Easy DIY Rings

This may be the coolest thing I've discovered, EVER! I am a HUUUUUUGE fan of enormous, cartoon size rings. Love, love, love them. Now I (and you) can make one of a kind fashion rings at a fraction of the cost!!!

Here's what you need:
Adjustable rings (I got mine at Michaels)
Insanely cute buttons or pins
Super strong glue that works with all mediums
Pliers



This is so easy there's not much to explain. First remove the clip or button loop on the back.



If your button is plastic you'll need to sand it a little so the glue sticks.



Glue. Dry. Enjoy!!!



Isn't this the most clever craft ever?



I'll never look at buttons the same again.

My Life on April 27, 2010

Outside my window... I am so happy to see that my white lilacs are almost in full bloom.

I am thinking... {don’t forget to take back your library books today, Ang.}

I am thankful for... iPhones. I’m totally dependent on it now and can’t imagine how I lived without it for so long.

I am wearing.... t-shirt and exercise pants. I swear I wear normal clothes that are acceptable in public. Just not when I’m home blogging.

I am creating... I took a hiatus from sewing project #3, but I think I can finish it on my next day off.

I am going... to work in about 2 hours. Locally :)

I am reading... Hmmm. I guess I don’t have a current read. Time to order new books!

I am hoping... the grass seed we spread starts growing. I don’t really want to be the ugliest lawn in the neighborhood again this year.

I am hearing... the coffee pot gurgling, letting me know my wake up juice is ready for consumption.

On my mind... I have been having one of those weeks where I’m just not quite right in the head. Do you know that feeling ladies? That week when you’re like “Ugh, these jeans make me look fat” and almost anything can bring tears? Right. That kind of week. So lastnight I did what any mentally deranged woman does – I cut my own bangs. They turned out okay, or at least they will be in about a week.

From the kitchen... Not sure about tonight, but for breakfast I will be having egg whites and an orange. Plus coffee. Lots and lots of coffee.

One of my favorite things... My blue snowman coffee cup. It’s my go-to item every morning.

The rest of the week... I get to stay local until Friday, then I’m off to Montana for a few days.

Pondering these words...
Today a new sun rises for me; everything lives, everything is animated, everything seems to speak to me of my passion, everything invites me to cherish it.
-Anne De Lenclos

Tales From First Class

Yes, yes, yes, I know I disappeared and I'm sure you've been in an absolute panic as to my whereabouts. Oh, wait. You didn't even notice? Hmmmm. Well, I'm back anyway from a very long trip.

I intentionally avoid the topic of my employer and/or coworkers because, honestly, we get enough of each other as it is. I am going to make a small exception so I can explain how much I love my travel lady. She is super duper awesome and spoils me rotten. On this last trip I went on I had to endure a 3 hour flight. At first she had me booked with an airline I don't usually frequent. I very innocently joked with her that I had become soft from all of my frequent flyer upgrades and was not looking forward to 3 hours in coach. So what did my lovely lady do? She switched me to Delta so I could get my upgrades and then she sent me complimentary passes to the President's Club so my layover would be more enjoyable. I love you travel lady!

When I normally fly first class it's on relatively short flights so we don't get served meals. I was semi-excited that I would be getting breakfast on this trip. Then I got this...



Really Delta? Chex Mix cereal? Not that I'm complaining, it was just a let down. I imagined something with a little more grandeur.

This next bit is a complaint. Sorry, but I've been in and out of airports for the last 7 hours and still have 3 or 4 to go, so I'm entitled.

On my last flight (again, in first class), this lady was diagonally in front of me...



Ugh! No one wants to see your nasty foot lady, and the person in front of you certainly doesn't want it on their arm rest.

I believe the several glasses of straight vodka she consumed might have made her unaware of the unspoken rules of travel etiquette.

More Fun With Strangers

This is the first time I've downloaded any pictures I've taken with my iPhone so I had no idea they would only show up the size of postage stamps on my computer. Anywho, I've been running into some awesome strangers lately to share with you.



This first guy (if you can see him) drove everyone crazy a couple days ago. I was stuck in an airport at an ungodly time due to a cancelled flight. During normal traveling hours airports can be quite noisey, but at this early hour everything was peaceful and quiet. This guy was at the far end of the seating area working on his computer with headphones on. That's all fine and good, but his cell phone alarm started going off and he couldn't hear it. At first I thought he would eventually hear it. He didn't. It went off for about 10 minutes. The rest of us were too tired to get up and tell him, so we just stared at him in anger, then looked at each other and shrugged.

This next guy was another case of someone disturbing the peace.



At least the first guy didn't realize how he was making everyone suffer. This gentleman was smack dab in the middle of a large seating area in Seattle watching a movie. Without headphones. As you can see, he was totally enjoying himself.

My favorite people to take pictures of lately are the sleepers. Sleepers come in all forms.

There's the peaceful sleeper.



The sleepers that make themselves completely at home, rearranging furniture as needed.



The mouth gapers (I love this type).

The too-tired-to-stay-verticle, and/or I-can't-believe-I-drank-that-much sleeper.

But sometimes....

...sleepers wake up and catch you.

My Life On April 12, 2010

Outside my window... Windy. It has been crazy windy here lately. Small children have to be weighted down.

I am thinking... I do not like rosemary. I made a lovely pork chop dinner with shallots, apples, brown sugar and then ruined it with rosemary. Blecchhhh.

I am thankful for... the miracle that transpired in my friend Buffy's life recently.

I am wearing.... I’m just going to say I would never want anyone to see me in my present condition.

I am creating... dress number THREE!

I am reading... Best of Cooking Light.

I am hearing... Cash Cab. I like this show but it makes me feel stupid sometimes.

On my mind... I bought a new ironing board yesterday and it made me ridiculously happy and that in itself is sad.

From the kitchen... the pork chop thing I said earlier, although I’m going to go scavenge for something else to get this nasty rosemary taste out of my mouth.

One of my favorite things... Cetaphil face wash. It’s amazing and I’ll never use anything else now.

The rest of the week... Headed to Oregon tomorrow then Idaho on Friday.

Pondering these words...
God has not promised skies always blue,
flower-strewn pathways all our lives through;
God has not promised sun without rain,
joy without sorrow, peace without pain.
But God has promised strength for the day,
rest for the labor, light for the way,
Grace for the trials, help from above,
unfailing sympathy, undying love.
- Annie Johnston Flint

A picture to share...



(Me and my super-awesome friend Lynn. Love you Dynn!)

Yo! Bloggity Blog Readers!

So, it turns out I'm still among the living, I just haven't felt very bloggy lately but I'm trying to get back into the groove of things.

It all started when I went on vacation last week. I didn't go anywhere. I simply gave myself permission to be ridiculously lazy for 7 days. And then it turned into like 9 days. Actually, I'm not sure I've stopped.

I finished my first attempt at sewing wearable clothing, successfully marking #27 off of the 2010 list. Here it is. It's a little wrinkled because I wore it all day.



As soon as the last stitch was in place I put it on and headed straight to JoAnn's to get a new pattern. This was just way too much fun. I knew I had to go on.

I spent at least 2 hours pouring over the pattern books. Pattern books are my new best friend. Inanimately speaking, of course. I couldn't decide between two different ones so I bought them both. Then as I was leaving the pattern area, I noticed a sign saying "Simplicity patterns - 99 cents." I got five more.

I picked out some nice fabric and left. On the way home I decided to swing into Hancock Fabrics, you know, just in case. Turns out they had some amazing fabrics on clearance. In the end I bought seven patterns and like 12 yards of fabric.



I started my second project last week, but it has pockets, and pockets are really dang hard. I have temporarily abandoned that one and I'm about halfway done with the third one now.

Sewing is cool.

One Of My Very Own

I inherited this sewing machine from Jim's mom, Sandy. Prior to this one I used my mom's sewing machine that I believe she got as a HS graduation gift (around 1984, right mom?). I was totally content to use this one, but as I mentioned last week, it broke. I thought it was me, and maybe it was, but the repair was way more complicated than just replacing a bent needle. It was going to cost $100 to have it fixed. The whole dang thing was only worth about $120.

I'm on vacation this week, and sorely need something to keep my fingers busy so I went and bought a new one. My first sewing machine all of my very own. It's so exciting!



I love you sewing machine and all your fancy little buttons.



On a side note, this dress is going to be worth about $560 when it's finally complete.

I Want To Be Like Her

This beautiful lady is my Grandmother.

She is the most gracious person I know. She truly believes she is the most blessed person that ever lived and exudes the kind of unconditional love for her family that most people never, ever have a chance to feel. I have been lucky enough to be surrounded by this kind of love from her and so many others in my family my entire life.

For all her love and faith and compassion, life hasn't been easy for her. Or, at least I didn't think so. The thing I love her most for is that she looks beyond the bad and sees the good in things.



Before I moved to Washington I wanted to spend an entire day with her. I remember everything about it. Grandma's house has a warm, homey smell that I can't describe, but I know that scent by heart. She was making us beef stew for lunch and we were going through boxes and boxes of old photographs in the pink room.

We found this picture of my Grandfather.




I never thought much about him. I knew he was an alcoholic and that he left my Grandma with three young boys when my Dad was just three years old. My other Grandpa once said that when Grandpa Phillip was sober, he was the nicest guy you could ever meet, but when he was drunk, he was a mean 'ol cuss.

Grandma and I kept looking through those old pictures and when she came across this one she told me she wished I could have known my Grandpa.





I asked her what he was like. How did they meet? Where did he live? We talked about him for hours. She obviously loved him very much. I thought it was strange that she still had so much love for him when, in my mind, he wasn't that great of a person.


Then Grandma said something that changed my entire perspective. She told me that Grandpa knew he could never be the kind of husband and father that he felt she and his boys deserved so he gave up everything he loved so that they could have a better life. While I had always judged him harshly for leaving them, she loved him for his sacrifice. We cried together over the loss we each shared.

My Grandpa Phillip came back to visit my family when I was very little. I don't remember it at all, but I wish I did. I wish I had been able to know him and love him.

I treasure my relationship with my Grandma and have so much love and respect for her. I will always keep this memory close to my heart and hope it helps me remember to look for the good in people.

Progress Report

I finally finished cutting the interfacing for Project a la Angie today.

Before I even began sewing I had to call my mom for help with the directions.

17 texts, 3 phone calls, thirty minutes messing with the bobbin, one broken needle, and a $36 trip to Michaels later... I have 2 pieces successfully sewn together.

But I'm having a blast!

(Thanks for all your help Mom. You're the BEST and I love you!)

Why Not?

Cupcake Pincushion

Supplies needed:

2 pieces of felt (1 of each color)
Ribbed material
scrap felt for bottom
needle and thread
red pom pom
ribbon



Step 1: Fold each piece of felt in half lengthwise, and in half again.



Step 2: Layer one color on top of the other, leaving the bottom layer about a half inch longer.



Step 3: Tightly roll the two colors together and pin.



Step 4: Trim the excess off the side and trim the bottom so the cupcake sits flat.



Step 5: Measure the ribbed material around the felt and sew into a tube. It works best if you're able to double the material.

Step 6: Place the tube about a half inch from the top of the felt and loosely stitch in place.

Step 7: Turn ribbed material right side out and trim the excess off the bottom, leaving enough material to hot glue down.

Step 8: Hot glue a circle of scrap felt on the bottom.

Step 9: Accessorize with a cherry and some trim.