Remarkably Domestic — Creatively managing the chaos of home

It’s Official: Season 16 of SYTYC

May 24, 2013

Good news, friends! I made it past the audition process and am an OFFICIAL season 16 So You Think You’re Crafty contestant. Thanks for voting!

Now I can tell you all which craft was mine, in case you didn’t already figure it out. It’s the Ombre Rock Vacation Memento… the one with the terrible name.

It was pretty easy to construct.

Last summer, our family took a trip to the Hamptons where I collected an embarrassing amount of beach pebbles. How many pebbles does one woman need? So when I got home and started sorting through them, I came up with this idea for a modern, ombre, rock-art vacation memento. I wanted to do something with all these rocks, and they were such beautiful, perfectly Hamptons colors.

To make this “art,” I took the mass of rocks I had and sorted them by color and shade. Then I laid out an ombre-type pattern (it’s not true ombre, but you get the picture). I found a shadow box in the right size and fixed it up: I painted it and then distressed it so it has that beachy, Hamptons-y feel. I got some card stock to use as my background and then hot glued all my rocks to it, making sure you couldn’t see any of the glue. Then I used my Silhouette to cut out the word “Hamptons” in a font that I love: it’s Anna Clara.

Now it sits on my mantle and every day it reminds my of those lazy days walking the beaches of Ditch Plains and Sag Harbor! What I like about this idea is that you could use a lot of different souvenirs, like seashells, or pressed flowers, or even things like ticket stubs. It’s just a matter of arranging them in very clean, modern lines and creating a color palette that you love.

So, now we’ll be on to more challenges, and just like everyone on Survivor, I hope I’m not voted out first. I’ll keep you posted on when the next challenge will be up for voting.

Share!

Tweet

{ 3 comments }

Auditions for So You Think You’re Crafty!

May 20, 2013

Hey, NEWS! I’m officially in the running for season 16 of So You Think You’re Crafty. If you aren’t familiar with the site, it’s sort of like an online version of Craft Wars meets American Idol, only MUCH, MUCH BETTER.

10 crafty bloggers will compete over 10 weeks for the heralded title of Person Who Thinks She’s Crafty And Actually Is. Or something. OK, I don’t really know what the official winner’s title is but it’s just all fun and creative and like, crafty.

To start, Missy, the brains behind SYTYC, holds auditions. That’s what’s going on now. 12 crafters have put up projects, and you get to head over to the site and vote for your favorite crafts. The top 10 crafts will go on to compete in the season. I can’t tell you which one is mine because it’s super top secret blind voting, so no popularity contests. Which is awesome, because I rarely win popularity contests.

So head over! Once the voting is over I can (and will) show you my craft and how I made it. So never fear. Hope you enjoy everything over there!

Share!

Tweet

{ 3 comments }

Visiting the Salvage Store

May 15, 2013

A week or so ago, I got another bee in my bonnet or what have you, and I decided I HAD to go visit some reclaim/salvage stores. I was looking in particular for some reclaimed wood (more on that later), but I also learned of this store in downtown Los Angeles that is called Southern California Architectural Salvage. Doesn’t that sound lovely? It’s better than its previous name, which was Santa Fe Wrecking. Ha!

I wasn’t looking for anything in particular, but I was hoping for some amazing find at a great price. Wah, wah. I don’t think either of those things are possible in L.A., particularly when you are visiting a store expressly designed to try to sell you great finds. It was absurdly expensive. But they did have some cool stuff. Like…

Stacks of claw foot tubs.

Claw foot tubs, other bathroom garbage, and lots and LOTS of doors.

Shelves and shelves of these. What are they? I have no idea. Are they claw foots for tubs? If so, this is clearly a theme.

I love these old timey stoves. But in my head I hear my husband’s voice: “But what are you going to DO with it?”

Super cool little ride-on toy that I would’ve considered if my boys were younger.

I love this safe. Except that they wanted nearly $4000 for it. But they have the combo!

So, I left there with a few things because I figured I came all the way down there, I might as well get something. One of my main prizes was this awesome peacock:

There he is in my backyard. I’m going to put him in the garden. Don’t ask how much I paid because it was OUTRAGEOUS.

But here’s where I need your help. Should I paint the peacock? (And honestly, shouldn’t that be a euphemism for something?) I can imagine him painted all glossy white. Or keep him dull brassy?

WHAT SHOULD I DO, PEOPLE? To paint or not to paint. That is the question.

In my next post, I’ll tell you about the reclaimed wood and what I plan to do with it.

Share!

Tweet

{ 4 comments }

DIY Chain and Rhinestone Earrings

May 1, 2013

Back a few weeks ago, I showed you how to make the super simplest chic earrings ever, by simply attaching some chain to an earring hook. I also made a slightly more complicated version that is truly not complicated at all. It takes a few more steps, but it will take you less than 10 minutes and it’s super fun, too.

Refer back to my original post for the overall instructions and supply list. In addition to what’s there, you’ll need:

Here you see two things: a length of rhinestone cup chain, and a cup chain connector. You’ll need two of each of these. NOTE: make sure you get the same size connector as the stones in your cup chain; that is, if you get a 4mm cup chain, make sure you get the 4mm connectors, too.

To start, you need to attach the connector to the cup chain. Lay the first stone into the connector cup, and then use pliers to squeeze the connector shut.

Now you can hang the rhinestone chain along with a metal chain.

The only other trick here is that if you use only one jump ring, the rhinestones will hang sideways. Wah, wah! If you add another jump ring, though, the rhinestones will hang forward. Problem solved! So attach one, and then another, jump ring to the rhinestone chain, and add any other chains you want as well.