Paring Down

Quote Me, Quote Me: Thoreau

noreply@blogger.com (Laura) — Wed, 02 Feb 2011 11:00:00 +0000

I love images. I love words, too.

Typography and I are THIS close.

Today I am celebrating transcendentalist Henry David Thoreau.

Here

Wanna See My Classroom?

noreply@blogger.com (Laura) — Tue, 01 Feb 2011 11:00:00 +0000

Since I spend so much time at the awesome high school where I teach, I thought I would share a tour of my classroom. Being a visual person (who's not?), I love to surround myself with color!

So here's the dime tour:

This is the view of my room when you walk in the door. I like the kids to be able to talk with each other, and the banquet style arrangement is working well for us this year.

This set of shelves is right behind my door. I use it for my plastic baskets, which makes it easier to distribute supplies to the kids when they are working on projects as well things that the kids have easier access to - like Germ-ex, bandaids, rubber bands, paper clips, staplers, tape, and notebook paper.
I also lend them pens, pencils, erasers, and handheld sharpeners from this location.

If you walk to the right from the doorway, you can see part of my command central. I have my printer, my currently used files, my microwave, and a three-drawer cabinet that holds my plasticware. Under my table I keep my tools and some of my teaching tools in the plastic bins under the printer. I also have a small refrigerator underneath the table below the microwave.

This is a shot of the back wall of my room. I have a LOT of bins to store my school supplies. You'll also notice that I have several pedestal fans - I use these a lot during my morning classes - believe it or not, we need the a/c inside our humid Houston school, and it's HOT in there.

These are full of school supplies. This is my 15th-year of teaching, and I have complete sets of lots of things - rulers, scissors, glue sticks, fat markers, thin markers, etc. I keep these here as well as lesser used items like extra copy paper (I have to buy my own for my printer), laminating sheets, my label maker - I have one for school AND one for home, file folders, etc.

To the right of the black plastic drawers are my much older drawers. I use these to store tempera and acrylic paints, specialty glues, and extra leftover craft project materials for posters, banners, door decorations, and stuff.

My advanced students read an extra historical novel each six weeks, and I buy copies of them used to check out to them. I covered the paperbacks with clear contact paper, glued in pockets and made out cards to check in and out, which I keep in the black box. I organized that into alphabetic tabs so I know who has the books and when they borrowed them from me.

On the top of this folding table, I have more drawers that hold sticker letter packs, punch out letter packs, supplies for specific responsibilities, and (scary, I know) map pencils organized by color. To the right of that are my "turn in" boxes for my afternoon classes. To the right of the turn in boxes are my "graded" boxes. I store my graded papers there before I give them back to my students.

Under the folding table I keep my spiral crates. My morning classes put their work in spirals, which we keep in class. Since we have two long banquet arrangements, I put the pink for each class on the back table and the black for each class on the front table. The kids get out and return their spirals, and we exchange the crates for the next period.

This is in the back corner. I keep my graduate class books here as well as binders from previous trainings I have attended. I LOVE the purple platter - a former student made it for me!

This is the view of my classroom in front of the bookcase with the purple platter on top.

This is the view from the other back corner at my bookshelf wall. The black plastic bins are to my right in this view.

This is a better view of my bookcase wall...

Owl lover alert...

More owl alert. My diplomas. BA in English. M.Ed. in Education. The gal in the red dress is my Marie Antoinette doll - her head ejects! :)

My frog prince. He makes more sense when you see my first - and favorite poster - ever.

This is my locking cabinet - where I keep my purse and my crazy DVD collection as well as my meds, cosmetics, and girly things....

My favorite poster!!!

Pure. awesomeness.

From the front of my room - next to my locking cabinet. You can see my desks from here if you look hard.

These are casitas. Little houses. We use them to surround the kids while they are taking quizzes or exams. These are just strips of brown cardboard with flaps on each side. I painted them black and decoupaged lots and lots of pics on the fronts and the backs. Something extra to check out when my kids are staring off into space...

So that's my little classroom. Hope you enjoyed the tour!

What's your workspace like? How have you made it your own?

I am participating in the following blog hops:

Aqua Pincushion Tutorial

noreply@blogger.com (Laura) — Mon, 31 Jan 2011 11:00:00 +0000

I love love love aqua, and I am transforming my bathroom (and my bedroom soon) into an aqua oasis. One of my plans includes moving my craft supplies into my master closet to make them more accessible to me - and less accessible to my teens.

So my supplies: a cute floral shaped bowl, some gorgeous aqua and teal fabric, scissors, a rubber band, polyester fiberfill and (lots of) hot glue.

This is my cutie pie bowl. I love the petal shape. It's white and so pretty!

The best part about this little gem is the price!

I bought 1/4 yard of this fabric at JoAnn's. It cost me $1.50. I could easily make 2 more of these with the leftover fabric after I cut enough off to cover the bowl with about 3 inches to spare. I just left it in a square shape.

After I stuffed the fiberfill into the center of the fabric, I wrapped wrapped it well and secured the extra fabric with a rubber band.

Hot glue like crazy - the bottom and the edges. It's that simple!

I spent about $7.50 on this project. $4 of that was for those gorgeous straight pins!!!

Now it's time to put those pins to good use and actually do some sewing....

Do you sew? How did you learn? What have you made?

I am linking up to these lovely parties:
Craftomaniac
Skip to My Lou
Hope Studios
Not Just a Housewife

Slim Down Sunday Kickoff

noreply@blogger.com (Laura) — Mon, 31 Jan 2011 01:56:00 +0000

One of my ongoing plans from year to year is to get myself in shape.

Unfortunately, I have not managed to make good on those plans.

That ends now. I am sick and tired of feeling sick and tired. I left out my sore lower back since you can't see it from this angle...

Here are my measurements as of today (January 30, 2011):

And here's my weight (and BMI) as of today:

Here's my side view, and the size of my purple pajama pants and my navy v-veck t-shirt as of today:

Funny weird (or haha - you decide): I bought the same pajama pants and the same navy v-necks in XL, L, M, and S so that I can keep taking my photos on Sunday as I lose weight.

My current BMI is 34, which qualifies me as obese. A healthy BMI is between 18.5 and 24.9 for my height (5'4"), which is a weight range between 110 and 140. I am looking to land at 134, which would give me a BMI of 23.

Since both of my parents died before retirement age (my dad of a heart attack and my mom of a ruptured brain aneurysm) and since I would like to think of myself as more active throughout all of my much longer life, I had better get busy living...or get busy dying. (Name that movie.)

My current plan:
Calories: 1500 per day; I'm automating my breakfast with 2 slices of toasted Ezekiel bread, 2 tbsp peanut butter, and a sliced banana. I'll be eating Lean Cuisines for lunch and dinner and eating 2 more fruits and 5 servings of veggies.
Exercise: by the end of each week, I plan to have walked 14 miles starting out.

I'll keep you posted on my progress every Sunday!

Are you trying to get healthy? What steps are you taking? What's working for you?

Master Bath Love!!!

noreply@blogger.com (Laura) — Sun, 23 Jan 2011 20:10:00 +0000

Guess what we're working on today???

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with some of this:

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And preparing for this on the ceiling:

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And looking forward to a bathroom that feels more like this

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What's the room you most want to update in your house?

Pleated Poppy GIVEAWAY Winner

noreply@blogger.com (Laura) — Sat, 08 Jan 2011 15:28:00 +0000

Congratulations to the winner of the Pleated Poppy giveaway:

Entry 1:

"Gorgeous giveaway! Loving those posy pins! Have a wonderful day, Kellie xx"

Congratulations, Kellie. Enjoy your gift certificate!

Ode to Charley Harper

noreply@blogger.com (Laura) — Wed, 05 Jan 2011 10:00:00 +0000

Don't forget to enter the $25 giveaway to The Pleated Poppy. Giveaway ends Friday 1/7 at 11:59 CST.

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I love Charley Harper. He was a Cincinnati-based modern artist who was most influenced by nature, especially birds.

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I had never heard of Charley Harper until I saw an interview he did with Todd Oldham on CBS Sunday Morning in 2008 called "The Fashion Designer and the Artist".

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I adore Charley's work, ESPECIALLY the birds...

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And the owls...

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This collage shows a few of the other animals Harper created. Aren't they amazing?

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Harper designed a huge mosaic mural for the John Weld Peck Federal Building in downtown Cincinnati. Amazing!

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Check out some of these cute ways Charley Harper can live in your home:

I think it would actually be pretty simple to recreate his images on fabric or canvas using images from his Charley Harper Coloring Book of Birds or his Charley Harper Coloring Book.

Purl Bee Charley Harper needlepoint canvases

Isn't this a cute and colorful quilt?!!!

Quilt

This is one of my favorite projects. Love the bird's nest. Love!

Baby Bib

This is a simple project using twine, clips, and a set of Charley Harper Flash Cards and Floor Puzzles

Flash card wall art

And these babies - so cute on this vintage tree.

Ornaments and gift tags

This project is adorable. One of those photo screens painted white with Charley Harper images scanned and printed for the inserts.

Charley Harper Photo Screen

And my other favorite project. So simple, but so cute!

Charley Parker Framed Name Flash Cards

Todd Oldham wrote a book about Charley Harper chock full of his gorgeous images called Charley Harper: An Illustrated Life. There's a ridiculously expensive coffee table book with (I guess) a much nicer cover. This is the one you want if you love this artist as much as I do. And buy a used one to cut up and frame.

What artist really gets you excited about art (beside your budding Picassos)? Is there any artist's work you simply have to display in your home (other than the fridge)?

I'd love to know!

Pleated Poppy GIVEAWAY

noreply@blogger.com (Laura) — Mon, 03 Jan 2011 23:38:00 +0000

Hello, Lovelies!

Before I slipped away from blog land in August, I had planned to host a giveaway to celebrate 200 followers.

GIVEAWAY CLOSED

It's time to have that celebration!

I have a $25 gift certificate for you to spend at The Pleated Poppy!

Lindsey has a lovely blog...

And a lovely shop, too!
Aren't these necklaces sweet?

And the petal pushers...love them!!!

How about these posy pins?

Lindsey is restocking her shop with some really cute new items coming this spring.

To enter this giveaway, please

Follow me on Google Connect and leave a comment.
Follow me on Twitter @lauraparingdown, tweet this giveaway, and leave a comment.
Blog about this giveaway and leave a comment & a link.

I'll select a winner via random.org on Saturday, so you have until Friday at midnight CST to enter.

Thanks to all of you, and happy 2011!

11 Attitudes for 2011

noreply@blogger.com (Laura) — Mon, 03 Jan 2011 20:26:00 +0000

As the year begins fresh and new, I have been making lists (and crossing things off, and scratching them out, and starting them over) of goals I'd like to accomplish this year.

I've already listed several (43) things on my 43 Things list of what I'd like to accomplish in 2011.

I've already chosen my one little word for the year - MOVE.

This year I want to focus more on something I have a lot of control over: my attitude.

So in that spirit, I've thought about 11 attitudes I'd like to have this year:

1. OPTIMISM

2. CONTENTMENT

3. INTENTION

4. MINDFULNESS

5. REFLECTION

6. DETERMINATION

7. GRATITUDE

8. COMPASSION

9. CONSTANCY

10. CURIOSITY

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11. PLAYFULNESS

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I'm hoping I notice (and am sure my family will point it out) when I am grumpy. I'll be shedding that attitude real quick!

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What attitudes would you like to have this year?

Paring Down in 2011

noreply@blogger.com (Laura) — Mon, 03 Jan 2011 00:39:00 +0000

Happy 2011!

What a year 2010 was. I started blogging, dealt with a lot of both work-related drama and contentment, and moved my daughter and son-in-law to Brooklyn. In August I went straight from LaGuardia to the wonderful school where I teach, and that was the beginning of the end of the year for me. I stopped blogging, went a little crazy busy, and have thought about Paring Down ever since. And that, my friends, is why I am back here today.

It's time to get back on track.

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To set my life in the direction I want it to go.

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To implement the one little word I have chosen for 2011: MOVE.

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Check out some of the dictionary definitions for MOVE:

to change from one place or position to another

I have places to go, people to see, and goals to accomplish this year....

to set or keep in motion

My bootay, that is....

to prompt, actuate, or impel to some action

I love the clean, blank slate that is the new year to get me started....

to arouse or excite the feelings or passions of; affect with emotion

Excited and passionate are both good words for me now....

to affect with tender or compassionate emotion; touch

My friends and family have done this for me (love you all)....

Here's to the best year yet!

Shabby Chic Cottage Giveaway!

noreply@blogger.com (Laura) — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 20:41:00 +0000

Hi, everyone.

Before I begin, let me say how excited I was to be featured on Today's Creative Blog! So exciting - a great place to see awesome projects and really creative folks.

Secondly, this giveaway has been in the works since I hit 150 followers. I'm sticking to that so I can have ANOTHER giveaway for 200 followers right around the corner.

Without further adieu, let me introduce my wonderfully encouraging friend Gina, from Shabby Chic Cottage. You probably already know her if you like cute and inspired creations!

Gina's blog is wonderful - I've gotten a lot of inspiration from her cool features, like

- including Gina's own contribution - starfish ornaments! This is SO CUTE!!!

Here's another of my favorite tutorials - she makes it look EASY!

So Gina has been kind enough to help me celebrate 150 followers with a ... drum roll, please ...

$50 gift certificate to her Shabby Chic Etsy Shop!

She has her items grouped into several categories - maybe one, or all, of them fit your style:

Are you coastal cottage? country cottage? Paris apartment? urban farmhouse? shabby attic? the conservancy? the nest (love that)?

Here are some of my favorites:

I. want. these. starfish. wands. Seriously.

This reminds me of my cute beach cruiser, Coco. She wants me to ride her. Today!

Cream and black toile. What else is there to say?

I HEART birds. And I didn't even show you the bees. Gina has bees, too!

I love the black Paris postmark on this little white pot. My pencils want to live here.

So how do you enter? Here's the drill:

1) MANDATORY: please go to Gina's shop and tell me how you would spend your $50 gift certificate.

2) Follow me on Google Friend Connect and leave a comment telling me you did (or you are).

3) Follow me on Twitter and leave a comment telling me you did with your twitter name in it.

4) Heart (favorite) Gina's Shabby Chic Etsy shop and leave a comment telling me you did.

5) Follow Gina on Google Friend Connect and leave me a comment telling me did (or you are).

This giveaway will run through midnight on August 5, when my beautiful daughter turns 25 in New York with me there to celebrate with her. I'll announce the lucky winner on August 6. Good luck, everyone!

Old Road Sign Tutorial

noreply@blogger.com (Laura) — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 14:59:00 +0000

My daughter is finding out about the lease on a Brooklyn apartment TODAY! To celebrate - and in anticipation of driving up there to help her move - I've been making some fun crafts and repurposing some things she left behind.

Meyerland is an area in Houston where my wonderful son-in-law Ben grew up. He is a screenwriter among other talents, and Meyerland is the name of the screenplay he and his friend Blake have written. They will be filming in October and want to screen it at the Sundance Film Festival next year. COOL!!!

My daughter loves greens, whites, creams, and lots of texture (and mid-century modern furniture - a girl can dream, right?). I thought this sign would be a fun addition to their new home.

EASY TO MAKE!!! Here's how I did it:

I bought a piece of balsa wood at Michaels for less than $4. The piece is maybe 4 inches wide by about 2 and a half feet long (GUESSTIMATE). I just picked a board that felt long enough. So scientific!

Then I banged up the board to "age" it. I used a hammer to gently knock some dents in it, a Phillips head screwdriver to make a few gouges, and I scraped some horizontal lines in it with a flat head screwdriver. I took it outside to bang the edges on some rough cement and ended up splitting the end. It wasn't bad enough to glue.

After that I slopped on a coat of dark brown acrylic paint and caught the edges with it too. The back is still plain balsa wood.

I used these chipboard letters, which I LOVE, from Hobby Lobby, because they have the simple shape of roadsign letters.

I wanted to trace the letters and make them even as well, so this was my solution. Regular tape is low tack and easy to move around while I was trying to make the letters spread out evenly.

Once I got the letters spaced out, I traced around each one with a pencil and used a cream (antique white) acrylic paint to fill in the letters. The easiest way to do this for me is to use a small flat artist brush. I dipped the brush in the paint, turned it sideways, and brushed inward from the pencil edge to the center of the letter. I turned the sign upside down to paint the other half of the letter.

DON'T WORRY if the letters aren't absolutely perfect - mine aren't either. My favorite grandma saying is "IT WON'T BE NOTICED ON A GALLOPING HORSE."

After I painted the letters, I went back over the brown with a dark avocado green. I left some brown showing around some of the letters because I didn't want to be perfect on them.

Next step: blurry sanding. I used a few sheets of sandpaper and sanded the heck out of the wood. I should have put a wood block or something inside the sandpaper; I was rubbing so hard my fingers were burning (TWSS). I wanted to sand enough paint off to show the brown paint through the green and cream.

Almost done! I wiped off the sandpaper with a damp paper towel, and then I applied some antiquing glaze. Love this stuff!

I brushed it on quickly, not worrying if I got it on every single centimeter.

I then learned how difficult it is to take an action shot by yourself. This is the end of the board after I wiped the glaze with a damp paper towel. I only left the glaze on a couple of minutes while I went to get the damp paper towel. It filled in the cracks nicely.

At this point you could coat it with a sealant to protect it. I would make it matte to keep the antique look. You could do this with any color combination, including, say gray and white (or aqua and red, yum!)

And that, my dears, is that. The simplest project I've done for my NYC-bound girl and her wonderful husband!

I'm linking to:

Trendy Treehouse

The Power of Paint at Domestically Speaking

Whatever Goes Wednesday at Someday Crafts

Show and Tell at Blue Cricket Design

Get Your Craft On Tuesday at Today's Creative Blog

Behind Door Number 2 or Door Number 3

noreply@blogger.com (Laura) — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 12:58:00 +0000

Don't you just love a beautiful door?

Paring Down

Quote Me, Quote Me: Thoreau

Wanna See My Classroom?

Aqua Pincushion Tutorial

Slim Down Sunday Kickoff

Master Bath Love!!!

Pleated Poppy GIVEAWAY Winner

Ode to Charley Harper

Pleated Poppy GIVEAWAY

11 Attitudes for 2011

Paring Down in 2011

Shabby Chic Cottage Giveaway!

Old Road Sign Tutorial

Behind Door Number 2 or Door Number 3

Orange Loves Aqua, Too!

Aqua Loves Red!

Aqua and Turquoise Love

A Birthday Giveaway from Wonderfully Wordy

Master Closet Remodel

Urban Harvest Farmers Market

Food Rules!

I Love The Girl Creative!

Apothecary Jar Giveaway!

Paring Down Meal Time - a.k.a. I Love Bento!

Crate and Barrel Giveaway Winners on Spotlight Saturday

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