Instant Inventory

Last weekend, my mother brought over 2 of my old storage bins.  Things that I had from way back in the day when I lived with mommy and daddy.  And inside I found things I had made long ago, things I could sell in my craft show:

17 ribbon baskets
12 wrapped pencils
4 candles
2 necklaces
2 rings

 This was a big fad when I was in Jr. high.  Wrapping pencils in floss.  As you sharpen the pencil, unwrap the floss and glue the end down again. 

 I used to make candles. Here are a handful.  I still have all the supplies, not sure if I'll do any more in the future. 

 I forgot I ever made these. 

So pretty cool--instant inventory.

Rice Warmers Part 1

Seven rice warmers are done.  The goal was to use only large scraps for the cases.  Success!  These were started over a year ago to be favors at my wedding.  Well, that never happened; not enough time.  They have been sitting in my craft room and taunting me.

Interior bag of rice

TA DA!

Part 2 of this project -- finish the other 7 warmers.  These ones need not only a case but rice inside the interior bag.  I would also like to make several extra cases so customers have additional options (at the craft show).

Shirt Plus Rotary Cutter Equals...

Baby Shirt with yucky snaps

   +

Scraps

  +

Rotary Cutter

+

Sewing machine

=

Fun New Baby Shirt!













Two were done in 2010 and these 3 in 2011.   I did find twice as many of these snapping shirts--the rest were boyish hand-me-downs.  As much as I appreciate the gift, I decided it wasn't worth my time to fix them up and with all the other baby clothes it would be unlikely the girls would ever wear them.  They ended up going in the Goodwill box.

Here is the finished light boarder coffee quilt top.  Both of the coffee quilt tops are hanging nicely in my closet, waiting for their day of quilting.

Last Projects of 2010

Why is it that on the last days of the year we all become busy little beavers?  I found myself extra motivated the final 3 days of last year.  It feels funny saying that as it was only a week ago. 

 The USA heart patch finally made it onto an old jacket.

Here are 3 cat toy experiments.  A bigger version of the cat mice I've been making and 2 other shapes.  Cat tested and APPROVED. 

I went through my box of completed craft show items.  Unfortunately, it's not much--just one plastic bin.  I'm staying positive, though, that I can triple that amount in the next 4 or so months. 

There were 24 - 1/2 yards and 2 yards of fabric that needed proper folding and labeling.  I tried making printed labels but we were out of printer paper and the stupid thing won't print on scrapbook or copier paper.  Oh well.

Have I mentioned that I hate the baby shirts that snap between the legs? 

They mean extra work--all that snapping and unsnapping.  Really?  You think that's easy to do with 2 wiggling toddlers? 

My cloth diapers tend to leak more often than disposables; I already have to change babies' pants 2-3 times per day.  If I used those snapping shirts I'd have to change the entire outfit! I didn't want these nice shirts to go to waste so eventually, I decided to use them and leave the flaps hanging outside the pants.

But that looks stupid.  I can't take them outside like that. 

<---- So I chopped off the bottom and made a new hem. 

The challenge was to use only larger scraps.  I completed 2 in 2010. 

It was a lot simpler than I thought it would be.

 #1

 #2

They turned out well, definitely long enough, and these are 2T to 3T shirts so the babes will be able to wear them at least one more year (cross your fingers).

2011 Here I Am

Goals for 2011

• Organize your craft room.  Make it awesome and beautiful!!!!!

 This isn't so bad, actually; I'm embarrassed to post a recent photo.

 Yeah...That green shelf has to be straightened.  Some things don't belong there, some things need to be finished.

• Make a Household Binder and USE it.  This will hold: recipes I love, recipes to try, pre-printed shopping lists, bills to pay checklist, cleaning checklist (by room then by daily, weekly, monthly tasks), goals 2011, project list, daily checklist, important things to do, garden care checklist.
• Develop basic woodworking skills.
• Plant a garden in spring.
• Take a ceramics class.
• Participate in Paw Paw Garden and Craft Show
• Use Stuff Up
• I have certain items that I’ve had for years and done nothing with.  This is it; if they aren’t used they are going away.  Fountain pump, plain wooden shoes, 2 brayers, fabric paint, scrap booking supplies, yarn, rope for coil bowls, baby food jars.
• 100 projects completed (minimum)
• Give private sewing lessons or crafting lessons during the summer.
• Work on and learn a new skill each month.
• Canning & preserving, Soap making, Knitting, Granny squares, Advanced crochet, Advanced sewing skills, Felting, Doll making, Wine making, beer making, Henna painting, Secret Compartment books, Gravy making, Tie a tie, Jump start a car, Advanced photography
• Write a rough draft of a novel
• Keep blogging
• Read 5 books
• Give your clutter to Goodwill.  Don't get tempted to have another garage sale.  
• Lose at least one more clothing size.  
• Get a job as an Art Teacher
• I need to update/redo all that fun job interview stuff.
• K-12 curriculum – Write lessons, do all your projects multiple times, and take photos.
• Greatly improve your drawing skills – Fill a journal. 
• Basic Spanish – enough to put on resume
• Basic German
• Basic Japanese
• Plan and book Japan trip for November 2012

Photos and Documentation

• Take as many photos as last year.  And use camera 10 days per month (at least).
• Take photos of Paw Paw once a month (at least).
• Take one video of my family per month (at least).
• Scan photos from old albums to computer
•  Document my children’s progress in art
• I don’t plan to keep all drawings and crafts but I do want photos of each one and a record of when, by who, and cute kid comments about them (even videos). 

Planned and Underway Projects 2011

1. Shutteryfly Baby Album 
2. Household Binder. Recipes I love, recipes to try, preprinted shopping lists, bills to pay checklist, cleaning checklist (by room then by daily, weekly, monthly tasks), goals 2011, project list, daily checklist, important things to do.
3. Hem baby shirts with bottom snaps.  
4. Coffee lap quilt w/ light boarder  
5. Coffee lap quilt w/ dark boarder
6. 20 cat mice for TAILS donation 
7. Rice bed warmers 
8. 4 Barbies & 10 Kens are NAKED.  Make one outfit each. 
9. Write your mommy tips down.  Make it a cute little book to give out as a gift to new mommies.  
10. Paint wooden shelve tower thingy
11. Hideaway book technique 
12. 100 Cat toys 
13. Spray paint door knocker and attach
14. Pink Themed Quilt
15. Various Unfinished Quilts (Pictured list to follow)

Lots of stuff to accomplish this year and I'm super optimistic about what's to come!