Craftyminx

My new crafting skill and Saturday finds

Sheldon and I spent the weekend with my parents at their farm. My mom had scheduled herself and me for a shuttle tatting class with her quilting guild. We were two of the three that were able to learn that day. I have to say, tatting isn't hard, but it does take patience to learn the two stitches needed to begin. I think it took at least 4 hours for me to fully "feel" it. This is what I came home with.

I think I'm going to practice some more before I start an actual project. I don't see myself making lace doilies or anything. I mainly wanted to learn so i could make tatted trims for dresses and pillowcases. That and it seems to be a dying craft that I needed to learn, bring back the tatting! Do any of you know how to tatt? How long did it take you to learn? hmmm... While searching tatting online, I found this wonderful pattern resource! http://www.antiquepatternlibrary.org/completelist.htm It has patterns for knitting and crochet as well. I'm intrigued.

Ok now on to my antique store finds. I swear I'm addicted to finding good deals lately. It also seems like I have a favorite antique store in every town I frequent. For me, these are usually the "junk store" antique places. I've told you about Green's Corner, the best place to visit in Shawnee. This weekend I was in McAlester, OK so that means hitting up Main Street Junction. McAlester really has a lot of great antique stores in old town, but this one is my favorite. If I'm running short on time, I'll go to this store before any of the others and usually end up not having time to go anywhere else. I'm ok with this, because I always come home with some fabulous things. This is what I found this weekend!

This isn't really vintage but my mom let me steal it from her and I am sooo ready to have room on my counter for it. Details about that later.

And my wonderful boyfriend bought me these!!!!

I cannot tell you how long I've wanted a full set of these pyrex bowls. My mom has a set she bought a year ago that I just drool over. She had the full set that was my grandmother's and after so many years of use she only has the big yellow bowl left. My love for colorful pyrex runs much deeper than hers. She still refuses to let go of them until she dies. Apparently I couldn't wait that long and these were priced pretty low ($25 cheaper than what my mom paid) and 10% off. I was able to walk by, but Sheldon snuck them in to his purchases at the last minute. Have I told you how much I love this guy? I mean how could I not love someone that understands my love for old things as much as he does. In fact, this weekend when we go to his parents' in Muskogee, we're going a day early just to hit up the antique stores there. And that was totally his idea! Swoon. :)

and the winner is

These are our contestants....
1. Sarah
2. Alex
3. DeSay
4. Turtle
5. Staci
6. Susie
7. Stephanie
8. Jeff

drumroll......

Staci that's you!!! Congrats! I'll get in touch with you soon.

Thank you to everyone who has entered this month. It has been great meeting some new readers and being able to add some more blogs to my reading list.

Also, I'm sooo sorry I didn't post this yesterday. I was at my parents' farm this weekend and their wifi isn't working. I had a great time though and have some new treasures to show from my favorite McAlester antique store. But right now, I need to do homework. Boo summer classes!

Blogiversary Drawing - Week 4

This is the final week of prizes and the week of my actual blogiversary, which is June 24th. I've really enjoyed this so far and I want a great turn out for this week, so please tell everyone you know to enter before Friday!

This week, I'm giving away one of my adorable knitted cupcakes. I like using these for pincushions, or just siting them on a shelf. Sheldon's nieces both have one and they love playing with them, so really, these can be used for anything.

To win, just leave a comment on this post and Tell me your favorite cupcake flavor. The best cupcake I have ever had was from Retro Bakery and it was the blueberry pancake cupcake, but normally I just want a yellow cupcake with chocolate icing. 

Comments for this post will close on Friday, June 26th at 5pm. Make sure you comment by then. When commenting, enter your email address so I can contact you. Duplicate entries will be deleted. Winners will be announced on Saturday June 27th.

*** Comments are now closed. Check back tomorrow to see who won. I can't wait to find out myself :). I'm off to the farm this weekend!

We have a winner

Congratulations Tisha, You won the jewelry! I'll be getting in contact with you soon.

Have I told you how much I love the weekend? I absolutely love it. I love laying around the house and getting to craft whenever I want to. As much as I hate to admit it, I love cleaning up the house and waking up early to pull weeds in the flower beds. Today Sheldon and I went to the farmers market for some veggies and buffalo meat. I think I'm going to have to make that a weekly trip. I mean, it is like two blocks away from my house.

Now, we're about to leave to go to Shawnee. I went to college at OBU and Sheldon wants to see my old stomping grounds. I guess I talk fondly of my college years. I really did love living in Shawnee. With a trip to Shawnee comes a trip to Green's Corner. My absolute favorite junk store. I always leave there with a ton of stuff. But I'm going to try to keep from buying a lot today. Today is more about spending time with my boy and having fond memories of college times.

Everyone have a great Saturday!!!

Silhouettes

I've been working on this project for a couple of days. The frames started out like this:

The big frame is UNG DRILL from IKEA and the smaller ones are from the estate sale I went to last weekend. I painted them white with krylon fusion paint (satin white). I bought the UNG DRILL frame about a month ago. I had no idea what I was going to do with it, but I had to have it because it was just fabulously gawdy. Once I found the smaller frames, I immediately decided I needed to make silhouettes of us and the dogs. I cut the silhouettes from cotton velvet with very sharp scissors.

I am totally in love with these!

Blogiversary Drawing - Week 3

Welcome to the third installment of win stuff on my blog! A big thanks to all of you who have entered the first two drawings! I am really enjoying reading your comments and your blogs (if you have linked to one). This week the winner will receive two prizes! A roller skate charm and a pair of owl earrings both made from vintage findings and fun plastic stuff from my stash. These are a couple of my favorite new jewelry pieces and I'm thrilled to share them with one of you!

I think I'll use this drawing to get to know you all a little better. To enter, just leave a comment on this post and in that comment tell me your favorite TV show (or movie if you don't watch tv). One that you could watch the episodes over and over again and still love. Sheldon and I have been on this TV show kick lately. A few of our favorites are Firefly, Wonderfalls, Entourage, Weeds, and True Blood. I just broke down this week and ordered True Blood Season 1 so we could watch it whenever we want.

Anyways... leave a comment! Comments for this post will close on Friday, June 19th at 5pm central. Make sure you comment by then. When commenting, enter your email address so I can contact you if you win. Duplicate entries will be deleted. Winners will be announced on Saturday June 20th.

Blankets

So I recently decided that I need to get rid of every machine made low quality blanket I own. This will be a process of course, but I'm determined to replace everyone of them with a handmade blanket. First, I want to make a simple patchwork quilt with all of the fat quarters I've been hoarding for years.

I've never made a quilt, and usually the thought of quilting makes me cringe, but I think I'll be able to handle it since I really want to have the finished product.

You know, the thought of making any blanket by hand makes me cringe, but I really want to overcome this fear!

I want to finish the hexagon blanket I've been laboring over for a year and a half.

And I desperately want to make a ripple blanket like these.

I've been so preoccupied lately with the house. I really should do more knitting and sewing. I have 3 really cute dress patterns just waiting to be made and a sweater to finish knitting (Gypsy's christmas present from last year). I also have a full redecorating process in plan for the craft room. It will be BIG! I just have to save up the monies I need to pull it off.

Anyways... these are the things I dream about at night and daydream about during my day job.

Awesome shopping day and a winner!!!

I got the urge to go to an estate sale today. So I found the listings, made a loop of places to go in north OKC, called a friend to join me, and jumped in the car. I ended up spending 45 bucks and I'm pretty sure this was the most successful shopping day I've had in quite a while. Here are a few of my favorite purchases but you can see them all by going to flickr (if you click the right arrow you can go through all the stuff I bought).

This metal shelf was 5o cents! it needs a little repair and a fresh coat of paint, but it will be perfect for holding my sprinkle collection.

LOVE these scalloped edges! And those little spice jars to the right? soo cute!

So I dropped my camera while taking these photos, so the lens was out and got all kinds of f'ed up,  so these pictures are pretty bad quality, esp. if you go to the bigger sized pictures.

Ok... are you ready to see who won the orange apron?!

I decided to go the old fashioned route this time, since I had an entry over on facebook (I have these posts fed onto my profile) and there weren't very many of you. Be prepared, these pictures are very very bad.

Congratulations Amanda!!! I'll email you to get your mailing address. Everyone else, enter the drawing on monday to win some jewelry. I guess I get to go camera shopping now.

Meet Dewey

And yes, his full name IS Dewey Decimal System. Sheldon got Dewey the day he started working at the library. I must admit I was afraid of bringing another dog into the house. Bella isn't exactly hospitable when it comes to other dogs. But they have actually been ok. I wouldn't actually say they get along, but they are really good at pretending the other isn't there.

Dewey is a lover

And a really good cuddler despite the fact that he is really bony.

And here's some Bella just so she's not left out.

No, I don't ever give her rawhide, she stole this from Dewey and thought it was just too cute. She's adorable when she pretends to be a real dog. Sadly I had to take this away from her right after I took the picture. She doesn't exactly have front teeth and was bleeding a little because she was gnawing on it. Poor Bella she really was enjoying herself.

Don't forget to enter the apron drawing. Comments close at 5pm central tomorrow, June 12th.

Blogiversary Drawing - Week 2

This week's drawing is for this orange flowered, recycled bed-sheet apron made by my mom. It is a delightfully simple apron that will surely be a great addition to anyone's kitchen. I bought a bunch of cool flat sheets at the thrift store last year and thought they would make great aprons. My mom made about 20 of these, all different because of the different cuts she made from the bedsheets. The orange ones are my favorite.

To win, just leave a comment on this post. *In your comment, tell me what your favorite go to recipe is, and add a link if it is online. I'm looking forward to some new things to cook! Comments for this post will close on Friday, June 12th at 5pm. Make sure you comment by then. When commenting, enter your email address so I can contact you. Duplicate entries will be deleted. Winners will be announced on Saturday June 13th.

**Comments are closed. Thank you to everyone that entered! I'm looking forward to seeing who wins. Please enter the next drawing on Monday June 15th. Thanks!**