Lists

I love lists.  They help me stay organized and keep me from forgetting things. 

 

I remembered reading an article about a book of handwritten lists, compiled from various people.  I did a quick search and found the author, Sasha Cagen, also maintains a blog  - to-do list.  Following is a short description of the blog: "What does your to-do list say about you?  To-Do List blog celebrates the world of the overlooked and mundane, letting our lists serve as unique windows into who we are. Because nothing is more revealing than someone's to-do list."

 

As a listmaker and sociologist, I find this fascinating.  Here are a few of my lists.

 

 

 

And finally, I designed a free printable weekly to-do list for you to use!

 

Free Printable Weekly To-Do List

Enjoy!

Clutch Bag

I wanted to make a little bag, as a gift.  I didn't have a zipper, but I did have some scrap fabric, a hair elastic and a button - and that is all you need!!

First cut two rectangles from two different fabrics.  You can choose any dimensions, but mine were 10 inches wide x 15 inches long. 

Use a plate to trace rounded corners on one of the short ends, then cut.

Pin right sides together.  Place the hair elastic centered in the center of the rounded short side.

Sew around the edge, leaving a small opening on one of the edges and be sure to backstitch before and after the opening.  Then turn the bag inside out, through the opening.

(Be sure to have your Sonic drink close at hand!)  Then iron.

 

 

Sew the opening closed, using a ladder stitch.  Here is a tutorial at Sew It Love It.  Then fold the bottom short edge up five inches and sew each side.  I also added a decorative topstitch around the flap.

 

 

Then sew a button on!

 

 

What would you use your cute clutch bag for?

 

Painted Coffee Table

I moved into a new place and went with a new color scheme [later post].  My last coffee table was an ocean green antique trunk (which I love) but it didn't exactly fit with my new living room.  I pictured an oval, black coffee table in my new space.

 

So I check Craigslist and found a somewhat beat-up, wood/laminate, oval coffee table for $10.  Score! 

 

 

I did a bit of sanding, especially on that nail polish spot on the top.  I also used wood filler in the deeper gashes.

 

 

Then I primed the table, using the same tinted primer as I used on my dresser.

 

 

Then I painted the table, giving it two coats.  I used a foam brush for the everything but the top, for the top surface, I used a small roller and brush for cabinets and doors.

 

 

 

Then I gave the table two coats of polyurethane - clear satin.  I wasn't sure about what type of sealant to use, but from my research, it seems like the only drawback of this type is that it could yellow over time.  Since it's over black paint, I didn't think that would affect this piece.

 

 

I let it dry 24 hours and then moved it into my living room!  What do you think?

Next step:  Style my coffee table!

Beautiful Bedroom Canopy - Thank you Pinterest!

Pinterest Inspiration Pics:

 

 

 

You'll Need:

3 curtain rods (mine were $5 each at Walmart)

6 yards of white, gauzy fabric

 

First - make sure your bed is in it's final position in the room. 

 

Second - mount the curtain rods to the ceiling on each side and the foot of the bed. 

 

 

Third - cut the fabric into 6 panels.  Cut the six yards in half, to make two panels of 3 yards each.  Then measure and cut the width of the two panels into thirds.  My panels ended up being approx. 19.5 inches wide.  For the length, measure your floor to ceiling.  Add 4.5 inches for hemming.

 

Fourth - hem the two sides and bottom of the panels. 

For the top, fold two inches, then fold two inches again and hem near the bottom.  This creates an opening to thread the curtain onto the curtain rod.

 

 

Fifth - Hang your curtains and enjoy your beautiful faux canopy bed.

 

 

I Bought Some Cute Shoes...So Then I Needed To Sew A Skirt To Match

Cute shoes mentioned in the title:

(From Target.  On sale for $5.  I know some of you are feeling my excitement!)

I knew JoAnn's had red fabric with white polka dots, because I had already bought some of it to make an apron (future post).  I pictured a full A-line skirt that was 100% comfortable.  This was my first attempt to make something that I would actually be wearing.  I did some research, but basically decided to wing it!  (No pattern.)

 

I measured around my waist and divided by two and used that as the length for the top of the skirt.  Then I used a yardstick to draw an angled line, beginning at the waist and ending at the length I decided on.  I folded the fabric in half and cut the front side and back side at the same time.

 

I added darts from the waist, down about 6 inches. 

 



I cut an opening for the zipper and sewed it into the skirt.   I hemmed the top and bottom edges and sewed the two side seams together. 

 



 

So fun to have a matching skirt to go with my new shoes!!

How to Make the Coziest Couch Blanket EVER!

It's a rainy fall day.  You've been busy all week and on Saturday, all you want to do is lay on the couch and watch a Harry Potter movie.  Or football.  Or take a nap.  There is one thing missing - you need a soft, cozy couch blanket.  Not just any couch blanket, the coziest couch blanket ever! 

 

Here is what makes this the best blanket around:

 

1. You can make it long enough to cover all of you

2. You can pick out fabrics that are soft and cuddly AND that match your living room

3.  The foot pouch

 

Here is what you need for this project:

 

2 yards of microfleece

2 1/2 yards of soft and fluffly found at JoAnn's Fabric

thread - matching both colors

sewing machine, pins, scissors, measuring, marking, etc.

 

 

I chose materials by feeling every choice in JoAnns!  This is aptly named - it IS soft and fluffy!

 

 

Cut your soft and fluffy material to two yards (the other 1/2 yard is for the foot pouch).

Then measure and cut 2 inches off of one long and one short side of the soft and fluffy.

 

 

 

You also need to cut the curled edge off of the microfleece.

 

 

Then it's time to work on the foot pouch.  It needs 2 inches cut off one of the short ends.  Then one of the long ends needs hemmed.  Fold 1/2 inch over and pin it well, then sew, using coordinating thread.

 

 

Then it's time to lay everything out and pin.  I had to move furniture around to get a large enough working space!  First, lay the microfleece, wrong side up and spread out any wrinkles.  On top of that, lay the soft and fluffy, right side up.  On top of that, lay the foot pouch soft and fluffy right side up.  Place the un-hemmed edge even with the bottom edge of the large piece of soft and fluffy.

 

 

Then fold the microfleece over the edge of the soft and fluffy approximately 1 inch and pin, all the way around.

 

 

Finally, sew the edges with a zig zag stich using the thread that coordinates with the microfleece.

 

 

It's hard to convey how perfect this blanket is - perfect size, amazingly soft and cozy - I have LOVED using mine and I've had hints from my family that this would make a great Christmas gift!

 

What would you watch while snuggled on the couch on a rainy day?

Thank You Picture→Thank You Notes

 As a photographer, I think photos are an amazing way to personalize anything.  I love personalized phone covers, notepads, thank you notes - anything.  I really like the idea of the bride and groom holding up a "thank you" banner to use for their thank you notes - but it takes planning! 

 

To make a banner for my sister Laura's wedding, I printed each letter.  Then I just folded the paper in half and glued the bottom together over ribbon.  I think I also had to glue the top to the ribbon, so the letters didn't slide around.

 

Their picture turned out beautiful!  They were taken by Absolute Expressions Photo, which is the photography studio I work for.  If you need a wedding photographer and you are in the Wichita area, you should DEFINITELY contact us!!

 

And I love the thank you notes!

 

 

What is your favorite personalized item?