Hungry Little Bird

Hungry Little Bird Update

2009-03-09T20:06:00.000-07:00

Life is such a roller coaster. We all experience very sudden life changing moments throughout our lives, some good and some bad. Unfortunately, these past few months have been extremely hard for me and my family... hence, no blog updates for quite some time. I think a lot can be said for positive thoughts and a positive attitude, even if the situation at hand is a very difficult one. Even though blogging can be such a great emotional outlet, family is my number one focus, so Hungry Little Bird postings will be a little sporadic for a while.

Beautiful Snowflakes

2009-01-29T20:38:00.000-08:00

Yes, it's the dead of winter and we all might be a little tired of the snow. To help ease your winter blues and get a fresh perspective on snowflakes check out Kenneth Libbrecht's, The Art of the Snowflake: A Photographic Album. Libbrecht is a professor of physics and captures the beauty of hundreds of snow crystals with microphotography. These photos are truly amazing and this book would make the perfect addition to your coffee table.

Finished.

2009-01-20T20:05:00.000-08:00

Here's my latest sewing adventure... umm, I mean project. I've been wanting to sew Amy Butler's Sophia Carry-All purse, but I was a little intimidated by it, so I sewed the purse above as a practice exercise before trying to sew Amy's pattern. This purse was one of the more challenging purses I've worked on since I had to sew a zipper (my sewing machine was not cooperating) and slipstitch the lining by hand. Overall I think it came out okay, although it took a while to work on since I sort of fumbled my way through it.

Awww...

2009-01-14T18:57:00.000-08:00

Tonight, after feeling tired from so many super long commutes to work because of crappy Chicagoland weather, I came across this photo on Apartment Therapy and it made me smile. This cute little dog hat was made by BeanTown Handmade. And, if you visit their Etsy shop, you'll get to see more super cute pics of this dog sporting various sweaters and accessories.

Plantable Paper by Botanical Paperworks

2009-01-11T17:18:00.000-08:00

I just love this idea. You can get anything from stationery and journals, to calendars, cards, and much more on plantable paper. Botanical Paperworks sells an assortment of eco-friendly, plantable paper products that have the seeds incorporated right into the paper. Just plant the paper and later enjoy a blossoming garden!
Here's just a few of their products:
Plantable Eco Calendar
Think & Write & Grow Plantable Journal
Yummy Cards Stationery

{All products and images from Botanical Paperworks}

Good Karmal

2008-12-31T12:50:00.000-08:00

These lovely caramels are from Good Karmal. Visit their website and you will be enlightened by their uniqueness.

Wishing you much happiness and good fortune in the New Year!

{image from good karmal website}

Charley Harper and Old Navy

2008-12-29T20:04:00.000-08:00

I was at Old Navy over the weekend and even though we don't have kids these products caught my eye. Old Navy has an assortment of Charley Harper baby items! What a perfect way to teach little ones developmental skills and teach them about one of America's beloved artists.
Charley Harper Memory Games $14.50
Charley Harper Board Books $9.50
Charley Harper Flash Cards & Floor Puzzles $14.50
Charley Harper Illustrated Tees for Baby $6.00

{images from oldnavy.com}

From Our Family to Yours...

2008-12-25T08:55:00.000-08:00

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

In the Kitchen

2008-12-24T13:33:00.001-08:00

'Tis the season to not feel guilty about indulging in your favorite food and desserts. I made an assortment of treats to bring to my family's house for the holiday - chocolate chip cookies, sugar cookies, peanut butter and chocolate tarts, and chocolate-peanut butter dream bars (I got the recipe for the bars here). My favorite part of baking is "taste testing."

Origami

2008-12-22T20:02:00.000-08:00

I've been on this origami kick for the past few weeks. It's kind of relaxing and there's lots of techniques to explore, anywhere from beginner to advanced. I used origami paper for a few of the projects pictured, but then started cutting down scraps of paper to make the rest of the projects (it's a good way to use up paper scraps). With Christmas around the corner, I also explored the idea of incorporating origami into gift wrapping.

With the exception of the star on the Christmas present, I made these origami projects with instructions from the book The Simple Art of Japanese Papercrafts. The star was made using a tutorial from zencrafting's blog. I thought the star could also be an ornament once the recipient opened their gift, so I added a ribbon loop to it.

If you want to try origami check out these websites:
origami-fun
origami resource center
origami.com

Caution: If you have a mischievous kitty, do not leave your origami unattended. See what happened to the origami flower that was on the gift? Naughty kitty!

Chocolate Holiday Treats

2008-12-16T18:04:00.000-08:00

If you're hosting a holiday party you might want to check out some of these yummy looking recipes (of course they all have chocolate in them):
1. Brownie Wreath {photo from bhg.com}
2. Cream Cheese & Chocolate Double Deckers {photo from iVillage.com}
3. Peppermint Sticks {photo from bhg.com}
4. Mini Chocolate Cakes {photo from parents.com}

Holiday Crafts

2008-12-09T19:57:00.000-08:00

Claudine Hellmuth's Christmas Village (too cute!)
Jennifer A. Bell's Animal Ornaments
Recycled Holiday Card Wreath from Good Housekeeping
There are so many talented people with great ideas for holiday crafts. Some of my favorites:
Christmas Village by Claudine Hellmuth
Animal Ornaments by Jennifer A. Bell
Recycled Holiday Card Wreath (slide 5) from Good Housekeeping

TCHO Chocolate

2008-12-02T19:58:00.000-08:00

I haven't had the pleasure of trying TCHO chocolate yet, but with packaging and graphics this divine I bet it's really good. See, it pays to have great packaging for people like me who will buy something just because of the pretty package it comes in. Read about the package/brand design here. And if you want a peak into the thought process of how their company was made check out their video here.

{images from TCHO website}

Visit Joy the Baker

2008-11-25T20:07:00.000-08:00

Oh how I love Joy the Baker's blog. What wonderful recipes and gorgeous photos. These Carrot Cake Pancakes look especially enticing - check out the recipe here. I'm glad I found her blog, just in time for the holidays.

{image from Joy the Baker's blog}

No-Sew Tote Bags

2008-11-18T18:34:00.000-08:00

Whether or not you sew, here's an interesting project to try... No-Sew Tote Bags by Jodi Kahn. If you like what you see you might also want to check out Jodie's book, Simply Sublime Bags.

Spain…On the Road Again

2008-11-16T17:28:00.000-08:00

If you're into travel, food, and learning, hopefully you've been watching Spain…On the Road Again. I've watched every episode since the show first aired in September, and I don't want this show to ever end. I LOVE travel shows, it gives me a chance to drift off and dream about visiting some of the wonderful places in this world. If you've missed Spain…On the Road Again, check out their website for local TV listings, recipes, photos, videos, and more.

{image via Spain…On the Road Again website}

Artist Amy Rice

2008-11-11T20:23:00.000-08:00

I've been a big fan of artist Amy Rice since reading a magazine article about her and her artwork. She uses stencils that she designs and cuts to create her mixed media pieces. I love how she combines her subject matter, technique, and graphics to create such beautiful pieces. See more of her work here.

{Images by and from Amy Rice's website}

Decorative Pillow Project

2008-11-02T18:31:00.000-08:00

I'm in the process of making some new pillows for the couches in our living room. Since I really enjoyed making stencils for my note card project, I created another stencil to use for this pillow project. This time I made the illustration on my computer, printed it out, and traced it onto heavy cardstock. After cutting out the stencil I placed it on my fabric (which was already cut to the size I wanted for the pillow), hoped for the best, and started dabbing paint through the stencil. When I removed the stencil the pattern pictured above was the end result, then all I had to do was sew and stuff the pillow.

Materials used: White fabric paint from Tulip on a cotton blend material.

Get Creative With Styrofoam

2008-10-21T19:58:00.000-07:00

Create custom décor for your home with Styrofoam Brand Products. Their website has a wide range of projects, all of which can be completed within a few hours or less, and for very little money. Here's a few of my favorites:
Hipster Gerbera Daisy Cubes
Retro Paper Straw Wreath
Gerbera Daisy Photo Wall Art
They also have a project brochure that you can download here.

{Project photos from Styrofoam Brand Products website}

Domino: The Book of Decorating

2008-10-17T19:46:00.000-07:00

Me = blog slacker of the month. I've been having major issues with my spine, neck, and shoulders since September, so I haven't been very motivated lately, just tired and moody. I've been seeing a chiropractor for various types of treatment, but haven't had much relief for the pain. I guess these things take time, but I'm growing terribly impatient. I know, we all have our aches and pains... so enough complaining, just needed to vent.

On the brighter side... I'm excited to read the new book "Domino: The Book of Decorating." I just checked it out from my local library and at a quick glance it looks incredible. It's full of ideas, inspiration, and space solutions for your home. You can browse through the book on Domino's website.

Hats

2008-10-05T20:15:00.000-07:00

I'd like to get a cute hat to wear for the cold weather that's headed our way. I'm drawn to these styles, although some of them cost a little more than I want to spend right now. I'll have to be on the lookout for a sale.
1.Herringbone Bucket Hat from The Gap
2.Central Park Hat from Anthropologie
3.Wool Cloche Hat from Banana Repulic
4.Knit Beanie from Banana Repulic

Getting Caught Up

2008-09-30T20:35:00.000-07:00

My first set of stenciled note cards
One of the small messes I made while making my stencilsI was without my iMac for about a week and was going through withdrawals. I had to bring it to the Apple store for a problem with the monitor, but they also found that the logic board was going bad. I'm so happy to have it back. It would have cost almost $1,200 to repair, but since it was still under the extended warranty (which expires next week) I didn't have to pay. Phew, talk about being lucky.

On a different note, I've been thinking about ways to reproduce designs and patterns onto paper and other items. I would really love to take some type of printmaking class, like one of the ones offered here. I know there's a lot of great printmaking books and information online, but I think it would be fun to take a class so that I could interact with other people interested in this type of thing.

In the meantime, I'm having fun cutting out stencils of hand drawn shapes and using the stencil to paint onto patterned paper. Above are a few note cards I created.

Just Playing

2008-09-20T10:00:00.000-07:00

I've been playing with collage techniques and using up some of my vintage ephemera. My little Sienna helped me by directing this photo shoot.

Artful Food

2008-09-18T18:52:00.000-07:00

I just love these pics that my aunt sent me. Unfortunately, I don't have any artist information on them, but it goes to show you can make art out of anything.

Fun for Your Desk

2008-09-17T19:50:00.000-07:00

These fun desk accessories from the Paper Source look quite entertaining:
Butt Station Organizer, Black Cat Pencil Sharpener, Orange Cat Mini Stapler, Knock Knock Stuff File Folders.

{images from PaperSource}

Image Transfers

2008-09-10T21:05:00.001-07:00

I'm always looking for new image transfer techniques to use in my projects. There are many techniques I've read about and tried, and depending on the technique you use, you can get very different results. Lately I've been experimenting with CitraSolv cleaner. I learned this image transfer technique at a local paper store, and I think it's one of my favorites. Here's what I learned:

What you need:
- CitraSolv Natural Cleaner & Degreaser*
(I got my bottle at Whole Foods)
- Toner based black & white photocopies or color photocopies (won't work with inkjet prints)
- Burnisher
- Paper or item you wish to make transfer on
- Q-tip or paint brush
* Please work in a well ventilated area, although CitraSolv is a natural product, it's still a chemical.

1. Place photocopy of what you want to transfer, face down on top of the paper or item you wish to make transfer on.
2. Tape corners into place so that photocopy doesn't slide around.
3. Using Q-tip, apply CitraSolv to backside of photocopy. Rub backside with burnisher to transfer image.
4. Remove photocopy and you will see a mirror image on your transfer surface.

It's that easy! In addition to photocopies, I also found that newspaper images work well to make transfers from. Also note, if your image has text it will appear reversed once it's transferred, so you'll have to reverse the type before transferring it to make it readable.

If you're interested in trying other image transfer techniques, here are some helpful resources:
Golden Paints: gel medium or paint transfers
Instructables: packing tape transfers
Thimble Arts and Crafts Blog: blender pen transfers
Collage Discovery Workshop: an excellent technique book by one of my favorite artists, Claudine Hellmuth.

Take a Bike Hike

2008-09-09T21:10:00.001-07:00

Our cruisers
Where's the love?
Meeting Ronburgundy
A short video of our adventure

Whether you're visiting Chicago or have lived in Chicago all your life, you have to check out Bobby's Bike Hike Tours. They offer several different types of tours, Stan and I took the Lakefront Neighborhoods Tour. At one time or another we've either driven or walked through all the neighborhoods that were on the tour, but this was a whole new way to experience the city. The tour was about 3 hours/7 miles long, but super easy. We rode Schwinn retro-styled deluxe cruisers, which were ultra comfortable, and each bike has it's own name and bell (that none of us could stop ringing). There were close to 30 people in our group which made it even more fun... we got to rule the streets. Our guide was also great, we made stops in each neighborhood and she discussed various aspects of Chicago history. This was such an invigorating experience and I highly recommend it to anyone who's looking for a little mini adventure. I'm ready to go back and take the Sunglasses at Night Tour.

My New Knubbig

2008-09-04T19:54:00.000-07:00

Our new Knubbig table lamp...Various colors are also available...IKEA is like a magical wonderland for me. I found the Knubbig table lamp there for only $16.99, I think it's the perfect addition to my dining room. They come in small and large sizes and are available in a variety of juicy colors.

Planning My "Sweet" Tour

2008-09-02T19:41:00.000-07:00

This fall I want to go on a tour of bakeries around the Chicagoland area (we'll see how many I can fit in a day). Why? Because I love sweets and this kind of stuff excites me. I'm starting to compile my list of bakeries and the first place I visit will have to be Sweet Collective in the Lincoln Square area. It's run by three pastry chefs who bring fine chocolates, gourmet ice cream, and specialty cakes and pastries together under one roof. Visit their website here, you can see why this place is first on my list.

{images via Sweet Collective}

Creative Process

2008-08-22T18:26:00.000-07:00

From a sumi-e paintingTo a mixed media collage
To a note cardHere's a sampling of how my creative process flows sometimes. I decided to scan this sumi-e painting of bamboo I did a while back into my computer and create different projects out of it. After scanning the painting I outlined it in the program Illustrator and tweaked the placement of some of the leaves according to the way I wanted them. I added the butterfly from another sumi-e painting I did and printed out a black silhouette of both items. I cut the silhouettes out to create stencils that I could use when making my mixed media collage. To create the note card I took the same Illustrator file and sized it down on my computer to fit the size of a small note card. I played around with colors and layout and printed the final version from my printer.

A Yummy Treat to Try

2008-08-20T18:33:00.000-07:00

In my world, ice cream is always better when combined with cake. That's why I want to try the ice cream cupcakes at MaggieMoo's (which is conveniently located about 10 minutes from my house). PhillySwirl also makes ice cream cupcakes, I'll be looking for these on my next grocery trip.

Of course, it would also be fun to make your own ice cream cupcakes. I see an opportunity for endless experimentation using ice cream, cake, and frosting combinations. Not to mention, this would be a great treat to serve at a party. Here's a few recipes to get started: Cupcake Project and Recipe Zaar.

{images from MaggieMoo and PhillySwirl}

Adhesive Gift Wrap by Hallmark

2008-08-14T19:44:00.000-07:00

While shopping for cards the other day I picked up a sample of new adhesive gift wrap by Hallmark. There's a coating on the backside that sticks to the package, it kind of reminds me of contact paper. I always seem to misplace tape when wrapping gifts, or when I do find the tape there's only a tiny bit left on the roll, that's why I'm really liking Hallmark's new concept. It's available in a large variety of themes and colors for every occasion. I want to buy a roll to try out on some crafty projects.

{images via Hallmark}

Chair Cushion

2008-08-08T21:26:00.001-07:00

I found a great deal on this colorful fabric from JoAnne fabrics. Only $2 a yard and here's my first project with it, a chair cushion for my mom. To make the cushion I measured the chair seat and created a pattern out of tissue paper. I wanted the cushion to have some height at the sides and to do this I decided to add extra fabric around the sides. I think this step made it more difficult than it had to be and should have just sewed the thing like a regular pillow. Instead on making ties I made velcro straps to keep the cushion in place on the chair. I envision a sun dress for my next project with this fabric. Seeing that summer is almost over I better get something in the works soon.

Wallpaper from Ferm Living

2008-08-04T19:11:00.000-07:00

Wallpaper has made such a strong comeback recently. The thought of decorating with wallpaper is a little intimidating to me — what if I don't end up liking it after it's up, how easy will it be to remove, how much will it cost me. But the more I see the eye catching array of designs like those from Ferm Living, the more I warm up to the idea of using it in my home. Some of my favorites:
1. Forest Flower Wallpaper; 2. Wild Flower Wallpaper; 3. Waldots Wallpaper; 4. Sparrow Wall Sticker

{images via Ferm Living}

New Shoes at Target

2008-08-03T09:02:00.000-07:00

Fall is just right around the corner. Time to start thinking about updating my fall wardrobe, maybe I'll start by buying some new shoes at Target. They have some cute AND affordable selections:

1. Xhilaration Sybil Mary Jane Wedges: They have lots of color choices, I really love the mustard ones. $19.99

2. Xhilaration Sherlyn Moccasins: These look so comfy. $19.99

3. Xhilaration Sugar Mary Jane Pumps: I can't get enough of Mary Jane shoes. $19.99

4. Xhilaration Sharon Peep Toe Pumps: What a sassy little number. $22.99

{images via target.com}

Home Sweet Home

2008-07-31T19:26:00.000-07:00

Señor Pee-Pee Monkey
Carlito
We just got back a few days ago from vacation in Playa del Carmen, Mexico. It's been many years since we've gone on a vacation like this and although it was nice to get away I'm happy to be back. Here are some vacation moments:

1. We almost had to cancel the trip due to tropical storm Dolly. We got to O'Hare airport at 5:00 a.m. to find out the flight was delayed until very late in the day, meaning we would have lost an entire day out of our 5-day trip. Our travel agent was able to pull some strings and get us another flight out two days later. Phew, we lucked out.

2. We stayed at the Riu Playacar. We had a few issues with the room, but no big deal, we still had a good time. Overall, the food was great and the facilities were very well kept. Most of the beach was washed away from hurricanes, but there were guys out there working everyday to rebuild it. It looked beautiful, sand bags and all.

3. We walked to a part of Playa del Carmen called 5th Avenue. There's a bunch of restaurants, shops, and hotels along this street. You can also catch a ferry to Cozumel here. The beach is only about a block away from 5th Avenue, so when you get worn out from walking around in the heat, you can go jump in the ocean to cool off. How convenient.

4. We had the pleasure of getting our picture taken with a cute spider monkey. Stan also had the pleasure of getting peed on by the spider monkey. Glad it wasn't me.

5. We took a ferry to Cozumel for a day. Hung out at a beach and walked around the main town. Lots of people use scooters to get around the island... in some cases with small children hanging off their laps while riding the scooter. That was a scary sight to see. Someday I'd like to see the rest of this island.

6. Upon arriving back in Chicago I saw Paul McCartney's ex wife, Heather Mills while waiting to go through customs. I'm almost positive it was her anyway.

7. Today I discovered something very unexpected that reminded me of Mexico all over again. I'll describe it to you... it's about the size of your thumb, light brown, moves really, really fast, climbs/jumps on any surface, has along tail, and can easily get into your luggage without you knowing it. Yes, folks, if you guessed a lizard you are correct! I found a lizard in my kitchen today! Hopefully he didn't bring along any friends. He's super cute, I named him Carlito and right now we've got him in a small container until we figure out what to do with him.

Our Home

2008-07-22T09:13:00.000-07:00

BEFORE

AFTER
We've wanted to make some changes to the front exterior of our house for quite sometime. We felt the house looked unfinished with a white door and shutters, so we decided to paint them black. I'm really pleased with the end result. It was a small change to make, but I think it makes the house look more complete.

Summer in the City

2008-07-15T20:11:00.001-07:00

I'm always up for an excursion, especially if it involves the city. Stan and I took an architectural tour on the Chicago River a few years ago and loved it. So I've put together a short list of the many tours that Chicago has to offer. Don't let summer pass you up, get out and try something new!
1. Bobby's Bike Hike: I would love to try the night tour, especially because of the beautiful city skyline.
2. Chicago Chocolate Tours: They also need a tour like this for bakeries. In the meantime I'll have to create one of my own (Stan, get ready).
3. Chicago Neighborhood Tours: A great way to learn about the many different neighborhoods in Chicago.
4. Architecture Tours: Enjoy the nice lakefront breezes while you learn all about Chicago Architecture.

Hide Boxes

2008-07-10T20:21:00.001-07:00

I love cute boxes and storage containers especially if they have a unique quality like these Japanese-inspired Hide Boxes by Modern-Twist. The design concept is so original, especially in the way the smaller boxes twist open and closed. To find out more about the talented designers at Modern-Twist and the other unique products they carry, be sure to visit their website here.

{images via Modern-Twist}

Our Backyard

2008-07-03T15:42:00.000-07:00

BEFORE
AFTER We've made a lot of progress on the outside of our house since we moved in almost four years ago. In the backyard we started off with a tiny concrete patio, had it taken out, and had a brick patio put in. The extra dirt from the patio was put way in the back of the yard to make two large berms for trees and shrubs. We dug up the areas surrounding the patio and planted shrubs and perennials. There's still a lot more that we want to do, like landscape the side of our house, but that might have to wait until next year.

Colorful Wallets

2008-07-02T21:40:00.001-07:00

I'm going to replace my boring black wallet on my next shopping trip. Here's some colorful choices I'm considering:
Twin Pocket Clutch from Urban Outfitters
Sunset Canvas from Forever 21
Zinnia Multifunction from Fossil

Paper Crafts

2008-06-28T22:13:00.000-07:00

Check out Canon's Creative Park for tons of paper craft templates and tutorials of stuff to make.

{images via Creative Park}

French Almond Macaroons

2008-06-24T20:42:00.000-07:00

I've been wanting to try a French Macaroon cookie for the longest time. I can't seem to find these little treats at any of the bakeries around my house. Since I can't get these cookies out of my mind (I know, I have issues) I decided I would try and make some using this recipe. I think they came out decent, although I have nothing to compare them to. They were super easy to make, but I did encounter one small problem. I wanted to make a few red cookies so I added food coloring to a small portion of the batter. Not sure what happened, but that didn't go over so well. The bottoms stuck to the cookie sheet parchment paper. Good thing I only tried the food coloring on a small batch. Now I'm wondering what these would taste like dipped in chocolate.

Interactive Room Planner

2008-06-18T19:23:00.000-07:00

Stan and I have lived in our house for about four years now. We've tackled lots of projects from painting the entire house, putting in a kitchen tile back splash, landscaping, and decorating. Even after all this time, some rooms are still a work in progress. I'm specifically talking about my living/dining room area (it's one long, narrow room) where I hit a few design and room layout dilemmas. I came across this cool interactive room planner from House to Home's website and threw together a few quick room plans based on the furniture I already have in the living room and some of the ideas Stan and I have talked about for the dining room. My goal is to finish this area of the house by the end of summer so that I can move on to some other areas of the house that I want to work on. I'll post some pics of the dining/living room's current state in a future post. Check out the room planner here and if gardening is your thing be sure to check out their garden space planner.

Tappa Tappa

2008-06-17T17:29:00.000-07:00

I visited my parents this past weekend and look what my mom gave me. My old ballet box and dance shoes from when I took dance lessons at age four. I can't believe that at one time I was tiny enough to fit into those little shoes. These items are something that I'll always cherish, I'm so happy that my mom saved them after all these years.

I even remember my first dance recital and the song we had to sing. I was terrified and all I did was look to the side of the stage where the dance teacher was standing guiding her little dancers along. Awww, sniff, sniff, the good old days...

Oversized Luggage Tag

2008-06-16T19:46:00.000-07:00

We just booked a summer vacation and in preparation I started thinking of ways to make our luggage stand out a little better on the conveyer belt at the airport. I played around with some ideas for oversized luggage tags and this is what I came up with. It's got a clear plastic lining on the inside so that I can insert a card with our travel information and a flap with a velcro closure. I used a piece of quilter's fat quarter fabric and added interfacing in between the fabric for more support. I'm going to make a few more for the rest of our luggage. Hopefully these tags will make it convenient to find our luggage on the conveyer belt, better than the goofy elastic paper tags we usually end up getting at the airport.

My Terrarium Garden. Alive & Well.

2008-06-10T20:04:00.000-07:00

This time last year

A few weeks ago

I bought this glass vase at CB2 last year and made a terrarium garden out of it. Honestly, I didn't think the plant would survive for more than a couple of months (especially in the presence of a certain little brown cat who likes to nibble on my plants). But, I'm proud to say that I've managed to maintain this garden for the last year and look how much it's grown! It was super easy to make too. All you need is a glass container, potting soil, sand (or gravel, to help with drainage), decorative rocks, and a plant. I mixed the sand with soil before adding the plant, then added large river rocks on top of the soil for a final touch.

Shadow Box Collage

2008-06-10T18:41:00.000-07:00

I had an assortment of Asian inspired elements that I wanted to experiment with and incorporate into a 3D shadow box collage. Here's the finished piece. There's three depths to this shadow box. First, I wanted to experiment with embossing on glass, so I stamped a cherry blossom (rubber stamp by Penny Black) onto the interior glass of the shadow box. While the ink was still wet, I sprinkled embossing powder on top and used my heat gun to set the embossing powder. The second layer is a picture of one of my Geisha dolls that I manipulated in Photoshop (originally for the start of a different project). I printed and cut the Geisha image out, made a little stand for her, and propped her up in the middle of the box. For the background layer, I made a collage using origami paper and an Asian newspaper. To finish I glued more of the Asian newspaper to the outside and painted over it with watered down white acrylic paint.

If You Like Books...

2008-06-04T20:41:00.000-07:00

You might want to check out the Printers Row Book Fair in Chicago's South loop this weekend. I've always wanted to attend and by the looks of the pictures it's a very popular event. It's considered to be the largest literary event in the Midwest with booksellers, literary programs, speakers, book signings, and more. Plus, you'll be right in the heart of the city, so you can make a day out of it and visit some great neighborhoods like Chinatown, Little Italy, or Greek Town (just to name a few).

Play in Milwaukee

2008-05-29T19:27:00.000-07:00

Stan and I took a day trip to Milwaukee over Memorial Day weekend. It's definitely one of my favorite places to visit. It's about an hour and 45 minute drive from Chicago and since we live in a suburb north of Chicago it only took us about an hour and 15 minutes to get there. There's so much to do and it's incredibly easy to get around. Minimal traffic, super cheap parking, trendy shops, museums, great restaurants, art galleries, nice hotels, lakefront breeze... everything you could ask for. If you're looking for a quick getaway I recommend checking out Milwaukee. I put together a list of places we visited (this past weekend and one day last fall):

Learn Something:
1. Milwaukee Art Museum:
Located on the shore of Lake Michigan this museum boasts an impressive array of art, scenic gardens, and architecture.
2. Milwaukee Public Museum:
There's a lot to explore (three floors), so if you go make sure you leave yourself ample time to walk around. If you're like us you'll also need extra time to take goofy pictures of yourself posing next to some of the open air dioramas.
3. Mitchell Park Conservatory (The Domes):
Three indoor domes with incredible plant life - the arid dome, the tropical dome, and the floral dome.

Eat Something:
4. Milwaukee Public Market:
A bunch of merchants under one roof selling anything from prepared foods, ethnic products, chocolate, cheese, wine, flowers, baked goods, and more.
5. Cubanitas Cuban Restaurant:
I think this restaurant would do so well in Chicago, we even told the waitress they need a location here. Some of the best ethnic food I've ever eaten. I had the roasted pork with rice and beans, sweet plantains with guacamole dip, and a sangria to wash it all down. Mmmm... heavenly.
6. Alterra Coffee:
Good coffee, lots of fresh baked treats, prepared food, and very yummy hot cocoa. A charming, cozy interior, and you can even sit outside and catch a breeze from the lakefront. We went twice in one day and the place was packed both times. Not to mention, they have an incredibly cool website.

Buy Something:
7. Broadway Paper:
This place reminds me of The Paper Source. If you love paper and stationary like I do, then this is the place for you.
8. Paper Boat Boutique & Gallery:
We had to drive outside of the downtown area to find this place. They feature work by independent designers and there's also a small gallery to check out.
9. Historic Third Ward:
This area has restaurants, art galleries, trendy stores, and more. Link onto their website for a list of businesses.
10. While you're walking through the Third Ward area, maybe you'll see a cute kitty in the window of The Cat Doctor, like we did. I'm not sure if he was a patient or up for adoption, but he sure caught our eye. Unfortunately the place was closed, so we couldn't go in, but he was sure a playful little fella.

Stay Somewhere:
11. Intercontinental Hotel, Milwaukee:
This is one classy joint. We stayed here one night last year for our anniversary. Contemporary style and it's within walking distance to lots of places.

That wraps up my list of favorite things to do in Milwaukee. If you decide on going I also recommend visiting their website for more information. Happy planning!

Catchy Tune

2008-05-28T18:18:00.000-07:00

I just love this video by Yael Naim. What an original concept and so perfectly executed. You've probably heard the catchy tune on Mac commercials.

Go Cubbies!

2008-05-21T19:32:00.000-07:00

Phew. What a busy month this has been. Not much time for crafting, but I've been having a good time seeing family and catching up with friends. This past Sunday Stan and I went to our first Chicago Cubs game with some friends. I'm not really much of a sports fan, but I've always wanted to go to a Cubs game. We had a blast, and I made sure we got into the city early enough to eat at my favorite hot dog place, Wrigleyville Dogs. We sat in the upper deck and Stan almost got hit in the head with a fly ball! Thank God the guy in front of us tried catching the ball to break the blow. I just loved being at Wrigley Field and experiencing the vibe of dedicated fans and all the energy in the air.

Make Comfy Slippers

2008-05-14T20:45:00.000-07:00

When I get some time I would love to make these comfy looking slippers using this online tutorial. They're so cute, and a little more stylish than the ankle socks I always wear around the house.

{image via Home Companion}

Art Using Spools of Thread

2008-05-07T21:23:00.001-07:00

I just discovered the amazing works of Devorah Sperber on average jane crafter. Devorah uses spools of thread to create abstract, pixilated images of familiar masterpieces. She used 20,736 spools of thread to create the installation pictured above! The viewer can then see a realistic view of the image with the aid of an optical device. Devorah's work is truly amazing…talk about thinking "outside of the box."

Lovely Sweets

2008-05-05T19:10:00.000-07:00

As you might be able to tell by some of the posts on this blog, I have a MAJOR sweet tooth. I mean, my addiction to sweets is so bad that delectable photos of sugary treats or hearing about a new bakery excites me. I especially love when bakeries do something unique with the packaging and presentation of their finished product. I saw a show on the Food Network where Sugardaddy's Sumptuous Sweeties was featured. Their freshly baked luxury brownies are hand-cut and hand-packaged to your specifications. If you have a sweet tooth like I do, then you'll also get excited by viewing the photos at their online store.

{photos via Sugardaddys.com}

Handmade Journal

2008-05-02T20:28:00.000-07:00

Here's one of my first handmade journals. I used the instructions in the book Creating Handmade Books by Alisa Golden. Alisa's book is a handy resource for anyone interested in bookmaking. There's a wide variety of techniques from beginner to advanced along with instructions and finished work samples. Lots of inspiration too.

greenroom® eco products

2008-04-30T18:17:00.000-07:00

My latest discovery from Target are these environmentally friendly paper products from greenroom® eco. It was only a quick trip for milk (I swear) and somehow the shelf with these beautifully designed paper products shouted my name. Love the colors. Love the designs. Love the assortment of products. I think now might be a good time to stock up on office supplies.

Outdoor Living

2008-04-26T17:48:00.000-07:00

Today was extremely windy outside, but somehow we managed to get lots of yard work done. Nothing like having mulch blown into your eyes and face. I'm starting to compile my little wish list of outdoor items for summer. Here's a few items that peaked my curiosity:
Recycled Lanterns: Kitschy lamps available in large and small sizes.
Pop Garden Stakes: Witty little signs for your plants.
Matchstick Garden: Plant a matchstick in the soil and become enlightened with an herb or flower garden.
Neuton Mower: Battery-powered lawn mower, sure to make your neighbors' heads turn. If our lawn mower ever breaks we're getting one of these!

Sewing Frenzy

2008-04-21T18:43:00.000-07:00

Here are a couple of pet beds from my recent sewing frenzy. Feeling up for a new challenge, I came across this pet bed tutorial one night and thought I would give it a try. Usually I just make stuff for fun, but after making the first "trial" bed, I saw some potential with this project. I've been wanting to help out at my local Save-A-Pet Adoption Center and thought why not make a bunch of these little beds and put them to good use there? I altered the tutorial a little to try different styles of beds and Sienna (who is always willing to give me a helping hand) decided to do some quality control on their overall comfort level before I took them to the adoption center. It was a team effort (thanks Sienna), but I think this project was an overall success. Funny how one simple project evolves and can lead you into an unexpected path. This was definitely one of my most gratifying projects and I plan to make more pet beds in addition to pet pillows for Save-A-Pet.

What the ??

2008-04-16T19:21:00.001-07:00

Check out this Message Bean. I like the concept, but even after reading the product description, I'm still a little baffled by how it works. Seems like anything is possible these days. I might have to get one just to see what happens.

{image from wishingfish.com}

Napkin Flowers

2008-04-16T17:22:00.000-07:00

I bought this tiny flower pot from IKEA a while back and decided to "plant" some handmade flowers in it. I used these instructions and used napkins to create the flowers on floral wire wrapped with floral tape. I added some rocks in the planters for a finishing touch. These might look cute on cupcakes or on a giftbox for someone.

I've Always Wanted to Visit New York

2008-04-14T20:04:00.000-07:00

I found the perfect reason to talk Stan into a weekend in New York this fall. Besides the fact that I've always wanted to visit The Big Apple, there is a Chocolate Show November 7-9. Their show program sounds quite interesting...a fashion show, culinary demos, chocolate activities. Oh, I would be in heaven. I think Stan would be too. He blames me for becoming addicted to chocolate. I wish there was an event like this in Chicago.

Retro Craft Book

2008-04-13T18:21:00.000-07:00

I found this retro craft book at a used library book sale. This book is over forty years old and I bought it because I was curious to see how arts and crafts have evolved over time. It talks about how art should be a creative process that stimulates a person's imagination and it's full of instructions for great little traditional projects.

Playing With Shapes

2008-04-11T19:44:00.000-07:00

I wanted to experiment with organic like shapes in this collage. The bottom shape kind of reminds me of a sea horse.

Good Advertisement

2008-04-08T19:58:00.000-07:00

A friend of mine sent me these pictures of incredible advertisements. Pretty clever stuff.

Spring is in the Air... Finally!

2008-04-05T19:25:00.000-07:00

Today officially felt like spring around here. Stan and I went on our first bike ride of the season and it was so refreshing to be outside with the sun shining and a slight breeze in the air. We love going on bike rides, especially on paths in forest preserves with nothing but sweet nature surrounding us. For the past few years I've wanted to buy a bike basket to carry snacks, water, and my camera along on our rides. I think I found the perfect basket. Of course I'd have to go with the green one. Only thing is the basket is almost too cute to put on my old Trek 300 bike. Hmmm...maybe a new bike is also in my future.

Rubber Stamping Project

2008-04-01T21:12:00.000-07:00

I love vintage photos and graphics. I bought a rubber stamp of this vintage girl a while back and here's a couple of collages I made with it.

Lunch Bag

2008-03-29T05:46:00.000-07:00

I wanted to make a simple lunch bag to take the place of my paper lunch bag that eventually falls apart after a couple of uses. I made this bag using 100% cotton for the exterior and added a plastic lining to the inside in case of spills. Next time I'd like to experiment with oilcloth.

Martha's site has some ideas on lunch bags and other useful items you can make with oilcloth. I especially like these oilcloth coasters. I am intrigued by them and want to make some. Also, this site has instructions on making a bag and sewing with oilcloth.

{coaster image via Martha Stewart}

Edible Design

2008-03-25T18:56:00.000-07:00

Oh, would I love to reach through my computer screen and take a bite out of one of these Garrison Confections. Their website presents such an enticing assortment of gourmet chocolates that make me fantasize about becoming a chocolatier. I was particularly drawn to their 12- and 24-piece chocolates because of their designs, but after browsing their online store, all of their confections look like a little works of art. Go ahead, indulge.

Los Flores

2008-03-24T18:36:00.000-07:00

Here's a peak into my collage world. I created this piece using various tissue paper scraps and acrylic paint on canvas.

Fabric Wall Art

2008-03-19T18:53:00.001-07:00

This is an interchangeable piece of fabric wall art I created using about a yard of Patricia fabric from IKEA. At the time I visited, they had fabric hanging throughout their lobby and I loved the way it looked. Using stitch witchery I folded in the left and right edges for a cleaner appearance. Then I folded the top and bottom to create pockets for curtain rods to go through. I mounted the curtain rod hooks to the ceiling about two inches away from the wall. After attaching the curtain rod/fabric to the hooks I added another curtain rod to the bottom to unify the look. I like that the fabric "floats" away from the wall and if my mood changes for a different type of look, I can easily switch out the fabric.

Dynamic Design

2008-03-18T18:55:00.000-07:00

Mmm…look at these fabulously designed chocolate covered cookies by Angela Adams. Yes, they are too pretty to eat, but I don't think I would have a problem giving into the temptation.

And, if you decide to share your cookies, Angela Adams also carries this wonderful assortment of colorful trays with organic patterns.
To see Angela Adam's complete product line visit her website here.

{images via Angela Adams}

Textile Creations

2008-03-12T18:33:00.000-07:00

I love IKEA. Not only do they have a great selection of items for the home, but a nice assortment of unique fabrics. Recently I picked up a yard and a half of the Patricia fabric and was able to make a little bit go a long way.

My first project was wall art for my sewing room. I took six 12"x12" canvases that I started to collage on and decided to cover them with this fabric instead. I grided the piece on the wall to add additional visual interest. Emptyeasel.com has comprehensive instructions for stretching canvas (or in this case textiles).

With the remainder of the fabric I sewed this bag. Perfect for the spring weather that's right around the corner.

A New Blog

2008-03-10T19:23:00.000-07:00

I like to experiment in all sorts of mediums from painting, collage, paper crafting, sewing… basically whatever I'm feeling drawn to do at the moment. I love to be inspired and in some small way I hope I can inspire others to tap into their creative side. This is a little Sumi-e painting I did a while back when I took a class at The Japan America Society of Chicago. If you're interested in Japanese painting I found a great blog that features vintage Japanese artwork. You can also watch this You Tube video that has an assortment of Sumi-e painting lessons that you can try at home.