Hurricane and Painting

Howdy from Hurricane Sandy! Survived the storm with just a leaky roof. Not much text for you today, but here are some photos I took of a painting my grandmother painted! I really like it. Some with flash and some without to show color/texture variations. Makes me want to do a work on canvas...

--Lael

 

Quick Halloween Costume Ideas!

Are you all ready for Halloween? Have a pumpkin? Spooky decorations? A few spider rings? A giant bubbling cauldron? A few parties to attend? How about a costume?

You don't have one yet? Well, no fear, here are a few fast and cute homemade Halloween costume ideas for you to try!

I'll list the supplies and leave the rest to your imagination! They are pretty self explanatory!

Autumn Leaves Costume

• Brown Hooded Sweatshirt 
• Silk Leaves
• Safety Pins

Basket Full Of Laundry Costume

• Old Laundry Basket
• Clothesline (or any rope)
• Clothes
• Clothespins and/or Safety Pins

Gold Digger
How to: Gather all the gold jewelry you own—rings, necklaces, bracelets, earrings—and put it on; the more outlandish, the better. Stick to gold or metallic clothing and shoes, and give your hair a golden spritz. To complete this look, head to the garage and borrow a (lightweight) shovel to carry around with you all night.

How to: Gather all the gold jewelry you own—rings, necklaces, bracelets, earrings—and put it on; the more outlandish, the better. Stick to gold or metallic clothing and shoes, and give your hair a golden spritz. To complete this look, head to the garage and borrow a (lightweight) shovel to carry around with you all night.

Time Flies
How to: Loop a long piece of string or rope (something sturdy enough to hold the object’s weight) through the back of the clock. Wear it like a necklace around your neck and attach a pair of costume wings to your back.

How to: Loop a long piece of string or rope (something sturdy enough to hold the object’s weight) through the back of the clock. Wear it like a necklace around your neck and attach a pair of costume wings to your back.

Self-Portrait
How to: Use a frame that’s large enough to showcase you, the painting, from the bust up. For a classical look, tie your hair back into a low ponytail or bun and wear ruffles or a cameo around your neck. Sign your name on a mailing label or plain white sticker and adhere to the top left corner of your shirt, so it peeks out from the bottom of the frame and looks like the artist’s “signature.”

How to: Use a frame that’s large enough to showcase you, the painting, from the bust up. For a classical look, tie your hair back into a low ponytail or bun and wear ruffles or a cameo around your neck. Sign your name on a mailing label or plain white sticker and adhere to the top left corner of your shirt, so it peeks out from the bottom of the frame and looks like the artist’s “signature.”

Iron Chef
How to: Buy a white chef’s hat and tie an apron around your waist. If the apron has pockets, tuck a ladle, spatula, and pasta server inside. Carry a clothing iron around with you all night long.

How to: Buy a white chef’s hat and tie an apron around your waist. If the apron has pockets, tuck a ladle, spatula, and pasta server inside. Carry a clothing iron around with you all night long.

Here are some more fun ideas:

• Wrap yourself in a roll of orange felt. Cut armholes and put an orange ski cap on your head. Go as a carrot stick.

• Safety-pin a bunch of cheap watches and costume jewelry on the inside of your coat. Go as a con man.

• Get a large box and paint it white, green or tan. Make a hole at the top for your head and armholes. Glue on some magnets and some post-it notes with shopping lists and phone numbers. Go as a refrigerator.

• Get a roll of orange yarn and a few bags of roasted pumpkin seeds. Glue them all over a cheap orange sweat suit. Go as pumpkin guts.

• Throw a white sheet over your head, and cut a hole for your head to come through. Wear a yellow hat and paint your face yellow with make up. Go as a fried egg.

• Dress like a mailman. Get a stuffed dog and sew it's mouth to your pant leg.

• Get a box and paint it white. Make holes for your head and arms. Paint or draw black spots on it and go as a die. If you have a partner, make two and go as a pair of dice.

Check out these websites for some more ideas:

Coolest Homemade Costumes

Martha Stewart Homemade Halloween

29 Homemade Halloween Costumes

Have a fun and safe halloween!

Weeknight Beading Project

Howdy, Jewelry Lovers! Remember this bead below from an earlier post? I went on about how you can make a quick necklace with one large bead, string, and a clasp.

Although I liked this necklace, the bead turned out to be too heavy for the thin string, so when I went back to Bedazzled, I bought some more beads to make a fuller  necklace and transformed it into this.

Here are the supplies I used: small pliers for beading, scissors, Bedazzled Tortoise Mix Matte Czech 6 seed beads, assorted Bedazzled specialty beads, Bedazzled antique copper lobster clasps with split rings, Bedazzled Natural antique copper clamshell bead tips, Silk No. 10 by Griffin, and a coaster!

I like this string, especially for a quick project or for someone who doesn't bead often and is low on funds/supplies. This string comes with a beading needle for the use of the string. Normally, I don't use bead tips, but after my last collapse (and running down a hallway after my large bead), I decided to use them this time. First, I tied a knot on the end of the string without the needle.

Next, I put the knot inside the bead tip and used the pliers to close it tightly. I then attached the lobster claw to the other side of the bead tip and used my pliers again.

I liked most of the seed beads in this mix, but did not want to use the dark purples, so I separated those and set the ones I wanted to use on the coaster. The coaster helped separate, but also made it easier to string the beads. Good enough until I have more beading supplies!

I think it is probably best practice to set out your beads first, but I decided the basic layout mentally, and felt that the end product would have a more fun and relaxed vibe if the seed bead colors were random rather than in a set order. I started with 20 seed beads. Then one of my smaller specialty beads (I started with 6 of those). Then 10 seed beads. Then another specialty bead and so on.

I placed the large specialty bead in the center of the necklace and repeated my pattern all the way around. At the end, I cut the string, made another knot, attached another bead tip, and finally attached the ring for the lobster claw.

My end result is a bit jazzier than my original single bead vision, but still quick, easy, and fun to make! It's always nice to have done something productive after 9pm on a weeknight!

Until next time,
Lael

PS. Here's another necklace I made after I wrote this post! The lighting was bad, but you get the idea!

Uhoh, I forgot one!

How could I forget? Well, I didn't keep up with the news myself! The Sam & Fuzzy collection, Sam & Fuzzy Under the Influence is now for sale! Written by Sam Logan, this web comic is my favorite out there right now--just don't stay up until 4am on a week night reading the archives as I have been known to do! Sam and Fuzzy books are available as bundle packs and with cool added bonuses! The book club option is especially cool!

Happy Friday,
Lael

Two Really Cool New Books If You Like Comics

This week, I'd like to share two really cool books that have been published recently. As much as I love web comics, it is still super awesome to be able to read through a book of comics in your hands. Such a different experience. In a talk at the 2011 Small Press Expo (SPX), Craig Thompson, the author of Habibi and Blankets noted that he was opposed to having his recent opus printed as an e-book. For more info on the demise of the book check out this blog post from the Milton S. Eisenhower Library and this blog about e-books. Anyway, before I get into a rant about that....

Julia Wertz's new book The Infinite Wait has been out since late September, and I can't wait to read it. If you order directly from her, which she prefers, you can order the deluxe package and will get some really cool stuff.

The Oatmeal's new book How to tell if your cat is plotting to kill you is now available for purchase. If you're in the Boston, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Atlanta, or Chicago area this week, you can see the Oatmeal in person during his book tour. In Baltimore, he'll be at the Charles Village Barnes and Noble at 7 pm on Thursday.

See you next week,
Lael

PS. Of course, I am always willing to plug my own comic, as well.

Need Inspiration?!

In search of a little inspiration? 

Sometimes I find myself in a creative rut OR alternatively, I have lots of creative energy (and not a lot of time to create something) so I find it fun to spend a few minutes in cyberworld gaining inspiration. We all know that there are a lot of sites out there designed to give inspiration or ideas. The first that comes to my mind is Pinterest. But this post is going to showcase two other sites that can be inspirational tools as well.

1. Stumble Upon
I enjoy SU when I've got a few moments to fill -- but not enough time to really DO anything. The basis of SU is that you tell it what your interests are, whether photographs, architecture, history, food etc. and it brings up completely random webpages showcasing that interest. To be honest it is a fun way to find things that you might never come across otherwise. Much like Pandora, you can tailor the site to your interests and likes.

Here is a neat photograph of a bus that I stumbled upon while looking at architecture:

2. Tumblr
Tumblr is great if you enjoy blogging -- because in many ways it is another blogging platform. BUT in general, I find that posts are shorter and more visual. Much like facebook, you can connect and follow people that you know. But it is much more acceptable to follow folks that post on things you like (even if you don't know them) ! Below is a funny post that I came across in preparation for this blog. It shows the Monsters University webpage designed by Pixar. If you are looking for a laugh, check it out...

On a more serious note, many academic institutions, designers, shops and artists, etc. have tumblr pages that can be used to find inspiration or information on things YOU are interested in! This guy keeps a collection of architectural drawings that alway interest me...

Check out Stumble Upon and Tumblr. Both legit, fun and can be utilized on many different levels. I always find myself learning something new and feeling a bit inspired...

Enjoy.

Easy Pumpkin Cupcake Recipe & Decorating Tips

Cupcakes seem to the the craze these days. There are cupcake shops popping up everywhere. There are also lots of fun accessories for people to create their own themes. Everything from baby showers, weddings, seasons, teams, holidays, etc. Below are some neat ideas in order to keep up with the current trend. It's a fun and individual treat. They are truly irresistible.

 

I unfortunately do not have the skills to do all this fancy decorating but there are other creative ways to do it including using picks and unique paper cups.

There are also ton of etsy shoppes that sell cupcake picks for decorating purposes.

Etsy Search for Cupcake Picks

Pumpkin Cupcakes

Ingredients:

• 1 spice cake mix (2 layer size)
• 1 (15 ounce) can of pumpkin
• 3 eggs 
• 1/3 cup vegetable oil
• 1/3 cup water

Directions:

Combine all ingredients in large mixing bowl.

Beat mix for 2 minutes.

Pour batter into 24 lined muffin cups.

Bake at 350° for 20 minutes, or until pick comes out clean.

Cool in pans 20 minutes.

Drinking Autumn...

In honor of someone special who is no longer with us, but whose favorite month was October and who would certainly appreciate and encourage a good cocktail, I present some fall cocktails from around the web for a quick post this week. 

Check out the Pumpkin Pie Spice Martini from Food Network. 

Some friends and I had something similar last year at Rocket to Venus (and took the picture above)! 

One of the best reasons to read Cosmo? The cocktail ideas! Here are eleven ideas. I really want to try the Camarena Candy Corn Cordial! 

The Normandy on yumsugar sounds delightful. And what about Hungry Couple's Apple Pie Martini?

A toast to you and to autumn and/or cocktail lovers everywhere!

--Lael 

Instagramming Fool.

Short post today. But a very valuable one indeed!

First, a confession: I'm an instagramming fool.

It's a fun way to capture little moments of the day. Plus it is so quick and easy too.

Recently, I wanted to print some of my instagram photographs out and ventured on some cool places that offer printing services! Snapstagram (thanks Casey for telling me about this one), Printstagram, and mpix.

Not only can you get prints, you can also make other neat things like stickers, posters and even t-shirts. This sounds like fun! Check it out and enjoy :)

A Gorgeous Wedding

The weekend before last, I went to a lovely wedding of two very close friends. I wanted to share some photos of the venue which was gorgeous. There's a reason the Elm's website calls the venue "a charming place for a party." Do check out the images on the site! A nice place for an intimate wedding. My "plus one" took the pictures below, which, I hope, give you a sense of what it was like to be there at night for a wedding. Unfortunately, I don't have any info on the art yet!

Unfortunately, there was quite a glare on this image, but I think it's pretty representative of the vintage pieces at the Elm. 

I absolutely love this piece. I'll have to find out more about this work.

I actually really like that the lamp obscures the bottom of this image. The lamp is a nice piece itself, and it sort of gives you a sense of the space and makes you feel like you're in a time past.

Until next week!

--Lael

Easy Instagram Wall Art

Here's an easy DIY wall art idea for making use of your favorite instagram photos!

What you will need:

•  4" x 4" canvas
• Color prints (on regular copier paper) of your favorite instagram photos (4" x 4"  each)
• Scissors
• Modge Podge (I used the matte finish)
• Paint brush

Start by cutting out your 4" x 4" printouts of your instagram photos. Next, apply a thin layer of Modge Podge onto your canvas, place the photo onto the canvas, and paint another thin layer of Modge Podge on top of the photo. You want to keep your layers thin to avoid warping the paper or creating bubbles. Once thoroughly dry, hang 'em on your wall!

Have fun, and check out some other easy DIY's over at mixedmethod or follow me on instagram @kimberlymelissa! :)