Book Review: EcoCraft & Last Minute Knitted Gifts

The two craft books that I have been looking through and planning gifts for family members (and not all gifts) are from these two books.  I found out yesterday that my cousin is pregnant!! I have many baby things to craft up now   I am happy about this!!

Back to the books:

I have really enjoyed both of these books.  I prefer the Eco Crafts since I am able to reuse common stuff.  I really like one craft in particular that I am not making for anyone specific so I can post about it…. The reusable lunch bag that is made from plastic bags.  This is an excellent idea and I do need a lunch bag (well really a bag for my dinner).  When I make it I will post about it…  

Last Minute Knitted Gifts has many great ideas and it is broken down into the time it takes to make the gifts.  I have marked some for gifts for all of my family!! But two I would like to make for myself are: I have made the cowl before but I like the one they have.  Plus I really want to make a pair of fingerless gloves…. We will see how it goes!

Opps – Project Spectrum

Well I must say I have been a huge slacker on the actual craft front… I have blogged about all the pretty things yet have not actually tried. I feel like there is a GIANT block, and yes I have some idea as to what the block is… The fact that I am jobless. I have applied to multiple jobs every day, yet no bites. I hope that once the money is more available the crafts may come back. But I do have a lot of yarn and I am going to make a diligent effort to get back into the sticks and string.

To revamp my love – and hopefully help me move the giant block. I am going to work on the Project Spectrum. The current direction is:

SOUTH (July/August)
Color: Red
Material: Metal
Season: Summer
Element: Fire

I will give some ideas tomorrow J

Update of Little Miss

Life has been hectic! I am trying to find a new job! Yet these days with the recession there are not a lot of employers hiring! I have been neglecting my crafts due to time and being busy with life. I have been reading all the wonderful blogs. I do recommend using Google Reader – its great for sorting your blogs and keeping up to date.

I am hoping to get back into the crafts soon!! I am feeling the knitting bug coming on. I was looking at some new books at Chapters.

I have been working hard toward my Whole Life Challenge! I have managed to lose 10 lbs!! I am very happy with my progress! I think that it has had a lot to do with drinking less pop and when I say less I mean… maybe 1 can of pop a week if that! There have been some times where I have gone 2 weeks without it! Also I have been eating a lot of fruit and looking at healthier options. I have been reading many healthy blogs – I need to figure out how to export my Google Reader to show all the blogs I am enjoying.

Surfing the blog world now! May find something fun to post about… I usually do!

I love Saturday’s!

Today was an awesome Saturday!  Curly and I went wondering some flea markets.  His xbox recently got the red ring of death, so he pulled out his old PS2.  We went looking for a 2nd controller and some games!  We managed to get 5 games and 1 controller for $40.  Except the controller doesnt work so we have to take it back.

After we went looking at his stuff he said what would you like to do?? We went down Locke St, this street is one of the artisans streets in town!! I now heart Locke St.  We went into some funky little shops.  One in particular – Textures.  It was a store that had ALOT of handmade things in the store!! I saw some handbound books as well as other neat things: rock quote, bags made out of jucie packets, felted items – dog balls, rings, cuffs (there was a beuatiful cuff) and other felted nick nacks. I am going to try to make some stain glass!  yes I know that I am all over the place when it comes to crafts but I am happy and exploring all things!!

This is the front door… I took it to show you all! Plus I didnt get a shot of the whole store it wouldnt turn out on my BB that was all I had with me

Here are the stain glass Kitties that I thought were super cute!

Well we have to run, hanging out with some friends tonight and Curly really wants to head out! So I will finish this post later!!

Homemade Book Ideas!!

http://papermuse.files.wordpress.com

How to:

This video shows you neat ideas for cheap presents on a budget!

This video shows you how to make a little mini planner and all you need is a printer, scissors, and an exacto knife.

Tutorial for this: http://www.etsy.com/storque/how-to/how-tuesday-make-a-do-si-do-book-4019/

New Craft Alert – Homemade Books

Well today has been a super stressfull day.  Today is Curly’s older brother birthday so I was voluntold to make potatoe salad!  Which was delicious might I add!  I managed to make it all in about 45minutes! The BBQ party went very well!  But my day at work – oh my goodness!  I could have strangled someone!! I need a NEW JOB!!

ALTHOUGH, on the flipside, I am not relaxing and surfing the blogosphere.  I went surfing the tag surfer on wordpress, and found a new blog to read )  PaperKitty.  The post caught my eye… *NEW CRAFT ALERT* (lol) I have decided to make Paper bound books.  Well to be honest I hate the daily planners that you cna buy from staples so I am going to make my own.  So in my search I have found some new links for book binding.

• Paper Kitty
• Bookbinding Etsy Street Team
• The Art of the Book
• Paperseed
• notebookism
• Handbound Weekly
• My Handbound Books – Bookbinding Blog
• Blue Roof Designs – Adventures in Bookbinding
• How to Make a Flag Book
• My Handbound Books – Bookbinding Blog: Bookbinding 101 – Getting Started
• My Handbound Books – Bookbinding Blog: Bookbinding 101 – Paper Grain
• My Handbound Books – Bookbinding Blog: Bookbinding 101 – Pamphlet Tutorial
• My Handbound Books – Bookbinding Blog: Bookbinding 101 – Chopstick Notebook
• My Handbound Books – Bookbinding Blog: Bookbinding 101 – Secret Fold Notebook Tutorial
• My Handbound Books – Bookbinding Blog: Bookbinding 101 – Making Paste
• My Handbound Books – Bookbinding Blog: Bookbinding 101 – Making Paste Paper
• My Handbound Books – Bookbinding Blog: Origami Water Lily Tutorial
• My Handbound Books – Bookbinding Blog: Bookbinding 101 – Water Lily Book Tutorial
• Tutorials & Reference || The Book Arts Web SD10 – About Paper Grain

Enjoy these links! Please let me know if you have found other!  I am going to go to a pretty paper store tomorrow and see what I like.  Plus I think I might make a mini one tonight… I will take pictures and post them later!