Leaves in Resin

I'm not quite ready for winter to come, as much as I'm loving all the chunky knit sweaters and cozy tights everywhere. I've been collecting and drying out leaves, which are now beautifully displayed in resin!

I love these! And when I say that, I mean it. Out of everything I make, it's rare that I make something that I'm as happy with as these. Perfectionist to a fault, possibly, constantly wanting to do better. There was actually a fifth but the oak leaves dried a boring brown and left the rest of the pendant looking flat. I didn't even finish it and it went in the garbage.

They're crystal clear and super colourful. I can't wait to get a few more mold shapes (I have no idea what happened to my rectangular one...) as I feel these would look great in an assortment of shapes and sizes. Also, their colours are going to hold me over all winter when it's cold and I'm longing for my favourite season to come back again.

I took all my leaves and tucked them into the heaviest book I own (The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy), and left them pressed between parchment paper for a few days. Once they were done I put them right away into resin in hopes of preserving as much color as possible. I'm not sure what these will do long term, but for the time being I think they look wonderful.

Fresh out of the book!

The obligatory work in progress shot.

Touch Screen Mittens

It took me forever to get pictures of these, but I'm so excited to be able to share these with you!

Handmade mittens with a big surprise, you can use your touch screen phone while wearing them! Goodbye cold fingers.

Check out the magic!

I'm in love with these for many reasons. All the fabric I used for them is high quality wool, and the money from buying the fabric went to a local non profit. They have threads sewn in to make them work with your touch screen (without scratching it at that). Last but not least, look at how cute they are!

I've been having a blast making them. I know what everyone is getting for Christmas this year...

Repurposed With A Purpose

Every once and a while I see something amazing, and I tuck it away to remind myself to share it with you.
This is one of those things.

Yes, it's a weird looking bicycle, but being that it's made out of cardboard (with recycled car tires for the wheels), and will cost roughly $20 to buy, it think it's amazing. It will be wonderfully convenient for those who want to reduce their footprint, and especially good for people in underdeveloped areas (I can see it now, websites where you can buy people fresh water, rice, medicine, soon you may be able to buy them a bicycle for transportation!)

You can see more information about it here, along with a video of it's process.

Happy Halloween!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!!
Since I couldn't be anything 'scary' for work, the decision was made to be a sugar skull. Queue me sewing hair flowers last night and getting up early this morning to do this before work. Not too scary I don't think, but got a lot of looks, and compliments.

I snapped a couple pictures this morning before heading out, and the Mr grabbed a couple quick shots just now, but after having this on my face for 12 hours, I'm looking a little less than perfect. Oh well!!!

Now to watch the most recent episode of The Walking Dead, and eat all this candy I bought today until I'm sick. Fun Dip, Pop Rocks, Popeye candy sticks, Nerds, and a bunch of bulk including chocolate covered gummi bears. Om nom nom!

I hope you all have happy, safe and delicious evenings.

Mani Saturday: Halloween Nails

I just wanted to share my Halloween mani that I've been wearing this week (which I will probably have until Wednesday, unless it severely chips within the next couple days).

Orange base coat, covered with a coat of glow in the dark, black french tips and then leopard and lace stamping. I love it! Many other people do, too. Anyone else rocking some Halloween nails??

Craft Shows and Craft Swaps

Well, ladies and gents, I luckily enough was able to squeeze into the Hintonburg Artisan Craft Show's lineup on November 24th (Saturday) at the Hintonburg Community Centre from 10-4. I've got piles of half sewn things that I can't wait to show you all and that I will have ready come showtime.

Oooooh, what could they be!

In other news, I signed up for this years secret santa swap on craftster. I've got one thing started (part of the small) then I just have one 'medium' sized thing to make, plus extras. Always extras! I understand that not everyone wants to or can make extras for swaps, and that I may very well not get any extras, but I myself can't help but always spoil whomever I have as a partner. I'll share with you what I make, but after everything has been sent to avoid spoilers :).

Abandoned Everything

I went down and applied for another craft show yesterday, the same one that I did last year around this time. I had forgotten about it for a while so I assumed it filled up but when I emailed she said there still might be a chance so hopefully I hear back some positive news in a couple of weeks. I would love to be able to get another show in so soon after the other, and then keep it going at that speed.. :P

While we were out we did some exploring of some more abandoned places. I didn't get any good pictures of the first one but this old train bridge was really cool. All covered in graffiti, this one being my favourite. 

 I don't know who was writing this, but they will just have to accept that their clever drawing of a dinosaur within the word RAWR will be used by me from now on and there's nothing they can do about it. It's too good not to spread around.

Absolutely gorgeous colors are out now. I think now is the time to try drying out leaves for experiments.
Ever notice how making jewelry can make one sound like a mad scientist? Experiments! Buahahaha.

We also found these interesting photographs pasted around a bike trail, though most were defaced stupidly, they were also beautiful. 

This was the closest thing I've gotten to a hike in a long time, and it was wonderful.