A Peek Into My Favorites: Caramels

      

Every once and a while I go Etsy window shopping. Okay - maybe a bit more than once and a while. When I check back in with my favorites I can find obvious themes. Like this day when I apparently took care of my sweet-tooth by drooling at the computer. I suppose that is the low calorie option. One day, when I have self control and can let myself enjoy a single piece, I'm hitting up these shops.

A Blogging Commitment

This week I started writing what is meant to be a weekly feature, every Monday, for the Etsy West Michigan team blog.  In case you didn''t know or couldn't piece it together, that's my local team.  Now - I do realize that I'm not exactly what you can call a habitual blogger.  Or an occasional blogger.  I'm that person who kind of shows up randomly, writes some stuff, throws in a couple pictures, and calls it a blog post.  However, knowing that I have people depending on me, I am confident that I'll do well keeping up with my weekly contribution. With this new blogging habit I'm trying to work up, that means I'll be posting here more often!  Yes, Sally, it's true! My tentative plan is every Tuesday and Thursday so stay tuned.

My First Kanzashi Flower

Here it is! My first kanzashi flower! It may look dainty but its about 4-1/2" across. This is the pointed petal design. I actually wanted the opposite side to be the top, but it didn't sit flat that way. It still worked out great though. Sewing all the petals onto the string is the easy part, but it took some patience and finagalling (yes, that is a technical term) to form the petals into a circle. I returned the book yesterday so let's hope all the information sticks with me.

A New Craft: Kanzashi

A little while back, in January, I got this book from the library about kanzashi. In the simplest of definitions, kanzashi is the art of fabric folding, generally into flowers. I eyed the book for the longest time online, but all the copies in the library network were constantly out, overdue, or on hold. Finally, I got a copy.

First thing I did was flip through all the pages and immediately was so excited about all the little projects and things I could make. Then it sat untouched until the due date came around. I renewed the book to give myself "a little more time" and the due date is back again! I decided that I need to get the basics down before returning it to the library. Last night I sat in bed with my 4" squares and tackled the round petal. This morning I learned the pointed petal. Later today I hope to get the pleated petal mastered. That seems to be the toughest one. Thus far, kanzashi is something I really enjoy and I'm excited to complete my first flowers!

Sunshine!

Let's all take a moment to overlook the fact that this is the first blog post for 2010. What? It's February you say? Well, better late than never.  I've decided to use the same excuse my friend and I came up with yesterday for not exercising, being homebodies, and eating too much dessert.  It's winter.  It's cold, grey, and gets dark by 5. Ok, maybe 6.  All this so I can tell you I needed a little sunshine.

Which is why I was so tickled (yes, I said tickled) to see that my friend, Sally, from nightowlcraftworks has passed along the Sunshine Award to me!  Thank you, Sally.  Now part of the joy of the Sunshine Award is to spread the love.  Here are just a few blogs that I follow and would like to pass this award on to.

http://jennadesigns.blogspot.com/
http://shadysidefarm.blogspot.com/
http://tealandgold.blogspot.com/

So there you go. Now once you have been notified of receiving the award, you need to complete the following:


Please pass this award on to your favorite bloggers! Here are the Rules:
1. Put the logo on your blog or within your post
2. Pass the award on to other bloggers
3. Link the nominees within your post
4. Let the nominees know they have received this award by commenting on their blog
5. Share the love and link to the person from whom you received this award