

2009-01-25T09:12:00.001-08:00

One wedding detail in which I haven't been indecisive is the dessert. Instead of a cake I envisioned a table full of a variety of cookies and bars made from family recipes. So, to prepare for the big day I have slowly been collecting a mix of white trays and cake stands. I've also begun "testing" recipes to make sure the cookies/bars will look good and will hold up in the freezer for up to a month and still taste divine when they're thawed. So far, so GOOD!

The first batch was my Aunt April's mint chocolate cookies.
I think I like them on the cake stand.

Can't you just picture all of these plates full of sweets? AH! I can't wait.

Countdown to Wedding

2009-01-23T07:27:00.000-08:00

Alas, I’m back to updating the blog!
I was recently sidetracked with a couple of awesome side projects which I will reveal in the future. Those deadlines have been met and now I’m forging ahead with wedding planning-palooza.

The big decisions are made: Who/What/Where/When
The little ones have not been made: How

Being a crafter, I have visions of DIYing the heck out of this party. It’s January so time is on my side. But things often sneak up on me that I’m not planning on so I’ll take it one project at a time.

Stay tuned. Many updates to come.
(Cake topper by cornflakegirl on Etsy )

2008: A Frantic Finish

2009-01-06T16:17:00.000-08:00

The holidays were without a doubt a very busy yet very fun few weeks. I am going to post some pictures of the holiday hubbub along with some pictures of projects I completed along the way.

Monkey Mania:

Shannon's fiancee Dave received a monkey and the little guy couldn't stop staring at Shan:

Isaac is another recipient of a monkey - I can tell this monkey will be loved:

Scarflettes for my Grandma (pink) and my future mother-in-law (blue):

A photo mosaic of my dad's cars:

A couple of birds to put on Etsy:

All the while making time for decorating the tree, participating in wedding shower silliness, and snowshoeing through the beautiful northwoods:

Now for a very productive 2009! More crafting, visiting family, and oh yes, a wedding!

Monkeys Part Deux

2008-11-24T05:16:00.003-08:00

Blue Without You

2008-11-17T18:29:00.001-08:00

After working at a girls' lifestyle magazine for many years I find myself using puns, typing acronyms like they're going out of style (LOL!) and saying "cute" ALL the time. So when our company recently had layoffs there was no pun or "cute" about the whole situation. Was there an acronym? Of course: WTF?
However, almost 2 weeks have passed and as we're gathering items for gift baskets for the friends we're missing I created a dose of "girl" to hopefully put a smile on their faces. I'm going to write little "We're blue without you" notes on them. And, yes, I totally understand that no amount of M&M's will ever heal the hurt of being laid off. But, if I should be laid off someday, please keep the M&M's coming good and strong. I'm convinced it would help me somehow.

Monkey Line-up

2008-11-10T19:25:00.001-08:00

A new batch of monkeys!

Fall Dinner

2008-10-26T14:18:00.000-07:00

My relatives were in town last weekend. Lindsay, my future cousin-in-law, is an awesome cook. So, while she cooked dinner for 7 I threw together a centerpiece for the table which was inspired by the gorgeous leaves we picked while hiking at Devil's Lake.
The rocks are from the Porcupine Mountains. The candles are from the beautiful . . . IKEA.

Breath of Fresh Air

2008-08-24T17:09:00.000-07:00

Dan and I spent a perfect day at one of our gorgeous state parks.

Project Progress

2008-08-24T16:58:00.000-07:00

Just a few pictures showing the projects I've been working on the past week!

Birds for red-haired Shannon:

Monkeys for fun (the guy on the right needs some ears - oops!):

I gathered a bunch of rocks and bark at the Porcupine Mountains. I was inspired to make this little guy. I'm thinking a whole series of these "Creatures of Nature" would be fun! What do you think?

Three

2008-08-23T08:46:00.000-07:00

That's how many years I've been lucky enough to call this cute boy all my own.
Happy Anniversary!

Vacation High Part Deux

2008-08-19T19:06:00.000-07:00

As a result of being inspired on vacation I was productive this evening!
Take a look at the creative cyclone that swept through my studio:

Vacation High

2008-08-19T18:06:00.000-07:00

I'm back from a week up north.
I was inspired by many things during my vacation.

• My grandma's garden.

• My mom's friend Cathy's fabulous home in the country.

• My mom. (Even though she'll deny it, her words of wisdom could fill the lake behind her!)

• My dad. Who wouldn't be inspired by a man who puts up his own garage BY HIMSELF in a matter of 2 months. (Um, that's while he's working full time.)

•My aunt Kathy (not pictured). The way she approaches life and all of the obstacles life puts in her path gives me something to reflect upon when I am feeling doubt, sadness or anger. Her actions - and her beautiful smile - are greater than words.

• And most of all by nature.

Heading Home

2008-08-12T04:46:00.001-07:00

I'm leaving today for my most favorite place in the whole world.

Sneak Peek

2008-08-10T11:30:00.001-07:00

Just a sneak-peek photo of a project I'm working on.
Stay tuned to my blog for the outcome!

I Love the Farmer's Market

2008-08-09T11:14:00.000-07:00

The farmer's market is definitely one of my favorite activities in the summer. This year I've been able to go almost every weekend that it's been open. This morning I remembered to bring my camera. Here's what I love about the farmer's market.
I love seeing what's in season.
I love the people-watching.
I love the musicians sprinkled around various spots on the sidewalk.
I love the colors.
I love the abundant choices of pastries.
I love the liberal vibe.
I love it all!

Baby Loves Monkey

2008-07-31T06:14:00.000-07:00

My good friend Gina had a baby about a month ago. Little Will needed a monkey friend to hang out with. It looks like Will wasn't quite ready to play yet.

I love birds

2008-07-30T07:08:00.000-07:00

Corkboard, Corkboard on the Wall . . .

2008-07-28T06:24:00.000-07:00

I found this great mirror at St. Vinny's and thought the frame would be perfect for the corkboard I've been wanting to put up in my studio. I swapped the mirror for cork, added some paint and voila!

My Holm Girl

2008-07-24T07:58:00.000-07:00

I love Scandinavian design. Maybe it was my first trip to IKEA, or maybe it was learning in design classes that "less is more." However, my love for stuff doesn't always go hand in hand with the simplicity of Scandinavian design.

When my mom and I went to Scandinavia a few years ago it was like being a kid in a candy store. I've never wanted so many unnecessary but oh-so-awesome things in my life. The only thing that stopped me from buying everything in sight was the fact that I was thousands of miles away from home. Note: next time take a boat!

It was only recently that I became aware of Norwegian designer Catherine Holm's dishware. Her line of mid-century pots, pans, bowls, etc. would be the perfect addition to my kitchen—if only there was room!

Rabbits

2008-07-21T05:45:00.000-07:00

The first time I saw a rabbit in our backyard I believe I exclaimed, "CUTE!"
However, times have changed. Those rabbits are not cute when they're eating my beautiful flowers.
I realized I had to do something when I found myself flying out the back door early Saturday morning in my nightgown in a bit of a rage over a little bunny eating a breakfast of freshly grown Columbine.
"NOOO! Get out, get OUT!!!"

Something had to be done.
So I built a fence.

And now a few photos of what I'm protecting.

Fabric Finds

2008-07-16T06:36:00.000-07:00

I enjoy perusing the clearance items at clothing stores for great fabric prints that might be useful in any number of projects. When I saw this shirt on clearance in the girls’ section of Old Navy, I knew I had to have it.

Now it is the perfect addition to my craft room window.

I love using clothes to turn into other things because I don’t have to sew as many seams! Call me lazy, or call me genius.

Design Projects

2008-07-15T08:02:00.001-07:00

I'm currently working on a variety of little side projects.
Two (or more) of them are for my long-time friend Erin who has recently moved. I blurred the address just in case the paparazzi are reading my blog.
The first is their moving cards:

We added the "woof" next to Sadie the dog's name since people would probably wonder when she had her 4th kid.
I also should give proper credit to my partner in all things, Dan, who helped me on this design.

The next project is the return address labels for their moving card envelopes. The envelope is a blue/turq color. Which one do you like? I'd be happy to design some for you, too! I can do custom orders.

Here are some that I've designed in the past:

This is the best day EVER!

2008-07-04T17:06:00.000-07:00

Happy 4th of July!

2008-07-04T10:44:00.000-07:00

Craft Challenge #4

2008-07-02T08:03:00.000-07:00

Shelley challenged us with the theme of "dolls."

This was especially fun for me. I adore dolls. I played with Barbies until I was 12 (or was it 13?). In my defense it was more acceptable to play with dolls back in the '80s, however I'm sure I would have been a closet doll-player in this day and age, too. In fact, I just might be!

Hello, dollies!

Shelley created a doll using felted sweaters. The hair is especially clever - embellishments used at Anthropologie for their Christmas bags. Way to recycle, Shelley.

Carrie knitted an super-cute cat. She needle felted the eyes, nose and heart. So adorable!

I used fabric scraps, felt, embroidery floss, and more to create this pint-sized gal.

And so ends our first installment of the Craft Challenges. We're taking a break for the summer so we can work on our own projects. Carrie: finding a house, Shelley: running her husband's law firm and her daughter's life, and myself: too many to list. I'll post my progress!

Craft Challenge Numero Tres

2008-07-02T07:12:00.000-07:00

I will just say up front that neither Shelley, Carrie, or myself won the mood board contest.
However, we all had a lot of fun with this one. It was great to feel like a part of the greater creative blogging community.

The idea behind this contest was to use one or more of Amy Butler's fabric swatches from her new line of prints entitled "Midwest Modern" and create a room based on the pattern, palette, and general "mood" of the swatches. I was bubbling with joy watching all of the great entries roll in. Here are our boards:

Carrie reflected on nature to create an outdoor space entitled "Life Alfresco."

I became engulfed in pink while creating the "Girly-Girl Oasis."

Shelley created her ideal outdoor sanctuary which is appropriately named "Summertime and the Livin' is Easy"

I think we all deserve a kudos. And to think that Amy Butler looked through (and, okay, rejected) our boards made me giddy!

Of the people that were finalists, here are my top 3 favorites:

And my super-all-time-favorite board from Zoe Tucker (I want to be this "children's book designer living in England." Sounds magical, doesn't it?)

Craft Challenge Part Deux

2008-07-02T06:48:00.000-07:00

The second Craft Challenge was brought to us by Carrie.

Carrie wanted us to think about our favorite children's book and create a collage based on that book.

I called my mom right away.

me: "Mom, what was my favorite book when I was little?"

mom: "Hmmmm, well Shannon really liked 'Jellybeans for Breakfast'"

me: "Yup, I remember that. Did I have a favorite book?"

mom: "Well . . . I don't think you ever gravitated towards one book. You actually really liked to listen to music - that was more your thing."

I did remember listening to Barry Manilow alot, but how would that even begin to translate into a collage? Maybe another Craft Challenge idea!

me: "The only book I really remember is 'Never Tease a Weasel.'"

mom: "Oh, yes! You and Shannon both really liked that book."

Alright then. We have a winner.

Carrie had an endearing story of her brother using books as a way to calm her nerves in times of stress (no need to worry, folks . . . the stress was of a "natural" kind, so-to-speak). The books she'd often ask him to read were the ones from the Berenstain Bears series.

Shelley had a couple of favorite books. One was "Frog and Toad are Friends" in which Frog loses a button. She used that concept to create a frame:

Shelley, who had a last-minute over-achiever moment, made a second frame. This one came from her fascination and love of fantastical princess books. I imagine these books also inspired what later turned into her choice of studies: costume design!

Next theme: We're entering a Mood Board contest on Decor8

Who are the people in your neighborhood?

2008-07-02T06:14:00.000-07:00

My friends Shelley and Carrie and I decided to start a "Craft Challenge" club about a month ago. We've had 4 challenges so far. The first challenge was using any medium we wanted to create something that went with the theme of "neighborhood."

Carrie used Shrinky Dinks to create delightful doodles which she turned into a bracelet. She even gave one to Shelley and me.

Shelley used oil pastels to paint "Birds in the Neighborhood." How sweet are these tweets?

I took on a bit more than I could chew using wood blocks as a base for my "neighborhood" concept. I had to use some heavy machinery which was introduced to me in 7th grade art class of all things. That nugget of knowledge along with a helpful coworker gave me the confidence to throw on the work goggles and turn the spinning blade of the band saw to "on." After the wood pieces were ready to go it was smooth sailing - all paper trimmings which is more my speed. The "neighborhood block" that I designed is meant to be a sort-of toy (minus all of the safety hazards it displays). The roof can be moved so you can create different looks of houses. I had a million ideas of ways to expand this concept. I'll post them when I finally get around to going back to this project.

So ended the first Craft Challenge. I think it was a success. The next theme: Your Favorite Children's Book using collage as the medium.

Father Figure

2008-06-22T06:41:00.001-07:00

As an adult I realize more and more how much of a creative influence my dad has had in my life. He is a true DIYer and is a natural at it. He has an affinity for old cars and loves nothing more than to hang out in his garage and tinker around with them. His garage is a DIY oasis which I will dedicate an entry to soon.

A prime example of his craftiness is on his VW bug. I caught a glimpse of something on the passenger-side door and saw this:

I just love the fact that he even had the idea to do this.

So, for his birthday I decided to combine something I love with something he loves. An old car paper collage was born:

Will Make Monkeys for Money

2008-06-18T06:53:00.000-07:00

A co-worker saw the monkeys I made for the silent art auction at work and asked if I would make one for her daughter. I said yes and then had to tell her what I charged.
Um, so far nothing.
Putting a dollar amount on crafty creations can be very tricky. I tend to low ball (read: free) because I am usually making them for a friend or relative. This sock monkey commission was a challenge because I didn't know this co-worker that well. I finally came up with a price and she said, "Are you sure?" Well, at that point I couldn't make the price higher. So, she ordered two! To prove that the monkeys were worth more than I charged, she tucked the money in a Starbucks gift card which was equal to the amount of one monkey. Now I know I can charge more—or just ask for gift cards in exchange!

So, as a result these 2 little creatures were created—too cute for words. Although her adorable daughters are giving these monkeys a run for their money!

Jessica and Dan do HGTV

2008-06-17T06:41:00.000-07:00

So a lot has happened in the past couple of months. The biggest thing worth mentioning is that I moved from my beloved little apartment into my beloved boyfriend's house. I loved that apartment, but I love my boyfriend more.

Since the end of April we've done a lot of work on the house: new drywall, removed carpeting, refinished hardwood floors (a glorious surprise under the carpeting!), painted, and more. I'm pretty sure we've got a great idea in a new series for HGTV entitled: DIY Therapy - Strengthening Relationships One Household Project at a Time. So far we could be the hosts (we have worked pretty well together) although I had a moment of utter frustration this weekend when I couldn't take it anymore (too much stuff - not enough space!) and crawled right into bed to ignore it all. I believe that moment had the makings for a great first episode.

Below is a sneak-peek photo of one of the many projects we tackled.
Needless to say there has been little time for crafting. I will post a couple of things I was able to sneak in between house projects.

Happy Birthday, Shan!

2008-04-17T19:37:00.000-07:00

You're never too old to get a sock monkey for your birthday!

Another pretty face:

Ready to give Shannon a cupcake:

Looking forward to meeting Shannon!

Here we go!

Hoppy Easter!

2008-03-22T18:41:00.000-07:00

Sock monkeys didn't seem right for Easter so I made sock bunnies. My friend Barbara actually asked me to make some for her. I played around with it and liked the outcome! Hippity Hoppity Easter's on its way (anyone remember that song?).

Bunnies for Barbara . . .
Pre-faces:

All finished:

Easter Bunny 2008

Fuzzy Friends

2008-03-06T13:18:00.000-08:00

My new favorite thing is making little animals.

I named this guy "Lambert":

I named this one "Little Prince"

This is Reginald:

And you've already met Jerry:

Gumbo = YUMBO!

2008-03-02T17:01:00.000-08:00

Dan and I had Shannon and Dave over for dinner on Friday night. I thought it would be fun to have a New Orleans theme. My friend Shelley is from NO and has a fantastic recipe for gumbo that she gave me. I also made bread pudding with rum sauce (I mean YUM sauce . . . I wonder how many times I can use that pun during this post?)

Starts with okra:

Ends with lots of YUM (unless you're a vegetarian):

Makin' the puddin':

Weekend To-Do List

2008-03-02T16:50:00.000-08:00

I realized the other day that I had a bunch of craft projects laying around that were all about 85% finished. This weekend was dedicated to giving that last 15%.
(No, I didn't finish EVERYTHING.)

The list:

Sock monkeys:

Scarflette for Bre's birthday gift (the cool button is to the left side of my neck - not seen):

Scarflette for myself:

My dad gave me a ton of really cool buttons from an estate sale he went to. This was one of his great finds:

I haven't sewn the flowers in place yet. I'm still deciding where I want them:

That was a fun weekend!

For Morgan

2008-02-27T17:52:00.000-08:00

Erin's youngest girl, Morgan, is turning 1 soon.
I made this bird for her.

And this is Miss Morgan:

Monkey Time

2008-02-26T18:52:00.000-08:00

Red-haired Shannon* came over tonight to learn how to make sock monkeys.
He's not quite sewn together yet, but how cute is he?

* I have 3 Shannon's in my life so it's necessary for me to give them specifying names. This particular Shannon was easy to name.

My Favorite Day cont'd

2008-02-26T18:46:00.001-08:00

My birthday loot grew!
It's obvious my friends and family know me very well.
I love everything.
The picture of the loot is not styled. Please forgive me.
The wrapping paper is a Dan original. It has love drawn all over it. (Click on the picture and you can see it better.)

My Favorite Day

2008-02-21T15:34:00.000-08:00

I love my birthday.

1. Check out the gift given to me by my friend Stacey. Brown sugar with a pretty paper decoration on top. What could be better?
2. The beautiful sunrise out my window early this morning.
3. Cards and goodies.

For Sale!

2008-02-14T16:17:00.000-08:00

It's official. My "art" will be for sale at a local restaurant for kids: Beansprouts Cafe.
If I knew how to link to something I'd do that right here. But I don't. So you can google them instead.
Regardless, this photo shows the birds that will be for sale as of 1:30 Friday afternoon.

Winter Wonderland

2008-02-14T05:07:00.000-08:00

It was so beautiful again on Wednesday morning.
Even the put-me-to-sleep commute was worth staying awake for.

Button Blizzard

2008-02-12T19:29:00.000-08:00

I dropped a bag of buttons tonight.
Don't you think more floors should have buttons scattered about?
I think so.

Meet My Monkey

2008-02-11T17:42:00.001-08:00

This is the second sock monkey I made. He still needs a mouth.

He's begging for a name, isn't he?
He's feeling like a Harold or a Louis to me. What do you think?

Morning Views

2008-02-09T14:08:00.000-08:00

These are views from my living room in the morning - summer and winter.

Distracted

2007-06-01T13:29:00.000-07:00

June 1st.

I am about to set foot outside to take a walk/run (the running will probably only occur when I'm crossing a street in front of traffic). My feet have not touched the inside of a tennis shoe in a L.O.N.G. time. They prefer flip-flops and heels.

2006-09-17T13:46:00.000-07:00

This is it.

2006-06-25T18:25:00.000-07:00

Today is June 25th, 2006.
I have wanted to start a blog for a long time.
And now, well, I have the blog web address at the least.

So ...

In true procrastinator style, I'll see you back here in about 6 months.