Big Sister Designs Blog

My Plans for 2012

nospam@example.com (Maria K) — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 16:42:04 -0600

I never shared my New Year's Resolutions with you. Normally I print them out with a pretty border and hang them next to my bed. But to be honest, this year I never quite got around to finalizing them. Here's what I have...

1. knit scarves.

I knit scarves year round and donate them to a local homeless shelter when it is cold. I'm kind of hoping to finish one scarf per month but some months I knit more than others so if I can finish the year with 12 I will be happy.

2. Sew up all the pillowcases I have into skirts

I've sewn 3 so far, leaving 44 to go.

3. Only buy things as needed

I like to shop. Then I find good deals and save them. The problem with this is that I end up buying way more than I actually need. 5 zippers for $1 at the Goodwill? I'm in. But then I need a different zipper and still have to pay full price at Joann's. Plus the $1 I already spent for the 5 zippers now sitting in my sewing room. $5 shoes for my daughter at the Goodwill in the next size up? Great! But now we have 10 pairs of size 9 shoes for a total of $50. I can buy two brand new pairs of shoes for $30 at Target and then I don't have shoes all over the house and an extra $20. I think I will spend less money AND have less clutter in my house if I only buy things as I need them.

4. Work on my time management by having a daily routine

I'm pretty good at wasting time on Facebook and Pinterest. Too good probably. In the last few weeks I've started a new routine and found I can accomplish so much more when not on the computer. Here's what I've got so far: wake up, drink coffee, serve breakfast to kids and eat breakfast, wash the handwash dishes from the day before, move laundry, get dressed, sew until lunchtime. I have a cleaner kitchen, the laundry is caught up, and I have daily time to sew (I also have more time to sew if I spend less time reading blogs in the morning with my coffee).

What daily routines do you have?

47 Pillowcases

nospam@example.com (Maria K) — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 10:40:40 -0600

Confession: I've been spending more time shopping than sewing.

As a result I have piles of pillowcases just waiting to be made into skirts, too many sheets to be made into aprons, and countless other pieces of fabric with projects in mind but not yet started. Actually I have 47 pillowcases waiting to be made into one of a kind skirts.

I also have another 30 or so pillowcases that I have two of the same and can make matching skirts with.

I really love vintage pillowcases with hand embroidered prettiness and crocheted edges. (ummm...iron?)

Ruffles are always cute.

I have two goals. First, to sew these 47 pillowcases into skirts and get them in my Etsy shop by June 1st. Second (and more difficult), to not buy any more pillowcases until these are finished.

0 down, 47 to go!

Easy Teacher Gifts

nospam@example.com (Maria K) — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 10:26:44 -0600

My oldest daughter is in preschool for the first time this year and teacher gifts caught me off guard. In fact, I remembered we needed gifts the night before her last day of school before Christmas break. I try to avoid the mall in the week or two before Christmas so I needed something that I could make where I already had all the pieces. I came up with rice handwarmers. It's been in the 30's during the day here and the kids go out to recess. I thought her teachers might like something to keep them (or at least their hands) a bit warmer.

I used some flannel scraps and cut them to 6 inches by 6 1/2 inches. Then I sewed them into tubes, my daughter helped fill them (about halfway full) with rice, and I sewed them shut. We made two for each teacher to microwave (30 seconds or so for both) and keep in their pockets during recess. A simple ribbon and a tag signed by my daughter and we were finished.

Did you make any teacher gifts this year? I'll still need something for the end of the year.

Merry Christmas!

Super quick potpourri

nospam@example.com (Maria K) — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 10:28:36 -0600

I've been simmering some potpourri on the stove for the last week. It smells so nice and adds a little something to the Christmas feeling in the house. It also adds some much needed moisture to the air.

Here's my recipe: 1 cinnamon stick, a (very) small handful of whole cloves, 1/2 of an orange peel. Add water and heat to just steaming, not boiling. Keep adding water as the water evaporates.

I've found the same ingredients will last for 3 or 4 days before they start to lose their scent.

sleeping in

nospam@example.com (Maria K) — Sat, 22 Jan 2011 10:58:23 -0600

Happiness is sleeping in on a Saturday morning because my husband got up with the kids, and realizing that I slept all night (I wasn't woken up by anyone crying or coughing as has been the case several times a night all week).