A whole month...

...how sad. In my defense, there's been a whole lot of traveling and prop-making in my life lately. Also baking, which is the theme of today's post! Specifically, cupcakes. Beautiful, lovely cupcakes. First, my special recipe of 1 box mix + 1 can of soda. This mix was your standard white cake plus a can of diet 50/50 (think Squirt!) Light, citrus-y, and delicious. The choo-choo train cakes were for Fox, an adorable 3-year-old with a love for Thomas the Tank Engine. The spider cakes were leftovers that I will bless my coworkers with tomorrow. Plus all the leftover candy, because I just don't need to have that kind of stuff laying around my house!

Guten Morgen!

Much to my excitement, I discovered that Germany has craft stores, too! (Not that I was assuming they didn't... it just wasn't something I'd thought a lot about before coming.) Even small towns seem to have one yarn/fibers store and a fabric store. I wasn't able to go into many, crafting not being the priority on this trip, but my fantastic host took me to this store in downtown Berlin. One side was all fabric (pictured) and the rest of the store continued with notions, yarn, patterns, papers, and books/kits!
And no, I didn't buy anything.

Lamer than Lame

So here it is... the 17th. A Wednesday. So I don't really have to post until tomorrow. Except I haven't posted for like a month. Does this mean that crafty things have not been happening? Yes, yes it does. My sewing machine sits, alone and unloved, on my craft table. Most of my life lately seems to be all rolled up in deciding if I want to keep my job, getting psyched for my trip to Germany, and watching Netflix movies. None of those things are bad, per se... just not very crafty.

I promise to keep my eyes peeled for novel and clever DIY-craftiness in Berlin whilst I am there. But I also promise I won't be doing any crafting while on vacation.

Until later!

not according to plan...

...I left work on Friday with the best of intentions. Outside of getting in my 25 minute, two-and-a-half mile run to keep on track for running a 5K at the end of the month, I was going to cut, cut, cut! Fabric, that is. My plan was to dig up all the fabric I was planning to use for reversible totes, like the one I made my mom for mama's day, and cut out the basic pieces. Then, whenever a free minute emerged, I could stitch together said pieces, tiny assembly line style.

Unfortunately, the weekend went a little haywire. The 'rents are staying with us for a bit of a visit. My mom hurt her foot whilst out walking her dog Friday night. Come Saturday, it just hurt more and she couldn't walk. So, the hubs dropped my dad and her off at the ER. She came home in a splint with orders to see an orthopedic doc Today about her broken bone. Fortunately, it was the best case scenario, and she is casted and relaxing. However, my Saturday went to cleaning up and getting things situated so she could lounge on the sofa and keep her foot up. Sunday went to me being horizontal due to craptastic headaching. Boo!!

However, I have a plan for making the bags. I think a fabric store run is in order for some contrasting fabric to a couple of solo pieces I have, then I have to sort fabric into piles for which piece it will become, then cut and sew! Simple, n'est pas? In other news, I was totally inspired whilst perusing the mall. I have an idea for an accessory combining beading and textiles and other fun stuff. I'm hoping to get a prototype up this week for approval.

So, lots of words, and no action this week...BOO! I promise to improve. Or should I continue to put it off?

Finally!

Yeah, it's been a while. I planned on getting this up two weeks ago. I took the pictures, I was ready. Unfortunately, we somehow managed to take them with the card out of the camera, so it made for tricky downloading.

Anyhow, it was my friend Melissa's birthday, so I created some earrings for her. They are bicone Swarovski crystals in two shades of red, on sterling chain. I was attempting to create something simple, yet sparkley for her, to fit her Sparkling personality.

Happy birthday, Melissa!!

Crafting with Mixed Feelings

Another placemat bag -- another coworker leaves work! I stitched up this cute little number as a lovely parting gift. This is the first time I'm trying buttons to attach the straps... I'm hoping it will hold up. I also think that since the handles are removable, she should* be able to wash it (on gentle) and that it'll hold up. Hopefully Kelly will have fond memories of her time with all of us! (Secretly, I wanted to keep this one!)

Crafting with Kayla!

Today my little sister let me hang out with her and her "little sister" (they've been together as part of the "Big Brothers/Big Sisters" program for over a year!) We decided to make a no-sew fleece throw for Kayla to cuddle up with during the winter when she visits. We bought 1.5 yards or two colors of fleece, and used this tutorial to make it! It turned out great!!