DIY | Fabric Covered Wire Words

Hello Friends!

Yesterday you caught a glimpse of my fabric scrap stash, and today a super fun DIY that utilizes that stash!  Hip hip!  Let's git to it!

The Goods:

• Wire {16 Gauge or beefier} or Regular Craft Pipe Cleaners
• Strips of fabric 3/8" - 1/2" Wide {I used cotton but you can totally get creative!  Yarn perhaps!  they don't have to be perfect and the length doesn't matter much}
• Craft Glue
• A print of the script you would like to use as a guide {Or you can freestyle the lettering}
• Scissors
• Wire-cutters {I prefer heavy duty since they are made of a stronger metal and don't damage easily}
• Pliers {whatever you think will help you bend the wire if necessary}

The How To:

1.  Decide what word you would like to make.  You can write the word out with marker or print one from the web you find interesting.  OR  you can totally freestyle and make it up as you go!  I chose "hello" for a template and then freestyled the word "pancake."

2.  If you are using pipe cleaners twist them together to make them stronger.  If you are using the other wire you can start to uncoil it a little bit to begin forming the letters.

3.  Now it is time to bend out some letters!  During this step you may want to use the pliers to form some of your curves. 

Ta-Da!

4.  Snip the end if necessary.

5.  Now it is time to wrap!  First I cut off small bits of the strips of fabric to cover the ends of the letters.  I put glue on the fabric and samiched it on and then wrapped it when I got to that section.

6.  Then add a bit of glue to the long strip of fabric and Wrap Wrap Wrap Wrap!

7.  If it looks like a fuzzy little caterpillar like mine did at the end do not fret cause you can trim it up.

8.  YOU DID IT!! 

{hahahaha!}

Now that was a scraptastic project!

Love ya bunches!!

~Megan

Potholders!

Catchy title right!?  HAHA!  I have been wanting to try my hand at quilting for a while now.  Instead of jumping right to a big project I thought it would be better to experiment with some mini quilted projects...POTHOLDERS!  Super fun!  First I measured a square of batting and Insul-Bright to the size I wanted the potholder to be.  {I chose a 9" x 9" square.}  Then I dove into my fabric scrap stash and these are what I came up with!  On the first two I made them sans-binding and just turned them inside out and top stitched the edges.

I found a scrap of material that had a fun graphic print that would make a neat focal point for the potholder.  I love the vibrant colors in the print and found some other bright material to complement it.

After I made my quilt square, sewed up the samich, flipped it right side out, top stitched the edges, I then did some machine stitching through the entire potholder.

I did the same thing to this potholder and just experimented in a different design.

{Orange ya glad potholders protect your hands?} hahaha!

This was a fun experiment with binding!  I found a couple of tutorials on YouTube that gave simple approaches to binding a quilt and potholder.

{I did some top-stitching before I added my binding.}

For this potholder I started at the top left and sewed each piece directly to the batting instead of creating the quilt block and then sewing it to the batting.

Since I sewed the fabric directly to the batting I left the back piece just to be stitched along the edges.

There are so many ways to make a potholder!  It has been a really satisfying project because I could experiment with my scrap material trying different techniques and it didn't take much time to complete. 

While I did utilize some of my scrap material I still have quite a bit left and I have come up with some really fun ideas for more scraptastic projects!!  Check back tomorrow for another scrap stash project!!

Love ya bunches!

~Megan

High Profile Adventure Camp 2013

Image courtesy of High Profile Adventures

My adventure this last weekend led me to YMCA Camp Benson in Mt. Carroll IL.  This was the 8th annual Adventure Camp hosted by High Profile Adventures L.L.C.. I was a participant in their second camp and have volunteered every year since.  The camp is geared toward people of all levels interested in adventure racing and adventure travel.  The camp includes lectures and hands on training in fixed ropes, rock climbing, kayak and canoe paddling, navigation with a map and compass, and an option of a 4 or 8 hour race the last day of camp.  This year for our ropes course we had rappelling, ascending, a zip-line,  a slack line and Tyrolean traverse across the Waukarusa River, and a climbing section.

This year we set a record for coldest camp yet, snowing on the last day!  Needless to say events had to be altered due to extremely cold water and a frozen Mississippi River.  No kayaking and rappelling into water this year!

Overlooking the Waukarusa River nestled in the heart of camp on Saturday morning.

One of the new camp additions this year was the "luge."  There are two giant drainage pipes that sit on the side of a hill.  All you need is a plastic sled, a helmet, and off you go!

This is what the volunteers get to do during the navigation lecture.  

Weeee!

After getting warmed up with a little fun we gathered some extra ropes to do some fine tuning at some of the rappel and ascending sites.

A view from our rappel station.  You can barely see the red slackline crossing the river over the island.  To the left of that in the corner you can see the white Tyrolean traverse cross the river too.

Our rappel from the base.

I'm a super jazzed belay instructor!  what what! | Image courtesy of John

Slackline!  |   Image courtesy of John

Wouldn't ya know it when we stopped in town for lunch at Charlies this is what they had on their wall!  HA! There were actually 4 bison on one wall in addition to the squirrels!

Robyn Benincasa  |  Photo courtesy of Robyn Benincasa

One of my most favorite parts of the weekend was hearing Robyn Benincasa's presentation.  Robyn is a World Champion Adventure Racer, 3 Time Guinness World Record Kayaker, San Diego Firefighter, Founder and CEO of Project Athena, an author, and she has had 5 hip replacements.  I can't even tell you how incredibly inspiring it is to hear her speak!  

If you would like to see some more photos or learn more about this totally rad camp check out High Profile Adventure Camp.

Love ya Bunches!!

~Megan

Epic Adventure: Ray's Indoor MTB Women's Weekend 2013

Last Friday I had the most epic of adventures!  My gal pal Sarah and I left at the crack of dawn to head to Ray's Indoor MTB Park in Milwaukee for Women's Weekend.  There was instruction in all sections of  the park by some extremely talented pro riders.  Did I mention it was FREE!?  How awesome is Ray!?  There were over 200 ladies at this event of all skill levels.  It was absolutely incredible to have the opportunity to ride with so many like-minded gals.  Everywhere you looked someone was challenging themselves to try something new or fine tune their technique.  It is hard to describe the awesomeness of being in such a supportive and empowering environment. 

The Gals and Coaches(I'm 3 rows back in the middle, pink shirt)  |  Photo courtesy of Rays

Pre-ride chat  |  Photo courtesy of DirtRag

Course map of Ray's MKE  |  Photo courtesy of Ray's

Looking into the sport section and the micro-rhythm section.

Conquering a skinny and I don't mean jeans.

Post Chipotle burrito chat at the pump track.

Thanks to Angela Brooks for posting this video!

Did I mention we did a little Harlem Shake in the pump track!?  HAHAHA!  I'm biking in the first part with the pink sleeves!  Epic RIGHT!?!?

Post Harlem Shake cool-down!

Ray's Women's Weekend MKE 2013 from Megan Baker on Vimeo.

So right before the HS I tried the pump track for the first time and HOLY BANANA SPLIT it was love at first ride!!  I seriously can't stop thinking about this!

DirtRagMag did an awesome article on the event!!  Check out what my pal Becky had to say about it!

I most definitely plan to go back next year.  I think I will have enough courage to try the jump tracks and foam pit!  I feel like every time I try and explain how incredible that day was I don't do it justice.  Such a great place to ride, incredible people, and just so much frickin' FUN!

Have a great weekend friends!! 

Love ya bunches!

~Megan

SPRING!

I wanted to take a beautiful photograph of something spring-like happening around here to celebrate the first day of spring.  I thought my only options were the winter tundra or my dog shedding his winter coat.  Photogenic right!?  Nope.  Then I thought I don't need to take a photo because nothing says "HEY SPRING" like a my brothers head on the body of a happy spring goat!  Delightful.

Photo courtesy of my brother's clever friend and the interwebs.

HAPPY SPRING!

Love ya bunches!

~Megan

Wrigley the Snow-Dog

Have you ever seen a dog make a snow angel?

HaHaHa!!!

Love ya bunches!

~ Megan

Orange ya glad it's Tuesday

Despite the big fluffy snowflakes dancing outside my window yesterday I have spring on the brain!!  Lately I have been day dreaming about a warm bike ride to check out the fresh blooms.  Stopping along the way to enjoy a lazy picnic, indulging my senses in the brand new spring.  By far I am looking forward to my most favorite part of the season; stepping outside and feeling that delightful warm sun for the first time.

PUBLIC M8 - Amelie  |  Image courtesy of Public Bikes

Keds Champion Brights  |  Image courtesy of Keds Shoes

Rope Necklace Neon Series II  |  Image courtesy of Titibiri

 

Moki Orange Bag  |  Image courtesy of MOOSEdesignBAGS

Orange Grade Blanket  |  Image courtesy of Terrain

I have an EXTREMELY exciting adventure from this weekend that I can't wait to share!  Stay tuned!

Love ya bunches!
~Megan