Knit a Hat and Scarf on a Round Loom! Sew a Plushie Monster! Piece a Not Too Square Quilt! Embroider a Super Cute Scandi-Motif! Carve a Wooden Spoon! Mix a Batch of Crock-Pot Soap! Crochet a Pretty Granny Squqaresque Design! Craft Candlestick Photo Frames! Press Flowers in your Microwave! Sew a Denim Pleated Ruffle Pillow! Stitch an Owl Keychain Holder!

 

YOKE DU YOUR

This guy goes up to a bar located at the top of the Empire State Building in New York. It looks like a nice place, and he takes a seat at the bar.

“This is a nice place. I’ve never been here before,” he says to the guy next to him.
“Oh, really?” the other replies. “It is a nice place. It’s also a very special bar.”
“Why is that?” the first guy asks. “Well, do you see that painting on the far wall? That’s an original Van Gogh, and this stool I’m sitting on was on the Titanic.”
“Gee, that’s amazing!” says the first guy.
“Not only that, but you see that window over there, fourth from the right? Well, the wind does strange things outside that window. If you jump out you’ll fall about 50 feet before the wind catches you and you’re pushed back up.”
“No way! That’s impossible,” the guy scoffs.
“Not at all. Take a look,” the other man replies, and with that he walks over to the window and opens it. He climbs over the sill and falls out. He drops 10… 20… 30… 40…50 feet, comes to a stop, and whoosh — he comes right back up and sails back through the window. “See? It’s fun. You should try it,” he says.
“Try it? I don’t even believe I saw it!” the first man shouts.
“It’s easy. Watch, I’ll do it again.” And with that, he falls out the window again. He drops 10… 20… 30… 40… 50 feet, comes to a stop, and whoosh — he comes right back up and sails back through the window. “Give it a try. It’s a blast,” he says.
“Well, what the heck, I’ll give it a try,” the first man says, and proceeds to fall out the window. He falls 10… 20… 30… 40… 50…60…70…80…90… 100 feet and splat — he ends up as road pizza on the sidewalk.
After watching this, the second guy casually closes the window, heads back to the bar and orders a drink. The bartender arrives with the drink and says, “You know, Superman, you’re a real jerk when you’re drunk.”

ARTspiration

Artists or art that turns me on and feeds my muse! Like it or dislike it, what about this art inspires your own art or creativity?   Rural Woman by Ellayaraja from Tamilnadu, India.

IDEA I LOVE

 

I love using my round loom to knit with.  I know, it’s not knitting knitting, but who cares?  The hat and the process of making it is all that matters.  Here’s how to make a hat on a round loom.  Also take a look at the video to learn how to make a scarf on a round loom, too!  Start here:

 http://www.instructables.com/id/Make-a-Hat-on-a-Loom/

 

IDEA I LOVE

 

I love monster plushies!  Start with this simple DIY tutorial then start creating monsters of your own (no, I do not consider you children monsters you have made).  Here’s how:

 http://diy-is-fun.com/crafts/thread-crafts/how-to-sew-your-own-fun-hare-monsters/

DESIGNspiration

Look around you. Design is everywhere! How can you incorporate the beauty that surrounds you into your art or craft?  Oh! Today is Ash Wednesday! My favorite Catholic ritual! A wonderful message that I always need to remind myself of: “Remember, O man, that you are dust, and unto dust you shall return.” In other words, don’t take this shit too seriously, dude!

 

YUMMY DISH!

CROCK POT BROWN SUGAR BALSAMIC GLAZED PORK TENDERLOIN

INGREDIENTS:

Pork tenderloin
Ground sage
Salt
Pepper
Garlic
Water
Brown sugar
Cornstarch
Balsamic Vinegar
Water
Soy sauce

FOR THE FULL RECIPE, CLICK HERE:  http://laurassweetspot.com/2013/06/12/crockpot-brown-sugar-balsamic-glazed-pork-tenderloin/

YIPEE!  

It’s on the market!

 

CLICK HERE TO ORDER A COPY! 

IDEA I LOVE

Spoon carving may not be for everybody but it sure appeals to me.  Grant it, I may end up fingerless and spoonless to boot, but I think it’s so important to expand and grow in other creative areas.  Why not this?   Start here:

 OMG!

Part of embroidered Aumonière, 14th century. From the Benedictine Abbey of St. Mihiel.

QUILTING, STITCHING & TRADITIONAL ARTS IN POLAND

 

SO DRINK, CHUG-A-LUG CHUG-A-LUG 

 SEX IN THE DRIVEWAY COCKTAIL

Ingredients:

ice cubes
blue curacao
peach schnapps
citrus vodka
7-up, sprite, squirt, etc.
GARNISH:
1 slice lemon, lime, orange, grapefruit

For the Full Recipe Click Here:  http://www.justapinch.com/recipes/drink/cocktail/sex-in-the-driveway.html

IF YOU HAVEN’T SUBSCRIBED TO THIS BLOG YET:

For well over 2 years, I have been posting up to 20 links per day or every other day, on the Mark Lipinski’s Fan Pageon Facebook. Of course, in Facebook’s never ending quest to make lots of money, Facebook seems to have abandoned their mission of a real social networking site and it has become more about Facebook revenue.

Several months ago, Facebook, without warning, had implemented a new business model. As a result, the vast majority of “LIKErs” who have been faithful readers of this Fan Page have been blocked from receiving my posts, time and time again, from getting all or a few of the postings onto their timeline feed.

The reason is, Facebook would like pages like, Mark Lipinski’s Fan Page, to pay money every day, and on every post, in order to advertise and lure readers like you, onto the Fan Page.

With out “BOOSTING” a post, only about 5% of people who clicked LIKE on the Fan Page are actually seeing anything I post — and it could be random – sometimes you get a post, and sometimes not. Basically, it sucks for all of us. I am finding that we are all better served if I posted my tips, ideas, links, and jokes, etc. to my blog. You can subscribe to my blog (only if you wan to) and get an email each time I post a grouping of ideas, links, etc.

I AM NOT shutting down Mark Lipinski’s Fan Page on Facebook and you are welcome to follow me there, too. What I am doing is putting everything that used to be on the Fan Page individually onto my blog, AND there will be a daily link to the idea blog on the Fan Page, just as there were multiple links to the various blogs that I’ve always linked to in the past. It’s not that different, really. It will save me a lot of time, and guarantee those who want to see the creative posts will actually get to see them. And Facebookers, will STILL have to click on “GET NOTIFICATIONS” in your Facebook Settings if they want to see what I post on Facebook (sometimes that works, but not all of the time).

Actually, my new model gives you at least TWO ways to get all of the ideas, etc. PLUS you can PIN them and they will be TAGGED so you can find them again in the search bar even years later. – through the FACEBOOK FAN PAGE and YOUR CHOICE (not mandatory) to subscribe to the blog and get email postings that way.

 

BREATHLESS INSPIRATION!

This is a collection of pressed flowers turned into sculptures by artist, Ignacio Canales Aracil.   Created by tightening the drying flowers around a sculptural form, over and over again, the end result is achieved only after months and months of drying and processing the former blooms.  Cool, right?  Ummm…. don’t smoke.

 

 

IDEA I LOVE

 

I love pleats (of course, I like to create my own pleats but not everyone does).  Sew up this quick little back pillow with a denim pleated ruffle.  Here’s how:

http://www.makeit-loveit.com/2015/02/pleated-ruffle-pillow-with-denim.html 

WORDS TO LIVE BY

 

IN 10 DAYS!

 I’M COMING BACK TO PUYALLUP!!!

Spend some time with me at the SEWING & STITCHERY EXPO!!

SATURDAY NIGHT, 6:30 PM :  QUILTER’S NIGHT OUT!   It’s a night of fun, laughs and quilts! 

SUNDAY, 8:30 AM:  The Slow Stitching Movement Lecture  

 

2508D The Slow Stitching Movement – Sunday 8:30 – 10:00 AM

Quick, fast, easy. In our busy, multitasking world, those buzzwords capture our attention. But speed can kill creativity and the enjoyment of our creative pursuits. Maybe what we really need to do is slow down…

SUNDAY, 11 AM:  Finishing Your Quilts with Simple Binding Techniques!

3538D Binding Workshop – Sunday 11:00 AM – 1:30 PM
Finishing our quilts is bliss! Why stop with design and embellishment opportunities once we finish sewing on our borders? Make your quilts stand out with your creative finishing techniques. In this mini-workshop…

IDEA I LOVE

I think there is nothing like showering with your own, homemade soap.  Some recipes are complicated, sure, but other, like this one, are not.  Here’s a recipe that uses your old crock-pot to make your bars of soap.  Why not experiment a little?  What would your soap smell like?  Here’s where you begin:

http://www.diynatural.com/crock-pot-soap/ 

 

MAN CAN LIVE BY BREAD ALONE!

CROATIAN POPPY SEED BREAD 

 

HERE’S WHAT YOU’LL NEED:
milk
granulated sugar
active dry yeast
butter
all-purpose flour
salt
eggs
Poppy Seed Filling:
poppy seeds
milk
granulated sugar
liquid honey
currants or chopped raisins
butter
grated lemon rind
ground cinnamon
amber rum or water
Topping:
egg

 FOR THE FULL RECIPE, CLICK THE LINK: http://www.canadianliving.com/food/baking_and_desserts/cooking_class_croatian_poppy_seed_roll_recipe.php

MEMBA?

Bell bottoms and body suits! 1974

WHAT WERE YOU DOING IN 1974?

And now a word from our sponsor . . .

 

COOKIES!

GRANDMA SMITH’S PINEAPPLE COOKIES

 

Ingredients: 

butter, softened
white sugar
brown sugar
egg
vanilla
flour
baking soda
baking powder
salt
crushed pineapple
chopped walnuts or pecans

FOR THE FULL RECIPE, CLICK HERE:  http://olives-n-okra.com/grandma-smiths-pineapple-cookies/

JUST BECAUSE, I SWOON 

Haute Couture

IDEA I LOVE!

 

Isn’t this a pretty Granny Square?  Here’s how you crochet one (make several dozen, from soft springy colors and you’ll have a pretty spring afghan!).  Here’s the pattern:

https://millemakes.wordpress.com/2011/05/22/something-pretty-the-pattern/

 

BE DAZZLED!

Victorian Old Mine and Rose Diamond Silver Gold Bangle Bracelet, $12,788

PATCHWORK, BABY!

The now bankrupt and defunct The Quilter was always a pretty lifeless magazine and could have should have been put out of its misery years ago. Full of its fair share of uninspired patterns, uninteresting articles, and 300-year-old or poorly done layouts (I’ve seen celebrity faces pasted on porn bodies that were better Photoshopped than this quilt “on a sofa”  LOL), it was a great place for new designers to start, and every once in a while there was something that even caught my eye.  This quilt, using Riley Blake fabrics (I love the orange focus fabric), is one of those patterns.  It’s easy enough to make, but it really is the fabric choices of the designer, Wendy Shepphard,  that makes this quilt pop (I’m totally into the plaid inner border fabric she used).  Here’s the pattern:

 http://www.thequiltermag.com/onlineproject/not_too_square/TheQuilter_NotTooSquare.pdf

SHOEspiration

Laurence Dacade

‘Dana Spring’ sandals, $827.34

IDEA I LOVE

Whoa, Nellie (‘you tawkin’ to me?)!  Grab your embroidery floss and stitch up this graphic super cute Scandi-Style embroidered pillow!   I love it.  Here’s all you need:

 http://hoogally.com/2014/05/super-cute-scandi-style-embroidery/

MUST HAVE

If you’re sexy and you know it but you’re just too lazy to show it, then this shirt is for you! Perfect for lounging around the house and hanging out with friends! Perfect for taking over the party and getting crazy! This cool shirt is ideal for people who love to dance, twerk, act cool, party and drink and get wasted with friends, and dominate the dance floor! Twerk team! Stay ratchet.  $39.60

http://www.lookhuman.com/design/24039-sexy-lazy

IDEA I LOVE

So, why not sew an owl key chain holder?   Oh.   Here’s the pattern:

 http://www.craftpassion.com/2010/09/sewing-owl-key-chain-holder-pattern-tutorial.html/2

 

DESSERT!

HONEY BUN COFFEE CAKE

HERE’S WHAT YOU’LL NEED: 

yellow cake mix
sour cream
eggs
vegetable oil
brown sugar
ground cinnamon
powdered sugar
milk
vanilla

FOR THE FULL RECIPE, CLICK HERE:  http://myhomemdelife.blogspot.com/2010/12/that-70s-breakfasthoney-bun-coffee-cake.html

 

NEW JERSEY: 3 DAYS AND COUNTING!

THIS SATURDAY!!!

Saturday, February 17,  12:30 PM

Saturday Lecture :  The Slow Stitching Movement!

Quilting Possibilities
& Sewing Center
918 Lacey Road
Forked River, NJ 08731

Call to reserve your seat: 609-242-0033 | 732-269-8383

QPS@quiltingposs.com

IDEA I LOVE

 

I really like the look of these DIY candle stick holder frames.  They’re classy yet simple and would look good in a modern home as well as a more traditional casa (although I might paint them a reddish milk paint color for a prim look).  Here’s how you make a set:

http://www.craftsunleashed.com/decor-home/diy-picture-frame-trio/

 

SLOW STITCHING

Melissa Jackson isn’t famous, nor is she a stitching celebrity. She’s a needlework enthusiast who hasn’t met a fiber art that didn’t pull her in. While I met Melissa as a cross stitcher, I was surprised and delighted that her reach into the fiber arts is wide and ongoing.

The concept of The Slow Stitching Movement wasn’t new to Melissa. She was familiar with the Slow Food Movement and appreciates the connection between slow food and slow stitching. From practicing ethical shopping, to healing and growing through her art, and practicing slow stitching in her own work, I found her insight illuminating.

Find her podcast here: http://www.slowstitching.com/podcasts.html

The Slow Stitching Movement Podcast’s are sponsored by

Aurifil Thread and GloriousColor.com

 

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