Yoga Pants Might Help with Fitness Motivation

I love yoga pants. I live the way they move and fit and how very comfy cozy they are. My problem is that they can be pretty pricey. It seems everything tagged with healthy automatically gets extra dollars tacked on. Corrine at Threadbanger offered up this great tutorial using old yoga pants for a template to make new ones. It's quick, simple but such a useful project. I'm thinking of how I can recycle some old clothes to make these without having to buy any material. As always, please let me know if you make them and send me a picture of the project when completed.
Enjoy

Kitty Pryde is Coming Back to Me

At this very moment I am experiencing the biggest comic book-induced orgasm ever because my Kitty Pryde is coming back. As many of my beloved friends and family know, I broke up with Marvel a while back. After the whole Spiderman fiasco...again, and then Kitty Pryde being sent off in the phallic tomb, well I couldn't go on anymore. I was living a lie. I knew I didn't love the writing or even the art at Marvel anymore. It left me cold and unsatisfied. So, I left Marvel and swore to never purchase from them again.

Now, I hear they are bringing my girl back. Kitty Pryde is coming home and I am loosing my mind with excitement. "But how," you may be asking, "How will you read the upcoming issues without breaking your vow?" My lovely friend still has a subscription. Yes, I will read and relish her comeback without feeding one dime into the greedy talons of Marvel Comics.

Test your true geekdom by watching this fan-made Kitty revival. Geeky? Yes, yes it is and I don't care.

Inspiration from the Sea

Jesse-Blue on Craftster offers up a gorgeous ocean-themed book, although it seems belittling to call this a book. It is an explosion of maritime fun with lots of beautiful textures and levels of interest that are sure to please children and adults alike. I love the use of a tiny drawer to fill with little treasures.

 Isazappy shows a few matchbox drawer examples that I've been drawn to. Along with the inspiration from Jees-Blue I might have some crafting to do.

 

cc photo courtesy of  Isazappy on Flickr

The Sewing Republic Apron Remake Challenge

Here are all the details.

Also, a video is available to help you out.


Let me know if you are entering so I can link to your finished aprons. Hopefully I'll post mine by this weekend.

My name is Vivian Nelson Melle, and I loved the Great Gatsby. Maybe it was my cynicism with greed and the yuppie revolution that helped me embrace Fitzgerald's treasure of the Gay Twenties gluttony. Maybe it was wonderful how Fitzgerald was able to take someone as innocent as Daisy and show her for the truly evil temptress she was. As a young woman, I yearned for someone to do the same with "those types" in high school. At least I knew that Fitz got it.

American Book Review has come up with a list of 40 of the worst books and Gatsby is on it. Now, I take this lightly because I rarely agree with these types of lists. I find many college/university professors to be like some Yelpers (the group of followers on the review site, Yelp, who rate and review local restaurants, events and venues). They complain about the strangest things and perseverate on the most absurd details.

Maybe I am just such a teacher at heart who is thrilled with anyone reading anything. Fahrenheit 451 scared the hell out of me so any reader makes my heart happy. I am also the special educator who got non-readers to read through graphic novels, so I am of the mind that traditional books are not the only medium for enjoying good literature.

In the end, yes, it is simply a bogus list of 40 books that a group decided were crap. However, in this day and age with illiteracy among our children running fearfully high, shouldn't we empower readers and open the literary world instead of closing it off?

I'm reading How I became a Famous Novelist and I find myself feeling for the narrator, but also rolling my eyes at some of the jabs at money-making mediocre writers. On this type of thinking, I have learned much from my cousin who, as a young artist, would bash a famous painter whose galleries were found around the world. Now, he embraces any artist who finds a way to make a living doing what they love. It makes life a lot brighter for him and he's a pretty enlightened soul in most areas of his life because of this belief.

Sometimes we need to shy away from being the jealous downer and instead do what we can to raise our profession to its highest levels. Remember, after someone reads the DaVinci Code, they will probably be looking for a new book. I truly hope it is yours.



the Great Gatsby



Fahrenheit 451



How I Became a Famous Novelist

Paper Crafts for All My Friends

I'm on paper craft overload and I'm taking you all with me. My daughter and I are going insane with all these projects and don't know where to start. We've already come up with a list of gift giving ideas based on these great downloads.

Flower Paper crafts

Craft Cards - the chocolate box is so realistic.

Photo boxes

Science crafts - the earthquake model is great

Architecture - these are great for social studies lessons

Pop-up ABC book - this just oozes with potential

A whole paper town

Paper crafts toys - the Matryoshka dolls and fractional cake are adorable.

Craft Calendar - this is so much fun.

Photo Cubes - Again,  these are overflowing with potential for other themes.

Kawaii Overload

I happened to find a few sites today that are true little gems in my crafty kawaii treasure chest. Very inspiring and sent both my daughter and I into gitty little giggles. This is a great way to craft using leftover paper. My dad works in the printing biz, so he brings home all the paper destined for the recycle bin. With crafts like this, the paper gets a new life and more room is left in the recycle bin. I will be visiting these sites quite frequently, so I'll definitely keep you updated.

Enjoy

Paper Glitter

Simply Nabiki -This one thrills me to no end because I relate to Ilenia. She bakes, crafts and just explodes with creativity.

Paper Modelz Paper Sushi - You'll find that a lot of kawaii sites and downloads are in Japanese, but it's pretty easy to figure out how to download the PDFs and the tutorials are self-explanatory.

Kiren Bento Boxes - Complete paper bento boxes

Kiren Paper Veggies - Very beautiful paper vegetables. I plan on making some fun decorations for the kitchen.

Kiren Paper Desserts - Very cute and yummy