Eileen Hull

Three dimensional art... with heart

Quick and easy jewelry rack

Today I just fiddled around working on some Illustrator stuff although there are a million other things I should be doing. Think I will tidy up down here tonight to further lengthen my procrastination tendencies.

I wanted to share a great way to store a lot of jewelry. I have been collecting shutters for quite a while now because they intrigue me and always can be found at the curb. Until recently, they’ve been patiently hanging out in a corner of the garage waiting for inspiration to strike.
It struck about a month ago when I dumped a whole tray of jewelry all down the side of my dresser. I have tried several methods of storing earrings but none ever really worked well. Till now…
It’s such a simple idea. All I had to do was clean them. The painting on it is kind of shabby chic (messy) but it works fine for me. I just took all of my dangle earrings and looped them in pairs over each louver! I store mine in color order because it looks pretty. They are easy to get on or off. These shutters also have hinges on the side and theoretically you could screw this into the wall and fold it closed when you were done. But right now I use the hinges to hang my necklaces and bracelets.
Hope you find good use for the treasures that come your way!

Day in the life of a craft and hobby mogul :-)

Some exciting news- I have been asked by my friend Kathy Peterson, a TV personality and fellow craft designer, to be a guest on her new blog! I don’t have an exact date yet but looks like the end of next week.

Just wanted to update about the demise of the hot tub. It was delivered on Saturday to it’s final resting place, the landfill. My husband was bereft, but there was just too much that had to be put into it- parts, labor, time…. I’m hearing talk of a new one… stay tuned.

Today was rainy and cool. Makes me so glad I went out yesterday and photographed the beautiful peonies that came out this weekend. They are huge white blossoms (they almost look like crepe paper) on this skinny dead looking bush, but every year I get another couple of flowers blooming on it. I counted 12 yesterday. The rain makes them look horrible.

Today was spent getting caught up with projects, sending out estimates for 2 wedding invitation jobs, did a little more on projects for my book proposal, along with the usual emails and various other joys of tending your business. Went to an interesting seminar last night on Email Marketing put on by the Loudoun Small Business Development Center.

News from overseas… did I mention Chris called during the craft show on Saturday? He said they’ll be out of touch for possibly a month so I am very glad I answered. Said the place where he is is packed with people so they are stuck in a tent with rows of cots really close together. The AC was on the fritz and he had spent time waiting in line to talk to Dawn and then there was no answer. But he still sounded pretty upbeat and OK. He has an address but says it might change so not to give it out yet. I am testing with a letter to see if it goes through before I send a box. It was so good to hear his voice… all prayers are welcome for a safe deployment!

Free craft project!

Well, thought I would post these fun little magnetic clothespins. I found them in a dollar store a while ago and bought them because I loved the colors but never did anything with them- does anyone hang clothes out anymore?

I used my Stampin’Up Word Window punch for the paper that covers the clothespin. It was the perfect length and width. The middle sample is 1/4″ ribbon- also great width. Love when things work out like that! Ran some matboard through my Big Shot to die cut some cute little flowers for the top and then tied them with a matching ribbon. There is a magnet glued to the back of the clothespin so I can use it in my kitchen, file cabinet or wherever. I was thinking this would be a nice gift to give with a cute little paper pad in coordinating colors. Of course it was not complete without a matboard gift box! Very simple- a few scores on my Logan matcutter.

These were so much fun that I thought I might make some up for the craft fair this weekend. I’ll be at the Community of Faith UMC, Franklin Farms Road, Herndon on Saturday, April 25 from 10 AM to 3 PM- stop by if you’re out! Anyway, I went looking for more of these clothespins, but no luck finding them. So I worked some up using wooden clothespins and they came out pretty cute too- will post later.

A sad note on the hot tub… it has been determined that repair costs are too high so we will be passing it on the the landfill… unless someone wants to try their hand at fixing it! My vote was fill it for the summer and use it as a pool. This was vetoed…

Freecycle, anyone?

It all started on Friday when I spotted a hot tub on Freecycle.org. This is a community organization dedicated to recycling items people no longer need to people who would like to have them, with the stipulation that all items are free. My husband has always wanted a hot tub. I, on the other hand, feel like I am sitting in a pot of soup, but that’s me… Anyway, I replied to the offer and got the word back that I was second on the list (thanks, Julianne!) Lo and behold, we later received a followup email saying the #1 person had been a no show so it was ours! Due to computer lag time and life, we didn’t hear until last night that the hot tub was out on the curb but that the normal garbage pickup wasn’t until Tuesday, so we could come today to get it.

I was awakened by my husband pounding up the stairs at 9:20 informing me it was time to go and get the hot tub. I had been up till 3 working on a magnet order and was still in major sleep mode. Wait, isn’t it Monday? He’s supposed to be at work! And also, I can hear torrential rain outside… need diet Coke…
By the time I put in my contacts, got dressed and stumbled out to the car, he had hitched up the trailer and was in his rain gear, ready for action. Said he had driven by the house on his way to work this morning and saw it sitting there. Upon arrival at the office, something told him he’d better come home and get it before someone else took it. Meanwhile he is driving like a maniac to get there. I am thinking to myself, “Seriously, this man needs a vacation. He has lost his mind. Like if we get there any faster it’s going to matter… blah blah blah….”
We pull up to the house as the garbage truck was chewing up the hot tub cover. I jumped out of the car and yelled, “WAIT!!! That’s supposed to be for us!” The workers turned to stare at us in disbelief. I noticed a zip lock bag sticking out from the compactor jaws and remembered that the manual was supposed to be under the cover. With complete disregard for my personal safety, I leaned into the truck and emerged victorious with the stinky manual bag. One of the garbage guys grimaced in disgust. I rinsed my hand in a nearby puddle and threw it in the back of the SUV. Meanwhile, my husband sprang into action, whipping out assorted bungee cords and straps. Another garbage truck pulled up behind us. Apparently the first truck had called for reinforcements because the three of them needed help in maneuvering it up and into the truck. How my husband thought the two of us could possibly have loaded it is unknown. The seven of them put their heads together and came up with a plan. Next thing I knew they were hoisting it up on to the trailer. We thanked our new friends for their help and adjourned to our respective vehicles. The adrenalin was running high… we high fived and headed for home. As we passed one of the trucks again, we waved. Hayward said, “What would you think if we invited those guys over for a soak once we get it hooked up?” Perfect. See why I love this guy?

Craft Emergency!

Tonight we had some of Jess’s Coast Guard Academy Glee Club buddies over for the first cookout of the year. Then after dessert, we adjourned to the fire pit and sat around and made some Jiffy-pop.

Have been crafting away late into the night. So many ideas… such little time. Last night I had a rush calligraphy job and stayed up till 3 to get it done. The lady came to pick her order up tonight and was very appreciative of my working with her on this. I actually received a tip! Nice…

Wine carrier craft project

Come stop by my booth at the Relay for Life Craft Fair today- Wednesday, April 15. It’s at the Herndon United Methodist Church from 9-2. Celebrate the end of the tax season!

You couldn’t pay me to go to the post office today- it was a zoo yesterday… One year we were really late with our taxes and wound up going to the post office at about 11:30 PM on the fifteenth. We drove into the parking lot and were directed to follow the line of cars ahead of us. We got around to the back and saw a big mail truck parked there with some people walking around, none of them in uniform. As cars would drive up, there was a guy collecting envelopes. Right after Hayward handed him ours, I saw him walk over to the truck and grab a beer! I couldn’t believe it! We always wondered if that return ever made it but no audit so far so I guess we’re OK.
I am finally posting the Ikea glass holder I made for my daughter Pam. It was fun. I measured the outer dimensions of the original package and then added an extra 1/8″ all around to compensate for the thickness of the matboard. I added a little extra height also. Cut the box out using my faithful Logan mat cutter, trimmed off the four corners and decided to decorate with Melissa Frances Ambiente papers- I love those colors. I used my MS lace border punch on the bottom of the paper panel and a strip of kraft mini flute on the top with a small ribbon bow accent. I added another piece of green Crescent matboard with a Sizzix “P” from the Serif alphabet. The handles are more strips of the mini flute and are attached with eyelets. It’s a nice sturdy tote and when you put away the glasses, it can be reused as a gift bag or even sitting on a shelf holding CD’s or other miscellaneous items. This was a little time consuming but once the measurements checked out, assembly was fast. I always take my time adding the embellishments and fiddling around with it when I could have finished in one sitting. Guess that’s the procrastinator in me… Have a good rest of the week everyone!