Projects. Projects. Projects.

 Matt (a few years back) as Harry Potter.

Saturday.

A day filled with projects.  House projects.  Setting-up-the-new-PC projects.  Science fair projects.

Yes...a busy (yet fun) day.

Now...it's off to church.

I've Moved! Yes...the Crafty Dad Blog Has Moved!

The blog is over here now.

Please come over and see what's going on.

More Easter Photos

Beautiful Colors!

Crafty, huh?

Messy?  A little bit. Fun?  Oh yeah!

Wife and the boys after church on Saturday.

Happy Easter!

Like Peter Cottontail, just wanted to hop in to say Happy Easter!

We've been busy making cookies [eggs, bunnies, tulips, crosses], pickled eggs and beets [a family tradition] and other Easter goodies.

And we've been cleaning house too.  All the family members are pitching in to make this chore quick and easy.

What do you have planned for Easter?  Leave a comment, won't you?

Tissue Holder in Japanese Fabric - Linen and Cotton

Japanese fabric is the best.  I love working with cotton and linen.  A hot iron pressed against this stuff brings out such an organic smell.  It's wonderful.  Can you relate?

The print fabric was purchased online at Etsy directly from Japan.  [I can't remember the exact buyer's name, but if you really want to know, send me an e-mail and I'll dig through my records to find the information for you.]  The lining (100% linen) was something I picked up at a Yoder's Department Store in Shipshewana, IN.  They have the best staff.  And a TON of fabric to choose from.  

The tissue holder is on its way to my Etsy shop.

Special Order for Julie

A friend of mine recently added a grandson to the family.  She wanted a 'boy' bib and asked if I had anything I could whip up.  That's all I needed.  I was sure I had a fabric to fit the bill.

Here is a 'boy' bib with spaceships on a blue background.  I also made a burp cloth to go with it.  I hope she likes them.

Something "Spring-y" For My Etsy Shop

Yes!  I was able to be creative before the end of the day!

Here's the proof.  And...it's on the way to my Etsy shop.  Wow...and only fifteen minutes to spare before the midnight hour.

We ♥ Fleece Throws

Yes, we love our fleece throws.  All of them:  camping theme, Christmas theme, plain ones, fancy ones.  We use them almost every day.

Sit on the sofa, oops - forgot my throw, get back up, grab one and sit back down. They are so snuggly and make TV-watching so much nicer, don't you think?

Riley likes them too.  He tends to use them as chew-toys.  Yeah...not good.

By the way, today is 'clean-the-basement' day.  Lots of de-cluttering going on.  And a ton of dead bugs and cobwebs are going bye-bye too.  It feels good to be doing something productive.  And something that's almost craft-related.  That'll be next.  And I can't tell you how excited I am to be going in that direction.

My Heart-felt Thoughts and Prayers...

Go to the people of Japan.

Spring Cleaning and Creative-Space Envy

The photo?  Not my space.  Wish it was.  That's the sun room / enclosed porch at the Essenhaus Country Inn in Shipshewana, IN.  We spent a long weekend there a couple years ago.  I love the space:  lots of windows for natural light, white bead-board, wooden floors.  Wow.  THAT would be a great workspace,wouldn't it?

With the revival of my crafty spirit, I've found it necessary to re-evaluate my craft space.  It's not really a 'studio' per se (although that sure sounds nicer and more professional than 'space'). But it IS a dedicated area to me and all my craftiness.

Right now, it's an absolute mess.  Located in a corner of my basement, it's been left untouched for several months.  Spiders, bugs and cobwebs have taken over.  I've piled things on top of piles thinking I'd be back to put them away.  Sometimes that happens. 

So...it's time to get serious and get things put away and cleaned up so I have room to work.  Clutter is not good for the creative spirit. 

Speaking of new studios and workspaces, Alicia has a new office/studio and Anna Maria is converting her attic into a new creative space.  Jealous.  That's what I am.  Jealous.  But I'm happy for them.  Can't wait to see Mrs. Horner's space once it's finished.

Okay...I'm off to work.  Have a great day...and make something!

Fruit Anyone?

Does this look like something you'd eat?  I sure would! Probably a better choice than the Chinese food that I ate for lunch.  Wow...way too many carbs.  OMG!!  But it was certainly tasty!  Each Tuesday, a bunch of us get in the car at 11:00AM and head for the Garden Wok in South Bend, IN.  That place has THE BEST Chinese food.  I'm tellin' ya.  

My favorites are chicken and broccoli and black-bean chicken.  I always get 1/2 lo-mein and 1/2 mei fun.  Mei fun is rice noodle.  Much like angel hair pasta...but made with rice flour.  Yum-my!

So, yeah I'm in the process of setting up my new blog.  My buddy from Sweden is helping me get all the files figured out.  I'm a geek, but not a geeky-geek, okay?

I'll miss the Blogger platform...but I'm in love with WordPress and all the way-cool things you can do with it.  I'll keep you posted...but should be ready to roll sometime early next week. 

Hey!  Leave a comment to let me know that you're still with me, okay?  I'd love to hear from you!

Wow...it's been a long, long time!

Yes...it HAS been a long time since I've posted here. 

Since taking a long hiatus, it only seems natural that I'd return.  And so I am.  Sort of.  I am working on a new blog site.  It won't be here at Blogger.  I'm opting for a self-hosted blog using WordPress and a Woo Theme.  I think you'll like it.

So...buckle your seat belts:  it promises to be a bumpy (yet fun) ride!

Stay tuned!

Friday the 13th

Really, there's nothing scary about Friday the 13th.  It means nothing that one of my staff members is out, getting ready to take his daughter to college.  And another staff member is out because she found out last night that she has jury duty today.  And another staff member is out because she broke her toe last night.  And another staff member is out on a camping trip.

I'm sure it has NOTHING to do with the fact that it's the 13th day of the month...and it's also a Friday.


So...that leaves me and two other co-workers to tackle all the crazy things that come up.  It helped that one of my peeps brought in a Tastefully Simple Almond Pound Cake to share with us.  Wow...it's really good.  She's having a party and surprised us with a tasty sample today.  Thanks Kerry!


Here's what's left of the cake:

Almond Pound Cake from Tastefully Simple

Enjoy your weekend bloggers!

P.S.  Here's an almond pound cake recipe I found online.  I'm going to try it this weekend.

Happy Friday!

Hey bloggers!  Another week has flown by.

Still haven't made anything, but I did make a trip to the thrift shop today and found a great deal on some good-looking fabric.  A big bag of it for just $2.19.  Some of it looks VERY promising.  I'm seeing tissue covers, key fobs and lanyards in my future.  Stay tuned.  (But please don't hold your breath, okay?)

While you're waiting (ahem) I thought I'd share four of my summer time favorites.

My two favorite kids and my two favorite veggies.   My youngest son looks like he's being attacked by the Killer Tomato plants....honestly, they have gone crazy with all the rain and humidity we've had.  Typical weather here in Indiana...what can I say?  Now...if all those hundreds of little gems would ripen, we'd have a heyday (and a tummy ache too).

Enjoy your weekend!

At the lake

Although I don't always have time to make something, I seem to have time to surf the web to find things to make.  Anyone else have that problem pleasure?  One of my favorite places to shop is Etsy.  You're no doubt familiar with it.  I have a (almost empty) shop on Etsy.  [Note to self:  MAKE SOME THINGS TO SELL!!]

I came across this shop and have ordered a few things.  They have a great selection of Japanese fabric and pattern books.  Yes, the books are written in Japanese, but if you know anything about sewing, you can pretty much figure out how to make the items in the book.  Just use some common sense and a ruler that has centimeters on it.  :-)  The books that I have are loaded with great illustrations which really come in handy.  And the photography is first class. 

Nate finished his first week of Band Camp and we're ready for a weekend at the lake.  It was really hot this week.  And we are behind on so many things.  Getting ready to go on vacation is a major deal.  And getting back from vacation is tough too.  We are very thankful for neighbors who kept the flowers watered and the grass cut.

School starts in just a few weeks.  The boys go back on August 17th.  I hate it.   Summers are just to short and it makes me sad to look at then calendar and see that July is pretty much over.  Seems like when I was a kid, the summer lasted forever.  I guess it's true: the older you get, the faster time goes.  Okay, enough of the sadness. It's Friday and I'm going to make the most of it.

Hope you have a great weekend.

P.S.  Sorry for the rambling....

Time to Freshen Up a Bit

If I'm going to get back to blogging (which is my intention) then I need want to freshen things up a bit.  I've already changed the layout quite a bit thanks to some built in Blogger tools (thanks Blogger!).  I'm also going to get some help from Veronica.  She's a really great person to work with and I'm looking forward to getting my blog space spruced up.  According to her website, the waiting list is eighteen months.  But...I'm going to stand in line until it's my turn.

I have some vacation photos that I'll share with you soon.  And...if I get off my lazy butt, perhaps I'll actually sit down and MAKE something in the near future.  There are literally cobwebs and spider webs in my craft space.  That's how long it's been since I've been in the creative mood.  Creepy, huh?

Stay tuned.

Away for Too Long

So....this is pretty sad.  I've been away for months.  I won't use the 'I've been busy' line.  Because we're all busy, right?

I guess I've not been in the blogging mood.  That's lame too!

Summer is going by WAY too quickly...in just a few weeks, the boys will be back in school.  Seems like they just got out.  What is wrong with this picture?

Last week were in Carolina Beach, NC on vacation.  It was heavenly.  We stayed at the same condo as last year.  The weather was HOT (just like everywhere else in the US).  It only rained one evening...and that was a true blessing. We had a great time just doing nothing.  Sat under beach umbrellas and listened to waves crash against the shore and let the breeze put us into 'relaxation mode'.  It was wonderful.

Oh, by the way, Riley has grown up quite nicely.  He celebrated his first birthday last month.  Here are a few photos.

He is still a puppy in many ways.  He is a sweetheart and a big baby.  We felt really bad leaving him at the kennel while we were on vacation.  He did okay....and we called to check on him a few times during our week away.

I made this for my Dad

Little Guy was itching to do something creative (bless his heart!) so I put him to work editing a photo using Picnik (my favorite photo editor).  Here's what he came up with:

I made this for my Dad on Picnik.com. 

Great job Matt!

Love,
Dad

Sometimes....we just get too tired to put our things away.

A picture is worth 1,000 words.

Damn Spam!

Hey Bloggers!

Welcome to the beginning of new week.  I'm looking forward to a pleasant, peaceful, relaxing time.  How about you?  Ha!  I'm kidding of course.  Who has time for any of that, right?  Always too much to do and not enough time to get it done.  Now, THAT's what I'm talking about.

Hey...just wanted to give you a heads up.  After receiving a TON of spam comments (GRRRR!) I've decided to turn on comment moderation here on the blog.

So....be patient.  I'll get your comments approved a.s.a.p. 

Thanks for understanding!

And have a good (crazy) week, okay?  Okay!