chimesblog

It’s been so long since I had a weekend of hermiting and crafting.  The cat’s away so the mouse will … be lame and stay indoors on a Saturday night?

This used to be my typical Saturday night: run, shower, laundry, movies, crafting, sleep.

Lately I’ve been doing things.  Like a lot of things. I went to a concert last night with Shelly (I will blog about this later once she gets pix/video up), I’ve been going out with friends to Welch Ave., Fong’s, The Lift, etc., we had prom last weekend … eeeeep! This is entirely too much stuff for me — it’s been fun — but I need a break!

So, I’m hermiting.

Tonight is going to be a craft-a-thon. I’ve had a request for 2 tea wallets and 2 market bags since posting on facebook that I was going to have a craft-a-thon.  I’ve got a Ziggy Stardust tea cup I want to finish, some potholders, a zip pouch and I have a couple of new hot projects that I’d like to crank out quickly to stash bust my scrap fabric.

Anywho — as I finish things, I’ll be posting pix here of what I accomplish tonight. Let’s hope I do a few more things so I don’t look like I spent the night thinking about crafting and not actually crafting.

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1. Two Bags for my niece

My mom requested that I make Emee a couple of bags for some of her toy sets.  These need handles, but I haven’t come across anything that I’d like to use for handles just yet.  I made these bags out of a skirt I had in high school that I never wear anymore.  It’s really cute purple fabric that shifts to blue in the right light and has a metallic silver brocade on the edges.

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2. Potholders

I started making a string quilt a while back with a bunch of random scraps, but I wasn’t pleased with what I was getting. So I decided to make the blocks into ugly potholders. The potholders have been lying around for a while awaiting the binding edge, so I’m sewing the binding on tonight.

Here’s what my potholders look like …

As you can see … I’m pretty excited that I finally finished these.

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3.  Lil Zipper Bag

Over the summer I’d made some little zipper bags with some fuschia and gold Heather Ross mendocino fabric that was given to me by my friend Adria.  I love this fabric sooo much, might I add. Definitely one of my all-time favorites. Anyway, for whatever reason I’ve had one little zipper bag sitting around unfinished. So I finished that off tonight as well.

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4. Ziggy Stardust Tea Cup

I made Mark a cute tea cup for our 2-month anniversary with the lyrics to our song on it … and I decided I wanted one that’s similar for myself. Yes — I said — FOR MYSELF. I never craft for myself. I wrote out the lyrics to Ziggy on a teacup last week … but decided that it needed to have a bit more pizazz, considering it *is* Bowie. So, I painted it up. I’m not too happy with the results, but maybe it will grow on me after I bake it. I like the one side, but I think if I would have left it a bit simpler it would be nicer … oh well. This can end up on craftastrophe I guess.

As you can tell by my face, this is the side I’m not too happy with. I dunno what to do with it just yet … Probably just bake it and hide it away in my apartment.

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I think that’s all I’m going to get to tonight, but I’m going to continue tomorrow and get 4-6 tea wallets done, possibly some dis-cards (Denyse Schmidt style) and maybe another craft for myself — heating pad cover.

One of my favorite blogs, a la mode fabric, just turned one. She’s having a fabric giveaway of absolutely adorable fabrics (what else would you expect?).

My favorite, of course, being the blush mendocino set.

Anyway, go here for details! Contest ends February 28.

Are you ready for this awesomeness?

Every year Ames has a throwback prom to raise money for American Cancer Society and this year’s theme was Night of the Living Prom. Zombies. Prom. Zombies. Prom. Prombies?

Of course, I had to cram myself into this awesome black dress I bought for last year’s prom that isn’t made to actually fit a human being. It’s a size … ?? I don’t know. 28 inch waist with 24 inches for a chest? Hmm.. yeah. I turned the back into the corset and laced it up to fit me. Frankensteined a dress for zombie prom.

Mark and I decided to do 80s glam punk — Billy Idol style. I made Mark a shirt out of a PBR t-shirt and some fabric scraps. And of course, I made us a corsage and a boutonniere.

It was a good mix of zombies and prom goers. We had a fabulous time. The band showed up in Ghostbusters costumes (complete with proton packs) and played the ghostbusters song! Thriller was played halfway through the night and a group of us danced to it. I didn’t learn it, but I jumped in and improved anyway.

That’s about it. Free beer and punch. Lots of dancing. Lots of fun times. Undead. And alive.

Here are some pix!

Once again I’m attending the fabulous charity prom put on by Sigler Companies in Ames.  This year’s theme is Night of the Living Prom.  So, you can go as a zombie or as whatever you want. So really, the only difference from last year is the zombie part. Last year’s theme was Revenge of the Prom.

Anyway, Mark is going with me and I kind of fed his ideas for what he was going to wear and let them snowball into something really cool.  So originally he was wanting to wear an old-school tuxedo t-shirt with weight-lifting gloves and a jacket, but I suggested we go to the Atomic Garage in Valley Junction to see if they had any cool vintage attire.  There, we found an epic PBR t-shirt, which is perfect because him and all my guy friends are notorious for drinking PBR since it’s the cheapest pitcher you can get. But it was too small. I bought it anyway assuming I could craft it into something.

Today I tried on my black dress that I’d bought last year that has never quite fit (it tapers to the top — which makes no sense, but whatever).  I decided that it was too cute with the electric blue and black lace tights I had on and that I HAD to make it work.  Coincidentally, at the same time I tried the dress on, I got a text from Mark saying that he was going to tuck his jeans into his boots, old-school punk style.

*idea!*

So we’re going punk.

I’m going to add a hook and eye closure where the zipper stops zipping on the dress, and add loops so I can lace the rest of it up like a corset so it will fit.  There’s only about 6 inches where it won’t zip, but I figured it’d be an easy fix and I won’t have to take the zipper out to do it, so if by some miracle of God or if I lose some ribs then MAYBE it will fit someday and I can un-frankenstein it up.

The PBR shirt is getting cut up and patched onto a charcoal grey t-shirt along with some electric blue accent fabric.  Also — safety pins.  He’s wearing the gloves and jacket along with the tucked in jeans. It’s going to be awesome.

I already made the corsage and boutonniere for the event, including some awesome houndstooth fabric, sequins and of course, safety pins, with a little bit of electric blue ribbon. AWESOME.  I hope it’s not too girly for him to wear.

I’ve been hoarding fabric for far too long, so before I’m allowed to buy any more, I must start going through and using it.

I’ve had these two pre-cut rolls of 2.5″ strips for about a year now and I’ve been waiting for the perfect project to use these on. These fabrics are dear to me because they’re reproductions of fabrics my great grandmother used when she made this beautiful wedding ring quilt that my mother has (and refuses to give me).

Anyway, I found a tutorial for a fun and easy block on QuiltDad.com.  It’s a Wonky Log Cabin Block.  My friend Adria follows QuiltDad and I’m pretty sure he’s on craftster.org as well and they’ve done lap quilt swaps together (actually, I’m pretty sure my Amy Butler sampler quilt that Adria gave me has one of his blocks).  Anyway, he has some reallllly cool stuff.

I thought I’d try this block with some fabric that was pre-cut so I didn’t spend a ton of time cutting my fabric and then having a block that didn’t work out (just in case the blocks didn’t work out … ).  But I love making this block and I’m definitely going to be making a couple of quilts out of this block.  I’ll be cutting some fabric for this very soon.

I’m planning on using 3-4 inches of white (or oatmeal) sashing between the blocks and possibly a polka-dotted backing. If I can find a white/cream fabric with brown or black mini polka dots, I’d love to use that.  Definitely a red binding strip.

Well, not really, but we did go to the townie bar.  Well, they’re all townie bars I guess.

I took Mark home last week to meet my family and my friends.  My family loved him (I mean, what’s not to love?) and my friends did as well. We went to the Eagles Club where my friend Lindsay bartends and did karaoke and danced the night away.  Here are some lovely photographs from the evening …

So in honor of my favorite celeb, this year’s prom theme is Night of the Living Prom. Well, not sure if it’s in honor of him, but either way, we’re learning the Thriller dance so most people can do it and it will be awesome.

In case you forgot, Prom is a charity event in Ames that is held every year.  It’s a throwback prom with a cool theme. Last year’s was Revenge of the Prom.

Anyway, last weekend they held a group practice to learn the dance, but I went home for the weekend to introduce Mark to my family (which went really well, BTW).  So, needless to say, this uncoordinated chica must learn this thing on her own.

So, I began.

And, I’m going to be videoing my progress and blogging about it that way I actually get this thing learned so I don’t look like a tool and so I can pay homage to the King like I always wanted to. Plus, life isn’t complete until you know how to dance like a zombie.

This morning I discovered Craft Hope — a project designed to share handmade gifts and donations with the less fortunate.  In light of the recent quake in Haiti, I decided to participate in the Craft Hope Etsy store by donating something for them to sell.

I donated the men’s winter set.  This is the one that I’d knitted for Kasey a few years ago but he didn’t like it, so when we broke up, he returned it to me.  What better way to get rid of an ex-boyfriend gift than by donating for a sale where 100% of the proceeds go to a good cause.

Anyway, if you’re a fellow craftster or artist, you should check out Craft Hope and donate something to the etsy store.

I haven’t posted anything crafty for SO long.

I had 2 weeks off for winter break at work. I spent most of it with my family and friends and the rest of it I was sweatshopping crafts and running/working out.

Here is a smattering of new wallets … these are all made from scrap fabrics that I acquired in Chicago in June.

I’ve listed them on my etsy as well in case you’re wondering. Well, all but the few I’m giving away as gifts.

Okay, I’m entirely too lazy to recap my entire year, but it was a hell of a ride.

Let’s see here … highlights and lowlights and headlights? How about a bit of everything. Scatterbrained style. Cuz that’s how I roll.

In January I chopped all my hair off.  I continued to do so and experiment with hairstyles all year. I went from long and blonde to short and dark in less than a year after having the same hair for almost 15 years.

So in March I finally gave in and decided to quit running on the injury I incurred while training for and running the 2008 Des Moines Marathon.  I was planning to run a half marathon in April, but those plans ultimately were put on hold. I spent 6 months in physical therapy but it was worth it. I’m back and running faster than ever. I went from an average of a 10-minute mile to an 8-8:30-minute mile.

Umm … Oh, yeah, so since I had a bunch of time on my hands that I used to spend running I started crafting. a LOT.  I actually ended up doing a bunch of craft shows and making somewhat of a killing off my newfound crafty business.  I discovered quilting.  I also discovered I’m a fabricaholic.

In June I went to Chicago with my girlies and saw the city as an adult (I haven’t been since I was like 18 and young and dumb — but hey, it was fun, right Kim?).  Anyway, we celebrated my friend’s (now defunct) engagement, ate some chicago style pizza, visited cake girls, went to both Wrigley and Soldier field … and had a grand old time.

Oh yeah, in April I had a brief stint of being a Mary Kay consultant. Not a great idea.  But I got a lot of cheap makeup out of it, so hey.  Most of all, I was able to use my short-lived business to raise money for my friend Lindsay’s mom who had just been diagnosed with cancer.  So not all was lost.

Summer was kind of a blur. It was hot and fast, like most summers.  I spent a lot of time crafting and hanging out by myself while I watched the deterioration of my nearly-4-year relationship.  Finally at the end of the summer I decided it was time to call it quits with Kasey. Rather, I suggested it, he agreed, then I began to freak out.  I spent the next few months wondering aimlessly trying to remember who I was before he came along. I eventually found myself.  With a LOT of help from friends and family.  I couldn’t have done it without you and I love you all for it.

Along with finding myself, I found a couple of new loves.  First, on my birthday (25th in case you were wondering) my mom bought me my fabulous doggie, Barney.  We adopted him from the humane society. He’s a miniature long-haired doxie.  Adorable and sweet. We fell in love with him instantly.  I can’t have dogs where I live now, but I’m moving in June and my parents are fostering him right now, so all is well with the world.

And, of course, I couldn’t complete this blog without mentioning the most exciting and best development of 2009 (of course, that is, besides me realizing that I’m awesome and worthy of this awesome new development): Mark.  Mark is my new squeeze, but he’s been one of my best friends for the past 3 or so years.  He’s been there for me through all the rough times, all the fun times and pretty much whenever we needed each other the other one was always there to lean on.  I had no idea that I had fallen for him, but I kept trying to pawn him off on all my single girl friends. I could never understand why they didn’t want to date him.  Who wouldn’t? Oh wait.  I know.  He’s perfect for ME.  And now, I have him.  And I am NOT letting him go. 

Anyway, that’s really it. I’m not really that exciting, but I felt obligated to post this, so here you go.