simpletruths

Handmade Prettiness

via decor8blog.com

I'm not sure if it's because I am, for the first time, the out-numbered gender in my own home, but since having little Mr. I've become more comfortable with my 'girlness.'

True, it may also be that I'm wearing more skirts and dresses because my hips still haven' slimmed down quite enough to fit back into all of my prepregnancy pants; that's another post.

Maybe it's that we've bought a house, and I want to us to be surrounded by things that are indicative of who we are - and not succumb to the ikea nesting instinct.  

Whatever the reason, it's also almost humorously different from Jr. High and High School when I was staunchly against anything seeming "girly." A neighbor once told me the fuchsia shirt I was wearing was a nice color on me. I don't think I ever wore that shirt again. I didn't want to look good in pink. ick. I wore boots, heavy stomping boots, all the time, my prom date said I looked funny with lipstick on.

But here I am, mommy, with my garden, and my crochet, and my high heels - but were it not for my earlier rebellion would I do 30 non-girl push-ups each morning (oh yea! I'm up to thirty in a row)? Would I prefer mowing the lawn to washing dishes...who knows.

ANYWAY - all of that to say
  The Homeade Home by Sania Pell is full of so much handmade prettiness.

That is all.

A little corner of my life

Mr. Man helped me with my photo recycled T-shirt photos recently and I just love the little glimpse of our life that's in this pic.

 

That door on the far left is painted with chalk board paint. It's one of the first things I did after we finished unpacking...or at least decided we were done unpacking.  

 That hat on the doorknob is my backyard hat.  Sometimes Isaiah doesn't like to wear his hat when we go in the backyard, but if mommy is wearing her hat then he's a little more agreeable (occasionally). Truly, the hat is great because we don't have much shade back there and wearing sunglasses while mowing or whatever just doesn't work.

That little stick leaning against the door frame is the top part of Isaiah's broom. He likes to 'help' sweep. 

And the big wooden cabinet is actually used as our pantry right now.  It was going to be my craft closet until we realized how little cabinet space out kitchen has.  The pantry houses tea, baking necessities  baking powder/soda, flours, bittersweet chocolate chips,and various nuts; dried fruit, canned goods, wine, and more tea. Our cookbooks sit on top.

           

Bitten

I've been bitten by the sewing bug.

I used to sew but I don’t think I’ve done more than hand stitch a few random tidbits here and there since I was “ordered” to partial bed rest about 5 months into my pregnancy with my now-toddler.  (I know, me, bed rest! It’s hard to even imagine that now.)

Anyhow it was suggested that I not spend extended periods sitting straight up in a chair (and the weekly needle in the butt surely helped to keep me more or less horizontal for at least the 36hours  immediately following).  In any case, that is how I ended up taking on more crochet projects – you can crochet with your feet up, and even laying on your side. It also didn’t require any of the bending, standing, or hunching I did when cutting, and measuring fabric.

 

yea...i know

So I crocheted a sad looking blanket from unbelievably cheap acrylic yarn I found stashed away from ages ago.  I made purses, scarves,  hats, and fingerless gloves (those were may favorite for a while)

 

None if it was ‘bad’ per say, but my skill and creativity have definitely increased over the last 2 years – far surpassing the chain and single stitch my mom showed me 20 years ago.

 

me, on the couch, very pregnant, making this hat:

 

But admittedly, after 3 years of all-yarn-all-the-time, I’m itching to play with the fabric I have stashed away. Some of it wonderful vintage finds from the monthly Alameda Antiques Market.

Admittedly, I still prefer crochet (or knitting) for their portability, but, well, look at these:
sailor pants pattern found on danslalune etsy shop.

fun burlap bucket/baskets from Maya* made

Pretty much any and everything in Sew Liberated

by Meg McElwee

And I know it seems silly - but I really like pin cushions.

from creative kismet

 

You've got mail

The joy of online shopping is that you know a day is coming (soon) when you'll get a package in the mail.

On a friend's suggestion to an earlier post about my being on the lookout for inexpensive places to buy crochet thread, I went to ebay. yup. SCORE!

And look what just arrived in the mail

 

 

 

 

I realize that for most people this is an excessive number of pictures of what is really just a bunch of string in a box.  But I look at this and I see earrings and necklaces, bracelets...oh the possibilities. 

Plus it's all vintage thread so some of the shades of these colors are hard to come by anymore. 

peripheral vision

Here's a quick glimpse of something I've been working on. 

 

 

Out and about in the virtual world

Some adorable things I've found online this week:

At tutorial for this tiny crocheted whale from Planet June. 

 
 

Beautiful non-rose, valentine inspired, floral arrangement at Design Sponge:

 

and how adorable is this gift idea over at This Could Take All Day:

 

WIPs

Here's some of what I've been doing:

This burgundy scarf is for the Orphan Foundation of America’s Red Scarf Project, that I'm participating in through craft hope. 

 

Each year over 25,000 students age out of the foster care system (having never been adopted). The Orphan Foundation is committed to helping them become tomorrow’s successful citizens. 

 

 

Then there are the bracelets (so excited for these).  These are three sets that I've recently put together.

  

  
 

And the coasters are coming along very nicely :)

Vintage crochet awesomeness

In anticipation of my spring Simpletruths line of home accessories I've been looking at a lot of vintage patterns.  I have some that I've purchased over the years and flea markets, but just the other day I stumbled across this site call Free Vintage Crochet.  Take a look at these pictures

A pattern for a quick crocheted casserole jacket. 

 

Take a look at these hats:

This pattern was originally published in 1913.  It's called the Tam O'Shanter, but I've been referring to it as The Big Puff. 

 
 

Take a look at that matching purse - stylish! 

 

I tried to make a baby bonnet once - I failed horribly, it should have looked like this one from a 1916 publication.

 

And then there is this awesomeness that I found over at craftypod  

 

Spring is upon us

Ok - not quite.  

But it's been so dreary and blah here that I've been working on light, springtime projects just to spite the gloom, while drinking hot spiced cider of course; hot cider is one of the redeeming things that come along with winter.

Some of these will be making their way to the shop this weekend.

Happy Friday!

  If you're thinking spring, then you've got to have flowers.

 This is my most recent custom order.  I love the contrast between the green and the coral.  The combination makes me think lime sorbet and vacation.

Ooooo and then there are the necklaces. Light as a feather, in pretty, go-with-anything colors. Fun to make, more fun to wear. Don't worry, more are coming.

  sea foam green on brown

  pink and brown

 earth tones with a touch of shine

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The "not quites"

Like most people (I think) with a relatively compact hobby, I have a projects sitting around in various stages of 'doneness.'  I have projects I've abandoned so long ago that even if I wanted to continue them, I have no idea what the stitch pattern is, or what book it came from.

Then I have the WIPs, or Works in Progress. Most of those are in active rotation and won't sit in the bottom of a drawer or shelf. 

Then there are the "ideas" and the "materials."   By ideas I mean the stack (both physical and virtual) of patterns I've deluded myself into think I'll one day have time to attempt.  Like the cape I'm going to knit for Isaiah for halloween...riiiiiight.  

By materials I'm referring mostly to the bin of unused or partially used yarn currently sitting in the garage; materials also includes the cute storage boxes of fabric, from those ideas I had about making cloth napkins, and curtains for the kitchen and a runner for the table....yeaaaaaa - It's all in a box in the garage. Materials also includes the too-slippery yarn that's a too orangey -red for me to be even remotely pleased with it. 

Then there are the 'not quite right' projects that are finished, but, well, not quite right.    

 it this the top?

 or is this the top? Is it an earring or a pendant or a...yea, I don't know either.

I love making flowers.  I'm not sure what I was attempting to accomplish with those beads though. That said, I haven't taken it apart yet because it might work with something - I just haven't figured out what yet.

 This was a flower I started to make with scraps. two problems - even the scraps were too scrappy and I didn't have enough to finish. Also, unless I plan on doing a special set of products for the 4th of July...hmmm, that's not going to happen.

 This bracelet is almost perfect.  It's just a tad too big.
  

   

Shop update

I'm getting ready for spring

 

But in the mean time, I'm offering 15% off one full order to all Facebook fans now through March 19 (the last day of winter). Just put your facebook name in the note-to-seller section.

If you haven't become a fan of Simpletruths on Facebook, just go to my Simpletruths Fan Page and select 'Become a Fan.' It's that easy. 

If you're not into the social networking scene, no worries. You're here and that's what really matters (but you will be missing out on some Facebook-only promotions; but, no pressure).

    
A few of my favorite things from the shop

 
 

Knitting - round and round and up and down

 

 

Then there's the button dilemma 

not quite

 

...I just don't know

Fun with wool

First of all, the word 'roving' is fun to say.

 and it's fun to play with.  I took this stuff and turned it into these

 

which I turned into these

 

I'll be keeping these earrings for myself but there's more roving which means more beads. So I'll be making a few for the shop this weekend.

Defining Space

My little crafty corner is starting to come together; complete with a desk just big enough to hold my sewing machine, with a few drawers for needles, hooks and the like.  Then, on my last trip to the Alameda Antiques Fair I found this little gem  

So far, the only thing I have on the shelves are a few little jars of buttons.  (I've got a little bit of handitack holding each one down -  earthquakes aren't gentle on small glass jars).  

 In one of the drawers I've hidden some of my almost finished earrings

 

The space is still a work in progress, but it feels great just to have a place other than the dining room table and living room floor, and some semblance of organization that doesn't revolve around large plastic bins.   I'll probably never have a swanky room with cubbies just for yarn, and fabric organized by color and material.  But luckily, none of those things are that important to me.  As long as I'm not relegated to sewing on the dining room table I'm a happy camper.

Birds on a wire

Isaiah didn't have a mobile when he was a baby but he loves to fall asleep after being put in a trance-like state by a dimly glowing light, or the silhouette of trees swaying in the wind.  

As I've been completely put off by the price and dismayed at our every increasing plastic consumption, I toyed with several DIY mobile ideas over the last year: sewing little owls, birds or assorted woodland creatures; using colorful scrap yarn to crochet all kinds of random shapes; using wooden dowels, sticks from the tree in the front yard...then I happened upon a box of origami paper I bought a million years ago. 

Then I found this post on Jordan Ferney's  blog, that I happen to adore, and tada!

Isaiah loves his new birds (burrr in Isaiah-ese).  I currently have them hanging (much to the hubby's chagrin I'm sure) in the middle of the room from a little clip on the light fixture.  Isaiah and I think it's a wonderful location but Mr. Man's head sits about a foot higher in the air than mine so he tends to get up close and personal with the origami cranes every time he changes a diaper...oh well. All's fair in love, war and crafts.

 

crafty fun - lots of silly ideas turned into reality

my imaginary boyfriend

imadeyouabeard

There were crochet cupcakes and real ones.  Some beautiful jewelry some very unique and amazing artists...and some not so unique and not so amazing too.

these were some of the real cupcakes - delicious from Cynically Delicious

When all was said and done I had succeeded in buying one thing for myself and a little button for my sister (I can't post a pic of the button until it reaches it's east coast destination).

Chibi

I'm not sure if I'm the only one who grew up going to the Harvest Craft Fair every year (I know you're out there - I remember seeing other kids so it wasn't just me), and although the Renegade Fair wasn't the huge overwhelming barrage of  potpourri, copper cake molds, and tea towels the same feeling of craftiness was in the air. And as much as I really do want to be cooler than my mom, I did see a few tea towels.
And so the cycle continues.

Overall I had a good time. I got to spend some time with Alex and made a new friend, hi Nicole. It's really great to get together with other mom's  - and do something not at all related to your mom title. It was also nice to spend some time away from the boys, although I'll admit to getting a little antsy after hour 3.
 

Good times