Musings: Monday

YEP... that's about how I feel today. Monday is usually a mixed bag for me. I can love it, or I can hate it, or well... it just exists. Surviving on a job where I am perpetually on-call means I never know how my week will be. This one started off a bit shakey. Not only did we get our first snow fall of the year (yay prairie weather), but it melted during the course of the day. I never got a job call so I spent the day cleaning and crafting (the second was so much more enjoyable). And since I am such a Scrooge I am retreating to a movie theatre tonight rather than handing out candy (never been a big fan of Halloween). I'm sure when I get a call tomorrow to work and I'm jumping into my car and speeding off to some unknown destination I'm be reminising about my blase Monday and wishing it were the present. So here's to a relaxing start to a potentially busy week!

Craft: Fabric Covered Suitcase

So, originally I found this fantastic DIY over at A Beautiful Mess, one of my favourite blogs in the universe! I decided to try it for myself. I must tell you that finding a vintage suitcase in Calgary is a bit of an issue. I found this great thrift store the other that I will totally check out if I need an furniture or fabric (Calgary MCC). Inside was only one hard covered suitcase in a particularly mossy green with a golden interior and a falling apart mirror. It was only $4.00 so I figured "what the hey". They had this lavender fabric with a white leafy scroll pattern on it that caught my eye. I went home buzzing about my new project.

The mess that was before:

The beauty that was the end result:

I'm sooooo excited to fill it with pretty things!

Craft: Homemade Silhouette

So Silhouettes have been popping up in my life a lot lately. Mostly in the form of Cameo's (which I have quite the collection of). If you want to get technical... Cameo's aren't silhouettes, but let's not get finicky. ANYWAYS! I had a plaque that my brother picked up for me at a thrift store a million years ago. It's kind-of old fashioned and was not really my style anymore, so hopefully he will forgive me. I sanded down the lacquer and applied a coat of white paint. Using a steady hand (you might want to tape around the white when dried) I painted the edge black. I let this dry for many many days as I figured out the best way to do the next step...

Find a nice picture of yourself in profile. Size it to fit the plaque you're using and print it out as is. Cut around your face trimming off the background of the picture. Now you should have a good outline of your head and a bit of neck. If you want to get fancy and are slightly anal-retentive (such as myself), Sharpie the print off to make a paper silhouette. This way you can judge if you like the way it looks. Place it centred on the plaque and trace. You should have the exact shape of your cutout faintly on your plaque. Using black paint go over the outline and fill in the middle. Let it dry, and display wherever you like!

Not bad for my first try at silhouetting. Now who has a really bright lamp and wants to have an old-timey silhouette party!? Common! You know you want to be a dork with me!

Book Review: Vinyl Cafe Stories by Stuart McLean

I've had a few friends lately who've been asking me what to read. I picked this up at a cute little used book store in Canmore called Second Story. It has an inscription from the proprietors inside and a coffee ring on the front. I love books that have a little added character.

I've always been in love with Stuart McLean's recordings and decided to try him in print. I must admit the stories lack a little something without his monotoned wit, but it's the same Dave, Morley, Sam and Stephanie. If you like family quirks with little doses of Canadiana I'd totally recommend him. 

As an added bonus he is coming to Calgary in December. I NEED to snag some tickets!