Smock tutorial update and spoiler alert...

Ahoy.
So, I finished another of my bias smocks. However, this time I took plenty of pictures and have drafted a tutorial! I have sent it off to my volunteer reader; once she confirms there are no obvious errors I will post the tutorial for general consumption... I just hope someone consumes it.

In the meantime- another TA DA!

Husband making me laugh at the silliness of my smock photoshoot.

Tutorials are hard work! Although, admittedly, I may have been overly comprehensive...

Craft Calling Card Bonanza

Coming back from SAW in June 2012 I came to the realization that I need calling cards  (non-business business cards, whatever you want to call them). 
I found this page and then lost several hours of my life scrolling.
This one is my favorite.
This one seems like the most practical.
This one was the most applicable but I didn't want to zoink someone else's idea.

However, looking through them actually really helped; I was able to focus on the elements I liked (reusable, sustainable, representative of my interests) and I'm feeling pretty good about my front runner. So....

Ta da!

For the card material: I've been looking for a use for all the cereal-box-packaging we have. We go through a good amount of this nice cardboard stock and recycle it every week; what a waste!I sprayed the cereal boxes with spray adhesive and affixed cotton paper to the sticky side.

Design: I started with a simple design (below) with my old blog name (zizzerzazzerzuz). I stamped my name on the back of the card. I then carved my design

Design 1

Stamp, card front, card back

I kept looking at the first design thinking it looked like the owl was resting against a tree. So... I  re-did it with the owl on a tree branch and the words within a carved heart.

First sketch of new design

Carved stamp of design

I decided after the fact to remove the heart area so I could create multiple designs to fit into that space. It also allows me to use alternate colors.

Different color options for the center heart

"Final product" shown with first sketch

I haven't had time yet but I'm going to carve some hearts which have my blog address, email address, etc. on them. I figure I can also use the background stamp for thank you cards (by carving a "Thank you" heart). I really like the single, background + interchangeable center stamp design. I thought I'd try to make another tree trunk with another interchangeable center design then try to match it to the first stamp, so it just looks like a really tall tree.

Other ideas I have for this:
1. A circle/clock (background) with different faces
2. A bomb (background) with different sayings for the center- like "You have an explosive personality... disorder."
3. A computer screen (background) with multiple read out stamps.
4. A book stamp (background) with alternate book titles/ pictures/ etc

Basically, anything that fits within something else.

I'm already working on a robot one where the body (center) of the robot can be switched out. Anyway, I hope you enjoy!

Just a quick post to say

I'm still alive! You can't get rid of me that easily!!

Some cool things I've stumbled across recently:
1. Ever heard of "decimal time"?
2. Travel felt bag tutorial
3. Tea cozy #1 and Tea cozy #2
4.  I found this by accident...
5. And, love this hoop by Jemimah (sorry Jemimah, I took without asking... but it is just too awesome.)

^ OMG, that dragon is off the hoop!!!
(sorry for the cheesetastic humor)

Pardon the mess

I'm working on a new theme and, as luck would have it, my photoshop has decided to stop working. In the interim, here is a preview of a new project I'm working on:

Now, if only I could get technology to work as well as my speedball carving set...

Made: Fingerless Gloves

I just finished my second pair of Paula McKeever's Cafe au Lait Mitts

May I completely recommend this pattern?  My first set knit up very quickly, the pattern is interesting and holds your attention, they're soft and stretchy and lovely with slightly variegated yarn.

Love this pattern... now, maybe I'll actually make a pair for myself...

Ninja Cake! Ninjas! Ninja Party!

I can't believe it took me so long to write this post.
My son wanted a Ninja party for his 5th birthday. May I just say, finding anything (mass produced) which is ninja related is nearly impossible (which is gloriously appropriate) and i didn't want to do a Lego Ninja party (too expensive, too... commercial). I really liked the idea of generic Ninjas.

The running joke around our house was:
The husband: "How do you decorate for a ninja party?"
Me: "How?"
The husband: "Leave dead bodies everywhere."

So... since it was a 5 year-old's birthday party I decided to forgo the dead bodies and, instead, focus on just 2 items:

The Ninja cake:
Super easy- round cake pan with a Ninja face. I've handmade/decorated all my kid's birthday cakes so far; I'm going to see if I can make it to their 10th birthdays...

If I were talented, I would have made: this cake.

Ninja peg dolls:
These were fun. Many of the kids played with the ninjas while the food was being put out; they were entertaining enough to hold their attention.

Misc / Not handmade:
The party bags were red Chinese take out containers. Plates, napkins, etc. were red and black (as were the balloons).

I've been trying to de-stress my parties. Jonah was more than happy with the decorative minimalist approach and everyone had a good time.

Other items I came up with but didn't have the time to do:
Game- pin the star on the Ninja. Take a silhouetted figure of a ninja, put it on a wall. Blindfold the kid, put a silver paper star in their hand, one side sticky. Who ever gets the star closest to the Ninja's head wins.

Ninja masks/ party favors: Take strips of black fabric (long enough to tie around the head). Cut out eye-holes.

Other Ninja items I found but didn't buy, make, or use:

Etsy: Ninja party bags
Etsy: Ninja stamps
Ravelry: Crochet ninjas (party favors)
Etsy: Ninja oragami (stars)
Etsy: Ninja cupcake toppers
Stuff from this party

Gluten Free: Apple and Egg Breakfast Pie

I find that most modern recipes cannot be easily modified to remove the wheat flour/replace it with a gluten free alternative (most baked goods as an example). However, every once in a great while, I come across a really, really old recipe which actually tastes better with a wheat flour replacement.

In order to make this recipe gluten free I replaced 1/2 cup of flour with 1/4 cup oatmeal and 1/4 cup white rice flour. The finished "pie" has a very mild flavor and texture; it's not overly rich/heavy like a quiche and it's not bready or super sweet like a pancake (as it has no sugar added except what you chose to dust on top; although I suppose you could add sugar to the batter if you wanted to sweeten it up). You could also leave out the oatmeal and replace the wheat flour with rice flour 1:1.


(Gluten Free) Apple and Egg Breakfast Pie
1/4 tbl butter
1 medium apple (core removed, cut into thin slices)
4 eggs
1/2 cup milk
1/4 cup Gluten Free oatmeal (uncooked)
1/4 cup white rice flour

1/4 tea nutmeg (optional)
1/2 tea cinnamon (optional)
1/4 tea salt (optional)
1/4 cup powdered sugar (for dusting)

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees
2. Grease a cast iron skillet with the 1/4 tablespoon of butter, make sure to butter the sides. Arrange the apple slices on the bottom of the skillet (in desired pattern). Set aside.

3.  Combine eggs, milk, oatmeal, rice flour, nutmeg, cinnamon, and salt. Mix until batter is well blended (I just use a whisk and hand mix).
4. Place skillet on stove (medium/high heat) for 2 minutes until the bottom of the skillet is just hot.
5. Pour batter over apples and place in the oven; cook for 20-22 minutes.
6. Remove pie, cut, dust with powdered sugar (if desired) and eat!