Pillows & Cupcakes.

Hey everyone! Well, this weekend certainly was eventful. Friday classes were canceled -- however, I don't have Friday classes, haha! Oh well. Congrats to my fellow undergrads who did for their day off in forever at our school.

I played in the snow, as seen in the post before this. Patrick got some time off from work and rehearsal, so more snuggle time! :)

I certainly did not procrastinate my Drawing 3 homework... ahem. Cough. While not procrastinating that, I worked on my t-shirt pillow: I sewed the sleeves and top hole, and have stuffed it halfway. There wasn't any real alteration I could do otherwise to wear it, so this seemed appropriate. I might even sell it when I'm done. (Can I do that??)

Also, I'm so very proud to announce that I satisfied my itch to bake goodies today. I looked up a semi-simple recipe for orange cupcakes. When I looked in the fridge, I found the OJ was almost empty and 6 days expired. Ew. So instead, I used lemonade with a mix of limeade as a substitute. For icing, I did a simple limeade-sugar glaze, since I don't have anything for proper frosting. Sprinkled on top was green sugar from Christmas cookies I've had for a while.

I took them to the theater of Patrick's play while they were fresh, and everyone loved them! I was so happy at the success that I braved the snow and ice to give the players treats. It made the baker housewife in me glow. Hooray!

Hopefully this week of school won't be too hard on me. I have an ongoing series for Drawing 3 to do, self portrait in painting (yuck yuck yuck), Art History test possibly, and a periodical review for my educational class. Wish me luck, and I wish you the same for your endeavors! :)

The Winter Storm.

It may be frightful, but it is also beautiful. I felt somewhat like a child again. I couldn't help but play around after checking the mail. Here are pictures I took.

Felt a little inspired by Andy Goldsworthy...




However, good things must come to an end. I'm sure by Monday this will all be gone, and it'll be back to work.

Friday Featurette.

It sure has been a while! But, it's about time to do a featurette. Let's focus on generally overlooked crafters: those who make lovely toys, and big fluffy lovable plushies.

Today's featurette is going to Danielleorama. Her stuff is just plain cute, I have to say.

Foxy, $45

Pansy, $28

This next one is my personal favorite. It's reminiscent of Bitey and the bigfoot character from Brackenwood, but in a lovely candy, child-friendly way.

Jaunte Poilu, $36

Please take a look at her shop, you're sure to leave (via X'ing the tab) with a smile on your face. She also has a blog at http://danielleorama.blogspot.com.

I'm one of those people in TN who will bear witness to this ice storm coming, so if you don't hear from me anytime soon, it'll be because of power outages. I'm not scared but... not happy about it, either. :\

I'm going to South Korea!

For Art Education majors, we're required to take up to 4 Art History classes: Art History I, Art History II, and two upper division courses (History of Craft I/II, 20th Century Art, Mesopotamian, etc.). Luckily, one upper division "class" is called Art Tour, which is basically a trip to another country to study its artistic culture.

This year, a resident artist for our Metals course, who originally comes from South Korea, offered an Art Tour class to his native country. It's an 11-day trip to South Korea during May, after school is done. It used to be during spring break, but both students and professor were too exhausted coming from the tour straight back into classes. The Art History professor is going to Italy, but I've been to Europe before; I lived there! I've never been to Asia, though!

We had our first meeting last night, and I am so pumped! We'll be traveling through Seoul, GyeongJu, DaeGu, and even staying overnight in a temple! How exciting is that? He showed us pictures of what you do there, what you wear, and eating etiquette. The country is so beautiful, and their art is even more beautiful. My university will reimburse the airfare through a travel scholarship (which pretty much every full-time student in good standing gets), so the trip itself is cheap! And I get 3 credit hours for it. Instead of a big paper, we simply write a little paper on a cultural aspect of South Korea, and keep a notebook/journal of our trip.

I'll definitely enjoy this immensely. Despite the trauma of France, I'm ready to travel again. This time it won't be all business, and we'll have guides. And money. This will be a great opportunity for blog posts, too. ;)

Has anyone here been to South Korea? If so, what did you love most? What delicacies are worth trying? Please, let me know!

New Arrivals!

I'm so happy, I got two parcels in the mail today!

After a long wait, I finally got my harem pants from thaimodish. They're lovely! So wide and comfortable, and stylish! I tried to take the best pictures I could, so forgive their lack of quality. (It took forever just to find the camera, haha.)

I just need to wait for warmer weather, because these don't look good with uggs or anything. Sandals only. And right now, it's snowing.

I also couldn't resist Rachel's deal over at talk2thetrees, so I got one of her adorable crochet headbands. It is custom, with a choice of two colors. I just love it.


School is already starting to sink into my head and pick at my brain. Drawing 3 is very independent, and our first assignment is open concept. Aah! I'm still stuck on what surface to use for my concept and critiques start next week. Oh boy. Here it comes.... at least I have my pants. :3

My first No-Sew project.

Remember my post about the Generation T book? Well, I finally took one of my old shirts and put it to good use.

Now, the other day I bought some needles and thread. I'm planning on doing some very easy sewing revamps, like simply cutting a shirt sleeveless and twisting the tops, and also a scarf-shirt. Might even attempt the tunic. But for now, the no sew seems good to me.

I decided to try the Pillow Talk project first. It's meant to be made from an L/XL shirt, but I don't have many of that size; I have a lot of Smalls from when I was in high school. Even if I became super skinny they wouldn't look right on me, so it's time that I upgrade them. I took an old graphic tee (if you shop at Kohl's, it might look familiar) and halfed the sizing directions to compensate for the non-L shirt. The cuts were a bit wonky, but ultimately this was the result:



A cute little pillow with a sassy design! I really like it. It took some time to do all of those knots, but with the Dog Whisperer on, time flew by. I may have to throw some stitches in some places to prevent the fluff from leaking, but it turned out great.

I would very much recommend getting Generation T. Either book would be fine, I just got the cheapest from Amazon at the time. It is fun, very thorough, and very much worth the price considering the money you'd save buying some new clothes/blankets/etc. when you've got old shirts lying around the house!

Feel free to comment with your revamp stories. :)

The 2010 Handmade Olympics!

Over at the amazing rikrakstudio blog, you'll find an event that is a first, in my eyes, for the Etsy blogging world. The 2010 Handmade Olympics! There are over $2000 in prizes!



There are 8, count them, 8 different events, so if one of your items doesn't fit a category, you can try another. The point of this event is to "nominate" one of your items that best falls into any of the categories (you can enter all of them!), as well as nominate another person's item from their shop that really speaks to you of that event. Prizes are involved for the top 3 of EACH event, so imagine winning more than one! There is even a random drawing prize for each comments section. Here are the 8 categories:

{ event 1 } :: our favourite handmade goodie with an innovative design
{ event 2 } :: our favourite handmade goodie for kids
{ event 3 } :: our favourite handmade eco friendly goodie
{ event 4 } :: our favourite handmade item that inspires lovelieness + wellness (in our homes, for ourselves, etc.)
{ event 5 } :: our favourite handmade personality/group forwarding kindness thru handmaking
{ event 6 } :: our favourite thrifty-forward, sustainable-minded blog, shop or site.
{ event 7 } :: our favourite FUN-FILLED handmade OR vintage goodie
{ event 8 } :: our favourite handmaking-focus blog

Please visit and give it a look over, it could change your Etsy shop! I myself have entered one and hope to enter more. I nominated my tea bag prints for event 4, or "items that inspire loveliness and wellness (in our homes, for ourselves, etc.)". So maybe when voting time comes around..? ;)

Happy nominating!

Back in the game.

So, the first week of school has come and gone. To start off Painting II, we did an alla prima of a still life specifically for each of us. I wasn't too happy with mine, but then again, it's hard for a perfectionist like me to feel great about uncompleted paintings, which alla primas essentially are. I forgot to take a snapshot, sorry! (Not that anyone is too interested, hehe.)

Art History class is pure lecture, and frankly, boring to a right-brained individual like myself. I need to be stimulated. At least in my other education class, the teacher is peppy and non-monotone. Oh well, I shall get by.

I've just received a bottle of SkinMD lotion and am very excited to review it! After doing so I'll post a review, which will contain a giveaway for a full-sized bottle, so stay tuned for that. :)

Speaking of giveaways, please check out this lovely lady's blog: A Blonde Walks Into a Blog... She is giving away an IPOD NANO!! Can you believe that? Wow! Don't miss it!

It ends on Febuary 1st, so get those entries in! I wish I had a cool gadget to give away to you lovely readers, but I don't, so that's why I posted this.

World Market.

For those of you who love imported goods, or are looking for some, try to locate a World Market nearest you. They have such wonderful things from accessories, furniture, housewares, and most importantly FOOD. My mother, being a British person, loves this place for its imported British goods. In the past she had to order overseas and paid a lot just for shipping, but World Market saves all that time and money. A great deal, especially their chocolates. Oh boy...

If you're American and have never tried British chocolate, I highly suggest you do. If you've had Cadbury or Milka, it's close to that. But a little more delicious. I'm not a huge fan of Whoppers here in America, and that's mostly due to my love of Maltesers. These yummy choco-pops are balls of honeycomb wrapped in creamy milk chocolate. One of my favorites ever. And they usually have sales, where a bar of Aero chocolate is only $0.75, and a big box of holiday Maltesers got marked down a whopping 90%!

Another thing I love is their accessories. After-holiday sales really end up being the best part of this store. The earrings online are pretty pricey, but in store they're relatively inexpensive and almost borderline exotic. Here is a pair of lovely earrings, a vibrant purple "dreamcatcher" design encased by metal spirals, and guess how much I paid for them? $2.99!! Incredible, huh? Even the original price of $5.99 is a great deal for pretty jewelry like this. Someone in my art class asked about them, and a friend of mine asked if they were from Etsy, haha!

So if you have a store near you, or can handle/really love online shopping, then check out World Market. Really. Right now. :)

Please forgive my slow posting. Now that school is back on track, it'll be hard to keep it daily or every other day, but I shall do my best!

The Lovely Bones.

Well, I can only think of one word to sum this movie up: beautiful.

Beware, though, die-hard book fans. For those of you who cringe at such changes made to adaptations like Harry Potter, Dan Brown novels, Twilight, and so on, you will probably not enjoy the parts of The Lovely Bones book that were not put into the film.

Luckily, I'm not one of these people. Sometimes I don't understand why the changes occur, or why things are left out, but I can still enjoy the movie. Plus, I don't want to "see" word-for-word a book; I like some alterations: same meal, different flavors. Also, Peter Jackson and the cast explained the reasons for leaving out some of the harsh violence and the love affair, and I think it's reasonable. The main message of loss and hope are still prevalent in this gorgeous film.

The flow is coherent and consistent. The music fits so well, and I'm glad "Alice" reappeared during the in-between scenes. Saoirse Ronan's performance is stunning, and the raves about her are not unfounded. This movie really pulls at every string one's heart has. The one scene where a little girl hugs Susie as she looks up and cries made me lurch forward with emotion and tears came out without me wanting them to. The sorrow and pain is strong, but makes the hope and reforming of a family that much sweeter.

I only experienced a problem when the ending credits rolled. You see, I live in Tennessee, and... I'll say no further on that, to avoid offense. But this guy behind me blabbed, "This f***ing sucked." It makes me question whether people comprehend what a trailer is. But regardless, if you're not into films like that of My Sister's Keeper, or artistic dramas in general, this film might not be for you.

With that, I give this a solid 5 out of 5 stars. Highly recommended.

Wednesday Wishlist.

(Because internet window shopping is just as fun, and I'm honestly blank right now about a blog post.)

Fancy Swirls Dark gray leather diary, $32

Faux Boot Legwarmers in black, $49.50

Deco Dragonfly Mug, $25

Shakespeare's Sister, $395

Fawnia Oak Leaf with Aquamarine Glass Beads, $16.80

The Stalker 10x8 black cat print, $27.00

Full Agenda Dress by ModCloth, $47.99

London Fog by Piperlime, $119

What are your Wednesday wishlist items?

Orglamix Giveaway Winner!

Wow, I have to say I'm so impressed with the turnout of my latest giveaway! I'd like to thank Cheri for the opportunity to try her fabulous makeup, and her generosity in holding so many giveaways so others can discover her cosmetic treasures.

I put in the numbers and Random.org spat out..........

184!!
Or Lisa of xMaterialGirlsx.blogspot.com! Congrats!

Lisa has a few blogs, one of them consisting of cosmetic news, coupons, and other giveaways going on specifically for beauty products. Please take a look, you might find giveaways for new makeup you've been after!



I'll be contacting the winner shortly for info. If you didn't win, please don't be discouraged, I'll be holding another giveaway as soon as possible. Thank you for everything!

Pixie cuts.

It's been a while since I've had pretty short hair. I like the look of it: it's so cute and petite. Once upon a time, I thought only long hair would suit me.

I'm thinking about getting a pixie cut. A stylish one, not just cropping short. It's just so hard to find the exact look using Google images and whatnot. It usually just pops up celebrities, and it's either too short or too long. I want the kind of pixie cut that is lengthy, clings to the face, curls a little, you name it. Short and stylish!

Does anyone out there have good photos of themselves or otherwise of great pixie cuts not similar to those of Rhianna, Katie Holmes, Posh Spice, or Sienna Miller? I'd really appreciate it!

Tomorrow I announce the winner of my giveaway, I am so excited! :)

Friday Featurette.

Just a quick little featurette for you fine folks. (...Friday!)

Here comes my first fine artist featurette, dedicated to donnadidit. We were in a chat together and she was very nice to me; she gave me some lighting tips. Her paintings have a lovely, pop art feel to them. Very vibrant and accessible.

Orange Bliss, $54.99

She has original paintings, ACEOs, handbags/totes, and even painted shoes. I definitely am a big fan of her animal paintings.

Boxer, $50.99

Please don't forget about the lovely giveaway & review of Orglamix mineral makeup, just a few posts below. Ends Monday, so don't miss out!

Generation-T book.

I just got my book, Generation T: Beyond Fashion, which is for revamping old shirts. I'm pretty excited about the different tips 'n tricks in this book, though, to my chagrin, only 25% are no sew. As previously stated, I'm no expert sewer. Or even a novice, because I don't even have the tools. ...yet. :)

Some really good no-sews are in this, however. One is to make a pillow. Imagine making a cool pillow from old t-shirts without having to sew! There are also laced gloves, leggings, tank tops, a pinned tunic, and a welcome mat. It just requires good cutting and good knots. In the beginning, Megan Nicoler, the founder of Generation T and author of the books (there is more than one!), goes through different terms and techniques.

Has anyone else used this book to make cool new things, or used other sources? Perhaps you created one yourself? Please share!!

P.S. The snow outside is beautiful. I can even see crystal snowflakes that look like pretty stars. Of course, I got to stay inside all day, so I can't complain about the weather. Oh, winter!

Corgis or Beagles?

There will be a time in the near future when we rent a house. Apartments are just too risky of hosting annoying, inconsiderate neighbors and limitations. Renting a house at affordable prices just makes sense.

Well, along with this is the possibility of finally... FINALLY getting a pet! I've been waiting years for it. I flourish around animals, and I've had cats most of my life; now I want a dog.

So, a question to owners of this breed or dog experts. Corgis or Beagles?

Corgis are, let's face it, downright adorable. They're like little teddy bear puppies! I'm very into the Pembroke Welsh Corgi, which has no tail. The temperament would be good for us: just a young couple, pretty active. They're said to be loyal and very sociable. They're the right size: I don't want a little tiny Chihuahua, nor a huuuuge mastiff. Not boisterous. Love the colors. They're good with kids, which is good if we are to have any in the future, even though it's best to raise both baby and puppy together. Grooming is a mere brushing several times a week, no washing needed unless it gets into something nasty.

Beagles are cute, too. They are friendly and loyal and sociable, as well. I've read that a fence isn't enough, though, since they're quite clever and will find ways to leave if bored. The fact that they're hunters means they can wander during walks, and that trait will have to be stimulated through hunting games, which wouldn't be too hard, but we humans won't always have the free time. I've also read they can bark and howl a lot (usually from boredom or isolation). Barely any odor, unless they roll in crud. Good with kids, a loyal family guard dog. Great colors. Medium size.

It would have to be outside. One reason I've had no pets, especially inside, is because my loved one is very allergic. It's okay at first, but several hours with a fluffy cat and his nose gets bloody. So outside is the key part. Obviously fenced in, or I'd freak out all of the time.

And, thinking on Cesar Millan's techniques, the fact is this: if we went to a shelter, and there was a Corgi and a Beagle puppy, we'd pick the one who was the most calm and submissive (and chooses us), regardless of breed. It'd just be our preference. So, with this said, which breed do you think would be best for us? Which one handles outdoors better?