love and repurpose.

On one of my thrifting trips I happened to spot a lovely quilt. It wasnt the cleanest of stores, and sure the quilt was dirty, had some candy stains on it (even a candy too I recall, yuck!), some dog hair, and it was pretty ratty looking. But all I saw were the colored bits of fabric, and the stitching. I tentatively touched a clean spot when I found one, and it was soft.

I think I paid a dollar for it.

I washed it up, and have been using it since. I love it. I've had it on my daughter's bed, I've had it on my couch, and happily wrapped around myself.

Funny thing is, my mother *hates* it. Thinks I should toss it since it is so ratty looking.

Well I've had it folded up and put away for the last few months, until today when I saw someone else's AWESOME post about something similar, and it inspired me. I hauled out this quilt, and one of the body pillows we've had in storage, (Why does stuff that's been stored always smell? Gag).

I sewed up the quilt to be one big pillow case, perfect for my daughter's twin bed. I still love it, and I hope she does too. You too, mom.)

Pretty.

Just do it.

Blog because you love it. Not because you want this many followers or this kind of reputation.

This is what I hear, and it totally helps to hear this on a constant basis. I too find myself getting anxiety over silly things like "my blog isnt as cool at that one!" and such. Just blog. Just do it.

So I will. Try to anyways.

This past weekend Mark and I scooted away to Victoria. Its nice to just get away from Courtenay, away from the house and the daily life. I got to do a bit of shopping and hang out with my dad. We had an awesome dinner and visit with an awesome couple we know. We had to make a stop in Nanaimo because Sophie was getting pretty upset in her seat, and we made plans to meet up with another couple of friends, and good times were had by all.

My Harry Potter obsession is rearing its head these days, and in the past couple of weeks I've made Sophie the Harry Potter costume for Halloween she's asked me for. The works. I'm even going as a Gryffindor student. I also made a Deathly Hallows necklace, wanted poster, mauraders map, and spell book. My stop in at Chapters yesterday had me leaving with the Harry Potter Poster Book.

Yay!

I feel a need...

to CREATE! The last couple of days have had my hands twitching, my brain in overload, and some serious stalking of Pinterest's craft pins. I've been on an awesome roll with making things that are fun and even sometimes useful. The only thing I've noticed is that I can usually get a project done in less than a day, and a great example would be yesterday, where I finished THREE projects. I don't usually need or want multiples of each item, and I can't always rely on Sophie to play with the things I make for her. At least she humors me with a "Oh mom, thanks so much! This is great!".... before she puts it down and plays with something else.

Octopus based on a free pattern found online.

So today I'm wishing that I had a fan/client/buyer base that would be interested in buying my stuff. It would put my growing skills to good use, give me great practice, money to buy more materials, and all that jazz. I once tried to do a craft market when I had an 'in' with the people in charge. I think I was set up for a couple of hours, but I also had my small daughter to take care of and my hubs wasn't into helping me out that day. I got really discouraged and angry, and never bothered again. I once set up a Facebook group, got a bunch of likes from friends, but never sold anything. I once had a little stand in a shop with some crochet earrings, but the only 2 sets that sold were to the ladies who worked there.

Harry Potter inspired magic wants via Pinterest.

Not that I wish to be a huge internet renowned success or anything, but, something would be nice. I like making things for people, and I like it when they or their kids like the product too. Once in a blue moon I'll get a commission for something, and its usually some of my best work. Even all of that, is a hard thing to even think of when I don't know many people on a good friendly basis in the first place, online or in life. Cant count on family either, we are unfortunately too few, and out of touch.

Crochet princess crown, free pattern here.

So here's to hoping and trying not to give up. Maybe I'll make that Facebook page again, start blogging again, nag at people to buy things, and glue a big happy smile on my face so they'll go for it. Maybe try to pimp my goods somewhere, maybe even start an Etsy shop! But, as with most things, I dont know how long this crafty spell will last, how long I'll want to bother with any of this for, how much more work I'll need to bother with if I'm selling anything online (shipping, packaging, etc).

Recycled wool slippers, no pattern, suede bottoms, hand cut and sewn.

All the pictures posted here, are the projects I started and finished in a two day span. Peace out. <3

Hello Again.

While life isnt always as boring and uneventful as I usually make it out to be, its hard to remember the good fun moments, or even to put much meaning or significance behind them.

This morning Sprout and I went to our Gym Tots class and had a lot of fun. She's one of the older kids there, and this week had more kids in the class, so there was more fun and learning to be had. Sprout actually had more fun with swinging on the rings, the bars, balance beams and trampolines! I was quite impressed, as I was feeling iffy on the class this go around for some reason.
My friend Sev and her daughter K came over in the afternoon and we ended up going for a wonderfully lovely walk to the air park, around it, and back. So good to get out of the house and away from screens, especially when the weather is still nice!
This evening I was pleased to receive a phone call letting us know we got into the Mother Goose program at the rec center! Good thing I put our name on the 12 person wait list, yowza! I was looking at my planner, and we've got something to do every single day during the week! Fabulous! We've also started going to a new tot group, tomorrow will be our second visit, and we both really enjoyed it last week.

Last night I tried my hand at some kool-aid play dough. It was a success! Nice and pink! I managed to find some used play dough accessories the other day, so we hauled those out, and the play dough out of the fridge, and Sprout had a great time. She pretended the play dough was a baby, feeding it, carrying it, and I even heard her talking to it. She even put every thing away after I asked her too! Hurrah!
This evening, in another attempt to keep her away from her tv, we painted some rocks together, and it was pretty fun. I'm on a mission to try toddler friendly fun new things!

Sprout had a good day.

Whats new?

I've been doing a lot of reading lately, working my way through the Harry Potter series. I'm on the fourth book now, and already I'm enjoying them more than the movies. A few details better explained, and some other things that were never even touched on! I'm loving it.

And babysitting. Yep. I hang out with toddlers most days. Its a wonder my brain hasnt flat lined to a constant "WEEEEEEEEEEE!" yet.

Today I made myself three belly warmers. A scrappy layered tshirt one, a lined ribbed one, and a super nice purple fleece warmer than I'm wearing right now, and I'm so cuddly and warm! I love wearing layers, and this makes it even more fun. Also called Haramaki's, they're essentially just a tube top, worn around your middle, keeping your kidneys, liver, and other assorted bits nice and warm.

I've got three birds sewn up, and now I just need to attach them to one of the rings, and finish the mobile. At least that will be one finished! I've also been making a few other things here and there: hand warmers, and a tissue pouch. I'm still working on my tshirt rug. I feel a need to be creative, but sometimes I feel so stuck. My only source of inspiration these days are neat blogs that I come across.
Its an itch I cant always scratch.

I (and probably everyone else!) can really notice a difference when I dont take my 5htp or my daily vitamins. Like, WOW. Stay away from me before I bite your head off!

Yeah.

I've been a crafty, crafty girl!

After browsing camera strap covers on etsy.com lately and cringing at paying over $30 for one, I skipped downstairs and made myself this:



Purposely left scrappy looking, I simply adore it. Even though its not quite what I wanted, I may have to make myself another one day. And now a friend wants me to make her one too, and another friend may want to buy one. OH!

I finished knitting the dude toque I've been working on, and I think someone is interested in buying it. Just a couple missed stitches circled in this photo.



Apparently in Japan, the crochet earrings style is very popular. Maybe I need to get my stuff at a couple more different places in town. HRM.

I'm wearing a skirt today. Can you believe it? ME. IN A SKIRT. Maybe I'll post a picture..

I've started a 'snow day' hat, pattern taken from A Beautiful Mess for Sophie, and a crochet circle fall garland. I love the look of both, and think they would be super cute to have.

I've been doing a lot of blog browsing lately, finding some great, crafty, inspirational people, and have nicely added them to my google reader. I guess I should be leaving them comments with links to my blog, right? How else am I supposed to get myself out there and make friends?

xo, Fran.

What have I been up to? Not blogging!

I've been trying to do more crafts, to stave off the looming insanity, be creative at least once a day. Sometimes if I'm lucky, I'll do a half dozen different things a day, creativity at its finest! That and taking care of the house work and The Little Miss. Well. You know where I'm going with this right?
I cant be one of those funny blogger moms! Yet.. But I did have this blog post idea all day yesterday, in which I'd write about getting felt up by the kiddo while she nurses. I'm glad we're doing the mama and baby bonding, and all that good stuff. But really? She's got to play around with the other breast too? Is it boredom? She needs some nursing entertainment? My boobs are boring!? Anyway..

Alright. I fail. But look!

Schleppy - from Crafty Mama:
Makes 49 Fast, Fabulous, Foolproof (Baby & Toddler) Projects. Which your child is supposed to instantly love, yadda yadda; Sophie just throws it away from her and couldnt care less. I did stay away from the crazy colors it called for, and used up what I had. Sigh.


Happy - from The Cuter Book by Aranzi Aronzo. Sofar Sophie likes it.


Yeah, I'm knitting a dude toque.


Painting! *lovelovelove*


I altered this boring old denim tote into this!

Sickly.

While I wasnt feeling too bad the other day, now its a full on cold. I needed kleenex today, STAT. Arent they funky boxes? Mark's worse than I am, he's got an ear ache to deal with as well. Sophie's seems to be doing better than we are, naturally.

I've replaced a picture I didnt like with these, that I mostly put together today. Its a piece of wall behind the couch, Sophie's fort area that she doesnt use much. Yet. I think itlooks much better.



Instead of markers (she's lost the purple one already, OI) today, we played with some play dough.



Also picked her up some clothes at superstore, that were mostly on sale, a pink pair of tights, and sage green colored play suit set, and a red apple pattern shirt with red shorts. Like this:

Hi!

My SIL and her friend were over here yesterday pickling beets. Naturally I didnt really do much, seeing as I had to chase Sophie around and tend to her. But it was definatly interesting to watch, and I hope I can remember how to do it myself in the future. I tasted a fresh beet and it was delicious! It being the first home grown crop (we have a shared garden) we only got maybe half a dozen jars canned. Something is always better than nothing. SIL is also giving me another bag of clothes, which is always fun. Yay for funky hand-me-downs.

I havent done much with the website/shop in the last few weeks. I cant help it, I am totally uninspired right now. I will probably re-post the scarves, hats and what not that I still have, and see if anyone is interested. I've got the knitting itch again, and I'm currently working on a pair of toddler gloves, in hot pink. I have a beautiful ball of yarn for a nice cozy toque, when I get around to knitting it. Quite possibly some dish clothes as well. I love my knitted dish cloths.

My home decor is shifting a bit, and I'm leaning more towards 'granny-chic'. LOL. I've doilied my couch inspired from here, (hey its covering cat scratches too).
I recently bought a quilt from a thrift store for a buck. It's SO worn, it was a crazy quilt pattern, and almost all the pieces of fabric are worn away, it was outside, dirty, had some melted candy of some kind on it. But I fell in love with it. I took it home and threw it in the wash. It's even better now that its clean, and I dont mind the worn out fabric so much, there's a corner or two that is still hanging in there.


I'm also reading some SARK again. I need to be inspired and motivated.


You know those plush disney chairs, that have some character on them? Have you ever come across a craft project or whatever, where someone has recovered the chair? or sewn something over the character? Even just a soli piece of patterned fabric would be fine, I'm just getting tired of Mickey Mouse watching me all the time.

Sleepy Mornings.

I would love to be up in the early morning hours and get Sophie and myself ready for the day, running off to early toddler groups or the library, or any other bits of excitement. But you know what? I also love sleeping in (read as: getting as much sleep as I can since I'm up at various time through the night) and lounging around with cartoons, waking up nice and easy.

I was looking though etsy last night at crib sheets. CRIB SHEETS. I'm sorry but I dont want to pay more than $20, if that at all, for a crib sheet, I dont care how funky it is! So I may actually go buy some fabric in the near future and make one or two myself. Again, my quest for more colors and patterns!

Here are a couple recent pictures.

I painted her chair, this is the back of it.


The front.


Her decoupaged table.


She loves the rag rugs.

Crafty! - Pillowcase Dress

I just made this for my daughter, after having the pillowcases laying around for a few months already. I love that I had matching green ribbon for it!
It'll be great for the hot days in Alberta next week!





Cheers!

html, and crafts.

After much fiddling around with my template html I finally fixed a little blurb that was bothering me. There was a partially hidden link for older posts by my picture, and it was bothering me. Done and gone!

I talked to my buddy Danny most of the day while he was at work, and I think that was the most we've talked in a long time! He's now the oldest internet friend I have, and the only friend I have in the states.

I also escaped the house for an hour and checked out a couple thrift stores. I picked up a few foam wreaths to try some projects with, and a couple pretty skirts.
My parents will be here in a couple hours, and I cant wait! I miss my mama. Then we're watching Avatar tonight, I doubt anyone else is going to show up to watch it.

Tomorrow is the town Earth Day festival, so that should be fun to check out with the family and Sophie. Yay.

I made something pretty for my camera strap, as blogged at http://wildolive.blogspot.com/2010/04/fancy-up-your-camera-strap.html

Not my image, but pretty darn close. Its cute.