Monday, December 8, 2008

The Accessory



Many of you who know me know that I probably have the world's largest soft spot for animals. I am a rescuer of crittters. I truely believe I was Dr. Doolittle once. Well, I don't believe in reincarnation but if it DOES happen then I must have been him. Anyway, my newest stray dog is going to be treated for heartworms this Friday and I'm already getting nervous. I thought she could benefit from some web-ish well wishes. Here is the story of Rita. How scared she was when I first brought her home,
her big surprise for me me one month later,





how she became known as the acessory,



and how she is my biggest competition for the adoration of my handsome fella.












Saturday, December 6, 2008

Patchwork Kitty - first sewn project in years

I'm not really sure what has gotten into me lately. For a few years I haven't wanted to do anything "crafty" whatsoever but now, all of a sudden, I'm sewing and making soap. Here is a little cat fella I am making with a pattern from Barbara Brandenburg. It could be a cat girl if I make a skirt for it but right now I'm just glad it is mostly made. I think I'll be doing more stuffed critters. I recently went to a new-to-me store in Austin called Craft-O-Rama that had the kitty pattern and a book called Cute Dolls with the cutest stuffed animal projects. It's amazing how many cool, funky new ideas are floating around now. I've seen some fabulous blogs too that have really been inspirational.
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Melt & Pour Soap Mishap

I'm just starting to make melt and pour soap and brought some new slab tray molds from BrambleBerry. I didn't realize how much soap you needed to melt in order to fill the tray so this batch didn't turn out so good and maybe someone out there can tell me how to correct.

I first melted a clear glycerin soap base and added color and fragrance but it barely filled the mold half full. As I stood and scratched my head looking at what puny bars of soap I had made, I finally concluded that I could melt more soap (I only had opaque left to melt) and pour it on top of the clear to fill up the rest of the mold. I decided to gussy up the opaque and add some lavendar buds I had leftover from another craft project. It took a little while to add the opaque to the top of the soap already in the mold but it was still a little warm but with a good firm surface. I sprayed alcohol like I had heard (only a spritz or two though) and poured the mold almost full - I still didn't make it up to the top of the mold.

After a few hours I went to cut the soap with a butcher knife and as you can see the two layers of soap neatly separated. BUMMER! It all smells so nice and has such a nice color I don't want to lose the whole set. The uncut soaps are still melded but I am afraid to cut them.

Is there a way to stick the others back together?

Will the rest of the soaps separate if I try to slice?

What is the best way to cut these tray molded soaps?

If any soapers out there know about this I would love your advice.
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Thursday, October 30, 2008

The road to hell was paved with good intentions

I created this blog site but so far I haven't posted anything. Truth is, I've been lazy. Oh, don't get me wrong, plenty has been going on. Bands have been watched, a job or two has come and gone, I became engaged. But when the time comes to actually do something constructive I'm a stone cold balker.

When I find myself with free time there will be no constructive stuff. Just pure indulgence which generally takes the form of reading, napping and wandering around the internet.

I thought I would post pictures of anything crafty, or some adventures I've taken. But no. But maybe soon...

Wednesday, April 30, 2008

What it takes to be a blogger?




I wonder if I am made of the right stuff. Creative stuff. Or even semi-interesting stuff. I know it runs in the family but there is a large humble lump inside of me that wonders if the things I do on an everyday basis will appeal to anyone else out there. I've seen some fabu crafty blogs and people who must read "how to take wondrous photos" or some such and I'm really just a point and shoot girl who dabbles in many different crafty past-times on good days and lazes around reading on most days. So, I guess this will be a hodge-podge of the mundane. For posterity and inspiration! Onwards!