Another Peek

{this page was created in my Paperchase kraft paper journal using
Windsor Newton watercolors, waterbrush,  micron pens, and a black Prismacolor watercolor pencil}

This page is various strands of Mardi Gras beads that they girls have been given.

The wonderful Sketchbook Delight Class from Alisa Burke has really inspired me to sketch every day. I do this mostly at the end of each day as my way to relax, and have a little creative time. It is such a peaceful time for me . I turn on my iPod to some instrumental worship music and turn off the noise of the day. The girls and my husband are normally asleep and so it is just my time. I will also use this time to pray and thank God for the day and for the family time that I have been given. It is a very relaxing way to end each day. I plan on sharing pages from my sketchbook with you and I hope you like what you see and will come back and visit soon.

I have been Featured

I just had to share my delight. I just found out that my Beads in a Bottle Project has been featured in the Tulip Media Spotlight.

This month I will have a different post sponsor each week. This week's sponsor is Shabby Fabrics.

Go on over and check them out and let them know that I sent you. 

Candy Corn

One of my favorite treats this time of the year is Candy Corn. 

I just had to add this to my sketchbook. 

{this page was created in my Paperchase kraft paper journal using
Windsor Newton watercolors, waterbrush,  micron pens, and a black Prismacolor watercolor pencil}

A Peek Inside My Sketchbook

{this page was created in my Paperchase kraft paper journal using
Windsor Newton watercolors, waterbrush,  micron pens, and a black Prismacolor watercolor pencil}

A Treat for Me

I decided to treat myself to a new class tonight. I have been drooling over this class since it was announced last year, so when I say that it was on sale this week I just had to do it. I thought I would share in case you have never seen it.

This class is by Alisa Burke and I though you might like to get in on the sale this week also. It ends on Sunday. If you go over let her know that I sent you.
This is not a sponsor post just a blog that I find very inspiring.

Fall Organization Week 3

I tackled the hall closet this week and I forgot to take a before shot but I did take a few finished shots and I will explain what I did on each shelf. I have very little closet space in my house except for the bedroom closets and one in the master bath this is the only other closet in the whole house. I thought that it would make batter use of the space for a homeschool/library closet.

I decided to move all the linens for each room in to the correct bedroom instead of taking up the space in this closet. This saved me 2 shelves. We also used this to store most of the board games also but I moved them into the girls’ rooms to free up even more space. We also cleaned out games that they really didn’t play with anymore.

On the bottom shelf in this picture I used milk crates to be able to use the wasted space above the books and this is where we store the maps for each state and our collection of National Geographic. On the upper shelf I used magazine boxes to organize the various magazines that I like to keep. Cloth Paper Scissors, Studios, Ready Made, Mary Englebrite, Martha Stewart, and Victoria. I purged my collection as well and still have a lot.

On the extreme upper shelf I stored the girls baby books as well as a few games that we don’t play very often. I used the center area for books that I do not use on a regular basis. They are still easy to reach but they don’t take up space where I really need it.

In the bottom of the closet I used various crates and baskets that I had in my house already to organize the books and magazines that I have for the girls to read. I did not purchase any new baskets or crates for this closet, I just shopped my house for containers that would fit the purpose and where not really being used  to their maximum capacity in other places. I have also found that when I start purging things I end up with an abundance of storage containers to repurpose.

Fat Quarter Shop Sponsor Post

I really love the fabrics that “The Fat Quarter Shop” has to offer. This month I want to showcase some of their new additions in the shop.

I just love the colors in this collection, The rich Chocolate browns and the vibrant blues.

I Love this collection, It would make a fun addition for art quilting and various mixed media projects. The Ticket print is one of my favorites.

I saved my absolute favorite collection for last.

I love the large motifs from this collection. They would fit great with the Upcycled Skirt that I made a few months ago. I really could see making a few more with some of these beautiful fabrics.
You really should head over to the Fat Quarter Shop and Check out all of their newest additions.

Studio Storage

Ok for my birthday my husband and girls got me a new rotating organizer for my studio table. I love it. I have started filling it up and still don’t have it filled even though I have got a ton of stuff in it already.

Friday Pinterest Finds

Source: morethanchic.blogspot.com via Julie on Pinterest

Source: etsy.com via Theresa on Pinterest

Source: twoshadesofpink.blogspot.com via Rachel on Pinterest

Source: ohdeedoh.com via Amy on Pinterest

Source: cozylittlehouse.com via Amy on Pinterest

A Sampling of my Work

Rusted Inspiration

Wordless Wednesday

Magnificent Beauty

My New Journal

I decided that since it is my birthday week (Friday is my birthday) I would take a break for the home organization and do something that I really wanted to do. I made a new journal for myself. I would like to share it with you. See after the break for a view inside --->

Sponsor post Vistaprint.com

I just received my order from Vistaprint and thought I would share their latest offers with you. If you click the link below it will take you to the offers for this week. Hurry these great offers only last until Friday. Even with paying the shipping fees they are all great offers. Vistaprint - 6 Free Fall Products 6 Free Products for Fall! The products are FREE, just pay Shipping and Processing. 1 Free Photo Wall Calendar Impress family, friends or customers with customized wall calendars. Choose icons, add captions and highlight individual dates. Upload your own photos from your computer, Facebook, Picasa, or Flicker or select from hundreds of designs. (Shipping starts at $5.67). 1 Free Photo Flip Book Create a special keepsake with our handy 4" x 6" flip books. Upload your photos and customize with captions. Includes 10 pages with 1 photo per page. (Shipping starts at $6.01) 1 Free Tote Bag Perfect for everyday use, our 100% canvas tote bags can be customized with your name and message. Choose from 24 designs. (Shipping starts at $5.67) 250 Free Business Cards 250 FREE Business cards. Perfect for networking, interviews, mommy cards and more! Choose from 45 professional designs and customize with your text. (Shipping starts at $5.67) 10 Free Invitations Have an upcoming event? Take it up a notch by sending your guests premium invitations. With over 1,000 designs to choose from, you are sure to find the perfect cards to suite your event. You can even send them in matching envelopes. (Shipping starts at $4.52) 1 Free T-Shirt Choose from a variety of designs and personalize with your own text or photos! Great for cheering for sports teams, team events, family photos and more! (Shipping starts at $4.41)

Life

Life has been busy around here for the past few weeks. Homeschooling has taken over for a while and then birthday party prep for my oldest is in full swing. So my really creative things seem to have taken a back seat. I have been sewing for a friend and this was just basic things and not anything really fancy. I have a post coming up about a new journal that I have made. I did not take step by step pictures but I plan on making another one so I will make them then. I have also been taking a lot of inspiration pictures lately so look for new post coming with them. I also have my first interview for a new blog series. I will be kicking it off on Saturday. Come back and check out the new post coming each day this week.

Wordless Wednesday

The last blooms of summer.

Fall Cleaning Week 2 Baths

In last weeks post we tackled the kitchen. This week we will be working on the Bathrooms. In most homes there is more than one bath and some have one for every member of the family. Well in our home there is only 2 and this week I will be tackling the Master Bath. This room should not cause me too much headache because last year I set up an organization system in the linen closet and under the counters. It has worked pretty good so far but I know that some of the areas need to be reworked and things that have not been used in a while need to be purged. I will also be moving some of the items into the other bathroom for my girls to use. I think this should help me keep them out of my beauty products. They love to use Mom’s stuff and I think if I give them their own supply it might help matters out.

Thursday Tip Day

I want to start this series by giving you link to various sites that I have found some great tips on.
Since I am in and Organization mood this week with the new Fall Cleaning Series. I thought it would be good to keep the momentum going.

• Printable Chore charts and Mom Organization ideas
• Chore Chart Ticket System
• Tip Junkie Organization
• I'm an Organized Junkie
• 52 Weeks of Organization
• Organic Family Organization Seeds
• Simple Mom Organization
• Keeper of the Home
• Steady Mom
• Not So Simple Housewife
• Grocery Bag Storage (Since it is Kitchen Week)
• Like what you see here? Consider becoming a follower or subscribe via email!

New Blog Series

I am working on a new series of post where I will feature other bloggers and people that inspire me to be creative. I am also looking for you some of my readers to feature here also. I really want to make this a weekly column that will go live every Saturday. I have a list of questions for you to answer and if you are interested in participating please let me know. You can e-mail me your answers to the following questions or either you can nominate another blogger. Either way I really am excited about our first feature post coming this Saturday, October 8, 2011. Questions are below the jump.

Wordless Wednesday

Hot tea + Fall Weather = A Perfect Combination

Fall Cleaning Week 1 Kitchen

Countertop Organization Idea

I don’t know what it is about fall weather that makes me want to clean. I am not a big spring cleaner. I feel that the fall is the best time to really deep clean everything because this is the time of year when we are going to spend the most time inside the house. In the spring I work on cleaning the yard and other outside chores that the winter weather has made me not really want to do.  See How-to after the jump.

Behind the Scenes

Sometimes we think that no one can ever understand what we are going through, so we keep it all inside. This is the devils way of keeping us bound and keeping us in a place where he can torment us. This is one of the biggest lies that he tells but it is the one that is easiest for us to believe.
You have to break this bondage and know that there are people out there who are going through just what you are going through. Each time you stand there and judge yourself by what you think another person is, you are letting the devil keep you in the cage that you have built around your heart.
Each of us are fighting battles that we might not be comfortable with letting show but no matter how perfect it looks from the outside we might just be falling apart on the inside. What I am trying to say is that we never need to judge ourselves by how good we think someone else's life is. We need to just remember that what we see is only a facade that we all put up to make it look like we are just fine.

Flower Centers with Beads in a Bottle

I decided to practice with Beads in a Bottle to make centers on my rolled fabric flowers. I picked up a package of Beads in a Bottle and found some fabric in my stash that matched the colors, and so I thought I would share it with you.

Once I had my fabric flowers finished I took the color of Beads in a Bottle that I wanted for each flower and just added a few small beads in the center of each flower. I put an odd number of beads in the center of each flower.  I used the yellow with the green and white fabric rose, because I thought it would really pop.

I used the crystal for this blue based flower because the dark blue in set was a little too dark.
I forgot to take a finished picture before I gave them away. It really makes it easy to add the look of beads to an item without having to sew them on.