Still Working On It

The project that is my entire house purge/organization is continuing. I had no energy and felt horrible for a week plus, so I am a bit behind schedule. However, I got back in the game yesterday with our linen closet.

I should have taken a “before” picture, but probably wouldn’t have posted it even if I did. I could hardly close the door. I couldn’t find any washcloths behind the falling-over-blanket-pile, and most of the towels were hidden as well. It was horrible. Just too much stuff!

So after taking everything out, deciding what we need and what we don’t, this is what I decided could go:

7 towels, 4 complete twin sheet sets, 12 random pillowcases, 1 king comforter, 1 child sleeping bag, 3 crib sheets, 6 child/lap blankets and a few receiving baby blankets.

 

Bryn loves the space; this closet is her preferred hiding spot.

This is the closet now.

It’s hard to see, but I also labeled each spot – pillowcases, twin sheets, washcloths, towels, etc. I would really love to make boxes for the washcloths and sheets from these instructions but I doubt that is going to happen. In my spare time, haha.

I also labeled drawers when I cleaned out the girls’ bathroom two weeks ago:

These drawers are: toothpaste/floss; clips/barrettes; and toilet paper.

These drawers are hairbands & scrunchies; headbands & bows; and bandages/light bulbs.

It is so good for me to label things – for me. So when I put things away I am focused and reminded not to drop items in the nearest place, but to put them away where they belong.

Tutorial ~ Diaper Clutch/Changing Pad

Welcome to my first tutorial! I have seen tuts for a diaper clutch (one here and here and here) but not a fold-up changing pad with a pocket for wipes & diapers. I wanted to make one and this is how I did it:

Supplies:

• 2 – 12x26 coordinating fabric
• 1 – 12x26 piece high-loft batting
• 1 – 13x13 piece for pocket
• strip velcro
• 1/4 yd fabric binding

1. Quilt together the 12x26 pieces of fabric, wrong sides together with batting the middle. I chose a traditional criss-cross pattern to quilt. You can clearly see that my marks and my actual sewing don’t line up, but once the marks are washed out no one will be able to tell they are off. I did use my quilter bar attachment with my open-toe walking foot for the first time which was a huge help.

(stock photo of my attachment)

2. Attach the pocket. Since dimensions of wipe containers vary, and some are quite thick, I made the pocket 1” wider than the changing pad to allow for bulk. Pin the pocket on the quilted changing pad with small folds.

3. Baste together.

4. I think rounded corners look great, so I used a small salad plate to mark corners on each side of the top then cut out.

5. Now comes binding! I did it kind of as described here – except they machine stitch both sides and I hand stitch the second side closed separately. I need to try the new way someday. Notice that I also sewed the binding to the wrong side accidentally! I should have sewn it to the outside so the part that is visible would be neater. As you can see, I didn’t hand stitch the rounded corners well at all.

6. Then I folded the changing pad to see where the top would hit the bottom and marked that for the velcro closure. I put the soft section on the inside in case the baby’s head would come in contact with it. And for some reason I liked 3 small sections instead of one long. The rough loopy part is one long section.

That’s it! Very nice gift, I think.

       

Spring Cleaning

I LOVE spring cleaning. For one thing, the new-improved weather gives me energy I have been sorely lacking the last few months of winter, and for another thing, I love throwing stuff out. I also love our annual city-wide garage sale which I don't always participate in, but I have 3 years total on-and-off. I plan on doing it again this year.

So far I have cleaned and sorted:

Alaina's closet

Alaina's toy shelf & baskets

Bryn & Claire's closet

Bryn & Claire's dresser

underbed organizers in B&C's room

dressup box

Barbies

board game closet

computer bookshelves

When I sort, I have 3 boxes: keep, trash, and garage sale. By the end of this week I will attempt to get through:

Linen closet

Polly Pocket dolls

both upstairs bathrooms medicine cabinets & under sink storage

In the next few weeks I will hopefully get through every room & closet & drawer & shelf above ground. I do not want there to be any corner in the house that I haven't gone through. The master closet and kitchen scare me the most but I'll do it!

Easy Peasy Baby Quilt

I forgot to post this when I did it. Last month was an important baby shower (good friend + professional interior designer = important fabric choices) but since I was just called as Primary President I knew I wouldn’t have time to do a fabulous quilt from beginning to end. But I wanted to do something hand-made. What to do?

I was inspired by my favorite website of all: Sew4Home. They re-do an entire room every few weeks, then each day they give step-by-step instructions for each project in the room. (I am going to do these shower curtains!!!) In their nursery room, I saw these easy blankets and knew they were the answer for the upcoming baby shower. I was in love with the fabric on the 3rd baby blanket on the right and wanted it, but with no local fabric shop carrying the designer line and no time to order, I had to go with something else. This is what I did:

 

One yard of fabric for the top, one yard of minky dots for the back and fabric for binding. I did need to do a bit of quilting for structure, so I echo-stitched each large green flower with light green thread. I wasn’t sure if I was going to stretch the minky on the back or not, but it turned out beautifully and I was really really happy with it.

Last Week

Kevin’s Grandma Fern Beaman passed away on Sunday Feb 28. She was taken to the hospital on Thursday and he spent Friday evening and all day Saturday there with her and his family. It was very difficult for him to watch her deteriorate by the hour, but I know he would have rather been there than at home.

Grandma's visitation was Wednesday night and though it was a difficult evening, I was amazed at the people that came. I spoke a long time with a lady from Rockwell who sat at the same potluck table with Great-Grandma for 10 years while they both worked there and they did Rockwell retirees events and such together. There was a steady stream of people at the beginning but by the end the room was constantly packed.

The funeral was Thursday and the girls were apprehensive about the open casket, but were okay with it. Grandma looked very nice, and Kevin said it was good to see her body resting at peace since she was so sick the last days of her life.

Grandma taught the 4-year old class at First Assembly of God for THIRTY-FIVE YEARS - and that was just at that church - she taught in Mason City before that. It is estimated she taught 4-year-olds for around FIFTY years. There was one year she deviated and taught the teenage boys, but that didn't last long and she went back. Can you imagine? She definitely did good works in her life and served where she knew best.

Afterward we went to the cemetery where Kevin was a pallbearer and they said a few words, prayed again then we returned to the church for a nice meal. Then we spoke with extended family and had the opportunity to discuss genealogy with some Wheelers (Grandma’s maiden name). And speaking of…

Kevin’s dad immediately informed me upon arriving at the visitation that I was assigned to scan Grandma's photos. Since I said yes, I have been in her house and have a better idea of what that entails. She has about 8 dressers on the second floor; every drawer is crammed full of photos, as are every dresser and bookshelf on the first floor. Many are travel photos with pictures of Alaskan mountains and St Louis train stations and such that I don't need to scan. But, I do need to sort through them all to determine this. Dennis gave me 2 garbage bags full of photos and I have finished sorting through them. I made 3 boxes; don't need (travel photos, too dark or too blurry); scan first (oldest through about 1950); and scan second (more recent). By far the most photos were the toss pile, but the others are adding up. And this only scratches the surface.

I took 2 old albums with photos from the 1800s to very early 1900s. They are all in exquisite shape. However, they are not labeled and neither of Grandma’s children have any idea who they are. Kevin suggested we put them and others on a photo sharing site so other family members can comment on each photo as to who they might be. Kevin is so smart. While scanning I was able to find one name written on the back of a baby photo. So we have 1 clue.

One of the many photos from the first 2 albums. I am so enchanted by this baby bottle. Also it’s one of the only ripped ones and I had to repair it right away. Aren’t I great? :)

This is the only name in both albums: G. L. Arthur

I love scanning & repairing old photos but this project will take a while. I don’t know where it will fit in, but I will find room for it. My quilts will have to take a back seat I think.

We miss you, Grandma.