Making Me Happy This Week

I am always looking for ways to maximize space in our apartment. Every little bit helps me feel more content with our decision to delay buying a house. For the most part, I am content-then comes laundry day.

We are fortunate to have a laundry room on our floor. Still, I dream of the day when I have my own washing machine. It's not the cost so much as the coin. It's a hassle to come up with six quarters for a wash and another four for the dryer.

I have a very good drying rack that works well for large loads, but it takes up a lot of space to set up.

For small loads or hand washed items, I installed a Grundtal towel holder over my shower. It's a quick, out of the way spot to hang hand-washed fabric or a wet swim suit. This bathroom has a southern exposure and gets very warm. Things dry pretty quickly in there.

I love finding an easy, affordable solution to sniggly problems.

A Brush With Kindness

I have a not so secret desire to be a carpenter like Amy Wynn Pastor from Trading Spaces. So, I was super thrilled that I was able to go with my awesome church on this month's Habitat for Humanity work project.

I imagined myself learning how to drywall and using power saws.

That didn't happen, but the storage POD did remind me of Trading Spaces.

We were working with the A Brush With Kindness Program. A Brush With Kindness helps low income homeowners maintain the value of their property by providing painting and minor exterior repairs.

Lead by two amazing Ameri Corps volunteers we spent the day in LA painting the home of Ms. Rose. Like many seniors, she lives on 80% less than the median income for LA and qualified for the program.

See that big bush? I spent the better part of the day getting cozy with that bush and all the spider friends who lived there. I chose this assignment because it was a cold day and it looked like a warm spot.

I am now also skilled at painting window
trim and the decorative security bars.

A Brush With Kindness Program is available in many cities. Maybe you have a friend or neighbor in need? I know the LA organization is currently accepting applications. I am going to let our community rep at school know about it. It would be so great to see this kind of improvement going around school.

It felt great to get out and spend a day doing home repairs. It also felt great to come home to my apartment with it's crew of handymen who take care of things for us!

She Likes It!

Here's another project just waiting to be shared.

I just so happened to be the fifth commenter on Rebecca's "1st Craft Challenge" post thus winning a chance to participate in her very first crafty challenge.

I had no idea what I would do, but figured why not!

A few Saturdays ago, I spent the day wandering around Michael Levine's $2 a pound Loft. I snagged a small scrap of dreamy pink satin. Not cheap prom dress satin, but thick decorators satin. Instantly I thought of Rebecca's challenge.

I began reading Thrifty Goodness while Rebecca was planning her Neapolitan colored wedding. The Pink and Brown Swap was the first swap I ever participated in. So, every time I see something pink and brown I think of her!



Naturally, the frame is thrifted. I used spray paint for the first time in many, many years. (I have a lot of room for improvement there.) The back is brown flannel.

This was a delightful little challenge! Thanks Rebecca!

The Winning Hand Swap

Yeah! I can finally share what I have been up to for the last couple of weeks!

This little Queen of Hearts was my main inspiration for the Sweet Goodness Swaps "Winning Hand" swap.


And, this little gal inspired...



a gaggle of girlfriends! Most of their dresses were designs from vintage playing cards. Bob Fossy meets Black Apple Doll.

I noticed that my partner, Em of 10,00o Beads had repurposed found objects in some of her creations, so I didn't think she would mind some odds and ends. I thrifted the beads and tossed in all sorts of lonely earrings and charms for her to create with.



I had seen these candy boxes reused on several blogs and it all fit just right. I also managed to find a tiny clubs shaped pan and some Dutch Chocolate "Casino Coins" to round out the package. I think this may just be my favorite swap challenge yet!

Stress Relief

Cliff and I have started a new tradition- Sunday hikes. Things in the Crayon Box have been ugly. Too ugly to write about in a public forum. Sewing isn't enough to drown out the rumors and confusion. Layoffs are coming and they will be massive. As of now, I think I am safe, but I am not certain.

Up here clean breezes blow. Wild flowers and green grass abound. What city? What recession?

Hello March

To be honest, March is not my favorite month. It's long and nowadays it's spoiled by the pressures of State Testing. Bring on the sewing therapy!

Two weeks ago I helped my friend Nicole go on an IKEA shopping spree to redecorate her apartment. Decorating? IKEA? Nicole's charge card? Count me in!

Anyway, in the market place section they had bundles of sticks. They look fantastic tucked in vases around her apartment. Lucky for me there were extras. So it was that Cliff discovered a sizable bundle of five foot sticks in my car on Sunday.

"I suppose your going to "make something"? Poor Cliff. It's a loosing battle. I like stuff! Especially stuff with potential to be made into other stuff. I was thrilled to get the sticks. I can't just go out into the back yard to get a stick whenever I want you know!

I am hoping those cheery green circles and some sticks will become some sort of spring mobile. I am not sure if I am going to paint the sticks or leave them natural.

Any thoughts?

Do You See What I See?

I see another play kitchen. Perhaps made to sell. I found this on the curb on Sunday.