Chicago Craft Social

Yesterday I had the pleasure of leading a craft table at the Chicago Craft Social, and let me tell you, I had a blast!!

I hosted a table sponsored by Plaid (thanks Mod Podge Amy!) where we used Mod Podge, paint, glitter, fabric, and paper to decorate paper mache letters for our homes. If you remember, I did a little teaser post here.

Well, let me tell you: there were some incredibly crafty women there! I had such a fun time helping people learn to use Mod Podge while watching their creativity unfold.

First of all, I have to mention the venue. The Social was held at Catalyst Ranch in the West Loop of Chicago, and I have to say, this is the coolest venue I have ever seen. Super eclectic, funky, and colorful, it was the perfect spot for crafting!









My table was all set up and ready with a sign, paper mache letters, and all the paint, Mod Podge, and brushes I could ever need!





Once the doors opened, there was a flood of women of all ages filling every seat in the place. And let me tell you, the women I had at my table were amazing! Some used fabric...



Some used paint...



And one girl even found an old Charlie Brown book in the scrap pile and used the characters to create a Peanuts R!



And the finished products were just so cute.









Everyone had a fantastic time, and I was so happy I could be a part of it!

Another great part was catching up with great crafty friends, like Candie Cooper!



And of course, the woman who founded it all and is just a pleasure to work with, Amanda Edwards. She followed her dream of hosting a huge Chicago-wide crafting social event, and now each one is bigger and more amazing than the one before it!



Thanks so much to everyone who came out and enjoyed the day with me! It was a blast!

Ideas + Inspirations :: Where did March go?

Seriously, where did March go? This month seems to have flown by!

Then again, I suppose the birthday extravaganza was a fun distraction :)

But with all the distractions, the {ideas & inspirations} post has sadly fallen by the wayside. Time for a comeback!






I just love this pillow from Sukan Art on Etsy. There are tons of adorable pillow covers, and I'm just swooning over them all! We're buying new couches soon, and I think I might have to pick one or two of these up.




This is the gosh-darn cutest Easter egg yarn wreath I have ever seen. Trisha at The Sweet Survival shows the tutorial and it is just so easy. I might have to give it a try!




Erin at One Particular Kitchen shares her roasted red salsa recipe, and ohmygoodness it looks amazing. I love roasted salsas, and this one looks perfect. I can't wait to make it!




I think my biggest inspiration lately has been the outpouring of love and support for the people of Japan. There are wonderful handmade shop owners who are giving 100% of their profits to the relief effort, bloggers participating in a day of silence, and more. People are pouring out their love and support for the tragedy that has befallen this beautiful country. Though it's just a small effort, I will also be participating. For the month of April, 100% of the money I receive from sponsorships will go directly to the Red Cross. So if you're interested in sponsoring FW&MP and having your sponsorship money go directly to the relief fund, go here to learn more about becoming a sponsor.


What has been inspiring you lately?

Brussels Sprouts Salad

Did you know that "Brussels sprouts" is the correct spelling of those little cabbage relatives? Yes, Brussels like the city. With an s at the end. Capitalized. Not "brussel sprouts" in the way that we all seem to pronounce it.

Ok, lesson over.

So I know a lot of people really, really don't like Brussels sprouts, and I will say, if they're not prepared well, they do have a particularly interesting taste. But Brussels sprouts get a bad rap. They can be sauteed or oven roasted, and often take on a great caramelized flavor. But did you know you can just eat them raw? I think most of us don't think of them that way because we always picture them cooked, but at the end of the day, it's in the cabbage family, and we eat cabbage raw and cooked. So why not Brussels sprouts?

One of my favorite uses for Brussels sprouts is to make a salad out of them. Using a mandolin, I slice up the sprouts and then toss them a bit to get all the leaf strips to separate. Cutting them this way makes the super-crunchy texture much more manageable than just pulling the leaves off and trying to eat the leaves.

Then, add your favorite toppings. One of my favorite combinations is reduced balsamic vinegar (reduced on the stove until the tanginess dissipates and you're left with a sweet balsamic syrup), olive oil, dried cranberries, serrano ham, and a nice hard aged cheese. The result looks super fancy, but at the end of the day it's just a simple salad!

Chicago Craft Social + Me = Fun Time!

Did you know that the Chicago Craft Social is going on this weekend in Chicago?? I first told you about the social here, and let me tell you, it was a blast! I made a wire wrapped ring, screen printed my own tote bag, practiced some embroidering techniques, and more!



This upcoming craft social is going to have fun projects such as needle felting, beaded tote bags, ribbon embroidery, t-shirt headbands, and Mod Podging paper mache letters.

Wait, did I just say Mod Podge? In Chicago? Well gosh, who would be leading a Mod Podge table at a crafting event in Chicago?


Me!!


That's right, yours truly will be there leading a fun project where we use Plaid products to decoupage, paint, and glitterize paper mache letters. I even did a sample of some for my home to bring along!





I'll do a full tutorial here on the blog after the craft social for everyone who doesn't live in Chicago and thus can't join me that weekend. However, if you live in the city or the 'burbs, you should come out!

This season's Craft Social is taking place this Saturday the 26th at Catalyst Ranch on 656 W. Randolf St. in Chicago. Tickets are $30, and that not only gives you access to all the supplies for whatever projects you want to make, but it also includes a fun goodie bag, light appetizers and beverages, and an overall fun time! You won't leave there empty-handed, that's for sure!

So come out, meet me, make some fun stuff, and have a great time! You can buy tickets here! Make sure you pick them up soon, they will sell out!