Friday, January 20, 2012

Pumped Out Massage Bars

I recently stayed at a hotel which had these nubby soap massage bars.  I really liked them but couldn't find a similar mold.





With that as my inspiration, i decided to super size the nubs and try this one out.  I poured two different colors - the nubby layer as glitter, and the base is white.  I love it!  The nubs last longer than the original and they provide a gentle massage while showering.  If you'd like to give this a try, let me know and I can post a few up on etsy.

Sunday, January 15, 2012

My new cactus garden

I don't know how this happened but I have killed two cacti gardens in a pot.  My sole cacti in pots are doing fine.  I'm not sure why this didn't make it but it could be a victim of overwatering as the cactus was all soft and mushy. Here'is what it looked like before I threw it out.  The leaves won't stand up. 


i didn't mourn this loss for long...my parents got me a new cactus garden which I think is sooo adorable...
I'm hoping this one stays around for a long time.  I got a spray bottle so i could spritz it every four days instead of drenching it under the faucet.  I've been taking care of it for 2 weeks now and so far so good...


Saturday, January 14, 2012

Snow Globe Cookies

King Arthur's Flour recently had a cookie decorating contest.  I thought this snow globe cookie was really cute!  Click here for other award-winning and delicious looking entries.

From King Arthur's Flour website

Thursday, January 12, 2012

Project: new use for pickle jars

I saw this project on eighteen25 and loved this idea.  I'm a sucker for glass jars too and this is a decorative way to re-use glass jars.

there are some things i just can't throw away.
glass jars.... are one of those things.

why?  do you ask.
because first of all i store all sorts of stuff in them.
embroidery floss, buttons, pom pom trim, twinery twine etc...

and secondly...
you can make things with them.

i took these jars and turned them into....

these jars.

and of course it's so simple.
i just spray painted my candlesticks and lids.
 (with a grey primer first. helps to cover the writing on the jars)
then used some E6000 glue and glued the jars on top.
fill them up with whatever you'd like.
i found some gumballs and sixlets at party city. love how they are so bright and fun!
then i just added some green shredded paper and some candies to the other jar.
and the fun part is
 i can switch them out with the holidays/seasons!!
gotta love it!  :)

Tuesday, January 10, 2012

Cute bento boxes

Visited J-town on new year's weekend...had yummy yogurt from moyo and also spotted these cute bento boxes.  I didn't buy any this time, as I have amassed quite a collection, but here's a photo of the display.  Make lunch time fun with these colorful bento boxes.


Sunday, January 8, 2012

Doggie makeover

Inspired by these before and after photos of dogs entering the Green Dog beauty salon in Tokyo, I thought I would do a before and after of little bebe as well.
Here's Bebe....

Bath time for Bebe



Nice and clean after her bath!


Click here for the article and cute pictures:

You would hardly recognise these pampered pets if you hadn't seen them before their makeovers.
They were all more straggly haired and dishevelled versions of themselves when they walked into the Green Dog beauty salon in Tokyo - where mud packs, massages and aromatherapy are also on the menu.
Following a shampoo pet and dry, these dogs look as good as new.
A soggy dog story: Kabe, pictured is a toy poodle but looks more like Animal from the Muppets, left, when sopping wet
A soggy dog story: Kabe, pictured is a toy poodle but looks more like Animal from the Muppets, left, when sopping wet 
A soggy dog story: Kabe, pictured is a Toy Poodle but looks more like Animal from the Muppets, left, when sopping wet


Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2082416/Because-woof-Irresistible-photos-pampered-pooches-upmarket-dog-beauty-salon.html#ixzz1iufwY1FZ

Friday, January 6, 2012

Scarf Patterns - Knit Project

I have been knitting up a storm lately...unfortunately they are unfinished projects...I have been starting new ones before finishing up the old ones (bad me!).  anyway, I will post photos of those soon.  In the meantime, I stumbled across these nice scarfs from Martha Stewart and I wanted to share them with you.  While I am working on 2 different ribbed scarfs right now, I like the striped ones shown here.  I haven't done a striped one yet so that may be next on my list.


Knitted scarves are the perfect handmade gift: They're easy to make, one size fits all, and small imperfections give them charm. Plus, you can choose needle and yarn sizes to match the amount of time you can invest. Thick needles and heavy yarn make quick work of a chunky scarf, like the one below. Thinner needles and yarn will produce tighter knits. If you're new to knitting, see our techniques guide to learn the basics -- from casting on to weaving in ends.

For these scarves, we used U.S. size 9 and size 7 needles and two or three 50-gram skeins of yarn (discuss your choices with your yarn store). You can alter the width by varying the number of stitches you cast on; for many of these, we used 40 stitches for a width of roughly 7 inches. Knit until desired length (ours are about 60 inches).
From left to right:
White Angora Wool Scarf
This uses a 2 x 2 rib (knit 2, purl 2) to create detail on an otherwise basic scarf.
To knit scarf: Cast on. Knit 2, purl 2; repeat across row. Continue for the length of the scarf. Bind off. Weave in ends.
Multicolor Striped Scarf
Adding skinny stripes in different colors and textures is a great way to use up leftover yarn.
To knit scarf: With blue, cast on. Work in 1 x 1 rib (knit 1, purl 1; repeat across row) for 6 rows. Change to white; work 2 rows. Change back to blue, and repeat this pattern to add stripes in other colors for the length of the scarf, ending with blue. Bind off. Weave in ends.
Brown and Aqua Striped Scarf
For equal-size stripes, use the same amount and weight of yarn for each.
To knit scarf: With brown, cast on. Work in 1 x 1 rib (knit 1, purl 1; repeat across row) for 10 rows. Change to aqua yarn; work in 1 x 1 rib for 10 rows. Alternate colors for the length of the scarf. Bind off. Weave in ends.
White and Blue Striped Scarf 
We used a much finer yarn for the blue stripes than for the white.
To knit scarf: Cast on in white. Work in 1 x 1 rib (knit 1, purl 1; repeat across row) for 4 rows. Change to blue and work 2 rows. Change to white and repeat this pattern for the length of the scarf. Bind off. Weave in ends.
Red and White Angora ScarfWe knit 2 different yarns together as if they were one, and cast on 28 stitches. Since our white mohair was a lace-weight yarn, we needed less than our red angora.
To knit scarf: Cast on. Use 4 x 4 rib (knit 4, purl 4; repeat across row) until scarf is 50 inches. Bind off. Weave in ends.
Chunky Cream and Aqua Scarf

We paired a bulky cream-colored wool with a fine light-blue mohair and used a U.S. size 20 needle, so we only cast on 14 stitches.
To knit scarf: Cast on, working with both yarns together. Work in 1 x 1 rib (knit 1, purl 1; repeat across row) for the length of the scarf. Bind off. Weave in ends.

Tuesday, January 3, 2012

Project: A Girl's Emergency Clutch

From: http://eighteen25.blogspot.com/2011/03/girls-emergency-clutch.html

it's a girl's emergency clutch!
(cute potholder turned emergency wallet)

you know...a catch all!
for the things you always need....but never have.
it's perfect for your car or purse or boat or camper.....

so, let's get started!

here's what you're going to need:
(just a few things really)

1.  a square potholder (ours are from Target...the Dwell line)
2.  a large button
3.  about. 6" grosgrain coordinating ribbon
4.  10 snack size zip lock baggies
5.  tape
6.  coordinating embroidery floss
7. sewing machine
step 1:  lay your potholder inside up (make sure your pocket is at the top, either on the inside of the wallet or the outside).  place one zip lock on the right side (zipper toward the  right edge) and place a piece of tape on the top and bottom (to keep the baggies from moving).  place another zip lock on the left side overlapping the first (with the zipper toward the left edge) and tape the top and bottom.  continue alternating sides and overlapping the bottoms of all ten baggies (5 on each side).

step 2:  now that the baggies are securely taped in place, sew a zig zag stitch all the way down the middle of the potholder (which should also be down the middle of the overlapped baggies).

step 3:   fold your potholder in half to make your wallet and find your middle to sew on your button.  we used yellow embroidery floss...just to make a statement.


step 4:  using your 6" piece of grosgrain ribbon, fold in half lengthwise and sew all the way down.  (you can use a thinner ribbon or even a hair elastic...this is just what we had on hand).  then, on the backside of your wallet, make a loop with your ribbon large enough to fit over your button and sew down.

and...there you have it!


(back)


(front)

a few ideas of things to put in your emergency clutch:

advil or tylenol
tums
band aids/first aid cream
gum/mints
tooth picks/floss
hair elastics
eye drops
cough drops
emergency medication
matches
feminine products
an emergency mimi (pacifier)
cash
spare house key
nail file
tweezers
pen and pencil (for that cute front pocket, of course!)
of course, you'll need to make a few of these...
one for you, one for your child's teacher and one for each of those special mothers in your life.

Want to give a handmade gift?

About Me

i love to create and make. A few of my favorite things to make are soaps, dreamy creams, bath and body products, knitting, beading, paper crafts, and more! I also teach classes and offer private lessons in candlemaking, soapmaking, creams and lotions, body scrubs and other bath time treats (teas, milks, melts, bombs).