LaBelladiva

Better Late Than Never

2012-02-18T04:47:00.001-08:00

My body just seems to have shut down lately.

As a result, I have not been writing and posting blog posts as I usually do.

The past couple of days have been rainy and dreary for sunny Florida. It matches how I've been feeling! We sometimes need these down days.

Although I'm a day late, I am participating in "Still On The Verge's" New Friends Friday Blog Hop. The hop is still open, so you can click on the button to join in.

How was your Valentine's Day? The Captain and I had an awesome day . . . our first Valentine's Day as a married couple.
I'll be back to normal, posting awesome projects that I run into through the world of Pinterest and Bloggerville as soon as I am feeling better. The creative streak is not with me at the moment . . . it happens!
The Food Network has cancelled one of my favorite food shows, Dessert First. Apparently, Anne Thornton was "stealing" recipes. Where is the line drawn on stolen recipes? You can use someone else's recipe and adapt it in such a way to make it your own. Can't you? When you think about it, almost every recipe is an adaptation of another. There is such a fine line . . .
I'll be going back to bed to enjoy another day of rest and watch the service for Whitney Houston. Although we said goodbye to Whitney long ago, she will be missed . . . no more comebacks, no more second chances except for a movie that is set to be released this summer. It is her hello again and goodbye forever . . . a beautiful soul with the voice of an angel. RIP Whitney . . . your mark on this world will live on forever in our hearts, in your songs and movies.
Heaven needed another angel.

Handmade Valentine Cards

2012-01-24T10:20:00.000-08:00

Love is definitely alive and well in Bloggerville!

Handmade cards have become very popular and so much more personal and special than a store bought card. There are many resources for graphics and tutorials on the internet. Besides, a little imagination goes a long way with stuff you have in your craft stash. Your card doesn't have to be made with expensive die cuts, card stock and stuff you have to go out and buy . . . that is up to you!

Here are some examples of what some crafty crafters are coming up with in Bloggerville for some inspiration . . .

http://theautocrathaley.blogspot.com/2012/01/valentines-day-cards.html

http://dancingintherainjb.blogspot.com/2011/12/bouquet-of-love.html

http://polkacabana.wordpress.com/2011/01/18/cheery-lynn-designs-tuesday/

http://scrappinonashoestring.blogspot.com/2012/01/it-dont-mean-thing.html

Happy Valentine crafting!

Valentine Soap Idea

2012-01-22T18:04:00.000-08:00

What an awesome idea for Valentine's Day!

Suzy's Artsy Craftsy Sitcom is one of my favorite crafty blogs. She created these cute one-time use soaps in the shape of conversation hearts for Valentine's Day. Cute and clever!

Use this technique for any occasion or holiday. I'd love to make some in a retro flower design for every day use. They can be color coordinated to match your decor . . . or how about matching a repeated pattern? The possibilities are as endless as your imagination!

Click here for the tutorial :)

Heart Pillow ~ Faux Chenille Technique

2012-01-20T09:18:00.000-08:00

Faux chenille is one of my favorite applique techniques!

Back when I designed shirts and jackets for my boutique, I used denim with great results. I've thought of experimenting with the combination of rag quilting and applique for a bedspread using this method with denim.

By the way, did you know you can strip the color out of denim and dye it? It is a very versatile and sturdy material . . . my favorite for these type of sewing projects . . . great for purses and tote bags.

This heart pillow is a cute gift or decorating idea for Valentine's Day :)

Click here for the tutorial from the blog Ameroonie Designs.

Heart Shaped Pot Holders

2012-01-18T18:40:00.000-08:00

Another project for Valentine's Day!

Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia shared the pattern for Heart Shaped Potholders from the book Martha Stewart's Encyclopedia of Sewing & Fabric Crafts with readers of The Purl Bee.

Click here for the tutorial.

Heart Applique Dishtowels

2012-01-17T16:00:00.000-08:00

Time to get ready for Valentine's Day!

Aren't these cute dishtowels?

Don't stop with dishtowels! I can see a tablescape with placemats and napkins to match, using red plates. How about towels for the bathroom?

I'm needing to get my sewing area organized and in working order so I can make all the stuff I get inspired to make from the creative bloggers out there.

Click here for the tutorial from the awesome blog Skip To My Lou.

Check out the rest of the blog while you are there!

Vintage Jewelry Mirror

2012-01-08T22:08:00.000-08:00

Although I have been taking a break from buying and selling vintage jewelry, collecting it remains one of my passions. Since I have boxes and boxes of inventory and more boxes of mismatched or broken jewelry, I'm always searching for awesome projects and ideas to recycle them or redesigning into another piece of jewelry. This project is the most awesome I have seen in a very long time!

Georgia Peachez is a blog about an artful life . . . and the passion for rummaging thrift sales, flea markets and garage sales and repurposing those items into something awesome to feather her nest or resell. If this is your "thing", you will LOVE this blog! I kinda got lost there for quite some time and didn't even scratch the surface. It is definitely one of my new favorite blogs . . . what an inspiration!

Click here for her blog post that includes the vintage jewelry mirror with lots of photos of the transition from plain to fabulous.

Beadroom.com is a curated boutique bead shop.

They sell a rather niche product targeted to the beading,

craft, and jewelry design communities.

Check them out!

Pink and Grey Eye Makeup

2012-01-03T10:03:00.000-08:00

Love this color combination!

I've used this color combination, but not in this order . . . must try!

Click here for the tutorial from Nerdy Girl Makeup . . . awesome blog :)

Merry Christmas

2011-12-25T10:09:00.000-08:00

From our family to yours

Merry Christmas!

Hope your day is happy, festive

and full of love :)

Make your own fabric napkins

2011-12-18T10:43:00.000-08:00

Why waste money on paper napkins when you

can set a pretty color coordinated table using

fabric napkins that you have made yourself?

This is another project you can use your

fabric scraps on . . . even old clothing.

Use your imagination! Patchwork fabric

napkins are awesome :)

Click here for the tutorial from

Robie Kaye Dodson at So Sew Something!

With the money you have saved . . .

buy some pretty tableware :)

Junk Christmas Tree

2011-12-16T11:03:00.000-08:00

What an awesome idea!

Everything on this tree came from Lindsay's junk drawer.

Check out her tutorial . . . you will be amazed at

what it looked like before she spray painted it.

I'd love to make one with just mismatched and broken jewelry.

Ruffled Christmas Tree

2011-12-04T13:15:00.000-08:00

One of the most treasured items in my Christmas

collection is a festively colored fabric Christmas

tree with matching place mats and napkins that

my mom made many years ago.

The featured fabric Christmas tree is very much

different than the one in my collection, but could

also serve as a table centerpiece . . . make

some coordinating place mats and napkins to

complete the tablescape. It looks like a

quick and easy project too!

I found this tutorial at an awesome website that

is new to me . . . love web discoveries! It will

be listed on my favorite blogs page . . .

Click here for the tutorial

Here's a great resource for your creative needs!

Dramatic eye makeup

2011-12-02T16:55:00.000-08:00

Wow I love the dramatic eye look!

My favorite is the high contrast of silver and black.

One of the things I love to do is experiment with makeup when I'm home alone and have nowhere to go. Great makeup application takes practice practice practice. Don't be afraid of bold colors, black eyeliner or false lashes . . . go for it, but by all means, practice.

Here are some past blog posts that include tutorials on makeup techniques:

How To Make Your Eyes Beautiful

Put Your Best Face Forward

I've gotta try this!

The photos used in this post are from Pinterest

and I'm not sure where they originated.

It is not my intention to not give credit

. . . I just don't know!

List organizer

2011-11-26T18:22:00.000-08:00

What an awesome little

organizer to keep your lists in!

Would make a great little gift :)

Click here for the tutorial

Sugar Scrub Recipes

2011-11-19T07:32:00.000-08:00

Rebecca at Soap Deli News Blog has the most

delicious looking soaps and sugar scrubs!

You can either buy the items from her or

if you want to make them yourself, she has

provided recipes and even ideas for glass jars.

They would make awesome holiday gifts!

Click here to go to the blog post

Sewing Machine Thread Holder

2011-11-16T07:35:00.000-08:00

What an awesome idea!

This is a cool way to keep all of your sewing

machine thread neat and orderly.

Click here for the tutorial

One Hour Bag

2011-11-12T08:58:00.000-08:00

Here's a quick and easy bag that

can be made in just an hour!

I'd love to make one out of

patchwork denim.

Click here for the tutorial

Homemade Kitchen Mat

2011-11-07T06:13:00.000-08:00

Here's another idea for color

coordinating your kitchen :)

Recycle your fabric stash or buy coordinating fabrics!

I would love to make one out of jeans and red bandanas!

Click here for the tutorial!

Gorgeous table settings

2011-11-05T06:25:00.000-07:00

Love this table setting in my

favorite color combination!

One of the things that I love to do is have a nice table setting that doesn't include anything disposable. For me, one of life's frugal indulgences is eating with non-plastic utensils, cloth napkins, glass dinnerware and lit candles. Really, it is cheaper to eat this way when you think about it. The only thing is that you actually have to wash dishes . . . unless you have a dishwasher. That would be me in this house!

Click here for some gorgeous inspiration for table settings!

Grocery Tote

2011-11-04T07:46:00.000-07:00

Although we recycle plastic grocery bags to the max, it would be

nice to have a couple of these totes to try out.

This tote is much prettier than the ones they sell at the store and

look much sturdier.

There is also a tutorial for a thermal version for your hot and cold

items . . . I would have never thought of that! Great idea!

Click here for the tutorial!

Bold and Colorful Silk Jacket

2011-11-03T06:02:00.000-07:00

I love making "fabric" from recycled clothing!

Although this jacket is made from purchased silk fabric,

you could easily use the tutorial as inspiration and use

what you already have in your stash.

Click here for the tutorial!

Homemade Modge Podge!

2011-11-01T08:13:00.000-07:00

Modge Podge is one of my favorite craft mediums ever!

Check it out . . .

you can now make your own :)

Bridget at Babblings and More has found the recipe for

saving some crafting money . . . click here!

Leaves Table Runner

2011-10-31T09:06:00.000-07:00

Decorating for Fall?

Here is a quick and easy table runner to dress up your

holiday table! I'm thinking these leaves can be made smaller

bigger for coordinating projects like cloth napkins, dish

towels . . . you get the idea.

Click here for the tutorial!

Jewelry Bowls

2011-10-27T07:11:00.000-07:00

The ideas for these sparkly bowls are swirling in my head!

Not just the bowls, but the technique and all the possibilities

in all shapes and sizes.

I've experimented with similar paper mache type bowls before using a type of plaster to use as gardening containers . . . not so great an experiment for outdoor use . . . I moved on to working with concrete for those type of projects.

I had forgotten about using the technique for indoor/home decor use until I ran across this tutorial.

I'm still gathering ideas for organizing my massive jewelry collection and this is one that I am putting on the keeper list to experiment with.

They can be made in any size, any shape . . . let your creativity be your guide! Start looking at different objects that can be used as a mold . . . like I love the designs on some plastic juice containers. In fact, I have some put aside for concrete projects that would work perfectly with this technique.

I love paper mache projects . . .

they remind me of my first crafting projects as a little girl!

Click here for the tutorial!

Kitchen Inspiration

2011-10-24T03:26:00.000-07:00

Love the storage elements that have

been worked into this kitchen design!

Gorgeous . . . I love it :)

Need some kitchen

design inspiration?

This kitchen is one of many featured at

DIY Showcase . . . check it out!

Click here