{diy} Martha's Yarn Pumpkins.

so i have to admit this isn't a perfect step-by-step diy, it's more of a "how i recreated this martha stewart craft that didn't offer a whole lot of guidance, material-wise."  i searched around for the right kind of yarn for quite awhile and was very happy with what i eventually used, considering i had to buy online sight-unseen.

materials:

• styrofoam balls, various sizes (find at any crafts store)
• orange mohair yarn (i used this)
• orange wool roving (i used peach and flame)
• rope (i used this)
• t-pins (find at any crafts store)

*i purchased 2 balls of flame and one of peach for variety, and after making my 4 i probably still have enough for 2, maybe 3 more small pumpkins.  just need to get back to michael's to pick up some more styrofoam!  speaking of michael's, they did not have wool roving in the one i was in, and i didn't have time to get to a joann's, which is why i turned to online resources, but your local craft store might have some so you can see colors ahead of time.

as for the actual assembly:

*do not be afraid to try wrapping the roving a few times until you're satisfied.  i tried a few different ways (criss-crossing, laying right next to the last wrap, and a combination of the 2) until i liked how it was laying and covering the styrofoam.  trial and error is the way to go.  

*as for the mohair, i can't quite tell from Martha's picture, but i think she wrapped the mohair yarn around the pumpkin again and again and again, covering most of the roving.  i like that look, but i instead decided to go a little simpler, and just use the mohair to create the pumpkin's creases (again, trial and error on this until you've wrapped the mohair so you've created equal sections between each "crease").  when i eventually ran out of the mohair (whoops!), i actually separated out a thin piece of the roving and wrapped that around the 4th little pumpkin instead (see last pic below).

*i had the mohair string begin and end at the top so the "stem" would cover them.  i lifted the t-pin holding the roving in place and slipped the mohair endings underneath to keep them in place.

*instead of using a hot glue gun to attach the rope "stems," i ran another t-pin through them and into the styrofoam.  hot glue can get so messy on materials like these, i was worried it would really gunk up the top of the pumpkins.

the pumpkins were fun to make and only took a couple of hours while watching sunday night tv.  made me feel much more productive ;)  

hope my trial and error gives you a leg up if you decide to create Martha's Homespun Pumpkins.  let me know if you have any questions.    

xo. di.

*images property of Diane Crary

legends: february.

the book legends by john miller catalogs "women who have changed the world."  given to me as a gift 8 years ago, it inspired me to dedicate the last friday of every month's post to a different legend (in my humble opinion).

this month's legend is the queen of domesticity: martha stewart.  love her or hate her (i happen to fall in the "love" category), you have to be impressed with martha's story, from a mother who started selling baked goods to neighbors to all that martha stewart omnimedia now encompasses.  it may not have always been a smooth ride, but at the end of the day she is a great strong female figure,  of which we could always use more.

we all know what martha looks like now, right?  so i'm shaking it up a little and showing you a side of her many have never seen: did you know martha modeled to put herself through college?!  here's the proof: 

"all the things i love is what my business is all about."

 "i think it's very important that whatever you're trying to make or sell, or teach has to be basically good.  
a bad product and you know what?  you won't be here in ten years."

 "when you're through changing, you're through."

 

"without an open-minded mind, you can never be a great success."

{original cover from "Entertaining," martha's first book, published in 1982}

martha.  she's "a good thing."

xo. di.

*images via stylite, found via stephmodo and dwellers without decorators

and the winner is...

it's time to announce the winner of my very first giveaway!

congratulations to jacqueline of creative outpour, comment 10, which read: "Real Simple! So practical."  jacqueline's 1 year subscription to real simple is on its way!

i also want to thank all who entered for making this giveaway a success.  i wasn't sure what the response would be and it was above and beyond my expectations!  you guys rock.

happy monday!  

xo. di.

a place for everything.

in this month's martha stewart living, martha shared her top 50 tips for an organized and functional kitchen.  

i can't even begin to tell you how jealous i am of all the counter space, all the gadgets, the organized drawers, and the huge sinks. 
i'm going to have to get myself a much larger kitchen to implement most of her tips (who has room for a pet buffet?!), 

but i still can't help sharing a few of my favorites with you all...

 

{tip 4}: not many people are able to fit 2 islands, but if you can, martha says go for it: 

"one can be used for prep work while you seat guests at the other for an informal meal."

 

{tip 8}: a large, white commercial cutting board always out and readily available

{tip 11}: glass kitchen cabinets provides a way to display pretty glasses 

and keep the kitchen open and light

 

{tip 34}: sneak in more shelves.  use up wall space with small shelves that add extra storage 

(i'm actually thinking of doing something like this myself!)

 

{tip 40}: stoveside organizer.  another tip that requires a very spacious kitchen!  

use a rolling cart by the stove so that all tools are at your fingertips.  

(there are ways to modify this to a smaller kitchen, most notably organizing 

drawers and countertop jars so that these things are by the stove.)

and, finally, the tips i am most in love with due to my slight obession with organization: the drawers!

 

check out the rest of the tips here, or of course buy the september issue.  and here's martha's today show appearance explaining the tips to mr. matt lauer:

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

i suddenly have the urge to do some reorganizing...

xo. di.

image 1 via martha-in-training, all other images via martha stewart.com and fox interiors
video available here 

organize.

a couple of weeks ago i was complaining (to myself) that i always have to search under like 10 garment bags to find the dress i'm looking for in my closet.  the very next day, serendipitously, i received my martha stewart organizing tip of the day email (yes, i got those.  move along...).  it was for garment tags that hang on your hangers and identify what's underneath.  told ya: serendipity.

so, i set to work on my own variation.  

first, i took pictures of each dress

computer screen w/ all pics uploaded

then, i gathered the necessary supplies

printed pictures, tags from staples, ribbon from michael's, tape dispenser from michael's (my handy dandy tool for all things paper crafting), paper cutter

i cut out the pictures with the paper cutter i use for scrapbooking

so i guess there's SOME redeeming quality to scrapbooking

and then taped them onto the tags 

and used some packaging tape on top to protect the pics

next, i thread a little ribbon through the hole and tied a knot at the top

ta da!

and (hopefully) hung the tags on the right hanger

some of the finished tags, ready for their hangers

just saved myself a couple of extra minutes per dress search!  and before you mock me too much, those minutes are frequently the difference between catching the bus...

...and just missing it.  

xo. di.