One Project Down!

I actually got motivated and completed one of the projects I mentioned yesterday.

I gave the reusable snack bag a go since I had all of the materials I needed to make one...and since I got off work early and had some extra time.

It was really simple to make. The hardest part was squaring up the fabric, but that's always harder than it ought to be -- even with my rotary cutter. I think it would be easier to make a pattern out of lightweight cardboard and use it to cut around.

The sewing part was quick and simple. Anyone who can sew a straight line can do it. It was the first time I had ever sewn something that's lined, so it was neat to see how that process works. It felt like magic when I turned everything right side out. :)

I used iron on Velcro since that's what I had on hand. In the future, I will get some of the sew-on kind because I think it is more cost effective for projects like this and probably easier to work with.




I wouldn't mind making some more. Anybody want to be my resident fabric cutter? I will be the resident sewing machine operator.

And...Breathe.

Happy UnChristmas to you! Doesn't it feel good to have that over with? :) I know, my heart is at least two sizes too small, but it just feels good to have things start to go back to normal.

Now that things aren't so hectic, I am considering some preparations for next year. For instance, I ran across this tutorial for making an eco-friendly fabric gift pouch. It's very cute and it would save paper. The amount of paper we threw away (actually, we recycled it, but still!) at our family get-together was kind of sickening. Think of how much chaos would be saved if we only used fabric bags.

It reminds me of this reusable snack bag tutorial, which I've also been wanting to attempt.

I also would like to make this ruffly wreath. How cute is that? And what a great use for an old damaged book that's destined for the dump!

I always "star" things like these that I like in Google Reader, but a lot of times I never go back and attempt them. I think I'm going to make an attempt at some of them in 2010. I don't make resolutions, but if I did, that might be one. ;) There are so many great ideas out there and my sewing machine is getting dusty. I'll post pictures of my crafty stuff if/when I get around to it.

Oh, and speaking of eco friendly things...if you're a fan of stainless steel water bottles, Old Navy has theirs on sale for $2 each this week. They even have smaller ones with sippy tops (like sports bottle tops) which would work for kids. Just thought I'd pass that along. They have several cute designs.

To Be Fair...

For all of the griping I do about Butter, you probably wouldn't guess that she makes me laugh a lot. Sometimes it is laughter through bitter, bitter tears, but it's laughter nontheless.

Case in point:

Last night, I opened the door to let the dogs in for the night and feed them. Mercy was just outside the door, so she just walked right in. Butter wasn't. I said, "Um, Butter?" The next thing I knew, I heard her running at top speed toward the door. She ran so fast that when she hit the kitchen floor, she slid all the way across it and left skid marks (apparently she was playing in the mud when I opened the door to let her in). It was funny -- partially because I have let go of the fantasy of maintaining a clean kitchen floor. Otherwise, I might have cringed a little bit.

It was not funny that she was barking at 5 or 6 this morning. I wonder if they make a canine version of Ambien.

Dribs and Drabs

I guess I've officially entered into Christmas "red alert" mode. I've got something going on every night this week, but I am comforted by the thought that this busy-ness is only temporary. Am I the only one who needs a lot of down time in order to recharge? Being introverted isn't always easy, folks!

Anyhoo, I had book club tonight. It was our first time having the meeting at someone's house and it was nice. If I was a good womanly type person, I would clean my house and host it sometime. Not bloody likely though.

We discussed Suzanne's Diary for Nicholas by James Patterson. Here are a few of my snarky thoughts about it.

1. In what alternate universe is it acceptable to write a "diary" to your infant son in which you describe in detail the first time you and his father had sex? Seriously? Who does that?!
2. I can suspend my disbelief enough to enjoy books about vampires and werewolves and wizards, but I cannot suspend my disbelief enough to read romance novels.
3. Just because someone interjects "Dear Nicholas," into every other page of a story does not make it a diary.
4. The characters are completely flat and the story is predictable.
5. I cannot imagine that this story would have been published if James Patterson had not written it, but alas, some people love it.

*Breathe...Breathe*

OK, I will read something else before I go to bed in order to cleanse the palate.

Speaking of palates, I have an over-abundance of dirt cake if anyone wants some. I made some for the party tonight and I have lots left over. I wonder if it freezes well...anybody know?

Oh, here's a funny story. Butter has been being kind of cantankerous (shocking!) when I crate her at night, so I spend a lot of time yelling from the other room for her to be quiet. One night, I was so fed up with her because she wouldn't quit with her boisterous outbursts, so I came storming through the house yelling all the way about how she was driving me crazy and that I was going to sell her to the circus and whatnot, and about the time I made it halfway to her, I realized that she wasn't barking at all. My dryer had started making this God-awful noise that sounded like her bark.

Big spider!!! Big Big BIG spider!!! I have to go beat him with a fly swatter until he's in a million pieces.

Save Bandit!!

I saw this clip on someone else's blog and it made me laugh uncontrollably. Especially the "Save Bandit!" part. :)

Thoughts on the "Merry Christmas" Debacle

I can't say it better than this guy. Interesting thoughts.

A Few Thoughts on Christmas