Thursday, August 2, 2012

So I've never considered myself much of a crafter...

And since the occasions where I make something feel so rare, I thought I'd keep some proof of it so I can look back fondly and remember them all in one place.  And duh, so I can trumpet when I finish something!  Like I said, this doesn't happen often.  Gotta make the most of it when it does. 

This month I've been busier than usual.  Not saying this is gonna be the norm!



BABY BOY BOOTIES
These are booties for the baby my friend, Glo, is expecting this month.  This was my first time using this pattern and I was really happy with how they turned out.  First time making boy booties was a success!




HAPPY METER: (how happy I am with the finished product/likelihood I would do it again the same, out of a possible 5): 5 SMILEYS


BABY BOOK HANDBAG THING:
So, for forever I was getting this itch to sew something (by the way, this NEVER happens, hence, I ignored the feeling because I simply MUST have been confusing it with something I ate, repeatedly.) Anyway, about 10:00 at night, after an impromptu batch of cookies, I decided the time was ripe for me to pull out the sewing machine.  I have a small stash of fabric, darling fabric, that is so darling in fact, I'm afraid of ruining it with my amateur sewing skills.  But then it's not really doing me much good in a stash in the closet, now, is it?  So, here's what I made, in about 90 minutes or so (remember, amateur.)  No pattern, no measuring, just went for it!  Had to get rid of that feeling FAST!  And, it worked!



HAPPY METER: 4.5 SMILEYS  

WHAT I'D DO DIFFERENTLY: the stitching could have been more precise.  A better seamstress might care, but not me! It's functional!)



SESAME SEED ROLLS turned FRENCH TOAST CASSEROLE IN MUFFIN TINS with HOMEMADE STRAWBERRY SYRUP:
 On a Sunday morning, no less!  I came home from the Relief Society Soup Social on Thursday with at least 3 dozen rolls (I couldn't see them go to waste right now), so I got creative, again thinking, what do I have to lose but a couple of eggs?  I've seen tons of things made cooler on Pinterest by being put in muffin tins, so I decided to go for it

We were out of maple syrup, and happened to have a ton of strawberries on hand (we love Costco), so a quick spin in the blender with sugar, and voila!


Aren't they pretty?


HAPPY METER: 3.5 SMILEYS

WHAT I'D DO DIFFERENTLY: Make it sweeter.  I would add a little sugar to the egg and milk mixture and put more of that mixture on the bread, so they would be a little more moist and sweet.  The syrup could've done with a little more sugar, too, it was a little on the tangy side.  All in all, not bad.  The baby ate two for breakfast that morning!



HAIR ACCESSORIES ORGANIZER FRAMES:
The family I used to nanny for had a birthday party for their 5 year old daughter this last weekend.  When I asked what she might like, they said, "anything girly, something to organize her hair things." BING!  I had seen my sister make one of these and I thought it was the cutest thing ever!  I had everything you see here ON HAND, unused, ready to go. Awesome.


Pink and purple.  Doesn't get much girlier than that! The little colored knobs on the bottom are push pins I hammered in place.


HAPPY METER: 4 SMILEYS

WHAT I WOULD HAVE DONE DIFFERENTLY: Used a bigger frame.  This is what I had, so I still wouldn't change it, and it's why I made two, but a bigger frame would mean more room for more accessories! Oh, and I would've taken better pictures, from my camera, not my phone.



CHRISTMAS BOOTIES!
So these were in Jasper's drawer, and he needed some socks to wear to bed, (maybe he doesn't need them, but he still doesn't sleep with a blanket, so I put them on him because it's what I would want).  Anyway, I grabbed these instead.  I made them over a year ago and they're intended for a smaller foot than his, but they stretch, so there you have it.

I'm sure he loved the booties.  Head over heels loved them, but he's teething, so this is how he's looked for most of the last two days.


Keep trying to get a good shot of them. Hard to do while holding him.


...AND we're done.

HAPPY METER: Jasper's: 0, Booties: 4 SMILEYS
WHAT I WOULD DO DIFFERENTLY: Use baby cloud yarn like they suggest.  I roped together two smaller yarns to get it red and green.  Fun experiment, but a thicker yarn is best.

Oh yeah, these may not all be chronological.  Particularly with my crochet items, I have a lot of stuff I've photographed and given away, so those may find their way up here, too.