Charm & Whimsy

My greatest crafty project of all.

I've been neglecting my poor crafty blog all these months - sorry my friends! I have a lot of projects to catch up on here but first - my greatest craft project of all...my darling boy!!

Mason Robert
Born October 5
6 lbs 11 oz
19 inches

Here we are on our first night home from the hospital.

Sweetboy - don't be jealous but I'm in love with another man. Albeit a very little one. You'll see more of this gorgeous little hunk as he models Mom's crafty projects.

Hope you're all enjoying the holidays!

Nursery mural continued - sweet baby animals riding a train and a baby update.

This was actually the first detailed part of the mural that I finished. I've been thinking about this mural for many years now and used several of my favorite japanese fabrics and japanese craft books (embroidery mostly) as inspiration. It was so much fun to paint, I didn't get a chance to paint everything I wanted to but think there is enough there that it still has the whimsy I had hoped for.

The details are painted with acrylics from Michael's (and I think I bought some at Wal-Mart too, they're just the tiny little bottles) and the wall paints (greens, tree colors, and sky) are BEHR wall paints in eggshell. Clouds are high gloss BEHR trim paint.

 

 
I had to get my first "baby" Chester into the mural! Still working on adding flowers and such. One of these days. Hopefully before he's old enough to want to paint over all this.

The glider was a project I had hoped to finish before he got here but alas - I will have to get the sewing machine out during naps or Papa time. The brown thing with yellow on top is a shredder, was planning to sew a slipcover that looked like a tree stump and the green thing next to it is a file cabinet. Another slipcover I was hoping to get to. We'll see if time permits during maternity leave.

On bedrest now, baby Mason will be arriving this coming Monday via c-section due to some complications over the last week or so. Preeclampsia AND he's breech. Good grief, he's keeping us on our toes. He's going to be a few weeks early but our ultrasound Friday showed him looking good and measuring just right. I'm sure everything will be just fine and we can't wait to see his sweet face.

Posting may be sporadic the next couple of months or so as we get used to our newest addition. It's hard to believe we're going to be parents in a day and a half! Today is our 11 year wedding anniversary. I can't think of a more wonderful present we're giving to each other.

We can't wait to meet him :)

Nursery mural sneak peek... vikings, a whale and trees oh my.

So while my hunky handyman boyfriend was busy fixing the tub yesterday, I busied myself working on the mural in the nursery.

Here's a sneak peek of what I've done in the last couple of days. More to come soon.

 

A bit of background, Sweetboy was a viking in previous life so I thought I should commemorate it for our boy. So above his crib, I've painted a fierce viking ship to guide him through life. The little viking will hold a sign that says "Sleep tight". Yes - a bit sweet for a fierce viking but it's a baby room for crying out loud. Work with me. There is white "foam" on the cresting waves, click on the bottom picture to see. I think that's my favorite part. I just have this thing with dots.

Alright - next post, the animal train. Can't wait to share the whole thing with you...

How to make an IKEA lamp into a whimsical mushroom lamp.

I'm working feverishly on the nursery and while it's almost finally together furniture and organization-wise, I still have to finish the detail painting of the mural and other little touches. Today I focused on the lamp.

 
I purchased the LJUSÅS SALBO at IKEA a couple of weekends ago with the idea of a mushroom or toadstool lamp. Someone suggested a dimmer lamp would be best for night feedings and this one fit the bill. I really liked the curvy base but the little green shade had to go so I also bought a FANSTA shade in a bright red.

I've been thinking about what would be the best way to attach white dots to this fabric shade. So today I tried white felt, white card stock and then plain white printer paper. Tape it on top or cut a circle into the shade and back it with the white? Let's see.

 

Gather some round items to be your pattern and a pencil. Trace onto your paper (I have felt and cardstock here from my trials but ultimately went with plain white printer paper).

The felt (top left) was translucent but it would attract dust and be hard to clean. The card stock (right) was nice and bright; however with the light on it was too opaque. I liked the printer paper best (lower left) because it was bright with the light off and with the light on it was a little translucent letting the light come through.

I tried cutting the shade itself (and did a crappy job I might add - it was really difficult to cut!!) and then sticking a circle of paper on the inside. While it looked good without the light off - I didn't like how it looked with the light on. So - back to taping the dots on top of the shade.

After cutting out different sized dots from the printer paper I used double-stick tape to affix them to the shade and VOILA!! A lovely, whimsical mushroom lamp.

The stuffed momma and baby hedgehogs in the pictures are also from IKEA :) Good luck!
 

Good grief...it's been too long but it's been a good absence.

I've been meaning to write. I've started several posts. I even started a tutorial, actually two. What can I say - I've been a bit scattered lately. However, I have been prolific in my craftyness! This is what my crafty table looks like. Yikes!



Let's see what we have in progress...

1. 3 baby sweaters (knit & crochet)
2. 2 crochet baby blankets
3. crochet baby booties
4. flannel pantyliners (I'm doing my part to save the world)
5. crochet footstool cover
6. crochet teddy bear
7. flannel baby blankets
8. applique onesies

Hmmm... are you thinking what I'm thinking? Why all the baby things?

Well we're having a baby!! Yippeeeee!!! So, besides my schizophrenic craftyness (I haven't finished one thing) I've been busy making a human being so I'm going to cut myself some slack for not posting. :)

I'm 15 weeks along and everything is going great! It's been a long road to this point. We're thrilled everything is going so well so far. Our last ultrasound showed her (I'm convinced it's a girl although we don't know for sure) kicking and punching and flipping around. Very exciting!

More to come soon. Thanks for stopping by - hope you're all doing well and enjoying Spring!

I guess I'm not the only one thinking about crocheting a fox stole.

A few years ago I was shocked to learn that my grandmother had a fox stole. My grandfather was a diplomat for Argentina and they were always at formal parties - I say that because nearly all of the pictures I can remember of my grandparents are of them at these super fancy parties in tuxedos festooned with ribbons and medals, ball gowns, jewels and fancy head pieces.

Anyhoo - being a former vegan (I did come back to the dark side - how could I stay away when I live with the devil himself?) I was freaked out that she owned a fur, let alone one with a head and legs on it. That little guy had once run around the forest! I always thought my grandmother was ultra glamorous and although there was some old world glamour to the stole I also thought it was creepy and wrong. So why not crochet a fox stole?? Hmmm...I've been thinking about it for awhile. I was even telling someone about the idea at work the other day. 

Fast forward to a few minutes ago while perusing my blogroll and coming across this via Holly at decor8...

Isn't that the coolest thing ever?? I love the color too. I'm far too "color-within-the-lines" to have even thought of making it in violet but that makes it all the more super. She has many different colors and a longer version. Head over there quick before she sells out! I'm sorry if you wanted this one - it's mine :) I'm not going to wait until I get around to making one for myself.

Painting ceramics - little house on a little cup.

So as you may know I am obsessed with little houses, specifically making things into little houses. I was recently at my Dad & Stepmom's playing with the new camera they gave us for Xmas (thanks guys :)) and saw the coffee mug I made a few years ago for Kathy's birthday.

I made it at one of those clay cafes where you paint ceramics. I could easily spend a whole day there, I do love painting pottery and ceramics...hmmm maybe I should pick that up again soon. We'll see - I have too many other projects in play right now!

 

 

 

 

I go to CeramiCafe in Grossmont Center when I want to paint molded ceramics. When I want to throw my own low fire pots or handbuild and then paint - I go to San Diego Ceramic Connection. Kouta is a MASTER and although I haven't been there in a couple of years (got distracted by a knitting/crochet phase) I have spent many mornings, days and nights there elbow deep in clay and paints. Must get back there soon - so much talent amongst all the students and of course Kouta's work. His studio is definitely one of my happy places.

Random web wanderings.

I can't stop oohing and ahhing over all of JooJoo's creations (above). Here are even more lovelies.

Cupcake signet ring via Awesome.

Gorgeous and unusual wall decals via design undercover.

Houseplant care tips. Desperately trying to turn my black thumb of death to a lush green thumb.

Scooped knit ice cream cone patterns from i like lemons, I'll have the mint chocolate chip please! She has many lovely patterns available, check out her olive plan for 2008.

(*updated*) Do you like miniatures? Food? Things that look like food? Enjoy these beautiful pictures or purchase some delicious jewelry for yourself here.

The secret ingredient, featured in these gorgeous pictures by Sweet Paul. I'd like to live in his pictures...

Sweetboy's birthday is right around the corner. What to get the man whose love of the sweet swine knows no limits? Alas... the Bacon of the Month club. He's REALLY going to love me now.

Would you like to live in the toadstool under our tree?

   

It's a charming & cozy 1 room house with a front and back door. Big enough to fit your shell (if you happen to be a snail). The flooring is made of real wood chips and natural landscaping around the perimeter. It's protected by a lovely Chinaberry tree and a river rock moat. Rent is free.

If you'd like a toadstool house in your yard, contact the artist Johnny Nott (760-747-3796) and I'm sure he'd be happy to sell you one too!

Here's another one of his cute toadstools in yellow. Check out the real one outside of the pot. I didn't even notice it until I uploaded the picture a few minutes ago. Super!

I spent all morning in Annie's attic.

For you crafty peeps out there - you MUST check it out. I think I've looked through every single page on the site and although some are silly old-fashioned things there are some really neat patterns mixed in.

Like this cutie stealing a pie from the knit pattern, Little Dumpling Ladies. Soooo cute! I don't know that I would take on this type of a project these days but it's fun to look at and I bought my fair share of other patterns like these below:

• Old Fashioned Quilt Afghans (crochet) - I've been searching for a crochet pattern for a wedding ring quilt for years. I saw one in a store eons ago, didn't buy it and have been wanting it ever since. Yay - I found one!
• Goldilocks & the Three Bears (crochet) - I'm thinking this will be a good starting point to dream up other cute handpuppets, building off their base pattern.
• Honey Bee Kitchen Set (crochet) - I just like the tea cozy and it's on sale. Score!
• Flower Bouquet Doily (crochet w/thread) - This would look beautiful framed.

Also - I found this artist on Etsy (Beads In The Bellfry) and her designs are charming and whimsical, no wonder I liked them.

 

Check out her beautiful jewelry; Easter and Mother's Day are coming...support independent crafters!