my new word

i have invented a new word for my vocabulary--


pro·craf·ti·nate

   [proh-kraf-tuh-neyt, pruh-]verb,-nat·ed, -nat·ing.

–verb (used without object)

1.

to defer action so one can craft; delay so a project can be completed: to procraftinate until an opportunity to do what one should is lost.

Today i procraftinated the day away.

do you like it?  doesn't my definition look so official?

a little crafting

this post will probably short...i've got a lot to do these days {more on that later}--but i wanted to share my latest 'creations'.

my mother has been wanting a corsage tee and so i tried something new.  i made the flowers out of chiffon.  the idea was to let them fray a bit, but being a black tee shirt...it really bothered me how messy that looked.  little threads were all over it.  so i went to plan b.  i had read somewhere that you could 'curl' the ends of chiffon by holding the edges over a candle, essentially melting the fabric.  well, i really wanted the flowers to be softer than that, so i tried barely melting the edges...just enough to 'seal' them.  i really liked the way it turned out.

the pictures don't it justice...the flowers truly are very floppy and light.

the other project was so much fun...so much fun, in fact that i am planning on using the same technique/idea to make my bean bags for craft hope.

i found the directions on how to make these cute creatures here.

i call these 'little bunny foofoos'.  are you familiar with this nursery song?  it has always been one of my favorites...if for nothing else, it's pure silliness.  here is the first verse...

Little bunny foo-foo, (hold up two fingers)
hopping through the forest (bounce your hand up and down)
Scooping up the field mice, (make a scooping motion with hand)
and bopping them on the head. (slap top of fist with palm)

(Spoken)
Then down came the Good Fairy, and she said:
Little Bunny Foo-Foo, (wag forefinger - "no-no")
I don't wanna see you (wag forefinger - "no-no")
Scooping up the field mice, (scooping motion with hand)
and bopping them on the head. (slap top of fist with palm)
(spoken)
I'll give you 3 chances,
and if you don't behave,
I'll turn you into a Goon!

...and it goes on from there--so fun!

i made a total of 5...for some of the kids at my church.  i hope they have as much fun playing with them as i did making them.

shoes...

for those of you who follow me that know me fairly well will know that i am never without shoes or at least socks on my feet...even in my own house.  but for today, april 8...i am committing to go without shoes {only in my house for now...sorry} to draw awareness to how simple it is to impact a child's life by providing him with shoes.  TOMS, the company that donates a pair of shoes for each pair sold, is the sponsor of this .  If you are not very familiar with this brand, follow this link to learn what amazing things that they are doing......and to learn more about ONE DAY WITHOUT SHOES, please follow this link.

...so won't you join me--at least for a few minutes?  and then every time you are able to put your shoes on be thankful that you can!

    

finally...

this last summer somehow, and of course i cannot remember how, but i came across this blog called craft hope.  it describes itself as 

a faith-based, love inspired project designed to share handmade crafts with those less fortunate.  It is our hope to combine our love for crafting and desire to help others into a project to make a difference around the world. Craft Hope was born over tea at the kitchen table. 

well...i have been dropping in to this blog every now and again to see what their latest project is...see they choose a need and then 'assign' what the craft will be that they will then collect and distribute.  what started with 27 dresses made for an orphanage in brazil and a safe haven for women & children in mexico has now blossomed into making over 400 quilts for the estimated 200+ homeless children in grand rapids, michigan to almost 3,000 knitted blankets, booties, and beanies for the orphans in 3 villiages in india.  so far they have completed 6 projects.  well...finally project 7: liberia orphan education project --is something that i can actually make!

the wonderful women of craft hope will now be collecting homemade bean bags--sets of alphabets, numbers, shapes, and colors--to send to west africa...liberia specifically.  i cannot wait.  there are several guidelines to follow that they explain on their blog.  my quick little blurb about this does not do it justice.  so won't you please go take a look...

http://crafthope.com/

maybe you will even be inspired to join in.  i will keep you updated on my progress.  they are due may 15.  i would love to hear what your thoughts are on this...and if you decide to help.