Sweatbag

Baby it's cold outside...

So, my plans today consisted of cleaning, organizing, reading and working on the "sweatbag", just not in that order.

My niece gave me a bunch of sweatshirts to sell at a garage sale that I still haven't had, so they've just been sitting here for months.

Until now.

For some reason, I got inspired and turned this sweatshirt...

into what I've been calling a "sweatbag" (horrible name, I know, but it cracks me up):

I think it's cute, but it's FAR from perfect.

I didn't plan anything - I just started cutting and sewing, and let it come together.

The drawstring is from the hood (which I thought was ingenious!), and I made the handles from the sleeves.

I just did a search on Pinterest and found this version (with instructions!)...

Source

I'm so glad I didn't have that garage sale!

Mock Cable Watch Cap

During my recent trip to Yarn Soup in Dubuque, I picked up the pattern and yarn to make the Eco Cloud Mock Cable Watch Cap by Cascade Yarns.

The cap seems to be designed to sit back and be slouchy, which is cute...

Source: Cascade Yarn

but I'm a practical girl (and I live in Iowa) so...

This is perfect (long enough to cover my ears)!  

The best part is, I was able to make this in less than 4 hours, and they have a lot of fun colors, (this is "Raspberry") so I can make more!

I can't wait for winter!

Flea Market Chandelier

Old chandeliers can be found anywhere for almost nothing - garage sales, auctions, thrift stores...

I found this one at a flea market.

Originally $20, marked down to $8, I paid $5.

I was lucky - the woman was determined to sell it THAT DAY and I showed up late. 

Sometimes it pays to go late in the day. Yes, some of the "good" stuff will be gone. But good is in the eye of the beholder.

I'd been looking for an old chandelier since I'd started seeing things like this on Pinterest...

I quick trip to the spray paint aisle, and now I have this hanging on my front porch...

Rustoleum Regal Red

(The light sockets will eventually hold candles, but I haven't gotten that far yet.)

Happy National Crafting Month!

Don't worry, I didn't know either.

It's also National Crochet Month (conveniently).

To celebrate, my goal is to crochet one granny square per day (at least), in order to finish the Granny Blanket featured in the book Making Cushions and Pillows: 60 Cushions and Pillows to Sew, Stitch, Knit and Crochet.

not a cushion or a pillow

This pattern calls for a total of 140 squares.

one down!

To date, I've already made about 20.

So, even if I meet my goal of one per day (at least!), it'll still take me about forever to finish.

Still...

It's a goal.

Might be a wish.

So Far...

I've officially been in my new job one month now and (so far) I like it...

I've booked a few weddings already, and am working with other people in the community on other events.

And I've started planning some events of my own.

In my previous position at the Chamber of Commerce, I would think "Someone in town should have a [insert the name of some event here]".

Now that someone is ME!

I've already scheduled an Indoor Garage Sale this month, and I'm working on a Women's Day Out (manicures, chair massage, wine tasting...) during March Madness, a Crafting Retreat in April, and an Outdoor Show in May.

And I'm creating a new website.

(I've been here one month!)

I was working out of the office in the restaurant next door to the event centre.  This was far from ideal (I was in the way), so we had to find a new office...

Yes, that is a closet in the laundry room of a hotel.

But now it looks like this...

making progress

It's a little bare, so over the weekend I worked on some projects I'd seen on Pinterest.

First, I took these old frames I found at Goodwill...

$2.50

$4

 I hated the gold, but liked the detail on both of the frames...

I also liked this Easy Bulletin Board Project

and these Shabby Frames.

So, with a little Heirloom White spray paint, a roll of cork, a scrap of fabric and some twine, I now have these...

much better!

I still have more to do, but I'm getting there.

Measure Twice, Cut Once

Good advice.

(And, not just for construction.)

I was recently given a bench, with a perfectly nice cushion...

The cushion, though...

It's just not my style.  I like things a little more girly.

So, I decided to make a pillow sham for it, using this video...

So I measured the cushion, and finally found the perfect fabric (on sale!).

I cut it out on Saturday and realized that I forgot to take into consideration that there are actually two sides to a cushion.

Luckily (knowing how I am), when I bought the fabric, I rounded up generously (like I said, it was on sale, and I know how I am).

And, since it's an envelope style sham, so can only be put on one way, nobody will ever know the bottom is pieced together!

ta da!

Also on Saturday, I tried a new crock pot recipe.  I am an incredible crock pot cook and this recipe for Slow Cooker Creamy Chicken from Cozycakes Cottage was no exception. This recipe requires slightly more work than I like (you have to make rice!), but it was well worth the almost no effort whatsoever that it takes to make rice.

On Sunday, I had to work.  But, as usual, my job was sitting around talking to people and (not quite as usual) hanging out with newborn baby birds.

SO CUTE!

Birdseed Heart

A long time ago (I just looked and it was exactly 2 years ago tomorrow!), I promised myself I'd do one project every month that I pinned on Pinterest.

I lied.

But I'm making up for it now!

Spring is coming to Iowa.  (Really!)  I know this because I've started to see birds.  And, because it's still zero degrees outside (literally), I started to worry...  

With all this snow on the ground, how will they eat?

Then I saw this cute little Birdseed Biscuit on Pinterest. 

It sounded easy (it was!), and I thought the birds would like it (they don't).

The day after Valentine's Day, I found this heart-shaped cookie cutter at Michael's for 29 cents (timing!),

followed the recipe...

1. Mix together the birdseed, flour, and 2 tablespoons of water.
2. Spray or wipe a cookie cutter with oil and place it on a foil-covered cookie sheet. 
3. Pack the mixture into the cutter, inserting half a straw near the top to create a hole for hanging.
4. Bake the biscuit (with the straw) in a 170º oven until the biscuit is hard, about one hour. 
5. Let it cool.

And now I have this!

So cute!

The birds, however, are not impressed.

"Unwrap the Magic of Christmas"

In Bellevue, the big holiday weekend is the weekend after Thanksgiving.

On Saturday, we have a craft fair...

Fireworks...

and a Lighted Christmas Parade...

 

On Sunday, we have a Holiday Open House Tour.

It's fun, but exhausting (when you're in charge of it).

Now, though, I can relax and enjoy the holidays...

These Hershey's Candy Cane Blossoms are delicious!

KISSES CANDY CANE BLOSSOMS

Ingredients
One bag Hershey's Candy Cane Mint Candies
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter or margarine, softened
1 cup granulated sugar
1 egg
1-1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons milk
Red or green sugar crystals

Directions
Heat oven to 350°F
Remove wrappers from candies
Beat butter, granulated sugar, egg and vanilla in large bowl until well blended
Stir together flour, baking soda and salt
Add alternately with milk to butter mixture, beating until well blended
Shape dough into 1-inch balls
Roll in sugar crystals
Place on ungreased cookie sheet
Bake 8 to 10 minutes or until edges are lightly browned
Cool 2 to 3 minutes
Press a candy piece into center of each cookie
Remove from cookie sheet to wire rack
Cool COMPLETELY (Don't touch them!  If you don't the candy will melt all over, and while they still taste really good, they're not as pretty.)

Happy Thanksgiving!

At one point this month I actually said to Winavie that I didn't really need anything Thanksgiving-y this year.

But the very next day, I stopped by a Goodwill and saw this...

"Harvest Home" is Thanksgiving-y, but I was unimpressed.

Then I saw...

Two, still in the box!  That's much better!

I wouldn't necessarily agree that this is "a perfect gift for any occasion...".

The fake flower ring was...

hideous

and sad.

But I had been thinking hurricanes would be nice out on the porch in the summer, and they were only $1.50 each.

Then I saw this on Pinterest...

Source

Mine aren't nearly as cute, but I like them!

I wish I would've put the red beans in the middle, but it's too late now.  Trying to separate them would be a HUGE mess.

That same night, I also saw this...

It's horribly ugly, but it's about giving thanks!  It's perfect!

It was $2, and I borrowed some spray paint and now it looks like this...

I like it!

Check out Lemons & Chambray to see what my friend Winavie is thankful for this year!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

Next month - Happy Holidays!!!

Happy Halloween!

I was in Goodwill recently, and saw this...

Two brand new candlesticks for $3!

But, brass?

So I bought a can of Rust-Oleum Gloss Protective Enamel in Black and these...

became these...

I love them!

(And it was so much fun!)

Then today I saw this post by Life as a Thrifter.

Now I just need more spray paint...

Hopefully Winavie at Lemons & Chambray found some good deals for her Halloween!

Bittersweet

One of my neighbors recently asked if I liked bittersweet.

"I've never tried it", I replied.

"You don't eat it."

Oh.

(Sounds like something you'd eat, though, doesn't it?)

The next day I came home and found this on my front porch...

Pretty...

I added a (very) little to a wreath I picked up for $1 at a flea market last weekend (it needs more, I know)...

Also Bittersweet...

Hint:  If you ever see "Big Head Todd" somewhere, don't tell him he was your favorite band in college.  He doesn't like that.