* She Makes a Home *

Google Reader is No More - Import Your Feed to Bloglovin'

noreply@blogger.com (Ashley Pahl) — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 15:34:00 +0000

In less than two weeks (July 1st), Google Reader will no longer exist. If this is how you've been reading blogs, it's time to find a new reader. My suggestion? Bloglovin'. I promise you this is not a sponsored post! These are my top 4 reasons for why I think you should make the switch:

1. Bloglovin' is free
2. You can easily import your Google Reader list to Bloglovin'
3. It's easy to navigate
4. It gives bloggers the pageviews they deserve, which Google Reader did not do.

So, first things first: Import your Googler Reader subscriptions to Bloglovin':

Of course you'll need a Bloglovin' account first, so go to Bloglovin' and sign up, or log in.

Next, visit this page and click Google Reader. You'll be asked to give permission to do this by Google - click Accept.

So once you have your blog imported and categorized your blogs, you can start reading!

Your homepage will look like this, with your blog list on the right, and the feed of new posts in the middle.

You can also find new blogs to read or follow on the top under "Popular Posts" or "Top Blogs".

Once you click on a post to read it, it will actually take you to the blog post to read it. The great thing is that this does NOT interrupt your reading! Bloglovin' has a toolbar that appears at the top of the blog post, so that you may navigate to a newer post on your feed, an older post on your feed, or any other blog from the drop-down menu.

The little heart symbol allows you to mark a post as a favorite, so you can go back to them any time you want (from your profile).

So - do you already use Bloglovin'? Are you a fan of it? And how about the demise of Google Reader - does that affect you at all?

Reminder: if you've been reading this blog through Google Reader, you'll want to subscribe or bookmark She Makes a Home through another feed reader before July 1st!

subscribe via email

Top 10 Free Commercial-Use Fonts

noreply@blogger.com (Ashley Pahl) — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 20:29:00 +0000

There are so many amazing fonts, typefaces, scripts, etc. out there, and while most may be free for personal use, not many are licensed for commercial purposes. If you're looking for commercial-use fonts that aren't only free, but also look great, then please enjoy my top 10 picks. Click below to download them!

Do you have a favorite free font? Tell us in the comments!

6 Tips to be a Happier Work at Home Mom

noreply@blogger.com (Ashley Pahl) — Fri, 14 Jun 2013 18:29:00 +0000

Editor's note: I'm very happy to introduce to you our contributor, Tiffany of Pretty Box. Pretty Box is a chic, monthly subscription box for women. Monthly subscription boxes are very popular right now, but I think Pretty Box is fantastic because it features products from small businesses and independent artisans. Even cooler is that the founder, Tiffany, is a real, down-to-earth person - working from home and taking care of her kids. So, here is Tiffany's best advice for being a happy work-at-home mom.

Deciding to work from home was probably the quickest decision I ever made. I instantly thought of spending more time with my kids, eating a family dinner at a reasonable hour (and being able to actually cook it), avoiding traffic completely, and spending all day in my pajamas. I didn’t think, though, about the logistics of it all. How was I to juggle a preschooler and an infant with my work responsibilities? What about my dormant workaholic tendency?

The first few months that I was officially a work at home mom, I made a lot of mistakes and was waayyy too stressed out, but I learned a lot! As you can see from the goofy instagram photos above (@inaprettybox), I’m very happy with my work-life balance now. If you’re work from home arrangement just isn’t what you pictured, check out a few tips I wish I would have known at the beginning.

#1 Set Work Hours

One of the first things I did when I decided to work from home was set work hours. Unfortunately, I didn’t stick to them at all. I ended up doing everything on the fly with absolutely no plan, and I discovered a dormant workaholic within me. I know you’re excited, but rein it in momma! Set an alarm for yourself and get up before your kids do—trust me, you’ll be able to leisurely wake up and start your day off right. Then set hours for work that coincide with naptime or the time with the sitter comes over and stick to them. Resist the urge to work late into the night. Trust me. It can wait until the morning.

#2 Strategic Ignoring

My oldest is just starting elementary school, and from the time she was about 18 months old I’ve always been told how lucky I am that she is so well-mannered and plays so great on her own. While I appreciate the compliment, I kind of resent it a bit given that I purposefully trained her this way with a little parenting quirk I have: I call it strategic ignoring. Women in today’s time are expected to maintain a household, work full-time, and spend quality time with their family. Except women now and expected to (and do) spend more time with their children than even Suzy Homemaker did in the 1950’s.

Teach your child to play independently! It really isn’t hard. Start by beginning an activity with your child. Exit the activity a few minutes in and leave for 3-5 minutes before coming back and rejoining the play. Keep increasing your time and eventually your child will get the hang of it. Children need to know how to entertain themselves—it’s an essential life skill! So, let your child entertain him/herself while you do a few work related tasks here and there.

#3 Invest in Your Job

Whether you run your own business from home or telecommute, invest in your job. Hire a babysitter to come a few days a week to help you out. I currently have an amazing nanny who comes 14 hours a week. She helps my kids clean up after themselves, provides a new face to annoy, er, enjoy, and even does a little housework here and there for me. I get a lot of really productive work done while she’s here and my kids have something to look forward to a few times a week… plus she cleans! Have I mentioned how awesome that is?

#4 Forget the To-Do List

I don’t mean literally stop using one. To-Do lists are great, but they stop functioning for you when you’re constantly thinking about it. Forget the To-Do list in your head! Keep a To-Do notepad at hand or download an app for your phone. When you think of something that needs to be added, make a note of it on your list and then forget about it. Having a To-Do list is completely pointless if you’re going to keep obsessing about it in your head.

#5 Schedule “Me” Time

I’m a huge “me” time advocate! When I ran my bath and body business, testing new products was my favorite part. I called it my product testing time, so how could my husband argue that it was my second hot bath of the day? Now that I’m a bit busier running a significantly larger business, I find my “me” time is even more important. Every working woman, whether working from home or not, needs to schedule some “me” time. Grab a book, listen to music, take a hot bath, whatever floats your boat. Just do it and avoid thinking about anything but how amazing it is to be alone.

#6 Let’s Talk Figure Flattering and Makeup

My absolute favorite part of working from home is that I can work in my comfy clothes, and I’m all for that about 50-60% of the time, but a few days a week you need to treat yourself with a little primping. Your lady brain will thank you. I don’t normally go all out and get into business casual attire, but I will get into a nice pair of jeans-- you know, the kind that makes you think, “Wow, my butt looks amazing!” or “Look at my legs, girl!” Yeah, those jeans. Put them on. Now pick out a figure flattering top and do your hair and makeup. You can go simple so you’re not losing all convenience, but putting a little effort into your appearance a few days a week actually makes you more productive.

DIY Wall Shadow Box with Recycled Materials

noreply@blogger.com (Ashley Pahl) — Thu, 13 Jun 2013 21:02:00 +0000

This post first appeared as a guest post by me on Going Home to Roost! I'm bringing it back up again because I'm FINALLY getting my own office space back. I will need plenty of storage for my craft supplies, and I am looking to use recycled materials. If you have a DIY or recycled storage solution to share, please help me! I'd love some tips.

I was going crazy eating clementines over the winter - they're so perfect! I ended up with a lot of these crates left over, and they're just begging to crafted upon. You can see in my corner office that I use them organize paper goods and office supplies:

It occurred to me a few months ago that these crates could make really cute AND free shadow box shelves for walls! With just a little paint or fabric, they can be dressed up as they showcase photos, plants, art, sculpture, etc. They're perfect for eclectic decor (which I clearly am a fan of).

Materials

- clementine crate(s)
- decorative elements such as fabric, patterned paper, paint, etc.
- tools such as hot glue, paint brush, scissors, etc.

I covered the bottom of my crate with tangerine fabric - leftovers from a pillow cover I made. The same idea would work with solid or patterned paper. Alternatively, you could paint the crate with bright colors, or spray paint the whole thing one solid color.

To add a fabric base like I did:

1. measure and cut fabric to fit into base
2. one side at a time, apply hot glue along bottom edge of crate, pressing edge of fabric down before glue hardens
3. tuck fabric corners into corner holes (if they're open like mine)
4. apple a dot of glue on each corner, pressing fabric corners into it to secure fabric

The great part about the wooden crates is that they usually have holes on the bottoms already - perfect for hanging the crate onto wall with nails or screws! Before decorating, just hold your crate up against the wall where it will hang, choose two holes for hanging, and mark their location on the wall with a pencil. Put the crate down, insert nails or screws into the wall at the markings, and hang finished crate on the wall. Perfect!

They're really not for everyone, but to me, they helped my house feel like home.

Fruit & Herb Infused Ice Cubes (and why you might want to make them)

noreply@blogger.com (Ashley Pahl) — Wed, 12 Jun 2013 12:04:00 +0000

Infused water seems to be all the rage lately, and while it's not something that I've been doing, I really love infused ice cubes!

So - why might you want to give this a try?

1. You love flavored water, but too often, your produce goes bad before you use it up. Freezing them into ice cubes is the perfect solution! Try:

♦ Fruits & Veggies: berries, apples, citrus, cucumber, melons, carrots, etc.
♦ Herbs & Spices: mint leaves, rosemary, peppermint, basil, chili powder, lavender, vanilla extract, cinnamon, etc.

2. You are growing more herbs than you know what to do with...

when using mint leaves in my cubes, I rinsed them and squeezed a bit to release some of the oils without shredding the leaves.

sliced berries works wonderfully

3. You're going to do some entertaining - infused ice cubes work amazingly well in mixed drinks - the mint leaves would be fantastic in my favorite drink - the mojito, along with some lime juice or rind frozen in cubes.

4. You're trying to cut out juices and pop - drinking water is a lot more fun when it looks and tastes great.

5. You want to cover up the taste of bad water. I've tasted my fair share if iron-tinted and bitter tap water. Mask the flavor of hard water with bold citrus or peppermint leaves in your cubes.

6. You don't drink an entire pitcher of infused water quickly enough before the fruit starts to smell a little funk-ay. Infused ice cubes are single-serving.

Have you ever tried infused ice cubes? Do you have a favorite flavor?

My New Work-At-Home Mom Schedule

noreply@blogger.com (Ashley Pahl) — Tue, 11 Jun 2013 19:02:00 +0000

How I plan to get it all done - the business, the blog, the housework, the childcare, and that "sleep" thing.

Today is my oldest baby's first day of school. I'm handling it much better than I thought it would - it helps that she's so incredibly excited to be there. I was homeschooling her preschool lessons, but with kindergarten a year away I wanted to get her used to being away from me.

With our new schedule, it seemed like the right time for me to re-vamp my business hours. My girls are 3.5 and 4.5 now - old enough to play together without getting into trouble. So, here's the schedule I came up with:

Weekly Work & Home Schedule

Mondays: work on my paper goods or writing projects from 10 AM - 4 PM. Expect interruptions: for snacks, to make lunch, to put them to bed for nap, to fix Mr. Potato Head's trap door, etc. Even though I'm working on projects, they'll always be in my line of sight - I can even work outside.

Tuesdays: My oldest will be at school on Tuesdays, so it's just me and the littlest. I have plans to make Tuesday mornings our "adventure" days, just the two of us. We've never had one-on-one time before like this. I'll work 1:30 - 3:30 while she's napping, and again at night, from 8 PM to midnight.

Wednesdays: This will be my day dedicated to cleaning house and getting chores done. And I still have nap time to get some business done, 1:30 PM to 3:30 PM.

Thursdays will be an exact repeat of Tuesdays.

Fridays: All-day fun-day! This is the day I will dedicate to my girls. No housework. No business. Just learning, exploring, and playing.

I will not set hours during the weekends. Family time and "Me-Time" is important as well - for my health, mentally and physically. I will just have to dedicate one weekend night to working from 7 PM to Midnight - either Friday, Saturday, or Sunday night.

So, this is what I'm trying to "Make it Work" until they're both in school full-time (2 years away). If you're a work-at-home parent, what is your schedule like? How do you make it work?

Just a little peek: bedroom makeover progress

noreply@blogger.com (Ashley Pahl) — Mon, 10 Jun 2013 19:06:00 +0000

I did not have the heart to move kitty for this picture.

It doesn't take much to get me excited. I've always wanted to paint a room black - black is my signature "color". While I wouldn't exactly call my new walls painted with YOLO Colorhouse's Nourish .06, "black", they're as black as I'm willing to go for an entire room. I describe it as charcoal grey. Lighting makes a huge difference. When I took these pictures today it was dark and cloudy. When it's bright and sunny in the morning, the paint color lightens up a lot!

So over a week ago, I told you that I would get started on the painting, and here's what I have so far. The room is not even close to done yet, but I can't wait that long to give you peek:

You can see elements of my inspiration (here and here) in the room - I ended up going for a lot of it. I also tried to use things that I already had from other rooms: the grey rug is from my living room; the pink blanket and pink frame are from my daughters' room. The white curtains have been in the room for a while, but were originally in the living room.

I read an article today on Apartment Therapy: Five Controversial Decor Items (and why you may want them), and many people commented that taxidermy should have been on the list. Obviously, I have a pair of decorated deer antlers in the room. I try really hard to resist what is "trendy" and just go with what I like, because I feel anything too trendy will eventually look dated.

The fact of the matter is that I've always been drawn too objects from nature. I love florals, woodgrain patterns, pine cones, and even antlers. The nice thing about antlers is that the deer did not die so I could have them in my home; actually, deer shed their antlers every year, and these were found naturally fallen in a forest. I painted them to my tastes, and there they are! Considering that my dad is a bow hunter and has a collection of deer skulls at his house, my tastes could have been a lot more... creepy.

So that's where things stand right now. It's amazing how much more a room can feel like your own room once you give it a coat of paint and some cozier bedding. Now I'm just waiting on the head board to complete it, and I'll do the full reveal then.

Oh! One more thing: I just wanted to give YOLO Colorhouse a little thank you for giving my last post a shout-out on their Facebook page. If you're interested to see how Nourish .06 might look in your room, you can subscribe to my free, daily email updates so you'll know when the full reveal is posted.

New Handmade Watercolor Note Cards with Stripes

noreply@blogger.com (Ashley Pahl) — Sat, 08 Jun 2013 19:07:00 +0000

I am super-excited to introduce my new watercolor cards to you! I've had a small line of watercolor cards in the shop for a while, but these new, striped cards are kind of a big deal to me.

Color has always been my #1 inspiration for a new design, and that's what I love about these cards - they're pure color. For now, they come in a peachy/tangerine color; mint green; navy blue; and mustard yellow.

I made a boxed set of four with four white envelopes, which comes already packaged with pretty washi tape - all set and ready to go for gift giving:

I also couldn't help decorating a few different designs - here are some single cards meant for love letters, notes to friends, and family:

The first is a navy blue card with "all I need is you smiling" in silver ink, with silver x's and dashes, and a silver arrow. The saying is a piece of a lyric from the AWOLNATION song, "all I need".

This one is my favorite - the peachy-tangerine watercolor card with gold accents. "There is nothing better than being with you" is a Duran Duran lyric from their 2004 song, "Nice". The gilded text and polka dot borders are hand-drawn.

Finally, this mustard yellow card features "the sweet, simple things in life". This is the most decorated of the bunch, with black ink triangles, ^'s, and tiny dots.

I went with colors that felt like summer to me, so I'd love to know: what colors would you like to see? I seriously want opinions! Which color should I paint next?

Drink: Espresso with whipped cream and caramel drizzle

noreply@blogger.com (Ashley Pahl) — Thu, 06 Jun 2013 18:57:00 +0000

Have I told you yet that I love coffee? I really do. I drink plain, black coffee from my french press every day of the week, but now and then I like make a little treat for myself. Today's recipe - espresso with whipped cream - has to be one of the easiest recipes I've ever done.

There is actually a name for a drink with espresso with whipped cream: espresso con panna. You could order this in most coffee shops. The difference between the espresso con panna and what I am doing today is the order that they're put in the cup. The espresso con panna is a double-shot of espresso topped with a scant quarter cup of whipped cream.

To make my blended version, I started out with about a 1/4 cup of homemade whipped cream (recipe here) in a small mug:

I topped the whipped cream with my double-shot of espresso. If you'd like to make this at home but don't have an espresso pot, fear not: just use extra-strong brewed coffee.

In my version of the drink, it all blends together, and tastes very much like a latte. I just happened to have some caramel sauce on hand, so I lightly drizzled the caramel sauce on top.

If you already have whipped cream at home, then this drink will only take about a minute longer to make than the time it takes to brew espresso. So simple. So delicious!

Have you ever ordered an espresso con panna before? If not, what's your favorite coffee drink?

I still love Martha... and her new Celebrations line at JCP

noreply@blogger.com (Ashley Pahl) — Wed, 05 Jun 2013 11:46:00 +0000

I'm really impressed with the new Martha Stewart Celebrations line at JCP. I really love planning parties, but my little ones don't have birthdays until the autumn. Is it wrong to start planning an October birthday in June? I really don't want to miss out on these sweet little "cotton candy" themed decorations!

There are some really sweet and modern patterns and motifs in this collection. Apparently the Cotton Candy theme is my favorite, but there are gorgeous themes in blues, greens, yellow, black and white, silver, gold, etc. They also cover occasions from birthdays to showers, weddings, graduations, and more.

They have everything from plates, napkins, and cups, to balloons, candy, streamers, tablecloths, banners, and a LOT more. I've snagged one set of the decor for my new studio space (which I can't wait to tell you about!) - I'll share more about that soon...

Check out the above themes and more on JCP. Which theme would you pick for your party?

Free Printable Summer Gift-Giving Organizer

noreply@blogger.com (Ashley Pahl) — Mon, 03 Jun 2013 15:21:00 +0000

Summer is a notoriously busy time of year for parties and celebrations. Last summer we were invited to 4 weddings, three bridal showers, a baby shower, and two graduation parties - and let's not forget 4 family birthdays and Father's Day - YIKES! Of course, we forgot who was in charge of buying which gift, and when we needed it by.

This summer, I have a nice and neat printable organizer to keep it all straight:

♦ List your occasions
♦ Don't forget the dates!
♦ Take note of your budget
♦ Jot down which gift you want to buy them, and from where
♦ Keep track of whether or not you've purchased the gift; wrapped the gift; and bought a card

I'm sharing my little organizer with you - just click below to download and print now!

Download

Free Printable: Summer Gift Organizer

credits: worksheet clip art by The Ink Nest (affiliate link)

Getting Started on my Bedroom Makeover

noreply@blogger.com (Ashley Pahl) — Fri, 31 May 2013 20:55:00 +0000

The bedroom makeover has started! This week, I've been painting the navy blue walls a charcoal grey color. I chose Nourish .06 by YOLO Colorhouse. I'm still deciding on some pieces for the room, since it didn't have much art or furniture before (see the "before" pics here!). I'm interested in finding a mix between geometric patterns and floral. I also want to invite some plants into the room.

So above is my current inspiration for the bedroom. It's shifted a bit since my last post on bedroom makeover inspiration.

Sources
Pillow | English Rose Print | Brass Planter | Shag Rug | Brass Accordion Table | Lion Poster | Velvet Upholstered Headboard | Hanging Urchin Plant | Nourish Paint Color

I got started on painting the walls!

So that's what I'll be up to this weekend - do you have any weekend projects you'd like to share? Post your link in the comments!

DIY Fabric Flower Bouquet

noreply@blogger.com (Ashley Pahl) — Thu, 30 May 2013 12:30:00 +0000

Hi She Makes a Home Readers! I’m Jennifer Wiese from Workroom Social and I’m excited to join She Makes a Home as a guest contributor. Every month I will show you how to make a new, fun DIY project using fabric. Some projects will involve a little sewing, others a little printing. I hope you enjoy our first DIY and I encourage you to check out my blog at workroomsocial.com for more textile crafts instruction and inspiration.

How to make fabric flowers

*If you make a bouquet a home, please share it with us by leaving a comment below! I would love to feature some of your projects on workroomsocial.com.

Tools and Supplies

Ruler

Scissors

Pencil

Needle and thread

Fabric (one or two fat quarters or square large scraps)

Twine

Paper straws

Instructions

1. Iron fabric. Lay your fabric out and fold it on the diagonal. Cut your fabric on the diagonal so you have two triangles.

2. Mark 1” strips on both triangles. Mark strips from the cut diagonal.

3. Cut strips.

4. Match strips cut from both triangles so you have matching pairs of about equal length. One pair of strips makes one flower.

5. At the ends of each strip pair, snip two diagonal lines to a point as if you are cutting the top of a triangle.

6. Lay both strips wrong side up and cut a piece of twine about the same length as the strips. Sandwich the twine between the two strips, wrong sides together.

7. Tack everything together at the top of one end of the strip by sewing through all layers. Be sure to catch the twine in your stitching so it cannot be pulled out.

8. Starting under your the tacking, mark down the fabric strip to the left and right of the center (on the outsides of the twine). Measure ½” down from your original tacking and mark. Repeat 3-4 times down the length of the strip, then transition to larger gaps as you continue down the strip to the very bottom. You can play with the size of the gaps. Try marking 3-4 ½” gaps, then 3-4 ¾” gaps, 3-4 1” gaps, etc.

9-11. Sew tacks down your strip on all markings to the left and right of center. Be careful to not catch the twine in your sewing but rather, the twine should be in the middle of each set of tacks.

11 ½”. Now here’s the fun part! After all tacks are sewn, hold the twine and push the fabric towards the top of the strip. Ta-da, fabric flower! Fluff it up and twist petals around to even out the distribution of fabric.

12. Feed the end of the twine through a paper straw.

13-14. Pull the twine tight so the flower sits on top of the straw and secure the end by cutting two small snips (opposite each other) in the bottom of the straw to hold the twine.

Put your new fabric flowers together in a bouquet and display all around the house!

Refreshing Iced Green Tea with Mint

noreply@blogger.com (Ashley Pahl) — Wed, 29 May 2013 12:00:00 +0000

When I lived in Naperville, IL - which feels like a lifetime ago - I wrote a delicious recipe for Going Home to Roost: the green tea frappe. I'm not big on tea, but I discovered how refreshing green tea could be in the summer when it's sweetened and put on ice.

It was only mid-May when it neared 85 degrees F here in Michigan, and I was craving that cool green tea taste - but with the addition of mint leaves. I've simplified this technique by putting the mint green tea on ice, instead of blending it like a frappe. If you're looking to offer something special for entertaining this summer, give this ice green tea with mint a try!

Serves two

ingredients

brewed green tea for two (extra strength)
3 additional green tea bags
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup water
1 tsp vanilla extract
handful of mint leaves
1/2 cup milk*
ice cubes
optional: green food coloring

optional whipped cream topping
8 oz whipping cream
2 tablespoons powdered sugar
2 tsp vanilla extract

* milk can be switched for any other milk substitute, such as soy or rice milk.

Directions

Start by muddling your mint leaves. You don't actually need a muddle to do this - I'm using the round end of a wooden spatula. You want to gently press the mint leaves and encourage them release some of their oils (where the flavor is), without shredding or crushing the leaves.

Next, start the simple syrup. Bring 1/2 cup of sugar and 1/2 cup of water to a boil in a small saucepan. Once it reaches a boil, add your muddled mint leaves. Allow to boil for 1 minute, then remove from heat. Add tea bags, and allow syrup to cool completely.

While syrup is cooling, brew your green tea. It's best to brew your tea extra strength since you will be "watering" it down with milk and ice. I used two tea bags per serving.

For aesthetic purposes, you may wish to color your iced green tea with a drop of green food coloring in each cup, but it's not necessary!

When syrup has cooled, remove green tea bags and use a slotted spoon to filter out mint leaves.

Whipped Cream

You may also want to top your iced green teas with fresh whipped cream. Whipped cream is actually incredibly easy to make - don't be intimidated!

Pour your whipping cream into a large bowl. Whip with a hand-mixer until stiff peaks form. Add sugar and vanilla, and continue to whip another 30 seconds.

Assembly

Once the syrup is cooled, you can assemble your drinks:

Fill tall glasses 1/2 way with ice cubes. Pour in 1/2 cup cooled green tea; 1/4 cup milk (or milk substitute); 1/8 - 1/4 cup of mint simple syrup. Stir, and top with freshly made whipped cream.

Enjoy!

Places and Spaces: Tour Workroom Social

noreply@blogger.com (Ashley Pahl) — Tue, 28 May 2013 20:50:00 +0000

Welcome to the first installment of Places and Space Tours, where we get an exclusive look at the homes and work spaces of artists, creatives, and indie-preneurs.

Today we welcome Jennifer Wiese of Workroom Social based in Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn, NYC. Jennifer is an experienced seamstress, patternmaker, fabric designer, and screenprinter. She's been sewing since she was 15 and studied industry techniques at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City. More than anything, she enjoys sharing her love of textile crafts with others and is a thoughtful, effective, and fun educator.

Jennifer's space, Workroom Social, is a sewing and screenprinting studio. It is a well equipped workspace that caters to both experienced and novice makers. They enjoy working with crafters and fashion designers alike! Workroom Social aims to educate, support, and inspire those who share their love of fabric.

Let's get started!

Ashley: What is the main purpose for your studio?

Jennifer: My studio caters to textile crafts including sewing, patternmaking, surface design, and screenprinting. I design a line of original sewing patterns and sew all the samples in my studio. I also design and print fabrics at Workroom Social. In the future, I will offer small group classes and workshops to teach others how to design and sew their own clothes and how to design and print their own fabrics.

This is my work area at Workroom Social. I use an industrial straight-stitch machine. Workroom Social also has five home sewing machines for use in our forthcoming classes and workshops.

What kind of feeling do you have when you enter your studio?

I feel inspired and happy when I walk into my studio. It is a great space that makes you want to create things. It’s bright, sunny, and super cozy. I want to spend all my days there!

I like to keep tools and writing utensils easy to see and easy to grab. Right at my desk I have cans of drawing pens, pencils and regular pens, Sharpies, scissors, and knives. I also keep scrap paper and notebooks close by. I love the little drawing in the middle of the photo. My husband drew this for me and everytime I look at it I just want to start coloring.

How do you want others to feel when they enter your space?

I want them to feel the exact same way I do when I walk into Workroom Social! Above all else, I want studio guests to feel welcome in my space. When I was renovating it, I built it with visitors in mind, and I hope people know it when they come by.

We have a small sitting area in the middle and desks are in the back.

My awesome dog beast, Maddie Cakes! She spends almost every day with me in the studio. I love her company.
I have an amazing studiomate. Whitney Crutchfield is a supremely talented surface designer and screenprinter. I love having a desk right next to hers! We use this old magazine rack as our office mailbox.
Poster: a good friend and graphic designer, Eddie Misicka made this a couple of years ago and I just had to have one!
Clipboard wall: I use clipboards to help keep all of my projects organized.

What is a "must-have" in your studio space?

The two Ss...sunlight and scissors! I have a mild scissor obsession and love hunting for cool new scissors to bring back to the studio. And of course sunlight. A little bit of sunshine really helps to motivate and inspire me. I can’t do any work without the two Ss in my studio!

What is a source of inspiration within your studio space?

I always keep a collection of books and magazines in my studio. Whenever I’m feeling a little overwhelmed with too many ideas or unmotivated because of a lack of ideas, I love to flip through old magazines and craft and sewing books for a bit of inspiration.

Some books I have in the studio. I love instructional books and I hope to write one about sewing and one about screenprinting some day.

If you could do one thing to improve your studio space, what would it be?

I’m still figuring out the best systems for organization. It’s a never-ending process!

My scissor collection!
I also love rulers! They are an essential tool in pattern drafting.
I use a lot of cans for organizing! It’s a really cost effective way to group tools.
Magazines: I love reading entrepreneurial magazines as much as I like flipping through fashion and shopping magazines.

Memorial Day Weekend in a Magical Garden

noreply@blogger.com (Ashley Pahl) — Tue, 28 May 2013 17:03:00 +0000

This past weekend, we went back to our hometown - Midland, Michigan. We've been wanting to take our daughters to Dow Gardens, which is a beautiful place we both enjoyed as kids. I'm not sure how widely known these gardens are outside of our hometown bubble, but they are impressive. Since I was a child they have made the addition of a children's garden, which made the trip even more special. We picked my mom up on the way and spent a good two hours at the gardens (kids under 5 are free!)

Have a look around Dow Gardens in Midland, Michigan:

This is the Alden B. Dow Home and Studio, which is not part of the gardens, but is adjacent to them. Alden B. Dow briefly was an apprentice to Frank Lloyd Wright at Taliesin, and I think that shows in the way his buildings become part of the landscape. This home and studio is a national historic landmark that does do tours, if you're into that. I took the tour of the home and studios about 10 years ago - it's seriously amazing.

We all had such a great time at the Gardens - I am willing to say it is my favorite place in my hometown. How about you - what is your favorite place to visit in your own hometown?

Does your Front Door Reflect the People Behind it?

noreply@blogger.com (Ashley Pahl) — Thu, 23 May 2013 12:06:00 +0000

Well this is perfect timing! Just a couple of weeks ago, I was polling you all to see which color I should paint my front door. Well, joining me on the blog today is Jay Harris, a Home Depot sales associate and blog contributor. He's here to to help us see what message our front door is sending to the world - and what that might say about us.

When you consider the fact that your front door is the first thing others see when they approach your home (or even drive by), you start to realize how much of an impact you can make with it – for better or worse! After all, a good first impression can carry you far, whereas a bad first impression can close the door to opportunities before they even begin.

So, let's take a look at what others might see based on the appearance of your front door. From there, you can figure out the best fit for you and find the door that best describes your personality and sends the messages that you can stand behind!

Doors that say "Welcome!"

Red

Photo credit: gracey from morguefile.com

In many cultures, the color red literally means "welcome." Its vibrant hues also allude to inhabitants that are full of life, energy and excitement.

The Chinese consider red to be the lucky or sacred color.
In Christianity, red signifies the blood of Christ and many church doors are painted red for that reason.
In Scotland (any many other countries), a red door signifies the home is 100% owner-owned!
Red doors indicated to early Americans that passersby were welcome to climb down from their buggies and rest inside for the night. Also, it indicated a "safe house" within the Underground Railroad.

Blue

Photo credit: krosseel from morguefile.com

Also the color of water and sky, blue is the most popular hue for front doors and signifies homeowners who view their abode as a refuge: calm, serene, relaxing, a place to rest from a harsh outside world. From the outside, blue doors suggest positivity, prosperity and abundance.

Green

Photo credit: earl53 from morguefile.com

Representing balance, compassion, harmony and peace, green is another popular choice for front doors. The color of nourishing growth (healthy vegetables, anyone?), green indicates life, renewal and new beginnings.

Green is one of the more calm color choices and is often used psychologically to reduce stress and headaches!

Purple

By Mike Procario via Flickr (CC BY-ND 2.0)

The color of royalty in many cultures, purple is also universally known as the most spiritual and versatile color in the spectrum. It symbolizes energy and also a sense of adventure – since it can be a rather specific choice, it indicates the homeowner's willingness to step out and think outside of the box.

Black

by The Prime Minister's Office via Flickr (CC BY 2.0)

Perhaps the most "traditional" color for front doors, black is the color of power and sophistication. It conveys a sense of authority and exudes stability, depth, protection and strength.

Brown - "Please enter" or "Exit immediately"?

Photo credit: marykbaird from morguefile.com

The main color that can send mixed messages is brown. A brown front door can convey warmth, stability and reliability through its natural and organic state or it can just as easily signal a desire for privacy, isolation or solitude when painted darker shades or stains of brown.

A Secret Garden?

Photo credit: robenmarie from morguefile.com

Doors with vines can really go either way.

On the one hand, they may evoke thoughts of a whimsical cottage in the woods or charming barn out of some fairy tale. But if the vines are allowed to take over and cover the entrance, the scene may become more sinister and creepy. Just be aware that if you like the look of vines, they require constant tending to keep them under control.

Doors that say "Go Away!"

Anytime you encounter large, foreboding, fortress-type doors, you are more inclined to feel intimidated rather than welcomed.

Several examples of this type of door include: completely metal doors, storm doors and dark, wooden doors with no windows or side-lighting. This uneasy feeling in others is also created with torn, jagged screens, excessive dirt, cobwebs, piled up newspapers, etc.

So, here are some tips to increase the inviting feel of your front door:

Make sure they're clean: there is a big difference between a few scuffs from years of love and smears of dirt and grime from years of neglect;
Fresh paint always radiates "new beginnings" but even if you can't apply a new coat, make sure to immediately address any chips and peels that arise
If you have windows, keep them free of fingerprints and smudges
Accessories (done right) always up the friendly factor of your front door:

Ensure planters do not contain shriveling or dying plants or flowers
If you have a "Welcome" mat, make sure it is in good condition
Wreaths and knockers should also be in good condition

The most important thing to remember is that your door should reflect YOU! What are some of the unique front doors that you have come across? Was your impression one of "Welcome" or "Walk Away"?

About the author

Jay Harris is a Home Depot sales associate in the Chicago suburbs and a writer on Home Depot's blog. Jay's interests in home improvement include providing tips on doors and patio door advice.

What's Inside the Goodie Box from Alt?

noreply@blogger.com (Ashley Pahl) — Wed, 22 May 2013 19:23:00 +0000

So yesterday, I gave you the complete rundown of what Alt for Everyone was like. What? That's right - I attended Alt Summit from home! Just like the in-person conferences, every participant receives a swag bag - a box of nifty gifties.

So - just what did kitty find in that little black box that arrived in the mail?

A WHOLE lot of black and yellow confetti, for starters. This is most certainly going to be re-used in a gift this summer.

We'll start it off with this organic lip balm in shea orange by Ivory + Ash. I was a bit giddy about this gift because I actually was in need of some clear lip balm. It smells great, and is nice and smooth. Way to go, Ivory + Ash!

Next up is this gorgeous necklace from Zelma Rose. I don't think I love anything more than a surprise gift that is something you would actually pick out for yourself. I am a self-admitted necklace addict, and I love the fabric pattern on the pendant.

This was actually the first gift I picked out of the box - partly because it was the biggest. Bing was Alt's main sponsor. They sent along a mason jar mug filled to the top with tartly sweet bing cherry-flavored candy. I ate a lot of them the same day - talk about a sugar rush! #thanksbing

Also, this is a tip for anyone planning a party or wedding and wants to give out party favors:
useful + edible = awesome gift

Next we have some cupcake flags from Lingering Daydreams. Based on how much I love to bake, I can guarentee you will be seeing more of these flags on this blog. They're a sweet and simple topper, and in patterns I see myself using. Thank you, Lila!

I'm also a bit of a stationery nut - and not just because I own a stationery shop. I am a big fan of the written word, and am a stickler for writing thank you notes. Again, a useful gift is an appreciated gift. That, and these flat notes are pretty. There were 10 notes + gold envelopes in this box - check out PIXELIMPRESS if you'd like to see more!

There was something in the gift box for my girls, too! How fitting, since they sat in on some of the classes with me. These crayons are supposed to be safer for kids, since they are made with bee and soy waxes. They're also softer than mass-produced crayons, making it easier for the girls to color with. My girls are big on coloring, so these alphabet crayons are almost reduced to nubs already - that's a good thing! Visit A Childhood Store to see what other shapes and colors they have in stock.

Finally, I got the above zipper pouch from Blue Q. A carrying case is nice enough, but inside was another zipper pouch, along with some hilariously-labeled wet wipes ("Great friends like you make me pee my pants a little"); a pack of gum; and a mini book. I was really impressed by Blue Q's values - in particular, "Blue Q employs a work force of individuals with and without disabilities. We have been the largest employer of individuals with disabilities in Western Massachusetts for over 10 years."

Some of their products (like the zipper pouches) are made from 95% post-consumer materials, and a percentage of the sales from those bags is donated to The Nature Conservancy - they're guaranteeing a minimum contribution of $150,000 through June 30th, 2015. So WAY TO GO, Blue Q

So that was the Alt goodie bag for the May 2013 Alt for Everyone online conference. Based on how many participants were signed up - 250 (thanks, Sara!) - that was a LOT of goodie bags to send out. So, thank you to Alt, and thank you to all of the indie businesses (and Bing!) who introduced their work to us.

What was it like to attend Alt Design Summit from home?

noreply@blogger.com (Ashley Pahl) — Tue, 21 May 2013 19:35:00 +0000

I had the pleasure of attending Alt for Everyone last week. I totally see the benefits of networking in-person at a conference, but it was so wonderful to be able to attend an Alt conference from home. A fear of flying + being the main caregiver to my two little girls makes travel difficult for me.

So what do you get out of Alt for Everyone?

- 7 online classes of your choice
- a keynote address
- a virtual social meetup
- advice from professional designers, bloggers, photographers, etc.
- a chance to ask questions directly to said professionals
- a gift box
- a wonderful opportunity to build relationships with people who share your interests

I heard talk that there might be another Alt for Everyone conference later next year so if you think you might want to attend the next one, here is my "diary" of attending an Alt conference from home:

I've been pumped about this for a few weeks. Look at the cozy little setup I created in my room for classes:

(Please ignore that quilt-covered pile of laundry in the back corner. It's not a monster or anything).

I got a pot of coffee ready, made the bed, and I was ready to go!

I was able to schedule most of my classes during the kids' nap times and bed times. The few times they were awake, I popped in a Little Bear DVD for a bit, or had my husband come home early from work.

So, here is what it was like to attend Alt for Everyone at home!

Thursday, May 16th

11:15 AM - 12:15 PM - Keynote speaker Joy Cho from Oh Joy! and author of Creative Inc. and Blog, Inc.

Joy shared her journey from a young entrepreneur to author, designer, blogger, mother, etc. Nothing happens overnight! Joy worked hard, put her name out there, and created opportunities when there were none. You really get out what you put into life.

The great thing about these talks is that the class can get to know each other and ask each other advice in the chat box.

I had some company during this class - Kitty was always nearby. My baby girl sat on my lap and watched Joy speak with me, while my older daughter watched Little Bear.

12:15 PM - 12:30 PM - I had 15 minutes to get my kids' lunch ready and my lunch ready. Talk about pushing it!

12:30 PM - 1:30 PM PR on a Shoestring Budget with Adrienne Arieff

Adrienne Arieff is "a PR, digital and marketing communications professional with 20 years professional experience globally and in the US," and WOW - did she have a lot to teach us. I filled up 8 pages in my notebook with advice, strategy, and a 3-month PR plan.

Of course, I missed about 5 minutes of this talk when a argument broke out between my girls - something about Legos...

1:30 PM - 1:45 PM - Naptime! This worked out perfectly because my girls always nap at 1:30 PM. I had enough time to get everyone washed up and tucked in.

1:45 PM - 2:45 PM - Graphic Design for Bloggers 101 with Laurie Smithwick.

If you every get the opportunity to take a class with Laurie Smithwick, do. Not. Wait. Take that opportunity! I was in 2/3 of Laurie's classes - 101 and 201, and both classes were filled to the top with note-taking and solid information. This class was great for me, because as a science major in college, I have never had a graphic design course. This was a fantastic opportunity to learn about using whitespace, color, fonts, and tension when creating graphics, images, collages, and a general blog design.

Laurie Smithwick was the real deal - the whole class agreed that she's an amazing teacher. I'm just so happy that this class took place during the kids' nap time so I could learn uninterrupted.

From 2:45 until 8:00 PM I went back to watching the kids. My husband surprised me and came home a bit early so I could get some work done for my shop before my next class. He even made me dinner:

↑ That is a grilled cheese with barbecue sauce and sauteed onions and mushrooms. I could get used to him making dinner every night...

8:00 PM - 9:00 PM Photo Styling 101 with Susan and William Brinson

This class was also so informative and useful. Susan and William - of blog House of Brinson - are very down-to-earth and patient teachers. William is a photographer, and Susan is a designer and stylist. Now, I don't feel right sharing the secrets they so generously shared with us, but I will say that in order to improve my photos, I might want to invest in a camera tripod, a few new props, and a white board to bounce light.

Susan and William were also really great with showing example photos, tips and tricks on camera angles, and what to do when a photo just isn't quite right.

9:00 PM + Okay... so I have a confession. I was originally scheduled to attend the Alt for Everyone Pajama Party, but the SERIES finale of The Office was on that night, and I couldn't miss. I've been watching the series for 7 years (admittedly, I checked out a bit during season 8 when Michael Scott was gone), but I HAD to watch the story unfold and see how everyone ended up. SO: I signed out of the PJ Party and changed to the Morning Coffee Chat.

Friday, May 17th

11:00 AM - 12:00 PM - Coffee and Conversation

This was a chance to mingle, collaborate, ask questions, and feel like you were really at Alt Summit. I connected with a few bloggers (some of which I still have to email - I'll get on that!), and I got 2 nagging questions answered. It was a terrific opportunity for everyone in class.

↑ We were all asked to take a picture of our coffee, or whatever we were drinking. It literally was a coffee chat.

12:00 - 3:15 - It was a beautiful day that day. The perfect weather. Not too warm, not too hot, and a slight breeze. The girls and I ate lunch outside.

The girls went down for a nap, and I got to work on some blog posts and some orders. My husband came home at 3:00 so I could concentrate on my next two classes.

3:15 - 4:15 PM - Graphic Design for Bloggers 201

This time, Laurie Smithwick focused on teaching us the foundations of color theory and typeface and fonts. Most of us already know about basic color theory, but Laurie taught us a plan for coming up with the perfect color palette. She also went in-depth to teach us what makes a font good; how to pair fonts; and a plan to use fonts properly in design. Again, great content for us peeps with no design background.

Pssst: armed with the information I learned from Laurie, you can expect a slight re-design of this blog coming very soon!

4:30 - 5:30 PM - How to Get Paid What You Are Worth with Sara Urquhart

A big part of getting paid what you are worth is knowing when to say no - Alt founder and director Sara Urquhart taught us how to recognize that for ourselves.

5:30 PM - 8:15 PM - It scares me a little bit when I can't remember what I did three days ago. I didn't write it down, but I'm pretty sure it involved me cooking pasta and putting the girls to bed.

8:15 - 9:15 PM - DIY Advertising with Liz Stanley

How great it was to be in a class taught by Liz Stanley of Say Yes to Hoboken. Liz helped us understand the basics of making an income with a blog, while also staying true to our values. If you are new to blog advertising, then this class is top-notch.

Saturday, May 18th

By Saturday morning, after two afternoons of my husband taking over for me, I missed my one-on-one time with my kids. On Saturday, we played games and read books. I went outside to sit next to the lilac shrubs and work on orders while the kids played outside. I also made some iced green tea lattes (recipe coming soon!).

2:15 - 3:15 - Pinterest Skills Every Blogger Must Know with Jill Nystul

As I learned in class, Pinterest was the #5 most-visited website in the U.S. last year, and it's only growing. It's also the #1 drive of traffic to my blog. I wanted to make sure I was using it correctly, even though I already have my own set of Pinterest tools in place. As much as I learned from Jill in this course, I learned from the rest of the class as well - the chat was very active in this class!

Of course, there were many other classes I could have taken, but we were only allowed to sign up for seven classes, plus the keynote address and the coffee chat. If I sign up for Alt for Everyone in the future, I would definitely want to take Graphic Design 301 and maybe the blog organization class.

Monday, May 20th

My goodie box arrived! But that's a whole other post. Check back in tomorrow to see what Kitty found in this pack of nifty gifties...

Eco-Friendly Chalkboard Paint Pots with Herb Planting Tutorial: Homesteading with This Original Organic Life

noreply@blogger.com (Ashley Pahl) — Mon, 20 May 2013 17:12:00 +0000

Hello there! I am so thrilled to be joining Ashley and all of you lovely She Makes a Home readers for my first monthly guest post! I'm Rachel and I currently blog over at This Original Organic Life about the way I make my own home. I am honored to now share with you all some of what I've been doing in the homesteading world as spring unfolds.

This month, I'd like to share a simple but wonderful gardening and DIY project that go hand-in-hand: making eco-friendly chalkboard paint pots & planting herbs in these pots. It may be late spring (or here in Minnesota, late winter/early spring . . . yikes), but there is still plenty of time to start a garden if you have the itch!

It is often tricky to know where to start if you've never gardened before - being in charge of a life (let alone many lives!) can be overwhelming and feel like a job.

I'm here to offer an easy entry point into both the DIY and the gardening worlds that can often come off as daunting and even elite. Gardening is a joy that has numerous wonderful benefits. This project is accessible and you can do it no matter the size of your living space or access to the outdoors! (I invite you to check out these DIY Project Myths as a warm up if you are feeling anxious about busting out the paint and getting into the planting)

And now, let's dig in. . .

Eco-friendly Chalkboard Paint Pots

Here's what you need for this project:

Clay Pots - any clean and dry clay pot will do!
Colored Base Paint - Plutonium Aerosol Paint is a lovely alternative to often toxic/not-so-ecofriendly spray paints on the market. It's CFC-free, made in the US, and comes in a recyclable tin-free steel can with 40 vibrant color options. Use as many different colors as you'd like!
Chalkboard Paint - Lullaby Paints has a no-VOC chalkboard paint (read: why are VOCs harmful?). This does tend to run more expensive than other common chalkboard paints, but you can consider whether knowing your paint volatile organic compound-free is worth the cost; or you can make your own eco-friendly chalkboard paint!
Paintbrush - you can find Gam Paint Brushes' eco-friendly paintbrushes on Amazon.

There are just a few steps to this simple project:

1.) Start with clean, dry clay pots

2.) In a well-ventilated area, spray paint first coat of color of your choice. Shake can well before applying. When spraying, hold can upright about 6 inches away from the pot, and spray a thin, even coat while moving the can in a sweeping motion from side to side.

3.) Let dry for 15 minutes or so

4.) Turn upside-down to get bottom and any untouched parts of the pot. Apply a first coat in these areas and then a second coat over the full area as needed.

5.) Let pots dry completely after applying all necessary coats of colored base paint

6.) Apply swatch of chalkboard paint onto a portion of the front of pot. You can get as creative as you want here! Make your swatch any shape and size that you desire!

. . . After drying for an hour or two, you are all set:

Now it's time to do some gardening in your lovely pots!

Herb Planting

Start with a few of your favorite herb seeds (depending on how much pot/planting space you have available) and a good organic seed starting mix - Try making your own!

I chose cilantro, basil, and parsley for my herbs. These are 3 culinary herbs that I end up using quite often in my kitchen, and I love having them on hand.

Fun tip: Having fresh herbs around often encourages more cooking - at least it does for me, so this is a great jumpstart to a healthier life in more ways than one!

1.) Dampen seed starting mix just a bit, then fill pots nearly to the top with the mix.

2.) Smooth out soil and create small indentations in the pot, a few inches apart, about 4-5 spread out around the surface of the soil. These indentations are where you will plant your seeds. I suggest planting one kind of herb per pot just to keep things simple. As a general rule, each seed should be planted as deep as about twice its size.

3.) Get your seeds ready by pouring some into your hand - this will make planting easier, especially with tiny seeds (such as basil).

4.) Drop seeds into pre-made indentations. Plant 2-3 seeds per indentation. This is in case some don't germinate ; it's always a good idea to seed more than you need/want. Cover seeds with just enough soil to follow the 2x their size depth rule from #2. Tiny seeds, for example, should just barely be covered by soil.

Once you're finished, it should all look a little something like this:

Ongoing Maintenance of Your Herbs

Keep pots in sunny area - south-facing windows/shelving work well. When it is warm outside (above 60 degrees, on average), you can keep outside in sunny area.
Water as needed - when the soil becomes dry to the touch/sight. One issue people often have is over-watering. This is where it is important to get a seed-starting mix that is porous and allows for water drainage. If your plants are in a rather sunny area, you will likely need to water them twice daily - once in the morning and once in late afternoon. Water just enough for top of soil to become filled with water and take a few seconds to drain into the soil.
When the seedlings become about 3 inches tall, you can thin them (aka remove unwanted/overcrowded plants) as needed. If you wish to keep all your beautiful plants but the pot you've planted them in is too small, transplant to larger pot by gently removing (using small spoon or trowel) individual seedling, roots & all, and replanting into larger pot or outside.

This is my parsley just under 3 weeks after planting:

Enjoy your delicious, vibrant herbs and happy gardening! If you're inspired to go a bit further in your gardening endeavors, check out these garden starting tools & tips. Please come on back and share your experience in the comments section if you tried this project.

Thanks so much for sharing this first post with me, and check back again next month for another guest post on my homesteading adventures.

The Chalkboard Organizational System

noreply@blogger.com (Ashley Pahl) — Thu, 16 May 2013 23:31:00 +0000

We probably all want to be a bit better organized - I know this is something that I struggle with a lot.

Ever since I started this chalkboard organizational system, I've been a lot better at staying on task and prioritizing my life - both long-term and daily.

How it works

1. I have two chalkboards - a big one and a little one. Using a wall-mounted chalkboard erases (pun intended) any risk of mis-placing my to-do list.

2. Place them in a high-traffic area. I keep both of the chalkboards on the wall in my dining room, where I walk by them about 5,000 times per day.

3. On the large chalkboard I write my longer-term, on-going list of things to do: projects to finish, people to get in touch with, ideas to gets started... even home and family-life tasks.

4a. The small chalkboard is refreshed at the beginning of each day. On my small chalkboard, I write the three things I need to get done that day. Those three things are usually the ones with the most urgent deadline, or maybe just the ones that I feel ready to tackle that day.

4b. Things that go on the smaller chalkboard can also just be a smaller piece of a bigger to-do on the larger chalkboard. For example, painting the dining room could be on larger list, but on my smaller list for that day, I might just decide to "put up painter's tape."

5. As I complete the tasks on the daily to-do list, I erase them from the larger board as well, and replace it with something else in life that needs to get done. It can be as big as painting the dining room, or as small as replying to an email.

With this method, I find myself staying on track, and feeling a bit less overwhelmed in general. Knowing that I only have to do those three things each day makes my bigger to-do list a bit more manageable.

So I am curious - do you have a method for your to-do list? How do you keep everything in line?

Introversion, Persistence, and Creativity

noreply@blogger.com (Ashley Pahl) — Wed, 15 May 2013 21:31:00 +0000

I've had great feedback to the original post in this introversion series - it seems to have struck a chord among many other creatives and introverts. Before I get into the importance of solitude for creativity, I want to point out that in no way am I trying to say that introversion is better than extroversion, or that introverts are smarter (I feared that heavily referencing Albert Einstein, it might be perceived that way!). This series is meant to celebrate a personality trait that is central to who I am, and is core to who many creatives are inside. After years of trying to change who I was, I have accepted my quiet disposition. I hope to bring light and value to introversion where there might not have been any before.

Imagination

Never underestimate the value of a good imagination. Even Albert Einstein held a higher regard for imagination than knowledge: “I am enough of an artist to draw freely upon my imagination. Imagination is more important than knowledge. Knowledge is limited. Imagination encircles the world.”

It may or may not be a surprise to you that Albert Einstein was a self-confessed introvert:

“Solitude is painful when one is young, but delightful when one is more mature. ”

Creative types are problem solvers by nature. Creativity is all about recognizing possibilities; finding the right way to communicate an idea; and discovering new ways to be entertaining.

It all fits together so beautifully:
▼ Introversion inherently allows for solitude
▼ Solitude allows for introspection
▼ Introspection allows for reflection, visualization, and problem solving.

Introverts process information internally. The much-desired solitude that creative introverts crave give them time to reflect on all of the information they've absorbed: to see problems in a new light, or express their thoughts and feelings on paper, in words, or in music. Extroverts likely need solitude from time-to-time, too - but it isn't the air they breathe.

For an introvert, solitude feeds the soul, and satisfies our inner being.

Persistence

Says Susan Cain in an interview with the Ha rvard Business Review:
"... Solitude is so crucial to creativity. And it is easier for introverts to go off by themselves, to think in this way because it's something that they need to do, kind of for their own emotional peace. And that coincides really well with creative work. But it's kind of beyond that, too.

It's also introverts, they show a kind of persistence, and a kind of level of concentration that extroverts have sometimes more trouble with. So for example, if you give introverts and extroverts a difficult problem to solve, like a complicated maze or whatever it is, you will find that the introverts spend more time analyzing the problem before they delve into it than extroverts do."

This brings us full-circle to the Einstein quote above:

"It's not that I'm so smart, it's just that I stay with problems longer."

Introverts: do not fall prey to the ideal that you must be out-going, that you must be constantly networking or collaborating to get ahead. You have within you a different, but important skill set. Use your inborn talents and tendencies to solve problems for the world, and in that way you will remain your authentic self.

Kid's Craft: DIY TV Toy from Recycled Materials

noreply@blogger.com (Ashley Pahl) — Wed, 15 May 2013 16:38:00 +0000

Note from Ashley: I love projects that are not only useful, but recycle materials that would otherwise be trash! This project from Jessica Rebelo is so sweet - sure to be a favorite of your little one(s)!

Hello! I have a very easy and fun project for your little ones today. Like most kids Matias is always playing with empty boxes, especially empty Kleenex ones that seems to be everywhere in my flat lately (blame the cold!). Recycling them seems like a good thing to do and Matias is already loving this. Have fun!

Materials

A small empty (square) Kleenex box
Old newspapers
Paper glue (PVA)
Scissors and paper knife
Medium size brush
Acrylic paints
Black Sharpie marker
White and coloured paper
Crayons or colours markers

Directions

1) Cut long pieces of newspaper (around 7 x 2cm long), enough to cover the entire box. If you want a more sturdy result you will need to add more layers. This was my first time working with paper mache, so I used this tutorial which uses half glue half water for the recipe and it worked perfectly.

2) Start covering the box using the paper and the mix - there’s no real formula. It’s pretty straight forward, just cover the entire box. Use the brush to get rid of the air bubbles (Tip: Try not to use dark pieces of newspapers as you will need more paint to cover it up later).

3) If your box has rounded corners like mine, I found useful to cut thinner paper stripes to get a smoother result.

4) Measure the box window.

5) On the top of the box mark where you will cut the opening for the cards using the measurement from above and add an extra centimeter on each side for extra room for the cards.

6-7) Very carefully cut the opening at the top of the box using a knife or scissors.

8) Using a brush and acrylic paints, start painting your box with your favourite colour! Keep in mind that you might need more than one coat to cover the newspaper. You can still see some of the printing on mine, but I like the unfinished look :)

9) After it is completely dry, draw some extra details with a sharpie marker. The speakers, plug’s holes, etc. Make it very personal, funky or retro, this is the fun part!

10-11-12) Cut some colourful paper or cardboard to fit in your boxes window. These should be the width of your window and the height of the box adding an extra centimetre or so to the top (so you can easily add the tabs – see below). I drew pictures of some of Matias’s favourite things and coloured them on white paper and stuck them onto the coloured papers. Alternatively, you can let your little ones draw doodles (or whatever they like) or you can use pictures of family and friends.

13) At the last minute I thought the idea of “channels” so I added some tabs made of the same paper and put numbers on them.

14) Done! Now enjoy and have lots of fun playing with your kids, “changing” channels, learning new words and colouring!

Jessica

Introversion: Using Solitude to Shine in the Handmade World

noreply@blogger.com (Ashley Pahl) — Tue, 14 May 2013 18:47:00 +0000

This week, we are celebrating introversion, and the benefits of solitude. If this sounds like you, then grab a cup of coffee and meet me back here every day this week!

“Introversion- along with its cousins sensitivity, seriousness, and shyness- is now a second-class personality trait, somewhere between a disappointment and a pathology. Introverts living in the Extrovert Ideal are like women in a man's world, discounted because of a trait that goes to the core of who they are.”
― Susan Cain , Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking"

I am quiet. I am without a doubt an introvert. You might remember me talking about this in my Featured Seller interview on Etsy, or when I shared the video of Susan Cain's Ted Talk about introversion. Well, almost a year after hearing Susan's talk, I finally read her book.

The book is called, Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World that Can't Stop Talking. It occurred to me through this book that there are likely a lot of introverts in the handmade and blogging world. According to Cain, "introverts are comfortable spending time alone, and solitude is a crucial (and underrated) ingredient for creativity."

In the handmade and creative world, we all know how much work, and how much time is involved in our creative endeavors. I honestly don't know a person could produce so much by hand if they didn't enjoy their solitude. For me, I am alone when I create, but never lonely.

My Story

I so adore Susan Cain. She even added this to her manifesto: "The next generation of quiet kids can and should be raised to know their own strength." I couldn't agree more.

When I was growing up I was constantly criticized for my quiet disposition. I was told to my face that I don't matter because I am quiet. I was told that someday, I will come out of my shell (as in, I wasn't okay the way I was). I was teased for not constantly talking - I got the sarcastic, "don't talk so much, Ashley" comment a lot. Even teachers felt it was okay to point out to the rest of the class how little I have to say.

I was led to believe that there was something wrong with me - that quiet was bad; that thinking before I spoke meant that what I had to say wasn't worth as much as those who speak before thinking. I was promised by family that someday, I would magically, "come out of my shell", and when that never happened, it was a serious blow to my confidence. I thought that I had a problem, and that it needed to be fixed.

The sad thing is - looking back - I was actually doing alright. I was polite. I was thoughtful. I was a conscientious listener. I had friends, and we had a blast together. I had teachers who adored me, and told me to never stop smiling. But why was it the outspoken teachers and students who made the deeper impression on me?

Starting my senior year of high school, I kept pushing myself to be outgoing - to make more friends, to be more social, to talk just to talk. Upon moving across the state to attend college, I found making new friends difficult. I had no interest in leaving my dorm's door open to let the others pop in whenever they wanted. I wanted to curl up in my bed with my schoolbooks to study, undisturbed.

Says Cain in an interview with Scientific American:

"Many introverts feel there’s something wrong with them, and try to pass as extroverts. But whenever you try to pass as something you’re not, you lose a part of yourself along the way. You especially lose a sense of how to spend your time. Introverts are constantly going to parties and such when they’d really prefer to be home reading, studying, inventing, meditating, designing, thinking, cooking…or any number of other quiet and worthwhile activities.

According to the latest research, one third to one half of us are introverts – that’s one out of every two or three people you know. But you’d never guess that, right? That’s because introverts learn from an early age to act like pretend-extroverts."

It felt wrong to be to pretend to be something I wasn't. I thoroughly believe it's good to push yourself out of your comfort zone, but I don't believe it's right to punish yourself for the way that you were born.

My Turning Point

The beauty of it is this: I discovered that I naturally "came out of my shell" when doing something I truly loved. I was completely silent in economics class, but was the star student with my hand raised in geology, because I LOVED it so much. I may be almost silent in large groups, but my husband or sister and I can talk for hours on end. I also discovered that I have a lot to say when it comes to art, the handmade marketplace, or being your own boss. It's easy to be outgoing when you don't have to fake it.

Reading Quiet has taught me that I don't need to be cured, and that I may come out of my shell, but only briefly - I'll prefer to crawl back in after a while. And there's nothing wrong with that.

Accept the true you, and find a way to shine. Use your personality traits - whatever they may be - to your advantage.

Six Year Wedding Anniversary

noreply@blogger.com (Ashley Pahl) — Fri, 10 May 2013 14:00:00 +0000

The back of my reception dress

This weekend is my 6th wedding anniversary, and I realized that I've never really shared any of my wedding projects or photos with you. My wedding was a huge handmade affair, and my wedding stationery was the catalyst for opening my shop.

Above

Getting my hair done. I had a semi-retro updo with a handmade white lily hair clip in it.
You can see my handmade programs laid out before the ceremony. I also made my invitations, RSVP cards, maps, thank you cards, place cards, and signs around the reception.
The back of my ceremony dress. I was in love with the back of this dress. I loved the train, the buttons, and the straps. I hand-beaded the straps.

Below

My wedding bouquet was handmade by me, too. It featured white lilies, a few light pink roses, pearl accents, and was tied with a white ribbon.
All of my reception decor was handmade (except those paper lanterns). I bought many sizes of candles and hot glued pink, brown, and gold ribbons to them. It was a major fire hazard, but there was only one fire the whole night (groom saved the day!)
This cake was the best part. I still dream of this cake. The top layer was chocolate, the middle layer was carrot cake, and the bottom was vanilla (my favorite). It was covered in butter cream (no fondant). I just remember wanting a pearl motif on that cake, and the baker made it happen with the edging and polka dots. Monograms were huge in 2007, so that's what I asked for. I also knew I didn't want the traditional couple atop the cake, so I found this gorgeous pink flower.
Pink and brown were everywhere at my wedding - I went a bit over-board. What can I say, I was 20-21 years old while I planned this huge event. The party favors were pink and brown Neapolitan candies in little pink sacks with a thank you note. The guest tables were decorated with little votive candles and scattered rose petals.
As you may have noticed, I had two dresses: one for the ceremony, and one for the reception. I loved both dresses equally. I wanted something fun for the reception, but this short dress wasn't what I wanted for the ceremony. I set a budge of $500 for my wedding dress, and both of these combined came in at under $400, so I did well.

After the wedding, we took an Amtrak train to Chicago for 5 days. I'm not sure we would have chosen Chicago had we known we would move there 18 months later, but it was a blast.