31 August 2011

Project Mania: Pinspiration Projects: Globe Lamp

Again, check out Pinterest.com if you haven't yet. Or check out the stuff that I have found inspirational.

Anyway this one was a gift for Dom, he is a globetrotter at heart. I wanted to save it for a birthday, Christmas or some celebration. But I am not too good at that. 

The Inspiration:
Globe Pendant Lamps from ohdeedoh.com 
And Faux Zinc Finish from Gardenberger.blogspot.com 

Finished Project:
Lamp Base: Target
Half Globe: Goodwill Bargain Barn
Trim: Beverley's 
Lamp Shade Clamp: OSH





I didn't go all the way with the Zinc finish, I just wanted to get some reflection out of the inside. 

30 August 2011

Project Mania: Puff Quilt, Part Two

First I made 64 little pillows  (didn't actually take very long)

Next step in the process is sewing them together. 

The easy part is sewing strips. Just grab and sew, grab and sew...
But turning the strips into a quilt. Much more time intensive for an imperfectionist such as myself. 

In the tutorial, she shows using one pin to hold the four corners together, easy enough. So I did that with two strips. 

And I sewed them together. 
 And almost every seam looked like this. One pin is not enough for someone like me. 
So I unpicked the seams and tried a more tactical approach. 
More pins but less corrections afterward. In fact, no corrections afterward. Victory. 
 By the time Dom was done watching the HS Cincy v. Florida football game, I was done. 
For now. I soon approach my arch nemesis, the binding and finishing. I'll save that for another day. 

28 August 2011

Project Mania: Pinspiration Projects: Paint Chip Art

If you do not know what Pinterest is and care to spend a great deal of time immersed in visual joy and inspiration go to Pinterest.com now. 

I LOVE it. There are so many great ideas out there to be reinterpreted. I love paint chips and I thought this piece of Pinspiration from The Craft Scientist blog, would be a super fun project for our nursery. 

 Inspiration...


 Finished Project, I favored a more organic approach for our project.

And yes that is a troll, or Dam Doll, it is a gift from Grandpa Mike that he saved from childhood, his mommy forced him to hand it over to the new baby. (OK maybe not forced, but coerced) Also note the birds in the basket, awaiting the rest of their flock and assembly. 

I think this will make for something interesting to look at for the late nights ahead sittin' in the glider. 

http://www.thecraftyscientist.com/2011/05/paint-chip-art.html

27 August 2011

Many a Grand Adventure and the Intro of a New Chapter: The Mini-Mini

Dear Element, 
You took us on many a grand adventure. 
 You let us muddy you up with dirty bike tires,
and cover you in sand and salt. 


You took us to see old friends, 
 And new family. 


You took us West. 




You took us East again. 




We went South

And we went North. 
You brought us to our new home. 
You were a reflection of ourselves and our lust for adventure and experience. 
But the time has come for change old friend.   
We will cherish the moments we spent with you. 
And retain our quest for adventure, as we hope you will.

 Our Memories will always be fond ones.

As we begin a new adventure in our lives we sought something that could accommodate our desires, our little one's needs, and a few extra friends. And we found the Mazda 5, a sport wagon? an suv? a car? a mini-van? It's not quite any of these things.

I think it is best described as a Mini- Minivan. AKA the Mini-Mini. 


We hope you can join us sometime on a grand new adventure. 

26 August 2011

Project Mania: Puff Quilt, Part One

So I have been living in the land of Project Mania
 (and I have been pulling others in on it as well, think Wooden ToysBird Mobile, and a list of other things I will be sharing soon). 
This Project Mania began as things I wanted to do for months and has been fueled by Pinterest (thanks Rach!) a lack of work, and probably nesting...although I feel no different than usual.  

But for now I want to share a long desired Puff Quilt for the crib. Inspired by Honeybear Lane's puff quilts. 

Ages ago I downloaded the tutorial and Dom and I picked out the fabric. I tediously cut each piece and then because of my fear of quilting, I stopped. 

Well yesterday I began again. It was easier than I imagined. 
Meanwhile Dom worked on his homework, yes he is back to school again!
 I pulled out my thread, for this part the thread is supposed to end up hidden, but in case I screw up I grabbed each color so it will not show too bad. 
 and I got to puffin'..
and I puffed some more...
 basically it is like making tiny pillows. 
 stuffing them
 and sewing them up. 
 more pillows...
 and more...the end is in sight. 
 the LAST of the 64 pillows.

sweet victory. 
 Now the pattern.
 Sorry for the bad light, it was 11:00pm when I finally got to this. 
 More to come on this puff quilt, but if you are interested in making your own, buying an awesome pre-made set or checking out the inspiration go to 
Also she is doing a 
on her Tutorial/Pattern right now, perfect timing if you want to give this a try!
Also she is offering the pattern at 25% off until September 1st with the code AUGUST.