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DIY Glassine Envelopes Using a Cereal Bag

January 5, 2022 Leave a Comment

Hello and how are you? I really hope this post finds you feeling well and perhaps enjoying some well deserved solo time-just you and your creativity.

Or perhaps you aren’t able to have a creative play are just gathering inspiration for later. Either way I really hope you enjoy your time here on my site and find a little inspiration while you are here.

You might like to check out my creative podcasts while you are here

Alright so let’s get started!

This project is really simple and what I love about it is that it is reusing something that would typically only have one use-cereal bags!

I have always kept our cereal boxes to use in various projects-typically making journals or mini vision boards of some kind. This time I am also making use of the inner bag that holds the cereal-and it was really a quick-and fun project!

I didn’t take many photos of the project as I was working since it was my first time doing this and I was figuring it out as I went but I did get it on video. Hopefully it’s all clear enough but do feel free to comment below should you have any questions-I’m happy to answer!

Until next time…

-Michele, aka The Dreaming Dilettante

I’m taking part in Handmade Monday

Handmade Holidays 2021

December 29, 2021 Leave a Comment

How were your holidays? We had a quiet holiday this year staying home just our little family of 5. To be honest this year I wasn’t really in the holiday spirit. I had so much fun making gifts for everyone (and I’ll share what I made in this post) you would have thought I was but it just never really felt like Christmas.

Maybe it was because it had been fairly warm the past 2 months-warm for the Northeastern USA anyway. Being able to go outside in just a sweater in winter feels like spring to me and Christmas should feel cold. Really cold. Like bundle up in layers with hats, gloves and scarves cold. Of course things are how they are but Christmas this year just felt a little less magical for me or rather I wasn’t as connected to the magic inside me as much as I would have liked.

Still I did the best to simply enjoy the day including a little solo walk to clear my head. My oldest turned eleven and Christmas has a different look to her if you understand my meaning. If you are struggling with this as much as my daughter is and I was you may benefit from the lovely Karen Fullerton’s post here. (Be mindful of who is around you before clicking the link though 😉

So, what did I make this year? Well I made our standard Christmas recipes but to be honest it’s the second year in a row that I really haven’t enjoyed the traditional ham for Christmas and I am thinking we will simply donate our free one next year (and for Easter). I am not sure what will replace it but I will be sure to let you know. Also, comment below if you would like me to write a post about our family traditions and our menu I would be happy to!

Now, on to the fun things-all the makes I made! I found this great pattern from Half Yard Sewing Club (it’s a membership site I’m part of) to make a reindeer and I planned to make one for each of the families on my husband’s side. Sadly the first one I made, well, she was a bit wonky lol (not a result of the pattern-a result of the maker 🙂 I still need to finish her but decided (after realizing I made a mistake cutting out the pattern pieces) that perhaps I might just want to find a different pattern as Christmas was quickly approaching. So I did! I found this adorable (and I do mean adorable) reindeer pattern that went together very easily and was perfect for making the bunch of reindeer I had planned. One even went over seas to a friend in the UK!

I will still finish our little Rosie the reindeer and she will be a much loved member of our family-wonky and all. For now though-she’s in an almost done state 🙂

The next item I made is another pattern from the Half Yard Sewing Club and it’s the adorable Maddie doll. I am so proud with how I embroidered her eyes! I was inspired by one of the member shares in the site who made the eyes a little different than the pattern. I did a bit of combining of the two along with my own little tweaks and think she came out super cute.

I am still not a master at doll hair and was going to leave her hair loose but decided to tie them back in the hopes that it will keep everything looking nicer longer. Maddie was a present for my 3 year-old who loved her and gave her a big hug when she opened her. The clothing was a bit harder for me-I didn’t pick the best fabric trying to use what I had in my stash-but for a first ever try at making doll clothing I am pretty happy. I skipped the shoes knowing they would just be forever on the floor but may make some down the road. I also plan on making some extra outfits for Maddie-and maybe even a Maddie for myself.

Another item I made was for my oldest daughter. She’s a felt doll that’s a unicorn so really, what’s not to love right? She came out super cute and my daughter really seemed to love her and I think she’ll make a nice addition to her collection. I also made her this cute Happy Cat which is free pattern from Ann Wood Handmade. I added a little story to her as well and I think she came out adorable! I will be making more of these for sure. I found some really cute fat quarters from a local fabric store and think they will be very sweet cats.

The other present I made was for my son who loves puppets and may even want to be a puppeteer when he is older. If he is a puppeteer on Sesame Street (like he said he would like to be) I think I would about scream with joy right before asking if he could actually tell me how to get to Sesame Street. I need to meet Snuffy-I mean, I really need to meet him.

I could not be happier with how this puppet came out and think he might just be my favorite handmade holiday gift this year although it’s hard to choose between the puppet (named, “Grouchy” by my son) and the reindeer.

One last item I made for the holidays was a little tea cup coaster for my friend Michael Nobbs. I am not sure if he received it yet so hopefully he doesn’t read this before he has 🙂 Still I think he will like it and I used some of the fat quarters I mentioned before to make it. I think I am going to make a few more of these for my desk and next to my chair in the living room.

So that is what I made for Handmade Holiday 2021.

I would love to hear about any handmade items you made this Christmas so please feel free to comment below with a link to your own blog post I would love to hear!

Wishing you a beautiful day!

Until next time…

-Michele, aka The Dreaming Dilettante

Link Parties are a lot of fun! I submitted this post as part of:

If you liked this post be sure to check out the link party for other handmade fun!

Making Space for Me

December 2, 2021 Leave a Comment

Do you ever feel as if there isn’t space for you?

Often times I feel that I am so generous giving of my time and energy and physical space to others that it can appear there isn’t much left for me. I remember I went to a seminar one time and a woman arrived late and was looking around for a seat so I made room so she could sit next to me. Later she continual asked that I move my chair over so she had more room. So much so that if I moved any more I would be out in the aisle and I finally had to very firmly tell her no.

I often feel I have to hold boundaries. That my generosity is often met by others with a grab it before it’s gone type mentality until I feel I have been plucked clean of any space I had. What’s interesting is when I realize how much time and energy I spend making sure everyone has what they need-but me.

I mentioned in Monday’s post how I am recovering and resting. I have been longing to paint and it just felt like something I couldn’t do. Tonight I was watching an art class and I so wanted to take part but when I looked over I saw my desk was covered with all sorts of odds and ends.

I had no space to create.

And while I didn’t think I would paint I realized that as long as the desk was covered I wasn’t going to paint so I got up and cleared away the mess. It took maybe 15 minutes and my desk was clean and ready to use whenever I felt the urge to paint. I also found a scrap of paper that inspired me to make a random collage journal and a journal I had made a few months back that would be perfect for it!

Then I decided to sit down and paint. It was a short session while the kids got ready for bed but it was time for me. It was spaciousness that I gave myself as a gift. Just before I wrote this post I sat down for some more art time and I can already feel myself restoring from the gift of making space for myself. I am still working on the piece but I will share a photo here when it’s all done.

What can you do to make space for yourself? Is there something you can do to make things easier so when you are inspired to create you can just get down to the fun part? I would love to hear.

Until next time…

-Michele, aka The Dreaming Dilettante

Resting, Recharging and NaNoWriMo Wrap Up

November 30, 2021 Leave a Comment

How are you? I hope this post is finding you well and that (if you celebrate) you had a wonderful Thanksgiving. We had a very nice visit with my husband’s family. It was gorgeous weather here on the East Coast and the kids were able to spend time with their cousins which is always a highlight for them.

On Saturday we went to a local Christmas parade which has become a yearly tradition for us. We started it when my oldest was only 1 and have been going every year and really enjoy it. I admit to feeling completely wiped out but as this was the first year my youngest was going to really watch the parade I didn’t want to miss it and I am so glad I went. It was a fun time for us all.

I have also been keeping up with my NaNoWriMo challenge and if all goes well I should reach my word count on November 30th. I will be sure to let you know how I make out!

Now, I rest. Now I work on recharging. I love doing things and being around people but afterwards I need my cocoon time. To curl up, be cozy and not have to speak or talk or listen much. To just be and reconnect.

I missed my art journals. I want to play with paper and paint and make a mixed media mess but I just didn’t have the energy today. I also wanted to write a fantastic blog post complete with video and again, just didn’t have the energy so I thought I would just stop by and say hello to you and share a small sketch I made in bed while listening to my favorite podcast

It felt good to make a small amount of time for those activities that are just for me. To honor those things I love so much and to make time for myself in a way that is just for me. There is so much I want to do and so many things I want to accomplish but I have to remind myself that it’s never the accomplishment that matters-it’s the experiences we have.

I hope you are taking care of yourself today in a way that is special just for you.

Until next time…

-Michele, aka The Dreaming Dilettante

Simple Upholstery Project: Furniture Refresh

November 15, 2021 Leave a Comment

Happy Monday! I hope you had a relaxing and hopefully creative weekend.

I found myself browsing the fabric store all on my own this weekend for the first time in close to 2 years. It felt like I never left! I have quite a few projects I will be sharing with you over the next few weeks and I am really excited about them all. I’m working on sewing a top and reading pillows along with a felt doll, a stuffed teddy bear and even a puppet. I’ll be sharing those details with you soon but for today I have an easy re-upholstery project for you.

About 5 years ago we re-decorated our living room. We bought a new couch and I bought a bench that has storage along with a square cube that also has storage. Right now the bench holds all my fabric and the cube holds yarn. Both however were in horrible condition as you can see from the picture. We used them at one time in our home school room and they were covered in paint and had been ripped up from the dogs and cats. To say they needed a refresh was an understatement.

I managed to find some really pretty fabric in the clearance section. It’s outdoor fabric so it’s really durable and I like that it should wipe clean pretty easily. I have been adding pinks and floral in the living room in spots so this really soft peachy pink color works great.

My husband gave me a hand and we removed the screws to detach the lid along with the inside lining fabric. I could have patched the hole but to be honest it doesn’t really matter since this fabric is pretty thick.

I wrapped the fabric over the top and the folded under the edges to create a hem of sorts so therwas a nice finished piece stapled on the underside. At the time I figured if it didn’t look the best I could add my own lining fabric but I was pretty happy with how it turned out.

We used a staple gun with one of us holding the folded fabric in place and the other stapling it down. Normally you wouldn’t need two people for this job however we were using an ancient staple gun that requires a great deal of force to work so having an extra set of hands just made it that much easier.

We stapled to the edges since that was a thicker piece of wood and we didn’t have to worry about any staples sticking through. It’s a really sturdy piece and we often sit on it so the last thing you want is a staple sticking through.

The last step was to screw the lid back on and we were done!

I am so proud with not only the finished product but my fabric choice. It is so pretty and soft and really adds a brightness to the room. In fact I am sitting with my feet up on the bench and a cup tea as I write this!

The project went so well that I decided to cover the square cube that had been hiding it’s messy state underneath a new plant we picked up a few weeks ago at the store. I wonder if I should blog here about my love for houseplants? Would you be interested? Let me know I would be happy to talk to talk more about them.

The cube was done in no time and my husband suggested recovering the foot rest that went along to my rocking chair. Ah, the rocking chair. I purchase this glider around 2am when my now 3 year-old was an infant. She was the one we walked the floors at night with and one night when I was sitting awkwardly on the couch I grabbed my phone and in a groggy half-asleep state purchased the glider. I didn’t remember until I saw the confirmation email the next morning.

I have never regretted that purchase and it’s still my favorite chair.

Unfortunately the same little one managed to grab hold of a marker and before I could stop her scribble on the ottoman. I covered it with a blanket which was fine but since I had so much fabric left over (am I the only one who overbuys fabric?) I decided to cover that as well and it looks great!

I think I bought 2 yards of fabric and it was $11/yard on sale plus I had a $10 off coupon so for about $12 I was able to cover 3 pieces and make them look brand new which I think is a pretty good deal.

I hope you liked this little project. I am going to recover the glider as well but I didn’t see any fabric that I really liked so I decided to wait since I have so many going on already. I will be sure to share it with you when I do.

In other news I am taking part in NaNoWriMo again this year. I have been doing NaNoWriMo for years but only won my first year so I am really looking forward to winning again this year. I’m on track to finish November 28th and I’m hoping to sneak in some extra time to make up for the writing I may not get to on Thanksgiving.

Are you taking part? Please let me know-I would love to cheer each other on.

Well that’s all for now. I hope you are having a wonderful day and that you find something creative to have a play with.

Until next time…

-Michele, aka The Dreaming Dilettante

Painting & Homemade Fall Decor

September 8, 2021 Leave a Comment

My hands are covered in paint.

This isn’t unusual however today they are covered with wall paint as we are working to finish my 3 year-olds bedroom by Friday.

So far we have filled the holes with the first coat of filler and I have started painting up to the trim on almost all of the walls and rolled 2 of them with color. They will need a second coat as the yellow isn’t fully covering the light green underneath but otherwise it’s moving along. We have a bookshelf left to empty but I think the painting should all be done tomorrow.

We are planning a trip to pick up some more paint tonight and I’m hoping to find a few storage containers to organize her toys.

On the crafting desk I am working on a fall garland for the kitchen. It’s a pattern I purchased last year but never got around to making. It’s really sweet and I’m enjoying working on it. I have 2 of the 4 houses completed and they really come together quickly.

I also completed another garland but this one was for my mobile art studio. Originally I was going to make one for the studio and one for my daughters room so I will have to see how it looks once I put it into the van. The garlands are really fun and my first time working with wool felt shapes. I really like them and think I will be learning a new hobby once my 30 day Creative Detox is over.

Another item I purchased and I have on my list of things to make this week are some clothespin dolls for our first day of home school. I have only made peg dolls before but I think these are going to be fun and I will be sure to share finished photos when they are done.

I have been picking up my journal more as well which is always a good thing. I have been needing that connection and the release of the words on paper has been very healing for me.

So that’s what is on my desk this week. I would love to hear what you are making so please do share your links below. If the link party has closed, feel free to comment below so I can stop by and say hello.

Until next time…

-Michele, aka The Dreaming Dilettante

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