Tuesday, January 20, 2015

Repurposing flannel sheets

 
Call me cheap (I prefer smart and thrifty), but I have a hard time throwing anything away I can recycle, repurpose or reuse.
 I grew up with a Mom who actually darned socks, so I come by it honestly.
 
My daughter sleeps on cuddly flannel sheets and when the elastic on the fitted sheet wore out, rather than throw it away, I chose to repurpose it into extra pillowcases.
 
I got 4 "new" pillowcases out of one twin sheet.

I'm thinking flannel pj's out of the flat sheet.

Monday, January 19, 2015

Score!


I haven't had much time to sew lately, but I was able to pop into Hancock's last week and pick up a couple new patterns.
 
 
A couple.... meaning 10  :-)
Hancock's had a 5 for $5.00 sale I couldn't pass up.
 
I just recently found out how fun it was to sew for these little 18" dolls.
 
 
I can't wait to get started.

Thursday, January 8, 2015

~ Strawberries fix everything ~

 
I am one who never misses an appointment - NEVER.
 I live by my planner.
 
Well, as they say...
 
"You should never say never."
 
For years I have used the Franklin Covey ring bound binder with refillable pages.
It's actually my EVERYTHING planner so it becomes a bit bulky to carry around every day.
 
 
In 2013 I decided to try something different and purchased a small, lightweight spiral bound planner.
 
 
I quickly found... it wasn't for me.
 
Since it's spiral bound you can't add any additional pages. I ended up using 2 separate planners; one for appointments and another for meal plans, grocery lists, routines, to do lists, etc.
 
The spiral bound planner went from January 2013 through December 2013.
Makes sense, right?
It does, unless you need to schedule your next appointment for June 2014 and your planner ends in December 2013. You either have to carry two planners (2013 and 2014) or put the appointment card in your wallet, hoping you will remember to write it in your 2014 planner when you get home.
 Simple enough...unless you forget to write it down when you get home.
Which is exactly what I did.
Yep.
 Missed my appointment.
 
 I felt so guilty for missing my appointment, I came up with a little "please forgive me" gift. 
My dental hygienist lives in Plant City, Florida which is famous for growing strawberries and hosts a Strawberry festival each year. Since I had no idea of her kitchen décor, I opted to go with the Plant City strawberry theme. 
 

 
I think she forgave me....
 


Sunday, January 4, 2015

Sew your way to organization in 2015


I'm sure many of you have made the commitment this year to finally get organized.
 
Well... I'm here to help!
 
I scoured the net and found some pretty cool sewing projects to help you get started.
 
All free tutorials - we LOVE that!
 
In no particular order....
 
This handy little organizer from The Glamorous Housewife
 
 
Pot holder purse caddy by Fun Cheap or Free
 
 
Hanging file folders by Cottage4c
 
 
Small organizer basket by Pink Penguin

 Trays in Sew Cherry

Remote control pillow by Make it Handmade

Want a way to hide those pesky remote controls? This clever pillow keeps those remote controls out of site, but right at hand. Sew one for yourself with this tutorial from Make It Handmade. 
Reusable car trash bag by How Does She

Messy Car Solution

Dave Ramsey cash envelopes by Jar and Jug



Car seat organizer by 8th Day Creations



Handy mesh shower caddy by So Sew Easy

Use mesh fabric to sew this shower caddy or organiser

Book slings by Domestic Imperfection

How to make book slings

Mini pocketbook by Insatiable Needs

finished product!

Makeup brush roll - Better Homes and Gardens



Sofa organizer by Art Gallery Fabrics

Cover_web

Clear bag tutorial by Patchwork Posse

clear bag tutorial with zipper top | patchwork posse

Fabric bins by Birch



Travel cable cozy by Makezine

liveitloveitmakeit_travel_cable_cozy_02

Placemat purse organizer by The Mamas Girls

Do It Yourself Placemat Purse Organizer

Hanging makeup organizer by A Girl With a Glue Gun


makeup hanger for your bathroom

Shopping list holder by Lark Crafts



Peek-A-Boo toy sack by Make it Perfect


Car visor organizer by It's Always Autumn



Sewing AND organizing ???

I call that a WIN,WIN...how about you?


Friday, January 2, 2015

Once a fibber, always a fibber ???


Please, say it ain't so...

 I know I said yesterday I wouldn't bore you with my photo-a-day pics, but I'm busy packing up Christmas and no time to blog.
 
FIB:
noun: an untrue statement about something minor or unimportant
verb: to tell an unimportant lie
 
Really.... not something I normally do.
It was just an itsy bitsy fib....
not intentional...


Thursday, January 1, 2015

Happy New Year!


It's a new year and I need a new start.
 
I have been trying to grow my photography skills since purchasing my DSLR camera, but for some reason, I can't seem to stay focused (no pun intended).
 
SO.........
 
  I have decided to take on the photo-a-day challenge.
There are options like CY365, monthly photo themes, 52 weeks etc.
The idea is to take a picture a day to document your life or take a photo with a particular theme for that day. I'm hoping this will expand my creativity, inspire me to try new techniques, and make me a better photographer in the process.
 
You've heard the quote "Your first 10,000 photographs are your worst" -  Henri-Cartier Bresson.
 I'm thinking I'm about 9,897 behind, so......practice, practice, practice.
 
A photo a day sounds like a huge undertaking, doesn't it?
Does to me too, but since it's MY project, I am not gonna stress over it.
 
If I miss a day.... it's MY project.
If my photos are less than perfect.... it's MY project.

I am sure as I document my days, there will be the mundane photos (a pile of dirty laundry), photos without perfect focus or lighting, even just a quick snapshot from my phone and so on, but it's a learning process and I intend on having fun along the way.

Yep, that's me. Hangin' out in the bathroom mirror.

I promise I won't bore you with my daily photos of laundry, dishes, and what I wore that day. I may however, on occasion, toss in a photo (or two) asking for a little advice from some of you who actually know what your doing :)

Of course, I will still be posting sewing projects as usual.


Along with helping to improve your photography skills, the photo-a-day project is meant to record your life... who you are, where you are and how much you and things change over time.

How do you record the everyday in your life?

I plan on putting together a weekly digital photo journal to document mine.

Wishing everyone a safe, healthy and happy New Year!