Bird Giving Balls

Etsy seller Bugtussle has come up with an interesting way to give fabric and fiber scraps a second life.

I have been making "bird giving balls" for years now and giving them out as gifts to friends. I have a flock of sheep, and some of the fleece was not good enough to use in my yarn, so as not to waste anything I thought it would be nice for the birds, since I saw them taking some of the scraps on the barn floor after shearing to make a nest. After finding nests around my farm with fleece in them, I decided to purchase a grapevine ball, which I thought was the natural way to go about it. I put my discarded fleece into it and added ribbons to see what would happen. To my surprise, I started to see ribbons in a nest! I could not believe it! So then I decided to add different colors of fleece and add more nesting material stuff such as excelsor, etc. People are always amazed at how birds actually use this.

Her Bird Giving Balls are very compelling as a sort of interactive lawn ornament, doubling as a way to upcycle the offshoots of your crafting projects. It's like a co-production creative project with our winged friends!

Wee Wonderful Shrinky Dink Pins

A teeny little project from Hillary Lang over at Wee Wonderfuls... Shrinky Dink Pins!

The teeny tiny kitties just kill me! Almost sweet enough to make me forget all of my sewing pin finger-pricking incidents of the past!

Hillary is wonderful enough to share a tutorial in case you want to make your own.

When I Get Married...

Alright, so there's no ring yet, but there is a boy... and when I get married, I want it to be outside. Rain, shine, heat, cold, tornado, flood- I don't care, I want to be married outside.

And so the only way of assuring my outdoor day, and that the guests stay dry is a wedding tent... which has the possibility of being drab, stuffy and just plan ugly. Ugh!!

But then I saw this- and my heart stopped.

So what if its at Cornerstone Gardens (in California)... I will find a way to get it here!!!

Mod Wall Decals

From Urban Outfitters- I wish I had a spot in my house for these. I may just have to create one...

Cherry Blossom Cupcakes

Almost too decadent to eat!

From hello naomi's photostream on flickr!

Reading Corner Cushion

Although this is described as a "Teen Couch", I can't help but picture curling up with a book in a comfy little corner of my house. In fact, I'd love to do an entire room in nothing but floor-level pillow-made furniture... very modern, very asian-feeling.

If only that Nu-foam wasn't so dang expensive!!

Oh well, here is the tutorial anyway.

Dolly Pops!

From the imaginative mind of Jenny B of Jenny B Harris Illustration For Children, comes these adorable little ladies.

Candy-colored clothespin dollies with lollipop stick arms that will soon be available in her Etsy Shop.

Couldn’t you just eat them up?!

Homage To Craftster.org

I spend a fair amount of my life logged into a website called Craftster.

In fact, according to their "stats" page my current "Total Time Spent Online":
6 days, 15 hours and 6 minutes

So I thought I should send a quick shout-out to them.

Craftster.org was started in August 2003 as a repository for hip, off-beat, crafty diy (do it yourself) projects.People who have crafty urges, but who are not excited by cross stitched bunnies and crocheted toilet paper cozies, can show off their current craft projects, ask advice on future projects and get inspiration for new endeavors.

Whenever possible, members are encouraged to post pictures of the steps involved in making a project as well as the final results.Craftster.org attempts to be carefully organized to allow members to easily find the projects they are looking for.Special emphasis is placed on projects that involve recycling, reusing and repurposing existing objects. The thinking is that whenever an object can be reused rather than buried in a landfill, it's a worthy venture -- not to mention an interesting challenge!

My Furry Kids

I've recently started digital scrapbooking... I use Photoshop, Indesign & Illustrator to create what traditional scrapbookers make with glue, scissors and an incredible array of papers, photos and embellishments. I've tried their method before- but I find myself too nervous to ever glue anything down, for fear of not being able to change it later. With my digital designs- there's virtually no commitment!

Anyway- these are our kids. Zack & Kaya... the furry loves of my life.

So Cute Soto Softies!

Have you ever seen such a loveable bat?

What can I say about these little guys? They stole my heart!!
Created by the obviously talented Maritza over at Soto Softies, these guys are the epitome of adorable.

Get your own from her etsy shop, Soto Softies!

Tea Drinking Witches

Whenever I go to Salem MA (usually annually) I try to pick up a new print by a specific local artist who does drawings of cute "Witches" with candles in their tall black hats, and black cats padding along at their feet. They're enchanting, if you'll forgive the pun. I wish I could remember the artists name...

Anyway, when I saw these drawings posted on Craftster by Moonfairy of "Moonfairy's Dreamland", I fell under that same enchantment. I love the bold lines and colors- making them feel almost childlike and yet the details of the chair, patchwork and even the round red cheeks feel graceful and well-executed. I adore them.

Dotee Dolls

Every so often an exciting new craft makes its debut over at Craftster, and this time it's Dotee Dolls!

Originated by artist Dot (of Dot's Life and Art), Dotee Dolls are miniature art dolls- recognizable by their round felt faces (embroidered or painted in various forms) and intensely embellished bodies. They remind me of many Goddess Dolls I've fawned over in the past- and I love the pure creativity that goes into making them.

Dot says on her blog: "My intention behind my art has always to bring color and happiness to people. And to connect to people from different parts of the world. Bring us all a bit closer together.Artists who are making Dotee dolls understand what they are about -spreading friendship, love and joy. Isn't that fantastic?"

Here are a few I love from the recent Craftster "Dotee Doll Swap"-

And here is a fun little YouTube Video- How to Make a Dotee Doll

Decoupage = Love

I often dream of filling my entire home with second-hand furniture, redecorated with the shabby-chic, retro-mod look that just sends shivers down my back.

Problem is, refinishing furniture just always feels like such a monumental task to me.

But the folks at jcaroline creative make it all seem worthwhile... maybe I'll hit a couple tag sales this weekend...

A reason to learn crochet- and possibly to grow my hair long.

How adorable is this little number? Its almost convinced me to cancel my next appointment for a haircut.


Found on the blog of Odd Dotty Dollymaker, a woman who makes adorable "Oddity Dolls", this hat is something she found at Woolly Wormhead, a collection of various crochet patterns. Its by far the cutest thing on the website- and possibley the cutest hat I've ever come across. BTW- its officially called the "Tes Cozy Hat".



Here are a few of Dotty's "Oddity Dolls", available on her Etsy Shop.

There are some amazing things out there.

Every day there are a series of websites and blogs I visit- looking for inspiration, information, or sometimes just eye candy. They have similar themes- crafts, decorating, pets... most of them more girly then I would have expected from myself years ago.

I've had this idea to start a blog sharing some of my finds for awhile now. And since its been a really tough week for me, I figured what better time to start. Maybe it will cheer me up a bit.

Anyway- here it is. :)