Fancy Schmancy: January 2008

1.30.2008

Repurposed Crochet Jars

Here is a super sweet crochet idea from Bella Dia.

Pinwheel Mobile Tute

ChicPea Seing Studio has a terrific pinwheel mobile tutorial.

Free Wall Bags!

All you have to do is buy the material and make them.

JC Handmade has an awesome tutorial on making these wall pocket/bags. I would love to make a whole wall of them as toy storage, but I have no more spare walls!

1.29.2008

Tutu Tutorial Time

Plumtickled has a fantastic tutorial on how to make this sweet no-sew tutu.

I posted this on Cribcandy earlier but I thought I would post it here as well. Its such a funny idea. I could have so much fun using some sort of creamy white juice in the teeth part and a pink juice for the gums. How fun would it be to toss that into your grammy's vodka?

Deceptively Delicious: Simple Secrets to Get Your Kids Eating Good Food

I bought this book at Christmas time for myself and then promptly forgot about it until yesterday, when I got hungry. (btw- has anyone ever bought a cookbook simply because they were hungry?) I read it from cover to cover and wrote out my shopping list, and went to the market this morning. I can't wait to try these recipes, only because we have been so bored with our usual menu lately and my little Salamander is starting to get a bit too picky for our standards. Plus, get this- there is a recipe in there for CHOCOLATE AVOCADO CAKE!!! (I have an avocado tree)

Deceptively Delicious

Origami Bag

This bag looks like a fun bag to make.

1.28.2008

Play With Your Food

I was snooping around to find inspiration for play and felt food when I found these 2 great books. My Favorite Felt Sweets and Making Miniature Food and Market Stalls Also there are tons of ideas on Flickr.

1.25.2008

Modular Office

I really like this office. it looks like something that can easily be done using Ikea pieces and PVC tubes painted green as the room divider. I think my favorite part is the grassy carpet!
Yanko Design

Alanis Morissette Doing a Spoof on My Hump

1.24.2008

Can you imagine about 130 cats in a one small Moscow flat? If you can’t, then watch the pictures and the video below. The flat’s owner says, that she loves homeless pets and simply wants to help them.

I think I may have jinxed myself with that previous story about the old dog. (btw- it was just a joke email from my sister.) Look at who was just sleeping in the sun on my front step. I scared him when I opened the door.
Poor guy. Needs a haircut. I could have really spiffed him up! Made all the other dogs jealous. They would have been lining up at my door to get they hair fixed! For real I have my masters from the N.D.G.A.A.

1.23.2008

Sfgirlbybay did a piece on the many uses of Ikea stuff in her home and this little idea caught my eye. Since I am exploring new means of storage for my up and coming Spring cleaning I thought adding some Fira cabinets covered with scrapbook paper would be a fun project.

I Am Almost Always Hungry

From her early catering days and her time as proprietor of the charming West Village restaurant Lora to her current role as House & Garden's food editor, Lora Zarubin has always been hungry: for experience, for travel, and for friends, but most of all for new recipes and new tastes. Here she invites readers to share in this lifelong love affair with food, and practice her straightforward approach: She uses the best ingredients possible, keeps her recipes simple, and makes cooking fun. I Am Almost Always Hungry is a cookbook that will make you want to get in the kitchen. Zarubin offers 30 seasonal menus and more than 100 recipes drawn from her childhood, her extensive travels throughout Europe and the United States, and her years as a caterer and restaurateur-which gave her unique insights into the subtleties of seasonal entertaining. Among Zarubin's featured creations are Fennel and Parmigiano-Reggiano Salad, Short Ribs with Chocolate and Cinnamon, Creamy Grits with Pureed Celery Root, and Roasted Peaches with Cardamon Sugar and Mascarpone Sauce. Throughout, stunning images by pioneering food photographer Tessa Traeger reveal the beauty of these dishes.
I Am Almost Always Hungry

My husband, being unhappy with my mood swings, bought me a mood ring the other day so he would be able to monitor my moods.

We've discovered that when I'm in a good mood, it turns green. When I'm in a bad mood, it leaves a big red mark on his forehead.

Maybe next time he'll buy me a diamond.
http://shopwestfieldcenturycity.com/store/luckybrand/product-2127187.html

1.22.2008

Tea Lights Floating In Wood

I love the way the tea lights seam to float randomly on the large square holder. I think this would be so pretty on my large square coffee table. I think I am going to make one using something a bit more elegant than the mdf board that is pictured. Here is an article showing how to cut tea light holes with a drill.
product page- http://www.hipandzen.com/ktdcp.html

Pretty neat instant pix

Its That Time Of Year Again

Time to start planning your Spring cleaning! I have put together a few of my favorite storage ideas to help you out. Just click on the photos for the product page.

Pants racks like this are great for hanging swatches of fabric in your sewing room, towels in a restroom and even magazines. I purchased mine at Ikea in stainless steel but I cannot find the link.

These boxes look great and are super cheap. perfect for all your tiny storage needs.

I really love these clear boxes from Ikea. They are perfect project boxes. I also use them for toy storage and in my pantry for all of those bags of dried fruit and nuts.

This cart is (and probably will always be) on my wish list. It cost about $3,000 but is the perfect craft cart!

I have always thought this idea was neat to look at but a bit unpractical. The only real use that I have come up with is for sorting your fabric scraps or linen napkins perhaps in the dinning room or make-up and brushes in teh bathroom. It is a very similar idea to this one.

This thing happens to be one of my favorite storage tricks. You can hang these on the back of any door and the fact that its clear allows you to see the contents of whats inside. I have used then for make-up in the bathroom, craft supplies, pantry items, toys in the kids room, sorting all of my back up party supplies and utensils and even tools in the garage.

1.19.2008

Clothes Pins Are Neato

I found these while rummaging through Etsy's vintage section. (its kinda like thrifting from home!) I think these clothespins would be a fun decoupage project, maybe with your favorite kid. I also think they would be a nice add on gift when giving away your kids art work to Grammie.

Get Bagged

I find these 2 bags so inspiring and so diy-able. I am kind of thinking about making one of these (i can't decide which) as a replacement for the current clutch that I use to schlep my tots portable dvd player around in. (btw- a god sent if you like to go out to dinner and have a tot!)
I'm sorry but I have no source for them. I found them on Polyvore just as a jpg.
update- I found a link for the second bag here-
http://shopshebang.com/PLIEGA-CLUTCH-TEAL-p-3613.html

What do you think of when I say "Wiener Bag"?

I have always been a fan of the wiener dog. I inherited a wire haired dachshund several years ago. We spent a few years together working at my grooming shop all day and then snuggling on the sofa in front of Sex And The City. I later passed him onto a boy that he fell in love with (btw- i have always felt that animals pick their people) My little Adam is now the happiest he has ever been and spoiled even more than I could ever have done, and I was a sap when it comes to puppy love!
So what does any of that have to do with this bag? Nothing, except that its a wiener dog and I think I could design and make my own by making a template and using some of the tons of vinyl that I have lying around. Or maybe even some old leather from a jacket or a skirt that I am no longer graced with the ability to fit into. And you know what? You bag doesn't have to be a wiener dog. you could make one out of your favorite breed. Have fun with it!
http://www.bijzondermooi.nl/shop/Dachshund-bag-brown-p-75.html

btw- I am now posting my links in this manor only because some douche bag used a link back site and found me and claimed copyright infringement on his ugly cardboard thing. But I'm not bitter.
So I'm so very sorry to put you out but for now you'll just have to copy and paste most url's.
Thank you.

1.18.2008

Pipe Dreams

This Tiga vase is one of those simple and elegant ideas that you could easily make yourself using piping and epoxy.
www.welldressedhome.com

An old, tired looking dog wandered into the yard. I could tell from his collar and well-fed belly that he had a home.
He followed me into the house, down the hall and fell asleep in a corner.
An hour later, he went to the door and I let him out.
The next day, he was back. He resumed his position in the hall and slept for an hour. This continued for several weeks.
Curious, I pinned a note to his collar that said, "Every afternoon, your dog comes to my house for a nap."
The next day, he arrived with a different note pinned to his collar. It said, "He lives in a home with ten children. He's trying to catch up on his sleep. Can I come with him tomorrow?!"

1.17.2008

1.14.2008

Have you seen these before? Pretty cool huh? Might be fun at a party....

1.11.2008

Neat Valentine's

William Sonoma is selling these great cookies for $20.00. You could easily make some yourself using food markers.
You could even put x-rated messages on them for your honey.....

Mr Hubby and I just spotted this owl(?) in the neighbors tree so we snapped a picture through our binoculars. Pretty cool huh?
I'm not really sure what kind it is. I guess a spotted owl but it is rather large in size. This tree is actually 3 houses away. Anyone know anything about birds?
UPDATE- My sister in-law just figured out that its a red tailed hawk!

One Hundred Percent EDIBLE Googly Eyes!

Evil Mad Scientists has come up with onle of the coolest and silliest things I have seen in a long time!
Evil Mad Scientist quote "After more than a year of painstaking directed research by our Experimental Foods Division, we have finally achieved one of our most important longstanding goals: the production of edible googly eyes. Like many other great inventions, it seems almost simple in retrospect, but in this write up we walk through the process and show you how to make your own."

Click here to see the rest of the instructions.

1.10.2008

Jennifer Gibb's Pouch Pals

Jennifer Gibbs did an incredible job creating these wonderful cubbies. I just adore anything that is made using grey felt and these pouches are no exception.
I know this may be a little late but wouldn't this be a great Christmas stocking idea?

Tide, Poppy and Moss

I love these little upholstered boxes from Plush. They look like the perfect place to store a tape measure and some pins. The price on them is $85 smackaroos! I think I'll see what I can come up with instead....

I was snooping around Google images for a bit of inspiration on paper mache' when I was reminded of the beautiful boats that Ann Wood created. I think paper mache' will be a nice gooey project for my 2 year old tot to get into. Ann's work certainly did the job of inspiring me! I absolutely love them and it makes great use of all of my scraps of fabric and paper that I have piled up.

1.07.2008

SCORE!

I just bought this exact dress on clearance at Loehmann's for $6.97 instead of the $106.00 they want here! A great dress for many different looks and occasions. I'm just so amazed at the quality of jersey knit these days. No longer for t-shirts and dish towels. Jersey seems to have a way of making you feel sexy and comfortable all at once and ladies- isn't that what really matters?