I just wanna sew!

Just stumbled across this and I so want to make it for Lucy. I have several other projects in the works, now I just need some time...



I did finally finish Lucy's bed quilt. (I gave the one that used to be on her bed to my mom.) It's mostly made from "Little Folks" with a few other random prints thrown in. I'm such a one trick pony but I just never get tired of this fabric.


I made her the skirt above after seeing this one. I didn't follow the directions exactly because I'm too lazy but I still think it turned out cute and it took me about an hour to make. I used leftover fabric from her chicken Halloween costume. Speaking of... is it really that time again? I have nothing left to give to this holiday. I don't want to spend any money and I'm not feeling creative at all. Hmmm. I've sort of dreamed of seeing Lucy in a blue gingham dress with braids and ruby slippers and thought about bribing the boys to dress up as Lion, Tinman and Scarecrow... but that's a lot of effort for one Kodak moment. Goodbye

Get rid of that junk drawer (or 12)

So it's really happening. I am junk drawer queen. This problem has only gotten worse because 1) I don't have a defined place for things and 2) I probaly wouldn't put them there if I did. Curtis is the type of person who puts things back exactly where they go and after 14 years I've decided his way is better.
So... I started cleaning out my junk drawers the other day. It was like therapy. Here's some of the fallout:

I finally decided that tape and scissors get a drawer all to themselves. It's disturbing to think of the hours of my life spent searching for these two items. The thing is that organization does not come naturally to me. Some people just look at a room and know what to do. Not me. I just start stuffing so I don't have to see any of the unpleasant stuff. And I hate waste. I keep things around thinking that I will find a use for them but often that ends up just being another thing to do! But I just keep repeating "A place for everything, everything in it's place."

I think I may have finally found a solution to the school paper problem as well. The last couple of years I used filing folders in a drawer and it was pretty much a nighmare. This year I have a clear bin for each of the boys and if there is anything at all that we don't want to throw in the recycling bin, we stick it in here. The bins are big enough to fit those big art projects that we don't want to hang but are not ready to throw out yet. I'm planning to go through these maybe once during the year and then again with the child at the end of the year, keeping only a couple things. In the meantime I don't have piles of papers laying around and it's making me SO happy.

Also trying to get better about taking all the school handouts with impt dates and info, writing what I need in my planner (no I don't use an electronic planner... yet. I just learned how to burn CDs people!) and then chucking those papers. Our school is getting much better at sending things electronically so that's helping too.

Lastly, I've started keeping a bag hanging in my laundry room for any random toys that we get from Happy Meals or birthday parties. Then I periodically give them to teachers for their treasure boxes at school. It's helping to keep the toy clutter down. :)

Inspiring quotes

I like the idea of having inspiring quotes/scriptures throughout my house. Especially in places where people linger like the front door or bathroom. One of my pals in Minnesota said her mom did this and words from those signs where always rattling around in her head. One in particular that she mentioned always rattles around in my head: "Choose Your Friends Wisely, For You Will Be Like Them."
One of my sisters has a bunch of awesome quotes typed up and glued to cute wooden magnets on her fridge. They make for great kitchen reading. Lisa, I still want that one about fashion!!! Here is a very short list I've been compiling and I'd love more, so if you have any you love, please share.

A man is what he thinks about all day (Hinckley movie)

Love me when I least deserve it because that is when I really need it –swedish proverb

Scripture on definition of charity (I'd really love to stitch this one out but have never seen a pattern for it and don't know if I could figure it out for myself)

I stitched the one above on our trip to Canada. Don't look too close- I'm sure real embroiderers (cuz that's a word) would be offended. Can't decide where to hang it, maybe in one of the boys' bedrooms. :)

Squishy