creative stuff...

i've been trying to get things organized around the house so that i can focus on things i "want" to do, without being distracted by all of the things that need done. two things i want to do more: workout and create stuff so in order to do that i have to clean out the garage so i can finally set up our home gym area (need a treadmill and a few more free weights for the weight machine), and get the master bedroom better organized so i can set up a better work space for sewing and crafting (no, not my first choice of locations, but it's all i've got for now). in order to do either one of these, the first thing that needs to be done is to paint a dresser and bookcase i found that someone set on the curb for "free". they will go in our room and probably hold sewing stuff. i also need to paint the armoire for the baby's nursery, and then organize the rest of the garage.

i'm just so tired of only focusing on schoolwork and housework, but finding it impossible to get better organized. i started on nick's room, did the family room yesterday, and am now working on the master bedroom and garage somewhat simultaneously. once my work area is set up, then the front room (living/dining rooms) can be free of my "crafty junk".

there are so many projects i have that need to be done, but with it being so chaotic, nothing ever gets finished, even if i get started. one thing that just popped up on my crafty/thrifty radar is this really cool, simple and cheap
scented diffuser.

hopefully soon i'll be organized and can start really posting great stuff to my creative blog and showing progress on my transition to healthy.

things i want to do...

seem to always get pushed aside for things i "need" to do. especially now that a new semester has begun, my time is yet again spoken for in ways that i don't "want" it to be.

i want to sew some things, i need to sew some others. i need to knit some things, i want to knit some others. i want to paint some stuff, i need to paint the walls. ...you get the jist.

so how does one figure out how to juggle it all? i'm not sure yet, but if you have any suggestions, i'm all ears! time management and organization are not my strongest skills. help! lol

i think that the first focus needs to be the nursery...paint the walls, paint the armoire, sew the dust ruffle, rocker cushions, curtains, etc. and hang (and buy) pictures for the walls.

so my goal is to do something every day to work on the nursery. i washed the fabric ready to be sewn yesterday. today i think i will cut the fabric for the dust ruffle. i want to make it tailored looking, so i think i'm going to do box pleats at the corners and not gather it. tomorrow's goal will be to sew it together (if i don't do it today)...after i get back from doing some of my practicum hours for most of the day...

starting to get excited...

i've been watching all of the baby shows on discovery lately...my favorite one is "deliver me", but i've been watching "baby story" and several others too since i'm on spring break and can have the tv on in the mornings while i'm doing stuff around the house (or working on my coursework). now that sparky/sparkle is moving, it's becoming more and more real that we have another little one on the way, and i am starting to say "awwwwww" instead of "oh my"!

i went to target today and just "had" to walk through the baby section...i love love love the contemporary bedding they have there, and the clothes are just so cute too. i'm getting excited about nursing again, and the possibility of cloth diapering (yes, i'm still thinking about it and the more i think about it...the more i'm sure i want to do it). i'm ready to find out what we're having so i can begin planning the nursery. the fact that we have a free crib, mattress, bassinet, and toddler bed coming...that's awesome! i was looking at an email from better homes and gardens about repurposing bookshelves and entertainment centers, and i fell in love with the thing they did with an entertainment center unit. they used it for a laundry station, but it could easily be modified to be used like a little armoire type piece of furniture for a baby's room. here's a pic...

if painted the right color, couldn't that look awesome in a nursery?!?

i'm so excited...and ready for summer break!

(i need to get the sewing machine out and work on some maternity clothes first though...belly's getting big and there's nothing to wear most days!)

more plans and dreams...

whether we get that house or not, there are things i want to do around here to make it more home-y and more "us". so yesterday afternoon, i sat down and looked up all of the furniture pieces needed to finish the house except for the kids' rooms (but we even found the beds they want, just didn't write it all down on my list). i can't wait to get these things purchased and put in to finally have the house "finished". it includes making myself an office/studio space, finishing jerry's office, master bedroom furniture, entertainment center (for our new huge tv) and a kitchen/dining set. this could all feasibly be accomplished by summer, and i'm excited! (that will mean a few more sewing and art projects too...to accessorize all of this great stuff...i just got the best magazine yesterday and can't wait to get fabric and all of the stuff to jazz up our space a bit!)

anyway, on my internet journey through wal-mart, target and ikea websites i also was pleasantly surprised to find out that target is still carrying the line of "simply shabby chic" bed linens i started getting for elisabeth 2 years ago. i showed them to her, and she was so happy that i found them! i told her that if she wanted, we could finish decorating her room as her birthday present, but that's all she'd get for her birthday. she excitedly agreed that this is a great idea!

below is the shams/duvet that match her curtains, and below that is the quilt. i already have 3 curtain panels, and i'm going to use one of them as fabric for extra projects. on top of that, we found some great fabric lined baskets at big lots today. for around $40 i can get a hamper and 4 matching baskets for her shelves. that isn't even the best of it...i found a beautiful ballet picture (huge too, i might add...) at marshall's last week and put it on layaway to keep it out of the house as long as possible. if we break down and get her the bed from ikea too (picture also below), her room will be absolutely amazing! i just bought some "pooch" yarn today (reminds me of a poodle) in a mix of cream, tan and mauve...perfect for her room, and i'm going to knit a throw for her too. i don't know who's more excited, elisabeth or me!!!