a craft project that's NOT sewing!

can you believe it? I did a craft project that's in no way related to sewing! Check it out! I found these stickers one day and loved them:
have I ever told you that I am a bit of a cheapskate? I didn't buy them. $4.99 was just too much of a splurge (I know, I know.) Anyway, I saw them AGAIN at a totally different store about 2 weeks later. It's my policy that if I still love something after a good waiting period, I better go ahead and take the plunge. The $4.99 plunge. go crazy!

But what to do with stickers? hmmm. I decided on buying a set of simple notecards to stick-i-fy. Here they are!

So the stickers are from Hambly Studios. Hello? Why have I not heard of this yet? Stickers! Notepads! Wall Decals! Blog! My splurging may continue...

a new bag

I made a new bag the other day! It's modified from a pattern in this book. A very simple diaper bag made from one of my fun cutesie fabrics.I modified it by adding two-compartment pocket and a zippered pocket to the inside. And then, because I can't just make one (and because I have TONS of cute baby fabric), I made two more. More pics to come!

almost finished...

...with this set of cross-stitched flowers! stay tuned for the finished product. LOVE me some cross-stitch!

the best vacation i've not yet had

um, have I told you that I'm going on a vacation soon? Have I ever told you that I hardly ever go anywhere awesome? Well right now I'm telling you that I'm going on a sweet vacation soon and it's about TIME!

The Mr. & I just booked a trip to Kauai for spring break! Spring break baby! Now this is all I can really think about:
I found this lovely set of prints, by interrupt, by searching "kauai" on Etsy. interrupt has some really great photography and illustrations! Plus, according to his profile, he is an Artist/Designer/Business Owner/Ninja/Robot. Awes!

groupie

I just joined my first Etsy group: EtsyBloggers!




In honor of bloggy-goodness, I am offering 25% off anything in my shop if you post a comment on my blog! Simply post your comment (including a way to contact you), and await a message from me with instructions on how to snag your sweet, sweet discount!

*k, not sure why that "title" thing

happy green things

look what I found in the yard today! This little yellow guy was just hanging out in the middle of the yard, kind of randomly. Also, the bulbs I planted are getting bigger.

not pictured: missing bulbs/holes where I had planted them. Presumably they became squirrel food. grrrrr.

Squirrels: 2

Molly: 1

rascals!

little wallet

I made a little wallet yesterday!

with wish-they-were-edible vintage buttons. buuuut, you wouldn't want to eat them if you saw the shape they were in when I found them at an estate sale! nothing a little warm water scrub wouldn't fix. yay!

Showered by Flowers!

ah, Valentine's Day. I've had my ups and downs with this holiday, and this year was no exception. This year it was pretty awesome except for a little car break-in. no big. (ugh) Adding to the awesome factor was this amazing bouquet from my valentine:
He ordered it through my friend Sara, who has just started her own flower business: Showered by Flowers! Sara did my wedding flowers and she is super talented. If you're in the Seattle/Bellevue area, use her for your wedding/party/gifty flower needs!

The other awesome part of Valentine's Day this year was the valentine I received from one of my students. His mom emailed me to say that he was concerned that his valentines would be thrown away right away because they were homemade and contained no candy. Before she even emailed me he brought them to school and asked if they could be put in a special place because some of the glue/glitter was still drying. *aw!* is that not the cutest thing you ever heard? Doesn't he know that the coolest valentines ever are the handmade ones? I'm taking my box-o-kids'-cards I've saved over the years to show him that some of us truly treasure the handmade.Happy Valentine's Day everyone!

saturday shopping

saturday shopping! These are my latest Etsy finds. I don't always actually buy what I find during my saturday shopping, but I can't resist the doily clock. It is going to make me paint the craft room. Because you can't have that clock on a white wall!

Clockwise from top left...

doily clock : : andfurthermore
super cute clocks and other fun decor

Alice iPod nano 3 case : : maryjmaalouf
awesome accessories (looking into getting one of these custom made!)

Enchanted Tea Set : : MidwestFinds
drool-inducing vintage pieces

Sunshine Sugar Owl : : MichelleDigital
wonderful, colorful art prints

Go see more of their great stuff!

fresh fabric friday

mmm, fabric! Technically, I've had this fabric for a while, ,but I haven't used it yet. I got it from my favorite Seattle quilt shop, The Quilting Loft. it's still fresh, right??
From left to right:

Odyssea by Momo: Homer in Sea Glass
Wild Thyme by Carolyn Gavin: Seed Pot in Red
Bloom and Grow by Riley Blake Designs: Multi Dot in Cayenne
Wild Thyme by Carolyn Gavin: Bird and Seet Pods in Natural


Deer Valley by Joel Dewberry: Antler in Peony, Lodge Lattice in Azure

...now I need to actually make something with it. Hey! Did I mention I don't have to work next week?!

stuff in my house, part 3

speaking of stuff in my house and Christmas gifts, check out my new best friend!Jamie got me an espresso machine for Christmas! So far I have probably saved over $100 by foregoing my daily espresso shop trips. yikes! I'm working on perfecting my skills. YUM! coffee love.

stuff in my house, part 2

I got this ADORABLE tea set for Christmas from my fabulous sister-in-law. She got it here. Love, love, love! Good thing I have cabinets with glass doors so everyone can admire all the loveliness!

stuff in my house, part 1

um, can you believe the cuteness before your eyes? I am constantly blown away by the sheer awesomeness of my creative family. This little end table was handcrafted for me and Jamie by my auntie Carrie, scrabble aficionado, as a shower gift. She included all the words most important to us:
-Druffel (me)
-Wiecks (him)
-Washington State (me)
-Gonzaga (him)
-Colton (me)
-Portland (him)
-Cougs (me)
-Zags (him)

...it's just missing a few very important words...
-Sewing (me)
-Sandwiches (him)

love my crafty aunties!

busy day

There's something really satisfying about a big ol' stack of stuff ready to be shipped out. This was all done by 1:00 this afternoon. after I had slept in until 7:30! never.before.seen. Behold, the power of caffeine.

another beautiful day

it was such a beautiful Seattle day today! more sunshine!! And I remembered that I have a yard. I have never had a yard before. I'm pretty sure they're a lot of work. hmm. A walk outside showed me that the bulbs I planted this fall are coming up... YAY! Bulbs are the best thing in the entire world. Just when you think you're about to die of winter depression, some daffodils pop up and make you want to live another day. Some outdoor projects...This is the bench my dad made me (remember this post?). A wrench bench! It needs a new paint job in a bad way. It would go perfectly in the front yard with our red door, but I'm afraid someone will steal it.

We have a fire pit! It needs serious work. The back is all busted out. And the bush growing on it may be a slight fire hazard. Jamie job!

The front yard needs raking. . . but other than that our front yard is pretty low-maintenance. Thank God, because this post is only the tip of the yard-maintenance iceberg. Should be a busy spring!

sunshine love

Let's talk about January. Ugh, January. The holidays are over, everything is gray (in Seattle) and each day is the same as the one before. I have been super lazy and unmotivated. Who wants to do anything after work when it looks like it's bedtime as soon as you get home? Yet, just when you think you can't take another minute, the clouds part and you realize the sun is out past 4:00. Like TODAY!

I went searching on Etsy for some sunshine-inspired cuteness, and I found CaitlinSainio. Crochet happiness! Love, love, love her cute hoop framed fiber art.

Looking forward to more sunshine in my life, starting tomorrow.

my craft room - v.1.0

here are a few shots of my craft room. I consider it the rough draft version of my craft room.

To Do:

1. Paint walls some fabulous color

2. Acquire cutting table

3. Refinish my sewing table. This yellow table is a found object - found on Greenwood Ave. with a sign reading "Grandma's Table" - it needs some love but I sure do love it lots as it is!

4. Upgrade computer desk

"Open/Closed" sign - a gift from Auntie Chris

crafternoon revisited

yesterday we had a sweet crafternoon full of girls, food, drinks, and crafting, obvs.

I f i n a l l y initiated the much-anticipated cross-stitch project. I thought I would get more of these "flowers, straight and tall" (from this book) finished in the 2 hours of work, but I was sadly mistaken. I did get more finished than you see in this picture though. The tricky thing about needlepoint is that it makes your fingers hurt. :(

My mom is in town! She was working on a knitting project...

Emily was working on the stinkin' cutest decopage project ever. I'm sure she'll blog all about it, so I'll just say that her papers made my heart go pitter-patter.

Other activities included...

Heidi: Photo organization

Shannon: Knitted Jar Cozy

Karen: Adorable embroidered cloth napkins and knitting project

Ann: Handmade leather tote and pouch projects

(why didn't I take more pictures? why?)