blog-reading break day 2

Well, this has been an interesting couple of days. I don't think I realized quite how much pressure I was putting on myself... and how much like a failure I was feeling. Huh. I'll have to ponder this some more. Maybe make some changes.

Enough about that, though.

Today we made playdough!

(I hate playdough. I hate the smell of it, the texture, the way it dries into little balls that get ground into the carpet, the way it smears itself onto the table and for some reason is impossible to remove.)

But yet, because Ellie loves it, I made some.

Cherry-scented playdough.

I found a recipe that uses Kool-aid for the colourant/scent.

And it kept Ellie busy and happy for almost an hour.

Hmmm.


And in other news... my grocery budget is going to heck in a hand-basket. You see, my husband and son love peanut butter. Not just any old peanut butter, though... the natural kind of peanut butter. You know, the stuff that if you let it sit out too long, the oil rises to the top and you have to stir it back in. And they don't just love peanut butter... no, they adore it. Eat it by the spoonful every time they walk through the kitchen. And since the only way to get to the basement stairs (where the computers are located) is through the kitchen, you just know that they eat a heck of a lot of peanut butter.

Well, anyhow, I used to be able to buy their special PB in big huge jars at my grocery store. Note: used to be able to. Used to. As in, past tense. They don't seem to stock it any more. That space on the shelves is now filled with other goods.

So where do I have to go now to find the PB?  Costco. The place where you can't walk in the door without spending $100.

Yeah. Like I said, my grocery budget is sunk.

blog-reading break day 1

So, ironically, one of the first things that arrived in my inbox this morning was a link to an article at {in}courage...  titled What Finding Yourself Really Means.

So, time to sit down, relax, stop beating myself over the head with what other people are doing and I am not. I'll be fine. I am fine.

Meantime, though... it's lavender harvesting time. The buds are fat and dark purple, and just about to open. I feel bad for the bees who aren't going to get a shot at these flowers, but this year they're mine. All mine.

tap-tap... hello?

Is anyone still out there?

I've neglected this space shamefully, I know.

I have been trying to figure out what I'm actually doing here. This isn't a mommy blog... it's not a crafty blog... I don't blog any deep thoughts... I'm not into fashion and style... and my 365 project seems to be filling some of my personal blogging needs.

The truth, I think, is that I've been reading too many other blogs, and I'm feeling inadequate.

Maybe it's time to take a blog-reading break.

refinishing

I was looking back through my photos for the past few years, and it seems that June is the time when I refinish furniture. This year is no exception.

I found this little dresser at the thrift store... on half-price day. Bonus!

 Laminate top... solid plywood construction.

 It was presumably  part of a modular set, since the veneer only wrapped half-way around the sides, and there were large screw holes on it.

 I sanded it all over, especially the laminate top; filled the holes, and tapered down the gap behind the veneer. Then I gave it a good coat of Kilz spray primer (I'm in love), and several coats of paint (Benjamin Moore Sea Pearl). I kept the legs in their original state.

 And here it sits in my bedroom, with pretty paper lining the drawers.

Next up: to make a cushion for the top.
It might even migrate out to the entryway... it's a lovely height for sitting down to put shoes on.

new book!!

Earlier this year, Lark Crafts released a new title... Sewn by Hand by Susan Wasinger.

  They did a blog tour, complete with giveaways... and I won a copy!! And not only did I win the book, but I also got a wee package of goodies along with it: needles, thread, thimble, buttons, and so on.

I foresee many happy hours this summer, sitting outside and stitching. There are some very lovely projects in this book... slippers, potholders, napkins... mostly practical stuff, which I appreciate; and several of the patterns use recycled fabrics/clothing, which I also am happy to see.

The Thread Caddy pattern found in the book is available from Lark Crafts as a free download... I think it'll most likely be the first thing I make. That way I can have all my supplies to hand when I want to bring my sewing somewhere with me.

Yay for summer sewing, and (even the thought of) relaxing with a slow project!

what??

So, it seems that spring has arrived at last.

The weather has been glorious... I've gardened, I've hung the laundry out on the line to dry... I'm loving it.

And what have I been doing in between all of those spring-time activities?

Knitting.

Seriously.

For months, even during prime Christmas gift-knitting time, I couldn't bring myself to pick up the needles. Wasn't inspired, didn't care.

And now... now that there are so many other things that you might think would hold my attention... now suddenly I can't hold myself back.

The tea cozy pattern is a free download, found at Ravelry. That one was knit up during game two of the Canuck vs. Sharks Conference finals. All those lovely Canucks goals kept me knitting rather quickly, I must say.

The beaded necklace/bracelet/headband/whatever-you-want-to-wrap-it-around thingy is a very fun project from Nelkin Designs. Once I'd finished stringing on the almost-600 beads (sooooo much fun, especially while waiting for the freezing to wear off after a lovely dentist visit!), it knit up rather quickly, and since it's essentially a two-row pattern, and uses a minimal amount of yarn, it's wonderfully portable. I do advise that you check your yarn for itchiness *before* you start stringing beads, though...

Found: my mojo

It seems that I'm fated to go through a couple of weeks each year, when all I can do is function; usually maintaining a smile on my face, but still, just the bare minimum.

Assemble your supplies: a butt-ugly clock that you once thought was so cool;
a handful of paint chips and something to cut them with; glue; (not shown) paint;
a paintbrush; (also not shown) something to use as a topcoat - like modpodge

Remove the clock hands if you can (or just work around them... mine didn't come off).
Cut the paint chips to size (I did 2" square) and glue them down,
trimming the center ones around the clock mechanism.

A time when I have nothing extra to give.

After the glue has dried, trim the edges and sand them smooth.
I also sanded down the top, to smooth the edges of the paint chips
where they were sticking up a bit.

Also I like the distressed look.

Mostly it seems to happen during the dark winter months. I thought I'd staved it off this year. Apparently I only postponed it.

Add a light coat of paint: I used Golden's Titan Buff... I painted on a section
and then rubbed it off, leaving a very thin coat.

Add whatever decoration you like: I painted the bird silhouette
and then sanded it down as well. Stamp on the numbers,
and add a protective topcoat.

 I think I'm back now. We'll see.

Here's the clock in my newly-tidied sewing room.