Yarn Organizing

The offspring has been sick this week. She’s demanding at the best of times, and when she’s sick she doesn’t let me out of arm’s reach, so very little has been done around Nerd HQ the last few days. One thing I can do while pinned down beneath a sleeping toddler is plan, so plan I have.

One of the biggest organizing challenges in the Nook is going to be my piles and piles of yarn. I love yarn, and I consider crochet to be my favorite hobby, so most of the stash isn’t going anywhere. The biggest problem I have is that I prefer to make small-scale projects. Amigurumi and doll clothes don’t take very much yarn and most of my stash is comprised of partially used skeins. They love to tangle into one another and I can’t count how many times I have dug into my stash only to find one huge knot. Priority number one is to store the yarns tangle-free, and anything else is a bonus!

With that in mind, I’ll be tackling the stash with a box of gallon-size zip top bags in hand. I’m a rainbow lover so I do wish I had a reason to organize my yarn by color, but instead I’ll be organizing by weight and texture. I’m not a fiber enthusiast so I don’t have any fancy materials. I believe they are all acrylic and cotton, but honestly I haven’t the slightest idea. Is that bad?

The baggies of yarn will go into four Basic Stack Baskets from The Container Store. I hope it’s enough! The nice thing about a system like this is that I can add on to it over time if I have to. I’m also very excited about the cute colors. I got two Kiwi Green and two Nova Blue, because I couldn’t pick. If they had more colors to choose from I might have gotten all four different.

I’m itching to get my yarn organization set up. My yarn stash has NEVER been organized, and it will feel like such a huge accomplishment if I can get it done!

Steampunk Insects

I know I promised to be back yesterday, but I’ve got a sick little one on my hands. I’ll have photos of my Steampunk costume for your enjoyment soon, in the meantime I have other brassy creations to share.

Arthrobots are gorgeous insect sculptures made by Tom Hardwidge. I normally wouldn’t consider such sculptures “crafts”, but they come to life on Tom’s dining room table so I do feel a kinship there!

Be sure to check out the full gallery- each piece is gorgeous and unique.

Whoops, sorry…

I let time get away from me and forgot to post anything. I’ve been hard at work preparing for something very nerdy indeed.

 

 

Planning, packing, and even crafting have been involved. I plan on wearing a Steampunk costume, so it has been hard work and I let it get right down to the wire. I’ll certainly have something to post about when I get back, detailing the work on the costume and maybe sharing some exploits if the mood hits me.

See you Monday!

Come vote!

My patchwork desk was nominated for a Best in Show award at LambAround this week! You should have a look and vote for your favorite- even if it’s not me.

Thanks for the love!

Faux Fuse Charm by Ink Stains

I’m completely enamored with all things Steampunk right now, but the vintage bits to pull the look off can really add up. Roni at Ink Stains came up with a way to recreate the look of a vintage fuse for a lot less, out of materials you’d find in any jewelry maker’s stash.

Isn’t it darling? Take a moment to guess what she used for glass, then hop over to the tutorial to see the step-by-step process. You’ll be amazed!

The Desk Is Done!

Last night I put the final layer of Mod Podge Hard Coat on the desk, and I love it even more than I thought I would. The Hard Coat gives such a nice satin finish that it really feels like a desk should! I can run my hands over the surface and not feel the seams of the paper patches at all. I’ve been enamored with my desk all morning. I couldn’t resist staging it, even though I haven’t finished all of my storage containers yet, and snapping a few dozen pictures.

The whole thing. It’s not perfectly organized, and it never will be. I thrive on a little bit of chaos, it keeps my brain working.

I’m going to make a “mug rug” to protect my hard work from my coffee, but for now an extra placemat will do.

Mod Podge Corner. I’m on the hunt for the perfect little piece of artwork to put on the upright.

Still love Yoda. See those boxes? Their lids are painted with homemade teal chalkboard paint!

Probably my favorite part of the desk.

Chalkboard label containers in their home. The rainbow stripes fit right in! (Ignore the spill-over kitchen storage below.)

I am in love with the details. Is it self-centered to say that about something I made?

My seat. It’s an awesome view, if I do say so myself.

Faith + Hope + Love + Coffee!

I’m excited to be in my crafting space with this bright and beautiful desk to work on. It makes me smile, and it will look even better when the details come together. Now I just have to tackle this:

And the Nook will be a dream come true!

Patchwork and Handwriting Desk

Snow days are great for crafting!

This is the view from my front door right now. I thought about opening the door for a better view, but it’s COLD out there!

We’ll be stuck inside for a few days so I’m choosing to relax about housework and focus on a couple of bigger crafting projects instead. Chief among them is this little beauty!

This computer desk belonged to my husband all through high school. Structurally, it’s in fine shape, and the metal frame is very sturdy. The laminate finish was another story. Teenage boys are hard on their desks and it had nicks, scrapes, bubbles and even a carving or two. Frankly, if I’d had the option I think I would have sold this thing and gone looking for something else. Instead I had to go at it with paper and Mod Podge in hand. I’m really happy with the result! This is the type of bold, crazy-quilt finish I had in mind with the ribbon organizer. After my problems with that piece, it feels really good for this one to turn out so well.

From the beginning I wanted to make sure this was an original piece that really spoke for who I was. What is more individual than my own handwriting? I broke out the sharpies and doodled away!

Some simple words for inspiration and focus.

Gotta have a little Yoda wisdom.

Serendipity: good luck in making unexpected and fortunate discoveries.

A little hard to read, but it says: When in doubt, GO BIGGER, go brighter, go CRAZY! It’s kind of my personal crafting motto, so it’s right in front of my seat at the desk.

And last but certainly not least, I always keep Faith, Hope and Love close to my heart. (This is on the edge of the desk in front of my seat, so I mean that literally! I’m corny like that.)

Technically this is a “sneak peak” because it needs a few coats of Mod Podge Hard Coat. Otherwise this is what it will look like for at least a month. I want to make sure the Hard Coat really does hold up to some abuse before I go to the trouble of coating the shelves too. But considering that I’m already using the unfinished piece a little bit, I think it will be fine!

Hoo Am I? 02/01/11

It’s Tuesday so it’s time for Hoo Are You with Night Owl Crafting. This week’s edition is brought to you from the middle of a blizzard! There’s about a foot of snow outside and more coming.

1. Are you married/in a relationship/single? For how long?

I’m married to my high school sweetheart! We’ve been married for three and a half years, but we dated for three years before that.

2. What do you do for a living? Do you enjoy it?

My primary job is to be mommy to my precious little girl and I love it! I do babysit part time, I love that it lets me stay with my little one and that she gets to socialize.

3. In what state do you live? Where were you born and raised?

I live in Missouri. I was born in Kansas, but both of my parents are also from this area and we moved back when I was five, so I consider this my hometown.

4. Do you have children? If so, how many? If not, do you want them?

One precious little monster, fourteen months old. I love her to pieces! I do hope that she’ll be a big sister someday, but not yet.

5. Who is your favorite blogger to follow and why?

What? I have to pick one?? I really don’t think I can. I follow a couple dozen craft blogs right now. I have craft ADD so I like to see everything!