Fun with fabric!

Since we have moved into the new house, I have been trying to go room by room and finish any sewing decorating projects, like curtains or rugs or whatever. I finished the kitchen today!

I had purchased some coordinating fabrics for the old house, greens, and purple and pretty, and never got around to putting up the curtains or making the rug... I had that fabric for a year!!

I feel super proud of my self for finally using it up. I made 2 curtains for the entry way, in an olive green leafy print. The ties are in purple. I made a fabric strip version of a hanging curtain for the doorway to the kitchen and I made a woven rug. I even have enough fabric to make a rug for the laundry room!

So the story about the fabric strip curtain: From our front door you can go to your left and go down a short hall to the living room or you can go to the right and in to the kitchen. The door way to the kitchen is wide, and I hate that people entering our house are going to stare right into the kitchen! BUT I love the openness and the view right out to the street. So my compromise was this version of a beaded curtain.

The rug was also super easy. Same basic principle as the woven placemats you made in elementary school. I just cut strips out the length of the rug, and then more for the width, and wove them, under, over, under, over. Then i put on a binding, with mitered corners, like you would for a quilt. I am NOT good at sewing a straight line. That is my goal for this year. Figure out how to sew straight. Entonces, my binding doesn't look super great, but you can't tell unless you look close. Also this was my first time with binding and with mitered corners. All in all, super easy and a fun learning event. I finished it in 2 days, so definitely a weekend project.

I have embraced my mother's advice that perfection is in the little details, so my iron has become my best friend. I ironed all my seams, and measured them to make sure they were uniform. Yes, mom, I measured. All the fabric strips were ironed in so no raw edges would show. My ironing board is feeling a little worn. I think I may need to replace him.

It feels super good to be able to sew and to be tackling these projects that have been on the books so long! Entry way, done! Kitchen done! Next project, laundry room rug! Then on to the Living Room!!

Pics!


Curtains in the entry way.


Fabric Strips laid out on the craft table


View of the fabric strip curtain from the front door.


Close up on the fabric strips


Weaving the rug


The finished product.


My sad, sad ironing board.

Angela's Baby Shower gift

I haven't actually had a chance to give this to her yet, but here is what I made for Angela. It is a tad big, but the baby won't be able to wear until fall so I think it will be a perfect fit then. This was super fun and easy to make! I found the pattern online here:

http://bellabambinaknits.blogspot.com/2007/03/kellys-sweater.html

I used stash yarn to make this - 4 pts for yarn, 1 pt for buttons total 5 pts - and it is for #6 in 1001 things :)

Cortney's Baby Shower

This carrot is a rattle and has 2 bells in it. It is soft and chewy and not annoyingly loud.

While I was in California I went to my good friend Cortney's baby shower. It was amazing fun and her mom made so much fantastic food. Here are pics of what I made her.

(This is #6 in 1001 things. Stash Game: Carrot - 2 pts for yarn, 1 pt for fiberfil, 1 pt for bells, total 4 pts, Bunny - 3 pts for yarn, 1 pt for fiberfill, total 4 pts, Blankie buddy - 8 pts for yarn, 1 pt for fiberfil, total 9 pts. Grand Total: 17 pts.)

This little knitted bunny is soft and fuzzy and the perfect size for small hands. Only downside? I just realized I forgot to put it's puff tail on. ARGH!

This blanket buddy is way more blue than it appears in the picture. It is made from soft fuzzy yarn and is sure to be a favorite of Gavin's!

Sharon's Photo Quilted Wall hanging

this pertains to 101 things #81 and the year of the FO.

Back in December, Sharon asked me to make this photo quilted wall hanging for her sister. Her brother and both parents died last year and it was something of a tribute to their memory. She wanted this for a Christmas present, but I only had 1 week to get it done and just did not finish. So it sat, half finished, in my craft room for 2 months. In March, she asked if I could have it done for the next trip she was making to visit her family. Here is her finished project. I am really happy with how it turned out, and most importantly she said she loved it and her sister loved it.

Current 101 things in 1001 days

2 blogs I follow have started their own 101 things in 1001 days projects. I started this in Nov. 2006 and my life just completely got in the way, and it was abandoned. Here is my new and updated version that I will start now. :)

101 things in 1001 days
The Mission:
Complete 101 preset tasks in a period of 1001 days. I will be posting an update as I finish each task. Completed tasks will be red and in progress tasks will be blue.

The Criteria:
Tasks must be specific (i.e.. no ambiguity in the wording) with a result that is either measurable or clearly defined. Tasks must also be realistic and stretching (i.e.. represent some amount of work on my part).

Why 1001 Days?
Many people have created lists in the past - frequently simple goals such as new year's resolutions. The key to beating procrastination is to set a deadline that is realistic. 1001 Days (about 2.75 years) is a better period of time than a year, because it allows you several seasons to complete the tasks, which is better for organizing and timing some tasks such as overseas trips or outdoor activities.

Begin: April 2, 2009
End: Oct. 1, 2011




My List:

Focus on God:
1. Devotions daily for 1 month.
2. Read the Bible all the way through and keep a journal of my thoughts along the way.
3. Organize my prayer list and remember these things in prayer daily.

Focus on Others:
4. Host a BBQ for our friends each month that it is not snowing.
5. Host the stitchy monthly
6. Create a baby gift for each new baby in my life during the 1001 days.
7. Pay for someone's lunch at the drive through 1 x per month.
8. Find a local venue for volunteering, soup kitchen? food pantry? volunteer once a month with the children.
9. Do something nice for a different neighbor 1 time a month, even the ones that hard to love.

Focus on Family:
10. Go hiking 4 times during each summer
11. Go camping
12. Start a gratitude journal. Have each person make an entry every night at dinner time for 1 month.
13. Read and put into practice "21 Rules for our house"
14. Learn to cut everyone's hair
15. Go bowling twice a month for 3 months.
16. Learn Spanish
17. Visit California to see family
18. Plan and take a family vacation to Disney World.
19. Take a local family trip every other month. Dinosaur world, the zoo, mammoth caves, etc.

focus on ArmyMan:
20. Take dance lessons together. Learn to 2 step, waltz and swing.
21. Rent a motorcycle for a weekend and take a romantic getaway.
22. Write him a note before bed, for him to find the next morning, weekly.
23. Renew our vows in a private ceremony. Maybe that motorcycle trip?

Focus on Children:
24. Build new bunk beds for the boys, 2 sets.
25. Build an entertainment center for the video game room.
26. Sew bean bag chairs for the video game room, 4 of them.
27. Build new dressers for each of the kids.
28. Read a bedtime story every night for 1 month. Long chapter books.
29. Hug, cuddle and say I love you to each child twice a day at least.
30. Research and start a hope chest for Drama.
31. Build a new bookcase for Drama and a bookcase for the boys.

Focus on the household:
32. Get a safety deposit box and fill it with all important papers we would need if there was a fire.
33. Get dressers for ArmyMan and me.
34. Plan decor for each room of the house, decide on a color scheme
35. Make pom pom rug for video game room.
36. Make kitchen table rug, curtains, 25 placemats, 2 couch blankets, table cloth and chair cushions and covers, 2 matching chairs.
37. Make/buy braided rugs, curtains, canisters, kitchen towels, 15 knit and 15 crochet dish cloths for kitchen
38. Make a braided rug for the laundry room.
39. Make curtains for master bedroom, and a rug
40. Make curtains for the boys room, and rug.
41. Make curtains for Drama, and a rug
42. Make afghan for First born
43. Make afghan for Gogo
44. Make afghan for Drama
45. Make afghan for our bedroom
46. Make quilt for first born
47. make quilt for go-go
48. make quilt for drama.
49. make quilt for master bedroom
50. Make summer wardrobe for kids.
51. Make a 4 week rotating summer menu.
52. Use the menu for 8 weeks, taking out yucky meals as needed.
53. Make bread daily for 1 month.
54. Organize the outside shed.
55. Plant large kitchen garden.
56. Can the abundance.
57. Learn about chickens.
58. Purchase land.
59. Plan house.
60. Build house on our own land.
61. Research family tree
62. Finish Firstborn's photo album
63. Finish Gogo's photo album
64. Finish Drama's photo album
65. Finish family/vacation photo albums
66. make crocheted tree skirt and matching stockings
67. Reduce debt by 50% by the end of the 1001 days.
68. Start school back up.
69. 2 classes a block
70. Study for 30 min. a night for an entire block.
71. Make my own soapy soap.
72. Make a list of all, even remote relatives, birthdays and anniversaries and send out cards on the first of each month.
73. shower, Get dressed, blow dry hair everyday for 1 month.

Focus on Me:
74. work out 6 x a week; ride daily for 30 min.; lose 30 lbs.
75. Go to bed by 10 PM every night for a month.
76. Wake up by 5:30 AM every weekday morning for a month.
77. learn to spin.
78. Learn to shoot, buy a gun.
79. ride my bike for anywhere under 2 miles if i don't have to drag kids along.
80. Take a girls weekend once a year.
81. finish all UFOS.
82. Organize my recipes... decide on a system and then run with it.
83. Work on one project at a time; use existing stash for all new projects.
84. Do dishes after dinner for 1 month.
85. No puter till 1 PM for 1 month.

Focus on Preparedness:
86. Put together 72 hour emergency kits.
87. Put together Food Storage for 3 months
88. Put together Food Storage for 1 year.
89. Practice Drills
90. Teach children gun safety.
91. Read one book each quarter about self sufficiency


Focus on Business:
92. Read 1 business book per quarter.
93. Ongoing SEO - 1 page per month.

DD
94. Re-organize the website
95. Redesign forum
96. Write or delegate to be written 1 article per week.
97. Streamline sponsor sign up and back-end paperwork

PPW
98. Market locally to gift shops, floral etc.
99. Attend 4 craft shows as a vendor

Yarnish
100. Prepare patterns for publication.
101. Stock one knitted item per quarter.

101 things in 1001 days

2 blogs I follow have started their own 101 things in 1001 days projects. I started this in Nov. 2006 and my life just completely got in the way, and it was abandoned. So I am posting what I had then, and will make a new post with my new and updated version that I will start now. :)

101 things in 1001 days
The Mission:
Complete 101 preset tasks in a period of 1001 days. I will be posting an update as I finish each task. Completed tasks will be red and in progress tasks will be blue.

The Criteria:
Tasks must be specific (i.e.. no ambiguity in the wording) with a result that is either measurable or clearly defined. Tasks must also be realistic and stretching (i.e.. represent some amount of work on my part).

Why 1001 Days?
Many people have created lists in the past - frequently simple goals such as new year's resolutions. The key to beating procrastination is to set a deadline that is realistic. 1001 Days (about 2.75 years) is a better period of time than a year, because it allows you several seasons to complete the tasks, which is better for organizing and timing some tasks such as overseas trips or outdoor activities.

Begin: Dec. 1, 2006
End: Sept. 28, 2009


Updated: 12/12/06

My List:

Focus on God:
1. Read Created to be his help meet.
2. Devotions daily for 1 month.
3. Read the Bible all the way through and keep a journal of my thoughts along the way.
4. Organize my prayer list.

Focus on Others:
5. Host the stitchy monthly
6. finish Katie's baby blanket
7. Finish Heather's Baby Blanket
8. Finish Erika's Baby Blanket
9. Finish Amanda's Baby Blanket
10. Finish Gina's Dress
11. Start/Finish Melissa's Baby Blanket
12. Visit an assisted living facility 1x a month and bring treats.
13. Do something nice for a different neighbor 1 time a month.

Focus on Family:
14.Take a train ride through the royal gorge
15. Go camping
16. Start a gratitude journal. Have each person make an entry every night at dinner time for 1 month.
17. Read and put into practice "21 Rules for our house"
18. Learn to cut everyone's hair
19. Go bowling twice a month for 3 months.
20. Start a Spanish Language program. Power glide junior?
21. Visit Kentucky to see family
22. Plan and take a family vacation to Disney World.

focus on ArmyMan:
23. Take dance lessons together. Learn to 2 step, waltz and swing.
24. Rent a motorcycle for a weekend and take a romantic getaway.
25. Mail a letter or package every payday.
26. Send an email to him each night for a month.
27. Renew our vows in a private ceremony. Maybe that motorcycle trip?

Focus on Children:
28. Buy new dressers for each of the kids.
29. Read a bedtime story every night for 1 month. Long chapter books.
30. Hug, cuddle and say I love you to each child twice a day for a month.
31. Research and start a hope chest for Drama.
32. Buy a new bookcase for Drama and a bookcase for the boys.

Focus on the household:
33. Get a safety deposit box and fill it with all important papers we would need if there was a fire.
34. Get dressers for ArmyMan and me.
35. Plan decor for each room of the house, decide on a color scheme
36. Make/buy 2 kitchen table rugs, curtains, 15 placemats, 2 couch blankets, table cloth and chair cushions and covers, 2 matching chairs.
37. Make/buy braided rugs, curtains, canisters, kitchen towels, 24 knit dish cloths for kitchen
38. Make a braided rug for the laundry room.
39. Make curtains for master bedroom, and a chain rug
40. Make curtains for the boys room, and braided rug.
41. Make curtains for Drama, and a chain rug
42. Make afghan for First born
43. Make afghan for Gogo
44. Make afghan for Drama
45. Make afghan for our bedroom
46. Make quilt for first born
47. make quilt for go-go
48. make quilt for drama.
49. make quilt for master bedroom
50. Make summer wardrobe for kids.
51. Make a 4 week rotating menu.
52. Use the menu for 8 weeks, taking out yucky meals as needed.
53. Make bread daily for 1 month.
54. Organize the outside shed.
55. Buy a Colorado gardening book or research this online. Also research container gardening and moveable gardens.
56. Make a list of flowers for the front yard.
57. Make a list of veggies for the back yard.
58. Buy gardening tools.
59. Clear flower beds, veggie beds or purchase containers for the container gardening.
60. Plant!
61. Research family tree
62. Finish Firstborn's photo album
63. Finish Gogo's photo album
64. Finish Drama's photo album
65. Finish family/vacation photo albums
66. make double hook crocheted tree skirt and matching stockings
67. Reduce debt by 50% by the end of the 1001 days.
68. Start school back up.
69. 2 classes a block
70. Study for 30 min. a night for an entire block.
71. Make my own soapy soap.
72. Make a list of all, even remote relatives, birthdays and anniversaries and send out cards on the first of each month.
73. shower, Get dressed, blow dry hair everyday for 1 month.

Focus on Me:
74. Buy a core sculptor and work out 5 x a week.
75. Go to bed by 11 PM every night for a month.
76. Wake up by 7 AM every weekday morning for a month.
77. Quit Smoking
78. Get my eyes checked.
79. Get my sanity checked.
80. Finish braces.
81. Fill cavities and beautify my teethers.
82. Organize my recipes... decide on a system and then run with it.
83. Blog 4x a week for a 1 month.
84. Do dishes after dinner for 1 month.
85. No puter till 1 PM for 1 month.

Focus on Business:
86. Read 1 business book per quarter.
87. Ongoing SEO - 1 page per month.

DD
88. Re-organize the website
89. Write all of our own content. No outside links; Make a list of all articles we need to write.
90. Write or delegate to be written 1 article per week.
91. Make a list of all the diaper hunt program changes.
92. Hire a new programmer to make the changes.
93. Re-organize the diaper hunt application process.

JOD
94. Market locally to adult shops (adult candy)
95. Market locally to gift shops, floral etc.
96. Monthly or bi-monthly about candy and gift giving.
97. Attend 4 craft shows as a vendor

BB
98. Stock up on ribbon
99. Organize all materials
100. Make 6 bows per week.
101. Stock bows every Thursday on site and on CMA.