My new best friend

I've been trying to "become one" with my Christmas present.

That's right. You heard me. I'm trying to cozy up to my sewing machine.

This one is SO much better than the 60 year old one I was using.

I don't cuss as often (in my head) when using my new baby.

It runs so much smoother, and it has a back stitch feature. My other one did not. Oh the horror!

So, today with another snow day under our belt, I decided to whip up some things I had been only thinking about.

A couple weeks ago, Grace and I went to a scrapbook sale and bought several pieces of fabric.

She told me she wanted a purse. I guess that was a hint I was supposed to make it, and I told her I would get to it eventually.

I wasn't quite sure of what my design was gonna be until I came across this $1 purse at Goodwill last week.

I didn't like the design OR the colors, but I did like the handles. I knew I could replicate it for a "tween" looking purse for Grace.

First I sewed in a pocket. (She informed me she needed one for gum, etc.)

Then worked on the handles.

It was going great till I had to deal with some poor working conditions.

Namely, our cat Oreo who thought it would be a great idea to lay directly BEHIND the machine and not move. Each time we'd pick her up and physically move her, she'd come right back.

So, after all the cat shuffling, and the pocket making, and the sewing it all together, this is the final purse.

With a fashionable bow, of course.

She liked it. It's not too big, and not too small.


It'll hold her packs of gum, and her wallet, and even some other small items.

I was feeling a little revved up after this project, so I decided to make a quick pillow cover too.

About a month ago I won a freebie on the Painted Home's blog, and part of the prize was this IKEA kitchen towel.

I had the perfect sized pillow form, so I just sewed up the cover for it.

Works great in my red living room.

That's about all I did today with my "friend" the sewing machine, but I wanted to show you a couple of the other purses I've finished in the last couple of months. Each time I tweak something a little bit more. Maybe the pockets aren't so deep inside, or maybe the sewing job is a little better. I'm sure the more I practice, the better I'll get.


I'm also linking up to Freckled Laundry's textile Friday today as well as crazy domestic (click on button below). You can either click on their link in my sidebar, or right here to come see me, and visit some other talented people showing off their projects.



In the next couple of weeks, I'll be a sewing fiend if I get the time. I'm trying to grow a supply of pillows, purses, etc. to start an etsy shop.


Stay tuned and have a great weekend!

Truth Thursday...Where has the time gone?

You'd think with a snow day on Monday and two two-hour delays this week I would've had no problem getting things done.

Well, that might be the case, but it's not. Sure, we may have had later mornings, but our nights have been just as crazy as always.

This week was my carpool week for Istep prep after school, I got groceries while the kids and Brent were at Church on Wed. nite, we had the school book fair tonight at school where I helped run a cashier's table for the night, and laundry, dishes, and other household chores just accumulated like always.

It's getting harder and harder to have a job and get everything I need to get done, done.

So, I only have random pictures for tonight. It's about all I can handle before I crash on the couch and watch "The Mentalist" and read a few magazines.

Oh, kitchen sink, I've seen TOO much of you lately!

Evan's treasured night time pal. Think he needs a good scrubbin'!

Yes, both of my kids still use night lights. Is this a bad thing?

Part of the dessert for teacher snack tomorrow. Yes, I ALSO had to do that tonight.

Evan and his friends at the book fair tonight. It was a carnival theme, and this was the photo booth!

Grace and Jillian ham it up!

So, you see, I haven't been working on any projects this week. I HAVE been working on my project to-do/wish list though. I hope to be showing you some things in the near future. Keep watchin'.

An unexpected surprise

Yesterday was President's Day for those of you who didn't know (or care maybe...) We were supposed to have school as a make-up snow day from a snow day we had earlier in Feb.

I got a call at 5:17 that we had a delay. Ok. I'm good with that.

Then, about an hour later, I got a call we were cancelled for the day. I was GREAT with THAT!

I needed a day to get some things done, without any reason to go somewhere.

Since I've been complaining about the lack of organization in my pantry, I decided to start there, and in my junk drawers (Yep, 2 drawers!), and in my baking supply cupboard.

I'm embarrassed to show you the before, but it's necessary.

I have a pantry with permanent shelves, which is great, but also bad at the same time.

I decided to start getting my baskets ready first. I lined them with oilcloth I already had, just to make them look like they belong together.

Then things like this kept happening, and throwing me off task...

I set everything out on my island and got to work. It looks so much better. Maybe you can't tell a difference, but I can.

The changes didn't cost me anything, and it felt GOOD to throw stuff away.

I even had time to fix my baking cupboard.

Oh, and make some cookies, which made my family VERY HAPPY!

Killer Bulletin Board

There is a challenge on Funky Junk Interiors blog tonight.

It's all about bulletin boards.

Count me in.

I'm all about organization. My husband is not, unless I'm the one doing it, (for him, of course.)

So, here goes....

First, I've had this old window frame I purchased at a garage sale a couple years ago for $1. Yep. $1. I know how much the funky junk lady likes old wood, so I'm using this.

No windows, just the frame.

In it, I'm putting an old school chalkboard I have had laying around

homosote board ripped (literally) from one UGLY bulletin board I bought at Goodwill for $1.50. It was already covered in burlap, which is perfect.

And lastly, some metal, which my loving hubby cut from an old cookie sheet that was being used as something else.

I nailed it all to the back of the window frame.

Cool, huh? Now for some decoration.

Every bulletin board needs a flower made out of coffee filters and painted a very BRIGHT shade of pink (courtesy of the lovely Grace a couple years ago. Can't even remember which grade she was in!)

A homemade "home" sign made by a friend, and a VERY old picture of my kiddos and nephew. They were all under the age of 3, and I can't even tell you why it's my favorite, but it is very worn from use.

For the "metal" part of the board, I have some great magnets I bought at our church's Holiday Bazaar a couple years ago. Very vintage looking.

Add some berries, hang it from a picture wire and an old window sash handle-y thing. (totally don't know what they are called.)


Definitely rockin' if I do say so myself. AND EASY.

So head on over to the Saturday Nite Special link at Funky Junk Interiors. You can click here or on the picture link below.