Monthly Archives: September 2010

tutorials I’ve been dying to try

The past few weeks the blogosphere has been swimming with the d.i.y. spirt. Here are some tutorials I’ve been dying to try, but haven’t had the time.

Fold Away Shopping Bag Tutorial

via Crafty Ady

Double DIY: Invisible Shelf Meets Abstract Modern Sculpture

via dornob

Light Bulb Terrariums


via The City Cradle

Messenger Bag Tutorial

via Thrift Stitch

The Beehive


via A Cup of Jo & the NY Times

DIY Waves of Ruffles Shower Curtain Tutorial

via Adventures in Dressmaking

These are all going on my “winter break time-off to-do list.” What about you? Have you seen any genius tutorials lately?

The Sundae Edition

Sorry for the blog neglect. I’ve started a running club on top of my regular exercise routine and it has left me exhausted. I’m doing some form of exercise almost every day of the week. It’s hell.

Also, I’m suffering from really wonky internet. I haven’t even been able to watch the series premier of Glee, which aired on Hulu this week. The repair man for my new service is here right now.

More diligent posts are in my future. Until then, here are some leftovers I’ve wanted to share with you, in place of the weekender that I missed.

Hipster Dinosaurs via Buzzfeed

Yes, I totally have that coloring book.

Fall isn’t quite here in Tallahassee, but it’s just around the corner. I’m ready for things like this:

Six Craft Projects to Try with Acorns via Re-Nest

and this

Halloween S’mores in a Jar via Tatertots and Jello (has recipe!)

Kendi from Kendi Everyday did a guest post on Make Under My Life as part of her Design Your Life series. Kendi shares her intentions for her life in an honest and inspirational way. Sure it sounds cheesy, but it has me thinking. What are my intentions for my life? And do I know who I am?

The Weekender 09/17/2010

Happy Weekend. That’s my darling baby Watson. This is the first weekend in weeks that I’ve been at home. I believe the term is “staycation.” I’m excited for it.

Here are some fun things to look at while enjoying your weekend.

The Art of Doing Stuff has a very simple tutorial on making a personal fire pit. I think it’s very elegant looking. I’d love to have one in my house.

I must be in a warm, snuggly mood, because I was instantly attached to these candles. Fall is right around the corner and that’s the only time you can really get away with lighting candles in Florida.

Via Re-Nest

Jen over at Indie Fixx has a great list of statement necklaces that she found on Etsy. She also shows you how to make your own.

Via Fair Lady Fashions

Apparently the trend this fall is t-strap heels and ankle length socks. I’ve been seeing them everywhere. Tieka was sporting this look on one of her recent posts.

Via her blog Selective Potential

It’s a cute look. But I’m a little bummed about the visible sock thing. I mean, come on, who has the effort to find matching socks in the morning?

Also, my boyfriend was sad I didn’t feature any pictures of my new kitten. So here’s another one.

Blog Love: Tiny House Blog

Oh, Tiny House Blog you really make me yearn for the simple things in life. Each time I see one of your posts, I think to myself, “I can do it. I can go off the grid.” All I would have to do is buy one of your portable houses and squat on a piece of land in desolate somewhere. Throw away the cell phone and cancel the internet. Is it too much to dream?

Spend a Night in Jay’s Fencl

I mean, really, what would I ever need a large house for? What do I have that I couldn’t fit in a 20 x 20 (or less) space?

The Slabtown Annemarie

This one’s for sale, at a very reasonable price. And it’s portable, as are most of the houses on the blog. How charming is that front porch? The link above also has interior shots.

That Roundhouse

I’ve always wanted to build my own low-impact house. These folks did a quaint and fantastic job.

Mountain Modern Park Model RV

I’ve always been one to defend trailers as suitable places for living. I love the tiny fragments that make up this beautiful mobile home.

Wendell Greenalgh’s Little Idaho House

Oh, please, yes! I want to live in you. This blog also sells floor plans, so you can build your own tiny house. Maybe it will be my next diy project.

All images courtesy of the Tiny House Blog.

Natural Design – Mushrooms

Life is just so hectic sometimes. How is it almost 9 o’clock? I’ve sat down on my couch for the first time today. It makes you wish for a place to relax. A place like this:

That was the view about twenty feet from my campsite. Some friends and I went to Torreya State Park for a birthday celebration hike. Oh yes, I hiked that. Well, some of it. It was quite intense. However, before the heavy, labored breathing kicked in, I did get some great snapshots of natural beauty. Since this blog focuses a little on design, I think it’s time to give Mother Nature some credit.

I really can’t offer any help in stating what type of mushroom this is. My gut told me oyster, and my stomach wanted to agree, but my brain was too frightened.

I think these are turkey mushrooms.

They look so tasty…

and pretty.

Mushrooms are just like humans; they like to sunbathe too.

This little guy was my favorite. It was velvety and looked like it should be soft and squishy, but then it was very solid. It looks like something that belongs under the sea, right?

the weekender 09/10/10

Good Morning. I hope everyone does something fun this weekend. It’s well worth it.

Here is some food porn to make you wish you weren’t on that diet: 15 Desserts that Could Replace the Trendy Cupcake.

These are Bakerella’s famous Cake Pops (not credited on site, or at least, I couldn’t find it.) These are the first in a line of crazy cake pops that she’s done. They’re incredibly hard to make. Mine turned out more like cake lumps, but I’m going to try them again.

Apartment Therapy has me wishing I lived under the sea with more marine life art.

Really, it took a lot of effort not to add the giant octopus triptych print as the main photo. Because, I don’t want to be that girl. But you should really check it out. However, the jellyfish is equally stunning.

Here are some old photos of the All-American Cowgirl. My favorite is this cowgirl fashion one.

via Flavorwire.

Before I depart on a Friday filled with work, then fun, I’d like to share this Zen Habits post on The Brief Guide to Life. I’ve been reading it every day. Zen Habits is one of my favorite blogs. This is copied from the site:

the brief guide

less TV, more reading
less shopping, more outdoors
less clutter, more space
less rush, more slowness
less consuming, more creating
less junk, more real food
less busywork, more impact
less driving, more walking
less noise, more solitude
less focus on the future, more on the present
less work, more play
less worry, more smiles
breathe

Happy weekend, all. I’m going camping for a birthday and celebrating my friend’s cancer-free body. I hope everyone finds something fantastic to laugh at.

I Made This: Blue Dress with Dancing Business People

I found this skirt at the Goodwill in Savannah.

I’m always apprehensive about buying things at Goodwill because they’re usually in the $4 range, and sometimes require a lot of work (I have a perfect example of this in an upcoming dress.) But the print on this dress was way to fun. But what exactly is it?

Dancing women and men in 90′s business attire? Whatever it was, I wanted it on my body.

I hate hemming. So I cut this one from the top. I had to remove the zipper and re-sew that seam. From there it was pretty simple.

I folded the top over about an inch and pinned it, prepping it for the elastic.

The guy on the right next to the seam is my favorite. Anyway, Then I sewed it down, leaving room for elastic to enter. I didn’t want an inch of elastic, but that was all I had, so I cut it in half lengthwise. My biggest fear was it losing the elasticity, but it worked fine. Then I threaded the elastic through my seam.

Then I sewed the elastic in tight. At the end, I grabbed a black ribbon (about two inches thick) that I’ve had for years. I wrapped it around creating a high waistline. The ribbon moves, so I had to sew it on to the dress, which gives it a more professional feel anyway.

Here’s the result:

This is a fun one. I’ve already worn it out to do some errands.

Thanks to my lovely beau, who took time away from watching The Big Lebowski to take pictures of me.