a quick thanks

This week I was humbled to be presented The Beautiful Blog Award by both Felt Like Stitchin' and Papgena Made It.   I'm so thankful to both the gals behind these blogs for passing on some beauty to me. 

There are also some rules that come along with the award. 

1) Post ten interesting things about myself.  (I'm not sure I can think of 10 interesting things.)  :)

2)  Pass on the award to ten other bloggers. 

I wanted to acknowledge these ladies and their amazing blogs RIGHT AWAY, but I'm going to have to hold off on following the rules for a few days or so.  I have a tight schedule tonight and for the next few days, so blogging is going to be bumped to the bottom of the list. 

Thanks again ladies!!!!!  You have both inspired me to . . .

craft on!

tuesday's true confession

Last week it felt so good to confess that I have never seen The Sound of Music that I thought I would add another confession to the list . . .

I'm afraid of my sewing machine.  There . . . I said it.  I'll say it again.  I'm afraid of my sewing machine.

In case you are just joining me, I bought a sewing machine on a whim in an effort to "find myself".  (It went right along with learning to play the drums and getting my nose pierced.  I guess if you are going to find yourself, a nose piercing, drum playing and sewing are three of the tamest ways you can do it.)  I'm not actually a sewer - in the sense of having actual technical skill.  I don't use patterns.  Technical abbreviations like RST and WST send me into a tizzy.  And I don't really do anything too useful with the sewing machine - like mend things, make clothes or assemble school costumes. 

So . . . it seems like any little bump of a dial or flip of a switch sends my sewing machine into a tantrum which results in this:

So you can imagine the terror that filled me when I walked into my dining room - aka crafting/sewing spot - and saw this:

(This is actually a reenactment of the incident.  Try explaining to a five year old that she is never supposed to do that again . . . except for one more time while mommy takes a picture.)  A five year old is all about bumping dials and flipping switches.  But it was hard to be mad when she looked up at me with big eyes and says, "But mommy I just wanted to be like you."  

However, when I turned the machine on a few hours later to work on my journal for Service Boot Camp, my machine was majorly malfunctioning.  Ugh!!!!  In fear and trembling, I turned some dials, flipped some switches and . . . problem not fixed.  I worked on the machine all night, and I could not get it to work right.  Finally, I gave up, went to bed and slept poorly.  Later the next day I sat down, turned a dial, flipped a switch, and . . . wallah, problem solved.  I have no idea what I did or how to do it again.  

I swear my sewing machine is just taunting me, teasing me, terrifying me.  It worked . . . I'm still afraid, but I vow to . . . 

craft on! 

any photo gift ideas?

I took these photos a week ago, and I've been thinking and pondering how I can incorporate them into the twelve crafts till Christmas.  Any ideas?

Craft on!

monday's buttons - week 1

This is going to be harder AND easier than I thought.  It's going to be harder because there are a ton of buttons out there that inspire me.  It's going to be easier because there are a ton of buttons out there that inspire me.  Hmmm . . . funny how that works. 

Each week I'm going to feature two to four buttons from various blogs.  I don't have any criteria for the buttons I feature.  I just have to like them.  How's that for strict feature requirements?


First, Green Momma's button caught my eye right away.  I even e-mailed Green Momma's creator to ask her a few questions about her button.  Kim, from Green Momma, had this to say about her simple but super little button:

1) What do you like best about your button?
I love that it's a tree! I love trees, and I'm such a tree hugger. I've always been in love with trees, wanting to know what kind of tree they are, and I love the forest, etc. I guess I my favorite thing about it is that it's green, and a tree. :)

2) Did you craft it yourself or did you commission/inspire someone else to craft it for you? If you crafted it, what program/software did you use?
My husband made my button for me, and I believe he used Adobe photoshop.

3) What do you think is the most important thing about a blog button?
I think the most important thing about a blog button is that it should be the right size, and be relative to your site.

 

Second, I'm loving Stephanie Lynn's button over at Under the Table and Dreaming.  Having made my own button recently, I look at this and think, "Wow, that was a lot of work!"  She as a great site, and I'm thankful for all the inspiration I've found located in her posts.  Here's what she had to say:

1) What do you like best about your button?
I like the fact that it incorporates my blogs design. The background is the same as my blog as well as the graphic, just a different color.

2) Did you craft it yourself or did you commission/inspire someone else to craft it for you?
I made it myself to coordinate with my blog.

3) What do you think is the most important thing about a blog button?
Buttons that are simple and a little stylish. I like buttons that are more neutral or low key in color too! (I like a versatile button that looks appealing on any blog that is it placed on.)

 

The last button I'm showing off is one I just happened upon.  I haven't actually read Dilly Dally and Flitter . . . yet, but I have plans too because I love the button.  I do know that this blog's creator is Michelle and that she has one nifty button. 

So those are the buttons this week.  Go take a look at the blogs behind the buttons if you have a moment.  Also, if you happen upon a great button or perhaps you have a button on your blog that you love, please let me know.  I would love to have you help me in my search for buttons that inspire. 

Craft on!