Then and Now

I've been on Pinterest forever. Okay, not forever, but since its inception more than three years ago. Just skimming through, some of my pins came from early spring of 2010. Today I boast 95 boards and more than 7,000 pins.

I occasionally go through my pins to make sure they have a proper link and hash tags. It's a side effect of the crazy. Lately I've also become intimate with my "Decor to Adore" and "Mastering my Domain" boards because, you know, I'm a homeowner now.  It cracks me up to see how my tastes have changed in just three short years. Let's do some then and now comparison.

Once upon a time, this kitchen looked ideal.

from shona hem via pinterest

Now, this is what makes me swoon.

from Small Place Style via Pinterest

There was a time when I would walked 1000 in these shoes.

Polyvore via Pinterest

Today's choice would be almost as precious, but not nearly as cloying.

Where did you Get That via Pinterest

This would've been just the right amount of sparkle.

Fashion is Poison via Pinterest

These days, less is more.

1st Dibs via Pinterest

I haven't painted my finger nails in years - probably  close to a decade - but I almost considered doing this.

Hitchhiking on the Howling Road via Pinterest

Now, I'd more likely entertain this manicure.

Bloom via Pinterest

I'll never doubt Karen Millen's sense of design and tailoring.

Karen Millen via Pinterest

But I think I'll don something a bit more playful while I still can.

1st Dibs via Pinterest

I have always had unreal expectations about how much I can get done so you can imagine how long some pins have been sitting on my Make Me This board just waiting for me to actually make them. Among my early ambitions was this ruffled cardigan.

Life is Beautiful via Pinterest

However,since there are only 24 hours in a day I'd rather spend my time on this more tailored refashion.

Z via Pinterest

Speaking of that odd universal lack of time, you don't even want to know how many things have been pinned with the greatest intentions and absolutely no follow through. Whoops.

New Year's Resolution, anyone?

Pinned it and Did it

If you've been following along lately you may have noticed words such as "blah" and "funk" sprinkled liberally throughout my rather sparse blog posts. So pathetic.

via FunnyCakes

I think one of the major funk contributors is my growing list of possible projects and my stagnant repertoire of completed crafts. That sort of thing leaves a person feeling unaccomplished and bad at time management.

Sewing PhD poster via Cafe Press

Luckily, my sweet Sarah girl came for a visit, and do you know what Sarah loves to do? Crafts! So instead of dragging my happy butt to the zoo trying to entertain a guest by looking at hot animals in the hot sun, I got to knock some stuff off my to do list with my best friend and my best daughter. Awesome sauce!

While it might look like terror on her face, she's actually screaming in excitement.

In honor of fall (and my enormous collection of fabric scraps) we started with some scrap-busting homemade pumpkins. I had seen something similar a while back, but I forget where. Luckily, the internet is equipped with Pinterest so I can find a similar source of inspiration to share.

via Small Fry and Co.

Cute, right?  We had so much fun going through all my autumn-toned fabrics. And by the time Sarah had to leave we had...

Can you guess which one belongs to who? I'll give you a hint: the littlest lady did not make the littlest pumpkin.

Just before we started our puffy gourds we went shirt shopping. Why? So we could make these!

Pinned here but originally seen here.

Until I saw those sweet tank tops I had no idea how much I needed to have tie dye in my wardrobe. Luckily, Sarah and Emily were totally game. Word to the wise, though: this is not a project for over-thinkers. The perfection lies in the imperfections. Unfortunately some members of our group have a hard time with that concept (I'm looking at you, Sarah). Personally, I love how they came out.

Alas, we never got a group shot of us in our matching tees. I did manage to snap Sarah and Em while they were busy getting their toes done (although, sadly, not tie-dyed) at D Retro.

If I were you, I'd be totally jealous.

And even though we had to send Sarah back to her home far too soon her visit did banish a good bit of my funk. Thanks, girl!

And you my darlings? What to-do have you done to lift your mood lately?

Around the 'Net

spider and the inter-web

I have been a busy little spider, skittering hither and thither on the web.

Tooling Around on Scoutie Girl

Now we're cooking! Photo via TheKitchn

Scoutie Girl has a sleek new look that makes it super easy to navigate. You know, so you can more easily find me Tooling Around over there. Okay, some of the other posts might strike your fancy as well.

Shining the Spotlight at Wed Eclectic

Krissy Cartwright's shop postcard.

I have recently been chosen to head up the Member Spotlight Interview Series for the Wed Eclectic team blog. I get to talk with some really amazing artisans each month, and spread the gospel of handmade, homemade, and offbeat! Did I mention I am actually affiliated with these superstars?

Flitting and Fluttering about Etsy's Treasury Tool

A Never a Plain Jane winged treasury

Trying my Hand at Pinteresting Styles

Bantu Knots tutorial via Perfect Locks

Maybe two days after I tweeted this tutorial a friend of mine e-mailed me photos of her attempt to get those tousled, wavy locks.  It went...not well. But I couldn't let her show me up, I had to try it too!

Bantu at bedtime

First attempt to style my knot outs

Second try at styling my knot outs

There is definitely a reason those photos were Instagrammed. Bantu knots are, a. either a two-person job; b. suited for long and/or thick hair; c. all of the above. I think I'll try again when Emily is home and my friend, Sarah, comes for a visit. We'll have a bantu knot party and other general silliness. It'll be grand.

So there you have it, what I've been spinning about the web.  Where have you been toiling lately?

Pinned it, then did it

Looking to vote on my Mud Crusade garter slogan? Please do so here! You might win a custom garter of your own to help us spread the word that fit is beautiful. Contest is now closed.

You guys know all about Pinterest, right? If it seems like everyone is talking about this site/electronic bulletin board, it's because they are. And they're talking about it because it's awesome.

I've been pinning for over a year now so my boards are quite developed. I have I mentioned that before? Whoops.

What I may not have mentioned is that I do more than just pin; sometimes I do, so I thought I would also share.

Pinned It, Then Did It

 

The Pinspiration

Scalloped Coffee Cozy made by Sarah Murray of Anyone Can Quilt

 

The Product

Since I don't see in color until I actually have my coffee each morning I stuck with a simple black cotton.  Well that and black cotton happened to be at the top of my scrap fabric pile.  I may try to jazz it up a bit later with some iron-on letters or a fabric applique. As far as functionality, though, it works pretty well.  I have very cool-looking coffee mugs, but the wide mouth tends to let the heat dissipate a little more rapidly than I would like - I have a vendetta against the rough of my mouth, apparently, and prefer my coffee piping hot.

Ta da!

There you have it.  I put my pinning to good use.  Now it is your turn. Have you tried your hand at anything you've been pinning.  Tell me all about it!  Send me links to your pinboards. Heck, send me photos of the pins you did!

Can't wait to see!