Bella Dia

Repurpose: empty food boxes + scissors = drawer organizers

We all need drawer organizers right? I'm magnetically drawn to any sort of organizer but I usually balk at spending money on something that is permanently hidden in a drawer just to organize the miscellaneous junk that has gathered there. Plus, I never know if they will fit my drawer or what configuration I would need. For an easier, less expensive, and good-for-the-planet solution look in your pantry instead!

You can measure and draw a line around your box or you can just freehand it like me. You can adjust the height according to what you'll be storing inside. The boxes can be used from any end, just use clear packing tape to close up any open side.

I also use empty dry goods boxes to wrap presents in even though it can be a little embarrassing when the recipient doesn't realize it and starts thanking you for Cheerios or graham crackers ;)

Nice and neat! Save the leftover cardboard and do this fun project with the kids - great for rainy and snowy days :)

I'm actually posting a music video...

Have you seen the new MacBook Air commercials? My daughter and I love the theme song - it's called New Soul by Yael Naim. So for my first time ever I'm posting a music video! *Am I hip or what?! ;)

P.S. Congratulations to Craig Ferguson for passing his U.S. citizenship test! I think he's so funny and love his monologues and overall goofiness :)

*Just so's you know - I am actually the furthest thing from hip when it comes to music and am completely dependent on my daughter to keep me in the current decade so posting a music video makes me feel pretty groovy, oops, I mean, cool, no, that's not it, um, awesome?

Simply Happy Pretty Things

"Look at the trees, look at the birds, look at the clouds, look at the stars... and if you have eyes you will be able to see that the whole existence is joyful. Everything is simply happy."

Sarah made a comment about my tag line - "simply happy pretty things" - and I realized that I had never really said where it came from. I came across this quote from Osho and I just loved it. It reminds me to take notice of and enjoy the little things, to find peace and joy in nature and to try and live simply. I hope you like it as much as I do!

Repurpose: Glass Jars + Crochet = Cool Containers Yarn Balls + Bamboo Skewers = Modern Flowers

The yarn ball flowers were a spur of the moment thought. Just poke the skewer into the yarn! You can always find second hand yarn at the thrift shop or use your own. They remind me of giant allium.

I love making these cozies for the glass jars I've saved. They are super quick and a good way to use up stash yarn. They can be coordinated to any room and I love the soundproofing that the cozy provides too. Here we've got a Pom glass, a pickle jar, and a pesto jar. The jars are removable so they, and the covering, can be washed.

Crochet notes: Begin by crocheting in the round to form the base. The base should be slightly smaller than the base of the jar. Once the base is the right size then stop increasing and continue crocheting until you've reached the height of the jar. Change colors when and where you want and add an edging to the top edge if you desire. The blue and green one doesn't have an edging, the other two do. I used single crochet but any stitch will work.

Repurpose

One of my new keywords this year is repurpose: taking an old or unused object and changing it so that it can be used in a new way. If you're a thrifter or a crafter this idea is probably already near and dear to your heart, as it is mine, but I wanted to make it more of a focus of my everyday life and not just something that happens every now and then. If you haven't seen The Story of Stuff gather the kids and watch this short video (20 minutes) on the stuff we all have, where it comes from, and how having less stuff is one way of making the world a better place. My kids loved the straightforward yet entertaining presentation and we all found it to be great motivation for being more green in 2008. I'm adding a new category to my blog for repurposing and I hope to have it full of ideas by the end of the year.

So, what does that have to do with Clementines on cake stands? Well, if you look closely, only one is a true cake stand - the other two have been repurposed. I got this great, no, brilliant idea from Betz White and decided to give it a try. You'll probably need to take a trip to your nearest thrift shop but take a look in your own cupboards first.

Find one pedestaled dish that can be turned upside down for the base and then find another dish for the platter part. I used clear caulking like Betz suggested (I got mine at Target) and it worked like a charm. Betz has a great step-by-step tutorial here so check it out and give it a try :)

Have you figured out which one is the real cake stand? It's the one in the middle!

Thrifting Fridays

Have you found one particular day of the week better than others for thrifting? I think I always find the best stuff on Fridays so that's when I try to schedule my thrift shop time. Maybe because they are preparing for the weekends and putting out more stock. Anyway, these are some of my favorites that I found in my last few Thriftshop Fridays.

These adorable little Chinese children figurines holding their favorite pets - I almost passed them up but my daughter liked them so in the cart they went and I'm so glad they did.

This is an old vase but doesn't have any markings on it. I haven't had time to research it but I love it no matter what. It's large, about 12" high.

And a little Swiss chalet music box - wind the water wheel and listen to Edelweiss. Aaack, I love it!

Can you help me?

I've been working on an FAQ for my blog for awhile now, actually forever. I have a list of questions that I am frequently asked that I'll be answering but I thought as long as I'm doing it maybe there's some other questions you'd like to see answers to. I can't say I'll answer anything but leave me a comment if there's something you'd like to know and I'll do my best :) Thanks for your help!

P.S. The embroidery above is just a bit of freeform redwork I did - I just can't make a post without a picture!

Crocheted Flower Garland

I have a couple of drawers next to my bed that were filled with skeins of yarn and little FO's that had gotten so stuffed that I could barely open them anymore. I dumped it all out and sorted and organized and found all these crocheted flowers that I had made way back when. I thought about connecting them together for a scarf but I would have needed a few more to complete it and I didn't feel like going down that road. Instead, I decided to connect them together in a garland.

I'm really pleased with the way it came out but for the life of me I couldn't get a good picture. I find garlands and their ilk the most difficult thing to photograph so you'll have to use your imagination a little when I assure you that it's very cute!

I used some bulky green yarn and single crochet and attached a flower about every 20 chains. If I make any more flowers then I can always go back and attach them to this garland if I want. I don't have any flower patterns for you but an internet search for crocheted flower patterns will give you enough to keep you busy for a long long time!

Folk Art Dishes

Recently, I found these dishes while thrifting. My research hasn't revealed much more than the information already on them: the maker is Gibson and the pattern is Adam and Eve. I'm two dishes shy of having four place settings so I'll be on the lookout for a salad plate and a dinner plate. Not a bad deal though, 14 pieces for $8.

I need more dishes like a hole in the head but I couldn't resist these sweet folksy designs. Just look at how cute that little house is!

And the deer! C'mon, tell me you couldn't resist them either ;)

A Parliament of Owls

I've really been enjoying this amigurumi owl pattern from Roman Sock. It's super easy and you'll have a small parliament of owls before you know it. I didn't have any plastic eyes so I substituted buttons. I'm thinking they will make great ornaments for the tree next year.