Today's Inspiration:Twig and Toadstool's Heart Stamps

One of my favorite sites to visit is Twig and Toadstool. I love how Maureen gets so much inspiration from nature and uses many natural supplies.  I also just love the simplicity of many of the crafts.  This post from Maureen is Today's Inspiration.  It's amazing how three little potato heart stamps can be used for such beautiful effects.  The top photo is valentines Maureen and co. made using gold metallic paint and the bottom photo was made (again by Maureen) with glue and sprinkled with plenty of red glitter.

http://twigandtoadstool.blogspot.com/2011/02/potato-print-valentines.html
February 3, 2011 Potato Print Valentine by Twig & Toadstool

http://twigandtoadstool.blogspot.com/2011/02/potato-print-valentines.html
February 3, 2011 Potato Print Valentine by Twig & Toadstool

 Beautiful no?

Homework

This week Nana Bear is Star of the Week.  Her kindergarten teacher reminded me on Friday while we were away at Disneyland, so we did not have much time to work on the various tasks needed.  Luckily Nana's teacher is very understanding and allowed us to split it up in two days.  Today, Nana brought her picture, 3 of her favorite books, which ended up being quite  heavy, and 3 favorite things: Gromit (of Wallace and Gromit), It's a Small World snow globe, and a Year of the Rabbit bunny bell.

Tonight we scurried to put together the last 4 pieces: something depicting what she wants to be when she grows up, something depicting her favorite thing to do, something depicting her family and something depicting what is special about her.

We are done, though I did have a typo on "Detective" and unfortunately only discovered it after I saved the file as a jpeg. Doh!!!  Note to self - proofread 2x.  At least it's just kindergarten... 

Today's Inspiration



From Maureen Cracknell, February 2, 2011
http://maureencracknellhandmade.blogspot.com/2011/02/warm-hearts.html



I love these Warm Hearts at Maureen Cracknell Handmade.  Similar to the handwarmers/wrist pad I made for Christmas except heart-shaped and with flax seed and cute as heck.  And a great activity to do with the kids.  Nana Bear is always wanting to help out with my crafts and letting her pick out the fabrics would be a great way to let her help out.

Gung Hay Fat Choy

Happy Lunar New Year!  Spent the start of the new year in Disneyland and had a wonderful time.  Didn't have time to craft, but relaxed and recharged a bit.  (Though 2 hours at work is a great way to undo all the relaxation)  I'm still chugging away on my heart chains and hope to have enough of varying lengths to hang as curtain to the kids' room.  Tiger Daddy will probably not like that idea, but I'll deal with that bridge when we get there.

My Creative Space: Chain of Hearts

I was purusing Kirsty's My Creative Space at kootooyoo the other day and found a blogger who had crocheted single hearts and stitched them to fabric and made a bunting out of them. She had made it for an auction for the floods. I am ashamed to say I cannot remember whose blog it was that linked to Meet Me at Mikes' tutorial to make Sweet Hearts. I had to mentally convert the directions for US crochet stitches, but eventually I figured it out. I am trying for a trickle effect and started with hearts crocheted 10 chains apart (3) and then 15 chains apart (2-3), 20 chains apart (3), 25 (3) chains apart and maybe even a couple 30 chains apart. I need to press the hearts so they don't curl in on themselves (as you can tell in the picture).

I am playing around with lengths and size of the hearts by changing how loose I crochet. The bottom most hearts are the tightest and I am trying loosen as I go up, so the hearts get bigger. Though, as I type, I think that I should make the bottom most hearts the loosest (biggest) and get tighter as I go up.

Not sure what I am going to do with the various chains. Maybe I'll attach them to a hoop and hang from the ceiling. Or attach to a rod, hang above the kids' bedroom door like a curtain. I'll take any suggestions.

For more (more beautiful) Creative Spaces, head to Kirsty's

Crocheting Flower Bracelets

One of the projects on my list is to embellish headband/hairclips with crocheted flowers. It was inspired by Creative Jewish Mom. So I googled Crochet flowers and found this link for three different flowers. I tried out the first one for a String of Flowers and decided I could modify it a bit and make flower bracelets in rainbow thread for Nana Bear's classmates.

Modification: I made it a five petal flower instead of the instructed four.  I chained 34 stitches to begin with to have enough room to tie in the end and chained 30 at the end for the same purpose. 

I gave one to Nana Bear to try on by tying it on like a friendship bracelet. Wondering what I can do to make a better "clasp"... will have to think on it a little. Looks good, though, and fits just right. They're fast and easy to make.

I'm thinking that I can sew it to a crocheted backing or felt and attach to a hair clip.  Ideas, ideas, ideas... so many ideas, so little time.

Goodbye Tiger, Hello Rabbit

Today is the last day of the year of the Tiger in the Lunar Calendar.  While both my husband and father are Tigers, I can't say that I am sad this year is ending.  It has been a difficult one overall and I can't wait for a new year to start fresh.  And what better place to for a bright start to the new year but Disneyland!  Because of the Nana Bear's school schedule (she gets Chinese/Lunar New Year off as well as a furlough day on Friday), we get a long weekend and decided to once again visit Mickey Mouse's house.

Reflections on the Year that has past:
The Bad:

• Dealing with the loss of my grandfather from previous year 
• Various injuries and illness, one as of yet still undiagnosed
• Passing of my dear husband's grandfather
• Work is not challenging, yet never ending
• Extended family drama

The Good:

• Nana Bear (5 y.o.) and Dare Bear (2 y.o.) finally started playing together, sometimes.
• Great vacations/camping including Yosemite, Vancouver, BC and Disneyland.
• Brother-in-law married a wonderful woman on 10/10/10. 
• Dear husband (Tiger Daddy) has been doing very well at work, effecting change and rebuilding the company in a positive direction.
• Dare Bear is consistently sleeping through the night.
• Found my creative drive again.

The Ugly:

• Gained back all the weight I lost from breastfeeding Dare Bear; back to pre-pregnancy weight. 
• My home looks like a tornado went through it...at least twice.

Overall, when looking at the good and the bad (and the ugly), this past year hasn't been the worst; it just feels that way.  Lots of good came from it like a new sister (in-law) and great family times for the four of us.  Most of all I reclaimed my creativity and found some confidence in my creativity (though that waxes and wanes with the moon).  I am building a plan (both life and business) to manage all my goals, both short and long term and hope to open an Etsy shop this year.  I guess sometimes we do have to take a step or two back before we can move forward. 

Goals for the New Year:

• Continue crafting a little every week, if not every day.
• Hope to complete my brother-in-law and sister-in-law's 1st anniversary gift - two 3D origami Swans from The Craft Penguin. Considering a 1st anniversary only comes once this will be a priority project.
• Really, really want to complete our Family Cookbook - Tiger Daddy is an excellent cook - but it's been a goal for 2 years running now and still not done, so not holding my breath.
• Now that I've stock piled some brocade, silk and flannel, need to work on making my blankets and scarves for my shop.
• Crafts for and with the kids: current project Valentines for Nana Bear's class.
• I have 20 or so projects and keep find more and more inspiration from all you fellow (and much more creative and wonderful) bloggers. 
• Keep this blog and my family blog up to date - post at least twice a week here and at least twice a month on the family blog.
• Take Study for the GRE and hopefully take it.
• Open an Etsy or Etsy-type shop. 
• Get my driver's license. 
• Be a better parent.
• Find a new job??  sigh

Gung Hay Fat Choy!! (a day early)