Autobiography of Craft

The pie is taunting you

arcencielgal@yahoo.com (Laurie) — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 02:58:00 +0000

Mmm, homemade apple pie. I made this one last weekend. So good. I love it, but I hardly ever make it. Why? Well, it's not exactly instant. Takes a good hour of prep plus an hour to bake. Sure, I can manage that occasionally on a lazy Sunday, but here's the real problem: once you make a pie, there's whole pie to eat. That's a lot of pie for two people. Solution? Single serving pies in a jar. Genius. Make a bunch now, freeze them, bake two at a time. Bonus, I already have some of those squat half pint jars around here from last Christmas' sugar body scrub. Pie, you can taunt me no more. Via Craft and Gifter's Log.

Halloween Costumes

arcencielgal@yahoo.com (Laurie) — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 23:41:00 +0000

My niece's bear costume ended up very cute and fitting pretty well. I had to cut some length off the arms and make the booties smaller, but I'm proud of myself for getting it mostly right on the first try.

For my own costume, I took apart a dress I wore to a themed banquet 7 years ago. I was an angel, you can't see much of the wings in the picture.

I took off the top metallic layer of the dress and just used the lining.
Fourteen yards of fringe later...

Voila! Flapper Laurie.

Dan wore the vinyl riding coat I made him a few years ago, did his own goth makeup, and spent all night explaining what his costume was. Last time he wore the coat, sans makeup, someone said he was from the Matrix. This time, he was mistaken for a Sith lord. You decide.

View from the sewing machine

arcencielgal@yahoo.com (Laurie) — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 23:37:00 +0000

My parents stayed over last weekend and helped us fill gaps in the foundation and clean the gutters. Thanks Mom and Dad! It rained all day yesterday, and the basement stayed completely dry.

They also brought some home grown produce, including the blueberries for this cereal box photo- worthy breakfast. Only those ads have orange juice and milk, not pink lemonade, right?
I was off work until Thursday, I took vacation time to see Ana off on Wednesday. Hope her return to Brazil and her family if going well. Then I had to work a whole three days. Such a long week.

This weekend, I've been hanging out with Dan on his first day of vacation and sewing Megan's first Halloween costume, a little brown bear, Simplicity pattern 7317. So far it's coming out just like I'd hoped.

I have the bodysuit completely done, and started the hood. The fabric is fleece, so she can wear it instead of coat. Or whatever babies use for outwear. Hopefully it fits!

Next tour starts in 5 minutes

arcencielgal@yahoo.com (Laurie) — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 02:05:00 +0000

We had a housewarming party this weekend, an open house all afternoon and evening. Somehow our guests managed to show up at pretty regular intervals throughout the party, so we were running house tours every fifteen minutes. The highlight of the tour, at least in my opinion, was the library.

Yes, the Steampunk Library! It's in its infancy now, there are a few more elements I definitely want, and of course I would love suggestions to increase the steaminess. Obviously missing is a window treatment. I'd also like a reading lamp and a footstool. We also own several antique reproduction maps that have yet to make it on the walls.

The wallspace next to the tall bookshelf is reserved for some form of loft access. We're thinking a library ladder, if anyone knows a good source for one, let me know. We'd also like some kind of shelving or storage system for the loft. I made my hubby crazy arranging and rearranging the boxes we have up there so you can't see them from below. I think cardboard visible up there, like it is in the photo, is an eyesore. Any thoughts? Do share!

Top 10

arcencielgal@yahoo.com (Laurie) — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 01:00:00 +0000

Things I love about my new house.

1o. Plenty of room for entertaining.
9. I can put on my own little cooking show on my kitchen island.
8. My stove boils water faster than my old one, and the oven heats consistently to the temperature I want.
7. I have my own patch of land to plant.
6. Dan gets his own room for his collection.
5. Ferrets fighting while rolling down the stairs is hilarious.
4. I get to park in my own driveway.
3. Laundry room is on the first floor, and I don't need quarters to run the machines.
2. Two words : Two toilets!
1. I haven't needed to call the cops on the neighbors once yet!

We're settling in nicely here. Unpacking and redecorating are nearly finished, pictures to come soon.

Welcome home

arcencielgal@yahoo.com (Laurie) — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 00:12:00 +0000

We bought our first house! Want to see the inside? To visit my photo page click here. I'm hard at work cleaning and painting in every free moment this week, and we're planning on moving in next week. Redecorating pictures to come once we're settled.

Technicolor daydreams

arcencielgal@yahoo.com (Laurie) — Sat, 30 May 2009 22:03:00 +0000

We're still waiting for the final word from the bank if we're going to be homeowners, but in the interim I'm still daydreaming about decorating the new place.

Here are some possible wall colors. Trans Atlantic for the kitchen, Posh for the living room, Noodle for the stairway, Karma for our bedroom, and Voodoo for the alcove (A.K.A. the Steampunk Library). Whatcha think? They're all colors from C2 paint. I love C2, and I'm not just saying that because of the paycheck. Their colors are just awesome!

Steampunk on MAKE : Television

arcencielgal@yahoo.com (Laurie) — Sun, 17 May 2009 12:44:00 +0000

Hurrah for local Steampunk! Featured within are Jake Von Slatt of The Steampunk Workshop, the Mass Steam Steampunk Society of Massachusetts, and local band HUMANWINE.

Steampunk Library

arcencielgal@yahoo.com (Laurie) — Sun, 10 May 2009 00:37:00 +0000

I'm loving how the Steampunk movement is reemerging in my scope of consciousness right now, popping up in such places as issue 17 of Make Magazine, 'Lost Knowledge' and episode 3 of G4 Underground, 'Urban Spelunking and Steampunk'. Feeling inspired, and with the gears in motion for buying our first house, I'm daydreaming about creating a Steampunk influenced library in our new place. We already have a few pieces for the space: several world maps that we acquired on our honeymoon, my newly reupholstered armchair,

Dan's antique cupboard,

a replica classic globe, and lots and lots of books.
I only wish we had more musty, leather bound tomes.

Some things we're missing are appropriate bookshelves...

some art...

and maybe a phonograph. Who doesn't need a phonograph?

I've found more inspiration at The Steampunk Home, Brass Goggles, The Steampunk Workshop,
and searches on Etsy and Flickr.

Baby Blanket, meet Bunny

arcencielgal@yahoo.com (Laurie) — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 23:33:00 +0000

Finally finished! I started this blanket back in August on our honeymoon and finished it just in time for Mary's due date. I'm thrilled with how it came out. It's fun, colorful, and mom friendly: it's already been through the washer and drier with no ill effect. I used this yarn, made 36 squares instead of the 80 suggested for the full size version, and single crocheted the border instead of knitting it.
I made Mr. Bunny too- in 1993! He was a middle school home ec project. Poor guy doesn't get out much, so I thought he deserved a little blog face time.

The end is in sight...

arcencielgal@yahoo.com (Laurie) — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 21:48:00 +0000

Or should I say ends. Yikes!
I love how all the mitered squares came out, but I have a lot of seaming to do before it's a blanket. Now it's a race to the finish- don't have that baby yet, Mary.

Happy Saint Patrick's Day, everyone!

Onesies on the runway

arcencielgal@yahoo.com (Laurie) — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 00:25:00 +0000

For my sis's baby shower, hubby and I designed some killer stenciled duds.

The most important ingredient: freezer paper.
It makes a super easy fusible stencil material AND keeps your steak from freezer burn. Seriously. Here's a detailed tutorial. Check out this other great set of tuts on stenciling, too.

Second important ingredient, fabric paint. Third, cotton onesies, washed. Now go find yourself some quirky sayings or cute graphic designs on the internet. Or design your own. Print out.

Now trace onto your freezer paper. Cut out the parts that correspond to the black bits. Don't forget to reserve interior details, like the inside of the O's. Use a dry iron set to cotton, iron on your stencils. They'll stick after only a few seconds. Don't forget to iron on those O centers, too.

Now you're ready to paint. Use several light coats instead of one thick one.

Let dry to the touch, then peel off the stencil. Voila! Haute couture à la bébé. Allow to dry overnight and heat seat per your fabric paint's instructions.

I detailed this design with a fabric marker after the pink paint dried.
She's gonna have spunk, style, and spit-up.

Under craftstruction

arcencielgal@yahoo.com (Laurie) — Sat, 14 Feb 2009 01:06:00 +0000

My Lotus Leaf mittens are on hold while I try to finish up baby things before I become an auntie. Still working on the Mitered Squares Blanket that I started back in August. I've got 22 of 48 squares done, and no hope of finishing it before the baby shower next week. So I had to start up another little project, so she'll have something to open at the party. More details to come! Now back to work...

Western Spaghetti

arcencielgal@yahoo.com (Laurie) — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 04:41:00 +0000

via Poppalina

Gotta love the parm yarn.

Cold, but happy

arcencielgal@yahoo.com (Laurie) — Sat, 17 Jan 2009 01:46:00 +0000

Things that make me smile when it's 5 degrees out.

My adorable creatures

Technically, they might also help keep me warm,

but they have much more important things to do than snuggle.

Other people's adorable creatures

Upside Down Dogs

Cute Things Falling Asleep

The gourmet chef of creative leftovers

Craft Leftovers

Frosting and bad puns

Cake Wrecks

And when all else fails

Wishful thinking

Why I haven't been blogging

arcencielgal@yahoo.com (Laurie) — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 23:45:00 +0000

I'm addicted to this.

Amid piles of gift wrap

arcencielgal@yahoo.com (Laurie) — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 02:04:00 +0000

My furious whirlwind of crafting and days of joyous giving are past. I gifted nineteen homemade presents this year, and just made the Christmas deadline on a few of them, but it was a fun and rewarding race to the finish. Let's see photos of the last few gifts before I wrapped them up and sent them off their new owners.

A knitted bamboo kimono
for baby on the way

Mother of pearl and fossilized coral necklace
for my grandmother

Sugar body scrub with vintage ice cream spoons
for many lovely ladies

Freshwater pearl and swarovski crystal necklace
for the bride to be

Knitted cotton ballband dishcloths
for Mom

Shell and silver necklace
for Mom to look great while using those dishcloths

And one more that didn't get a photo shoot before gift wrap-

The Crumpet beret, modeled by my beautiful aunt, Paula

Hope you all enjoyed the holidays, and here's to a wonderful and inspiring new year!

Snow what?

arcencielgal@yahoo.com (Laurie) — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 14:36:00 +0000

Oh, the weather outside is frightful,
but cookie baking is so delightful.
So as long as I have some dough,
let it snow let it snow let it snow!

Extra gingery gingersnaps

Peppermint candy canes

Cashew butter cookies

I kept myself way too content and cheerful baking cookies all day on Sunday.

Crafty Opportunities

arcencielgal@yahoo.com (Laurie) — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 01:27:00 +0000

Today's plan was my annual trek into Boston for the Bazaar Bizarre, but the weather didn't cooperate. My family and friends from Western Mass were planning on driving out to join me, but the snow kept them closer to home. I was still thinking about going solo, but I decided I'd rather not try to stay warm and dry while walking around the city. The snow sure was pretty though, the kind that covers everything like powdered sugar, but not enough accumulation to have to pull out the shovel.

So I didn't get to see the new venue this year and I missed out on all the exciting craziness that is the Bazaar, but did not deny myself a crafty outing. Instead I popped over to Yarns in the Farms for the Twist Collective trunk show. It was inspiring to see all the lovely Twist patterns in the flesh (or fleece, as it were). I got to try on the Sylvi coat, which is even more amazing in person, and the Postwar and Lotus Leaf mittens, and see so many of the gorgeous sweaters, scarves, hats, and mittens from the Fall and Winter issues. I met the lovely Julia from Twist, and Tink and Wink and everyone at the Farms were enthusiastic and helpful as always. I ended up buying the pattern and yarn for the Lotus Leaf mittens.

The turquoise will be the main color of the mittens, with the orange as the lotus and leaf pattern. I'm making them for myself as soon as I finish up the rest of my holiday gift making.

Who needs the mall?

arcencielgal@yahoo.com (Laurie) — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 23:11:00 +0000

Hope you had a happy Thanksgiving. I avoided the mall crowds and made some more presents. Ok, I did make a stop to the bead store and the craft store, but didn't have to fight for parking at either. Spoiler alert for my bead store shopping companions, don't scroll down if you want to be surprised on Christmas....

Etched pilsner glasses.

Fluorite and cut glass necklace.

Red tigereye and onyx necklace.

Friendly Cthulhu

arcencielgal@yahoo.com (Laurie) — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 01:07:00 +0000

H.P. Lovecraft's mythical creature, now pocket sized and huggable. The pattern is from Christen Haden's book Creepy Cute Crochet (which also features adorable amigurumi ninjas, zombies, and monkeys). He's made from some leftover yarn from a tea cozy I knitted. Christen recommends using poly-pellets in his base to keep from being top heavy, but I didn't have any around, so I sewed up a little scrap fabric bag full of rice to weigh down his bottom. His eyes are polymer clay, she describes how to make them in the book. He was a quick and easy stash busting project, and I'll definitely be making some of the other patterns from the book.

Knits on Celluloid

arcencielgal@yahoo.com (Laurie) — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 23:54:00 +0000

I saw Zack and Miri Make a Porno the other day, and was impressed by all the funky knitwear in the film. I'm not the only one who was delighted to distraction with the handknits, check out this blog, and this one. All the knit and crocheted items were created by Salvador Perez, the costume designer for the film, who, according to the film's website, had great fun doing it. Well, Salvador, thank you, as I had great fun seeing all those great hats, scarves, and other fiber creations. Even if you don't have a great appreciation for yarn, go see the film, it's classic Kevin Smith and 101 minutes well spent.

Sharing the warmth

arcencielgal@yahoo.com (Laurie) — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 02:17:00 +0000

A neckwarmer I crocheted to keep me warm on Halloween. The button I made as well, it's polymer clay.

Handmade holiday present #3, the Marsan Watchcap. The yarn I used is Miski by Mirasol, it's 100% baby llama and wonderfully soft and warm but remarkably lightweight.

Handmade Holiday

arcencielgal@yahoo.com (Laurie) — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 21:44:00 +0000

I'm trying to make the majority of the presents I give this Christmas. Here are some pictures of my progress so far.

The bag is Kwik Sew pattern #3643, and the neck warmer pattern is by Kim at Yarn Abuse. I've also got a Marsan Watchcap on my needles. Many thanks to Kristin over at Craft Leftovers for the inspiration of her Hattery Round Up. Stay tuned for completed hat pictures!

Brezeln

arcencielgal@yahoo.com (Laurie) — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 22:10:00 +0000

In honor of Oktoberfest, I present-
Homemade soft pretzels!
These are so delicious and not hard to make at all. I used this recipe from the October issue of Martha Stewart Living Magazine. I used the same ingredients as in the recipe, but made the dough in my breadmaker. Just popped everything in, pressed a button, and walked away for an hour.

Then I shaped the dough and let it rest for a bit.

Next, a two minute bath in boiling water, drain, a sprinkle of salt, and into the oven. I didn't have the pretzel salt specified in the recipe, so I used coarse sea salt.

Fifteen minutes later, fresh hot soft pretzels. These would be great for a party. Unfortunately, Dan and I had to eat them all ourselves. Darn.

Add a bit of mustard to dip in, and you have the perfect snack for a chilly fall afternoon. All you need is a good Bier aus Deutschland, and it can be Oktoberfest anytime.