Easy Kaftan

I like finding fabric boutiques on my trips, like Maisonette in Oceanside, which just switched from a fabric store to a children's clothing design shop.  Anyway on a recent trip to Colorado to visit some dear friends and see my daughter's volleyball tournament, my friend took me to Fancy Tiger. This crafting boutique offers great classes, fabrics, yarns, and patterns.  I picked up a pattern for a kaftan. It was simple and easy to do.

 


I am planning on making two more. One out of this Joel Dewberry shirting fabric and another out of a light weight grey linen.  I would love to open a store like the Fancy Tiger, anyone want to lend my $15-20,000?  Doesn't hurt to ask.

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Decorating Zoe's Dorm Room

I really like the challenge of decorating a dorm room - small space and small budget. Zoe and her dad say I go overboard, but I think Zoe secretly likes it, and we have a lot of fun planning, designing, shopping, and doing it.  Anyway, this year we did a video as well as some final pictures.

Here are also some pictures we took right when we were done.

 We just put pillows onto two chairs. Zoe's roommate was bringing a little couch.

Here are some pictures taken later, during Parents' Weekend.

 I made this bean bag later and shipped the cover, and got beans locally, but it needs some more.

Zoe and her roommate got into the spirit of things and redid their bulletin board and added their room number to the transom.   Also, Zoe's dorm won "Best Overall Dorm Room" and "Best Use of Space." Pin It

Fixing a problem

I love it when creating something fixes a problem. I like to run, bike, and go to the gym for exercise. I have had a hard time finding shorts that don't bunch up, cause chafing, or look ridiculous on my over 20 year old body. Spandex shorts are the most comfortable for running and biking, but not to flattering on my booty. Yes I said booty.  So I would often wear shorts or nylon pants over them, which was too bulky and hot. I also run some errands after the gym and didn't want to look to gym ratty. Yes I said ratty. Anyway this morning I was inspired to make a quick tank top dress that I could easily wear over my shorts. It was simple to make and when I walked into the gym, the first woman I saw said "Wow your dress is so cute."  Anyway I have ran, biked, and gymed in it, and it's so comfortable, and the pocket I added to the back was convenient for keys, ipod, etc.

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Topiary Conundrum

When I bought some plants for the terrariums I was making with my mom, I got a small variegated ivy.  Well I didn't have room for it, so I just stuck it in a pot.  I jammed a dowel in the pot for a makeshift trellis.

I thought that I should give it a proper home, so I began searching for topiary frames. I could not find easily any cool ones on the internet, mostly topiary balls and animal figures like dolphins. I eventually found a modern one at www.cb2.com, on sale. So the morning after our first monsoon rain (it was in the 80s at 8 am), I assembled it a together, using a galvanized planter also from CB2.  I put a couple of inches of rocks and gravel in the bottom (the planter doesn't have a drainage hole), then a layer of charcoal (the stuff that is used in aquarium filters). The charcoal helps clean and destink the water. After planting the ivy and the trellis, I put a dressing of rocks from Ikea.

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By the sea, by the sea, by the beautiful sea...

Just returned from a week long Carlsbad, CA trip with family.  Here are some pictures of some jewelry I made inspired by the beach...

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Mothers' Day

When ever my mom visits us here in Tucson, she buys a tea towel from Anthropologie, it's almost a tradition. So for a gift this Mothers' Day, I made her a couple, though not as nice as Anthros, they are certainly cheaper.

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On the way to Cafe Desta...

Last night we were meeting some friends at Tucson's newest Ethiopian restaurant, Cafe Desta.  It was a cloudy afternoon so we left a little early to take some pics. Here is a set of three from the same prickly pear cactus.

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Patient Model

I like to take photos, especially of people, but I couldn't help notice this calm grasshopper sitting on our patio table this morning.

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Terrarium building w/ my mom

My parents were recently in town, which usually means playing card games and eating out a lot. We actually had Sonoran hot dogs two days in a row.  Anyway, I took a couple of pictures of them; their 50th anniversary is coming up. These are my favorites though not necessarily my mom's.

My mom and I also spent an afternoon making these terrariums, though they are just more like potted plants in glass bowls as the bowls were too shallow, but they still turned out pretty nice. Let's see if I can keep them alive in this desert.

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Gem Show Inspiration

I love when the Gem & Mineral Show rolls into Tucson in late January/early February. It's close to my birthday, so I use my birthday cash (plus a little of my funny money stash) to pick up some great bargains for gifts. I got good deals on bracelets, watches, necklaces, & charms. This year pashima and cashmere scarves were only $5, so I loaded up on those as well. But what really was a hit with me and a lot of other people, as the booth was always crowded, was the jewelry from Art by Amy. I was very inspired. So I took matters into my own hands to make some charms for two nieces, since I was sending their moms some jewelry, I might as try some stuff out and send it to them, as they are hopefully less discerning.

I also made this for my charm bracelet (I bought the bracelet from Art by Amy).

Charm bracelets and other goodies from the gem show.

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