About Me
Hi! I’m ilene! I’m a type A, control-freak who loves to create things! A web designer by day and a dreamer by night. I started this blog to document all the projects that are swimming in this crazy little head of mine. My poor husband is consistently baffled with my far-fetched ideas, I think he’s starting to wonder what he got himself into when he asked me to marry him! It’s not uncommon for him to come home to find me (and the kitchen) covered in sawdust, our spare bedroom strewn with craft supplies or me off on the latest craigslist bargain hunt. I’m blogging my adventures here to prove to him that I’m not crazy and that other people might actually be impressed by what I do. My hope for this site is that my projects will inspire YOU to create, too!! If I can do it, so can you! Come on and join in on the fun!
Loves: Jeff, bubble tea, Duke basketball, the color pink, sunshine, writing with excessive exclamation marks (!!!) and Huggy
Vices: coffee, People magazine and reality television
Contact me at “comeonilene @ gmail.com”!
Hi! And welcome to my site! I hope you find something that inspires you while you are here. 
{ 53 comments… read them below or add one }
Ilene, I looove your blog! And would love to follow it. You are incredible!
Absolutely LOVE the Ruffled Heart pillow!!! I want to make some for the lounge area at my son’s wedding this summer! I see lots of flower making in the coming months! Good thing the wedding isn’t until August- I have a chance of maybe getting a few made by then!!! Thanks for the instructions and Congrats on marrying your Best Friend! Best of Luck and Love to you both!!!
thank you!!!
what a cute About Me section
love your blog and nope, you’re not crazy!
Wait, I feel like I’m looking (reading?) in the mirror. I’m a graphic designer with very similar hobbies!!! My blog is mainly about food and life, but I LOVE craft time!!
Can’t wait to read more posts!
I love to decorate my room and reuse old clothes. I turn all my jeans that are too small for me into jean caprees during summer time!
I really like the ruffle heart pillow and the infinity scarf!!!
Could you add some more things like this???
sure thing!!
Hi IIene! I have no idea how I landed on your site this morning but I’m glad I did and I LOVE it!! You’re one talented chica! Keep it up! =)
hi ilene! cute blog… trying to figure out how to follow it…
I love your blog…I take TBC for introducing you to me…you’re ideas are great. I’m a Type A as well and I am always trying to find ways to make my own “snacks” so they are better for my two little guys!
Thanks!
WOW…Ilene…I heard a buzz about your site and finally I’m checking it out and you are totally blowing my mind. How exciting. You are one spectacular artist…so genius! I feel utterly inspired to create now. Thanks for sharing your blog. =) love ami douk
Aww thanks Ami!!!! Let me know if you make anything! would love to see what you create!
Absolutely beautiful blog!
Found your blog on the wordpress homepage. LOVE everything you’ve made! I jive with your style
. I have recently become obsessed with upcycling clothes for my little girl, so it was fun to see what you have made. Can’t wait to see what else you make!
Thanks so much, higuerita!
ilene
I LOVE to find new ideas and get inspired and create things. Your blog is PERFECT for me!!! You have such awesome and creative ideas!!! THANK you for sharing!!!!
You have a wonderfully simple and pleasing blog layout. I was looking to see what theme you are using, but since you are a web designer, I think you must have designed it yourself. Well done!
I absolutely adore your blog! I cannot wait to read more! You are so unique and creative, I love the spin you put on things!
xoxo Kim
Ilene, you are so creativity. Your blog is as nice and lovely as you.
Thanks for sharing these cool ideas.
I definitely share you love of Excessive Exclamation marks!!
Looking forward to reading more of your interesting posts!
Good day!
Found your blog today from Freshly Pressed. Aside from the adorable state t-shirts what caught my eye was your blog name! I’m an “Ilene” with an “I”. So happy to see another one.
Hi Ilene. Surfed around your blog a little yesterday, and just wanted to tell you I really like it. I love to get crafty, but don’t do it often enough, and I’m excited to see how many ideas I can get from you. Thank you for posting, and for the how-to’s especially!
i’ve been on your blog for about 27 seconds and i’m already in love. i can’t wait to try out the pillows and state t-shirts, and my best friend is having a baby in a couple weeks so your baby section is perfect. keep blogging away! my boyfriend thinks i’m crazy with all my crazy craft ideas, too so don’t worry – there’s more of us out there just like ya!
can you please post about sports? great blog!
Everyone else seems to be writing here… Just wanted to say, I found your blog this morning and I love it! So inspiring!
Those shirts are sweet! Very crafty.
I just stumbled on your blog because it was on freshly pressed. It’s AWESOME! you’re giving me the urge to be very crafty. I always have ideas for things (like how to make random stuff out of broken stuff) but I never actually make anything. Do you take requests to dry run projects, LOL? Anyway really great blog. I especially love your category buttons.
Hello Ilene.
I’m from Brazil.
I really liked your blog. It is very interesting and creative.
was wondering if you could help me ..
my sister is getting married, and I wanted an idea for souvenirs, which are inexpensive and beautiful.
Thanks,
ps.: can send me by email if you can.
kisses. Congratulations on the blog.
email : gabriellirnava@hotmail.com
What a great blog Ilene! As others have mentioned, I too was sucked in right away and think your ideas are original and some, very adorable, like the seersucker strawberry skirts. I just started to teach myself how to sew (still trying to figure out a few things with my sewing machine:) ) but I have a feeling I’m going to love it and want to create as much as I can.
I am subscribing to your blog! Love it.
Best,
Amanda
http://bullfrogsandbulldogs.wordpress.com/
You’re living my dream!
….despite your “Duke blood” (I am on the side of UNC myself)- I love your blog!
Hi Ilene!
I started a section in my blog called ‘Feature Friday’ and I wanted to let you know that I picked your blog to feature today! I love it!
http://bullfrogsandbulldogs.wordpress.com/2011/08/12/feature-friday-come-on-ilene/
All the best!
Amanda
I love your page and thank you for sharing your journey in planning your wedding. I had the silly idea of having a simple wedding, but deep in my heart I knew I wanted to make it special…and you have reminded me that I too can make my dream wedding come true! Keep up your good work. You have been blessed with many talents to share with the world!
So i first saw one of your projects on “Or so she says” and now im in love with your blog and the things you create! I seriously want you to come be my wedding planner! I love your creative ideas! Keep those posts a comin’ girl! And one day (If I ever get married.. come on handsome boyfriend..) ill be calling/commenting/ getting ahold of you to chat about wedding ideas!
aww thanks, Ashley! I am flattered! And I would LOVE to help with your wedding, whenever that will be! I love all things wedding-related!! Thanks so much for your comment!
Really great blog, ilene! I love seeing all of your ideas. As a major fan of DIY projects, there’s plenty here to learn! I have to admit I’m always intrigued by crafting gadgets, and your site documents plenty of them. =]
Awww thanks, Kenneth! I hope you are doing well!!
Do you have a button?
I love your style!!!
hi! i had a quick question. do you like the circut machines as well or are the silhouettes better?
Hi vy! I own both the cricute and the silhouette machine but I haven’t used the cricut since I bought the silhouette since the silhouette does everything that a cricut can do plus more! As a graphic designer, I like the flexibility of being able to cut out any shape that I design on the silhouette instead of buying cricut cartridges, which can be so expensive. in fact, I hadn’t used my cricut in over a year so I gave it away to my sister!
OMG OMG!!
I’m also getting married at the rancho 09/22/2012. I’m sooo not the crafty person and this is perfect for me. I’m so not crafty that I don’t even know how to use a glue stick. Your tutorials are amazing and your DIY invitations really motivate me.
Hey Ilene, I’m Jossy from Sloan, the Taiwanese beef noodle girl if you remember
We had a small Sloanie gathering in Taipei with Jeff and he told me about your blog so I checked it out. I LOVE LOVE LOVE your blog and the way you tell stories! Also, your design is amazing, I love everything you posted on your blog! I wish I was as talented as you are! Hope you’re happy with everything and not too sad because Jeff is away…:P Let’s keep in touch! 
-Jossy
I’ve just discovered your blog, through SewCanShe blog, & I have Pinterest’ed so many of your ideas…there are so many good ones! I’ve just started following, so hope to see some more inspiring ideas!
I am one of these crazy people with things going on in my head all the time. I think of all kink of things but It is after I go to bed. To late to go try some of them. By morning I have forget half of them.
Love what U do !!
I nominated you for the Kreative Blogger Award – Congrats! http://cravesadventure.wordpress.com/2012/01/25/liv-kreativ/
Thanks so much!! I really appreciate it!
- ilene
I am an art teacher by day + dreamer artist for life – your bio sounds a lot like me
I love your blog and am so glad I found you through Pinterest (your DIY circle scarf tutorial)!!!
Thank you for sharing your projects and creativity
awww thanks so much! and thanks for reading! -ilene
I just stumbled upon your site while searching for “goldfish cracker cutter” on google. I am so so impressed – love all your projects. I showed my husband, and said, “She’s like me, but way better!” You are just getting all kinds of stuff done, and I love love love it! Thanks for blogging!
Hi Ilene-
I went to school with Jeff, and recently came across your blog (following Jeff’s status update – BIG congrats!). I am getting married end of Sept, so your blog has been very inspirational. Thanks for sharing!
Ilene,
I am a freelance journalist assigned to write a piece about “unusual” wedding entrances for a Bridal Magazine. Your tandem bike entrance fills the bill and I would love to interview you for the article. Please contact me!
Thanks!!
LOVE the scarf idea! Duke all the way!
I just found your blog, and I’m so thankful that I did. Thank you for taking the time to post all of your creative creations. It reassures me that all the time and effort I put into being creative isn’t a waste.
Your blog inspires me.