Craft Room Envy

I am so jealous of those who have a crafting space.

Room for all your stuff to be organized 

A place to sit in peace with tables, cabinets, open windows, and coffee.

As you know my craft area is also the office

and storage room

and house to Austin's creatures (snake, fish and geckos)

and room for the hunting gear

After reading Kyle's post on her craft corner I got inspired to get at least a tiny area for just me and my stuff.

Mason decided to help 

After an hour or so of going through, organizing and trashing I realized I was a hoarder.

I also ended up with a pretty sweet corner myself

 I fell in love with these large jars I found at the thrift store... 39 cents!

The desk is just big enough to hold the projects I need to finish up, some hooks, needles, and business card.

I am pleased and content with my space now. I realized I just needed to make the area mine instead of wishing it was so much more. 

Still one day, even if it is 25 years away, I will have a craft room.

Sewing project *1*

As I noted in my last post I am going to improve my sewing skills in 2012.

I started a bit early making a few Christmas gifts. One of them was for my photographically talented sister in law, Andrea. 

I made a lens case and camera strap. Many asked to see the final result and after meeting with her this afternoon for coffee, which was a great hour away with adult mommy/friend talk, I can share

I has a lot of fun making this gift. The pattern was suppose to make a case for her small lens, 50 mm, but it ended up being bigger than I thought. She will be able to use it for her zoom lens and I will alter the pattern for a smaller one. After making hers, I put together one for myself =)

my camera strap

I spent the morning looking through etsy for a padded camera strap.

I searched 100's of listings for just the right one.

i couldn't find it

I found a few i liked but I wasn't settling for one I just liked, I wanted to love it, especially if I was dishing out $20+ 

I ended up not buying one. Instead I went to Hobby Lobby to see if I could find that fabric I just loved.

I did't

BUT I did find some decent fabric on clearance  and fleece (for padding) 

I am not totally in love with it but for a total of $4 I am pretty pleased with the outcome until I find what I want.

This is the first time I made a camera strap and wasn't completely sure how to do it.

 I cut  two pieces of the cotton and one piece of fleece which I sewed sandwiched in between the outer fabric to add padding. 

I sewed a small pocket on the outside to put my lens cap in while I am shooting. 

When I was finished I noted a few things I wish to do differently next time.

I also found some owl patterned fabric I had left over from a previous project that I plan to make a strap for as a Christmas gift, I have the perfect person in mind for it =)

thrift store

I love thrift store shopping. You can always find a deal on things you need when crafting. I loaded Mason up the other day and we headed to a small store just 2 blocks away.

This is how mason chilled during our outing, I am positive shopping will be easier once he can sit by himself and before he can walk and talk =)

These are my finds. I have ideas for some of them and the others were just too hard to pass up. I will let you in on what I am making after the Holidays.... some are gifts

Homemade Crochet Case

Since I have been crocheting so much lately my little plastic bag that the hooks came in is starting to rip and show wear and tear. I looked up clutches and cases and decided to sew one myself.

I use this simple tutorial and made this adorable case.

It fits all my 7 hooks and I absolutely love it. Total cost to make was 4 bucks! Beats buying one for anywhere from $10-$25.

*inspiration*

I love looking through blogs. I spent hours a day looking at everyone's blogging, reading their stories and getting inspiration. I wanted to share some of the things I have been up to lately and how I came about them.

First I noticed that everyone was decorating for Valentine's Day. Normal I don't do too much to decorate for this holiday but after seeing all the neat craft decorations I had to do something. I put up a few around the house just for fun.

Next, after reading kyle's blog on the headband swap who couldn't want some sweet headbands?? I couldn't help but make a few. Kyle your bands rock!!

This one is done using crochet only. I crocheted a single line of half double crochet the size of my head. I then added 3 crochet flowers and buttons. The back is held together by a sewn on button that fits perfectly into a crocheted space :)

Simple headband. Hot glued a piece of vintage ribbon to a piece of elastic. Then added 2 crochet flowers

feeling crafty

This weekend I was feeling extra crafty and just wanted to sew sew sew. I got all my materials ready and pined everything together so all I had to do was sit and sew. I started my first stitched and my 100 year old machine broke....again. I was lucky that Andrea lives less than 5 minutes away and was willing to let me borrow hers. 

I finished up some burp rags for me and made some for a friend whose shower I am attending later this month.

I also wanted to make something to decorate Mason's walls. I bought 3 canvases and $2 worth of felt. I made little moneys which I then sewed onto leftover fabric I had from the changing table pads. I stapled them to the canvases and hung them on the wall. I love when ever I make wall decorations and I ask Austin how they look, he always finds something wrong with them. Apparently the money's ears aren't exactly the same...because I am not an artist nor do I make displays for a living I am still super happy about how they turned out.

They aren't on the wall yet because I haven't taken them to be stapled.

 Finally I mad some crinkle toys. These are really easy and quick to make. Again I asked Austin what he thought of the toy and he asked me if I made it up. I told him I found a tutorial on it and that babies love the sound and pulling of the ribbons on the edges. He is still convinced I am making the whole crinkle toy up. He will see when Mason gets here.

I am happy to have the time and ability to make home crafts. They really are fun and I love being able to say I made that.

Fall Crafts

Last weekend Austin spent some time fishing so I had so time to myself at the house.

Of course I crafted.

I made a beautiful fall wreath as well as some paper pumpkins to place around my tv.

I spent under $20 bucks at Hobby Lobby, was occupied for 3 hours and love how fall-y my home is becoming.

Paper Pumpkins

Easy Headband

Being as it is summer, I hate to have my hair in my face.

Bangs are the worst.

I took some ribbon, embellishments, hair ties and hot glue to make these simple headbands.

Because they are so easy and quick I was able to make several to match just about anything I wear.