Link Love: 5 Favorite Topics

kneadkneadknead Pavel kitty on his fav fleecy pillow. #caturday #catsofinstagram #tw
Be a good human and fetch me my tea, would you?

Well this was supposed to go up on Friday, and I was thinking about not putting it up at all because it was late. But I decided to forgive myself the lateness and just do it.

This one is about five subjects I like, crafty or not.

Topic #1: Knitting (Ya Think?!)
More and more I like quirky, fun knitted and crocheted items.
Like monsters, and toys, and yarn bombs.

I really love reading about massive yarn bombs.

Topic #2: Scrapbooking, rubber stamping, and all things paper.

I’m not a “scrapbooker” but I can’t resist looking at all the lovely layout designs the scrapbookers come up with. I’d like to think my “style,” if I had one would be like Ali Edwards, so clean, and fun, yet managing to still have her wonderful photos shine. Her blog is great to get lost in and whenever she does a tutorial, you can bet you’ll learn something very useful.

Topic #3: Books

Not a big surprise, I love to read books and about books. Lately, I’m loving the people behind Forever Young Adult. They have a book club with local chapters that meet up. If I ever find myself with more hours in the day, I’ll join the local group that meets at one of my favorite local cafés. In August they’re reading Eleanor & Park: a book that’s been getting great buzz.

Topic #4: Art Journaling

Even though I love the elegant and clean lines of Ali Edward’s style, I find myself drawn to the chaotic art journals of Teesha More and Juli Fei-Fan Balzer. I just devour their images, looking at every corner and thinking about how they made so many shapes and colors merge in harmony.

Walking the Brookyln Bridge
Topic #5: Travel
I love to get out and wander, discover, and explore. And reading other people’s adventures can be satisfying when I can’t get out there myself. Kristin Luna over at Camels and Chocolate is a self proclaimed “travel addict” I’d follow anywhere.

Realizing I could go on with other topics, I’m glad it was limited to five. You can play along too, just head over to Crafty Pod. She’s got the goods.

Link Love Friday: Five Favorite Tutorials

California Summer Blooms
Summer blooms in the garden

Over on CraftyPod, Diane had a fantastic idea: Link Love Fridays. In August she is hosting a theme for each week, this week is for favorite tutorials.

Here’s some fabulously crafty and brilliant ideas from some of the blogs I follow:

Washi Monogram Art

DIY Washi Monogram Art on Lia Griffith’s Handcraft Your Life

There’s so much potential for customizing a monogram like this. And it will give me more ideas for using up my washi tape stash.

 

Recycled tshirt canvas


Recycled TShirt Canvas Arty by Kim over at The Trashy Crafter

I have a ton of t-shirts I don’t wear but can’t part with because of the sentimental value. Making them into art is a brilliant way to use them. I’m thinking about seasonal decor – football season in particular.

 

 

DIY Summer Cocktail Glasses

DIY Summer Cocktail Set over at Remarkably Domestic

Charming set is made with stencils and glass paint. The technique could be used with so many different themes.

 

 

Crocheted Balls

Purl Bee’s Whit’s Knits: Crocheted Balls

I look at these and think “Kitty toys!” Plus they’re pretty with the embroidery floss stripes. As always the Purl Bee’s photo tutorials are gorgeous and easy to follow.


Origami Spirit: Origami for Beginners: Butterfly Tutorial | Mariposa

Leyla Torres’ video tutorial takes you step by step to create beautiful butterflies. Her blogpost has some wonderful advice on being a beginner and perseverance.

Head over to Crafty Pod and look at a bunch of other great crafty tutorials.

My List of Summer Reading Lists – 2012

Starting about the age of 8, if you asked me what my favorite thing about the long vacation ahead, I would have replied: “I can read all day!” And when I could get away with it, I did. My parents would shoo me outside and I would take a book.

I still fantasize about the possibility of uninterrupted time spent just reading for pleasure. When I see the Summer Reading Lists start to appear I hoard them like a knitter hoards yarn. Just like knitters (like me) live in fear of being under-yarned, readers live in fear of being under-booked. Here’s a list of book lists that have me itching for those long Summer stretches of time spent with good books.