Saturday, December 7, 2013

Oklahoma Baby

I finally figured out what to do with this project, just in time to have my baby. It turned into this:


I love how hip state craft projects are right now. My daughter's name represents her two vastly different heritages: Valentine Dausae. Valentine for her red-dirt Okie roots (after Great-Grandma Valentine), and Dausae after her Karen great-great-grandma and great-great-great-grandpa (the Karen are an ethnic minority from Burma/Myanmar).

This is how I did it.






Saturday, November 30, 2013

When Pigs Fly: A Babied Up Christmas

Every year since moving into this home, I've made a new set of ornaments. The first year our lack of dollars inspired me. Since, the feeling of something homespun and unique brings me back to the tradition. Now, as the momma of a 3 month old, I wanted the ornaments to represent this new special place in life.


Sunday, March 31, 2013

Bueller?... Bueller?...

Turns out, in my now expert opinion, that first trimesters suck. Oh. Did I not mention I'm pregnant? Well, that last post, all that looonnng time ago was obviously related to that fact. I just pooped out before I got to the official reveal.

This is very much desired. It played out like this: 9 months of trying. Crying as each month passed. In the ninth month, convincing my husband on a Friday that I would start calling specialists on Monday. Waking up that Saturday, determining to take a pregnancy test because I was going out with friends that night, and wine was definitely on the menu. Glancing away for 3 seconds and coming back to a clearly positive pregnancy test. A week later, my husband left for Burma, to meet family he's never met, and see the places that filled the stories of his childhood. Between the morning sickness, and the missing him, crafting and blogging lost all significance. My usual hours spent viewing crafts every week have been freed up. But thru most of the 1st trimester, if I wasn't working, I was sleeping anyway.

Now, I'm 16 weeks, and I feel great almost all the time. I'm excited, and energetic, and experiencing sparks of creativity. And ever so slightly beginning to show!


My first DIY project for the nursery is a massive frame that will become, uh, something? You can see the steps that brought me here. I bought said frame from the Hope Center's thrift store for about $5. The paint is from Home Depot, purchased in the $3 sample jars.


No way I was sanding this thing, so I primered the heck out of it. I take that back. I kinda just put on a layer and a half of primer.


See how ugly and dark it was? Just wait!


I taped off the center space to do the trim. Definitely needed two layers for this part because of all the divots and grooves.


Tada! No longer dark and gloomy and baby-inappropriate!


The green is Home Decorators Collection "Zesty Apple" (HDC-MD-15).


The blue is Glidden "Sea Spray" (GLB19).

That blue in the center (that is still drying, because I didn't want to miss the setting sunlight) is the color our nursery walls will be. Which brings me to my last conundrum. What design shall I paint in the middle? I'm leaning toward something red... Suggestions welcome!


Wednesday, January 9, 2013

The state of things: baby gift or pregnancy reveal idea

Let's say you have two friends who conquered states lines to fall in love, and now they're making a baby. And, you're into the DIY gift thing. AND, their shower is just around the corner. My friend, I have a solution for you.

OR, let's say YOU conquered states lines and are looking for a way to reveal the results to family. Perhaps you want to mail them a unique little reveal gift. My friend, I have a solution for you, too! ;)


Here's how it came about:

Sunday, January 6, 2013

The Brooke Cowl

A good friend has been craving something warm and brown for winter. Sounds cozy to me. I finally got around to making it happen for her. Turns out, she'll have lots of options for how she wears this thing (and now I want one).




If you want to know how to make one--it takes about four White Collar shows, or one movie long to make. A two-hour craft for a 3-way style? works for me. Instructions below.

Tuesday, January 1, 2013

Peter Pan Collar Inspired Necklace

I love that book. Peter Pan, that is. I have yet to figure out what it has to do with the popular collar style. Except both rock. So... I decided to see what I could do with mixing a collar style with jewelry. I came up with two styles (so far), and I'll share my how to with you.




Sunday, December 30, 2012

Tutorial: Artichoke Hummus

I love hummus, and I love artichokes. While cooking bores me to tears, it was only a matter of time before I came up with a recipe to combine the two.