Some recent DIY's....

Recently, I've been trying to organize a few things in my room. First on the list: jewelry!

I made this earring organizer with a frame I bought cheap from Goodwill and a white fabric from Marden's. The fabric has slightly visible spaces between the threads, perfect for hanging earrings.

First, I knocked out the back of this frame and removed the glass. On the back of the frame there is a small inset upon which the glass rested so that it would not fall through. I used cardboard to create a rectangular strip to line that inset and secure the fabric.

Using hot glue, I glued the fabric onto the cardboard strip. Then I layered the frame's inset with glue, and attached the fabric and cardboard. I left a small amount of fabric to come back over the cardboard, which I also glued down.

Very easy, extremely cheap, and really lovely!

I also made this bracelet organizer. I found a piece of wood in my basement and drilled two holes in the top to use for hanging. I then measured the placements for two pairs of nails to use to suspend the bracelet poles (not sure what to call those things...). I also nailed five nails at the bottom for smaller bracelets.

Then I cut an old wrapping-paper roll into two pieces to use for the bracelet poles. I wrapped those in a black velvety fabric we had, and lined the ends with ribbon to hide the glue. The bracelets fit along those, and they rest on the nails.

I used a piece of fabric (the same fabric used for the earring organizer) to glue over the piece of wood to make it look a little nicer.

This was also easy and cheap!

Finally, this idea was one I found online and loved. You create your own whiteboard by using a fabric you like and putting it behind the glass in a cheap frame. I want to refine it by also getting a piece of metal cut to the frame's size and putting that behind the fabric to make the board magnetic.

Some fun DIY projects.... I hope to do some more this summer, especially as I prep for college!

Little Beauties

I cannot leave the beach

without pockets full of little beauties:

an intricately striped and weathered rock,

a soft lavender shell,

a sand dollar.

my windowsills are overflowing

with gifts from the sea
in delicate rows,

each shell and stone inviting more dust to come and stay.

but I cannot let them go,

leave them amidst the seashore sands

when their beauty grasps at my irises

with such persistent power

as if filling my pockets 

with these pretty earthen trinkets

will fill the wanting

when I lean over the ocean waters

to see my reflection staring forth

instead of only decorating my windowsills

and letting dust fill my lungs.

the brightest night of the year

Billy Collins always has good things to say...

A poem I love by the wonderful Billy Collins....

"Earthling"

You have probably come across
those scales in planetariums
that tell you how much you
would weigh on other planets.

You have noticed the fat ones
lingering on the Mars scale
and the emaciated slowing up
the line for Neptune.

As a creature of average weight,
I fail to see the attraction.

Imagine squatting in the wasteland
of Pluto, all five tons of you,
or wandering around Mercury
wondering what to do next with your ounce.

How much better to step onto
the simple bathroom scale,
a happy earthling feeling
the familiar ropes of gravity,

157 pounds standing soaking wet
a respectful distance from the sun. 

                      ~ Billy Collins

rainy day

Kale Chips

Mom mentioned hearing about kale chips once, but none of us had ever had them. Since we had a bunch of kale in the fridge that was wilting and needed to be used up (one can only make so many stir-fries...), we tried 'em!

They are amazing... just like potato chips, except tastier. And so much better for you! These bring a little bit of olive oil in your diet, and kale is full of nutrients. According to an article on WebMD, kale contains "15% of the daily requirement of calcium and vitamin B6 (pyridoxine), 40% of magnesium, 180% of vitamin A, 200% of vitamin C, and 1,020% of vitamin K. It is also a good source of minerals copper, potassium, iron, manganese, and phosphorus."

Good stuff.

A recipe is really not needed - these are so easy! But basically, here's what you need to do:

~ set the oven to 350˚F.

~ Break kale off of stems and rip or cut into bite sized pieces. Rinse and dry well.

~ in a bowl, sprinkle some olive oil and lemon juice over the kale, and toss to mix.

~ spread a piece of waxed paper onto a cookie sheet. Scatter the kale across the sheet, and sprinkle with sea salt.

~ bake for 10-15 minutes, until the edges are browned but the pieces are not burned.

They came out quite well! Not burning them is a little bit difficult, but not too bad. I want to experiment in the future and make curry kale chips, tamari kale chips.... maybe some others, too.