Tag-Archive for » Swaps «

Life Fail!

By Katie
10
Jan
2009

Awesome, you came back!! Thanks for visiting!

Sometimes it’s so nice to just wipe a slate clean and start over again.

Last years resolutions were hit or miss.

1…) Stop cussing, completely. Negative

2…) Smile more. Kinda sorta, I guess.

3…) Spend more individual time with Declan and treat him like an adult. Yes and no.

4…) Create and add some items to my Etsy shop. Nope.

5…) Do more craft projects – for myself and with the kids. Yes!

So, once again I’m going to set some resolutions and think about them randomly throughtout the year and feel bad when I don’t hit them 100%. Yep. Sounds about right.

1.) Stop cussing, completely – How did I end up wih such a potty mouth? While I admit that Declan telling me my ass is too big makes me giggle, it’s also quite embarassing in public.

2.) Detoxify the house – This one is difficult because my mom buys her own cleaning products and calls me, jokingly, a treehugger for my choices. It’s just so easy to have things build up under the sinks. Thankfully I clean so infrequently that it’s not a real issue to toss everything. I’m also going to start "No ‘Poo"ing my hair again. I tried before while working but couldn’t handle going out in public during the really wonky phase. :-D Here’s a great LiveJournal community for it. We have an on again, off again relationship with the healthier beauty products, mainly because of finances. I think it might be time to just suck it up and buy what I know is best for the family – not best for my bank account.

3.) ETSY – Seriously, why can’t I get this going? I’ve decided not to do anymore swaps, so maybe that will make it easier? Wih the purcahse of a new sewing machine (50% off clearance sale) I’m definitly going to complete more projects, but I’d like to make a little extra cash too.

4.) Try to cut back on HFCS and MSG – With that combination it leaves next to zilch to buy. Thankfully Matt is on board with me and we’ve both done some research into the issue. Frankly it scares us.

 

Alright, I think that’s enough babbling. And the boys are waiting on me to watch a movie.

 

Thanks for reading!

Category: '08 Resoltuions, '09 Resolutions, Crafting, Life, Parenting  One Comment

Back Tack 4 Completed!

By Katie
09
Dec
2008

Finally.

I have a tendency to get in trouble with swaps. The fear of my partner not liking what I make literrally freezes me up until the last minute. Then it’s a mad rush.

This time it was different. I knew what I wanted to do, but my paycheck was late, so I completely missed the deadline. But it’s been wrapped, boxed and shipped as of last night! Go me! Only what… 8 days late?

Back Tack 4 was a lot of fun and I enjoyed the openess of the central theme: Gold Frankincense and Myrrh

This time there are no colour, size, or material restrictions, all we ask is that you take the theme and run with it, and make 3 items according to the individual outlines below.

The first item is something that sparkles [the Gold part]- cards, decorations, calenders…..see where your imagination will take you. [It doesn't need to be gold]

The second item is something which has some sort of sensory aspect to it [the Frankincense part] – either smell or taste. Baked goods? Shortbread? Chocolate, soaps, the mind can run free here, but be mindful of customs regulations in different countries. Sealed food stuffs are generally ok, but check with your partner before sending anything.

The third item is a small gift for your partner for Christmas [the Myrrh part] Perhaps a small item for the tree, or mantlepiece. Quiz your partner to see what their theming is for this Christmas, and tie in your gift! or make them something they might like to use through the year – a calender, a purse, a scarf.

Here’s a sneak peak. When my partner gets her package I’ll post more photos.

Back Tack 4 Swap Preview

 In the  meantime, check out the Back Tack Flickr pool. Lots of gorgeous goodies! And my partner, Kristin’s, beautiful blog: Kleas.

Category: Crafting, Pictures, Swaps  Leave a Comment

As Declan would say…

By Katie
04
Jun
2008

"Phew!" with a dramatic swipe across his forehead.

I’ve actually been pretty busy of late. Remember those 17 loads of laundry stuffed on the couch that I mentioned? ALL folded, hung, sorted, organized and put away!! After 3 weeks it was hard to come up with excuses for why it was still there. But I’ve also completed 2 more aprons – one for Grandma Betty’s birthday, along with matching placemats and one for Nicky’s birthday. I finally got a new ironing board cover made. It’s super simple but took a day because of the nooblets… I mean the kidlets. (Does anyone remember Sixlets? Those were awesome!) I started a third apron for Ann today. Next up is my bag for the Market Tote Swap. I have the idea all worked out in my head, I just hope I can transfer it to reality easily.

So after all that’s done I’m going to start working on some smocking and shirring and posting items to my Etsy shop. I promise. No more swaps or birthdays and whatnot. I’ve found some gorgeous designer prints mixed in with the cheapy cottons at JoAnns and have totally scored bolts of them with 50% off coupons. I’m afraid to cut some of them up.

I’ve also been comtemplating getting a cottage license to sell the aprons that I’ve been making. The thing is it’s $100 for a year but I’m not sure if I could cover the cost with any profit I make, ya know? The license gives me the right to make and sell anything by Sew Liberated, formally Montessori by Hand, where as now I can only make and give such as all that I’ve made so far. It takes me about a week of fiddling to make an apron because of… interuptions. The hardest part is choosing the fabrics – I always worry that someone will get their apron and go "WTH was she thinking? This isn’t me at all!" I’m debating on just going it alone, or using someone else’s patterns. Any thoughts?

[singlepic=105,250]

Here’s Grandma’s Apron. The reverse is a very pretty white Poppy print.

Category: '08 Resoltuions, Crafting, Life, Pictures, Swaps  Leave a Comment

Market Tote Swap

By Katie
20
May
2008

 

Market Tote Swap

So I went ahead and bit the bullet. I joined the Market Tote Swap hosted by InANutshell. The last couple swaps I’ve participated in have been a complete flop. I’d put so much love and time into them and received, well… I’d rather not say. On top of that my last apron I mailed is still missing in transit. I’m hoping that this one will pull me up out of the dumps and it sounds like so much fun. 

There’s still a couple hours left to sign up, head on over and join me. It looks like a great bunch of crafters so far! (Nudge nudge Nicky)

Category: Crafting, Swaps  3 Comments

Bad Behavior has blocked 194 access attempts in the last 7 days.

Runaway October is Digg proof thanks to caching by WP Super Cache