my very cheap version of a Chemex coffee brewer

It has been awhile since I have posted. I have been working on a label for my products. I have also been working on my new vintage shop Bone Jacked Vintage 

I recently read about the Chemex coffee brewer on a blog. It is a very simple way of brewing coffee. I set up a cheap version with a funnel, paper filter and a glass juice jar. After a few tries I successfully brewed great tasting coffee. Just heat the water to almost boiling. Use a fine grind for the coffee beans. Fold the end of the filter, otherwise the filter may rip at the end. Place the filter in the funnel, the coffee in the filter and pour the hot water over the coffee. It is important to completely cover all the coffee.
Once you get the hang of it, it is pretty easy. I think it taste much better than the coffee from my regular coffee pot.

                                                                                    Enjoy!

new curtains

Finally finished our living room curtains.

This is what our curtains looked like before. I was burnt out from working on remodeling our home when I made these.

 Really enjoyed the applique. For the teardrops and apples, I cut out my drawings and taped them onto the fabric. This made it really easy to cut out the perfect shape. In the process my drawings became laminated.

The creature by the tree is supposed to be a Sasquatch.

knitting...

My brother recently asked me to teach him how to knit. He wanted to try a hat for his first project but that didn't work out. So he started with a scarf. I thought back to when I first started knitting. It was pretty frustrating. I kept getting concerned that he would get frustrated and give up. Trying to encourage him I said, "You just have to get past the frustrating stage." He said, "Everything is frustrating at first." I know this is a simple statement but it got me thinking. I have given up on some dreams out of frustration and fear of failure. I have wanted to start my own online business selling stuff that I make for a long time. The fear of failing at something I love to do has kept me from doing what I love. I have to get past the frustration stage in this area of my life. I had gotten past the frustration stage in knitting by making mittens for Christmas gifts but didn't realize it.
In order to do this I am working on improving my sewing skills. So far I have made a dog bed (which my dogs defluffed), transformed a 3xl shirt to a large, patched jeans, and I'm working on a new curtain for our living room.

Many things have changed since my previous post.

Here is a quick update.

My husband and I left Oklahoma and moved back to Indiana to be near family.
Eventually purchased a home in Indiana.
Took in two dogs that could use a home.
Worked at Starbucks for awhile.
Adopted a rabbit to be buddies with my rabbit.
Became a C.N.A. with hopes of becoming a nurse.
While training to be a C.N.A. observed physical and occupational therapists.
Realized I would really enjoy being a rehabilitation therapist.
Just needed to fulfill some prerequisites before applying for the program.
Spent the last two years in school again.
Rescued two stray kittens.
Lost a wonderful grandma and aunt in the same year. (two of my creative inspirations)
Finally got our tattoo rings after six years of marriage.
Now trying to get into a rehabilitation school.

I have always enjoyed making things but I had put this on the back burner. Now that I am done with school until I get accepted into another school, I have had time to revisit my love to create. I am starting this blog up again to share my crafty endeavors.

i'm realizing more and more how much discipline i need in my life. oddly enough it seems that it takes discipline for me to really do what i want to do. i have all these things i want to do but i never seem to have time to do what i really want. the reality is if i develop some discipline i will realize i really do have time. so anyways, i'm working on it. slowly but surely i'm developing some good habits in my life. for example i have finally mastered the skill of flossing on a daily basis to keep my teeth from eventually falling out due to week gums.

so in conclusion, hopefully sometime soon i will have some crafty posts [:

tulips
Originally uploaded by homegrownbymaryjane.

i haven't done any crafting this week... i did start an adult beginner ballet class this monday. i love it! the teacher is really nice and the other students are as bad as me. the last time i took ballet lessons they put me with a group of people that had been dancing their whole lives. so this is much better and fun (:

my new year's resolution

I started this blog in an attempt to get myself to be creative. I didn't do so well last year but this is a new year and i have actually been doing pretty good. I just haven't blogged about it yet.

My goal is to get an online business up and running this year to sell things that I make. So I came up with a stategy. First, I will do all the mending and projects I have let build up over the years. This will help me get my sewing skills back. Then, I will start making things for my shop. I've already finished alot of my mending. It's almost like Christmas. My husband and I are wearing clothes we haven't been able to wear for the past two years.

I also discovered something about myself. My sewing room started out in my closet and I had problems getting motivated to go sit in a small, poorly lit closet to work on projects. Then, I split our bedroom in half with our dressers and made one half of our bedroom my sewing room. I had more room but found that I didn't like sitting in my sewing room by myself. Finally, i split our living room in half. Now my sewing room is in our living room, I'm by a window with a good view, my husband's desk is next to mine, and we can watch tv or movies while working on projects. It is working very well so far! We have a small living room now, but i love working in my new sewing room!