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Thursday, June 30, 2011

Happy Hooker?

Well, I have been called worse.  I am not only addicted to thrift, but crochet as well.  I am of course a hack, but have learned to follow a simple pattern.  I am extemely proud of myself for that accomplisment too.  I started knitting years ago and fell in love and was...yes...completley addicted to it as well.  But, it took me years to get the patience to follow a pattern.  Crochet for some reason seems a little less daunting.

Pinterest has made it super easy to find other fun blogs and crafters and patterns to keep any die hard crafter busy for eternity.  I found the following tutorials on there, and I guess you could say...I'm hooked.

One of the tutorials is for hearts...you can find the pattern at Attic24.  She is simply amazing, and apparently has a black belt in crochet.  Her hearts look a lot more like hearts than mine...but I still adore them.  Apparently I need more practice following a pattern.

  
And then I found this tutorial below for the cutest coasters on earth at Yvestown Blog.  Super easy, and quick...I loves it.

Me likey.  And while I can't make as much money with this kind of hooking...it is much safer...and doesn't require as much hard labor.
If you're a true G you can however make a quality living selling the Flavor Flav knit clock.  Found at HipHopKnitShop on flickr.  Or go see her Etsy store.

While I'm at it, I must show my absolute favorite Hooker of all time.  
Her stuff is so original.  Yokoo  I am in LOVE with her shop, her style, and her hair.  Happy Friday everyone.  I am sooo excited for a 3 day weekend.

Click on the "I like to party link" to where it's at this week!  Also linking here. And, to celebrate reaching 100 follower, I am giving those coasters away here!


Monday, June 27, 2011

I need a vaca

I need a vacation badly.  Unfortunately we will have to reminisce of past vacations this summer.  Two summers ago we packed up the car...the kids...and ourselves and drove almost 3000 miles in two weeks.  It was amazing.

When I say "packed" i mean PACKED...our car.
 From KC to St. Louis.
St. Louis to Louisville, KY


Louisville, KY to Asheville, NC (which by the way was my fave)
One of the most beautiful churches i've ever seen.
The Basilica of St. Lawrence

 
We ate good.  Best hot dogs ever...and sweet potatoe fries. 

And then from Asheville to Savannah
So beautiful in Savannah!


Ice cream at Leopolds 

Do you have any idea what is in this building?  Do ya?
It serves food like this.

and has eye candy like this.  My smile was so big my face hurt.  I told you we ate good.  If you still haven't guessed, it was Paula Deen's restaraunt in Savannah.
We had impromptu picnics.  Yes, I have sunglasses on over my glasses.  That's how i roll.
 Farthest point South on the trip...Daytona Beach, FL
   

Look at those baby rolls!  My angel took her first steps on this vacation.
 
Fighting off waves ninja style.  Do you see me in the bikini?  Exactly.
lots of pretty sunsets.
 lots of smiles.

a quick visit to a little race track. 
a little cops and robbers.... 

Last stop was Memphis, TN and then straight home...due to complete exhaustion.

That was fun.  Now back to reality.  The bright side?  A three day weekend on the horizon! Woooohooo!

Tuesday, June 21, 2011

Word to your mother

I have been infatuated with making grown up friendship bracelets.  All week I have been making the old school ones with embroidery thread.  Will post on those soon.

I found myself back at the hardware store today buying more hexnuts for a project I did for a blog swap a while back with my sweet and beautiful cousin Shelley from Crazy Wonderful.  I love making these so much I thought I would repost it on my own blog.

I found the tutorial over at Honestly WTF.  It's a braided Hex Nut bracelet.  The best part: it cost around $2, and takes less than 10 minutes, plus all supplies can be found at a hardware store, or in your hubby's toolbox.

Supplies:  3 strands of twine (you could even use leather) cut into 1 yard pieces
                18 small brass hexnuts (but feel free to make it your own and use silver) 
                scissors
Gather the 3 strands and tie a not at the top, then braid it about an inch or so.  I stuck a safety pin in my bed to hold it firm while braiding (do at your own risk).
Once you get a good inch or 2 braided, start incorporating the hex nuts.  

This photo is courtesy of Honestly WTF
  • Start with the strand on the left and holding the braid taught add a nut and push it to the base of braid.  You'll want to hold that nut firmly in place. 
  • Then crossover that strand.  
  • Before joining the right side, add another nut, hold firmly then crossover. 
 Follow this with the remaining hex nuts, then finish with another inch or 2 of braid, tie another knot and you are finished.  You can leave a long strand and tie it with a knot, or do what I did and find a nice clasp.  I hate wearing jewelry at home.  It's the first thing I take off when I enter the door...right before I put on my sweats.


This project was so fun and easy I made two.  One out of small hexnuts, one out of the medium.

pardon the paint on my hand...
I used a magnetic clasp I found at Joanns.

I enjoyed it so made much I did another one of their tutorials making "grown up" friendship bracelets.  I am totally addicted.  Here is the link to the other tutorial.

The top is an old bracelet I haven't worn in years.  The bottom is an old gold chain from back in the day when I was a true gangsta.  
 Close up of the necklace.
If you do this second project with a small chain, use about 1/2 as much embroidery thread and instead of using a bobby pin to pull the strands through, use a small piece of embroidery thread tied around the two strands you are working with.  It makes it much easier since a bobby pin won't fit through the small links.

Warning: just like friendship bracelets from the 80s, these are totally addicting and will have you remaking all your old jewelry.  

Check out the "I like to party" link and come and link your projects!


Todays Creative Blog

Wednesday, June 15, 2011

Thrift Score

It seems like I always find things in groups.  For instance I see one dress, than another, and then another and so on.  Here's a the newest additions to my Etsy shop.

above is the front.
isn't the back pretty?

love this business dress.  Reminds me of Anchorman...and my mom.  It's navy with red pinstripes. 
this 70's gray dress has little purple birds in the fabric.
and pretty cap sleeves.
 
I kept thinking I would cut the bottom off this black prairie dress and make it mini.  I went ahead and posted it on Etsy...but still having second thoughts on keeping it and taking it up.

black, sequins and pleats...yes please. 

back to finding things in sets...I found all three of these 80's jackets on the same rack.
this is a royal blue Kasper for A.S.L. and would be super cute with black leggings.  The pictures on the dress form just don't do them justice.
I am loving this double button white blazer. 

and this piece made it all worth while...
 a Saks Fifth Avenue bolero jacket
with gold buttons and braided trim....and shoulder pads.  The shoulder pads make me smile.

This is one of two prairie blouses.  Again with the groups.

check out the sleeves!
 
Sorry about the photo quality.  My camera has been dropped one too many times and my good/old camera eats through batteries like me through donuts.  Not pretty.  Happy Wednesday.  Both of my kids have strep throat and I'm thinking about hitting up the redbox for a little movie marathon.


look at these miserable faces.  No worries.  The worst is over.  They have antibiotics and are asking for junk food today.

Click on the "i like to party link" to check out this weeks parties.


Thrift | Everybody, Everywear