Gathering

Today I had a great day with complete strangers! I belong to a Yahoo group for people in Indiana that quilt. One of the girls here in the northern part of the state organized a "sew day" (the southern girls do this often) for us. While we had a small turn-out it was a complete blast! It was great to put faces to names, to make new friends, and to share in something we all love to do. If you belong to any online groups, let me encourage you to organize your own gathering. We each brought a project to work on and a snack to share. We met at a quilt shop and sewed the day away. We gave eachother advise, encouragement, and oohs and ahhs. If you have done this before please share with me your experience with it. I know I had a blast and look forward to doing it again.

Crafty Organization

In my quest to get organized I’ve come across some great tutorials for making storage fun and pretty. Enjoy!

Pennie Pockets (pictured above)

Hanging Bed Organizer
Basket Liner
Charging Basket
Storage Cube
The Undercover Crate
Recipe Card Holder

Also, if you get yourself a copy of Anna Maria Horner’s book “Seams To Me” there are wonderful patterns in there for storage solutions. Happy organizing!

Many thanks to Monica at Happy Zombie for allowing me to use her photo of her Pennie Pockets, I can't wait to make me some!

Everything in its place and a place for everything.

I live in an old house with very few closets or storage spaces. Minimal storage space is a problem for many people but for a crafter it can be a hinderance. For the new year I've decided to get creative with storage issues. I hope you'll comment about your ideas for using the expected for unexpected things. My first idea is for over-the-door shoe holders. I will be taking one (at least) of these and I'll use for my smaller objects, like ribbon, ric-rac, glues, marking tools, scissors, etc. I will choose one with clear pockets so everything can easily be seen. This would also work great for the scrapbookers and stampers with all their little gadgets. Share some of your organizational tips too.

Photo from spacesavers.com. Check out their website for great organizational products and think outside the box for ways to use them.

Ice

Like most of the midwest we here in northern Indiana were hit with a snow/ice storm yesterday. We didn't get it as bad as some but it was bad enough. The one day the children look forward to going to school it was cancelled! But an extra day off for Christmas vacation wasn't too bad in their book. Where ever you are I hope you are warm and safe.

Christmas Crafty Goodness

(Photo from Joann.com)
I'm such a bad blogger! I've been busy crafting this and crafting that, shopping, being lazy, and eating until I thought I would pop! I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving. I don't have pictures of any finished crafts so today I'll just point you in the direction of some Christmas crafty goodness. Enjoy!

Sleigh Centerpiece

Folded Fabric Wreath

Light Bulb Ornament

Felt Gingerbread House

Felt Fir Trees

Fabric Christmas Tree (pictured above)

Please share your favorite Christmas crafts too.

Passing it on

I think it's so important to pass our creative juices to our children. Their minds are naturally more creative than ours and it's amazing the things they can come up with. My children always watch, question, and join in when my craft supplies are out. Recently they all have been interested in the sewing machine (probably because I've been doing alot of sewing lately). So tonight my daughter decided she needed a new pillow. I was just gonna make her one but she asked if she could do it. She had a blast and she did very well. My youngest son watched and asked when he could try. My oldest son takes Family and Consumer Science (formerly known as Home Economics) and could probably teach me a thing or two! I'm so thrilled that they have taken an interest in sewing. Since I'm still a beginner it will be fun to learn and create together. I think Santa will be leaving some charm packs and jelly rolls under the tree this year!

What do you like to create with your children?

T-Shirt Pillow

While going through clothes for the change of season with my children my youngest son came across one of his favorite shirts. He was bummed when he tried it on and it was too small (I was bummed too because that meant many clothes wouldn't fit and there went my checking account). A few days prior to that I ran across a fun t-shirt pillow project on a crafting site I belong too called MyCraftivity. So tonight Mommy became the hero of the household when she took that favorite shirt and made it into a favorite pillow. You can get that simple project here. What recycling projects are you up to these days?