Spent a good part of the day today making paper. I’ve been wanting to do thqt for a while and it was nice and sunny so I could use the “sun’s oven” to partially dry the sheets.

Used the “punches” from the balloon punch in the rolodex project to work into the paper. Used some old manuscripts of mine and a bunch of Bob’s notes and drafts from his dissertion. Seems a nice way to see them go. Made about 50 sheets which are now drying in the press.

I had to remember how to do this, it’s been so long since I’ve made paper I’d almost forgotten how, but it all came back to me.

Hope we can plan a day for the “girls” to
get together to make more before the mosquitos come out in force. The last time Steph and I tried to make paper outside we got eaten alive.

Have had some of these unfinished trays around from a “too good to resist” sale a long time ago. always intended to finish them off, but just ended up using them as “project trays” around the house. A few days back I painted one, then the next day I collaged it with left-over scraps of paper and ephemera from the rolodex project. Then when that was dry I mixed and poured a layer of resin so it would wipe clean after use. It will be a nice coffee tray. WHO WANTS COFFEE?

While I was at it I did a little refurbishing of the large tray I used to use to clear the table. My brother built it a long time ago. It’s been down in my craft room forever awaiting a new coat of paint and some new sealant. Now it’s presentable again.

I was happy to get these projects accomplished and proud that I didn’t buy anything to get them done. Used up bits of paint, sealant, resin and paper to make something useful. Can I get a “good job, Mom”?

I went out to try to find a more user-friendly round punch and rushed into the craft store just before closing.  They had no round punches in the size we needed.  I spotted this Fiskar balloon punch (the thumb punch variety, much easier to use) and figured it was better than nothing.

Then when next I started working on the pages I discovered that the balloon punch, if properly positioned made the hole AND the “V” cut all at once.  Voila!

I got my box filled (and another one that SOMEONE might get for her birthday coming up in May–Shhhhh).  Steph and May were here on Saturday and we marked and punched and marked and punched some more and got both their boxes filled as well.

These will be fun to use and it was a great way to use up lots of paper and cardboard scraps.  I cut up everything from grocery bags to cereal boxes to paint charts and we used those in addition to the “pretty” papers.

And the finished product?

window planter, originally uploaded by BrynnB.

Last year for Lenten Make-a-Day I made a little window planter for starter herbs that fits in the kitchen window. I figured that way, with any luck, I’d remember to water them because they’re right there in front of me while I’m doing the dishes. Last year’s I cobbled together out of thin scrap wood that I just glued together. It was pretty rough.  And then somehow when the growing season was over it got put outside and didn’t winter-over very well in the elements.  The glue had let go in places and the wood was all gross. Bob built me a new, more substantial one  yesterday and today I painted it and sealed it and added more rocks and small pots planted with herb seeds.

This was a good team effort. And it was oh-so nice to have my carpenter-on-demand available again.

Now if the seeds will just like their new home enough to sprout!

Syphon Coffee Maker, originally uploaded by BrynnB.

I’ve lost count of the days, but yesterday I made a very nice pot of coffee with our new syphon coffee maker. Kevin made a nice movie of me making a nice pot of coffee with our new syphon coffee maker http://vimeo.com/21297526 Then we each had a nice cup of coffee. So smooth…..

So the last time the cabinets got painted they didn’t get taken down. Someone decide to paint them and all the hinges. So I spent today soaking, scrubbing, soaking, brushing, and scraping white paint off of these brass hinges.