Five Reasons to Love Mason Jars.

Domesticraft's Kitchen Window Shelf with Flowers from the Down the Lane.

I was going to make the title "Five Reasons I Love Mason Jars", but I thought maybe you, the reader, really wouldn't care about my particular fascination with mason jars, and besides, my last post was about why I love globes.  And I don't like to be redundant, unless it's necessary.  But truth is, these five reasons are really why I LOVE mason jars . . . . because:

Domesticraft's Mini Bakery of Polymer Clay Cakes

1.  I heard it was Mason Jar Monday on the w.w.w.

2.  I didn't do any research further than that.

3.  #2 is a lie . . . I looked at about 1,256 cool pics on Pinterest.

4.  I didn't document any of that "research". 

5.  Because it's my blog and I get to write whatever I want.

Vintage Suitcasse Full of Mason Jar Goodness.

So here are my five reasons:  

1.  They hold stuff.  

2.  And I like stuff.  

3.  And you can see the stuff.

  4.  And it makes the stuff look pretty.

5.  And looking at my stuff looking cute and inspiring, makes me smile.   

That's it!  Short and sweet.  Didn't think I could do it, eh? Let me know what you do with yours?  I mean, they didn't make Monday for mason jars for nothing, right?  That's what  I thought.  Enjoy.

Sewing Accessories are Perfect for Mason Jars.

Games Pieces, Bingo Markers to be Exact, Vintage Buttons, Drink Umbrellas & a Cute Washi Tape Bunting.

Vintage Games Pieces, Vintage Books & Cameras

Hello World! Five Things I Love About Globes.

Hello Blog World!  I feel like I would like to get to know you better and welcome you to my little crafty corner.  Today I am going to share with you my fascination with globes. 

That's me @ domesticraft in Gresham, Oregon . . . a delightful little burb of Portland.

These are the top five things I love about globes.

1.  They remind me of kindergarten.  By far, my most favorite learning experience.  I remember wanting to see and do everything!  So very curious.  I think I loved it so much because everything for "big" people was sized down to little kid proportions, while still seeming like the "big" people version.  Such as the play kitchens, the art easels, the water fountains, and the cloak  room. (although I don't remember owning a cloak)  It was like walking into a place made just for kids, in which I didn't know even existed!  I still remember the awe.  It was here, in Kindergarten that I fell in love with the domestic arts and realized that creativity went way beyond mud pies and barbies.  And fortunately, I took home-ec in 7th grade . . . cooking and sewing, before puberty hit me hard and I was too stupid, I mean cool, for that kind of thing.  I eventually wised up. yay.

I

This lamp is in Domesticraft.  Don't the pom-poms just make it?

2. Moving on to fourth grade and Mr. Monroe.  I really liked him.  He taught a lot of geography and I am not horrible at it.  However he told my parents how amazing my handwriting was, so I concentrated really hard on making all the places I was supposed to be memorizing, look lovely when written.  To this day I write like a fourth grader.  It impresses some people.  Do they even teach cursive anymore?  Sad.

The vintage lamp I got at Goodwill for $6.99, I think. The finial is from a vintage candy dish.

3.  The colors and textures are awesome.  Any globe, any age, any style = beautiful.  (even maps, that's a whole other blog post)  Back in 7th grade (again, before hormones totally wiped out any sense I once knew) in Mr. Schwab's science class, we did one of those flour and salt dough topography maps.  That was so flippen' fun and messy!  I went on to do a lot of salt dough ornaments and the like, later in my continuing creative adventures. (again after I wised up)

Easiest project ever.  1/2 globe + clockworks = Awesome!

4.  They make you look "smart" by just having them in your home.  I may have taken that a bit far, because I actually have my doctorate in globeology* . . . I have about a 15 or so globes around the homestead and in Domesticraft.

After a Domesticraft picnic event.  I took an "accidental" nap & missed an important appointment!  It was still the best nap ever! Except for Kindergarten naps, on a mat with my own  towel that my Mom embroidered my initials on.  It was red, still my fave color.  I have my brother's towel to this day.  It's green.  Do you want it back, Don?  Too bad.

5.  You can make stuff with them and they just become even cooler.  Then, they not only make you look smart . . . they make you look cool too!  How can you not love globes??

* I made that doctorate of globeology thing up, it's just an honorary degree. ;o)

Craft happy,

Nancy

Why I don't crochet.

This is Jenny Brown of HiJennyBrown blog and HiJennyBrown on Instagram.  She follows me on my Instagram account.  So I looked her up and here's my story. This is the comment I left on her blog regarding her tiny addiction to Instagram.  I felt a wee bit of a connection, what with my 2000 pics I've taken so far with my new Smartphone.  I told her I thought I should make this my blog post today and so I am.  Thank you Jenny.  She gets me. 



"I love your blog.  I love your crochet. I love your sense of humor. 

You would think with having a new biz opening on Friday, that is essentially just a ginormous craft room, that I would know how to crochet. I don’t. I have oodles of crochet hooks, vintage & new, metal & plastic. I have a mini library of how-to books and a crapload of yarns and threads . . . so why don’t I crochet. Because I am exhausted!  

I can’t wait till my biz opens on Friday and I can relax with all the crafty ladies and just hang out & craft or sew or scrap or maybe, just maybe someone will take pity on my sad lack of needlework skills and teach me to make a granny square. I would then be, truly . . . craft happy!

Just getting this off my chest makes me feel better, like crochet therapy. I think I should make this comment my blog post for tomorrow. I’m going to bed now. Thank you for the inspiration from your blog post to mine. Nancy from Domesticraft

I feel better.  Here is some crochet therapy for you.

One Week To Go and Domesticraft Is Open For Summer!

*DOMESTICRAFT SUMMER STUDIO*

The summer season of crafting officially begins June 13th!   

**Confetti**Streamers**Balloons**  
It's going to be FREE!
(Yep, you heard right!)
FREE FRIDAY 6.13.14 FREE FRIDAY

(I know . . . amazing, eh?)

Come on in and spend the day crafting or sewing or knitting. . . whatever's your thing!

  Bring your WIPs (works in progress) or start a new project.  Carry along your favorite go-to tools, but rest assured I've got a huge selection of tools and equipment for your use. 

 I'll get a detailed list posted as quickly as I can. :) 

Scroll all the way to the end of the post for an extra large copy of this graphic. (on my laptop, it doesn't get big enough to read, so just in case it's doing that on yours too.)

There will be drawings and random giveaways & lots of surprises! 

As I mentioned on my Facebook page, this is going to be total social media blitz!  I'm going to be watching to see who likes, shares, comments and follows and overall just wants to be my crafty bff.  :)

** There will be special goodies for you special peeps! **

Thanks, thanks & thank you so much for getting the word out!
  

Creatives Rock!
 

A cozy spot to knit, crochet or chill.

I am so looking forward to this Open Studio crafternoon going nonstop till the midnight hour!  Crafting, chatting, chillin' . . . all flippin' day & night . . . yeah I'm doing cartwheels!  Oh, and don't forget to ask me any questions!  I love to talk about crafting almost as much as the crafting itself!

Here are your links to craftiness bliss:

facebook

pinterest 

instagram

Crafty bonus pics:  2 shots of my random "a big pile of craft" messes.  I'm going to be tidying up big time this week getting ready for your visit to Domesticraft, but don't expect Better Homes & Garden though   . . . gotta still keep it real, right?

Craft happy,


Nancy

p.s. Remember to keep checking in and letting me know that you are.  (I am not known as Nancy the Nag for nothing! Just letting you know what's good for you!  Do I sound like a Grandma, or what?)

Even craft messes are cute!  Eventually they have to get cleaned up though.

I could tell you every project I was working on in this tray.  It's like I SPY.

. . . . and The Crafty goes to . . . . Domesticraft! ;)

Now wouldn't that be cool?  I'm spending my day taking pics and uploading them to The Craftys contest.  The deadline is today! Yikes, why do I do this to myself?  Just like the Mason Jar contest, (which will be voted on the 30th of May), I get it in just under the wire.  Deadlines must amuse me. 

Here are some sneak previews of what I am entering.  Also, there are categories for best crafty blog and best crafty curated Pinterest Board(s) as well.  So I am giving those a shot too.  Go check out the site for real though, there are some amazing entries!  (Oh, and vote . . . . . a lot!)

I love this loveseat!

I made this from assorted doilies stitched to a lamp shade skeleton.

The lamp was from Goodwill.  I like the combination.

I did it! World Label Mason Jar Contest!

Wow, talk about just making it under the wire!  The deadline for this cool contest was midnight of last night, May 12.

All in all, I was pretty pleased with the outcome. . . . except the pics.  I didn't hate them, they just weren't as good as they could have been.  Shooting them in a rush at 11:40 pm and then uploading them with no time to do any special lighting or shoot many shots.  Can you feel the clock ticking? tic toc tic toc.  I think I many have started to laugh a little maniacally at this point. (just a tad bit ;o)  At 11:56, I hit the send button and whew, I was done.  It would sure be cool to win the Macbook Pro.  My granddaughter said I should give it to her if I win.  Ummmmm. . . . no.

I'm going to take some more photos today out in the yard, just to practice my photography and see if I can do a bit better job.  I'll share them in my next post.   I hate not having a good picture fot all that mason jar love..

This was sure a fun project to experiment with.  I think I'm  going to enter more of these types of contests over the summer.  It's definitely a good way to get out of my  box and try new things. 

Anybody know of some good contests/challenges you think I'd might like to have a go at?  Let me know.  Better yet, come over and show me!  I'll put the coffee on.

BIG ANNOUNCEMENT!

Wow!  What a great first week + for my new biz!  Whoot!  I just wanted to say thanks to everyone for all the support and kind words!  You guys rock! 

But you know,  I may have bitten off just a tad more than I can chew and I don't feel I am giving my all to my customers.  Kinda like I put the cart before the horse.  I was just so excited to get open, I  couldn't wait any longer!

I need to stop thinking I am Wonder Woman and that I can do everything with my super crafty powers.  (Do you guys do that?)  True, I am very crafty ;o) but I need to prioritize a bit better and  reorganize Domesticraft's schedule for May to serve you all better.  I hope you understand and it doesn't inconvenience any of you to much.

So starting today, (for those I haven't told yet), May 10th, Saturday,  I am going take the rest of the MAY SCHEDULE and turn it into an OPEN STUDIO MONTH, excluding Mondays (days off) and the 28th (taking hubs to the airport) and the weekend of the 31st & June 1, which is Domesticraft Weekend:  Scrapbooking Edition (some spots still available :o)

Open Studio is $5/hour with a one hour minimum. Time after that is calculated in 15 minute increments.  I offer 3 ways for you to signup for Domesticraft's Open Studio. You can register by dropping me an email at domesticraft@gmail.com, call me at (503) 267-0530, or come visit the studio. Visa, MasterCard, debit, PayPal, cash or check.

I think it will give more of you a chance to come in and check out Domesticraft, do some serious catching up on your projects and avail yourself of all that Domesticraft has to offer.  Please keep sharing your ideas with me, cause I'm always  looking for creative input. ;o)

This way, I am still OPEN for biz and while you guys are crafting and scrapping, sewing and stitching, I can get even "readier" for an awesome Domesticraft Summer, while still being able to share a cup of coffee and a plate of cookies, nuff chat and a big pile of craft!

Thanks again too all of you, especially Amber at Craft Warehouse and everyone else who liked, commented and shared and told all your crafty, scrappy girlfriends.  I will make sure I put extra sprinkles on your cookies!

Nancy
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