long overdue update

This past summer I worked full time so I wasn't able to post a lot. I also got engaged (!) on June 28:)
Since then I've been busy working and planning our wedding. Since I'm crafty and David is good at making things out of natural materials it's kind of a no-brainer that our wedding would be as handmade as possible.  So far, our projects include making invitiations; creating a brooch bouquet; having 'home made' favours (they're still a secret); assembling our own flowers. We're so excited to be getting married and I'm looking forward to making our wedding very personal with fantastic DIY touches. I'll be posting our projects on this blog and other wedding stuff on our wedding blog here.

stay tuned!

Etsy store

I know it's been a while since my last post, but I've been too busy with my actual job to post much.  I did however find time to set up an Etsy store where I'm selling my photos.  Please check it out! It's free to look:)

http://www.etsy.com/shop/christinavy?ref=si_shop

Tedious, but worth it!

I had a really old, melomine covered book case in my house and I wanted to do something fun with it.  I'd been needing a place for all my books and trinkets and this case was perfect.  It was hideous and peeling so i decided to cover it in wall paper.  I've never used wall paper before and it was a bit more difficult than I thought! I hand sanded the case and primed it before applying the paper. It didn't turn out to be perfect but i love it because I did it all myself.  The pattern is amazing and really pops against my light gray walls (the paper is white with a black design).

My next project was a Christmas present for my dad made of vintage records (I'm pretty sure they used to be is but I found them in the basement and got permission to use them). I wanted to make record bowls so I researched how online.  The original method is to put them over a glass bowl and melt them in the oven, but this can cause chemicals to leach out and stay in your oven (maybe to be redeposited on your food later!). I decided to heat them up by hand instead. I first tried using a blow dryer but the hear wasn't strong enough. then I put the record in an old towel and ironed it.  I used the highest heat and setting and gently pushed the iron across the towel.  I had to shape the record by hand, and I probably should have worn gloves because heated vinyl is HOT! I broke a few records in the process but I'm pretty pleased with the end result. 
These bowls are strictly for decoration, NOT holding food. If you wanted to eat out of record bowls i suggest wrapping the inside with tin foil and putting in your snacks (chips, pop corn, candy, veggies, but nothing hot or liquid) so they never touch the actual record.

enjoy:)

HATS!

 I've found it hard to find the perfect hats that are warm yet nice looking.  The first 2 hats pictured were knitted for me by my mom's friend and the third hat was bought from Joe Fresh.  The charms on the white hat were from a craft store and I just sewed them on with regular thread. The baubles on the black hat are random things I've saved over the years.  I found them in my craft box and I knew they would look great on a hat.  The third hat has several peices of a lace-like fabric cut into flowers and layered on top of each other to create depth. The center of the flower is a little crocheted button found in my mom's button bucket. I've worn all these hats this past winter and received many compliments:)