Gettin' Crafty with Natalie

Want a new fun hair acessory? Try this easy to do Wire wrap hair bow. Wrap it around a ponytail or bun and look fabulous! It took me 10 minutes to make/sew! Just consult this DIY tutorial on Skunkboy Blog (it's a really good one!) and Have fun!

You'll need:

✂ fabric
✂ scissors
✂ metal wire
✂ wire cutters

Summer is in its way and so are the libellules et les papillons (Dragonflies and butterflies!)! Here is a simple craft to do with kids... Paper insects! We even hung ours in the class windows with some yarn and some tape! They make some beautiful summer decorations!

What you'll need:

☼ cardstock or heavy white paper

☼ popsicle sticks

☼ pipe cleaners

☼ crayons

☼ glue

☼ scissors

Get your supplies ready! We pre-cut simple dragonfly
and butterfly wings to make the craft easier for the kids.

Let the kids invent their patterns!

So pretty hanging in the window!

I've been gardening this weekend and planted some herbs. I wanted to find a cute way to label my pots so that I know what's what and I remembered some cute spice jar labels that I had! So I thought I'd share them with you guys. You can use them in your garden or in your kitchen on spice jars!

All you need is this Martha Stewart Template! Just print them and stick them on with scotch tape or print them on sticky label paper! For the herbs pots I tapped them on a little stick.... and voilà! So cute!

Look at the jars before and after! FANTASTIQUE!

Before

After!

Looking so cute in their rack!

Wanna make ytour own? Here's the template again!

Happy Sunday!

Yesterday, I participated in the Chinatown Remixed Arts Festival... What a blast!!! I got to create a collaborative community project! I invited passers-by to help me stitch a letter for a banner which spelled the Chinese proverb "Talk doesn't cook rice". It was a success! When we finished it, in just over 3 hours, I gave it to Highjinx, the cute little retro store I was stationed at (Featuring Marisa Gallemit's art in the window!). They're an awesome shop that help the homeless with their proceeds! Talk about action cooking rice!

I even made it in the Apt 613 Style File for the festival!

Check out some other thoughtful bunting I put up on Sommerset St. West. I see it as some happy, uplifting temporary "graffiti". Someone even told me yesterday "Ah! You're the one making Ottawa pretty!" ♥

My Friends Sarah helping out!

The work station! A bunch of little kids helped out too!

I even gave out little fortune cookie messages....
Some old wise chinese proverbs!

That's me!

Sewing up some letters for some inspiring, uplifting messages!

Hello friends! I thought that I'd let you know that I'm participating in Ottawa's Chinatown Remixed, an month-long Art festival all along Sommerst st West, I'll be doing a performance/ installation in front of Highjinx (and a little bit everywhere on the Sommerset strip), a cute little furnitre store, that will also display the wonderful work of Marisa Gallemit!

This year, I've decided to create some thoughtful bunting (you know, those little flag banners I love!) adorned with uplifting messages! We see so many negative messages daily - you're missing this, change your life, change your body, etc - I'd like to counteract that and tell people the opposite!

Come help me stitch up some letters, as we explore ideas of community an DIY culture. Stop by if you're in the Area (Percy and Sommerset), on Saturday, May 12th, from 2-5pm!

Using some recycled materials for the letters... old jeans!

Some "thoughtful bunting" I put up this winter!

This is me, with Chinadoll, two years ago during a performance titled Scarlet!

I don't know about you, but I LOVE crafts made from recycled things. At school we always try to turn applesauce cups, toilet rolls and tin cans into beautiful works of art. So why not make something with yogurt drink bottles?!

We decided to make some beautiful vases (inspired from this site) with tissue paper and glue! Plus, we now have vases to put our tissue paper flowers into!

Materials :
❀ Empty and clean yogurt drink bottles
❀ Tissue paper (cut into small pieces)
❀ White glue or Mod Podge
❀ Small paint brush

First, drink some Yogurt drinks and clean your containers!

Then, apply some glue (or Podge) to the bottle with a paint
brush and paste some pieces of tissue paper. When the
vase is covered, give it another coat of glue to seal it!

the kid's vases! Beautiful!

Goes so well with the tissue paper flowers! Wanna make some?
Click here for the instructions!

April showers bring May FLOWERS!

...And look at these tissue paper flowers! So pretty! We were making them at school last Friday, getting ready for Mother's day (it's in a week people!). Each child worked on a beautiful bouquet to put in a handmade DIY vase (next post!) that they'll offer to their moms! Wanna make some?