Crafty weekend!

Oh my gosh it's been too long between posts!  I have no other excuse than I just have to get in the habit of blogging.  :(  I was down and out with a horrible cold this last weekend but that is still no excuse.  (although no one really wants to hear about how someone isn't feeling well)  Great thing is, I am finally feeling like a human being and I am not going through a box of Kleenex every other day!  Ok.  This last weekend since I didn't feel like running around town doing errands, I got a project done that I've been sitting on the materials for about a year!!  I am not the best sewer in the world, but my resolution this year was to improve my skills with the sewing machine and tackle projects that I've pinned to my Sewing Board on Pinterest.

I've been wanting a messenger bag for quite some time and hadn't found one with a print that I just had to have so I had started looking on Pinterest for tutorials on how to make a messenger bag.  I stumbled upon this one from Fabric Mutt: http://fabricmutt.blogspot.com/2014/09/malibu-satchel-tutorial.html

And IT WAS AMAZING!!!  Honestly her tutorial walks you through each step and makes the whole process less daunting.  I was finally ready to cut up the fabric I had bought so long ago with a messenger bag in mind.  I will say I varied from the tutorial a little.  I wanted a wider strap for my shoulder so I made one out of fabric instead of using the cotton webbing and I didn't put on the top "suitcase" style strap because I knew I wouldn't use it.  Also, I totally forgot to buy the magnetic closures but I was ok with that in the end too because I know sometimes my bag will be filled fuller than other times and it wouldn't always be able to clasp anyways.  Here's the fabric I had bought:

I have a slight obsession with argyle, so when I originally found the fabric I knew I had to have it.  I really had wanted to match the dark teal color for the inside of my bag but never could find the right shade so I went with the orange.  It matches perfectly!  (I have a little bit of OCD with that sort of thing...I know the inside and outside wouldn't be visible at the same time but I just couldn't buy a shade of teal that wasn't spot on.)  Ok, originally I was going to do the whole outside with the Argyle but decided that might be a bit much so instead I did just the flap and my shoulder strap with it and did the body out of the dark grey.  I am really not sure what I was thinking when I bought the chevron fabric but that worked out too because my son said he wanted me to make him a bag for his Bible and his workbook when he goes to Awanas and so I made his bag out of that and the grey.  For C-Man's bag I followed Fabric Mutt's pattern sizes and after I cut out the pieces for his bag, I realized that I wanted a larger one for me since I plan on using mine for my work bag.  That way I don't have to carry a purse and my crochet bag to work and have free hands!  Riding the bus and hanging on to 2 bags just gets to be too much, especially when the bus is so full it's standing room only.  So, I figured out how big I wanted it and made the adjustments.  Here's the pattern and sizes of my bag:

The only thing that's not on there is the strap pattern.  I cut 2 pieces of fabric 4" x 48"...one out of the argyle and the other out of the dark grey.  Ironed on some fusible interfacing on each piece, pinned them right sides together, sewed them, turned them right sides out and then sewed about 1/4" from the edge to lock them down.  I think they turned out rather well.  I did the same thing on C-Man's bag except I cut his straps 2" x 30".  I used interfacing I had on hand...which varied from some thinner iron on stuff to fusible fleece and I have to say, when I make another bag, I will use the fusible fleece for everything.  It definitely adds more stability to the bag, especially since my bags are both made of straight cotton fabric.  Here's a couple of pics of all my pieces cut out:

I am SO HAPPY with how my bags turned out!!  This tutorial truly walks you through each step and even with the changes I made with the straps, it was easy to follow and I've been using my bag every day.  I will say when I make another bag, I will add more pockets on the inside.  I had thought about it when I was putting it all together but was so excited to get it together that I didn't take time to add more.  I didn't take time to think about a pockets for my chapstick (so it's not hiding out somewhere on the bottom of the bag), earbuds, Tylenol bottle...just little things that rocket around in the bottom of a bag.  Next time for sure!!  Honestly this bag was so easy to make I may make several!!  Here's the finished products!!

My Beautiful Argyle Bag!!

C-Man's Awana's Bag

I will leave you with this...if you're searching for a messenger bag and not finding exactly what you want...MAKE ONE!!!  Customize it to how you want and don't be afraid!  This one is going to be filed under Pinterest WIN!!  :)

Later Gators!

Tiffany

What a weekend!

I didn't get as much done as I wanted to this last weekend but I did get some time to crochet!  I found this adorable pattern for some baby booties by Bhooked Crochet that I simply had to try.  It is the first baby bootie pattern I have tried/accomplished but the first one turned out great!!  I am almost done with the second one and when I get it done I will post some pics as well as a link to the pattern.  I have to give a shout out to people who can create and write out a pattern and then give it away for free.  I am still trying to figure out how to create/write a pattern...though I have figured out how to read a crochet chart!!  It sure makes some patterns a lot easier when you don't get the written out instructions but can look at the chart and see what it's supposed to look like.  I also finished a shawl that I wasn't too sure about my choice of yarn color but after some encouragement from a fellow hooker, I kept the yarn and finished the shawl and I do think it's quite pretty.  Pics to come on that too...this weekend was a little crazy and I didn't think to take pictures.  

One of the things my son got for Christmas this year was Pop Bottle Science, http://www.amazon.com/Pop-Bottle-Science-Lynn-Brunelle/dp/0761129804/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1452541205&sr=8-1&keywords=pop+bottle+science.  We decided to do a couple experiments this weekend between other things going on.  At first we said we would work through the book from front to back but of course plans changed when my son was leafing through the booklet it comes with.  We did do the very first experiment, which was all about how water molecules are moving even if the water appears not to be moving.  Basically you fill the included bottle up with some water, and then drop in a few drops of food coloring and let it sit without stirring.  (should have taken pics of this too...)  Carter picked green and blue food coloring and LOVED how the color moved through the water at first.  Then you let it sit and check back in an hour or 2 and see how the water has changed.  He was excited to see that the water magically mixed into his favorite color!  (teal)  Easy-peasy experiemt...no mess.  THEN he wanted to do one of the experiments involving a balloon.  Which at first seemed fine.  On went the balloon on the top of the bottle...in went vinegar to fill up half the bottle, tablespoon of baking soda into a paper towel packet and then dropped into the vinegar...quick put the bottle back together and OH MY GOODNESS!!!  Since the bottle is split and just kind of locks together, vinegar started SPRAYING out of the seam of the bottle and went everywhere!!  The balloon failed to inflate as hoped and I ended up smelling like a salad bar.  Plus sides...the kids got a good giggle out of it AND my floor got a good cleaning.  :)  I think if we were to try this experiment again, we would only fill the bottle a third of the way and put the bottle in the sink or outside on the patio.  Or we would use a 2 liter bottle that was a solid piece.  Ha!  This experiment was a big ole FAIL for us.  (should have taken a video!!)  Maybe a YouTube channel is in our future...Carter does keep saying how he wants to be a YouTube star.  ;) (next adventure??)

Talk to you all soon!  (and I will post pics soon of crochet projects!!)

Water, water, and more water...

I have given up my most favorite thing in the world this week.  Delicious, refreshing Coca-Cola.  I figure my first step this new year to a healthier me would be to give up pop.  (yep, I am true blue Minnesotan and I say pop and not soda...and my O's come out drawn out)  I have made it 4 days with no pop of any kind.  It's been water and more water.  I will admit I am really good about drinking water while I am at work, but once I get home it's like I forget to drink anything.  Work was where I drank the most Coke though too.  It's a big accomplishment considering I was drinking 1-2 cans PLUS a 20 oz bottle every day!!  That's 520 calories a day!!!  So I am saving that amount every day.  I forgot to weigh myself on Monday so I won't have any idea if there were any direct results from this first week but theoretically if I continue this trend I will be cutting 3650 calories out of my diet this week and since one pound is 3500 calories...YAY!  And Wow.  That's a lot of wasted calories.  A big part of weight loss is not just the learning how to eat right and continuing to eat better and exercising, but it's also about mind-set and motivation.  Weight loss is not my only goal this year...granted I do want to lose weight, but more importantly I want to not hate the reflection I see in the mirror.  I've had 3 kids...the last one weighing in at 10 pounds 8 ounces...so I need to view my body in a different light and learn to love it no matter what shape it's in.  Do I have a pipe dream that someday I will be able to pull off a 2 piece swimsuit ever again?!?!  HELL NO!!  Ha!  That makes me giggle right out loud.  But I would like to be down a few sizes and not dread putting on a swimsuit or trying on clothes for that matter.  The last time I went clothes shopping for myself I cried in the dressing room and walked out feeling defeated.  Again...I need to work on this self love thing.  It shall come with time and a lot of work.  Next week I will be incorporating exercise with my better eating and water drinking.  Baby steps...start with baby steps.   The baby step of this week...WATER!  I drink about 60oz of water at work now...and my trips to the bathroom have increased as well!  Oh my goodness you would think my bladder was the size of a toddler's.  I am hoping I get used to this and that slows down...or it gets stronger or something.  

So I am going to set goals for myself for hitting certain marks with my weight.  I'm not entirely sure what they will be other than I know I want to get a makeover in the hair department and as I lose weight I will need new clothes but not sure what else to do.  Any ideas?

Introduction to Me!

I figured I would start this blog off with a more in depth look into what makes me tick.  If you read my brief bio on the side you already know that I am a busy mom of 3 kids and love to get my hands on things and try them out.  I work full time, so finding time to do things can be a bit of a juggling act.  I am not even going to pretend that my life is "together"...because in all honesty, it's not!  I vow to be honest and open on this blog and if you ever have any questions, please, please feel free to ask me in the comments.  Ok, so I will dive right in.  I had my first kid when I was 20 years old and even though she wasn't planned for, she became a pivotal point in my life.  She made me straighten up and focus on things bigger than myself.  (not saying I was a wild child...just young and immature)  I did marry her dad but after a year and a half I already knew that was a mistake...so that ended.  And now I am married to a great guy who, for the most part, puts up with my crazy ideas and supports me in my endeavors.  :)  Then came kiddo 2 and 3 and life hasn't stopped since.  My life does revolve around them...from encouraging them to try new things to driving them to their after school activities to making Halloween costumes to doing their laundry, it's a never ending process!! I do have a problem with being blunt and opinionated though I don't think it's a problem really...it's just me.  Take me for who I am or don't, I'm not going to change and yes I may be politically incorrect a lot of the time, have a bawdy sense of humor and a foul mouth at times but I am honest and loyal and people know where they stand with me.  

Anywho, last year I taught myself how to crochet and it has become my way to unwind.  It has become an AMAZING outlet for my creativity and my list of projects I would like to do in never-ending.  I opened up an Etsy shop as well at the end of the year and while business is a little slow, it has been generating a bit of traffic and I am hopeful that this next year will be a lot better.  (Keep in mind...I opened my shop in November 2015...Lol!!)  Every year I try to learn a new skill and since learning how to crochet was last years skill, I now need a new skill to learn.  My hope it to learn how to make wooden crochet hooks on a lathe but that will require me to buy some tools, and let's be honest...we are on a budget.  That's another thing this blog will hopefully help out with...saving money, because who doesn't need help in that department?!?!?  I walk through stores or browse online and see things that I like and then BAM!!  Sticker shock!!  Then I look again and think...hmm...bet I could make that.  :)  The hamster on the wheel is always running I'm telling ya! (though sometimes he falls off and I get derailed)  Such is life.

I am planning on posting regularly, though sometimes the best made plans still don't work out that well.   Topics I hope to cover in this blog: crochet projects, sewing (mis)adventures, DIY projects, home remodeling/decorating, mommy tips, recipes and my journey through weight loss/learning to not hate the image in the mirror.  So come along with me on this magic carpet ride and let's have some fun!