Arte y Pico

Oh wow, how fun is this?!
Patty at Pipstitch has given me an award!

It's always nice to know that maybe I inspired someone, or made them smile, or got them to thinking.

She says, "The "Arte y Pico" award was created to be given to bloggers who inspire others with their creative energy and talents, no matter whether it be in the form of writing, artwork, design, interesting material, or contributions to the blogger community. When a blogger receives this award it is considered a "special honor" and, once presented to you, it is to be passed on to at least 5 other bloggers who meet the criteria."

Boy, it's so tough to choose.
I currently subscribe to 121 blogs via Bloglines, and that doesn't even represent all of my reading.
I have mentioned a few of my favorites before, so now the question is whether or not I should repeat the favorites, or choose new ones.
I mean, there are SO MANY good blogs out there!

Oh geez, let me just choose some.
Bari J, because her collage style just is awe-inspiring.

Calamity Kim, for the same reason. How does she have time to make so many wonderful things? I just blogged a project from each of these ladies on my purse blog.

How do I choose between Baking Bites, Orangette, and Smitten Kitchen?
I can't. They are all divine.

Oh shoot, I'm already at five.
No, wait!
Well, I was never much of a rule follower anyway.
Oh cool, it says "at least" five.
Can I give it to 121? No, okay then...

If you want to laugh, and don't mind bad words, Finny is your girl.

Want excellent writing about family life and day to day introspection (and excellent photography), Andrea of Hula Seventy.

Excellent writing, often about art and history, there is only one Aubrey, and I am so grateful we are friends.

Melanie, of Jellybean Angel, because she feels like my long lost sister, but her blog has restricted subscription, so I mention it just as a hello to her.

And Pattie, of This is my Summer, because I think we share a special kinship too, and I love the fact that her blog is a scrapbook for her children...little bits of saved memories of day to day life that they will be able to look upon in the future and say, "I remember...".

Art with impact

I am just ga-ga over this room.
Hopefully one day I'll have my own house, and when I do, I'm devoting a wall to a mural.

This is from Surface View and was featured on the incredible website, Retro-to-go.
Seriously, I saw this and made that "hauh" sound where you involuntarily inhale.
Gorgeous.

Several years ago, I was at The Bob Marley Festival, and fell in love with a banner hanging over the stage.
Investigative soul that I am, I asked enough questions to figure out the name of the artist.
I tracked him down (he's a local muralist) and commissioned him to create a similar image of Mr. Marley.
I think we agreed on 5' x 6' or something like that, at $750.
Ever the poor child, I was paying him in increments.
I paid $250 when he went on a pilgrimage to Peru, and I was doing something...
and we lost contact.
I know he's still around town.
I hope he'll still honor my down payment, and I'll get my painting eventually.

Great ideas

Oh my gosh, my brother Rog came over today and fixed my computer!
I am sooo happy to be online again!

I have a new post up on my purse blog that links tutorials to crochet yarn made from t-shirts, so check that out.

Other goodness I've found includes Make a Memory Jar

Beautiful lamp made from recycled jars

Pique Assiette

Matchbook notebooks tutorial

How to make a notebook using an old record cover.

From prints to journals

Make a passport cover

Make a reusable sandwich bag

Tutorial to make fabric by fusing platic bags!

Another link

After the link to the leather pet bed I posted yesterday, a friend of mine sent me a link to How to make a cat bed from an old wool sweater.

Still computer problems, hopefully to be fixed soon.

Ideas...a couple anyway

Aarrgghh.
I'm having computer issues.
Again.
So bear with me.
I do at least have a couple of links to share.

If you're bummed about having to find a substitution for Timtex (like I am), Craft Apple has already done some research for you.

Queenly Things inkjet prints onto fabric.
Here's the tutorial.

Make a pet bed from an old leather coat.

Video Sunday

I so miss the show Rockstar.
Here's an incredible, beautiful version of Knockin' on Heaven's door, by the lovely Jordis Unga.
I can just listen to this again and again.


I also have to mention a fun video I first saw posted on
This is My Spring, which she found via The Pink of Perfection.
Basically Shauna and her grandma Joy go to the movies every week.
It's so simple and fun. I wish I could go back in time and be at the movies with my grandma again....

More info here.

Neckties, and window shopping

First off, I want to announce that I have started a new blog,
devoted to Sewing with Neckties.
It's called Artful Ties: making art from men's neckties.
Please come over and visit.
Maybe subscribe with bloglines.

Secondly, I've been off work this week (no transportation), so I've had too much time on my hands.
Time=internet cruising.
But look at the goodies I found!

I love this plaid hat from the etsy store of Nancy Gamon.



Cocktail Monkey necklace, at Perpetual Kid.

Magazine bowls tutorial, on craftster.

Jewelry from trash.

Make a melted monkey bowl, from Deep Fried Kudzu.


Make a Marshmallow Peep carousel like Thrift Shop Romantic

Make your own Ding-Dong cake, by Smitten Kitchen

and (drumroll....) I give you the Krispy Kreme Cheesecake.
Again, this is Deep Fried Kudzu.
That recipe sent her immediately, do not pass go, right into my favorites list.

New theme for the purse challenge

I have a new theme posted on my purse blog.
In order to stir up more participation, this challenge will involve a prize!
Interested?

Photobooth Friday

Andrea inspired Photobooth Friday.
She says, "the very thought of squeezing into a tiny booth with my family and taking home a souvenir strip or two (or TWENTY) makes me all giddy-like inside."
She wrote project #131

I am so thankful that I grew up in the days of the old analog booths.
My childhood is filled with fond memories of drugstore booth shots, and of cramming into fair booths with groups of friends.
The newer digital booths don't hold the same charm.
And I'm definitely not talking about Apple Photobooth programs either.

This is nostalgia, childhood memories, a piece of past I hope we can keep alive.
Wikipedia info.
More history.

If you want to find photobooth locations near you (both old and new-type machines), click on the locator section of the Photobooth Blog.

Recent NY Times article about photobooths.

"Photobooth: Timeless Self-Portrait Vending Machine", by Tim Garrett.

Collections of images:
*The Photobooth Chronicles
*Wade's Photobooth Gallery
*Startling Moniker
*Lost and Found photos website
*Found Photos
*Photobooth Project
*Flickr Photobooth group
*Flickr Photobooth Friday group

Stumble Upon is a website that offers photobooth-related links, and a chance to meet other people that also love photobooths.

Photobooths in Pop, by Mixup

Books available:
Photobooth by Babette Hines.
And American Photobooth, by Nakki Goranin and David Haberstich.

Build your own: DIY on Instructables.

The Expressive Photobooth, a sort-of Candid Camera/Punk'd-type prank thing.

Or, for a wedding or big party, you can rent a photobooth.
Or here is another company that rents booths. Vintage booth rental here. Several companies are available--check the web.
Ha! There's even the Photoboof!
Wouldn't that be cool?!

Items to buy:
*Stained glass picture frames from Whispering Willow
*Handmade albums for your booth strips, from
the etsy shop of Freckled Nest
*Necklace frame from Fred Flare

Will you be my Valentine?

I have a steady stream of regular readers to this blog that make this ride all the more worthwhile.
I appreciate every visit and every comment more than I can express.
Especially when they stick by me through computer problems and problems with posting photos.
Thank you, thank you, thank you.

And a special thank you to Nannybird Crafts for sending me this email button today.
Pretty cool, huh?

I cruised the internet for fun Valentine links today.
Like the goodies at All Pop: kitsch and curios from around the world.
The shop (read the blog too) has great vintage Valentine images, as well as items like stickers, and kids clothes with Valentine appliques.

Crocheted heart tutorial at Bella Dia.


Make your own cookie cutters, from Instructables (but posted by Baking Bites, and linked on Not Martha).

Valentine's Day makes me think of pink cakes or cupcakes.
The idea of fresh strawberry frosting intrigues me.
It's something I want to try.
Ummmm...this recipe looks good.
Another recipe here.
A different version here.

Speaking of strawberries, Suse of Pea Soup makes these luscious knitted bookmarks.
She has generously shared the instructions, but I purchased some from her directly.
Lovely.

Laura of Rick Rack Ruby makes Necktie Strawberries.

Miscellaneous...

Jen sent me a link to Apartment Therapy website, and this amazing pillow made from clothing labels.
I had written about sewing with labels before, but the style of this pillow is a new twist. I love it!
Previously, I embellished an apron with labels.
And I mentioned a lady who made a quilt from labels.

And while I'm thinking about it, there's something else I wanted to share.
I was at a grocery store the other day, and up front, beside the handicapped parking spaces...
two spaces for Hybrid vehicles only.
I had never seen that before.

Hmmm...homemade recipes for Girl Scout Cookies...
from my favorite, Baking Bites.
Tagalongs (the name of one of the dogs I'm watching right now. And yes, he was named after the cookie)
Samoas
Do-Si-Dos
a kind-of Thin Mints

Make your own personalized (um, adult content) Conversation Hearts (from Brownie Points blog).

I am so sad that Court TV changed to Tru TV.
Tru sucks sucks sucks.
I miss my Court TV...

Sorry for my absence here. I've been having horrible migraines.
Too, I'm without a scanner, and all my stuff to scan is at my mom's house anyway.
So bear with me...

Ha Ha Hee Hee to the funny farm...

I pretty much abhor cooking out of a box, especially when it comes to baking.
I really respect baking from scratch, and appreciate keeping the traditions and old recipes alive.

That being said, I love weird novelty food projects.
Especially whimsical cake decorating.
So whimsical + scratch = pretty damn great.
Jumping around finding ideas and recipes is my own sort of super quest, pilgrimage, shangrila.
Whatever.

Yeah, I know it's past Halloween, but this is just too too good not to share.

Oh my, check out the creepy cakes over at
(what a fun name) They're coming to get you, Barbara.
Not only are these amazing to look at, they also show you how-to photos (a visual tutorial, if you will), assembly, etc.

And not only that, these are fricking anatomically correct, yo.

Dude! That arm has a radius and ulna visible.
Sorry, but that so freakin' rocks.

These sisters also make more 'normal' cakes, including gingerbread houses (extremely elaborate gingerbread houses), available for your viewing pleasure over at their other site.

I found these sites via the most incredible Baking Bites, who has made some creepy stuff of her own.
I just can't stop thinking about her vampire cupcakes --
white cake and marshmallow frosting, with a center of cherry pie filling that gushed out after Mr. Dracula evidently took a bite.
She has the recipe posted.
(note her inspiration was the Vampire Bites over at Zombirella's)

Honestly I could spend hours just following yummy links around.
Let's jump from the creepy above, to a traditional treat.
Like homemade Mallomars from Cookie Baker Lynn.
If your mouth isn't watering, there's something wrong with you.

Goodness around Blog Land

A really creative take on a tee shirt quilt (usually you see large squares of identical size), by Tiboutoo.
(click on image to go to her Flickr page)

sewn to the batting and backing
Originally uploaded by tiboutoo

Or here's another blanket made from tees, this one with small squares.
This is by Anna (aka Uninorth 13).

Geek blanket
Originally uploaded by uninorth13

I like the idea of using parts of words, versus just the central logo or whatever.

Are you IN, or are you OUT?
The new season of Project Runway airs November 14, but you can get your fix and all the scoop about the designers and happenings at Laura's blog--
it's called Blogging Project Runway.
Laura, of Rick Rack Ruby, started BPR, and it has been so successful, she know hosts contributing writers. Congrat's Laura!


Eyeball Pincushion visual tutorial on Flickr, is made with hand-stitched felt and a bottlecap.


One of my friends sent me a link to a weird website called
Cats that Look Like Hitler.
It's similar to Cute Overload, except it just has pics of cats kittehs who look like Spoony here (ya gotta love Spoony's little "bangs")
.
Ha!
My favorite so far is Randolph (who looks more like Salvador Dali to me)



Make an Astro Weenie Pineapple


Corkboard wall pocket tutorial on Craft Apple.

Fun reading

Jennifer, a writer at the Times Online (the online version of the London Times), was nice enough to email me and let me know one of my archived posts had been linked on their blog,
Alpha Mummy.

As if that isn't cool enough, I started reading some of the articles, and I was laughing out loud.

Hoodie-shaped iPod cover? Who knew?
Ladybug-shaped restroom in Beijing? Cooool....

Plus all the lovely phrases that only the British can pull off.
For example, instead of saying "sneak a cigarette while the kid's aren't looking" she says "light a crafty fag".
I love England.
One of the places in this world where I feel most at home (it's probably a big percentage of this mutt's heritage, so I guess that makes sense).

The people I'm house-sitting for are returning early from their trip to the UK.
The ratio of the pound to the American dollar didn't fall in their favor.
It's really expensive over there right now.

Speaking of reading, please pay a visit to my book blog--the poor thing is so lonely.

Cruising the web

I have avoided crafting, but I still love to search for crafty (and other) stuff online.
Like this great recycling idea
Mosaic a bowling ball into a garden orb

Ooh, I have to try this Black Forest Tart.

I have an obsession with May Poles lately.
Here are some great vintage photos
(despite the dreaded background music. Background music on sites is one of my pet peeves)

Grrr...more problems with bloggers 'add image' icon.
Photos loaded this way don't seem to be up on my blog anymore, and I've noticed the same on other blogs.
The frustration continues.
Typepad is looking better all the time....

Shout Outs

My blog isn't about advertising for others, but I really want to thank a couple of people who have gone out of their way to help me out recently.

I want to thank Lani (and her assistant) at Gotfabric.com for having amazing fabric selections

like this pink-on-pink Roxy fabric that I just purchased.
But also for taking the time to go through all their Kona cottons in order to find the solid pink that best coordinated.
I'm making a little girl's dress, and I think this is going to be adorable.
You guys rock.

And also to Donna of TheSpidersWebFabricShop.com for suggesting this Curly Hearts fabric for my entry to this month's Tie One On.

I will instead be submitting my apron to Cloth Paper Scissors Magazine.
Donna always gives me excellent customer service.
Thank you!

Cupcakes!

Cuteness once again from Mahar Drygoods.










The site describes them as something for kids:
Fresh from the bakery of Ana Paula Rimoli, a dessert so sweet that you just want to give it a squeeze! Tuck a Cuddle Cake in Jr's lunch box to remind him just how much you love him, or stick a toothpick flag in the frosting with a special message to greet Little Miss at the kitchen table.

But I can see them as a pincushion or something fun like that. Stuffed into a gift basket or a swap...
What's not to love?!

Pimp your Nutcracker

hahahahaha
as posted by Aubrey.
Check it.

and, uh, tampon crafts.

Goodness around Blogland

fun and festive gumdrop wreath I saw on Posie Gets Cozy, (tutorial on Kiddley).

a list never sounded so good (and excellent writing as usual) by Hula Seventy. And one of my favorite of her past posts.

Astro Weenie Tree on My House is Cuter Than Yours

Button Tree seen on Vacuuming in High Heels & Pearls.

one inch square collaged ornament by Art Junk

my favorite version of Little Birds' Soft Tree Pattern, by Oziahz

book recommendation by Aubrey

and a bunch of recipes:

lemon tart and cranberry orange cookies on the awesome Baking Sheet

almond roca recipe on Culinary in the Desert

spiced nut and pretzel mix on David Lebovitz

lemon cookie recipe on Orangette

cranberry cake recipe on Apartment Therapy

coconut cupcakes recipe on 101 Cookbooks

kitty litter cake on Thimble

There are so many amazing blogs out there!