Everyone needs one.

I've hardly done crafty stuff lately because my life got turned upside down and then shaken.

But I'm pretty proud of this.

halloweenies!

So I was supposed to be a mermaid. The night before Halloween, that
costume went all wrong and I couldn't fix it.

So this was Plan B.

 

I serged some red fabric and cut open the outer layer of the dress. I didn't have time to stuff my intestines. That would have to come later once I got around candy.

All in all, a fun night, but I will be happy to be out of school next year so
that I can concentrate on an awesome costume.

Andy Kaufman.

 

I found myself completely unable to trace his face in an appropriate (read: not deformed) manner, but this is why I made use of my insanely talented friend Jace. 

So Jace did the tracing, and I did the embroidery. Took about 2 1/2 hours, and it covers a little over 5x6 area. Jace and I think it looks a bit like a presidential portrait. I blame the part in his hair and the turtleneck. :P

I never posted the Weasley dress!

 

I made this from the burda pattern "maryy" for the premiere of the latest film. I actually wore it both times I went to see it.

I went with Gryffindor colors and the best family ever.

Plus, I have the biggest crush on Ron. <3

Meet Max.

 

 

Our newest addition!

He's around two months old and perhaps the cutest thing ever. Well, unless you ask the other cats... I don't think they'd agree quite yet!

I actually got him from work - he had been separated from his family and a couple of boys helped catch him and were trying to find him a home. I have no willpower when it comes to kittens, so of course I said yes!

Our next adventure will be going to the vet. 

Where the Wild Things Are hat!

I just realized I forgot to post about this here!

I've posted it on Burdastyle, Craftster, and as always, on instructables!

The PDF pattern and how-to are on instructables!

Felt wallet prototype.

I've never sewn a wallet before.
I'm not crazy about machine sewing felt.
The lower card pockets need to be taller, and the upper ones, shorter.
The tops of the pockets need to be reinforced.

But I do heart moustaches.
I got that part right!

Next time I'll fix the rest.

A purse to lose sleep over.

Which is exactly what I did.

But it's gorgeous, and worth it. I don't even care that I was so tired I sewed the lining and outside together inside out the first time and had to seam rip the entire top of the bag and realign the handles.

I'm also very proud of the pleats - twas my first time!

It's made from a pattern in Bend the Rules Sewing, which is an excellent book. I made the inside pocket far too big, though, because of a typo. But I'll know for next time! This time, I think I'm going to handsew pleats into the pocket as well!

Shhh.

The Didi monster is sleeping. ^_^

Maybe this will make me do more?

I sat around last night and drew some letters that I then cut out of cardboard.

Good stress release after a poopy day. I decided to leave them as-is, but I hung them up with scotch tape in case I want to decorate them later. ^_^

This morning, I woke up pretty.

Thought I should document this. It's happening more often and it makes me happy.

No makeup, no washing my hair or messing with it, just a quick shower and I'm done.

I've never been one to spend an hour or two getting ready, but spending no time getting ready to be seen by other people is preferable.

Back on track.

$24.98 of snacky mix stuff from Pauls:
dried kiwi
dried strawberries
dried apricots
banana slices
corn nuts
raw pecans
raw almonds

10 individual bags, to take with me wherever I go. 2-3 servings a piece.
I think this will serve me well for about a month. ^_^

TAKE THAT, FRY CRAVINGS!

Hanging cardboard jewelry frames!

I am really proud of these. They didn't take long at all and they hold everything I need them to.

I also like that they're super functional - I can simply lift the inner flap so that I can get the backs of earrings. A lot less fussing this way.

Full instructions at:
http://www.instructables.com/id/Hanging-cardboard-jewelry-frame/

Nicolas Cage pillow. BAM!

Finally got around to finishing it.
Pretty fantastic, I'd say.

The start of a new project!

Over 30 cardboard boxes - all from one shipment at work - just waiting to be made into something beautiful.

Finished book headboard.

Please vote for it in the Greenwala Choose to Reuse Contest!

Clicky, clicky. Multiple times a week.

Nicolas Cage embroidery... soon to be a pillow.

Bam.

Work in progress shots here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jessyratfink/sets/72157621829078082/

First dress!

I found a pattern on burdastyle called maryy and printed it out immediately. And, two days later, here we are!

Full set of pictures here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jessyratfink/sets/72157621221505391/

Headboard is finally done!

Right now it's in the basement drying from the polyurethane coating I put on it earlier. I'll be hanging it tomorrow. It took me forever to actually sit down and do it... I've had all the pieces forever!

This is going to look so good!

Pulled beef with a spicy sauce!

Today I made pulled beef because my grandmother sent me $40 in Walmart giftcards so I went shopping for Bad Movie Night food and bought some other groceries as well!

I bought a small rump roast and decided to cook it in the slow cooker. I started it around 11 today and we're just now eating. It's delicious!

Here's the recipe in case anyone is interested! (Sorry they're not exact amounts, I just make this stuff up as I go!)

Spicy Pulled Beef

Ingredients:
1 rump roast small enough to fit in your slow cooker
1 large onion
2 jalapenos
1 14 oz. can diced tomatoes
8 cloves of garlic
allspice, cumin, paprika, salt and pepper
a couple tablespoons of tomato paste
dash of white vinegar
canola oil for browning
1 lime

You'll also need a crockpot, a pan for browning the meat, and a saucepan, strainer and a blender if'n you want to make a fancy sauce.

Prep work.
Slice the onion into thick rings and set aside. Dice the jalapenos, taking out most of the membrane and seeds. Smash the garlic to take the skins off, and then mince them. Open the can of tomatoes. Roll the lime and cut it in half.

Liberally rub the roast with the salt, pepper, allspice, cumin and paprika. Make sure it's evenly coated. It should look like it has a second skin.


Cooking.
Heat a small amount of canola/olive oil in your pan. Wait until the oil shimmers and begin to brown the roast. Brown it on all sides until it has a nice crust. Transfer it to the slow cooker to rest.

Now, dump in your veggies and saute them for a few minutes until they begin to soften a bit. (Watch out for the fumes here. Those peppers are dangerous!) Juice the lime into the veggies, and then dump the diced tomatoes, juice and all into the pot.

Bring this to a simmer and then pour it over the meat in the slow cooker. Turn the slow cooker to low and cook for 8 hours, turning once after 4 hours.

Finishing up!
Once the eight hours have passed, set the meat on a plate and let rest. Strain the liquid from the crockpot into a saucepan, making sure to catch all the solids in the strainer. Add the solids and a bit of liquid to the blender and process until smooth. Make sure to hold a paper towel over the top of the blender while doing this - hot liquid always wants to shoot right out of the blender!

Dump the contents back into the saucepan and taste. I added some oregano, and a bit of coriander at this point, as well as some tomato paste and a dash of vinegar.

Boil this, uncovered, for about 15 minutes or until it forms a fairly thick sauce. It should reduce and be about 1/4-1/3 of what it was before.

Serve on sandwiches or alone. We ate it alone because I forgot to get some nice bread. Hooray!

Pecan pie, scalloped potatoes, dress forms!

Making things I normally don't cook has begun!
I think I should come up with a better title/mission statement, yeah?

The pecan pie is on Instructables. The scalloped potatoes should be posted later tonight.

And today - I'm buying my first ever dress form! Mermaid costume here I come!

Jogging and making!

Embroidered picture frames for my mom! Full how-to at instructables!




Full how-to at instructables!

And two bags - one for my mom and one for me. The one for mom sadly messed up in the wash, though - I bought the lining fabric years ago and forgot it was dry clean only. Wasn't strong enough to hold up at the seams. :(

Oh well! Live and learn and make more!

The rest of my time recently has been spent babysitting my nephews and cooking with my mom - I went home for a week and it was great! Now I'm back in Louisville and back to work.

I'm taking up jogging again too. Trying to do a half mile every other day and building up from there. In the past I've ran too fast and too far in the beginning and burned myself out. This time I'm going to be responsible with it.

I'd really like to be able to run/jog a few miles. It's something I've never been able to do. I can ride a bike forever, but my stubby little legs don't take well to running!

Up late, realization of not posting, stuff.

I guess I should get on with it, then.

For tonight, I'd like to remind all of you that Andy Samberg is hot. I will post about productive things in the morning. I have made things. I have. Promise.

When you love something you mark yourself with it forever.

Or until the next day.
We got temporary Pokemon tattoos in so I gave myself a full sleeve.
These newfangled ones don't stay on very long though. I had to remove them this morning because they'd mostly rubbed off.

Pokemon sheets! Yay!