Two of One Hundred: Make Jewelry

I haven't had much time to be creative over the past few years, and that has always been a big part of my identity. Making jewelry is another task on my list.Tonight I played with some resistor parts and jewelry pliers and made two pairs of earrings.

Fave Five: Gifts for Experienced Crafters

In case you missed it, I posted gift ideas for new crafters earlier today.  Experienced crafters can be easier or more difficult to shop for.  They know what they like, but they might already have it.  Luckily many crafters tend to me somewhat obsessive, so there is always another gift to give.  Click any of the links below for easy purchase suggestions.

If you need gifts in time for Christmas, you can get a free 30-Day Trial of Amazon Prime with free two-day shipping.

Image Credit: Amazon
Someone buy me these crafty earrings.
Right now.

Crafty Jewelry: By and large, crafters like to talk about their crafts. Knitting or sewing-themed accessories tell the world your friend is a crafty, crafty woman.

Decadent Supplies: For the knitter or crocheter, sumptious yarns with fancy fibers like silk, alpaca, or even cashmere.  For beaders, precious or semi-precious beads.

Image Credit: Amazon
These rainbow-hued, double-pointed
needles are beautiful to see and use.

Upgraded Tools: Check your friend's craft tool box.  If she has some tools that are showing their age or if there are some that might be missing.  Last year my mother-in-law gave me beautiful, double-pointed needles that are as lovely as they are functional.  With the gift of tools, you know your friend will think of you as they are crafting throughout the year.

Books and Magazines: One of the many wonderful things about crafting is that there is always something else to learn.  Books can teach advanced techniques and offer inspiration, while magazines have the latest trends and topics.

Storage and Organization: Another trend I've noticed among crafters... their crafts can get a little out of control.  There are many options for boxes, totes, and more to keep crafts organized at home and on the move.  (Note: I wouldn't give this gift to someone I didn't know well.  You don't want anyone to think you're calling them cluttered.)

Craft on!

You can also check out my gift guides including quick crocheted gifts, quick handmade gifts, and gifts under $5.

*Disclosure: I have an Amazon Affiliate account.  This post contains lots of affiliate links.  If you purchase something, I may receive compensation.

Fave Five: Gifts for Crafting Noobs

'Tis the season to be shopping... and the deadline is drawing near to have gifts in time for Christmas.  If you would like to give the gift of craftiness this year, here are five ways to help your friends and family acquire a new hobby.  Click any of the links below for easy purchase suggestions.

If you need gifts in time for Christmas, you can get a free 30-Day Trial of Amazon Prime with free two-day shipping.

Image Credit: Amazon
A "class in a box" has the tools, materials,
and instructions needed to introduce
anyone to a new craft. 

Kits: Kits provide a self-contained craft experience.  Look for kits that come with the tools and supplies needed to complete the project, so the crafting noob won't be frustrated.  My friend Nancy (who also encouraged me to start crocheting) sent me an cross-stitch kit for Christmas last year.  The kit allowed me to try a new craft without the commitment of purchasing a large quantity of supplies and tools.  There are kits for beginning knitters, crocheters, beaders, embroiderers, and most any art or craft you can imagine.

Classes:  Many craft stores offer instructional classes.  Michaels and Jo-Ann Fabrics both have class lists on their website, or check your local, independent craft stores for their class offerings.

Image Credit: Amazon

Magazine Subscriptions:  Subscriptions are the gift that keep on giving.  New and experienced crafters can get inspiration and instruction delivered to their home on a monthly basis.  I subscribe to Crochet!, Crochet Today!, and Knit Simple.  Magazines were especially helpful when I was first learning to see the spectrum of possible projects.  Magazines typically have projects with varying levels of difficulty, so they continue to be useful as your friend's skills progress.

Quality Tools:  Good tools can make the difference between an enjoyable experience and a frustrating one.  I've received a two sets of nice crochet hooks, one set of Bamboo Crochet Hooks and one set of Soft Touch Crochet Hooks, and they were a big improvement over my cheap aluminum hooks.  Quality tools don't have to be expensive, and they are more than worth it when they save your friend's sanity.

Image Credit: Amazon

Good tools make any craft more fun.

Craft Subscriptions: There are craft of the month clubs for every interest, and still others that send a variety of crafts to try.  There is yarn of the month, Simply Beads kit of the month, and the Creative Woman Club.  A little googling reveals many more.

The gift of craftiness can be an enduring legacy, long after the kit is made, class is taken, and magazine is read.  Give it it this year!


You can also check out my gift guides from last year including quick crocheted gifts, quick handmade gifts, and gifts under $5.

Check back later for five gift ideas for experienced crafters.

*Disclosure: I have an Amazon Affiliate account.  This post contains lots of affiliate links.  If you purchase something, I may receive compensation.

It's What's Inside that Counts

I still love the x-ray effect of this t-shirt I crafted at Halloween last year.  I only wish I had remembered to wear it more this year.  I added a cutout felt heart to show that I do have a heart... and to tie the red hat and shoes into the outfit with another element.

 

Skeleton t-shirt, crafted by me; jeans, Talbots, blazer, thrifted; shoes, Younkers; earrings, Target; hat, Target.

 

I wore my trouser-style jeans from Talbots to bridge the work/casual divide, and a dressier blazer to bring the t-shirt and jeans up to business casual.  The overall dressiness of an outfit is determined by the average of its parts, right?  I guess by that logic I could wear a tiara and sweatpants to work.

 

We're having morale-improving spirit days at work, and today is hat day.  Unfortunately this hat is too small for my gigantic head.  I guess sometimes you have to suffer to improve your morale.

 

Fave Five: Last Minute Halloween Costumes

I love Halloween, but it has snuck up on me the past couple years.  Suddenly it's October 30 and I haven't planned my costume.

Last year's skeleton shirt.

Skeleton: One of my favorite DIYs was the skeleton t-shirt I made for Halloween last year.  It was ridiculously easy and it turned out great.  It wouldn't take much more effort to do up some matching sweatpants... and makeup if you're a real over-achiever.  I tried a number of Halloween costume craft ideas last year, but the skeleton shirt was my favorite.

Rosie the Riveter:  Guess what I'm wearing this year?  If you want to be comfortable and warm for Halloween, I think this costume is perfect.  Extra points for the woman-power message.

Witch: It's an oldie but goodie, and most of us can come up with everything but the pointy hat out of our day-to-day wardrobes.  I particularly like this version from Delia Creates.  She has a sickening spiderweb cape that I would wear any day.

Greek Goddess:  "Just add bedsheet" costumes are pretty great.  If you pin your sheet into a toga, you're a goddess.  If you throw it over your head, you're ghost.  Of the two I prefer goddess, but of course I do.

Fortune Teller:  Fortune Teller appeals to my inner raccoon.  Search your closet for flowy, bohemian clothes, add large quantities of gold jewelry, and carry around a garden gazing ball, tarot cards, or even playing cards.

**Bonus Idea** Fashion Blogger:  I think it would be very funny to be a fashion blogger for Halloween. Wear things that don't go together.  Call it pattern mixing.  Take selfies all day.  Tell people you're famous on the internet.  Congratulations, you're me.

For more ideas for quick, low-effort costumes, check out Real Simple Magazine and Buzzfeed.  

Deceptively Tasteful

Thank you, Kristin for the today's post title.  This is a tasteful outfit, right?  I am fully covered in conservative colors and silhouettes.  I accessorized with more conservative colors including a necklace bearing an affirmation: "My goal is to always come from a place of love."  That's a good goal, right?  I took this quote from RuPaul, emblazoned it on a piece of shrink plastic, and shaped the necklace around it.  On the back side of the pendant is the rest of that quote.  That's why all that tastefulness is deceptive.

 

Shirt, swapped; skirt, swapped; belt, BELT; shoes, SHOES; earrings, EARRINGS; necklace, handmade by me.

 

If we've met or if you've read this blog before, you may know that I consider Ru a philosopher for our time. He's right- my goal is to come from a place of love... but sometimes it becomes necessary to break it down.

 

 

Cloning Dinosaurs

Wanna clone some dinosaurs?

Do you have an extra $195?  Cool!  Good for you!  Don't bother reading the rest of this post.  Instead, just click on the link below and buy this awesome Tyrannosaurus rex necklace by Tatty Devine.

I have loved this necklace for a couple years now, but it seems a bit silly to spend $200 on a dinosaur necklace.

I recently bought some Graphix Shrink Film (like generic Shrinky Dinks ), so the stage was set for DIY dinosaur eleganza.

Image Credit: Tatty Devine

I started by finding a image of a t-rex skeleton on the internet.  I used it for a rough idea of what to draw, but I made a much simpler line drawing than the reference image.  I took up the entire 8.5x11" sheet with my dinosaur drawing.

Since I still had space along the sides, I drew two more dino skulls for earrings.  I colored all the pieces with a black magic marker.  Tip: When drawing on shrink film you can erase mistakes with nail polish remover.

 

I cut the skeleton image into four pieces: head/neck/arms, ribs, legs, and tail.  I punched holes in each piece using a hole punch so I could connect the finished pieces using jump rings.

 

Here is what the skull earrings looked like before and after baking.  They are not identical because dinosaurs, like snowflakes, are each precious and unique.

 

Here is what the necklace pieces looked like before and after baking.  I was amazed by how much they shrank.  I connected the pieces with jump rings and added a chain.

 

I am so happy with this necklace.

Photo bomb.  I didn't notice him until
I started cropping photos.

 

I hosted a clothing swap Friday night, and these cute magenta moccasins found a home with me.  I'm sure I'll be sharing more swap finds in the coming days and weeks, but unfortunately I didn't think to take photos during the event.

 

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