giggleface studios

Only Two Resolutions

"If you're not failing every now and again, it's a sign you're not doing anything innovative." - Woody Allen

I have learned time and time again, that I absolutely cannot make New Year's resolutions. I fail every year, and in the end I feel like a complete loser! Mostly, it's because I set unrealistic goals or have so many that the list is too long and overwhelming.

So, this year I have decided to only make two resolutions, that way I can only fail at two instead of ten...right?

Resolution #1: My daily photo journal/blog at Where Shall I Begin? This will be a place where I can share what I see through my eyes, and practice my skills.

Resolution #2: Daily entry in my Memory Book. Now, let me say that I have tried all my life to have a journal. I start, stop, rip out, and give up, but I found hope! I found this journal online and thought that it was a brilliant idea, and it just had to work. It's one line a day: A five year memory book. On each page is the day with four more entries for each year. Over five years you can look back at that day and see what was going on in your life. I can do one line a day...anyone can!

I bought a 3-pack of red Moleskine notebooks to create my own, and added  a few more lines per entry. One line might not be enough but nine may be just right. This will really help me focus on what important things I want to say.

Can I do it? I don't know, but I am going to try my darnedest...and probably fail every now and again!

Dala Horse Curtains Are Always My Style

How many times does it take to make kitchen curtains? Three apparently...third times a charm and i'm glad! These are exactly what my little window needed and they are definitely my style!

It's very difficult sometimes to find what your style is isn't it?

I tried two other styles of curtains before, and realized they didn't quite "fit" or "feel" right. First, I tried black and white checkered cafe curtains...cute idea in my head, but clashed horribly with the brown cabinets. Second try...burlap/linen curtains based on these beautiful ones (6th photo down). I was hoping with these curtains that my kitchen would magically look like this, but alas...it didn't. Third and final try...fabric scraps and thrifted bias tape! "Fits like a glove".

While I liked the "look" that I was trying to achieve in my first two attempts, they just didn't flow with the rest of the rooms. Why did I try and fight it...I know what I like! Sometimes I make things harder and more difficult than they need to be.

After doing some digging in the fabric closet I chose my favorite staple fabric (unbleached Osnaburg) or "poor man's linen", my much loved dala horse print, and some vintage red and white striped bias tape I had squirreled away! My heart started pounding, and I knew this was the right combination...It was like a giant slap in the face! Unfortunately, I didn't have a lot of the dala horse print left and I had to figure out how to get the right balance of fabrics and still be long enough to fit my window.

I remembered coming across this tutorial on making pillowcases with crochet edging! That is exactly what I did, and it added just the right amount of coziness (and length) to my curtain. I now have a sense of peace and all is well! Best of all, they didn't cost me anything...they were completely FREE!

Everyday Food Magazine Giveaway and A Meal Planning Secret!

While "organizing" the house I came across these issues of Martha Stewart Everyday Food!  There are ten pristine magazines from April 2006 - March 2007 wrapped up in a bow just for You!!

If you want them just drop me a comment letting me know what your favorite Everyday Food is and I will draw the lucky cook Tuesday evening (July, 20th).

"What's for dinner?"..."I don't waaant that!"...*Harrumph*  How many times a day do you hear this? I know at my house it's like clockwork... every hour on the hour! I despise meal planning and dread sitting down with my recipes trying to figure out meals and a shopping list for the week. Alas, it never fails...the one important ingredient I needed most...I forgot! Grrr!

Well good news...I don't have to do this awful task anymore...I have e-mealz! This ingenious idea has saved my sanity, time and some serious ca$h! I have been using this meal planning over the last three weeks and don't even stress about dinner anymore. The idea is so simple, and the meals are even simpler.

Here is the Lowdown, 4-1-1, Dish:

* You pick your plan (family, meals for 2, low-carb, point system, vegetarian, low-fat)

* You pick your store (I pick the ANY STORE PLAN, so I can go anywhere), but if you pick a specific store it will give you meals with what is on sale that week.

* You pay $15 for 3 months worth of meals that you retrieve every week. (Sooo worth it!)

* It has a complete shopping list with the total amount of ingredients needed.

* The meals, ingredients, and instructions/preparation fit on one page.

I can't tell you how yummy these meals are, and my kids are eating every bite...No joke! Go take a peek and check out the sample menu.

Tonight's dinner...Crispy Almond Chicken, Bacon Cheddar Burgers or maybe the Pizza Salad!

Sewing Caddy and Spiral Pincushion Tutorial

Awhile back on one of my thrifting adventures I picked up this dip bowl. I didn't have the slightest idea of what I was going to do with it...We aren't big dippers here! But, being that it was only $1.00 I liked the look of it and the feel of it in my hands...so in the basket it went! Months have passed and the poor little bowl has been sitting in the laundry room collecting lint...until today! It is no longer a lint holder, it is now my favorite little sewing caddy!

I filled one of the bowls with a lovely spiral pincushion...a very LARGE pincushion (4 1/2"x 4 1/2")! 

In the other bowl, I filled it with my notions that I am using in my current embroidery project. I found some pretty ribbon and looped it through my scissors and tied it around the handle. This is to ensure I don't loose my scissors down in the cushions of the couch...ouch!

Isn't this just the greatest little tin ever? Honey gave it to me after he ate all the mints that were inside! It happens to be just the right size to hold my thimble!

See...Candy and mint tins come in so handy! My daughter and I have started collecting mint tins. Honey likes to buy them at the bookstore that he works above and then brings them home for us to wrestle over! I'm sure there are posts galore on what you can do with these little treasures.

Okay, so that leaves one bowl empty...on purpose! That is my trash pile for little snippets of thread and what-have-you's! I am so loving how my sewing caddy turned out and now I can carry everything I need in one hand.

Do you want to make one? I bet you have something around the house or in the cupboards just waiting to be a pincushion or a sewing caddy! Here is a little tutorial on how to make a spiral pincushion that you can make to shove into any cup or bowl.