photography: simple things

 A little boy and his chips. 

(using my new 50mm 1.8)    

i like yellow

Yellow is happy and sunshiney and makes you feel warm and fuzzy.

So I made an Etsy treasury with pretty yellow lovelies from the members of the handmadeology team.

(Each picture is clickable and goes to its direct site. I just figured out I could do that!)

But go here to see the whole thing.

a giveaway and discount code

 Head on over to Allora Handmade for a chance to win one of my snakeskin cuffs.

Or use coupon code ALLORA for 15% off anything in my shop.

thrift store remake: anthropologie skirt

My take on this Anthro skirt.  Mine only cost $4. This isn't much of a tutorial, so you can scroll down to the bottom for the finished product and skip the rest if you want.

Before hand it was long and huge.

I cut it to the new length, saving the bottom excess. I took in one side seam to fit properly and took apart the other.

 

The skirt had two darts so I used one as my guide and cut down from the dart on the side of the seam I took out. Did that just make sense?

I took the excess fabric from the bottom and sewed it length-wise to the cut-out piece. And then this is where I got kind of stupid. I'm not a super-experienced seamstress. I can follow a pattern and make simple items but when I am free forming it, there's a lot of trial and error. Anyway, I sewed a seam up the length of the cut-out piece on both side. That is, I hand sewed a seam. I don't know why I hand sewed it. It would have been ten times faster to sew a baste stich using my machine. At least ten times fast as I hand sewed and took out several seams that weren't even enough, close enough, or not far apart enough. Stupid stupid.

When I finally had a proper stitch, I gathered the long, cut-out piece to the length of the skirt. I sewed it in place. Then I pinned on the top of the skirt to add a stay stitch. I finished hemming the skirt and it was done.

Finally, my finished product. I love how it turned out. It's definitely my favorite.

(I don't have great lighting in my room, but you get the idea.)

let's make friends

It's friend making monday via All The Weigh. Oh, there are so many link-up parties in which to link up! And since I've been having brain fade today, it's an easy post. Now go link up your own.

1. Where is your cell phone? bag

2. Your most significant other? husband

3. Your hair? curly

4. Your mother? nice

5. Your father? goofy

6. Your favorite? beach

7. Your dream last night? forgotten

8. Your favorite drink? water

9. Your dream/goal? unsure...

10. What room you are in? bedroom

11. Your hobby? photography
12. Your fear? laziness

13. Where do you want to be in 6 years? alive

14. Where were you last night? bed

15. Something that you aren't? organized

16. Muffins? yup

17. Wish list item? furniture

18. Where you grew up? California

19. Last thing you did? drive

20. What are you wearing? jeans

21. Your TV? broken

22. Your pets? children

23. Friends? far

24. Your life? progressing

25. Your mood? varies

26. Missing someone? friends

27. One place that I go to over and over? school

28. Something you want? peace

29. Your favorite store? anthropologie

30. Your favorite color? yellow

photography: macro friday

Here's this week's Macro Friday submission.

I'm not sure which of these I'd pick if I were to frame one. I really like them both. And I can't ever make up my mind.



Link up here:

keeping memories

I used to scrapbook. Mainley when I was pregnant with my first, up until I started working part time outside the home once he went to preschool. But my husband and I started our own business when he quit his job, then I got pregnant again (insert major sickness here), blah blah blah, five years later I still haven't scrapbooked. I've been thinking of easy ways to create memory books for each year.

I found these great templates from simple as that. I thought they would make a great scrapbook all printed out via Blurb or something. Here's my first try for January 2010.

I really like how it turned out. My only problem was when I went to my February folder I had only a couple pictures. And in August I didn't even have a folder. No pictures in August. How sad. And I'd rather have 12x12. So, using the same concept, I came up with these:

They aren't in chronological order, but mixed in with a few of these monthly collages I think it'll work for me.

another lifetime

I was born in California and lived there for 14 years.

One Winter in California, probably around 1987-88, I'm on the left. We used to go to the sand dunes, Glamis. This year we took our Christmas tree and burned it. But first we decorated it "Glamis style". Yeah, that's a gas funnel up there on top.

Then I moved to Nevada and lived there for 6 years. I was married in Nevada and graduated from UNLV.

This is January 2001. Obviously, I had just gotten married.

Then my husband and I moved to Indiana for a job. We were there for 9 years. It's cold in Indiana. And it snows there.

Eli on the left in Jan 2010. Zach on the right in Feb 2007.

As of this past weekend, I live in Arizona. Right off of Route 66, Kingman, Arizona. I know, right? Kingman? It has its perks. It's close to Phoenix, California, and Las Vegas. And it has these:

These views were from a little home set on 10 acres of mountain that we toured. We wanted it but decided to put an offer in on a home closer to town. But someday, when the kids are gone, my husband and I will live in the mountains and view the sunset each night.

Everywhere you look there are beautiful mountains. On my way home from the main street of stores, I cross Route 66 and see mountains. Outside our little rental I have a clear view of the sunset over the mountains. And in the early morning when I take Zach to school, I see the sunrise over the mountains. I am going to have to do a picture tour of the area as it is just amazing. Yeah, so, it's Kingman. But it is gorgeous and we're ready to start our next lifetime here.

an anthropologie copy

UPDATE: I finished the necklace with a couple little metal discs. It really finishes off the piece, I think. Continue for the original post.

Does anyone not like Anthropologie? I'm not sure I've met anyone yet who doesn't. They have this sweet little necklace that I thought would be super easy to make.

 And so I did and it was.

I used a combination of leather, ostrich, lizard, python, and alligator skins. I used a grosgrain ribbon, not silk. I didn't have and couldn't find the little brass circles locally so I ordered them online. I'll add them in once they come. I haven't decided if I'll add it to my shop. I may use it as an exclusive for a giveaway I have coming up.

I entered this necklace in the 733blog contest.