Stuff I use (almost) daily

I thought I would list a few things that I find myself using (almost) daily and might be helpful for someone else out there.


Reqall.com - one of my first 'stops' in the morning. It houses my ever growing to do list. I am also able to send a memo to myself or add a task via text or voice with my iphone app. It has a lot of other features that I don't really use as of yet.

Evernote - while I don't use this one everyday, I do find it invaluable. Great way to take snap shots of just about anything (pictures, receipts, webpages) and keep it organized. Yeah!

Tweetdeck - I like the column of feeds and ability to have more than one account open at the same time. I only use it for non-personal on my phone and all feeds, twitter, fb, etc. on the computer.

Echofon - I use this one on my phone for personal tweets only.

Iphone - of course. I don't know what I did before. Oh, yeah, stayed out of touch. I love having my emails at my finger tips along with just about everything else (including the stuff listed above!).

Google Calendar & Gmail - so easy to use and can get to it from my phone. Love it. What could be better?

That's just a few things. Maybe I'll share more later. I'm always finding cool things to help me out during the day.

Hello again. Naturally.

Here it is, 2 am and I find my self trying to motivate. This blog, this side business is like exercise to me. I go all out wanting to really do it, but knowing it will be hard. Wondering if I can pull it off. Thinking I can. Knowing I will. Then giving it up because I just don't have time.

I have to tell myself that it's like having kids...there is never a right time, you just have to do it and it all works itself out. It becomes a part of your routine. A part of you. I'll have to keep that going.

Aaa, babies...

For some reason it seems it's baby season again with a lot of my friends and family. Off the top of my head I can name 1,2,3,4,5...5 friends and family that are expecting. I thought that only happened to people in their 20's. The funny thing is...only one of these people is in her 20's. The rest are in their mid-to-late 30's! (There's hope for me yet! I'm still trying to talk the hubby into another.)

Other than the fact that this is wonderful news, as two of these bundles will add to my extended family, is that I get to make diaper bags! I've never made a diaper bag. I am starting off with making one for my sister-in-law from a pattern, just because I want to see how the "experts" do it. And also, this diaper bag has a new way of doing the zipper. That's really the reason I bought this pattern, to figure out how they did the zipper! Here is the start of it:



It doesn't look like much yet, but it's getting there quickly.

I've already decided I don't like the pattern, but I think it will turn out okay anyways so I am going to finish it. I've already been thinking of ways to improve the bag. I also made a little pouch that came with the pattern. This is a simple little pouch. Again, it is what it is and I have my own ideas on how to make a better much simpler to sew pouch in the future, but again, a good learning experience with zippers.



Like I said, simple, but I got to play with iron-on vinyl!

Next up after this project: a backpack for me and some cute key-rings in the works..

To Do or Not To Do

My problem lately? Do I develop my knowledge base for my business or do I develop my inventory. The ideal would be to do both at the same time, but with a full time job and a family it's hard to do both. I've been reading as much as possible to learn as much as possible. I've found some good stuff to read to get this going. Now I am debating if I should prepare to sell on other sites besides Etsy.

In other news... My friend received her new purse. I hope she enjoys it. It took me forever to finish. I seem to go for the easier projects and then make them difficult by adding and adding, but that's what I love. :)

Here's a better and final picture of the purse:

The Feet

I did it! I've got feet!

Brown Bagging It

Here are the pictures for the purse I did for my friend...sans feet.





Like I said, I wanted to make the strap adjustable, but didn't. I did make them padded and soft.

I've gotta make myself a light box. My photos are just atrocious.

OMG an update!

Have I told you how obsessed with my phone I am? If I could only sew while lying in bed...

I have been sewing here and there. I've almost finished a purse for a friend and just need to attach the feet. The material is too delicate to not have protection. I've never applied feet before. Doesn't seem too difficult.

BTW: This is my first post from my phone. I wish there was a way to post photos at the same time. I'll just have to do it separately.

It took me a long time to finish this purse as I seem to have less and less time these days. I am mostly happy with the way the purse turned out. I love the straps although I had wanted to make them adjustable and the zipper didn't turn out exactly as I had hoped, but it was my first attempt at a zipper so I am not too disappointed!

I'll keep on practicing and designing in my head. I've come up with a few things I am excited to try out - if I ever find the time!