Getting Ready for VACATION! (UPDATE 4/24/2013)

So we're going on vacation this summer (to the beach), and I'm already preparing. Here's my official beach vacation purse and not one, but TWO tie dyed shirts.

 The purse is a Simplicity pattern (It's So Easy A5151). The fabric was an impulse buy at Goodwill. I don't remember what I paid, but it must not have been much because I remember coming home and being surprised I got sooooo much fabric so cheaply. In the store, the fabric was taped up so I couldn't tell exactly how much I was getting -- it was several yards. Anyway, I thought this fabric was wonderfully tacky and it works perfectly for my new beach vacation purse.

I have so much fabric that I'd like to make pajama pants for me and my daughter. Or maybe another bag. Can't quite decide yet.

If you've looked at my Etsy store (which you probably haven't), you've noticed that I like to tie dye things. Here are two shirts that I made for myself (with my impending vacation in mind).
 

This one turned out a little bright. I like it -- but it's a little bright. The shirt was another Goodwill find ($3.50). It's a wonderfully gauzy material that's just perfect for summer. The tie dying was done with one of those little kits that you can buy at WalMart.

This one didn't photograph very well, but it's a very nice color combo. As with the other one, the shirt is a Goodwill find and the tie dying was done with a kit from WalMart. The material of this shirt is a airy rayon. I just love it!

I have another tie dye type project that's in the washer right now. I'll be posting pictures of it soon.

Happy DIYing!


UPDATE:  My 3 year old daughter wanted a purse like mine for our vacation. Here's the one I made for her.

The Phoebe bag by Rebeka Lambert.

It's actually nicer than the purse I made for myself, but it's too small to hold all my stuff. The pattern is available online (click on the photo caption). 

We'll be very cute with our matching tacky beach purses!  :-) 

Crafting FAIL!

Not everything turns out like I want it to. In fact, a lot of my stuff doesn't turn out like I want it to ... but you never know that because I don't share many of my failures. Today, though, I feel like sharing my most recent failure (aren't you excited?).

I wanted to make salt dough pendants. I found them on Pinterest and thought they were cute. The e Pin took me to Lady with the Red Rocker , and here are her salt dough pendants. Cute, right?

So off I ran to make my own. Here's what I ended up with:

Not exactly the same. Maybe I needed to roll my dough thinner? Maybe I needed silver spray paint? Maybe I should have read her directions more thoroughly? I liked doing this so it will get another try. Maybe the next batch will turn out more attractive.

The little hearts may be saved. They could be a small garland or gift tag attachments or something.

Anyway, just thought I'd share my failure because I know it's easy to get discouraged when you make things that don't turn out just right -- especially after looking at Pinterest where EVERYTHING seems so easy and beautiful.

That's all for now!

I haven't disappeared into the abyss...

So my crafting has been a bit chaotic lately. Lots of starts, few finishes. I really need to start focusing on just ONE type of craft. My crafting ADHD is getting completely out of hand. Lately, I've discovered a love for tie dying. Nothing fancy ... tie dye kit, socks, and towels from WalMart ... shirts from Goodwill. It's messy, but I love it.

Here are a few of the things I've made recently. These are all for sale in my Etsy store, Oddments and Endments :

Kitchen towel and dishcloth. Love the color combo.

Kitchen towel and 2 dishcloths. These were my very first attempts at tie dying.

Women's socks

 

Another pair of women's socks.

Toddler socks  -- the tie dying gave these socks new life. My daughter wore then when she was 1-2 years old.

 

Final pair of women's socks for now. Really do love this combo.

 While I've been tie dying, I've been neglecting all sorts of other crafts. I need to NOT START anything new for a while and actually finish up all my open projects... I think I need an intervention.