356-craft

"If you follow all your dreams, you might get lost." -Neil Young


This quote can definitely sum up my life. Trying to do everything all at once i'm only left with a mess. I have so many projects on my list and so little time on my hands that it's hard not to cram everything in one day. This only sucks all the fun out of life. It makes crafting a chore and kicks sleeping off my list of priorities.

Today was quiet, calm, and relaxing. Loren and I spent a lazy day in the house together and it was amazing. We spent an hour on my resume and cover letters and well, all I can say is that it's getting there. I finally got out of my "bed" mood at 4 pm and I suited up for a run. The only thing I hate about "lazy do nothing" days is that well... nothing gets done. Before leaving I said to Loren "I wish I could just do the dishes...or maybe complete my resume.. or, or...do something. I just don't feel like I've accomplished anything." Loren gave my the eye and said
"Babe seriously, you need to do something for yourself. It's your day off. you don't need to accomplish anything."
That's when it all hit me. Well, really it was during the run that it made total sense. Doing something for myself means getting things done. How will I be able to blog when my house is a mess? how can I get a job when I don't have a complete resume? When can I begin my next project? 
The very moment I got back from my run (which was absolutely what I needed) I got to work. I cleaned the entire house, made something to eat, and took a shower. With no chores to do I now had room to craft. Which is exactly what I did.


reduce, reuse, RE-LABEL!

I made a beautiful flower vace out of a Jack Daniels bottle. AndI love it!. I even got to use some of the leftover tea-stained paper from my calendar project, score!
Here is the mini tutorial.

1. make tea stained paper
2. create a "label" using photoshop. I used three different images and created my own text.
3. draw on where you want to cup out. Try following the curve of the bottle. eg. a wine bottle will be a simple tube.
4. put elmers glue or mod podge on both the bottle and the lable and carfully put in place. to smooth out use another clean sheet of paper (make sure not to use gooey finger.)

Et vois la! you have a beautiful recycled bottle! 

What "found objects" have you recycled? Any good ideas?

 I hope you're happy and healthy. craft on!

357-run

Working at the River Cafe has been a great experience and I'll be sad to leave it. Mostly. The excitement of another job is almost overwhelming, especially re-writing my resume and cover letters. I haven't even thought about my interview outfit. I've come so close to the my co-workers that leaving them will be a bummer, especially after all we've been through with this cafe. The transition must be quick though, school will be starting soon, And I don't want a job search to get in the way of study. By all means, this semester has to be strong in order to keep a high GPA.
After a long day at work, my feet where sore already but I had to fit in a small rug. It has been almost a week of rest and my body was thirsty for some real exercise This time at the gym I decided to go with a 2.5 mile run which was small and short and my ankle still managed to ache in the same spot. also my knees where a bit sore as well. This is my last sign and I know now I need to see a professional to get it all checked out.
do you ever have problems when you run?

*note: major mistake on post 359!
I just realized that I printed a 2013 calendar instead of a 2012 which is a serious bummer! I was so excited and enthused while doing it I must have chosen the wrong year. Now all that time wasted (sort of, at least I learned a lot) and now I need to re-stain more and make a whole new batch.
Idea: I might do a triple batch so I can have a few left for decorative printing or misc. things. I printed a tree for testing and I think I want it framed (it's that cute).

What kind of theme is your room decorated as? Do you have colors that make you feel good?

BTW: I love this headband, only thing I wish I made it. The only problem is I don't know how to knit. Any suggestions? 

Projects I'm working on:

Pajama Pants

shelf 

calendar(again)

resume

new cupcake stitch sweater

apron

organize organize organize!

358th-photo

I really can't say how beat I am. To me, it feels like the end of the week, and I'm ready for a day off. But back to work tomorrow morning. I have so much that I want to get done, so many projects to start, but right now I can barely lift a finger. All I need is sleep, and so I will have an early night.
I was at work from 8:00 am 'till 5:30 and then took a nap 'till 7:00. But I'v made an oath to no excuses. And I'm sticking to it.
So instead of some of my recent works, here are a few photo flashbacks.
I can't believe how much I've improved in my photo skill and as a person in general. The decisions I'm making and the things I've accomplished are beyond what I've ever dreamed of, and it hasn't stopped yet.
What have you accomplished since last years, anything you're proud of?
Something I've really learned is how much I can learn from someone's blog. Now, exclude the context, the format of each blog is so important. How to draw your readers in, how to organize your thoughts, and how to keep things simple. These are all things I hope to accomplish on this blog. Now, only a week in I couldn't expect too much, but each day I learn something new. Hope you stick with me through this year!

Re-cap week 1:

• need to use time wisely
• sleep more
• drink more water
• make sure to spell check!
• don't over do it
• have fun!

359th-decorate

Things are coming together. That's the sentence for today. well, at least for the last hours of the day where I can sit in my accomplishments. because today was actually quite frantic.
I had a bucketful of errands to do and none of them seemed to be going anywhere no matter how much I worked on them. Resumes, art projects, budgeting, mail, and not to mention the hours I spent driving around in the tremendous traffic running in circles and getting lost. But in the end, I can say it was all well worth it. Though my list isn't finished I feel like "things are coming together."

I really did some decorating today, and From what Loren said I'm a natural.
he even said just being in my craft-room makes him smile. and thais all warms my heart.
I did so much to prepare for todays project, it took way longer than I expected.
 I sat at my desk this morning thinking "what should I start with to decorate my room? I made a small list of supplies. Twinkle lights and push pins where some of the many things I needed to start doing anything. This is when I realized I was completely out of "essential" craft supplies. Things you can't do without.
How do you build your supply of crafting goods? Where are good places to find these things?

 I was busy looking up job listing and school schedules in the same process and realized I was missing a calendar, something I really need for organization. And this is what I came up with.

I coffee stained the paper, hung them up to dry, ironed them, and them printed the ink.
Though this was where I was originally going to finish, I now feel like it need a little more umf. life some back sheets or some nice sketches.
I'm not quite ready for the tutorial (though I have many photos) but I hope to put one up soon when I have the finished project.
Because of the twinkle lights I suddenly feel peaceful. This is where I want to be.
Do you like post-christmas twinkle lights?
hope you enjoyed this post for it took me all day to put it together, though I did enjoy the process, it was definitely a hassle.

360th-organize

Overall, today has been... stressful. Period.
Ok, actually, it doesn't end there, there where many tidbits in between all the chaos that kept me glued together.
Like watching the waves with Loren early in the morning... and maybe later on thinking about that moment. maybe those where the tidbits.

It all started with a cup of coffee, which for me, is never stressful. But this lead to a bouncing check, swapped shifts at work, late rent, and a lots of dishes. I was actually, apart from all the stress, in a very jolly mood today. I laughed at my empty bank account, joked about my job, and had not one once of worry in my system. The reality is though... I need to find another job. And this leads me to one cup of coffee to another. The weight this puts on me is almost unbearable. Bring on the craigs list! But there's a catch... I already have a lead. Not to excite you too much, I'm not giving one hint/clue rather leave it up to my next posts to let you unravel my future job.

But now, to show you a little work I've been doing at MY OWN DEASK in MY OWN CRAFT ROOM, hears a little peak on the projects soon to come:

Now, I have much needed sleep to catch up on and I have to look my best tomorrow, if I wish to have a chance at getting the interview. Wish me luck!

What kind of troubles are you having at your own job? Do you have any solutions to dealing with life's stress?

361st-organize

I forgot to mention to you yesterday that I was able to slip in a quick run at at the gym yesterday. And I mean by really quick 2 mile run. At first my foot was feeling fine (I could still feel a small ache in my toes but nothing big) and I thought this wold be a great warm up for some upcoming long-distant runs; Not going to happen. Half way through,my ankle started to pulse with pain (which wasn't unbearable) and it lasted throughout the rest of the run. And I walked out of the gym with yet the same ache in my toes. Great.

Well, with that said, that didn't stop me from getting up at 7:45 this morning for my all-time favorite chore conditioning with Amy at the Pacific Edge Climbing Gym. What did try to stop me was my other half trying to lure me into staying in my "oh-so cozy and delicious" bed and sleep in till 9:00. But no, my better half won the battle and now I feel well, beat. Like any who has taken her class, I can honestly say Amy knows how work out your entire body until you can't do anymore. And then she does it again. and again. All the way 'till you can't feel your ass anymore. It's AMAZING!
Now that I'm sore and awake, I'm ready to begin my day and get my house back into shape!

More points to Loren for doing this:

Apart from the fact that there is construction going on our apartment, our porch is looking amazing thanks to him! we've had this "potting the plants' project going on for weeks now and he finally got the courage to go ahead and finish it, and boy am I happy.

Now, I've made some seriouse changes in my house today, and one was on my list of goals! I am proud to pronounce that I have the first "touch" to my wonderful crafting room to be! This has been a serious need of mine since we fist moved in to the apartment five months ago. Actually, 'till today we haven't even had a chair to sit on (sounds nuts I know) but things are actually coming together and I am overly joyed! 

College without a desk is a headache. Crafting without the organization is impossible. and life without a chair? unbearable. 

I have many crafty and cheap ideas to put this room together and I am even more excited to shared those with you as well and I hope you can learn a little from my mistakes.

How do you craft? do you have your special place fir your creative juices. 

I have found that with life being so hectic and time is so sparred in our college years (and those that follow) it is even more important to find "that place" that allows you to do things for You!. weather it be a hobby, sport, or craft, there should ALWAYS be time made for yourself. It's where you can regain sanity and actually accomplish your daily life with minimal breakdowns.

Unfortunately, when cleaning up a mess, there comes an even bigger one. I am actually more embarrased about how things where before hand than the way they are during the transition. This is a new phase in our house where things are becoming artistic and organized and each little change is for the best. My heart lifts with just the thought of it =]

362nd-craft

I'm so happy that I got up early enough to take pictures for today's post before I headed to work for another full and stressful day. I was actually able to get some of the beautiful natural light from the sun for my photos which made it enjoyable. I think they turned out pretty nice!
I made these cupcake charms in a ceramics class my senior year of high school And I've been gifting them ever since. The one I'm wearing is actually a belated christmas gift I made for Loren's 12 year-old sister. along with  this sweater:

as much as I want to send it over, I really want to give it to her myself.

Oh, And I hope you enjoyed my cheap make-do photo studio. In such a small house it's hard to find the space for crafting and when I do, It's only temporary. (luck me my sewing machine is small and portable. downside: it sucks) But tomorrow, a whole lot of that will change, and I'll leave the surprise for tomorrows post ;)

I really enjoy doing all kinds of jewelry and I've been trying to find different ways to use these cupcakes.
Do you have any ideas for me?
On that note, I think I have about 500 different bottle caps that I've collected over the years that I've been waiting for the "right" time to use them. But I'm not sure for what.
Do you have any ideas that I could make them into art?
I really want to do a resin project and they'd be perfect for that, but they are all so individually sentimental, I'm not sure if I could.

Tomorrow is my "day off" and I have sooo much to do! I'm really excited to share all my decorating/organizing around the house!
And, it'll be an early-er post since I'll be around the house all day!
I hope your day was productive =]