What a Dish (Mat)!

I stumbled across a simple DIY dish drying mat while perusing Craft Gossip. The tutorial was from B is for Boy Creations. I thought it was pretty frickin' clever.

As someone without a dishwasher, I frequently need more room than the average dish drainer can hold. My mom is in the same boat. While I just throw down a tea towel and hope not to chip a glass on the cast iron drainboard, my mom has bought numerous items trying to resolve it. The most recent worked ... aside from the mildew that was being "trapped" between the rubbery backing and the mat. (Was NOT supposed to let moisture through...liars.)

So I thought THESE would be perfect! Easy, pretty AND functional!

I skipped the basting spray (mostly because I couldn't find any such thing) and used bias tape to bind as I don't own a surger. I like how they turned out. I trimmed off the short ends -- one all the way past the decorative ribbing. Just pinned the flannel and towel together (wrong sides facing) with the bias tape and POOF! Zip, zip, ZIP!







Super easy! I made a pair for her using two hand towels, less than 1 yard of flannel and about 1 1/2 packages of double fold bias tape. Totally machine washable.

Now ... wait until I get around to mine! :)

Terra-estrial

Tiny Terrariums.
Gidget-size Greenhouses.

We made 'em.
Check out the handiwork of The Community Crafts Studio...

We took these things:









And made THESE things:


(This is the work of Linda B. ...I think)


(This is Bobbie's)


(Cara made this one)


(This contains one of my many Buddhas. I love Buddha.)


(Chris worked really hard on this one. Spent lots of time getting that plant situated J-U-S-T right)


(Cara made this one, too)


(Made by Mom)


(...also by Mom)


(Pat constructed this one)


(...and this one)


(I didn't get a shot of Aurelia's so she had to upstage everyone with the gorgeous natural light ... sigh)

There were many others made. But my camera skills are still a work in progress, so it's not that the others weren't worth showing ... but the glare from the flash or my unsteady hand made the pictures unusable. My bad ...

But fun was had by all!

Totally Tubular

I almost titled this post "shagadelic" because these vases are so retro! -- and I gots a new 'do that technically qualifies as a shag. But since a shag on curly hair doesn't really look like a shag, it would've been a lost joke. I digress ...

Last Friday I hit my favorite antique mall (no, I'm not telling you what it is) and I found some fab stuff! Little bits-n-bobs really. No furniture. This time.

Check these vases out!

Here's the "before" ...



And here's the "after" ...







I have some new Tillandsias (air plants)* and I thought these vases would be the perfect homes for a couple of them. They're in the bathroom for now. Will probably find a permanent place in the living room once I finish getting the new shelves filled and organized!

I debated showing you the wall of shelves in the bathroom. It's night time and it's all artificial lighting -- looks better during the day -- but I don't feel like waiting until tomorrow morning to take the picture. So here it is anyway ... bad lighting and all:



* If you want to know more about these fascinating plants and see some way cool varieties, check out Plant Oddities. I ordered a couple of assortment packs for an upcoming group project at The Community Crafts Studio and one of my plants had purple flowers! Another, hot pink tips! And these weren't even the "odd" ones! Methinks I'll be ordering some others ...

Who Knew?

...that Sansevierias could bloom?

I didn't.

Until mine did.





Tip: they REALLY like to be ignored. When I pay mine too much attention, it fades and droops. Ignore these girls...they like it.

As a bonus, I'm throwing in a couple shots of one of my philodendrons. I have three.







I love greenery...