Little Gray Fox

DIY Valentine Gift | Embroidery Hoop Art

2012-02-11T14:58:00.000-08:00

Need a quick, last-minute gift idea? Try this little embroidered heart-brella...ella...ella!

I whipped up this cute little hoop in just under an hour! It makes a great last minute gift idea for your special Valentine :)

What you'll need to get started:

3" inch embroidery hoop
scissors
1 sheet of red felt
1 sheet of blue felt
blue and red embroidery floss
needle
plaid fabric

Cut a semi-circle from the blue felt, approx. 2 inches wide. Also cut a small "J"

Cut some scallops into your blue semi-circle

Cut out a few small hearts (at least 4) from your red felt

Separate your blue embroidery floss into two strands and sew on the blue applique umbrella.

Use a running stitch and 3 strands of red floss to sew on your hearts

Once you're finished, sew or glue the fabric on the back of the hoop for a clean look

Step back and enjoy your work! Then give it away to your favorite Valentine!
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I'd love to see your version! If you decide to make it, feel free to post a link below to share!

Fit Friday

2012-02-10T08:08:00.000-08:00

{via}

It has been a couple weeks since the boypiece and I started with the personal trainer at our gym. And it's been pretty fabulous! Painful; but fabulous!

I'm doing great with the exercising, although my asthma still gives me trouble with the cardio. I use an inhaler prior to going to the gym but it's still not 100% effective. My lungs are definitely burning just a few minutes into it.

This week, I'm finally focusing on eating better. I can't seem to force myself to eat breakfast, it's just too early! So I've traded my morning cup of coffee for a SlimFast shake. I compared it with the other shakes on the shelves, and although it doesn't taste as good as the SpecialK shakes, it seems to be the healthier choice.

Next week, we sign up for a 6 week training package :)

Meet the Little Gray Fox

2012-02-09T09:08:00.000-08:00

I've finally created a little mascot for my shop. I've been planning to do this for some time now. (ahh, procrastination) I painted a plastic fox figurine from the hobby store to look similar to my Little Gray Fox logo. And now he'll be featured next to my items in my shop!

{little painted fox}

{photo setup}

{little fox in action}

{shoot in progress}

And here's what the completed listing photos look like:

I'm so excited about the new look for my Etsy shop! Now I just have to retake all my listing photos! But just for the first slot...it's too much work to replace all 5 pic slots for each listing!

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Wordless Wednesday

2012-02-08T08:48:00.000-08:00

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Musical Interlude

2012-02-07T08:29:00.000-08:00

I just had to share my latest discovery. Usually, I pride myself on knowing a lot of underground music. I used to go to local music shows up to 3 times a week! Every time I'd tell someone about a new band I loved, they had no clue who I was talking about.

It's been about 5 years since that time of my life. So now I'm catching on to "new" music with the rest of mainstream folks. Oh well. So I'm a bit behind. At least I'm still listening.

So although I'm a few years behind on this band, I just had to share my latest discovery. It's a little band called "Fun." I heard about it from a couple of co-worker friends who heard about them from the show GLEE. I loved the song they introduced me to so much that I decided to download their album.

AND I LOVE IT!

Nate Ruess has a voice that I love to find in a lead singer. Talented and passionate; it just draws you in.

Their new album comes out later this month (which I've already pre-ordered). But you should really check out their current album. I've had it on repeat shuffle ever since I downloaded it. Pretty fantastic. :) Of course, you probably already know about them and his old band and maybe even what his favorite candy bar is. But I'm a bit slow catching on .... I'm so glad I didn't miss out completely!

Here are a couple videos that I think show what a great band they are. Reminds me a bit of Queen & Mika or Panic! at the Disco, but they definitely have a great sound on their own.

Unusual Winter Weather

2012-02-06T08:25:00.000-08:00

Washington has been hit by a heatwave! Well not really. But 60 degrees and sunny is quite odd weather for this time of year. Remember my recent snow pics? It went from 12 inches of snow and freezing to gorgeous, t-shirt weather!

Our norm is 58 days of sunshine per year! That's kinda crazy if you think about it. So I'm hoping this is a sign of an early Spring. And maybe Punxsutawney Phil was just plain wrong this time around.

We took a quick trip up north to place called Little Mountain Park. It had several little hiking trails and nice views of the Skagit Valley. On the way back home, we pulled over to catch the sunset. But these pics don't do it justice!

How was your weekend?

Project 365 | Week 5

2012-02-05T09:32:00.000-08:00

It's gonna be a gorgeous week with temps in the upper 50s! I think the next batch will include lots of sunshine ;)

1. Mini Paparazzi

2. Deathcake Royale

3. Projects in process

4. Dentist's chair

5. Taste test

6. Breakfast of champions!

7. Little Gray Fox

Look, Ma! No Debt!

2012-02-02T09:17:00.000-08:00

{via}

I've paid off my last card and can now say I'm debt free!

Woo Hoo!

Now what to do with the old credit cards...?

Cut them up and make a mosaic? Turn the pieces into a geometric necklace?

Guitar pick? (oh wait, I don't play guitar)

Maybe I'll just frame them on the wall to remind myself of where I never want to end up again!!!

Any suggestions?

Photo 365 | Week 4

2012-01-30T11:11:00.000-08:00

I feel like I'm off by one day. I have 4 weeks + 1 day. How in the heck did that happen?

Anyway, here's week four. Maybe it'll even itself out by the end of the year :)

1. Sushi

2. I have no self control

3. It's too early!

4. Diet killer Qu'est-ce que c'est?

5. Gluten-free, baby!

6. Lazy dog

7. Ui's new sweater

p.s. my blogger is going crazy! :(

My Boobs Were a Big Hit at the Office

2012-01-30T11:10:00.000-08:00

You may not know this about me: I'm a big practical joker.

I also have the memory of an elephant. Those two things combined can equal a lot of trouble.

I mentioned in a previous post that I was working on a rap song. That was for a practical joke - and it was months in the making. I like to take my time; make sure it's perfect.

This recent joke was a bit more hurried so I wasn't sure how well it'd pan out. My co-worker came in to me on Wednesday and told me about her recent trip to the chiropractor.

She had been complaining of pains in her side. His diagnosis? She sprained a rib... from her bra... because her boobs are large.

I have ant hills on my chest. So I think it's funny when girls complain about having "too much" boobage. But the grass is always greener, right?

Anyway, all pain aside, I thought it was hilarious. Especially since he'd suggested she switch to a sports bra. As any heavy-chested girl will know, that is NOT a flattering look. Nobody likes a uni-boob.

So I rushed home that night all inspired. I stopped at the grocery store to pick up the pieces of my plan.

$30 bucks, 2 hours, and quite the mess later, I had my masterpiece.

Boob-shaped sugar cookies. I used some artistic license with the icing to design some "fancy" bras.

They were delicious. And they were a hit with the ladies at the office. Even my bruised bosom co-worker got a good giggle out of them.

Hooray!

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Blog Makeover

2012-01-26T08:35:00.000-08:00

I've been wanting to redo my banner and buttons for some time now. And last weekend, I finally got around to doing it!

So now I have a new (and bigger!) banner plus some new buttons

Whaddya think?! I was trying for a little cleaner and stylized look. Plus, I really wanted to add my foto shop to this blog...because two blogs is too difficult to keep up with!

Wishlist Wednesday | Prints

2012-01-25T08:28:00.000-08:00

Here are just a few of my latest favorite Etsy finds! I could fill my walls with prints from these fabulous artists!

Click shop links below to see full prints :)

Seahorse by KarinGrow

Bird watercolor by Water In My Paint

Panda print by Sadly Harmless

Someday Cottage by the wheatfield

Things that are long by 1canoe2

Dreamcatcher by Parada Creations

What are you wishing for?

Aww, Bummer, Dudes

2012-01-24T08:55:00.000-08:00

If you haven't heard by now, the editing website that I've been raving about for the past year is closing soon. Boo, hiss!

Yep, that's right. Picnik.com is closing down and moving over to the Google platform. I really loved using it for it's simplicity and convenience. I even purchased the premium membership to have access to all of its great features.

If you also purchased a membership, don't fret, they are giving FULL refunds!

And as a bonus for the next few months, anyone who's never signed up before can use all the premium features.

It's a total bummer. But they're being cool about it. And as much as I never use Google+ anymore, maybe it'll get me back on there.

Here's their official announcement:

Updates Galore

2012-01-23T08:02:00.000-08:00

{via Threadless}

Well the snow stunted my GCL plans as far as the gym goes. But now that it's melting away, I can move forward. I decided to go against my original decision of not signing up with a trainer. I remembered just how helpful it was to have Ben there to motivate me and basically kick my ass on a weekly basis.

So to jump start the process, I'm hiring him again for some training sessions. Just 5 weeks to start and I'll see if I can go it on my own after that. I just don't want to get to the point I was last July where I was overworked and unable to keep up with the schedule.

I also took advantage of the snow days by finishing a few projects and getting stuff listed in my shop. Hooray!

Now I have some Valentines Day gifts in my LittleGrayFox store!

AND I finally did the switch over to my new photography shop! Fox Fine Foto is now Little Foto Fox :) It's not full yet but I've started it up with some Valentine's prints :)

What's going on with you, today?

Project 365 | Week 3

2012-01-22T10:44:00.000-08:00

I gotta say that doing the 365 photo project is much easier this year. Instead of trying to blog a photo daily, I'm able to keep up with the weekly catch-up post :) I'm always taking pics each day, it's getting them uploaded that I don't always have time for!

1. Our snow sculptures

2. New stuff for my shop

3. Witness to an fender-bender

4. Measuring the snowfall

5. Quiet time at the snowy pond

6. One of my favorite headbands from TheaStarr on Etsy

7. A hot pup too lazy to get water!

Seattle's Arctic Blast 2012 - Instagram Style

2012-01-20T12:56:00.000-08:00

Well it looks like Seattle is finally getting beyond the winter blast! Of course, with all the power outages and ice storms, now we have possible flooding to look forward to!

I stopped measuring the snow when it went above my ruler. I didn't have a yardstick. Darn! So I know we got just over a foot -- a record in all my years of living here!

I hated not being able to go into the office. I worked remotely from home and it was so sloooooow. It was too frustrating to enjoy!

So it was back to work today. And tonight I'll be shoveling the snow from the storm drain to prevent flooding the streets.

Here are a few (and by few, I mean several!) Instagram shots of the progression of the "Arctic Blast" (don't you just love all the names the news people give storms?)

Hope you are all safe and warm! Have a great weekend!

our little igloo disappeared under 5 more inches!

slowly creeping up

Ban Censorship | Stop SOPA and PIPA

2012-01-18T10:21:00.000-08:00

Read about it. Write your state representative about it. Don't let your opinion go unheard.

Need to find out more? Check out The Oatmeal's fabulous explanation.

Or Google's. Or Wikipedia's.

Then contact someone who can speak for you and stop it from happening.

Spread the word. Spread the .gif (via The Oatmeal)

Fun in the Snow | Sculptures

2012-01-17T09:00:00.000-08:00

So yeah...the snow. It's a little crazy! But the boypiece and I took full advantage of the fluffy stuff on Sunday.

We think the typical snowman is boring.

So we went a little crazy.

He made an igloo! I made a penguin, an Eskimo and his catch of the day!

We added some food coloring to a spray bottle of water to get the pretty colors!

Just as we were adding the finishing touches, it started to slowly melt. Luckily, I took some photos before the colors started to run ;)

Next time, we're gonna go bigger. He's talking statue-of-liberty-big. We'll see ...

Of course, the snow is still in full force in my neck of the woods. They're forecasting 10-16" inches by tomorrow. Whee!

Snow Day!

2012-01-16T09:43:00.000-08:00

We finally got snow! Seattle is a little behind this year. In my neighborhood (north of the city) we got five inches! It was pretty fabulous! I love staying cozy inside while watching it fall. Driving in it for work...not as fun. But my studded tires and general defensive driving skills keep my mind at ease ;)

saturday afternoon

sunday morning

dogs love snow

Katie loves to play in the snow. Ui prefers to stay inside all cozy and warm!

Project 365 | Week 2

2012-01-15T10:05:00.000-08:00

Two weeks in. So far; so good!

1. Treats

2. Domo <3 deer

3. CHERRY? Yum!

4. Winter sunrise

5. Polish colors

6. Wonka machine!

7. Domo <3s you!

Not Quite Myself These Days

2012-01-13T11:47:00.000-08:00

{via cateanevski on etsy}

I've been fighting a constant migraine for 5 days now. Monday through Friday. Yuck. It's not work stress, though. It can't be. I'm no more stressed than normal.

I blame this odd pain in my jaw and my uncomfortable pillow.

My normal remedies aren't kicking in. (I've dealt with migraines all my life so I have a lot of "fixes")

So tonight, I'm going to get a head/neck/shoulder massage for 50 minutes. I'm splurging as a last-ditch effort to not have a miserable weekend!

I'm also rushing to the Relax Your Back store to splurge on a special pillow. (I can't believe how much it costs for a piece of FOAM!!)

If this doesn't work, I'm out of options. So cross your fingers for me! And I hope we all have a fabulous weekend!

Wordless Wednesday | Snuggles

2012-01-11T08:27:00.000-08:00

Pay It Forward 2012 | Quick Update

2012-01-10T07:53:00.000-08:00

If you've signed up for my Pay It Forward 2012 project, you should have received an email from me. If you don't have your email, please let me know in the comments below!

If you missed the original post or didn't make it in time to be included, don't worry! I will be offering some great giveaways and special treats during 2012 - so there are plenty of chances to get in on the fun!

Feel free to use this graphic if you'd like to Pay It Forward on your own blog!

I May Have Jumped The Gun

2012-01-09T07:49:00.000-08:00

I kinda dove head-first into the new GCL plan over the weekend. The boypiece and I took a bike ride down into the valley behind my neighborhood. It's full of farmland and livestock and pretty mountain views.

It's also full of winding roads with no shoulders, no street lights and no other way back except STRAIGHT UP!

The ride definitely was a struggle in a few different spots. I had used my asthma inhaler about 15 minutes before we took off. But my lungs were still burning on the last uphill mile.

It was rough. My legs were jello by the time I got home.

But it was a great day for it. Cool weather; light sprinkle of rain; slightly overcast -- perfect!

Project 365 | Week 1

2012-01-08T10:25:00.000-08:00

Last year, I tried doing the 365 photo project and didn't make it very far. I had kept daily uploads on my photography blog. It just wasn't very convenient since I don't always log on to my computer each night.

This year, I'm trying it again with the Project365 iphone app. I figure I'll try to blog them just once a week so as not to spam your blog reader platforms!

Here's my first week, so far-so good with keeping up. Crossing my fingers that I'll make it through the entire year!

1. Goobye snow day; hello bedtime!

2. ~~Spring~~ Winter cleaning

3. Mini dino

4. Winter sunrise

5. Reading in bed

6. Chocolate wine

7. Nest in the brush

Are you posting a 365 project? Or perhaps the 52 weeks project? Let me know in the comments below so I can follow along!

Staying Motivated in 2012 / Update to My GCL Plans

2012-01-04T08:04:00.000-08:00

{via}

Last year I vowed to start a new habit I called "GCL" which stands for gym-craft-list. (check out this post if you missed it). I didn't quite achieve my goals as planned. I did pretty well for about 6 months until I dropped out completely.

So this year, I plan to change it just a bit. I'm not going to go the route of a personal trainer at the gym. Although I would definitely say it was worth the money I spent and I learned a lot from him. I just know I don't have the time to commit to that workout schedule again.

I'm planning to make this year's goal to train for my first 10k run to take place in October. I have never loved to run. And since discovering my asthma last year, it may be a bit of a struggle. But with that goal in mind, instead of inches or pounds, I know I'll end up healthy and in shape.

For my shop plans, I definitely did well with the goals I had set. I don't plan to craft and list 3 days a week. I just know I won't have time. Work has been a killer since June and it doesn't appear to be letting up. So my realistic goal is to get my photography shop moved over to the new name/format, do more to promote my craft shop and list a new item each week.

It may not sound like much but with my schedule, I know it'll be tough, yet do-able :)

{via}

I have other goals for myself which are to pay off my debt and save money. Oddly enough, I think those will be the easiest to accomplish. Eating right and getting in shape seem to be a real struggle! I also happen to be quite good at procrastination! So my new mantra is "I won't stand in my own way!". Anytime I start to make an excuse for myself, I will repeat those words to remind myself of where I want to end up.

{via}

Here's to a new year and a new mindset!

Trains And Tubes

2012-01-03T08:32:00.000-08:00

We had a very low-key NYE. We met some friends for a fabulous dinner at a local Tapas restaurant. Then it was back home for some couch time and a movie. Pretty sure we were in bed by 11pm. Although the local illegal fireworks displays kept me up past midnight.

Our lack of drunken debauchery was due to the fact that we planned to be up and on the road early the next morning. We figured while others were sleeping in and nursing their hangovers, the mountain passes and slopes would be wide open!

So we grabbed our inner tubes and headed east to play in the snow!

We found a couple of good slopes to slide down. And I had so much winter gear from my car's emergency roadside kit that I actually got TOO HOT while out in the snow. Go figure.

After playing in the powder, we took my niece to the local railway museum that I had visited last year. All-in-all, it was a fun day! We made it home just around 4pm with plenty of time to sit and relax.

Ahhhhh... How was your New Years Eve?

P.s. I've decided to give the photo365 challenge another shot (har har) this year. Instead of posting daily on my photoblog, I've downloaded the project365 app for my phone. I figured it'll be easier to keep up with and I can post my entries as a collage instead of a daily pic. We'll see how long I can keep it going. Wish me luck!!

Pay It Forward In 2012

2012-01-02T13:23:00.000-08:00

Last year I participated in the bloggers Pay It Forward. Unfortunately, not everybody who signed up actually contacted me back with their shipping address, so I was unable to complete it :(

This year I'm going to try something a little different:

12 months; 12th year in the new millennium

For the first 12 people who comment below, I will send you something handmade (one per month of 2012). If you want to continue to pay it forward, you can repost this on your own blog or facebook page to give to your first 12.

I realize that 12 seems like a lot. But I plan to space it out and ship one package/gift per month, in the order of the comments.

If you'd like to be one of my "twelve", please post in the comments below. And be sure to post your email so I can follow up for your shipping address!

It's as simple as that!
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Happy New Year!

P.S. I will gladly ship to Canada and the UK :)

So Long, Farewell 2011

2011-12-31T10:10:00.000-08:00

2011 was quite a year! My day job went from being super slow and fearing layoffs to being so busy, everyone wanted to quit! My niece graduated high school, left our little nest and went off to college. I joined a gym, hired a trainer, and worked out like a mad woman. That lasted about 4 months. Now I'm lucky to get to the gym once a week! Hoping to change that in 2012! And...

I turned 37 - YIKES!

The boypiece left his rat-hole and moved in with us...he's still living here and we haven't killed each other yet!

I opened up a 2nd Etsy shop to feature my photography. In 2012, I plan to change the shop over to a new name and really focus on getting it off the ground.

I poked fun at the expense of a celebrity in melt-down mode. The mini-books I have left still make me giggle!

I took full advantage of the nice weather while it lasted. And it didn't last very long! This involved a lot of:

Hiking

Swimming

Lounging

and exploring!

I can't wait to see what 2012 has in store!

Happy New Year!

Time to Celebrate!

2011-12-30T08:00:00.000-08:00

Here's a free printable up for grabs! I'm sure I'll be offering more of these as I keep doodling on my new tablet ;)

You can either click on the jpeg image below and right click then "save as"

Or you can go to this page and download the PDF version

Enjoy!

Xmas in Instagram

2011-12-29T08:34:00.000-08:00

We had a lot of fun last weekend. The boypiece, the niece and I went to the local botanical gardens for their gorgeous floral lights. I can't imagine all the work that went into making the light sculptures! Some of the displays were so huge, it felt like we were standing in the middle of a blacklight poster!

Our fuzzy tree had a lovely pile o'presents. I just love the look of the white fluffy tree with the blown glass ornaments -- it's so Marilyn Monroe!

Katie got a big old fake turkey leg bone in her stocking! She was so happy and ignored us for hours while she gnawed on it.

Each year, I make the boypiece a new hat with some crazy characters on it. Last year was George Bush & Kanye West as BFFs. This year -- it's Dwight Schrute! He loved it! It was very last-minute so I didn't quite complete it. I'll be adding some of his famous quotes later on :)

Hope you all had a fabulous holiday!

I Can't Tear Myself Away!

2011-12-28T09:00:00.000-08:00

I'm spending a lot of time playing with my fabulous new Wacom tablet. I haven't even downloaded the programs that came with it, yet! I imagine that will suck up even MORE of my free time!

It's so much fun, though! I'm making lots of little doodles and silly photo edits.

So if you don't see me around here for a few days, this is the most likely culprit: Bamboo Create

Yeah. You could say I'm addicted!

For those of you who went from mouse to pen + tablet -- how long did it take you to get used to the control? I feel like I'm learning to walk all over again!!

Welcome Back!

2011-12-27T09:43:00.000-08:00

Hope you all had a fabulous holiday weekend if you were celebrating :)

I really enjoyed having an extra day off to sleep in and do practically nothing all day!

My niece got me a gift card to petsmart so I took Katie in to get a winter cut and clean. I'd never gone there before, so I was a little surprised when I saw BOWS IN HER HAIR!! She's such a tomboy. But it looked adorable!

I also got a Wacom tablet for Xmas! It took me hours to get it all set up since my laptop is so old. But I finally got it working late last night. I did a practice drawing to get a feel of it.

It's a bit weird at first and will definitely take a lot of practice to get used to. But I can't wait till I get better at it so I can offer up some inexpensive PDF embroidry patterns in my shop! Stay tuned! :)

The Holiday List!

2011-12-23T09:09:00.000-08:00

This is my last post before Xmas. I plan to spend the rest of my time wrapping presents and watching fun holiday films!

I've been listening to holiday tunes all week, thanks to Pandora! It certainly helps get me through the incredibly stressful days at work! I have a few favorites that I absolutely love to hear, and it's pretty specific to the artist or version.

The quick list of my favorite holiday tunes are:

Merry Christmas from the Family - by Jill Sobule
All I Want For Christmas (is you) - by Mariah Carey
Blue Christmas - by Elvis
Last Christmas - by Wham!
Winter Wonderland - by The Eurythmics (I LOVE Annie Lennox!)

My favorite holiday movies are all comedies, naturally! My most favorite that I watch every year is National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation. Probably the best part is when Clark is breaking down, gulping back egg nog and saying "It's good, it's good, it's good". Hilarious!

I also love:

Elf - Zooey is so cute and Will is perfect in this!
Scrooged - because I adore Bill Murray
Love Actually - I'm a sucker for Hugh Grant movies
The Nightmare Before Christmas - LOVE Tim Burton films!

What are your xmastime faves?

Are you needing some last minute gift ideas? Check out my Holiday DIY posts for some inspiration!

*~* Happy Holidays! *~*

Holiday DIY: Custom Snow Globe

2011-12-22T07:53:00.000-08:00

I've been checking out the cute DIY snow globe tutorials on the web lately. When Julie Ann Art posted her mason jar tutorial, I knew I had to try it myself.

I do have mason jars sitting around. But I decided to try using glass candy trees that I picked up at the thrift store for a buck each.

I used some miniature deer and polymer clay for my snow globe scenes. I made a little airstream trailer and some pink yard flamingos for one of the scenes. I even dressed it up with some xmas lights. My mom called dibs on it while I was still making it :)

The glass trees have a plastic lid. To secure it to the glass, I used an epoxy glue. Once it dried, I added "Snow-Tek" fake snow around the base (not pictured). Then I sprinkled on some more snow glitter before it dried for a little added touch.

Check out the full tutorial over at Julie Ann Art!

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My "Bah Humbug" Moment

2011-12-21T09:56:00.000-08:00

Actually, I guess I have two of them.

I had planned on photographing and posting my latest tutorial last night. But I was a little distracted with researching security systems and trying to play policewoman.

The other night, while we were decorating the tree, these cuties were dressing up and playing around, completely oblivious to what was going on just outside our door.

Someone broke into my mom's car and quickly took whatever they could grab. Luckily, it wasn't much. But it's never a good feeling knowing that someone is taking advantage of your vulnerability. :(

So flash forward to last night when the boypiece and I head to the store to check out security systems for future crimes upon our home.

As we're leaving the store, I notice a suspicious looking dude by the bicycles for sale. Instantly I know he's trying to steal them. Sure enough, I see the whole thing go down. I know it's only one bike and the store is insured for stuff like this, but I don't think people should be allowed to get away with it just because it's easy. So the boypiece runs in to alert security (who doesn't seem to care) while I follow the guy and let him know his scheme didn't go unnoticed. He flees and we leave. And someone ends up with a shiny new bike courtesy of the five-finger discount. (It looked a little something like this)

So Bah Humbug to those dirtbags out there! Even though I know you're out there making people worry or feel unsafe, you still won't ruin my holidays! In fact, I'm listening to my xmas tunes right now!

And tonight, I plan to take those photos and share something pretty with you tomorrow. :)

Are you in the holiday spirit or feeling a little Scrooged?

Holiday DIY: Fun Gifts For Anyone

2011-12-20T07:57:00.000-08:00

This is probably the most fun project I've done...I just kept laughing while it was all coming together. This was also a really simple project so it would make for a great last-minute gift!

I took some of these fabulous porcelain paint markers (Pebeo vitrea 160 in glossy)

And drew funny faces and mustaches on some dollar store mugs.Let the paint dry for 24 hours then bake in the oven according to the marker's directions.

Then I made some chocolate dipped stirring spoons and marshmallows with some of these fun ingredients!

I also threw in some airplane sized liquor bottles and hot chocolate! Yummy! Hot cocoa, Bailey's Irish Creme (or Kahlua - or Frangelico!) and some chocolate dipped spoons...who wouldn't want that?!

Here's a quick tutorial on how to make the chocolate dipped spoons.

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More Holiday DIY on the way!

2011-12-19T13:25:00.000-08:00

It was a busy and crafty weekend at my house! My niece is in town from college for about a month. So I took her out to my very first encaustic wax collage class.

I gotta say - it was pretty fantastic!!

I've been wanting to try it for a while so I'm glad I finally went! It's such a messy craft!!! But it's a lot of fun. Here's a bad photo of my first project...ice cream cone from maps and chinese newspaper articles!

I was also busy working on some Holiday DIY tutorials. Just waiting for the glue to dry so I can take some "after" photos. Expect a new tutorial tomorrow and over the next few days!

How was your weekend? Did you finish your holiday shopping?

Fun With Model Magic

2011-12-15T09:07:00.000-08:00

I forgot to share my last office decor project. I was sidetracked by the increase in work hours and stress!!

I love working with Crayola Model Magic. It's a really light and fluffy air dry clay :) And it's so easy to work with!

My office is big and bland so I needed to add a splash of color. So I picked up a few cans of Krylon neon paints, some model magic and a few wood plaques from the craft store.

I mounted a simple sawtooth picture hook on the back of each plaque.

My love of faux taxidermy inspired me to make an owl, a bear and a rabbit's head.

I didn't glue the model magic onto the plaques. Instead, I sculpted them directly onto the wood so they ended up sticking pretty well.

After letting them air dry for 24 hours, I took them outside and spray painted the crap outta them!!

Now they brighten up the dark corner of my office!

Sorry for the bad phone pics. My phone doesn't have a flash :(

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Holiday DIY: Pretty Pinterest Tutorials

2011-12-13T09:41:00.000-08:00

Taking a quick break from my tutorial posts to share these fabulous projects found via Pinterest.

1. Simple wet-felted wool garland tutorial by WhipperBerry as posted by According To Kelly
2. This awesome Ninja by The Cheese Theif

3. Tissue paper tree by Spunky Junky
4. Yarn wrapped tree tutorial by One Pearl Button
5. Clay bird ornament tutorial by Jessica Jane
6. Snowy Scene ornaments from BHG.com

So many fabulous projects; so little time!

What crafty things are you working on right now?

Holiday DIY: Simple Filled and Painted Ornaments Tutorial

2011-12-12T10:48:00.000-08:00

Okay, I'll admit it. I'm addicted to making ball ornaments this year! It's just so simple and there are so many variations!

You can fill glass ball ornaments with yarn, twine, feathers, fake snow, pine needles and random craft supplies. You can also fill them with paint! It's so easy to do.All you need is a clear ornament and your favorite acrylic paint.I'm really loving Martha Stewart's paint line. It is full of so many gorgeous colors and shades.

Squirt about a teaspoon of paint directly into the ornament.

Slowly swirl it around until it coats the inside.

Use a plastic bottle or paper cup to store the ornament upside down. Leave it there overnight so that all the excess paint runs out.

Add the metal cap and voila! A lovely painted ornament in any shade you choose! You can use acrylic paint to add details to the outside, or leave it blank.

I also tried filling with Martha Stewart's flocking powder. It leaves a nice, cotton candy-like texture.

I used some varnish to coat the inside of the ornament first...to give the flocking powder something to stick to.

Let it dry for 15 minutes, not completely, just enough to get sticky. Then coat the inside with the flocking powder.

Using the same varnish to coat another ornament, I poured some candy sprinkles inside! These would be great stocking stuffers for kids..just make sure they don't try to eat them! You could seal the metal top with some glue on the inside if you're worried about that ;)

I got a little carried away with the paint selection. I tried glitter, satin, high gloss and pearl. Each makes a different, yet gorgeous effect.

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What are you filling your ornaments with this year?

Etsy Updates

2011-12-11T14:25:00.000-08:00

I've finished adding all of my recent projects to my shop! And that's all I'll be adding until 2012 -- woohoo! You can check it out at http://littlegrayfox.etsy.com

(P.s. You might notice in the screenshot below that I've added a little holiday flair to my banner!)

I also updated my photography shop. But I got a little lazy! I had recently changed shops with a new name. Instead of re-listing and re-doing everything in the new shop, I went ahead and reactivated the old one. So confusing! One of these days I'll get around to moving everything over. But I want to get some new photos developed first! For now, you can see all my photography for sale at http://foxfinefoto.etsy.com

Also, don't forget you can still use my coupon codes for discounts or free shipping on your order. I've added them to both of my shops :) Get the coupon codes here!

Holiday DIY: Felt Tree Tutorial

2011-12-10T10:32:00.000-08:00

Here's another quick holiday DIY tutorial for you! :)

These felt trees use very few supplies, but they do take a bit of time.

Supplies needed:

1 Styrofoam Cone (found at your local craft store)
5-6 sheets of felt
scissors
pearl head pins (find these in the sewing section - in different colors and sizes)

I chose white felt and multi-colored pins. I think they would look great in all white felt with all gold head pins. Or green with white...etc. The options are almost endless :)

Start by cutting your felt sheets into 1 inch wide strips.

Next, cut each strip into squares.
Then, cut each square into a circle. If you have a circle cutter tool, this could help speed up the process. I cut all my circles by hand! Yikes!

Take a circle and fold it in half, the fold in half again. It should look like a fortune cookie.

Next, stick a pin through the middle two layers of felt and bring out the back.

Pin the felt to the tree. Be sure to fill in all the blank spots so the green foam doesn't show through.

You can pin the circles to the top or add a star or other ornament.

Pin It

Shop Updates and Coupon Codes

2011-12-09T11:19:00.000-08:00

I've updated my Etsy shop to add a few more types of ornaments for the holidays.

They great thing is they aren't holiday specific so they would make a great addition to your decor, anytime of the year!

I'm also offering two different coupon codes:

USAFREE = Free shipping on your order - anywhere in the US!

INTER10 = If you are an international buyer, you can take an additional 10% off your order with this code!

To use your codes, be sure to enter them in the appropriate box at checkout.

I've added my felt acorn collection ornaments.

Large Brown Pair

Small Sage Trio

Multi-colored Needle Felted Trios (offering in small trios so you can mix and match the colors!)

And don't forget my felt foxes and hot air balloons!

Two Foxes in Love Ornament Pair

Hot Air Balloon Trio

And of course, I still have my embroidered hoop art and felt brooches :)

Check them all out over at LittleGrayFox.etsy.com

Little Goth Fox

2011-12-09T09:32:00.000-08:00

And now for something completely different than what you might normally see on my blog! I am not "Goth" by any means. I wear colorful clothing and listen to pop music (along with other styles). I do not dabble in the dark arts or have a passion for the macabre.

I do, however, find beauty in something that some might think unusual. I like photographing and visiting cemeteries. Is that crazy? I'm not sure how it all got started. But I do remember visiting the cemetery and mausoleum near my old neighborhood when I was about 11 years old.

It's not something I do often. Nor do I consider it a hobby. I just think the old stone and the green moss can be so beautiful. I like reading the dates on the tombstones and wondering what may have brought them to their final resting place.

Luckily, the boypiece seems to enjoy it, too. So at least I'm not alone!

Holiday DIY: Painted Ornament Tutorial

2011-12-08T11:14:00.000-08:00

Here's another simple yet cute ornament you can make with just a couple of supplies.

Just like my yarn ornament tutorial showed, you can start with a simple glass or plastic ball ornament, fill it with scrap yarn and add some acrylic paint.

Gather your supplies:

yarn or fiber fill stuffing
acrylic paint in selected colors
small paint brushes
plastic or glass clear ornaments

For these ornaments, I used my scrap yarn leftover from my dandelion pom poms to fill the ornament. I also chose metallic acrylic paint for the penguin.

The penguin is very simple. First, paint the back solid and bring around to the front. Arch just past the metal closure and end at a point (around where you want the eyes).

Next, choose black paint and dip the handle of your paint brush to make the eyes. Dip a small paint brush in white for the dots of the eyes.

A small yellow or orange triangle, painted upside-down, makes a simple beak.

Add a wider triangle for each foot.

And that's it!

I also made a snowflake using simple lines and adding different sizes of dots on each line.

These make great last minute stocking stuffers! I'll be posting more simple tutorials for ornaments and other holiday decor over the next couple of weeks. Most will be made with fewer than five supplies or stuff you may already have lying around the house! Stay tuned!
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Enjoying My Stay-cation!

2011-12-08T08:54:00.000-08:00

I haven't had a full week off from work in over three years. It's really quite sad! I've taken quick weekend trips, or at most, a 4-day weekend.

But 10 days in a row? UNHEARD OF!!

Until now! I've forced myself to use some of my vacation time because, frankly, I really deserved it! I'm still trying to find a good local place to get a massage so I can really spoil myself!

Over the next couple of days I'll be taking care of stuff I can't do during my normal work week. Dentist tomorrow; auto repair shop on Friday. So much fun :)

The rest of my time has been spent working on some new crafts and tutorials (did you catch this blog post?) that I'll be posting soon.

I've also been nice and lazy. The mutts made that easy to do...Katie snores so loud!!!

And since I was home all day, I decided to cook dinner for the boypiece! That's something I really never do! I found all the recipes on Pinterest! I made honey-soy glazed Steelhead, baked potato slices and braised zucchini with tomatoes. It was pretty darned delicious :)

I also spent a little time on some new nail polish designs. Ha! The confetti cupcake nails might just be my favorite ;)

How's your week treating you?

Holiday DIY: Simple Yarn Ornament Tutorial

2011-12-06T14:15:00.000-08:00

Over the next couple of weeks, I'll be posting some quick and simple DIY posts for Xmas decorations and last-minute gifts!

This post features a tip of what you can do with your leftover yarn from making these yarn poms!

I kept my leftover yarn in ziplock baggies till I could figure out what to do with them.

It seemed like such a waste to just toss it!

You can do this with any leftover supplies.

Think beads, ribbon, fabric scraps, etc.

Just pick up some plastic or glass ball ornaments from your local craft shop.

Pop off the metal tops and fill to your desired effect

(I like mine packed full!)

And voila! A fancy new ornament from your leftovers!

Pin It

Walkin' In An Urban Craft Wonderland

2011-12-05T09:49:00.000-08:00

(Title edited to avoid any confusion with the actual "Crafty Wonderland" show)

I've got great news -- my phone still works! Yay for cat-like reflexes! I dried it out just in time to head off to the Urban Craft Uprising craft show this weekend. There were SO many fabulous vendors, and several new ones. I'm going to share links to my faves, but first, some pics from my almost-dead iPhone!

You've got to get up pretty early in the morning to get a UCU swag bag! I jumped in line at 9am -- the doors opened at 11am! Kelli was meeting me there, so I brought my Courtney Love doll to hold her place in line.

Courtney Love doll is so accommodating!

With swag bags in hand, we slowly made our way down each crowded aisle. There were so many people! But there were also so many amazing vendors, so it made up for it. My claustrophobia didn't kick in, so that's a plus!

Tragedy struck when Kelli was eaten by one of Moxie's felted monsters! ZOMG! It's okay, I saved her from the belly of the beast. She made it out relatively unharmed.

And here is the token Seattle tourist shot -- the Elephant Car Wash sign (one of my faves)

It was a lot of fun! And I bought more presents for myself than others. But...I think I deserved it =P

Here are just a few of my fave vendors from the show:

Ugly Baby - hilarious shower art! I have several pieces. This time I bought a roller skating unicorn pin :)

Schmancy - always full of good stuff! I bought an adorable felt hedgehog brooch

Cake Spy - I've been a fan of her unicorns and cupcakes for years. I can never restrain myself from buying something cute from her table

Moxie - ahhh her felted creations are so amazing! I can't make a simple felted acorn without stabbing myself 20 times! This time, she had led-lit felted pendants. AMAZING! She truly is a felting genius.

Thea Starr - gorgeous kanzashi flowers on headbands and hair clips

LaRu - I finally bought myself one of her adorable foxy necklaces :)

Imps and Monsters - now I HAVE to upgrade my iPhone so I can get one of his fabulous iPhone 4 cases!

Moss Handmade - simply beautiful! And teeny tiny flowers...adorable!

Chet and Dot - these Portlanders have the cutest shop ever! I couldn't believe their prices were so low! I told them they needed a real store!!

Fernworks - I can't even begin to describe the beauty in her pieces. Unfortunately, the pics she has online really don't do them justice. You just have to see it with your own eyes and feel the texture. Just stunning work! I hope she's at the next show!

There were a bunch more that I couldn't get enough of. But this list should help get you started with your Xmas gift buying ;)

Friday and Some Etsy Faves

2011-12-02T09:06:00.000-08:00

It's finally Friday! What a crazy work week! I've have 94 hours on this paycheck and 95 on my last one, phew!

I've got my first full week of vacation in 3 years starting on Monday! I'm not going anywhere. I'm just using the time to take care of things I can't do during my normal work week...like get my emissions test, get a tune up, go to the dentist, etc.

I also hope to use the time to fill up my Etsy shop! I don't think I'll be posting many behind-the-scene photos, though. I dropped my iPhone into my water glass last night and now I'm trying to dry it in rice. *fingers crossed!*

Being without my phone for a few days will be rough. I sure will miss those Angry Birds! =P But I can still get my fix from some fabulous iPhone-related Etsy products. Ahhhhh, thanks, Etsy!

Victorian Filigree Case by CWestbrookDesigns

Chevron Natural Bamboo Case by SaltyandSweet

Cedar Iphone dock by woodtec

Angry Bird case by LittleLoveHM

Apple iPhone felt case by Vintage Treasuries

Have a fabulous weekend!

Who Are You?

2011-11-30T09:28:00.000-08:00

I have a real struggle each morning. I just can't drag myself out of bed.

I am definitely NOT a morning person!

By the same token, I have trouble staying up late at night.

Therefore, I have decided, I am an afternoon person! Those are the hours in which I function the best -- I'm at the top of my game!

But as I slowly crawled out of the elevator in my office building on Monday morning, my senses came alive!

The bright lights and smell of fresh pine greeted me and I instantly became a morning person!

I love this time of year!

Are you a morning person? Or maybe a night owl?

Cyber-Monday Deals!

2011-11-28T11:26:00.000-08:00

I've got a coupon code that can be used to take 15% off in either of my shops, today only! Just enter CYBER15 at checkout to receive the discount!

You can use it in either my LittleGrayFox or FoxFineFoto shops!

And check out the new items I added to LittleGrayFox -- Little Gray Fox ornaments!

Do you have an Etsy shop that you are promoting for Cyber Monday? If so, feel free to leave a link and the info in the comments below!

This Weekend I...

2011-11-14T09:46:00.000-08:00

Took a little walk in the woods with the boypiece

Snuggled with the pups

Watched this adorable movie...TWICE!

And worked on a new sewing project

How was your weekend?

How to Cook Like a Professional Chef

2011-11-12T12:56:00.000-08:00

It starts with fresh ingredients.

A high-end stove is also helpful, but not necessary.

A dash seasoning and a pinch of patience.

Bright (sun)light to cook by.

And it doesn't hurt to be dating a damn good cook!

This was our fantastic dinner during our stay at The Whale House on our getaway weekend. It was made with fresh ingredients found close to where we stayed. :)

Made with:

Fresh apples (for applesauce) and rosemary from the yard
Fresh carrots, delicata squash and brussel sprouts from Vashon Island farmer's market
Fresh fish from Vashon market
Fresh eggs (for hollandaise sauce) from a roadside stand

Friday Light

2011-11-11T08:17:00.000-08:00

Keeping it simple with just a couple of more pics from our quick getaway.

lighthouse field

Work has been non-stop these days. No lunch breaks. No days off. 12-hour workdays.

My gym visits dwindled down from 4 x per week to once a month (if I'm lucky)

my little hummingbird friend

It's a lot of stress. So I like to think back to the time we had down by the water; just relaxing.

Even though it was quick, it helps me remember there's more to life than just the 9-5p. (or 8-8p)

One day it'll be back to a respectable and manageable workload...right?

dilapidated dock @ sunrise

Have a fabulous weekend! ♥

P.S. Happy Veteran's Day and a huge thanks to all of our service men and women (my sis included)

P.P.S. Happy 11/11/11 whoa!

Favorite Etsy Shops - The Little Fox

2011-11-09T10:57:00.000-08:00

I've added a new fave to my ever-growing list of Etsy shops to love!

The Little Fox not only has gorgeous artwork but she also has fantastic customer service!

I recently ordered a couple of pendants from her...all the way over in the UK...and I just received them!

They are stunning!

And look at the time she takes to package the whole shebang! It's so adorable!

I love it when an Etsy seller cares enough about every detail!

Here are listing photos of the pendants I purchased. Aren't they gorgeous?!

Circus Bear

Alice in Wonderland

P.S. Did I mention she sent me a PDF coloring book of some of her designs? So adorable!

Yummy Treats!

2011-11-07T07:55:00.000-08:00

I've been wanting to try a recipe for baked apple chips. So while we were on our weekend getaway (remember this post?) we gave it a shot.

We used fresh apples picked from the tree outside!

You simply peel, core and slice the apples (we used 3 of them)

Preheat the oven to 200 degrees F

Mix 2 T sugar with 3 tsp cinnamon (I like LOTS of cinnamon)

Place the apple slices in a single layer onto a cookie sheet and spray with canola oil

Sprinkle the cinnamon/sugar mixture evenly over the apple slices

Bake in the oven for 2 hours until crisp

We ate ours with ice cream and they were fabulous!

Farm Fresh

2011-11-07T07:18:00.000-08:00

While on our getaway, we also picked up some fresh eggs from a roadside stand.

Can you say ... delicious??

Taking Advantage of the Sunshine

2011-11-06T09:23:00.000-08:00

I did spend most of my Saturday cleaning the house.

When the pups got bored watching me, I decided to take a few shots of them soaking in the sun.

What a couple of hams!

Wanna Go Outside?

2011-11-05T21:04:00.001-07:00

'Tis The Season For...

2011-11-04T10:23:00.000-07:00

Tall boots with flat heels, like this pair from Payless.

Gotta love those BOGO sales!

They are super comfy, too!

I plan to go kick some leaves around this weekend. Maybe jump in a few puddles. And I'll definitely be sleeping in, thanks to Daylight Savings!

Got any fun Fall plans for the weekend?

Guess Who Won My Super Huge Giveaway

2011-10-31T08:32:00.000-07:00

Was it you?

The winner was chosen via random.org's number generator.

The winning entry was number 12.

And the 12th comment was:

So CONGRATULATIONS! You have won my Super Huge Giveaway! I will be contacting you shortly for mailing address info. And your goodies will soon be on its way! Not only did you win the original 6 prizes and the additional booklet, since another 10 entries were made, you will win an additional top secret prize! Woo Hoo!

A Super Huge Thank You goes out to everyone who entered! As a special gift for everyone else who entered or wanted to enter, I'm offering a limited time discount in both of my etsy shops.

Use the code SUPER25 to take 25% off any order in either my LittleGrayFox or FoxFineFoto shop, from now until this Sunday.

Halloween Costumes

2011-10-30T19:06:00.000-07:00

I haven't dressed up for Halloween for a couple of years. But this year I was itching to try the Lichtenstein costume all over Pinterest.

So I convinced the boypiece to dress up this year.

He chose to be Edward from Twilight. He's never read the books or watched the movies (I'm not a fan, myself). But he's been told he looks like him sometimes.

So on Saturday, we did some last-minute Halloween shopping where I found my entire outfit at a thrift store. He already had all the clothes in his own closet, so he only needed the makeup. It took over an hour for me to finish my makeup; it's not as easy as it looks on the packaging! Then we went to a neighborhood bar for a low-key night of karaoke.

And we won the 1st place couples prize! It was a lot of fun!

Ui also got to dress up and go to a doggy Halloween party. Isn't she so cute in her bumblebee costume?

Did you or will you dress up this year? What costumes did you see that really impressed you?

Final Day To Enter!

2011-10-28T08:38:00.000-07:00

Today is the last day to enter my Super Huge Giveaway! There are 7 prizes currently up for grabs!

To enter - Go to THIS POST and comment!

Winners will be announced on Monday!

As Promised - Another Prize!

2011-10-25T16:38:00.000-07:00

Another prize has been added to my Super Huge Giveaway!

For every 10 entries, I'm adding another prize to the pot.

So on top of this list of 6 prizes, I have added this cute quote book featuring my mom's dog.

Remember this post about Charlie & Ui?

Yep, that's right! I'm offering one of the books up for grabs to the winner of the giveaway!

There's still time to enter -- just head on over to this post to find out how!

Completely Candid

2011-10-25T12:35:00.000-07:00

This is probably my favorite photo taken in a long time.

It's another from our recent weekend getaway. The boypiece and I were on the couch. He was deep in thought, thinking about something he'd just read.

And he had no idea I was taking his picture.

Sneaky little iPhone ;)

Check out the rest of the pics from our weekend getaway in yesterday's blog post. And don't forget to enter my giveaway!

My Life as a Retired Sea Captain

2011-10-24T13:37:00.000-07:00

Life is pretty sweet once you retire from the high seas.

I'm not really a sea captain. But I did stay at the home built by a retired sea captain! It made for an absolutely fabulous weekend!

The boypiece and I got a last-minute invite to use a friend's vacation rental home. This home is so much more than I could've ever imagined.

It's just a few steps outside to a private beach. The home is perfectly furnished with big, comfy pieces. Even though it's rather large and full of hardwood floors, it's easy to heat so we stayed cozy and warm.

The enclosed sun porch is a perfect spot to have your morning cuppa while watching the sunrise.

Oh yeah, did I mention the sunrises? It's such a gorgeous view!

Saturday was stormy and foggy most of the day. It made it pretty easy to relax guilt-free, all day long!

On Sunday morning, we woke up early and walked on the beach while the tide was low. We watched the sunrise break through the clouds as we followed deer tracks and found fancy seashells.

And we rested. And we napped. And I sewed as he napped.

Later on, we walked down to the lighthouse.

It was perfect.

I wish we never had to leave!

If you want to see more (better) pics of the home itself you can check out it's vacation rental page.

I'll also have more to share later this week. I just need to get them off my REAL camera :)

Oh and if you hadn't already heard, my Super Huge Giveaway deadline has been extended to this Friday evening. Jump on over to THIS POST to find out how you can enter!

Happy Monday! :)

Fall Color Palettes

2011-10-21T12:33:00.000-07:00

There's a new addiction going around Pinterest. It's creating a color palette from images.

I don't quite know what makes it so interesting, but they really draw you in.

So I finally figured out how to make one! And believe it or not, it's pretty simple once you get the hang of it.

I used an old image I took on a trip through the Western Washington countryside. It's one of my favorites!

I used this simple tutorial I found on the Craftzine blog.

Have you played around with color palette images? I'd love to see more!

TGIF!! It's been a long week! We're headed out of town for a quick getaway. While I'm gone, don't forget you have up until ~~Sunday night at 9pm PST~~ Friday 10/28 9pm PST to enter my Super Huge Giveaway! Just check out my post, here!

Yep that's right - I've EXTENDED the giveaway deadline!! Since this trip was very last minute, I hadn't planned on being gone during the giveaway. So you have more time to enter and more time to spread the word for the chance at winning even MORE prizes!

Hope you all have a fantastic weekend!

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Spooky Nails!

2011-10-20T12:33:00.000-07:00

Well I must be following too many blogs! I saw a video on how to make "bloody fingernails" the other day. I'm pretty sure I even commented on it. And now I've spent the last 40 minutes browsing my google reader to try to find it again so I could credit that blog post.

But I can't find it :(

So if you posted the video on how to make these nails, or you know who did, please let me know!

Anyway, I couldn't resist trying it! It looks WAY better in person! And they're so fun! Whaddya think?

P.S.**Don't forget to enter my Super Huge GIVEAWAY!!** Entries accepted until Sunday night! Open to international residents, too! Yay!

Beavers, Logs and Dandy Poufs

2011-10-20T07:29:00.000-07:00

These are the three new pieces I've added to my Etsy shop!

Yes, you read that right, I added to my Etsy shop! It's been a while! I still have lots more to add, including a bunch of new hoops! I'm just waiting for my lazy butt to edit product photos ;)

Here are my latest additions:

P.S. Don't forget to enter my SUPER HUGE GIVEAWAY! You have until Sunday evening! The more people who enter- the more prizes you can win!

P.P.S. One of the current prizes just happens to be one of my new listings! The dandy pouf on pink!

Welcome To My Super Huge Giveaway!

2011-10-19T06:14:00.000-07:00

Do you feel lucky, punk?

Well? Do ya?

Great! Then this is the place for you!

This giveaway is SUPER HUGE because it has several prize options! The more entries posted below; the more prizes to be added! Yep, that's right! For every 10 entries, I will add another prize to the pot! ONE winner will be chosen! That ONE person will win all of the prizes in the pot -- WHOA!!!

To enter, simply leave a comment below!

Additional ways to enter (each option counts as 1 extra entry), you can:

"Like" LittleGrayFox on Facebook
Blog about this giveaway
Follow this blog using Google Friend Connect (in my sidebar)
Tweet about this giveaway

example tweet: Check out @littlegrayfox Super Huge Giveaway http://ow.ly/72eov
more entries = more prizes!

{ Post a separate comment below for each entry. Be sure to include links to your post/tweet}

Next, go spread the word! Remember, the more people who enter; the more prizes you are eligible to win!

Here are the 6 main prizes.

They include felt and embroidery crafts from my Little Gray Fox shop. Plus, some photos from my Fox Fine Foto shop.

4 - felt rosette hair pins

1 - 3" inch embroidery hoop dandy pouf on pink

1 - cherry cheesecake cell charm

1 - 8x10 metallic print "Violet Dream"

1 - 5x7 photo greeting card featuring my "Fawn in the Woods" print

2 - pink felt rosette hair clips

You have until ~~Sunday night at 9pm PST to enter!~~ ~~The winner will be announced next Wednesday, here on my blog.~~

The deadline to enter has been EXTENDED! You now have until Friday 10/28 9pm PST to enter in the comments below!

Good luck!

Oh Those Little Brats

2011-10-18T08:14:00.000-07:00

The mutts always pretend they hate each other.

They don't play together.

They give each other the stink-eye when one gets attention.

But don't be fooled.

They're secretly bosom buddies.

{ busted! }

Foggy Weekend Fun

2011-10-17T08:04:00.000-07:00

With the recent change in the weather, we've been experiencing some incredibly foggy mornings. It definitely sucks for driving, especially before the sun comes up.

But the boypiece and I headed out early Saturday morning to enjoy the positive side of fog, beautifully haunting views. With the farms full of pumpkins and corn and scarecrows, it was a perfect time to drive around and get some shots.

Here are a couple of my faves from our quick trip -- right down the hill from my house!

This Wednesday I'll be announcing my next super huge giveaway! It's going to have a lot of prizes up for grabs. So be sure to check back in and enter!

Super Huge Giveaway!

2011-10-14T12:58:00.000-07:00

"What the..." by Fazen via Flickr

Next week, I'll be announcing my Super Huge Giveaway! So be sure to come back and check out all the details.

This Super Huge Giveaway will be a special one. The more people who enter -- the more prizes you can win!

I'll also be announcing my next Crafty Challenge!

Have a great weekend!

A Little More Green

2011-10-13T09:56:00.000-07:00

Here's some iPhone pics from our quick hike last weekend.

The caterpillar was my favorite part. He was sooo fuzzy and cute! But he moved so quick, I couldn't get a clear photo!

And I call this one the naughty nekkid tree ;)

WIMW: Dandy Poufs and Painted Vases

2011-10-12T07:55:00.000-07:00

This week's "What-I-Made Wednesday" features even more office decor. One of these days, I'll be done decorating my new office...probably right before we move!

This WIMW also combines two Pinterest finds into one. The first are these super cute yarn pom dandelions. The second Pinterest find are these gorgeous painted vases.

I found a bunch of vases at the thrift store ranging from .25 cents to $1 buck.

I also chose to mix blue + pink for the largest vase. I love the cotton candy look!

I made the white dandelions super tight. But then I made larger, fluffier versions with a multi-colored yarn.

Have you tried either of these projects, yet?

Don't forget, you can share what you've made recently by posting a pic/link on my Facebook page for What I Made Wednesday.

Pin It

Take A Walk In The Woods

2011-10-11T08:13:00.000-07:00

One of my most favorite things to do is take a walk in the woods. Whether short or long, the sights, sounds and smell of the fresh air and the trees always lift my spirits.

This weekend, the boypiece and I took a short walk in the woods.

At the end of the path, we walked out onto a beach.

The cloudy, wet weekend had turned into a warm and sunny evening.

So much green! This is why I love living in the Pacific NW!

How was your weekend?

I've been Pinned!

2011-10-09T09:11:00.000-07:00

It was so fun to log onto Pinterest this weekend and see one of my projects being pinned. :) I don't know why, but I felt proud. And it was one of my favorite things to make...although I made it three years ago!

At the time when I'd made it, the "52 Things I Love About You" books were just starting to get around. I had seen two versions before I made mine. Both versions used playing cards as the cover but had printed cardstock for each page. So I decided to put the text and photos onto the playing cards.

Since then, there have been several different versions made. Mine was the first to use "like" instead of "love" because it was very early on in the our relationship.

Although, to date, we still don't use that other 4-letter word ;)

It's a shame I didn't take better pics of it back then. Maybe it's time for an update!

WIMW: More Office Decor

2011-10-05T08:24:00.000-07:00

This What I Made Wednesday features a project that has been on my Pinterest list for a while now. When I saw these gorgeous yarn eggs, I knew I just had to make some!

Luckily, I had recently scored a big bag of colorful yarn at the thrift store. Chocolate brown, oatmeal and turquoise...oh yeah!

There are a few different tutorials online with variations on the glue and how to wrap the balloons. So after some trial and error, I finally decided on using "Stiffy" fabric stiffening glue. I also found the easiest way to get the yarn on the balloon was to wrap it completely dry, then dip in the glue.

These are really fun but also very messy! I can't wait to string them up in my office!

Have you tried this project yet?

If you have a recent project you want to share, head on over to my Facebook page and post a pic/link for What I Made Wednesday :)

I Love Miniature

2011-10-03T13:26:00.000-07:00

Everything just seems cuter in miniature!

So I made a tiny bird in a tiny tree, attached to a tiny embroidery hoop. It's yet another addition to my office embroidery hoop wall.

Needle felting is certainly NOT my forte! My poor fingers have been stabbed mulitple times. I give major props to any needle felting crafters out there! It's a lot of time and pain for a tiny piece :)

Craft Space

2011-10-03T09:15:00.000-07:00

Now that the weather has turned cooler, I'm so glad I moved my craft area from the garage! It's so much warmer in the dining room!

I also love the fact that I have two large tables to work on. One project can be drying while I turn around and work on another. Multitasking rocks! :) Plus, rolling on the hardwoods is easier than the old carpeted garage!

Do you love your craft space?

Sneak Peek!

2011-10-01T17:01:00.001-07:00

Here's a little sneak peek of what will soon be added to my Etsy shop!

It's a beaver brooch! Eco-felt brooch with a polymer clay log charm dangling from a chain. I've been making a bunch of brooches in this style with corresponding charms on chains.

Whaddya think?!

WIMW: Have I Told You Lately

2011-09-28T12:14:00.000-07:00

How much I love Picnik?!

I'm having too much fun with their Halloween editing goodies :)

This a ghoulish "What I Made Wednesday"

Still Hiding Out

2011-09-27T12:31:00.000-07:00

Just when I thought things were getting a little easier...work is still killing me. :(

So I'm hiding out.

{Ui hides}

Spending my free time crafting some pretty decorations for my new office.

I'm hoping that pretty things on the walls will take away some of that misery during the 9-5 hours!

The weather has turned chilly and wet. So I'm wearing my warm and cozy socks again.

{fuzzy rainbow}

And trying to keep my spirits up with some fun nail polish designs.

{polka dots}

What's new in your world?

Food Truck Rodeo Round-Up!

2011-09-19T12:44:00.000-07:00

On Saturday, the boypiece and I ate our way through Seattle's Mobile Food Truck Rodeo.

It was delicious!

{NOT on the menu!}

{delicious curry}

{oh good! I prefer my burgers to be free of sh*t!}

{hungry man}

{long lines!}

{maximus minimus}

{the coveted mini-donuts}

{seriously, we waited in line 45 minutes for these treats!}

{it was a little chilly}

{but us Seattlites are always prepared with hoods!}

{I loved the hay bale seating}

How was your weekend?!

Taking a Mental Vacation

2011-09-13T13:15:00.000-07:00

First of all, let me just say that I absolutely appreciate every one of my blog readers. You guys have been fantastic with your comments and support! The fact that you're still hanging around reading my blog still amazes me!

My regular job has been affecting me greatly, recently. There is so much added stress on me and things that should work are failing. So the pressure and frustration has been taking a serious toll on my emotions and my energy.

My poor Etsy shops have been neglected since May!

I haven't been able to read or comment on the blogs I love to follow.

{spider string lights}

So because of this, I'm taking a mental vacation. I still have to work M-F, 8-5p, so I can't take a real vacation! But I wanted to let you all know that I don't want to posion my blog posts with my miserable attitude of late.

So I may post random bits throughout the next couple of months; whenever I can find some time. But it won't be as regular as I'm used to.

I hope you all bear with me and stick around. I promise I'm not leaving my blog for good! :)

Thanks so much for understanding :)

xoxo

Tsuki

Fridays Are Fresh

2011-09-09T08:08:00.001-07:00

I'm so glad we decided to do a container garden this summer. It's so handy to go to the back deck and cut fresh herbs or pluck fresh tomatoes, while cooking!

Its so easy to mantain and cheap to buy, I don't know why everyone doesn't do it! I promise you, I'm no "green thumb" and I still haven't killed these plants!!

Aww Mommy Love

2011-09-08T07:42:00.000-07:00

I came home the other night to scattered notes and food.

My mom left before I got home. But not before she could cook some dinner.

Ribs in the crock pot. Beans in the microwave. Potatoes in the oven.

♥Thanks, mom!

What I Made Wednesday | Ribbon Flower

2011-09-07T07:51:00.000-07:00

For those of you who caught my post yesterday, don't worry, I was just being facetious. ;) I won't be changing my name anytime soon! But I did have fun making the graphic!

This edition of WIMW includes my own take on a Pinterest find. I love this cute little tinfoil and ribbon flower.

So I made my own but then added some felt to make a larger flower.

{ribbon, tinfoil, felt}

{fold tinfoil and wrap in ribbon. sew a seam on one side}

{cut leaves from felt. roll ribbon/tinfoil into a rosette}

{sew each leaf onto the rosette using embroidery floss}

I finished mine off with some hot glue and a magnet. But you could easily turn it into a brooch.

{add your choice of backing - magnet/pin, etc}

Have you made anything that you've pinned recently?

Big Changes in the Near Future?

2011-09-06T06:32:00.000-07:00

September represents change; in the temperature and in the seasons.

That being said, I'm thinking it's also time for a big change to Little Gray Fox.

I'm considering changing my shop name to Little Gray Wolf.

Because if I ever develop a fan base, I'd want them to have a cool nickname like, "The Wolf Pack" and not something stupid like, "The Beliebers". {Yeah, I'm talking to YOU, cougar moms!}

And the "Fox Cubs" doesn't sound so badass.

Something to ponder...

Oh August, where did you go?

2011-09-01T08:20:00.000-07:00

My how time flies!!!

This past month, I took part in the August Break. That meant more posts full of pics and less text. I tried posting five days a week. But with work being crazy, it was difficult to keep up with.

So I wanted to do a quick recap of some of my favorite posts from August. Click the pic to view the post!

Looking back through the month, it seems like I definitely took full advantage of the nice weather!

I hope you all enjoyed your August! I can't believe that summer is almost over!

What I Made Wednesday | The Outtakes

2011-08-31T06:38:00.000-07:00

I recently applied to be a part of the Urban Craft Uprising winter show.

Since it's a juried show, I had to submit pics of my work.

The boypiece jumped in while I was taking my shots.

He says this would guarantee a spot in the show.

Hmmmmm.....

August Break | BBQ & Brew

2011-08-29T08:17:00.000-07:00

Sliders. Skewers. Shrooms.

The shrooms were a surprise from me. I hate them but the boypiece loves them!

How was your weekend?

Diptych Project | Reflections

2011-08-26T06:30:00.000-07:00

This is the fourth installment of my collaborative diptych project with Ana of Erban.

I've absolutely enjoyed myself!! I hope you've all enjoyed the photos!

This week's theme is Reflections

I love the contrast of the two photos -- one cloudy day; one sunny day

My favorite part of Ana's photo (top) is the splash of color added by the flower petals.

I took my photo yesterday afternoon from the courtyard of my new office building. Even with all the negatives of being overwhelmed and nothing working like it should, it's great to have a beautiful place to walk and take a few deep breaths. :)

August Break | TP For My Bunghole

2011-08-25T13:45:00.000-07:00

Let me know if you need any toilet paper.

We have a few extra rolls.

We were tee-pee'd last night (how DO you spell that?!)

It was obviously the work of a very lazy person. They either throw like a girl or have really short arms! They barely made it to the roof.

And I love the touch of the FULL roll on the hood of the van. Didn't even bother to toss it.

Lame.

August Break | Total Exhaustion

2011-08-23T14:03:00.000-07:00

Some days you're the fishmonger...

Other days, you're the fish

It has been a rough couple of weeks at work. :(

Between business picking up, being understaffed, learning a new system, working out its bugs and MOVING the office...I'm falling behind.

My workload is piling up while I spend all day talking to the IT department, trying to figure out why nothing will work.

It's frustrating.

And exhausting.

My brain is officially FRIED! And it's only Tuesday!

How is your week treating you?

August Break | Chevron on Canvas

2011-08-22T20:59:00.000-07:00

Here's a super-quick, little tutorial for you.

Make your own tiny piece of art on mini-canvas.

You can pick these up at any craft store for just a few bucks a pack - canvas + mini-easel

Supplies needed:

mini canvas
scotch tape
acrylic paints
paintbrush (or sponge brush)

Use tape to outline your pattern

Paint over empty space with chosen colors

Let it dry


Peel off the tape and enjoy your new piece of art!

And for a quick tip...I like to re-use plastic water bottles for my paint water :)

August Break | Here Comes The Sun

2011-08-22T09:37:00.000-07:00

Gotta appreciate a week of straight sunshine.

Alas, here comes the rain.

But it was so fun having you back, Mr Sunshine!

{Oh that's hilarious! LOLZ}


{People-watching}

{Down by the river}

{Chillin' in the front yard!}

{Neighborhood Watch on full alert!}


{Working hard}

Ouch

2011-08-21T11:30:00.000-07:00

And it just HAD to land on my Frankentoe!! :(

August Break | Take A Hike!

2011-08-20T10:19:00.000-07:00