Crafty and Caffeinated

3 Month Milestone Triggers a Giveaway at Norah's Knot!

2014-08-12T01:02:00.000-06:00

Yesterday, Norah's Knot hit a huge (to me) milestone!

Three months ago, I officially claimed my own little corner of the internets! It has been an absolute joy and a whirlwind of activity. Every custom order, every chance to get an idea out of my head and work it through to completion has been insanely satisfying, even if blogging has taken a bit of a backseat. I do apologize for being MIA.

Here is a snapshot of just some of the dolls I have shipped since opening..

I think 93 days of business calls for a celebration, and so I am thrilled to announce

"Giveaway, Part 2!"

Here is the deal. All you have to do is tell your friends about the Norah's Knot Facebook Page. When the page hits 100 likes, a randomly selected follower will be the new owner of a handmade, Norah's Knot doll. It couldn't be easier!

Word on the street is (don't shoot the messenger) that Christmas is 19 weeks and 3 days away. A Norah's Knot doll would look fantastic under any tree! Just sayin'.

Remember, 100 likes triggers the giveaway!

Norah's Knot - Grand Opening Giveaway!

2014-05-15T19:18:00.000-06:00

Do you like free stuff? Head over to the Grand Opening Giveaway at Norah's Knot and enter to win this free handmade doll! Feel free to share with everyone who loves beautiful and free things. (Sharing the post at Norah's Knot is best!)

Good luck!

Disclaimer ~ this is not the giveaway post. Comments on this post do not count as an entry.

Norah's Knot - handmade dolls

2014-05-10T10:15:00.001-06:00

I am very excited to announce the launch of my new site - Norah's Knot - handmade dolls.

Stay tuned for the Grand Opening coming soon! A giveaway, discounts - you won't want to miss it!

Crochet Challenge: Week 9 - Pattern Organization

2014-05-07T22:16:00.000-06:00

Organize your patterns this week. Do you have a special system for your patterns? Can you find a specific pattern easily?

I could be accused of spending way too much time browsing through all the possible methods of decluttering and managing my spaces. There are so many pretty systems and solutions but my problem typically lies more along the decision and *cough* implementation side of things. I have yet to find any one system or combination of that is capable of transforming my chaos into a well oiled machine. This particular challenge makes me very happy because I already have a pattern system in place that I LOVE and that works for me. There is nothing traditional about my system - no pretty scrapbook pages or binders created with an extra dose of love or sappiness. I despise paper clutter almost as much as I love pretty paper. Even more, I am a sucker for cold, unfeeling technology.

My system in a nutshell:

Evernote and my iPhone. Evernote is a note taking and file clipping app and syncs with the same app on my Macbook. I also have a scanning app (TinyScan) that works just fine for my purposes. Paper patterns get scanned, converted to .pdf and inserted into Evernote. I use Evernote for recipes, doctors visits, passwords, hockey schedules, volunteer schedules, wine labels, blogging - the possibilities are endless! I can always find what I need through tags, and I love the web clipping function. Portions of web pages can be imported right into the appropriate notebook in Evernote, synced in the cloud and are updated on all my devices.

Patterns/projects I plan to make "someday" are either left on Pinterest on a "Crochet Plans" board, or saved in Evernote in a "Crochet Plans" Notebook, organized by project type.

***

Now all of this pattern organization would be amazing if I ever completed a pattern as written. Thinking back, C3P0 might be the only thing that I've made exactly as a designer intended. I am just over a year into this crochet thing, but I get bored super easily and I often find its easier to modify an available pattern than to find one that is exactly what I am looking for. I typically take the best parts of multiple patterns and combine them into something that matches what is going on in my brain!

Below is a simple example of a notebook I used for a leg warmer project for my niece. Multiple notes of inspiration and styles she liked, and then a pattern "note" combining a few different styles - essential for making an identical leg warmer mate!

There you have it. Nothing fancy, but it works for me! Everything contained in a couple devices and no pages to be torn out by sticky fingered bandits!

***

Do you have a tried and true method of organizing your patterns? Tell me about it in the comments!

52 Week Crochet Challenge: Week 8 - Fix it or Frog it!

2014-04-25T23:18:00.001-06:00

Stumbling around my blogroll the other day, I came across this 52 Week Challenge spearheaded by Julie of Red Berry Crochet. Why take on a year long challenge? Benefits: meet new people, share some projects, be inspired - my stash may even make it out of the tangled mess it's in and into an organized display (maybe?!?). I can't seem to wrap my brain around "catching up" on the 7 weeks I have missed, so I am jumping right in where we are.

Week 8: choose an unfinished project and "Fix it or Frog it".

PHOTO CREDIT: dream-wallpaper.com

"To Frog"

(verb) the act of undoing (ripping out) stitches in needlework.

Say it with me..."rip it, rip it, rip it" .

ie. Are you going to frog that afghan you started 2 years ago and never finished?

I'm sure it's a sign of my newb'ness to the crochet scene, but I only have one unfinished project, a blanket that I started this past February when it was minus friggin 40! I curled up under this project with a steaming hot mug of apple cider and didn't leave my house except for necessary evils. There is nothing complicated about it - repeating rows of hdc and colour blocks of various widths, while keeping the blocks of cream a uniform width. It is soft and warm and most importantly, your toes don't get caught in gaping holes (the worst!)

It is sitting in a bag in my closet, unfinished, entirely because of this butter yellow skein of yarn. I wanted mustard, but for weeks no one had it in stock. The best I could find was butter yellow and it just wasn't working for me. I waffled back and forth for days.

Frogging the yellow and replacing with orange did make me much happier. Until... see that skein tucked in beside the blanket? Yes, I found mustard. Are you beginning to see why this blanket was never finished? I swear I have colour ADD.

So for this week's challenge, I have made a final decision to frog it once more and go with the mustard. Finishing the blanket will actually have to wait until my current project is completed, but the only thing holding me back from finishing it has been making the final colour choice. I'm calling that a success!

What colour would you have chosen? Have a better colour? Let me know in the comments!

5 Crochet Blogs Every Beginner Should Read!

2014-04-07T15:42:00.000-06:00

My crochet-ducation started out with some determination, a single "I" hook and a couple balls of yarn. However, to say that "I taught myself to crochet" would be a massive disservice to those bloggers who, collectively, taught me everything I know! I scoured google and streamed YouTube videos one after another to learn even the basics, but my journey from that first set of leg warmers has been paved by others. Featured here are 5 bloggers that were instrumental in my first year of learning to crochet beautiful things!

(If your post is featured here and you would like it removed, please let me know!)

1. Crochet School by Crafty Minx

PHOTO CREDIT: Craftyminx.com

The first stitch of my very first swatch was a result of this series by Crafty Minx, so it has to be at the top of today's post. The Google gods pointed me here, and while I have mentioned it before, there would be no tribute post without acknowledging who it was that first got yarn onto my hook! This series was exactly what I needed - her lessons followed a logical progression with great explanations, step by step instructions, slow motion videos, FAQ's and common mistakes. It moved quickly enough to keep me interested and for the keeners, she even has a graduation/diploma!

2. Jogless Stripes by NeedleNoodles

For the first round of slippers I made for our kids, Caleb requested horrible, bright orange stripes. I hadn't yet figured out how to make the stripes line up properly, so they were zigging and zagging and looked terrible. After briefly considering positioning the uneven join on the bottom of his foot, I instead went back to Google and landed at NeedleNoodles' "Jogless Stripes" post. If your stripes look like stair steps it is definitely worth heading to her tutorial. This post has two methods, one for working in a spiral and one for in the round. Go forth and fix your stripes!

PHOTO CREDIT: Christen Haden at http://NeedleNoodles.com

3. Magic Circle by Micah Makes

It took me a few tries to get the magic circle down, but the post "How to Make a Magic Circle" at micahmakes.com cleared up any confusion I had. I find the Magic Circle method a less secure starting method than some others, but it is definitely a technique that I am glad to have in my back pocket.

4. Invisible decrease by Planet June

The black arrow in the first photo is pointing to a traditional decrease, or single crochet two together (sc2tog). These decreases are very visible and leave bumps where the stitches are combined. Planet June's Invisible Decrease eliminates these bumps and as you can see from my photo of the blue hat, it isn't easy to tell the decrease from the regular stitches.

5. The Invisible Fasten Off by Stitch Story

PHOTO CREDIT: Shelby at http://www.stitch-story.com/

Many instructions for fastening off state something to the effect of "... cut your yarn approximately six inches away from your work and pull the cut end through the last stitch to knot." While this does secure the cut end, the result is an ugly bump where the knot is formed. The Invisible Fasten Off technique by StitchStory.com creates a smooth edge that mimics the 'V' of a regular stitch. I use this fasten off for anything crocheted in the round. Brilliant!

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What crochet tip or technique would you add to this list?

Window Herb Garden v2.0

2014-03-27T13:30:00.002-06:00

Repotting done and these babies are soaking up the sun. Last year was a massive, dare I say epic fail with the bugs and killing of all the living things. Mr. Smarty pants pilot thinks my chances of success will be higher if I water them. Pffft.

Crocheted Doll Makeover

2014-03-26T13:21:00.001-06:00

Last October, Glen asked THE question being asked in almost every house..."Norah, what do you want to be for Halloween?". Yes, she is three years old, but we probably shouldn't have been so surprised at her answer:

"NOT a princess!"

This was quickly followed with:

"Maybe a chicken?"

I only know of one person with a chicken costume, and her kids were already using it, so this meant a trip to the halloween store. Nary a chicken to be found, unless you count the headless one in the back by all the bloody stuff. Not gonna fly. We scoured the walls with Norah - princess, slutty princess, spiderman (MOM...Spiderman isn't PINK), preschool-sized nurse (very weird!) and winter princess. We managed to grab the last girly, monster costume, but it was very clear to Norah how fun the boy costumes were compared to the wimpy, sucky girl costumes. In the end, she rocked the monster costume, but chalk up another point for homemade.

While princesses aren't really her thing, this girl of mine LOVES dolls, and it is the snuggly babies and the soft round, girly bodies that always catch her eye over any Barbie or Bratz Doll. Sticking with my current "stuffy" kick, I worked up a doll for her that she named after our neighbour's baby, Tahlia.

Creepy, yes? The big black holes were staring straight ahead. These eyes needed some lovin' so I added eyelids and worked up a quick dress. I didn't love it, but the dress would have to do for now, the child couldn't wait any longer, she NEEDED this doll.

It didn't take me long to realize that her hair just sucked. It kept shifting and lifting and had awful coverage, exposing her poor, bare head to the harsh, Alberta spring. In retrospect, of course it was sucky. I sewed it onto the part line and only tacked the front and sides down. I loved the wavy effect from the Country Loom yarn, but I cut corners to avoid having to attach individual strands of hair. Off came the sucky hair. Back to work.

I started this makeover by working up the front and side hairline, a strand of hair in every stitch to avoid ugly gaps and to define an area to fill with yarn plugs. I wish I had started with longer strands of yarn as these wispy front pieces don't quite reach to be tied back. Next time I will start extra long and trim it back. I did switch to longer yarn eventually so it is a bit shaggy. Lesson learned. Call it "layered".

The hair in the back starts 5 rows or so up from her neck seam and is worked in rows moving up to the top of her head. Every second stitch or so is enough for this area, it needs thinner coverage or the hair won't lie smoothly. According to Caleb, this style is a "skullet" - bald on top but long in back. He came SO CLOSE to convincing Norah that I was leaving her doll like this - Cue.the.drama.

The top of her head has a plug in every stitch. No more bald patches or shamefully thin hair!

And a pair of shoes to complete the outfit! These are sewn on because, kids. 'Nuff said.

Cute little Mary Janes!

Full coverage hair plugs!

The pillowcase dress is from a tutorial by Skip to My Lou. Her pattern is for a much bigger doll but I was able to cut my fabric to fit Tahlia and followed the awesome instructions for putting it together! Even a sewing rookie like myself couldn't mess it up. Transformation complete!

And it looks like this restyle was finished just in time for Tahlia to be put right back to work, cuddling a little sweetie hit hard by another stinking flu.

Maia's Hat

2014-01-30T13:47:00.001-07:00

This hat was yours. You won't wear it, but it will always be yours. Your days, every single one, were a precious gift and I wish that we could have come sooner. Love you, baby girl.

Jedi Master Yoda

2014-01-23T17:04:00.001-07:00

Made up of mostly spheres and cylinders, this pudgy little jedi master was so much easier than Caleb's dog. For a few minutes, I got a bit hung up on the fingers and toes, and made the mistake of suggesting that Yoda's hands could possibly be "ovalish" and stacked on top of a walking stick. That went over about as well as you can expect, with a raised eyebrow and a "Julie, things can't always be easy and simple. " So basically, suck it up and figure it out.

I made each toe separately, sewed the three toes together and then worked around the outside for three rounds to form the foot. Turned out great, but was finicky and took a while (ie. longer than I wanted to spend on a doll for my husband) so I changed my tactic for the hands. I like the toes better, but these were FAST and I was way too lazy to start over.

Yoda's hood pulls up and the cloak is removable. This could be useful in the event Glen is playing with his doll and wants to change his outfit sometime. He does need the cloak in order to stand.

Now he's asking for an AT-AT Walker. Why couldn't I have married a man who likes slippers?

"It's exactly what I wanted!"

2014-01-23T14:24:00.000-07:00

Caleb has been feeling left out of the "pillow pals" scene lately. Norah and Will both have these cozy pillows that transform into a stuffy and to add to the insult, Will's bear even shines stars in alternating colours onto the ceiling.

"Mom will you crochet me a dog? One of those pillow dogs? It could look like Chaz, with one ear up and one down, one leg a different colour, and it could be blue....or lots of different blues. Oh and his mouth could be doing this (cue dog face impersonation). And then, you could put a couple different patches of colour on his body and I could name him Patches. "

Wow. He'd obviously had this all planned out for a while, so I sent him to my yarn box to pick out some colours that he liked. I've never made a stuffy before, but why not, I'll try. He came busting in the door after school a couple days later... "Mom, did you finish my dog?" My response?

"Wellll, how do you feel about turtles?"

Worst.Dog.Ever.

I sure do love that boy of mine. Even with only the head and body attached, it was clear that this stuffy was never going to look like a dog. "That's ok, Mom. It doesn't have to look EXACTLY like a dog. In fact, this is how I wanted it! Half dog, half turtle!! You're not as terrible at making stuffies as you think you are. "

I added legs and a poorly shaped tail that made the turtle look like a fat tailed gecko and almost chucked the whole thing out the front door. Did I mention I don't fail well?

Things I learned from this blasted dog:

If the shape is off early on...for the love - rip it out and start over;
Proportion, proportion, proportion;
If you decide to proceed with the tiny head, it will always look like a turtle. There is no return from turtle;
Stuffing does not fix shaping problems (see the aforementioned gecko-dog).

Caleb still loved his "dog" and he wasn't ready to give up on it, so I decided to take a second stab at the head. For some reason, the math of how I wanted the head to look just made sense this time. The ears came out just as Caleb ordered and I love how cute the face is. I stuffed the turtle head inside the new one, filled in the space with stuffing and sewed the whole thing together. The journey to "dog" was long, but I am so happy with the result!

Now Glen is feeling left out. I can't win. "You still haven't made me anything. Will you make me a Yoda? With a walking stick, no - a lightsaber!"

Stay tuned.

I saw Mommy kissing Santa Claus….

2013-12-24T22:19:00.001-07:00

It's Christmas Eve. The kids are busting with excitement, 'The Empire Strikes Back" is on and I am baking. Word on the street is that Santa really likes Monster cookies.

Bright Copper Kettles and Warm Woolen Mittens...

2013-12-23T21:27:00.000-07:00

There are a handful of movies that were on regular rotation growing up. "Fiddler on the Roof", "The Gods Must be Crazy" and "The Sound of Music" were right up there at the top of the list. The trailers for the Broadway Musical had me stoked to see how they would handle this classic. Carrie Underwood as Maria?!?! This could be great!

….Epic fail. I have no words for how awful it was to sit through the entire show. I wish I could say I turned it off. It was three hours of my life that I will never get back. It did however, inspire the networks to air the original (redemption perhaps?) and even Glen was feeling Christmas-y enough to sit through it. All of those warm fuzzies got me thinking of MY favourite things at this moment. This list is not exhaustive and I'm sure with some effort I could come up with a list of philosophical or sentimental favourites. That sounds like work, so you get this. Enjoy.

David's Tea

I always have Checkmate and Read My Lips in my tea stash. Stormy Night was a gift from a dear friend and it is well named. Hail, wind, rain, lightning…it just works.

Handmade Stockings from my crafty Mama

How amazing are these stockings? My mom made one for her and my dad, each of the 6 kids, 6 spouses, and 20 grandkids and every stocking is unique. Last week, I asked for a matching stocking for our dog. She didn't hit me, so there is still hope.

Parenting via Elf on the Shelf!

"Can I play on your iPhone?"... "Norah already had a turn!"… "I just want to play angry birds"… Sorry folks. Fancypants has the iPhone. Guess we can't play on it till tomorrow.

Handmade Ornaments

This little number has become one of my most prized ornaments! Caleb lovingly made it last year and to my horror, insisted on it having a prominent place on the Christmas tree. This little craft has quite the fan club, and I really should have it laminated. If you would like one of these on your tree …trace your scissors. Better yet, get your whole family or your girlfriends all together and make it a craft night - you could have a whole set of these on your tree. Do it.

Charlie Brown Trees

Every ornament Will has pulled off has been put back a little higher. If he removes even one more from the bottom half of the tree, this thing will topple like a Jenga tower! You will also notice the garland that Little Miss tried to put back in a panic after pulling it off. I have moved past hating this awful mess to a place of appreciation for the moments that are passing way too quickly. Baby wins…I give up.

***

There really is so much to be thankful for…Reading the story of Jesus' birth to the littles and Nativity scenes, watching their faces light up at the Christmas lights and 'Home Alone' for the zillionth time but the first through the eyes of a six year old boy. Paying for the car behind you at Starbucks, frosty windows and snow tunnels in the front yard. Now that lady in the car ahead of me who let AT LEAST 8 cars in before deciding to go? Too much Christmas spirit. Dial it back a notch.

This year is the first for me being able to make handmade gifts. My crochet hooks have been busy (hence the blog silence), and for once a "handmade Christmas" is a possibility - not this year, but maybe next. I love the simplicity of beautiful, handmade treasures crafted with intention. This last little while I made two scarves, 9 pairs of slippers for my sister's family, Norah and my parents, finished up the last of 5 minion hats and have started on a set of leg warmers for my niece. Glen has 5 whole days at home and then two days of work before we go on a little holiday. Life is good.

This Christmas, I hope you have warm slippers on your feet, a steaming cup of tea in your hand and treasured memories made with the people you love. Remember the reason we celebrate, Love came down. Blessings to you and yours.

Beaded Bags - Craft Fair Sneak Peek

2013-11-22T18:37:00.000-07:00

Like it? Get your butt to the Kings Guild craft fair tomorrow from 10-3. Grab a coffee and take in all the crafty goodness. What are we fundraising for? See this post!

Granny squares don't quite do it for you or looking for something a bit smaller?

Perhaps one of these will suit you or your lovelies better.

This blue bag started out as a flower using this tutorial by B.hooked Crochet. I adore this bag. It has a zippered lining and an inside pocket. If you like this one, you'll have to beat Shanna to it!

If you want to see more, you know where to be tomorrow. Happy shopping!

Paper Bead Crochet at King's Guild Christmas Gift Sale

2013-11-02T22:40:00.005-06:00

Ugandan paper beads - beautiful jewelry made from scraps of paper and bits of glue, handcrafted by people living in a world which contrasts starkly against the reality of our own. Every market day, every necklace sold means another opportunity to provide for a family. To eat. To live.

Multi -tasking: laundry day and market day!

My niece and nephew were born in Uganda and joined our family through adoption. They lived in an orphanage for a period of time under the watchful eyes of the "Mommies", women responsible for the care and wellbeing of the children. These women supplement their income by making jewelry, handbags, aprons and other goods.

Esther in her shop

My sister and a handful of women in our church have been supporting them since 2009 by selling their craft items here in Canada. All of the profits from the craft sales here are sent back to the women who made the jewelry.

My task the last couple of weeks was to come up with some new ways to use these beads. My sister made some gorgeous stitch markers, and I decided to try to incorporate the beads into a swatch of crochet. After attempting a few different methods (and hunting down bandaids for numerous bleeding fingers) I settled on a system for getting the beads onto the yarn and moved on to dressing up a few wallets and handbags.

Need stocking stuffers? Here is a sneak peak of what I've been working on!

Paper beads crocheted into seam of zippered Sunburst Wristlet

In-progress, basketweave handbag

Lining... zipper...back pocket...everything you need!

Needs a bead fastener perhaps?

crayon/notebook purse

Stop by the King's Guild gift sale on November 23rd, 2013 from 10-3pm in the gym of King's University College, 9125 50th Street. Check out the necklaces and other ways we are using the Ugandan Paper Beads. If I incorporate even one bead in one of my bags, a portion of the proceeds will go to a baby home in Uganda that will forever hold a special place in our lives.

Crafting through a Minion Uprising

2013-10-04T14:05:00.002-06:00

My minions have been keeping me busy, Little Miss minion in particular. At three, she definitely has a mind of her own and has since the moment she started showing personality. She is spunky, adventurous, exasperating and hilarious. She has insatiable curiousity, and rarely gets into the same troublemaking situation twice. She goes and goes and goes. Some days I have the mental fortitude to remember that on the other side of this phase, these qualities will serve her well, she will be an amazing and autonomous human being. But most days it is all I can do to keep myself from dressing her in goggles and blue overalls. In one particular moment of weakness, I turned the super fun game of "Simon Says" into the slightly less fun version known as "Yes, Mom." Touch your nose - YES, MOM! Stand on one foot - YES, MOM! I think there could be a market niche for this game. Obedient children, no snippy backtalk? YES, PLEASE!

So I called my mom..."Is there any way to teach kids to make better choices faster? Like today? I need her to make better choices TODAY". Sometimes this parenting thing really cramps my style. REALLY! (not really) I have crocheting to do mini-people! Actually, in spite of the minion rebellion this week, I was able to get a few things checked off my unfinished project list.

FANTASTIC MR FOX COSTUME - For Caleb's book character dressup day

PATCHWORK HAT - For the cutest anti-minion ever

(not my original design but inspired by this crazy cute hat by Haley's Headbands)

OPA SLIPPERS - for my dad

(I used the "Modern Men's Loafer" pattern by Holland Designs)

GRANNY SQUARE BAG - for my mom

This bag came together really easily. I'm perpetually amazed at what you can learn from YouTube. Social media for the win.

Sh%t My Kids Ruined: Kitchen Chair Edition

2013-09-25T21:59:00.002-06:00

I was once a non-parent. It wasn't even that long ago in the grand scheme of things, only seven years. We were newlyweds, regulars at the neighborhood pub and on a first name basis with Tom, the bartender. Everything we owned fit in two VW Jetta's and we regularly packed our belongings into the trunks and left town to follow the next flying contract.

There are many different types of people with as many perfectly valid reasons for not being parents. In the years before we started our little family, I was firmly planted in the "baby fever but husband not on board" group. We had decided that we weren't ready to start a family but that it could definitely be in our near future. We bought our first home, had plans on staying in one place for the next few years and were feeling like grown ups for the first time since we'd gotten married. It was at this point that we became slightly delusional.

I was the non-parent, with babies on the brain, who was convinced that I could accomplish what no parent before me has ever done. Your kid breaks all your stuff?!? Teach them not to touch it. (I obviously hadn't seen this hilarious compilation- http://www.shitmykidsruined.com). Its a simple concept. How hard could it possibly be to have kids AND nice things? With this mentality, we went shopping to furnish our first home. And then we did the unthinkable.

We brought home cream coloured couches and fabric dining room chairs. We bought a brand new truck with a light grey interior. We even discussed how we were going to successfully merge nearly white fabrics and children in the same time and space and have them peacefully coexist, like parenting ninjas.

Its been 9 years and these purchases haunt me. The couches are in rough shape, but they have survived through red wine, ball point pen, various greasy fingerprints and numerous other biohazards the kids carry in from school and outside. The kitchen chairs are a different story. For a while the chairs were covered in clear plastic, and when that failed we resorted to having the kids sit on towels.

The kids are re-donkulous-ly messy eaters in spite of all my efforts to teach them even rudimentary table manners.We really shouldn't be surprised that years of this resulted in chairs that look like these:

These chairs are screaming to be recovered. Each frame and even the padding is in really good shape, so I decided to skip the hassle of stripping them down to the foam and just covered right over the original fabric. I learned my lesson and chose an easy clean, leather-look vinyl for this do-over. For standard kitchen chairs, 0.6m/chair was the perfect amount with very little leftover.

I removed the seats from the frames and unscrewed the brackets. Take note of where the screw holes are on the seat. FYI - covering the holes with the new vinyl when you are stapling is a bad idea.

Someone get that girl some lotion!! The vinyl and stapler were murder on my hands.

I was able to finish all 6 chairs in only a couple of hours (with Glen away and kids in bed) and for a fraction of the cost of new chairs. One more project in my kitchen complete! Do you have anything worthy of http://www.shitmykidsruined.com? Tell me a story!

Fall is here, and it brought back Pumpkin Spice!

2013-09-21T16:57:00.000-06:00

Tomorrow is the first day of Fall, 2013. Fall absolutely rocks my socks. Almost as much as ...

...this Pumpkin Spice Latte Cheesecake. The recipe is here at Sprinkle Bakes. Really. Eat this. Thank me later. I take no responsibility for the damage done to your waistline as a result of this post. If you top this with espresso whip cream your guests will beg you to keep the recipe a secret.

***Do not feed to the toddler who is already up past his bedtime. Espresso and babies don't mix, I know you are shocked. Be warned. ***

Weekend Work in Progress

2013-09-15T21:48:00.001-06:00

There is something about fall and school being back in session that makes me really appreciate lazy weekends. Caleb just started Grade 1 this year and as much as he loves school, it has been a huge wakeup call. Driving home last week, our chatter went like this:

"Mom, can we go to drop-in gymnastics on Friday?"

"No, you have school."

"Well, when can we go again?"

"Hmm...in approximately 12 years. Sorry buddy."

For a kid who heads outside to ride his bike before breakfast, who would choose to eat every meal in his "sniper den" and smells like a combination of cut grass, fresh air and dirty dog, this 5 days/week school is a bit hard to swallow. I have let bed times slide a little bit while the days are still long because we are heading straight into a long, cold, Northern Alberta winter. Our noisy chaotic, kid filled street will be a barren wasteland until March...ish. When I asked the kids what they wanted to do this weekend, it was unanimous. Ride our bikes. Such simple pleasures. Why ever would I run myself ragged trying to plan and schedule when all they want, all they need, is to play outside.

Today my yard is filled with 14 kids from our neighborhood between the ages of 3 and 13. It is mayhem - bandaids are being dispensed like candy and once the tears are wiped, the kids are back on their [insert dangerously modified rolling vehicle here]. The entire contents of Glen's garage have been pulled onto the front lawn to "invent" catapults, sling shots, bases for the nerf war and who knows what else. I didn't ask. Imagination is a beautiful thing.

With the kids occupied and willing to let the baby tag along for a bit, I did what any self-respecting crafter would do. I poured myself a creamy cup of iced coffee, gathered my granny square project and headed out to the front porch.

My work in progess this weekend is a crocheted granny square bag. This particular bag should need 17 squares. At last count, including todays work, I have 15! Squeee! I can't wait to piece this baby together. I love these squares and followed the tutorial written by Jess at Purple Chair Crochet. I would have loved to insert a few contrasting colors into these squares, but the bag is destined for my mama and she is a monochromatic kinda girl ;-)

Aren't they pretty? I don't think I am doing my puff stitches correctly (Round 3) but even so, I do like the end result. Stay tuned for the finished bag! What are you working on? Maybe soon I will brave a WIP linky party, but for now if you feel like sharing your WIP, comment with a link or description. I'd love to take a peek.

A Boy and His Dog

2013-09-10T22:26:00.001-06:00

12 years ago I bought my dad a puppy for Father's day. I taught her all the tricks she knew, hiked mountains and swam in glacier creeks with her. She loved to pull me on rollerblades but hated coming along while we were cliff jumping. She was convinced that it wasn't safe and would howl and cry every time I jumped. I loved that dog and when she lived with us for a year, she was Caleb's best friend. My babies curled up in the warmth of her fur.

She died today. My eyes are leaking and my heart hurts. Faithful, loyal and gentle even though she was in pain. Goodbye, old friend. You will be missed.

My name is Julie, and I am an addict...

2013-09-08T15:31:00.001-06:00

I left for church this morning without even a few sips of cold coffee. Some days I kid myself into thinking that I am not truly a caffeine addict, that I can function just fine without it. It was abundantly clear today, that I can not.

Caleb has a Cow's Milk Protein Intolerance. He doesn't eat any milk or milk protein containing foods. Unless of course his mom pours it directly into his cereal. Poor guy is going to pay for what he ate before realizing it was not Almond Milk. Sigh. Sorry buddy!

I'm almost positive I shampooed my hair at least twice this morning. I honestly could not remember if I had washed it yet. Have you ever done that?

I also swear I changed Will's diaper before we left, but might not have... see the last bullet;

Caleb buttoned his own dress shirt this morning, admittedly taking longer than usual. We were at church before I noticed that his shirt was inside out. I even straightened his collar at one point this morning. How did I not notice the tag or seams?

Will was in the nursery during the service and completely wet through his pants. So my chubby 1 year old was strutting around the church basement showing off his gorgeous thigh (ok and ankle) rolls. Norah was the only one who looked at all like her mother was even slightly competent.

My sister picked me up an iced machiatto after church. That woman really gets me.

Learn to Crochet

2013-09-07T16:59:00.000-06:00

I was maybe 13 years old when my Grandma tried to teach me to knit. It didn't take. I had much better things to do with my time like attempting to record the latest song from my radio onto cassette. It was all about perfect timing. You finally had everything set up, radio close enough to the cassette recorder but not too close, you pushed record at just the right moment and then... the DJ would interrupt with something not nearly interesting enough to justify screwing up your mix tape! Kids these days have no clue how rough we had it!

Twenty years later I am feeling pretty confident that I can figure out this crochet thing. I opened up Google and started my search for any website that would get me started.

I stumbled upon the Crochet School series by Crafty Minx and though I didn't sign up for the whole series, learned everything I needed to get going. Her videos are amazing! They are clear, concise and in slow-motion exactly when you need them to be. It is definitely worth completing every lesson to get a good knowledge of the basics of crochet. If you have Apple TV you can even airplay each video on your husband's 60" TV and make him watch too! Glen knows a lot of more about yarn then he ever wanted to.

I wasn't blogging or even thinking of blogging when I started to crochet so I have no in-progress photos. I also am way too impatient to practice on swatches so I got straight to work trying out various tutorials I found interesting on Pinterest, Ravelry and Google.

Slippers/Wristwarmers

These slippers I made for my kids, using a pattern for Slipper Socks from The Crocheting Comrade. This was a very easy tutorial to adapt for my kids and they are IN LOVE with their slippers. The wrist warmers were a gift for my 9 year old niece. I used a free pattern from Lion Brand, called "All Season Wristers".

Fat Bottomed Bag

Another favourite of mine is the "Fat Bottomed Bag", originally designed by Samanta Maragno. I used the tutorial by Cindy Coleman of A Little Loopy, but I'm Hooked because her version is an all over bigger bag, which means it will hold all the randoms a mom carries around. The black bag I made for myself, adding a button closure, a key ring inside and an inside pocket. The cream bag was requested for an auction at the school affiliated with our church. I changed the button closure slightly and I recruited an uber-crafty friend of mine to line the bag for me (in my pre-sewing machine days). I love the bright blue fabric remnant she chose! She's a stinker though - she chose it knowing that she was absolutely going to buy this bag. No one even stood a chance at the silent auction!

Did you know that crochet can be so much more than granny square afghans? I get so many comments on my bag, it's one of my favourites for sure. One day I'll reveal the granny square bag I am working on...as soon as I can find a YouTube video on how to seam granny squares...

Paint Your Countertop: Giani Granite Countertop Paint

2013-09-06T21:57:00.001-06:00

The next phase of my diy kitchen makeover project is a countertop update. If you missed the first step, you can catch up by reading through Fugly Kitchen: Phase 1. The glossy black/brown cabinets make my heart very happy!

Do you see what I see? All I see is the pink countertop. It heckles me from every sticky, peanut butter fingerprint. I am a bit of a "sneaky diy'er" as I much prefer to tackle a project when Glen is not home. As luck would have it, Glen (an airline pilot who from this point on would like to be referred to as "Batman"?!? ) was headed out for another 4 day, red eye pairing. Coast is clear!! I dropped him off at the airport and immediately went to Walmart to pick up a box of Giani Granite Countertop Paint, for $79.99. I hadn't been planning this at all. Nope. I chose Sicilian Sand to contrast nicely with the dark cabinets but this product comes in six colour combinations:

Sicilian Sand
Chocolate Brown
Bombay Black
Emerald Green
Sapphire Blue
Roma Red

Painting prep, how I despise you. Silicone caulk needs to be completely removed including all residue before painting. That is easier said than done when said caulk is 18 years old. Using an exacto knife, slice along the wall edge and the counter edge and peel the caulk in one long strip. Yeah. Unless you have 18 year old caulk, then gouge up your dry wall and dig out as much caulk crumble as you can with any combination of sharp objects that will get the job done. Patch and smooth any marks in the wall with your favourite drywall compound.

Once the silicone is removed, wipe the surface with rubbing alcohol to remove any residue. The only Giani-approved method for cleaning the countertops is a really good scrub with SOS pads and rinsing three times with clean water. Make sure everything is completely clean and dry before taping off the edges and the sink. I taped the wall two rows of tape high, to give myself some space for sponging the backsplash but I didn't protect my cabinets. Because that's just how I roll.

Prep - check. Cleaning - check. Kids in bed - check, check, check.

The primer for this kit is flat black and requires 8 hours of dry time. Primer is your friend. It really does need the 8 hours. I did this step before bed, so that I sit back with a glass of wine and be ready to paint the next morning. After priming there is no turning back, and I was positive my husband was going to murder me. Who paints their countertops? What have I done?

Jet black, but already better than pink!

The actual painting process involves sponging on the three mineral colours in order from darkest to lightest (brown feldspar, inca gold, and white). I used a separate piece of sponge for each color but didn't allow them to dry in between so that the colors could mix and flow together. My sister came over for moral support but I don't know if I would have ever started without her, it was so intimidating. The sponging process took us almost 4 hours, did I mention we had 7 kids under 10 kicking around? Awesome.

After the sponging, I waited about an hour and then added "veins", thin lines painted on with an artist brush that resemble cracks or veins in natural stone. 4 hours of dry time and then the clear top coat is applied. I did 3 clear coats with 4 hours or more of dry time between each.

The entire process was completed in almost 36 hours. The countertop has to be kept clear and dry for 24 hours after the last top coat, but at that point small appliances can be put back and counters can be used normally but gently. The surface requires 30 days to fully harden and cure and then it is as durable as any laminate counter.

I was too busy painting to remember to take pictures of the process so all you get is the before/after.

Before/After Giani Granite Countertop Paint -Sicilian Sand

Can you believe its the same counter? Here is a closeup of the actual finish.

Sicilian Sand - close up

I abso-freaking-lutely love my new kitchen. Now if only I could paint on wide plank hardwood floors....

Edited to add some extra photos of the cabinets and counters. Thank you for being interested!

The naturally distressed edges I am waiting for before finishing with a clear coat

Can you guess what my next two projects in this room will be?

Brass Ceiling Fan Makeover: Sophisticated Finishes, Blackened Bronze

2013-09-02T22:00:00.000-06:00

Think 1995 - dusty rose and forest green. Pink counters, pink linoleum and pink vertical blinds. Hand painted ivy on every possible surface, including the blades of the ceiling fan in my kitchen. Kill.Me.Now.

I have a very difficult time replacing items that are perfectly functional, and each one of the ugly, brass builders grade knobs, handles and ceiling fans are freaking functional. I was wandering, ok, escaping to Michaels for a little crafty coveting and a tiny little bottle caught my eye in the discontinued/clearance bin, a Metallic Surfacer called "Sophisticated Finishes". I snapped up three tiny bottles of this magical concoction in "blackened bronze". It needs a really good stir before the first use to incorporate all of the little bits of metallic goodness that provide a textured, metal finish.

My ever skeptical husband begged that I attempt my transformation on the smallest brass knob I could find, hidden on the closet in the back of our bedroom. There is no trust in this relationship.

This finish is exactly what I wanted, a dramatic, dark, matte finish. Let the brass painting frenzy begin!

***Be safe, cut the power to the fans at the breaker before attempting any painting***

Fugly fans get face lifts! I removed the sconces, bulbs and fan blades and cleaned my fan with tsp and a cloth. I didn't have any other degreasers in the house and it really wasn't all that dirty.

For my master bedroom fan I used the Sophisticated Finishes paint on the brass base and Rustoleum's "Oil Rubbed Bronze" metallic spray paint on the fan blades. I roughed up the blades with whatever sandpaper I found in the garage, which happened to be120 grit. They were an awful glossy forest green and two thin coats with Rustoleum's spray paint covered them really well.

With a combination of foam brushes, q-tips and a clean sock, I managed to get the Sophisticated Finishes in all the cracks and crevices of the fan base. There really is no way to screw this up. Just get the paint on and cover up the brass. No primer required and only two coats plus some touch ups.

Check out my master bedroom fan. I took these pics before realizing I forgot to paint the wood handles on the chain pulls.

I was so happy with the end result I also painted the kitchen fan, which had the last of the handpainted ivy on the fan blades. No more ivy in this house! I do have one regret, that I didn't spray paint the blades on this fan. I made a last minute decision to brush the Sophisticated Finishes onto the blades. I really prefer the smooth, glossy finish from the Rustoleum paint. I will probably redo the blades later (aka when I need a make-work project).

We had been searching for a fan with a low enough profile for this small space and hadn't been able to find one. This is the perfect solution, and for only a $9.00 bottle of paint! I love paint!!

Success: Camera strap cover with pockets

2013-09-02T12:40:00.000-06:00

Handmade goodies are starting to show up at this house!! So far I have attempted fabric coasters, a cover for my recently acquired sewing machine and a mat for under my Keurig. Blah. None of them terrible, but decidedly un-awesome.

With so many new skills to learn this year, Pinterest has become my new best friend. The endless pages of easy projects and beginner friendly tutorials call my name and have me completely addicted. In one of my pinning frenzies, I came across this camera strap tutorial by Diary of a Mad Crafter and knew that I had to try it.

Amazing post. Clear instructions, tons of photos, easy to follow along, what more could a newbie ask for? The only thing that would have made her instructions better (not really, just for me) would have been a simple tip...

"DO NOT SEW THE ENDS CLOSED!"

Silly hipster. This is a slip cover. You can't slip it on if you sew it closed. I only had to pick out one end seam so it could've been much worse.

The strap was made to fit my sister's Canon Rebel. It has a pocket on each end and an opening behind your neck on one seam to make threading the strap through the cover a breeze. I used an outdoor fabric that is stain resistant only because I had it in my stash and D loved the print, but I can't wait to find something really pretty! You can see the outline of my lens cap in the pocket. I think its a bit too deep, but Glen thinks its fine. Next time, it will be shortened - thanks D, for being a guinea pig!

I can't wait to find the perfect fabric (or two) to trick out my own camera.