Argyle Fleece Throw

I am completely head over heels in love with argyle...and always have been.  I know, I'm a dork, but there's just something about argyle that makes my heart skip a beat.

So, when Laura sent me a link to this project, I was in complete love with it.  Now I will have to make one, but I will not be working on it until after the kids are in school and the weather is cold again.

Even though I wont be working on this project until winter, I wanted to share it here with everyone, because it's "to die for" as they say.

For Full instructions on how to make this fantastic argyle fleece throw and for more fantastic projects, head on over to craftstylish.com.

Happy Creating!


Kristin

Supper From the Garden

Tonight we had our first meal from our backyard garden.  It was sooooo great!!!  I didn't know I could be so satisfied from eating fruit, veggies, and some bread.  Yum!

So here's what we had and what I did:

3 Zucchini
3 Potatoes
3 Carrots
1/2 Onion
3 Cloves Garlic
Peas
Corn

So I minced the garlic and onion, then tossed it in the pot with some vegetable oil on medium heat until the garlic "spoke".  Then I tossed in the potatoes and carrots, then the zucchini.  I sauteed everything until it was fork tender, then added the peas and corn, until it was heated through.  Oh, I also seasoned with salt and pepper to taste.

On the table it went, with some fresh bread and butter, and watermelon and raw milk to drink.  That was it.  Nothing fancy, definitely filling for the whole family, and we had leftovers too (they're always Brad's favorite breakfast). 

It was simple, it was real, it was great, and I'm really enjoying the harvest from our backyard garden.  Now if only our tomatoes would turn red, so we could have those with dinner too.  That would be fantastic!

What kind of things are you making from your backyard garden?

Happy Creating!


Kristin

Gear Up For School

A new school year is swiftly approaching!  I'm not ready...yet.  So, in order to get ready for a new year, I have a few things that need to be made.

This year, I hope to have 2 kids in school, not just one, which means twice the school supplies and twice the preparations and twice the homework once school starts.

My 4 going on 5 year old, Brielle will be turning 5 just before school starts, but must test into kindergarten because her birthday falls after the deadline here.

However, even if she does not get to go, she will need some things for her birthday...and for winter.

So, in an effort to prepare early, I'm going to start now sewing her "school" dresses.  Brielle absolutely refuses to wear anything but dresses and tights or leggings.

One of the patterns I plan on using is this one:

This pattern is from Oliver + S.  It is called the "Family Reunion Dress"  and I love the simplicity of it.  I think that the subtle accents and pintucking add an elegance and playfulness that are perfect for Brielle.  Now to find the perfect fabric to pair with the pattern and showcase Brielle's personality.

I also plan to make this pattern, also from Oliver + S:

This is the Ice Cream Dress.  I love this one as well.  These dress patterns are perfect for little girls who like to look pretty but like to be able to move as well.

Of course, they have one other pattern I would like to tackle, but it's a "3 scissors" pattern, meaning it's a little more difficult than these 2, which are "2 scissors" patterns, so I think I need to practice up and hone my craft a little more before I attempt it.  But, I will share it here, simply because many of you are at a "3 scissors" level or better in your craft and you'd have no trouble with it.

Here it is, from Oliver + S:

 This one is called the "School Photo Dress".  I love it, but it's a little more than I'm able to handle right about now, so it will have to wait.

Oh, and in case you're wondering, I do not get paid to promote this line of patterns, or any other product for that matter.  In fact, I don't get paid at all.  I just really find the retro styling and clean lines of these patterns quite refreshing. 

After the dresses are made, I plan to make a few of Brielle's needed school supplies for her, instead of buying them.  The big one is (drumroll please) a pencil case.  It's not like it's a difficult project and I can use leftover fabric to sew one up.  In fact, I'm pretty sure I made one, complete with grommets when I was in 8th Grade.

So here I go, getting geared up for school, and sewing away, so that my hopefully brand new kindergarten girl can look fabulous and have some fun too, all while saving me money.

Happy Creating!


Kristin

Earlier this month I participated in a challenge of at Stay Cool- Stitch Up A Dress.  I made Vogue 1027 in a navy lycra fabric.  I love how this dress hangs, the fabric, the style.  I made a second dress in a purple knit.  Unfortunately the purple isn't as strong as the navy fabric, so the weight of the skirt pulls down the bodice more than I would like.  It is still a great dress, though.  This pattern is wonderful!  The dress is easy to make and I love the style.  I haven't found a dress that I liked on me since I was a teenager!  I will definitely be making this one again.

This is so cool!

Some of you may already know about this cool feature available from Google Reader, but I didn't until today.  You won't have to be stuck looking at blog posts in boring Reader format anymore.  I did this today, and changes everything!  Not that I won't go to Reader anymore, because I will.  Reader has lots of features that are useful and cool.  Check this post out!

Go to iheartfaces.com to see how to use NEXT.

2 Weeks: The Last Day

Yay!  It's our last day of our 2 week challenge.  We actually get to take Friday off.  How great is that?

Of course, on Saturday, if you're feeling ambitious, go ahead and tackle that garage, I won't stop you.  The garage is my husband's domain in our home, so I won't be joining you.

Well, for our last day, I decided that the best thing to do would be to tackle the Master Bedroom.  This way, you can sit back and enjoy it tonight and maybe have a bowl of ice cream to reward yourself.

The master bedroom is often the space that gets forgotten in my home, because I only sleep in there or change my clothes.  The rest of the time, I don't even see it.  I would love to spend more time in my master bedroom, and to have it be a place of peace for me, but right now, it cannot be that because I am not at peace in a messy place.

If we want our master bedroom to be the ultimate place of rest, it needs to be organized, tidy and comfortable.  You already know how to clean up the bedroom, so for this post, I'm going to talk about what to do to make your room even more relaxing once it's clean.

We'll start with the closet.  Even if you can't see it because the doors are closed, you know the mess is there, and while you lay in bed on Sunday morning, the mess calls your name.  Okay, maybe that's just me, but either way, it's probably messy in there, and could stand a little makeover.

First off, start by purging your closet of old stuff that you don't wear, that don't fit, or that you just don't need anymore.  Then, if you've got the cash to spare, install some closet organizers.  You can get customizable ones at most home improvement stores.  Brad and I have done them before.  They're easy and they maximize your storage space, while making it easier to find things, and making your closet look beautiful.

Now let's talk about the main room.  If you've got space, think about making a seating area in your master bedroom.  A rocking chair, an old armchair or loveseat, or even a large ottoman works well.  You could also use the extra pillows off your loveseat and sofa and an old rug to make a cozy corner to curl up and read or just breathe for a moment.

Also think about changing out your bedding with the seasons.  I have a few quilts that Brad's grandmother has made.  I put different ones on, depending on my mood.  If I'm feeling bored and cooped up in the winter, I put on my bright yellow quilt.  If I want some calming tranquility after all the go-go-go of summer, I put on a cream and brown silky comforter.  I love fall, so in the fall I put a quilt on that has lots of fall amber's, browns, and reds in it.  Changing up your bedding periodically can make your room feel refreshed.  Don't forget, when you get out of bed in the morning, make your bed.  It's make you want to spend more time in your room.

Clear off those dressers and nightstands.  Having lots of stuff sitting on the surfaces in your room, whether well organized or not, will leave you feeling like there's a mess to clean up.  The less stuff you have sitting out, the more calming your room will be.

Don't store things in your room that don't go with "bedroom" things.  If it's not for changing your clothes, sleeping, or doing "other" activities (you know what I mean) don't store it in your room.  You really don't need to keep that box of stationary on top of your dresser, or that sewing basket next to your bed.  That stuff may just cramp your "style" so to speak.

Dust!... and clean the windows.  When your room is actually clean, and not just tidy, you'll enjoy it more.

Last, hang something on those walls.  The walls in my bedroom are always blank.  The walls in the rest of my house always have cool stuff on them, but the bedroom gets neglected.  Hang some framed photographs, or a cluster of them, hang a clock, or grab some "knick-knack" shelves, but don't clutter them up.  Just 2-3 things per shelf should do it.  Even more romantic would be hanging some candle sconces, for some mood lighting (wink, wink).

One thing I would also recommend, don't put pictures of anyone but you and your husband in your bedroom.  Hang art (I go and take macro or landscape photos for this) or have a friend take some nice pictures of you and your husband.  You could hang wedding photos, anniversary photos, or photos of fun things you and your hubby have done together.  This way, when you're laying in bed on Sunday morning, instead of thinking about your messy closet, you can reminisce about the great times you've spent together.

Do you want to spend more time in your Master Bedroom yet?  I do.  I hope you've had a great time this last 2 weeks, as you've worked on your home.  Watch for more tips here at miymdiary.blogspot.com about how to get or keep your home clean and organized.  I will post as I work on more projects.  I've enjoyed writing this series and learned so much about my own self, my own habits, and better ways to do things as I've written and worked around the house.  Thank you for the opportunity to share this part of me and my life with you.

Good Luck!


Kristin

Needles- a basic tool.

Today I want to address the issue of sewing machine needles.  My mother didn't teach me a lot of the very basic things about sewing when I was learning to sew as a child/teen.  It wasn't until I was in my early 30s that I discovered stretch needles.  I also didn't know that you needed to change your needle regularly.  Here are some basic tips for sewing machine needles.

Choose the appropriate needle for your fabric.  Below are some pictures of different types of needles.  Pick the one that suits your needs appropriately.  You can go online to find descriptions of each needle to assess which one is best.  They may also tell you on the back of the card what purpose is best suited. (This is the brand that is available at my local store.  I am not compensated for this post.)

Change needles often.  Some say change it with every new project, but if you are making something small it probably isn't necessary.  Maybe every 8-10 hours of sewing time would be good.

Change you needle any time you hit a pin (or anything else).  It is really best to remove pins instead of stitching over them.  I try to remove them as I sew. 
If you are having trouble with your machine, try a new needle.  I think this is often the last thing people think to try.  Even the slightest bend (not noticeable to the naked eye) will mess the thread up.  If the point isn't sharp, it can tear your fabric or create runs.  Sewing machines are very precise instruments.  If you listen to your machine, you will hear it making a different noise when a needle is damaged.  The timing can be thrown of by hitting pins.  The timing is how the needle and bobbin casing move in sync with each other.  If they aren't just right, you will have problems.  Having your machine serviced regularly is important for this reason, as well as cleaning and oiling all the parts in there to keep it running smoothly.

Feel free to comment with any questions I may not have addressed!