Holidays

Due to holiday craziness and crafting the blog was put on the back burner.

It will return in the new year under a new name: ceknits.blogsplot.com

See you in 2012!

Fireplace Safety

     Now that it's getting chilly I've been seeing news stories about fireplace safety. I thought I would do my own to keep my wonderful readers safe and warm all winter. 
     According to the U.S. Fire Administration, "more than one-third of Americans use fireplaces, wood stoves and other fuel-fired appliances as primary heat sources in their homes." 
     The USFA has a list of things you can/should do to keep yourself safe. However, like most government writs it can be a little complicated and hard to read. After months of research I think I have interrupted the text correctly. 


USFA: Many people are unaware of the fire risks when heating with wood and solid fuels."
Tip #1: Fire will burn you or your home down!


USFA: Use fire-resistant materials on walls around wood stoves.
Tip #2: Do not build a fireplace out of wood. This will not work. 


USFA: Never leave a fire in the fireplace unattended.
Tip #3: A fire is like a small child. Turn your back and it's putting something in it's mouth or flushing something down the toilet. 


USFA: Never use flammable liquids to start a fire.
Tip #4: I'm not sure I understand this one. Why the heck do they make lighter fluid then?!


USFA: Have your chimney or wood stove inspected and cleaned annually by a certified chimney specialist.
Tip #5: Your cousin Clem is NOT a certified chimney specialist. 


For further tips and instruction please refer to Mary Poppins, or http://www.usfa.fema.gov/citizens/home_fire_prev/heating/fireplace.shtm


Thanks Y'all! Stay Safe!

Pumpkins

Halloween is over but my brother just got his pumpkin pic online. Here it is:

If you haven't been following we had a contest. Who could carve the best pumpkin. My sister was also involved, but is one of the few people in this country that does not have easy access to a computer, her's sucked anyway. 

Of course she said mine didn't even count because I didn't actually carve my pumpkin. Which is NOT true. I had to cut holes for the arms and legs....and head. Plus, I was told I could do anything, including just painting it! 

I still think I won. What do you think?

It's ALIVE!!!

Happy Halloween!!

This is my entry into the 

Welbes Sibling Pumpkin Carving Contest. 

Winner!

Hopefully I will be able to post my brother's and sister's soon. 

How To Make a Creepy Halloween Pumpkin!

You will need

• A Pumpkin
• An Old T-Shirt
• A Knife 
• Scissors 
• Creepy Doll Parts
• Some Sewing Experience
• Sewing Machine (optional)

I'm in a pumpkin carving contest with my brother and sister this year. Last year they excluded me! Apparently because they knew I am the master at all things crafty. Anyway, I was in my favorite thrift store, One True North, and found the creepiest thing: 

Oh ya, clowns are creepy, who actually likes clowns, no one. I knew I had to use it in my pumpkin design.

I got a small, pie pumpkin. It's cute. I almost feel bad cutting into it. 

I doubt I need to explain how to cut open your pumpkin, but just in case, all you have to do it cut around the stem. If you are adding a creepy head make sure the hole is not to big, otherwise your head will just fall inside and that's no good. Unless you want it to look your pumpkin ate your doll head, oooo, scary.

It's a messy job, but you need to do it. Remove the guts and seeds.

Pumpkin Guts! I like to eat the seeds. Salt (I use margarita salt) and cook at 350 for 10-15 min. YUM!

The next step I don't have pics for. Sorry, I was so excited I forgot. 

• You need to take your old t-shirt and make some arms and legs to fit over the hands and feet. 
• Machine or hand sew what I would call small tubes, maybe an inch wide, then turn inside out so you don't see your stitches. 
• Cut holes in the pumpkin where the arms and legs will come out. 
• After pulling fabric through put on hands and feet. I just stretched the fabric over them and they held in place. 
• Add your head (I gave him a scarf so you couldn't see where the head and pumpkin joined), add any props and you get something like this:

!!!!

Well, it scares me anyway. 

Best Halloween Movies! EVER! Of All Time!

My most favorite, of all time, ever movies to watch during the scary month of Oct are as follows:


Wait, I should probably say I just find these movies entertaining, and I'm not a fan of the super gory.  Are they mind blowingly scary? Not really, but they put me in the Halloween mood. Even though I really don't celebrate Halloween because it's really a very weird, confusing holiday.


I guess what I'm trying to say is I like horror movies for no particular reason.
Here are my favorites in the order of my enjoyment watching them:


1. Halloween, any of them. I love them all! Michael Myers-you just can't kill that guy! And the music-love it. 
2. Scream, it's a classic I grew up with. 
3. Child's Play, again, I have fun watching any of them, except maybe the last couple, nah, I like them too. 
4. The Descent, if you have not seen this do! Super creepy!
5. The Exorcist, another classic. 
6. 28 Days Later, gotta have a zombie flick
7. Pandorum, also super creepy!! Especially when you watch it in the middle of the night all alone...
8. Oh you have to do Jeepers Creepers
9. Carrie
10. I don't know if I have a #10.....?......but I feel like I should make it an even ten. Oh, you know what's creepy? Watch some foreign horror flicks. I feel like not knowing exactly what's going on puts you in the movie, you are getting scared along with the characters. Chances are you've never seen it so it won't be familiar. Examples of my favs: The Baby's Room, and, DANG IT! I don't remember what my other fav was and cannot find it online, but you can be sure it was scary!
11. I forgot about Ginger Snaps, and Ginger Snaps Back. My brother introduced me to these. Werewovles for you wolf lovers.
Ending on an odd number - also creepy!


I also now realize that that list is in no particular order. Because I would totally do Ginger Snaps Back over Carrie. And Baby's Room is super creepy. It should be higher as well. Anyway, ENJOY!


What are your favorites? I'm always looking for a a good horror movie!


Now that I'm really thinking about it I've forgotten some real gems!
Children of the Corn
The Fog
The Evil Dead, I LOVE Bruce Campbell, I can't believe I forgot this one. 
Leprechaun has always given me the shivers. Only the first one, the rest kinda suck. 
Critters
There's more I'm sure, but this is a start.  

Poor Naked Chair

Well, as I said a couple of weeks ago I can't keep bringing stuff in here. My apartment is only so big (and my husband is only so patient). So, over the next couple/few weeks I'm going to take the time to fix up/clean up/use my finds and share my process and progress with you. After all, if you can't use it, what's the point of having it? 


This a chair, that is technically not a dumpster find, but a craigslist find, kinda the same thing right?
I thought it was super cute. You've seen in pics before: http://innovationsbyc.blogspot.com/2011/05/memorial-day-weekend-project-that-wont.html, and wow does my apartment look so clean there......
Anyway, I have finally decided to upholster it, and do it in an inexpensive, cool way. 


I looked high and low for discounted upholstery fabric and it's really, really hard to find, unless you want something super ugly, in that case it's easy. What to do, what to do? Then, one day while walking through one of my favorite craft stores, Hobby Lobby, it hit me! Canvas! And with a coupon 6yds @ 72"wide cost me around $30! It's thick, and it's made to be stretched and stapled. 

So here's my naked chair. 

I removed all of the old, torn, dirty farbric. 

Now I'm replacing that with the canvas. I'm not done, but it's looking pretty good. 

As always the cats are very curious. 

I hope to finish today if I can find the time. 

But the best part about this chair is yet to come. 

Come back next week to see the finished product!

This is obviously not an instruction manual, but if you would like to do this there are plenty of how-to sites on the interweb, or in your library. It IS easier than it looks, of course it depends on the item. A couch would probably be more tricky.

The Perfect Acorn

I Found It. 

I Love It. 

It's Pefect. 

This is a reminder 

to enjoy the simple things in life. 

LET'S CELEBRATE!

Hurray! I LOVE YARN! 

I'm going to celebrate by buying some!

I love Ann too. 

I'm going to celebrate by eating cake!

Craft'n With C

Welcome back! Today we are making dessert stands! They are currently all the rage, as the kids would say.....er......wouldn't say. 
Anyway, here's whatcha need:

GLUE!

GLASSES!

PLATES OR BOWLS!

I got all of these and more at a thrift store. All if it cost around $7! I Chose this plate cuz it's fall-ish, and it's currently fall. I chose the bowl thing cuz I thought it was cute and would work in my kitchen. 

• Begin by washing everything. 
• Choose which plates or bowls will go on which glass 
• I took some time doing this in the shop so I got what I needed
• Remember to keep a good balance. You don't want it to look uneven or to topple

I think you're ready:

Line the bottom of the glass with glue. 

Center over the bottom of plate or bowl

Apply another string of glue where the glass meets the plate
Allow to dry

Turn right side up!

Easy and cute right?

You could have a stand for every occasion and holiday!

More ideas:

• Spray paint the entire stand
• Stack multiple to stands to create an elaborate center piece
• Just make sure it's well balance
• Use anywhere
• Place on at your entryway for keys
• Use for soap in the kitchen or bathroom
• Fill with pine cones, gourds, or fruit 
• Use as a jewelry stand

I would love to see what you come up with! Email me at innovationsbyc@gmail.com or upload your photos on my facebook page: CE Knits. 

Having a Birthday Sale at my etsy shop today, you should check it out!

ceknits.etsy.com

Please Poop Somewhere Else!

For a while now the cats and I have been hearing mysterious noises in the ceiling. Something has been scratching and the other day we heard squeaking. Hubs thinks we're nuts, he has never heard it.
Some of our neighbors told us about how they had a bat break in a couple of times!

So HELP ME if a bat comes out of that ceiling!

But I don't think it's a bat, cuz I found this:

Right outside my bedroom window! Inches away from my head, where I sleep for crying out loud!! 

I know you're out there tiny Leprechaun, 

and knowing is half the battle.

Dumpster Find??

Come on people! I can't keep bringing in garbage every week!! 

Actually instead of dumpster diving, I went thrifting. 

Come back Wednesday to see what I got. 

So excited for that craft project!!

Explore the Area Around you

I am determined to really begin to explore the area around me. I've lived in misery in Missouri long enough. It's time to break out and appreciate what this city has to offer!


We often get caught up on the negatives, and miss the beauty around us.


My first EKC post is one of my favorite things: EGGS!


Recently we got a couple packages of locally grown? eggs. They are being sold right in the grocery store. I didn't have to make a special trip to the farmers market over the weekend. Although, I do like farmers' markets. Anyway, we thought we would give them a try.

Free Range, Veggie Fed

And then you open the crate and you find this:

A cute little note from Stanberry Community Farms, where the eggs came from. 

These eggs are delicious! And you feel good supporting a local farm. 

So, finding locally harvested? eggs in a grocery store is why, I, Celesta, am proud to call Missouri home! (Drop Dead Gorgeous, anyone?? Oh, I crack myself up!)

I hope you are able to explore the area around you and learn or try something new too! 

I wonder if I could visit the farm.....

Crafty Wednesday!

Another cheap fall craft!  


You will need:

•  One or more floating frames
•  One or more fall leaves in varying colors (I could only find yellow) and sizes
•  Scissors 

I got a couple of these frames at Jo-Ann Fabrics (joann.com). 

They were 60% off, and cost about $3.00!

They come in all different sizes, I chose to get 6x8. 

All you have to do is arrange your leaves between the two panes of glass.

The more sizes and colors the better. 

Clearly, the trees outside my apartment are not doing their part! 

PLEASE BE CAREFUL when working with the glass. 

My frame was tight, and had to push relatively hard on the glass to get it back in. 

Hang or lean wherever. I kinda liked how it looked in a window.

Group several frames together for a full fall effect! 

TIPS

• Add ribbon or bits of paper 
• Add a photograph
• Hang or lean where the frame can catch the light
• Use flowers instead of leaves
• Attach a ribbon to hang frame

Would love to see or hear about what you did, drop me a line! innovationsbyc@gmail.com

Happy Craft'n

Dumpster Find of the Week!

Found this cute little table on the curb, as you can see. Had to take it!