Are you hungry yet? Today, I'm mixing baking and crafting all in one post for this week's Play Date Cafe Challenge. This week's color story includes - Evergreen, Olive, Smoke, and Cherry Blossom. I made these items to add to a birthday gift box for a friend. I even used a shredder to make some paper shavings to add to the box as well. The doily tag was made using the fun "I'm Nutty 4 U" Gel-a-tins stamp. I also made some homemade walnut chocolate chip cookies. The stamp fits in perfectly with the cookie treats. I placed each one in a small cellophane bag & dressed it up with a colorful flower. This project is easy peasy and so great for gift giving. Gel-a-tins is our wonderful sponsor this week. Be sure to link up on the PDCC blog. And remember, your project can be anything crafty just as long as it follows this week's color story! Have fun & Happy Crafting!
What does Hank Dyeing mean? A very unique dyeing process in which colour penetration is maximized and the yarns retain a softer,...
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So, I gave you all the opportunity to ask questions of me. Anything you were wanting to know...and I have to tell you girls, you have made me laugh out loud so many times this past week while I was reading your comments and emails! Seriously, how do you come up with some of this stuff?? It was so much fun reading through each and every question...and secretly I am glad to know I am not the only one that has weird and totally random thoughts about just who the girl is behind the blog I am reading. So in the interest of keeping it real, here are the honest...and sometimes totally bizarre...and maybe even boring...answers to your questions. Now remember - I said these are honest answers. So don't judge! This post is dedicated to the questions of a "personal" nature...so we will call this part one of the "Useless Information about the Urban Farmgirl" post. Still to come are the answers to your questions on my business...and my personal favorite...my decorating style. So, lets just dig right in, shall we? Where on earth have I been lately? I apologize for my lack of posts, I really didn't think anyone would miss lil' ol me...so thank you for making a girl feel good! Where shall I start?? For the most part, I have been buried under a pile of furniture and had to paint my way out. After my first show of the season I was hit with about a dozen custom orders so have been working way more than I like to when the weather is so nice outside! Other than that, I have been trying to finish the reno of my sunroom so I can give you the down low on the before and after, clean my house, install new landscaping around my house since I tore out the old in haste when we bought this place, finsih the office reno I started months ago, learn the new fancy camera I bought so I can actually take a photo on something other than the standard setting, get 70-80 pieces of furniture painted for my June show that is next weekend, paint new bedroom furniture for myself, make dinner every night...oh and I just returned Sunday night from a week long junking roadtrip across the Midwest. Whew! I am tired just writing that! I think I may have a plate that is a little too full now that I see it in black and white. If you could have only one room in which to live, and only one piece of furniture in that room, and only one color with which to paint, only one magazine or book to read, and only one food you could eat . . . what would they be? Room - my bedroom. Piece of furniture - bed. Color to paint with - white, Cloud White to be exact. One magazine or book to read - ONE?? I need my giant stack of decorating magazines or I would just curl up and die. One food to eat - Cheeseburger with everything from Portillos (you Chicago girls will know what I mean!) . Do I make my bed every day? (I can't believe how many of you wanted to know this one!) I try, and most days I do. As crazy as it sounds, I swear I sleep better when I get into a made bed at night. Just one of my "quirks" I guess. I just seems to make the whole day go smoother when it starts out in an organized fashion...and to me that means fluffed pillows and a down comforter folded at the end of my bed. Go figure. What are your 3 favorite smells? Dryer sheets, sun tan lotion and my husband's cologne. And I have a serious thing for walking past the Abercrombie store at least 3 times while I am at the mall just so I can suck in that heavenly scent they pump out of there. Whatever that smell is, if it was in my home I would never leave. Ever. Have you ever had an encounter with a celebrity? I have had a few, actually. But I have one that will nag me for the rest of eternity. Some of you may already know of my Elvis-like love for Kenny Chesney. I totally understand the obsession people had with Elvis. Now let me clarify...it is the music...I am not one of those crazy women that wishes to be the next Mrs. Kenny Chesney or anything like that...but his music can instantly take me away. To another time, another places and to memories I thought were long forgotten. And I am not talking about his radio hits, those are meant to appeal to the masses and all have a bit of a party vibe. Now, I love those as much as the next Kenny fan, but it is the music that has never hit the airwaves that really gets me. His songs about high school, small towns, freedom in your life, following your life's dream and appreciating where you came from. If you have not heard anything from him other than whats on the radio...please get a cd and listen. I doubt you will be disappointed. Anywhoo...on to my "encounter". I was working one day at our local YMCA. (for the benefit of the free membership that I somehow never found the time to use.) It was a boring Thursday, hardly anyone was working out that day. I was sitting at the front desk, and a good looking man walked up to me and asked if there were towels available he and his friends could use. I recited the rehearsed and well-used line..."I'm sorry, those are just for members of our "special" locker room. You have to pay to be a member of that locker room, then you can use the towels. Otherwise you need to bring your own". He was polite and said "Oh, ok...thank you"...turned around and said "Kenny, they don't have any towels we can use" and left. That tall drink of water was David Farmer, his tour manager. Those big blue eyes are now burned into my memory. I was speechless. I was numb. I wanted to just fall on the floor and die. I had no idea that the man standing in the middle of a circle of good looking men with beautiful southern accents was Mr. Kenny Chesney himself. I refused Kenny a towel!? ME??? The girl that listens to him tirelessly every day of her life, and knows what song of his is playing just by hearing the first note?? I would have dried the man's sweat myself!!...all while thanking him for allowing me 2 minutes and 54 seconds of pure bliss while I listen to Boston, Old Blue Chair, No Where to Go No Where to Be, Be As You Are, The Life...I could have gone on and on. And the kicker? I knew he was in town! I had tickets to see him that night. How could I not put together the tour bus in the parking lot with the southern accents??. Geesh. I am hopelessly a dork. What is your favorite travel destination? Oooh...that is a tough one! I am girl that has a serious case of wander-lust! For me traveling in a need...not just a want. I can't pick just one, so I will give you my top 5 within the United States. I fell in love with Sedona, AZ last year and I can't wait to go back. It is ridiculously beautiful there - the desert is gorgeous. Santa Barbara, CA is at the top of my list, too. I love going "Up North" (that is what we Illinoisans call Wisconsin) with my family. It is such a great time when we rent a cabin on a lake and spend all week swimming at the beach, riding the jet-skis, fishing and hanging out by the fire. I am never more relaxed than I am when I am there. Maybe it is because there is no cell-service and no internet! I love the vibe of Washington DC, it is a perfect escape for a long weekend. And of course, Disneyworld. Call me crazy, but I love that place. Especially at night, and I LOVE going with my sisters because we laugh so stinkin' hard the whole time we are there. Did you play a sport in High School? Yes, I was on the team of every sport my school offered for girls which was Vollyball, Basketball and Track. Volleyball was my first love...I am tall and could really jump back then so loved playing the middle hitter position. Basketball kept me in shape, and in Track I was a jumper...not a runner. I did the High Jump and really loved the Long Jump. I was so tall and skinny back then so I could really fly! Ahhh...I now know the meaning of the phrase "those were the days"! Are you a glass half-emplty or half-full girl? Ooohh, SueAnn...thank you for asking this one! This is one of those questions that really makes you accountable. you know? On a normal day, I am a "glass half-full" girl". I totally believe in making it happen, o matter what the task at hand is. I have to be honest, though there are times that I work soooo much...and I can't say no to anyone or anything...so I get a little overwhelmed and I totally become that "glass half-empty" girl. Ugh. It is an ugly trait and I am working on making that one better! If a movie were made about your life, who would you want to play "you"? Sanrda Bullock. I love everything about her. What movie charater are you most like? Most recently, when the movie Blindside was out, I got bombarded with phone calls and text messages saying "Oh my gosh, you are sooooo Leighanne Tuohy (the mom from the movie). I am not sure if that is a flattering comparison, but I guess I see a little resemblance. I am totally a grab life by the boot straps and make it happen kind of girl, but without the cool southern accent. Do I like to cook?YES! I love it, actually. It is just the two of us, but I make dinner...from scratch...every night. Nothing out of a box, and everything as fresh and organic as I can. It takes a little planning and prep time, but for me it is so worth it. Crazy, right? We just eat the leftovers for lunch. Tomorrow it is enchiladas if anyone would like to stop by for dinner! Do you think you will ever move out of the Midwest? Hmmm...that is a tough one. I really am a Midwest girl at heart. I love the change of seasons, but I wish the cold ones wouldn't last so long! My husband and I travel quite a bit, so I get my fill of other areas of the country that way. We love to explore the world, but at the end of the trip we are both always so glad to be home. We live in a perfect location for us. We are in a city that is not too large, not too small...we are an hour from a major airport which makes travel easy since we do that often. We do plan on living part of the year in another location after my husband retires. It won't be the same location every year, but we plan on living part of the year in various places around the US. But I do dream daily of living in a little beach town in California. I have had that dream for as long as I can remember. What is the happiest thing in the world I could wake up and discover? Geesh, these questions are tough! I had to decide on this one if I should go humanitarian and say something like "the happiest thing would be world peace" or totally shallow and say "waking up to find that I once again wear size 6 jeans". Sorry girls, I gotta keep it real. So I am going for the jeans. Am I a Martha Stewart fan? Yes. And no. The empire she has built is amazing! Can you believe she sleeps only 3 hours a night? Yikes! I would be crabby and a tad bit bossy, too I guess! I am always impressed by her attention to detail and how she was the leader in making women know it was ok to love your home and not apologize for wanting to make it something you love and enjoy. And I love, love, love all the crafty ideas she offers on her website. The style of her "wares" is totally me. Simple. Practical. And with just a tiny hint of retro style. However, I find her to be a little "stiff" which is totally opposite of me! She would be appaled at my dry sense of humor and casual approach to everything. I have a feeling we would not be BFF's if we were ever stuck on a deserted island together. Then again, she could probably built a yacht out of twigs and coconut shells and get us off that island all while narrating how she does it with perfect grace and style. Hmmmm... Do I have a lucky number? Why yes, I do! It is the number 8. Every major event in my life seems to revolve around the number 8. Weird, I know but my husband and I are always amazed how it works out like that. I think it all started because I am the 8th child in my family. I collect vintage number 8s, so if anyone out there has an old metal one looking for a new home...drop me an email! Do I wake up to a buzzer or radio? Neither one. I could not even tell you how to set the alarm on our clock. Since I stopped working in the "real world" 10 years ago, I totally ignore the time and wake up naturally. My friends with kids hate me for this reason. But, let me clarify and say I never sleep in. I feel guilty all day if I oversleep. I have a serious hatred for wasting precious minutes of life sleeping. Wait - didn't I just talk about something like this in a previous Martha Stewart question? Oh man, is that the road I am going down now? How often to I vacuum? This one cracks me up! I don't think anyone has ever asked me that! I don't have a stitch of carpet in my house, but I do have a dog and 2 cats, so technically I need to do it every day. But realistically...it is every 2-3 days. I even have a Roomba. Have you ever tried one? You know the little round vacuum that goes around your house by itself. Totally worth every stinkin' penny. I have tried a lot of vacuums, and I would serioulsly do an infomercial for the Roomba if they called me. It is amazing what that little thing picks up! Do you have any brothers and sisters? I do! Lots of them, actually. I have 4 brothers and 3 sisters and I am the youngest. I remember my grade school principal asking me on my last day of 5th grade if I was sure there were not any more kids at home. He had one kid from our family in his grade school every year, for his whole career. He retired that summer. Ironic? I'm not sure. Well girls, that seems long enough for one day. Stay tuned...more answers to your questions to come this week! (photos via my favorite website in the whole world...style me pretty)
Even if youve never heard of shibori before, you have likely encountered it in the wild. Learn all about this Japanese indigo tie dye inside
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Vintage wood offering plates from Bali. Priced individually
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Traditional and contemporary African designs When most people think of African fabrics, the first thing that comes to mind is African wax print. Traditional - because they've been sold in African markets since the industrial revolution and many of the original designs are still popular today. Contemporary - because today's designers are creating new patterns to reflect modern tastes, as well as putting a contemporary spin on traditional designs. All 100% cotton, made in Ghana by GTP and ATL. We do not sell Chinese copies of African wax prints. Dressmaking/craft weight: 150 grams per metre, approximately. Fabrics are 115 cm / 45 in wide, approximately. Fat Quarters are 50 x 57 cm / 20 x 22 in, approximately. Ordering lengths: African wax print fabric is cut into lengths in the factory and a paper label is stuck onto it near one end. We do not send out fabric with that label on it. Therefore, the longest single uncut length we can offer is 4.5 metres. If you order more than 4.5 metres, your fabric will come in more than a single piece. If in doubt, please contact us. Per Fat Quarter: £4.20 Per metre: £16.80 More: About African wax print About African wax print As we point out in our book African Wax Print: A Textile Journey - 'African wax print fabric is a defining methaphor of African design, fashion and expression; an immediately recognisable icon throughout the world'. Quite simply, it just says, 'Africa.' All over - but especially West and Central Africa - wax print fabric is worn by women, men and children of every social standing, from humble farmers to elite politicians. It is tailored into elaborate dresses and suits and also worn as a simple wrapper or pagne. The designs range from distinctively African motifs rooted in history to wacky object-based prints such as shoes, fans, bicycles - almost anything. Wax print production has always been complex and expensive. In the early days, wax was used to create a resist before dyeing the fabrics in industrial quantities. Some designs also required overprinting by hand using wooden printing blocks. The character of wax print The original wax resist method gave the fabric its characteristic irregularities: a slight misalignment of colour and design plus, a distinctive crackle effect caused by tiny cracks in the resist We call these irregularities the perfect imperfection. Today, cheap Chinese copies of wax print flood the African market, often smuggled across borders tax free. To compete, the few surviving African producers have simplified production. Some designs still use a resist, with resin replacing wax. Other designs are now screenprinted using sophisticated industrial technology that replicates the characteristics of wax print. We do not sell Chinese fabrics. All of our wax print is made in Ghana, either by Vlisco-owned GTP or ATL. Using African wax print Genuine African wax print is very robust and stands up to years of washing. It's great for colourful and distinctive clothing. Many creative and innovative textile artists are using wax print in their quilts and wallhangings. The images shown here are from our book 'African Wax Print: A Textile Journey'. Model shows off African wax print fabric. Image courtesy of A Brunnschweiler & Co. In Africa, African wax print fabric is everywhere. Image © Robert Irwin. The characteristic 'crackle' of African wax print fabric. Flying Ducks © Magie Relph Also available More fabric: African Wax Print Indigos Our acclaimed book: African Wax Print: A Textile Journey Plus: Vintage printing blocks from ABC Manchester "Fascinating... a major step forward in telling the tale of African wax prints." John Gillow - textiles collector and author of African Textiles: Colour and Creativity Across a Continent.
Find Blue Wild Indigo (Baptisia australis) in Detroit Ann Arbor Dearborn Royal Oak Bloomfield Michigan MI at English Gardens (False Indigo)
Sarah Nixon helps us hunt, gather and create. The prettiest ornaments of the season can be foraged wreaths, made with greenery from your own backyard.
