Thursday, May 26, 2011

Maize in Montana: How to make paper twine from crepe paper DIY

Maize in Montana: How to make paper twine from crepe paper DIY: "Paper twine for wrapping packages or other craft projects can be rather costly and usually doesn't come in the color I like, so ..."

For those paper-crafty types, this would be great to get that exact color needed. Looks easy and crepe paper comes in tons of colors.

Saturday, May 21, 2011

Where did Friday go?

So...I woke up this morning after a 'nap' on the futon in the computer room. My hubby had just wandered in and I was sleepy and confused. So I asked him when did he get home and how? His answer was from where. When I told him work, he pointed out today was Saturday. So I have to ask...where did Friday go? Obviously, I slept through most of it but I'll be damned if I remember much of anything. Ugh.

Sunday, May 15, 2011

The Evils of Grammar

Out of pure boredom today, I started going through a few sites and reading stories that at first glance never did much to catch my attention. After less than a half dozen of them, I remembered why. While I don't consider myself a grammar nazi, it does bother me when something is written at what appears to be an elementary school level. Sadly enough, I don't find as many errors in articles/stories written by non-native English speakers as I do in those in the US. From second or third grade up until the sophomore, junior, or sometimes even the senior year of high school, grammar is drilled into our heads. So why would someone post a story that reads like a barely literate third grader? Better yet, why do people get so defensive when you point out the errors in their works?

The worst offenders appear to be the easiest things to spell. Using where instead of wear or even were (and I'm not talking about shifters here but the verb). The ever popular it's-its, their-there-they're, your-you're, here-hear, rouge-rogue, and the list goes on and on. And on. That doesn't even cover the infiltration of text speak. Is it really that hard to type three letters (you) instead of one (u)? While I realize there may be more important things to worry about, if you're going to write please make sure you at least reach some kind of semi-literate state. Stories by neanderthal man aren't nearly as interesting.

Saturday, May 7, 2011

Reusing, Recycling, and Upcyling...oh my!

For nearly a year I've been working on creating jewelry from found objects not normally used in such a way. Some of my favorite items include dominoes, scrabble tiles, bottle caps, rubber o rings, and clear plastic plumbing tubing. I'm hoping to get enough stock to purchase a booth at the local Arts & Crafts festival in the fall so I can justify my obsession with making stuff from strange things. A few are pictured below. Tell me what you think, if you feel so inclined.

This Domino pendant is covered with a rose patterned bit of scrapbook paper, sealed with Mod Podge, and coated with a 2-part epoxy. The wire wrapping is 20ga square copper wire.
Rose Wrapped Domino

Next is a Scrabble Tile Pendant created similarly to the Domino pendant. I used the letter W as it was a woman and I was out of letter D tiles for Da Vinci. Yes, I'm that eat up with details. Again, the image was sealed under Mod Podge, covered in resin, only this time I used round 20ga copper wire colored to match the Vintaj natural brass line of findings.
Da Vinci Scrabble tile

In this pendant from the bottle cap line, I used a cap from a bottle of Jamaica Me Happy cooler, squished it nice and flat, secured a dragonfly charm to the center and a Vintaj natural brass round filigree charm using E-6000 glue, then filled the center with epoxy. A hole for the jump ring and it's ready to go on a chain.
Bottlecaps and Dragonflies

Now to start butchering some old motherboards...oh the possibilities!

Friday, May 6, 2011

And in the beginning...

There was nothing; that's kinda why they're called beginnings. As I expect to post anything from my current projects to short stories I've written, it'll be a true mind dump, I'm sure. Don't worry, I don't bite...hard. Unless you're into that sort of thing.