a time for everything

A Bowl Full of Lemons

2012-01-14T14:48:00.000-08:00

Ahhh, doesn't that title just sound refreshing?

It's actually the name of one of my favorite blogs. Toni has fantastic ideas for organizing all sorts of areas of life. Those ideas are easy to browse by category/area when you visit, because, well... she's organized! :) I highly recommend her 21 Day Challenge if you need an organizing boot camp that's already laid out for you.

This week she's giving away one of my premium cash envelope system wallets. So go check out her beautiful, inspiring blog and enter before Monday at midnight (EST).

Kids Give-Save-Spend Wallet winner!

2012-01-06T19:40:00.000-08:00

Congratulations, Amy! Please email me with your full name & address and I'll get the wallet out to you!

P.S. I loved reading all of your desires for 2012. Thank you for sharing. :)

Giveaway! {Kids Give-Spend-Save Wallet}

2012-01-02T10:00:00.000-08:00

*This giveaway ended on 1/6/12.*

Would you like a chance to win the Dino Dudes prototype of my new Give-Spend-Save trifold wallet for kids?

The wallet is made with laminated cotton & clear vinyl on the outside (read: wipeable!) and is lined with quilting cotton. Three separate labeled compartments share one zipper. Open, it measures 10 3/4" x 4 3/4".

To make it portable, fold it in thirds and secure with the sewn-in elastic band. There is a choice of either the clear side showing

or the fabric side showing.

Closed, it measures 3 1/2" x 4 3/4".

There are a few ways to enter. Choose as many as you would like, but leave a separate comment on this post for each one.

Leave a comment telling me one hope you have for this year in terms of personal growth, something you'd like to accomplish, a habit you want to make or break, etc.
"Like" A Time for Everything on Facebook.
Join this site using Google Friend Connect (in right sidebar).
Subscribe to my blog's feed (in left sidebar).
Blog about this giveaway or share it on your FB wall.

I will randomly select a winner on Friday night (1/6) around 7:00 PM PST!

This giveaway is now closed. :)

New year, new fabrics, new products

2012-01-01T14:38:00.000-08:00

Happy 2012!

I've been a busy little bee this week. (And my sweet family has been very patient and accommodating! I wouldn't be able to do this without such an incredibly supportive husband.)

I restocked my shop last night with my usual items in some new fabrics as well as brand new items that I designed over our Christmas break. My desire is to offer a selection such that any person who wants a fabric envelope system will find one that suits, both in style and in cost. I haven't yet ventured into anything specifically for guys, because there really isn't any laminated cotton out there (so far) that's masculine-looking. But I'm open to it!

However, I do have two new products that are meant for kids, complete with Give, Spend, and Save compartments. Want to win one? Come back tomorrow for a chance!

2011-12-25T12:55:00.000-08:00

This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.

1 John 4:10

Merry Christmas from our family to yours!

(And because I would be remiss not to include any evidence of their favorite part of having their picture taken...)

They take after their father. Just so you know.
;)

Custom Bible Cover Orders

2011-12-05T07:36:00.000-08:00

I am no longer taking orders for Bible covers at this time.

I may make them available again in another couple of months.

Thank you!

Bible covers can be ordered tomorrow!

2011-12-04T16:28:00.001-08:00

Monday morning I will start accepting orders for custom Bible covers. Since I've made a commitment to enjoy the Christmas season and not be frazzled, I will only take on 10 covers before Christmas. So if you've been patiently waiting (Thank you!), be sure to check back tomorrow!

In the meantime, here are the measurements I will need. Please measure twice so I only have to cut once! :)

Height of front cover
Width of front cover
Thickness of spine
Total distance from the edge of the front cover all the way around the spine to the edge of the back cover. (I realize this is rather redundant, but it will serve as a verification of two other measurements. A flexible sewing measuring tape works best for this.)

Etsy & blog shop SALE!

2011-11-25T08:37:00.001-08:00

From today through November 28 (in order to cover Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, and Cyber Monday!) I am having a sale both in my Etsy shop and here in my blog shop. No coupon codes needed--prices and shipping are adjusted to reflect the sales.

The details:

ETSY

Free domestic shipping
Reduced international shipping
$4.00 off DIY Envelope System Wallet Kits (regularly $22, on sale for $18)

BLOG SHOP

Half off remaining camera strap covers and camera wrist straps
Free domestic shipping
For international shipping, please email me with the item(s) you would like and your address, and I will let you know the shipping amount and then send an invoice if you decide to purchase.

Happy shopping!

Ten on Tuesday

2011-11-01T23:05:00.000-07:00

Just to confirm I am, indeed, still alive...

1. I had a friend and her kids over for lunch today, and as they were driving away, her seven-year-old daughter asked if I was The Pioneer Woman. Isn't that a hoot? The meal I served apparently left a decent impression, though it was far from P-Dub caliber.

2. Ian had his last football game on Saturday. He really enjoyed everything about this season, but he especially loved carrying that ball. :)

He's pretty bummed that it's over and is looking forward to moving from flag to tackle next year. I really like watching (live) football and am one of those relatively rare women who understands what's happening on the field almost all of the time, so I'm glad at least one of our boys enjoys playing.

3. I have discovered the goodness that is Biscoff Spread. You can find it locally at Winco, on the top shelf where the peanut butter is located. (Currently $2.98 unless you use the $1 off coupon found here. You're welcome.) When you start eating it out of the jar with a spoon, don't say I didn't warn you. They also carry the cookies, which you may have had the pleasure of eating on a Delta flight.

4. I can hardly wait to make--well, mostly eat--this salad tomorrow.

5. Grace has been growing exponentially in her reading ability. I love listening to her read aloud, complete with expression. I even notice her using context clues to figure out more difficult words. Makes my heart sing. I deserve at least one bibliophile, don't I? (Oh, please, please, please!)

6. Flannel sheets are one of my favorite parts of the weather turning colder. Along with any recipe with "pumpkin" in the name.

7. Speaking of pumpkin, I made these pumpkin cinnamon rolls a couple of weeks ago, and they were so delicious with the most perfect texture. In place of the glaze, I made up a brown butter cream cheese icing. Wow.

8. I'm trying to lose 12 pounds by Christmas and have 8 to go. So I should probably stop making things with pumpkin. Maybe I'll stick with Snickerdoodles, since I don't like them and my family does. :)

9. I finally found a mineral foundation that is perfect for my skin: Everyday Minerals Semi-Matte Base in Fairly Light Neutral. I've tried other mineral foundations that were too yellowish on me, and this one is not at all. The coverage is excellent, and it doesn't make my face look dry. I first ordered one of their free (except for shipping) base sample kits so that I could try out a few different shades & formulas to find the right one. Choosing a shade online is nearly impossible, so I appreciate that they offer this.

10. I've been busy making wallets for my Etsy shop, and my hope is to get a little bit ahead so that I can start taking orders for fabric Bible covers in a couple of weeks! I'll keep you posted.

Etsy it is!

2011-10-14T18:45:00.000-07:00

I've been wanting to make the move to Etsy for a while but hesitated to learn something new. Instead, I apparently preferred to struggle with html. (Really? What was wrong with me?)

This last time of adding new product to my shop, combined with the fact that Paypal refuses to calculate tax on Washington orders even though I've checked all the right boxes, forced my hand.

Now I could kick myself for not doing it earlier! It's so easy, and relisting items (even different variations) will be a piece of cake.

At this point, I'm only selling my Cash Envelope System Wallet-related items on Etsy, with the exception of kits. Those will continue to be sold here in my shop along with my remaining camera strap covers, camera wrist straps, and burp cloths.

Go take a look!

Cash envelope system wallets are restocked!

2011-10-12T16:17:00.000-07:00

Several cash envelope system wallets and gathered clutches (something new!) are now in the shop. All of the links & cart buttons should be working, but please email me if you notice anything amiss.

The cash envelope system wallets are "new and improved" with turned & hidden seams and better reinforcement along the zipper. I hope you enjoy the new look!

New envelope system wallets coming up soon...

2011-10-12T07:54:00.000-07:00

Please bear with me as I add photos and shopping cart code. It's quite a process and I actually have to leave soon and be gone until 1:00, but I hope to have everything functioning before dinnertime here in the PST zone! Some things may be a little wonky until then.

And here's a little sneak peek of my new items...

Retreating

2011-10-05T09:54:00.000-07:00

In just over 24 hours, I will be arriving here.

For a creative retreat.

I'm joining 14 other women who like to craft (in whatever form) and retreat. Some of us may lean toward one more than the other. ;) I plan to sew, play with my Silhouette, organize coupons, read, organize--and maybe even use--the digital scrapbooking files on my laptop, and probably take a nap or two. And chat. And eat. We even have a designated cook! (Which is why I'm also bringing my running shoes!)

I'll definitely be sitting on one of those decks in the morning, wrapped in a blanket and reading my Bible while sipping a hot cup of coffee. Ahhh...

I have actually never even met 12 of the women who will be there, and one of the remaining two I've only met. But isn't there such a camaraderie among women who enjoy being creative?

Oh, did I mention it's four days long? Four days! Pinch me. And then high-five my wonderful hubby who willingly funded the registration and took two days off of work so that I could go. He rocks.

I might even return with some brand new things for my shop!

See you Sunday night. :)

One Thousand Gifts

2011-09-27T15:40:00.000-07:00

laughing with my sons during creative writing exercises

sliced crisp apples with Gorgonzola cheese

the incomparable feeling of crossing a finish line

the people I love most watching and waiting for me at the end

Ian's excitement after catching & running a pass at football practice

the encouragement of friends

knowing He is good, all the time

candles on a rainy day

the sun peeking through the clouds unexpectedly

when Dave calls just to say I love you

Scotch Laminator for $17.99!

2011-09-25T17:41:00.000-07:00

Remember the laminator I recently bought and reviewed? In case you don't have a Hancock Fabrics near you, you may be interested to know that Amazon has it for $17.99 right now with free Super Saver Shipping! I'm sure that price won't last for long...

From a t-shirt to a dress

2011-09-23T12:20:00.000-07:00

While my sewing skills have grown, I've been a little gun-shy about clothing and have only made a couple of skirts for my daughter. But when I saw ways to use existing tees and add fabric to the bottom, I figured that would be a nice, gentle initiation into sewing dresses.

Since Grace's torso is a little long in proportion to her arms and so she often outgrows shirts sooner than I expect, this was a perfect way to use one of her long-sleeve tees.

I didn't write a tutorial since this was a total experiment, but here are the sources I used:

general instructions: T-shirt Dress Tutorial
trim: Quick little tutorial on how to make a rick rack hem

There are a couple of things I will do differently next time, including cutting the fabric a bit wider so that it's fuller, and making the bottom band a little shorter and possibly ruffling it if I don't do trim. But overall, it was a nice way to get my feet wet!

fabric:
Pillow & Maxfield Gypsy Bandana - Red Gypsy Paisley
Michael Miller Teal Dumb Dot

One Thousand Gifts

2011-09-19T12:40:00.000-07:00

Mondays... a fresh start in so many little ways

kind neighbors who share their harvest of green beans

how the realization that letters build words causes Grace to try and read everything she sees as though it's a feast for her tongue

layers of garden tomatoes, salt & pepper, fresh mozarella, basil leaves, and balsamic vinegar as I try to squeeze out what remains of summer

having Dave back after a week and a half of 12-15 hour days at work

worshiping with my brothers and sisters, arms high and heart abandoned, in awe of the one Who gave it all

hours to sew granted by my thoughtful husband

figuring out a quicker and easier way to gather fabric

my first time making a dress for Gracie and how she giggled and clapped her hands in delight when I showed it to her

big boys who make sandwiches and peel oranges for their little sister & brother

Evan suddenly starting to call me "Mama" again

Ball jar full of peanuts and candy corn

the anticipation of decorating for fall

using what I have and feeling content

Giveaway winner, new cover, and a question for you

2011-09-18T19:15:00.000-07:00

First things first, compliments of random.org. (I did not include my reply to the first comment when tallying the total number.)

Congratulations, Deborah! Please email me with your address. :)

Next, here's my new cover with the Sandi Henderson Secret Garden fabric I was telling you about the other day. I love both covers, but I had a vision of something a little more colorful, and this fits that picture just right.

fabrics

Sandi Henderson Secret Garden Fresh Cut Flowers - Paprika

Liz Scott Sugar Pop Mod Buds in Brown

Amy Butler Lotus Full Moon Polka Dot in Lime

Third, would anyone be interested in purchasing a custom-made cover? Since they would be made to fit, I would ask for a preferred color scheme and style (floral, dots, geometric, etc.) and then go through my stash and email you with a couple of ideas for fabric combos before proceeding. If there's interest and I decide to do them, I will create a shop listing with instructions and price.

Let me know in the comments section, please. Thank you!

Giveaway

2011-09-18T16:24:00.000-07:00

Don't forget-- the giveaway for the Bible cover closes at 7:00 PM PST.

There are five different ways to put in your name. Be sure to leave a separate comment for each one you do!

Timesavers for painting a large area

2011-09-17T14:28:00.000-07:00

When I decided to paint our living room, dining area, upstairs hallway, and two stairwells while my husband was on a fishing trip and I was home with four kids, I knew it would be a big job. In our old house, painting an area meant standard 8 ft. ceilings. Here, it means vaulted ones that peak at 10 feet. That gradual climb of two feet may not seem like much, but it adds quite a bit of square footage!

There were three things that helped to maintain my sanity. I highly recommend them.

My old friend: the EZ Twist Paint Stick. Total lifesaver with vaulted ceilings.

My new friend: the Shur-Line Pro Edger. Seriously, where have you been all my painting life? The thing is a dream. I'm not exaggerating when I say it reduced my cutting-in time by more than half.

The fact that the paint that I used--Behr Premium Plus Ultra---only required one coat! That was a definite first for me. Now, I'm sure it was because I was painting over a color that wasn't a huge contrast, but still. It saved me a couple of hours at least. Behr gets slammed by some people (Mostly contractors from what I've seen--DIYers seem to love it. Hmm..), but I used this formula for my last three painting projects and was thrilled with the coverage.

As far as color, the shade I painted over was a neutral, but it had kind of a pink undertone. And since I lean toward warm colors in my decorating, it just never looked right. Definitely not bad enough to motivate me to change it right away (especially since it was freshly painted before we moved in), but enough to ponder and research and choose a color well before I decided to go for it almost two years later.

The walls went from Valspar Artist's Canvas to Benjamin Moore Shaker Beige (color matched at Home Depot).

Bye-bye pink undertone, hello true neutral. It's not always easy to accurately capture the color with photos, but you can at least see how it warmed up considerably.

I can't say that I love to paint, but I do so love covering up nicks and black marks and nail holes with a fresh paint job. Especially a single coat paint job. :)

P.S. I realize that not everyone prefers warm colors! If any of my local readers is in need of a "cool" neutral, I have a 5-gallon bucket of the Artist's Canvas (on the left) that's at least 2/3 full. It's yours for the asking.

Handmade fabric Bible cover... and a surprise

2011-09-15T12:20:00.000-07:00

When I bought my favorite study Bible in the early 90's--in teal, of course--I also purchased a matching zippered vinyl cover to go with it. I've kind of been over that accessory for a while now, but the worn and cracked edges of the cover of my Bible definitely needed some protection.

I didn't find any online tutorials that fit the picture in my mind, so I decided to just take some measurements and figure it out myself, incorporating the features I wanted.

I did some things that would probably be considered unconventional, like cutting two continuous pieces of fabric in order to save time and then (after sewing and turning my "sandwich" right side out) folding over each end and sewing right sides together to make the pockets the cover slips into. But it turned out just as I had hoped, and I don't think those shortcuts make any difference on the finished product.

I used all Jennifer Paganelli fabrics for this one--the dot from Queen Street, and the other two from Pretty Please. For the decorative piece across the front, I gathered the dot fabric first to add some texture. And of course I had to throw a rosette on there. :)

I decided to go with a Velcro closure since I sometimes have sermon notes, newsletters, etc. in my Bible and the thickness can vary a bit between clean-outs.

The rosette is attached with a Velcro circle so that it can be removed when the cover needs to be washed.

On the spine, I left the decorative strip open at the top so that I could slip in a pen and pencil. Much better than digging in my purse.

But here's the deal. I'm swooning over a particular fabric in Sandi Henderson's Secret Garden line that won't really work for decor in our house, and now I'm thinking I need to make a Bible cover out of it so that I can enjoy it every day.

(Okay, truth: I'm swooning over Sandi Henderson's entire Secret Garden line. It is seriously so beautiful, and the quality of the cotton is fabulous.)

The good news for you is that I'm going to give away the pictured cover to one of my readers, just because I like you. :)

But first you should check and see if it will fit your Bible. Measure the height, which needs to be about 8.75 inches. (A little smaller would be okay.) For the width, measure from the edge of the front cover all the way around the spine to the edge of the back cover. This needs to be about 13.5 - 14". If yours is a little smaller (though probably no smaller than 13"), I could always stitch a line from the top to the bottom on each edge to tighten it up a bit.

I really want this to go to someone who will use it, so please enter the giveaway only if you know it will fit your Bible (or your daughter's, your mom's, your best friend's, your pastor's wife's, etc.).

There are a few ways to enter. Choose as many as you would like, but leave a separate comment on this post for each one.

Simply leave a comment. Tell me something, anything.
"Like" A Time for Everything on Facebook.
Join this site using Google Friend Connect (in right sidebar).
Subscribe to my blog's feed (in left sidebar).
Blog about this giveaway or share it on your FB wall.

I will randomly select a winner on Sunday night around 7:00 PM PST!

This giveaway is now closed!

In my wanderings this week...

2011-09-11T21:37:00.000-07:00

134 free Adventures in Odyssey podcasts at iTunes, dating back to 2006

For the little and big kids... unless I'm the only parent who enjoys listening to these.

Steel Cut Oatmeal recipe from Alton Brown.

It has buttermilk in it! That fascinates me so much that I have to try it. This week. I'll let you know how it tastes.

Motherhood as a Mission Field (Rachel Jankovich for desiringGod blog)

"Look at your children in faith, and see how many people will be ministered to by your ministering to them. How many people will your children know in their lives? How many grandchildren are represented in the faces around your table now?

. . . .

Giving up what you cannot keep does not mean giving up your home, or your job so you can go serve somewhere else. It is giving up yourself. Lay yourself down. Sacrifice yourself here, now. Cheerfully wipe the nose for the fiftieth time today. Make dinner again for the people who don’t like the green beans. Laugh when your plans are thwarted by a vomiting child. Lay yourself down for the people here with you, the people who annoy you, the people who get in your way, the people who take up so much of your time that you can’t read anymore. Rejoice in them. Sacrifice for them. Gain that which you cannot lose in them."

How often do I forget that my children are my constant and most important mission field?

The Superpower Every Girl Has (Emily Freeman for (in)courage)

"I do thankful backflips for the women in my life who can look me in my eyes, ask what’s wrong and know I’m lying when I say nothing. I am humbled into a puddle for the friends who are still friends even though I’ve disappointed, not called back, forgotten to go to their wedding. I want to be okay with my humanness in front of them, to admit when I’m wrong and receive their forgiveness without thinking I have to earn it. Let me be touchable and approachable, not stand-off-ish and safe. Let me risk failing again because you are worth it."

I feel like I still have so far to go when it comes to truly being a good friend, and I have experienced brokenness over this more than once. But one thing I purposed several years ago was to extend grace to my girlfriends. To give the benefit of the doubt when someone doesn't call or text or email me back right away--or at all! To not hold a grudge or make someone "pay" for my disappointment by withholding communication or approval or time. To not use the guilt-inducing phrase "Well hello, stranger!" directed at a friend I haven't spoken with in a while. In general, to do my best not to send the other person to a place of shame. Perhaps it's because I see how often I disappoint others and need grace that my heart longs to extend it. Like Emily, I could nearly do a blackflip of gratitude when I think of the friends who offer this grace to me, forgiving me when I fail them, and inviting me to bloom rather than give up and hide. It's a beautiful gift.

Kid History Episode 6. The store reminds me of my second-born entrepreneur. ;)

My new favorite tool

2011-09-09T17:48:00.000-07:00

I'm not sure how I missed the beauty of this thing.

No, I actually do know: narrow-mindedness. Since I had seen it at craft stores, I always viewed it as a tool for crafting, and I couldn't think of anything crafty I would want to laminate.

Then I was preparing to use our new spelling program and discovered that in order to laminate the 30+ sheets of dividers, cards & tiles (so that they'll last through four kids), we would have to mortgage our home. Seriously, the cheapest lamination I found was $1.49 per sheet. There was no way I was paying that.

So I did my usual ~~over-the-top~~ thorough research to find the best deal. And boy did I find one!

Here's the skinny:

3M Scotch Thermal Laminator:
$24.99 on sale at Hancock Fabrics (not sure how long the sale price will last)
- 3.75 Red Apple teacher discount (bring teacher ID & apply in store; homeschoolers qualify)
- 5.00 manufacturer mail-in rebate (located on box)
$16.24

Scotch 3mm laminating pouches (50/box)
$9.99 at Hancock Fabrics (in-store price; online price is higher)
- 4.00 Jo-Ann's coupon for 40% off any regular price item (Yes, they take Jo-Ann's coupons.)
$5.99

So, for $22.23 (plus tax), I came home with a laminating machine and 52 pouches (since two came with the laminator). That's how much I would have paid to have only 15 sheets laminated. Price per sheet when figuring in both the machine and box of pouches? 43 cents.

The best part is that I'm left with a machine to show for it. And subsequent sheets will only cost 12 cents each to laminate if I use a 40% off coupon to buy the pouches!

I did get one sheet done at the box store before buying the laminator, and I can say that the quality of the ones I did at home is just as good. Nice and sturdy, no wrinkles or bubbles, and the coating is completely transparent.

I'm also going to laminate our history cards since we handle them every school day, and I'm thinking of using the machine to turn some things into a dry erase surface.

I have a laminator, and I'm not afraid to use it.

Another homeschool year... organization, curriculum, and a sweet sewing spot

2011-09-07T21:34:00.000-07:00

We finished our second day of school, and I'm feeling a bit lame for not having taken any "first day of school" pictures. But it is what it is! It's not as if my boys were sitting in new classrooms or wearing new clothes. Frankly, I consider it a successful fashion day if they change out of their pajamas before we start. And if they don't? Well, that's part of the beauty of learning at home. :)

In the beginning of this journey, I would feel a sense of panic as a new school year approached. I can remember sitting down to plan and feeling totally overwhelmed even though I had experience teaching in a regular classroom. But a few years under my belt have given me more confidence, and I've figured out some ways to streamline the planning process.

I started this school year feeling more prepared and organized than ever before, mostly because I was very intentional in August about doing everything I could to plan out our year ahead of time. My temperament is such that the more my ducks are in a row to start, the more comfortable I am being flexible and changing things up a bit as we go. Can anyone else relate to that?

This is the second time I have created detailed lesson plans for the whole year before the start of school. It's also the second year I've made copies I know I'll need (strictly legal ones!) ahead of time. This year I actually filed them within monthly hanging file folders by week, with an extra folder each month for seasonal stuff. This is going to make things so much easier on Sunday nights when I pull all our books and papers for the week.

I keep the majority of our materials in two standing cabinets from Shopko, mostly organized by subject. On the lower left, you'll see that the boys each have a stack of three 3-drawer organizers that hold one subject/activity per drawer. It's a perfect set-up for when I'm working individually with one of them (or tending to the littles), because the other one can always start on something else.

On the outside of the upper cabinets are dry-erase blocks where I briefly sketch out what each of the boys will be doing individually as well as what we'll do together. It's a great visual for them, and I appreciate not having to constantly check my binder for each subject.

Here's what we're doing this year:

together

Big Truths for Young Hearts; Lord, Teach Me to Pray (for Kids)
Veritas Press History: New Testament, Greece & Rome
Real Science-4-Kids: Pre-Level 1 Chemistry, Biology & Physics
SmallWorld's Wordsmithery Creative Writing
Hymns for a Kid's Heart (learning the hymns as well as the history behind their writing)
Classical Kids (Beethoven Lives Upstairs, Mr. Bach Comes to Call, Tchaikovsky Discovers America, Vivaldi's Ring of Mystery, Song of the Unicorn, Hallelujah Handel!)
Mark Kistler's Online Art Lessons (discount available through Homeschool Buyers Co-op--$39.60 for a three-year family subscription)

Ian (5th grade)

Caden (3rd grade)

Saxon Math 54
Primary Language Lessons
All About Spelling
A Reason for Handwriting Level C (first part of book)

(And, of course, various other fun and seasonal things as they come along throughout the year.)

I'm pretty excited about what's on the menu!

I was also inspired last week when I saw the sewing corner that Lindsey of The Pleated Poppy has in their playroom/schoolroom. I already had a table in ours for sewing (since I enjoy it much more where there's decent natural light), but so many of my supplies were still in my basement craft area. I decided to bring up my fabric and as many of the basics as I could without overwhelming the space. Now I have most everything I need in one spot and can putz around here and there, pulling and grouping fabrics and planning for my next project while the boys are working independently. And when I sew in the evening or on the weekend, I won't have to be running up and down the stairs for what I need!

Remember when I shared that John the nice carpenter had cut something else for me? Well, it was dividers for my fabric organizer. I found this chippy piece for $8 at a yard sale and was told that it had been used for storage at a stained glass business. It had six long compartments which resulted in my fabric being rather piled. But there were six more sets of slots, so I slipped in the newly cut pieces of hardboard and now have 12 compartments. That, of course, called for a reorganization of my fabric. (I'll use anything as an excuse.) I used to do it by designer & line, but now it's kinda/sorta/for the most part by color.

I'm hoping the convenience of this setup will help me be more productive so that I can add some new things to my shop!

You can see more photos (from last year) of our school room here.

More baking cupboard organization: measuring cups & spoons

2011-08-31T12:39:00.000-07:00

I did a little happy-dance-of-discovery a few weeks ago when I saw what Beckie at Infarrantly Creative did inside her cupboard door to organize her measuring cups and spoons.

Where my hubby works, there's a lot of scrap wood that gets sent to the burn pile. So, one nice carpenter named John and a batch of chocolate chip cookies later, I had some pieces of wood to use. He even cut them from two different thicknesses since he wasn't sure which I would prefer. And he sanded the edges. See? Very nice.

I chose the thicker ones (I think they're 1x2's?) so that my cups and spoons would stand out from the cupboard door and hopefully bang around less.

This project definitely evolved as I went. I originally planned to just paint the pieces white to match the inside of the cupboard door. Then I got the better idea of covering them with the same fabric I used for my labels.

To avoid frayed edges, I ironed Heat'n Bond to the back of the fabric and then trimmed the pieces to size. Then I decided to use some iron-on vinyl on the front to make them wipeable. Yes, that is the order in which I did it, and no, I do not recommend following my example! (Either way, remember that you have a coating on each side and be extra careful to use the backing paper that comes with them.)

Did you know that Heat'n Bond can be used on wood? Neither did I at the time, but that didn't stop me from trying it! A layer of thick backing and few quick passes with my iron, and the fabric was nice and adhered with no need for glue.

Next, I lined up my cups and spoons to figure spacing. I actually drew a diagram on paper and did the math and made notes exactly where to put the hooks. (I'm kind of particular that way. If you don't care about such things, eyeball it and save yourself a bunch of time!)

After screwing in the cup hooks, it was time to get them ready to hang. The inside of our cupboard doors is completely flat. Since I really didn't want to put holes in the door if I didn't need to, I decided to use Command Picture Hanging Strips. First I paired them up and applied them to the back of the wood.

(Note: The next two photos show only one strip on each end, but I redid them with two on each end--one toward the top and one toward the bottom--so that there would be no "rocking." I highly recommend this to ensure that the pieces are nice and flat against the door.)

After figuring out where to place them so that they and the utensils would clear the shelves, I removed the backing, used a level to make sure the pieces were straight, pressed them against the door, and then peeled away the wood. Once you do this, be sure to press firmly along the length of the strips that are left behind to help with adhesion.

{Intermission to make my kids lunch and complete a few other tasks while waiting the necessary hour before hanging.}

Using the level again, I lined up the pieces with the strips on the cupboard and pressed them together. Then up went the cups and spoons. (green: Kitchen Aid, stainless: Ecko)

I love it! And my plan to use the thicker pieces to minimize the noise was actually pretty effective. No more digging around for spoons or tipping of stacked cups. They even get hand-washed right after I use them since I'm motivated to have no empty hooks. ;)

Caden and I just finished baking a second round of cookies for John. Soon I'll show you what he cut to earn that thank-you batch!

Links for 2011-08-05 [del.icio.us]

2011-08-06T00:00:00-07:00

Smashed Peas and Carrots: The Best Coffee You'll Ever Have and How to Use a Coffee Toddy
I need to try this cold brew method for making coffee, especially to have it on hand for making iced coffee & granitas.

Links for 2011-08-04 [del.icio.us]

2011-08-05T00:00:00-07:00

An Appetizer for the Feast by Noël Piper | Reformed Theology Articles at Ligonier.org
"Good things can happen in solitude. Quietness can be a sweet place to meet God. But there’s a dark side to solitude when I crave it above all. The I comes to mean not “introvert” but literally only “I”: I don’t want you around, because I am the one who makes me happy. I can solve my own problems. I am all I need."

I appreciate and completely relate to Noel Piper's vulnerability. And I pray that I won't wait until age 60 to learn the same friendship lessons.
Johann Hari: How to survive the age of distraction
"And here's the function that the book – the paper book that doesn't beep or flash or link or let you watch a thousand videos all at once – does for you that nothing else will. It gives you the capacity for deep, linear concentration. As Ulin puts it: 'Reading is an act of resistance in a landscape of distraction.... It requires us to pace ourselves. It returns us to a reckoning with time. In the midst of a book, we have no choice but to be patient, to take each thing in its moment, to let the narrative prevail. We regain the world by withdrawing from it just a little, by stepping back from the noise.' "

Links for 2011-07-23 [del.icio.us]

2011-07-24T00:00:00-07:00

Do You Drip? | CindyBeall.com
I used to be a big dripper (Get it? Ha.) Thankfully, any leaks I experience now can usually be taken care of with a little tightening (aka the Holy Spirit).

Links for 2011-06-10 [del.icio.us]

2011-06-11T00:00:00-07:00

I'm Overdue for my Performance Evaluation
Sweet words that hit the spot.

Links for 2011-05-28 [del.icio.us]

2011-05-29T00:00:00-07:00

Healthy Snacks I Feed My Family | Heavenly Homemakers
A great list of healthy snacks with links to recipes.

Links for 2011-05-12 [del.icio.us]

2011-05-13T00:00:00-07:00

10 Tips to Beat Clutter…in Less Than 5 Minutes.
I already do several of these, but a few were new suggestions. I agree that some of the quickest, simplest tasks can prevent that feeling of being overwhelmed.

Links for 2011-04-21 [del.icio.us]

2011-04-22T00:00:00-07:00

What I’ve Learned & Can’t Do Fast Enough {Ebook Advice from The Nester’s Dad}
Very informative. Makes me want to get writing!