On finding the time....

 Lately, I'm feeling increasingly frustrated by a lack of time - a lack of time to do the stuff I want to do and the stuff I need to do. As I write this between classes, dishes sit dirty and piled on the counter, there is an essay to compose and a dog who needs a walk and some laundry that needs washing. There are shifts to work later in the week and a pile of wool that I want to knit or crochet, and the web projects I want to work on. Did I mention I want to learn to play the banjo and open my own Etsy shop? How about a those darns projects I've pinned to Pinterest (oh pinterest....perhaps not the most constructive use of my time). So many ideas!

This doesn't even cover the people in my life. Would love to spend an entire day with the husband that doesn't involve running countless errands. I'd love to spend more time with family but there just seems to be a complete lack of time available. I just need to somehow find some kind of appropriate balance...learn how to work more effectively and get my stuff organized. Any ideas????

Love, Bean

Happy Handmade Halloween!

  Here it is...the final installment of a Handmade Halloween. This was, perhaps, my favourite craft this year. It was easy to do, took very little time and few materials and turned out pretty darn cool. I found this idea on  abeautifulmess.com, one of my most favourite websites ever. All you need is construction paper, scissors, tape and a bat shape stencil and you are ready to go. I chose to stick my bat cutouts on the window, but you could also create a really neat bat mobile if you so desire. Easy peasy, right?

At the risk of sounding slightly cheesy.....have a spooktacular Halloween!


Love, Bean

Handmade Halloween - Part II

Here is another way to add some handmade to your Halloween. Not sure if I have mentioned this before, but I am a big fan of mason jars and the colour orange -so when I found this idea online, I was pumped my friend. The inspiration comes from celebrations.com. They call them Mason Jar Luminaries, which sounds way fancier than mason jar pumpkiny things....but whatever. Again, a really simple and easy craft to do. Instead of using tissue paper, I used transparent ribbon (leftovers from the Halloween wreath..)to wrap around the jar. A little black construction paper and a glue gun and you have yourself a mason jar pumpkiny thing! Pop a battery operated candle in there, and you are good to go.

Stay tuned for Part III tomorrow....just in time for Halloween!
Love, Bean

A Handmade Halloween

Wowza,

It's been awhile. A loooooooooooooong while. Things have been very crazy here, leaving not too much time to update the blog. Plus, besides the odd granny square or two, I have been very uncrafty for the past little while. Halloween, however, has put me back in the DIY spirit (ha ha...spirit...get it?). I have three spooky DIY projects to share with you - just in time for All Hallow's Eve. The first? A very cool feather boa Halloween wreath. This was inspired by a project I saw on a Christmas decorating show featuring my favourite, Sarah Richardson (for you non-Canadians...Google her...she rocks!). It's very simple, requires few supplies, and takes less than 10 minutes to complete. All you need is a wreath form (or really any solid circular item), a feather boa and some ribbon to complete the look. Wrap the feather boa around the wreath form, hang with a bow and...ta da...you have a very creepy Halloween wreath ready to hang!

Stay tuned for part II tomorrow.....

Love, Bean

Strawberry Picking....

My sister and I have always wanted to make our own jam. After many years of trying, we finally were able to get it together and make our own jam from the strawberries that we picked. I will admit, we wimped out and made freezer jam but it is jam nonetheless.

I found some "sweet" printable jam jar labels (you can find them here).



 I also decided to add some fabric tops using some extra material I had on hand. Ta da! Homemade Jam people!
                               
Love, Bean

Don't Be Shy....

Did you know that it is OFFICIALLY  world wide knit in public day? That's right friends, time to get out those needles! Look for Knit in Public events (or KIPS) in your community or host one yourself. What a grrrrreat idea! For more information check out: http://www.wwkipday.com/.

Love, Bean

New Friend

Picked up our new friend in Montreal this weekend (that is very far from where we live!). This sweet girl is named Ruby.