Monthly Archives: August 2012

Friday Create Along

Made this neat little pouch for my phone. Yes of course it’s a Michelle Patterns pattern, I’m so addicted.

It was ridiculously easy to whip up. It’s super cheap because it’s only the pattern pieces and some very brief notations, but since I own almost all her patterns and I’ve sewn a lot it was easy to figure out the assembly bit.

Now I’m going to be smart and not choose my next project, with the first week of school looming next week I’m going to be realistic and know that I won’t have time to sew something new. Instead I’ll post a really fun tutorial, an item of my own creation! That hasn’t happened in a while. So yeah, next Friday, super awesome cool stuff.

Thoughts on sewing daily, and yeah more scrappy wallets.

I made more scrappy wallets. I had orders to get to, I had other stuff to sew for people but sometiems I just have to put it all on hold and sew something *I* want to make. Usually, I turn to the scrappy wallets since they’re super quick and I can feel a sense of accomplishment when I walk away. Otherwise I’ll walk away and yet another unfinished project sits on my table judging me in it’s pileness.

Michelle talked about how she feels happier if she sews every day. She was inspired by this post about developing good sewing habits over on The Colletterie. Since she’s usually busy designing patterns or managing her online shops she doesn’t get much actual sewing time.

Lately I’ve been trying really hard to use up what I have an not buy new supplies. I’m also working on clearing off the pile of ‘in progress’ projects that sit on my table, because I totally believe they’re a source of stress. Sort of like a reminder to yourself that you didn’t live up to your promise/expectations. In effect you let yourself down. Yeah, wow, that’s deep but you know what I mean.

Also, I have to go to work tomorrow, it’s a sad day.

Recent Thrift Scores

I picked up these awesome canisters on my last Wednesday night out with my BFF.

I also got this little bit of awesomeness, a metal colander. I’ve wanted one for a while and I have a larger cream coloured one from a vintage shop so I’m happy to have a little friend for it. They’re great for displaying my magnet sets.

This Wednesday we’re out again, fingers crossed I get something fun again.

Friday Create Along

Finished my Melinda Zipper Pouch.

I don’t know if I’m getting faster at hexies or they’re just starting to grow on me, but they look pretty fun in a finished project and I’m liking this pouch a lot.

I even got fancy and placed those little kitties just so. The unique way to attach a label to this pouch was also kinda nifty.

Next up is this quick little phone cozy from Michelle Patterns. I need a quick project as back to school looms this week, *sigh*. This pattern is only from the pieces, but if you’ve used her patterns before you can figure it out pretty easily. I’ll also tip you off when I write my post on Friday.

Dining/drawing table

I spontaneously had this idea a few weeks ago and luckily it was followed by a trip to IKEA. I had great photos of all of this, as well as our kitchen floor remodel, but then our camera’s card pooped out on me and I lost them. So here’s my re-enactment. Our table is from the ASIS aisle, so excuse all the writing they put on it.

I went to IKEA and bought this roll of paper, a curtain rod and the hardware to hang the rod. I mounted it under our table. It was a super inexpensive project that’s definitely paid for itself in time spent drawing, colouring and painting. The paper just rolls up onto the table top.

And the kids can colour, make roads, write about food, tell me who’s sitting where . . . . the list goes on.

Addicted to these things

I went on another scrappy wallet binge. Pattern available here zip pocket pouches.

On the weekend while we were camping I took a pile of fabric and cut out tons of pieces for more wallets. I sorted them in zip lock bags and labelled them A, B, C, D and E. I was also organizing my space last night and I made a project bin for them, it’s got all the zip locks in it, and some scraps to cut out later, zippers, precut velcro and lining pieces all ready to go.

Now when I need something quick to make to satisfy my ‘I gotta make something’ urge, I can just pull that bin over and go crazy.

Sponsors!

Well perhaps you noticed my full side bar this month, perhaps not, either way here are some lovely ladies who are floating around the interwebs. Give them a visit.

PULP SUSHI

Pulp Sushi is the name of my retro-infused handmade jewelry Etsy shop. It is also the name of blog – a small business & lifestyle blog where I share my passion for handmade, cute & stylish things, coffee & sweets and my life.

BLOG SHOP TWITTER

BENDING PINS

I consider myself a beginner quilter but an experienced sewer. I’m still experimenting and exploring the various possibilites and freedoms that quilting allows.

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HOMESPUN DAZZLE

I’m a busy mom with a passion for crafting! I believe in creating quality products that are affordable and enjoyable. I make everything from my own home so you can enjoy it in yours. Please feel free to take a look at my website for my products and if you have any questions please let me know.

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THE ORANGE WINDMILL

Hi, I’m Shirley! I like taking walks with my family, watching great movies, and reading wonderful books. I make handbound journals out of locally found recycled materials and I sell them online and in craft sales.

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LIFE IN CLEVELAND

I was an architect, knitter, and world traveler before my life was happily hijacked by my kids – a fashion obsessed redhead and a baby so chill we call him the dude. Now I blog mainly about raising them in the city I love, Cleveland, Ohio. On my blog you’ll also find lots of diy projects and frustrations, free knitting patterns designed by me, and all sorts of random.

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Friday CreateAlong

Whew, sure it was almost midnight but I finished it!!

Tada! Hexies do look so pretty all together, but I’m really not sold on them considering how much work they take. Thank to OCD for sharing the tutorial. And my apologies for crediting OCD the pattern is actually from The Plaid Scottie, she was just guest posting, I should really read fine print.

I had some trouble with the assembly after the zipper part. Having made lots of zippered pouches I undestood that step, but someone new to installing a zipper in a lined pouch might be confused. Sewing gets really spatial sometimes and you have to be able to visualize the end while you’re going along, that can be hard the first time. I tried to assemble it my own way when I didn’t understand her instructions but then I had to get cozy with Mr Stitch Ripper. Then I gave the instructions a second try and managed to get it.

Next up, the Melinda Zipper Pouch from I Think Sew.

Let’s get serious.

K I’m just going to take a moment, because it’s my blog and I can, to write about weight. I know people blog about this topic with good and bad rantings and ravings but I’m going to go with something a little bit in-between. I have *never* been skinny in my life. There’s been ups and downs, but right now I’m happy so I’m going to shout it from the rooftops for a post.

I met my hubby in April 2003. A few months before we met I had just finished losing 40 pounds, thanks to Weight Watchers and some hard work. We met and started spending all our time together and when school ended in June I was moving with him back down to the Toronto area. He’s a foodie, loves cooking and meat and so a few pounds crept back on when I moved in that summer. We got married in July 2005, here’s me looking all beautiful.

So then we’re married and decide, because we’re crazy, to ‘try’ for one of those kid things. Well, 6 months later, that January don’t we find out we’re going to be having one. Pounds rush onto my already expanding body and while I lost 22 pounds from the time I left our house to the time I got back 12 hours later in October 2006, it wasn’t all the baby weight.

Then pass a few years raising that kid, add another pregnancy and you have me at my heaviest ever as I walk into the hospital to give birth to Nate in December 2008. This time I didn’t lose 22 pounds in the 12 hours I was out of the house (yeah I’m a rock star). And despite successful nursing the second time around in 14 months I still hadn’t kicked most of that weight. Here’s our photoshoot when Nate was just 2 weeks old. The pic of him is just for laughs, isn’t it awesome. He was gruuuummmpy.

Photo by the talented Rhonda.

My super round face and lack of collar bones.

So then it’s 2011 and hubby decides he’s going to diet. Of course because he’s a boy the pounds seem to effortlessly fly off. He’s eating no carbs, it’s all about protein, fat and veggies. He’s losing weight. I’m kinda grumpy about that. We head off to Belize on Boxing Day for a week long vacation. He falls off his diet wagon since we’re left with only resort food. When we get home I decide I’m going to play along too. Here’s a picture of me in Belize, first week of January 2012.

I hate this pic. I was mostly the one behind the camera so there’s few pics of me on this trip, but my mother in law snapped this one. Out of interest the other day I went digging in the Belize folder to find a picture to compare our weight loss and I found this one of me. I’m down 30 pounds now and I’m so happy. The other good news is that t-shirt had to go, I was swimming in it, and the shorts will once fall gets here because I can take them off without unbuttoning them. Here’s me last week.

Now I know I should be happy with who I am, and I totally am. I have a great life, hubby, kids, teaching job and a growing creative empire. But I also want to look better. I want the outside to match the inside. I want to wear awesome fun clothes that I can find easily, I want to enjoy shopping, I want to chase my kids at the park and be able to keep up and be healthy. So I continue my quest.

Today me and my BFF went clothes shopping. I tried on a pair of size 16 pants, I wasn’t sure what to get since my hubby and I have been purging our clothes almost daily it seems. The pants were a bit too big and I took them to the saleslady not sure if I needed a 14 or the 17. “These pants are a touch too big I’m not sure which size to try next” I said. She took the pants from me and said “Of course they are! These are from the plus side, you need to be at the front of the store from over here to . . ” She went on the explain the different sides of the store. I know them very well, I’ve been walking into stores like that for a while and ignoring all the stuff near the front to walk to the ‘plus’ section at the back. Anyhow, it was a great feeling. I left with 3 pairs of size 15 on the ‘regular’ side.

Now I’m still not where I want to be, another 20 pounds gone I think will be perfect. That’s still not where any BMI or doctor’s chart says I should be but I don’t care about that. I want to like how I look, order more things from places like ModCloth and just be an overall superstar.

Thanks for reading if you got this far.

Back to school prep

I have a bit of a Mabel’s Label’s addiction.

Just a little one. I have oodles for the kids and I have some ‘Mrs K’ ones for school. They’re super awesome, they stick to anything and our 13 letter last name fits, even with first names!

Nate starts JK this year, the all day everyday program. Aside from it being absolutely mind blowing that my kids will both be in school all day, I’m a bit worries about how Nate will do since his birthday is December 23rd, but I suppose he’ll cope. It’s going to be an interesting first week of school around here. I’m usually pretty pooped that first week and then the kids will be going full days for the first time. I think there are going to be lots of quiet evenings around here that week.

Anyhow back to the reason for this post, so I was tagging the boys shoes and I did a whole ‘right is red’ thing for Nate since I have blue and red shoe labels for him. They sell some Preschool Shoe labels now, but since I have a stash I was just working with what I have in a fun way. I also bought and tagged some cointaners for them to use. It’s going to be a HUGE adjustment to make 2 lunches and 4 snacks . . . *sigh*

I also married all my Mabel’s Labels into one of the fun little zip locks they come in and then I’ve kept the rest for all that trip money and other fun stuff that will need to be sent in this year. I also keep all those bill return envelopes for that purpose too.