Make Beach Glass Earrings

It was a busy weekend but I still found time to take a breath and do some crafting. It's amazing how I can become laser-focused and calmer when I pull out my chain-nose pliers or knitting needles. My weekend experimentation resulted in these beach glass earrings. Thanks to my Dremel tool, they really didn't take long. I started rocking the Dremel last summer when I was writing Backcountry Betty: Crafting With Style (out this May from Skipstone).

I feel like a serious bad-ass when I flip the switch and start drilling holes in things. And after some experimentation and a special diamond bit, I'm happily drilling beach glass of all shapes and sizes.

Cute as a Button

I just discovered these lovely pillows from Letter Perfect Designs. I just love the monogrammed button letters on the pillows.

It's just another great way to repurpose buttons! For more button inspiration, see Susan Beal's new book, Button It Up.

Crafts I Want to Punch in the Face

In honor of my new blog, Things I Want to Punch in the Face, I thought I'd write about the top craft things that bug me, such as running out of bobbin thread just as I'm about to finish a seam. Grr. Here's the article, posted over on CraftStylish.

What gets your goat when it comes to crafting?

The real Pearl district...

I spent a great 24 hours in Portland this weekend, where I had a magical, relaxing time talking and crafting with Susan Beal, Michaela Murphy, Diane Gilleland, and Lee Meredith. Susan and her husband Andrew were so lovely and gracious, hosting Michaela and me, and I was just enchanted with her home and her handicrafts, not to mention her sweet baby girl Pearl.

After a fat dinner on Friday night at Sub Rosa to celebrate Susan's new book Button It Up, we all retired to Susan's living room to craft, sort buttons, and pick Diane's brain about Twitter late into the night. Michaela and I happily retired to the guest room and woke the next morning to more delights.

First up, the waffle wagon. Sitting under a tent with a heat lamp and patio furniture, we ordered up our waffles and chowed down. I hoovered a waffle, wrapped like a taco and filled with eggs, rosemary mushrooms, parmesan cheese, sautéed onions, and maple bacon. Holy moley. (The photos are of Susan, the wagon's order window, and my waffle.)

Then Susan zipped us over to the Knittn' Kitten, a craft supply thrift store and one of my favorite places in Portland. I combed through buttons, bins of fabric, vintage patterns, yarn, and all sorts of crafty odds and ends. Heaven. Michaela and I ended the trip with a three-hour coffee klatch on the train. A more civilized 24 hours was never had.

I can't wait to visit Portland and my crafty friends next month, when I return for the Portland premiere of Handmade Nation and Crafty Wonderland. And the waffle wagon, of course.

Make a Buckle Choker

This week's tutorial over at CraftStylish is a feminine choker that will make you feel flirty and just a bit French.

Mani watch: day 11

While I didn't technically have any chips in my 11-day-old manicure, I threw in the towel today and changed up the manicure. I'm now sporting a metallic navy blue (I think it's called Russian Navy) from Spa Scotta. Think about it: 11 days without a chip. That's 5 times as long as a usual manicure for me. Seriously.

Axxium Gel Lacquer, I love you so.

Mani watch: Day 10

Still no chips! Day 10! I cannot wrap my mind around this. I have seen some pulling away at the edges where the nail has been growing out and has pulled away from the cuticle (see close-up). This manicure has been simply amazing, seeing as the nail technician was doing this on me for the very first time. She did an terrific job.

In other news, I gave myself a pedicure with regular old polish the other night and didn't have to worry about getting nail polish remover on my fingernails. Totally not affected. In fact, you could paint over the gel lacquer with nail polish and when you're ready to go back to your gel lacquer color, you can just remove the polish with acetone. Nail polish remover does not affect the gel lacquer. Nutty.

I love you, Spa Scotta, and your Axxium Gel Lacquer manicure!

Make a sushi button bracelet

My new tutorial is up on CraftStylish. Isn't it cute?

Mani watch: day 8

Still no chips.

The cuticles are a bit raggedy, but that's my fault, as I pick at them.

Mod Beauty Squad

I'm spoiled. I admit it and I love it. As part of my gig writing Seattle directory listings for Allure, I have to submit myself to all sorts of beauty treatments.

I adore being a guinea pig.

And I was in heaven last week when Lisabet de Vos, chief glam master of Mod Beauty Squad, made a house call and performed a Super Power Peel facial on me.

I know; I hate me too sometimes.

Anyway, the peel, which used Dermalogica products, was fabulous, gentle but effective. My skin has been getting better and better this week. And I love the Mod Beauty Squad business model: a mobile beauty unit in Seattle that will come to your business or group and perform facials, brow waxes, and airbrush bronzing. For the busy woman (and face it, we are all crazy swamped these days), this makes great sense. The services are excellent and I'm confident that it won't be long before you see a fleet of MBS Smart Cars zipping around your city, estheticians dressed like the hippest retro flight attendant you've ever seen ready to keep you looking polished and pretty.