Stop Motion Embroidery

I have been wanting to make a stop motion of sorts for awhile now, so when I was asked to do "Life of an Item" for my Etsy Lab Rats, I decided I would do such a thing. I spent a few hours taking a picture after picture, while make two stitches. It was quite fun to see finished. My husband played the little ditty that goes along with it.

I also share my process at www.etsylabrats.blogspot.com.
Okay I must relax now! Have a great Tuesday.

Cleaning out the cupboards and experiments...

I did some cleaning out of the cupboards this weekend, it was a disaster in there. So I realized it was time. While I was cleaning I found a whole stash of vintage cups I had collected when I lived in California. I used to find the best little dishes when I live in Orange. Most of my dish sets I found when I lived there. So I decided I would take some pics of the. I sat them on one of my gingham t.v. trays. I also found my vintage porcelain tea cups and saucers. They are my absolute favorite. The are so finely painted. I can't wait to get a vintage hutch or wall cupboard to keep these out for display. I just want to have a fancy little tea party. Maybe when the girls get a little bit older.

Today was my first day back to teaching. Let's just say it was a looonnng day. Just getting used to getting up earlier, getting everyone back into our routine, getting used to noone taking naps, momma's tired. We started Chemistry this year. We decided that our first project would be to make rock candy. My son had so much fun making these. We tinted them a light green. We have slowly watched them crystlize over the day. It takes about a week to get a full stick.
I have so many new projects I'm working on that I can't wait to share once I make the finishing touches. I also am super excited to share a special project I did for my Labrats team. I will share it on my blog once they post it.
Okay I'm going to sit outside and unwind with a Coke Zero. Have a great evening.
P.S.
Has anyone started any good books? I'm working on Brave New World, and I'm going to start "Anne of Green Gables." How bout you?

Movies Again....

So recently in order to cut back and just get rid of unneeded expenses we decided it was time to cut cable. I know, I know, how in the world can one live without cable. I mean, what else is there to do. Really I have thought this way before. But I have realized that I would rather spend my money on other things I enjoy more. I don't want to spend another night watching World Worst Criminals,"Busted in the Buff." So to get the family to agree with this idea I told them we could do netflix. I mean 52 dollars down to 13 dollars, yeah I'll take that anyday. So we started up our queue. I have been wanting to see "The Out of Towners" with Jack Lemmon and Sandy Dennis for sometime, so I was excited to get to watch it. It just makes me laugh hysterically at how many things could possible go wrong. They go to a church in hopes that they can pray that things will get better, and they are even told to leave because they are filming for an easter service. They get mugged, kidnapped, chip a tooth, well the list goes on. The actress Sandy Dennis is so hilarious. If you have netflix check this one out.
We may go to a art festival today. What are you up to? Have you seen any good flicks?

Routine

This summer I feel like I have really gotten just lazy and out of my routine. Which can be a good thing, I mean I did let myself do alot of relaxing this summer, but... I need to get back on a schedule next week. I start teaching my kiddos on Monday, and I need to get more subjects in , and start teaching my second little one. I started at ten last year, but this year we need to start at nine. This means, yes, going to bed a heck of alot earlier. I mean there are nights where I don't go to bed until 1:00 a.m. and then I'm dragging myself out of bed. I really want to start going to bed no later then 11 and being up by 7. This is hard for me, because I'm not a morning person. But in order to start by 9, I got to get myself going. You see, I cannot concentrate until my house is clean. And I don't feel myself until I have exercised. So I need to fit those in before school. I used to be good way back when, before kids, to get myself to bed at a good time so that I could work in the morning. Well when I started having kiddos, and I was up all different hours of the night, I got used to being up late, and it has stuck like this for 7 years. Now I must finally kick the late night train.
So I haven't shown any Etsy love in awhile so here we go.

I love , love this adorable "Rabbit Purse" by Scotatto.
Check out these adorable prints by Blancucha's. I love the colors and the sixties feel to the pieces.

This next etsian I discovered over on Flickr, and her outfit re-do's are amazing, not to mention her pics and color choices are ace. Check out "Young Captive."

And I would feel so cool with these pencils from
"Paperpastries."

Well I'm off! Have a super Thursday!

"Ping Pong" is his name, catching crickets is his game..

I have been wanting to take pics of my son's toad for some time, and today he was in the perfect position for some really cool pictures. He is a "fire-bellied toad." He has the prettiest orangish red belly to scare away all of his predators in the wild. This guy loves his crickets. And he is really good at catching them. My son keeps him on his bookshelf so he can soak in the sun as it comes through the window. Thats all for today!

Weekend Movies

We had a sorta movie weekend where we didn't feel like doing anything. Our Friday night we decided it was 80's night and we watched "Lost Boys." I remember seeing this when I was younger. I like it just the same, except for the gruesome parts, ugh(but they are vampires). I'm not one for horror movies at all, but this one is a bit cheesy, so I can do with that.
Saturday night we decided we would watch the movie "Once." I have talked about this one before, we have seen it, but haven't watched since we bought it on dvd. I love it so much. You find yourself singing or humming along through most of the movie.

Okay and I just have to talk about the movie documentary coming out about Joaquin Phoenix called " I'm still here." I am so intrigued by the preview. I love documentaries but this preview leaves you puzzled and wanting to see more. I can't wait to see this.

I made this today!

And I used my favorite vintage blue glass cake plate. Can't wait to eat it after dinner.

Friday!

Have you ever heard of Warby Parker. I was looking at my flickr this morning when I saw the most adorable glasses with a link. So I checked it out, and I was super excited. They make afforadable glasses with free shipping and prescription lenses for free. And the glasses are 95 dollars, score. But not the best part yet. Everytime you buy a pair of glasses, they give a pair of glasses away to someone in need. Totally awesome huh? I totally want these glasses!

I love glasses. I have worn glasses ever since I was a toddler. So I have gone through many pairs. My husband loves glasses too. He didn't wear them when we first met, but a couple of years after we were married he needed them, and I have never seen someone more excited to have to wear glasses. He has a pair right now that are John Lennonesque that he looks quite cute in! I need to get new one's soon, so I have been on the hunt for the perfect frame. But I'm loving the Warby Parker glasses!
I have been doing some cross stitching lately. I plan on getting a whole mess of christmas gifts done early this year, and then I don't have to worry about them during the christmas season. I am all about the homeade gifts. I don't like all the mass produced stuff that they try to get us to buy every year. I treasure any handmade gift I recieve because I know that it came from that person's hands and they put alot of thought and love into making it. I have so many special handmade blankets that family have made, that my kids treasure and I do as well. Well I hope you have a great weekend! T.G.I.F. (I love to say that because its cheesy and funny at the same time).

If I went back to school...This is what I would bring

These adorable Tommy Hilfiger glasses.

Plaid bows!

A Hello Kitty lunch box!

And all kinds of food erasers!

And I just think these are funny, a little potty humor if you will!
Have a great Thursday!

Your Beauteous

As a kid I was a fan of "Ren and Stimpy." If you have never watched "Flapjack" on cartoon network, you will find it hilarious. It has some of the same similarities to Ren and Stimpy. The grossness, and just childish teenage humour. My husband and I laugh hysterically at it. This song make me crack up when I first saw it.

Finally Done.. And Some Shopping Fun!

So I finally finished Simplicity 2447. It was a whiz to make, but I had to go and change some things on it. I decided I wanted to do it sleeveless, and extend the length to make it into a dress. I then didn't like the straight fit, potato sack, so I added elastic to bring the waist in. Overall I like, I just think with the elastic it made the top a bit more puffy. It is cute and comfortable. Oh and yes I'm planning on putting a cute skinny belt around the waist.
If you are a fan of Threadless T's this is the week to buy a tee. Most , if not all, are $10 dollars, with just $5 dollar shipping. I had to buy a couple. These are the one's I ordered.

I love the sewing tools coming to life. It's here.
And I couldn't pass this one up with "Mr. Mittens' Big Adventures." I love love the colors.

Their tees go so fast. There were severall that I would have loved, but they are gone zippy.
Happy Tuesday!

Gingham and plaid

I love gingham and I love plaid. I have talked about this many times, but as fall is approaching I get excited to see different styles for the fall. Check a few out.




I made a buffalo plaid shirt from a Built by Wendy pattern, about a year ago, and I absolutly love it. I was going through all my handmade shirts and doing a gentle cleaning on them. I did quite a bit of shirt sewing last year, so my fall wardrobe has alot of homeade goodies to wear. Here's a few.






I am still working on my dress that I shared a few weeks back. Just need to get the buttons on. Have a great Thursday!

Middle of the Week Music

I love listening to music when I am running, crafting, or even just cooking in the kitchen. One band (Sam Beam) I have liked for some time is "Iron and Wine." My husband saw them live, and I have their t-shirt, close enough huh? Anyways , check out this video that was made on an elevator, a part of a series that records artists on an elevator.

Cool idea, yeah?
I thought I would throw in some of my fave finds on Etsy as of recent.
I have talked about "the pinpals" before and all their amazing cross stitch and artwork, but check out these wonderful necklaces!


I'm loving these vintage animal inspired pillows by "Vintage Jane."


I'm loving these new crochet necklaces by "Blue Bird Vintage."

Have a great Wednesday!

I love thoughtful gifts

My husband's family knows me pretty well by now, at least 12 years, so when it comes to gift giving they are the best. I mean around the holidays they gave me like a 30 dollar gift card to Godiva, I mean come on, now if thats not me, what is? I have an amazing vintage toy collection, thanks to them as well. Well this visit, my mother-in-law brought me a vintage Barbie Wedding paper doll set from the eighties. I love it. And she also brought me a book about Barbies through the 80's and 90's. It brought back so many childhood memories.


I totally had this Barbie as a little girl.

My husbands grandmother, made me the most amazing cookie jar. She is a ceramics teacher, and she made this for me! I absolutely love, love, the colors. I want to live in the cookie jar. Can I?

I'm back!

I had such a wonderful week with family. I did a whole lot of relaxing, eating, and some shopping. I scored a few finds that I wanted to share.
The first being, we went to the Zappos outlet in Shepherdsville, Kentucky. I go down the aisles over and over. I was almost ready to leave, when I started looking at the ten dollar wall. Well everything in the store is half off the ticketed price, so they were in fact $5 dollars. Aaagh! I love the Bass saddle shoes and we I found these I nearly flipped.


We did a little flea market shopping as well. I love cross stitch, and well I am thrilled anytime I find vintage craft books. I love the colors and pics in these so much.

We celebrated my sons 7th birthday this week. I made some cupcakes with the funnest blue icing. He wanted a frog for his birthday, so we got a "Fire bellied toad." I will have to take pics, he's quite beautiful.


Well , I'm off to play Trouble. Have a super Monday!

Lab Rats Treasuries

I have been a little obsessed with making treasuries on Etsy. I am a proud member of the Etsy Lab Rats team, and we are making treasuries using our fellow members items. It has been too much fun! And check
it out!
The first one I did was title "Berry Sweet." When I think of summer and it winding to an end, I always think of freshly picked berries.

The second treasury I did was titled, " Shades of Fall." I love fall. It is absolutely my favorite season. Pumpkin patches, wagon rides, jackets, cute shoes, I just love it all.

I may be MIA this week, as we have family in town. I can't wait!