Monterey Bay Aquarium

We purposefully do not use this blog to inform you about our private lives, there are plenty of blogs out there that do that.  We wanted a blog about being creative, collecting and using what others think is junk, as well as a vehicle for our of love of all things paper.  So, with that being said, I hope Deb will forgive me for posting a few pictures from my trip to the aquarium.  It was just SO inspiring.  I wasn't expecting that, in fact I didn't even take a camera.  I ended up using my iPhone and then borrowed a few pictures from my niece that she had taken.  Way to be prepared, right?

I have been there a few times, including a few hours during my honeymoon about 100 years ago, and each time I go there is something new to see.  If you have not had the chance to visit this place, that hovers over the Monterey Bay, I highly recommend it...a great place for young and old alike to spend a few hours wandering the floors enjoying the wonder (and I really mean WONDER) of nature and the sea.

For me, this was the shot of the day...

His first trip to the aquarium

He dug those goggles out of the toy box, a leftover from the summer.  I am not sure why he thought he might need them, but as soon as we all got out of the cars he put them on...we had not even left the parking lot.
If you have been to the aquarium you will recognize this as a glass tunnel you can walk though and every few minutes a wave comes and washes over the top of the glass.  The first time he jumped up and almost ran out.
The second time he sat and waited for it to come...just magic.

Just a few more shots

The room with the jelly fish is my personal favorite.
I would make the 3 hour drive again just to stand and watch them float in the water.

 love this one...

Note:  If you are going to visit the aquarium, there is construction going on in the Outer Bay exhibit which includes the jellies in the Drifters Gallery.  Please check the website since some exhibits will close during construction.

 

And another amazing animal...the Giant Pacific Octopus.  The last time I was here it was holed up in the corner not moving at all (maybe it was napping).  This time it was moving all over the glass wall.  When it's arms were outstretched, I would guess it was more than 4 feet wide.  Really mesmerizing...none of us could take our eyes off it.

Well, thanks for enduring stuff that has nothing to do with scrapbooking, paper, junk or collecting.   Deb and I are meeting up tomorrow in LA to start setting the 7gypsies booth for CHA (trade show) that will happen at the end of the month.  We have been working the past few weeks on gathering ideas to use our junk (because there is always junk involved) to make the booth it's best.  We have seen or worked with most of the new products being introduced at the show and we know you will like them because quite frankly, WE DO! The new papers are great...lots of ideas swirling around for classes this year.
Oh, and you won't want to miss Wednesday's post...a little trash to treasure beauty.

Tart Tin Pin Cushion

Deb asked if I would post how to create the pin cushion I made for a few friends.  I first saw the pin cushions made by artist Becky Schander in the July/Aug/Sept 2010 issue of Somerset Life magazine.  They were created in grey, which I loved, but I didn't have any grey wool that looked right.  So I opted for a hand dyed orange that has a mottled look when you see it in person and a pink houndstooth print. The article also explains how to age silver tart tins, but I found a set of six on Ebay that were the right color for my liking, no aging needed. 

Let's get started...
The circle needs to be the same as the opening of the tin.
I found a glass in my kitchen cupboard that looked to be the same size as the tin, so I used it to create a chipboard template for my pattern.

I keep all my templates in a file as I frequently need them a second time.

NOTES ON WOOL: 
I have been buying small pieces of wool for many years...mostly when I go to Texas to visit my sister.  We have a few favorite haunts that sell hand dye wool...my favorite was a little store (that is unfortunately not there anymore) in Argyle, TX.  If you don't have any wool scraps on hand you can check a local quilt store.  And if that is not an option...online retailer, Ram in the Thicket sells hand dyed wool in every color imaginable, in fact I am not sure how you would choose!  They also sell in small pieces, which is what you would need for this project.  The price is very reasonable as is the shipping.  You can find them here.

If your interested in my favorite, houndstooth wool you can find it here.

or a group of 6 x 8" pieces here

and from the same Etsy shop, Three Sheep Studio, a bigger check. 

Remember, no matter what wool you buy, you will need two circles approximately 3"+ across depending on the size of the tin.

Okay, back to the tutorial...
Cut out wool with a 3/8" edge for sewing (2 circles).

With right sides together, sew around circle leaving at least a 1 1/2" opening.

Turn circle right side out.

Stuff the pin cushion till you can't stuff it anymore (even though it's small, it takes a good amount of stuffing).

Stitch it closed with matching thread.

Now make sure it fits in the tin!

To make the tufting-
I tried to use a standard needle to create the tufting (the magazine did not give a size) but it wasn't long enough to go through the puff.  So I opted to use a long needle (the kind people use to make dolls and such) to make the tufting in the center of the cushion. I threaded heavy duty button and carpet thread through the needle.  Then starting from the bottom I sewed up through the pin cushion and back down, pulling tighter each time.  I went back and forth about 2-3 times.  The article says to thread the button onto the needle and then pull back toward the bottom but my needle was too big to go through the shank of the button so I finished off my thread and glued my button to the top later.

Once you are satisfied with the tufting, add glue to the bottom of the wool puff.

Place into tin and use your finger to hold down for a few minutes so the glue can dry a bit.

If you did not sew you button on, add some glue to the center and add a button.  I used some beautiful glass buttons I picked up at a favorite store in Texas.

Let dry and your done!

Unless you want to add a bit of embellishment...just a thought.

cheers!
paula

It is "oNe luCky dAy" for...

Winners of the 2011 calendar kit.

she dreams big! said...

Count me in! I need a calendar because I don't even know what day today is!

KarenB said...

Thanks for the opportunity! It's so fun! I'm making it for me first. ;-)

Congratulations winners!  

Please email me your address at debbie@2gypsygirls.com.

The calender saga continues...

I was working on a post for Wednesday but kept having to stop to send out calendar downloads (not a bad thing) and then I had a epiphany...why in the heck am I writing a new post on a different subject when everyone is crazy for the calendar?  So I got up from the keyboard and went back to the workroom. Thirty minutes later I came up with a few more ideas for you to try.

Printing:
Did you know that the calendar prints in two sizes?
If you drag the calendar from the email to the desktop (I am using a Mac) it prints about 1/4" larger than if you drag it to Adobe Reader.  Again, I am using a Mac so I just drag and drop the PDF onto the Adobe icon on my tool bar and the file opens in Adobe and is ready to print.
If you don't have Adobe Reader you can download it for free here.

Recycle:
I mentioned in a recent post how much I liked 2011 Paper Source Calendar.  I used one on my desk in  2010 and hated to part with the beautiful letterpress paper so I decided to recycle it using the printed calendar over the top of the numbers from last year.

I printed the calendar on some paper I have been hording for a few years.  I use to buy it at Recollections when they were in business... it's a smooth recycled paper.  Wish I had more now that I am down to two sheets. 
Once I had printed the three sheets, I cut out the calendar leaving 1/4" on all sides.  Then I added each month over the recycled 2010 calendar. with adhesive. 

Or you can take it one step further and cut a small slice in the paper and slip it in.

Here is how I did it...Since I was making 12, I cut a template (I am the template queen, just ask Deb) to match the corner...then I only have to measure once.

Place the calendar exactly where you want it on the recycled calendar.
Lay the template on the corner and make two pencil marks on the ends of the triangle.

Remove the calendar.
Using a metal ruler and an X-Acto knife, cut the recycled calendar from one pencil dot to the other. Repeat on the opposite corner.

Now just slip the new calendar in place.
I love this idea because I get to keep the expensive letterpress calendar that I love and enjoy it for 1 more year.  Yeah!

If you don't want to go to all that trouble, just staple it on with a Mini Attacher.

CD Case Calendar from Scratch:
If you don't have an old calendar you can make one from scratch.  You will need an old recycled CD case (maybe it's time to throw out that Michael Bolton CD you've been hanging on to anyway), three sheets of 12 x 12 patterned paper, and three sheets of coordinating cardstock.

Cut 12 pieces of patterned paper 4 5/8 x 5 3/8" (4 per sheet).  I am using an old Basic Grey paper line called LillyKate.  This one is called Cherry Blossom.

Print the calendar on coordinating cardstock and cut out.

Cut out the calendar and adhere to patterned paper with a small bit of adhesive.

You can stop here and the calendar will look just fine or...
Use your sewing machine to stitch the calender to the paper.  (yes Judy, you are going to have to break out the sewing machine again!)

Repeat sewing for all 12 months.
Now you can add the calendar to your CD case.
NOTE: The calendar must stay reasonably thin to store all 12 months in the CD case.

Love it.

Or change it up by rounding the corners and inking edges with Distress Ink.

You can still use the CD case but then I thought, what about a vintage flower frog?  got about 100 of those around the house with pictures, quotes and flashcards in them, so why not a calendar?  It will make a lovely vignette on my desk with my beloved Ticonderoga pencils.  Now I need some chocolate for my pressed glass dish.

Okay, that's all for the calendar...I only have 1 hour left to pack my bag for a quick overnight trip up the coast to Monterey.  Remember, if you have not already done so you can still enter to win one of two kits to make the original calendar with the book covers.  However, you will need to go back to the last post to leave a comment.  We will pick a couple names and Deb will post in the morning since I will be enjoying the aquarium at that time.   If you have already left a comment for a chance to win you do not need to leave another on the last post.  
Thanks everyone!

Calendar Giveaway!

Last week we posted the instructions for making this desk top calendar and made available the download for the calendar pages.

We had such a great response that we are giving away 2 kits to make the calendar, which by the way includes the Venice clear stamp!   If you have already made on, you can make it to give as a gift for a friend.   Just leave a comment and we will post a winner on Wednesday morning (12/5).

GOOD LUCK!