MESSY Bun Hats and Pinterest Tries of the Week (Ft.my blue dance costume)

12:37 PM

Messy Bun Hat Bow and Pom-Poms "Snow Shoe Hare" In Frosty Blue Denim, Juniors

(my first modeling shot xp)

Well, me and Mom caught onto the trend of "messy bun hats" which are basically crocheted hats with a stretchy ponytail hole in the top for your bun. Actually, Mom caught onto it. Mine....are now back at their humble beginnings in the yarn pile, dismantled. I am completely taken by this one Mom's made (matter fact, if it doesn't sell, I'm going to keep it). Using a rustic/faded denim-like color and THE SOFTEST Angora white yarn you've ever touched is what I call our...

Messy Bun Hat Bow and Pom-Poms "Snow Shoe Hare" In Frosty Blue Denim, Juniors and Ladies One Size Fit's All: Angora and Wool

Yep, that.

So I tried my first Pin (or whatever). We were going to a local Valentine's Crafters Market, so, along with a pair of blue jeans and a white turtle neck, I did the "Hair Bow" hairstyle.

(the perfect looking tutorial with sleek, unknotted and shiny hair)

(how mine turned out--and yes I used a filter no I did not radically bleach my hair)

I kept a bunch of hair down as well and had many compliments! So glad I tried this; will do again.

GUESS WHAT??? We tried on our costumes at dance.

To be honest I have mixed emotions. The colors are beautiful...but the tutu looks like a frazzled head and the sparkles...just go everywhere. Literally, the dance floor was a SEA.

Here's to saying goodbye *waves crochet hook* I'll be back with more of the wove.

"You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; You have loosed my sackcloth and girded me with gladness."

-Psalm 30:11

Got a favorite dance costume?

Pinterest Tries/Fails?

crafts

PHOTO SHOOTS 4 Real = Starting A Business & PINNING all the Day Long

2:00 PM

Some girl's been busy taking pictures...almost all day. And *ahem* in Sarah's words "Gone on Pinterest" (or however you said it dear no don't hit me with that donut pillow). So, let's re-wind.

Me and Mom started a business for our art...crochet accessories (baby goods, headbands hats & the like), knitted stuff (cowls & such), signs (which is where I come in...heehee you know I've always got a paintbrush stashed somewheres *frowns* unless my rabbit's eaten it) and other things like chalkboards.

So, this last weekend we took a step up and started a Pinterest.

(Ft. My baby "in the Garden" carrot hat...like it?)

(those burnt pages are from the 1930's, BTW)

(what other prop than rose petals?!)

Anyways...it's been SO MUCH FUN just snapping pics and making them so much more professional than I thought I could do. We now have 20 items on our shop, I'm proud to say, and new items are listed every week if not ever-other-day. So, here's a big virtual invite to come check us out. It's DandeLion Shoppe. You can get our shop updates on Pinterest right over here.

Okay, you all got me. I started a Pinterest too. Go and look and see...because I have 10 boards and 300+ pins already. If you think my LOLx2 board is funny (then we should be friends) let me know, alrighty? *whispers* here's the link...Me on Pinterest.

I couldn't stop laughing. Quote from Jane Austen, Pride & Prejudice. #quotes #literature #humor @Trudy B Medeiros:

(this is just a preview...*giggles under breath*)

Did you realize everyone replaced the once popular "FYI" with "BTW"?

Do you have a Pinterest?

crafts

The Strawberry Moon and a Grape Crate turn vintage

1:06 PM

Over the bay, across wrinkles of sandbars and a back drop of smoothly painted sky, hung a 'strawberry moon', as the weather people call it. To see such a lovely ball of brightness, overlooking all the glory of the bay at night, is a summer evening to remember.

Yesterday my Mom surprised me by bringing a grape crate into my room. Together we styled it a bit, and then I added some personal touches. Ah! How long I've been trying to capture that vintage/rustic/simple/pretty style. And there it is. A piece of it, at least. just a touch of the vintage life. My Mom also had the creative idea of putting a mason jar with flowers inside a pantyhose (see where I get my random creative ideas ;) And thennnn....I made a chalkboard (yes, I like chalkboard stuff. Yes, I could possibly be overdoing it.) on a square of poster board, with seashells from our beach.

Did you see the 'Strawberry Moon'?
What have you crafted lately?
Which project did you like the most?

books

Of Stray Bits of Sun and Vintage Makings

7:24 PM

This adorable sign above was bought at a thrift store for $0.25. Even though it IS so cute, it has a little to much wear and I'm going to paint it. Paint, then with some calligraphy...and flowers, and a pretty ribbon...yes, it might turn out quite well. This is a chalkboard globe. I painted it a little while ago; a tea can with a chalkboard sun design; a cartoon mod podge jar, and another tall tea can, with a chalkboard heart. I may do a tutorial on one, so tell me which you would prefer!

(I can't take credit for this-it is from a wonderful friend ;)

Remember where this peach came from? No? A handful of pretty flowers this spring...

Hot spring days, swimming, losing my shoe in the bay.....andddd flip-flops, that is summer. What is warm weather without bare feet and flip-flops, anyways? Soon we may have lovely, fuzzy peaches to eat. And watermelon...though at the end of summer. Currently I am reading Louisa May Alcott's Little Men, the sequel to Little Women. I just finished the chapter Patty Pans, where Meg's daughter, Daisy, learns to cook on her tiny stove. How cute! Right now we have strawberries to eat, oooh.

There is no great loss without some small gain.

~Laura Ingalls Wilder

art

Once Upon A Time, Calligraphy Became Alive

6:44 PM

Far away there in the sunshine are my highest aspirations. I may not reach them, but I can look up and see their beauty, believe in them, and try to follow where they lead.

~Louisa May Alcott

My first photo is done with a calligraphy pen (black ink) then traced with a paintbrush and golden paint. The feather is done by paintbrush only. 'Once Upon a Time' is such a classic, whimsical beginning to so many fairy tales-and a golden feather will fit perfectly with this genre.

as soon as they put forth leaves, you see it and know for yourselves that summer is now near.

~Luke 21:30

This particular painting is done with brush and brush only. Like the others, I used poster board, which is a useful platform for a calligraphy pen and paint. And roses? And nighttime? And those evenings where balmy bay winds flow from window to window through the house? Poetry breaths summer nights.

I have to tell you a secret that will see you through all the trials that life can offer. Have courage and be kind.

~Cinderella (2015)

Totally mixing up the 1950's and 2015, for a timeless Cinderella theme. The cutouts are actually from Mother's day cards. Recycling and crafts go hand-in-hand.And the blue ink is done in a Gothic style with a wider calligraphy tip.

You can never get a cup of tea large enough or a book long enough to suit me.

~C.S Lewis

These designs are cutouts from Mother's Day cards as well. The kettle, the colors, the flowers, speak...British and summertime and tea. All in one sign. This project isn't done yet, thee 'calligraphying' is still in waiting...what do you think might go there?

crafts

DIY Your Room You: Vintage Chalkboard

12:20 PM

Today were going to make a chalkboard out of a normal picture frame! All you need for it is the following...

Picture Frame

Cardboard

Chalkboard Paint ($4-$6, available at Walmart)

Brush

Acrylic Paint

School Glue

Mod Podge

~Vintage Chalkboard~

Okay! So, first were going to make the chalkboard by painting a very thin, flat piece of cardboard.

While it's drying (You will need to apply 2 coats, so let it dry for a hour) we can make the frame. First off, I painted the frame with a dark-ish grey as the first layer, then once it is dry you can add a layer of school glue (because yet again the crackle style is needed) and in only around 3 minutes I added a layer of white (if you would like you can finish it off with a layer of Mod Podge).

Grey Paint

Glue & White Paint

After an hour you can add your second coat of chalkboard paint to the cardboard, and then comes the part of waiting for 24 hours. You must wait this long, and not scribble on it, or the chalk won't come out. Assemble the cardboard into the frame when dry...and Tah Dah!

Simple, right?

crafts

DIY Your Room You: 2 Versions of Light Letters

1:52 PM

Today I continue my DIY series...as you see above the letter decoration is the new craft. Now, you may not have something that is specifically like my own craft project, but whatever you have that you'd like to renovate, or make into something new, you can use this as an example.

~Light Letters 1~
Spring Phase

As with the last project, I made these letters 'distressed'. Here you have the original object below.

First, I'm going to go through the same steps as with my picture frame here. White, The first paint layer on each letter, school glue, next paint layer, etc (I also pulled off the fuzz).

White Paint

School Glue

Second Layer (main outside color-please ignore my slight mess-up)

Textured

Finished.

You can keep it just like this, if you would like too. Or...you can make it beachy.

~Light Letters 2~

Beach Phase

Now, I used two sea shells & sand (from D.E) to make this a beach-lover's product. First off I covered the bottom in school glue and then sprinkled a good helping of sand over it. I also put a sheet of school glue over pieces of the glued-on sand to prevent too much sand-scattering.

Then I glued on two shells, and watered down my teal, pink and purple colors to make it fade into them.

I also changed the color of the flower stem to a more palish-green, and made the blue bird a Seagull, by painting him white, giving him a black neck ring, and a wing outline. I also put some glue around the flower stem's foot, and sprinkled sand there.

Tah-Dah!

What object reminds you to smile?

...and happy craft month! More crafts coming soon!

crafts

Love Birds || A Bottle of Sand

1:11 PM

Guess What? Our family has adopted a pair of Ring-Neck Doves! The one closes, with the black ring on his neck is Ferdinand, and the other is Isabella. Just yesterday we discovered Isabella was hiding an egg!

These photos really do not do justice to how beautiful they are...hopefully I will take some more shots soon. I also, doing all the crafts I have been lately, worked on this bottle of sand from Bethany Beach, Delaware. It is a great way to display it, and the tag was so easy to do, and I also threw in a few painted shells. I painted a couple jar's lids that were holding sea glass, and gave them some twine to add a fish net flavor.