Craft Leftovers Fun

A couple of months ago I ran across the Craft Leftovers blog ( http://craftleftovers.blogspot.com/) by Kristen Roach. Since then I have received a couple of things from her in the samplers I ordered from Home of the Sampler. One was a sample of her beautifully dyed merino sock yarn and the other was a kit to make a a dish cloth. The yarn is lovely and is on my list for purchasing when I make my next pair of socks. The dish cloth really is the best I have ever had due to the use of soft cotton with a really scratchy wool. The two crocheted together in a brick stitch make a great dish cloth that holds the soap and really scarpes off the yuck on your dishes.

I like Kristen's enthusiasim for all things crafty and her innate generosity of spirit in sharing what she knows with everyone without any ego. In August she wrote a pretty sad entry about her sewing machine dying and how she would need donations in order to get another or to get it fixed. I have quite a number of sewing machines... from a 50+ year old Singer Featherweight to my latest acquisition, the Brother 4000 embroidery machine. It so happens that an older Babylock machine of mine has been waiting for a new home. I had been scouting possible placements when I read Kristen's note. She was offered a cheapy from a discount chain store that I know would have been inadequate so I offered her my Babylock. It was in great shape and offered a zillion options not on a standard machine like an automated threader and cutter.

I was happy to pass it on to someone with an entreprenurial spirit and I hope she has much success in her business and crafty desires. Besides many gracious comments from Kristen (blush, blush) she has added me to her monthly subscription list as well as some extras. In September I received:

Two Tissue holder kits

One pencil case kit

One crocheted headband kit

One dishcloth kit

One little magazine,

Ten+ buttons

Two pieces of Vintage fabric

One vintage iron-on applique

One reusable loose tea holder

Several Craft Leftovers buttons and patches WOW!

I had a lot of fun putting the kits together and then adapting my own materials to the instructions.

Here is a picture of the kits I made up using Kristen's materials including a close-up of the cute car fabric on the interior of the pencil case. The crocheted headband (bright blue) is the first one I have owned that actually has stayed on my fat head for hours at a time. The tissue holders are completely reversible. The ribbon on the pencil case was supposed to be applied straight but went a little wonky on me. Its the perfect size for my Nintendo Game Boy Advanced and DS games.

And here is a picture of my own materials with Kristen's instructions. The Headband and wash cloth are made out of varigated kitchen cotton yarn. The headband fits very well and the cloth will probably go into my shower rather than be used in the kitchen. The fabric for the tissue holders and pencil cases is a cotton lawn from Japan printed with Martini glasses that I just love and have in two color ways!And, here is a photo of all the other bits and pieces that came in the package.

The little magazine includes instructions for a fold-over style sandwich bag, a soothing tea recipe, a soothing eye pillow idea and a bunch of ideas for keeping our creativity from becoming a burden. And check out that great fabric.... what will I do with all of this?

The subscriptions go on sale on Monday and they seemed to have sold out quickly last month. If what I have described seems like something you would like to try, please keep Kristen's enterprise in mind and shop her Etsy shop for little fun kits and other stuff.

June/July Sampler

I received my Sampler yesterday and I feel like I really hit the jackpot. From the top left hand corner the box included:

• postcards made from old game boards by chickeney.etsy.com,
• a cut little heart pin from abelstudio.etsy.com,
• a full kit to make a dish cloth of cotton and wool yarn by craftleftovers.blogspot.com,
• a knitting pattern that makes up into wrist warmers with big red lips on them as an extract from a new knitting book called pretty in punk from chroniclebooks.com,
• a cute card from Jedidiahsnovelities.com,
• a sample of some absolutely wonderful walnut dyed super wash merino sock yarn from greenprairiefibers.etsy.com,
• cute gift tags from littletilegnome.com,
• a book mark with some lovely ribbon from twinkletextiles.etsy.com,
• a pair of sodalite hoop earrings that I would actually wear from moderndharma.com,
• a botlecap magnet from manictrout.com,
• a set of spa basics from shebassecret.com,
• a Nom pin from littledear.etsy.com and
• a soy candle from Sheba's Secret as well.

I regularly look at the craft leftovers blog but was hesitant to purchase. After all, I have lots of leftovers but this kit is very clever and I can't wait to make it up. The Sheba's Secrets items will also warrent another look as the products seem wonderful and the scents appear to be under control.

On another note - it rained most of yesterday so it was tough to get the dogs to go out. I have a little sun shade outside and I tried to encourage them to come out and join me out there to do their business. The girls would not take the bait hence the picture on the left of Kimora testing the air througth the doggy door. The picture on the right is of Alex standing in the middle of a downpour. He had a great time out in the yard as long as I stayed outside with him. I was dry under the sun shade while he got thoroughly soaked. What a life!

May Sampler

I have a horrible cold and, when combined with three very active dander ridden dogs, I am not feeling the best. As you can imagine, getting something in the mail, besides bills and advertising flyers, is a nice surprise. Yesterday I got my monthly mailing from the Home of the Sampler. Essentially, on a monthly basis, the home of the sampler, mails to subscribers a whole bunch of things from indie crafters. Its part advertising for the crafters and part a package of goodies for the subcribers. In this sampler I received several greeting cards including one, very elegant , with the greeting Douche Bag, on the front. In addition there was a simple necklace of stones on a black string, a couple of magnets, several neat buttons, a music CD, a luggage tag, a very cute octopus applique and a whole bunch of special offers. I originally started getting these to look for program ideas for the ASG neighborhood groups but I have kept subscribing because it is fun. Check out the site at this link http://www.homeofthesampler.com/index.html.