BliNg bLoCK

 

 

Definition: When you have bling, but cannot decide what to attach it to.

 

 

 

 

I did not know that BLING BLOCK was real.  Yes I have experienced bling block.  I did not think I would have an issue on NOT knowing what to attach bling to but I did.  I have some bling........all sizes........ and cannot decide where to stick it.  Now, rather than keep sitting in a corner staring at a pile of miscellaneous stuff that could be blinged, I decide to get motivated.

 

Now keep in mind motivation does not just happen.  Granted for years I would sit and wait for it, much like a child looking out the window waiting for the mail man to bring that Birthday card from grandma.  But through psychology I learned early on that "action creates motivation".  Think in terms of your job.  You can't sit there and wait to be motivated to answer a phone or type a memo.  It's something that needs to be done, so you MUST get started and do it. 

 

This concept being that it is so simple and makes so much sense still boggles my mind.  How dumb we can be if we wait for opportunity.  The thing to do is MAKE our opportunity.  Each day we can take baby steps towards this, and learn as we go. 



Blinged Up Camo Hat

MERRY CHRISTMAS  2013

Another Christmas behind me, and as always it's the best day of the year when it's all done.  Our son came home Dec. 21 so this year was especially a time of celebration to see him and how he's changed over the past year.  Though we would have liked very much to spend this Christmas in sunny Southern Nevada we couldn't make it this year.  Next year will be our Christmas in the sun.

Now onto the blinged out camo hat.  I made this two weeks ago, but because it was a gift I couldn't post it until today.  This was such a fun project and blew me away when it was all done.  This hat I bought at the local Army Surplus store, then bought Swarovski crystals to bling it out.  My mom having never worn any camo, I figured this was a good way to break her in.  She wanted a hat with a cross on it, but didn't really like others she has seen.  So this was my inspriation to try a new hobby of bling.  Yes I love it, and now that Christmas is over I will be buying lots of crystals to bling out some other items I have. 

Also, in the next few days I'll be posting photos of the quilts me and my mom made for my son and husband, they turned out great.  I also have two that are for sale I'll be posting, as well as putting them in my Luulla store. 

Hotfix VS. Glue, What To Do?

Hotfix VS. Glue, What To Do?

This is good advise coming from someone's long term personal experience.  I'm new to bling, but am getting going on this new fun hobby.

Heat-n-Bond

 

Ok, just finished some Christmas gifts and wrapped up a Birthday present for my mom.  So, this was the first time using the Heat n Bond, and I LOVE IT!!!  This stuff is awesome, and if you use the red package you don't have to sew it.  This is really kewl because it sticks on fabric like superglue.   Another surprise was not only how easy it is to use, but it doesn't turn hard like old bonding material used to. 

 

Also, you can cut it out on a Cricut machine after you've attached it to fabric.......cuts like paper.  Very kewl stuff, used it on pot holders and kitchen towels.  Granted that's risky with the abuse they will take, but it'll be a good test for sure.

 

Now onto on to other projects.  This may conclude my sewing for Christmas, not sure.  



 

"NFL Doo Rags"

Are these Doo Rags or Dew Rags?  I have no clue........  Anyway....

So far so good for Christmas preparations.  These are two NFL doo rags I made as Christmas gifts.  I hate venturing out the malls, and hate the price retailers charge for NFL items so I made these myself.  They consisted of only 4 pieces of fabric.  Having a serger made the process much easier.  I think now that I've done these two, making more in the future will be much faster.  I also plan on making a couple tree ornaments, NFL of course.  These should last a good while having double stitching on them.  I am not a sports fan so these will probably be it.

This is where I got my pattern from:  http://www.christianityoasis.com/Crafts/DewRag.htm

So this is my most recent craze.......BLING.  I know, I know...........how gawdy.  But, it was such fun to make and spruce up a boring mirror compact.  I used cheapy acrylic stones first just to see if it is something I'd like to do more of.  I can see how some can get hooked on this fun hobby.  You can add bling to ANYTHING!  I will be stepping up to Swarovski crystals for all future projects.  I have some beautiful ideas for Christmas gifts and to put some for sale on my Luulla shop. 

I also added a little bling to my recycled Smith & Wesson T-shirt, it looks awesome!

With Halloween being next Thursday I have been inspired to make some bead spiders.  This one here is my first one, and my husband wants to keep it for his own.  So I will be making a few more to play with color and sizes.  I also finished two of my fun Halloween plaques using my cricut and the cricut craft room free software they offer weekly.  I have some other project planned for Christmas gifts that I really need to get a jump start on.  I am excited to feel the motivation, though this is backwards meaning that "action creates motivation." 

Has anyone played with the Cricut Craft Room lately?  Every since lucking out and getting the kewl Halloween freebie of the week last month, I've not seen anything as fun.  I check it every week hoping there will be something I can use, but so far nothing.  It was fun for vinyl cutting, the cricut works as well if not better than some commercial plotters I've worked with.

I view Pinterest.com a time or two each week.  It seems that only once in a while you see something fresh and new.  Though I do think I'll try making some beaded spiders to see how cute they turn out.  Would love to sell some, but this close to Halloween I may be to late, we'll see.

With Christmas around the corner I need to get at least one quilt top finished and sent off to my mom so she can quilt it on her big machine.  Would like to do a second one......and may, but we will see.

We are still working on our Hotdog wagon, but may not be in action until after Christmas.

It is now October and well.........  the summer was one of surprises...  has some real curve balls.  But in the end I try to wear a happy face and look at the positives and keep faith by believing all will work for the common good and have a wonderful outcome in the end. 

Our "Zombie Gore'me" is still a work in process having to deal with local county health department on just passing our construction inspection.  This means that we have to get our trailer to their specifications before we can open for business.  So though our trailer is new with all new equipment and was approved in the next county, our county wants different things.  Of course none of this is cheap.  But we have to install a secure screen to keep flys out....... which is fine though no taco truck around follows this.  We however will abide by the rules and just install a window.  Then we have water tanks that are in need of replacement, though ours are new, they have to be ONE tank, cannot be two separate tanks.  Then of course sealing cracks inside with caulking and buying a culinary hose. 

I say REALLY!  Then will you leave us alone and get this business going?  Probably not......  but though money is pretty much non existent right now, we're doing what we can to get quotes and time frames of getting finished.  So an official open date is now up in the air.  If our winter is not to horrible we may be able to open sooner than March, but you never can tell.

Also, now started my last psychology class, which will leave me with only two classes left to have my BS-psychology degree.  I am ready for  this journey to be over, but am so glad I stuck with it to achieve a goal on my bucket list. 

I have been having fun recently with my Cricut Expression.  I recently logged onto my cricut.com website where you get to cut free items for a week, and it changes every Wednesday.  I ended up being able to cut a lot of Halloween items and did not have to buy a cartridge.  I look forward to trying it with fabric next.  As soon as I get a project finished I'll post pictures.

This is pretty much what I've been up to since August.......  It's been up and down, but we'll keep moving forward.

www.zombiegoreme.com
So, this has turned into the summer project 2013.  What a process with finding a suitable concession unit, finding a commissary (which was easy), and then waiting ........  Yes, waiting for the health dept. to provide us with our inspection date, then there is the business license we wait for after we find a permanent location.  Then sorting through all the local city requirements.  Now in Northern Utah each city requires a separate license, which is crazy, frustrating, and expensive.  But..........  that's a part of the business!  By now many would have surely gone broke or given up, such as the people we bought this unit from.  I think they found the expense and time was to much just to get started.    We are starting later than we had hoped, but look forward to having as much fun as we can and still make a decent profit.  We are NOT a taco concession, just providing good old fashioned all beef hot dogs.......

We are still working normal jobs while getting this started, which helps, but again maybe it also hinders...........  don't know.  I plan on updating regularly, maybe even on a new blog that just talks about this lil' business venture.

So I took an hour and made my mom this eye cover out of scraps.  On the back I used some flannel which will be soft and dark as to keep out the light of day.  I am starting to think that I can really get busy on this if I were to just recycle these from old clothing, I will get a variety of materials and won't cost much of anything.  What I like is that they are pretty fast.  If I can communicate with my new Singer Curvy machine it would go faster.  But of course it is new, and we're still getting to know each other.  I do love all the easy stitch choices and the push button design.  Button holes is something I need to work on, since I've only done a button hole once.  Of course it was easy on granny's old Kenmore that I still love. 

I will keep moving forward with creativity.  Mom sent me a surprise box of quilting squared in all sorts of colors.  I think I'll try to put together 3 to 5 quilt tops over the summer.  This would be a huge accomplishment.  I also keep putting off starting to make homemade Christmas decorations.  I think summer is a good time for that, however summers here in Northern Utah are perfect so spending time outside is something I take advantage of.

Since my last post we have made it to summer.  Today is May 31, and I am ready for warm weather.  Working the job I have, I have struggled to get motivated and remain consistent in my craftiness.  I have so many things I can do, and maybe I get overwhelmed with the possibilities, I don't know.  What I do know is that I have to get back on track.  I am my own Life Coach of Creativity! 

The photo above is my latest quick project I made two days ago.  With working grave yard shift I must sleep during the day and a good sleep mask is essential.  I made this out of scraps and is pretty easy to make.  I used flat lace on the elastic which gathered nicely and makes a cute country chic eye cover.  I plan on introducing some of these in my luulla store over the next couple months or sooner.  I may also add lavender as this helps with relaxation and sleep.

Life is unpredictable and I feel most motivated when I am broke.  Which must mean that I need some sort of entertainment, because when I have cash I don't stay home.  So to struggle provided my best creativity.  Trust me I would love one day to have a craft or (creative island) that I can make whatever I desire.  But some of the best handmade items come from cluttered spaces.

April 22,
 At the end of this day we wonder "WILL IT EVER WARM UP?"  This photo is one I took in the summer of 2009.  They are roses from my mother in laws garden in Northern Utah.  We've had a bit of a cold snap here in northern utah.  Ready to get out and take part in nature, but weather is less than perfect.  Made contact with getting some updated Park Lane catalogs to see what's new.  Of course they have aweome stuff!  I need to get back to sewing and finish my greeting cards that I need to finish up.  Ready to finish another class next week so that leave only 6 and I'll be a college graduate. 

I have some things we're working on throuout the next year.  I will be launching another blog next spring or summer to document a new adventure.  It will be linked to this one, but will be seperate in subject manner. 

EASTER

Ok, I am taking a break today, I'm on creative overload.  I cannot get ideas out of my brain, which makes sleep hard to get.  Only 4 hours sleep today and I'm up and getting out of town for the day to unwind.  I hope when I return this evening I can visit some thrift stores and maybe a fabric store to find some supplies to create my first item that I can post for sale. 

Endless possibilities.......................

 

Ok, so here is my new interest. There is something about taking something old and ugly and making it fresh and new. Much like painting a room in your house, it just adds a whole new personality. So, with quilting being a new interest as well, it has led me to this, recycled clothing. I really like Pinterest for this reason http://pinterest.com/happigirlgifts/ . I found all these items there, which you can find in my recycled clothing board.

Thrift stores have been a favorite of mine since shopping with my mom and grandma when I was young. Didn't NEED to go there, but we did because of all the treasures you could find. I recall when I was a kid the Salvation Army was the place where you could buy skirts and shorts for 10 cents. So, with my dollar in hand I was able to have a ball. One day I will have my thrift shop, but until then I will play around at home. With regard to recycled clothing this brings all new meaning to the thrift store experience. With just looking at a few of the photos I've attached you can see where a combination of items can be turned into one awesome and unique style statement.

I already was able to turn two tired t-shirt type tops into better fitting cute tank tops to wear for summer. Keep in mind recycled clothing is a culture all its own for designers and buyers. Beautiful possibilities are never ending. Recycling anything is fun; I especially like recycling tin cans, which I am building up a supply again in order to make more organizers. Such fun!!!

pinterest-35179.html

Now what I have discovered about myself this week is that just because I love something like this that doesn't mean it has to consume me.  For some reason I get this mindset that I MUST create whatever it is I see.  This is not the case; I have time to dabble with all my interests. 

 

Spring is in the air!  Tonight is our time change, and most of the valley snow is melted.  Since Christmas Eve we've had 1-2 ft. of  snow on the ground.......but NO MORE!!! 

This picture you see is the newest hobby I can blame once again on my mom.  Yes, I really had no interest in making these, however I got sucked in.  She started me on strips, and it took me three weeks of just staring at these strips before I GOT IT!  Now, she set me up with special rulers for my birthday which was February 28th.  So I am a stripping fool..........  I really like how easy and fast they are to put together.  This is my second quilt topper.  We have a system, which I make my toppers, then ship them to mom to quilt them on her long arm.  I plan to have these posted to my Luulla.com and Etsy account by late spring early summer. 

I am also getting my hands busy on learning handmade card technique's, which these also will be up for sale in sets.  With an active season coming up where I can get outside more, I hope to dedicate a finished project to get finished each week.  We will see how that goes.

Since my last post I have been busy doing different things,even playing with new crafty ideas.  Now the new thing appears to be some quilting and vinyl signage with my Cricut.  Also will soon play with card making to see what I can come up with there. 

So, being that I am in my last year of school, I am not sure where it may take me.  What I seek the most is a career I love, but with the way society appears to be going I wonder if ethics, respect, hardwork, and honesty are a thing of the past.  My current job is only a stepping stone, but it is not the best.  The experience I am getting I love, but there are things and personalities I struggle with.  I cannot understand why bad behaviors are not corrected.  So, I use this as an entire learning experience of what I do not want in my life, and also who I am NOT. 

Having been craft most my life, I do wish it were possible to do more with that, however that is hard work.  I wonder though is it worth the work you put in to pay a decent salary.  Sure!  Laws of attraction are more of what I try to practice.  I choose to be happy, not annoying yipping dog happy.  Just making the CHOICE to be happy.........  So many people forget our choices........