Don't Stop Till You Get Enough

What a completely sad day. So many sad things, first Farrah Fawcett and then Michael Jackson. The Farrah documentary was perhaps the saddest thing I have ever seen, I completely lost it at the end when her son came to visit in shackles and a prison jumpsuit. And Michael, what a career. If you could just erase everything from about 1993 on...The video for "Black or White" is still awesome to this day. And as a young kid in the early 80's, who didn't love Thriller? The best scene in "13 Going on 30" had to be the Thriller dance scene, without MJ, wouldn't have been possible. Hopefully they are both at peace, and their families find solace in the outpouring of prayers and thoughts being sent their way.

Enough seriousness, let's see how large Zoe, the big white dog is becoming:




Check out the size of that paw! In all honesty, my hand is pretty small but still.

Is Big Hair Next?

My faith in music has been restored. As I was listening to the radio online, I heard quite possibly the best song I have heard in quite some time. The band is called Halestorm, the lead singer is a chick, and it is awesome. A hair metal vibe for the new millenium if you will. Of course I did a google search, then youtube. Just watch:



She's like Lita Ford for 2009! And her band is all guys, how cool is that?

There was a semi-flaker in the "Deck Out Your Outdoor Space Swap", so another lovely craftster member and I stepped up to make a package. My contribution will of course be pottery, and these patio lights:



Hard to get a decent shot, but they are yellow twinkle lights, a strand of 50 so it should be a great size for a condo patio. Extreme close-up:



They were easy to make, but time consuming.

Supplies needed:

tiny twinkle lights(best if you can find them with a green wire), fake flowers, green florist tape, scissors

1. Remove all the flowers from the stems, get rid of the middle part. If necessary, cut the hole a bit bigger so it will slip over the light.

2. Slip a flower over the light, use the florist tape to secure it to the light, under the light bulb of course.

3. Repeat until all lights are done.

4. If you were like me, and used lights with a white wire:



Take the remaining florist tape and wrap the wire to cover all the white wire so it looks more "vine-like." If your fake flowers came with leaves, add some of those in between the lights. I used Hawaiian Leis, thus I had no leaves.

5. Hang up, plug in and enjoy your awesome craftiness!

Once I go on youtube, I feel compelled to look up old videos. Enjoy this gem:



Best. Band. EVER. I was lucky enough to see this song live, and they were totally amazing.

It doesn't hurt to do something crafty every day....

should be my motto. I just came home from a glass fusing class, and am trying my hardest not to buy a jewelry kiln on Craig's list. But it would be so small, and run on a regular electric line. Think of all the cool stuff that could be made...but I must remain strong...

Have you ever tried to get two puppies under the age of 5 months to pose for a picture? Well, it's next to impossible. My sister brought her new puppy Riley, a Yorkie Catan to visit over the weekend. Zoe and Athena LOVED her, and actually whined when she left. For as big as Zoe is, she was so careful with delicate little Riley, who weighs all of 3 pounds.

My new addiction is officially soap making. I visited the bath and beauty thread on craftster.org, because I am on a mission to post a project in every category this year. Except in the crochet category. I for the life of me cannot understand crochet, I have tried and tried to no avail, but I digress.... I have been buying from:

http://www.wholesalesuppliesplus.com/

and let me tell you, awesome prices. Like I said before, the store is 10 minutes away. Now how can I not keep making soap? Over the weekend I tried the oatmeal base:



and really like the results. Easy to unmold, holds a scent well, nice natural color. A few bars, coupled with a handmade soapdish, Merry Christmas!

Slacker!!!!!!!!!!

I haven't posted in awhile, probably due to sheer laziness. I did manage to download a widget to have my wists scroll at the side of the page, and I think it's rather swanky. Wists are really awesome, way better than bookmarking. I have about a billion bookmarks, but to find anything is a nightmare. That is why I love wists, to see a picture will clue myself in to why I have it marked in the first place! Not to mention how great it is for craftster swaps. Although I am feeling a little burned out on the whole swap front. This is the second package I have sent where days go by, and I still haven't heard if my partner liked it, hated it, anything. Not that I expect them to think the package was the best thing since sliced bread, but a simple thanks, it was received in one piece would be great.

More importantly, Zoe is growing like a weed. She will be 5 months at the end of June and gets bigger everytime I look at her. You've heard of Clifford, the Big Red Dog? Meet Zoe, the Big White Dog.

I did wake up to 3 sales on etsy! I haven't had a sale in forever, so that was a fabulous surprise. It got me motivated to list a few things, like this toad house:



I was going through leaf withdrawal all winter, and now I am in heaven! Hosta leaves leave really great impressions, and since the deer are eating elsewhere, I have many different kinds at my disposal. I threw a few moth balls around them, and the deer have stayed away. Which is good because the different hosta varieties are the focal point of my front landscape.

This vase was made from a group of hosta leaves, rolled into the clay, and the resulting vase was handbuilt. The glaze was a "froggy green" and it turned out really cool and heavy in some places, and in others you can see the stoneware showing through:



but as much as I try, I just can't get a picture to truly represent how awesome it turned out. I'm a potter, not a photographer!

What do they put in this?

Crack? Heroin? Seriously, Cherry Coke Zero is addictive. I LOVE regular Cherry Coke but it being summer and all I'd prefer not to be as big as a house, so I am trying to semi-diet and exercise. Walking with the dogs about an hour or so a day is my lazy person exercise plan, and my diet plan is not eating sugar. But I took a chance, bought a case of this magical stuff, and now I am hooked. Will the aspartame or whatever synthetic chemicals inside kill me? Eventually, but for now I will enjoy it. And sometimes with a splash of Vodka!

My swap package for the Viva Mexico Kitsch Swap is done and packed up. I really had a great time, I'm usually very reserved in my crafting, but not this time. The package includes:

1. Ikea mirror with saint images. I believe someone had to drink 72 beers in order to obtain all those beer caps. Thanks DH!(see earlier blog post)
2. Sr. Kitsch, an origami nun
3. Tiny shrine with magnets inside(see earlier blog post)
4. 4x6 picture frame(see earlier blog post)
5. 2 Sugar Skull Bowls(see earlier blog post)
6. Handmade skull soap

Here 'tis, in all its kitschy glory:



Isn't it purty?

As if I didn't have enough crafting endeavors, I decided to add soap making to the list. I found a great supplier on craftster, placed an order, and it arrived a few days ago. After looking at the packing list and the company address, I realized the store is DOWN THE STREET from me. For real, I could drive there in under 10 minutes. How I never knew is beyond me, but all the more reason to make soap. Their prices are by far the best I've seen:

http://www.wholesalesuppliesplus.com/

I am starting slow, with just MP. I already am using the lingo, MP is short for melt-and-pour, I'm such a pro.(now I am just being silly) I decided at 1 am Saturday night to try it,and here are the results:

Skulls using rubber ice cube molds:


Standard Bars:


I even got fancy and tried double layer! I tested out one of the skulls, and not too shabby. My main goal is to make stoneware soap dishes with hand-made soap as Christmas presents. Never too early to start, I have a few soap dishes drying as I type. Photos to come!

Etsy Yart Sale!!!!!

Starting tomorrow, there will be a HUGE sale on etsy, a "Yart Sale" and my shop is participating. I have already adjusted my prices, and am offering a free gift with purchase for the duration of the sale. I've been busy listing new items, so the shop is stocked and ready to go. If anything, I need to buy dog food for this little gal:



She is getting bigger by the day, my husband says we will need a crane to move her soon! A sale in my shop will keep little Zoe in chew toys and treats, how can you say no to that face?

On the swap front, I think I am finished with the Viva Mexico Mexican Kitsch Swap on craftster. I have a billion more ideas, but I better stop before I need a Uhaul to transport everything. My last 2 projects:



A tiny shrine, decorated with flowers and leaves. I'm not overly religious, but everyone should have a cross or two in their house. This is small and tasteful(I hope).

I bought these teeny tiny clothespins and finally got to use them. I drew little sugar skulls on shrinky dink paper(the pattern is from Sublime Stitching, Dia De Los Muertos), shrunk them and glued them to the clothespins with a magnet on the bag. I tested them and they do hold a sheet of paper on the refrigerator.

Pictures of You

I really miss The Cure. The radio station I listen to at work has been playing them a lot, I totally forgot how much I liked them. I was more of a headbanger back in the day, but did love some alternative now and then.

I am crafting away for the Mexican Kitsch Swap, and really having a great time. My recently completed project is a picture frame, because EVERYONE can use a new picture frame, right? The sugar skulls were made from model magic and I am 95% happy with how they turned out. A while back I found rubber ice cube trays shaped like skulls and snatched them up, just knowing one day they would be used. I filled them with model magic, and after about 30 minutes in the freezer, popped them out of the mold. I waited a few days for them to dry, but they really never got past the "hard marshmallow stage." I prettied them up with some thin tip sharpies, and "hit them with spray" to seal them up. That is why I am only 95% pleased, the spray made the colors run a little. Not terrible, but just enough to bother my OCD. The frame is just plain wood, painted sunny yellow. Apparently they do not sell fake marigolds, so I settled on sunflowers. Glued it all on, here's the finished product:



and a closeup:



I feel like I need to add some kind of picture in there. Of what, I am not sure. I also have the bowls complete:



and really love how they turned out. Blue and pink, his & hers. They can even be hung on the wall, that might be cute. I posted one for sale in my etsy shop too, and have one in my kitchen for a spoon rest. I have an idea for one more project, and then I am ready to send!

Bull in a China Shop

would be exactly how I describe our little Zoe. I say little, but she is becoming increasingly bigger, even as I type. I am so please she is finally doing the whole outside potty thing, with a minimum of accidents. Even in the rain, which is a big step for us. Not that she is afraid of rain, just totally distracted by it. She listens pretty well, but we did have our first "situation" a few days ago. She routinely runs laps around the living room/dining room every evening, just to get that last little puppy energy out before bed. On this particular day, on her way around the table, she decided to grab the tablerunner. Not a good idea, considering the terrariums I had made(and blogged about earlier)were on said table. They came crashing down, and I was left with broken glass, bits of succulents and large amounts of dirt and rocks ON MY CREME CARPET. Once it was cleaned up, this is what she did:



That's right, passed out on the loveseat in the office. I would be mad, but when she sleeps her bottom lip opens a little and you can see her wee little puppy teeth:



Seriously, how cute is that?

Swatch Dogs and Diet Cokeheads

The rain just won't stop, so I was forced to stay inside and watch tv. As I was flipping through my favorites, I stopped on the Biography Channel. The Sharon Osbourne Bio was on, cool, I watched it awhile. But later on, I flip it on and none other than the best band of all time, yes that would be Motley Crue, is on. Next will be Metallica, then Ozzy after that. It was like "Behind The Music" on VH1, but somehow so much more reputable. Finally, metal getting the respect that it's always deserved.

On the swap front, just started on my third project for the Mexican Kitsch Swap on craftster. I bought a plain wooden frame and will be adorning it with fake flowers and sugar skulls. I am making the sugar skulls out of crayola model magic, so they won't be too heavy. I found the best rubber ice cube trays at the dollar store in the shape of skulls that I finally get to use. I filled the tray with model magic, put it in the freezer for a half hour, and then popped out perfect little skulls. Once they dry I will paint them. It will either be really tacky or really kitschy.

Reading my favorite blog today, PerezHilton.com, I came across a story that could potentially be very very bad. Apparently they are going to be remaking the best movie of all time, "Heathers." Christian Slater will be appearing in it, but it didn't say if Winona Ryder would be. "I don't know, the whole thing just leaves a bad taste in my mouth," to directly quote Veronica Sawyer sums up my feeling on the remake. Sometimes sequels are good: Father of the Bride Part II for example. I just don't see how they could do the original justice, but I'll be first in line to see it if they do.

I miss you Marlboro Man

I have not smoked in almost 2 years, so why do I still want to? The lovely lady to the left has been smoking since she was 7, and at 103 is still going strong. Obviously an anomoly, but awesome just the same. Since the day I quit, I have not cheated. Not even once. Not even a puff. It's so hard to give up, cigarettes become your friend. They are there for you in good times and bad. What better way to de-stress than smoking a cigarette and collecting your thoughts when things go haywire? I pretty much started smoking Marlboro Lights exclusively just because Christian Slater did in "Pump Up The Volume." Great movie, but off topic. There is nothing like that first cigarette in the morning, or that last one at night. Smokers are always in a rush to complete a task just so they can light up. Now I ask, where is my motivation? I don't really consider myself a "nonsmoker", but more a smoker who doesn't smoke. Why that makes me feel better, I have no idea, but it does. But do I miss going out in a snowstorm when I run out? No. Do I miss rationing them at night like a crackhead so I don't run out before morning? Not in the least. The huge pricetag? Of course not. But that first one in the morning? Or after a great meal? Or while relaxing by the firepit on a warm summer night? I miss that more than you'll ever know.

Too Tacky?

After a long hiatus from crafting(ok, it's only been a few days), I finished one of my projects for the Mexican Kitsch Swap on craftster. I printed pictures of different saints, angels and Our Lady of Guadalupe off the internet. I just couldn't bring myself to use holy cards, the standard Catholic Guilt got the better of me, and these worked just as good. I used photo paper so they're even glossy. I used my 1" circle punch to cut the images to fit perfectly inside a bottlecap. I just love that punch, it's the best $4 I have ever spent. I was going to finish them off with resin, but decided not to. I glued all 72 around the mirror and voila:



And a closeup:



I really do like how it turned out, it is definitely the kitschiest thing I have ever crafted.

The milagros I ordered from etsy already arrived, yay! I may not be selling anything in my store lately, but that doesn't stop me from buying. I am on the hunt for a tiny shadow box to make a shrine of sorts. My old standby craft store, Pat Catan's, only had one, and it was way too big. How I wish there was a Hobby Lobby close by, but alas there is not.