Cute As A Button (and my thoughts on pantyhose)

Posted on December 6, 2011 by Krista

My brain is all over the place this week. I can’t seem to string a cohesive thought together if my life depended on it. Do you want to know how this post originally started? I had a whole paragraph typed up about how as I was putting my on nylons for Church, I was thinking, I sure hope no one walks in on me while I’m doing this. No one should ever be subjected to watching a woman put on her pantyhose. That is just plain cruel and unusual punishment. For all involved.

A whole paragraph!

Anyway. Did I tell you I have a new part-time job? It’s true. I’m the new marketing specialist for a business travel agency. It’s only a couple days each week so I still have time to work on the magazine (!) and schedule photo shoots and consult here and there. And, piece by piece, I feel like life is coming back together again.

Speaking of the magazine. Y’all—it is going to be so amazing. I have bitten off way more than one girl should chew (what’s new?) but it makes me so happy. So. incredibly. happy. And slowly but surely it’s coming together. I’ll have more news later this week about that.

And then there’s the concert … My first annual Christmas House Concert featuring the ever-lovely Mindy Gledhill. Tickets are selling and my house is filling up! I’m finishing the designs for the decorations today and getting a head start on refreshments. But most importantly, it will be so fun to see you, especially you readers I don’t know! (Tickets still available here.)

Now, if you’re just finding me through GTU (I had a craft segment this morning) welcome welcome. I’m Krista, a magazine publisher/photographer/marketing consultant & teacher/quintessential pisces/lover of crafties/single, 32-year-old Southern transplant with a fetish for words, hand-written letters mailed with a stamp, Valentine’s Day candy, cheese platters, the Bachelor(ette) when it’s not stupid (oxymoron intended), and Ryan Gosling (as of late. loved this.).

The last couple years have been a maze of discovery, emotion, grief, and understanding as I’ve sought to make sense of a substantial job loss, singledom, and the intersection of my life and my faith. And I’m realizing this blog is where my “becoming” plays out. I suppose you could say, that that is its purpose–its theme. And I’m happy to have you here.

By way of announcement, you can also find me

on Facebook :: on Pinterest :: on email

I also have an email list (over there on the right near the top) but, FYI, I stink at sending consistent email. I have grand plans for said list, but alas, I procrastinate. (That’s the polite way of saying I’m lazy.) But do sign up if you want an occasional email with delicious words, easy tutorials, and cool stuff. And it’s also the place you want to be when the so-called grand plans roll out. And grand they will be, I assure you.

Today in my segment I showed how to make customized fabric button earrings. They’re a great gift for the long list of ladies in your life. And inexpensive too–each set costs less than $1. Here is the tutorial if you missed it. And the video is at the end of this post.

Customized Fabric Button Earrings

Supplies:
craft cover button kit * scissors * fabric (small prints are best depending on the size of buttons) * any glue that will adhere metal * earring posts (or pins, magnets, etc. depending on the type of accessory you are making)

Steps:
1. Place button kit template on fabric and trace circle following directions in kit.
2. Cut out fabric circle.
3. Center fabric wrong side up, over the mold (comes in the button kit), and press button shell into mold.
4. Tuck fabric into button shell.
5. Place button back over tucked fabric, press down firmly with pusher (comes in the button kit) to snap into place.
6. Glue earring post to back of button.
7. Repeat for second earring.

Variations:
1. Use these fabric buttons for the center of a fabric flower brooch.
2. Glue magnets to the back for a set of matching of customized magnets.
3. Use computer printer fabric to print designs, words, or pictures straight from your computer for even more personalized accessories.

Cute as a button indeed. Much cuter than me putting on my nylons.

Tutorial: Crocheted Lace Bib Necklace

Posted on April 28, 2011 by Krista

Please excuse this break in my coverage of the baby sister‘s graduation week, but I got a call from my producer at ABC yesterday asking if I would come in this morning to do a segment. They had a last minute cancellation and needed to fill the slot with “something great.” Que: Me! Well. Que my really great craft. I feel more like a blundering fool every time I’m on TV. But oh well! It’s fun.

So welcome to any new readers who found me via Good Things Utah! I’m Krista, a photographer, writer, and sometimes publicist/marketer. This site is where I share my pictures and words. Sometimes it’s about my work. Sometimes it’s a craft. Sometimes it’s about my roommate or my family. Sometimes it’s about my dating life (haha, jk. Those posts, like, never happen. But when they do … they’re pretty great.). Sometimes it’s my thoughts on my faith. And always it’s me trying to make sense of this life I’m living.

Today–it’s about how you can make your own Crocheted Lace Bib Necklace.

I made these necklaces to give as favors at the bridal shower I hostessed for my baby sister last week (more on that soon!). They are seriously so easy and take maybe 30 minutes to make. I’ve decided to give a few away, so you can enter to win one by signing up on the email list over there on the right column. I’ll draw three names Friday morning–right before I give my total attention to the day-long coverage of the Royal Wedding (Is anyone else as excited as I am?! Gaah!).

But if you just want to DIY…here’s how:

Supplies // 1 crocheted lace doily . 1 necklace clasp . 1″ wide strip of cotton fabric (1/2″ longer the center width of the doily) . 14″ of necklace chain . Needle n’ Thread . Iron . Scissors . Sewing Machine (optional)

1 // Begin with a small crocheted lace doily.

2 // Cut the doily across the center.

3 // Cut a strip of cotton fabric 1″ wide and 1/2″ longer than the width of your doily.

4 // Fold sides of fabric strip in about 1/4″ and iron. Then fold strip in half lengthwise and iron again.

5 // Place the unfinished edge of the doily inside the folded fabric strip. Pin in place if needed.

6 // Sew along fabric strip edge, being sure to catch the doily in your stitches. (Can be hand or machine sewn.)

7 // Hand-stitch 7″ of necklace chain to each side of “bib.”
8 // Attach necklace clasp to ends of chain. (May require jump rings depending on sizes of chain links and clasp.)

All done! Easy right?! Lemme know if you have any questions!

And don’t forget to enter to win one by signing up on the email list over there (on the right near the top).

paper & lace

Posted on April 13, 2011 by Krista

The baby sister graduates from college next week. But when I look at her, I think, impossible.

I suppose it’s the age gap between us that makes my memories of her more vivid, and because I have such concrete visions of her childhood, it’s confusing almost that somewhere in the last 20 years, she grew up.

She also gets married in four months. Four. Months. So. Next week has been dubbed “Maurer Mania.” And between a gazillion trips to the airport for pick ups and drop offs, college commencements and convocations, one mother’s birthday, one Easter Sunday, one family concert (email me if you’d like to come), ogling Laela, Kaycie’s first session at the temple, and wedding dress shopping, we also have a bridal shower scheduled.

Can anyone say “party planning”? Ooo! Pick me! Yes m’am. That’s right. I’m pre.tty excited.

To start? All you need is a little paper and a little lace and you’ve got yourself the beginnings of what some might call: a shindig.

(how to: 1. print invite info on cardstock of any color and trim, leaving about an inch on left side. 2. layer different sizes of coordinating/contrasting papers that match the wedding colors–align left. 3. cut a piece of lace 3-5 inches longer than the length of the invite and place at top. 4. sew down middle of lace with an elongated stitch, pushing the lace into the needle to create the lacy ruffle. 5. mail in a coordinating envelope.)

Good Things Utah Appearance: Recovering Lampshades [June 1, 2010]

Posted on June 1, 2010 by Krista

This morning I posted a tutorial for recovering a lampshade, which was the project I demonstrated on Good Things Utah this morning.

It was a last minute appearance so I apologize for not letting everyone know ahead of time. But here’s the video in case you missed it. Enjoy!

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Tutorial: Recover a Lampshade with Fabric DIY

Posted on June 1, 2010 by Krista

I’m currently in the planning phase for a redecoration of my studio and some of the items that need to be updated are my lamps. But since I’m a girl on a budget and since I love DIY projects, I decided to simply recover the shades myself. Here’s how I did it!

Supplies: lampshade * butcher/news/wrapping paper * pencil * spray adhesive * fabric * scissors * iron * glue gun/fabric glue * decorative trims/accessories (optional)

Instructions:

1. Make your pattern. Spread your paper out on a table or other flat surface. Place lampshade on top with the seam down. Holding the pencil next to the top edge at the seam line, roll shade across paper to create a continuous, curved line. Stop once your pencil has returned to the seam line.

2. Return shade to starting position and repeat, but put pencil next to the bottom edge of the shade. Use a ruler to connect the top and bottom end points.

3. Cut out your pattern and place on top of fabric. Cut out fabric, using pattern as a guide, but add 1/2 inch seam allowance to all sides. Remove the pattern from the fabric and iron the straight edges under 1/2 inch.

4. Spray the wrong side of the fabric with spray adhesive and attach to the old lampshade. Smooth wrinkles. The adhesive will be tacky for a bit so you have time to readjust. Finish by overlapping the raw edge with the ironed edge. Fold top and bottom under and pinch to adhere.

5. Add decorative trims or other accessories (with your hot glue gun or fabric adhesive) to spruce it up!

Easy huh?! Let me know if you have any questions!

***Watch a video demonstration of this project HERE***

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