I am not a jewelry maker. I don't even wear much jewelry beyond earrings and my wedding ring. Still, sometimes it's nice to add just a little something something to an outfit. And sometimes you just want to make something that won't take hours and hours or loud power tools. I've noticed little leather bracelets every where lately, worn in multiples. The lightness of them appealed to me, so I decided to whip up my own little girly take on them. 

I also had some fabric scraps laying around, as one often does when one likes to play with fabric. Somewhere in my internet crawling I saw some cute leather bracelets wrapped with stripes of floss, so I decided to try something similar with fabric. Once the fabric was on there (with just a dot of Fabri-tak at each end to hold it in place), I dug through my big jar of pearl buttons and pulled out some of the smallest ones I could find. It was easy enough to just stitch them in place. 

I had some cord ends, so I glued them in place and crimped the ends a bit to fit closer to the flat leather. I need to find some of those end crimpy thingies that are actually made for this sort of project, I'll have to find a bead store for that I think. I also used giant jump rings, but it's what I had. I want to do a few more, and maybe try some knotted closures so I don't end up with a whole bunch of metal bits. 

They are very sweet and I think I need three or four more. 

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I had so much creative ADD this weekend, I just kept flitting from one project to another. There were hexi-puffs and leather bracelets and a trip to the thrift store where $9 worth of treasures were bought. I sawed down some boards to make a background for food photos, and made some fabric napkins out of a blouse from the aforementioned thrifted treasures. And then there was all the laundry, cooking, cleaning, and errand-running that I also squeezed in. I'm getting tired again just thinking about it all! I need some longer weekends to do everything I want to do. Anyway, there will be more on all those things as I finish them (except not the laundry or cleaning, that was all very boring, and it's never done, anyway). 

I did manage to finish a very little porch project, however. After my succulent in a teacup, which still looks as good as the day I planted it, I had a hankering for more succulents to dress up the dining table out there. I found this perfect little tin planter at my favorite nursery, and picked out some pink, green, and white succulents to fill it up. I probably could have squeezed in another plant or two, but I can live with a little space between plants for now. I'd write up a tutorial, except it would be very short: get a container, get some cactus mix, and get some plants, arrange the plants pleasingly in the container, adding cactus mix as necessary. 

Isn't it so photogenic? I could become a crazy succulent aficionado, I think. They are weirdly addicting. It's a simple little thing, but so pleasing to look at.

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A list (this post is brought to you by Instagram (and Magic Hour)):

1.Summer hair. I'm growing mine out, but when it's hot I hate it on my neck. I've been doing this a lot, although I obviously need to work on my bobby pin placement:

2.Summer nail color. I'm pretending I'm trendy and wearing this lavendar on my fingers and toes. I've only just discovered Essie, so obviously I'm not really up on any trends. It's formaldahyde-free (as well as missing some other yucky chemicals found in most nail polish), and there are so many great colors. You can get some at Target.

3. Summer reading. What are you reading? I've got a stack of books to enjoy, but I'm re-reading Harry Potter just for the fun of it, and I just finished listening to A Game of Thrones, which was epic and brutal, and kept me entertained on my drive to and from work for nearly three weeks (it was 34 hours long!). I'm not quite up for the second book in the series yet, so I took a break and listened to a Stephanie Plum novel, which is definitely a guilty pleasure. In the stack on my nightstand I've got a copy of Centuries of June, which the publisher sent, so I need to get on that soon. It sounds highly entertaining, so I'm looking forward to that one. Also there is a gift from my sister-in-law, called Enslaved by Ducks, which I suspect will hit very close to home, as it is the story of a couple who adopt various animals and the hijinks that ensue. I can't tell you how many times I've watched all the little creatures in our yard, and thought about the comedies (and tragedies) I see and what great stories they would make. 

4. Summer farm. My garden has not materialized as I hoped, as we have had some crazy weather (frost, in June, triple-digit tempuratures earlier this month, followed by another frosty night last weekend), so I have to be content with nurturing the two new little hens I brought home last week. They are month-old Buff Orpingtons. My buffs were all stolen in the Great Chicken Robbery of 2009, and I've missed having some in my flock. These two are sweet as can be, with that same mellow buff personality that I love. 

5. Summer crafts. I have been cleaning out our disaster area of a shed in the hopes of doing some more wood-working type projects, but until that gargantuan task is finished, I am contenting myself with some smaller crafts. I may even put a few things in my etsy shop again soon, who knows! Last weekend I made some tiny mushrooms for some tiny terrariums, because what could be better than a terrarium? A teeny, tiny terrarium, of course! I've got some moss to add to these, and hopefully enough chain to make them into necklaces. 

6a. Summer food. Do you know what season it is right now? Fig season! They are one of my favorites. This is a good way to make them: slice in half, and wrap each half with prosciutto. Then drizzle with good olive oil and a splash of balsamic vinegar. Grind a little pepper on top, and enjoy!

6b. More summer food. There was also some yellowtail tuna caught by some co-workers who went on a three-day fishing trip and graciously shared their haul. I sliced up a piece and coated the slices in olive oil and herbs and just seared the outside. Served with agrodolce relish (tomatoes, thinly sliced red onion, minced garlic, all sauteéd in olive oil and finished with a spoonful of red wine vinegar and a spoonful of sugar), coconut basmati rice, and arugula. 

What's on your summer list? 

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Years and years ago I brought home this toolbox from a thrift store or antique mall, I don't remember which. I've slowly stocked it with tools purchased as I've needed them, and now it's a pretty well stocked little box. The paint is all chippy, and might have to be stripped and replaced soon, but right now I like it's tattered look.

While I was painting my spice rack, I gave my hammer a little glossy coat of white and light turquoise. I was somewhat inspired by these fancy and ridiculously expensive axes. Plus, it will probably keep it safe from the hands of Mr. Heylucy, who does not always return things to their proper places. In fact, he was quite surprised by the many contents of my toolbox, which he had never noticed before. I do keep it in the corner of my little studio, but I'm not sure how he missed it all these years. I have a sneaking suspicion that I may have to guard it a little more closely now. 

A few of the items I have collected and use:

I love my little red screwdriver, the tip flips around, so I have two phillips heads and two flat head screwdrivers all in one. And sanding blocks are so much easier to use than sandpaper. Fine grit ones are especially helpful for smoothing paint between coats. My drill and level don't actually fit inside, but they are probably the things I use most. Drilling is fun! This weekend I repaired an old shovel, it had chippy brown paint and the hand had fallen off, so I scraped and sanded it, gave it a coat of glossy green paint, and got a bolt with a locking nut to re-attach the handle. Cleaning out the chicken coop will be so much easier now. 

I don't know who R.H. Raynes was, but I hope that he (or she) would be pleased to see his toolbox in good hands. Do you have a toolbox all your own? I hope so! 

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When I was a freshman in high school I got to choose an elective class. Being a freshman, I got last pick and there weren't many options left. It came down to a choice between geography and woodshop. What else could I do? I chose woodshop. It was the 80's, and I was the only girl in the class. I wasn't highly successful, I made a piggy bank that wobbled and a box with an ill-fitting lid, but it was fun anyway. I've liked power tools and the smell of sawdust ever since, but wasn't really confident enough to use my toolbox for anything more than simple repairs. I think that is going to change. 

My spice cupboard was once again out of control. The lazy susan I put in there didn't hold much and didn't spin well, and searching for that one particular herb often meant pulling out five others before finding it. I happen to have a narrow bit of wall not too far from the stove that seemed like a good location for all those little jars, but I knew I would never find just the right sort of shelves for the space. So I measured and sketched and went to three different hardware stores, and asked for advice from some very patient lumber and hardware men. I spent about $25 on supplies and plywood and trim cut to size. I bought a very nifty corner clamp to ensure that I ended up with perfect right angles, and cleaned off the spout on my bottle of wood glue. And then I got to work.

I did a little bit each weekend for the past two weeks, and apart from a little help from Mr. HeyLucy, who demonstrated how to pound in the nails, rather than tapping and bending them, I did it all myself. With the paint nice and dry, last night I hung it up and stocked it with most of my little jars of herbs and spices. 

I am feeling pretty proud of myself. It's not a huge project, it's about 12 inches by 30 inches, and it's not perfect. The wood isn't super high quality and there are some little gaps in the trim. It's sort of rustic and crate-like, which luckily, is a look I happen to like. I may add another shelf in the top section, but in the meantime, I do like having that little open space to display a couple vintage postcards. 

Now I'm in the middle of cleaning out and organizing my toolbox, which will get it's own post soon. We have some scrap wood from an old fence that's just calling my name now, and I'm trying to figure out where to set up a table saw. I think I'm going to have to clean out our shed next, and turn it into a woodshop. 

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I've enjoyed the cold winter weather these past few months. Handknits and boots and sweaters are nice. But spring is my favorite time of year. I can't get enough of spring flowers, and I love the green hillsides, the buds on the lilacs and Easter and my birthday. The longer days boost my energy, and I want to soak up as much fresh air and sunshine as possible, despite spending eight of those sunny hours indoors at work five days a week. 

I'm still loving the daffodils in our yard, and picked an enormous bunch today. With each new type that blooms, I declare a new favorite. Today I love the little apricot ones (center left).

Of course I can't forget the tiny grape hyacinth and snow drops with their green-dotted bells.

We don't have any ranunculas in our yard, but Trader Joe's was well-stocked the other day, so I brought these peach beauties home for just $4.

What are your favorite spring flowers?

While in Spokane, I got to spend a fun day browsing antique shops and malls with my sister-in-law (her excellent finds are here). I showed you the elephant pitcher I couldn't resist as we were checking out of our last stop, but that's hardly all I brought home. 

I also couldn't resist this tiny pink dress, not with it's $5 price tag (actually, the shop owner quoted me $6 and then lowered it as I got ready to pay). 

I've been wanting to start designing some knitwear patterns, and one of my first ideas is a sweet little baby cardigan. The details on this dress are providing all sorts of inspiration, and I am thinking I will document the design process here as I figure it all out. I hope you don't mind. 

I love this round, smocked yoke:

And the miniscule embroidered pocket:

I have a couple things to finish up, but once my needles are free, I have the perfect pink yarn and a head full of ideas to turn into a sweater.

I'm also enjoying playing around with the video camera on my phone, and I so loved the lodgepole pines surrounding my brother's house in Spokane. I'm still figuring out all the editing, but I rather like this brief glimpse of the wind bending the trees.

 Did you catch that brief glimpse of my nephew and his chip bag kite? I will have to tell you more about that, but in the meantime, here he is with his "smile for the camera" smile, curved lips just like a smiley face. He is the funnest 7-year-old I know, and I miss him already.

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