and the frenzy continues....

Well, Merry Christmas "Steve" everyone! It's the day before Christmas Eve, therefore "Christmas Steve". Don't ask, it was a childhood tradition still carried on today! To celebrate I ran errands with mom, caught up on some televison and made these:

Both patterns are Urban Threads, sewn with inspiration by me! I was shocked how fast I got them both done. Just started both of these this evening and am working on a third.

I apologize for the dark quality, it's hard to take good pictures at night.

Smells like Christmas

Well, my room smells like Christmas that is, fresh balsam to be exact (bath and body works). It is the only candle that smells just like a fresh cut tree! Speaking of trees! Here is my white seashell tree. I have yet to create a tree topper (starfish) been too busy, but I will get around to it later.

I strung pearls on the pretty ribbon and then used a glue gun to attach. Martha Stewart suggests using a tiny electric drill. A. I do not own one B. That would take a while!! C. shells might crack. So I used my own ideas.

I had some failed projects this week but nothing was worse than this:

My embroidery thread that is organized in numrical order decided to throw itself up all over my floor...sad. I let it sit there for a while before cleaning it up!

PS. I have more pictures coming the day after Christmas! One present I finished today and actually suprised myself with how cute it is! :P Come back to see the Christmas Presents, Dec. 26th!!  

Suprise Vintage Project!

I started working on this a while back, when we had a Sunday "Crafternoon" with my cousins. Crafting runs in the family! I actually worked on it for soo long that I hurt my wrist! haha.

I wasn't able to work on it for a few months due to school, however now that I am done I finally finished it.

It is a vintage postcard I found through searching the internet. I adore vintage mermaids, bathing beauties, classy pin-up type artwork. I fell in love with this and decided it would be fun to make! I am very excited it is done, wish I had used a better fabric that didn't pucker but I am happy with the end result! It will be hanging in my room once I find a good place to have it framed.

Here is the original postcard artwork I used for the pattern (wish I knew who made it!):

Let the crafting continue!

I started making holiday candles last year, I believe they were on Bugs and Fishes but not totally sure. They are probably on this blog or my previous blog. They are cheap to make, but time consuming and patience testing! I have two that I love and have burned the last 3 years and are still going strong. Made some for my mom and grandparents. However my sister requested a "sweater snowflake pattern" because she wanted one! I starting looking up patterns from Swedish and Swiss patterns, with no luck. After much searching I found out it was Norwegian! I just love this pattern and I am pleased with the way it turned out. Candle: $1.89 cinnamon Puff paint in white: $1.29 Pattern Free! So about $3.00 to make.

So for those of you who know me it is no suprise that I adore GLITTER. I found 16 colors of glitter at Michael's. I knew there had to be a project in which I could use it, and I remembered Martha Stewarts graded glitter seashell tree from her December magazine. I loved the tree and decided I would make some! For about 6 dollars total, I made ALL of these fabulous shells. I need to figure out a way to hang them, but for now they look beautiful sparkling on my floor. Warning: you will be covered in glitter for days if you make these! And make sure you spray them with a finish so the glitter stays!

                                   

Alright now back to my sewing projects!

The gifts, glorious gifts!!

I have been working on this since I began my blog. This is a vintage stitching pattern found at an antique store. It uses single stitchs and I have never done a craft like this! It was a bit difficult to define the pattern using single stitches. I am used to cross-stitch! After thousands of beige stitches I am finally done! To get the perspective I included a pen...ugh soo many beige stitches!!!! The poor thing is warped and I need it framed! But I got it done by Christmas and will be giving it to my grandpa.

Another gift was for my Speech-Language Pathology supervisor. Her name has been blurred for privacy. If you didn't notice she loves tea. The patterns are via Sublime Stitching (love their stuff!) I had fun with this quick project. I think personalized gifts are my favorite thing to make!

My next project will be one for myself. I have another fabulous vintage postcard project in the works and something christmasy! I am also dying to try needle felting! It seems like felting wool is hard  to come by in San Jose....I will try it eventually!

Dear me!

Oh dear me, it's December. Things have been a complete whirl wind!

Let me see, I spent 4 days in New Orleans, then Thanksgiving and 3 days in Monterey, then finals began shortly after. You think with all that, "vacation" I would be well rested and ready for finals.

Wrong.

I am more stressed out than usual. It may have something to do with the fact I have a short winter break. I begin winter session courses Jan.4th and go STRAIGHT THROUGH TO GRADUATION!!!

Exciting and totally overwhelming at the same time. So much to do in only a matter of months.

I have been crafting when I can, I will post pictures next week when my "short school recess" begins.

New Orleans!

The time has come! I am leaving bright and early tomorrow morning to go to New Orleans! I kinda feel like I have been there, but that's because Disneylands "mini" Bourbon St. looks just like the picture below!

I cannot wait to see all of New Orleans glory in person. Although I am attending a conference, I am going to take some time to relax, buy a beignet, maybe some voo doo dolls, creole or jerk seasons and enjoy the surroundings!

Oh, let's not forget the 5 hour plane ride that will be full of catching up on my stitching projects!! Talk about the perfect vacation!!!

Witch's Brew, Slime, and Eyeballs

Another spooky weekend here in San Jose. Here are some of the highlights:

Prize winning pumpkin, created using an embroidery pattern

Witch's Brew

black currant juice from Whole Foods, Brandy, icecube hands/face various plastic body parts! and dry ice!

 Our Pumpkins

Bones (pretzels, marshmellows & white chocolate)

Eyeballs(homemade peanutbutter balls dipped in white chocolate)

Oktoberfest at Teske's German Bar!

PS. Attempting to mess with my format and stuff. I guess I was behind on the updating etc...

One Batty Batty, Two Batty Batty....

It's been a few weeks! Gosh, time is just flying by! I am working about 55 hours a week (student teaching + school) and I am loving it! However, as I have said before it does not leave much time for crafting. I did manage to put the books down and relax long enough to make a BAT!

Isn't it darling? I got the pattern from Urban Threads. I love Sublime Stitching patterns more than Urban Threads...but I liked the bat.

He is in my bedroom and it just makes me think of Halloween!

I also started up on the "old car project" I am determined to finish it for my grandpa for Christmas! I also have my other mystery project in the works. Hooray!

Enjoy!

De baby!

I caught up on school work for a bit so I could enjoy a weekend that was almost homework free! My good friend from high school is having a baby boy! Here baby shower was this weekend and so it is now safe to post the cute onesies I made her!
Lissa and Timmy have been good friends since kindergarten! He can't believe she is married and pregnant! Neither can we!! :P

The baby's initials are JJM! I love making personalized baby things! I might have to make another one when Jeremiah arrives with his birth date, weight etc! Fun!

I just L-O-V-E LOVE this one! I made the pattern from clip art and found the saying "I scream" on-line, too cute.

All of us girls re-enacting our prom picture. We haven't all been together in years!


It was nice to see good friends, especially those whom I have known for so long! I also went to a fabulous house-warming party with the same group of friends. Then I went up to San Francisco for my cousin's birthday! Last but not least, I went to the art and wine festival today.

All in all, a fun filled weekend! Time to get back to the daily grind. Hope to post another project I have been working on soon, but my wrist has been bothering me since "Sunday crafternoon." Might need it checked out, cause I can't sew with an injury!

Sluggin' along,
Rach

School, already?

Yep, it is that time of year! I am back to "school." Taking 19 units this semester. 10 of which are "student teaching" which equals 30+ hours a week, unpaid. Fabulous!

Needless to say crafting will be put on the backburner again. With the exception of baby clothes for friends becaus I can't give that up! Again, I will try to attempt and make some crafty time because I have some unfinished projects that I would really like to post!

For now here is another baby onesie! The pattern is Sublime Stitching and I used glow-in-the-dark thread for "nap time and the clock" yay!


Sending the baby package tomorrow! HOORAY!

Then back to the uncrafty world of school....darn!

It's Summertime and the living is easy....

I finished up my last clinic of my graduate studies on July 29th! More than half-way done. In celebration I went a little bit crazy with the crafts. Here is what I have been up to:
On our last day of Adult Clinic we threw a party and ripped our last paper chain link together-

My grandparent's 60th Wedding Anniversary is this weekend! We are throwing a party in their honor. My mom and I decided we needed to get crafty. Thus, these beautiful party favors were born! All 46 of them, made while watching soap operas on a lazy afternoon-Jelly Belly's YUM!
Pretty paper seals
The finished product!
I am posting these pictures even though I haven't sent the gifts yet. A friend of mine had a baby girl. Some of you may know I absolutely LOVE to make baby things. Here are some preview pictures. BEE and Jenna designed by Me @Snail-bait and the cupcae is a Sublime Stitching pattern (more to come as I finish the last project)-
Baby Jenna
This one is my favorite..While I was stitching baby clothes my sister made this lil' gnome, drawn by hand and then made into a felt stufie-
Last but not least, I went out for my grandmothers 81st Birthday at my Uncle John's restaurant Los Gatos Gourmet-
After the party this weekend for the 60th Anniversary my cousin's and I are having a SUNDAY CRAFTERNOON!! I can't wait to spend time with family and work on more projects. Stay Tuned..I leave for San Diego for a while to relax and craft some more before Autumn sets in!

It itches!!

I have the crafting itch! It just won't go away! Now that I started up again I will not be able to stop.

I have been working extremely hard this summer, and yet I still don't feel right. Maybe it's just me. maybe it's all the school left? Maybe, I will never really know..

What I do know is that I have a new vintage project I am working on and it might take me a long time to finish.

Why is it that I always feel guilty starting new projects when I still have old ones that are not done yet!

"diiirrrty souff"

Yeah, the dirty south! New Orleans, Louisiana here I come!! well in like 4 months. I have never been to the south of the US. I have been to the following states: California (duh, I live here), Wyoming, Idaho, Washington, Oregon, Nevada, Utah, Montana, Arizona, Minnesota, Michigan, Indiana, Virginia, Maryland, Washington D.C., Hawaii, Illinois, and I think Ohio? So this coming November, I will have a layover in Texas (I count those states) and then spending the weekend in New Orleans for the ASHA Convention.


I am just excited to travel! I go between San Jose and San Diego all the time, but I haven't left the state in a while. I have more cross-stitching ideas and embroidery patterns. I really need to get a project done for my grandpa. I should get on that!

Time to stop procrastninating and get my homework done. Until next time...

Another subversive inspiration!

Alright, so I should be preparing for clinic. Instead, I made this:

I was inspired by the phrase "I fudged it up" and by the movie The Hangover in which Alan states, "I fudged up guys" in reference to accidentally drugging his friends. Whoops!

I just love the Popsicle, I designed the pattern myself!!! Down to the little droplet of melting fudge. Yum.

Now what should I do with it? Too weird a shape for a frame, bookmark maybe?

Homemade Subversive Cross-Stitch

I told you I had a project in the works that might be, well...kinda gross! It makes me giggle every time I look at it. I was inspired by Subversive Cross-stitches blog/flickr account. I love looking at the absurd, rude and creative things that people make into cross-stitch! I had to make one!

Here is it:
Step 1. Find an amusing quote. This is a quote from SouthPark that my boyfriend and his friends say all the time. It never ceases to make me laugh.
Step 2. Design your pattern. Yes, I designed this pattern myself by piecing bits of designs I liked together. Here it is in the beginning stages:

3. Finish your cross-stitch while laughing because you have made something totally ridiculous. At at first glance, it looks pretty, but once you read it's not soo pretty after all! I made the butt design all by myself! :) So proud. HA! HA!

lightbulb!

Oh the "freedom" of summer has finally inspired me! I put "freedom" in quotes only because I am still in school :( But luckily only one class :)

So, I have been wanting to submit something to Subversive Cross-stitch's Flickr for a long time. But I wanted to come up with someone orignal. That site can be kinda dirty, vulgar, and inappropriate. That's why I love it, it's not what you would typically expect from home made crafts.

So what is this genious idea? Well I am not telling you yet. Here is a hint: My boyfriend and his friends got it from a comedian (i believe) they say it ALL the time. It could be hung on the door of your bathroom. Hahah.

It's going to be a quick and easy craft. Yet disgusting. I am soo sending to him when I am done. LOL's

Back in Action

Well hello! I am offically in summer mode! Although I am still enrolled in school, my unit load is only 3 for the summer! Hooray!

Here are some things I promised:
1>) I went down to San Diego, twice! I actually really enjoyed myself! I went to a wedding on the beach

2) My mom's artichokes are in bloom! I just had to test out my camera's zoom skills. I would say pretty good! I have a version of this as my wallpaper!

3.) Zach's birthday! I made this cake that is my all time favorite cake (and i typically really don't like cake) It's like a brownie cake! made with lots of chocolate!!!

4.) Crafting! I actually got some embroidery in! I bought a duvet cover for Zach's comforter and embroidered his initials!

As summer school settles down I should be crafting more! And I have a brand new camera, so I at least I can post pictures! Keep coming back!

Latest crafts

1) The very hungry clincian book I made for class-soon be uploaded
2) A gift for someone
3) That car I have been working on for like 2 years, well I am making a vow to finish it by fathers day so I can give it to my grandpa! let's see if I can do it!!

Crafting Epiphany

Finaly! I am crafty again! The best part is, it's homework! My professor informed our class that we had to make a visual of the assessment process for a client. My mom suggested an idea, and I totally ran with it! So far it's adorable and I am putting in far too much work on this for what it's worth. But does that really matter if I am having a blast doing it!? And I don't feel guilty spending lots of time because it is school related.

I am going to scan my project in once I am done...exciting!

sad day

I was going to take a picture of my pile of cross-stitching magazines to explain why I couldn't just pick something! Alas, my camera has died. Due to the fact that I am in a crazy graduate program, I am not working for $$$. Thus, no new camera for me yet! :) In time.

So, for the time being hang in there with me. As summer approaches I feel my craft juices flowing again! I like it!

I have flagged some of my magazines for future projects. I still need to finish an old car! I had another idea, but I decided if I made it...well that I would have bad karma. So I decided to toss that project until things get a little bit settled down.


I might be making something for my boyfriends birthday as well! Time to steal mom's camera if I make anything! Check back soon, I promise I will have something in the coming weeks to share!

Honestly, I fail.

So,I am soo uninspired lately! I makes me very sad. By the time I am done with my projects, homework and clinic; my brain is just flat out fried. It sucks! I have had some time to craft and nothing came to mind. I am hoping that after the next two weeks are over and summer begins that I can start my regular crafting again. I miss it.

For now I was tagged by Ashley! So here goes
The Honest Scrap award comes with a caveat or two. First, you must tell your readers 10 true things about yourself that they may not know. Second, you must tag 10 people with the award.


1.Unlike Ashley I am very OCD. I don't like people touching my radio, I can't stand people who eat "loud" things in class, I freak out a bit when things are messy, and I must have a to-do list or my life doesn't work right.

2. I must have my toenails painted at all times. typically with this little white flower stickers on them. Another OCD habit of mine that not many people know about!

3. I love fruity smelling bodywash! I am not a big fan of food smelling stuff, but anything tropical and fruity I love!

4.I have a really strange degree and not many people understand what I do! I freaking love my job and I can't wait to get started being an SLP!

5. People who are hypocrites,lazy or unresponsible really piss me off. I am a very motivated person with goals and aspirations, so to see someone being stupid just bothers me because they could have potential!!!

6.I only used to write in pencil, being left-handed I hated pen because my handwriting is all messed up. However, now that I am in graduate school I typically only write in pen! Which is totally weird!

7. I too have been skinny dipping! More than twice!

8. I have three stuffed animals on my bed! The pink snail from blues clues I bought at Great America, a black bear holding a puppy that my boyfriend got me, and Bee's Knees that my mom got me when I was a little baby and she worked at bumble bee tuna! hehe!

9. I really want cat. I think I have become allergic though, and my parents are getting another dog. But once I move out, I am sooo buying a kitty!!

10. If I had to wear one thing for the rest of my life it would be my rainbow sandals, a victoria secret lace long and bra, a pair of comfy jeans and a cute t-shirt. :) Basically what i wear everyday already!!

I don't have enough people to tag, but do it if you want to!

3 Cups of Coffee and One Diet Monster Later....

I am still crashing. I would love time to fast forward to Wednesday Morning at 9am. Not only because it is my birthday!! But I will be done with my nutso week! I have my first assessment ALONE tomorrow, a big brain injury test, than an essay to write. I will let you know if I make it though the day. Not to mention, I got a brand new client and will be seeing him for an hour on my b-day. Yikes. I can do this, I have been through worse and survived. haha.

here are some artsy pictures I took of Zach's nephew- I had fun with my camera!