The Dreamy Dragonfly

Sewing Sunday

2011-02-06T23:00:00.000-05:00

I just keep running out of time. Time to sew. I have the best of intentions as we gear up for the weekend but life happens and before I know it, Sunday evening is here. So, while cleaning the house on Friday, I invented Sewing Sunday. I am taking some part of Sunday and either cutting or sewing one of my many home projects as well as gearing up for the springtime craft fairs. And, because I miss being here, sharing my little world, I am going to blog about what I worked on and share some photos. Here I go...the first Sewing Sunday.

My project this Sunday starts back in West Virginia 3 years ago. We were visiting my parents for the 4th of July weekend. It was pouring rain, there would be no picnics or fireworks. Dad, Chris and I headed out to an auction in the mountains of WV while Mom stayed home with the babes as they played contently. We roamed around and I spotted this bright green rocking chair. The kelly green color was beautiful, roughed up just enough. The seat needed some work. I loved the lines of the back. I fell in love and I was going home with it. We sat for a long time waiting for them to bring it to the front. I was not the only one with my eye on it. I raised my number and ended up in a bidding war with another woman seated in front of me. And here is it. Meet my lovely rocking chair.

The seat is wide so I can curl my legs up in it. The back fits me perfectly. It sits at our sliding glass door where we have full sun all day. I sit here and read, make our weekly menus and shopping lists, chat with the kids, attend conference calls. It is a lovely spot when the sun is streaming in. It holds a wonderful memory for me and I feel comforted just sitting in it and remembering that day with Dad and Chris.

Back to the sewing project. I have yet to replace the seat. And, I decided that I wanted to be able to change the seat with the seasons or my mood. Someday, I will actually rebuild and recover the seat. Right now, I am having fun switching things up now and then. Today, I made a reversible seat cover with fabric I have had for, hmmmm, 2 1/2 years or so. I bought the fabric for the chair but I just never took the time to sew it. For the holidays I have a sweet red, snowflake pattern that is reversible to green so in January it does not scream "old Christmas decoration".

After sewing the fabric together, I used a decorative stitch to close up the open side and finish things off a bit. So sweet!

Here is my final cover. It's like a little dress for my lovely rocking chair. I think she is so happy to be out of the snowflake dress and into one that screams spring. It all looks a bit retro when pulled together. Ben likes the butterflies, Emme likes the flowers. When I called Ben over to check out the fancy stitch (he was the only one around at the time), he said "Wow, cool. Now you can make baseballs." He sees baseball stitching and I see many more decorative stitches in my future. I will be enjoying my morning coffee in my newly covered seat.

I love the way the stitching turned out. Oh, and you can really see the color of the chair here. Cool, isn't it?

I am so looking forward to many more Sewing Sundays!

Cheers,

Sara

Can I do it?

2010-12-29T07:31:00.000-05:00

As I sit taking in the pink sky of the beautiful sunrise, drink my coffee and cruise inspirational blogs, I look around at my disaster of a house and dream of what it will look like later today. Clean, decluttered and decked out with my "winterscape".

Yes, I have things I save for January decorating. I just don't like going from festive Christmas decorations to... well, nothing. So, as we embrace the Maine winter, I decorate to celebrate it. And as I cruised around the blog world, I decided I need to update some pillows on the sofa. But soon after I began dreaming of a trip to Homegoods to find a few new pillows my mind said..."STOP!". "We are in the second year of decluttering, finishing up unfinished projects, working with what we have...remember?"

So, it was with this little in my head conversation that led me to post this as a reminder to myself. I am starting off 2011 with a mind to manage what I have, winterscape the heck out of my house with what I have. I can sew. I can paint. I can do this. Join me on my journey for the next 6 months to only shop for inspiration, not for more stuff. As of this morning, I am on a mission to finish the unfinished projects and only buy notions that will help me achieve this such as paint, thread, plants, etc.

Really, I can do this.

The Academy.

2010-12-01T22:41:00.002-05:00

Pay it forward day. Today. Lately I feel like I am surround by people paying it forward. To me. Thank you.

This is going to sound like an Academy Awards speech so queue music now. But please read on and realize it is the small things that make a difference. Sometimes it is just doing your job but it makes an impact. Sometimes it is offering an idea but it makes an impact. Sometimes it is simply a smile, a word of encouragement, a note, a call, but it makes an impact.

The last few months have been quite a journey for me and I have so many people that have made that journey amazing, happy-tear provoking, so crazy positive that I just go to bed feeling wonderful and fulfilled. It's not really about the product I create. It is the experience of it all that is so fulfilling. As I write this, it reminds me of a moment this past summer (about a boy and his journey).

So back to the music and my speech...it was the day I opened my business account and the woman behind the desk was so excited about my little venture that I skipped to my car and cried those happy tears. It was the late night that I called my mother-in-law to help me with a tired and broken sewing machine. It was the day that a dear friend asked for a stack of business cards to share. It was the day that another dear friend took the time to take down an e-mail address in the check-out line because the cashier wanted a ZooZ bag. It is the dear friend that has tried every thing I have made and is often my first test in a new creation. It was the day I sat with Erin as she brought the dreamy dragonfly to life. It was the day(s) that my Mom and Dad participated in a craft fair with me. A day full of laughs. It is the time that my family sits and creates with me as I sew. It was my brother's excitement and advice - my advertising/marketing go to guy. It is the love and support that Nellie gives me every time I say, "Hey, I have another idea" or "Uummmmm, these numbers are not adding up again". Good to have an accountant for a honey. Thank you all.

My point, after my long speech, is that all of the above is paying it forward. Everyday, not just today, people are paying it forward. To me. I can only hope that I am returning the favor. To someone. Everyday.

Cheers,
Sara

Fear

2010-11-03T19:56:00.002-04:00

I ran across this photo on a random blog recently. And, boo on me, I do not remember where. But, it is now my desktop wallpaper and I look at it everyday. Somedays I just wish I could write on that wall and have someone come along and erase my fears. But, quite honestly, fear can be helpful sometimes, forcing me into action. So, my dear friends, here I go, writing on the wall...success, failure, change, acceptance, cooking a turkey, squats (that might be hatred, not fear), the upcoming craft fairs, the list goes on.

I love the note by the back tire, what looks to be "ditto". So many of us have the same fears.

Here comes my magic eraser...wiping my board clean everyday and asking myself, "then what would happen?"

I am off to sew, without my mother-in-law in the room, with bobbins that I wound, with the fear of the bobbin and sewing machine wiped clean.

Cheers!

Sara

Employee of the Week.

2010-10-05T16:33:00.000-04:00

Congratulations to the Dreamy Dragonfly’s employee of the week, Roter Ree (Ro for short). This team member is sha—arp, precise and always ready to pitch in. She zips through fabric and interfacing like no other. Ro just made it through two bolts of interfacing, working late into the night. Nice work Ro.

Ro’s spends much of her time in Grandma Bird’s train case with her colleagues. When she appears in the workshop (aka the kitchen island) she is ready to work. I just don’t know what I would do without her.

Cheers and laughter to you,
Sara

P.S. I am off to go hang with I. Ron. Good times here, good times.

From the Mountaintop

2010-09-28T16:23:00.000-04:00

It is my wedding anniversary today. Fourteen years. I love him. Madly. Truly. I love his long stories that have no point. I love his full head of hair that is going gray. I love him with the kids. I love him when he is annoyed with me. I love his warmth. I love him in his soccer uniform. I love that he watches junk TV with me and pretends to enjoy it. I love his tacos and pasta. I love that he loves me, no matter what road I follow. I love that he takes care of me. I love how he is a father. And an uncle. I love that he listens. I love his friendship. I love him. Forever. Everything. I love him.

Stillness returns.

2010-09-17T13:18:00.001-04:00

I am here. I have been quiet. But not really. Having come off a crazy summer of scattered schedules, get-a-ways with the family and some good ol' summer fun, I am getting grounded again. Finding my place. Getting back to the stillness, the present, the now. I lost that sense of stillness this summer and I did not realize how much I missed it until I looked back on the summer and only saw a crazed span of summer days, a whirlwind of activity and mostly, an unsettled me. See my older post on stillness.

I took the road I once traveled. I exchanged sleeping in for meditation, running from one activity to another instead of going on a run, “relaxing” (read - sitting around) for exercise, dreaming about being creative instead of creating.

I am finding stillness again by turning back to me. I have only just started my meditation practice again and already feel the difference in how I approach life with more compassion and courage. I feel like the new, old me. The me that discovered how powerful it is to take care of yourself so that you may better take care of others. The me that handles stress much differently than I did less than a year ago. The me that wants to nourish my soul, my body. The me that wants to just simply be me.

We all have taken steps forward only to fall back a bit. In those steps back is a clear picture of what I want.

I am back. I will blog. I will sew. I will create. I will love. I will dream. I will strive for balance. I will be present. I will have fun.

I wish for you in every step back you find an opportunity to grow stronger, more compassionate and courageous and open yourself up to just being you, right now. It sure feels good.

Cheers,
Sara

Favorite Things

2010-07-29T13:36:00.000-04:00

Here is to a little lunch time blogging…

Just thought I would start sharing some of my favorite things and I would love to hear about some of yours.

Here is one that I just can’t live without….

The Panini Press

A friend introduced me to this a few years ago. And I am not one to leave appliances out on the counter but my dear friends, this one stays on the kitchen counter for the majority of the year. I love this thing, just ask anyone who has had lunch here. It is often the first thing I offer…providing I have the fixins'. I work from home so I have plenty of occasions to use it. Like everyday, but I don’t. Here is what I whipped up recently. Yummers!

Fresh tomatoes and basil picked from the garden, 7 grain bread, any cheese make for a delish lunch.

Grilled Cheese, Tomato and Basil Panini

With the addition of avocado

Using the Panini Press makes a boring sandwich night into a delish dinner when schedules are crazy. Makes me feel like I cooked. Oh, and dessert paninis! Seriously yummers!

Do you have any good panini combos we should try?

Cheers,

Sara

The journey.

2010-07-19T22:31:00.000-04:00

~ Focus on the journey, not the destination. Joy is found not in finishing an activity but in doing it. ~

Greg Anderson

The voice from the back seat talks about the quick out due to 3 straight strikes, the missed catch, the great hit, the “bad” call, the fun in the dug out, the taunting by the other team, the determination the taunting gave him, the team, the coaches, the fun, excitement, thrill. The win.

It is all a journey for him that does not have an end. That only started weeks ago. He talks about the next game, the next tournament, next year. The destination is never quite reached as that would mean it was over.

We enjoy the gathering of the families, the cheers, the snack shack, the laughs, the support, the game. Although we all live in the same town, these games bring together families that don’t often see each other. We bond over tough calls, missed plays and amazing focus and strength among our boys. Friends are made, friendships grow stronger. These boys see how much they are capable of and how hard work pays off. They see how important it is to support the team, their friends. They learn hard lessons that don’t always settle in right away. They grow just a little bit every time they walk out on to the field or step up to bat.

This journey has been amazing for the boys and their families. We are all so proud of them. I am thankful for the coaches for building their confidence, sticking by them on the missed plays, supporting them, helping them grow.

The journey continues. Here we go now Gorham, here we go.

P.S. Ben, I am so proud of you. Your focus and determination amaze me. Your positive attitude and humor are a joy. I just love watching you play ball. Just know that every time I cheer you on I am saying “I love you Benny” without actually saying those words. I would never want to embarrass you. ~Mom

Reflection

2010-07-08T08:24:00.000-04:00

It is early. I found myself awake before the sun. It has been hot here and in Maine, most people, including us, don’t have AC. I am wiped out but have too much monkey mind to go back to sleep. I brewed some coffee and stepped out onto the back deck to take in the cool air. The sun is up now but the sky is overcast with a haze. I can smell the ocean. Deep breath in…and out. I cherish the times when I get a hint of salt in the air. We don’t live on the water but I long to do so.

I sit with my coffee and the last banana muffin. I can take the last muffin, I was up first…right?

As I am posting this, my husband just asked if we have anymore banana muffins. Busted.

I find myself just taking it all in, the view we have created by moving dirt, planting gardens, building, collecting. Creating our own little world.

My view as I blog this morning. I reflect on the geranium that reminds me of my Grandmother, the raised garden beds built by my dear husband - weeded in the wee hours of the morning on Tuesday. In the distance, the wrought iron bench I picked up on an excursion with Mom and Sue. And the recent birdhouse I purchased on an antique/junk trip through the back roads of Maine.

My monkey mind is deep into the rush of summer, the baseball practices, the exhausted kids, the weeds, the planning, the packing, the unpacking and the list goes on. Then, it hits me as a breeze of that salt air I cherish so much brushes past me. These crazy days of summer that have already passed have been full of life and leave us with cherished memories of family, friends, moments, comfort. In the rush of life, we forget to reflect on what and who has touched us. I share with you some of our moments of finding fun, sanctuary, peace, beauty.

Time with cousins who live far away.

Water fun!

My view at Mom and Dad's while I drink my coffee. They create such a sanctuary that I cherish and admire.

The morning view from Mom and Dad's back porch. Serenity.

While we were at my parent's they were part of a garden tour and made the front page of the newspaper for their gardens. Lovely. It was a proud moment to see them both talking to visitors about the joy and work of their gardens.

Ben took my camera and poked around during the garden tour. How could I not share this picture. The color was this amazing in person.

Although we were late in getting to the strawberry fields, the batch we picked sure was amazing.

This says it all.

And raspberries too.

Take some time to reflect and find those moments that inspire you to live now and not have the monkey mind of my morning.

Cheers,

Sara

Quick Note.

2010-06-30T13:08:00.000-04:00

Hey there. Eating lunch and browsing the blog scene during a break from work. I know, I should not be multi-tasking. But, family vacation took me away from cruising some of my favorite blogs and I am grabbing a few minutes to catch up on all the goodness. So, I found this image from the The Purl Bee via decor8.

Not only do I love the scarves but I love how they are hanging. Brilliant! I know I should not be thinking of scarf storage when we are on the brink of July but is this dreamy or what? I usually fold mine and end up wearing what is on top. I love scarves. I am rocking this come winter and will be adding this to my closet organization for my spring scarves tonight. Uh huh. Love it. And it won't cost me a penny!

Cheers,

Sara

Love. Food.

2010-05-21T10:42:00.000-04:00

I love food. I love the experience of a good meal with family and friends. Recent readings have presented a theme to me - cook with love and the food will taste better. This idea is showing up in a recent read of “Living Your Yoga”, a random cookbook from my far too large collection and even on the Food Network. Yup, cook with love, friends. Cook with love.

For me, this is about, yet again, being mindful. Being present in the chopping. Please be present in the chopping. You are, after all, holding a knife. Smelling the seasonings, feeling the freshness in the veggies. Taking in the color, aromas, sizzling sounds. Ahhh, makes me want to go whip up a meal.

I am really writing all this mindful cooking stuff because I want to share what happens when you cook with love….

The food actually loves you back! LOOK! Yes, I walked over to stir my concoction and staring back at me in the Crockpot was a heart!

It is not quite like seeing the Virgin Mary, Jesus or the Buddha in a grilled cheese sandwich. But, c'mon, isn't this so sweet? See, the food loves you back. This was all an experiment. I made this with the intention that it would be a new food in my Ayurvedic journey. Full of nutrition. Made with lots of love for my body and soul.

This is 1 cup of sweet brown rice and 4 cups of almond milk, in the crock pot for 3-4 hours. Stir occasionally. You end up with a slightly sweet rice like pudding. Delish with some nuts and cinnamon sprinkled on top. I eat this for breakfast and sneak a little for dessert if I have a sweet craving. Delish.

Speaking of delish, you have to try The Frugal Girl's Hot Fudge Pudding Cake. So easy and totally yummers! We enjoyed this on a rainy evening after dinner. Comforting, warm, decadent. Really, try it. Next time I am going to use the almond milk instead of regular milk. I will keep you posted on how well it works. Enjoy!

Off for a full weekend of fun. Hope your weekend is dreamy.

Sara

Slowly.

2010-05-13T22:28:00.000-04:00

I feel like I have been surrounded by death lately. Morbid, I know. Over the last week, we have lost a neighbor, a friend, and at least 3 friends/relatives of friends. Even when my friends lose someone, I feel deeply for them.

I was talking with a friend yesterday about all the feelings and thoughts that I experience in times like this. The conversation led to talking about how we so easily miss the amazing moments in life because we are rushing ourselves, rushing our children, rushing our lives. I recalled another conversation with a friend about a book, “The Hurried Child”. It is really about our children growing up to fast but for me, those words mean something else.

Hurried, to me, means not taking it all in. Not seeing the small things. Oh, our mornings are hurried and I bet yours are too. Since hearing about “The Hurried Child”, I have worked hard at remembering not to rush my children through life. Sure, I don’t want them to grow up too fast and I shield them from things that may encourage them to act like a teen when they are still in the single digits. But, I am also trying to not ask them to hurry up. Yes, we still say “hurry up or you will miss the bus” and there are times when we really do mean “hurry up”. What I am getting at is this…Tuesday night, in the locker room at my daughter’s swim class. She and her two friends are showered and dressed in their PJs. We are ready to go. But Emme lingers, slides her shoes on ever so slowly as she waits for her friends while they are getting their shoes on. She is not talking with them. She is just lingering, moving slowly…not wanting the social time to end. I can see it but I want to go home. I wait and wait. Minutes yes, but how bad did I want to say “hurry up, let’s go”? I did not rush her. I stood quietly and patiently. We walked out with her friends, said good night and settled into the ride home. Feeling connected to our friends. Peaceful, relaxed.

There is so much to notice in the space of a breath. My intent in sharing this with you is not to bring you down by my rough week but to slow you down. Get yourself ready and prompt the kids 5 minutes earlier next time. Show them how to slow down by slowing down yourself, let them take their time getting their shoes on, finishing a project or chapter in a book. Think about what you are asking them to rush to next. Does it really matter how quickly they move on to the next thing? Sometimes yes, but most of the time, probably not. Be present, be aware of the small, amazing moments. The opportunity to notice these moments will not be here forever.

By taking some time these past few days to slow down and just be aware, these are just a few of the amazing moments that I have noted.
~My son coming home, going to bed and waking up with a smile because he is proud of himself.
~A smiling, giggling child feeding a horse clover.
~The hosta out front, growing what seems like inches overnight.
~The canopy of leaves that have arrived early.
~My daughter enjoying the quiet company of her friends.
~My husband asking for support, in his own way. I read through the lines on this one, but I think I read him right.
~My breath. Slow, steady and at that moment stinky. In need of a mint.

Kindness.

2010-05-10T21:27:00.001-04:00

After giving myself some time to explore, sew and vacation with my family, I am back to blogging.

I took a mental break this morning and went to one of my favorite blogs, Zen Habits. The post is a piece on kindness. Leo Babauta could not have summed it up better. Check out his thoughts on kindness.

Being kind to others infuses me with happiness and peace. I love the connection to self that Leo makes as well as the connection he makes to mindfulness. Take some time to read his post and be inspired to do something kind, everyday. I am finding that the smallest kind things amount to a great deal.

Enjoy.

Accomplishment.

2010-04-02T10:14:00.000-04:00

Thanks feet!

I just ran Brackett Road, from the house to the stream (3 miles) in 37 minutes. I am slow. I run like a speed walker walks, faster than a walk, slower than a run. With more running I hope I can shave a few minutes off but for now this feels like an accomplishment.

I ran my first 5k last weekend. My time was 37 minutes, published. My dear friend, Mark, says it was really 36 minutes. There was one hill, in the beginning of the race, that I ended up walking. So, for me to run all of the hills this morning, in the same amount of time as last Saturday, feels really good.

This is my run. Lovely, sunny day. I am overdressed in the sun and underdressed in the shade. I have dance tunes playing in my ears. I am running to the rhythm as if I am dancing. Hill. The first mile I am grumpy about running, happy about the weather and the birds singing along to Lady Gaga. I hate the first mile. Hill. I feel like I am going to die. My legs are fine, my breath is uneven and uncomfortable. I hate running. Hill. I hit mile 2 and I feel great. Another hill. I imagine how I must look, huffing along with a smile on my face. I love running. I hit mile 2.5 and I feel like I can run much more than 3 miles, I can just keep going. Hill. Run, Forrest, run! I love running. Hill. I hit mile 2.8 and I cannot wait until this horrible event is over. I hate running. I turn onto my street, the end of mile 3 and slow down to a walk. I walk the circle (no hill) and my body feels strong, my mind at ease, big grin on my face. I love running.

I guess it would not feel like an accomplishment if there was not a challenge. I love running.

Happy weekend to you. May you also accomplish something this weekend.

Maine Maple Sunday.

2010-03-31T14:50:00.000-04:00

My tribute to Spring in Maine - sap buckets and birds

Friends and family spent Sunday morning celebrating maple syrup. Delish. Throughout the state, people ate pancakes, walked through sugar houses and bought local. Despite the cold day, we warmed ourselves with plenty of maple syrup and warm fires. We hit a local farm, Merrifield Farm, mainly because I now have a craving the last Sunday of March for maple cotton candy. Yup, maple cotton candy. And Merrifield makes the sweet stuff. We enjoyed a few bites, well bag, and left with a couple of bags…

And have your tried maple syrup on vanilla ice cream? Heavenly.

No wonder it is one of Elf’s main food groups.

Maybe these facts will make you feel better about how much the real stuff costs. Worth every penny.

Enjoy some sweetness today. I will be breaking into that last bag of maple cotton candy.

Beautiful. Growth. Beautiful.

2010-03-19T07:30:00.000-04:00

Things to come in the garden.

The weather is beautiful, my tulips and daffodils are peaking through the ground. No frost this morning. Lovely.

I am determined to finish up Ben's room this weekend. I will post pics early next week. While sanding the walls last weekend, memories flooded back. I do not suggest coming to tears while sanding blue paint, even with protective wear on.

Roughly five years ago, Ben and Chris took off for a birthday party in MA. My parents, mother-in-law and I tricked Ben's room out, surfer style. They came home and we did the "HGTV" style reveal. His face lit up. It was the first room in the house that we fully finished. I wanted to make the move easy on him, make it his home. He loved it for many years. He has grown so much in the last 5 years. Physically, emotionally. He was ready for a change, growth in his surroundings.

And now, I am off to create a room that will reflect what he loves and who he is. His sanctuary. We all need one. We all should have one.

Spring. Beautiful new beginnings. Growth. Beautiful outcomes. In surroundings, in our soul.

Have a lovely weekend.

Stillness is what I need.

2010-03-16T08:24:00.000-04:00

I am on the go constantly. It is who I am. I like to accomplish things. But, I am learning that I also like to be still, not sleeping still, present still.

Last week, I took my first meditation class. I have learned through my yoga practice and Reiki teachings that meditation leads you to more balance, peace, strength. But yet, I have never been one to fully incorporate meditation into my day (hmmm, too busy accomplishing things, eh?).

What I discovered last week was that being still is an accomplishment. Whether it is for 5 minutes or a life time or somewhere in between, being still, the mind, body, really being still accomplishes great things.

In class, we talked some about what helps and hinders our meditation practice. We learned from each other. There were two meditations that stood out for me. The first, led by my Reiki teacher, Sandra Maguire, Sattva Health and Wellness, was the Empty Bowl Meditation. With this meditation, we used the Ujjayi Breath, ocean breath. I loved the breathing technique and the calmness that this meditation brought. It is nice to be led through this the first time but you can certainly incorporate it by reading the link above.

The Singing Crystal Bowl Meditation was simply amazing. You cannot imagine the vibration that you feel from the singing bowls. Led by Kathy, Raindrop Yoga Studio, she played crystal bowls that sound like a strong vibration. You could feel it through the floor. Unlike the deep base booming you feel at a Def Leppard concert, it was a calming, constant vibration that was completely relaxing. I found this clip to share with you what the bowls sounds like. It is a good example of the sound and vibration that the bowls create. Crystal Singing Bowls

You may think that I am off my rocker with all this meditation, vibration stuff but it really is interesting to incorporate just a piece of it into your day. Sit still for a few minutes each day and focus on your breath. You will be amazed at how it calms and aligns you with what you want to accomplish in a day. I do not, yet, meditated everyday. I forget sometimes. I get sidetracked from taking time for myself. But today, I will find the time and tomorrow I will find the time. With practice, my meditation practice will grow. Off I go today to accomplish “things”, including a few moments of stillness.

Finding balance

2010-03-10T09:09:00.000-05:00

I am attending my first meditation class tonight at Raindrop Yoga. Will fill you all in tonight...I can't wait!

Gone shoppin'

2010-03-09T21:51:00.002-05:00

I found a new place to shop…my closet. In my last post I was drooling over beautiful closets. I did not wallpaper/paint mine this weekend but I sure did clean it out and organize it. I still want to deck it out and hang a chandelier in there. But for now, the serene feeling of organization is overwhelming me with joy. So silly, I know.

I cruised around the web looking for ideas and inspiration on organization. Ideas that I picked up: use the same color hanger, take a pic of the shoe and tape it on the outside of the box, organize in color, style, etc. Many of them I have heard of before but never actually did them. I also ironed before I hung my clothes up. I can go in and get dressed, off the rack, without worrying about an extra step in the morning. Oh, and Downey Wrinkle Release…my best friend for t-shirts. You will not believe how these things change your closet! Lovely.

Before...

After...

I never thought I would do the label thing but it really works!

The hangers fade into the background and all you see are the clothes.

I am sure there is a better way to store my bags but this works for now. They are lined up according to color.

Moving onto my jewelry. I have had the Hanging Jewelry Organizer for years. It is from the Container Store and I love it. I can see everything at a glance and nothing gets tangled. Moving onto my earrings. I saw a picture in MS Living where they suggested using an artist tray to store your earrings. I took the economical route and set up four ice cube trays in my drawer. Does earring organization get any more dreamy than this? Seriously! As you can see in the picture, my bracelets are still challenged. If you have any bracelet storage ideas, please comment below. I need some inspiration!

I can find my earrings, both of them, on the fly. LOVE IT! The bottom tray is for pieces that need repair.

I also got the bug to clean, I mean CLEAN, our laundry room. Not only did I deep clean the room, but I also removed everything that did not belong in there, separated mending from misc. stuff and decluttered in general. Chris installed a birthday present from a friend, my new Accordion Drying Rack, also from the Container Store. She knew I would just love it! It comes with two sets of brackets so he installed one set over the tub. I think I actually liked doing laundry this week.

With all of this organization, I feel less rushed in the morning. I am putting things away where they belong. Wearing clothes and jewelry that I have not worn in quite a while. My floor is clear of piles, my clothes are accessible. Most importantly, I know what I have. So, I got all proud and brave and decided that I am not buying a piece of clothing or shoes (other than new sneaks to replace the ones I dumped) for 6 months. Sing it, 6 months. I feel like I can shop in my own closet and have everything I need. I even announced this to my dear husband who raised his eyebrows and mumbled “mmm hmmm”.

A friend, Sara Mc, stopped by and I dragged her upstairs to check out my new closet. She called today and asked if she could go shopping in my closet. She ended up borrowing a bag.

Getting organized was a bit labor intensive but I picked a big project. The trick will be keeping it organized. I cannot describe the calmness it brings to know what you have and have it accessible. Amazing! I encourage you to pick one drawer or closet or room and organize it. Please share your tips. Good luck!

Change of Plans

2010-03-04T21:23:00.001-05:00

This coming weekend I had one big “to do” on my list, start Ben’s bedroom transformation from surfer room to baseball room. It has been on my list for sometime now. So long, in fact, that we passed his surfer bedding onto a friend this past summer. My deadline is the Red Sox opening day. I will share the adventure and outcome along the way.

But, plans change. I realized today that I have too many, feels like hundreds, of unfinished projects. Some quick and easy to finish up, others a little more involved. After breaking the news to Ben that I will have to finish some things up this weekend and start on his room next weekend, he says “You will do a better job if you can focus on my room and get the other stuff done this weekend”. Yup, he’s right. He knows me so well! And, he gave me an extra week! I won’t take the extra time but it is sweet that he was so understanding.

I have a lot to accomplish this weekend and I will take you along for the ride. Here is my top line list…finish cleaning my closet and dresser, attempt to repair a massage table that a friend gave me, hang the expandable drying rack, finish some sewing projects, fix the home printer and move files to external hard drive. I am starting with my closet and drawers. And I am dreaming that when finished, it will look like this.

Do you see a theme here? Wallpaper, chandelier and most importantly, not cluttered. They are beautiful spaces. I will post some semi-before pictures of my closet. "Semi" because I have already started the process. More to come...

Pictures are from http://www.myhomeideas.com/, http://domesticbliss-domesticbliss.blogspot.com/

Dreaming of Spring

2010-03-03T23:00:00.000-05:00

We are enjoying some rather warm weather here in Maine for early March. I see crocus peeking out of the ground and it is giving me the fee-vah. Spring fever! I also just finished sewing some Purse Pockets and started thinking in my meditative sewing state that it is spring handbag time. Quite honestly, I have not been paying attention to trends other than the random flyers and catalogs that show up in my mailbox. Determined to clean out my closet, I have been forcing myself not to look or even think about buying something new. So, I dream, while I sew. Here are a few delightful bags that I found on http://www.piperlime.com/. A quick browse gave me some inspiration to finish up my closet and check out the new spring goods just waiting for me. Oh, and the best thing about a new bag is that I don't care how many pockets it has on the inside because my Purse Pocket takes care of that. I am free to choose a bag completly based on looks! Dreamy.

Lovely color, yes?

Just so simple and soft.

Perfect for my spring/summer business trips.

Can you appreciate the color from where you are sitting? It is a beautiful blue. Perfect with everything.

Getting Creative

2010-02-28T13:17:00.004-05:00

Finding something you love sounds easy. Many websites, books and personal coaches make attempts at coaching you along the path to happiness by “doing something you love”. I have attended seminars, read books, cruised the web in search of the formula to finding something I love. I think I have been somewhat successful using the lists, formulas, etc that I came away with. But, what I have found is that letting go of the something leads you to the love.

I love color. I love the smell of paint (weird, I know). I thought I wanted to pursue something in the painting field (walls and furniture as my canvas). Due to life, that never happened. And I am fine with that. Yet, I continued to foster my love of color through decorating and crafts. Eventually, I found myself getting over my fear of sewing and finding the something I love in the fabric. Color, pattern galore. Dreamy. And now, after letting go of the something, getting over the fear of threading a sewing machine and winding a bobbin I am drooling over fabric and sewing. And now, I introduce you to one of my “favorite things” and doing something I love. Drum roll…..the Purse Pocket!

Here we go.

2010-02-28T08:27:00.000-05:00

I am searching. We are all searching. Searching for the quickest way, the best diet, time to exercise, the other sock, the document we are sure we saved on the server, the perfect present, something more.
I try to live in the now and let things happen for me. It just is not that easy to do, especially when I never did anything to foster my sense of Now. So here I go, along with you if you care to join, finding ways to stop spending my time searching and truly living for the moment.

I am a planner. I get that from my Mom. It drives my husband crazy but he kindly goes along with it. So, taking what I love to do, I began to implement a "whole life plan". Whole life, for me, includes physical health, mental health, financial health, home heath. I am on a journey to declutter the house and organize so that I can find what I need, when I need it. Commit to a whole health physical plan through diet and exercise. Discover ways to foster relaxation and focus in my everyday life. And the list goes on. I want to live simple, live lovely and live in the Now. Here we go.