frustrate your desktop...

Usually, we're the ones being frustrated by our computers, but why not turn that around? Give your desktop a bit of frustration with a Frustrated Firecracker calendar desktop. Mind you, that does mean that July is here and the year is half over. And if that doesn't frustrate you...

remade little books...the file folder finale...

At the beginning of the week I showed some green file folders, with a promise to "be green" and make something new out of them. And although this isn't too different from the tiny books shown yesterday, it is several inches larger. And will most likely have some more detailing added in before becoming an official item in the shop.

And I haven't pulled out the sewing machine yet, but I think that the metal strips that made these hanging file folders will end up as a hanging organizer made of fabric.

So many fun things to do with old stuff that is going to be trashed! And this concludes "eco week" from a non-environmentalist who likes to take care of the world God made...

remade tiny books...

Reducing, reusing and recycling are all good a well, but the more creative approach is to remake. Which is how these Remade Tiny Books came to be. See, I have this thing about paper. I love it. And I have too much of it. But I can't get rid of it. So I remade it into tiny blank books for writing, doodling, etc.

They are quite useful...I keep mine with me always. And if they sell well at Etsy (hint, hint), I'll be able to remake all of this paper into some fun useful things!

eliminate waste...or use it for your flowers...

Have you ever willingly invited bugs into your house? How about worms? I can't believe that I'm actually saying, er, typing this, but I'm looking into keeping a small bin of live worms in the kitchen.

What I'm talking about though, is indoor composting. It's quite an amazing thing, because just a few Red Wigglers will eat up scraps of food, certain kinds of paper, and more, then turn it into some of the most nutrient-rich compost that you could put on your plants. And they don't really bother you, because they are in the bottom of the bin, trying to keep away from the light.

This past Sunday I had the opportunity to see these Red Wigglers, as well as a different kind of outdoor compost barrel, and I'm really into it. I've even looked at taking a class where you build an indoor compost bin. The only thing that I'll have to get over is harvesting the compost...but hey, that's what gloves are for!

The funny thing about this is, I had been thinking it would be a good idea, but figured my mom wouldn't be up for having worms in the house. I later learned she thought it was a good idea that I wouldn't like! Go figure!

a reducing resolution...half way there...

I once read an article about a group of people who made a resolution to not buy anything new (toiletries were an exception) for an entire year. Buying used items was okay, just not new. The idea was (and is) that our society, and all of the stuff we have, is too disposable. How true. What they found was that they could get by quite well, and in fact, some continued the challenge the next year.

The idea stuck with me, and I've thought a good deal about it. But it seemed like too big of a change for me to start with. But I wanted to do something. So this year my somewhat secret New Year's resolution was that I would go the entire year without buying any new clothes. I have so much, more than many people in many countries would have in a lifetime. And why not wear what I have?

I'm pleased to say, that nearly half way through the year, I'm pretty much on target. My confession is that I bought a pair of unworn shoes...for $2...from Goodwill. But overall, it's been a good year for reducing the buying of new things. And when I need something different to wear, I just steal it from a sibling's closet!

non-recycled recycling illustration doodles...

There are times when a person needs to reuse an idea, recycle a piece of artwork, reduce how hard they think, or remake something they've created. Sometimes that's the best solution. Sometimes it can make you look as silly as an A-list actress wearing the same outfit twice. But this recycled artwork is completely new. These "Recyclers" are a bit unsure about what may come of them, but are glad that they found their way to the recycling bin.

They'll also find their way onto some other fun things soon. I'll do my best to make sure they are "eco-friendly".

eco week...

Never before have I declared a theme week on the ol' blog, and perhaps never again, but starting today, it's Eco Week.

I don't really think of myself as an environmentalist. I'm not. But I do feel a responsibility to take care of the world God has given us. The earth and everything on it is His, and I want to treat it respectfully. So I try to do my part whenever possible. And don't get me wrong...I think you should too. Everyone should. But...

Have you noticed how popular it is to "go green"? Sometimes I wonder if folks really want to wisely conserve, or if they are just jumping on the bandwagon because it may help sales. I don't like to get into anything too deep here, so I'll leave you to think about that.

Those "green" file folders will were rescued from the recycling bin today, but by the end of the week, they'll be something new. And throughout the week you'll be seeing some things that I like to do in my effort to have "dominion" over God's creation...

needing trash...

Remember those TAB books I made my dad for Father's Day? Well, I've been working up something similar that I plan on selling. The only trouble is, I need soon to be recycled cardboard packaging to do it. And of all the times, right now there is none at my house. Grr...

my greatest fear...

The other day I told my mother that my greatest fear is that I'll run out of adjectives. She's seriously worried about me now.

Honestly though, I make all these little illustration doodles that each have their own personality. That means that every one that I make needs an adjective or some sort of descriptor for in it's name. During prolific times, my mind truly has to stretch to find just the right words.

All I can say is, thank goodness for the Mirriam-Webster Thesaurus.

i'll get the tab...

My dear dad loves TAB. If you've never heard of it, TAB is a diet cola made by the Coca-Cola Company. Often when it comes up in conversation, the first question asked is, "Do they still make that?" The answer is yes, although it is hard to find. We almost always have a case of it around, and so my dad suggested that I should find something to make with the cartons. I was thinking wallet or folder. But then I saw some mini books on Etsy, and I got this idea.



These fun little books are just the right size to fit in a pocket, and will hold lists and notes or some doodles. My dad got four of them for Father's Day, but I know I'll be making more. Because, for starters, I'll need some. Plus I'm thinking this could be a great way to use interesting packaging and the excess of paper that I seem to acquire!

for dad...

If you are a dad, will be a dad, have a dad, or had a dad, Happy Father's Day!

This was a little doodle I drew on the wrapping for one of my dad's presents. What I actually made for him will be tomorrow's post...

But for now, enjoy a treat...

the fruit of my labors...

Yesterday I promised to give a bit of an update on what I've been working on. So here it is.

The Honey Honeys are a group of illustration doodles that came out of a request for bee themed address cards. Before I knew it, there were four new characters. But my favorite part of this is that the address cards will be used in place of a guest book at a wedding. Great idea, right? The recipe card version seen above is available in the shop.

Speaking of weddings, I'm now working on another set of illustration doodles that will be wedding in theme...they are only in the sketchbook right now, but they'll be next to make it onto the screen.

Finally, I discovered how much I enjoy making custom items. So if folks are looking for recipe or address cards with different doodles, I will be only too happy to create them. More on this along the way...

So now, on to a weekend of creating...

too warm to create...

A quick post to say that...it is too warm to create. Mind you, I'm not complaining about the warm weather. I love it. But it is making sitting at the computer uncomfortable because the laptop is just too darn hot. Even on the desk, it makes my wrists burn.

The good part about this is that it has forced me to the sketchbook. The bad part is that I have all these great ideas going, and can't get them made!

More of a post tomorrow with some of the fun that I've been up to...

a pathetic printable...

When summer weather comes, you'll want to enjoy a cool refreshing popsicle. The downside is that it's the same summer weather that will result in a melty Pathetic Popsicle. Why not take both the hot sun, and a puddle of frozen treat, and put them to good use? Download the June printable, and you can have your own sundial!

Now, here's the disclaimer. This is a very non-scientific sundial. Creating an accurate sundial can be quite complicated, because it is dependent on where you live, the season, etc. In fact, I nearly gave up on this. But then I remembered the kind of sundial I made as a kid where you basically attached a needle to a paper plate, and marked the hours by going outside each hour and adding another number. Good stuff, this.

So, as you make your sundial, keep in mind that this is really all for fun. However, for some really interesting sundial examples, check out Karen's Sundial Page.

another fowl sunday...

Actually, my Sunday wasn't bad. It's just, for a girl who really can't stand birds, they seem to be following my life. You may remember that last Sunday there was a baby chicken in my back yard. Yesterday there was a baby robin in my front yard.

This little thing was very loud, which was how we discovered it. The chirping made it sound like there was a bird in the house (thank goodness it wasn't!), but in fact it was just near a window. My sister and I went outside to take a look and it started hopping closer. Obviously it's not very tiny, but still, it wasn't able to fly...just hop. Eventually it came within about a foot or two of us. And that's when we started to hear...it would chirp, and then it's mama would chirp from across the street.

Slowly the little robin made it's way towards the street. And although I don't like birds, I couldn't bear to think of something happening to the poor thing. So we enlisted my brother to direct traffic, allowing the robin to cross. Once across the street we left it alone, trusting that it would find mama.

My goal is for next Sunday to be bird-free.

In other news, I watched the recent Masterpiece Theater production of Northanger Abbey, and fell in love with Catherine's hair. Which prompted this:



Self-trimmed short bangs. Risky, but...I love them. And I love how they look with my just-barely-long-enough-to-pull-back hair.

Tomorrow...June's Printable!

envelop it...

My 92-year-old "aunt" recently moved to a smaller apartment, and I assisted in going through some of the odds and ends that she acquired over the years. She kept so many things and was so organized about most of it. One of my favorite things was a drawer that had file folders containing used envelopes that could be reused, or pieces or cardboard that may have a use. It's very like me to not want to throw something away in case you could use it.

It's oh so environmentally friendly...at least for the overall environment. Not the day to day environment you live in. That gets a bit full.

With that in mind, not everything could be saved. But I did hang on to some stuff. Like this box of envelopes. They are all new old envelopes, just a couple of each kind in an old box that was too wonderful to lose. I find that I need to de-stash to make room for the new stash...

i'm such a square...

That's right. I'm a square. But in the best sense. Just like the very hip 4-sided items that I put into my new Treasury. And although I didn't include them, I fell in love with "The Squares" from the moment I saw them...

my life as an insanity magnet...

That I could have two crazy stories to go in one post is evidence that my life calls out for crazy to happen. Well, maybe my family's life. But here is how things can go around here:

Yesterday my little brother ran into the house with "come on, come on! it's an emergency!" Rarely does this mean that there is actually an emergency, so we ask, "what is it?" His response: "there's a chicken in the backyard!" Let me say, I live in the suburbs of Chicago. In a nice little neighborhood that does not resemble a farm in any way. And we have 6-ft high stockade fence around the whole yard. So, a chicken?

But in fact, there was a chicken. A baby chick that our neighbor is tending for a school project had wandered under the fence, and was now hiding. So the hunt began. It felt like being in a sitcom, searching and poking leaves and trying to find a baby chicken in one's backyard. A long sitcom, because we looked for about an hour before finding it. But at last, he (or she) is back with their friends.

But then today brought another crazy event.

We have a room with very high ceilings. Which puts the ceiling fans at about 20 feet. This makes cleaning them and changing light bulbs a challenge. It's why we have remote controls to change the settings. But recently the remote wasn't working, and we really wanted to turn a fan on. This led to something that Lucy herself would have been proud of. Me. On a ladder. With a broom that had duct tape on the end. Which stuck to the pull chain. Leaving a broom hanging from the ceiling fan.

Thankfully I didn't laugh myself off of the ladder, and thankfully the mop got the broom down. (I kept picturing the scene from the movie I.Q., where they throw things into a tree in order to get a badminton birdie unstuck.)

The duct tape remains 20 feet up.