05.06.08
Bootees for Milo
The British post is serious business: a pair of bootees I sent on Friday were on little Milo’s feet by Saturday! It just makes me smile seeing those things on real baby feet.
04.22.08
Earth Day 2008 - Eco Baby
Greetings from London, where I am spending two weeks with Seth (who is working here weekdays until the end of June). The trip over on the Eurostar was quick, comfortable (Seth reserved us both seats in leisure select - my second time ever riding in a seat other than coach! yippee!), and apparently carbon-neutral - a far cry from my first visit in 1996, which involved a French tour bus full of high school students on an hours-long ferry.
In honor of Earth Day, I thought I would share a few of the eco-inspired sites and craft ideas that inspire me. Did you know we are in the middle of Use What You Have month? I was already trying to use up my stash in preparation for our eminent move from Paris, so when I found out that other crafters were on the same quest to find projects using materials either recycled or leftover, I felt like I was ahead of the game! First, you must check out the Crafting a Green World blog. Sometimes I (and perhaps other crafters) get so involved in making things ourselves that we just assume we’re doing the planet a favor…but craft supplies are a huge industry that is leaving quite a carbon footprint of its own. How those supplies are produced and their material composition are just as important to check as any other consumer item. This blog keeps me aware (with a conversational and non-preachy tone!) and also has some really awesome ideas for projects.
My current craft obsession: using up ball after ball of cotton yarn. In just 18 months or so, I’ve collected a dozen skeins of blue, yellow, and red yarn that has taken over my craft boxes. It seems to be multiplying! I’ve decided to use up this stuff for baby crafts before buying anything else. We don’t know yet if we’re having a boy or a girl, but no matter: I prefer to ditch the pink and baby blue for primary colors anyway. But what to make with it all? My solution: a “patchwork” baby blanket made of blue and yellow squares (I’m over half done; photos to come soon), a red sweater using the free “Marinière” pattern from Enfant Magazine (really beautiful designs, available only in French, hélas), and a couple of new baby bootee patterns. I’m working on creating a cross between a sock and a bootee (sockootee?) and hope to have a pattern up soon. Bootees are darling, but I think the stretchy ankle of a sock could make them easier to put on (and stay on?) a squirmy baby… The blanket and the bootees are perfect for stash-busting because you can just craft and craft until you run out. Bootees don’t take much yarn, and whether the blanket is crib-sized or queen-sized, it will be useful!
I will never get tired of this excellent bootee pattern.
In preparation for our new arrival in September, I’ve done some research on ecological baby products and am trying to do my best to create a healthy environment with as few toxins as possible. This little one will be born in the middle of Manhattan, so anything I can do to make his/her environment as clean as possible is worth it! We’re planning to use non-toxic, flushable gdiapers (a middle-ground alternative to disposables or cloth ones) and glass bottles (this daughter of a toxicologist has always been plastic-shy). My dad is going to brush up his toy-making skills and make some wonderful wooden toys (it’s what my sisters and I grew up with and cherished). But there is a lot more to think about.
My new favorite blog is ohdeeoh. It’s not particularly environmentally-focused, but like so many of us these days, there is a clear effort to find products that are better for the planet – and by extension, better for baby. The design inspiration is beautiful as well! One thing I appreciate on ohdeeoh is that every few days they post findings of used products on sites like craigslist. Having a baby sends many of us into a buying frenzy, but reusing or repurposing objects can mean a lighter load on the wallet and the planet. Of course, safety should always be the primary concern, so be sure that anything used (especially furniture) isn’t covered in lead paint and that they meet current safety standards.
I am setting the bar high but am also a realist: because this is my first adventure into motherhood I don’t know how much I can stay on plan once baby is here. But at least I’ll try!
03.10.08
Warm Biscuit Fabrics: Cheerful Vintage
If you haven’t checked out Warm Biscuit’s offerings in fabric, you’re missing out on a fun and nostalgic trip through color and design. I just love these happy patterns and am inspired to plot another try at quilting.
If you’re not in the mood to sew, however, Warm Biscuit also sells ready-to-love bedding, toys, and other gifts for children.
P.S. I have many more ski photos to share, but have to find a place to which to transfer them from my camera - my hard-drive has seen skinnier days!
02.05.08
Marie Claire Idées Spring Issue
We are back from a wonderful trip in Barcelona, and I have a lot of blogging to do about that. But first, look what came in the mail today! Probably one of the best ever issues of my favorite magazine, Marie Claire Idées.
Why is this one so awesome? For starters, there is a whole section on crafts inspired by cabbage and broccoli. Who would’ve thought of that? A crochet cabbage purse? Awesome.
French samplers always seem to look cooler than the ones I grew up with. While I am not as ready as my friend Julie is to take on one of these, I do think the cross-stitch looks chic, and quite lovely over the beige fabric.
Maybe I’m getting a little excited for nothing big, but as some of you know, I have been collecting teacups from all over the world for the last 15 years. This issue devotes eight pages to English teacup-inspired crafts, from candelabras to mosaic dressers to a lamp made of stacked teacups and pots. Heaven!
As always, the photography is very inspiring and makes me want to paint the walls pink and embroider every cloth in sight. I’m looking forward to reading the article on organic and natural cosmetics, as well as turning your kitchen “green” (literally and figuratively), with lots of crafts using recyclables. But first, I should really get back into organizing my Barcelona photos!
01.24.08
Toe Warmers!
What an invention! My sister received these as a gift from her best friend, who’s mother-in-law makes these from scratch. When I say from scratch, I mean she raises rabbits, spins their hair into yarn, and then knits these up. They feel divine and I love the idea: you just place them over your socks when you wear your winter shoes or boots, and your toes stay warm and cozy.
This is definitely something to think about for next year’s handmade gifts list, although we don’t quite have enough room for a rabbit farm yet…
01.16.08
Grandma’s Mittens
I knit fuzzy mittens as a Christmas present for my grandmother. My sister, Monica, attached the appliqué patch for an added festive sparkle. She wore them to the Christmas Eve service and Christmas dinner the next day. I’m so proud of how they turned out!
A fuzzy close-up. Just imagine it’s a Seurat painting and squint!
12.20.07
Mini Winterberry Bouquet
Here’s a little bouquet I threw together with some mini mums and hypercium. I used leaves from the hypercium to line the glass yogurt jar. The whole bouquet measures no more than a few inches tall.
12.18.07
Hot Chocolate Spoons
I am still aiming for a home-made Christmas, and who doesn’t enjoy sweet treats? Help your friends add a festive touch to a cozy cup of hot cocoa with a chocolate-dipped spoon. I made 30 of these spoons to give away to our friends in Paris, along with some good ol’ fashioned chocolate chip cookies. To the left are caramels from La Cure Gourmande.
What you need:
Disposable spoons (I considered using inexpensive metal ones, but didn’t know if the chocolate would stick, so I stuck with plastic.)
2 bars chocolate, the darker the better (in my opinion); I used 76% cocao organic chocolate bars from the grocery store)
What to do:
Break the chocolate up into chunks and put them in a non-stick sauce pan. I skipped the complicated procedures of using a bain marie (double boiler) and instead just melted the chocolate on the lowest heat setting.
When the chocolate starts to melt, be sure you are stirring fairly constantly to help all the chunks soften.
When the chocolate is melted, keep the heat on low and dip each spoon into the chocolate, using a twisting motion. I found it easiest to scoop the chocolate in the spoon and then twist the spoon around and around until the front and back were covered. Lay each spoon onto wax paper or a greased sheet of foil.
I had a lot of extra chocolate, so once the spoons were laid out, I spooned more chocolate into the scoop part of each spoon. Let the chocolate cool and harden, about one hour.
Ta da! The finished gift boxes:
12.11.07
Mid-Project Madness
What’s this mess all about?
These days, every surface seems to be covered in some sort of project. Cookie tins and edible makings are in a pile near the kitchen table, balls of yarn and needles on my nightstand, beaded snowflakes hanging in the kitchen, design magazines spread all over the dresser… So when I decided to start yet another DIY holiday project, this little basket bench was my last resort.
I went to a charity sale with a friend and they had some craft supplies: namely, the white felt leaves above. They are thicker than regular felt (I’d say about 3 times as thick), and more stiff. You could probably find this sturdy felt in a craft store and then cut out your own shapes (using a cookie cutter or other design). My first thought was to turn them into ornaments. But then I realized these are just the right size to make very festive coasters for my aunt. Red and white is my preferred, cheery color combination of the moment, so I’ve just taken some red embroidery floss (from my monogrammed dishcloths), and have made a simple stitched border around each one. It’s pretty plain but I kind of think it’s cute. Perhaps they could use a tad more embellishment, like little snowflake shapes or something to make each one different (there are 10 in all).
I’ve got plenty of polka-dot ribbon (from a bootee project gone awry) that could be incorporated in some way (or not), and those little cards are French vintage holiday greetings. More of those to come. It’s all a work in progress, as you can see, and I hope to have some finished product pictures up in the next couple of days, when really, most of them should be done.
12.09.07
Beaded Snowflakes
Here’s a little project I’ve been doing for about 8 years, ever since I realized I was never going to use up all the beads I kept buying in college. Beaded snowflakes are a great way to experiment with colors while using up leftover beading materials you probably have laying around the house somewhere.
They’re quick, too, and a nice little hand-made token you can attach to a box of cookies or a Holiday card.
Materials:
Seed beads
Slightly larger beads, of any shape
Metal wire
Ribbon, for hanging
Step 1: Cut 3 pieces of metal wire: 2 of these should be the same length, which will be the diameter of the finished snowflake plus an inch. Cut the third to be one inch longer than these two, to make the wire loop for hanging.
Step 2: Tie the three pieces of wire into a simple knot in the middle. Spread out the 6 “legs.”
Step 3: Begin stringing seed beads onto one “leg” of the snowflake. I added larger beads at regular intervals, for more detail and interest. When you reach 1/2 inch from the end, string on one final, larger bead and loop the remaining wire around it. This keeps all the beads in place. Repeat for other 5 legs. On the longer leg, string on the final bead and then make a loop with the remaining wire, for hanging.
Step 4: Cut a longer piece of wire (about 2 times the diameter of the snowflake) for the connecting parts. Wrap one end about 1 inch from the end of one leg. String on beads to desired length (make sure it’s long enough to have a bend in the center) and then wrap the wire once around the next leg. Continue until to each leg and when finished, wrap the end around
Step 5: Make a tie out of some ribbon and attach it through the wire loop. Now you have a hanging beaded snowflake!
I made a bunch and hung them from this chandelier:
