DIY Crafty Glue

by Kelly

Sometimes I see a new crafty project and fall in love immediately, but then I get turned away because of the cost of materials. Also, what if I never get around to the project? I hate to have a bunch of stuff just lying around - that's why I always finish my projects quickly. It's not because I'm especially motivated, just that I like a lot of open floor space in my home, and boxes and bins of stuff (including WIPs) take up a lot of room.

One crafty project that wooed me immediately was decoupage.

via HGTV

But decoupage seemed to require ModPodge, which was $15 a bottle, and the bottle was huge. Why, oh why, didn't they sell small samples of this product, so I could give it a try and see if I really was in love, or if this was just a crush that would fade quickly once we were actually cohabiting?

Then I found this recipe for DIY decoupage glue on do it yourself divas:

Empty one container of Elmer's glue into a storage jar. Fill the Elmer's container with water and add to the glue. Shake.

How simple is that? And just imagine the possibilities. And speaking of possibilities, the Elmer's site  also offers other crafty uses for their glue. In fact, they have a whole forum set aside just for crafters, so check out that link if you need a little inspiration, or inspiration for little ones. Note: Elmer's suggests a 3:1 glue ratio instead of 1:1, so you might want to experiment a little to see which you like best.

via Apartment Therapy

Speaking of glue, there's a similar recipe on eHow for making your own fabric stiffener. The author uses it for a felt hat, but I imagine it could be used for any kind of fabric. And best of all, the only ingredients are corn starch and water.

I have a project in the works using Elmer's decoupage that I'll share when it's done. It's something I've been working on for a while, and I'm happy that I can finally add the finishing touch, without buying a whole tub of 'maybe I'll love it' glue.

A Tisket, A Tasket, Check Out the Crafty Basket

by Kelly

Yay, I sold some things at the flea market! Here's my display basket -

I sold two of three afghans and a couple of blue bears. Colorful bears seem to be more popular than brown. Duly noted. Surprisingly the heart ornaments didn't sell at all. I thought they would be snapped up, since they're what I think of as 'Midwest crafty'.

I wonder why red yarn always appears so searing in photographs? Maybe next time I'll try using the 'red eye' remover in a photo editor.

Mixed results have to be reported, though, because my husband's beautiful dream catchers didn't sell. He was disappointed, but I love them so much I don't mind keeping them all!

Someone should really start the dreamcatcher revival. If bell bottoms can come back, so can beautiful things like this. Maybe they need to be more cold and modern, made from steel wire and dangling bits of broken glass.
Sort of the antithesis of what a dream catcher is for, and meant to catch the broken dreams of a struggling city dweller.

Do you think that would be a good platform for a modern art show?

Show and Tell - Crochet Hexagons and Dreamcatchers

by Kelly

Crochet hexagon blanket finished!

At least, I think it is. It's standard afghan size, but it's got these bevelled side edges that I'm not sold on...

 

But for now, it's done. We're going to have a free stall at a local flea market, so this will be up for sale. If no one buys it, I'll bring it home and make sixteen half hexagons to clean up the edges. I should have just enough yarn left to do that. 

Meanwhile, my talented husband has also been crafting things to sell, with grapevine harvested from our now overgrown property.

Remember dreamcatchers?

My favorites, though, are the 'all natural' ones below. Ironically, if you click the one with the blue jay feather, you'll see a real spider web behind it.

The big stick was my idea. I wanted to show people that we aren't just reselling the dream catchers, but that my husband actually made them, so if someone wanted a custom order they would know to ask. I found that branch in the yard after the windstorm and dragged it up to the porch. My husband looked a little doubtful about the whole thing, probably because the stick is like six feet tall and HEAVY, but he humoured me and wound a web on it. And now he's in love with the idea, and decided to hang all the dreamcatchers on it, which is quite clever as it makes an awesome display and also solves the problem of how to hang them up. Let's hope it draws people in!

The acorns and oak leaves were my idea too. I guess I'm just a Druid at heart. And when we went to Stonehenge (of course we've been to Stonehenge, hasn't everyone??) I did feel this deep, spiritual connection kind of thing. But then we went to the giftshop (of course there was a giftshop, this is the modern day) and bought some worthless stuff that we no longer have, and the deep spiritual connection thing turned into sticker shock.

But even though we don't have the trinkets anymore, we still have our memories, and a picture, despite the prohibition against taking pictures without express written permission. As the locals say, "Poor Stonehenge."

Anyway, wish us luck at the market!

SInging the Blues Crochet Hexagon Blanket

by Kelly

Work continues on the hexagon flower blanket...

I really like how this one is turning out. And I've put it together in such a way that I can make it longer or wider easily, if I'm not happy with the end result.
All I have to do is add more rows of hexagons, and that also means that I can use this blanket as a stash buster - provided I can find a blue yarn to make a border on the new hexagons.

Pictures From a Dry Garden

by Kelly

That title sounds like some puzzling existential film that would be shown on IFC or Sundance, but really it's just a statement of fact.

I tried to wait for one of the fledgling baby wrens to poke his head out of this birdhouse, because I thought it would be a nice contrast, the weathered old paint and a very young, very small bird. But Mama wren was scolding me from above, so I decided to move on. Besides, even though it was only nine in the morning, it was 92 degrees outside and humid as only the Midwest can be.

 Is this good weather for grapes? We'll see...

 

I've never been that in love with Hostas, but these were actually quite pretty until they shrivelled up in the heat and drought. 

In fact, it's so dry that it's starting to look more like autumn around here, just because so many trees are dropping their leaves. But there are some tough survivors around here that aren't giving up...

Whatever this Mulberry tree has been through has left it scarred and ugly, but it's leaves are green and it was covered with berries a few weeks ago.

And one last spot of beauty, struggling along in a hot, white desert that it landed in by chance.

I'm going to go back out to give this guy a drink of water. I admire anything that stubbornly gives the finger to the uncaring universe and all the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune. Sometimes my efforts to help the small creatures in the world backfire, but sometimes they work out. Fingers crossed.

Summer Flowers

by Kelly

Flowers are blooming here...

Now the fun part...sewing them all together. (*Sigh*)

Hummingbird Cake

So Kelly's post about Sunshine Cake got me to thinking about another old-fashioned favorite, Hummingbird Cake. I first heard of Hummingbird Cake on a visit to my Aunt June's in Pikeville, TN in the late 70s. Of course, being all of about 14 years old, I was convinced she was making confections out of sweet, innocent little birds and was naturally horrified. Once she convinced me that wasn't the case I dug in to find a dense, moist cake flavored with bananas, pineapple and pecans and then slathered with thick cream cheese frosting - divine. Really cream cheese frosting on anything - right?

The cake first appeared in a 1978 issue of Southern Living magazine and has since become a southern staple. Here's a recipe from Art Smith - no actual hummingbirds were harmed in the making of this recipe.

Servings: Serves 12

Ingredients

• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 cups granulated sugar
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 2 cups chopped ripe bananas
• 1 cup drained crushed pineapple
• 1 cup vegetable oil
• 2 large eggs , beaten
• 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1 cup (4 ounces) finely chopped pecans

• 8 ounces cream cheese , at room temperature
• 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter , at room temperature
• 1 pound confectioners' sugar (about 4 1/2 cups sifted)
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions

To make the cake, position racks in the center and bottom third of the oven and preheat to 350°. Lightly butter two 9" round cake pans, sprinkle evenly with flour and tap out the excess. (If you wish, butter the pans, line the bottoms with rounds of parchment paper, then flour the pans and tap out the excess.)

Sift the flour, sugar, baking soda, cinnamon and salt into a bowl. In another bowl, stir or whisk the bananas, pineapple, oil, eggs and vanilla until combined. Do not use an electric mixer. Pour into the dry mixture and fold together with a large spatula just until smooth. Do not beat. Fold in the pecans. Spread evenly into the pans.

Bake until the cake springs back when pressed in the center, 30 to 35 minutes. Transfer the cakes to wire racks and cool for 10 minutes. Invert the cakes onto the racks (remove the parchment paper now if using). Turn right side up and cool completely.

To make the icing: Using an electric mixer on high speed, beat the cream cheese and butter in a large bowl until combined. On low speed, gradually beat in the sugar, then the vanilla, to make a smooth icing.

Place 1 cake layer, upside down on a serving platter. Spread with about 2/3 cup of the icing. Top with the second layer, right side up. Spread the reaming icing over the top and sides of the cake. The cake can be prepared up to 1 day ahead and stored, uncovered in the refrigerator. Let stand at room temperature 1 hour before serving.