Bring it on~~Spring, that is...

 We've been having roller coaster weather here...sort of warm one day, freezing rain and sleet the next.  I'll be glad when things moderate a bit...I'd like to play in the dirt!

In the meantime, I decided to craft a terrarium necklace...simple, yet "green" enough to satisfy.

I used small bottles obtained from Hobby Lobby (the Tim Holtz Idea*ology set @ $5.99 less 40%), and filled them with chartreuse reindeer moss.

I had some silvertone chain in my jewelry-making supplies, and a hammered necklace clasp made in one of the classes I've taught at the library.  Easy-peasy.  Now to roll some little eggs out of robin's egg blue Fimo clay...a little colorful addition to the terrarium.

Nothing new...just random thoughts

Photo:  Fresh Market website

 Last night after work I stopped by Sam's Club and then Fresh Market.  I quickly got what I needed at Sam's (a few magazines...Flea Market Style, Cottage Gardens, a bundle of romaine lettuce, and some Laughing Cow cheeses) and then proceeded to Fresh Market to pick up a quick meal instead of resorting to drive-through food or worse yet, cooking something when I got home.  Stopping at Fresh Market after 6PM is so different than stopping on a Friday or Saturday afternoon.  I wandered the aisles, not really knowing what I wanted but so sure I would find "it".   No crowds, just a quiet space to shop with soft classical music playing.  It was pure heaven!  I ran into an old friend from Newburgh...she had the same "glazed" look on her face as I did.  She said she had been wandering up and down the aisles for a while, just for sheer relaxation and entertainment.  We both agreed that FM is expensive, but all of the food is just so beautiful.  Feeding the mind, body, and spirit...next time I'm stressed, that's where I'm heading!

Photo:  Country Sampler

 Here's what we've been making in one of our library programs...paper mache bunnies!  We've scheduled three sessions to complete one of these cute figurines.  Thanks to the folks at Heart of Newburgh for letting me borrow all of those candy molds.  The ladies are having fun doing this, and we're all looking forward to next Monday's class where we'll prepare the figurines for painting.

Unknown source for photo

Lastly, this is a magazine page I've been carrying around for quite some time.  I have a yo-yo fascination and I love the way this bedspread looks...vintage-y pastels.  I've been making lots of yo-yos for a tabletopper I saw in the old Victoria magazine.  Doesn't this look like Spring?

Friday Craft...super easy

It's not the best picture, but here's what I made today...a zipper flower pin.  Metal-tooth zipper + glue gun = a prototype for Fabulous Faux Flowers II on Monday afternoon at the library.

Friday Night...

Played around with the camera and a tripod today. I still need so much more practice! I'm doing a program for our Adult Summer Reading Program at the library in June...we'll be making earrings and I'll be showing a few wire wrapping techniques. The theme for SRP this year is Be Creative @ your library.

I picked up the latest Artful Blogging issue this afternoon. There's some pretty spectacular photography in this issue. It's fun to see blogs I read faithfully featured in this beautiful publication.

New (to me) Book

After class last night, I decided to go to Barnes & Noble. I've picked up this book a few times in the past, and knew that I wanted it--Collage Lost and Found: Creating Unique Projects with Vintage Ephemera by Giuseppina "Josie" Cirincione. I love the way the projects are presented...this is a whole new world for me---and I need guidance! The projects include soldered charms, personal shrines, and loads of other creative things.

Toile Ornaments

Photo and Directions from BHG.com
While catching up on blogfriend visits this morning, I came across this easy (sounding, anyway) ornament project. I really like toile...even though I'm going for the pastel look this Christmas, they would be great package tie-ons, and I'm sure I can find a way to incorporate toile into my holiday decorating...the red and white would be great around Valentine's Day, too.

Here are the directions, as found on the Better Homes & Gardens website:

• A piece of toile pattern trimmed from a dinner napkin and decoupaged onto a basic ball becomes an elegant ornament.
  
  What You Need
  Round ornaments
  Red and white spray paint
  Medium-size drinking cups with 3-inch-diameter openings
  Toile napkins
  Flat artist's brush
  Decoupage medium
  
  How to Make It
  1. Remove the ornament tops and spray-paint some with red, others with white.
  2. To steady the ornaments, place them top side down into the cups.
  3. Cut out images from the napkins and lay them right side down into the palm of your hand.
  4. Brush a thin coat of decoupage medium on the image, and carefully press it onto the ornament, smoothing wrinkles.
  5. Allow ornaments to thoroughly dry in the cups.
  6. Replace the painted ornament tops.
  

New Books

Last night I ordered these two books from Amazon. Vintage Christmas Crafts by Sara Toliver has really cute, really easy designs. We have it in our library system, but unfortunately it has been marked "missing." I remember looking at it last year...it has those cute little sparkly houses and churches in it and for some reason, I have the urge to decorate that way this year...sparkly frou-frou. Last-Minute Patchwork Gifts is by the author of Last-Minute Knitted Gifts and I really love that knitting book. Both books have projects divided down into the time it takes to create. While I don't really like to be under a time-limit when I create, it's nice to have a basic time-frame. Can't wait to get these books!

A Happy Miscellany

I received my Happy Miscellany Swap package from Kathy yesterday and all I can say is "Wow!" She sent quite an assortment of goodies as you can see... (click on photos to enlarge)

A beautiful vintage quilt square, paper treats, jewelry findings, a rubber stamp, doilies, a beautiful crocheted vintage heart in a silvery dish, candles, a journal, a little book from Tracey Porter...

buttons, ribbons, lace, and vintage rick rack...
and a piece of tapestry fabric that is almost like my blog banner. Truly a happy miscellany.

Thank you, Kathy...I really appreciate everything!

Pay It Forward Craft Exchange

Photo from Crabapple Hill Studio

I've been reading about this Pay It Forward exchange on a few blogs, so when I read about it on Mary's Little Red House blog I decided to sign up. Here's the deal:

I will send a handmade gift to the first 3 people who leave a comment on my blog requesting to join this PIF exchange. I don’t know what that gift will be yet and you may not receive it tomorrow or next week, but you will receive it within 365 days, that is my promise! The only thing you have to do in return is pay it forward by making the same promise on your blog. If anyone is interested in joining in, I will send a handmade gift to the first three to leave a comment with their promise to pay it forward.

Please, please, please...will three people sign up to play? The first 3 commenters who commit to joining in on the Pay It Forward exchange will receive a handmade gift from me. It won't take 365 days as the rules state, and I'm not sure what the gift will be (I dabble in many crafts).