Art Time

We did these after I saw this post and this post by That Artist Woman.  She has some amazing projects to do with kids.  This first photo is of Elizabeth's (she did spring), then mine and then Ian (we did fall).  The last one is of William's. 

Hot Spot #1: Before and After

Behind the door is our closet.  It's size lends itself to MUCH clutter and accumulation.  So I tackled my half this week and was amazed at how many clothes I have.
Before:
11 Dresses, 3 Blazers, 17 skirts, 48 shirts, 11 pants, 17 sweaters and cardigans and two totes of socks and other random clothes.  Whoa.  I had no idea how much I had stashed away.

Here is my half before.

Here is what I pulled out.  A bed full of clothes and two totes and a bunch of stuff that doesn't belong but got there by space default.  It is still stacked in our entryway (kids clothes both too big and too small, picture frames, tripods, bedding, hammock, empty shoe boxes, books and birthday gifts.) 

I really like how the empty closet looks though maybe a little bare.

After:

Here is all the the clothes back in and re-folded.  There is still a bit much but some of the pieces will probably go in the next round but I wasn't quite ready to part with them yet!

After count:

8 dresses, 1 blazer, 7 skirts, 35 shirts, 4 pants, 15 sweaters and cardigans.

This was used for baby blankets and and the like.  It now houses my sweaters, cardigans and running and gardening clothes.  I love how tidy and contained they are now.

Here is what I purged out.  Three boxes of clothes and three pair of shoes.

Here is another after picture with everything back in.  I  got down to one tote.  The kids clothes are on the right and some seasonal jackets.  My husbands newly folded t-shirts, gardening clothes and sweaters (you're welcome!) are on the top right.

Here is the final stack.  Some random toys, linens (selling on ebay) and a box of kids books that I purged last week.

 

Overall I would say this was a success.  I am moving on to the linen closet but I am taking pictures as I go!! It all has to fit back in there.  I hope it only takes one day and not three like the wardrobe did.

Project: Simplify Begins Hot Spot #1

This is going to be a rough few weeks but Tsh at SimpleMom has picked the perfect starting place....

Our own wardrobe!

Behind this door lays a LOT of stuff and soon it will be a whole bunch cleaner.  Come back Friday to see my before and after pictures!  I may even be able to get Scott involved!!

Come and join the party of organizing and decluttering our lives at Project: Simplify.  

Here's to a simpler life!

Oh, and you will see these Project: Simplify on both blogs.

No Plan = No Action

Side one

I have decided that not having a plan for my life is leading to a serious lack of action. I feel like this little guy.

I have been watching Scott get it together on paper, as in returning to his Franklin planner to get it all done. As much as I like my iPhone (actually love it but mostly it is a distraction) I need a return to physically being organized. I need to be away from the computer or I get lost in blogland and surfing and have not one bit of self control. As a result I spend all my time looking and wishing and not DOING anything constructive or productive or useful. I am behind on my on-line class (just started but can't get logged in), my calling (assistant camp director for the ward--EEK), and my service at the kids school (Box tops for education, labels for education and MCR). Not to mention the creative pile that is my shared sewing room (another post for that.)

Okay enough venting, then to quickly mention the remaining monsters shown below and then to run from the computer!
I was surfing one day and came across the super cute fleece monsters.  I knew that I needed to make some for the kids.  I gave them on Christmas Eve with the blankets they are laying on.  Ian wanted a two-sided monster because he couldn't decide on one eye or two! 

This is side two.

Elizabeth really wanted to use this leopard print.  Then it had to have hot pink hair and boots.  A nod to a good friend of ours.  She also has eyelashes!

William wanted a really big saber tooth smile and one eye

Spencer got to have the super monster with a mask and a goofy, toothy smile.

I clearly have issues.  This post has taken over an hour!  Kids, phone calls and emails.  Oy.

Photo of the Day

A birthday gift for a friend. We made the bow out of an old magazine and the box out of scrapbook paper. Contents: one small loaf of whole wheat bread and one large chocolaty brownie.

Birthday gifts and a farwell

I haven't blogged in forever.  This and other posts have been waiting for three months for me to get back at it.  I love to look at other peoples creations and wonder how in the world they have time to post and create.  I just create.  Above is a dresser I bought at a yard sale and repainted.  Then added some decals that I picked up on super clearance at Target.  They have since be removed and added to the wall of EJ's room but that is another post.  The mermaiden is from wee wonderfuls.  I found it via purplepetunia and then Martha Stewart.  The one with blue hair and a great little quilt I made for a 5th birthday party gift.  They were a big hit.  EJ wanted her mermaiden to have hair flowing sideways.  Right.  So we fiddled and re-drew the pattern and finally made flowing hair and seashell dress.  The large flower in the right is a pillow case I made for another birthday.  The mom asked if I could make a second one.  The fabric is out of print and I can't find it anywhere.  So I had to say no but if anyone out there has some let me know:)

This next three are of a block I made for an aquaintance that had cancer.  She passed away this past fall just after the finished quilt was delivered to her and her family.  She was amazing in so may ways.  I really wanted to keep it for myself which was good and it made it a real gift to her.

I knew I wanted to make a tree.  The block size was supposed to me 5"x5" I think.  I made mine 10x15.  I found this fantastic book and used part of the poem.  All in a Day by Cynthia Rylant.  The poem is wonderful and the artwork is amazing!

Back of the block shows the details of the quilting a little easier.

Front of the block.  I also used fabric pastels to add some detail and extra color.

This last photo shows the texture of the trunk.  I love the way it turned out.  I made it out of fabrics that I used in a quilt for my mom and that I picked up in Canada about 5 years ago. It added even more meaning to the quilt as my mom passed away from cancer 13 months ago. 

Blogger's Quilt Festival Fall 2010

I am so glad that I saw this happening again! I have been very absent from blogging this year. Thank you, Amy, for hosting the great Blogger's Quilt Festival again! I love seeing everyone elses amazing work. It is always inspiring.

This quilt started as a small idea, two teachers retiring and somehow involving all of the students. I donated the time and material to make this quilt (and the next) and the PTO helped to cover the cost of a long-arm quilter to do the hard part! I had a short time frame, I think it was about a month.

Orginally I thought I would have each student do a 6" block but that was simply too daunting to prepare and sew with the time I had given myself. I chose a garden theme because it lends itself well to childrens creativity and both like to garden. I love this quilt because of it's long garden rows spaced by a great batik grass. Then surrounded by water/sky.

The garden spaces are made up of two classes each and the last row with the thank you block. It was great to watch the children put something in the garden and show their love for these teachers. It was great to work with the fabric pastels. I've used them on a couple of projects since then.

This was a great exercise for me to give over the creative license to the kids and even more to hand over the quilts to be quilted by someone else. My friend did a fantastic job and worked fast to help me meet the deadline. I could see myself getting carried away with the quilting and that would have taken away from the beautiful art.

Wrapping up the quilts I used the extra from the backing (there was a lot!) and made cases for them. We hung the quilts up at school for a couple of days for the kids and teachers to see the final project. They loved how it all came together and so did the recipients. Lots of love shared and tears shed.