It has been a busy weekend, but I rather fun and productive and creative one. My husband and I had a date to a pottery painting studio on Sunday which was fun, followed by visiting Irish fest to get inspiration for next weekend’s party. A fun Sunday and whole day with my husband, which is rare with his random schedule.

The fun started on Saturday though. Let me back track. At the beginning of the year I hand painted a mailbox to go in my school’s front lobby.

Since then my boss has been suggesting that I paint a mural on her living room wall. I always said I would, but with busy schedules I did not take it too seriously, and would someone really want me to paint on their wall? I am my own critic and I don’t think my painting is good enough to be so permanent. You could always paint over your wall but it’s tad bit more permanent then  a mailbox that you can simply remove.

Well, last week she asked me if I was free on Saturday to come over. Suddenly it was real and I had to start sketching ideas and getting the right paint colors. Still seemed weird but I was game.

I brought my box of paints and brushes and sat on the blanket in front of her wall. I do not draw took I loaded my sponge and went straight for the pot. I changed to a brush after that.  Here was the base that I laid out;

After the browns I added the greenery in the background and then on top of that her favorite flowers. When I paint my flowers I use Donna Dewberry’s One Stoke technique. I have never been to a class, but I used to watch her PBS show and taught myself when I was in high school. I was also lucky enough to know an artist who knew her and gave me a box full of her books and equipment. The technique is all about loading two colors on the brush (or sponge in the case of the pot). This way you get the base color and the highlight in… well ‘One Stroke’.

I am pretty proud of how it turned out. I would paint someone else’s wall if they asked. It would be a fun side business for some extra spending cash. Perhaps for now, I need to visit thrift stores and buy cheap items to decorate on and sell. Samples of what I could do.

My new hobby for 2013 is crocheting. I’ve knitted but always tired from it and it took me so much effort to finish a project. I’ve wanted to crochet and so my husband and his mom and sister got me started with a variety of crocheting kits and yarn for Christmas. Thanks guys!

Easiest way to learn in watching YouTube videos. I got the hang of granny squares and I am now going to town on making my first throw blanket. What do you think? I think I want to reupholster that ottoman that our neighbors got rid of. That is my first though. Haha

It is such an great hobby that I enjoy doing while I watch TV or a movie at home. I have this terrible habit where I cannot sit for long and I want to clean or fold laundry or answer e-mails or something while I am watching TV. Chris hates it. He does not mind me crocheting though. He even uses it at an incentive when he wants me to watch a movie that I am not quite sure about. “You can crochet while we watch it”. Then I say yes, how lame am I?

I have gotten further in two weeks of crocheting then I ever did with knitting. I think that is why I enjoy this better. I see the results. I’ve seen even more results because I have been ‘joining as a go,’ so instead of a pile of granny squares to turn into a blanket I am making a blanket and adding squares.

When I am done with this one I had an great idea that making granny squares could turn into Tetris blocks. I will make a blanket just for Chris. I”ll make blankets for everyone. beware .

It is so warm down here that it makes it hard to make it feel like Christmas. I add new decorations to my collection ever year by buying new ones right after Christmas but this year I wanted to make something. I was not sure what, because I did not want to spend excessive amounts at the craft store, which is easy for me. I decided to visit JoAnn’s and it was just my luck, all Christmas ribbon was 70% off. I could make a ribbon Christmas tree. For less then $20 I bought all kinds of ribbon as well as a Styrofoam cone and some pins.

If you want to keep each layer the same type of ribbon, make sure that you buy two of each roll. In order to not waste ribbon, I made some layers by varying two different patterns.

So the other night while my husband and I sat on the couch watching old seasons of Fringe, the cats and I went to work on our ribbon tree. I cut ribbons to lengths that would allow them to form loops and pinned them to the cone with pins.

Two layers through I thought that I should have covered the cone in a green fabric but did not want to take out all the pins I have places so instead I ran a piece of ribbon around the cone on top of each layer. I think Sylar was very upset that I took a short cut instead of doing it right. It is my only explanation for his face in this picture.

The next layer was when it hit me to just pin a little further from the ends. I think Sylar was pleased with me for figuring this out so he calmed down.

I really loved the ribbons that I was able to find and the red and green through out was cool. Perhaps next time I can make a blue and white one.

I love the way it adds to my little mantle display. Merry Christmas!