Something Pretty, Something Smart

Because every week should contain

Something Pretty,

Something Smart,

Something to do,

And a bit of art.

... and also one or two things just for fun.

Something Pretty

## I don't know if this counts as pretty, but it is pretty seriously awesome... and the rest of the stuff at LennyMud is fantastic too. 

I would totally roll out of bed and start 'pitying' every 'fo' who got in the way of me and this teapot. love. it. 

## Grey skies? no problem. keep a rainbow in your pocket. great idea from Masa-ka.

Something Smart

## Ever read those choose-your-own-adventure novels as a kid? They were my road-trip staple. Love this comic, philosopher's version from Luke Surl: 

## If you happen to be a physics geek, like me, or if you've ever read Flatland by Edwin Abbot, you will appreciate This Video from Tenth Dimension. If you hated physics and wouldn't touch Flatland with a 40 foot pole made of duct tape and pool cues... watch it anyway. it will change your mind. 

Something to do: 

## First.. go Here to Jackson Pollock [dot] org and fingerpaint  online. Seriously. GO. i'll wait.

...

ok. you know you feel better now. 

## Then look at these...

images found via a cup of jo

and go find some ugly thing you can make beautiful. 

A bit of art:

## Since we seem to be on the subject, I'm a huge fan of street art. HUGE (i blame it on a too-young-and-impressionable viewing of Basquiat). I may or may not have defaced certain pieces of public property in the name of art once or ... thrice. these are pretty rad.

image

the above two images

 image

pvc pipe! genius.

## and OH MY WORD, look at THESE insane sidewalk chalk images. 

and... one for the road...

Remember this - the hug me pillow -  it's still just about the creepiest thing i've ever seen.

why would anyone want to share a bed with half a man's upper torso?

it's a valid question. 

wonderful weekend wishes to you all. 

Graffiti and Ganglion, 

-shawnacy

frustrations galore

Just a quick whiny post. 
Whiny, sleep-deprived and a little bit on-edge. 


This weekend/last 4 days has been INSANE with busyness. We've been up to things here at the ranch, and I have a lot to share... if only I hadn't, in the craziness of these days, inadvertently misplaced the camera chord... 
(ARRRRGGHHHH!!!!) a camera full of awesome, un-downloadable photos... not the greatest thing. 


so... as I'm stuck holding onto these posts till i can share them properly, here are some pretty things to look at:


## crocheted cobwebs.

here

## Feathers in glass bubbles. These are so very nice, I think. And I'm a little dazzled at how they manged to get them in there... 

http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/chicago/inspiration/add-feathers-to-your-holiday-decor-134961

found via Epheriell Designs

## Check out the Tallest tree in the world... twice the Statue of Liberty!!

## Make this cute Yarn Circle Garland with Hands On: As We Grow

## If you don't know what the word  Mamihlapinatapai means... check it out here. I've determined to use it at least once this week. 

## I'm kind of in love with Mini Eco, a great little site with tons of easy, fun, kid friendly activities. You will not be disappointed. 

## And, finally, I give you THIS. Enjoy. 

Here's hoping the camera chord makes an appearance today... or things might get a little slow around here.

Frantic Searching and Fleet Foxes,

-shawnacy

Something Pretty, Something Smart

Because every week should contain:

Something Pretty,

Something Smart,

Something to Do,

And a Bit of Art.

... and also one or two things just for fun. 

So then, in no particular order, i give you:


Something Pretty:


## Download some Free Desktop Wallpapers from artist Willem Pirquin.
Choose from his selection of Alphabet Letters

or any of his other lovely designs.

## Get this Free Crochet Pattern for Dainty Little Doily Rings from All Free Crochet

Something Smart:


## For all you other bloggers out there, here's a great little post from Crafterminds about How to Use Stumble-Upon to boost business.




## Have you heard about Blarter? A genius idea from A Foothill Home Companion. 

## This Silly Comic has been making the rounds lately. It gets me every time. Yay for chemistry!!

Something to Do:


## How about making a little Moss Graffiti! This looks super awesome, and not-too-difficult.

I can think of a few dull-looking corners of the yard that could use a little graffiti sprucing-up.

## Aunt Peaches has a sweet tutorial up on how to make these amazing-looking Coffee filter flower baskets. These are beautiful!

A Bit of Art:

## Look at this amazing underwater sculpture installation. 

## Can you find the man in this picture?? Totally insane Invisible Man project. 

And Just for Fun:

## Annika saw this the other day and FLIPPED. As soon as I grab some Jelly Beans, we'll be all over this Jelly Bean Bracelet from My Kids Make. 

Happy Friday everyone.

Hornets and Hoola Hoops,

-shawnacy

Bread-Bag Plarn tutorial!

woo hoo! tute-tute-tuesday!


i love finding fun new ways to recycle and re-use. i stumbled across this a while ago, and have been hoarding plastic bread-bags, and dreaming up all sorts of cool things to make with them. 


plus, it's REALLY simple:
(um... disclaimer... i'm feeling kind of silly...)

 first, you're going to need some bread bags. save them, beg them from friends... just try not to steal them from the grocery store shelves.




when you have a fair number of bags, take one and lay it out flat. (note: don't forget to take the bread out first. seriously. you have no idea the number of bread-related fatalities that have come from irresponsible plarn-making)

fold it in half, the long way.
(i can feel your burgeoning excitement)

and in half the long way, again. 
(the tension is mounting)

cut off the very top piece (where you twist the bag to close it) and the very bottom piece (where it's all folded over extra thick). you won't be using those.  




then cut your strip into pieces roughly the width of your finger. (don't try this blindfolded, or after consuming copious amount of alcohol. it might be fun and make you feel dangerous, but think about how hard it would be to fingerpaint with only four fingers... yeah. safety first) 

you should get pieces that look roughly like these. (tiny little rectangles of plastic that used to know what their purpose was... do you think they're nervous? take a moment to reassure them that everything's going to be ok)

and, when opened up look like this. circles of plastic. (twist them like a figure 8 to make an infinity sign, then take a moment to contemplate the universe.) 

do this for all the bags you collected, and throw the pieces into a bowl or bag to keep them together.  (they don't like to be alone) 

mix them up a little. (the kids find it helpful to jump a little on your tippy-toes and yell 'whee!' when you do this. this is not necessary. however, i'm sure a little mingling music wouldn't be unappreciated.)

choose two random pieces from the bowl (perhaps holding a wooden spoon as a microphone and announcing 'yellow piece... coooome oooon dooowwnn!!,' as you do so.)

fold one piece over the other (after making the proper introductions first, of course, and preferably while singing 'the hokey pokey')

then pull through. (firmly, to show that you're in charge, but not so roughly that you cause pain. we're here to help, not hurt.) this is how you connect the circles. don't they look like they're holding hands? (happy sigh, it's so nice when these things work out.)

keep adding on (note: this string does not work well with soup-can telephones... just a heads-up).

don't give up till all your circles are linked up. (you might want to stop for a cliff bar if you need to, to keep your energy up. or a tiramisou. there is no shame in this)

finally, roll it up neatly and start making stuff!
(and just think, you were going to throw that away!) even if you don't have a project in mind, try it out. give your bags a new chance at life, use it to hang your clothes outside; or, you know, just have some handy, in case you're ever called-upon to wrestle a bad guy to the ground, and need something with which to hog tie the scoundrel. 

i've been using it to make these market or beach bag totes, which you can find at The Shop.


and i currently have plans to make a floor mat. how cool would that be! it's kind of squishy-feeling, and plastic, and colorful... great for muddy feet, or for just getting out of the shower... i'll let you know how it all pans out.

thanks for playing, today. 

and tune in - book picks for today coming soon. 

- shawnacy

ps: click on over here to see what everyone else is making!

wip's

morning! this monday has broken bright and golden, and i heard a bird singing, early. two things that bode well for my spirit today. 

i wanted to share a few of the projects i've been working on in my spare (laugh..) moments. 

This sweet little bag is now available at the shop

and stay tuned to see what i have planned for these two:

and for these lovely granny circles:

this morning, may you be lifted by the music of winged things, may your soul rise with the climbing sun, and may you be filled with all the promise of the possible.