Homespun Chic

The "Duck and Cover" Technique......

2009-06-25T06:48:00.001-07:00

Wanna know why I've been MIA? Do ya? Huh?

Some of you may already know but for the rest of you......

I am officially 19 1/2 weeks pregnant with a little peanut of the male variety #4..... right up my alley ... I know how to "Duck and Cover" when changing a diaper :)

It's been a long hard 19 weeks and it's not over yet but I hope to get online more now that my mood has lightened and I am allowing myself to "feel" pregnant.

Thank you to all of you who prayed and kept your fingers, toes and everything else crossed..... only 20 more weeks to go.

My Newest Addiction

2009-05-09T17:41:00.001-07:00

My creation
Originally uploaded by kissmychic

1. tuxedo royale side shot bamboo, 2. turtle crossing center shot bamboo, 3. All That Glitters center tilt shot bamboo, 4. paper flower center shot floating bamboo nice

Just Monkeying Around.....

2009-03-04T21:32:00.001-08:00

I had so much fun creating these new little goodies....

I had to make more......

and more.....

and even some more.....

I am addicted. More are being made as I type .... well, not at the exact same time.. in between uploading pictures and such... I love multitasking, wish I had more hands :)

These little guys will be making their debut in my new shop tomorrow afternoon. So come take a peek... each of those little guys has a "purpose", his/her own special little job.. details are in the shop!

$6 worth of black......

2009-03-01T07:40:00.000-08:00

My house is by no means a show piece.... we homeschool.... we LIVE in our house... everyday..... all day.
In other words... we can spend an hour or two a week scrubbing, dusting, vacuuming, mopping... you name it and well.... you honestly would never know it. Really, our house still has that "lived in" look no matter how tidy it is.... I have completely given up on the whole show piece idea..... sort of.....

I seem to gravitate towards nicy nice things to decorate my home.... cheap nicey nice, but nicey nice all the same.

My kitchen counter has been the home to 5 terra cotta pots and one large basket for over 10 years. They are very useful to hold my kitchen utensils and bread. They have served their purpose and I have come to depend on them.

That being said, they have lost their 'pretty' side....take a look.

So after 5 years of using un-pretty terra cotta pots and a basket to hold my kitchen stuff I finally broke down and spent $6 to fix it all..... go big spender!

Not too shabby for two cans of shiny black spray paint.

Now... do you think they make a paint that can cover up that hideous green counter top.... it's technically vintage LOL!

Toad, the Kitty.....

2009-03-01T07:30:00.001-08:00

Well, a certain little guys' birthday is coming up and Halo has been invited to attend. We (Halo and I) thought long and hard about what critter to make ....

We came up with Toad... the Kitty.....

He's a wiry little fella, complete with whiskers and all.

He has a kiss, as do all my critters :) He also has a long kitty tail.

Toad is fashioned after their family kitties... Koshko and Koneko.... both are orange tabbies with, as I found out have yellow, not green eyes :)
I am still having a love hate relationship with these eyes, but in a quirky way, they work.

Having a Whale of a Time......

2009-03-01T07:19:00.001-08:00

Thanks to my dear, dear friend Michelle, I have been commissioned to make 35 whales for her daughter's (K) grade eight graduation. She wants K to give each of her classmates a little something to remember their elementary school years with. We tossed ideas off each other and finally decided to use K's favourite animal (well, mammal) the Killer Whale.
I will be making 30 mini whales into keychains for the kids to tote around all summer. There will also be 5 jumbo whales for the teachers, principal and of course the special girl herself :)

I think the prototype turned out uber cure :) But, alas, I am biased :)

Whatcha think Michelle?????

Talk about a Crafty Hiatus!

2009-01-29T11:22:00.001-08:00

Well, it HAS been a while hasn't it?

Some health issues had me in the dumps for a bit, but I am crawling my way back out. I have been keeping my hands busy making all sorts of cute critters custom ordered by my boys.

Halo wanted Sonic.... a certain blue hedgehog that he adores.

Ratchet wanted a Green Dragon.... looks more like a swamp monster to me but he loves it so I am happy.

Daxter wanted an Owl....

and a Bat

made this annoying frog for hubby's computer..... it's still sitting there staring at him intently :)

I can honestly say I do not KNOW how to crochet..... I cannot read a pattern for the life of me....
I have a general idea of how to increase and decrease stitches (which by the way, all of mine are slip stitches) so I just sort of wing it from there.

No two critters will ever be alike simply for the fact that I have no idea how I did it the first time!

I have started a new line of Critters in my shop called Kiss My Chic Critters.... cute little buggers I must admit..... Each one is unique and has it's own biography and adoption tag!

Check them out!

Look What Santa Sent!!!!

2008-12-01T17:16:00.000-08:00

Ratchet found it in our mailbox this afternoon..... it was wrapped in a beautiful dark red ribbon...... and inside was a letter from... Santa!

Apparently, the elves have figured out some new technology for Santa to be able to get into the homes that do not have chimneys..... it's a good thing too because Ratchet and Halo were beginning to wonder just how he did it!

What else could it be but a Magic Key?

I am not sure where the elves found it or how they made it, but it is a wonderful antique skeleton key. Hung by the same gorgeous red ribbon with an embroidered tag with the words "Santa's Key" magically engraved on it.

Ratchet was ecstatic and actually squealed at the sight of the key. The instructions were to hang the key on the inside of the front door and Santa's Magic would do the rest.

We've followed the instructions to a tee in hopes that Santa soon will be here.

Scented Treasures

2008-12-01T08:35:00.000-08:00

Every year I make these lovely little scented ornaments...... a different shape each year to add to my collection and to give away as gifts.

I made my first set over 10 years ago and they still smell as fresh as they did the day I made them.

I love the whimsy they create in the room.

I love the scent they hint at as you walk by.

I add them to wreaths, garland and even my tree for fresh holiday scents and a bit of rustic charm.

Something sweet, somewhat simple and natural.....

Fabulous Flowers

2008-11-27T18:31:00.000-08:00

I have never really been a jewelery gal. Recently, however, I have been feeling a bit frumpy and have been looking for ways to spice up my wardrobe..... something to help me "stick out" in a room. Something other than my loud mouth that is.

Here is what I came up with with some help from some blog hopping.

Fabulous Flower Brooches

Some leftover fabric from the nursery I designed when my youngest was born. Some old buttons and a lot of cutting and sewing and voila!

This is my fave.....

I am making some more funky coloured ones now.... but I really do love the antiqued, gothy kind of feel with the beige and black toile... it's a Waverly Print called Tiny Toile. I loved it in my son's nursery and I am so glad I get to upcycle the leftovers..... they make me smile when I look at them.

Gifts and Such

2008-11-24T10:27:00.000-08:00

I always get bit by the crafting bug around the holidays.....

Now that my children are older and it is actually safe to bring out a glue gun I find myself crafting more and more.
I like to make things for my home and also to give away as gifts. I love giving handmade gifts.... I am trying to eliminate the big box retail aspect of Christmas entirely.

In the past, I have even sold some of my creations and I plan to do so again on Etsy.
I like finding ideas on the internet and then expanding them, changing them or using them as a springboard for new ideas to make them my own.

Here are just a few of the items that I have been making over the last few weeks.

Classic Acorns

I absolutely love these! They are fun to make and keep my hands busy while watching a movie or futsal practice.
I make these using left over yarn from other projects and the acorn tops are courtesy of Mother Nature. Each acorn is custom made to fit it's acorn cap so there are definitely no two alike!
Some of them have scented centers... cinnamon, cloves and ginger for the winter season makes the home smell warm, cozy and inviting!
If you are sensitive to smells, the unscented ones are just as cozy to look at on a nice display or scattered about your home.
I added some to my entry garland using a hot glue gun...... I love the hint of cinnamon as I walk by.

These are the colors I have available right now..... trying to use up all of my leftover yarn... will have new color schemes when I start some new projects.

Another of my new addictions are these sweet little mini pies.....

How cute do they look displayed on this Espresso Saucer?

There's ....

Mixed Berry

Chocolate Creme

Pumpkin

Key Lime

Bumbleberry

and last but not least.....

Cherry

Don't they look yummy?

These would be great for Barbie to add to her kitchen. Add a magnet to the back and use them on your fridge or white board.

I hope to have these all up on Etsy soon.... if you cannot wait until then, please leave me a comment with your email and I will contact you.

Coming Soon!

2008-11-07T15:11:00.001-08:00