The Kiln Thing

Again with the equipment. I have wanted a kiln for years. It started off a number of years ago when I had fun painting ceramics at local shops which charged me ridiculous rates per HOUR to paint various objects and have them fire my stuff in their kilns. I then discovered that you can also melt glass in a kiln. Back story- I love the colors /shapes, fluidity of glass. Glass  is so beautiful, and my hero in glass is Dale Chihuly. Look him up-he is amazeballs. The very best I can ever hope to do is to melt glass in  a kiln to make pretty things.  A respectable kiln uses a 220 outlet and it's been a point of contention in my house. The man can have 25 bajillion dollars invested in tools/accessories, but when the woman wants to make "art", it has to be something that she can make bank on. Digression aside, there is now a "mini kiln" available for just a few hundred bucks, is small enough to make jewelry with, and doesn't require a 220 outlet. Hmmmm...

Bee Decisive

Crafting Chaos

Revisiting my dusty old blog today...

      Today.  It happened today. I came to the sobering realization that I have, beyond a doubt, become one of those people who have more crafty gadgets and materials in my closets than the time to use said crafty gadgets and materials. I'm fairly certain that I could be locked up in this house for a year or more and have enough stuff  to make stuff without having to step foot into Michael's, JoAnn, or Hobby Lobby for the duration of eternity.

      The thought had  barely solidified before I had personally challenged  myself to do that very thing. So, now it's on. I'm going to make shit out of the shit that I have.  Beginning Feb. 1 it's going down right here in this space. I will be creative. I will not quit like it's day four two of my New Year's resolution.

      I am scared. There's an embroidery machine up here that I never learned to use, and will now probably have to actually read the manual. I am not a manual reader. Regrettable.

Bee Supportive. 

BombDiggedyTastic

Squeaky chair makeover complete. Would I do this again? Probably. Although I had to let this one sit around awhile until it was nice enough to spray paint outside, it actually only took a couple of hours-well, maybe a couple of couple of hours- and one smallish mistake which required some paint remover. I'm calling it a success.

Squeaky Chair-part deux

     Sooo...got that chair all taken apart AFTER I took pics of how it should go back together (kiss my brain) cleaned off the rusticles and schmootz, and am now waiting for the fabric to arrive. I found the most amazing fabric site, which just makes me wish that I knew how to sew more than a straight line (If I'd only paid more attention to Mrs. Cho back in 7th grade home ec.-I blame myself).  Proudly, I even remembered to trace the (nasty) vinyl seat and back portions onto some kraft paper to make a pattern. KMB again! I'm certain that Mrs. Cho would be proud of owning that small bit. She suffered, that woman. God love her heart.
     For my sew-worthy friends, the site is www.spoonflower.com , but you probably already know about the site, since I'm the ultimate fabric newb an you are not.
      I don't think I've ever posted a photo of my fabulous sewing machine, so here it is in all of its tur-qua glory. I will never love another:

 

More RETRO Whimsy!

In my area, we have many, many, Facebook sites dedicated to "Trash and Treasure", as in "One man's trash...". I am pretty sure I have subscribed to all of them within a 50 mile radius, because, hey, I like old crap. What I like even better about old crap is making something cool out of old crap. It makes me feel all ecologically friendly and fuzzy inside.

My latest score is this bomb-diggety Cosco step-stool chair-one like I grew up with on visits to my sweet grammy's house. Dang, how those step thingies squeaked when you pulled them out. This one does not disappoint either. Squ-eeee-k-tastic!

 

Once I get the gunk scrubbed off and the legs all shinied up, I think it's getting a makeover. I see something different for the seat-mebbe some red? Or an IU logo? Or, OMG, I cannot wait to get going on this baby tomorrow!