good day sunshine

i guess we are too busy

2010-01-20T22:53:00.000-08:00

having fun like this

to post here!

a return to the blog may happen soon, don't give up on us just yet!

could you tell...

2009-12-27T09:49:00.000-08:00

we are taking a holiday break. We will be back in January!

picture from here... (i want to make sugar cookies this pretty)

felt stockings

2009-12-11T17:58:00.000-08:00

i made some christmas stockings this last week. it was super fun to look at pictures of stockings to get ideas of what i wanted to make. i created a gallery on flickr with my favorite handmade felt stockings, you can view it here. go ahead, take a look, there are some really cute ones:

i might have totally copied some for our families stockings. i love looking at flickr for inspiration, or in this case, something to copy. happy handmade holidays!

DIY christmas trees

2009-12-08T16:38:00.000-08:00

actually, these are for sale here (with lots of other cute things) and here.

but, being the cheap person that i am, i think they could also easily be made. how cool would they be if they were made out of drift wood? and if you wanted to decorate them i am sure you could find lots of random things as well as some pretty shells to adorn them with.

yep, i am going for a long walk on the beach on sunday (i will be back in hawaii this sunday!) in search of wood to make one for myself.

i don't even want the gift, just the topper

2009-12-07T20:25:00.000-08:00

have i shared my love for succulents here yet? i love them. if i could, i would wrap every gift i give this year just like this:

how to found here.

free advent calender

2009-12-02T14:08:00.000-08:00

while it's still the beginning of december, download this free advent calender here from mibo.

super cute, super easy. too bad their aren't free treats behind each door!

billy buttons

2009-11-30T02:39:00.000-08:00

I know you have seen them around. Cute little yellow ball like flowers. They are called billy buttons and I just love how happy they are. They are sunshine!

picture found here

and the others found here

for the love of design*sponge

2009-11-19T13:52:00.000-08:00

do you read design*sponge? if you don't, you should. i have noticed there are a good number of posts here, inspired by things there, and why wouldn't there be? there are so so many cool things going on on the design sponge blog- i love reading their posts and drooling over their pictures.

some of my faves latley have been:

*tiger wallpaper- you can make it yourself and it's removable! genius!

* any and every one of their before & afters:

* and i have really been digging on ashley english's small measures section, in which she gives great tips on how to be a bit more friendly to our mother earth.

so click on over to d*s, and try not to get sucked in for too long. i dare you.

get wet wednesday

2009-11-18T13:21:00.000-08:00

oh to be an octopus

2009-11-17T13:44:00.000-08:00

just imagine what you could get done if you had 8 legs!

(image)

Pretty Swell

2009-11-16T00:21:00.000-08:00

I (Katie Speed) opened an ETSY Shop! It is called Pretty Swell and we sell fabric flower garlands. The are all hand sewn by yours truly and you should go check them out. The are so cute for decorations (think bedrooms, holidays, parties, showers, weddings etc) and they really create a lot of fun ambiance.

Also, I would really like feedback if you have time... deciding on prices, colors etc. is actually really hard so any criticisms (positive or negative) will be much appreciated.

sweet idea

2009-11-13T13:49:00.000-08:00

Have you heard of Made? Here is my favorite project from this blog. She took a men's shirt and converted it into a dress for a little girl. Clever?... yes... the best part is it was a dads shirt made for his daughter. Such a cute concept. I'm for sure doing this one!

2 great chairs

2009-11-12T03:31:00.000-08:00

This little scene is great. The chairs are standouts. I have wanted an Eames rocker for oh so long. (the chair on the left) And wow... the yellow chair is also amazing! Is that something that could be DIY-ed? anything is possible right?

(picture spotted on Design Sponge)

calligraphy

2009-11-10T12:12:00.000-08:00

WOW! I am in love with this calligraphy. Coming from someone who took calligraphy in 5th grade, she. is. good. Recently I addressed envelopes for baby announcements and it is so time consuming. One day when my budget is a bit larger, I will hire Jenna!

small space organizing

2009-11-04T09:34:00.000-08:00

Here is a good tip from the queen of organizing herself...Martha Stewart.

"Make space for supplies over the bathroom door so that they'll be accessible when they need to be replenished. Use wood screws to secure a pair of wooden shelf brackets to either side of the door frame; screw shelf to brackets. The shelf should rest on top of the door molding, which will help support the weight. Keep small bottled items and toilet paper in handled boxes. Bars of soap can be stored, unwrapped, in an airtight glass container."

I thought this was perfect for all of us who live in such small spaces, and is very simple!

indie pop! shop giveaway

2009-11-02T11:39:00.000-08:00

My etsy shop is now open! I am doing a giveaway on the creative blog The Coterie, that you should check out and enter.

The giveaway is for one of these custom silhouette pillows.

Good luck!

BOO banner

2009-10-29T15:35:00.000-07:00

i stole this picture of a friends blog (i would link it, but it's private).

i love simple earthy looking decor, and the fact that this is made of burlap, black paint and a little twine makes me happy. not to mention, you could make this during nap time and feel like you totally accomplished something.

teach your children well

2009-10-28T08:32:00.000-07:00

i can't think of a better way to learn how to count

pom-pom headband tutorial

2009-10-26T23:58:00.003-07:00

*i have had headbands on the brain for the last week (pun intended).

this one is a really quick easy project, even though it looks like there are 1,000 steps.

and if you like free stuff, i am giving a headband away at my blog. click on over and join in the fun.*

words to live by

2009-10-22T07:00:00.000-07:00

I need one of these in a well trafficked area. A good family motto i think! These posters have been all over the blogging world for a while. Somewhere I read that these were printed in England during WWII... here is a more full story.

Lots of places to buy on etsy...

Movie

2009-10-21T12:28:00.000-07:00

So our giveaway for a free cry baby matinee was not so popular. Although, I do realize that readers who do not live in Laie... or on Oahu... can't really go. If you are in the area and are reading this, whats up? Would a different time or day work better? Laie Palms has agreed to let us give away movie tickets so let us know (so you can go fo free!)

(ps. Jonna, you win a ticket!)

overcast

2009-10-21T10:28:00.001-07:00

We have been having some cloudy but bright days here in Hawaii. It really makes for good lighting during the day...

for renters...

2009-10-19T10:37:00.000-07:00

If you are renting and you want to add some cute details to your place without having to invest a lot of money, this idea is for you. Find cute knobs and replace them on you cabinents. I did it on the top row and the two below the sink. The knobs are all missmatched but they are in a specific area so it works. Be sure to keep the old ones, so when you move out it's just a quick switch.

(my knobs are from here, if your patient they always seem to go on sale )

movie ticket giveaway!

2009-10-16T11:19:00.001-07:00

Laie Palms Cinemas has started to offer crybaby matinees! What is a crybaby matinee you ask? It is a movie where you can bring your baby, and not have to worry about him/her crying and bothering the other people in the theater because they are all Mom's too, with their crying babies!

This special matinee is offered every wednesday for $4.00! 2 and under are free and the shows start at 11:00 am so babies can make it home in time for afternoon naps!

The shows that will be playing for the next two weeks are:

Wed 10/21 Ponyo

Wed 10/28 Where the Wild Things Are

And guess what, by leaving a comment on this post you will be entered to win a FREE movie ticket! So please support our local businesses, leave a comment, hope to win, if you don't, come anyway, It is only $4.00! The giveaway will be closed Tuesday 10/20 at 12:00 pm HST, so comment away! Good luck!

how to make your own spooky stamp

2009-10-14T08:00:00.000-07:00

materials needed:

1. wood block

2. sticky back foam

3. pen

4. scissors

5. stamp pad

6. spooky silhouette

First cut out the spooky silhouette, then trace it onto the sticky back foam with your pen (*hint: It is easier to see your tracing on a lighter foam, but black is all I had around, and it works)

Then cut out your silhouette, peel the sticky paper back off, and stick it onto your wooden block.

Stamp Away!

You can use any image, even your own. Kids who can use scissors can make their own shapes too. If you need some inspiration for what image to make into a stamp look here. Happy stamping!

SOMA Airbag

2009-10-13T09:49:00.001-07:00

Awhile ago on Surfline there was a gear review on the most amazing board bag by SOMA designs. It is inflatable and indestructible.

Not only is it indestructible, but you can comfortably sleep in it, and it deflates down to an easy storage size. I love this about it because board bags are so big and bulky to store when not in use.

Check out this video and you will be a believer of this amazing board bag!

handmade halloween

2009-10-12T11:35:00.000-07:00

This year I was very excited to make Indie's halloween costume. I thought and thought about what she should be. Then I decided that since she LOVES the water, and one of her first words was fish, a fish is what she should be! I made her her very own trick or treating bag. I know it is not halloweenish at all, but it goes with her costume.

I made her costume out of cotton and felt. I created a simple cotton dress base, then sewed on a felt hood with eyes, felt scales and a felt tail.

I hope she will wear the hood at least a little, but I am not counting on it.

Happy Halloween!

What are your kids going to be this Halloween?

some fall flavor

2009-10-09T12:13:00.000-07:00

fall = pumpkins. pumpkin milkshakes at jack-n-the box, pumpkin cheesecake at cheesecake factory, pumpkin pies from costco, roasted pumpkin seeds... the list goes on- is your mouth watering? i love pumpkin.

last night i made the easiest pumpkin cookies ever. and they were delicious.
three ingredients:
1 can pumpkin (not the pumpkin pie mix, just plain pumpkin)
1 spice cake mix (dry)
1 cup chocolate chips (or raisins, or nuts, or all three, or none)

mix pumpkin and cake mix, add chocolate chips.
bake at 350 for 12 minutes.

easy right? i was a little nervous, thinking they would end up dense and not too tasty, but they were fluffy and so good!

here's to a happy fall!

man shops globe

2009-10-08T11:27:00.000-07:00

Man Shops Globe ... this show is bound to be great. The show is about an Keith Johnson who has the coolest job ever, of traveling the globe searching for unique products to place in Anthropologie. I wish I could tag along on his adventures! Plus, I love the advertising.

( It's actually Ashley's week to post but I saw this and had to slide it in... )

make your own canvas board bag

2009-10-06T23:08:00.000-07:00

handmade boardbags look hip.

i made one last year for a friend and it was really fun and easy to make. and now you can make your own in an afternoon by following this tutorial- or just throw one together any way your heart desires, i am sure it will turn out radical.

(gotta love a boy who can sew!)
i just remembered i have neapolitan ice cream colored cut canvas waiting for me back in hawaii, can't wait to make another one!

costumes

2009-10-02T14:17:00.000-07:00

I'm really excited for Halloween this year. I wish I had a little boy to dress up in one of these beards. He could be Abraham Lincoln!

crisp

2009-10-02T02:27:00.000-07:00

I'm currently loving design with bright fresh white and bright cheery color.

Note to self..... when I have me very own home I will paint the door frames colors... (its hard to tell but these are a light turquoisey blue)

I want to say this pic is from Domino ( RIP ) but i can't be sure

folk wedding

2009-09-30T11:36:00.000-07:00

I love the pretty details of this "Mexican Fiesta meets Garden Party theme" wedding. My favorite part is that they made the invitation part a fold out double sided poster. Something about that is so rock and roll to me... no? I love all the playfull and unique ideas that people are using for weddings nowadays.

back in the water

2009-09-28T11:47:00.000-07:00

Over the weekend I surfed for the first time since my broken arm, and it felt great! My ribs are a tiny bit sore... which I happen to love right now.

play dough

2009-09-23T10:16:00.000-07:00

I have always loved art/craft projects and have been so excited to do them with my own kids. Indie is almost to the point where she can start to enjoy some projects. One such project is playing with clay or play dough. This book is full of fun and unique recipes to create your own play doughs.
Here are some of my favorites:

FRUITY PLAY DOUGH

what you will need:

2 1/4 cups flour

I cup salt

2 Tbs. unsweetened powdered drink (like kool aid)

4 Tbs. cooking oil

1 cup water

how to concoct it:

1. combine flour, salt, and powdered drink mix in a large bowl

2. stir in cooking oil and water

3. continue stirring until mixture is the consistency of bread dough

4. remove dough from bowl and knead on a floured surface 2-3 minutes until firm

concoction tips & ideas:

*mold different fruity play dough colors/scents into pieces of make believe fruit.

*store leftover fruity play dough in an airtight container or plastic zip bag.

PLASTIC DOUGH

what you will need:

4-6 drops food coloring

1/4 cup whit glue

1/2 cup flour

1/2 cup cornstarch

1/4 cup water

how to concoct it:

1. mix white glue, water, and food coloring together in a small bowl until well blended

2. combine flour and cornstarch in a separate bowl

3. add the flour/cornstarch mixture to the water/glue mixture. Mix until a stiff dough is formed

4. remove dough from the bowl and knead on a floured surface for 2-3 minutes

5. mold plastic dough on a surface covered with wax paper. Drying time will vary according to the size and thickness of your creation

concoction tips & ideas:

*plastic dough can be used to create a wide variety of different items, including beads, jewelry, paperweights, bookmarks, or anything else your imagination will allow

WOODY WOOD DOUGH

what you will need:

1 cup clean well sifted saw dust

1/2 cup flour

1 Tbs liquid starch

1 cup water

how to concoct it:

1. mix ingredients together in a bowl until a stiff dough is formed. Add extra water if the dough is too dry.

2. allow woody wood dough to dry 2-3 days. Sandpaper can be used to smooth woody wood dough after it is completely dry.

concoction tips & ideas:

*press woody wood dough into cookie cutters and candy molds to create paperweights, beads, and tree ornaments.

*finished pieces can be painted or stained with a mixture of food coloring and water (6 drops of food coloring to 1 tbs. of water)

recycled paper gift wrap

2009-09-18T11:25:00.000-07:00

love the idea of using recycled paper to wrap gifts. i have been using brown paper bags (because i have forgotten my reusable bags lately, boo) to wrap gifts lately. the idea of using more recycled paper to decorate the wrapping job sounded and looked so fun! this was on design sponge a while ago. i thought we would give it a try for a birthday part that we are going to today.

sometimes, crafting with the rugrats turns out different than you envisioned...

but she was happy with it and had so much fun drawing happy faces, cutting them out, and glueing them to the present. i love how it turned out and will have to try the other method later- when she is asleep of course.

graffiti we can appreciate

2009-09-17T10:38:00.000-07:00

must visit:

2009-09-16T15:32:00.000-07:00

MADE

MADE, as in a girl named dana made this bathing suit for her daughter. add that one to the do to list (someday...). check out her blog for lots of other fun tutorials (but there are lots more, just click around, they are everywhere), links to lots of other fun blogs (there are just too many to keep up with!) and endless inspiration (love all the refashion stuff she does)!

Leonard Jr.'s

2009-09-11T01:50:00.000-07:00

Hawaii Truck Food: Part 1

hawaii has a thing for food served out of a truck... so I thought I would document it. don't be turned off by the truck, there's some good food to be had.

It's a red and white striped truck that serves malasadas. (a donut like treat) This particular truck moves from shopping center to shopping center and stays for a week at a time. I just love the red stripe motif they have going.

* pictures by Jamie.

Ride the Wild Surf

2009-09-09T17:31:00.000-07:00

Sure "Ride the Wild surf" is a sixties-beach party movie... but it seems to be the best of the bunch. It has great shots from all over Oahu and original footage of real surfers like Mickey Dora, Greg Noll, and and Butch Van Artsdalen surfing big waves at Banzai Pipeline, Sunset Beach, and Haleiwa. I especially love when the shots cut from a fake shot of the actor "surfing" to original footage of real surfers on real waves. Did I mention the bikini fashions? There are some really great styles that I wish I could find now! watch it... you wont be disappointed.

also... one of the girl characters drives this jeep....!

party

2009-09-08T10:35:00.000-07:00

Yesterday cache had his 1st birthday. The party was a "yellow" color theme. There were a lot of great details... which I will post soon, but for now here is the invite, designed by the lovely Jane.

on the topic of

2009-09-04T11:08:00.000-07:00

project runway last night... I was completely disappointed by the designers. How do they not understand a "fun and fashionable sufwear look?" it's really not that hard and I found myself with 2 looks that were cute, the rest of them were completely heinous... not "surfwear-ish" or cute or fun.

doodle bread

2009-09-02T02:42:00.000-07:00

I love all things playfull and clever. This idea is one of those.

for some reason i feel as though if I had this mold... I would make fresh bread daily. ha.

how to: silhouette pillow

2009-08-25T13:42:00.000-07:00

I have been seeing custom silhouette pillows pop up around the blogosphere more and more lately, and I really like them. But they are a bit pricey, so I decided to try and make one myself. It was very fun and fairly simple. Here is how you can make one.

1. Take profile pictures of the people you want to include on your pillow. (it is pretty hard to get a one year old to hold still long enough to take a picture of her/his profile, luckily I found one that worked)

2. Print out photos, and color them in with a sharpie, then cut them out.

3. Pin cut out paper silhouette's to felt and cut out felt silhouettes.

4. Pin felt cut outs to pillow case fabric.

5. Sew around edge of felt silhouette. (This is where you have to go slowly and take some time, mistakes are easily noticeable and can make profile look strange.)

6. Sew pillow case edges and stuff a pillow insert inside and you are done!

1st birthday picnic party

2009-08-24T12:02:00.000-07:00

For my daughter's first birthday I decided to have a picnic! I tied everything together with the color scheme of bright pink, pale blue, and mustard yellow.

Here is the invite:

Lemon cupcakes, with strawberry frosting.

Every guest had their own sack lunch. I designed the menu in Illustrator then ran brown lunch bags through my desk top printer. I also created a sticker of my daughters face to seal the bags shut.

Some of the party people.

The kids got personalized muslin bags with little trinkets inside as party favors. I had the guests sign a book before they left so we can remember who was apart of this significant day.

Thanks to everyone who came and made this picnic party a success! And thanks to the many inspirational blogs such as Lovely Design, Oh Happy Day!, Party Perfect, and many more who gave me inspiration for this party!

madsen cargo bike

2009-08-21T10:57:00.000-07:00

love it. want it.

get it together

2009-08-20T13:08:00.000-07:00

Confession: i am a disorganized crafter. So in the hopes of becoming more organized so I can enjoy making things, I thought of this. (actually I may have read the idea somewhere but it has been a while so I can't remember) Take all your fabrics and cut a small square (mine are about 1inch by 2inch) then clip them together with those triangular clampy things. The next time you are brainstorming for a project or at the store looking at fabric, you know what you have and if it matches!

baby shower idea...

2009-08-19T05:00:00.000-07:00

This shower was inspired by the mother-to-be... she is the hostess with the mostess and sometimes seems straight out of the 50's (if you don't believe me check out her maternity photos here) and a great friend. There were 3 of us planning the shower and many more that helped out. I designed the invite to be like an anne taintor quipp. Then made a couple posters to have around that night. "pregnant 50's housewife attire" was requestd and I wish I had good photos of everyone. We also made a whole lotta (about 40) aprons as party favors (sadly I didn't get the best picture of them either).

if you know a boy turning 7 or so...

2009-08-18T07:00:00.000-07:00

then you could make him this gift. I recently made a "secret compartment book" for my nephew's birthday. Overall it was such a simple and fun package to send.

how i did it: find an interesting book to work with, put a layer of mod podge around the outside edge of stacked pages, let dry for about a day with somthing heavy on top of the closed book, using an exacto knife cut out the secret compartment, mod podge the inside comprtment, let dry... and your done!

i am broken

2009-08-17T08:54:00.000-07:00

any ideas for one armed crafters?

fabric love

2009-08-14T13:33:00.000-07:00

hi my name is ashley and i am an addict.

i have developed a fabric addiction. this is a fairly common thing among crafters/sewers. fortunately (for my husband who funds my crafting ADD habits), i am more of a looker than a buyer. but in this case, i am going to bite the bullet and make a fairly large purchase soon.

what will i be buying you might ask?
the tula pink neptune collection. it's, well, see for yourself:

the anchors and chains, life preservers, koi fish, mermaid scales, and undersea scape. ohhh, i am in love. now i need to decide which fabrics to buy and what to make.

and how cool is tula? check out her surfboard art.

fantastic mr fox

2009-08-13T22:10:00.000-07:00

just one more thing to be thankful for this thanksgiving...

thank you mr wes anderson.

i. can. not. wait.

mod podge rocks

2009-08-12T15:30:00.001-07:00

stumbled across the mod podge rocks blog and wanted to share. there are a ton of fun, cheap, and easy projects on the blog from home decor to kids toys. and did you know that there are 15 varieties- paper, fabric, outdoor, sparkle, glow in the dark... is there anything you can't do with this stuff?

moss graffiti

2009-08-11T22:56:00.000-07:00

how fun would this be on a backyard fence or walkway?

click on either picture for recipe and how to.

**opps! sorry about the links not working on the pictures! they are here and here**

blackle

2009-08-10T20:28:00.000-07:00

blackle is the new google.

seriously, check it out.

Blackle was created by Heap Media to remind us all of the need to take small steps in our everyday lives to save energy. Blackle searches are powered by Google Custom Search.
Blackle saves energy because the screen is predominantly black.
"Image displayed is primarily a function of the user's color settings and desktop graphics, as well as the color and size of open application windows; a given monitor requires more power to display a white (or light) screen than a black (or dark) screen."
- from the blackle "about page"

interesting, right? every little bit counts!

this is happy!

2009-07-28T10:00:00.000-07:00

My friend Joe just got married and his wedding pictures are so happy. Which is so great, congratulations to you! I haven't met his wife but ohhh... her wedding style is so unique and refreshing. The pair are really perfectly styled, i cant get over it.

*photography by Jill Thomas, more pics of Devon & Joe can be found here.

introducing:

2009-07-27T13:03:00.002-07:00

the good day sunshine photo group

how to join:

-click here to be brought to the page.

-click on where it says "join this group" and follow the directions to join.

*if you don't have a flickr account you will need to make one, then you can upload pictures and add them to the group. if i remember correctly, it's pretty easy.

how to add a picture to the group pool:

-once you have uploaded a picture, click on it.

-you will be taken to that pictures page.

-on the top of the picture click where it says "send to group"

a slide down menu will appear.

-click on the good day sunshine group.

-a pop up will say that the photo has been added, you ckick "ok"

-you are done! now we can all see what you have made and can appreciate how great you are!

so, don't be bashful- join in, everyone! add as many pictures as you want of whatever you have made, we love it all! tell your friends- the more, the merrier! i think this is going to be a lot of fun.

your style...

2009-07-27T11:01:00.000-07:00

this sweet little web site has a great quiz to help you figure out your decorating style. It's a fun site to browse around in. Apparantly my style is vintage modern with a bit of cottage chic...

Ahhh one day...

you interested?

2009-07-24T09:57:00.000-07:00

i was thinking about starting a good day sunshine group on flickr that anyone could join and contribute photos to so we could all share crafty stuff we have made. i am really into to browsing what other people have made, leaving comments and finding new ideas on flickr.

why not? it's free. it's easy to do. and it would be purely for fun.

so,

are you in?

i don't want to start it and look funny being the only person contributing photos to it! leave a yea or nay comment and let me know!

hope everyone has a happy weekend!

the talented mr micah smith

2009-07-23T13:35:00.000-07:00

i have a friend named jill. she is married to a man named micah. together they have created two lil munchkins i adore (and have not played with at the beach for tooo long). and as it turns out, micah is a really talented artist. i remember back in college he made this rad painting that had all his room mates in it as well as jill with crazy hair and i think she was surfing (correct me if i am wrong jill, it's been a while!)? i was surprised, maybe because he is a hugely tall basketball player and i didn't think that a "jock" could create such things? how narrow minded, right? well, micah now has a blog and is open for business. personally, i will be ordering a love umbrella painting, when i decide what colors i like. where he really shines is wall murals- check these out:

amazing right? so go check out his blog. he is awesome, and if we ever buy a house, he will be painting on my walls for sure!

oh no they di'nt

2009-07-22T19:43:00.000-07:00

tutorial tuesday

2009-07-21T20:17:00.001-07:00

what would a weeks worth of posts from me be without highlighting a tutorial?

bags made from dishtowels- genius! easy enough to whip up in the morning before a trip to the library in the afternoon. tutorial found here, thanks to the wonderful anna maria horner.

and i am now getting off the computer to do something crafty. why is that so hard to do sometimes?

inspiration

2009-07-20T15:57:00.000-07:00

it's fun to hear people talk about what inspires them to make something- be it a painting, a quilt, an outfit, a song... you get my point. there are so many "things" that inspire people. i have been browsing an inspirations board photo pool on flickr and really want to make one myself. i love the idea of an "inspiration wire" like the photo above, but could easily cover a wall with things that i like and make my head twirl with ideas.

vending machine treasure

2009-07-17T07:00:00.000-07:00

I love vending machines! I know most people think they are full of junk, and who wants to pay 25 cents for a gumball anyway? Well people, I do! Every time I pass a vending machine I have to take a gander. I love gumballs, and lots of times there are cool treasures to be found inside those little plastic capsules.

Like these:

I recently found a toy vending machine(the kunia wal-mart for you interested Hawaii residents) that had mustaches inside! I was so excited, and thought it was pretty funny. There were even different styles, and hair colors. I got the "cowboy". So next time you breeze by a toy vending machine, slow down, you may just find yourself a little treasure!

portable changing pad

2009-07-16T11:39:00.001-07:00

There are always tons of baby showers to attend, and homemade gifts are always well received. For a few of my friends baby showers I have made a handy portable changing pad. They are very useful and it is fun to have a cute one! Here is how to make one for yourself, or a friend.

Materials needed:

12" X 21" vinyl (2)

12" X 21" flannel (3)

bias tape (binding)

*the narrower the bias tape the more difficult it is to bind the edge of the changing pad because the vinyl is slippery.

1. Cut vinyl, and flannel pieces to size.

2. Layer the vinyl and flannel pieces; vinyl, flannel X3, vinyl.

(I used two different colors of flannel, one for each side of the changing pad. The third piece does not show and is just to provide a little extra padding without being bulky.)

3. Pin the bias tape around the edge.

(Use lots of pins because the vinyl slips when sewing.)

4. Sew around the edge, and you are done!

label love

2009-07-15T10:12:00.000-07:00

As most of you know I LOVE to label things. I try and label most everything in my house. It keeps things organized and I like the way words look. Here is a simple way to make a boring bathroom cabinet a little more unique and interesting to the eye, with quick and easy labels.

what you need: sharpie & stencils

label away!

ice punch

2009-07-14T07:00:00.000-07:00

If your looking for a good time, look no further! When I bought this Ice-Punch at foodland for $1.79, I had no idea the fun I would have. It was the best two bucks I ever spent. If you don't live in da kine go here to get your own Ice-Punch.

secret hideout

2009-07-13T07:00:00.000-07:00

I found this on Oh Dee Doh, a radical blog dedicated to home, design, and children. I thought this would be easy and fun to make, and I know I would love spending time hiding out under my kitchen table!

dial up internet...

2009-07-10T08:10:00.000-07:00

It took me about 10 minutes just to get to this point, sooo i'm cutting my post short. Have a great weekend, turn off your phones... walk away from the computer.... and get out into the real world!

they did it... again

2009-07-09T04:00:00.000-07:00

Leave it to Anthropologie to be so creative, that it makes you a little bit sick but mostly jealous. take a gander at their July catalog... the shadow pictures are great!

magazine love

2009-07-07T04:00:00.000-07:00

I have a super big crush on Readymade magazine. I was hooked as soon as I saw instructions for a clever little grass couch. You bet I have that issue in my magazine archives ready to build as soon as possible! Maybe this is old news because they have been around for a while, but even my husband likes to read it.

lovely stamps

2009-07-06T05:00:00.000-07:00

great colors... not cheesy... love them!

find them here...

leftys

2009-07-02T08:00:00.000-07:00

i am left handed. big deal right? turns out as cool as i thought i was in elementary school for because i was different, being left handed makes things difficult at times. take drawing with markers for instance- you should see my arm when i am done, it it a masterpiece in itself with all the colors smeared all over.

what i really struggle with is using a rotary cutter. you know one of these:

a fabric cutters dream, right? not if you are left handed- the sides just don't line up well and it's frustrating. i made up some really funky ways to cut with one but they got, well, funky. so, i got a left handed cutter for myself ( of the gingher variety, on ebay for less than $20, in contrast to over $60 at joann's)

and it is magic. cutting is so much easier. i had no idea that cutting could be so much fun. and to think i had no idea that it existed a few months ago... hence sharing it with you. if you are left handed, i highly recommend it!

will ferrell's sunscreen

2009-07-01T09:05:00.000-07:00

will farrell's sunscreen proceeds go to cancer for college, a charity that helps put cancer survivors through college. pick up a bottle here. the hardest part will be deciding which variety to purchase: "sexy hot tan" "sun stroke" or "forbidden fruit" or go ahead and get the three pack. and be sure to have a good laugh at cancer as you apply.

“The bottle says it all. I’ve always dreamed of owning a lotion company. And I’ve always hated cancer.” -Will Farrell

freetunes

2009-06-30T13:16:00.000-07:00

did you know that urban outfitters has 5 compilations for over 20 songs that you can download for free. yes, free. this was news to me, and i love news that has to do with getting things for free. i have been internetting (made up word?) to the fifth compilation and i have to say i like it. check out the free tunes (!) here.

and while you are at it, take a gander at this sea fan jewler stand. it's boss.

and you might want to check out these hanging jar vases they look way too easy to DIY. think i might have to bust out some metal hangers and old mason bottles to copy it!

also, dear and yonder has posted their tour dates (here) and you hawaiian wahines aren't left out this time (wish i was there to organize a girls night to go see it!)

for all you etsy shop owners out there

2009-06-29T08:49:00.000-07:00

gotta love handmade right? if you love handmade, i am sure you love etsy!

i just stumbled across this e-book full of hints for those of us who have or want to have an etsy shop and figured i would pass it along.

king of pop

2009-06-26T11:58:00.001-07:00

As I am sure everyone heard, Michael Jackson passed away. I can not believe it! Another thing that I can not believe is the amount of products that immediately popped up following his death. Corbin got in on the action and designed some t-shirts for cafe press. This one is my personal favorite.

What products have you seen since The King of Pop passed away?

talented person

2009-06-25T10:47:00.000-07:00

My sister in law, Kathryn Knudsen, is one of the most talented people I know. She is always creating something, her hands NEVER stop. Whether it be painting,

making cute baby things,

or creating one of a kind hats!

Check out more of her artwork here. She also has an etsy shop, but everything is currently sold out.

reduce, reuse, recycle

2009-06-24T07:00:00.000-07:00

Here is an easy and eco-friendly way to make baby board shorts:

1. Lay old board shorts out flat. On top of them place baby shorts to be traced. Fold the baby shorts in half, with the outside seam of the baby shorts along the side seam of the board shorts. Place the hem of the baby shorts along the hem of the board shorts (as pictured).

2. Cut around the baby shorts allowing 1/2 inch extra for seam allowance. At the top of the baby shorts leave about 2 1/2 inches for the waistband. Repeat process on the other side of the board shorts, using the piece you just cut as your new template.

3. Open the two pieces of cut board short and place them right sides together. Pin in place. Sew from the waist to the crotch on both sides.

4. Open up the new baby board shorts so that the crotch seam you just sewed is now in the center. Pin the legs together, aligning the bottom hems and center seam. Sew from one side to the other.
5. To make the waistband, fold down the top 1/4 inch and press. Fold down another inch and press again. Sew this down leaving a 2 inch opening to insert 3/4 inch elastic.
6. Hook safety pin into the elastic and thread it through the waist, being careful not to twist it. Sew ends of elastic together, and opening shut. Turn right side out and your re-used board shorts are ready for some fun at the beach!

half pipe

2009-06-23T07:00:00.000-07:00

We recently built a half pipe at our house, which makes it easy for me to skate. I think that everyone should learn to skate because it is fun! So to help you get started go here for some half pipe plans, or to find a skatepark near you search here. Happy skating!

packaging

2009-06-22T07:00:00.000-07:00

June is a busy month for me as far as gift giving goes. To me, it seems that you can have just as much fun with the gift packaging as you can with the gift itself. Here is the most recent packaging that I used for three of my sisters birthdays (yes, they all have the same birthday (today), no they are not triplets, but two of them are twins).

I liked pairing a monochromatic exterior...

with a colorful interior!

I know I would be excited to get a package in the mail like this one! Happy Birthday Sisters!

supplies

2009-06-20T01:46:00.000-07:00

You may have seen this stuff around... I have been wanting some but to indecisive of which ones to get. I love the all the colors and the many possibilities forming in my head of how to use this stuff. So so pretty, and happy. I must decide and order this weekend.

Oh, have a happy weekend!

one day...

2009-06-17T13:40:00.000-07:00

I will sew a skirt like this for my babe. I will. I love items like this that are so simple. There is a small problem with fabric stores in Hawaii... they are filled with 80% hawaiian prints. Leaving not so many options a resources for cute fabric. sigh... but pictures like this inspire me because the right solids are great together.

ps. I found these images on katie did... a good read that one.

daily

2009-06-16T12:17:00.000-07:00

I found this moisturizer at the drug store and I love it! (most burts bees products are pretty good, right?) It feels nice and thin AND it has sunscreen in it. My newest fear is that I will look like leather in 10 years because I am always in the sun, so this calms my fears a bit.

coloring contest...

2009-06-15T13:05:00.000-07:00

Andy Davis is a favorite artist of ours. He also has a clothing line featuring his original style of surf art called ando and friends. I just noticed that they are having a coloring contest which struck me as funny and juvenile until I noticed the winner gets $250 bucks and a "plethera of product." Time to dip into the past and whip out my coloring skills!!

quilt tutorials

2009-06-11T08:44:00.000-07:00

i love making quilts. i always have one in the works these days. currently i have two waiting for quilting and binding (and hopefully to be sold!).
and i think i have mentioned before, i am a sucker for a good tutorial. it is so fun to see pictures of a work in progress and see how it turns out. a cute girl named candace (sparkle power blog and etsy shop) posted about a little quilting tutorial from katie did that i am loving. which means i have to start another quilt so i can learn how to use quilting pins and do some overlapping diagonal quilting. what do you want to make?

(candace's quilts from the katie did tutorial)

go ahead, play with your food

2009-06-10T08:54:00.000-07:00

luke emailed me this a while ago and i just found it and had to post, who doesn't love a hot dog octopus?

old surf wax candles

2009-06-09T13:29:00.000-07:00

just found a cool article here on surfline that shows you how to make candles from old wax. i can't wait to strip a board or two and give this a try.

suppose

2009-06-08T08:24:00.000-07:00

a good friend of mine opened a quilting boutique in idaho a few months ago. now, i know, idaho is quite aways away from me and most likely from you too. but their online shop is up and running now! they have tons of fun fabrics and cool books.

the suppose blog is a fun read as well. check out all the cool stuff she got to see first hand (and even touch-there is just something about quilts that needs touching for some reason!) at the pittsburgh spring quilt market. i am so jealous, how fun would it be to be there? oh hello kaffi fasset and hi to you too amy butler! like i said, so jealous!

weekend sewing

2009-06-05T13:05:00.000-07:00

Here are some projects I just completed from Heather Ross' book Weekend Sewing. I hope they inspire you to start a project this weekend.

I unpicked the sleeves from a plain white onesie and added the ruffle in matching fabric to make a complete outfit.

Happy Aloha Friday!

kids art

2009-06-05T07:00:00.000-07:00

Here is a unique way to display your kids art that will definitely make him/her feel special. You can order a "design your own t shirt kit" from poloppo.

The kit includes markers, square paper, a catalog of t-shirts and a pre-paid return envelope so kids can send in their artwork and get it printed onto a t-shirt. You can chose to print the artwork onto a kids, or adult sized shirt. Great gift idea for that very special Dad in your life! (Father's Day is June 21st)

awww shucks....

2009-06-05T01:44:00.000-07:00

I often read the pretty little blog called party perfect.... thanks for featuring our outdoor party! We really like you.

fabric dollhouse

2009-06-04T09:48:00.000-07:00

Handmade gifts are always the best gifts. They are unique and require more thought. For a little friends birthday I made this fabric dollhouse. It was very fun to make and inexpensive. She loved it!

I also painted this little wooden family to live in the dollhouse.

The possibilities are endless, so go and get started!

a must have

2009-06-03T07:00:00.000-07:00

This is one of my favorite items... the DYMO label buddy. I think it is a must have.

I love the way the labels look. To get a little creative cut a strip of cool paper the same width as the label tape and feed it through the label buddy, then you have an even cooler looking label! Get yourself a label buddy here.

santa cruz skatepark

2009-06-02T07:00:00.000-07:00

I love Santa Cruz. Whenever we visit the mainland it is a priority to visit. One of the things we love to do when we are there is skate at this skatepark. It has northern California's first 17' full pipe! My favorite thing about the skatepark is that the bowl area is blue like the ocean, with the full pipe looking like a wave, and the street course is sand colored. So creative.

Check out their blog for more photos and videos and you can even buy a t-shirt!

how to make a quite book

2009-06-01T07:00:00.000-07:00

Aloha! I'm Meg. I love skating, surfing, sewing, art-making, Corbin and my baby's dimples. I'm excited to have been invited to be apart of this sun-shining blog! I hope I can inspire some of you because I know you inspire me.

Sometimes I am inspired to make things because I am too cheap to actually buy it. That was the case when I made this quiet book.

You can make one too!

1. Cut (6) 10"x8", and (2) 11.5"x8" pieces of heavy weight fabric. I used white canvas. The slightly larger pieces are for the cover and first and last pages.

2. Gather the notions you have lying around your house; buttons, zippers, snaps, velcro, ribbons, shoe laces, etc...

3. Make words to match your notions. I actually printed onto muslin. I cut the muslin to the size of a piece of paper, then fused iron on material (found at fabric stores, used for applique) to the back of it, but I did not pull off the papery backing. Then fed it through my printer. It worked surprisingly well. I also printed a photo of my daughter to personalize the book.

4. Sew the notions/words onto the pages. Figuring out the order is a little tricky, I used folded pieces of paper to help me visualize it. (The word does not always match the notion it shares a page with, but when you place them all folded together like a book they will match up.) Kind of confusing I know.

5. Gather your pages and place right sides together and sew, leaving a hole for turning. Turn and top stitch near the edge of each page. You should end up with three double sided pages and a cover.

6. Take the cover and sew the pages onto it.

7. Enjoy hours of quiet entertainment!

outdoor dinner party...

2009-05-29T11:18:00.000-07:00

This year for a friends birthday we decided to have a dinner party for her on the end of "the point." Which is a mini peninsula in our town. The out of the ordinary location made it more special and we were inspired by the location to make it "hawaii-esque" without being cheesy. Here is what we did... Wailua Sodas (so yummy and made on Oahu), Salmon pineapple rice and salad in a to go box, wrapped with a leaf, votives wrapped in leaves and tied with a string, and a yummy cheesecake. It turned out great and meg's husband did a good job of keeping it a surprise... she didn't even know where she was or that we were all there!

mango season

2009-05-28T02:15:00.000-07:00

In Hawaii it is the beginning of mango season, mmm. This is the easiest way to snack on a mango. My lovely husband learned this trick in Asia. The pictures are self explanatory really, what you do is slice vertically avoiding the mango seed... cut into the half in a grid pattern... pop the mango inside out... then eat the perfect delicious cubes!

peanut butter goodness

2009-05-27T01:27:00.000-07:00

Karly made these cupcakes, chocolate with peanut butter frosting. The frosting was so delicious (and simple) that I had to post the recipe. Which is...

1 C. Peanut butter
1/2 C. butter
3 C. powdered sugar
3 Tbs. milk

* cream the butter and peanut butter... add powdered sugar as the mixer is going.... add the milk one Tbs at a time.

also, if you put all the frosting in a zip-lock and then cut the corner of the bag, you can "pipe" out the frosting like she did. just add sprinkles!

i'm loving...

2009-05-26T14:23:00.000-07:00

underwater pictures.

My seester took pictures of us surfing yesterday. Doesn't everyone want pictures of them frolicking in the ocean like a roxy model? The waves were small but we had fun!