So many DIYs, only one week to do them!

If you don’t want to read all this, (and I’m not insulted), skip to the bottom for some real info about upcoming projects and a refashion question or 2 for you!

Hello everyone! It has been SO LONG!  I do apologize for being MIA for so long, I have finally finished my first quarter of PTA school.  I think I did really well, I do not know all my grades yet, but they would have contacted me if I failed anything 🙂  I was taking 3 classes, Introduction to Physical Therapy, Medical Terminology, and Anatomy + Physiology 1.  Intro was not the funnest class ever, in fact it was rather dull for most of the quarter, good thing I had a fun teacher.  Medical Terminology was even more intense then the class I took for Massage Therapy, I wasn’t expecting so much extra info.  Plus all the abbreviations!  Hundreds of them I need to know, I’ll have to keep studying those all year round.  And A+P, not done yet!  It continues for round 2 next quarter, along with Rehab 1.  Finally we can start learning about what PTAs really do in the field.  I’m pretty excited!

Source: http://sportsmedicinesalary.org/physical-therapy-assistant-cat/

So not only is my first quarter finished (yay!), I have a week off (double yay!), for me to have fun finishing up some projects!  Trust me, I have a massive list!
On this list is a few tutorials I promised you guys, but near the end there I had to study for finals, so not much time, plus a few extra projects I was finishing up!  So I’ll share with you a few things to expect from me in the coming month, as well as any changes that have happened so you can stop “waiting” to hear anything.

Who remembers my Year of Something New?  Well, my sister had her babies back on May 4th (i’m an auntie!), and now this is really a year of something new, except its mainly all baby related haha!  Its ok, I don’t mind it, I am enjoying all the days and hours I am spending with my new niece and nephew.  Sorry no photos, their rule, not mine.  So while things are certainly new, they aren’t the crafty things I had originally planned, and I am not able to share as much with you all as I had hoped.  I will hopefully someday share some of the items I have made for them, as well as other gifts down the rode.  But this blog will not turn into all babies all the time, so thats good!

I have finally started a long overdue wedding gift, it took me a long time to really pick what I wanted to give this bride.  Some people are just easy, but I love to handmake gifts and I think those are the nicest gifts because I make them personalized.  So anyways, I have officially made the decision for a wedding I was in a few months ago, and have already started it.  When I finish and gift it, I will share it with you, its a 2 piece gift!  Then I have another gift that’s more extensive, I want to start and finish as well.  I at least hope to finish half of it, though according to the “directions” it should only take about 2 hours.

I am also in the process of making a Blurb photobook and a Shutterfly photo book.  If you are not signed up for either email list, do it now!  I will share those with you when I finish, I’ve been hoping to do a comparison one I finish my Blurb book, but again I couldn’t decide on a subject, and I tend to add too many things to my plate and that was one of them!  So this week that is also on the list!

PS.  Through 6/30 Blurb is offering 15% off a book!  Follow the link below to order your book now!  This is my affiliate link and I will earn a small percentage if you buy through my link, and I thoroughly appreciate when you do.

15% off through 6/30 with code BOOKSFORSUMMER

Too long, didn’t read, starts HERE:

Oh, I also have a massive selection of refashions I want to work on!  I even made a list of everything involving clothes that I want to paint or sew in some way.  I still have a sweatershirt I want to trim down so its more fitted, its like an XL but its from University of Dayton (where I graduated) so it’d be nice to wear it and it fit, you know?  I also trimmed down another hoodie that I have wanted to paint but couldn’t pick a design, I wanted to paint the front pocket black and added a toilet paper stencil, but instead I think I have picked a wrap-around design with no black included!  Maybe some glitter though!

I also would like to know, what are your thoughts on cutting sleeves off jean jackets?  I have this jean jacket I bought a few years ago at a garage sale for a few bucks, never worn it!  I have no idea how to wear jean jackets, is the jean color supposed to match?  Anyway, this jacket fits ok, but I was thinking of cutting off the sleeves or maybe making it short sleeved because it fits awkward at the shoulders.  You just check this out, I love the pockets so I don’t want to crop it.  Oh and the color is a dark bluish yellowy greeny, know what color I’m talking about?  Neither photo I could enhance to get the right color, the left is much too blue, and the right I didn’t get any change.  If you can see in the photo, by the shoulders it looks tight just laying flat, thats kinda how it feels.  I was hoping cutting off the sleeves, maybe adding lace sleeves?  Would solve the tightness problem.  Thoughts anyone?

source: me

I have just been inspired to lengthen a skirt, so I’m off to do that now!  If you haven’t taken my gluten free poll please do, if you have, thanks 🙂

Coming up:

Lace Earring and Necklace Tutorial
Make-up fixer tutorial and ideas
How to Fix a Fabric Paint Mistake
Fabric Stencil Painting
Making a Hoodie Fitted
Lengthening a Skirt
DIY Shoe Makeover
Gluten Free Pizza recipe and review
Zucchini Pizza/Pasta recipe and review
Wedding Gift #1
Wedding Jewelry Photos – just to show it off
Shutterfly Photobook review (not sponsored)
Blurb Photobook review (affiliate link)
Baby DIY photos – just going to show off what I made
New jewelry to show for my Etsy shop

Looking forward to sharing with everyone soon!

Update for Year of Something New + January Pics

Update for my Year of Something New:

March turned into my baby month.  I have been using most of my time to make my baby gifts as well as find the cutest baby items I can to buy for the twins!  Now’s the time to buy winter baby clothes for next year!  My sister is requesting a book from each person instead of a card for the shower.  Such a lovely idea!  If only I could decide on a book!  I love the If You Give A Mouse A Cookie series, but then I was thinking what about Very Hungry Caterpillar?  Thats nice too.  I’m probably going to give them each a book just because I won’t be able to decide!  And everybody loves books!

I realized a few days ago I never posted any pics from my January organizing.  Here are a few:

The best change was taking down those faded papers from inside my organizer and just painting the plastic.  I used regular acrylic paint, I totally know it can just scrape off.  But I’m just looking for a temporary pretty fix, so not everyone can see my socks and stuff.  Then I rearranged a bookshelf that held parts of my various collections.  I collect penguins (if you can’t tell), so anything with a penguin on it I like to keep.  I had 5 wine bottles from the Little Penguin Winery, I ended up only keeping the special edition bottles.  I also rearranged my books by series and moved my favorites to a smaller bookshelf.

This small table is next to my bed.  I have a pretty ornate mirror that sits on top with an old Coca Cola lamp and various vintage items.  Underneath it though, thats another story.  The drawer I had to remove because it doesn’t fit and just kept falling.  What I really need is a shelf or open baskets or something.  I cleaned up the books and kept just a few, I recycled the old magazines, and moved anything that didn’t belong there. I keep my cute ferrets there tho, they were made by a friend who designed them herself (and the penguins).  I used to have ferrets and they were created after a photo I gave her.  Its nice to keep them nearby to remember them.  The penguins have moved to go with my other collection.  That organizer is where my loose beads are sorted by color- and thats only a small portion of them!  Then I cleaned up my art books so I could actually read the titles.

Ahhh yes, my closet and other side of the bed, where I was hiding clutter I didn’t know what to do with!  The closet got a serious sorting, I forgot to take the after photo, but I sorted everything by color and also by type; dresses, pants, jackets, etc.  Then I threw everything I loved but just can’t wear until I refashion it, into one big pile.  Top Left photo is the “hidden” corner of my room.  Much nicer now that I have moved all the clothes that need to be refashioned, art supplies have gone to where they belong, and a whole bunch of papers were recycled!

My dresser needed some extra help too.  Its where I kept piling things I needed to look at, but then never did.  I just moved everything off there that wasn’t makeup or a hair product, or something to put those things in!  And now more penguins on shelves!  I removed the Prom glasses and some of the vases and put them on the other bookshelf.  These should really have a theme of some sort.

That isn’t even all I’ve done.  Its just the only stuff I have photos of now and is completely done.  I am also sorting my other art supplies and am using the inexpensive organizing bins from the Dollar Store.  I hate to buy organizers, but I was lost without them.  If it will make my life easier and not so crazy, I should really give it a try!  So I did!  And now labeled, everything is easy to see and find!  I even sorted my scrapbook paper by color into 2 gallon bags.  I’d love to take credit for that idea, but I found it at Mad In Crafts, who wrote a whole post with ideas to use Dollar Store items to organize your house.  THANK YOU!

Big News and a Year of Something New Update

So, big news everybody!!!  I’m so excited to share with everyone that I have been accepted into the Physical Therapist Assistant program at a local school!

I cannot wait!  Classes start beginning of April and I will be going to school full time for 2 years.  I am lucky that I already have a B.A. and have finished my core classes: English, Psychology, and Sociology so I am able to skip those classes (save money) and take classes only 4 days a week.  The PTA program is an Associate degree and that’s why I would need the core classes.  My schooling will start early April (!!!!), and I am in the evening classes Monday thru Thursday.  Quarters are 12 weeks long with a 1 week break in between quarters.

I will continue to work at JoAnns while in school, but probably knock it down to just a few days a week, I hear PTA school is just like having a job.  This will be much more intensive than my yearlong Massage Therapy program.

I just wanted to share the news with everyone and let you know I will continue to blog, though I may have to learn to plan better.  I will also continue my jewelry making as well as my Year of Something New.

Year of Something New Update:

Speaking of, this month of February was supposed to be my month to read books.  As it turns out, I couldn’t get excited about that.  So instead I started reading one book, The Walking Dead Compendium 1, which has no page numbers but is most definitely about 1000 pages!  My boyfriend bought this for me for Christmas this year, it is a graphic novel/comic and the show is based off this book.  Honestly, I have to say I am seeing very little resemblance between the 2!  For that reason I am reading it slower than usual.  And I find I am not crazily drawn to it like most novels I read, so I can easily read it slowly and think about it and compare it to the show.  I can see how they couldn’t follow it exactly because there just wouldn’t be enough drama to hold interest for a TV show.

I’m also spending this month working on baby projects, so when that month comes, I think it is March, I’ll still be doing baby stuff, but maybe I will be finding stuff from my other months to try too.  Turns out I can’t wait that long to get started on these projects, I have already done so much but I keep finding more stuff I want to make for the babies.

Luckily I like to stay busy!

PAD: Teachable Moment

Daily Prompt: You have to learn a new skill. Do you prefer to read about it, watch someone else do it, hear someone describe it, or try it yourself?

This is easy to answer: I try it myself!

This you will totally see in my Year of Something New.  Currently I have deviated from my previous February plans, I just haven’t filled you all in on the “why” yet.  Soon though, soon!  Its a big deal, and I’m pretty excited about it 🙂

Anyway, I love to try new things, I love to taste new foods and drinks, meet new people!  I will often try something new before choosing something I’ve already done, even if I really like it, if given the option.  “I wanna go!”  …. “I’ll eat it!”  …. are typical things you will hear me say!

Refashions + Pinterest = Hours of Pinning

I’ve been on a refashion kick for awhile, and by on it I mean searching Pinterest and all the cool blogs I find!  So I’m going to share with you guys some of the ones I hope to accomplish during my Year of Something New: April – Sewing!

I have 1 yard of a cream-yellowy knit with striped “lace” cutouts.  Its very pretty, but whatever I make I will always need to wear a tank underneath it.  I’ve found a few cool tutorials and I hope to make a decision before April!  I might even need to buy another yard to make more than 1 shirt with this fabric!  Here are a few ideas:

The Circle Top with 1 yard fabric!

Instead of making it a dress, maybe I’ll just make a top. Would be cool to add the coordinating fabric as the sleeve.

I’ve been wanting a top like this for awhile. They look so comfy!

ok probably not with this fabric, but it looks easy enough, eh?

So there’s a few ideas I am considering.  Mainly the circle top though!

Also, next week I will have a new tutorial for you guys!  I made some gifts this week for my sister and Mom and I have to wait until after I gift them, then I will share!  The gifts are sooo nice!

January: Organize with an Etsy Treasury!

In an effort to find cool organizers, I’ve hit up Etsy to make an Organization Treasury!  I want so many of these items.  Instead, I will have to seek inspiration from them!

I’m really making progress.  I’m gone through all my clothes and set aside this HUGE pile to alter for my April: Sewing month.  I’ve donated a bunch of clothes and moved all my summer and warm weather clothes out of my closet so I can see and wear all my cold weather clothes.  Maybe I will donate more after the winter!  I’ve started cleaning off my dresser.  I’ve cleaned up a whole corner of my room that was trashed with alter-able clothes, art supplies, and papers I can’t identify.  I’ve cleaned up kitchen cabinets and have posted things on Craigslist to sell!  I am moving along nicely 🙂  And no worries, I am taking before and after photos to prove that I am doing it!

And because I read it somewhere and it sounded fun, I think I will make a digital scrapbook for the year of each month to document what I’m getting done or experiencing.  This month will show vast improvement!  Now on to the treasury!

PAD: Kick It

Daily Prompt: What’s the 11th item on your bucket list?

I don’t have a bucket list.  However on my 35 Before 35 List #11 is: Figure out how to use my Wacom tablet and make art with it.  That’s a good one.  Maybe I can try something this year.  It is my Year of Something New after all.

Then in my Year of Something New, my 11th month of November is: Family Time.  I will spend that month with my family and friends and reconnecting with friends who maybe I haven’t spent much time with or talked to often!

Make Something 365 or a Year of Something New

I just checked out this book from the library, A Daily Creativity Journal 365: Make Something Everyday and Change Your Life!  The idea of starting a 365 project sounds really exciting and overwhelming to me.  The good news is I can do anything I want, I can pick a theme or just try to express myself in any way.  While reading the prompt suggestions last night I came up with a similar idea that’s not so “hard to reach” perhaps.  What if instead I pick something “new” for every month?  I can focus on one art medium or one idea/action that I really want to explore!

So I will schedule each month to participate in my Year of Something New:

January: Organization– I will work in the house, my room, my art supplies, and organize as much as I possibly can, and maybe even get rid of the excess stuff!  (no promises, but maybe look for craft supply sales soon 🙂
February: Books– let’s try to actually read some of the free novels I’ve been collecting on my Kindle, but nothing how-to or crafty.
March: Babies– My twin sister is pregnant with twins, this month will be focusing on making things for babies and preparing for them to be here!
April: Sewing– There is so much I want to learn to do, I bought a book with simple patterns and instructions, let’s get started!
May: Food: I want to try a bunch of new Gluten-Free recipes, I got a new cookbook for Christmas so this is the month for cooking!
June: Outdoors: This is all about spending time outside, making things or just enjoying the environment in a new way.
July: Polymer Clay– I bought these different colors but haven’t done a thing with them, its time to play!
August: Watercolor Paints – I am anxious to learn to use my pencils and paints and make those beautiful color blends!
September: Acrylic Paints – Time to take my acrylic paintings to a new level!
October: Christmas Gifts – thats right, gotta start early to make handmade gifts, possibly from something I have learned new this year.
November: Family Time – time to slow down and refocus my energy on family and friends, maybe reconnect with long lost pals.
December: Pick Your Fave – time for me to revisit my favorite Something New’s of the year.

What can you look forward to?  Photos and posts about my progress.  I may not take all my “before” photos of my disorganization, its pretty bad.  I may even be able to walk away with a few DIY’s and How-To’s for you guys.  This is coming up to another busy year, I want to get started painting right away, but I know I have other very important things to focus on during the first few months.

Organization is big on the list and will help me fix the clutter when I have the opportunity to get started on my new artsy ambitions.  No worries tho, I will not stop making art or jewelry during these months!  I will continue to create and post items in my Etsy shop.  Also while I explore new mediums, get excited to see those items in my Etsy shop as well!

Is anyone else participating in a 365 Something project for the new year?  If you are, link your blog/project in the comments so everyone can check it out!