Somebody's Trash is my New Ring.

 This is proof that the snow is gone and Spring is on its way. Soon enough this garden will be filled with more than just metal fork handle flowers. It is so refreshing to see the grass again and I cannot wait for the flowers and leaves to start blooming.

 This was how my button looked when I found it yesterday on the ground. It was all scuffed up and had dirt in it. After I cleaned it up and added a few more buttons it became a two fingered button ring!

I spent some time today just making these button rings to possibly sell here or there. If not, I'll end up wearing them. They are so simple to make and I think they are perfect for spring which, I am clearly celebrating. I worked more on my blocks today but got distracted by my Better Homes and Gardens magazine. Oh well, Maybe i'll finish more of the blocks this week.

Spring, Odds & Ends.

Today was the first day that it actually felt like spring! I got a lot done today, too. I filled out an application at Jo-Ann Fabrics and got these cute spring buttons while I was there! I'm so excited to actually have some cute buttons to work with now. Hopefully I'll get some rings made tomorrow. I also did a lot of grocery shopping today and am all excited about all the healthy food I get to eat these next two weeks. I have more options now than just baby carrots and celery. 

I also got tons of ingredients for baked goods. I just love making them and giving them to people I run into. These are oatmeal chocolate chip cookies. I made another baking sheet with little ones on it. This way, I can have one without feeling totally guilty.

This is the fabric for my next set of 12 squares for the block swapper's club. I'm not sure if I'm in love with it yet but, like i said my fabric collection is running low. I can't wait to see this quilt come together. I get back my first swapped squares this weekend! 

I am so excited for Spring I just can't wait to go for a walk and start my garden. I just got my Better Homes and Gardens in the mail today and it is the "Garden Edition" so, I can't wait to start my first garden. 

Button Rings & Owl Pillows.

Today, I made these cute little button rings! They take about two minutes each to make. I love the simplicity of them and how you have the freedom to combine colors and sizes. All you do is wrap the wire around something the size of your finger about three times , I used a giant wooden knitting needle, and then put the buttons in the left over wire, trim the wire, and curl the ends in however you want. I literally only had about 4 buttons left in my button bag. Like I said, i really need to go button shopping but, Its not exactly yard sale season yet and I'm too cheap to go to Jo Ann's since my budget is nonexistent. I just adore these and how simple they are to make. I plan to make more in the future. It is a good project for sitting in the car or waiting at the doctor's office. 

  I also finished this owl pillow, finally. I had the front and the back cut out and sitting on my sewing machine for almost two weeks. I had just enough time today to finish cutting the pieces and put it all together. Once again, this is made completely out of recycled sweaters. I really like the little flower detail on the front of it. I wish I could have used bigger non-matching buttons for the eyes but I'm out of button choices. This was another quick and easy project, though. I am almost out of stuffing for pillows, too. This means that I need to go shopping before I start making more pillows and pin cushions.  At least my first owl pillow has a friend now. I don't know if I am ready to experiment with making other animals out of recycled sweaters yet. I feel sort of attached to the little owls and they are so unique. I can't even think of which animal I might make if I decide to expand my pillow animal horizons....maybe a little pig or a cow. If I make a cow I imagine I'd make it out of browns and greens. It would be a little patch work cow. I'm not a big fan of classic blacks and whites. I really love how the colors of the owls tie in with the shades of my bed...and even my painting. That quilt at the end of my bed was my first quilt. I recently made the matching pillow case to go with it. The owl pillow has almost the exact same shades as the throw pillow on the right...which was completely unplanned. Maybe I should experiment with more colors, too. Then again, I'm practically in love with these natural hues.

Incredibly Busy

I haven't posted in so long because I've been insanely busy and my internet was down for the past week. We had to wait for a new router to come in the mail. I finally finished my incense holder that I've been working on. Here is the sketch for it; it turned out differently than I first imagined. This is usually how I work though and I like it better that way. If i change the plan constantly and make creative decisions along the way I usually end up happier with my final result than with my original idea.The assignment for my sculpture class was to create a piece inspired by the animal kingdom. This is where the tentacles came into play. I started taking belly dancing classes with my mom and that is what inspired the Indian style pose. 

     I am really happy with the results, especially the colors of the tentacles. I'm not as happy with the facial expression, though. I also decided it would be better with the incense through the hands instead of the stomach but, next time I need to remember to make sure that the hole is angled upwards.

My mom wants me to make her one except she wants hers to be an elephant. I might make it if I have time before school ends. I have been trying to create practical sculpture pieces instead of just trinkets and paper weights. I'm in the process of making a jewelry holder out of a hand mold of my hands together. This weekend was my first weekend of the Block Swapper's Club swap and now I get to start working on my next 12 blocks! This coming week I have a lot to do academically but, I'd like to get some quilting done and finish my next owl pillow. We'll see what this week's schedule holds. Keep creating!