rubbing elbows

I am obsessed with Lands' End new Canvas 1963 line. I've bought some great items, including my personal favorite, this tangerine and ivory knit infinity scarf. (And it's on sale now!)

But one item I really like and regret not having bought is this ribbed open crewneck in teal with chocolate brown elbow patches.

Real cute with that vest, right?

Well, I'm not such a fan of how wide that neckline is, and once I found this I had already placed my online order and didn't want to pay for shipping again. It's been in the back of my mind in case I placed another order again soon, but I finally lost all patience when I saw a cardigan with heart elbow patches on Pinterest. I figured I could use the same tried and true freezer paper tutorial from Little Birdie Secrets and make my own shirt. So I bought this plain mustard colored shirt at Target, some microsuede material from Hob Lob (at a 50% discount, might I add), and some matching thread. I already had the Heat & Bond adhesive and freezer paper at home. This project didn't even cost me $15 total and it took me maybe half an hour.

It's nothing too incredibly special, but it does add a little zip and makes me look the part of an English major. I promise it looks cuter on with my brown puffer vest-- I just don't want to embarrass myself with the self pics. :)

Sun's Out, Guns Out Part 2

The number of times I check the 10-day forecast in Auburn is borderline crazy. I just want the high to finally be in the mid 60s! I always forget fall doesn't come until mid-November in the South. Anyway, I am still trying to get better at freezer paper appliques, so I made some snazzy Auburn AOII tanks for my sister.

Comfort Color tank tops might be the most comfortable shirts ever.

This is before the letters are sewn down...

...and this is what they look like after.

apron strings

I'm on a sewing kick now that my machine is dusted off and on my desk. I used my first pattern and it was definitely not as easy as I thought. I had to get Hillary to help me understand a lot of the directions. Toward the end I just kind of made up my own directions. But it turned out okay! Just don't look too closely at my crooked and pulled out stitches or the super weird and uneven placement of the straps. Maybe next time...

Um, how cute are these? Oh Pintrest...

Sun's Out, Guns Out

I learned how to applique from this cute little tutorial at Little Birdie Secrets. Naturally, I sewed an AOII tank first (I'm going to cry when I'm not t-shirt chair anymore). I jumped the gun a little bit on this one and didn't think all the way through all of the steps first or really try to master the zig-zag stitch on my sewing machine first. The lengths and curves of my letters proved to be the most difficult part, but I think doing bigger letters or shapes (or numbers, like she did) would be much easier. I also did a fairly wide stitch, which was probably a little too wide. However, I'm still pleased at how easy this project was, and especially that I can keep my freezer paper stencils to reuse if I want! I even found a website that sells plain Comfort Colors items not in bulk, so I'm about to get crazy with this freezer paper applique business!

Once I Had A Girl Who Rearranged Furniture On Stage

I am such a busy little bee! Last time I was home, I refinished all of my furniture for my room this fall! I came home this weekend and my parents had sprayed the final clear coat on it all to keep everything nice and smooth. I'm realizing that the more I enjoy spending time in Home Depot and Lowe's the older I'm getting. It's becoming a really scary reality.

We've had this desk forever just hanging out in the garage. So glad I get to put it to use. Since my trusty old desk hutch is now going to Kendall's dorm room, I'm going to have to find a new place for all my binders and books... hence the ridiculous amount of drawer space here.

Believe it or not, this little dresser used to be fire engine red. I found this at Angel's Antiques (aka my favorite store to kill time in) and got my mom to bring it home for me. I bought these mercury glass melon knobs from Anthro.

After seeing similar things on Pintrest, I made my own little plaques to hang necklaces on! The wood came from Hobby Lobby, the knobs from Lowe's, and I just painted them with leftover paint from my chair and table.

I can't wait to see all of this in my new little cottage! Fall can't get here soon enough!

procraftination

procraftination: n. the most productive form of procrastination in which something beautiful or delicious is created from putting off other "real life" responsibilities, obligations, and work in general.

I am an EXPERT at procraftination. When I went home for spring break my sweet mommy sent me back to school with plenty of watercolor paper, brand new watercolors, and some sweet crayola watercolor pencils. So I stenciled out a little birdie and went to town! Clearly, I had some trouble in certain areas, but I'm still pleased with how it turned out! Now I just need to n mount this on some cute paper then go to Hob Lob and find a frame for him.

My Life in Lists #13

Well, this is kind of awkward. Sorry I'm such a neglectful blogger. I've been working hard at school and just life in general. So in lieu of a post in which I created or cooked something, I'll give you a list of the projects I can't wait to begin!

1. This pinata via Ruffled. I'll add a few variations of my own.

2. Learning the easy way to applique via Little Birdie Secrets

3. Big project...but I want to repurpose an old door to look like this. Maybe I'll start out small with the window panes I have in the garage first. (via The Pleated Poppy...my obsession.)

4. Rosette pillow via Crazy Wonderful

5. Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups via design*sponge

Okay, time to slow down.

Did I mention I got some job offers today? And they sounded pretty cool (and creative) too. You gotta love sorority alumni looking out for their girls. :)

life is beauty full

First 24 hours back in Auburn, and I'm already crafting. This hangs in the empty space above my TV. Maybe having this little reminder will make this semester's long nights of reading more bearable. Although, having to move everything out at the end of this semester is going to be quite unfortunate.

sit and stay awhile

Remember the chair I said I was going to refinish? Well, I finally completed it over Christmas break! It has the perfect little spot in my dorm room. On another note, I am so glad to be back in Auburn. AND no class on Monday! Now, I just wish some more of my favorites would come back soon!

I Whip My Hair Back and Forth

In the midst of my newfound love of sewing, I have progressed on to make a headband. The tutorial I found online was kind of confusing (inverted box pleats are difficult to sew), but I finally figured it out.

(Sorry I'm so uncomfortable taking pictures of myself.)

sew in love

I like to consider myself an avid crafter. Maybe not quite up to connoisseur level, but enthusiastic, no doubt. So WHY I waited so long to learn how to sew is way beyond me. My best guess is that I was afraid I would never again address my "real world" commitments (not that I have many, but school is a big one) once I let loose in the sewing world. I think that is a valid fear. I've been looking up tutorial after tutorial on the hundreds (literally, hundreds) of blogs I've bookmarked. Pump the brakes, I'm out of control. My first project may be simple, and definitely not perfect, but it is for a good cause.

One of my sorority sisters shared this website with us. Her cousin started this cute organization "I'm Sewing Hope" just to show the love of Jesus to people who really need to see it. The first project was pillowcases that went to oncology patients at Children's Hospital of Birmingham. The project that I sewed for is this precious crayon roll going to orphanages in Sub-Saharan Africa. For real, I have NEVER sewn until today. Not even a button. But I did this. So can you. Spread the word. This is a great way to tangibly show people that there is hope, one so much greater than anything in this world.

sorry the photos are janky, I used the camera on my phone because my real camera is still packed away in a suitcase somewhere

throwback to cafeteria days

One day I am going to write a book filled with lots and lots of crafts you can do with brown lunch bags. I have high aspirations for my life.

begin afresh

It was about time we spruced up the vanity with some encouragement!

repurpose

I don't know if things like this make my inner librarian cry or rejoice. But I do know that I am completely infatuated with using old book pages to create something whimsical. Maybe I'll cover my chair project in them instead...

photos from design is mine and notes from a cottage industry

a place to hang your hat

This project has been a long time coming. We have this pseudo-hallway in between the kitchen/living room and mine and Carrie's rooms and bathroom. We were getting sick of the bare walls, so we started by sprucing this one up a bit. Once the other two roomies get home, we'll hang their aprons, too! (Side note, it is kind of difficult to decorate when you can only use 3M hooks and mounting tape. Imagine the possibilities we'll have when we can use a hammer and nails!)

laa dee daa

Okay, so I've kind of had a lot of time to do plennnnnty of arts and crafts after I finished all of my tests and papers. So here are my little creations:

this is above my door

So, I decided to refinish a chair. Yep, in the dorm room. It was an offer I couldn't refuse-- $5 at Salvation Army. One day, it is going to be b-e-a-u-tiful.

Oh, and I hooked up the DVD player to the TV. By myself. It was a proud moment since I am mechanically inept.

make do and mend

I'm really excited about this craft project! I found something somewhat similar on this site, but I really wanted to make it my own. I used plain needlepoint hoops, patterned fabrics, fabric glue, and some pinking shears to make this happen. No sewing at all. (P.S. If someone wants to teach me how to sew, I've been dying to know.)

(maybe I'll do something on the green gingham ones later.)

a good book is the precious lifeblood of a master spirit

I'm slowly retraining my brain and fingers to use adobe illustrator and photoshop again. I once used to have quite a knack for both of them, but over a year without practice has left me rustier than the tin man before Dorothy comes along. (Just a little tid bit, tin actually doesn't rust. Go figure.) And I like functional art, or art that is created for a purpose. So I made a bookplate? Why not. I need to a way to mark my bound editions that are moving back to school with me. I just need to make a special trip to the office supply store for some sheets of sticker paper.

Ex libris is a Latin phrase used to reflect ownership of a book, i.e., from the library of.... Just in case you were wondering.

carpe-nder diem

Anthropologie has always prided themselves on decorating their stores with "found" things, or unique vintage and reclaimed objects from all over the world. While this may not be something they would use in their stores, it is a recycled piece. I think it is pretty unique, and I will be able to use it not only in my dorm next year, but in future apartments and houses. We chose the paint color so that it will match virtually anything, and the knobs can easily be replaced. Sometimes, we just have too much time on our hands, but it was a good project.

you send me

So I found the CUTEST inspiration for packaging CDs here, and I just had to try it on my own. I had to change it up a bit since I'm mailing this one to a dear friend at camp. I have a feeling postal workers will already be mad enough to have to handle this odd package, so I didn't want to burden them excessively by tying twine around it.