Caught the craft bug...

"When I don't have any ideas, I pick up fabric and start working with it and something happens."

-Geoffrey Beene

Not knowing exactly where my sewing machine is going to be stored for the next couple of months (we're apartment hunting this weekend... wish us luck!), I decided I better go ahead and get it all of the craftiness out of my system.

I've been on the lookout for a new summer purse that goes with everything. I haven't found quite what I wanted, so I decided to try one of my own based one of my favorite bags (which is looking a little rough these days!). I filled several pages of a little notebook with sketches, layouts, and steps, hoping to minimize the mistakes. Besides having to rework the lining of the bag, it turned out pretty stinkin' cute!

If you're curious about the fabric... the print is "Ellie" by Michael Miller Fabric and the solid is just khaki-colored Duck from Hobby Lobby.

And, then once I had a cute purse... I needed some matching accessories. So, today I created a luggage handle wrap for our upcoming trip and a sunglasses case to protect my new shades.

 

Maybe someday I'll create tutorials for them. But this time, the process constantly evolved as I was working.

Aunt Jana Camp Crafts...

"For me, the best work is passionate, fresh, well designed and well executed - the perfect balance of art and craft."

-Judy Villett

It's taken a couple of days to unwind and clean up after the boys left on Saturday; however, I did want to do a quick craft wrap-up from "Aunt Jana Camp" last week. Although most of the activities we engaged in throughout the week involved toy cars, the Wii, or the swimming pool, Thursday was designated as "craft day"--with somewhat of a snake theme.

We used watercolors to paint snake coloring pages which I printed from HelloKids.com.

We used freezer paper stencils to make snake t-shirts, using this process from Say Yes to Hoboken.

We also bought neckties from the thrift store and turned them into stuffed snakes, like this tutorial from Skip to My Lou.

We drew and colored a drag strip/mud hole for the matchbox cars to drive.

And, last but not least, we created a "Welcome home from your trip!" banner to hang from the balcony.

Needless to say, Thursday was a busy day!

Photo Challenge: Day 30

"Hope is that thing with feathers that perches in the soul and sings the tune without the words and never stops... at all."

-Emily Dickinson

Day 30 (06/17/11): A photo of whatever you please.

Can you believe that this challenge is over? Can you believe that I posted 30 times in 30 days? Can you believe that I actually finished something that I started?

The end of May and the beginning of June brought lots of changes, some endings and some beginnings. It brought visits from family and friends, some planned long in advance and some more spontaneous. It brought both crazy days and relaxing days. But, with this photo challenge always in the back of my mind, it always brought inspiration.

I finish up the month today on my 27th birthday--no longer in my early twenties. I sit here without a full-time job, without knowing where we're going to live a month from now, without knowing what surprises the next year will bring. But, today, I'm okay with that. Maybe I won't be tomorrow... but today I am.

I'm finishing up a crazy but fun week with my nephews, and my fingers are crossed that Rob is able to make the first flight out of LAX today. I'm ready to see him. I'm ready to kick off this new year in style!

Photo Challenge: Day 29

"The activist is not the man who says the river is dirty.  The activist is the man who cleans up the river."

-Ross Perot

Day 29 (06/16/11): A photo with clouds.

Granted this only has one cloud in the sky. But, crazy enough, out of all of the photos I took this week of the boys, this is the only one that had even a hint of a cloud. Guess that's what happens when your subjects are close to the ground. 

Chase offered to take TJ for a walk while I worked in the front yard. After making it several houses down and back, he came back asking if we could go for a walk around the whole neighborhood to pick up litter. A heavy rainstorm the night before had soaked the ground, and left a lot of wet newspapers. As we trekked through the neighborhood, we played "I spy" with newspapers and then tried to guess whether it was "readable" or not. We left the dry ones, but figured that no one was going to sit down with a soggy paper. 

We filled up the stroller basket with wet newspapers and other tidbits of trash. Chase really wanted to save them to show his good deed to his mama, but luckily I was able to convince him that a photo would do the trick, since the garbage collectors were coming the next morning.

Photo Challenge: Day 28

"Boys are found everywhere -- on top of, underneath, inside of, climbing on, swinging from, running around or jumping to."

-Alan Marshall Beck

Day 28: An action photo.

This week an action photo is not hard to come by...

If you ask Chase how much fun he had at the park, he will say, " Too hot, too much walking, boring." But this photo shows otherwise...

Photo Challenge: Day 27

“Sun is shining. Weather is sweet. Make you wanna move your dancing feet.”

-Bob Marley

Day 27: A photo that plays with shadows.

After walking down to the neighborhood pool to find it closed, we set up the sprinkler in the backyard. Chase had a blast running through, but TJ wasn't too sure about it! He sat over to the side for a long while trying to get his courage up. 

We've had a great day, but I'm exhausted--there's no down time around here this week. From one activity to the other... go, go, go. Read...Wii Bowling... Library.... Take a walk... Play tennis... Throw the frisbee... on and on and on.

Photo Challenge: Day 26

"Families with babies and families without babies are sorry for each other."

-Ed Howe

Day 26 (06/12/11): A photo using the sun as lighting.

Early this morning at an unspeakable hour I dropped Rob and his sister off at the airport to begin their journey to Long Beach, CA for their father's funeral. And, now I'm savoring my last few hours of peace and quiet, until my nephews (7 and 1.5 years) are dropped off back at my house after a day at the lake with family friends. Then it will be "Jana Camp" for five days. 

I'm a bit nervous... these two are known to be a handful. My mom and I spent all last week de-cluttering my house, and in ten minutes yesterday, toys, blankets, clothes, and shoes were strewn from floor to ceiling.

But looking at this face all week might make it all worthwhile. 

And... if you have any good ideas of how to entertain these two, please feel free to pass them along.

Photo Challenge: Day 25

"The making of friends, who are real friends, is the best token we have of a man's success in life."

-Edward Everett Hale

Day 25 (06/11/11): A photo of whatever you please.

In between the craziness of last week and next week, we had the pleasure to spend a quick evening with Rob's best friend Mike. Unfortunately with our upcoming move, this will probably one of the last visits for awhile. Unless Mike just has a hankering to head to South Carolina. We've known Mike since college, and just love his laid-back style (both literally and figuratively sometimes... see above where he is trying out our Tempurpedic mattress).

Photo Challenge: Day 24

"Green is the prime color of the world, and that from which its loveliness arises."

-Pedro Calderon de la Barca

Day 24 (06/10/11): A photo with a color scheme.

In preparation for our big move, Mama and I did a lot of staging around the house this week. Although Rob didn't exactly understand the importance of these preparations, the house is starting to look really impressive for upcoming realtor visits and potential buyer showings.

One favorite vignette is the dining room table decor that we staged to match the green walls, the rough wooden table, and the new cushion for the foyer bench.

Photo Challenge: Day 23

"It's not what you look at that matters, it's what you see."

-Henry David Thoreau

Day 23 (06/09/11): A photo that makes you think of childhood.

We've had several "throwback" photos this week. But, it wouldn't be complete without a childhood photo of that included myself.

Things that have reminded me of my childhood this week:

• Meeting up with my first grade teacher and hearing her tell stories about when my sister and I were younger.
• Long summer days of playing and imagining.
• Smelling the scent of my first perfume.
• Sewing projects with my mom.
• Remembering past vacations.
• Reminiscing as I start packing up family photos and mementos.

Photo Challenge: Day 22

"Although the world is full of suffering, it is full also of the overcoming of it."

-Helen Keller

Day 22 (06/08/11): A photo of the one you love.

Can you guess who this is? One hint: I love this "little" boy more every day.

And, especially today, after Rob got some devastating family news. I just want to hug this little boy then (and now), and reassure him that everything's going to be alright.

Photo Challenge: Day 21

"The one thing that unites all human beings, regardless of age, gender, religion, economic status or ethnic background, is that, deep down inside, we ALL believe that we are above average drivers."

-Dave Barry

Day 21 (06/06/11): A photo of the sunset.

I've driven through the city a lot this week. Fighting the traffic reminds me why we moved out to the suburbs in the first place. However, I think there's something a little bit magical about "Spaghetti Junction." How did they get all of those bridges to end up in the right place? :)

Photo Challenge: Day 20

"A sister can be seen as someone who is both ourselves and very much not ourselves - a special kind of double."

-Toni Morrison

Day 20 (06/05/11): A photo of whatever you please.

Yay! Another photo of Callie and me! And, this one was taken today!! I had the pleasure of joining Callie and her youth group as they made a quick stop in Atlanta to visit the World of Coke museum and the CNN Center food court on their way to a mission trip in Americus.

Aside from the whiny teenagers and the diabetic kid who forgot his insulin on the bus, it was almost bliss catching up with Callie as we walked around. She challenges me. She inspires me. She gives me a new perspective. We make a good team, she and I. Maybe one day we'll live close enough again to be partners in crime more often. At least I only have to wait one month until I see her again!!

Photo Challenge: Day 19

"Having a sister is like having a best friend you can't get rid of. You know whatever you do, they'll still be there."

-Amy Li

Day 19 (06/04/11): A photo that shows emotion.

While not the "best" photo taken during our girl's trip to Charleston last Labor Day, I love the emotion, the personality, the silliness, the relaxation, the friendship that shines through this one of my sister and I playing in the waves.

Photo Challenge: Day 18

"I am grateful for the lawn that needs mowing, windows that need cleaning, and floors that need waxing because it means I have a home."

-Author Unknown

Day 18 (06/04/11): A photo with street lights.

Found this photo in the archives from the "Rules of Thirds" lesson of Shutter School two summers back. This streetlight stands in our front yard, and reminds me of the neighborhood that we live in now. The neighborhood we fell in love with when we were house-hunting the first time around. Hopefully we'll be able to find another wonderful neighborhood in South Carolina.

Photo Challenge: Day 17

"A path is a prior interpretation of the best way to traverse a landscape."

-Rebecca Solnit

Day 17 (06/03/11): A photo that involves landscape.

A few days ago Rob mentioned that he wanted to hike Stone Mountain one more time before we moved. Coincidentally he had yesterday off of work, so we decided to make a day of it. Two times up and down, a circle around the Nature Trail, and then El Pollo Loco for lunch. It was quite a workout and in the heat of the day. My skin was dripping wet, just like a sweating glass of ice water, but luckily I avoided a sunburn. As smoggy as the view was from the top, it was still thrilling to look down and see the city of Atlanta down below.

Photo Challenge: Day 16

"Funny that a pair of really nice shoes make us feel good in our heads - at the extreme opposite end of our bodies."

-Levende Waters

Day 16 (06/03/11): A photo with light play.

There may be only two pairs of shoes in this whole store that fit my feet. Most days I love my size 5 feet and think that I would look like a clown with shoes any bigger. However, today with $15 worth of DSW coupons and a desire to find a sporty yet cute pair of sandals, I walked up and down the aisles growing more and more frustrated as I tried to find a pair that fit my feet. With my fingers crossed, I even tried any size 6's that I saw, but no luck. I walked out empty-handed and low-spirited, but at least my credit card wasn't strained.

Photo Challenge: Day 15

"Ah, summer, what power you have to make us suffer and like it."

-Russel Baker

Day 15 (06/01/11): A photo that focus on the eyes.

Went to Target today looking for a new pair of sunglasses. Didn't find any that I couldn't leave the store without, so I'll keep searching. With an endless summer ahead of me, I need some shades for the pool. Wish I had someone to go with.

Inspired by sunglasses, I doodled this illustration up this afternoon. It's a 4.5x6 print, so feel free to print out and send a postcard to someone.