journal - wips

Origami Ornament Day

The weekend was ripe with potential. And then I got laid out flat with some kind of cold/sinus/fall muck. So I decided to spend Saturday and Sunday playing around with paper and trying to figure out which origami ornament would be the one I make for all my friends and […]

round up

Spices to Make and Give!

I know we are a good two and a half months away from Christmas, but I really want to avoid the last minute crazy of the idyllic *handmade* christmas. I’m going to make gift baskets again for our friends and family. In each one I want to have mix of handmade crafts […]

journal

Postcards, a promo, and snail mail love!

It’s a commonly known fact that I love mail of the slow kind. So much so that I rented out a PO box (PO Box 1314, Ames, Iowa 50014-1314) just so I could get unsolicited mail from anyone wanting to send it my way. When UPrinting contacted me about sponsoring a […]

book review - thrift kitchen

Holiday Baking Making Plans

Okay family and friends out there reading this post, avert your eyes. This is a complete spoiler alert, so go away, skip to a different post. Starting last year I opted to make gift baskets up for my family and friends instead of trying to puzzle out individual gifts for […]

nosew - patterns & tutorials

How To: Pomanders!

Though I’ve always thought pomanders were a great idea, it wasn’t until yesterday that I actually made my own! It was one of the activities at the Winter Art Camp at the Octagon Center for the Arts. I was invited to stay after my activitiy was over and join in […]

crochet - destash - patterns & tutorials

Free Crochet Pattern: Lanel’s Mitts

lanelmitts02
I wear fingerless mittens so my fingers can be fidgety while wearing them and warm. It never fails that while I can use my fingers without gloves, my hands are freaking cold. No more. Taking inspiration from my nerdy star trek loving side, I made fingerless mittens that make my hands feel like Riker’s must have while disguised as a Malcorian.

journal

Handmade Greeting Cards Workshop

There is nothing I love more than getting together with a bunch of people and make things together. Yesterday my friend Sarah co-hosted an Ames C.art workshop with me and it was a delight!  She showed us all how to make these great little stars, how to use circle cutters, […]

howto - nosew - patterns & tutorials

Boxing Up Giving

These boxes are great to add a little extra something special to any small gift. I like them for any kind of jewelty, stitch markers, and other small handmade goodies for friends. I love these boxes and have been making them for quite awhile. I figured it was about time […]