January 3, 2012

Re-Cap on 2011 Re-Use Experiment

My projects:

Tote Bag

New Swing materials

Chandelier

Another chandelier

Composter

Giraffes

Art bib

Bird Suet

What I learned:

  1. Its really hard to get off the Joann Fabrics Email list.
  2. I have a lot of GOOD material.
  3. It stifled my creativity or created another block to getting in the studio.
  4. Good to waste material on “experiments” that failed (see below) to learn a new technique.

Failed Unblogged Projects:

  • VELVET vest. Eeks. I need to find a way to get that material back. Maybe a hat.
  • Skirt. Its on Flickr. That was supposed to be a bubble skirt.
  • Cigar box purse. I will have to set up a photo of this one. It’s very weird!

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January 3, 2012

Giraffe With Pattern

I made a gaggle of giraffes for the holidays. I used old (1970s) upholstery fabric and ricrac.
giraffe photo
giraffe pattern 1
giraffe pattern 2

Click for more photos

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January 3, 2012

Chicken Tortilla Soup: Crock pot

Love this trick. My good friend Veronica (whom we lost in 2005) gave me this tip.

Put chicken breasts in the crockpot,  cover with salsa. Cook all day on low. The chicken shreds easily with a wooden spoon. Make burritos first night, then make soup. Add cans of black beans and diced tomatoes, frozen corn, and chicken broth. I add extra flavor with a teaspoon of adobo sauce*.

Serve topped with chips, cotina cheese and cilantro.

*adobo sauce is GREAT in chili, adds a little smoky flavor.

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October 2, 2011

Rustic Outdoor Chandelier

As much as I loved the retro chandelier, it just didn’t go with my new table and chairs, which are a more of a rustic style. I spied this piece of wood in the garage that Peter was holding onto for an “art project.” Art Project is code for not-knowing-what-he’s-doing-with-it-but-will-not-throw-it-away. Using my wiles, I conned him out of it. I used hay-bale wire and Kerr canning jars. Cost was under $10.00. I love it!

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September 22, 2011

Compost bin with plans

A thing of beauty!

My first attempt to compost was a valiant one. I bought a black box on a website and I diligently put my veggie scraps, egg shells and coffee grounds into it. The amount of stuff that went to the landfill decreased mightily and my tomatoes were award-winning! OK no real awards, but pretty good and abundant. However, the more full it got, the harder it was to turn, which is crucial to getting a good mix of compost.

Then Martha had to taunt me with this. Oh bring it!

Special thanks to Peter for the sweat! We (really he) made it for less than $100, using all scrap we had on hand. We had to buy the wire, some screws and bolts, and the cedar for the front.

We put in the corner of the yard and put it on the drip line. The right side is for dry items (leaves and grass clippings) the left side is for the active or “cooking” compost. That side is on the drip system. I’ll layer my scraps with the dry and turn once a month.

This is the detailed plan. Thanks to Iowa State University of Science and Technology.

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September 18, 2011

Backyard 70’s Chandelier

This was a dumpster dive. Yes, I do that. I couldn’t let this go to the dump! I took all the electric wires and light fixture parts out of it, to make it lighter. I painted the “brass” fixtures a cool retro avocado green.

This was a perfect example of good prep work. It took me hours to cover the wood with tape. It took minutes to spray paint. Use very light layers.

Spray, spray and STOP!

Dry.

Spray, Spray, Stop!

Get it?

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September 14, 2011

Backyard Swing 3.1

Click for more photos.

I just can’t leave this alone. New covers and pillows. It just keeps getting better. My before work, coffee and QT place. My after work, wine place.

Original photos and 1st incarnation click here.

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August 16, 2011

IPhone Photo Apps

I have 2 camera apps on my phone that has been an area of DELIGHT. I’ve looked at this one on appofmyeye, looks fun. BTW, App of my Eye is an app review site. Find cool games, technology, productivity apps here.

Hipstamatic: allows you to pick film, flash and lens. It’s 4.99, and additional items are at a cost, but the photos really have a retro feel.

Instagram: It’s free. This has as social media part to it, so you can share and “like” friend’s photos. You can also choose the treatment after the photo is taken. I don’t think as a good as Hipstamatic, but really fun.

See my photos.

I have an art project that I’m thinking about for a few of the photos. Which photo do you think works for this?

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August 14, 2011

Summer 2011 Hiatus

Hey all!

As you can see,  I’ve been on hiatus. But not laying around…just last week I finished three really cool projects.

Come back in a few weeks and see what I’ve been up to this summer.

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April 11, 2011

Art bib for kids

This cute little book, The Perfect Apron: 35 Fun and Flirty Designs for You to Make by Robert Merrett (http://amzn.com/1906525358), I got at the library and found a project perfect for the little men in my life. The book had the patterns in the back and I copied it to large butcher paper to keep for future projects.

I cut the appliqués and bonded with fusing then stitched around them. The book used bias tape on all the projects’ edges. I chose to line it so that I didn’t have to buy the tape. It added another color.

Jake made a picture for me. That little Van Gogh.

Click for project photos.

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