(Mis)Adventures in Crafting

I was a very confused child growing up. Half of the time I was one of the girliest girls ever. Other times I was a huge tomboy. One day I would want to play dress up, twirling like a princess in various clothes. The next day, I would want to hang out with Kal and roll around in dirt.

Where does this leave my crafting ability? Well, aside from girl scouts, which I quit in the 4th grade, I didn't show too much interest. My Mother is one of the best seamstresses I know. This woman can work miracles. Had I been more patient, I think there's lots she could have told me. At the time, I chose to go roll in the dirt. (Or was it twirl? I can't quite remember...)

Enter... the internet!!! The internet enables my crafting ability. Tons of people all over the world tediously post step by step instructions with pictures! Hooray! Don't get me wrong, there's definitely still somewhat of a learning curve, but I'm getting it! What's more, I plan to put it to good use.

Remember that flower post I made waaaay back in the wee early days of the blog? Remember how I was all torn between real and artificial? Well, I figured it out! Ima make me a whole mess of fabric flowers! They're pretty, cheaper, and I can make them in navy and copper, which is super challenging to do otherwise.

Earlier, I was all manner of ready to get my craft on. I had seen the tutorials, watched the youtube videos and was set. Why don't I post some pictures of progress... or lack there of, but pictures are always fun, right?? Right.

Below are some of my very first attempts. They include rolling some fabric around pipe cleaners, and then twisting. Let me tell you, that super skinny one where I was all OCD... is not the way to go. I had to throw that one away...

Eventually, pretty little rose-looking things can be made. In the top-right corner, you can see the bottle of fabric glue that helped to hold these puppies together. Except, here's the thing: it takes FOREVER to flipping dry!!!!! For-ev-errr. And, what's the best way to help these stay together while the glue dries? Apparently for me, that answer was binder clips...

I also found a tutorial on how to make these pretties from a pattern and candle, needle and thread. I only burned myself ONCE. Impressed? I sure was.

What happens if you're not paying attention whilst crafting all of this? See below! 

I glued them together.... Oops.

So now you're probably like, Larren, really, these are not misadventures at all! Oh, the best is yet to come. I decided to put the flowers that I had made on wooden dowels. This way, they stand up and look somewhat floral. So, for the boutonnieres, I needed to cut the wooden dowels... Would you believe I really don't have anything to cut wooden things with? It's very true. So, in all my finite wisdom, I decided to look in the toolkit I got for Christmas to see if there was a utility knife. There was, so I thought, perfect! I began cutting the wooden dowels.... I got impatient... I cut a gash in my thigh. It bled... a lot. Like a mini Mississippi. I was watching these little white specks flowing out wondering if they were platelets, then thinking they were probably just air bubbles. Well. Done. Me. Needless to say, there was some elevation and h2o2 applied, but good gracious. No more of that for me. Eugene's cutting the rest of the dowels...  So far they look ok, though. I really enjoy these!! And yes, a second later, Leo did in fact swat at things. Isn't he cute, though??