sharin' my passion for nature, tools, resourcefulness, creativity and the do it yourself life...

on March 6th!   I've been wanting to do a fun filled, day long workshop for a very long time now and I'm so excited we were finally able to carve out a day to make "Branch Out" happen.   

We're only a few weeks out and the studio is starting to fill up with sticks and stones, logs and branches, interesting tools and products, finished examples, and other creative paraphernalia in preparation for the big day.  (It's a whirl of somewhat creative chaos down in the studio right now with some funny juggling and rearranging of props going on because it seems EVERYONE has things they need to be working on....Jon is in the back sawing logs, beams and 2x4's for our kitchen floor....our production van is parked in the middle of the studio....(having something 'driven' into the middle of your creative space is not very inspiring....it needs to find its' way back outside), me and the guys are trying to get things shot.....and the kids (joining us for their umpteenth 'snow' day) are creating forts and who knows what else in various corners..but I guess that's what a workshop/studio space is all about!  Thankfully, I have my little haven behind the house that I can retreat to once in a while to get things done in peace...)

We do still have a few spots available for people to register so if you too share a love or interest for nature, creativity and learning to do some pretty cool things yourself, click here to learn more and enroll in this upcoming workshop.  Our first one is all inclusive, so all you need to bring is you, your imagination, an enthusiasm for creative processes and eager hands.  We provide all the supplies, organic eats and beverages and a jam-packed roster of projects for you to create, take home and use.  We guarantee you'll go home with techniques and ideas that you can pull from time and time again...long AFTER the workshop is over.   Thank you to everyone who has already registerd....I'm really looking forward to meeting all of you and spending the day sharing my passion 4 nature, tools, resourcefulness, creativity and the do it yourself life.   The event has even inspired me to experiment with some new project ideas that I'm anxious to throw into the mix....

Cheers!

michele.

     

spRInG w. DIY MaGazINe

Proof that time slips by entirely too fast because it seems like we just got done shooting with these guys...only it was a couple of months ago already!  The spring issue of the Do It Yourself Magazine just hit the stands and it has loads and loads of fun, creative ideas for you guys to grab hold of and make your own.  Pick one up or check them out online. These gals and guys work hard to fill the pages with a variety of innovative things you can do yourself. I shared my enthusiasm for the hollow core door canvases in this issue and hopefully everyone will now look at those drab doors with fresh eyes before ever tossing them to the curb.   It's an exciting way to repurpose, and they do make the most magnificent, versatile surfaces for just about any type of art application. They are an inexpensive alternative to traditional canvases, they have a nice deep edge and they're lightweight to hang.  Bi-fold closet doors, interior doors....they're available in various widths.....and you can use them in their entirety for a LARGE canvas or cut them down into the desired sizes.  You can repurpose them out of your own home, pick them up at places like the REstore or, even buying them new is VERY economical as opposed to the cost of traditional canvases of that size.  They're literally the cheapest kind of doors you can buy.   We share the how to in the pages of the magazine as well as some different techniques for you to try....you can also get a glimpse of the process in action through one of our video quickies available online at diyideas.com/easyartvideo....this project is titled "wall art from an old door".
Yesterday marked another fun day with the gang from the magazine, only this time we spent the afternoon in our bathroom sharing another fun idea for people to play with..... do it yourself vanities.   It's exciting to take your passions or collections and transform them into functional home decor so you're surrounded by what you love.  I LOVE old toolbenches and they're a bit part of what I do for a living, so we took one from an old school shop class, cut it in half and turned it into his/her vanities.  It's a daily reminder of my love for how-to, tools and salvaged materials in a very UNEXPECTED place. And, it's a truly SIMPLE project that anyone can do or replicate with just about any piece of furniture.   The how-to lowdown will be available in their next issue, as well as online through our video quickies and in an upcoming episode of b. organic.   In the meantime, if you're in need of a vanity...this will give you something to think about that may steer you in the repurposing direction instead of relying on the standard fare available at home improvement stores.  






When you do things yourself, you can DO WHATEVER YOU WANT.....and I LOVE THAT!

Cheers to sharing ideas and a shout of kudos to a great magazine for creative, do it yourself enthusiasts everywhere!

michele.

ThE poWeR of A saMpLE BoaRD

Even a 'jump in with both feet and go' kind of gal knows the importance of sample boards.  It sounds like a no-brainer and a given, but it's amazing how many of us (myself included) forget this one simple step that can end up sparing us a lot of time, money, frustration or disappointment.  It does make for one extra thing to do, but they're so worth the time and effort especially when you're embarking on a process that you maybe haven't tackled before.  It's an excellent way to test products and insure what you're using is going to give you the results you are wanting.  There are so many variables when it comes to doing things yourself and creative projects; the materials, the conditions, the brands, the application, the skills, etc.  The sample board gives you an opportunity to test things out before you tackle the 'original'.   It also gives you a small scale amount of 'practice' and an opportunity to get familiar with the products you're using and how you're applying them.  It's an excellent way to get your questions answered..what product to use for what, will this work, wonder what this would look like....




The sample boards themselves can then be used elsewhere...as their own work of art or as a jumping off point for another art project, so absolutely nothing, including your time, goes to waste!

Cheers to the sample board.....experiment away, my friends!

michele.

anTiQuE HarDWarE

Salvage Style is here to stay, and if you’re into that look, you’ll appreciate this technique that will enable you to add that beautiful aged look in an instant to any of your shiny, newer looking metal hardware or accessories. Our brother-in-law who builds homes in Colorado shared this trick with us several years ago when someone there was trying to get just the right look for some rod iron accents for one of the homes he was building. We have since played around with it on several occasions and find that it works beautifully to give that darkened, distressed, aged look to metals.
It starts with these gun maintenance products from a sporting goods store. The three I find myself using the most are the Super Blue, the Aluminum Black and the Plum Brown Finish.


They're of course, not the ‘friendliest’ products in the world in the eco/non-toxic sense, but they are a useful product when used carefully and mindfully to repurpose what you have and keep you from consuming even more, while at the same time giving you the look you desire. (There are some more 'natural' means of patinas we're exploring and we will certainly share anything that appears comparable as another alternative)
The different products give slightly different patinas and you’ll want to use each one as directed on the package. The processes are quick and simple, and the results, instantaneous. (The plum brown finish does require some heating of the metal in the process)
Scuff up your metal hardware piece with some steel wool or fine grit sandpaper.
Clean off with denatured alcohol.
Apply your super blue or aluminum black using a flux brush or sponge dauber.
Let sit for a minute.
Rinse with cool water and dry.
Finish it off with a sealer.
I like using a clear wax....and shellac works great as well.
The different metals you’re working with will also yield different results.



Experiment and you too can easily make the new look old in minutes.
Cheers!
michele.

BaRE & UNCoveRed - Is hOw I liKe iT

Is it just me, or are there others out there who enjoy a 'sleeveless' book better.  I am a regular consumer of books and for some reason I'm likely to remove the paper cover. (Do I dare admit that I've been known to use the sleeves as wrapping paper on occasion?!)  I feel a tad bit bad doing it, because I know if those books go elsewhere, they lose the instant recognition of what the book is all about, but alas, I continue to remove them from time to time.  They get all wrinkled up, they are slip-sliding around all the time; and they make a slightly 'messy' book experience out of it all.  I really like the textured linen feel of the hardbook covers WITHOUT the paper sleeves.  That doesn't mean I've removed ALL the covers from ALL the hardback books on my shelves, but there are quite a few that are sitting there bare and beautiful.  I wonder why they don't just print directly on the covers, and save that extra step altogether...does this give them the option to change things up more easily? Does it give them a more efficient way to do all the additional write-ups? If there's a mistake, is it easier to fix?  Is it because they stand out on the shelves better? Seems like kind of a waste.  What do you think?  Do you like 'em bare...or covered up? :)

How's that for random chatter?

Cheers to books and all the joy they bring.

michele.

tHE GOlDeN BaRbiE

OK....with the oscars just around the corner and several e-mail requests re: how did she do it?!  

Thought it the perfectly appropriate time to share.  (I smile at the random things people get excited about...)  

I recently blogged about a holiday party that I had missed out on back home....along with a quick snap of the prize of the night "the golden barbie".... and have had several inquiries, so courtesy of my good 'ole Aunt DeDe...who was equally as excited to share.....here's 'how she did it....

You'll need:          

•                         barbie doll
  
•                         barbie doll stand
  
•                         acrylic paint - I used Delta "Gleams" in 14K gold
  
•                         small plastic baggie
  
•                         painters tape
  
•                         clothes pin
  
•                         knitted baby bootie
  
•                         fake fur scrap
  
•                         hot glue
  

Wrap baggie around hair and tape edges of bag tight. Paint with acrylic paint and hang by hair with the clothes pin on edge of shelf or on a clothes hanger.

Paint stand.

To make dress, I used the bootie but you could use sweater material.  The bootie requires no sewing.  Cut the toe off of bootie to the desired length for dress.  Slip over Barbies head with cut edge on top.  

Hot glue fake fur (ribbon or other trim would also work)around top of dress to doll.  This keeps the knitting from unravelling.  

Decorate with yarn, pom-poms or scraps from sewing basket or pieces of broken jewelry.

Use your imagination

I used small christmas wired garland in her hair and just wrapped it around and weaved in and out.

Put her on the stand and present it proudly.

Required time to finish --- 10-15 minutes

Super Easy, everyone!!

aunt dede....

For the oscar themed parties...heck, just spray ken gold and leave him naked.  Cheers to the golden barbie!:):) ha...

...all of you who do embark on this creative adventure, please share pics! 

michele.

thE stArT Of anoTheR YeAR & symBOLiC MoMeNtS

Do any of you have a number? You know, a favorite or one you perceive to be lucky, or symbolic in some way. Mine is the number 5. It's the number that I'm drawn to for one reason or another and I'm not even really sure how or when it came to be, or when I started recognizing it as such. I was born on the 5th, my daughter was born in the fifth month on the 25th day, there are of course the dates of monumental importance to me that occurred on dates that add up to 5 or are multiples, SO many different examples....and I know it's all in how you spin it, and that it's ridiculous and silly, but it sure is fun to think about. 2010 is of course another '5'....and I have to say that I am more than a little excited about it. Nothing to base that excitement on other than the sheer anticipation of the unexpected and everything I'm able to create myself.
There are other symbolic things (or that I perceive to be symbolic) like when we were building the studio behind the shop several years, a double rainbow appeared right over the top and ended at the roofline...I of course reveled in the 'goodness' of what that had to mean.

There have been several others and the most recent one was this past Friday, January 1, 2010...and it was with what's traditionally viewed as a symbol of freedom, courage, independence, strength, and a long life -- the Bald Eagle.
Chad here at the office had a sighting the other day of a bald eagle as he was driving towards our place, and since I was only a few minutes behind him, I grabbed the camera and watched for it as I drove by, but by the time I got in the area, it had moved on. The next day though (which happened to be new year's day) I finally was able to grab a shot of one that was ironically much closer to my house. Again, I know it's all in how you spin it but I chose to absorb this as a sign of what this year's going to be all about.  

I also learned that the Bald Eagle doesn't get it's regal look with the white head feathers and that until around its' 5th year.....so the bird that was perched next to it which I thought was just another kind of bird may actually be a younger eagle. It's so camouflaged by the branches that I haven't been able to get a detailed enough look to confirm.

Another bit of trivia which I strangely found very interesting is that Benjamin Franklin was totally against the eagle becoming our national bird..this is a quote by him:
"I wish that the bald eagle had not been chosen as the representative of our country, he is a bird of bad moral character, he does not get his living honestly, you may have seen him perched on some dead tree, where, too lazy to fish for himself, he watches the labor of the fishing-hawk, and when that diligent bird has at length taken a fish, and is bearing it to its nest for the support of his mate and young ones, the bald eagle pursues him and takes it from him.... Besides he is a rank coward; the little kingbird, not bigger than a sparrow attacks him boldly and drives him out of the district. He is therefore by no means a proper emblem for the brave and honest. . . of America.. . . For a truth, the turkey is in comparison a much more respectable bird, and withal a true original native of America . . . a bird of courage, and would not hesitate to attack a grenadier of the British guards, who should presume to invade his farmyard with a red coat on."
Likewise, the artist John James Audubon agreed with this opinion of the bald, or white-headed, eagle.

Since I like to absorb all sides of things...this comment gave me something to ponder.  Maybe I should be more excited about any turkeys that come my way?! :) :)  Either way, the Bald Eagle is still a magnificent bird and strength, freedom, independence, courage, and a long life are what it's all about. Hey...I just noticed...that's a group of 5.....hmmmmmm?!

Cheers to creating your own symbolic moments!
michele.

thE thInGS I MiSS oUT On!

Living a few hours away from family, I of course miss out on quite a few fun things throughout the year. The latest 'miss' of 2009 was the ugly sweater party at my aunt's house. It looks like fun was had by all (which is not at all a surprise) and my mom took home the the golden barbie prize for sporting the 'ugliest'. Tough call for the judges, I'm sure.

my aunt dede has way too much time on her hands! :) If you're going to win an award though, that's definitely one for the mantel.

so proud, so proud!

a furry dickey......santa's gonna be looking for that, lady!

Are there no brunettes anymore? I mean, really.

Cheers to even more fun, more laughs and less 'misses' in 2010.

michele.

thE GiFt OF HoW To

As the parent of a 7 year old, I work really, really hard to generate and support an enthusiasm and appreciation for hands-on doing, and creating, and individuality in her. I'm of course up against computers, video games, television, her little peers that are already into cell phones, labels, and a bunch of other stuff that I think robs kids of some of the imaginative, creative, hands-on experiences that those devices and interests can't give you. While I'm a big believer in balance and moderation and not anti-technology, by any means, I really want her to know how to do other things, basic things like gardening, cooking, sewing and creating. I won't deny that I love it whenever I ask her what she wants to do on a saturday and she says she wants "to go make stuff in the shop".
So while her friends and cousins were receiving nintendo DS game players, she got a sewing machine. I, of course was very excited about this gift she got from her grandma, and most importantly Madeline was thankfully, very excited about it too. She is always wanting to sew at the same time I am and it's a bit hard to get my work done while getting up and down every few minutes, changing out the thread and letting her sneak in with her 'urgent' tasks. For her to have her own sewing station next to mine will be a wonderful thing. My mom also gave her a vintage sewing basket filled with all kinds of old trims and accessories along with a stack of fabric scraps and some patterns for doll clothes. You have no idea how relieved I was to see her getting as excited as we were with it all, and digging through the basket talking about all that she was going to make and do.
It's only natural to want our kids to genuinely share in our interests and love a lot of the same things we do, but at the same time I want her to come by it naturally without feeling as though it's being forced upon her. A bit tricky since that's everything that this family is all about, but if we throw in a few moments of 'video time' and such here and there, hopefully we'll maintain a 'creative balance'.

Cheers to gifts that encourage 'creating'.
michele.

the LoVE foR a weLL UsED 200 Yr oLd giFT

You gotta love when someone really nails it with a surprising gift. This year, my parents gave us an old block table made out of a cypress tree. I don't know much of its' story other than it's been around since the 1800's and came from a bakery. I've oohed and aaahed over it the past couple times my mom and I were visiting one of our favorite little antique shops along the river, and I never in a million years would have guessed that was what was 'under wraps' Christmas morning. I'm sure not everyone gets as excited about an old (really old), used gift as I do, but man I LOVE this thing. I'm debating whether to use it in the shop as a workbench or to clean it up and make it a part of the kitchen. I'm digging the thought of having it in the kitchen to roll out breads and pizzas and things...it would also make for one pretty sweet cutting board......hmmmmmm........