Steampunk!

I just finished making ATCs for a swap on ATCsforall and wanted to share them right away. I really enjoyed making these cards. All the while I was thinking how my nephew Jacob would just love these cards and then I thought they would make wonderful covers for some mini notebooks and maybe some note cards. I am going to see how they scan and print and maybe offer them for sale in various ways on my Etsy. I think I will make a whole series of these cards. I will have to post a pic when they are finished. I am going to print a definition of STEAMPUNK and post it on the back of the card, and make an envelope with some parchment paper, faux finish it to look aged and put a label on it describing the card stored inside. Kind of like a small artifact.

Crochet Happy:)

Although I prefer knitting to crochet, I just can't get enough of this Amigurumi style of crocheting little toys and dolls. This lamb is a little bigger than I thought it would be, but with a smaller hook I can make a sweet itty bitty sleeping lamb.

I found this sleeping lamb pattern on Ravelry. I just discovered Ravelry while browsing some knitting blogs and thought I would check it out. All I can say is it is AWESOME. It covers both Crochet and Knitting, lets me track my projects, log my stash of yarn so I can keep track of what I have and what I need to replace, and much much more. I spent the better part of the afternoon yesterday looking at all the patterns in various categories and have a list of things that I want to make for friends and family. I even found some neat little crochet patterns that my nephew Jacob might like. I thought that for his birthday (coming up in August) I would make him up a pattern book so he can make some things himself. For example, in the free patterns I found Teenage Mutant ninja turtles, Pac Man and the ghosts, Super Mario Mushrooms and Star Patterns, some little bacteria dolls, a pattern to make the THING from the Fantastic Four, various Aliens, basically all the things a boy would love. Of course, the patterns are so cute I just have to make a few myself as well.

I am thinking that I will try my hand at designing a pattern to crochet in the round Amigurumi style and my big Fat Cat Omi will make a good test subject.

Organizing my Art Space the Martha Stewart Way!

In perusing my April 2008 Issue of Martha Stewart Living I found a beautiful solution to organizing my art space while reducing the clutter in my room. Believe it or not this is made from 2 bookcases connected with a piano hinge with one side on casters so it can swing open easily. WOW!

Since I don't want to buy any new bookcases, or even garage sale for some, I have decided to take the measurements of this piece and buy the lumber to make the bookcases myself (when I say myself, I really mean my dad will build it and I will assist). I figure this way, I can customize the placement of the shelves and make it to fit my particular items and needs.

I was really drawn to this project because of it's compact style and the pink on the inside. Pink is my favorite color, and I just could not stop looking at this photo spread. This is just gorgeous and I can't wait to make my own.

I told my mother that in order to make one for her office, we would have to build it twice as wide with bookcase doors that swing open from the center out to each side. My mother has has some serious craft supplies.

Right now this project is just in the dreaming phase. I hope to purchase the materials and make this piece before the summer is over. I will certainly post some pics of my completed Hidden Art Space once I am done.

If you are interested in making this yourself you can find a complete list of materials and directions here Martha Stewart Bookcase Office.