It’s a New Year!

Happy New Year everyone!  I’ve been seeing several bloggers talk about their new year’s resolutions, and decided that it would be a good idea if I had some too.  But FIRST….let’s roll back a year and see how I did on last year’s resolutions!

Last year, I wanted to:

1. Keep my (clothes) closet clean and organized.

The problem was my undershirts.  They were always stuffed somewhere because I couldn’t ever find the color I was looking for!  I purchased one of these over the door organizers for like $8 to put my undershirts in.  I folded the undershirts in half and rolled them up and kept them color coordinated.  (I also stuffed swimming suits, belts, and headbands in extra pockets.)  I hung this on our bedroom door until we moved a few weeks ago (the hanging things would ruin our doors in the new apartment).  I now have the undershirts rolled up in dollar store baskets on a shelf.  Works fabulously!

2.  Craft at least a couple hours a week to stay sane.

As I was evaluating, I wondered if I had really done this.  I’m sure I missed a week or two due to moves, big papers, or lack of inspiration, but I sure did pretty well.  Some of my favorite projects from this year include:

Apple Green Ruffle T

First Quilt Ever

Purse/Makeup Organizers

I look forward to another year of crafting (but we all know by now it will mostly be of sewing!)

3.  Say, “No,” more often to things that aren’t important.

I am doing lots better!  A few years ago, I said yes to everything asked of me even if it wasn’t important!  This year, I said no to orchestra performances, church meetings, a few job offers, and pampered chef or card-making parties, just to name a few.  Every time I was asked to do something that wasn’t top priority and said “No,” it got easier to say “No,” the next time. 

And now, we have a brand new year to make NEW resolutions.  Hooray for more changes!  Here’s 2011’s three resolutions for me:

1.  Continue FLYING and refuse to let my perfectionism stop me from trying something new or start a task.

2.  Read the Ensign magazine for 7 minutes each week.

3.  Do my best in student teaching this semester and GRADUATE from college in May!

What are you working on this year?

~Lynette~

Random Facts about Me!

Hi there!  Amy over at The Idea Room is hosting this link up party. 

(I tried to post the pretty button, but it wasn’t working…so use the links in the text to get there)

Sounds fun, and I’m stuck at home with icy roads today (in a place where it NEVER snows!), so I thought I’d write a few tidbits about me.

In late high school and early college I would never wear matching socks.  They were always bright colors, but  I always liked turquoise and hot pink worn together best.  The last year or so I’ve pretty much grown out of it, but when I need a bit of cheering up, I will put on a non-matching pair of socks! :)

I didn’t like pink until I was at least 18.  Now it’s one of my more dominant colors in my closest.

I thought sewing, cooking, and all that “domestic stuff,” was ridiculous until I started dating my husband.  I didn’t start sewing until a little over a year ago, and it quickly became my favorite hobby EVER.  I love how you can make anything, or alter clothing, specific to the way YOU want when you sew things yourself! :)

I play the clarinet, and love it.  I wish I could play the piano well enough to play for people to sing to.

In our 2.5 years of marriage, my husband and I have moved about 8 times.  (You stop counting at about move 5).  A good 2/3’s of our wedding gifts are in hubby’s parents basement.  We’ll open them up and use them when we buy a house…someday. :)

I like four wheeling with my husband, but can’t drive a stick shift to save my life. 

I love walking.  In high school I would walk to work in 110 degree weather just so I could walk. (I’m not nearly that crazy anymore!)

I love writing and receiving old fashioned letters.  And I love typing and writing…hence the blog. :)

Well I’m sure that’s more than enough about me!  I hope you all are enjoying a fabulous holiday season!

Grandview Bag

A few months ago I participated in the Purse Week Contest over at A Lemon Squeezy Home.  I loved looking at all the beautiful purses, and especially loved the winner’s design.  Thanks to Emily at The Boy Trifecta she made a tutorial for the Grandview Bag, and I decided that my sister would love one for Christmas.  I asked her what was important in a bag for her, and she gave me several suggestions.

She wanted a bag that was fancy,

with an adjustable strap,

a magnetic closure,

a key holder hook thingy,

and a inside zippered pocket!

Whew! That was enough to make me tired just thinking about it, but I went about gathering my supplies and went at it.  I’d never done an adjustable strap with hardware before, and was up for the challenge.  I had also never done a magnetic closure, but I knew I’d try for my sister.

I found the fabric at Joann’s, and then finally a few days before Christmas sat down and started working on the bag.

Here it is, all ruffled and fancy and ready to go!

Here’s a peek at the inside zippered pocket, magnetic snap, and the key hook.  I took the hardware off a broken strap to make it adjustable.  I used this tutorial to do the strap, and this tutorial for the magnetic strap.  Both tutorials were great and made the new “scary,” tasks very easy and manageable.  The tutorial for the bag is in two parts, so click here for part 1 and here for part 2.

Well there you have it, my handmade Christmas gifts for 2010.

Hostess Apron

Hi all!  Now that Christmas is over and I’ve given out gifts, I can show you what I’ve made!  One day my mom was talking about how cute the ruffle aprons were that EVERYBODY has now, and that she really wanted one!

I took that as a hint and began searching for patterns and tutorials.

And I found this one from sew4home

Then I found the lovely coordinating fabric at Hobby Lobby (how I will miss that store now that I’ve moved away!)

Here’s how it turned out for me:

My mom absolutely loves it!  She loves how the bib has enough coverage to protect her clothes from spills, and she loves the ruffles.  I felt that this tutorial was one that was okay to follow, but they left a few things out that super-beginner sewers may have trouble with.  If you’ve been sewing for a while, you’d be fine.  Thanks for reading and stay tuned for another Christmas gift very very soon!

Letters

Dear Christmas Break,

Thanks for finally coming.  I’m so glad.  You could’ve come a few weeks earlier, but I’m glad you’re here.  Thanks for the opportunity to relax and de-stress and unpack before I start student teaching in January.  I really look forward to blogging, sewing, reading, drinking hot chocolate, giving gifts, unpacking and hanging pictures, and enjoying being back in my hometown for good.  Please help me not to worry about the future semester (because I have a feeling it WILL be a bit crazy), but to just enjoy the break and to be happy.  (But I do have to say, that I will be excited when I can write a letter to summer and thank her for letting me graduate!)

Dear Santa,

Thanks for helping me learn that making things for others and giving gifts is something that is so enjoyable!  You have been making toys and gifts for years, and I’m glad I caught onto the magic you have created in the world. 

Dear fellow bloggers,

I know I’ve been gone, but I’m back for a bit!  Stay tuned for some fun refashions (of course), and some fun gifts I’ve finished up for family members.  Thanks for your support and comments!  It sure makes what I do more fun!

I'll be back!

1 week

7 days

2 large papers

7-10 assignments

1 video recording

2 days of preschool

1 class session

1 day of church

1 meeting with a professor

1 mandatory student teaching orientation meeting

1 move across the state

and I will be back, I promise!

~Lynette~

Blog Hop and a Giveaway!

How do you keep your home clean and holiday ready during this chaotic season?  What is your biggest holiday cleaning challenge?

For me, keeping my home has always been a challenge.  I've been married 2 years, with no kids yet, and it's still a challenge.  My husband works full-time, and I am a full-time college student.  My program keeps me running from 8:30am to 7:00pm some nights.  I used to have piles and piles of laundry, dirty dishes, and clutter everywhere.  Now I don't.  I try to do simple things such as keep my kitchen sink clean, keep the bathroom counters wiped off, and put things away as I go.  I also try to do a load of laundry a day (mon-fri), and that helps tremendously.  (If you want more info on where I learned these tricks, go here.)

I think the biggest holiday cleaning challenge is keeping floors clean.  Snow and salt gets tracked in, and it just gets gross! :)

I am  participating in Infarrantly Creative and Tatertots and Jello’s Blog Hop for a chance to win a Mint Cleaner. It is the revolutionary machine that cleans your hard floor surfaces for you.

Click here to join the blog hop and a chance to win!

The Mint Cleaner is  available at the following places:

Amazon
The Mint Cleaner

HSN

Bed, Bath & Beyond