Book Review- The Hourglass Door Series

It's a little after 1AM, so I'm just going to post the official book trailer from YouTube. I know, I know. Lazy me. But these books are honestly so good. Trust me, once you start, you are NOT going to want to put them down. Make sure you give yourself plenty of time to read them, because you will possible be confused. I was at parts, but you are supposed to be. It's part of the way she writes. I would go as far as to say that Dante is the Italian Mr. Darcy. ;)
I absolutely love these, and I hope you do to!

-Lauren

Embroidery Floss!!

Hey guys!

With school out and long road trips or flights in your near future, you might need something to entertain yourself with :). Well, I'm here to tell you about the wonder of embroidery floss! It's super easy to pack and do while traveling. Bracelets, anklets, necklaces, hair wraps, you name it!! Embroidery floss is sold at any fabric store and I'm pretty sure your local Wal-Mart might have some too. Grab 6 or so of your favorite colored threads and also a hard back book and a chip clip or a clothes pin.

Bracelets, Anklets, and Necklaces
There are a couple ways that you can make these bracelets, anklets, and necklaces. These bracelets do stretch a lot, but make sure that it won't cut off circulation by putting one finger in between the bracelet and your wrist before you tie it off.

How to tie off: Knot the end of the braid and then get some help putting it on! Be sure to tie a double knot so that it won't fall off.

Braids:
Take three pieces of embroidery floss and measure them around your wrist. Make sure that you have two or three inches extra on the end so that you can tie it off. Tie a knot at one of the ends. Pull it super tight so it doesn't come undone! Clip the floss to your hard cover book using the clothes pin. Separate the different colors and start braiding! Once you think that it's at about the right length, measure it around your wrist. If it fits loosely enough to put one finger in between the bracelet and your wrist, you're good to go! Tie off.

Knots:
Take two pieces of embroidery floss and fold them in half (Make sure that these pieces are a couple inches longer than your wrist is while folded in half). Tie a knot at the point where the floss is folded so that there is about a half an inch loop. Clip it to your book. Separate the floss so that the two separate colors are together (i.e. both pieces of pink floss on the left side, and both pieces of blue on the right). Take one of the pieces of floss on your right and fold it over all the other floss so that it looks like a backwards 4. Pull the end of the 4 shaped string through the triangle part of the 4. Pull it tightly. Separate the floss by color again, keep it on the same sides as it originally was. Now reverse the process. Take one of the pieces of floss from your left and fold it to look like a 4. Pull the end of the floss through the triangle part of of the four. Pull tightly. Once you've done these, switch to the slightly longer pieces of thread, alternating between the pieces. Repeat this process until the bracelet is long enough for your wrist :) Tie off.

If you are really into making these bracelets, check out this book, it's awesome!
http://www.amazon.com/Friendship-Bracelets-Klutz-Laura-Torres/dp/1570540535


Hair Wraps
This usually works better on hair that is at least ear length, I sadly can't do this right now :(. Anyway, this is great for summer and way cute!

Take a small section of hair, only about a pinch worth. I usually take this section from behind my ear. Pull the rest of your hair back and braid this section. Use a small rubber elastic to tie off the end of the braid. Cut two pieces of embroidery floss that are at least twice as long as the braid is. Fold these in half and tie them into a tight knot at the top of your braid. Grab on piece of floss, let's just say it's purple, and begin to wrap it around your hair. Hold the other floss underneath the purple floss, directly against your braid. Make sure that you can't see any gaps through the floss and wrap it tightly. Do this until there is about and inch of purple floss at the top of your braid. Pull it down into group of floss and pull out on strand of floss from the other color, this one's green. Start where the purple floss left off and wrap it around the braid and the other floss. Again, do this until there is about an inch. Switch to the purple floss now and make sure that you are using the piece that is the longest of the two. Repeat this until you come to the end of your braid. To tie this off, take to strands of opposite colors and tie them in a double knot. Do the same with the other two pieces. Take another small plastic elastic and wrap it slightly above where the two knots that you just tied are. You're done! This will last for about three weeks. Wash your hair as normal.

To take it out pull the covering elastic out and carefully cut the embroidery floss knots at the end of your braid. Start unwrapping and pull it out :)


Have an awesome summer you guys!!
Emily

Where The Wild Things Are

There is this great website named MADE http://www.dana-made-it.com/ that I have been enjoying becoming aquinted with. I is full of ideas for crafty/sewing girls like us. (Okay, maybe a lot of them are a lot better than me, but probably not some of you!
They feature other crafty people, like right here:
 http://www.dana-made-it.com/search?updated-max=2011-03-14T08%3A00%3A00-05%3A00&max-results=4

Scroll down a bit till you see :
 
http://www.flickr.com/photos/tetertotter/4353578547/in/faves-40972415@N00/
This is the artists flickr stream, beginning with these adorable TP Roll creations!

I thought since Suzanne and Em have a very cute collection of critters from this book in their house, that maybe my family might make this version; I think it might be more affordable. :)