It's Been A While...

I don't really know where to begin. I had good intentions, I was going to COMMIT to post at least once a week - that's my word for the year. I was planning on showing you our kitchen remodel that had started last August and my plans for our vegetable garden along with other things I was working on but then everything changed. One of my best friends was diagnosed with Ovarian Cancer a little over a month ago. It came out of nowhere. We thought she had a cyst, not uncommon with ovaries, but a lump under her arm indicated otherwise. Originally she was scheduled for surgery to remove as much of the tumor as possible but finding that lump put her on a different path and now she's having chemotherapy for 9 weeks first. With all that happening so fast we scheduled a visit to a wig shop immediately. Actually "we" were scheduled but we forgot to call to make an appointment! Luckily for us Lisa (the shop owner) fit us in as soon as we stepped into the shop. Although our reasons for being there were serious, we did manage to have fun. Her husband had always wanted to date a red head so that was the first wig we tried! We tried long and short, red and grey and everything in between. Lisa was fantastic. Finally we narrowed it down to four, put the purchase on hold as directed by Lisa until we knew what kind of chemo treatment she was having and then went for lunch. We've been back with husbands and one of her daughters "in tow" to try on hats. Everything looked fabulous on her but we chose one that could work as a quick pop out to the store or a dinner date with hubby. Shortly after her third chemo treatment, her hair started to fall out so she decided to shave her head and hubby has too!

Before her second treatment, I decided to make her a "chemo bag" and filled it with a few items to make those days a little better. I went to my local Joann's and chose a Cloud 9 fabric with a solid fabric for the bottom of the bag and something complimentary for the inside. Originally I was going to use some cute wooden handles but ended up using the solid fabric.

I got up early (5am) to make the bag as we were going to the hospital to try on wigs at 11.30 (The hospital gives out a free wig to cancer patients. We were a little skeptical at the thought of a free wig but they look really good!) and her second chemo treatment was the next day. I'd already bought some things to put inside the bag (I got some ideas from Pinterest!) so just had to whip this up! I love how it turned out and am happy to say I have enough fabric leftover to make me a bag!!

Maybe I'll do some sewing this weekend! In the meantime I'm doing a little knitting so hopefully I'll have something to share next week. Until then...

Bullet Journal

Last year I decided to give bullet journaling a try and I have to say I really enjoy it. I don't do all the trackers and things - it's really my style of bullet journaling - but that's what's so nice about this kind of journaling - you can do it however you like! I'm having fun making the inserts even though they're just the basic ones at the moment, but I'm slowly working out how to make some more colourful. Maybe by Christmas I'll have it all figured out!!! So as I'd said in my last post, I was waiting on my long reach stapler from Amazon. I love it. Here are the inserts I made using Target's One Spot file folders

Even though I said I don't really do Trackers, I did do a birthday one as I'm always late mailing my birthday cards. I saw one like this on Pinterest but couldn't find the original owner, so if you're out there and you read this please leave a comment and THANK YOU I love it!

And whilst we're talking inserts and journals, here are my first 3 weekly spreads

It's hard to believe but I'm actually all caught up and it's all because we're having our kitchen re-done so I'm "trapped" upstairs in my studio! This kitchen project has been going on since August and we're now beginning to finally see the light. It's a long story for another day, so until next time...

Life Is Good!

What a great start to 2017. I had a busy but fun week at work. We're transitioning to Spring which means lots of new colours and products and decorating ideas. The store is looking great and very refreshing after seeing Christmas for the last four months or so! As usual, I like to check out the dish towels and napkins for my work aprons and they did not disappoint!! I picked a coffee themed dish towel which I sewed today into my favourite little apron. The photo is not the best for the colour but you get the idea.

It's the new Java dish towel. I bought a grey/black fabric with lines from Joann Fabrics for the trim and ties and a beige batik for the back. I'm loving how it turned out and can't wait to wear it tomorrow!

I've also been working on my bullet journal for January. I'm a little behind but hope to have some pics by the weekend. I decided this time I didn't want to sew my inserts for my Whimsiedori so I ordered a long reach stapler from Amazon - that should be here by Friday. And I'm still working on my Christmas Memories journal because I was hoping to get the Zink Happy photo printer for christmas - which I did! - so I'm still printing out little photos. Maybe I'll do a flip thru once it's finished.

We had our first snow this past week. Whilst it was only a little, it was still a happy sight. Hubby and I are waiting for a big snowfall but we need to buy a snowblower first! I think we're finally accepting that we can't always use a shovel!

I hope your first week of 2017 was a good one. Until next time...

Happy New Year!

Just a quick post to wish everyone a Happy New Year and to officially start 2017 with my word of the year! I've chosen the word COMMIT. I'm planning on setting myself some goals each month - nothing too involved that I become overwhelmed and quit, but things as simple as making a bag or knitting a blanket. I guess my first goal should be to COMMIT to posting at least once a week for the month of January! (This one doesn't really count!!). So I'll wish you all a Happy, Healthy, Fun Filled 2017 and I look forward to sharing my year with you. Until next time...

From My Studio!

A couple of weeks ago I bought a new dish towel from Crate & Barrel to make my new work apron. The last one I made was the one for the Christmas season so I was long overdue!

I got to work immediately unpicking the side seams and cutting it out and then I hit a snag - I didn't have anything that would work as the binding/tie. Off I went to Joann's. I was there for what seemed like forever and eventually came home with nothing!! So I put that project to one side and decided to have a go at making a lunch bag. Again I cut everything out after making a rough sketch of size and style requirements and then I decided that I didn't really like the fabric, so it too sat for a few weeks unfinished on my sewing table! On Sunday, feeling kind of lazy and not wanting to do laundry or housework, I knew it was time to go back to Joann's! Not only did I find a fabric for my apron but some new fabrics from Cloud 9 and Koko Lee. I bought the fruit fabric from Koko Lee thinking I'd start a new lunch bag. Feeling motivated I got to work on my apron. I'd bought two fabrics for lining and binding but after much consideration settled on just one of them. I can't believe I'm making such a big deal out of this apron as it will be dirty within a few days!!! I completed it on Monday morning and then got to work on my "prototype" lunch bag! I have to say, although I still don't LOVE the fabric, it is kind of cute and I do like it. I can't wait to remake it in my new fabric, but that's another day.

Here are the apron and lunch bag.

Ignoring the poor photo quality, I have to say that overall I'm pleased with how things turned out. I'm back at work today so will be taking my lunch bag for a "test drive"! I'll let you know if there are any problems. Until next time...

Happy Birthday Maddie!

Today is Maddie's 12th birthday. It's hard to believe we've had her that long. It seems like just a few years ago that we brought her home and she was sooo tiny. Over the past 6 months or so we've noticed that she's not as agile as she used to be and now she asks to be helped up onto the bed instead of just getting up on her own. One thing that hasn't changed - she's in FULL SHED!! We find tufts of hair everywhere and forget about putting on a pair of leggings or my black Northface fleece - they're covered with her hair almost immediately BUT I wouldn't change a thing.

She's such a pretty girl but she hates having her picture taken so we're lucky to have a few pics with her actually looking at the camera. The first pic she snuck up onto the couch! The next two are waiting for a treat and the last was just the other day when we were playing "tea party" with The Bean and Sissy!! Happy Birthday Maddie we love you so much xxx

Until next time...

Succulents

So yesterday I popped out to get The Bean and Sissy a few extra bits for their Easter Buckets and took a little detour to Home Depot for potting soil and a few mini succulents!! I already had some odd leaves that I'd collected from some plants at work and I'm hoping they'll root otherwise I'll have to go and buy a few more plants! I've had a wreath frame for a couple of years, well maybe more than a couple and have never used it so decided that now would be the perfect time to plant it with succulents. I guess over the years of sitting in the garage the mice had taken up residence in the coir lining! Luckily I had a few half basket liners and ended up cutting those and using them to line and cover my wreath. It was a warm day so I gathered my supplies out on the deck and got to work along with my helper Maddie!

I know it looks rather empty but I like to buy small plants and watch them fill in. I do the same thing when I plant my hanging baskets. I gave it a gentle water and left it out in the sun for a few hours before bringing it in as it got a little chilly when the sun went down. Sorry about the not so good photography. I guess I should start using my camera again instead of my phone - it's just that it's so convenient and quick and easy!

I hope you all have a Happy Easter. Until next time...