More Typewriters!

Look at these amazing finds! Both beautiful Underwoods.  Although the cases are a little banged up, the typewriters inside are in beautiful beautiful condition.  I feel like I won the lottery today!

First, the one I have dubbed "the transformer."  (Because I enjoy dumb humor.)

Here it is, waiting to be awakened...

The bottom opens up to reveal extending legs, and BAM!

OH,  YES IT DID!
It's actually quite beautiful even without accounting the legs.

And here's the other baby.  Here's her clothes.

A little tattered.  But here she is... This doll has glass keys :-)

They are both in such great condition... Lucky lucky Sunday!

AND a microwave cart!

That's RIGHT!  The kitchen island was NOT enough.  We went ahead and made a microwave cart!  We used pieces of wine boxes and the whole wine boxes for holding things (potatoes and onions and stuff!)  Woohoo! We're pretty awesome!  I plan on staining it, but I just wanted to share as soon as I could!

Here's the frame:

And BAM!  Awesome:

And here it is, in use:

The final reveal!

So, Eleni and I decided that we needed a kitchen island.  After scouring the internet, we realized that the size we wanted was going to be way too expensive.  So!  We put some roof racks on my 1990 Toyota Camry, (yah, that's right!) we picked up 4 free pallets from a craigslist ad, and we began on a journey.  Over the past 2 weekends, we built and built, sanded and grouted, painted and cut, drilled and planed, and finally, we ended up with an AWESOME product.  (Sorry, not the best pictures.)

First, the frame.  We made 8 of these simple frames, made with 2x3s and 2x4s.  After we put them together we realized we could have easily just used 2x3s.  2x4s were overkill.  We got a sheet of cabinet grade plywood and cut it to size and screwed it all together as shown in the second picture.

Wine boxes!

They're just about my favorite things.
Other things that make the list: power tools!
My parents found some wine boxes at the flea market and of course they thought of me and bought me a few.  Horray!  And I used my new jigsaw and a hammer to fix one up real nice.

So, I only upcycled one of them, but I upcycles it into awesome!  I'm gonna hang these babies above the microwave stand and put the awesome vintage plate set I got off Etsy right on top.  And it'll look FABULOUS.

Here's the before...

And after...

UPDATE, because dayum, I really needed to!

Well, I have crafted here and there over the past few months...  Where have I been these past few months?  Busy like crazy with work!

But, for the holidays, I made my coworkers all mugs. Boring right?  No! I put our school logo on them and then added their names on the back.  Forgot to take a picture of the names, but here's what the front looked like:

Clear decal transfer paper made this possible...  I made double the number you see below...

I sprayed each mug with a clear polyurethane coating to make it water resistant.  

That's all I got for now... Well, I've been selling those pallet coasters now and again.  And, my Etsy shop is over $400 in the black!  That's a big accomplishment for something I've really been neglecting, lol.

A glass wedding card box...

About a month ago, I was contacted by Sarah who was browsing one of my glass terrariums on Etsy.  She needed a wedding card box and asked if that particular terrarium would fit the bill.  Unfortunately, the terrarium has 2 large openings on either side, so it couldn't really hold the cards in.  After some back and forth, she decided to have me make a box for her!  How exciting!!  I, for one, was tremendously excited!

I started with her wedding colors, a light green and navy blue.

So, I scoured the internets, and found the closest colored stained glass I could:

Not too shabby, eh?

Then, I had to find some metal accents, which was a pain in the neck! lol, not the easiest things to find.  But here's what I did find:

And then it was time to get to work!  I was very very careful with this piece, I didn't want to do anything sloppy.  So, slow and steady, measure twice (three times, four?) and cut once!  I made the bottom first...

And then, I measured and measured to make a top that fit perfectly.  (P.S., the legs aren't attached yet, just kind propped on there).

Then, I used chemical patina to make all that shiny solder a nice dark black (to match all the metal accents).

Long story short (long story long!), here we have the finished product:

The cards can be slid into that hole you see on top... and of course the lid just slides on and comes off so that the newly weds can retrieve all of the cards :)

PHEW!  Now, off to take a much deserved movie break :)

Something I'm working on.

When shit's really... shitty, I find the need to craft things.  Not just any craft and not necessarily for a functional product, but just something time consuming and expressive.  More "art" than craft.

I am only as strong as I am,

because you guided me.

I have always said that my sister is one of the strongest and bravest people I know.  Last year, as she battled cancer with striking wit and unwavering strength, I thought to myself: "see, I was right."   An amazing mother, an adoring sister, and a spunky pain-in-the-ass, my sister has conquered any role she's taken on and made it all look so easy.

Today, I wonder if I could ever be a strong enough sister and brave enough friend to help her when she's the one who has strength and bravery in the bag.  I endlessly hope that I can be half the woman she is without her help, should she ever leave us.  It is only with her help that I have made it as far as I have anyway.

Mari, I love you.  We'll fight this together, as long as it takes and as hard as it gets.