You Are An Obsession, I Cannot Sleep

I've gotten into the habit of basing my blog post titles around a song. My goal is to set the overall tone for each post. Also, I just really love music and have the most random taste. :D

I'm a bit of an obsessive person- but not in like, an obsessive compulsive sort of way. I have a tendency to get hooked on something quickly and go full force - an addictive personality, some might say. I can't ever just do anything a little. In fact, I come from a family of "aholics". Mom is a workaholic, Sister is a danceaholic and Dad...Well, his addiction is something more serious, but I don't want to get into that. Whole can of worms I'd rather not open on my blog... Onward, HO!

It's springtime. Easter is only 6 days away. Keith has been out in the yard, tending to the garden (Dude has an unbelievable green thumb. I call him 'The Plant Whisperer'. He doesn't think it's as funny as I do).  and what the hell have I been doing? I've been working on my fake garden -- making frickin' fabric flowers like they're going out of style. Of course, there is a purpose to them; Giving 'em away as Easter gifts. In a panic last night, I was afraid I wasn't going to have enough time to get them done this week. Any normal person would have objectively looked at the schedule for the upcoming week, and found a spot to make time.

PFFT! Who does that?! Certainly not me! 

What did I do? I stayed up until 7am making flowers! That's right. If that isn't sick, I don't know what is. Plus, I got one pretty wicked burn on my left hand from an unfortunate placement of my index finger. My glue gun may be little, but that thing packs some heat!

I think they came out pretty nifty. Each set of flowers has it's own mini terracotta pot.

:)

 I even broke out and tried making some roses

♥ 

Went with gems instead of buttons

I can't seem to stop wanting to make more flowers. I think about them all day long.

I remember when I first discovered Amigurumi. I started making bunnies. Oh. My. GOD... I made so many of those freakin' things. I had family members crawling out of the woodwork, asking me to make a bunny. 

Bright Bunny I made for my Mom

They weren't hard to make, but after awhile... I was feeling stagnant. Sure, I changed up the colors and the pattern, but I needed more. 

Am I alone here? 

Is there something you make repeatedly, and you can't find the strength to stop? 

If any of you out there know the secret to a life of moderation, please share.

Until next time, Happy Crafting!

Nails For Breakfast, Tacks For Snacks

So, this post isn't about Pan!c At the Disco, or my uncontrollable love for this song... It's about something Even COOLER!!

Now for some backstory before we continue on! 

If there is anything you need to know about me, it's that for as long as I can remember - I've been a nail biter. I've tried it all to stop the habit :

• Liquid pepper, sour apple (which I both find very tasty)
• Press-On/Glue-On Nails: They work, but I get sick satisfaction when ripping them off (I'm disgusting. I know) 
• Acrylic Nails: This has worked for a LONG time, until the last time I got them done - They got infected and I realized... I can't function as a normal human being with them on (even if they make my hands look downright sexy) 

So, Now... I'm trying to quit cold turkey. The only thing that seems  to be working is keeping them short, and constantly painted.

About a week ago, my sister showed me a video that rocked my freakin' world.  Do yourself a favor and watch the video.

Must. Have. This! 

My sister bought couple of these, and I got to see them today up-close and personal. She was at work, so I took a few minutes and tried it out for mah-self.

Not too shabby for a first attempt

  I was sitting on my parents bathroom floor with a small metal plate, a few jars of nail polish, a scraper thing, a stamper and some Q-tips. As innocent as all of it looked, the act of it made me feel like a total druggie. Of course, it may have just been the nail polish fumes...

 *Couple quick things: You can order all this stuff from wowsocool.com (They offer free shipping to the US and Canada on orders more than $20)  or check out Amazon.com. (Pretty sure you can find some excellent deals there, too)
* With these stamps you can use ANY BRAND of nail polish... Even cheapie 99 cent, drug store stuff :D Total bonus
(Seriously, I should be getting some free swag for promoting this stuff- hahaha!)

(Nothing But) Flowers - Finished Photos

So happy with the results, I could just cry!

OH! OH!
I almost forgot...

Here's the LINK to my tutorial guest post on
'Domestic But Not Martha' 's blog :) 

(Nothing But) Flowers

So... I know I said I was going to take a break from crafting. Well, I lied. I can't do it. I just can't. Since I decided to "give it up", I've been frickin' miserable. I can actually feel my hands ache from not making anything.

I am, however, going to cool it down a bit. Try to not throw myself completely into every project that comes my way. I do need to get back in the swing of things.

My friend Leslie just moved back to Delaware, and needed to de-clutter her belongings before her depature.

 This was her parting gift to me:

A tub full of thread!

 Totally overjoyed with happiness, my eyes glazed over staring at my tub of new thready friends. Why let this thing sit around, and go to waste? That would be wrong. I have a few pillows for my pillow project that need to be made [One for March and another for April].

Over the next few days, I'm going to get supplies together to make some of these:

www.weddingchicks.com/2011/03/11/diyweddingbouquet/

I was talking to @apockylypse on the Twitter machine. She posted a pic of the flowers she's making for her wedding bouquet, and I totally loved 'em.. Me, being a fan of flowers that don't die and DIY stuff,  I inquired about the flowers. Genius. Simple, and totally adorbale. Now, I'm not getting married - these will just sit in a vase/jar/ glass cylinder - so they would be everyday nifty!  Although, I'm going to a friend's wedding in June. I might even make a bouquet out of the wedding colors, and give the bride the bouquet as a gift! (Thank goodness the bride or groom doesn't read my blog. hahaha!)

[big, painful sigh] Besides, I have a glue gun I've owned for the last 5 years that has never been opened/never been used. Shame, right? [Hangs head]

Off to water my plants! :D

Until next time, Happy Crafting!

Calgon, Take Me Away

As much as I love knitting, crocheting, sewing, making stitch markers, I have to put it on hiatus -or at least, pull back the reigns.

There are things going on at home, details I won't bore you with. I think with my obsession with creating things with my hands, Other areas of my life have suffered because of it. This won't be easy for me.Unfortunately, It even involves shutting down my Etsy shop [Ok - notsomuch shutting it down, Just putting it on Vacation for an unknown period of time]

This really makes me sad. Very sad, in fact. However, I haven't found the balance between my personal life and my creative life. When one thrives, the other one suffers. It's heartbreaking, really - but sadly, it's my creative side that needs to be turned off for awhile.

So, Spread the word around that my shop will be on Vacation starting Monday, April 11, and that as of right now - everything in the shop has been marked down 25%.

http://etsy.com/shop/fal00la

February's Pillow (and much love for my besite)

I know, I know. It's March 14. I'm a wee bit late in getting around to posting this. I have to admit, I'm not the best blogger (as I'm sure all of you have noticed)

My best friend Jessica (aka @defysocietyarts on the Twitter) had a birthday in February. In fact, her and her beloved have birthdays that are only days apart (So cute, these two). Her and I have gotten into the habit of exchanging gifts. She is one one hell of a crafty chica!! She is a beautiful writer and painter who also crochets, knits, sews, does embroidery work, and would love to do pottery. She is also one of the best friends I have ever had. In fact, she's more like a sister than a friend. I've had the extreme privilege of knowing her for about 10 years, and she will be -without a doubt- my friend... POR VIDA!

On to the pillow!!!

Front

Back

You're probably saying "Um... Isn't February's pillow a lot like January's pillow?" . This is where you are right, and also - you're wrong. This pillow I went 100% with the sewing machine, complete with custom appliques! When I posted pictures of January's pillow, Jessica loved it so much - I just knew I had to make one for her that was totally unique :)   [Also, I really love this fabric, and was so happy to be able to put it to good use]

Until Next Time - Happy Crafting!!

A-B-C , Easy as 1-2-3

This was a  fun little survey I picked up from fellow blogger and Twitter pal PuNk rAwK pUrL Check out her blog! She posts some awesome stuff! Always something interesting to read from that crafty lady. (Just click her name - if you didn't already know that *wink*) 

I threw in a song for you to jam (if you feel like dancing while reading this - I know I get the urge).

Happy Reading! 

    

The A-B-C's
About me :

A. Age: 30 ( but most of the time I feel like a lost 15 year old)

B. Bed Size: Queen.

C. Chore You Dislike: Dishes! Always, constantly - doing the dishes. My hands are so rough and scaly, I might as well have alligators at the ends of my arms.

D. Dogs: I have 2. A Dalmatian named Lloyd (Who is named after John Cusack's character Lloyd Dobbler in 'Say Anything) and a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel/ Brussels Griffon mix named Randal (named after Randal Graves in 'Clerks') 

These two are the best of friends

                                                     
E. Essential Start to Your Day: Face Moisturizer! Seriously, living in the high desert is killer on your skin, and when I wake up it always feels like I'm wearing a papier mache mask.

F. Favorite Color: Oh my gosh, I hate this question - because it always changes. Right now, I'm on this green/pink combo kick .

G. Gold or Silver: Silver, please! (looks down and admires her silver rings she adores so much)

H. Height: 5’4ish

I. Instruments You Play(ed): Guitar. Although, It's been sitting in the other room - locked away in it's case. I really do need to pull her out, and learn some kiddie songs to sing & play for the boys. Those boys love them some music, they do.

J. Job Title: Mom, Avon Lady, Etsy Seller, Full time weirdo :D

K. Kids: Two wonderful, adorable, silly twin 2-year old boys. I rarely post pictures of them (because I like to keep them private and safe), but I can't hide them forever. This is, by far, my favorite picture of the two of them. A funny moment captured forever it's in sweetness 

♥

                                                           
L. Live: Albuquerque, New Mexico - Home of the International Balloon Fiesta and the Gathering Of Nations (one of North America's largest Pow-Wows) Also, We're turning into, what some of the locals like to call "Tamalewood"

M. Mom’s Name: Christine

N. Nicknames: Stephy, Stephykins, Teffy Lou, and -of course- falOOla.

O. Overnight Hospital Stays: Twice. Once when I was 9, and then again at 28.

P. Pet Peeves: People who don't use their blinkers in traffic (Glare) You know who you are.

Q. Quote from a Movie: "Blaine?! That's not a name! That's a major appliance!" - Ducky (Pretty In Pink) 

                                                     
                                                       

R. Righty or Lefty: Righty.

S. Siblings: One younger sister, who is 7 years my junior, but people always assume we're really close in age, or twins. 

                                                      

T. Time You Wake Up: It varies.

U. Underwear: Yes, I wear them. Thank you for asking.

V. Veggies You Don’t Like: Jicama - Random, right? I just don't care for the taste of it.

W. What Makes You Run Late: When I don't write down my list of everything I need to leave the house, and what I'm out to get.

X. X-Rays You’ve Had: Dental, and I think I might have been X-rayed when I was in the hospital at age 9, but I'm not 100% sure. 

Y. Yummy Food You Make: I make a killer spaghetti sauce, and some of the best pancakes. All from scratch, I might add.

Z. Zoo Animal Favorites: Lions, Tigers and Polar Bears  (Oh my!) 


What about YOUR A-B-C list? It's fun! 
Have a great weekend , and Until Next time! - Happy Crafting! -