Craft Book Challenge

Last night, I made these. They are from Bend the Rules Sewing. Finally I am making things from this lovely book, which I've had for many months now, but am only just now making things from it. I've sorta decided to give myself a challenge...to make something from each and every one of my craft books and patterns. I have this bad habit of buying lots of craft books. Too many. And then I end up feeling overwhelmed trying to decide what to make. So from now until the end of the year, I am going to strive to make something from each book I own. I'm not entirely sure if it is possible to complete this challenge by then, being that I am part-time crafter, but we'll just see what I can do. Here are my rules:

1. Make at least one project from each book.

2. Japanese books are included, so improvise!

3. It is okay to pass on a book or pattern if I no longer like it

4. If I no longer like it I must sell it on ebay or give it away to someone who will appreciate it.

5. Deadline for completion is January 2009, however if I am making a genuine effort and can't finish by then, I reserve the right to extend it.

6. Blog about my adventures right here!

7. It is okay to make multiple projects from one book if I am on a role.

8. Purchase of more craft books is okay as long as I have been making things from my current collection

I think that will do for rules. I like to make lists, which is one of the reasons I made these rules. Plus it just feels like a more official challenge if I give it rules...and I am not naturally very self-disciplined if you hadn't been able to guess from the nature of this post -so rules help a person like me. So here goes! Does anyone else have this craft book problem? I notice I do not seem to have this problem with cookbooks, only craft books...

Update, Disasters, Thoughts etc...

Over dinner last night, Kelli told me she was waiting for a blog update, so I guess here it is. Whoa is me...I am down my trusty laptop. It is a long, long, long, awful story...too awful for my nice little blog, but it has nonetheless resulted in less online time for me. Here is a nice, neat list of what has evolved since my last post on January 22:

1. Discovered crafty pod casts on CraftSanity. I don't know why I never listened to these before, but what fabulous background noise for creating and driving! I am finaly learning to use an I-pod! Go me!

2. Made a pincushion, pattern can be found here :

3. Got kinda sick

4. Made knit dishclothes while watching our latest Netflix addiction, Big Love!

5. (Saving the toughest for last--well, almost last) I basted and machine quilted my little red quilt. Sadly, this was not fun, and I feel lucky to have survived! Seriously. First off, I had the brilliant idea to lay a sheet underneath it, to keep the quilt from getting cat hair and other grime on it of course and well, I basted the little sheet right to my quilt. Yes ma'm I sure did! I decided to just cut the sheet off rather than re-baste. So it wasn't so bad, just a minor detour actually. Well then today, I finally decided (which really means: got the guts) to machine quilt it, which I have NEVER done before. I researched and researched. I even practiced! But it was really hard! Explitives may have been spoken. I should note that I do not have a walking foot for my machine. And it is a mechanical machine, so there ain't anything fancy to help me out. It was VERY rough at first, but I finally figured out that lowering the feed dogs halfway did the trick okay. You really can't tell how "beginner" the stitching looks unless you really look close, so now that it is all said and done, I can take a deep breath. I did not ruin my little quilt after all. Yay!

6. Lastly, I have been thinking a lot about hosting a monthly craft night. Not at my house, but maybe at the library? My thought is, a library meeting room has plenty of space, a kitchen, plus tables and chairs and outlets for sewing machines. I've been thinking a lot about the social side of crafting, but yet I do all of my creating solo. It would be kinda nice to get together with other crafters once in a while and create and even learn from each other. I know of crafty people out there (and they are mostly librarians, but this IS who I primarily interact with), but I also know folks are busy and I am not sure I could gather a crowd. But then maybe I should just do it...

To Do List

I've always been a list kinda girl and I've been thinking a lot lately about what I want to do in 2008...so I'm making a list. By this time next year I would like to:

1. Have other items in my shop besides zombie lip balm

2. Have a house with space for a craft room (so I can leave it messy without destroying the living room)

3. Sell my goods in at least 1 craft fair

4. Learn to screenprint

5. Be a better knitter and crocheter

6. Make another quilt

7. Have a well maintained and updated blog even if it isn't NaBloPoMo

8. Learn more Adobe Illustrator applications

So I could go on and on, but I think 8 is enough. Here's to checking things off my list!

MI-5

So I'm totally leaving my husband after a mere 4 weeks of marriage for the hot British spy from the BBC show mI-5.

This is what happens when my husband steals the laptop from me while I am posting on my blog :) No husband leaving happening of course, but we are hooked on spies over here so watch out! I'll be going by an alias soon...

Here's what lazy Friday nights look like at our house:

Oh and this weekend is tiny canary! I'm glad Columbus has more than one indie craft fair this year! And this one is 2 days even, Saturday and Sunday! If you live in Columbus, Go!

A tour of my W.I.P.s

If I did not know this before I started crafting I sure as heck know it now: I am an idea person. I love to start new projects, but I sometimes (often) leave them unfinished. For each finished project I'd say there is at least one left unfinished. I like to blame it on my work space which is currently one half of the living room. But I think it is just my nature. I sometimes have no crafty patience.

Here is a list of my current works in progress (WIP):

1. Stuffed Bird (started this week)
2. Patchwork Scarf made from felted wool sweaters and fabric scraps (started this week)
3. Bag made from felted sweater (started 9/07)
4. Crocheted hat (started Summer 07)
5. Amy Butler Cabo Halter Top (started 5/07 with the intention of wearing it this summer, then perhaps Jamaica, now summer 2008????)
6. Quilt (started 3/07)
7. Messenger Bag (started 2/07)
8. Skirt from vintage pattern I found at my mom's house (started Summer 2006)

It actually doesn't look as bad as I thought it might. And there are some things on that list I know I will never finish, like the messenger bag. I wonder how many of those projects I will finish someday...

Is it bad that I already have an idea for my next project?

Library Thing

I'd heard about Library Thing, but it isn't until tonight that I got hooked! What a perfect blend of my librarian and crafty urges. All of my craft books are now "cataloged" there...The best part, in my opinion, is they even have my Japanese books! Check out my books on the botom right-hand side...

A few more things I love

About a month or so ago I posted about some of my favorite things around the house. I remember saying in that post that I was going to post about more things I love around my home...and here it is a couple months later. I never did post anymore favorite things. Well here they are!

The first one is boring, at least to photograph. So I livened up with another favorite...my Wizard of Oz fabric from Japan!

I love my scale. I used to weigh my lip balm ingredients on a little dollar store scale. Who knows how accurate it really was, but it got the job done. I wanted to buy a real scale, like bakers use, but figured I could keep holding out. And so I kept on making my lip balm with my dollar store scale. Eventually I put a scale on my amazon wish list and there it sat for probably another year. Well this year, my dad proudly gave this scale to me for my birthday, straight off my amazon wish list. For 2 months before my birthday Dad kept telling me how he had my birthday present already (but didn't mention my wish list of course). I had strongly encouraged my parents to buy me gifts off it before, but it never worked, they're more store shoppers. I'd given up hope. My dad was so proud for figuring out how to order something off my wish list! I never in a million years thought I would get something from him off there. I love how it is the scale he picked and not a book. The one practical thing. And my lip balm is actually a million times better because of it (Thanks dad).

There's also a new favorite...David and I got this hand-crafted wooden cutting board from my cousin as a wedding gift. Something to inspire me in the kitchen:

I decided this morning to try participating in National Blog Posting Month. I'm hoping to train myself to be a better blogger. And since this blog is supposed to be crafty, I'm hoping it will in turn make a more crafty lady out of me! I'm not quite sure how I'll make up for my late start (the 4th) though.

Another softie

Despite a bustling of activity these last few weeks I have been able to stitch together a few new friends. The one above is from the book Plush-o-rama. I love this book...and my nieces and nephews do to, which cracks me up. I love being an aunt. Hopefully I'll be making one more tomorrow for a swap (on schedule this time).

One thing I seem to consistently have trouble with is the whole inside out thing...I think every bag or stuffed critter I've made I seem to have to rip the stitches out because the handle gets lost when I turn it right side out. This time it was the arms. I hope to someday get this mastered because I sure feel bad cussing out my sewing machine...and it sure cancels out the relaxation gained from creating things.

Unrelated to crafting, it is officially summer in my library world. Summer Reading Club has begun and I am both excited and stressed. I feel lucky to have David (he is so much calmer than me!) at these times, especially last night when crafting was definitely not relaxing my racing thoughts...thank goodness for hugs and a night under the "stars."

The work/craft balance

So I was thinking yesterday since I am learning to do so many different things (sewing clothes/purses, quilting, knitting, making lip balm and soap etc. ) I should have days for certain crafts. Thursday would definitely be knitting day since that is my TV night...and the other days could be for my other interests. Since I work late Wednesday, that will be my "wild card" night. For next week I will try the following:

Monday: Quilt

Tuesday: Sew

Thursday: Knit

We'll see how it goes! I have to try something because I haven't quite figured out how to best do it all. Between work, cleaning, cooking dinner, going to the gym, all the other errands there are...how does one do it all? I am good at 'getting it all done' at work...I should be able to do better at home! I mean, I don't even have children yet! My life is simple compared to most...Sometimes I come home from work, just plain exhausted! I just wish I had more time to make stuff. It is one of my favorite things to do. Any ideas for squeezing in more time to create? We'll see how the schedule works...it is Thanksgiving next week though, so I already see potential snags :)

Lastly, since David and I just got engaged (!!!!) I want to post a picture of my mom which I just love to death.

I found this picture in some of my grandma's old photos one of the times we were out this year. I like it because it isn't posed...mom looks a little frazzled, hurried, beautiful and young (she was 24). I also find this picture inspiring because my mom made that dress!!! My parents have been married for 35 years now. Now that's inspiring too...