Life Lately: April 29th

It's been about a month now that I've been out of school. At least once a day, someone asks me what I'm doing now that I'm graduated well, here's a few pictures so you can see for yourself:

There is not much that you can change about an apartment so I have turned to tackling the balcony. These little babies are for my herb garden

I chose morning glories to wrap around the railing (above) and zinnias for a hanging basket that's really a kitchen strainer (below).

I've started volunteering at Common Threads Farm doing chores in the evenings. This weekend I went to the Farmer's Market to help children paint bee boxes.

My diploma came in the mail!

From the interwebs:

Via

outfit envy Via

Via

I can't stop looking at pictures of this place. Via

NEED to learn to make these. Via

Kitchen envy.  Via

Watch this:

Read this:

“Google, for example, says that its legendary free meals are meant to keep people happy and healthy over the long haul—and, of course, working longer at Google. Meanwhile, the setting, with tables for seven to eight as opposed to 40, is intended to provide the right climate for offhand brilliance. “The cafeterias are designed to make food social rather than fast,” says Jennifer Kokowski, who is one of Google’s in-house social scientists and studies the company’s food programs. “We recognize that innovation requires serendipity, and the lunchroom is the best place for that.”

—	What Google’s cafeterias can teach us about school lunches

Listen to this:

Don't forget to:

Via

XOXO,

Nightgown Refashion

This is an old project but I never did a proper post about it so here it is:

I picked up this vintage nightgown from the Goodwill Bins (did you know that you can buy things from Goodwill by the pound?!?!?!) several years ago and just got around to remaking it last summer (note my fourth of July nails and pink/blue dip dyed hair). The fabric wasn't right for a dress so I stayed with the theme and turned it into a cute sleep set of tank top and bloomers.

The top I made by simply cutting the top, sewing the sides and finishing the armholes with bias tape made from the sleeves (sorry I forgot to put that in the diagram). The skirt was just enough fabric to make bloomers using this free pattern by Coletterie.  You just print the pattern out on a normal printer and tape all the pieces together.  I typically hate to use patterns but this worked out quite well.  Sometimes it is nice to have someone telling you what to do instead of just guessing all the time.

I loved the detail on the top

I usually just wear a t-shirt and yoga pants to bed, but this pj set is perfect for hot summer nights and super adorable.

Stay crafty,

Refashion Inspiration

Last Saturday, I took a trip to my favorite thrift store. I spent only $20 (cue music) and got two shirts, one sweater, one dress, one pair of shorts, 5 forks and spoons for my wind chime and a strainer (see why it's my favorite store?!?)

I got this XL poka dot denim shirt for $3 that I am really excited about refashioning

 Here are some of my ideas for it from images I hunted up from around the internet.

Can't wait to show you guys the results!

Afghan update

Since I spent my spring break driving from Canada to L.A. and back, I had quite a bit of time to work on crochet squares for the afghan that I am making.  I brought a ton of yarn with me but somehow I only made four squares. I always seem to plan to do a bunch of things during car rides. I pack books and crafts and my journal but then I just end up falling asleep. I guess I am like a baby that way, put me in the car and I'll fall right to sleep!

Here is the four that I made on my trip:

I picked some squares that were pretty challenging for me. I have never made three-dimensional motifs before

or bobbles

but I learned how from the book that I borrowed from my friend Laura.  Since I was on the road I couldn't look up patterns online and I didn't want to print them out beforehand, I figured a book was the best way to go and so far I really love all the patterns in this one (no errors like the book I was using before).

XOXO,

Make it Monday: Wind chime

A few days ago, I found this wind chime on Pinterest that I decided to try to recreate:

The original was created by http://blogesteix-chandeliers.blogspot.com/ who makes simply amazing chandeliers from repurposed materials. I believe she sells some of her creations but I found that it was quicker and less expensive to make my own. Plus it was a ton of fun!

The originals were hung from old cookie cutters, but I didn't have those so I used a canned chicken can. These are the supplies that I used but really you can add anything that you want. Look for things that would make a nice sound.  I happened to have some sea glass lying around that I thought would look pretty. 

For the width of my can I decided to use 4 utensils and four decorative strands. I gathered all the materials that I wanted to use and then used pliers, wire and split rings to create the four decorative strands below:

To hang these from the can, I first filled it with water and froze it overnight (the frozen water makes it easier to punch holes in the can without collapsing it on itself) then used a hammer and nail to punch eight evenly spaced holes on one edge of the can and four to hang it from on the other edge (I did not cut out that side because my can opener would have destroyed the edge). 

I tried to drill a hole through the sea glass but that was an epic failure so I ended up wrapping it in wire.

I am debating adding another can tier below that the forks and spoons would hit but I don't want to make it too loud as I live in an apartment complex and it does get very windy here.

Stay crafty,