A peek behind Lark Studio...

Thrifting Thursday: Hoops, hoops and more hoops

The Bins is getting to be a dangerous place. What's The Bins you ask? My name for the Goodwill Warehouse Outlet on Midlothian Turnpike here in Richmond. It's the last stop for all the items that didn't sell in any of the area Goodwill stores. It all comes to the center and is placed in bins. You purchase items by the pound at a steal: $.59 per pound for housewares and $1.99 per pound for clothing with price breaks after 20 pounds. It never ceases to amaze me what people donate to Goodwill and what society is willing to let go into our trash stream.

I went to The Bins this week with Craig to just hang out and spend some time. I walked out with this:

  

111 embroidery hoops. For $3.57. With tax. Yep...let that sink in for a minute.

I have a problem, I know. But literally - these were headed for the trash and I couldn't let that happen. They are all in perfectly good, if not new condition. Once I found about five hoops, I started looking for them all over the warehouse. I then realized I needed a cart and I'm sure I looked a site walking to get one with about 10 embroidery hoops on each arm! Finding them quickly became a communal affair - other shoppers were finding them for me and adding them in my cart! So, for all you crafters - if you embroider, want to learn, or use hoops for wall art and want some reclaimed hoops for a good price - hit me up in the comments. I'm off to scope out Jenny Hart's cool embroidery site - Sublime Stitching. Embroidery world here I come!

Goodwill of Central Virginia Richmond Warehouse Outlet
Address: 6301 Midlothian Turnpike, Richmond, VA 23225
NEW Hours: Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday 8:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Phone: (804) 521-4921

Back down (crafty) memory lane...

...I stumbled on this rubbermaid bin...it kinda made me laugh...it took me way back...back down crafty memory lane...

Okay, Minnie I am not. 

While cleaning up for the crafty yardsale that didn't happen, I came across a bin in the attic labled "miscellaneous". I'm pretty good with remembering all the stuff we have, but I couldn't recall what could possibly be in this bin. It was stored with my crafty stuff so the possibilities were endless...

The bin turned out to be a crafty, mini time capsule. It was full of unfinished projects and project ideas from years gone by. It's been funny to see what was hot back then - ideas that were popping up left and right on NEW sites like Craftster.org and such. Yep - some of these ideas are from as far back as 2004. 

I've decided to clear out the box by completing the projects. So far its been a fun break from production crafting - kinda like visiting a good, old girlfriend! First out of the box were some old vinyl albums and a beat-up clock. The idea was to manipulate the vinyl into record album bowls, to possibly try my hand at cutting the vinyl for cuffs or jewelry, or to make record album clocks. Well, last week I went a little clock crazy. I thrifted a few more clocks to reuse the quartz mechanisms and finally put a few of these together. I forgot how much fun making stuff from junk was!

Next out of the bin - cassette tapes!

Deals and steals

Hello blogosphere! Long time no hear from, eh? I'm busy clearing out the studio, attic and any other space I can find around the house this week in preparation for a yard sale next weekend. Crafty maven Kelly McCants (Modern June and Oilcloth Addict) and I are having a huge sale to clear out the excess. We will be selling fabrics, tons of display items (baskets, risers, hat stands, etc.), jewelry findings, finished crafts and more! Come on out for some deals and a few steals and bring a friend or two!

Saturday June 20th

8:00 am - 12:00 noon

1308 Claremont Ave., 23227

(Northside)

Going out on top

My last event as a member of the Richmond Craft Mafia was great!  The Spring Bada-bing craft show and I even got some coverage in the Times Dispatch.  It feels good to go out with a bang!

Craft show weekend!

The weather is going to be nice this weekend!  While you are out and about, stop by 2 of the areas best craft shows.

For the more traditional - come to Fool for Art at John Tyler Community College (Midlothian) on Saturday from 10:00 am - 5:00 pm.  Amy George (Modern Atelier) and I will be there under the Richmond Craft Mafia banner.

Looking for something edgy and unique? You know you have to come to the 4th annual Spring Bada-bing! The event is at Plant Zero on Sunday from 11:00 am - 4:00 pm.  It's my last SBB as a member of the Richmond Craft Mafia so come out and see me!

Heard about the Summit of Awesome? Well...

Geared specifically for independent artists and crafters, the Summit of Awesome is 3 full days of seminars and hands-on workshops, which will provide business and technical education for those in the handmade arts community. The Summit also includes the D.C. premiere showing of the indie craft documentary, Handmade Nation - a film that captures the superstars of indie craft, and documents how the handmade community began and took its current shape.

 

Special keynote speakers include Maria Thomas, CEO of Etsy.com, andJenny Hart, Founder of Sublime Stitching!  Visit Hello Craft for a full list of topics and speakers.

Register now for a 3-day pass for $180.  Discounts are available for groups and craft collectives. The crafty folks at Hello Craft are putting on the event. Email hellocraftinfo@gmail.com for group rates and more info. 

 

The Summit of Awesome will take place in the independent shops, restaurants and bars in the MidCity area of D.C., along 14th and U Streets NW, including Miss Pixie's Solly's, DC9, Bar Pilar and Gate 54 at Cafe St. Ex. The Friday night film screening of Handmade Nation will be hosted at the DCJCC's Theater J. 

If you decide to go, PLEASE respond to this post and let me know!

Register now for a 3-day pass for $180.  Discounts are available for groups and craft collectives. The crafty folks at Hello Craft are putting on the event. Email hellocraftinfo@gmail.com for group rates and more info. 

 

The Summit of Awesome will take place in the independent shops, restaurants and bars in the MidCity area of D.C., along 14th and U Streets NW, including Miss Pixie's Solly's, DC9, Bar Pilar and Gate 54 at Cafe St. Ex. The Friday night film screening of Handmade Nation will be hosted at the DCJCC's Theater J. 

If you decide to go, PLEASE respond to this post and let me know!

A little rusty

My sewing skills that is.  I've made excuse after excuse for the past 3+ years as to why I don't use my sewing machines.  In 2005 I invested in some great Baby Lock machines (Ellure sewing machine and a Imagine serger) and I can count on one hand how many times I've used them since then.  Sad, I know. I've got my eye on #11 from the list this week so I'm dusting off both machines, pulling out the manuals and getting my butt in the chair. 

This week I made a promise to clear off my craft table.   In particular one pile that has been in the far upper left corner for eons.  At the bottom of the pile were some lingerie travel bags I had an idea for some time ago.  I came across this cute fabric at Quilting Adventures and it just had to be made into something dealing with lingerie!  When I travel I always swipe one of the plastic dry cleaning bags, you know the ones that hang in the closet of the hotel room, to put my dirty unmentionables in to keep them separate from the other things in my suitcase.  I loathe plastic bags in every other area of my life but I was still using them on trips.  Well, no more!  These great cotton, reusable bags will accompany me from now on.  

It took me waayy too long to whip these out so I know I need to sew a lot more to get my skills back up to par.  I'm off to Fleur Fabrics to get some paper to make patterns for these and then to find more fabric to make more for my shop.  Perhaps I can find some fabric with boxers on them to make one for the hubby!

What do you use for your unmentionables when you travel?

A yummy healthy muffin? Yep, it is possible!

I have decided to severely cut down on eating processed foods.  My friend over at House of Lukaya suggested I have a cooking day - a day where I cook several things that can refridgerate/freeze so I have ready made, homemade meals later in the week.  That's what I'm doing today.

As always, I am purusing my Cooking Light Annual Recipe books.  Cooking Light (the magazine) puts all of the years recipes into one hard bound book.  I got my first one the year I got married and have been a faithful buyer of this periodical every year.  Even years, like this one, where I have the magazine subscription!

Breakfast is the biggest challenge for me on cutting out processed foods.  I usually get up with not to many minutes to spare before having to leave for work, so I need something quick.  In January 2008, the magazine did a feature entitled "Body Boosters: How what you eat can improve your health, mind and appearance".  The article focused on recipes that included super-foods and the vitamins and minerals the body needs most.  The recipe for Orange-Cranberry Wheat Germ Muffins caught my attention (orange, cranberry, brown sugar) and I decided to try it.  The wheat germ provides a excellent does of Vitamin E which can benefit eye, heart and brain health.  These muffins were excellent!  The sprinkling of turbinado on the top provided a great crunchy texture.  I would say take the time to do the fresh squeezed orange juice - it makes a world of difference on flavor and doesn't take that much effort.  These muffins are recommended best served warm, but they are delicious at room temperature too!

Orange-Cranberry Wheat Germ Muffins (Cooking Light Annual Recipes 2009)

(Yield: 1 dozen. Serving size: 1 muffin)

1 1/2 cups all purpose flour (about 6 3/4 ounces)

1/2 cup raw wheat germ

1/2 cup sweetened dried cranberries

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg

3/4 cup packed brown sugar

1/4 cup canola oil

1 teaspoon grated orange rind

1/2 cup fresh orange juice

2 large eggs, lightly beaten

Cooking spray

1 tablespoon turbinado sugar

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.

Lightly spoon flour into dry measuring cups; level with a knife. Combine flour and next 7 ingredients (through nutmeg) in a large bowl; stir with a whisk. Make a well in center of mixture.

Combine brown sugar and next 4 ingredients (through eggs); stir with a whisk.  Add egg mixture to flour mixture; stir just until combined.  Spoon batter into 12 muffin cups coated with cooking spray.  Sprinkle with turbinado sugar.  Bake at 375 degrees for 17 minutes or until muffins spring back when touched in center.

CALORIES 197 (26% from fat); FAT 5.8g (sat 0.6g, mono 3.1g, poly 1.6g); PROTEIN 3.4g; CARB 33.8g; FIBER 1.2g; CHOL 35mg; IRON 1.7mg; SODIUM 149mg; CALC 54mg

Finally.

I have 2 whole days off in a row!  Just wanted you to know that life was getting back to some sort of routine.  K'thanks.

Between you and me...

If you are even a remote follower of my blog - you know about my relationship with the Richmond Craft Mafia.  Five (that's right, count 'em) years ago I helped to start RCM and it has been part of my heart and soul ever since.  Our little group of 4 has grown into the crafty force of 15 kick-ass artists and crafters you all know and love.  We put indie craft on the radar in both Richmond and throughout VA - a fact that I am, and will always be, very proud of.

I am leaving the Richmond Craft Mafia after our Spring Bada-bing craft show this April.  It's time to move on and make room in the group so it can continue to grow and dominate the craft scene in Richmond.  Lark Studio will still be around.  And hey - you know I'm always full of ideas for crafty events!  I hope you choose to subscribe to my blog feed and take this journey with me.  I will need the support!