Christmas Countdown

           The countdown is on for Christmas 2012! For the last two weeks everything has been going crazy. My computer took a hard blow and it was out for a while. I finally fixed it after buying the wrong reboot disc, and now I got a working compy again. Yay for me! I’m still working harder than any elf at the North Pole has ever done. I'm starting to wander if I should have bought more gifts, than trying to make so many. Or maybe I shouldn’t have spent a week with my girls partying before the holidays. That’s a whole week lost, but I can’t really complain since it hard to get together with all of us living so far apart. I’m also working hard to finish the Holiday Square blanket before Sunday and a few extras Harry Potter themed gifts. I know extras are crazy, but hay I love crafting and when it comes to a gift I can make then I’m up for the challenge….Even if my dear friend won’t receive it until next year. LOL  

          I myself have started to receive gifts for Christmas and can’t wait to open them up. I am as excited as a kid for Christmas. Can’t wait to head home to see the family and pig out at Christmas dinner. Well I got to go or I will never get this year Santa sled filled. Until next time design it, make it, and love it! 

                                                  PS

When the holiday madness is over I will try to post pictures of this DIY Christmas. Have a merry Christmas & a happy New Years everyone!

 

City Ride

        Today I walked the bike to the bike shop to have the brakes repaired. I tried fixing the brakes myself for over two months and each time I failed. I even bought extra tools and watched videos and nothing worked. It was time to go to the shop.

        As I stood by in the shop watching the young guy that usually works on my bike work. I was thinking to myself, I did that and I connected that cable and why didn’t it work for me… I felt like a fool, but hey at least it only took him 15mins to fix both brakes and cost three bucks. To show my appreciation I tip him and bought a new lock from the shop. At last I’m ridding again!

        Since my bike was fixed I decided to head over to my favorite library. I pedaled my way through downtown L.A. busy streets and sidewalks to the Central library on 5^th street. Like always I feel at home here, I’m a bookworm for sure. It’s huge like a mall, there’s up and downstairs levels and escalators to get you to each floor of interest. Are you can take an elevator if you like. The mood mellow as usually for a library. There was no line at the check-in and check-out desks. So I paid a fee and picked up a new library card. The clerk was nice at the desk and didn’t charge me for the replacement card, just total of the old fee. Then I was off to the art floor.

            On the second floor I went and stared a bit at the artwork that was hanging from the ceiling and the grand Christmas in the hallway. I wish I had my camera with me, so I could’ve taken some nice pictures for the blog. Inside the art section of the library I saw some manga and I browsed for a bit, but nothing caught my eye. I moved on to the arts and crafts books aisles.

            I circled the aisles a bit searching for books I wanted to read but couldn’t find but a few on my own. It has been awhile since I been to this library. So I asked the librarian for help. He was an older, tall, gentleman but he was patience with me and my shorthand writing on a crumbled piece of notebook paper. I carry a list of books I want to read in my wallet, because I never know when I might drop into a library. Time flew by as we hunted down the wanted books on my list. Some we found, others we didn’t and those I put on hold. It was getting dark when I finally left the library happily with my new reading materials. I pedaled back through the city and made one last stop by the store before heading home.

Micheals, Coupons, & A Sock Loom

             This afternoon I headed out for my local Michaels Craft store to pick up some supplies. When I got there I did my usual rounds of the beads, findings, paint, paper, and clay aisles. Then I finally headed over to the yarn aisle. The holiday yarn was on sale for $1.99 a roll so I grabbed two rolls of white pom-pom yarn and a roll of purple yarn. Then I checked out the hooks and needles.

             I was going to pick up a new pair of double needles when I noticed a woman checking out the looms. Since I already have a set of looms, I didn’t pay much attention until I saw what kind of loom it was. It was a new brand of sock loom by Loops & Threads. Humph, a sock loom, I don’t have one of those yet and I have wanted one for awhile now. I thought to myself. So I forgot about the double pointed needles I was going to buy, and instead put the sock loom into my cart and headed for the checkout line.

                When I shop at Michaels or any other craft stores I always use coupons. Since all the other items were already on sale/clearance, I use the 50% off coupon for the sock loom. It knocked it down from the original price of $17.99 to $8.99. My new sock loom fit right in my spending budget. Compared to the $29.99 KB sock loom, another reason why I didn’t purchase a sock loom until now. Even with the coupon it didn’t fit into my $25.00 monthly craft budget. Not that KB sock loom is’t a good brand, but a little to pricey for my pockets.

                   Since I’m home now, and I have to get my late dinner started. I will post how my new sock loom experience went. Until next time remember to design it, make it, and love it!

Perler Beads

        I’m dedicating this blog to all my crafty adventures, cooking labs, and all the randomness that makes me who I am. To whoever drops in for a glance into my world feel free to leave comments and remember if you have nothing nice to say than say nothing at all.

Topic: Perler Beads 

        Perler beads a well-known craft product in the crafter world but are new to me. I have seen them in many craft stores but I have never bought any until now. I picked up a theme bucket of Perler beads at my local craft store. I chose the bakery bucket because it has a variety of colorful beads that I know will come in handy as I begin this new crafty adventure.

        When I got home I opened the bucket and inside there were three bags of Perler beads, three peg boards, ironing paper, and instruction manual. I read the instructions, checked out the free patterns that came with the kit and then I open up the bags of beads. I started off with my own ideas; there wasn’t anything wrong with the free patterns. It’s just I have never been one to color in the coloring book; instead I prefer a blank sheet of paper with room for freedom of creativity. Sitting at the craft table I came up with a nice little set of peace and love, one round peace sign, one hand peace sign, and a cute little heart. All three pieces came out very well for my first time working with Perler beads. The only problem I had was with my iron temperature setting, I had to keep checking the beads to see if they had fuse already or not. Otherwise I had no problem with crafting with Perler beads.

        Later on into the evening I spent some time on the computer looking at all thwonderful art work created by Perler beads. I have learned what e was once many crafters childhood favorite medium is now adult’s favorite form of crafting as well. Perler beads another ageless and timeless craft for all to enjoy.

My Perler Beads Creations

 

Pink Gameboy & Pokeball

  Love and peace set 





 

Popsicle

Pink Droid