Bath

I hope she never thinks she's "too old" to play with toys in the tub.

♥

Crafty Night!

I am soooo excited about Crafty Night! This month was the first time we were at our new location: ON3 Photography on Main Street in Bridgeport, NE. It is a gorgeous place.

How lucky am I??

I painted a banner for the happy event using a heavy canvas dropcloth & some black acrylic paint!

The sign was my favorite!!

 The project this month involved embellishing gloves with felt flowers & buttons.

Between crafting, we munched! The treats were simple & tastty! Butter pecan mini cupcakes with pumpkin cream cheese frosting, sliced granny smith apples with a homemade caramel dipping sauce & parmesan/white cheddar cheese popcorn. There was wassail, bottled root beer & vanilla cream soda to drink.

Everyone crafted away, visiting, laughing, & having a rather swell time!
We had crafters, even non-crafters in the bunch! Our ages spanned from 16years old to a lovely lady
in her 70's!! That's just awesome. Period.

Here are some examples of our handmade efforts. My favorite part is seeing the different spin everyone puts on their projects.

There were also prizes given throughout the night...

1 - A candle cozy from Becky at Hopewell Creek Designs

2 - A finger knitted skinny scarf made by moi

3 - A felted ball kit from Annie at My Green Toy Box

4 - I stitched up a sweet owlie mug cozy from THIS tutorial

5 - So bummed that there's no picture of the awesome oatmeal colored hat that my friend Susan knitted!

I made favors for everyone to take home. Included were a vintage soda bottle cap badge, a 1" vintage fabric button & a paint swatch notebook. Remember those adorable little ditties?

 I stuck little button stickers on each notebook (24 stickers for $1 at JoAnne's). LOVE.

Click HERE for the tutorial.

 After the night was over, I lingered for a few hours. I even went out on the street & peeked at the banner one last time from outside. Eep!! It's so cute!!!

I couldn't be happier about my first Crafty Night of the new year. I am looking forward to next month. The theme for February: knitting!!!

Crafty Night is run by donations. I don't make any profit by doing this. I do it because I love making stuff & I just thought it would be fun to share that with others.

Be sure to visit the new Crafty Night facebook page HERE!!

And look for my giant prom corsage-like gloves in the shop soon!

♥

Week in Review: January 17-23

Totally awesomely busy & crazy week of crafting & making & baking. Crafty Night was the name of the game & I can't wait to share all the fun!! (Upcoming post!)

Now, the house is a wreck & I need motivation. 

I've been having interesting conversations with a friend of mine about the whole thing of being organized. I am just not. I used to be. I don't know what happened. I want to be. I try to get there. But the getting there is so exhausting that I just poop out & the mess grows. I think there is something chemically wrong with me. Do they have pills for this? My brain seriously can't wrap itself around the concept of a tidy home. It's not dirty mind you. It's cluttered. I'm not a slob. Or am I? Yikes. I just need support in my time of mess. And understanding. I'm not doing this messy gig on purpose. This is a plea. A cry for help. I need an intervention. Or just a maid.

Click HERE for a photo play-by-play.

♥

How to Make a Pretzel

Pirouette

A couple weeks ago I was initiated into the world of wrestling. I had never been to a match. (Well, there was that one time in 7th grade when I went with a friend to see that one boy I really liked a whole, whole lot.) Sometimes I get to go with my other photo pals to high school sporting events & take pictures for the newspaper. (I even have a handy dandy media pass with my dorky picture on it. Sweet, huh?) Mostly I photograph for myself. Getting some practice in & all. It's good fun! As a result of previous photo sporting escapades, I learned to appreciate & enjoy the game of football. And now, wrestling is fighting its way into my heart.

These boys of wrestling MUST love what they do. Not only because they have to wear those awesomely awkward onesies, but they get chased & choked & twisted & bent for several minutes at a time. And they KEEP coming back for more!

Of course, the creative me LOVES the choreography of it all. The improvisation: there is no script. Only funny outfits & a tussle, centerstage.

And my artsy brain oohs & aahs at the angles, the lines, the silhouette, the arrangement. I could literally stare for hours at the photos of faces in agony, the way the limbs bend backward in ways they weren't meant to. It's fascinating.

And, so, I'll share...



Feetsies



How to Make a Pretzel

Refuse to Lose



Still, I'm Refusing to Lose



Painful Embrace

Choking 101

♥

'Nuff Said

Butter pecan mini cupcakes topped with pumpkin cream cheese frosting.

♥

Week in Review: January 10-16

Following suit to a post I once saw on blogger Beki's sweet home at The Rusted Chain, I give you my "Cheers & Jeers" for the week...

JEERS:

•The Christmas Tree Fairy. I’m still waiting for her to show up & take down my Christmas tree. Where is she??
•Ketchup & mustard sandwiches. I still have not done my major grocery shopping since coming home from Christmas vacation.
• Dirty snow. It used to be pretty & magical. Now it’s just gross.
•Laziness. I can’t get out of holiday mode.


But, as everyone knows, “Jeers” without “Cheers” is jus plain ole grumpiness. So, here’s this weeks highlights…

CHEERS:

•Chili cookoff. I have not eaten that much chili in a long time. I’ve just got one thing to say: “Beans, beans, the musical fruit…”
•Free Fine Friday at the library.
•People that wave to you.
•Learning to knit.
•Kids that say cute things. Example: my 6 year old, Pazely… “Mom? How did God make stickers? Did he just say “Poof!” & then stickers just appeared? ‘Cause that would be weird.”
•Late nights, playing board games.
•My church family.
•Spiced chai latte. In my tummy. Like, twice a day.
•Giant warm cinnamon rolls. Shared with friends.
•Liver transplants. My new dad just got one.
•Time away with family.
•Buildling forts with blankets & chairs.

For a photo play-by-play, click HERE.

♥

Finger Knitting

In my happy knitting journey (which is only 8 days in the making) I just discovered how to knit with my fingers!

This link shows how:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t3LKAlDz9ig

And here's another link that shows a slightly different way:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xOqKopWDt4g

It is so much fun & goes very quickly! I'm even teaching my 8 year old.

(Excuse the incredibly tacky material on the sofa as seen in the photo above. I'm at a hotel for a few days with the fam--enjoying some time together at a winter retreat for pastors. )
♥ Nikki

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Week in Review: January 3-9

Knitting, knitting, knitting. My life is now consumed. And the housework has paused. And the piles are growing (worse than ever before), & the list of things I need to do is actually growing cobwebs.

I cannot stop. I love it. And yet, I haven't even purchased any knitting needles!! I keep grabbing things around the house to knit with. So far, it's been: pencils, disposable chopsticks (very blunt chopsticks, very hard to work with), proper pointy chopsticks & now paint brushes. Just found out how to knit on my very own fingers too!

HERE'S a fun link showing someone knitting cooked ramen noodles!

I'm also thinking some knitting graffiti/yarn bombing might be next on my list. I've got to do SOMETHING with all these practice stitches you know...

Click HERE for a photo play-by-play.

♥

Lulu Winner

Lucky number 30 is the winner of the Lulu photo book giveaway!!

Congrats to Amy of Party of Nine!!

♥

Come on in, we're OPEN!

I decided to open the shop early!
Getting a lot of handmade requests.
Which is good!
Super good!
Here's to a crafty 2011!

And look what's in the shop again: Vintage Fork Easels!!
Get 'em while they're hot & fresh.
♥

Knit Wit

So, guess who learned to knit yesterday??

Last night my friend Susan taught me to knit during a break at work. We grabbed 2 pencils & found some yarn which embellished a Christmas prezzie we had just exchanged.

Knitting has always intimidated me. It still does. I don't understand how all those stitches can turn & twist & form into adorable things. I'm excited about conquering my knitting fear. This is just the beginning...

Click HERE to view my 8 year old filming while my 6 year old commentates on me knitting.

(Oh, & I've upgraded from pencils to chopsticks!)

♥

Lulu Giveaway!

A rep from Lulu contacted me about making a book via their schnazzy website in exchange for a review on my blog. I had never worked with Lulu before, but was very impressed with how easy it was to get around & upload photos & organize my book.

I created a 20-page, 12" x 12" book entitled "The Adventures of Susan & Nikki: a photo story" & gave it as a gift to my adventure pal last night. (There may or may not have been some tear shedding involved.)

 The book captures our 1st year of great fun & hijinks. And it makes me smile every time I look at it!

I kept it strictly photos only (except for a personal quip on the last page)---but I had the option to include captions if I wanted.

When the book arrived on my doorstep I literally had an intense "ooh" & "aah" moment. I couldn't stop gawking! I was very impressed. VERY. And I'm now a Lulu fan. 100%.

 Prior to uploading many of the photos, I created picture mosaics through bighugelabs.com

And I love how I can create books & even sell them if I wanted to. Makes me tinker with the idea of popping my favorite photos in a book & mass producing them. Ok, maybe not the mass producing part. Yet.

 

And guess what?? Lulu wants to give away one 20 page 8.5" x 8.5" hardcover photo book to a WhiMSy love reader!!

So, leave a comment: Why not tell me your wish for the new year, your dreams for 2011...

Drawing will be held this Sunday, January 9th.

♥

2010 Year In Review!

This is the second full year I've completed the "Week in Review" project!

And it feels AWESOME!

This year has been all about Nebraska. And lots of change. And growth. And stretching farther than I ever thought possible. And adventures. And sweet new friends. And quality time with my girls. It's been one of the most intense years ever. It's been one of the most fun years ever. It's been one of the most trying & emotional as well.

And I feel like I've been trying to dance to the rhythm of a new beat on a completely different drum. And falling all over the place.

But now I've got my bongos back & it's time to jam.

(Whatever that means?!---Hahaha!)

I feel like I'm ready to push myself this year. Into some self discovery. And more creativity. I'm doing some projects at home on my own. And it seems like a lot at first, but it's not that bad. I think. Maybe it will overwhelm me very soon & I'll give up. But I've got that fresh gusto now, so we'll see. I'm calling it: "Write. Make. Sketch."

Pretty simple. I want to make myself write & sketch every day. I want to strengthen these creative muscles I have. And, what better way to grow, then to practice & do these things every day? So, that's the "Write" & "Sketch" part. The "Make" part has to do with a really cool book I just picked up by Noah Scalin called 365: A Daily Creativity Journal: Make Something Every Day and Change Your Life!

I'll be posting some of these "Write. Make. Sketch." creations on the blog, so you can follow along. It's not about hammering myself to get it done every - single - day. But it's about making a conscious effort to do something, anything---even if just for a few minutes. Because, honestly, that's all I have some days.

This should be fun!

To view the "2010 Year in Review" photo, click HERE.

To peek at my entire 2010 Week in Review set on flickr, click HERE.

♥

Week in Review: December 27-January 2

Goodbyes are just downright awful.

Yet on the looooong road trip home, there was a chance to transition a bit. To be anxious for my own bed, my own things, my own rhythm, my own order. All that doesn't change the fact that goodbyes are still so awful.

I wondered how I'd feel going home & then coming back.

I definitely hopped, squealed & giggled after I ran out of the car & into my house today. 1200 mile road trips will make you do things like that.

I think there is now a bigger feeling of "missing". Missing my family & friends.

I don't even know if I can explain it, or if it will come out right, but there wasn't really that "missing" feeling  before. I got so busy right away, the instant we moved to Nebraska, that I didn't have time for heartache & longing & homesickness. But now that I took a break---for the first time in a year---& went back home, I miss now.

Hugging my mom goodbye was the hardest. She's my friend, & I just like her so much. And I like her to be near me. And I miss living 2 minutes away from her.

I think the only thing that can make this easier is something Tia & I came up with. This is going to be "The Year of Correspondence"!! Whether facebooking or Skyping or happy mail or snail mail (which is happy mail too) or any creative gesture of mail-like fun, it's all about the correspondence. And I'm setting aside a small spot where I have gathered all things having to do with corresponding (stationery, stickers, cards, pens, stamps) & at least once a week I'm making use of those things. I'm looking forward to it with much enthusiasm!!

Here's to a 2011 full of correspondence!!
Yay communication!!

Click HERE for a photo mosaic play-by-play.

♥

Week in Review: December 20-26

One of my favorite weeks EVER. After traveling 1200 miles from Nebraska to Washington with my hubby & 2 kidlets, Tia & I took our own mini road trip to Seattle where I got to meet my birth dad for the first time. And we have so much in common. And we look alike too. What a week! I can't even put it into words. I wonder if I will ever be able to. I could have made this whole collage about family. Here's me with so-&-so. Oh, & here's me with such-&-such.

I. Love. Family.

To view the awesome new additions in my life, click HERE.

Click HERE for a photo mosaic play-by-play.

♥

Week in Review: December 13-19

It's the 1st week of January & I'm busy uploading pictures for the last 3 Week in Reviews. My vacation got the best of me. As it should have.

Click HERE for a photo play-by-play.

♥