Wire Nests

I've dyed a lot of eggs and made a lot of nests for work in years past. But for my own family- we're a little less organized - this is our last minute table decoration for our glitter eggs (left over from a work assignment).

For our Easter table we made these easy wire nests using 24 gauge wire "stringing wire" from the craft store (jewelry aisle).
Wrap the wire around a flexible ball (think big tennis ball or squeezey -used! dog ball pictured here).  


Just wrap and turn and wrap – holding the wire down with one hand on the ball. Criss-cross this way and that- it’s fine if it’s messy or sticks out. When the ball is pretty evenly covered- cut the wire and loop it back on the ball somewhere.








Spread the wires apart with your thumbs and squeeze the ball out. Mush (that’s a technical term) the sides down and smoosh any stragglers back into place until you have a nest shape. 
That’s it- TA- DA. If we'd more time, I might have added little seed beads to the wire as I wrapped it but there are eggs to be found!



Dyed Glitter Dot Eggs


 
I was asked this week to re-craft some projects for work. This is my very favorite one of the bunch.

Materials:
  • Hard-boiled eggs -I use the Cook's Illustrated method for hard boiling (place eggs in a deep saucepan; cover with cold water by 1 inch. Bring to a boil over high heat. Immediately remove from heat, cover, and let stand 10 minutes. Transfer to an ice water bath; let cool for 5 minutes or more).
  • Color the eggs as you like- I use the neon food color from the grocery store (in the baking aisle but not all stores have it) and follow the directions on the the package.
  • Medium glue dots (I prefer Therm o-web adhesive Zots) ***
  • Fine glitter
  • Small bowl or paper plate (crease in half for easy return to container)
  • Brush
  • Bottle caps (optional)
Dye the hard-boiled eggs and allow them to dry completely.
The adhesive dots work best on dry room temperature eggs (they'll get condensation on the surface if they're cold and the dots won't stick).
Pour the glitter into a bowl or onto a paper plate.
Apply glue dots to one side of the egg.
Gently roll that side in the glitter or spoon glitter over the dots-take care not to let the glue dots stick to any surfaces (then the shell comes off). 

Repeat for the second side.
When all of the dots are coated, use the brush to wipe away any excess glitter.

You can rest/display the eggs on little bottle caps or a ceramic or glass dish (if they go back in the carton they'll stick to the cardboard/Styrofoam!) 

*** A few words about using glue dots:
Don't peel the glue dot off the paper backing with your fingers!

Instead, cut a small section from the roll (with 4 glue dots maximum) and press the paper with the glue dot onto the egg and peel away the paper. Repeat, repeat, repeat.

Sooo much easier than peeling the dots off and getting them stuck to your fingers.

Pajama Pillow Bag




This pajama bag is very easy to make. I bought this owl pillow from Target and used a seam ripper to open the bottom seam, then removed the stuffing.  Wash and dry the empty pillow cover to remove any sizing.







 

One could just sew the hems down but for non-sewers (you know who you are) I tested two different ways to bind the hem; I wanted options I knew could go through the wash.
Sewing, gluing or iron-on seam binding all work just fine and you can decide which method you like:


1. Fabric-tac glue (the orange side).This glue is a little stinky to use but goes through the wash intact.



2.Therm-o Web Heat'n Bond
 Ultra Hold Iron-on Adhesive  
(the green side).
Measure out a piece of the iron-on tape and iron it on the hem; remove the paper backing and fold the hem over and iron a second time.

 







 
Once the hem is tidy on both sides, sew on 3 large snaps.
That's it- you're done! Yay!












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8 Blogs that Rock





As an assignment for the Blog Boss blogging class I'm taking online with Holly Becker at Decor8 we've been asked to list 8 blogs that rock including 2 from our classmates.


I'm surprised by how consistent my choices are-- they're all blogs that have original content- none of them are a mish-mash of images taken from other bloggers decorating, fashion, cooking or crafting sites. Also-most of the blogs that I've chosen to put on my list of “blogs that rock” are written by hand makers; intimate blogs that are written by women who share their passions and their lives on the Internet.  I admire their courage, honesty and good design (though most are not designers). They write blogs that are visually stimulating, well organized and full of interesting content. 
They each have a very distinct and focused voice.





I'd like to start with the student blogs---

I keep coming back to the Making Home. I like the whole look; LOVE the content and the pictures are great. I really like her tutorials and how they are laid out.

And Gretchen Gretchen- I really like her photographs-they're clear and have a sense of intimacy and everything including the layout feels bright and clean.



These are the blogs draw me in on a daily basis.

Gabrielle's blog rocks because everything she does, she does well. She’s a mom as well as a designer and her photograph are beautiful and her DYI projects are great. But she also has guest writers, contests and it all comes together with joy.

Victoria’s blog is about celebrating and that’s why her blog rocks- it’s really clear with every image and every post that she has a goal of conveying her idea of merriment!  Her blog is very much a magazine style type blog. Her images are brilliant and colorful and her crafty tutorials are stunning. She produces her own content but also includes images from others but they always mesh naturally and are not forced. She does collection posts and lists but all in the name of merriment. It’s a business blog but it feels more personal than a business. 

Jessica Jones is a graphic and textile designer.  Her blog is always bright and fresh. Beside the excellent question to consider orange!-- she makes great projects, takes clear and well composed photographs (a must for tutorials)  and has a breezy writing style that’s not too personal but not too business (i.e. I don’t know what she had for breakfast).  She covers trends of all kinds but also applies that information to the things she makes and posts about so it’s a nice mix of design and craft. Also- she posts regualrly.

I’ve been reading Patricia’s blog for a while and watched as she has grown. She posts very regularly and interacts with her readers, asking for feedback and creating and posting based on that feedback. Her blog is always well designed with excellent photography. Her writing voice very clear – personal but on a mission to promote her business as she has finds her way from making simple paper designs to being a full blown paper designer. 

Alicia's blog is visually gorgeous (very cozy) and her writing voice is very intimate; the whole blog tone  is inviting and that’s why her blog rocks.  It really looks as if it’s an extension of her day to day life but seamlessly includes her business/craft at times.  Her writing makes me feel as if I’m in her living room (but not intruding) and gives a very personal view point of an extremely creative person. 

Maya's blog is another example of a blog that has a unique look and voice that is truly hers. Her blog rocks because she is fiercely honest and sincere; she take great pictures, her content is her own and her projects are all original. She has obviously puts care into the details--how her blog looks and functions is true to her vision and voice (down to the burlap buttons!).


#blogboss


Happy St. Patricks Day



This morning the milk was green in our house!
It inspired some shamrock pancake action.
Enjoyed by the boy; gone in 60 seconds.




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Treasure bags

We took our felted wool eggs and made treasure bags from them.

Make a tiny snip about 1/2 inch down from the top of the felted egg.



Slip your scissor tip inside, then snip and carefully cut the top of the egg off.










Push the egg form out and ta-da- you have a little pouch.














Cut two 15" long pieces of #5 Perle cotton.
Thread the needle with one piece but don't tie a knot at the end.
Insert the needle in one side and leaving a 5 inch tail at the start, stitch a simple running stitch around the bag about 1/4 inch down from the top.





 



Once you've stitched all the way around the bag, remove the needle, trim the strings to about 4" long and knot the ends of the strings together to make one handle.








 

Thread the needle again with the second string and repeat the running stitch, starting the stitching on the OPPOSITE side of the bag. Trim and tie off.











You will have two handles, one on either side of your bag.


Treasure!

Blogs and Bunnies

I enrolled in Décor8  Blog Boss class last week. I wanted to learn to look critically at my blog to make it better and to have a focus (because you know, I started this blog because someone was flip with me) -I'm just finding my way slowly.

So I’m doing the homework, experimenting with things and every day I add something or try something new…eventually returning to the old format with one new thing in place. Not that it is better but change is not easy for me. Eventually I'll commit to a new format but for now it’s interesting to experiment. I’ve learned that while I’m interested in sharing little projects, I’m hesitant to share my thoughts.



And here’s a picture because I like blogs that have pictures.  Most of the projects I do are for work so I can’t share them. However, this beet pickled hard boiled bunny was a mock up for work last year.
Happy Spring!

Wool Felted Eggs





 
Materials:
Wool roving
Wood eggs or (plastic eggs with electrical tape around the seam)
Knee Highs or cut Nylon legs
Wire twist ties


Pull off 3 sections of wool roving (available at some Joann’s, some Michaels and yarn stores).
 

Spread the roving pieces into 4”x4” sections.
Wrap the wool around the egg, crossing the 3 layers perpendicular on top of each other.
 

Add any little designs- small tufts of wool or strands (could even use wool yarn).
 

Insert the egg into nylon leg or knee high, twist a wire (bread or trash) tie to shut the nylon; insert the next egg in the same nylon and twist tie - do a whole row- like sausages!
 

Throw the eggs in their nylon casing into the washer; wash on hot and then dry completely in the dryer.
I did NOT have a problem with eggs in the dryer- I ran them through with a load of towels but don' t do it if you think it might hurt your dryer (- i.e. I'm not responsible if your dryer breaks for any reason, okay?)


Remove the eggs from the nylon- it’s normal for some fibers to get stuck in the nylon- just gently pull free.



If the wool is too loose or there are too many fibers sticking off, make the wool covering even tighter by re-felting the egg.

 

Re-wet the wool covered egg with hot water and ¼ teaspoon dish soap, rub for several minutes, rinse very well with cold water and allow to dry.

Soon I'll show you how to use these eggs to make treasure bags!