New blog features...and ongoing lifestyle changes

Hey everyone..
After living in TX for 11 mos my boys and I have moved back to the DC area..and with the move comes a very much needed simplifying of my life. Pairing down the non-essentials and slowly building up a surplus of necessities or as some call it 'prepping'.

So I thought I'd share my new journey with everyone..and this will also serve as a journal to chronicle this amazing adventure..

I'm in need of furniture and household things so I'll be scouring the thrift stores and flea markets and finding new uses for old things..I'm excited to be blogging more and in sharing more creative things with everyone..wish me luck on my new adventure!! :)

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an apple for the teacher

a sweater for it anyways :)

For teachers appreciation week everyday was a different theme..on Wednesday it was bring an apple for your teacher..so while I know that they would love an apple I thought..hmm..that seems like a momentary gift..they'd eat it and it was gone..then I remembered the apple sweater-usually wrapped around the apple so that it wouldnt get bruised while in transit in a lunch box..eureka!! so off to knit I went..






I took the photos without the apples in them..but the apples I did get fit perfectly..and who wouldnt LOVE a purple apple sweater :)

Glittered zebra resin pieces

I've been playing with resin for a few years..here's some pieces I recently made..




My favorite one is the yellow glitter..it just sparkles!!

Making Easter more personal

I received some stamps from Stampoutonline



and I came up with some ideas for using them and was soo excited to play with the stamps so I used what I had in my studio..and here's the fruit of my labor..

a card that I made using some eyelets and glittered butterfly cardstock..trimmed out with a scalloped edge..



a gift hang tag..I stamped onto linen textured cardstock..my current obsession..



the whole group..I also stamped the inside of a card..just to see if I liked it better stamped on the outside or on the inside..


I'm IN LOVE with these stamps and the owner Lisa is so nice to work with..her creativity is limitless..

I can't wait to come up with more ideas..

My first hot process soap adventure

I normally make cold process soap..and decided to dive into some hot process soapmaking. I used my crock pot and heres what I made..




I was surprised how smooth it came out and how quick the process was..This one is scented with 'The Little Black Dress' from Aroma Haven!

Maybe now I'll have some fun doing the laundry!

I have been reading for years about making your own laundry detergent.But,I always wondered..why?? When theres a LONG line of them just waiting for you to buy..but it seemed to me..just like EVERYTHING else.. that it was getting more and more expensive to just purchase them at the store..So since I already make handmade soap,why not venture into making my own laundry soap.

I seen powdered..liquid..but since I used powdered anyways THATS what I went with..and REALLY it just seemed easier to make..what I used



Some washing soda, borax and soap..in this case I used both my own handmade soap and some Zote soap.ALL of the ingredients I found in the laundry isle at my grocery store.

I used a mixture guideline of 2 parts shredded soap:1 part washing soda:1 part borax

I placed the all ingredients in a plastic zip top bag..and shook it until it all got mixed together..I then placed the mixture into a reclosable plastic tub..



Use 1Tbs of the mixture for top loading machines..and 2Tbs for regular machines..I havent ventured into vinegar rinses-thats my next journey :)

Lessons learned:
-to use a mask when mixing the powders...fly aways will get you coughing..

-meet a neighbor and give them the gift of your new laundry soap since YOU'LL make TONS
of laundry soap with just one bar and the boxes of washing soda and borax that you
bought..

-feel the sense of awesomeness as you skate right past the laundry isle since..you KNOW you dont need to lug those big bulky containers and boxes home..

*The next thing I am going to do is breakdown the cost per load..just to impress myself even more*

Because Valentines day is right around the corner

I just started experimenting with making some personalized polymer clay conversation hearts since its almost THE BIG DAY!! My favorite time of year-next to Christmas of course..all of the hearts-MY FAVORITE shape! and pinky goodness as far as the eyes can see..

So what other confection is reminiscent of Valentines Day other than conversation hearts..Shane is my youngest son's name..and VIOLA!! his own personal heart was created!