It's been a while but here's a new project

Wow, I didn't realize it had been so long since I've posted here!  I've been busy but that's no excuse.

I have completed several projects but here's the one I'm most proud of right now.  I have sewn leather for the very first time!

I got this nice suede skirt on Listia, a website where you can get rid of your stuff for points and then redeem your points for free stuff that other people are giving away.  I really had hoped to wear this skirt as is.

 

Sadly, this caramel number was just too tight.  So, I stuffed it in my closet to think about what I wanted to make out of it or lose enough weight so it would fit.  

Fast forward a few weeks to a weekend beach getaway.  I was shopping some high end outlets for a new purse but just could not bring myself to pay $109 for a designer purse, that's with 60% off.  Then, I remembered my lonely little suede skirt sitting on a shelf in my closet.

So, I get the seam ripper and went to work.  I separated the bottom half of the skirt from the top.

Next, well, there are several steps but basically I sewed the bottom of the skirt together, hemmed it all up nicely, cut a strip from the top half to make the strap for my purse, and used some of the belt loops to add decorative Xs on the sides of the bag.

I did not line my purse but it was my first time using leather to make a purse.  I've made plenty of fabric bags before but this was a bit challenging.  But I liked it!  I can't wait to go browsing thrift stores and yard sales for some leather skirts, jackets, etc.  I will be sure to buy heavy duty needles next time since I broke 3 needles making this.  I also made a cute little tassel for the slouchy flap.  I still have some tweaking to do and I'm looking for just the right vintage button to go on the front for the tassel closure but I really like my new leather bag.

Until the next craft, count your blessings!

New (to me) summer dress

I needed a cute summer dress to wear to the library today with the little one.  I have LOTS of fabric so I grabbed a tank top to make my breezy tank dress.  (Sorry, I didn't take before shots of all my materials.)

See?  Green tank top plus floral, vintage cotton fabric added.  I had to wear another tank under it but I like the layered look and I feel a little more confident that way.  I also added this sweater refashion and a light brown belt.  The sweater was a freebie and I actually cut it up the middle to make it into a cardigan!

Here's the look without the cardigan.  I like it both ways.  Cardigan makes it school appropriate (which is good) and without makes it summer evening appropriate.

The "I'm-not-looking-at-the-camera" pose.  I love my new dress.  What do you think?

Be blessed!

Design Re-do

OK.  So this post has nothing to do with my kids.  It is a design re-do.  I was inspired by the new show Flea Market Flip.  I love that show!  There was an episode where one of the teams found some chairs, painted them high gloss black and reupholstered the cushions with burlap.  I loved the look.

Not the original from the show, but you get the idea.

Well, here's what I had - 2 chairs from an old dining room set that we now use as a computer desk.  We don't use all the chairs that came with the table so this is perfect.  Cost $0 (well, we paid $100, I think, for the dining set many years ago when we actually used it as a dining table).

Not bad but I want my vision.  Start with black paint.  All over the chair.  Both of them.  Let it dry, then lightly sand the edges and the seat.  Now it's coming together.

I have several jute feed sacks that we got years ago for a family reunion we were hosting.  We used them for family sack races but they've been sitting in a box for years.  I cut one of them to make two cushions/pillows for my chairs.  I wanted the graphic print to show because I am putting this in a corner where I have a painting of Memphis and I wanted that to tie together.  I had a brown, round table that I just moved to this new spot.  I love it!  Now it just needs some crate shelving on the right wall and a rug to finish this entry area.  I am working on the rug - crocheting tee shirt yarn.

What do you think?  I hope it will serve as a little homework area for the little one when school starts back in August.

Be blessed!

Hello again

Hello, again, blogging world.

I knew it had been a while since I last blogged but I didn't realize it was so long ago.  I've missed it.  It helps me relax in my hectic, mom-teacher-wife-housekeeper-cook-biggest fan-keeper of all things world. So, here's what's been going on lately and my excuse for not posting...

In my mom world, I've been driving kids here, there, and everywhere.  It has helped a lot that my oldest now has his coveted driver's license but that adds a whole new worry for me.  Little one has finished up her winter acting class and can now focus on the summer production of The Wizard of Oz.  She is also playing softball.  My middle son was moved up to the junior varsity baseball team with his older brother, so that helps since we can now be at the same field at the same time.  However, the older one also plays with varsity on off days so it seems we live part-time at a baseball field.

In my teacher world, we just had spring break but I had so much to do that it wasn't enough.  I want more time off!  Prom was the week we returned and it was tough.  I had band auxiliary tryouts that week, in addition to all the mom stuff (remember the above paragraph?) and the fact that students did not want to do anything because they had just come back from the break and...it was Prom week.  So I earned my paycheck every day last week!  I am behind on grading but I refuse to bring papers home to grade.  I already feel like I neglect my own children to take care of all the 155 I teach at school so I no longer bring school work home.  Although I do usually end up finding things on Pinterest that I will use at school so my teacher brain never stops working.

In my wife world, I have been stressing about finances and how I would handle my husband changing jobs.  I don't know why I let that stuff stress my out but it does.  The tax refund was a pleasant comfort that has helped a little.  He is much happier but he's driving me a little crazy!  I am just used to doing things my way, on my own, and now he's around more to help with laundry, cooking, cleaning, but he doesn't do it my way.  So, I have to learn all over again to let it go and just be appreciative that I have someone to help me.  But it's hard.

In my housekeeper-cook world, well, I honestly haven't done much of this lately because we haven't been home.  We've been eating out or at a ball field.  We get home so late that I'm not about to clean anything.  I throw the boys' uniforms in the wash so they will be clean for the next day's game.  It is starting to slow down and the hubby is home more to help with that.  I did manage to clean the kitchen and do laundry and dishes today because we were dismissed early from school due to threat of severe weather.  Never got the severe weather and I was able to clean and take a little break!

I spend so much time being my kids' biggest fan that I rarely have time for my own interests and pursuits, but I do love it.  I enjoy watching them grow and gain experience and social skills.  I am going to have to learn to be my own biggest fan and get my books and stories published.  I get so frustrated with the education system and I just have to believe in myself enough that people will buy my books.

I get so tired of being the keeper of all things and the "knower" of where all the things are (Mom, where's my...?).  I have begun my "clear the clutter campaign" again to not only simplify life but eliminate the need for knowing where everything is.  If there's less junk, maybe the kids can find their own cleats, textbooks, paper, pencils, belts, socks, whatever.  And maybe I can find some peace and quiet every once in a while.

Not the most profound post but I feel like I've neglected this and I guess I just needed to get some frustrations out so I can focus on some art projects for my upcoming craft shows.  Gotta raise some funds to publish my next children's book!

Be blessed!

Moms of boys

Some things I've learned about being a mother to boys.  These are things you probably don't know about if you have little girls.  Now, I will say that my little girl does some of these too because she is the baby of the family and tends to act more like her brothers at times.  I'm telling you, these boys are something else!

Moms of boys...

• know how to deal with sports equipment that are particular to boy parts.  Knowing how to protect a boy's "fruit basket" is common knowledge.
• know that boys stink between the ages of 11-15 and there's not much that will fix that.  You can clean, you can have all the best smelling candles, you can wash their clothes, and their rooms will still smell like a locker room.  
• have mini-vans or SUVs that can adequately carry sports bags, coolers of sports drinks and water, snacks, extra sports equipment, and extra kids (usually boys).
• have vehicles that smell like locker rooms.
• have to buy groceries all the time.  They eat everything.  You cook dinner, they eat it, but 20 minutes later they are back in the kitchen, looking in the fridge or cabinets for something to eat.
• know that when brothers fight, something is likely to get broken - a picture frame, a wall, a bone.  It's best to let them go outside and fight it out, especially when they are bigger than you are!  Give them boxing gloves first or someone will end up in the ER or doctor's office.
• know to roll the windows down in the vehicle when their son says, "It's gonna stink in a minute" or "I let one" or "My belly hurts" or "You're gonna need to open a window".  This is especially painful when it's below 30 degrees outside and the van is full of other kids that join the stinky fun!
• know all the best Chuck Norris jokes.
• have lots of dirty laundry and usually know all the best tricks for getting stains out of clothes.
• will watch YouTube videos of the NFL's hardest hits or World's most awesome (insert sport activity here) over and over again.  Or, you will repeatedly watch home videos of your kids playing sports just to see that one great touchdown or awesome line drive past short stop.
• know that when you hear "Hey, I've got a good idea" it's probably not a good idea.  Someone's gonna end up in the ER or doctor's office.

My boys melt my heart and make me laugh.  It is never a dull moment around here.  And throw in the little mama and conversations get really interesting!  I'll have to post what I've learned from my daughter at a later date but tonight my boys just had me rolling on the floor laughing...well, at least during the ride home from church.

Be blessed!

Jen

A little depressed and need to vent

This is not my normal, upbeat, great idea-filled post.  I'm ranting and complaining and venting in this one. 

I am tired of my job.  I am tired of dealing with disrespectful teenagers with a sense of entitlement who feel like they shouldn't have to study and work hard to earn a grade.  And they act like I am crazy when I actually expect them to recall facts and details on a quiz or test.  I love Spanish - the language, the culture, the art, the literature - but I am really getting frustrated as each day goes by.  The overall laziness and lack of self-discipline just drags me down.  Which brings me to another related topic - paperless classroom.  It is rumored that we will be going to a completely paperless classroom within 2 years.  I don't want it.  First of all, I have a creative, artsy spirit that just can't deal with all this technology (and I'm getting older and set in my ways).  I like the hands-on projects and real posters, not the computer-generated kind.  That's the selfish part of it.  But here's the big thing.  I don't want my children to learn that way.  I want my children to know how to access and use the creative part of their brains, which won't happen if this paperless classroom truly takes hold.  I've read many studies and books on brain development and we will raise an entire generation of children that will never use an entire section of their brain if we continue on this path.  I don't want that.  I will find somewhere else to take my family.  Think about it - all textbooks are online, all assignments are typed into a document, posters are created on computers, etc.  What about children who don't successfully learn that way?  I have one of those kids.  I just don't like it.

I am overwhelmed.  I feel like I can't come up for air.  I am behind on grading papers.  I am frustrated with planning interesting lessons where all 29 of my students are actively engaged while also utilizing technology, reading strategies and writing assessments.  I have to work out details of danceteam tryouts, parent meetings, and uniform fittings.  I have to get applications ready to give to qualified students eligible for the Spanish honor society inductions.  I have to set a date for the induction, get a small reception together, and order cords and certificates for the inductees.  I have children who play sports and do other activities in the afternoons that have me driving all over town for a couple of hours every day.  I have church activities on Wednesdays that I enjoy but because I am so consumed feels like just another chore on my to-do list.  And sometime during all this, I have to keep my house clean, wash clothes, and feed the family.

Money.  I need more of it to pay off some debts but I can't find the time.  I try to sell on Etsy but it just isn't happening right now.  I filed my taxes and we are due a refund but, honestly, I'm worried a collector will seize it before I ever get to decide what debts I want to pay off with it.  I have a plan, a good one, if I can just get the refund before the collection agency does.  Snowball.  I want to pay 2 debts with it and have a little left over for some new sports equipment for the kids.  They have all grown and need cleats, bats and gloves.  That stuff is expensive.  I pray that it all works out like I have planned. 

I need a vacation.  I realize that.  I just might take a "mental health day" for myself.  I need it.  I deserve it.  We do have a holiday coming soon but I don't know if I'll make it until then!  Some, well, most, of this seems so petty and there are so many more important issues out there to worry about but for right now, I needed to get this off my mind so I can sleep.  This blog is kinda like my little therapy session with myself to try to maintain my sanity.  I feel a little better and now I think I can relax enough to get a good night's sleep.

Well, I guess this counts as my Sunday Summary since I did summarize what's been going on the past week.  It also counts as the Monday Money Matters post since I did mention money.  OK.  Maybe I will post something more uplifting tomorrow, if I have time to post. 

Be blessed.

Money Matters Monday - extra income

We all could probably use a little extra cash flow.  Here are a few things we are doing around here to save a little and earn a little:

1. Stop eating out!  This is working rather well for us.  While we have not entirely cut it out, we have cut down considerably.  I would say we have saved about $350 this month by not eating out as much as we were doing.  

2.  Sell stuff!  We are in the process of selling an extra sofa and loveseat since we "inherited" a new sectional.  I have more items - clothes, art, knick knacks - that I plan on getting rid of soon.  Cleaning out the clutter seems to clear my mind.  And if I can't sell it, I will donate it and get a receipt from the thrift store for my tax file.  That adds up on your tax refund too.

3.  Tax refund!  If you have gotten your W-2s already, get started on filing those taxes.  I will be working on ours this weekend.  I'm hoping I can get a little back instead of having to pay more.

4.  Hubby got an extra job!  Hubby will start helping some friends at their sports training facility which will generate and extra $1000-$1200 per month.  It might even lead to better opportunities than what he's doing now.

5.  I'm building my business!  I have been a Rodan + Fields Independent Consultant for almost a year now and I have found a new way that works for me to promote my business.  I love the products so it should be fairly easy.  Hopefully I can generate $250-$500 extra a month to begin and build the business.   Check out my websites at www.jennifercharles.myrandf.biz or www.jennifercharles.myrandf.com

And that's about all I'm doing right now.  What do you do to generate a little extra cash flow?

Be blessed!