This is my second year participating in Melly & Me’s Scrap Swap and it is always a blast. My partner Lorraine from Australia was so nice and we have been corresponding back and forth for the past month. She sent the sweetest package and already I dove in to the scraps for a quilt I’m working on.
1. Makeshift holiday decorations (because it’s hard to find Christmas trees in Korea).
2. Giving is so much better then receiving.
3. Making a friend’s bachelorette party weekend invitations and helping that bachelorette celebrate her upcoming nuptials.
4. Handmade Christmas decorations (can you tell I was having fun with my hot glue gun)?
5. Surprising my friends with some small party favors for the Fancy Pants Holiday Party
6. The Fancy Pants friends!
7. Exchanging some handmade napkins for sock knitting lessons.
8. Being surprisingly happy with a bag prototype.
9. Mixing textures (my new favorite scarf – a combination of a wool tweed and a soft as silk jersey fabric).
10. The Annual Caramel Apple Pie (just before the crumb topping).
11. Delivering a box of baked goods to the church bake sale (and baking with my favorite Korean friend, “Ally Crocker”).
12. Christmas Eve service at church with my honey.
13. An orphanage visit in Seoul.
14. My favorite cold and cough remedy! (No, I REALLY am thankful for this!)
15. Baking a congratulatory cake for one of Joe’s troops who was promoted to Staff Sergeant (hence the Ssgt spelled out in mini M & Ms).
16. Baking the yummiest, crustiest loaf of bread ever (actually baking 4 of them).
17. Trying out a new homemade recipe and loving it! (Creamy Chicken & Rice Soup – perfect for that crusty bread)
18. A weekend in Seoul with my hubby!
19. Christmas gifts!
20. Lovely lovely swap goodies (this journal is fabulous Emma, thank you!)
21. Handmade wine bottle holders (these could be my new favorite thing to make – inspiration).
It’s been a while, I have no real valid excuses other than I needed a break and I was busy. I know everyone else is busy but I like to balance my busyness with a little bit of laziness as well. I think writing two blogs also makes it harder to keep up with them. I sometimes feel like my writing is forced and unnatural. So here are a few things I have been up to, in no particular order.
Utter sewing room chaos!!!
Some solutions for said sewing room chaos. When I saw these pieces I didn’t care that we can only ship 1500 pounds back from Korea, I HAD to have them, aren’t they beautiful!
A beautiful package from Dana!
My dream – a French package from Gaelle!
Magazine and yarn heaven from Grace!
Yummy chocolate and scrapbooking goodies from Julie.
I participated in Kelli‘s Mozambique orphan goody bag drive about a month ago and this was the package I sent. I made about 12 of these and wished I could have made more.
I also opened an Etsy shop, although there is not a whole lot in there yet, but I’m working on it. Check it out!
Part of the reason I have been so neglectful of this blog is because I am fervently working on a new business. I’m not quite where I want to be and still need to get a website designed so if any of you fellow crafty-blogger-types design websites or know someone who designs websites for next to nothing, please shoot me an email. I do have some money in the budget for the website but not a substantial amount right now. I will let you all know in a short while what exactly my venture is. Let’s just say I am working on something that I hope will allow me to become successful enough to stay home with my children in a few years, when Joe and I actually have some. I’m thinking ahead!
Posted in Craft Room, Etsy, Photos, Sewing, Swaps
Chocolate Cherry Goodness, thanks again Kelli, I make these at least once a month for Joe’s office, they love them.
My April Amy Butler In Stitches Sew Along project, the lounge pants. I made two identical pairs, one for myself and one for my Mom for Mother’s Day. I embroidered the bottom of a pant leg on hers, more on that little project later this week.
Gorgeous package from Crystal. Fabric I was fawning over, a skirt pattern recommended by Beki, an adorable needlecase and candy that didn’t make it long enough to be photographed. Crystal is a mind reader and this is the first ever Amy Butler fabric I own, woohoo!
I also got a great package from Sima. We decided to do another swap this month and I am so glad. She sent me some great craft mags, as I have a hard time finding them here. I also told her how bare my Korean apt. is so she made me this beautiful wall art goddess. Isn’t she beautiful? Look at those colors, they scream spring, I love it!
I also joined another group, as if I need another. MeLisa and Chara are co-hosting a Sew What Skirts group on Flickr so if you just purchased the book or are thinking about it, join us. I love the creative ideas and inspiration I get from groups. It allows me to be accountable enough to finish projects and have the fellowship of sharing them.
That’s all for now, I will leave you with a little bit of cuteness. My baby cat, Meo,we call her the baby even though she’s not a kitten, asleep in my hubby’s shorts on the floor. She always has to find the most percarious and interesting places to sleep. Isn’t she the cutest!!!?
Posted in Gifts, Groups, Swaps, Yummy Stuff
Wow, I just realized I am THE worst title comer-upper-with person EVER! Oh well, there are more important things to think about right – like what’s in the post!
Speaking of what’s in the post… Could any of these packages be for you? Hmmm, I guess you’ll have to wait and see. I have been having a blast with all my swaps but I have had to limit myself to about 3 – 4 a month for budget and time sake. The mailing alone will set a girl back 30 – 50 smackeroos. Smackeroos are not the Korean currency by the way…
The one place I can order from that doesn’t take a million years to arrive is Amazon and it looks like I went a little overboard this month. I am overwhelmed, in an excited kid-at-the-candy-store kind of way. Note to self – next time order one a month so you can actually focus on a few projects at a time.
Even though I am not an official Stampin’ Up demonstrator yet, I have scheduled my first workshop. It actually works out better anyway because I can’t do any kind of promotion or publicity at the A & FRC, which is fine because my main focus here is volunteering on base and meeting some new gal pals. Wish me luck and if you love stamping as much as I do and have any ideas for me, drop me a comment, I love hearing other people’s ideas. I will be spending the next week or two drowning in SCS. For anyone who doesn’t know about SCS head on over, it’s amazing! I will be setting up 4 stations of 3 people each and will offer 1 card and 3 stamping doodads. I am in need of doodad ideas so start thinking girls…
Ok, so this week I have been seriously trying to make a change in my blogging habit. Thanks so much to all who commented with helpful hints. I have moved the computer to the couch rather than the dining room table, making it harder to sit for a long period of time and stare at the screen. I have also started giving myself small chunks rather than endless hours. I’ve found reading some blogs while listening to a podcast has also helped as a little timer.
A great package I got in the mail from Natasha from Singapore. We found each other on Gimme Your Stuff and she sent some great things. My favorite things were the yummy snacks, and some beautiful Swarovski crystal earrings she made me.
Dawn , a fellow military wife, is collecting cards for the troops. If you make cards or have some that were given tou that you wouldn’t mind donating to her cause dropby her site to get all the info. She is donating the cards to troops stationed overseas to use to send to their loved ones since their card selection is not the greatest.
Also, my dear blogging friend Kelli in Arizona has organized a heartwarming drive for orphans in Mozambique. She is gathering goodies to deliver to the orphans on her trip to Africa next month. Her blog today read that she has plenty of participants and help but I wanted to toot her horn a little. Even though I have only “known” her a short while I can honestly say she is an amazing person and I feel honored to be her “friend.” Plus, I’m always a sucker for orphans as Joe and I plan to adopt from underdeveloped countries when our young, travelling bug has finally worn down. 
The beautiful magnolia trees outside my apartment building – I love cherry blossom and magnolia season in Korea.
Ok, now for my big announcement. I am becoming a Stampin’ Up independent demonstrator! I am very excited to meet new people on base here and maybe make a few bucks doing something I love So, if you don’t already have a Stampin’ Up gal, drop me a line. I look forward to sharing my stamping creations with you on blog.
Posted in Groups, Photos, Stamping, Swaps, Yapping Away
I haven’t been in the mood to write this week, on either of my blogs. But here are a few things that have been making me happy this week:
A package from Ambika. She chose perfect yarn and fabrics for me, I loved everything in the package! There were beautiful skeins of Cascade Wool, great turquoise fabrics, candy, and a cute heart keychain. Thanks Ambika!
A purchase from Greenleaf & Owl, a beautiful leaf pendant. I will definitely be ordering from Eva again. Check out her Etsy shop.
My birch bark tube vase from Small Stump. After checking their website religiously for weeks because this vase was sold out I finally got one. Now I just need some beautiful flowers peeking out of the top.
Because I wasn’t perfectly happy (thanks a lot OCD) with my first Amy Butler Clutch from the March In Stitches Sew Along I made another. I switched the fabrics from the first one, polka dots on the inside and fun flowers on the outside. I omitted the divider, a purse this size doesn’t need a divider in my opinion but now I can see that AB added it to make the purse more structured and stiff. I thought it was much better until I realized I had sewn the flap closure on backwards so the velcro was on the wrong side of the flap. Instead of ripping seams which I hate with a passion I cleverly covered them up with some cute little embellishments I found at Dongdaemun.
A closeup of the fabric embellishment, hiding the mistake velcro. Now, I have two bags for Hawaii!
Posted in Crafts, Etsy Purchases, Groups, Sewing, Swaps
It’s been a while since my last post and I have a lot to report. I finally quit my job and after a week of drama from the school director, I am finally free from his immoral business practices. He chocked it up to cultural differences but all my other Korean friends disagree. I won’t bore you with the details but suffice it to say I don’t wake up every morning with a feeling of dread in the pit of my stomach.
Next order of business, my brother arrived in Korea the other day. Alex will be teaching at a school in Suwon, a larger city 30 min. north of Songtan. I went to see him on Thursday night and check to see how he was doing. Jet lag and hunger mixed with an overwhelming amount of information being thrown at him obviously increased his exhaustion level but he’ll get into the swing of things in no time. He’ll head down to Songtan Saturday or Sunday to visit me and see my town.
So since I no longer have a job and have some free time on my hands I decided to go on a day trip with some girlfriends from base today. We headed to Dongdaemun Fabric Market in Seoul.
Me, Stephanie and Tami outside the fabric market.
This is the enormous fabric and trimmings market in Seoul. 9 floors spanning an entire avenue block filled with fabric, yarn, trimmings, buttons, ribbons, upholstery, and beads. Every piece of clothing or jewelry you wear that says “Made in Korea” originates from this place. Most of the vendors did not seem happy selling 1 – 2 yards of fabric to American women who were obviously not there for wholesale purchases. We didn’t care and came home with yards and yards of amazingly cheap fabrics.
I got all this fabric (17 yards), some yarn and felt for about $65. I have no idea what I’m going to make with it all.
I also shipped off my tote for the International Tote Exchange III.
I stuffed it full of goodies and sent it on it’s way. I hope my partner likes it all.
I also finished my March Amy Butler In Stitches Sew Along Project, the clutch. I am very happy with the way the outside looks but the lining is all funky, it was too large somehow and gathers a bit where the lining is sewn into the exterior.
Short post tonight, I’ve been feeling a little down the past few days. It’s a combination of PMS, Joe leaving for a week tomorrow, stress about quitting my job and feeling lonely here in Korea. I know I have a lot of things to be happy and grateful for but I’m just having a few hard days.
Some things to be thankful for:
An awesome stationery swap package from AfricanKelli. She had no way of knowing that I love Frida Kahlo, or that I write notes ALL THE TIME. Just look at that adorable owl card. She also sent a wonderful CD for me to listen to while crafting. I think she can read my mind because KT Tunstall and Sarah McLachlan were on my MP3 player when I popped in her CD. Thanks Kelli.
And while we’re on the topic of how awesome Kelli is, check out the Flickr group she created for CAOK or Calculated Acts of Kindness, 40 days of kind deeds towards friends or strangers.
My CAOK yesterday was this package I got ready for my old students in Florida to reward them for their big FCAT tests in a few weeks.
Another awesome package I receivedthe other day was from Sima. It is so hard to get good American craft magazines here in Korea so Sima came to my rescue.
WIPS – Lunch bag from Knitty for a secret someone and Amy Butler’s Ultimate Arts & Crafts Tote.
Hopefully I will be feeling better tomorrow, although I doubt it with hubby leaving at 6 AM. You’d think with his prior deployments of 6 months at a time, a week would be no problem but I miss him the same whether it’s 1 week or 24. 
Just a quick post tonight, I have to do laundry and pack for our trip to Seoul this weekend. I hope to go to the fabric market at Damdaemun Market, I’ll post on Tuesday if I find anything good.
A package for my cousin who goes ga-ga over anything polka dotty. They love their polka dots here and whenever I say polka dots in class my Korean students laugh hysterically. I guess it is fun to say, polka dots, polka dots, polka dots, ok, that’s enough now.
A little tunic I made from a hideous thrifted dress. I bought the dress for $2.50 at the thrift shop on base almost embarassed to pay for it, that’s how bad it was. Straight, shapeless, slit up the back at the bottom. I cut off the bottom 3/4 of it just under the pockets, sewed a little seam and I now have a cute little apron-like tunic to wear. I am very happy with it and the pockets are very deep which I like. Being a teacher and occasionally collecting the odd item from a distracted child, I now have somewhere to put said items.
Here it the material close up, it is a dark gray denim material with a flocked velvety flower design. It’ll look cool with some chunky black jewelry, a turtleneck, jeans and black heels. Quick and painless!
That’s all for now, I’ll post on Tuesday with my Seoul escapades.
