Mt. Rainier and Lenticular Clouds - Dec. 2008 copyright: JMM

January 28, 2014

One of Those Days

It seems like, for me anyway, there is always that one incredibly dull, lame, boring day in late January.  It's always on a Sunday.  I even have specific memories of days like that throughout my childhood and have been kind of tracking it to see if it happens every year and it really does seems to.  There's nothing to do. Even if it's nice out, it's too cold and windy to go anywhere.  TV sucks.  You can't find anything good to eat in the kitchen.  You have so many things to do inside, crafts and chores, but no energy or desire to get up, and at the same time you are so restless you feel like you're gonna explode if you don't get out of the house soon.  I could feel it when I got up this past Sunday.  Facebook and the blogosphere were even dead.  Just a Bucket of Suck day.  I ended up in my craft room, to at least try and make some stuff and salvage the loneliness.

Anywho, I've finally tried to get a handle on my out of control needlework projects.  They are so perfect to do in the livingroom when Russell's home.  I discovered that a few of the floss packs had free designs on their packaging or instructions.  I decided to do a couple just for fun before I got back to the projects that have been started.

OK this one looks nothing like the pattern I started to follow because I made such a huge mistake that I couldn't go back and rip out all the work I'd done, and had to free form it.  This is the first time I've ever deviated from a pattern on my own and just made something up.  The pattern also didn't call for beads but I added them anyway.  The instructions showed that it was to be done in just blue, so I used varigated blue floss.  It was stitched on perforated paper and doesn't photograph well.  It looks much nicer in real life.


I also used my own colours for this peace sign design.  Again, all varigated floss, then outlined in shiny gold. The original pattern had 'PEACE' written on all four sides but I did not like the way it looked on the paper so I just eliminated that whole part of the design.  I may mount these small projects on cards.

OK LANGUAGE ALERT HERE!!!  Over the holidays, Axe & I were cracking up over a cross stitch picture that she or someone posted on Facebook.  It took me off guard, especially when sung, and I thought it was hilarious.  I told her that I was pretty sure I could recreate the cross stitch from the picture because it was a very simple design.  She asked if I could make it for her.  Since I was getting together a package to send her anyway, I decided to knock this out now rather than next fall, so that I wouldn't have to send a second package (believe me, sending to S. Africa can be somewhat complicated, especially for the addressee picking it up so you want to have it all together and just send it once).

This is the picture from her timeline:

I first enlarged the picture so that I could count the stitches, then found my cross stitch graph paper and sketched it out.  It only took a couple of days of stitching to get it done and it will fit in a 5x7 frame once ironed.  The original picture didn't have the words and holly trim outlined, so I added that to make it pop and easier to read.  If I never stitch the word 'la' again it'll be too soon.

Since I had the black floss & Aida cloth out, I did this simple Snoopy design in about an hour.



I made the small ones into cards.

I had another felt peace sign and decided to round up my sparkly pin collection and earrings I can no longer wear anymore due to metal allergy.  I snapped off all the pinbacks and earring hooks and glued them to the felt. In addition to the pins & earrings, there are a few items that I used to fill in the gaps. I love sparkly pins but they are kind of expensive and I don't wear them, so this was the best way to showcase my modest collection.

I love keys....everyone I know seems to love keys.  I like how the craft stores sell new ones made to look vintage and I always buy a package because you can always find something to do with them.  In my case, I broke out the rhinestones and went to town.  Must. Bedazzle.  Everything. 

I posted them on Facebook and got a lot of inquiries about possibly purchasing these or having custom ones done.  There is a craft show coming up in April and I am not really sure what to make for a spring show.  All of my shows have been geared towards ornaments and stocking stuffers, so maybe I'll try and sell the keys.

My bff Michelle requested the steampunk one on the right. 



2 Seahawks themed bracelets and the one in the center is Notre Dame's colours, that I made for Kris.

Do any of you have a particular Bucket of Suck day that seems to happen at the same time every year?  Is is also late January like mine is?

12 comments:

  1. Oh JoJo, I'm on bucket of suck day 18...but for completely different reasons.

    I love the sign you made for your friend. Cracks me UP.

    OMG the keys. I've never seen them (I go to craft stores for my yarn and my jewelry making and try to stay far away from the other aisles lest I get hooked on something else I totally don't have the time for...)

    As usual, all your stuff is gorgeous and I'd love to come to your craft fair and spend way too much money. And beat your friend to the steampunk key...

    Tina @ Life is Good
    A to Z Team @ Blogging From A to Z April Challenge 2014
    @TinaLifeisGood, #atozchallenge

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    1. I agree, you have had a horrid January of epic proportions. :( Today I was out buying more rhinestones but I can't find keys or watch parts so I have to engage in some online retail therapy. I know, 'big fat bummer!' lol

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  2. The steampunk keys, and the cross-stitch look great! You are fast at your crafts! I call those days the January Blah days.But, January is almost over. Take heart, that's what's coming up in February. . .
    Love seeing your crafts, thanks for sharing.

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    1. Thanks! If I don't work on a few projects at once, I'll never be able to do everything I want to do. I wish I had an extra set of arms. Imagine how much I could get done then! lol

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  3. You are surely productive on Suck Day. LOLOLOLOLOL That fa la la la la piece made me laugh so hard!! Too funny! And I loved those fancy kids. Oh hells bells Jo Jo, I love everything you make!!! LOL January is almost behind us and February awaits. Hopefully it will be better and find my kids back to school! All these days off for cold and snow are driving me crazy. :D

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    1. I've been hesitant to post that fa la la la la pic on FB b/c I do have a few friends who are minors, and other young people in their late teens and 20s, like my stepkids. I try to set a good example. It is a riot though. I'm going stir crazy in this house. I need a road trip bad.

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  4. Your friend is gonna love that racy Christmas picture! heheheheheh!

    Hey, lady! Take heart! Fecking January is almost over! Pretty soon it'll be July again and you'll be complaining about the heat!

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    1. I know right? There's just no pleasing me. I have to get used to being a prisoner in my own house 4 months in the summer and 4 months in winter.

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  5. I forgot to say THE KEYS ARE GORGEOUS.

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  6. Thank you! They are so much fun to make. And...god help me...I've just ordered more keys, watch parts/gears and...omg...METAL WINGS. I have been wanting to make winged keys but didn't find ones that were the right size. I think the ones I ordered will be perfect.

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  7. My day(s) usually come in February...joy (sigh). LOVE the steampunk keys! Btw, those 8 tracks on my blog belonged to my aunt who is only 12 years older than me! (feel better? younger?) ;)

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    1. LOL! Thank you and yes I do feel much better that they belonged to your aunt!

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