Sometimes, I get really bored when I’m sitting in front of the computer, and I end up doing silly things. Like animals in polka dots.
I’m thinking that if I do the whole alphabet, it might make a cute little book. Mostly, I just love polka dots. So be it.
Thanks so much to everyone who entered! It was super nice hearing your comments. I’m glad that you all like the inspiration boards as much as I like making them.
I picked two winners, because I felt like spreading the love. One grand prize and one slightly smaller (but no less awesome) prize. Here are your comment numbers and the winner’s favorite inspiration boards!
I’ll share what the prizes are and how they coordinated with the color board after the winners have received their prizes. Thanks again for entering!
A friend of mine lent me a book a month or two ago, and I felt bad about being so late in returning it. So, as a way of saying thanks (and helping out in future book-lending endeavors) I created a set of custom bookplates that I sent along for the ride.
And then of course, I had to make some for myself as well. I have this pretty textured antique paper that I printed them on, and I’m really enjoying the way that they turned out. Time for a shameless promotion – I’ll have them available in my shop, if you’re interested in personalizing some for yourself or a fellow reader.
I just finished these bridal shower invites for a friend – fun to put them all together, as she wanted a variety of colors and patterns.
I’ll be offering similar custom invites in my shop, if you’re interested.
How is everyone’s weekends going?
I made a last-minute batch of cupcakes last night to take to a LOST party – pina coloada cupcakes, to be exact! I love the way they turned out.
Do you watch LOST? What did you do to celebrate the premier?
Well I’ve finished my first month of 365 photos – I missed a day or two (oops) but I think it’s the overall goal that I’m going for. The spirit, if not the letter, I say.
One thing that I’ve discovered – I love color.
Follow my whole 365 project here, if you’re interested.
How are your new year’s goals turning out after a month in?
Made some blueberry scones for people to take home the other night, but I found myself totally out of pretty bags to wrap them in. I decided to improvise, and I think that they turned out pretty well!
I had sheets of 12×12 thin glassine scrapbook paper that I cut in half and then folded, leaving a little tab at the top, and secured the sides using double-stick tape. Wrapped the scones in a little plastic wrap, tucked them in, affixed a label, and voila! Instant treat bags.
I made this going away party invites for my aunt who is moving to Indianapolis. It was the first time that I’ve ever used my gocco – I was kind of scared of it, but it’s so much fun! That thing will print forever. The little drawing of a house is actually of their new house in Indiana.
*bonus – you can get one of these custom made for yourself in my shop.
One of my very good friends growing up had this thing for garden gnomes. It was ever since he was a little kid – I think he got in trouble for stealing them out of people’s yards and then it kind of grew from there. More stolen property, christmas and birthday presents, all of these added up to quite the little gnome army.
Probably 5 years ago I went to LA to visit him and to help him drive back to CO as he was moving back. We decided that we would bring the gnomes along for company. And no, it wasn’t really an Amelie thing so much as a golden opportunity with Polaroid in hand. One of the gnomes always looked very coy so it was fun trying to figure out what to pose him in front of.
We started out in Long Beach where I got probably the worst sunburn of my entire life. I was outside for less than an hour and I could hardly sit down! From there it was only a short jaunt to Las Vegas where we took in the sights. Did I mention that it was July and the car didn’t have any air conditioning? Made for an interesting trip. We finally got to Zion National Park after dark where some lovely Dutch tourists let us crash at their campsite for the evening. I tell you, there’s really nothing better in life than a camp fire.
My friend had never been to any national parks so we made it a point to hit them all. Zion, Bryce Canyon, and Escalante were the big winners. The gnome got a little homesick so he had to phone home. And we saw a giant lizard, but luckily he was very friendly!
Thankfully we soon made it to the mountain states where it was much cooler. Those icy glacial streams really do a body good! And of course, we had to visit Tiny Town. It’s like a gnome Zion. A little place by the side of the road filled with miniature houses and trains and everything. Great when you’re a kid, but pretty creepy when you’re an adult. Especially at night. Especially when you’re trespassing.
I’d like to point out that the gnome looks pretty good in my bandanna. And then finally, we were back in Colorful Colorado!
sigh. I really wish I had more polaroid film.
Once, when trying to figure out mailing rates to Europe, I stumbled upon a magnificent list of things that were prohibited to send to Italy. Human hair, shoes, cured meats, and more. Most of all, it got me thinking about the story behind all of these prohibitions – perhaps Italy has a robust human hair industry of its own? I delved further into the mailing restrictions of certain countries and found the results simply delightful, and decided to turn something somewhat mundane into a fun little project.
All of these restrictions are taken word for word from the USPS website. I’m not kidding. You really can’t make this stuff up.
I’m going to do one for every country in the world, eventually. I’m still on the A’s but stop along and join me for the ride! I’ll be posting them on my flickr page.
Here’s an update to yesterday’s post about the scarf I made – the yarn from beginning to end, courtesy of Robayre!
I just have to post this because I’m very excited about it!
I bought some beautiful yarn from the lovely and talented Ms. Robayre and I was so thrilled with what I got that I saved it for a while until I could find the perfect project for it. I just decided to turn it into this pretty lacy scarf. I sort of made up the pattern as I went along and I’m really happy with how it turned out. I did learn one VERY important thing however – when working with wool, it is totally worth the time to wash and block it. This scarf looked like a little rolled-up ball of yarn before that process and now it sits nice and flat.
I’m starting a 365 project this year. I’m usually not very good at keeping up with this kind of thing but I’m really going to try! It will be a fun challenge for the year. Below is my picture for yesterday; if you’re interested you can keep up with the project on my flickr.
Every New Year’s, a group of people get together and fly kites. I”m not exactly sure why, but I just love this tradition. Even though it’s cold outside, it’s really nice to start out a new year outdoors, in the fresh air, with friends and fun. Plus the kites are super-crazy. Some teachers from my art school make all of them, so they’re really unique.
How do you celebrate the new year?
I’ve been working on some new knit cowls that I’ve added to my shop. Each cowl is made up of many different yarns in different colors, creating a completely unique and wondrous look. They’re each very sturdy and thick, as there are probably 4-6 total skeins in each cowl. They can we worn like a long scarf or doubled for when the cold hits. I’ve really had a lot of fun making them, as it’s so much fun to play with all of the colors!
You can find them here, if you’re so inclined!
