Hunger Games District 2 Challenge

I will never deny having an obsessive personality.

Sticking with things till I overcome them,

spending way way too long focused on a task &

constantly seeking to do or learn more about what I'm focused on

are all traits that have brought way more good to my life than bad.

So when I recently read the entire Twilight trilogy in a week then 

read the Hunger Games in half that it was not a new experience for me.

This time the second Hunger Games movie was available when I finished so I thought why not.

It's always fun to compare my imagination to that of the movie makers.

Then I get online and run across a blog challenge for Hunger Games.

So of course I'm in.

Here's the inspiration Charlie provided for District 2:

Maybe I was suppose to make jewelry, but 

here's what I made.

Living in Japan I have access to eco-craft tape 

which comes in rolls of 12-14 tiny stands of rolled recycled paper 

adhered together into long strips.

Most people use it for basket making though this one was designed to be a purse.

Sadly my son loved it, and stole it before I ever got to use it though.

Even though it's paper it's surprisingly strong and durable.

If anyone knows of a US supplier PLEASE let me know.

I love this stuff, but know that no matter how much I take back with me I'll want more.

I thought I remembered reading that District 2 mined gemstones, but I was probably mistaken. 

Anyway, catching up on Game of Thrones with my husband led to the addition of the sapphire blue.  Anyone remember the whole bit about the Sapphire Isles?

It's surprising how easily my designs adapt to what's going on around me.

Alrighty, if you want to join the fun next month for District 3 visit the source of this clever challenge.

Thanks Charlie!

It Feels Like Spring!

Since it's been unseasonably cold for many of you I thought I'd share

some flower photos from my trip last weekend to the Ocean Expo Park.

Hibiscus are the official flower of Okinawa.

See my fat finger there? This bloom was massive. 

It probably could have been used as a child's hat.

  

I read about these in the paper. 

They are genetically engineered "blue" orchids. 

They still look purple to me.

 There were massive orchid displays 

as part of the international orchid show 

that was being held there at the time.

 This is a full view of the display 

with the "blue" orchids mentioned above.

 

My favorite display of the orchid show each year.

In the background is the symbol of the tropical dream center.

The midground shows the Wonderland maze display for the orchid show.

 It rained all day, but it started to rain too hard to have my camera out.

So we headed for lunch.

 This window shows the banyan tree, a Kijimuna or Okinawan fairy 

& Okinawa's endangered bird the Yanbaru Kuina or Okinawan Rail.

It was created by this artist. She came to one of the base libraries a few years back. My son had the opportunity to meet her, and participate in a class where she taught them to make animal art with recycled materials.

Have a Great Day!

Pop Rocks Valentines

In years past I have gone above and beyond with holiday gifts for my son's class.

I am by no means consistent, but I've been that Pinterest mom that pisses off the other moms.

I'm a bit proud of that actually. If I am willing to put forth the time and effort to create these things no one gets to take my pride in that away.

As a fifth grader my son really doesn't care as much any more so 

I'm keeping it simple, but still doing my thing.

For lacrosse half time snacks last weekend I just took a sharpie and wrote "Go Middies!", "Keep up the Great Work", "You're Awesome", etc. on the Ziplocs which I filled with both green and purple seedless grapes. Thank goodness I sampled the grapes. I had bought 3 colors, but the red ones had seeds. Ooops!

So Valentines I asked my son which one he'd like. He says, "Pop Rocks," and walks away. That's not always something you can find here on island so I ordered some, and they've been sitting in my craft table for about 2 weeks. 

Since Valentine's Day is Friday I thought today, Tuesday, would be a good day to begin.

Yeah cutting it a little too close for my liking, but life's been getting in the way around here.

Anyway, here's a copy of the little Valentine I've spent most of the morning making. Maybe it will be of use to someone else who's running a bit behind this year.

  Click HERE

Thanks!

Have a Beautiful Day!

Okinawa Sea Postcards

Just thought I'd share a bit of my postcard collection. 

For those of you who don't know I am currently active on postcrossing.com. 

I love postcards! 

I was fortunate enough to inherit my grandmother's collection 

as well as continue it with my own travels and those of my friends.

Here are a few of my sea views collected while on the Okinawan islands.

sea1

sea2

sea3

sea4

sea5

sea6

sea7

sea8

sea9

sea10

sea11

sea12

sea 13

Hexis, quotes and motivation

I can't tell you why, but my beads are ignoring me. I sit there and piddle and tidy and put items together, but nothing gets made. So I'm being creative in other ways right now. 

Yesterday I finished my Christmas card book for 2013. 

I didn't take pictures, but HERE is the tutorial I did for them before.

I thought I was going to make this PIN. I think my hexagons are too big though. 

 Not bad for a first attempt at hexagons. I love it so much. So I'll turn it into some sort of pouch.

Then I finally did something with those glitter push pins I made so, so long ago.

I typed and printed some of my favorite quotes off pintrest, and 

used a few pins to hold them on cork coasters.

I've added them to my inventory at a local gift shop where I sell some of my things.

Sorry I always take pictures when I finish a project and with the boys home that is always at night.

BUT...school starts back in the morning! Yep, I'm one of those moms who's super excited about that.

Other than that I'm searching local shops for the rest of my set of Disney toys. 

They come in Kinder eggs (which are banned in the US).

I only need Ariel, the colored Minnie and the mystery figure to complete my set.

The last time they did a Disney set I found the mystery figure 

in the 4th egg and forgot to complete the set.

I know it sounds silly to spend money on these things,  but my little sister LOVES Disney. 

My son will eventually relinquish these to her so I try to find as many as I can 

since she can't buy them in the US.

Alrighty off to bed because real life kicks back in in just 11 short hours.

Oh hey is anyone out there interested in a blog hop involving quotes, words or anything to do with letters? I'm rolling an idea around and might just host my first blog hop for my birthday (in April). What do you think?

Happy Holidays Everyone!

I haven't made any jewelry recently, but I made some snowflakes before Christmas.

clothespin snowflakes/stars

I started with this pin

using wood glue instead of hot glue though. That's why they are laying on wax paper to dry.

Then I brushed Elmer's school glue on to the snowflake and shook glitter where I had applied glue. I used Elmer's because it stayed wet longer than the wood glue. I still had to glue only 1/4 of the snowflake at a time, shake glitter and repeat.

HINT: If you do the sides first you still have something to hang on to. Then do the top and let it all dry. This way when you go to do the bottom you can add a bit more glue to any spots that didn't take.

Hint #2: Don't brush glue over the pile excess of glitter you plan on reusing.  I had 2 sheets of paper down: one to glue over and one to glitter over.

Then I made plastic bead snowflakes. 

I adore any project that is made 100% with things I already had in my craft room.

For these I used this youtube video.

Mine aren't exactly like hers, but again 

I only used things I already had here. So I made do and made it my own.

Finally the reason for my post today.
I'm sharing this here to avoid ruining the surprise for our snowman loving friend.

I have some truly creative friends,

 and unlike me some of them are teaching their kids their skills. 

(My son couldn't possibly care less even though he always tells me, "It's great Mom.")

This was made by my friend Vanessa and her daughter Evie. 

I probably shouldn't be telling you this, but when she posted 

her snowman family of four on facebook I was a bit envious of what she had created.

Now I've got one too! Yep, I'm that excited.
Thanks so much Vanessa.

It's the cutest sock creation I've ever seen. 

Plus it's weighted so it doesn't tip over like the ones I tried making years ago.
The candies are a bit too yummy, but I'm trying to control myself.

Before today it was still socks that were my favorite Christmas gift.

something Santa left in my stocking

 My son wanted his Domo socks in the picture too, but was too busy 

unwrapping to put them on. Silly Boy!

What did Santa bring you?