I have not disappeared, promise

So, I've taken a little hiatus from the Pinterest blog for the last few days. I realized that since I started this I all but stopped knitting. And that is a damn shame, because it has become an obsession of mine and I needed to make sure that I didn't leave it in the dust. So, I've spent the last few days knitting in my free time, using the herringbone stitch that I posted back in the beginning. So, I suppose that qualifies, right?

As you may or may not know, I'm also a professional photographer, and I've been working very hard over the last month to rebrand my business. It was time for an update, so I've also been working on that. I've pulled a lot of my inspiration from posts I've seen on Pinterest, so I've been staying active with the whole project, just not posting about it. I will post my new branding a soon as I have a little more prepared. Don't want to put it out there too soon

But no worries, I'm not going anywhere, just taking a little break. I'll be back soon....

Project 23 | paper flowers | 339 days to go

Okay, so I neglected you this weekend, but it was my birthday so, get over it. :) Not blogging on my birthday weekend. So, the new project was paper flowers. These are really cute, but I definitely recommend paper that is the same on both sides. Then you don't have to battle the white edges, which no matter WHAT you do, are inevitable. I also used 12x12 paper and cut it in 4ths which seems to big to me. I would like much smaller flowers. So, I will try this again with the different paper. Check it out!

Project 22 | photo transfer | 340 days to go

I started this photo transfer yesterday, but there was nothing worth posting, so I didn't waste anyone's time. This is the site I got this from. http://abeautifulmess.typepad.com/my_weblog/2011/10/make-your-own-canvas-portrait.html All I did yesterday was affix the image to the canvas. You're supposed to let it sit overnight. The magic happened today. It really turned out awesome, a little more torn up than I would have preferred, but still really cool. I will definitely be making more of these. One thing to make sure you read correctly is you are using a LASER print, not a regular photo. I made that mistake the first time I gave this a shot and that will not work. It has to be a card stock type paper. So I had prints made at Office Depot on their basic card stock. Everything I used, with the exception of the print, I got at Michael's. /a>photo

Project 21 | Stringing the garland | 341 days to go

So, still working on the garland, but I'm at least done making flowers. For now anyway. :) I started stringing it together last night and it was a bit trickier than I thought it would be. OH! And I forgot. I started using hot glue to put these together. WAY better than tape or regular glue. But, it makes it hard to put a needle through. So, I use my table for leverage and one I get the needle through to the end, I use needle nose pliers to pull the needle through the rest of the flower. And that my friends, is it. Here's a pic, I'll have more once I have it hung up in it's new home. My office wall. :)

Project 20 | 21 Questions to Ask Your Kids | 342 days to go

I read this list of questions today and decided while we were eating lunch on the deck that I would ask him.  Although most of his answers were ridiculous, some were spot on. It's interesting to explore how our children see us. I plan to do this again, maybe every 6 months or so. I look forward to see his answers change. Or maybe stay the same...

Project 19 | Tinted Vases | 343 days to go

I had high hopes for this one and am sad to say it was a fail. :( I'm not even bothering to add a photo of the final pieces. Now, I am going to try this again, and what I think I need to do is use less water and way more food coloring. Especially for the lighter colors like yellow and orange. The green worked out okay, but not good enough to share. I think once I get it I will live them, but as for now...eh.

Project 18 | Puffy Paint Transfers | 344 days to go

This puffy paint project was definitely a more complicated project than I thought it would be. :) If you're going to try it, apply the paint pretty thick. It makes it easier to remove from the wax paper. Also, I thought that doing one consecutive pattern would be easier, I was wrong. A pattern that was a bunch of little pieces (like the one in the link) would take way more assembly time, but would be easier to remove and the layout on the final piece. I think with practice I'll get better, and it's definitely a cool idea.

Project 17 | Flower Garland cont. | 345 days to go

I made 7 more flowers today. Yesterday when I was making the first few, I had trouble getting the center of the flowers to hold together. The tutorial said to tape or glue them, but....that was not working. So, even though it takes a little longer I am sewing them together before I tape the two sides together. This has made a big difference. So, I think in about 6 months I'll actually be finished with this. No pics tonight. So sorry.

Project 17 | Flower Garland | 346 days to go

I saw this garland and thought it would be fun to make. I'm not quite sure what I will do with this when I finish it, but it will look pretty at least. This is definitely be an ongoing project, because it is very slow going. But I think it will be pretty once it's finished.

Project 16 | Photo Canvases | 347 days to go

I saw this alternative to a canvas wrap, and figured I'd give it a shot. I went to the site, and low and behold, that article was no longer available. So, I decided to use my smarts and improvise. I used some good old Elmer's glue, 4 6x6 canvases from Michael's (which came in a 4 pack--very convenient) and 6x6 prints I had made at my awesome lab. All I did was put a smooth layer of Elmer's on a canvas and then put the image on. And that's that. I did turn them over on the table, print side down, and press the canvas onto the print a bit more. Then just let them dry. Nothing to it. What I may do is paint the sides, or wrap them in ribbon. But I may just leave them as it. See for yourself....

Project 15 | Honey Cloud Pancakes | 348 days to go

This recipe looked fantastic when I saw it. And it was just as fantastic to eat. It's basically a pancake frittata, which if you've ever had a frittata, you know they are pretty awesome. So, my parents were in town this weekend and I decided that this recipe would make a wonderful Sunday morning breakfast. And it did. I doubled the recipe, and used a 10in skillet instead of 6. Now, having made this and knowing how light it is, due to the egg whites, this would have been good for 3 people, not 5. I highly recommend giving this a shot, it was well worth it. And it is actually pretty healthy for you too. Can't argue with that....

Project 14 | Photo Frame | 349 days to go

I saw this frame and thought it was a fun idea for a multi-image frame. Mine is a little different, I painted it instead of staining it and I didn't use the tacks on the front to secure the twine. I've hot glued mine, but I will probably go back and staple them on too. I experimented with the crackle glaze, and learned that when they say use contrasting colors, they don't mean two different shades of brown. Oh well, you live and learn. So next time I will make more of a color change. But I'm pleased with the way it came out and I'm looking forward to adding more images.

Project 13 | Flower Canvases+Butterfly | 350 days to go

Annnnnnnnd, here's the finished product. I think she'll be happy. One thing I did decide while making this one is that a hot glue gun is better than Elmer's. What I didn't like so much about the hot glue, it was difficult to be really accurate with the points of the petals, there are the awful "hot glue cobwebs" and it doesn't lay flat on the canvas. It's raised up a bit. So I tried using Elmer's to see if that would work better. Negative. It made the paper damp, and it would wrinkle more. So, I did the butterfly with Elmer's and switched back to the hot glue for the flowers. I am still trying to find a better way..... :)

Project 13 | more flower canvases + a butterfly | 351 days to go

I know I know. I've already done this project. But, I never said that I couldn't repeat! Although I will try not too. At least not too much. But I loved this so much that it made me think about how I could gift this. and my niece, who is almost two, needs these. So, her room is pink and green, she likes flowers and butterflies, thus the flower and butterfly triptych. Voila. It's not finished, I should be able to finish tomorrow, and hopefully finish up another project I have been working on two. Cross your fingers....

Project 12 | Flower Canvas | 352 days to go

Alrighty---here's the finished product! I'm happy with it, but I can see the need for a larger canvas. Next time.... :)

Project 12 | Flower Canvas | 353 days to go

I started working on this today, among other things which shall be posted at a later date, and I'm not quite finished yet, but wanted to post it in progress. This was one of my first pins, and I remembered I had some old scrapbook paper that I had bought a long time ago to scan and use for backgrounds with some design projects for work. And whadda ya know, it all looked good together. Yay, so I started cutting out my flower shapes and here is what I have so far. I'm gonna go use the hot glue gun now....see you tomorrow!

Project 11 | Mini Corn Dog Muffins+ Roasted Chickpeas | 354 days to go

Sorry! Sorry! I missed posting yesterday. I went to a benefit trivia night on Friday for a fellow photographer who is trying like hell to beat cancer. So a lovely group of my photog friends and I bought a table, and made some delicious food. These were my contributions: Mini Corn Dog Muffins and Roasted Chickpeas. The muffins were awesome, and the Chickpeas were okay. They look like they're crunchy, but they're not. So, they were good enough that I would try them again and see if I could crisp them up a bit. And if not, well...then at least I tried. I highly recommend the muffins. :)

And no...we didn't win. Not even close.

Project 10 | beaded wrap bracelet | 355 days to go

I was really excited when I found this pin. Actually, I was really just pinning it because I LOVE these bracelets (not the white one that is shown, but the more earthy ones), and then I read the caption at the bottom that so and so was going to try this. So, upon further investigation I find out that this is not a site to buy these fab bracelets, but a tutorial on how to make them. Yay! These usually go for about $150.00 and I am NOT spending that on a freaking bracelet. But I have done some jewelry making, and had some beads and thread and said "I'm totally TOTALLY doing this." So, I had a few more strands of beads as well as the leather to pick up, but I think I made this for about $15.00 Yes, ONE HUNDRED DOLLARS LESS. Thank you very much. So, here is the final product and I have to say, I am very very happy with it. I will definitely be making more in the future.

Project 9 | Exercise???? | 365 days to go

I missed my post yesterday, but I did not miss my project. I was simply exhausted yesterday and didn't want to. Sorry. But I'm here today and I will have two posts today. So, these will cover Tuesday and Wednesday. I added a few new things to my workout that I found on Pinterest, and we'll see if they work. The first was Jillian Michael's safe detox. And it actually doesn't taste that bad. I was worried about the dandelion root tea (which you can buy at Whole Foods, in case you want to do this), but I don't even know that you can taste it. It really just tastes like water with lemon. Now will it work? Who knows. We'll see. Since it isn't hard and I don't have to re-arrange my life I figured I'd give it a go. Then I added three exercises for my legs and that wonderful muffin top. 1  2  3 (I did #9) Because I don't like them. My legs and muffin top, that is. The exercises aren't bad. So, I'll let you know if I notice any difference from them.

No pics today--you do NOT get to see me workout. Not a chance.