one more thing-

So just one banner, and then I'll stop. I got the idea for the Swiss flag banners a few months ago about as I was thinking about Swiss Days, the cute little town of Midway, and how much I love flaggy things (makes everyday feels like a party) and all of that. It's taken this long to finally get one put together.

I think I'll make a few more for Swiss Days, maybe someone else wants to show some town pride or honor their heritage or perhaps they are on ski patrol, or they just love the Swiss flag. By the way, for all my neighbors who are wondering what could be next?  when is she going to put out her extensive collection of garden gnomes... it'll skip it and sell them on ebay.  No really, I am Swiss, somewhere back on my mom's side.

I promise when the flags get faded, I'll take them down. If there is one thing I can't stand it's the faded Himalayan prayer flags that people leave up for-e-ver, hanging in tatters across their yard or porch. It reminds me of Miss Havisham's mouldering wedding decor. Take it down people, I don't care if the superstitious folklore prohibits removal, do it anyway and stop embarrassing yourself.

titanic diorama project with lego cast & crew

What's not to love about the 5th grade diorama project? The book the kids had to read was historical fiction, M picked a book kind of like the American Girl series, (I can't remember the name) about a little orphaned girl who was accompanying a friend to New York to try and find her brother.  I think she really enjoyed reading the account of the Titanic sinking, and especially working on this part of the project. Click on any of the pictures to make them bigger.

*If you are wondering what's up with the giant baby in the lifeboat... I asked the same question. Well, there are no real Lego babies (Lego, we'd appreciate it if you would please work on this) so M found this big ole baby to go in the life boat, you know, women and children first.

The boat is a cardboard, toilet paper tube, tape, modge podge creation that was then painted to resemble the Titanic.

The water is made with two different sparkly fabrics, cut into strips and laid in the bottom of the box.

The blue sky backdrop is fabric glued to the back inside of the box.

The iceberg is a wadded up plastic bag hot glued into the back corner and painted over with white paint, we even sprayed some glitter over the iceberg and the the blue of the sky.

The stars and moon are cut out of cardboard and hanging with string.

*Take a look at the Lego dude in the front, none too happy about his unfortunate circumstance.

I could have spent days driving around, casing craft stores searching for tiny people to represent the doomed passengers when we remembered- we probably have enough Lego people to fill a human sized life boat, and life jackets for each of them too. 

*The captain and crew, stoically going down with the ship.

Last minute idea- we printed up the real newspaper articles we found online to cover the outside of the box- thank you internet.

bazaar finds

Here are some shots from the Beehive Bazaar this past weekend in Provo. Oh how I love this building (this part of it, not the bathrooms...) the Women's Center it's called, and I don't think it will be around for much longer. The building and others around it are slated for demolition for the new Provo Recreation Center sometime this year. So, for the sake of nostalgia... a few pictures of the Women's Center looking it's best.  The morning sunlight streaming in the colored glass windows on fabulous handmade goods.

Watercolor prints by Ashley Mae. 

Recycled wool felted goods by Carrie Poulsen of Big Brown House.

Felt sushi, pita pockets and so much more by Bug Bites Play Food.

The softest, cutest cleverly named dollies by Urban Patchwork.

A mind bending amount of work by so many talented artists and crafters go into making the Beehive Bazaar so unique and completely handmade. Thank you everyone who participated- vendors and shoppers, it was better than ever!

ribbon dollies

My Q has been making these ribbon dollies for the Beehive Bazaar this weekend, aren't they so very cute?
To get a dolly for yourself and about a thousand other way awesome things (we just set up the show, so I got a sneak peek...) head out to the Bazaar in Provo UT this Mother's Day weekend.

collection jars

I just found this giant jar at a discount store in town...  finally I've found a perfect place for my naked baby collection, and yet another way to creep out everyone who comes into my lair.
Have a fabulous weekend, as it prepares to snow yet again.

only a month away-

I'm sewing (or just cutting out stuff) like crazy these days... goods for the spring Bazaar. I've been working on some new things this year- some are so new- they only exist in cut up stacks, ready to be sewn together.
I made a few really cute sling backpacks this weekend, and I would show them now but they are in use. Snagged and(please Mom, can I have that one?) loaded up- off to school. I guess that's a good sign. I'll get some pictures of the rope backpack up in the next few days, and how about a tutorial too?
To view the other Beehive Bazaar artists look here.
To like Beehive Bazaar on Facebook, and check out the Spring Event, look right here.
To see what the heck a rope sling backpack looks like, look here.

St. Patrick Day intentions

All my best intentions for some really fabulous St. Patrick's Day front door decor are sitting in a heap in the corner of my sewing room. I had (wait... still have) this great idea- to make a scrappy, wacky sort of wreath with all these green bits and a leftover wreath form I found laying around. As you can see, it never got done.  But, it's going to happen, cause little naked, leprechaun/monkey guy is not going back in a drawer. He's staying on the shelf in plain sight,  staring me down and daring me to get him up on that front door. Maybe I'll make some tiny pants for him too... maybe not, for sure a tiny hat (tiny Easter dress?).

The Converse sneakers really have nothing to do with the wreath plan, I just threw them in while wondering how they ended up on the floor of the bedroom and not rockin' St. Patty's Day at the Middle School?

a grim concept, but none the less... reality.

As I was finally putting away all the Christmas goods, I noticed this amendment (made with a post it note) to the advent calendar.  We are realists here folks, no pussyfooting around the truth.

This little tattooed lady, made by Dallas Russell of Easily Amused has been straddling a branch on the Christmas tree this year- even though she's about 15 inches tall, freaking a few people out. For the rest of the year- I hang her on the wall and leave visitors guessing all year long.

Plus, I think she looks a little like me, minus the tattoos.

better than Christmas

It looks (literally) like the basement is finally finished. Here is my blank canvas- my sewing/craft room that I can't wait to move into. Whew, what a job-  I'm feeling giddy with possibility, I can't remember what I chucked into boxes months (and years) ago, one of the only time a hazy memory is a good thing...

Ahh... the closet. This space should store everything crafty or sewing related. Perhaps more... but I'm not counting on it. Now, if I can just get up enough energy in my sore limbs and hands to carry in all the boxes from the garage and about 42 trips from the storage unit.

The kids finally have their kitchen back. I built this kitchen in 2002 for Christmas,  this isn't a very good picture of the front side, but the kids insist on keeping it turned to face the wall, and I am just a customer in this picture. We put the play kitchen in storage 2 years ago when we put our Springville house on the market.

 Every once and awhile the kids would wistfully speak of their kitchen and all of it's accessories- dreaming of the reunion they would have someday. 

This week all were reunited,  they part now only for school and to sleep. It's become 'The Banana Boat Cafe', where many in the neighborhood regularly dine for the excellent food and extemely professional staff.

time for the Beehive Bazaar!

Tomorrow is the opening night of the Beehive Bazaar- 9pm for all you late nighters who are all about handmade goods(don't forget $4 for opening night admission), Friday and Saturday all day too.
Don't miss the best mix of handmade goods in Utah, excellent one-of-a-kind Christmas shopping opportunities await everyone on your list- and don't forget to pick up a little something for yourself.
Sneak peek participating artists and crafters here. See you there.

wear a smile, and a v-neck

time to apply

If you're (anywhere) near the area (Provo UT) and you make some funky craft or art... you might want to apply for the Winter 2010 Beehive Bazaar coming up December 1-4th. Applications are being accepted until September 29th. Get all the info at thebeehivebazaar.com

sidetracked-

I came across this gal's goods on flickr- eye candy- I would recommend a visit here. It makes me want to take a bunch of my fabric and jazz up the woodlands. It could be some interesting Halloween yard decor. I've got lots of costumes... would they perhaps fit on my trees? By the way- for those in the area... big yard sale coming up Sept. 25 & 26th. Be ready for costumes, books, clothes, household goods and stuff, lots of really great stuff.
Same lady, from Toronto Canada, now, which box did I put the felt and zippers in?

but do you keep it in your pocket?

There is something so intriguing, yet ridiculously absurd about the wooden, or in this case, bamboo, iphone cover- it's like knitting a cozy for the frame of your bicycle- but then again, why not?
By the way-Happy Thursday everyone.

tissue paper flowers

I found myself on the decorating committee for a soccer fundraiser this last weekend. It wasn't hard to get excited about making tissue paper flowers, so bright and colorful, and they couldn't be easier to make, my 10 year old jumped right on the band wagon and helped make up a bunch of these. Super cheap, fantastic party decor.
All of the pictured flowers are a variation on the same pattern, watch the tutorial here. On some of the flowers we just trimmed the edges differently, or changed up the middle (twisted the paper, cut into strips, looped the paper then cut strips- use your imagination). Whip some up for your next summer party- how about red white and blue?

handmade goodies

In a bunch of images, all neatly arranged, my haul from the Spring 2010 Beehive Bazaar.
To see more pictures, get some facts or artists & crafter details- go to my flickr page.

Just one of the many items I picked up at the Beehive Bazaar this last weekend. I'm working on getting pictures up of all my gets here in a bit, but right now, I think I'll take a break and go out to lunch with my fella- get reacquainted after all the harried madness that has been 2010 so far.
Meanwhile, talk amongst yourselves on just how funny Betty White was on Saturday Night Live this last weekend... loved it.

great write-ups

The Spring 2010 Beehive Bazaar starts tomorrow night... The pillows here are by Ruby Market, they'll be at the show as well as about 75 other extremely talented artists and crafters and their handmade wares.
It's been a lot of work preparing for this Beehive Bazaar, the reward is see it all come together under one roof. Everyone involved has literally spent thousands of hours painting, sewing, drawing, gluing, cutting, knitting, crocheting, baking, printing, (what am I leaving out?) photographing, stenciling... working their little fingers to the bone. Oh (sigh) but finally seeing the Bazaar all set up it is a sight to behold and a surreal shopping experience for all who attend- the creativity, uniqueness, originality- the handmadeness leaves me swooning.
Oh, and by the way Salt Lake City Weekly and ArtDuh just published great articles about the Bazaar. View them here and here.

digging through my jewelry box...

If you're a Beehive Bazaar Handmade Art & Craft Fair fan and veteran shopper- your going to want to check out this giveaway on Facebook. Here are the details:
1. Take a picture of your favorite item that you've gotten at a previous Beehive Bazaar.
2. Post that picture on the Beehive Bazaar Facebook Page, as a fan photos and tell them why you love that particular item (and why it's changed your life etc.)
All entries must be submitted by midnight tonight, April 30th, they will draw 3 winners at random from all of the entries.
Winners receive tickets to the Spring 2010 Beehive Bazaar VIP Opening Night Party Wednesday May 5th at 8 pm.

featured

Ooh look, my 'Sunday Stroll' purse was featured in this Etsy Spring Picnic gallery today. To inquire about the pictured items more completely- or browse a little Etsy click here.