PINTEREST 502

Pinterest and I have a love/hate relationship.

I always try to find the original pinner for items I want to repin...however 99% of the time I get this....

So yesterday I made this...

It's my little embroidered homage to the Pinterest 502 error.  Too much time on my hands?  Perhaps.  But I can't help myself.  I like whimsical things.

INSTAGRAM WEEKDAY WRAP-UP

It has been a crazy couple of weeks!  Here's a little summary...

Embroidery / thrifting  /  tiny surprises  /  baby cucumbers  /  crazy Texas storms  /  work  /  more embroidery  /  lounging pups  /  nail-polish funtimes  /  DYI pop-up cards / wine + Morris cat mugs  /  handmade tamales  /  pooch passengers  /  cat butts  /  homegrown squash  /  more embroidery  /  coffee shop work days  /  dinner made by friends  /  spiders (ugh)  /  and super cheap beers.

It's summer, y'all!  Let's party!

P.S. You can find me on Instagram under the username KendallKendall.

LET'S RIDE

Just finished this for-fun, freehand embroidery.

I miss riding my bike.  Last summer Joey and I would ride our bikes to Grapevine Lake every afternoon to swim.  But alas, the roads in East Tex are not great for bike riding.  The country roads are unsafe and the drivers make me nervous (even more nervous than Grapevine drivers, who I though were the worst).

Go ride your bike today and think of me!

DRUM MAKEOVER PT.2

As you may remember from last week, Joey and I gave his drums a little facelift.  Here's the final product with hardware attached!

Aside from the broken-in bass drum head (it sounds better that way)...I'd say it looks pretty decent for a zero budget makeover.  

P.S.  Regarding the extra holes in the bass drum - they are a mementos from the Mount Righteous days when it was a marching bass drum.  P.P.S.  That's our back yard.  Word!

OH, HAI!

I see you there, little squash!  These are our first little veggie sprouts.  They're about the size of my pointer finger, but I love them nonetheless.  As I'm sure you have noticed, I'm simi-obsessed with our garden.  I check on it about 10 times a day to see if anything new is growing and to make sure the critters and bugs are staying out.  Joey thinks I'm a crazy person.

Also, I randomly found a blackberry tree the other day.  Minding it's business, growing blackberries.  Nature is pretty sweet.

AND...a group of deer surprised me at work the other day!  There were three of them roaming around looking for snacks.  I could only get a few sniper-style shots from my desk because I didn't want to scare them.

I want to name them, knit them little sweaters, and give them lots of treats.  P.S. I am also running a mild fever, which might explain my delusions...

DRUM MAKEOVER PT.1

I love finding forgotten photos. Joey and I gave his drums a much needed makeover a few months back and I just stumbled upon these pics whilst cleaning out my camera.







They turned out pretty sweet. Very peppermint-candy-striper-esque. I'll have to get a few "after" photos when Joey finishes recording. They look bright, shiny, and new!

DIY KEY DESIGNS

My name is Kendall.  And I hoard keys.  My key ring is always a mess because I lose track of which keys I actually need.  I don't want to throw any of them away because surely it was important at one point or another.  

So I decided to make it a little easier to keep track of all of them.

I realize that decorative keys are readily available everywhere, but where's the fun in just buying one?  Plus, I love Mickey Mouse just as much as the next person, but do I really need a jumbo picture of him imprinted on my house key?  The answer...is no.

TOTAL COST : $5 - $10 for tons of keys

SUPPLIES NEEDED : Spray paint in a variety of colors (make sure the paint is specific for metal), masking tape, and some small stickers.

1.  SPRAY YOUR KEYS : Cover both sides of your keys with a thin layer of spray paint.  The paint will chip too quickly if it's too thick.  Let the keys dry really well before the next step.

2.  TAPE AND STICKER : Use masking tape and/or little stickers to create a design of your choice.  Pinking sheers would be great for this as well!

3.  SPRAY AGAIN : Use a different color paint and spray another layer on both sides of your taped keys.  Remove the tape and/or stickers before the paint is fully dry to avoid peeling.

HOORAY!  You're finished!  Be sure to let your keys dry super well before using them.

Your snazzy new keys will help you remember which keys go where.  They will likely chip over time (just like the store bought ones), but just tape and paint again!

Happy crafting!

SCREEN PRINTED BUSINESS CARDS

I finally got around to making some business cards for Yeah Vintage.  I love the way screen printed business cards look and feel.  This was my first go at a front & back print on something this small.  I have an extremely minimal screen printing setup, so this was a bit of a challenge for me.  

I used a typewriter font for the contact info on the back of the cards and used my own handwritten "Yeah!" for the design on the front.

I wanted to make something that people could potentially put on their desk, hang on their fridge, etc. that was more like a tiny poster print instead of a business card.

I'm pretty happy with how they came out.  They all look a little different, which I love.  I want to make the pinstripes thinner for my next batch.

Now I just need some more business!  Spread the word, friends!  Also, if you snail mail me...I will snail mail you back.

DIY MOSQUITO REPELLENT LANTERNS

The great state of Texas is well know for its mosquito annoyance.  Ladies also seem to attract mosquito bites more than the gents.  Most people say it's because mosquitoes are drawn to fragrances and perfumes (neither of which I wear).  Turns out they are also drawn to detergents and clean clothes.  The modern-day woes of a dainty lady...

Citronella candles are far too expensive for my likings and I've never been a huge fan of tiki torches.  I had a small collection of old bottles that didn't serve a functional purpose, so I decided to make my own Texas-sized mosquito repellent lanterns!

BEFORE WE BEGIN : Please remember that there is a fine line between oil lanterns and Molotov cocktails.  They should only be made, lit, and handled in well ventilated outdoor areas.  Keep away from areas where they might be knocked over and especially out of reach of kiddos and animals.

TOTAL COST : About $15 - $20 for 3 large lanterns.

1. SUPPLIES NEEDED :

• 3 - 4 old bottles with metal screw-on caps (preferably something heat/flame resistant like copper).  Vintage bottles, empty liquor bottles, and wine bottles all work well.  Clean each bottle inside and out before starting.  Make sure they have metal or aluminum caps.  This is necessary for step 2.
• A bottle of citronella oil ($10 for a large bottle at the hardware store).  Make sure you only use oils that are manufactured for lanterns and tiki torches.  Never use gasoline or other explosive fuels.
• Tiki torch replacement wicks ($2.50 for a two-pack of wicks at the hardware store).
• A drill*.

2. DRILL YOUR CAPS :

• Use a large drill bit to drill a hole in your cap large enough to hold your wick in place.  You want the hole to be large enough to pull the wick through but allow for a little wiggle room for when you need to adjust the wick length.

3. POUR YOUR OIL : 

• I spill everything, so I used a funnel for this step.  Fill your bottles about half-way up.  You want to make sure there is enough oil to saturate your wick.  The oil will work its way up the wick, so you do not need to fill the entire bottle.  

4. SCREW ON YOUR CAP AND CHECK YOUR WICK : 

• Screw on your cap and make sure the outer area is clean of any oil you may have spilled.  The top of the wick only needs to stick out about 3/4" - 1" above your cap.  Any longer than that and your flame will be way too big.  We're trying to deter mosquitoes, not light the porch on fire.

*This asterisk is for ladies who are not yet drill owners.  Go purchase one immediately (or permanently borrow one from your dad).  It will change (and simplify) the way you work on projects, decorate your home, etc.  It is a must-have for any lady and they are super easy to use!  Do not fear the drill.  Embrace the drill.

That's it!  You now have some inexpensive, super cool looking lanterns that will help you enjoy the summer sans mosquitoes!

GRANNY STYLIN'

As previously mentioned, this is my first quilt attempt...don't judge me.

It's a work in progress (still need to add boarders and do the actual quilting) but I'm pretty stoked that the pieces are together.

Tip for beginner quilters : find yourself a Nonnie that has been quilting her entire life.  Quilting patterns look like hieroglyphics and cutting a bazillion strips of fabric is way easier with two sets of hands.  

I think I deserve a new granny badge for all my hard work.  Don't ya think?

DIY CUSTOM STEPPING STONES

We have been getting a lot of rain lately and our yard turns into a soggy mess.  I love cute step stones, but they're so dang expensive!  Here's a super simple and inexpensive project for all you yard lovers on a budget.

TOTAL COST : About $25 for 20 stepping stones!

1.  SUPPLIES NEEDED : Spray paint in a color of your choice, painters or masking tape, and inexpensive concrete blocks (I purchased mine at Walmart for $1/each).

2.  TAPE OFF YOUR BLOCKS : I'm a minimalist and went with a simple square pattern.  Stripes or a chevron pattern would be super cute too!

3.  SPRAY PAINT YOUR SQUARES : Spray a thin coat of spray paint evenly across the entire surface.

4.  REMOVE YOUR TAPE : And you're done!  Let the paint dry for a few hours before stepping on them.

Send me a photo if you give this a try.  I'd love to see how yours turn out!

SUSHI SUNDAY

My mom has been teaching herself how to roll sushi and decided to have a little DIY Sushi Sunday party.

The actual rolling process was easier than I thought it would be.  Gotta have a super duper sharp knife.  That is key.

Mini was there for moral support.

I think we did a dang good job.  I made the one on the right with the sesame seeds.  Everything was super yum.

Sushi always tastes better when it's delivered to the table on a boat.  Just fyi.

I MADE THAT

I started hand-dying and screen printing each of my bands t-shirts back in 2007.  I always tried to keep one of each print for keepsake purposes.  I rarely wear t-shirts, so they've been sitting in a dresser since the day each one was made.

When we moved last fall, I couldn't bear to throw them out, but I didn't want them rotting away in a storage space either.  Luckily, Joey's grandma (Nonnie) is a master quilter and was super excited when I asked if she'd help me make a t-shirt quilt.

Quilts are intimidating.  They are so meticulous and time consuming.  I loathe sewing patterns and have yet to use one for any of my projects, but Nonnie assured me that I was in good hands.

Whilst cutting the squares, I was overwhelmed with nostalgia.  Each of these shirts brings back so many memories.

This was the very first Mount Righteous t-shirt.  We took a group photo and I outlined it in Illustrator.  We sold them at our very first show ever.  Big ol' happy blob family.

Joey made the design for the "All Together Now" shirt.  It is still one of my favs.  Joey's brother, Andrew Hammond Kendall, made a poster that included the scantily-clad ladies on the right.  The poster also included scantily-clad gentlemen.  I can't remember why I only included the ladies on the shirt.

Joey designed these as well.  We printed tons of them in a bunch of different color combos.  It was our go-to design.  I love it.

Our cymbal player, Zicole, drew the instruments for the design on the left.  We sold this t-shirt when we did our big 4 month long tour in 2010.  We played shows is so many states across the country.  Definitely one of the best times in my life.  The design on the right was drawn by Joey.  We sold them while on his tour last fall through the west & midwest.  It's a good-ol-boy asking a sody-pop to marry him.

It's crazy to think how many strangers across the country have one of these shirts in their closets.  It's going to be a dang good quilt.