Creativity, Crafts, Books, Movies, Greyhounds & Favorite Things

.

Last week, I commited to cleaning out my linen closet.  Here are the dramatic “befores” and “afters.”

Top (Before)

 

Top (After)

Bottom (Before)

 

Bottom (After) 

I never look forward to these clean-ups, but they sure feel good after I do them.

Daily Inspiration

 

Well done is better than well said.

Benjamin Franklin

.

I saw this list in the July 2012 issue of Better Homes and Gardens magazine…”four ways to shake up your routine – and pocket greater happiness.”  Some nice ideas to consider if you find yourself settled in your ways.

1.  Make a new friend.  As we get older, our social circles tend to shrink.  Making new friends is a great way to break out of a rut.

2.  Upgrade your style.  Settling for the same look year after year can leave you looking and feeling tired.  Step outside your comfort zone by getting a fresh haircut or donning a colorful scarf.  It will give you a shot of confidence that brightens your entire outlook.

3.  Pursue a second career.  The profession you chose at 22 doesn’t have to last you through retirement.

4.  Adopt a tricky hobby.  Acquiring skills can soothe stress and sharpen thinking.

Daily Inspiration

 

Can you imagine what I would do if I could do all I can?

Sun Tzu

.

This week, I started Session 2 of Artful Gathering.  I’m taking two classes,  Mixed Devotions with Cristina Zinnia Galliher and Make Every Minute Count Art Doll with Cat Kerr.

I’m starting with Mixed Devotions.  We’re make three bottles…Celestial Choir, Far East Laughing Buddha and Interpretive.  The picture above is from the class website and shows what the finished bottles will look like.

I’m starting with the Far East Laughing Buddha Art Bottle. 

I began adding the base layers to my bottle…tissue paper, pieces of book paper and cheesecloth.

The next step is painting.

Daily Inspiration

 

Life happened because I turned the pages

Alberto Manguel

.

This is the last week of my “heirloom investigation.”  The text in black is what I knew; the text in red is what I found out.  Sometimes, what you find out is a little anticlimactic.

Bunny Planter

I believe this was a planter (with a plant) that my mom received in the hospital when she was there having me.

 

My mom thought that sounded right.

Romper Room Mug

This was my Romper Room mug.  I loved watching Romper Room as a little girl, and this was my milk mug.

My mom’s comment when she saw this…”Boy, is that old.”  Thanks, mom.

Quilting Squares

I don’t have a clue what’s behind these.  Seems like I remember them always being around, but I’m not sure how I ended up with them.

My mom thought these were cute and kind of remembers them…but that’s it.  She was sure she did them for me.

Sometimes, what you know about your heirlooms is all there is.

Daily Inspiration

 

When I look back on all these worries, I remember the story of the old man who said on his deathbed that he had had a lot of trouble in his life, most of which had never happened.

Winston Churchill

.

Try as I might to finish, I started this week’s “Try This” project too late.  So, I’ll give you a peek.  Can you guess what it’s going to be?

Daily Inspiration

 

One of the greatest labor-saving inventions of today is tomorrow.

Vincent T. Foss

.

Here are a few of my favorite items from the Sewing Notions aisle of my local fabric store.

 

Rubber Brush – Our kitty, Twinkie, sleeps at the foot of our bed, so we always have a little hairy spot on an otherwise clean bed.  This rubber brush cleans up the hair and is easily washed with soap and water.

4 Pocket Wash Bag – I’ve mentioned before that laundry bags are one of my favorite things; this is a new variation.  I particularly like to use it if one or more of my “delicates” has something (like a bra closure) that can snag on another piece of clothing.  The separate compartments keep everything nice.

No-Slip Bra Strap Clips – These are clever little things.  Attach one to your bra strap and it won’t slip off your shoulder.

Daily Inspiration

 

Let us be grateful to people who make us happy, they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom.

Marcel Proust 

.

Here’s what I’ve been working on:

In July, my “Try This” posts are all about kits.  This past week, I stitched up a Stitch & Zip coin purse.

I did a little more finishing work on my Crazy Quilting 101 pouch.

I got together with one of my card clubs and we made these cute photo album inserts.

 

Photo from Stampin’ Up! website

They fit in these ingenious photo album pages from Stampin’ Up!

I also worked on my art journal.  I’m following prompts from Art Journal All Year E-Course from Red Velvet Shop.

Daily Inspiration

 

Art is a collaboration between God and the artist, and the less the artist does the better.

Andre Gide

.

Time for another closet clean-up.  This time, I’m tackling the linen closet in my bathroom.  I couldn’t stand back far enough to get  one complete  picture of the closet, so I did “top” and “bottom.”

 

Top

 

Bottom

Next week, the dramatic “after” photos.

Daily Inspiration

 

.

 

Yesterday, I was reading one of my favorite blogs, Harvest Moon By Hand.  Ann is reading a book called Clear Your Clutter with Feng Shui by Karen Kingston.  The book lists several effects that clutter can have on a person.  As I read through the list, I thought it also makes a great list to hold up against an item.  If the item meets any of these criteria, it might be a good thing to get rid of.  Since I’m doing a lot of decluttering this year, I think it will be very helpful to me, especially when I’m feeling stuck on whether to keep something or give it away.  I’ll be looking to get rid of things that:

make me feel tired and lethargic.
keep me in the past.
affect my weight.
confuse me.
affect the way people treat me.
make me procrastinate.
cause disharmony between people.
make me feel ashamed.
put my life on hold.
can depress me.
create excess baggage (as in when you go on a trip you tend to take more than you need).
dull my sensitivity and enjoyment of life.
cause extra cleaning.
make me disorganized.
are a health or fire hazard.
distract me from important things.

Hmmm…I might not have much stuff left, but you get the point.

Daily Inspiration

 

.

Session 1 of Artful Gathering is done.  I took Crazy Quilting 101 with Pat Winter. 

Last week, I added embellishments and started to finish the pouch. 

I ran into two little problems.  I decided to finish mine differently…unfortunately, my way left me with a seam on the inside lining.  I should have followed the instructions!

 

 

I also didn’t leave much room for turning over the seam at the top.  I think I have a solution for both these dilemmas, but I need to go to the fabric store first.  So, you’ll be seeing this pouch again…hopefully, finished.

This week, Session 2 classes started.  I’m taking Mixed Devotions with Cristina Zinnia Galliher…

 

And, Make Every Minute Count Art Doll with Cat Kerr. 

Daily Inspiration

 

Flowers don’t worry about how they’re going to bloom.  They just open up and turn toward the light and that makes them beautiful.

Jim Carrey