Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas! 

image via The Graphics Fairy

I hope those of you celebrating today are having a delightful time with friends and family.  Have fun!

Love, Emma

Christmas Silhouettes

My dad has a silhouette he made when he was a small boy that was hanging in my grandmother's house - its fun to look at - you can tell its him from the head shape and expression even after many years. 

I also came across a similar project here.  I morphed the two together and came up with a fun Christmas Crafts that I finally managed to get done this year - framed fabric silhouettes. 

I got started this summer (kind of) by snapping a profile shot of two of my cousins.  You can tell from their hair and some wayward drips that they had just hopped out of the pool . 

Little Nicky

Fast forward to last week, when I printed out the pictures on regular 8.5 x11 paper, and cut out carefully around their heads.  All the little wayward strands make for a fun final product! 

I affixed wonder under to the back of some gray flannel I had.  Tracing the head cut out onto the fabric was much easier that way, especially when working in tiny cuts. 

Jack

I cut some yellow fabric to fit the 8x10 frame I had and added some interfacing to the back for extra stability.  After cutting out the head, I attached it to the backing fabric, framed it and was done!  I pretty simple, but thoughtful handmade gift.  You could do something similar with black paper and a fun card stock or scrap booking paper behind it instead. 

Hope you enjoyed this!  I did, and I do hope my gift recipients do too!

Passport to Craftiness!

Here is a fun little gift I whipped up this weekend - a passport cover! 

I used this tutorial from Chubby Hobby.

Its a great way to use up scraps too!

It holds two passports for all of you international men and women of mystery out there with multiple identities - or, those who carry their significant other's/children's/bff's along with their own.  Plus, some extra pockets for miscellaneous papers and what not.

I only had heavy interfacing which made it tricky to turn out and a little bulkier.  I would use a lighter weight one next time.  Also, work with cottons if you can, the home decor brown exterior was a little heavy to work with too.  Otherwise, a fun and easy project for the traveler in your life! 

Christmas Tag Tip!

Hello!  I did some Christmas wrapping this weekend. 

 One thing I like to do is make gift tags out of old greeting cards.  Its free, festive, and fun!  Just pick a card, any card (or, one you can part with, and that has no writing on the back of the cover), and snip it up into squares, rectangles, whatever you like!  I use decorative scissors but regular work fine too.  Punch a hole in the corner of each little tag, tie it to your gift and you're ready to go! 

I also made this little bag from scrap fabric - just use a long rectangular piece, fold it in half wrong sides out and sew up the sides.  I snip the top with pinking shears to stop fraying too.  Turn it right side out and ta da!

Happy Wrapping!

Pee Wee on Broadway!

Raise your hand if you loved Pee Wee's Playhouse!  I totally did!  My sister and I loved that show - we had the talking doll, the colorform set, and lots of other fun trinkets that I wish I still had to play with RIGHT THIS MINUTE.  Oh how I wished I could hang out in that awesome playhouse in person! 

Well lucky me - last night I did!!!!  (Kind of.)   I snagged half price orchestra tickets via TKTS to

The Pee Wee Herman Show on Broadway. 

Oh man it was 90 minutes of 100% AWESOME!  So fun.  All of the characters were there - plus some new ones.  Pee Wee (aka Paul Reubens) looks EXACTLY the same, as if he just came out of a time capsule or something.  Weird, but cool. 

It was funny and fun and nostalgic and sweet and poignant and overall delightful, just like the show.  If you are in NYC in the next few days - its only running until January 2 - GO!  If not, don't fret - last night they were taping for an HBO special so you should be able to catch it there in the not too distant future - so FUN!

Happy December!

Hi Friends!  Happy December!  Here is a little holiday cheer I added to my front door. 

Digging through my bag of holiday decorations, I found this ivy branch and plastic berries - threw it together with some ribbon and tada!  5 minute wreath alternative to add a little festive decor to my day, and I used what I had - the (free) price tag was a total bonus too!  

Have you done any decorating?  Any fun tips for alternative decor, or budget ideas to use what you've got around?  Would love to hear! 

 

Sewing for Fun!

Sometimes I get a little overwhelmed with what to sew.  Don't get me wrong - I love it and it relaxes me and is a great creative outlet - but my to do list seems so long I don't know where to start! Especially around the holidays, when I have so many things I feel like I have to do, it seems like I never have a chance to sew what I want to do, at that moment. 

SO the other day I did!  I made some cute little potholders with some of my scraps - a simple little sewing project but it was great to put together something, and finish it quickly - a nice feeling of accomplishment!  Plus, look how adorable this watermelon themed one is, right? 

Reminds me of little Rakia's swimsuit this summer!

I based it on this tutorial I saw a while back, but kind of freestyled it.  Try it if you want some extra potholders around for your holiday baking - they make great little gifts too!  So I did make a little dent in my to do list, after all!

Rain Rain, Come on Down!

OK, it is pretty gloomy outside here in NYC.  Rainy, windy, and overall quite blah - but almost 60 degrees on December 1st so that's a plus!

Another - I spent last night sewing up some cute rain boot liners for a special order - perfect timing for me!

Happy December everyone! 

Thanksgiving Go Round

Hello Friends! I hope you all had a delightful Thanksgiving with your friends and family.

We did something a little different this year - my parents, sister, and niece and nephew came in to watch the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in NYC with me!

My office is along the parade route so we got a pretty sweet view, as you can see. 

  Was waiting for the kool aid man to bust through the wall, but no such luck. 

Spidey seemed quite plump!  Good for you, Peter Parker!

 After the parade we strolled around central park. 

We went for a ride on the merry-go-round!  So fun! 

 Even if Rakia looks serious she was having a blast too. 

And this picture has nothing to do with Thanksgiving but I love it too much not to share.  Hee hee!

Coffee Talk

Coffee tables! Where fore art thou?  You have been on my brain, of late, as I am in need of a new one of you.  Have for a while, actually.

A Walk in the Park

 Took a stroll through central park today at lunchtime - ogling the leaves on an overcast November day was quite delightful. 

 This is all right outside my office.  I'm quite lucky. 

My first craft fair!

Hello!  So, I finally did it - had my first craft fair today!  Here I am at my table. 

I made a few sales - some to people I know (thanks guys!) but two to others I didn't!  Woo hoo!  Most importantly I learned what people liked, what they didn't, and got some great instant feedback from shoppers which is tough to do online. 

Plus, I got to see some other great crafters and their wares!  This particular fair was held in my work building, outside the cafeteria (so we got some great lunchtime foot traffic) which was convenient for me!  It was very cool to see people who also work for my company (and have day jobs) that are creative in their spare time as well.  Next one is around Valentine's day I believe - can't wait! 

Don't let the bedbugs bite!

A little late, but I waned to share my friend Julie M's fabulous Bedbug costume from Halloween. 

If you're lucky enough not to be in an infested city like NYC and aren't aware, bedbugs are back!  And freaking everyone out.  Which is something Julie is good at.  Shirt, (cute!) miniskirt, and tights from American Apparel, exoskeleton, headband, and additional bug arms by me (and Julie).  We went hardcore with a heavy duty stapler and a glue gun on some cardboard, fabric, and wire hangers.  A smidgen of duct tape went in there too - a pretty stellar costume!  I'm happy to have been a part of the magic. 

Thanks for sharing Julie!  That fake blood is beyond gross. 

Egg Oddities

Check out this weird pointy egg that I got!

 

 Will I get special powers if I eat it?  Or turn into a cone head?

For comparison, a regular egg.  Kind of freaky, huh?  I'm a little scared to eat it. 

Winner Woo Hoo!

A little late, but I did select a winner for my CSN stores giveaway! 

Congratulations to Liz! 

She said she'd pick up some new muffin pans with her winnings - here is a cute one!  Great for some fun holiday baking. 

Thank you again to all of my lovely readers for entering and promoting my contest, and to CSN for hooking us up! 

More More More!

 A couple more bags I put together for my craft fair - just a week away now!  Eeks! 

On the left is a little purse, in the same cute bug print I used to make a bag the other day, and next to it a tote.   I'm not sure of how much of anything to make - I wish I had more time of course - but I guess I'll just go with what I've got! 

Pretty flowered lining to the tote. 

And for the little purse!  I got a whole bunch of magnetic snaps on ebay for cheap, so more purses to come!  I think they will be popular...I guess I'll find out!

Halloween Post Mortem

Hi!  Hope everyone had a spectacular Halloweekend!  Just wanted to share my outfit - Baberaham Lincoln!

Get it?  Cause I'm a girl, and wearing a mini skirt, heels and gold fishnets (more presidential than regular).  It was a fun costume and easy to put together.   

 Blossom accompanied me - spot on, right?  In my opinionation, anyway. 

Now, for next year....

Darn Kids!

Sign posted at my local grocery store.  Oh, hooligans. 

Happy Halloween Weekend!

Hee Hee!  Have fun kids!

image via AP, via Gawker

Hot Dog!

I'm the worst vegetarian ever.  Two posts in a row about hot dogs?  What the heck. 

 But look at these guys - so cute!  They are called curly hot dog snakes - from Canadian Living.  Recipe here if you want it - my favorite part is that they suggest you "serve with “bloody” ketchup and “snake gut” mustard."  AWESOME! 

Krafty Halloween Food

This idea just made me laugh, laugh.  Look at those little guys sticking out!

Its a recipe from Kraft Foods for a Halloweeny dinner - made by sticking hot dogs in mac n cheese, then drawing eyes on said dogs with mustard.  Insane?  But I kind of want it.  Hot dogs and mac n cheese are two of my favorite things.  Even if I haven't had a hot dog in 3+ years.  (The veggie one from Crif Dogs on Saturday night notwithstanding.)

If you want the recipe its here, but I'm sure you can figure it out on your own from the picture. 

Whistle While You Work!

I know I haven't had many crafty posts lately.  But I have been a busy bee! 

I have my very first craft fair coming up in a few weeks and I'm hustling to get enough items sewn and ready to go so my table doesn't look too vacant. 

 I finished five wine bags on Sunday - some in fun brights, and some in more autumnal colors. 

(Here is a better pic of a similar one I made in the past, and sold on etsy.)

Last night I whipped up this cute tote bag - the fabrics are so fun!  Berries and flowers on the outside...

Adorable little bugs on the inside!  I hope I find someone who likes it as much as me! 

More to come -  what would you like to see?