New Year.... New Look....

Have you all noticed my new look?

Do you like it?

Pretty spiffy huh!

Not too long ago Erika at Oops I Craft my pants had an amazing deal that I just couldnt pass on.

(catchy name too isnt it)

I emailed her and literally within a matter of 2 days I got a new look for my blog.

I answered a few short questions and bam I saw my ideas come to life.

Very talented one I tell you that Erika.

Check out her blog below



AND

She just introduced her new adventure

Click {HERE} to check it out.

Thank you very much Erika for the amazing job you did... hey check back for more, I'm also getting a blog button that you can all show off to your friends for me (wink)

Sewing with bias tape

I was lucky enough this weekend to spend some time learning to sew with bias tape. 

I had one previous encounter with the evil creation about a year ago and it was so bad, I havent looked at the stuff since. Well I have a new attitude and a little more patience (still working on it) so I decided to take the time and read up on it and learn how to use it.

I found a great tutorial on Prudent Baby for a pot holder a while back, oh the fabric is too cute! My Sifu (martial arts instructor) and good friend bought this quilting fabric that he used to recover his kitchen chairs and gave me the leftovers. I just knew thats what I wanted to make.

Already quilted fabric is more expensive but it cut a step out of the process for me.

I'm not sure of the type of batting on the inside so I'm not sure if it will be heat retardant, I'll make sure they use the potholders for display only.

Then it was time for the bias tape part. I went to the tutorial and read probably halfway through and went for it.... WRONG... FAIL

Well actually not completely. But a word to the wise, read all the way through the tutorial and dont think you've got it all figured out. I missed the part about going around corners so I got some sucky corners going on.

I also didnt know you were supposed to open up the bias tape and sew the under side first.

Well, its a process and I'm learning.

I think I didnt do too bad for winging it though.

Here's the first one.

By this time I decided to read through the entire tutorial and leave my computer on as quick reference. The second one I made went by much easier. I still need practice with the corners though.

Tada! I like the way they came out and this was great practice for me. I've learned a few things along the way including now I know why people make their own bias tape. Its easy to go through a lot of it and it gets kinda expensive.

I think I just might be adicted to bias tape, it looks so good. Gives it a real finished look.

We're going over to their house tonight, my hubs helps to teach the kids class and we usually hang out and spend some time together after class and have dinner.

Hope they like it :-)

ps, wonder if its too late to ask for a bias tape maker... christmas is past, whats next valentines day? what kind of valentines gift is that?

I'll be linking to the parties {here}

It's Blog Hop Time again with Santa's Gift Shoppe

Wow check them apples. People are already getting ready for Valentines Day! I gotta get my craft on!



Who are You #28

It's that time again..


HOOOOOOOOO ARE YOU?

HOOOO HOOOO!

Helllloooo fellow HOOOOOTS! Welcome to another week of 

HOO ARE YOU?

Here are this week's questions!

1. Are you fond of cooking? 

I love to cook, I enjoy the time creating something and trying new things.

2. What kind of food do you prefer eating when you are out? 

well we dont get to eat out very often but when we do i like to order something I wouldnt normally make at home. Usually fish (the hubs doesnt like fish, WTH what kind of fisherman is that!?) or something with tons of veggies!

3. Which do you prefer, sweet or salty?
ooh I have a huge sweet tooth!

4. Where is the last place you ate out at?
oh boy, I dont think I can even remember! Hmm I think it was my Christmas Party back in December we went to Keoki's

5. What's for dinner tonight?
Hahahaha Thats a very good question! I have a dentist apt at 5:20 so I asked the hubs if he could do dinner tonight and well... nothing is defrosted so were clueless!

Come on ya'll join in the fun

Day # 6 Getting Organized Challenge - Dresser Drawers

I'm a little behind on my days but here's day number 6 - dresser drawers.

So have that buffet table I turned into a dresser I told you all about it {here}

Since the holidays I've been piling crap on top of it and I'm so embarrassed to show you all this picture but here it is

And another view... horrible isnt it...

So as part of the challenge I took everything off and then cleaned it. With all that crap on it, I don't know how it got so dusty.

Ok a new start, what to do...

Well first I just have to say how much I LOVE those drawers made for utinsils, look how perfect they are for the "unmentionables" drawer

Please pardon my hubs underwear and dont tell him I put this picture up either.

My friend got me this great picture cause she knew I would love the frame. I plan on replacing the picture with either a mirror or a family pix and hanging it on the wall.

So clean I dont even recognize my own room!

Feels great to be cleaned and uncluttered. After we finished this we started on the closet and you should see the donation pile grow!!

More Storage....

I ran out of storage!

Didnt even know that could happen but I guess I have too many pictures on my blog.

Getting more storage and will be up and running again later today!

Day #5 Getting Organized Challenge - Under the Kitchen Sink

A Bowl Full of Lemon's has started a 21 day challenge to get yourself organized.

How perfect is this? Just what I need to start of my goals for my new year.

It's already day #5 but Im game to jump right in and join everyone in the organizing fun.

Day #5 is under the kitchen sink. I never thought much about under my sink, I always thought it was... eh.. ok.

Its not overflowing and its not horrendous but once I took everything out I realized all the crap I had under there.

WOW, now that it was all clean and empty I really wanted to put some pretty contact paper and maybe paint it up a bit, but NO this is just to get cleaned and organized and I promised myself to make it FREE.

I really would have loved some new baskets or those racks you hang on the inside of the doors, maybe another day. Come to think of it, I should put that on my list of to dos. That way I can put all my plastic wrap, foil and ziplock bags there and I can free up a cabinet drawer for something else.

So after I gave it a quick vacuum and wiped it down, I used some plastic containers that I already had on hand to organize my cleaning supplies

Seriouslly didnt know I had that many opened and half used packages of sponges. I don't think I'll be buying sponges any time soon.

Ok so I had an almost empty soap dispenser and an almost empty bottle of soap, time to filler up and throw out the huge bottle.

Kmart had those grey caddies on sale for 99 cents. I bought some thinking I could put togther a great gift one day, well today it's my gift.

I also noticed cleaning up a bit I had a lot of extra room under there.

I threw out a bunch of those empty cans we use to dump oil in so we don't dump it down the drain and I had tons of room. I put my kitchen trash bags under there and there was still room! So I put some of my extra boxes of ziplock bags and plastic wrap.

Not wanting to get too carried away and fill up my cabinet with junk again,I stopped there. Which was good enough for me to clear out enough room in my pantry to store my new glass caraffe. yay!