Thing A Day 2012 Inspirations

I really enjoyed doing Thing- A-Day (TAD) 2011.  It seems like whoever sponsored it on posterous last year isn't doing it this year.  I liked posting to a community of 200 international strangers, seeing what everyone else was doing, and getting feedback from them.  Oh well.
In TAD you make a thing, or part of a thing everyday in the month of February. (we are in a leap year, there are 29 days.)  

The best part of of TAD was developing creative flow.  You dedicate yourself to work on creating one thing, or a part of one thing for at least 30 minutes a day and posting a picture to share with "everyone." I don't expect there to be much "everyone" since I'm no longer linked to 200 international strangers doing the same thing, but it's still fun to see the process step-by-step.

This year some of my ideas are to:
Hand sew a book bag to keep my research materials in rtg.
Convert a suitcase into a craft case
Pickle persimmons
Make some book ppts for my 3rd grade campers so they can read something fun
Make a Mokpo wiki so we can all find stuff without having to give absurd relative location based directions and keep asking for the "English speaking dentist."
Learn to fold simple origami
Make more postcards for the sweet potato


This year is very different in many respects:
We are in a small Korean apartment.
I don't have access to a sewing machine.
I have limited storage/ work space
there are no Jo-Ann type stores here, each craft store sells one thing: yarn, embroidery floss, fabric, and I have to find each one first.

First I need to go to Japan and see what's up.
See y'all on Feb 1st with my first "thing"

It's all done!

This last week of Thing A Day was super crazy.  We are working to get ready to move, but I still got a lot done.  I turned 2 sweaters into a hat, I made a pop-up, I finished the hobby horse, and I made a cute tote bag.
I'd love to do it again, but the house is rented out and it is time to pack up.

Week 3

Boy this was one heck'ofa week.  I spent two days chilling with Veda, we played many games, went to the "jungle" and  imagined many things.  We also spent a time finger painting with colored pudding and painting snow.  I continued working on a hobby horse, made a pattern for a Cowgirl vest all for "somebody's" birthday.
Finally, Mike and I recovered from Veda's gooey virus by making beef barley soup and granola.  I am so glad we are finally feeling better.  There is so much going on as we prepare to move that I can't believe that time could fly so fast.

Week 2

I continued the conversation heart fascinator, the hobby horse, and indulged Mike for Valentine's day.  Whew, it was a busy week.  This is just a sample, for more go to my thing-a-day.

A week's worth of making

I have been making a thing a day this week for Thing-A- Day 2011.  Here is just a bit of the action.  Check the link for more.

Just for me!

I taught myself to sew a zipper with this cooler than cool bunny pencil pouch.  The materials were left over from my coat and Coraline's mobile.  I got it out of this fabulous, devine, dream making book Zakka Sewing.  I can't say enough about this book.
Oh, and sewing a zipper isn't nearly as intimidating as I thought it would be.  There are more zippers in my future! ( Thanks for your love and patience Mike, you are the best engineer a girl could love!)

Baby Present!

Oh man, did Mike and I have fun with this challenge!  We found this pattern in one of my favorite books, One Yard Wonders,  co- created by Trica, from Crafty Planet, the coolest store ever.  We surprised ourselves by making it in only two sessions.  It was really fun to make, but tricky to stuff.  We stuffed, unstuffed, and fidgeted with the stuffing trying to get the neck and legs firm.  I hope that John and Daphne's baby enjoys playing with it once it gets born, starts walking, and can pull and walk at the same time.