Kite!

My son has been asking for a kite. I finally made him one and it turned out to be very easy. I finished the edges with bias tape and sewed little folded fabric pockets at the corners for the dowel sticks. We didn't get it to fly very high, but that was mainly because the poor kid's delinquent mother couldn't remember how to fly a kite. I feel like a doofus, but I am going to have to google this and get it figured out.

Knit Pouch

Here is a little pouch I knit for Mom. I can't really say much about the construction of it because I really winged it. The flap is knit with eyelash yarn combined with the regular acrylic/alpaca yarn I used. The button is a pewter button from Norway, via my Aunt Phyllis. 

Lotion Bars

I have seen several recipes for lotion bars on Pinterest. I ended up using 4 ounces of coconut oil, 4 ounces of shea butter, and 4.5 ounces of beeswax pellets. I also added several drops of lavender essential oil. All the ingredients are melted together and poured into molds (which in my case were various repurposed containers). They were super easy to make and it seems to work well. You rub it in your hands and the warmth of your hands melts it into your skin.

Another Carpet Bag By Mom

Mom has been cranking out these carpet bags like nobody's business. She made this one for a friend, and calligraphed the lining with a Bible verse for each letter of her friend's name. It turned out great!

Chandelier Makeover!

Once upon a time, we bought a house. The house was 79% orange. Not the nice warm trendy orange you see these days. More like a hideous orange/gold/70's looking orange. Orange shag carpet, orange drapes and even 'harvest gold' appliances. There was also a flashy brass chandelier hanging in the dining room. Part of me cringed. I mean, it was a little over the top considering we live in a 1200 square foot house built with economy in mind. And with the orange everywhere, it looked downright gaudy. Yet at the same time, the chandelier was fascinating. I decided that after removing all orange vestiges, it would be awesome and it was. It was the kind of chandelier that people pay good money for at a vintage shop. But try convincing my husband of that. For the last 5 years he has despised the fixture and threatened its demise. Every now and then I would mention the possibility of painting it white, but the thought of removing every single crystal and cleaning all the little swirls and curls was enough to deter me. Recently I decided to just do it, and see how it turned out. I scrubbed it up as best I could and sprayed it with a zillion coats of some 'Heirloom White' spray paint that is supposed to stick to anything. The fake candlesticks on it were so old and brittle that the crumbled at the slightest touch. My husband made new ones out of PVC and I covered the with light yellow scrapbook paper. I am thrilled with how it turned out and even my husband thinks it looks nice. Woo!!

P.S. Who takes an entire paragraph to write about a stinkin' chandelier?! Me apparently. And if you haven't had enough intrigue for one day, check out the picture below. As I was taking it, I realized that behind my nice sparkly chandelier I have an old 'Lay or Bust Poultry Feed' sign and a 'Hippies Use Side Door' sign hanging up. Classy!

The Tunic of Mass Frustration

So...the tunic. I see cute renditions of them around the web and I had big dreams for making one of my own. The problem is that they don't have a whole lot of shape. Translation: they can end up looking like a tent. I used a very basic tunic pattern to start, and then went from there. I made several tweaks to it and redrafted the facing pieces into one piece and made it an exterior facing. The sleeves were also a funky length, which I shortened and added the contrasting band. The white is this really pretty eyelet I got on fabric.com and the navy blue is from a bed sheet (!) When I completed the top, it fit well in the shoulders but it hung like a tent. I ended up adding diamond darts in the back and that helped, but the front is still a little poofy. I am debating adding darts in front, but then I would have to add a side zipper, and as it is the fabric wrinkles fast I don't know if its really worth it. I think I might make it again in a fabric that has a nice drape and it would be more successful. Thoughts, questions, concerns? Should I wear it or is it destined for the scrap pile??

Chicken Apron!!

Rach made this apron for me for my birthday. I LOVE it!!! The fabric is fun (and sturdy) and the pattern is awesome. There are little tucks all along the front, and piping on the waistband and pockets. I pretty much want to wear it just because. She also made me a matching pot holder which I will show you soon. Thanks, Rach!!