Pretty Bead Work

I thought these beaded sun catchers (for lack of a better name) were very pretty.  The original blog for this is in Russian, but Google translated it enough to follow the directions and there are great pictures to follow for the beaded cow.  I am going to give the hearts a try as that is what spoke to me.  Nice way to use up some of my beads.

Alaskan Artist

For some reason today I am missing Alaska.  My husband and I lived in Eagle River for about eight years.  If you have been following this blog for a while you may know I use to earn my living by picture framing.  The great thing about this is I got to meet some wonderful artist along the way.  Here are five I enjoy and hope you do to.  I hope if you haven’t been to Alaska that someday you get a chance to visit.  It is truly a beautiful place.

rie muñoz

I love the colors and people she paints, so full of life.

Barbara Lavallee

You can just see how much fun her characters are having in her artwork.

Jon Van Zyle

His pictures have a way of taking me to the places he paints.

Ed Tussey

Sea otters are my favorite Alaskan animals.  Ed Tussey does a wonderful job of painting them and he can make water sparkle in his paintings.  It amazes me.

Nancy Taylor Stonington

There is something about the way Nancy Taylor Stonington can let the light shine through her work.

Fishbowl Lantern

I like the glow of the colored glass on these pretty fishbowl lanterns.  Artistic Junk shows you just what to do to make these wonderful lanterns.  I would trust the E-6000 glue over the hot glue gun, but the rest should go pretty smooth.  You can sometimes get lucky and find the glass stones at the dollar store.  The plaster of paris gives you a smooth look, but you could also use grout mix (the kind you use for tiling)  Might have a little rougher look, but easier to work back off the glass stones.

Summer Fun

Don’t panic, but school is almost out!  Are you looking for fun things to do this summer?  Here are a few ideas.

I am not beyond adding a little learning experience in with the fun.  Here are 12 science experiments you can do at home.  Mom to 2 Posh Lil’ Divas shows you how.  The disappearing egg-shell was a big hit.Helping Little Hands has some great artwork to show off, made with melting crayons. Kids need to be old enough to handle an open flame.  If this is not for your child you might like the crayons melted on a hot rock.  Check that out here.A great rainy day project with a few simple supplies from Artisan Des Art.  Hands On As We Grow has a wonderful spider web game.  All you need is some painters tape, wadded up paper and a couple of bored kids and you are on your way to fun.When it is super hot outside and you are looking for something for your little paleontologist to do, here is a terrific idea from Crumb Bums.  You will have to plan ahead, but looks likes like a good time with friends.Another great way to cool off from Lindsay and Drew.  Looks fun to me.

Utility Rope Necklace

I think this necklace has a very elegant look to it.  You can find the tutorial for this necklace at Honestly WTF.  The beads are actually compression sleeves found in the plumbing supply area of your hardware store.  Love strolling through the hardware store.

Graduation Gifts

Graduation is coming up soon and here are a few ideas.  How about a few fun ways to give money to a grad (a favorite gift) from Happy Home Fairy. ( I really like the idea of the gum balls in a jar, but you have to go to Happy Home Fairy’s blog to see it.)T-shirt quilts have been around for some time.  It is a great way to display all those teams and events that your children have been a part of and fun to snuggle up in on those cold days.  Blessings Over Flowing gives a good explanation on how to put this quilt together.  T-shirts can stretch which can make it tricky.  On BOF blog she used a basting spray. You could also use iron-on interfacing for each square.  You will need to do one or the other or you won’t be happy with the results.  Also use polyester batting, if you use cotton you will have to do a lot of quilting as it separates and becomes cotton balls when washed.  Not a nice thing to find out the hard way.This next idea is one you can use your own imagination and run with.  The original is from Martha Stewart.  You could make this special for the grad by making the theme something that works for them.  If they are going off to school and living in a dorm make them a special tool bucket.  Screwdriver, small hammer, hooks they can use in the dorm, tape, scissors. Those little things that come in handy and can make you new friends.  Small sewing kit and the know-how to use it can make you friends in the dorm too.  A bath caddy filled with wonderful soaps, shampoo and lotions.  A laundry bag, roll of quarters, soap and dryer sheets.  If they have cooking facilities a few kitchen tools, can opener, pot holder, dishes for the microwave.  See how crazy you can get?

Mother’s Day Gifts

Mother’s Day is this Sunday!  OK now that I put some of you in panic mode let’s see if I can help you with a few ideas.  If your mom loves the ocean maybe she will like these hand-painted glass sea urchins from Mich L in LA.  These are very simple and the instructions are easy to follow with beautiful results.  Dream A Little Bigger has the gift I am wishing for, a drying rack for art work.  I would probably put little feet on the bottom and forget the hanging part to make it work for me, but I love the idea.  Again a simple idea with great results.OK this one you may have to start today to get all the drying time in to have it ready for Mother’s Day, but any mom or grandmother would love this.  Just a few simple items, photos and instructions from All Parenting and you have a marvelous gift.How about a bouquet of paper flowers?  Creative Bug shows you how to make these beautiful flowers and they will last a very long time without water.

Wall Art

I have a wall 12 feet high by about 12 feet wide and I don’t know what to do with it.  I want to change the look of my living room up a bit.  Give it a bit of a modern twist.  Husband has put his foot down on wall paper or painting the wall. (think large mural)  So here are a few ideas I have collected that won’t break the bank and look great.

This first one is by Design Build Love, a simple idea with a great look.How about function and design from Funky Junk Interior.  Check out the upside down hanger for a hook.I love the color of these baskets.  This idea is from The Style Files.Ella Claire Inspired used a piece of bead board, trimmed it with wood and added mouse traps.  Now she can add and change the art work as she pleases.

25 Things to Make with Duct Tape

Where would the world be without duct tape? I have seen cars held together with it, heard of an airplane that crashed in Alaska that they dropped duct tape to and the pilot was able to repair the plane and fly out. (not sure that is a fact) Over at The Thrifty Couple they have put together 25 wonderful crafting ideas with duct tape.  I like the mesh beach tote bag and the tote bag with flowers.  Do you know that duct tape comes in 8 1/2 x 11 inch sheets for us crafty people?

Suspended Buttons

Oh My! Another amazing artist, his name is Augusto Esquivel.  His art work is suspended buttons.  He used over 60 pounds of sewing buttons on the piano art piece.  Hope you enjoy his work as much as I do.