The Road to My Craftroom is Paved With Good Intentions...

During our recent move, a friend pointed out that a lot of our furniture looked like stuff that came from Grandma's house. I didn't take offense, because he's right.  Over the years we have collected an eclectic bunch of furnishings, and while we have inherited a few pieces (some, yes, from Grandma's house) most are pieces we have by choice, either rescued from family purges or purchased at antique shops, second hand stores, or auctions.

But that's a post for a different time...

A few pieces were acquired / rescued / kept because of their potential.  And, OK, yes, a large dose of sentimentality. These items are the ones that we are going to "re-finish." "Re-finishing" is right up there with "make a cover for," "make potpourri out of," and "send to Goodwill" on the big list of GREAT IDEAS BUT WHO ARE YOU KIDDING?

For two of these items (a vanity and a sideboard) our procrastination has not been a big deal.  These items are functional, albeit covered by several generations of paint.  You see, our predecessors' had the good sense to know that they were too busy to "re-do" furniture, choosing instead to slap on a fresh coat of paint when an item needed freshening up.  I really think the distressed trend from several years ago came to be because a group of crafty folks gave up on trying to remove 100 years worth of various paints and said, "Oh for Pete's sake, just leave it like that."  As Kermit once sang, "Somebody thought of that, and someone believed it..." and shabby chic was born...

But I digress.  The third item on deck for "re-finishing" is an antique Singer sewing machine and case, purchased in, wait for it! 1996.  To re-finish.  Oh yes.

It lived in my parent's barn for several years, until one day my parents (who actually do re-finish things) were working on their own projects and stripped it for me.  Then, it went back into the barn for another few years, after which my dear Dad declared that he needed the space and I would need to pick up my squatter.  By now I was married with my own place and should have picked it up years earlier, but it seemed happy living with my parents.  And so, we brought it home, with plans to "re-finish" it. 


It's moved four times since then, each time elicited curses and curiosity from our movers, be they paid or volunteer.  Turns out everyone wants an old Singer to "re-finish".


And so, it's on deck, once again this summer, for some love.  IF I get this project rolling it will definitely be post fodder, so no more about my poor, neglected Singer for now.  Because all this talk about procrastination projects has got me thinking about what's lurking in my craft room bins...


Oh don't be smug.  Despite all the picture perfect craft room shots you've posted, I KNOW with certainty that those pics were taken AFTER a clean-up.  I know this because I do the same thing.  For all we moan about it, we are secretly proud of our stashes; after all, we wouldn't need craft rooms if everything fit neatly into one box, now would we?  And yet, for all I love my room 'o treasures, I do occasionally feel a twinge of guilt and regret for the Lost Projects, those that really didn't make it out of the starting gate, but who live in hope of one day breaking free from their Rubbermaids, and maybe, just maybe, experiencing the joys of completion.


We'll see...


In the spirit of being honest, here is a by-no-means complete list of the Lost Projects, complete with approximate start date and a guesstimate as to their likelihood of being completed.  Here we go:

• Embroidery floss, needles, hoops, and patterns Last used - Superficially, as a play prop in the early ought's. Voluntarily, for a week in 1996 (bad year for starting things, apparently). Vocationally, for two summers in the mid 2000's.                                                              Odds of Completion - It's looking good!  Inspired by retro styles, I've been considering stitching up some cute atomic accented pieces on pillows, aprons, pot holders and the like.  Stay tuned...

• Ancient Cutlery and Rubber Mallet (for making funky silverware jewelery)                                        Last Used - The Millennium.                                          Odds of being Used Again - Not good.  Turns out pounding a fork into a bracelet is a lot harder than it looks.  So many people do this well, I'd rather just support them.  And my husband took the mallet for his tool box years ago. 

• Crochet hook and cotton yarn                                  Last used - To crochet - About nine months ago.  As a knitting tool - About 4 months ago.                                 Odds of completion - Guardedly optimistic. I prefer knitting, but I think I could get into crocheting with a bit more instruction. 

• Tatting Spool                                                                     Last Used - Never                                                           Odds of completion - Never.  Tatted lace is not something I aspire to learn.  The spool came into my possession after my Aunt Irene, an amazingly talented crafter, passed.  I keep it out of sentiment and as a piece of inspiration from a simpler time where quality meant doing it yourself.

• Half of one man's sock (on needles) - I decided, one cold January night, that my  husband needed real wool socks for those cold nights on the job.                                                                                      Last used - One cold, February night. It's now June.  He wore McGregor's for the rest of those cold, Winter nights.   Odds of completion - Actually, pretty good!  I love to knit, his socks just got put on the back burner when I started looking for work, and a new house, simultaneously.

I could keep going, but for the sake of time and my self-esteem I will stop now.  Why, you might ask, are the supplies for these Lost Projects still in my possession?  Well, I might get to them someday!  But more so, I like bumping into them, so to speak, when I'm rummaging through a bin of fabric or a box of beads.  Seeing those forks and spoons, for example, reminds me of the "Little White Church" that I grew up next to, that was the spiritual home to my ancestors and that I thrilled to enter as a child (it was a rare treat reserved for Fall Fairs, Vacation Bible School, and the occasional wedding.) I got the cutlery at an auction of the church's contents just before it was demolished, breaking our hearts even as we knew it was necessary. I'll find a use for them (shadow box, wind chimes?) but in the meantime they take up little room and do no harm. And so they will stay, along with many other Lost Projects and their supplies.  When I need to purge, there is plenty of fabric and scrap-booking stuff that, while lovely, until it is formed into a memory, holds little emotional meaning for me.  

And so of course, dear readers, I turn the podium to you.  What are your Lost Projects?  Come now, don't be shy, I'm sure there must be some doozies out there somewhere!  If I can admit to hauling a sewing machine around for 15 years, you can tell me about your taxidermy projects or plastic canvas nightmares.  Out with it!!!
 

The Christmas Calmdown–Christmas Planner

It’s Ainsley’s turn to host The Christmas Calmdown; this post is also appearing on her blog, Pattycake Manners.  Be sure to visit her and say hi!  And don’t forget to grab a nifty Christmas Calmdown button to let the whole of Blogdom know that this December, you’re going to be calm, cool, and in control!!!

Wow! I can hardly believe that it has been a whole month since the
launch of our Christmas Calmdown feature!! For those of you who may have missed the first instalment, the Christmas Calmdown is the collaborative effort of myself, and my dear cousin Kim, over at  Nesty.  Each month, for the next year, on or around the 25th, we will take turns posting a goal for anyone wishing to follow along, with the end result being a more organized holiday season for all. You can click here to read the introductory post! And now onto February's Christmas Calmdown Goal!

Ask the mastermind behind any successful event, and they will tell you that it all starts with a plan. A good plan. A plan full of details, and a plan that covers every aspect. A good plan takes time to build, and involves a lot of thought on the part of the person doing the planning.

Today, the event in question is Christmas 2011, and you, my dears, are the people doing the planning! In this post, I'm going to talk you through creating your own Christmas Planner, and then we'll go over just what you should put in there!  I won't re-hash how crazy the holidays get - we've been there, done that - but there's no reason we can't learn from our mistakes, and make  Christmas 2011 a calm and peaceful one. You should know by now
that I am a list maker. Lists make hectic days smoother, and who
doesn't like when things run smoothly? Especially around the holidays! What I'm proposing is that you start making some of those Christmas Lists now, in order to ensure a much smoother December for yourselves, and for your family.

But it's one thing to make the lists. It's another to have them all
neatly contained in some sort of paper keeper, so that they are all
right at your finger tips when inspiration strikes, and again when youare trying to recall that brilliant idea you had last week. Enter...the Christmas Planner.

Your planner can really be anything that can keep your notes and ideas in one place. Here are a few versions to consider.

There is a growing trend towards Home Keeping Journals - a notebook of some sort where organized home managers keep banking info, menu plans, housekeeping schedules, calenders, etc. You might be familiar with FlyLady's Control Journal, or Tsh's Home Management Notebook over at Simple Mom? If you are already going this route, good for you! In my opinion, you are ahead of the game. Your Christmas Planner can be as simple as adding another divider and some more loose leaf to your existing Home Keeping Journal.

There are numerous Christmas Planners on the market, geared toward doing just what we're doing - getting organized for the holidays. A few years ago, my sister-in-law gave me this cute little number for my birthday. It is filled with various sections, and had pages to carry through a number of years. I used every bit of it, and it was fun to look back at my notes from previous years. If time is short, and crafting is not your thing, but you still want something cute and festive, this may be the way to go for you.

Or your Christmas Journal can be as simple as a small notebook that you keep tucked in the cupboard, used solely for jotting down all things Christmas.

But my favorite way to keep holiday ideas in order is with a hand
decorated binder - one that is pretty to have on the kitchen counter or beside my favorite chair, and one that is completely devoted to Christmas planning. Here is the step-by step of what I did to create it.

* this tutorial was originally published in December 2010*

First, I found an old 1 inch binder left over from my college days. I
then gathered up some pretty fabric from Stampin' Up!, my glue gun, and some cardstock.

I covered the binder with fabric and glued down the edges.

I then covered the inside covers with the coordinating cardstock.

Then I decided to embellish the outside cover with a funky flower
using more of the fabric, my Big Shot die cutter, and a big ole'
button. Lovely!!

Once you have decided on what kind of planner you will use, it's time to decide just what is going to go in between the covers. I would suggest using some sort of divider to keep things organized, and a pocket of some sort might be handy for receipts and loose notes. Here are a few things that I keep in my Christmas Planner. Feel free to use them as a launching pad for your own Planner, or toss them and fill your Planner with the things YOU need to keep track of. It's all about making things easier!

1. Notes from last year - While things are still fresh in your mind,
make notes of things that worked and things that didn't work for you during Christmas 2010. My list already includes things like "Buy more fairy lights" and "Make scrapbook cards ahead of time". These are the kinds of things that jump up and get me during the first week of December, and have me shaking my head, asking why I didn't do them in October!
2. Gift Ideas - A no brainer, but one we often lose track of because
we are sure we will remember that book that so-and-so mentioned back in August. Make a list of all the folks you are planning to buy for, and do a quick brainstorm. Did one Aunt love the scarf you made the other Aunt last year? Have your grandfather's swim trunks seen better days ( I can hear all you MacDonald's snickering from here!) Jot down those ideas when you think of them, and then you can plan to shop throughout the year.
3. Decorating Ideas - Again, pretty self-explanatory, but it's always helpful to have everything in one place when the time comes to carry out the task, or when Michaels has a killer sale going on.
4. Christmas Card List - If you are a card sender, keep a master list
of all the people you plan to send Christmas greetings to. It can save so much time and energy if you can quickly calculate how many cards and stamps you need to buy by just looking at your list. Jot down names, as well as addresses, as it can also be a time saver not having to go through your address book. Try to update your list through the year as people move, or have babies!
5. Budget - Oh, you knew it was coming. We all know that the holidays can be a drain on the pocketbook, but with a little planning, we might be able to make it a little less painful. If you can, figure out what you are willing to spend on the holidays, and plan to spread it out over the year. Things like stamps, stocking stuffers, many largergifts items, craft supplies, cards, wrapping supplies, cards, even baking supplies can be purchased throughout the year and tucked away.  Much better, I think, to spend a bit every month, than to enter the New Year dealing with Christmas debt.
6. Calendar - Nothing crazy, but a loose weekly calendar for the
couple of months leading up to December can be helpful. For those of us who make many of our gifts, setting goals and timelines for handmade projects can keep us on track and take the pressure off in the end.
7. Mailing Schedule - As someone who mails the majority of her gifts, I can tell you that this is an important one. Make a list of all the parcels you will be needing to send, and when you want them in the mail by. Postal services of course give guidelines for this, but I like to set my own personal dates. For me, it is a huge relief to know that my gifts are done and on their way, so they are a top priority for me. Decide what needs to go, and by when it must be mailed, and plan to pick up any mailing supplies you might need in early November.
8. Kids Ideas - Ideas that pop up throughout the year for crafts and activities to keep the little ones busy throughout the holiday season.  I also like to jot down supplies for these projects that I accumulate during the year so I don't end up over-buying.
9. Cooking and Baking - Again, just a place to make notes of things
you'd like to try, things that may make good neighbour gifts, and a
master pantry list is always helpful. Making notes early and planning ahead can save money. If you are planning to give a gift in a mason jar, it's cheaper to buy them during canning season than to wait until mid-December!
10. The Fun Stuff - We all know we want lots of nights to relax around the holidays, but it often doesn't happen because we forget to "plan" to relax! For the last few years, I have allotted so many nights in December to doing truly Christmas-ey things. I schedule movie nights, gingerbread house day, even a day to start my Christmas puzzle. It may sound a bit rigid, but if these things are not on the list, they often get pushed to the side and forgotten. Putting them on the list makes them a priority and I don't end up feeling like I missed out on some of my favourite things!

Like I said, these are the lists that work for me. Everyone's planner
will be different. The important thing, in the spirit of the Christmas
Calmdown, is to make notes throughout the year, and to keep them organized in one place. We would love for you to join us in this year-long project!! We'll be back again in March with our next goal, so have your planner ready to share! You'll be invited to leave a link in your comment showing us what you've done, and we'll be pop by to check them out! And be sure to grab a button from my sidebar if you plan on participating in the Christmas Calmdown! The more the merrier!

And a little note from Kim...

Hi Everyone! Welcome back to the Christmas Calmdown! I’m really excited about our first official Calmdown challenge and can’t wait to make my own adorable planner. Ainsley is an incredible paper-crafter; her scrapbooks, cards, and projects always have that certain something that makes you stop and go “Wow!” I can already think of a dozen different ways to use this planner design with a simple change of colour and theme; household planner, shower guestbook (add some scrapbook pages for an elegant souvenir of a special day), memory book
for school or university (so cute in campus colours!), coupon
organizer (just add page protectors), or personalized scrapbook! The possibilities are endless, but of course, the first one I’m going to make is my 2011 Christmas Planner! See you next month!

Jelly Rolls and Candy Bars and Layer Cakes, Oh My!!!

Those of you who don't quilt probably thought this was a post about desserts!  Not today (although after typing that title I am a bit hungry)!

The quilters in my readership no doubt knew right away what I would be posting about.  Don't get all excited, I'm not a quilter...yet.  At this point my knowledge of quilting is quite limited, however, a lack of knowledge has never stopped me from pursuing a new hobby in the past!  I enjoy sewing, and I've been admiring quilted projects for quite some time, so I've decided to give it a try.

Luckily, I have a great distance education teacher (my cousin Ainsley from Pattycake Manners.)  Ainsley is a truly talented quilter, and pictures of her creations were a big part of what motivated me to want to try quilting.  She's been terrific, advising me on supplies and teaching me the proper terminology.  On her advice, I am the proud owner of a "begin to quilt kit", which contains all the basics I need to get started (a rotary cutter, mat, pins, thimbles, needles, and safety pins)!  I also got lucky and inherited a large cutting mat from a friend who is doing a pre-move purge.  

Now all I need is a "jelly-roll;"  a roll of coordinating pre-cut strips of quilting fabric which I will use to create my first project.  I'm heading to town this weekend and I really hope I can find one there, because I'm like a kid with new toys waiting to try out my new quilting kit! I really don't want to wait for an online order (although I must admit some of those pre-cuts are mighty pretty...especially the Moda and Michael Miller designs!).

I'll be sure to let you know when I get started!  In the meantime, how many of you quilt?  What online resources would you recommend to a beginner?

Have a great weekend!

Crafty - "Pond Hockey" Hobo Mitts

Throughout the Fall I often mentioned the Christmas gifts I was knitting but wasn't able to share them with you until after the holidays.  A few weeks ago I presented my "Hot Cocoa" Hobo Mitt to you. Today, I'd like to show you a similar mitt in a different style, which I called "Pond Hockey."

The "Pond Hockey" Hobo Mitt is knit using two shades of Patons' Classic Wool.  The majority of the mitt is worked in Dark Grey Mix, while the accent stripe on the cuff is worked in Peacock.  Both yarns are 100 gram net weight and are 100% Pure New Wool.  These mitts were worked on size 3.5 (US 4) bamboo double point needles.

I designed the "Pond Hockey" mitt to wear during outdoor activities (although the recipient of this gift will probably wear hers on trail rides more so than on the hockey pond) so I knit the cuff snug and extra long to keep the wrists warm.  The wearer can use their arms freely without risk of exposing their wrists to the cold, while leaving the fingers free.   100% wool is ideal for outdoor activities as it keeps the hand warm even when the garment is wet by wicking moisture away from the skin.  Unlike those knit from synthetics, wool garments like these require a little extra care; these mitts must be washed by hand and laid flat to dry.

Do you knit?  If yes, what are you knitting now?

Have a great week!

My Evolution of Knit + A Blogoversary!

This is a rather big week for Nesty.  Tomorrow, January 18, is my first "Blogoversary."  So I'd like to take a moment to thank all of my wonderful readers for a really great year.  Each comment and new follower made my heart jump with excitement and motivated me to continue writing.  As time passed and features, mentions, and awards began to arrive in my inbox, I was beyond thrilled at your recognition of my work.  

When I started blogging a year ago I really didn't know much about the community that exists here in Blogland.  I've met some truly wonderful people and through your writing I've become connected to your lives.  I have read posts with excitement to see if someone's baby has arrived or if their surgery went well.  I've grown misty when sadness has visited some of you.  I've commiserated and lent advice, especially with regards to relocation.  And on the occasions when a favorite blogger decides to leave blogging, or just plain disappears, I've felt their absence and missed them.  It's been an incredible and rewarding time, and I'm looking forward to what the next year will bring.  And so, whether you've been following since the beginning or just joined up, Thank You so much!!!

Those of you who have been following since the beginning may recall my adventures in learning to knit.  Anyone out there remember this?

 Just yikes!  But, as I mention in the original post, my goal with this project was to actually stick with it and get it cast off, no matter how ugly the finished project was.  This scarf could really be a cautionary tale of all the things you shouldn't do, but I'm still really proud of it because once it was finished I knew how to cast on, knit, perl, and cast off.  I was ready to go.  Bring on the projects!

For my next few projects I concentrated on items that would help me learn the basics of knitting.  The turquoise scarf is knit in a basket weave pattern (a basket weave pattern requires you to alternate knitting and perling at regular intervals.)  I also got to make a fringe!  The watch cap was my first project on a round needle, and although it was far too small to wear, it got me very excited about projects that could be knit "in the round."  And so, for the first time, I searched online for a pattern and found the pattern for the cute red hat.  The cute red hat is a lesson in why it is important to pay attention to the type of yarn and needle size the pattern calls for.  Yet again, my hat was too small, however it was the first item I looked at where my mistakes weren't the first things I saw.  


As cute as these projects are (in a retro sort of way) they really weren't items I would wear.  I was on the lookout for my next project and I was determined I was going to wear it.  At Christmas came the item that completely hooked me on knitting.  My husband's aunt sent me a skein of Kochoran wool, a pair of chunky bamboo needles, and a pattern for a seed stitch scarf.  This project knit up beautifully and fast, and I was soon proudly wearing my work.  This is the sort of gratifying project that I absolutely love; in fact I have recommended it to beginners.   This was also the project that turned me into a yarn snob:

This project boosted my confidence, and I knew it was time; when I started knitting, my motivation was that I wanted to make mittens and socks.  And so, I enthusiastically jumped right in and decided to tackle socks: 

 After the socks, I never really looked back.  The past few months I've been knitting up a storm.  I came up with a "collection" of items that I gave for Christmas gifts.  It was so fun embracing the "design" part of knitting; adjusting a pattern, experimenting with colour and fibre combinations, and even making up names for my garments.


One of my favorite items to knit (besides socks!) are hobo mitts. These go by several names but they are basically fingerless mittens.  I made these for my niece, my sisters and my sister in law; each pair had a unique twist to them that made them "one of a kind."  I really fell in love with these cuties and they almost didn't make it into the gift box!

 At a craft show, I bartered two Tiny Totes for a skein of chocolate brown yarn (I was bored and had forgotten my knitting).  While sitting at my table I played around with the yarn and decided that they would make adorable hobo mitts.  The yarn is actually an acrylic nylon blend; compared to the alpaca and sheeps' wool of the other projects I made it didn't sound as nice but it knit up into a delightfully warm and snuggly mitt.  To give it a pop of colour (and a bit of snob factor) I added a cherry pink stripe in Baby Bamboo yarn.


For all my hobo mitt projects I followed essentially the same pattern, but made a few adjustments.  For the Hot Cocoa mitt I wanted a snug fit, so I decreased the last few rows on both the hand and the thumb.  The fibre choices (synthetic and plant based) for this project would make it ideal for someone with wool allergies or ethical concerns.


So there you have it, my evolution of knit!  


I'll be back on Wednesday with a post about severe winter weather conditions and what all those warnings actually mean. And on Friday I'll be sharing one of my all-time favorite recipes, and it's awesome; vegetarian, high fibre, cheap and low fat!  Oh, and absolutely delicious!!  See you then!

Festive, Fast, & Functional Champagne Magnet!

Well, friends, we are well on our way to mid-January.  This weekend I packed away Christmas, we ate the end of the baking, and tomorrow I am buying a healthy, clean eating grocery order.  The "Christmas Hangover" is over and we are settling comfortably into the New Year.  And I must say, it feels good.

What's a "Christmas Hangover?" you ask?  Not what you think it is...but more on that in a future post.  

After a much needed break, I am starting to feel creative again.  The hand knit gifts (which you will see in the not too distant future) were much loved and appreciated, but yowzers my hands were sore by Christmas Eve!  But now, now I feel like making stuff!

The first urge came on New Year's Day.  I was tidying the kitchen and I found the cork from our NYE champagne hanging out on the counter where it had been left the night before.  As I was heading for the garbage I took a look at the cork and paused.  I've always loved champagne corks; I find them rather fascinating.  There's the excitement that comes with removing it, of course, champagne is a celebratory drink and it's always fun to stand around and watch someone work that cork out.  So much the better if it overflows, or if you have to duck to avoid a flying cork.  In the calmer light of day, the cork itself is a little marvel of science, design, and ingenuity.  How do they get it in there?

So, after a few moments with the cork, I realized that I was starting to get sentimental about it.  I am trying to stop doing this; we recently did a "purge" of our belongings and swore to each other that we would stop keeping every little thing that had "meaning".  (Rest assured, I threw away a lot of NYE paraphernalia from previous years.) But this cork, it was just so neat!  So special!!  Surely there was something it could do...

And then it came to me...it would make a really funky fridge magnet!

Turning to the fridge, I found what I was looking for; a plain circle magnet that had fallen off the back of another magnet a few weeks earlier.  I'm not one to toss something functional just because it doesn't look pretty anymore, and so my plain 'ol magnet was earning his keep on the fridge, holding stuff up.  Today, however, luck was smiling on my old, chipped magnet 'cause...it was makeover time!

Sixty seconds in my craft room plus time for drying and we were finished!  As soon as I saw it on my refrigerator I knew I would have to share this no-brainer craft with you.  The best part is that it is almost completely made of repurposed items (although if you don't have a spare magnet lying around, you can buy them).  Here's a tutorial:

First the fun part, drinking your champagne!  We got Henkell Trocken, 'cause I'm a classy chick.  Okay, okay, it's a sparkling wine, not champagne. Picky, picky, picky...

Next, get the cork.  Isn't it pretty?  Depending on the level of frivolity at your celebration, you may have to go looking for the cork.  May I suggest under the sofa?  Oh, and also depending on the level of frivolity at your celebration you may be about to have a whole collection of champagne magnets.  Good for you!  Cheaper by the case anyway!!!

Magnets don't stick to cork all on their own, so go get the glue.  I used Aleene's Tacky Glue; I find it's good for adhering different kinds of surfaces to each other (like cork and magnet).  A little tip; apply glue to both surfaces and let it sit for a minute before attaching them.  This will make the glue tacky and will aid in adhering the surfaces.

Now, let the glue dry.  I didn't take a picture of this because I mean, come on.  A picture of glue drying?  Really?

Be patient and let it dry well.  Leave it alone for a few hours.  This is the hardest part of the craft!!!  We are all adults.  Leave. It. Alone.

  

Hey look, it's dry!  I must say, that's one classy magnet!  And that's a mighty cute dog!  He was one of my Christmas presents.  They called him "Rodney" in the feature but the shelter workers were actually calling him "Rod Stewart."  And he lived at the shelter for, like, five months, so he really thought he was Rod Stewart...

"Have I told you lately that I love you?"

 There is a resemblance, no?  Five pounds of love there, folks.  Anyhoodle, the neighbors think we're wacky enough; yelling "Rod Stewart!" out the back door wasn't going to help our image so he became Max.  I loves him!

Good luck with your magnets!  If you don't have your NYE cork anymore, what luck!  Valentine's Day is right around the corner!

Friday is a Retro Recipe...and it's a goodie!!!  See you then!

A Very Nesty Christmas - Pattycake Manners Guest Post Mini Album Tutorial

"I will honor Christmas in my heart, 

and try to keep it all the year."

~Charles Dickens

Hi Everyone!  Sorry I've been missing for a day or so...I've been busy getting my Nest ready for the holidays and so I decided to give myself a day off!  However, to make up to you for missing yesterday's post, today I have a special treat!  My cousin Ainsley from Pattycake Manners is guest posting today and she has prepared a wonderful tutorial for a mini album that you could prepare to give as a gift, or keep for yourself.  Either way, it is a perfect way to "honour Christmas and keep it in your heart" all the year long!  I know I can't wait to make a few and I think it will be the perfect project to fill the quieter days after the holidays! Take it away, Ains!

"Hi folks! Ainsley here, from Patty Cake Manners. 

Kim and I have been playing with the idea of me popping over 

and guest posting on Nesty for a while now. We knew we wanted 

it to be something a little crafty, and since scrapbooking is kind of 

my thing, we thought I might go that route. Enter the arrival of the 

Christmas season, and there was no question as to what I 

wanted to share with all of you. I designed this little 

accordion album last year, while trying to figure out a unique
way to send some "cute kid" photos to my Mom.  Since then, 

this album has taken on a life of its own. I've made oddles 

of them for gifts, and have done them in a number of 

themes. I've used it in my paper crafting classes, and have 

passed on the "recipe" to family and friends. 

And now I'm happy to be passing it on to you during my visit
to the Nest!

1.  Gather your supplies. You'll need the following.
 
1 sheet of 12 X 12 cardstock
2 or 3 sheets of 8 1/2 X 11 cardstock in co-ordinating colors
scraps of patterned paper
embellishments ( buttons, fancy brads, rub-ons, stickers etc)
brads
ribbon
inks and stamps
paper trimmer
scoring blade
paper piercer
adhesive
scissors
 

2.  Cut two 4" X 12" strips of cardstock for the base of your 

album.  Score each strip at 4" and 8" and fold at creases. 

Overlap two ends and adhere, to create a 5 page accordion 

album.
 

3.  From co-ordinating cardstock, cut four 3 3/4" squares, 

and four 3 1/2" squares. For best results, alternate colors 

as shown.
 

4.  From patterned paper, cut four 3 1/4" squares.
 

5.  Layer your patterned paper squares, your 3 1/2" squares, 

and your 3 3/4" squares on top of each other with a bit of 

adhesive. I like to offset them just a bit.
 

6.  Adhere your finished "layers" to pages 2,3,4, and 5 of your

 album, leaving page 1 for your title. (Make sure your title 

page is folding towards you, NOT opening like a book)
 

7.  Embellish one corner of each page with buttons, fancy 

brads, etc.
 

8.  Pierce holes in the remaining 3 corners of each page, and

use small brads to secure your "layers" to the album base.
 

9.  Your title page can be made in the same fashion as your 

other pages, using coordinating cardstock in 1/4" increments,

 scraps of patterned paper, and brads.  Embellish your cover 

with more buttons, brads, rub-ons, stickers etc, and stamp

 a sentiment if you wish.
 

10.  Cut a 16" length of ribbon and adhere to the back of 

your album, centering the ribbon top to bottom and left to

 right. This can be used to tie your album closed with a little

 bow in the front.
 

11.  Add four 2 3/4 photos to pages 2 to 5.
 

You now have a lovely little scrapbook, perfect for sharing

 photos with a loved one, or for keeping just for you!
 
* For information about any of the supplies used in this 

project, please visit my Stampin' Up! website!

What an awesome project, Ains!  Once again, thank you!

This should go without saying, but if you are going to share

Ainsley's design on another blog, PLEASE do the right thing and

give credit, and a link, where it is due!  Thank you one and

all for keeping Blogland a friendly and ethical place to 

share our great ideas!  

Tips for Having a Happy (And Organized!) Handmade Holiday!

"It is Christmas in the heart that puts Christmas in the air." ~W.T. Ellis

Ah, Christmas.  If there is one time of year that motivates us to don our crafty hat, it's you.  This is how our Christmas storage boxes have come to be lovingly filled with treasured collections that are almost anthropological in nature.  

One could argue that manufactured Christmas-a-bilia demonstrates the styles of the times quite well itself, thank you very much!  So it does.  But there is something about the homemade, the handcrafted, that can really bring to mind a time, a place, an era.

Look at your collection.  Got a smocked ball in there?  I'll bet you a sugar cookie it was lovingly hand crafted in the early to mid 1980's.  Ceramics?  Eighties again.  Knit items are a little trickier, since the grandma set never stopped knitting, but you may have noticed a resurgence of knit ornaments, tree skirts, and stockings since the turn of the millennium, when wool crafting experienced a renaissance.

You get the idea.  As timeless as an item may seem at the moment it is made, there will inevitably be something about it that will mark it as being distinctly "1985," "1994," or even, of course, "2010."  (And yes, I'm still reeling that we're living in 2010.  2010!!!!  We're space age!!).

As I mentioned on Monday, this year I've been embracing homemade gifts and I'm really excited about them!  For fear of ruining the Christmas morning surprise, I'm not going to get too specific, but followers of this blog will know that I knit, sew, and paper-craft, so you can use your imaginations until after the 25th, when I will share my creations with you.  It's been a lot of work, but it's been so much fun and it's given me a good excuse to indulge in some really nice supplies; all in the spirit of giving!  I've become a total yarn snob, so the recipients of my knit creations are getting very spoiled indeed!

While making your Christmas gifts by hand is a lot of work, there are steps you can take to ensure it's all a labour of love, not a panic inducing race to the finish (still-tacky glue will not mail well, my friends!) Based on my experiences this year, I have compiled a list of tips to help make your homemade holiday experience happy and organized, so that your handmade, heartfelt offerings will bring a warm smile for years to come (not to mention a round of "Awwww, that's so 2010!).  Enjoy!

Tips for Having a Happy (and Organized!) Handmade Holiday:

• Have a plan - Know what you're making, who it's for, and what you need to complete it.  If, like myself, you live off the beaten path, keep a supply list going so that you can make sure you get everything you need when you go shopping "in town."
• Be realistic - New to sewing?  Then perhaps you shouldn't attempt a queen size quilt for your mom.  Start with something smaller, like a decorative panel.  Short on time? Maybe only make a few gifts this year, or make one simple item (like an ornament) to include with your store-bought presents.
• Consider logistics - Where is this gift going?  Shipping is expensive, so be sure to consider that when you are deciding what to make. A homemade bookshelf may not be the right gift to ship across the country.
• Consider cost, both actual and perceived - While some homemade gifts are ideal for those on a budget (think bath salts, cookies, and homemade coffee mixes) the reality is that craft supplies aren't cheap.  So while you may think that hand knit cashmere bed socks would be your mother-in-law's heart's delight, the reality is that they would end up costing you upwards of $200.00 in yarn.  Someone who doesn't know the cost of yarn and textiles (and really, who except wool crafters and fashionistas does?) will just see socks.  Consider using a luxe version of a more affordable medium. (And for the record, my MIL would totally appreciate the value of cashmere socks!  Maybe someday!)
• Have a support network - My cousin Ainsley (of Pattycake Manners) and I had a cyber crafting night last week, updating each other on our progress via email.  It was fun (read her post about it here) and it motivated me to keep plugging away at that evening's project so I'd have something to report.
• A housekeeping tip (which will make sense if you read Ainsley's post, as well as this one by me) is to keep any beverages you are consuming in a travel mug.  If you attend a lot of group crafting activities, consider adding a travel mug to your bag of supplies.
• Another housekeeping tip - When you are sewing or paper-crafting, tape a plastic shopping bag to the table next to your workspace, and sweep your clippings, corners, and threads into it as you go.  A greener alternative would be to move a garbage bin next to your workspace.

 So there you go, the Nestygirl's collected crafting wisdom for Holiday 2010!  I hope you find something helpful in my list to assist you in making your homemade holiday gifts a reality!


Happy December 1! Today marks the start of 25 days of Nesty!  I'm so looking forward to sharing my holiday preparations with you.  And to those of you following me on Twitter, I promise to be back soon!


Today is the first day of Hanukkah!  Happy Hanukah!!

Mum's the Word!

I'm up to my ears in crafting fun, and I'm itching to share my projects with you, but I can't...

They're all Christmas gifts!  And if I share them with you here, it would ruin the surprise for many of my recipients!  And so, mum's the word until after December 25th!  

What I can say, however, is that I'm having a wonderful time creating heartfelt gifts by hand for all my loved ones!  I'm so much more excited about mailing my Christmas boxes this year!  Not only do I have the joy of giving gifts (making a list, deciding what to give, mulling over choices) I get to decide every aspect of my gifts!  Throughout the year I would have moments of inspiration; a skein of yarn made me think of this person, while a piece of fabric or a beautiful bead would bring to mind someone else.  Every so often I like to take out what I have accomplished so far and look at all of it and imagine being there when the gift is opened.

I'm making good progress but I'll have a few busy weeks ahead of me (well, make that week, if I'm really keen!)  After a bad experience mailing my parcels last year (New Year's gifts, anyone?) I want my gifts in the mail early!

And so, that's all for today, folks.  I really need to go finish...ha!  You thought you could fool me, didn't you!?

Have a wonderful week, and I'll see you on Wednesday!

Happy Thanksgiving, Again!

Hey there American friends!  You have a very big week coming up!  If you're anything like me, you'll be spending a lot of this weekend planning for next week's festivities.  To help you along, today I'm listing my Thanksgiving posts from a few weeks ago:

• Apple Turkeys make a fun craft and are a traditional Thanksgiving centerpiece in my family.  I've included an easy to follow tutorial, complete with pictures!

• Need to bring dessert to a Thanksgiving potluck?   Turtle Pumpkin Pie is sinfully delicious and beyond simple to make.  But shhhh!  Let them think you laboured in the kitchen all day!

• Turkey time doesn't end with the feast!  Hang on to that frame and make Homemade Turkey Soup!

• A few hours of "me-time" is always something to be thankful for!  Why not do some scrapbooking?  Check out this adorable Bo Bunny Pickin' Pumpkins album kit I found at our local scrap-book store.

• Sweet Potato and Pumpkin and Maple, oh my!  Fall has the very best flavours, so why not serve them all up at An Autumn Coffee Party!

• Curious why I celebrated Thanksgiving last month?  Click here for an explanation AND a recipe for Apple Pie with Cheddar Crust.

• And of course, in the midst of all the fun, don't forget to reflect on what you have and what you love, and give thanks.

Have a fun, wonderful week!  Safe and happy travels to all of you who are on the road this holiday season!

Nesty Creations - My First Craft Fair!!!

I had a great time at my first craft fair!  Not a lot of sales, but it was a lot of fun and I think I will do it again in the Spring!

Here are some pictures of our table and wares.  I sold a collection of Christmas ornaments as well as some "Tiny Totes;" little bags perfect for hands-free shopping, strolling, or dog walking. I also made the Christmas bunting that decorated our table.  My table partner Ann sold her original jewelery designs.  I really like her creations; we purchased some for Christmas gifts last year and I bartered a Tiny Tote for a pair of earrings (the funky pink shell ones in the photo collage below).    

Despite low sales (and developing laryngitis!), I had a lot of fun!  It was great to get out, meet people, and see what other crafters are making. 

Have you participated in a craft fair lately?  Do you sell your products online, either through Etsy or your own site?  If so, I'd love to hear about your experiences!

Have a great day!