Tuesday Treasures

June 26, 2012

Happy Tuesday Everyone!

What a summer the west coast is having! I think we've had about 5 hot days all year! It's hard not to feel envious looking at other blogger's lovely t-shirt weather, popsicle recipes and days at the pool! I've been carrying umbrellas, putting the heat on, wearing slippers and drinking hot chocolate and it's almost July! I'm not really complaining--- I'm very lucky to not be affected by the flooding that's happening in BC right now. Basically, this rain just has to stop. Everything is green and then some, Mother Nature, you can hold off for awhile!

This cloudy, rainy weather, plus being inside all morning doing accounting (I got an A in the last course, btw! Thank Goodness!) has got me kind of blue (still another accounting course to go) so I decided to theme this week's Tuesday Treasures after our lovely summer weather...

Tuesday Treasures is a weekly feature--- featuring my favourite handmade goods from Etsy Artists, Crafters and Makers! I provide links at the bottom of each post so you can check out these awesome goods!

1. Raindrop Ring

2. Cloud Mobile

3. Rainy Day Bonnet,

4. Rubber boot liners

5. Girl and Dog Painting

How's the weather like where you are? Rainy and cold like here? Nice and sunny? Comment where you are and how the weather is!

Pirates and Dinosaurs

June 14, 2012

Enjoying Buccaneer Days 2012

Quite an unusual combination! I had a very busy weekend! In Esquimalt ( a municipality across the big bridge in Victoria that contains Naden-- the Navy Base and dock yard) there is a tradition called Buccaneer Days. It's been around since my dad was a little kid. A man would dress like a pirate, and go around to all the houses calling "Wakey Wakey" to all of the neighbourhood. A parade would follow and a fair!

All the kids dress like pirates, go on fair rides, play games, eat mini doughnuts, snow cones, and have a wonderful time. There's also a craft sale inside the arena (I really need to be up on things more!) It's a fun time to get together with the community and have some fun!

My first time was two years ago. I took my friend Jamie. We decided to go on the tilt-a-whirl. I've always been the kid to get car-sick, so I don't know what I was thinking when I got into the seat beside 250 lbs, 6'6 Jamie. We were 370 lbs spinning like a top. Within the first revolution I knew I had made a terrible mistake. I white knuckled it, tucked my chin into my knees (there was a metal bar in the way) and swore my head off. I felt like I had downed about 10 bottles of wine in 10 seconds. Finally the spinning stopped and I crawled out, green faced onto the grass littered with gum and cigarette butts on the edge of the fair. That was the last fair ride I will ever go on.

Since then I've watched the kids enjoying the rides, played a few games (I even won a toy at ski-ball) ate mini doughnuts and enjoyed the yummy Hawaiian shaved Ice. If you have never tried this... do! It's the best, most melt in your mouth, tastiest thing ever.

On Sunday, we decided to go to the Royal BC Museum and see Dinosaurs! I was pretty excited. I couldn't get over how big the T-rex was! I walked over to see something and turned around... and he was staring at me! Eek! I know that they were scavengers and there's a ton of research that makes them not-so-scary.... but look at that face.... and those teeth! Horror movie much!

There was a really neat Stegosaurus and a life size model of a dinosaur made from metal. The pictures I took weren't great because I wasn't supposed to use the flash (I accidentally did by accident twice-- oops) and the museum was really dark so the pictures I took were kinda blurry. Here's the best! (both flash--oops!)

This little dinosaur was a scale model of a T-rex. It moved exactly like they think T-rex did. It was really neat!

While the dinosaur exhibit was fun, I just love the regular parts of the museum. My favourite is Old Town, where you can walk through saloons, a silent movie theatre, wait for the train (lights that flash by and a horn) and walk through exhibits of hotels, Chinatown and see other interesting shops and trades. You walk through a pretend mine, see a little barn with a stuffed horse, then a mill with a real water wheel (so exciting when you're a kid). You also pass through a cabin on a ship--- then through Navy and Voyager memorabilia. It's an amazing exhibit!

There is also a First People's Exhibit with an amazing long house and a natural history section--- with sea life, sea creatures, a pretend forest that changes through the day cycle with light and sound, and every creature in the west coast! Even a stuffed walrus! If you prefer more prehistoric-- there's a stuffed Wooly Mammoth in the entry way with diagrams of extinct creates-- like horses with three toes!

So there is my piece on pirates and dinosaurs. If you're in town this summer-- be sure to check it out!

Pandora Bracelet

June 13, 2012

I decided to make my own Pandora bracelet with supplies from Etsy. I ordered the bracelet, a few select charms, and a few filler beads for my 23rd birthday. I love the idea of having the charms without having so many pieces hanging off to catch on things. It's also not so delicate--- it makes quite a statement! While it probably clocked in at $100.00.... considering a bead or a bracelet costs $50.00 in stores... I think it's quite a bargain!

Each of the charms has meaning:

Anchor: Blue Anchor Crafts and where I live.

Crown: Represents my history degree, which was largely British History based

Yarn Ball: My love of knitting and my dollies

Soon I'm getting a little medical charm to represent my graduation from my Medical Office Assistant course... for eight dollars!

The peachy pink crystal-ish beads are gorgeous. They're such a pretty colour. I bought a little bag of coloured crystal hearts which are a little dangley and add a pop of colour. I'm going to go down to my local bead shop and see if I can find a few lamp-work beads to add!

I highly recommend finding a bracelet on Etsy and filling up a few beads for yourself or a loved one. It's so fun to search for all the different charms in all the different categories!

Tuesday Treasures

June 11, 2012

Happy Tuesday Everyone!

First a little update:

Whew! I had a busy week. I finished off my business writing class (thank goodness! --- if I have to look at one more ambiguously written multiple choice test I will scream). I'm starting accounting now, which seems like it will be a bit more interesting. Never thought I'd say that-- haha!

In my off time I've been quite enthralled with the television show "Bones". It's hard to watch while eating at times, as the dead bodies they are studying look rather realistic... but it's quite an entertaining show. For the non-squeamish (or the desensitized like me) I highly recommend it!

Onto this weeks Etsy Favourites:

I've really taken a shine to this type of jewellery lately. I loved crystals, gemstones and minerals when I was a child. When I was six my mother bought me a geode from the local science store and I was enthralled. There is a shop called "Mineral World" in Sidney (north of Victoria) which has a "scratch patch" where children can sift through tumbled rocks. Such fun childhood memories. I never imagined wearing a geode! Cool and beautiful!

1. Mint Green Agate

2. Titanium Druzy Studs

Hope you enjoyed this week's Tuesday Treasures. Go check out these great Etsy Sellers and have a great week!

Tuesday Treasures

June 5, 2012

Happy Tuesday Everyone!

I decided to make this week's theme robots! I knitted two robots last week--- a boy and a girl. I'm super excited about them and hope to make more!

It is so cold and rainy out this week. I can't believe its June... it feels like November. I have a 5 page Business Report to write this week (again-- what does this have to do with my future career... I'm going to be an MOA!) It won't take too long though, so I'll be curled up on my couch, blanket in my lap, with a cup of tea, knitting away.

Here's Mr. Robot and his girlfriend Kamiko. (Yes, I'm silly)