Worldwide Recycling

Check out this cool bag from India!

It's a little tote from a shop there, but I think it would be yet another fun way to package a gift, especially if you chose comics or the style section or sports pages for your newspaper, depending on the recipient.  It is even reinforced on the bottom with cereal boxes to make sure it holds its shape. 

See?  You really never have to buy wrapping paper again, people.  There are so many things out there to reuse for free!

(Tutorial is in the works, don't fret!)

Tea Time For Two Swap!

I got my first swap-bot package in the mail today and I'm so excited!  Getting some sweet snail mail really is exhilarating, I'd kind of forgotten!  I received a cute tea-cup shaped note from my first partner and two lovely packets of tea - check it out.  (And please forgive the lame cell phone pick - I was just so psyched to share that I couldn't wait to get home and use my regular camera.)

Incidentally this tea couldn't have come on a better day - its snowing here in NYC so a nice cup of hot tea sounds perfect.  Especially since I've been nursing a cold for the past few days - thanks so much Deanna!

Make New Friends

I remember a song from Girl Scouts that we learned that went like this:

"Make new friends, but keep the old, one is silver and the other's gold."

But then my dad changed it for me to:

"Make new friends but keep the old, one is mildew and the other's mold."

Oh dad.

I'm lucky that all of my friends (even those from Newtown, CT's Girl Scout troop 228) have more depth than precious metals and/or fungus. Most of them I've had for many years but I'm always happy to make new ones.

Here is my latest way: Swap-bot! It's this cool site that is combines pen pals, crafting, and the Internet all together in one super fun package! You sign up for swaps where you're assigned a partner and you have to make/send something to them, and they to you. You can usually use items you already have or those with very low cost so its a fun way to get a treat and spread the love with little/no money.

So far I've signed up for just an email swap to introduce myself to some new pals and learn more about the process, and next up I've signed up for a Big Fat Stuffed Envelope Swap and Tea Time for Two snail mail swaps. I'm so excited!

I will let you know how things go.

PS I ordered girl scout cookies last week. They arrive in March.

I'm on the bunting bandwagon!

I've seen a ton of these cool bunting/banner/flag garlands around the crafty blogosphere and I like 'em!  But I didn't have an occaision to make one...until now.  (More on that at a later date). 

I couldn't find a tutorial for them so I decided to try my hand at them and I'd say it was a success!  The project was free, since I used scraps.  You can make them for any occasion, or omit the letters to just add some festive fun to your everyday life. 

I'm thinking I might put together a tutorial of my own - anyone interested?  Let me know!

Craft Hope For Haiti

Here is an amazing way for crafters and shoppers alike to support Haitian relief efforts with their own talents and skills.

Crafthope.com is an awesome site that helps people in need all over the globe by turning handcrafted items into dollars and supplies for those who need them most.  Immediately after learning of the devastating earthquake in Haiti, an etsy shop was set up where crafters can donate handmade items, and 100% of the proceeds go to Doctors Without Borders to help those suffering in Haiti. 

If you've got some Valentines shopping to do, your money could not be spent in a better way than by picking out something unique from the shop.  Or pick out something for yourself with that holiday money that's been burning a hole in your pocket.

If you'd like to donate a craft, check out the post here to learn how to do so - I'm definitely planning on doing it! 

An Apron of My Very Own

Finally, here it is.  My own apron!  Its kind of ridiculous that I don't have one, considering the baking/cooking I do.  Thanks to an awesome birthday gift certificate to Brooklyn General Store (thanks Sasha!) , I picked out some great fabrics and made one.  (I mentioned it in this post.)  Check it out!

Thanks to Julie M for modeling.  I know it has been her lifelong dream. 

I used a pattern from Seams to Me by Anna Marie Horner - a stellar book. 

Here is the tie in the back:

 It's so nice I don't want to get it dirty!  Kind of defeats the point, but I love it. 

Suze Orman!

I went to Barnes and Noble in Union Square last night to Suze Orman's book signing and it was so fun!

A TON of fans there meant for long lines but here I am with my pal Suze when I finally got up to the front.  I've read a couple of her books before and love her show, and now I have my own personalized copy of

Women & Money - check it out if you haven't already.

One fun fact I learned: Suze loves Lady Gaga!  She had The Fame blasting while she signed books which made for a fun atmosphere.

Julie M and I also met a new friend: Susie Q, a fitness expert!  We were next to her in line, and she was a lot of fun to hang out with and made the long wait more bearable.  Check out her site - she has a new dvd coming out, Arms of a First Lady - such a great idea!