Ties Galore

I went to one of my favorite stores yesterday. Last chance!
I was going to buy a few ties to do some fun stuff with, but then my mom called my attention to a grab bag of ties. Hello? YES! The price was right and the selection is excellent.

If you love crafting with neckties and love getting them for less than a dollar a piece. Head on over to my etsy shop!

I love passing on savings to other people! So enjoy

<3 Joji

p.s. that is a necklace made with a tie. and  let me tell you, its awesome! Get crafting folks.. :D

Belting it out

Sometimes its just fun to break out in song. Especially when its a childhood favorite, and better yet-- with your sister.
Yes, Annie, the musical is forever engraved into my memory and "Tomorrow" its just so fun... as is "Maybe".
Oh, for the days when we would sit and watch high schoolers rehearse as Mom played the piano. Those were the days when we though that high schoolers were SO cool. Now that college graduation is 3 months away, I giggle to think that I was so naive. Yep.

(fromgoogleimages)

What do do with those tin cans- [tutorial]

Well, Here I am again before I head off to teach ESL tonight I'll give you a quick tutorial.
This is a great way to use those tin cans you have no idea what do do with! I saw the idea in a recycling magazine but there were no step by step directions. This can be altered in just about any way and they are super quick and fun to make.

This is the finished product that we're aiming for.

All of these items are recycled:
Some sort of cloth- mine is from an old pair of knee-shorts that just didn't look right.
A scrap of fabric to put around the middle
Tin can (any size, preferably not a can with the tab on the top where you pull the lid off: because those tend to be sharp, but its up to you)
Embellishments- I used button and wire
and of course, the skiz (err. scissors)
(and Hot glue. my bff)

When cutting the fabric, measure the circumference of the can and add a 1/2 inch so that you have enough to overlap when gluing

Here we are with the materials ready to go
In 5 minutes you'll have a sweet craft
ready.
set.
k

First puncture holes into the top of your can - to make the handle.
I would suggest using something OTHER than the knife. the tip might just break off. I speak from experience. cough.cough.

Now run a seam of glue down the side of the can and adhere the fabric to it starting at one end. then roll the fabric around to the other side. You can put a few "placement dots" along the way for more secure fabric.

(I used the inside of the fabric because it looked cool)
Now the can is wrapped
Now for the wire.

pop it through... and twist it to secure it on one end (for this size I would suggest about 9in of wire)
Then put it through the other side to make the handle.

I used wire to thread the button to use for the next step. It might be easier to just use thread-- but its up to you.

Glue the fabric strip around (really you can use anything to deck the can)

I started by threading the wire [under] the strip of glued down fabric

Then I popped it back up through and took pliers and worked it all together (twisting and twirling and so on)

Now its done, sorry the one side is blown out.. but its white over there (and um.. make sure you center things properly.. I'll try a little harder next time ;)

You can't really see it, due to -- said lighting -- but I put a tag on there with my friends initial and i hope to give it to her at school tomorrow. She's been begging me to make something for her.

wah-La (i know its usually spelled viola okay, internet, I really do!)

-- I made another one after dinner with a pop can- yes it IS called pop.. -- but i made some rolled flowers and bows and such. its cute too. I used a piece of khaki canvas to make the handle and I used safety pins to attach it to the sides. super cute rendition. 

Okay. Now to go teach some English, and love those that God's called me to love.

It's almost V-day. I don't have  a V-- yet. but in due time, i'll wait patiently for him to come. In the mean time, i'll get to see my Nephew, ty, for Valentines day. Sweet valentine in my humble opinion!!!

Memoirs of Life with a 94 yr old Antique Drama Queen

Sometimes we wonder who can make more faces, the great grandson or the great grandma. We think that the latter wins. Hands down.

Life with a 94 yr old is never dull. Most days she thinks she’s somewhere in the age range of say.. 28. When she finds out its 2010,  and that she was born in 1915 she is completely shocked. Jaw drops and says “REALLY?!?!” I’m 94? Yep. You sure are.

She does some rather hilarious things, depending on the day. We’ve determined that getting her a cane (which she thinks are for old people.. ?) would be a bad idea because she would use it as a defense mechanism rather than aid for stability when walking. Many things in her mind are for “old people” – we’re glad she doesn’t think scooter chairs are the bomb-diggity, because they’re not. Instead, she leans on us grandchildren to get through life. Whether its walking in the house, or into church… we’re there for her (most of the timeJ).

She’s spry and very witty. A few years ago the church we were going to had a lady who was 2 years older than gram… She was hard of hearing and gram saw things as more of a ministry. One day when leaving church she says… “You be a good girl now, ya hear?!” – Then she leans over on my sister and says.. “no ya don’t hear. She’s pretty well deaf!”

Two weeks ago I was home catching up on Bible reading and I hear the doorbell go off. It’s Bessie, the older neighbor lady that loves to visit our house. Oh well I ran into gram’s room and said.. GET UP BESSIE IS HERE! She groans. Bessie persists with the doorbell, banging it at least 7 more times. I finally open the door and she asks in a VERY LOUD tone, is your MOM home? I say no, because she rarely is due to her job. Then (this is usual) she comes in, plops down in the living room, expecting a drink of water. I grabbed her a drink and headed to chat. She asks loudly if Gram is up.. well the volume of her voice would wake ANYONE up. So……. Off I go into the world of Gram.. aka her room. And say gram. Gram. GRAM. I can tell she’s faking sleep. She whispers… is she gone yet? I laughed. I said. NO. get up! She says shhhhhh, tell her I’m sleeping. And promptly pulls the covers back up over her head, only to walk out 20 minutes later to visit.

Books never get old. She could have one and it would last her all year. I’m not kidding either.

A few weeks ago my little sister decided we should try to put grammy into some Teenage clothes. So we did. She rocked it. We’ve also taught her how to do some sweet, Asian posing. 

She randomly breaks out into song. Sometimes they’re not very coherent either. One she was convinced was a Chinese song, but she sang it to some Chinese people. They responded by saying “we have no idea what you are saying” her response: “You need to learn more dialects.”

Ohhh gram! She can be so dramatic when it comes to eating salad. Or taking her pills, a bath, hearing that Bessie is at the door, or almost anything!

We love her.