Travel Bug

I had a week off. A whole week! Sure, it was filled with family and friends and travel but I also had just enough downtime (and some help from my Dad and Hobby Lobby) and I actually finished a project. Summer has been bad for my creativity and time to do any type of projects, so I was pretty excited to get my hands dirty again.

This project was inspired HEAVILY from this DIY idea on Design Sponge.


This was a fairly easy project, although cutting the cork was a trail and error experience due to the fact that if you don't have the correct knife you're in trouble! I doubled my cork because it was pretty thin. I also added Alaska and Hawaii. Now I want to make a similar map for the other continents! I'll have to con my dad into making me some more boards!

The only thing I have left to do is make my pins!

(Don't mind the messy desk...that area is always in a constant state of chaos.)

One thing to point out...the blue in these pictures looks MUCH brighter than the final project. I haven't figured out how to change my settings to make it a bit more realistic!

Nothing is getting done...

Frowny face. I'm just not getting to any projects. I'm not neglecting my blog, I just can't post what doesn't get done.

Hopefully this changes soon and I get a few projects off my list!!

m

What's that you say? A new Project? Yes sir!

I finally got a project done! I know, amazing isn't it?! I'm particularly shocked since I had guests in town this weekend, which usually means getting nothing done on a Sunday since I'm recovering. Today I got an idea and I had to finish it up. It was good to get back on the sewing machine, even though a certain roommate of mine (*cough* Morgan *cough*) likes to sit directly behind the sewing machine and lean against it which makes doing sewing with any big pieces almost impossible.
My friend Jenny and I have started our own little walking club. Since I live right next to Lake of the Isles, we have been walking from my place, around the lake (sometimes with a side trip to Lunds for a salad and some add'l chit chat) and then back. When it's a little chillier out, a sweatshirt is great because not only does it provide some warmth, but the pockets house my check card, id, cell phone, keys and other necessary biz. But now that the weather we Minnesotans wait for all year is finally upon us, the sweatshirt will soon be too much. So I took matters into my own hands and made something to solve my problem. IT IS NOT A FANNY PACK! It is a convertible purse. Ok, whatever, it's a fanny pack. But it's an updated version that I can wear when Jenny and I walk and talk and house all those things I have to have and not worry about a strap around my neck or back pack or other mode of transportation for my most important stuff.
I made this bag out of duck cloth and lined it with a fat quarter I bought forever ago. There is a magnetic snap to close the bag and D rings to make it an adjustable band for the waist. If these walks pay off, it may need to be shortened!! I did model this below...and please note that I loathed every minute of taking the picture, but I wanted to give the full effect!! Too bad you can't read the shirt. It says "without me the YWCA would just be aweso." It's true.
Can't wait for my next walk to try the new bag out!

Bad Blogger

It's been over a month and I haven't posted! In my defense...I haven't finished anything in that time period, so not much to post. I promise I'll be back soon!

Upcoming Projects!

Posted above is just a little piece of inspiration.

I have finished a few random projects and now I have to focus on getting a few more off my plate before I can start the two hugest ever projects on my life.

1. Clean out my craft closet. The thought of this makes my soul shutter. This is going to be a massive undertaking.

2. Sort and organize all my printed pictures. This is almost as bad.

So before I do either of these things...I am going to finish the last two journals on my list, do the invites for Megan's brother's fiance's wedding shower and finish my bedroom curtain project.

Just an update to a blog that otherwise lacks updates. I'm still here, just not quite as focused as I should be.

Now all we need is the cheese!

In preparation for a cheese and wine party in a few weeks at my humble abode, I took a little trip to the thrift store to create some platters on pedestals. Since we'll have a dozen different types of cheese, I figured it best to have some dimension to the table. I borrowed this idea from a few blogs I've seen...and although I no longer have the original post information, I will update this if I come across it again.
I made these three trays out of plates and glasses from Arc's value village. I think the most expensive of any of the pieces was maybe $1.99. The glasses are attached with E6000 glue. I think they will make the most perfect plates for some of the cheese and accompanying fare that will be served at the party and I am so glad that I can have some dimension on the table! I did get one add'l cup that I really want to find a platter to go on top of, but at least I have my three to start with! Bring on the cheese!

Weekend projects!

I haven't been working on many crafts lately...mainly because I really want to get some organization done around my house. Some of it is a long time coming, so this weekend I dedicated to getting some jazz done! Here's what I accomplished.

1. Cleaned out my bedroom closet! It's pretty amazing how much stuff I forgot I had. It's really quite sad. But now it's all hanging nicely and I can be happy again. Now I can clean out the rest of my room and put up a divider that I'm working towards.

2. I finally hung up my shower radio in my shower. I know...doesn't seem like much, but it was on my towel rod and driving me nuts, so it finally made it into the shower!

3. Put up a curtain in my hall way. I have this little inset thing in my hall way where I put my garbage can and the cat litter box. For two years when I walked by this would annoy me. So I bought a shower curtain (fabric of course) and a shower rod and put it up. At first I was not so excited about it, but the more I walk past it the happier I am! I might alter the curtain later, but for now...the results are shown poorly below. The whole project cost me less than 20 bucks.

Before - Notice the ugliness that is apparent.

After! All hidden!